The Demographic Decline of Japan

The New York Times has an article explaining the declining demographics of Japan:

In Japan, birthrates are now so low and life expectancy so great that the nation will soon have a demographic profile that matches that of the American retirement community of Palm Springs. “Gradually but relentlessly,” the demographer Nick Eberstadt writes in the latest issue of The Wilson Quarterly, “Japan is evolving into a type of society whose contours and workings have only been contemplated in science fiction.”

Eberstadt has spent years writing about the challenges posed by declining fertility around the globe. But Japan, he notes, is a unique case. The Japanese birthrate hovers around just 1.3 children per woman, far below the level required to maintain a stable population. Thanks to increasing life expectancy, by 2040 “there could almost be one centenarian on hand to welcome each Japanese newborn.” Over the same period, the overall Japanese population is likely to decline by 20 percent, with grim consequences for an already-stagnant economy and an already-strained safety net.

Japan is facing such swift demographic collapse, Eberstadt’s essay suggests, because its culture combines liberalism and traditionalism in particularly disastrous ways. On the one hand, the old sexual culture, oriented around arranged marriage and family obligation, has largely collapsed. Japan is one of the world’s least religious nations, the marriage rate has plunged and the divorce rate is higher than in Northern Europe.

Yet the traditional stigma around out-of-wedlock childbearing endures, which means that unmarried Japanese are more likely to embrace “voluntary childlessness” than the unwed parenting that’s becoming an American norm. And the traditional Japanese suspicion of immigration (another possible source for demographic vitality) has endured into the 21st century as well. Eberstadt notes that “in 2009 Japan naturalized barely a third as many new citizens as Switzerland, a country with a population only 6 percent the size of Japan’s and a reputation of its own for standoffishness.”

These trends are forging a society that sometimes evokes the infertile Britain in James’s dystopia. Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the developed world, and there were rashes of Internet-enabled group suicides in the last decade. Rental “relatives” are available for sparsely attended wedding parties; so-called “babyloids” — furry dolls that mimic infant sounds — are being developed for lonely seniors; and Japanese researchers are at the forefront of efforts to build robots that resemble human babies. The younger generation includes millions of so-called “parasite singles” who still live with (and off) their parents, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of the “hikikomori” — “young adults,” Eberstadt writes, “who shut themselves off almost entirely by retreating into a friendless life of video games, the Internet and manga (comics) in their parents’ home.”

F-22s Deployed to UAE

There have been several reports over the past few days that the United States has deployed F-22 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. This article reports:

A prominent Iranian lawmaker says the reported basing of America's most sophisticated stealth jet fighters in the United Arab Emirates is a U.S.-Israel plot to create regional instability. The U.S. Air Force has moved several F-22 stealth combat aircraft to a base in the United Arab Emirates, 300 km (186) miles from the Iranian border, according to a report by the Aviation Report magazine on Saturday. The F-22 is considered one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the U.S. Air Force, although it has yet to be utilized in actual combat.

Kazem Jalali was reacting to media reports of the recent deployment of F-22 Raptors at the UAE's Al Dhafra Air Base, which has long hosted U.S. warplanes. Aviation Report claims the planes were moved to the Al Dhafra air base, a short distance from Iran's southern border, but a U.S. Air Force spokesmen refused to disclose the location of the planes, saying only that they were located somewhere in southwest Asia. The UAE is in southwest Asia. Jalali was quoted by the semiofficial ISNA news agency Sunday.

Tehran and Washington are at odds over Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. and Israel say Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. The two countries have not ruled out military action against Iranian facilities.

In an interview with ABC News, USAF spokesman Lt. Col. John Dorrian said the aircraft were "not a threat to Iran." Dorrian said the deployments were meant to "strengthen military-to-military relationships, promote sovereign and regional security, improve combined tactical air operations, and enhance interoperability of forces, equipment and procedures."

Due to field security, Dorrian refused to disclose how many F-22s were deployed to the UAE or their objective, but did say that due to their advanced technology, the transfer of any number of the stealth aircraft is a significant move.

The move was the second time F-22s have been deployed to the UAE, with the first time being in 2009 for a military exercise in the country. Despite the fact that F-22 has not been used in combat, officials at Lockheed Martin, the company that manufactures the F-22, have said that the aircraft is suitable for complex missions against well-defended targets in countries such as Iran and North Korea.

(See also this article from Fox News).

Chinese/Philippine Standoff Escalates

It had appeared last week that the standoff between China and the Philippines had mostly resolved itself, with the parties seemingly agreeing to mediation. Not going to happen. China has rejected international mediation, and both sides are now lining up ships again.

Hostilities between China and Philippines escalated on Sunday as both sides lined up their naval ships for a second time in as many weeks, in a stand-off over a disputed island in the South China Sea.

China defended its action of sending its maritime vessel to the Huangyan Island, which the Philippines calls Scarborough Shoal as Manila too reportedly lined up two of its naval ships.

Philippines has already approached the International Court of Justice in Hague over the dispute.

China has rejected the move saying that it is against any international arbitration. Earlier in the day, Philippines President Benigno Aquino dismissed as rhetoric the recent warnings by Chinese officials of decisive action against the Philippines to reinforce Beijing's claim over the island.

"We don't think that at this stage they (China) will engage in any military activities," Aquino told reporters.

"And we... Have been geared towards de-escalating the situation."

Bull Whisper Airgun Review

Although I do not have one, I've often thought that a decent quality air rifle would be a good tool not only for pest control or small game (e.g., squirrel or rabbit) hunting, but also basic target practice. The problem, in my view, is the noise. An air rifle can still produce quite a bit of noise when discharged. The gas (CO2) cartridge can be almost as loud as an actual firearm, and even the spring piston designs seem unacceptably loud to me.

When Gamo first introduced their Whisper air rifle, I thought it might be an opportunity to get one that would be quiet enough for my purposes. However, the reviews I had read indicated that, because of the spring piston system, it still could be fairly loud. The solution appeared to be to replace the spring piston system with a gas piston (similar to the lifts used for the rear door of an SUV or mini-van) system.

This is apparently what has been done with the Bone Collector Whisper Airgun, reviewed here at the Firearms Blog.

The Bone Collector Bull Whisper is a gas piston (IGT, Inert Gas Technology) break barrel gun. Thanks to the IGT the air gun has more velocity and does not have the vibration that other spring rifles make. The fluted polymer jacketed steel barrel Bull Whisper reduces the noise characteristic of most air rifles by more than 50%. This is a very positive feature for folks living in communities which have an aversion to loud noises, not to mention the advantage when hunting squirrels. The Bone Collector comes in 0.177 and 0.22 caliber.

