Survival Tip of the Week -ANIMALS FOR FOOD

ANIMALS FOR FOOD

8-1. Unless you have the chance to take large game, concentrate your efforts on the smaller animals. They are more abundant and easier to prepare. You need not know all the animal species that are suitable as food; relatively few are poisonous, and they make a smaller list to remember. However, it is important to learn the habits and behavioral patterns of classes of animals. For example, animals that are excellent choices for trapping, those that inhabit a particular range and occupy a den or nest, those that have somewhat fixed feeding areas, and those that have trails leading from one area to another. Larger, herding animals, such as elk or caribou, roam vast areas and are somewhat more difficult to trap. Also, you must understand the food choices of a particular species to select the proper bait.

8-2. You can, with relatively few exceptions, eat anything that crawls, swims, walks, or flies. You must first overcome your natural aversion to a particular food source. Historically, people in starvation situations have resorted to eating everything imaginable for nourishment. A person who ignores an otherwise healthy food source due to a personal bias, or because he feels it is unappetizing, is risking his own survival. Although it may prove difficult at first, you must eat what is available to maintain your health. Some classes of animals and insects may be eaten raw if necessary, but you should, if possible, thoroughly cook all food sources whenever possible to avoid illness.

MAMMALS

8-25. Mammals are excellent protein sources and, for Americans, the tastiest food source. There are some drawbacks to obtaining mammals. In a hostile environment, the enemy may detect any traps or snares placed on land. The amount of injury an animal can inflict is in direct proportion to its size. All mammals have teeth and nearly all will bite in self-defense. Even a squirrel can inflict a serious wound and any bite presents a serious risk of infection. Also, any mother can be extremely aggressive in defense of her young. Any animal with no route of escape will fight when cornered.

Saucy coyote, no means no!

8-26. All mammals are edible; however, the polar bear and bearded seal have toxic levels of vitamin A in their livers. The platypus, native to Australia and Tasmania, is an egg-laying, semiaquatic mammal that has poisonous claws on its hind legs. Scavenging mammals, such as the opossum, may carry diseases.

From - U.S Army Field Manual 3-05.70 - Survival

Paintball this weekend - Former Miller Ranch

We'll be playing paintball this Saturday, February 2nd at the former Miller Ranch.

Plan on getting started around 9am. We'll park in the same area, but we'll be playing in the back 10 acres of the property, which is pretty rough and could be a new experience for some folks. Bring your ruck, extra water, and gear like you'll be moving around. We'll probably stage initially at the cars, play the top of the hill and then move to the back of the property.

Make sure you bring out your schedules. I want to figure out a time when we can have a big marker work day at the house and would like to do that sometime in February. I will also be handing out the new schedules for the Spring - so make sure to clear some space on the ole' refrigerator.

If you are playing as a guest, let me know ASAP, and we'll throw some kit together for you.

Survival Tip of the Week - The Survival Kit

A few weeks ago we hosted a primitive skills event for some of the team to get out into the woods and hack around with axes, throw knives, make fires, etc. I had mentioned in the email to bring out a BOB if you wanted to test it out.

I got a few blank stares and realized it may be worthwhile to post the below as a sort of prereq to the concept of a survival kit.

SURVIVAL KITS

3-5. The environment is the key to the types of items you will need in your survival kit. How much equipment you put in your kit depends on how you will carry the kit. A kit carried on your body will have to be smaller than one carried in a vehicle. Always layer your survival kit—body, load-bearing vest or equipment, and platform (rucksack, vehicle, or aircraft). Keep the most important items on your body. For example, your map and compass should always be on your body, as should your basic life-sustaining items (knife, lighter). Carry less important items on your LBE. Place bulky items in the rucksack.

3-6. In preparing your survival kit, select items that are multipurpose, compact, lightweight, durable, and most importantly, functional. An item is not good if it looks great but doesn't do what it was designed for. Items should complement each other from layer to layer. A signal mirror in your pocket can be backed up by pen flares in your LBE and a signal panel in your rucksack. A lighter in your uniform can be augmented by a magnesium bar in your LBE and additional dry tinder in your rucksack.

3-7. Your survival kit need not be elaborate. You need only functional items that will meet your needs and a case to hold the items. For the case, you might want to use a bandage box, soap dish, tobacco tin, first-aid case, ammunition pouch, or another suitable case. This case should be—

• Water-repellent or waterproof.

• Easy to carry or attach to your body.

• Suitable to accept various-sized components.

• Durable.

3-8. Your survival kit should be broken down into the following categories:

• Water.

• Fire.

• Shelter.

• Food.

• Medical.

• Signal.

• Miscellaneous.

3-9. Each category should contain items that allow you to sustain your basic needs. For example, water—you should have items that allow you to scoop up, draw up, soak up, or suck up water; something to gather rainwater, condensation, or perspiration; something to transport water; and something to purify or filter water. Some examples of each category are as follows:

• Water—purification tablets, non-lubricated condoms for carrying water, bleach, povidone-iodine drops, cravats, sponges, small plastic or rubber tubing, collapsible canteens or water bags.