... The Gamo PBA Platinum pellets at 5.2 grains shot very well at 25 yards and easily penetrated the 3/8" wafer board backing our target. Hence, switched to 1/2" board to prevent any more holes in the barn. The 6.8 grain Gamo PBA copper-plated pellets were all over the paper. They simply would not group. ...

We picked up a tin of Gamo 7.9 grain Red Fire hunting pellets at our local sporting goods store and began shooting them. Now these were just what the doctor ordered. Not only did they group well at 25 yards, but penetration into the wafer board backstop was excellent. There is no question that these pellets, and the PBA Platinum are more than adequate for squirrel, rabbits and small varmints. ...

 The review indicates an MSRP of $289.95.

HK G36 Inaccurate Beyond 200 m When Hot (Updated)

The Firearms Blog notes a German newspaper report that says that "once the H&K G36 rifle has heated up, the accuracy is significantly reduced to a point where it is useless beyond 200 meters (218 yards)." The Blog also reminds us that a version of the G36--the XM8--nearly became the U.S. service rifle.

Updated (7/1/2014): German officials claim the problem was with ammunition--specifically, thinner walled cases used by MEN Metallwerk Elisenhuette GmbH.

"Econo-Can: A $55 Suppressor"

The Firearms Blog reports:

American Specialty Ammo is selling a registered NFA suppressor for $55 (+ $200 tax stamp) that is nothing more than an adapter to attach a car oil filter to a 1/2-28 threaded barrel. The first bullet punches a hole in the end of the oil filter. 

You can buy "spin-on" oil filters for $10 - $20. A used oil filter (soaked with old oil) will only improve its efficiency. Internally oil filters contain fibrous material designed to filter out contaminates from the oil. I think they would eventually wear/burn out when used with firearms.

Video at the link.

The Imperial Presidency

Interesting article on how Obama views executive power:

One Saturday last fall, President Obama interrupted a White House strategy meeting to raise an issue not on the agenda. He declared, aides recalled, that the administration needed to more aggressively use executive power to govern in the face of Congressional obstructionism.

“We had been attempting to highlight the inability of Congress to do anything,” recalled William M. Daley, who was the White House chief of staff at the time. “The president expressed frustration, saying we have got to scour everything and push the envelope in finding things we can do on our own.”

For Mr. Obama, that meeting was a turning point. As a senator and presidential candidate, he had criticized George W. Bush for flouting the role of Congress. And during his first two years in the White House, when Democrats controlled Congress, Mr. Obama largely worked through the legislative process to achieve his domestic policy goals. But increasingly in recent months, the administration has been seeking ways to act without Congress.

This is a trend that has been going on for a long time--well before Obama was even born. But this is the same trend that saw Republic Rome become Imperial Rome.

Is It Possible To Successfully Defend A Retreat Against Superior Forces?

Self-defense should be a concern of everyone. Even without a national or worldwide TEOTWAWKI, you could have your very own personal SHTF moment should you be mugged or the victim of a burglary. However, in this post, I am interested in protecting your home (or your retreat, if you will) from a group of raiders.

There are a few articles about this subject on the internet. (See here and here, for general discussion of the topic; here is an article on protecting against vehicles).

However, I question whether it is realistic to assume that you can do more than hold off a small number of attackers. I'm big on examples, so let me use a few:

First I came across this brief account recently in a book about World War I. (I believe this example to be relevant because the weapons that most troops were armed with at the beginning of the war were no different than a prepper or a reaver would use in a TEOTWAWKI situation).

The German Army was only twenty-five miles from Paris on September 3. That day, at the village of Baron, the 49-year-old composer Albéric Magnard barricaded himself in his house and opened fire on the German soldiers who had called for him to come out, killing one of them. His house was set on fire with straw and grenades: he perished inside it. The village was then looted.

Gilbert, Martin. The First World War: a Complete History, p. 68 (Henry Holt and Co., NY: 1994).

The most recent (June 2012) issue of Guns magazine ("Mexican Standoff" in the Rights Watch column) directed me to another example from 2010 that was reported at the Borderland Beat website. I'll quote from Borderland Beat:

The story began in the morning of Saturday November 13, when a group of armed gunmen went to deliver an ultimatum to Don Alejo Garza Tamez: He had 24 hours to turn over his property or suffer the consequences.

Using the diplomacy he had acquired over nearly eight decades of life, Don Alejo flatly announced that not only would he not be surrendering his property, but that he'd be waiting for them.

When the men had left, Don Alejo gathered his workers and ordered them to take Sunday off, he wanted to be alone.

He dedicated the rest of Saturday to taking stock of his weapons and ammunition and creating a military fortress style defense strategy for his home.

That strategy was to take his limited firearms--apparently hunting rifles--and preposition them with ammunition at the different windows in his house so he could quickly move from position to position.

Marines who investigated the scene could only imagine how it was that morning: armed men, their impunity secured, confident they'd soon be owners of yet another property. Nobody, or almost no one, could hold out against a group of heavily armed gunmen. Only Don Alejo.

The trucks entered the ranch and took up positions surrounding the house. The gunmen got out of their trucks, fired shots in the air, and announced they came to take possession of the ranch. They were expecting the terrified occupants to run out, begging for mercy with their hands in the air.

But things didn't go as expected. Don Alejo welcomed them with bullets; the entire army of gunmen returned fire. Don Alejo seemed to multiply, he seemed to be everywhere. The minutes would have seemed endless to those who had seen him as easy prey. Various gunmen were killed on sight. The others, in rage and frustration, intensified the attack by swapping out their assault rifles for grenades.

When everything finally fell silent, the air was left heavy with gunpowder. The holes left in the walls and the windows attested to the violence of the attack. When they went in search of what they had assumed was a large contingent, they were surprised to find only one man, Don Alejo.

The surviving gunmen did not take over the ranch. Thinking the military would arrive at any moment, they decided to run. They left behind what they thought were six corpses, but two of their gunmen had survived.

Don Alejo was inside his house, dead from his wounds. It was unclear to me from the story whether he was killed by gunfire, the grenades, or both.

Police raids also tell a story. For instance, FerFal notes here:

About 5 young able bodied males in the house and a 21 year old women that literally slept with her .45 strapped on a shoulder holster.

They had a nice weapon battery including ARs, scoped 30-06 rifles, shotguns, more than enough ammo, about 20 handguns spread around the house.
The compound/farm in Austin had the perimeter covered with cameras hidden in the trees, all connected to a big screen TV in the living room.
SWAT nailed them without firing a shot, and even though there were more, I counted only 4 operators entering after ramming down the door…
They were all watching a movie in the family room.

So people, FORGET about you super retreat, at least forget about it being a better defendable alternative. It isn’t.
Unless you have at the very least half a dozen people available for round the clock security you’re a sitting duck, and one lonely duck at that. It doesn’t take SWAT, a bunch of guys with an ounce of brains will get to you, specially if they don’t care about shooting the people inside.
Also, you need a real secured perimeter. Cameras with no one checking them are just a waste of time, at least it represents no real layer of protection.
24/7 guards plus good building design for layered security. If anyone thinks they have a secured or defendable retreat without those they are kidding themselves.

So what works? Again, real world examples help, as discussed in this post:

Rhodesian Farmers Defensive Arrangements

(from the Small Wars Council forum)

I knew many Rhodesian farmers and have visited many farmsteads over the years. At every farm, defensive arrangements were made up to suit their particular situation and infrastructure. The following would be a general overview:

1. Most farmers fitted hand-grenade grills to the outside of all windows. Doors leading outside were likewise security grilled.

2. Many farmers built thick walls about a meter in front of bedroom windows to stop bullets, but particularly to deal with RPG 7`s. Beds were never placed against the outside walls of a farmhouse.

3. It was usual to have a designated safe room within the farmhouse that could be defended until support arrived. Sometimes this was a central corridor that allowed the farmer to move into other rooms to attack those outside through the windows. In the loft or ceiling over the safe room, some farmers laid sand bags to deal with possible mortar attack.

4. Every farmhouse in a given area was linked by a radio system called “Agric Alert”. This allowed radio contact with other farmers who formed their own defence units, usually under the umbrella of PATU (Police Anti-Terrorist Unit), which would react to a call from one of their neighbours for assistance. Another means of alarm raising was the use of a signal rocket – The Agric-Alert system was not done away with after the war, such was the lack of trust in Mugabe`s promises. It performed admirably as well when dealing with criminal activity such as stock theft. The alert system arranged for all farmers to check in with each other at a given time in the morning and evening as a means of monitoring their status.

5. Around all farmhouse gardens were erected security fences with barbed wire (or razor wire) and which often had simple alarm systems built into them. Some I believe were electrified, if not before the end of the war, certainly afterwards. Within the fence boundary, every farmer usually had a couple of large dogs. The dogs were fed their largest meal in the morning instead of the evening, in order to help keep them awake at night. Other farmers had geese or ducks, which made excellent guard “dogs.” Gardens were kept deliberately trim so as to keep clear fields of view and fire etc. The farm houses also had outside flood lighting erected in such a way as to blind those outside the fence, but not to interfere with the vision of those within the farmhouse.

6. All farmers and their wives were armed with an assortment of weapons, and most farmers were trained military men. They had at least one assault rifle, usually an FAL 7.62, assorted shot guns, .303 hunting rifles and so forth. It was also not unusual for wives to carry Uzi`s around with them, or other equivalents such as the Rhodesian Cobra. All members of the family were trained on the various weaponry available to them, including the kids. In one famous incident a child successfully fought off the attacking terrorists after both of his parents were wounded. The main defensive weapons were at all times within immediate reach of the adult farmhouse occupants, and were placed next to the bed at night.

7. Some farmers used mine protected vehicles, as a favourite of terrorists was to landmine the driveway outside the fence. A great deal of time was spent looking at the dirt roads for freshly dug earth points and so forth when driving around the farm.

8. Some farm gardens and particular points external to the fence were wired with home-made claymore like devices strategically placed in areas where attackers were likely to take cover. In a few instances farmers deliberately erected “cover positions” for the terrorists to use outside the fence, which were then blown up upon attack. A particular favourite was a section of plastic piping filled with nails, nuts, bolts, screws and so forth. I witnessed tests with these and the tubes cleared large areas of their intended aiming point of all bush cover and leaves from trees etc for about 30 meters into the bush. By placing a number of figure 8`s in front of these tests, it was apparent from the strike patterns that not one of them would have walked again had they been terrorists.

9. Some farmers also hired soldiers on leave to guard their premises at night. Usually these were men looking for extra “beer” money. They were called Bright Lights, and often ended up in fire fights with the terrorists, where they came as a nasty surprise to the terrs when the latter were expecting a nice soft hit and run. Like all farmers in an area, Bright Lights would participate in the support of other farmers when the situation required.

10. Good relationships with farm labour, particularly the house staff, very often warned of problems before they occurred. All of us who grew up in the country have fond memories of those employees who took care of us as kids, and who often placed themselves at great risk for doing so.

Although this article discusses tips for crime in general, there are some valid points for defending a retreat.

The Bo Xilai Crises -- An Interview with Cheng Li

Cheng Li is an expert on China with the Brooking's Institute, so the interview gives some insight on the issue that seems to have been missing in the main-stream media. For instance, some background on Bo Xilai:

Bo Xilai’s story is certainly linked to China’s present-day factional politics, which I characterize as “one party, two coalitions.” One coalition is led by former president Jiang Zemin’s protégés. While the core of this coalition used to be the so-called Shanghai Gang, “princelings” (leaders who come from high-ranking family backgrounds) have become more central since the fall of Shanghai party boss Chen Liangyu on corruption charges in 2006. Bo Xilai is a princeling, as his father Bo Yibo was a revolutionary veteran who served as vice premier. The other coalition primarily consists of former officials from the Chinese Communist Youth League and is led by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. These two coalitions fight with each other over power, influence, and policy initiatives. Bo Xilai’s career advancement can certainly be attributed to his princeling background and his patron-client ties with Jiang Zemin.

Bo’s downfall is also related to his own egotistical personality and notorious ambition. While his ambitions were most recently focused on achieving a seat on the Politburo Standing Committee, it would have not stopped there. In the months preceding the crisis, members of Bo’s staff spread the rumor that he could become China’s next premier. In addition, Su Wei, a scholar close to Bo at the Chongqing Party School, compared Bo Xilai and Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan to former leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai in comments circulated in both the Chongqing and national media.

The Bo episode is also related to ideological conflict, as he was associated with China’s “new left” thinking—especially through his Mao-style campaigns, such as the “smash the black” anti–organized crime campaign—and advocated an ultra-egalitarian and ultra-nationalist development model for China, known as the “Chongqing model.”

But this episode is really more than the sum of these factors. Most importantly, it involves Wang Lijun’s attempted defection to the United States and the charges against Bo’s wife related to the murder or assassination of British citizen Neil Heywood. The Chinese public has been shocked by both incidents, since this is a very unusual set of events in CCP history. How is it possible that national hero Wang Lijun and one of China’s top leaders are capable of such actions? When these kinds of charges are involved, all Chinese leaders—regardless of which faction they belong to—will not support Bo Xilai any longer, because the current crisis poses a challenge to the legitimacy of the CCP itself. The stakes are very high, and the challenge facing the CCP leadership is intimidating.

Li dismisses theories that the scandal was engineered by other Chinese leaders,Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao. He also believes that the Chinese leadership is more interested in presenting a united political front publicly, rather than pursuing a witch-hunt against other senior officials.