• Fire—lighter, metal match, waterproof matches, magnesium bar, candle, magnifying lens.

• Shelter—550 parachute cord, large knife, machete or hatchet, poncho, space blanket, hammock, mosquito net, wire saw.

• Food—knife, snare wire, fishhooks, fish and snare line, bouillon cubes or soup packets, high-energy food bars, granola bars, gill or yeti net, aluminum foil, freezer bags.

• Medical—oxytetracycline tablets (to treat diarrhea or infection), surgical blades or surgical preparation knife, butterfly sutures, lip balm, safety pins, sutures, antidiarrheal medication (imodium), antimalarial medication (doxycycline), broad-spectrum antibiotics (rocephin and zithromax) and broad spectrum topical ophthalmic (eye) antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen), petrolatum gauze, and soap. Medical items may make up approximately 50 percent of your survival kit.

• Signal—signaling mirror, strobe, pen flares, whistle, U.S. flag, pilot scarf or other bright orange silk scarf, glint tape, flashlight, laser pointer, solar blanket.

• Miscellaneous—wrist compass, needle and thread, money, extra eyeglasses, knife sharpener, cork, camouflage stick, and survival manual.

3-10. Include a weapon only if the situation so dictates. Ambassadors and theater commanders may prohibit weapons even in extreme circumstances. Read and practice the survival techniques in this manual and apply these basic concepts to those you read about in other civilian publications. Consider your mission and the environment in which you will operate. Then prepare your survival kit with items that are durable, multipurpose, and lightweight. Imagination may be the largest part of your kit. It can replace many of the items in a kit. Combined with the will to live, it can mean the difference between surviving to return home with honor or not returning at all.

From - U.S Army Field Manual 3-05.70 - Survival

Regardless of your location, I would always advocate carrying some kind of knife. It may just have to be really small, depending on planned location and political climate.

Paintball this weekend - Former Miller Ranch

We'll be playing paintball this Saturday, January 19th at the former Miller Ranch. Plan on getting started around 9am. Just like last time, we'll start out around the barns (URBAN!) and then we'll move up the hill to the woods. We'll take a break around 10am to discuss the new season and some of the ideas that we've been throwing around lately.

Melissa's birthday is this Saturday, so I'll be ducking out early to get everything ready for that, but we'll keep the games going until the normal time.

Bring all of your usual implements of destruction, as well as a ruck to haul your kit. Per Alan's suggestion, I am also sending out an evite for this, so keep an eye out for that.

If you are playing as a guest, let me know ASAP, and we'll throw some kit together for you.

Those Darn Ninjas . . .

Just when you think you're safe from ninjas - that's when they strike.

NYC's 'Ninja Bandit' Blamed For 19th Burglary

STATEN ISLAND (AP) ― Staten Island's costumed crook known as the Ninja Bandit has apparently struck for the 19th time.

In the latest incident, a family on Melhorn Road in the Castleton Corners neighborhood reported that the thief stole more than $100,000 worth of jewelry.

"The M.O. fits the pattern" of the 18 earlier Ninja heists, said Officer Martin Speechley, a police spokesman.

The burglary took place between Wednesday and Friday of last week, Speechley said. A sliding glass door was left open, indicating that the thief exited through it and may have entered through it, he said.

The victim, Dr. Shahabuddin Ahmad, told the Staten Island Advance that the home has an alarm system but it did not go off.

Ninjas laugh at your alarms.

The Ninja Bandit got his nickname after an earlier victim said the intruder wielded a set of nunchucks when they scuffled in the homeowner's kitchen in September. Other residents have also said they encountered the burglar, but the suspect has managed to escape each time.

Up until last week, the most recent attack was Nov. 24 or 25, when the Ninja Bandit hit a house on Ocean Terrace and another on Louise Lane, netting $127,000 in jewelry and cash.

The Ninja's burglary spree has prompted Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to urge Staten Islanders to lock their doors and windows and to activate their alarm systems.

More

May I remind all readers that nunchucks are in fact illegal in NYC. Ninjas don't care.

It's like the bumper stick says:

When nunchucks are illegal, only ninja bandits will have nunchucks.

When we were shopping for a new house, my wife didn't understand why I insisted we avoid any place with a skylight. You may think you are safe, but a lot of times ninjas will remove their climbing foot claws before they drop down into your house or hut . . . and you won't even hear them.

First Assault Knives, Now Assault . . . um . . . Swords?

I always find it ironic that George Orwell - who in 1984 wrote the greatest warning of the dangers of oppressive and totalitarian government - is English.

In my short life, I have never seen any other country be in such a rush to throw their God-given freedoms down the toilet (I am sure some of you are thinking of US in this regard, but I assure you that the recent unpleasantness is more a knee-jerk reaction to the 'post-9-11 fear culture' heightened by our media and purveyors of security-related products and solutions) .