The party leadership will be extremely cautious and not expand the scope of the Bo Xilai case to other leaders. Purges will be relatively limited. The fact that certain leaders closely affiliated with Bo, such as Huang Qifan, are still free implies that the top leadership does not intend to punish too many people. The fact that the country is on the eve of the 18th Party Congress, with so many destabilizing factors, will also lead the leadership to limit the scope of targeted officials.

Therefore, though the Bo case is a victory for Hu and Wen, this victory will not necessarily translate into more seats for their coalition on the Politburo Standing Committee. To a certain extent, this explains why Guangdong’s liberal party chief Wang Yang has been reluctant to claim victory since there still could be a backlash against him. The makeup of the future Politburo Standing Committee will largely be determined through compromises between the two coalitions. The balance of power within this system will not be easily changed. If the princeling faction collapsed, this would constitute an unimaginable revolution with implications for Chinese politics and social instability ten times greater than the Bo scandal. Thus, at the moment, there is a tremendous incentive for the party’s top leadership to preserve the current structure of “one party, two coalitions,” and show unity and solidarity. Evidence of the Chinese leadership’s unity on this matter can be found in the man who replaced Bo as party chief of Chongqing, Zhang Dejiang, a protégé of Jiang Zemin and part of the same princeling coalition as Bo. This appointment means that a deal has been made and the top leadership of the party is united.

Read the whole thing. (H/t Instapundit).

St. Louis Police Adopting Shotguns

I came across this article reporting that the St. Louis Police are adopting (or perhaps, "returning to" is more accurate) shotguns. (H/t The Truth About Guns). Anyway, the interesting part is this:

"When you get out of a car with (a shotgun) and you hear the sound of the racking action, everyone knows the next thing you're going to hear is an exceptionally large bang," said Sgt. David Bonenberger, president of the St. Louis Police Officers' Association. "It's a confidence thing. It means business."

The department abandoned shotguns years ago in favor of short-barreled rifles that use the same 9 mm pistol ammunition as its semi-automatic handguns.

"After testing and training, we found the 9 mm configuration to be inadequate," Lt. Mike Deeba said Wednesday. "The shotgun is cheaper than the rifles and more effective in shorter distances, and most shootings occur within 15 yards of the officer."

While pistols and rifles fire a single bullet with each shot, a typical 12-gauge police shotgun shell fires a tight pattern of about eight bullet-sized balls.

New .223-caliber rifles will be issued to supervisors to provide greater long-distance shooting capability that also can penetrate body armor, officials said.

How to Get Unstuck

I was reading an article today on how to get unstuck, in a psychological way, because I thought it was about how to get a car unstuck. So, I decided to track down a couple articles on the subject.

Here is one from e-How on how to get unstuck from mud. It recommends:

1. Don't panic. Often a person's instinct is to do the same thing harder, if the initial efforts aren't working. It won't help your predicament to push harder on the accelerator, spinning your wheels--it will just get the car even more deeply stuck. So stop, get out of the car, and look at the situation.

2. Gently push on the accelerator to try to ease out of the mud pit. For cars with an automatic transmission, put the car in its lowest gear and give it just a bit of gas to see if the tires will get traction. For cars with a manual transmission, use a higher gear and very gently let out the clutch, moving the tires inch by inch. If this does not work, try the next step. 

3.  Rock the car back and forth. Turn the steering wheel so the wheels are straight, and quickly switch back and forth from reverse to drive about 8 to 10 times--but no more, or you could damage your car. If your car is still stuck, move on to the next step.

4. Let a little air out of the tires. A slightly flat tire will allow more surface area to come in contact with the ground, perhaps providing that extra amount of traction you need to get unstuck. Just remember to refill your tires as soon as you get to safety.

5. Find something to place under the tires to provide traction. You can use tree branches, sand, boards (check for nails), an old coat or blanket, or even your floor mats. Place these items under your front tires, and drive slowly over them. This step will almost always get a car unstuck from the mud, but if it doesn't work, you might need help.

6. Get help. Call a tow truck or a friend that has a wench to come and rescue you.

The tips given above are also useful if you get stuck in snow or sand. Some other tips on getting out of mud, sand, or snow here:

Plan ahead. Keep your tires in good shape, properly inflated and not too worn. If you live in an area where it snows a lot, consider investing in winter tires. Also, carry a cell phone and sign up with a roadside-assistance program, such as AAA or Better World Club. Some car insurance companies also offer programs; check to see if yours is one of them. Another option becoming increasingly available are telematics systems such as GM's OnStar.

If you're stuck, rock out. Keep the wheels straight, and using a very light touch on the gas pedal, rock the car forward and back by switching between drive and reverse. If the tires start to spin, stop and change direction. In deep snow, and especially in soft sand and mud, spinning the tires just digs you in deeper. If your transmission has a winter mode, use that. If you have a manual transmission, use second gear. Once you get going, don't stop until you reach solid ground. But if you get nowhere after eight or 10 attempts, try the next tip.

Dig deep. Create a path several feet long for each wheel. It's a good idea to make a folding shovel part of your winter emergency kit, along with a blanket, safety flares, reflective triangles, and rock salt or other snow melter. If you don't have a shovel, use what you can—a hubcap, a piece of wood, the base of the car jack, or the spare-tire cover.

Add traction. Spread sand in your tracks, especially near the drive wheels. Cat litter might work, too, but some clay-base litters are useless when wet. You can try the car's floor mats (laid nap-side down), a trunk liner, or a commercial traction aid. Traction mats or grids might also help in snow, sand, or mud. If you need to jack up the car to position a traction aid, consult the owner's manual. The jack has to be on firm ground. If it isn't, place something flat and solid beneath it.

Let out some air. If you're stuck in sand, first try digging out paths for your tires and lining them with small stones, twigs, planks, clothing or carpet scraps. Also try letting air out of the tires. Use a tire pressure gauge to reduce pressure to no less than 10 pounds, then reinflate the tires when you get back on solid ground.

Fill in the ruts. Mud can be a special challenge because it's easy to spin the wheels and sink axle-deep in it. If a tow truck isn't available, you might have to jack up the car and fill the depressions made by the tires with planks, plywood, rocks, or gravel.

Here is another article on the subject from 4X4 Now, discussing the use of tow straps, and a high-lift (bumper) jack. And another from Truck Trend.

Evaporated Versus Condensed Milk

A short article from the Preparedness Advice Blog about the difference between evaporated and condensed milk. (H/t Daily Survival).

"Canning 101" ...

... from Backwoods Home Magazine.

Use of Animal Antibiotics

Armageddon Medicine has an article on using a couple of different veterinary antibiotics:

Procaine penicillin is probably used most often nowadays for strep throat, though with the abundance of effective oral meds, its use has become less common.  The adult dose for moderately severe to severe respiratory infections, tonsillitis, or pneumonia is 600,000 to 1,000,000 units/day via intramuscular injection for 10 days.  It can also be used to treat certain stages of syphilis, rat bite fever, anthrax prophylaxis or treatment of cutaneous disease, and diphtheria (see CDC for guidelines). 

As for lincomycin, when I used to work in Appalachia it was a popular choice for a variety of patients including:

1. those suffering from pneumonia who were almost, but not quite, sick enough for hospitalization
2. those whose compliance with oral medication was questionable
3. those who preferred injections – and there were many.

According to the (human) product insert, Lincocin Sterile Solution is “indicated in the treatment of serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylocci. Its use should be reserved for penicillin-allergic patients or other patients for whom, in the judgment of the physician, a penicillin is inappropriate. Because of the risk of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis” (C diff) “before selecting lincomycin the physician should consider the nature of the infection and the suitability of less toxic alternatives (eg, erythromycin).”  Some cross resistance has been noted between clindamycin and erythromycin, meaning if either of these antibiotics are not effective, Lincocin may not work either.

In my personal experience, this drug worked great!  ...  The adult dose is 600 mg IM (= 2 mL injected intramuscularly) once daily for serious infections, or twice daily for very serious infections.    It can be used in pediatric patients over 1 month of age at a dose of 10 mg/kg (5 mg/lb) every 24 hours for serious infections, or twice daily for very serious infections.  I have never used this drug in children – mostly only in sick COPD patients.  It should be reserved for life-threatening infections and is not the first line treatment for anything.  However, it could indeed be life-saving at TEOTWAWKI.

The article mentions that currently neither requires a prescription, but warns that this may change in the near future.

Chinese/Philippine Standoff Continues ... Sort Of...

The Wall Street Journal reports today:

China asked the Philippines on Tuesday to withdraw a coast guard ship and an archaeological research vessel from a disputed shoal and ignored a Philippine proposal to bring the problem to a U.N.-linked tribunal for arbitration.

China and the Philippines have agreed to settle the dispute diplomatically but have both insisted on their ownership of Scarborough Shoal, prolonging an eight-day standoff on the high seas. Two Chinese surveillance ships have been facing off with a Philippine coast guard vessel in the area since last week.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario asked China to bring the dispute to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea for arbitration. The Chinese Embassy, however, ignored the proposal Tuesday and asked the Philippines to withdraw its vessels from the shoal "and restore peace and stability there."

The horseshoe-shaped shoal is among the barren islands, reefs and coral outcrops in the South China Sea which have been disputed by China, the Philippines and four other nations for their potential oil and gas deposits, rich fishing grounds and proximity to busy commercial sea lanes.

Although claimant countries have pledged to settle the territorial rifts peacefully, the disputes have erupted in violence in the past, including in 1988 when China and Vietnam clashed in the Spratly Islands in a confrontation that killed 64 Vietnamese soldiers. Many fear the disputes could become Asia's next flash point for armed conflict.

The Philippine government wants to have the issue resolved by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. (Story here). It is unlikely that China will agree, however, because it views its possession of the shoal as predating international treaty.

"Load Carriage in Military Operations"

A PDF (link here--approximately 8.9 Mb) discussing the use of load bearing equipment (backpacks, MOLLE, etc.) during military operations. The monograph first addresses historical studies and estimates of how much soldiers typically carry, different methods and problems with carrying, and then addresses health issues (i.e., injuries) that can result when slogging around with a lot of weight on your back.

I haven't had time to review the material in detail, but in skimming through it, I think this would be of interest to anyone that hikes or backpacks, hunts while carrying a pack, or anyone that thinks they might need to evacuate a disaster zone on foot while carrying a 72-hour kit or something similar. The section on health issues alone is worth perusing.

Gap Lacing

Whether hiking, on the march, or even in your daily walking, it is important to take care of your feet. Taking care of your feet is more than just buying shoes or boots that fit, but also lacing them up correctly. This is why I have included from early on in my blog's "life" a link to a site called Ian's Shoelace Site that has directions and diagrams on different methods of lacing boots and shoes. (Check the sidebar of "Useful Links").

I actually hadn't thought too much of this issue until I was at an REI yard sale several years ago looking at a pair of brand new looking trail running shoes that had been returned because they pinched. Since they were my size, I tried them on, and sure enough, one of the shoes pinched. I was about to put them back when I noticed that whoever had laced it up had missed a hole over the mid-step when doing the lacing. Re-lacing the shoe correctly, I tried it on and there was no pinch. So, I walked home with a pair of brand new shoes that were normally over $100 for only $30.

Anyway, skipping to the relevant part, Ian's Shoelace site has a new lacing method posted to help those suffering from pressure on the instep (the upper ridge of the foot) called gap lacing. Check out the full article for a lacing diagram.

Land Rover Comes Up With a BOV

Land Rover has come up with its own concept of a bug-out vehicle. Ignoring the sarcasm in the article, it has a few interesting features:

The DC100 is meant to signal the future of the Land Rover Defender. It's pure practicality on four wheels and none of that annoying sleek styling that is showing up in other models. Nope, this car is meant to take on an uncertain future.

With its rooftop equipment rack, you can stow hundreds of cans of Spam and canned peas topside, leaving the cargo area for your stash of glinting yellow gold bullion. As giant chasms split open before you, you can count on the winch to deliver you from a sure, quick demise. Best of all, the DC100 has a snorkel so it can be driven in deep water. Land Rover even came up with something called "Wade Aid" with sonar sensors on the bumper and side mirrors to measure water depth. When it senses that you have sounded the dive alarm and are headed for deep water, it automatically closes vents, raises the ride height and puts the vehicle into low gear. ....

Since any survivalist will be hesitant to get out from behind the wheel to scout the terrain, lest some scavenger make a break for the treasure, the DC100 has a Terrain Response system. It creates a three-dimensional map of the outdoors and can "optimize" for just about anything it encounters.

Of course, it is also probably out of the price range of everyone except those that can afford the multi-million dollar luxury missile-silo bunkers. However, this is probably a product designed more for first-responders than survivalists, but it is nice that they are making it available to the civilian market.

Mid-West Should Expect Violent, Life Threatening Storms Today

The midwest is bracing itself for an outbreak of violent weather today that could be "life-threatening," according to forecasters.

Baseball-sized hail and damaging 70 mph winds are expected to whip through a handful of states.

A warning was issued Friday for parts of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Oklahoma and Kansas are expected to be the hardest hit, according to a rare high risk warning issued Friday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center.