I know that in being a monarchy English people are probably used to being subjected to the whims of silly laws (I mean, come on - its 2008 and we still have Kings??), but the badassery of the British soldiers have given me pause to wonder if perhaps it is a result of laziness of the people or maybe they are just tired of fighting . . .

Anyway, a few years ago England passed an "Assault knives ban" - yes, you heard that right - but apparently even this wasn't enough to quell the monstrous criminals lurking below the surface, inspired by the menace of an inanimate object to rise up and attack, well . . . cars?

Ban on imitation Samurai swords

Imitation Samurai swords are to be banned after a spate of attacks in the UK, say ministers.
The Home Office has confirmed plans to outlaw the weapons in England and Wales after putting forward the idea earlier this year.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said there was a clear danger to the public posed by easily-available swords.

The proposal is expected to stop short of banning genuine Japanese swords held by collectors or genuine enthusiasts.

In March 2007 the Home Office proposed banning imitation Samurai swords after representations from both MPs and the public. Ministers in Scotland had proposed a similar move in 2006.

Defending the sword
Calls for a ban came after a number of high-profile incidents in which cheap Samurai-style swords had been used as a weapon.

The Home Office estimates there have been some 80 attacks in recent years involving Samurai-style blades, leading to at least five deaths.

While genuine Samurai swords are part of Japanese history and change hands for large sums of money, there is a trade in imitation blades which can be bought over the internet for as little as £35.

"We recognise it is the cheap, easily available samurai swords which are being used in crime and not the genuine, more expensive samurai swords which are of interest to collectors and martial arts enthusiasts."

More.

There is a video on the above link that shows some ninny with a samurai sword walking down the middle of a busy street - sword in hand - trying to "attack" cars as they drive down the road.

Um, I can think of a way to stop that kinda silliness. In fact, that may be the exact reason why there is a GRILL GUARD on my Land Cruiser.

Think about Shawn of the Dead - would he have gotten nearly as far without access to the namesake wall hanger acquired from The Winchester pub?

Let's hope they keep some edged weapons in England. There may come a time when they'll need one to spread marmalade onto a crumpet.

Ahem.

Let's get political, political . . . come on and get political . . .

Ok, so I do my best to avoid political discourse.

I was much more into this when I was younger and actually knew everything, but now that I am older and realize that I don't really know anything, its much harder for me to make strong arguements for abstract concepts (like, say the usefulness of lawyers or politicians) and I try to stick to concrete ideas - like the cool factor of a certain paintball gun, etc.

However, I've made no attempt to disguise my political leanings and even my discretion can tend to wander the path when I am getting off on a rant or rave about something I am passionate about - which is probably most things.

Though I tend to be a single-issue voter, my personal politics are more on the Libertarian side of things.

Andrew Sullivan recently published his thoughts on Ron Paul and they are definitely worth reading - especially those who would otherwise be turned off by his "Republican" label.

But the deeper reason to support Ron Paul is a simple one. The great forgotten principles of the current Republican party are freedom and toleration. Paul's federalism, his deep suspicion of Washington power, his resistance to government spending, debt and inflation, his ability to grasp that not all human problems are soluble, least of all by government: these are principles that made me a conservative in the first place. No one in the current field articulates them as clearly and understands them as deeply as Paul. He is a man of faith who nonetheless sees a clear line between religion and politics. More than all this, he has somehow ignited a new movement of those who love freedom and want to rescue it from the do-gooding bromides of the left and the Christianist meddling of the right. The Paulites' enthusiasm for liberty, their unapologetic defense of core conservative principles, their awareness that in the new millennium, these principles of small government, self-reliance, cultural pluralism, and a humble foreign policy are more necessary than ever - no lover of liberty can stand by and not join them.

It is really interesting to me that the only candidate on the ballots who supports ending the war in Iraq is a Republican.

It was a complete and total barfarama . . .

Yikes - remember this?

Winter vomiting bug sweeps UK

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people have been struck down by a highly infectious stomach bug that swept the United Kingdom during the holiday period, doctors said on Thursday.

The Royal College of General Practitioners, which represents 27,000 family doctors, estimates that 100,000 people a week caught the norovirus bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

"GPs are seeing a huge number of cases of patients with the norovirus," said its chairman Professor Steve Field. "Our advice for those affected is to stay at home, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids."

The UK's Health Protection Agency, the body that monitors infectious diseases, said the number of cases reported in early winter was the highest since 2002 and double the total this time last year.

The virus is most common in colder months and is also known as the winter vomiting bug. Outbreaks are often reported in places like hospitals, schools and cruise ships.

More.

I remember back in 2002 when this was going around and everyone I knew got it. When it hit the house I was living in at the time it started with our downstairs roommate and then made its way up the stairs to my neighbor and then to me.

Nothing like sitting on the toliet with a bucket in your hands.

The last one to get it was my buddy Dave who was an avowed hypochondriac. I am sure he thought he was suffering from cholera or some other 3rd-world nastiness. In fact, I think I may have gotten a panicked call asking about cholera symptoms. :)

Let's hope this stays on the other side of the pond . . . don't forget to wash your hands!