Paul Walker, an Accuweather senior meteorologist, told ABC News that a warning two days in advance of a storm was unusual and cautioned that the weekend "should be particularly dangerous."

Full story here.

Source for Military Gas Cans

If you have been looking for a source for the plastic military gas cans (i.e., jerry cans), you might try here. These appear to be identical to the U.S. fuel containers. I know someone that has ordered several, and, while obviously used, they have been in pretty good shape and still serviceable. They don't come with the pour spouts, but can use the standard pour spout for older U.S. military fuel cans.

British General Predicts that Argentina Will Attempt to Invade Falkands

From the Telegraph:

In one of the starkest warnings over the islands’ future sovereignty Major Gen Julian Thompson said once the reinforced garrison and naval presence disappears at the end of this year Buenos Aires will look to repeat its 1982 action.

“The Argentines could invade and seize the Falkland Islands again,” he said in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute, the respected military think tank.

The former Royal Marine disclosed that after the British Government was “alerted” by the Argentina president Cristina Kirchner “stoking the sovereignty fires” it discretely reinforced the Falklands garrison and naval presence.

This would make an invasion “highly unlikely” this year but “in a few years time however, when the fuss has died down, and the UK’s guard is lowered, an Argentine coup de main operation to take the airfield is perfectly attainable”.

With at least four RAF Typhoons stationed at Stanley airfield alongside 1,200 troops, equipped with radar, surface-to-air missiles and the Navy’s latest Type 45 destroyer in the area, a conventional attack would be difficult.

But military analysts have suggested that a lighting Argentine special forces raid could seize the airfield with just 200 troops hiding in a civilian aircraft.

“With no airfield, reinforcing the islands by air would be impossible, as would any form of air-lifted attempt at recovering them. The only way to take them back would be an amphibious assault as in 1982,” Major Gen Thompson said.

Los Zeta Cartel Recruits MS-13 Members in Guatemala

From Borderland Beat:

Los Zetas criminal organization recruits the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) AKA Las Maras, gang members for training in paramilitary camps in Guatemala, according to Guatemalan authorities.

Los Zetas use their Las Maras recruits in the Guatemalan capital to distract actions and resources of the authorities in order to ensure the control of rural land corridors used for the smuggling of narcotics. Las Maras also provide intelligence support through their organization according to Stuart Velasco, chief coordinator of the task forces of the Ministry of Interior.

Las Maras use their training to improve their criminal operations and to make more money. Perquisites include access to military training, high-powered weapons and drugs for sale or own consumption, he added.

Fox News also reports:

In recent months, authorities say, they have begun to see the first signs that the Zetas are providing paramilitary training and equipment to the Maras in exchange for intelligence and crimes meant to divert law-enforcement resources and attention.

The Zetas, formed more than a decade ago by defectors from Mexico's army special forces, have already joined forces with local drug kingpins in the Guatemalan countryside, and recruited turncoat members of Guatemala's military special forces for operations in Mexico and Guatemala, officials in the two neighboring countries have said.

There is some evidence that other Mexican cartels have paid Central American street gangs to sell drugs for them. And Salvadoran authorities said they are aware of informal links between the Zetas and local cliques of the Mara Salvatrucha paid to sell individual shipments of drugs, but officials have seen no proof of any formal deal between the gangs.

But a formal, durable alliance with the Maras could bring the Zetas thousands of new foot soldiers, extending the cartel's reach into the cities of Guatemala, and, potentially, other countries in Central America where the Maras maintain a grip on urban slums.

Guatemalan authorities told The Associated Press that they believe the Zetas have trained a small group of Maras in at least one camp inside Mexico. Zeta members have spoken of recruiting 5,000 more, although the extent to which they have succeeded remains unclear, officials said.

This is an interesting alliance. Although the articles focuse on Guatemala, it should be remembered that MS-13 is also a key drug distributor in the United States. Thus, this may signal an intent by Los Zeta to gain more influence on the distribution network in the U.S.

Here is a 2006 USA Today article on the gang for some background. And the Wikipedia link.

The Doomsday Shelter

The Daily Mail reports on yet another developer planning on transforming an old missile silo complex into shelters to survive the apocalypse (whatever form it may take). 

Built to withstand an atomic blast, even the most paranoid can find comfort inside concrete walls that are nine feet thick and stretch 174 feet (53 meters) underground.

Instead of simply setting up shop in the old living quarters provided for missile operators, Hall is building condos right up the missile shaft.

Seven of the 14 underground floors will be condo space selling for $2 million a floor or $1 million a half floor. Three and a half units have been sold, two contracts are pending and only two more full units are available, Hall said.

For now, metal stairs stretch down to connect each floor but an elevator will later replace them. The units are within a steel and concrete core inside the original thick concrete, which makes them better able to withstand earthquakes.

Hall is also installing an indoor farm to grow enough fish and vegetables to feed 70 people for as long as they need to stay inside and also stockpiling enough dry goods to feed them for five years.

The top floor and an outside building above it will be for elaborate security.

Other floors will be for a pool, a movie theater and a library, and when in lockdown mode there will be floors for a medical center and a school.

Complex life support systems provide energy supplies from sources of conventional power, as well as windmill power and generators.

Giant underground water tanks will hold water pre-filtered through carbon and sand. And, of course, an elaborate security system and staff will keep marauding hordes out.

The condo elevator will only operate if a person's fingerprint matches its system, Hall said. Cameras will monitor a barbed-wire topped fence and give plenty of warning of possible intruders. Responses can range from a warning to lethal force.

The article includes graphics showing the proposed layout and design of the different levels. Cost is $1 million for a "half-floor" condo, and $2 million for a full floor.

Cool as the concept is, I see these as a suckers bet. First, how do these people propose to get to an old ICBM bunker in the middle of Kansas in the middle of an emergency so dire that they need to hole up in such a structure? Second, I suspect that the first person (or family) in will also be the last one in. And, in this case, that will probably be the staff members.

The ironic part is, in the event of a full-scale nuclear attack (unlikely as that is), the silo these are built in would probably still be targeted ... just in case.

Decline in Shipping

One thing a lot of people have been looking at are different metrics for gauging the actual health of the economy and the direction it is headed. Shipping is one such metric, and it doesn't look too good. From the Telegraph:

As owners have seen the rates charged to carry freight plunge, demand for their ships has collapsed to the point that selling them for scrap makes financial sense much earlier in a vessel's life.

In the worst hit sectors, the fall in the ships's value and the rise in the price of steel – driven by rapacious demand from China as it builds itself anew – means that the difference between the prices fetched if vessels are sold on to keep sailing and those if they are broken up for scrap is now minimal.

Cargo ships as a general rule are built to sail for 25 years, yet in the volatile VLCC or "very-large crude carrier" sector, which comprises the world's biggest oil tankers, scrap and resale prices reached parity in recent months for the average 15-year-old ship, according to prices tracked by industry information provider VesselsValue.com.

The article notes that there was a certain amount of overbuilding, but it was due to over-optimism in the strength of the recovery.

Many ship owners, however, are refusing to scrap their ships in the hope of a shock which could resuscitate the market – perhaps some global upheaval which would push up rates against a backdrop of broadly flat global demand for oil.

A serious flare-up around Iran, for example, still at loggerheads with the West over its nuclear ambitions, could boost the VLCC market, as the disruption to oil supplies would require ships to carry fuel further around the world.

Admittedly, there are differences in performance throughout the shipping industry, with the market for smaller "medium range" tankers, which carry refined oil products, holding up better than that for the super-sized crude carriers. But nor is the problem confined to VLCCs.

A similar oversupply of container vessels operating on the Asia to Europe trade lanes has pushed freight rates to "unsustainably low levels", operator Maersk Line warned earlier this year, as it announced it was taking 9pc of its capacity on the route out of service.

Bomb Blast at Greek Public Sector Reform Ministry

From the Daily Mail:

A bomb exploded outside a Greek ministry responsible for axing 150,000 public sector jobs last night - apparently in protest at government spending cuts.

Windows were smashed and desks were damaged in the blast outside the Public Sector Reform Ministry in Athens.

The department are axeing 150,000 government posts by 2015 in an austerity drive.

The explosion happened just a day after protesters marching in memory of a man who killed himself over financial woes that he blamed on the government.

It's going to be a long, hot summer in Greece.

"Historical Uses for Common Mullein"

From Forager's Digest:

Mullein is found growing on hedge-banks, by roadsides and on waste ground, more especially on gravel, sand or chalk. Sunny positions in uncultivated fields and especially on dry soils.

Let’s get the warnings out of the way first. Mullein seeds are toxic and the leaves have been known to be the cause of contact dermatitis. With that said, we can now move on to how our ancestors put the common mullein to practical use.

Mullein was mainly used as a remedy for respiratory ailments. A tea or infusion made from the leaves was the most common way of preparing the remedy but there is some indication that smoking the leaves also brought relief. Today you will find mullein leaves for sale at herbal stores and if you look hard enough you’ll find the leaves available for smoking.

Many claim that mullein can be used to manage serious ailments like asthma and tuberculosis. There has been some recent research that supports these claims. Other research has shown mullein to have anti-viral properties against Herpes 1. Today, many people still use mullein to clear lung congestion and open sinuses.

Mullein leaves and the oil from the plant have also been used in poultices to treat everything from acne to sore throat and swollen glands to hemorrhoids and rhuematism

We mentioned that the mullein seeds were toxic, they contain a narcotic. Apparently, our ancestors knew about this and prepared sedatives from large quantities of mullein seeds.

The mullein leaves were used for lamp wicks or were dipped in fat and used for torches. Yellow dye can made from the mullein’s flowers.

The mullein has many other names. Some of them include “Hig candlewick”, “Bullicks lungwort”, “Adams-rod”, “Hare’s-beard”, “Ice-leaf” and “Cowboy Toilet Paper” are a few.

Review of Break Free Powder Blast

... a gun cleaning spray, from 30-Cal Gal.

Book Reviews -- "A Distant Eden" and "The Walk"

I decided to review a couple post-disaster fiction novels today.

The first is A Distant Eden by Lloyd Tackitt. This book follows 4 groups of survivors following a solar storm on the order of the Carrington Event that destroys electrical grids world wide. The story takes place in Texas.

The first group of survivors is Roman and Sarah, an elderly couple living on a small farm retreat in North Texas who have been preparing for the collapse of civilization for years, stockpiling food and seeds, weapons, and other supplies. They are situated in an almost ideal survival land with good climate, plenty of water from a stream, a nearby cave for emergency shelter, game animals and fish, and fairly isolated.

The second group of survivors is a small Rangers or Special Forces team from Fort Hood led by Roman's nephew, Adrian. After the disaster, the military seizes major food warehouses and distribution centers, and begins moving the food onto the military bases to feed the soldiers and their families. However, after this is accomplished, the plan is to discharge the single soldiers, with their firearms and several weeks of MRE rations. Adrian's team decides to follow Adrian as he heads north to his uncle's retreat. Conveniently, in their journey, they rescue a group of young, fit, single, female nurses and doctors, who join their little group.

The third group of survivors are Roman's son, Jerry, and his family, living in Dallas in a small house. The disaster finds them unable to leave their house for several weeks, and so having to shelter "in site" while attempting to avoid human "predators" and solve issues such as water and security. Living in an old-style Southern home raised off the ground with an open crawl space (i.e., mesh wood screens around the bottom edges), they end up moving into a location under the house to give it the appearance of having been abandoned. After Adrian reaches Roman's place, he later leaves with his team to retrieve Jerry.

The fourth group of survivors are Roman's friend, Matt, and his family. Matt is described a a minimalist survivalist--little in food, but heavy on weapons and ammunition. His plan is to evacuate to a wild game preserve in West Texas. However, after arriving at the preserve, he realizes that the carrying capacity of the land can't support his family plus the couple that owns the land, and eventually he decides to head back to Roman's retreat.

The book is intended to be instructional as well as a story, so there are long explanations and monologues about certain topics. Generally, this would be a big turn off in a novel. However, given the nature of the book, to both instruct and entertain, I accepted the speeches. Even with the explanations, I found that the story flowed well and was a quick and easy read. Unlike other books, it wasn't a struggle to get through the book. I believe it is the author's first book. If so, the author clearly has talent, and I would be interested in seeing some other books from him in the future.

Having said that, there were some issue that I have, which I've seen in other survivalist novels and certainly not limited to this book.

I have to say that I was somewhat discouraged by how casually the characters, who are supposedly Christians, would kill people. Anyone scavenging or hunting on their property are looters (ignoring that most of the characters spend the majority of the book doing exactly the same thing) who they have no problem killing. In one scene, Matt and the owner of the game preserve discover that a man, his wife, and young child, have killed one of the deer on the preserve (which by the owners admission, has too many deer anyway). They confront the family, during which the man is killed. The owner then shoots down the woman and the child, justifying it as a mercy killing because they would have starved or been killed by someone else. Who, but God, is to know that? And why have forced a confrontation in the first place over a deer that probably would have been culled anyway? In an odd flip, they catch another "poacher," but let him live because they determine that he is a Christian (and, by chance, is a wildlife biologist that can help the game preserve).


Roman's main concern throughout the book is the so-called "Golden Horde" of people following a collapse. However, the author actually spends very little time on the issue of dealing with large groups of refugees or what happens to them. They essentially disappear during the book, as if swallowed up by the earth, and all that the characters deal with are a few surviving gangs of cutthroats.

Although the military is well organized at the beginning of the book, confiscating/stealing food from warehouses, there is nothing further said on this topic. Nothing else is said about possible "continuity of government" plans or efforts that would surely follow such a disaster.

Although the characters are adamant about rebuilding civilization, they are essentially isolationists with no interest in helping anyone outside their own small group. There is some lip-service paid at the end with establishing a "colony" at another farm (who's owners were killed by looters or gangs), but the focus of the characters is to absolutely avoid drawing attention to themselves--a candle hidden under a bush, so to speak.

In short, it was a quick easy read, but with some standard survivalist clichés and deux ex machina such as the group of military professionals as part of your group, rescuing the nurses in distress, and so on. For 99 cents for the Kindle version, it is worth the read. $7 for the paperback version, though, is probably too much. The book ends with a clear set up for another book. If it is made available at a similar low price for the Kindle, I will probably give it a try.

The second book that I read is The Walk by Lee Goldberg. This book follows Martin Slack, a television network executive, on his journey across L.A. and Hollywood to return to his wife following "the Big One"--an earthquake that has devastated the city. Although Martin has prepared for "the Big One" at his house, he has little or no survival supplies at work or in his vehicle. However, he was lucky enough to have a gym bag in his car with some athletic shoes, and scrounges some water bottles, food, and a first aid kit before heading across the city.

His plan is to not be a hero, but to focus solely on his task, which is to get back to his wife. During his walk, however, he finds a mortally wounded woman who pleads with him to take care of her daughter (who is at a daycare on the other side of the valley), rescues a boy trapped in a car balanced on the side of an overpass, is nearly killed by a flood from a dam collapse, a poison gas cloud, and various explosions from leaking natural gas and gasoline. He also is forced to confront his own personal flaws and demons.

Although primarily a work of entertainment, the book is based on research on what could actually happen in such an earthquake, and so would be a good read for anyone living in an earthquake prone area, and especially the L.A. basin. The main character is woefully unprepared for his journey, so in many respects, the book tends to raise a lot of "what would I do" or "am I prepared for that" scenarios.

There are obviously some points of melodrama, such as a confrontation with a group of Mexican gang members breaking into an ATM, and the various near brushes with death, but it raises very valid points of how would you get back to your retreat or your home if you were forced to get their on foot.

Given the obvious research on what a big earthquake could do, I was surprised by how little attention was given to food and water. The character stuffs his pockets with a few bottles of water, gets some drinks at a couple other locations, but the author pretty much ignores the water issues.

As with A Distant Eden, this book is a very easy read. It was not a book I had to force myself through. I would recommend it.

Greek Spring

Riots erupted in Greece earlier this week after a pharmacist committed suicide in a public square in protest of austerity measures.

As thousands of commuters swarmed to work, the pensioner shot himself, deciding to end his life rather than face his final years on the breadline.

His death has shocked Greece, even though the nation has already seen suicide rates increase by around 20 per cent in the past two years.

Yesterday, police clashed with demonstrators for a second day at the site where Mr Christoulas killed himself in downtown Athens.

Several dozen youths dressed in hoods and crash helmets smashed paving stones with hammers and threw the rubble at riot police, chanting ‘Killers! Killers!’ as police responded with tear gas and flash grenades.

By yesterday, the spot where Mr Christoulas took his life had become a shrine to the man who is fast becoming a totem for ordinary Greeks trying to exist day-by-day in a country teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

Last night, about 1,000 mourners once again gathered at the corner of Syntagma Square where he died, with the spot adorned by flowers and candles.

How to Land a Plane in an Emergency

From the Guardian, brief instructions for the non-pilot on how to land a plane in an emergency. And the final words of wisdom? "Good luck."

Just a Reminder that Mobs Can Form Very Quickly

From the Daily Mail:

Hundreds of teenage revellers descended on a home in an exclusive part of Los Angeles after being tipped off it was empty on social networking sites.

Terrifying footage from a neighbour's CCTV camera shows the 500-strong mob rampaging through a street in Holmby Hills 'like a swarm of bees'.

* * *
Police wearing riot gear were called and neighbours reported seeing youths jumping from the second floor of the property and running though other the backyards of other backyards to escape.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said many of the party-goers had come from another event in Beverley Hills that had been stopped.

They learnt of the new venue via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and smartphones.

Argentina and the Falklands -- It's All About the Oil

From CNBC:

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina’s president, used the 30th anniversary of her country’s invasion of the Falkland Islands to rubbish Britain’s claims to the south Atlantic territory, saying: “It is absurd to pretend dominion more than 14,000km across the sea.”

* * *

She also demanded an end to environmental degradation and what Argentina sees as the ransacking of potential oil riches in waters around the islands, where British companies are operating with licences Argentina says are illegal.

I've noted before that the Falklands have their own government and are largely independent of Britain. Thus, Argentina's claim to be standing up against British imperialism is baseless.

Climate Change Threatens Chinese Crop Production

From Scientific American:

In north China, where wheat fields have dominated the landscape for centuries, the crop is becoming increasingly difficult to grow as the land gets drier and warmer. In southern China, droughts in recent years have replaced rainy seasons, drying up rice paddies on a large scale.

Experts are scrambling to understand the problems and to predict how serious they might become. Although forecasts for crop output vary, most agree that the future climate won't be as favorable to agriculture. While China's hunt for adaptation measures is on, little progress has been made so far.

That raises the question of whether 1.34 billion Chinese -- accounting for almost one-fifth of the world's population -- would be able to feed themselves. Currently, China produces slightly less grains than its people consume. Crop losses caused by extreme weather events, insect attacks and other problems associated with climate change are rocking the already delicate balance.

Read the whole thing.

Book Review -- Holding Your Own Ground

A lengthy and in-depth review of "Holding Your Own Ground--Preparing for Defense If It All Falls Apart" from Tactical Intelligence.

Some Articles on Camouflage

Here are some articles I've found on camouflage that I thought I would share.

(1)  The Wilderness Survival blog has a good introductory article on personal camouflage, including not only visual camouflage, but some discussion of noise and smell as well.

(2)  Ever wondered how different camouflage stacked up against each other? Here is a link to a 2009 U.S Army report of a test of various camouflage patterns under different conditions.

(3)  Here is a guest post at Survival Blog on camouflage, including how to make a ghillie suit.

(4)  Finally, what if you don't have camouflage on? The Survival Topics blog discusses how to hide in plain site with fairly typical street cloths, including photographs.

Real Life Account of Survival in Bosnia

Some of you have probably seen this before, but Tactical Intelligence Net has a post that is a compilation of forum posts by a man named Selco and his experience in a real SHTF situation during the Bosnian civil war of 1992. A lot of good information.