Prepography
The Art & Study of Self-Reliance
Top 10 Preparedness Uses of WD-40 (2,100)
Snake Eater – How to Field Dress a Snake (657)
Prepping with Garage Sales (646)
OCOKA – A Key Survival Acronym (635)
Fan of the Ammo Can – Top 10 Uses (610)
Top 10 Preparedness Uses of Mineral Oil (568)
Top 10 Initial Steps to Preparation (529)
Don’t Be ‘That Prepper Guy’ (456)
Prepper SALUTE Report – An Observation and Reporting Tool (360)
Physical Security and the Forms of Protection (302)
Situational Awareness – An Introduction (275)
Top 10 Preparedness Uses of Diatomaceous Earth (256)
Beware the Butt Bomb
Every time I think I’ve seen it all…something comes along to remind me that the world is an infinitely strange and dangerous place…now we have to beware the butt bomb!
Truth really is stranger than fiction. Late last year Asadullah Khalid, the Director of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) narrowly survived an attempted assassination by the Taliban. Khalid’s protection detail went so far as to strip search the assassin before he was allowed to meet with Afghanistan’s head of domestic intelligence.
It turned out that the assassin had a bomb hidden in his rectum… that’s right, an explosive suppository. Apparently this isn’t the first time this tactic has been used either. A similar attack was previously launched on the Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef who was the Saudi Deputy Interior Minister at the time.
Europol’s Counter Terrorism Unit has even issued a paper on The Concealment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Rectal Cavities. There are concerns beyond assassination attempts as well…think about the consequences for airline security. Don’t read it if you’re squeamish…there are pictures of the aftermath of the Saudi Prince’s attack.
Reader Question on Mark I Antidote Kits
Prepography reader Deanna wrote in to ask a question about purchasing a Mark I Antidote Kit for protection from nerve agents:
Deanna’s question was:
Is it possible to purchase a Mark I antidote kit containing both atropine and PAM and if so where would someone find such a thing? After watching the news this morning and hearing about the arrest of 5 men who planned to fly remote control planes over America and dispense sarin and other nerve agents, I think it’s time to look into antidotes.
Terrorism Strikes Home Again
Terrorism strikes home again! Although early reports from traumatic and violent events are often incorrect the location, timing and fact that there were two explosions targeting the finish line of the 117 year old Boston Marathon seem to confirm that it was a terror attack and not a gas explosion or other type of accident. Having experienced the horror of improvised explosive devices (IED’s) and rocket attacks my heart goes out to those who were victimized by or had loved ones victimized by this cowardly attack. Please keep the victims and the victim’s families in your thoughts and prayers as well.
Yesterday’s attack was a sad reminder that terror can strike here as it has so many times before. Consider this partial list of attacks on U.S. soil from InfoPlease:
Blood Agents – Chemical Warfare Agents
Andrew’s Note: Today’s discussion on Blood Agents, also known as Cyanogen Agents is from U.S. Army Field Manual FM 4-25.11, First Aid (Approved for Public Release). If you don’t think there’s any chance you’ll ever encounter a blood agent then think again. There are a number of commercial and industrial uses for these agents in addition to their use by foreign governments in chemical warfare. The most frightening use of these agents is by criminal or terrorist groups against an unprepared populace.
Cyanogen agents interfere with proper oxygen utilization in the body. Hydrogen cyanide (AC) and cyanogen chloride (CK) are the primary agents in this group.
Protective Measures Continue reading
A Nuclear Axis of Evil
As I listened to the President’s State of the Union address last night I couldn’t help but remember the same speech eleven years ago when another President described the ‘Axis of Evil.’ If you’ll recall the Axis included Iraq, Iran and North Korea. The only thing worse than an Axis of Evil is a Nuclear Axis of Evil.
In case you’ve been on a low information diet this week… North Korea apparently detonated another nuclear weapon amid a blitz of anti-U.S. rhetoric.
Stearns on Terrorist Targets – Today’s Quote
Today’s terrorists are pursuing a distinct route. They are increasingly attacking civilians in symbolic targets, such as those of economic importance, or venues of bustling life like public transportation or entertainment, like nightclubs.
Rep and Air Force Veteran Cliff Stearns
DOD’s Warning About Oil and the ‘Arc of Chaos’
Andrew’s Note: The following is from the Energy Section (Part II, Trends Influencing World Security) of the Joint Operating Environment (JOE) 2010. I’ve mentioned the JOE in passing before as it’s a keystone document that the Department of Defense uses to project the world in which it will operate up to 25 years into the future. It’s a sobering read for the prepper and likely to turn the non-prepper into one… read on about Oil and the Arc of Chaos:
Remember as you read the JOE that this is the official Department of Defense projection of the world we will live in over the next 2+ decades.
OPEC nations will remain a focal point of great-power interest. These nations may have a vested interest in inhibiting production increases, both to conserve finite supplies and to keep prices high. Should one of the consumer nations choose to intervene forcefully, the “arc of instability” running from North Africa through to Southeast Asia easily could become an “arc of chaos,” involving the military forces of several nations. Continue reading
Why Prep, Part 3 Triggers & Stressors
Note from Andrew: The complete Why Prep Series has now been consolidated HERE.
Today we present the third article in our series on why to prepare for disaster. In the first article, ‘Why Prep, The Introduction’ we asked and answered the following question:
Question: Why Prep…why become more self-reliant?
Answer: Because it’s the only reasonable and logical response to an unknown future and even a cursory study of history.
In the second article, ‘Why Prep, Historical and Current Examples’ we discussed examples of places and periods where preparedness could have made the difference between survival and suffering (or worse) for you and your family. In this third installment we’ll discuss stressors and triggers for potential The End Of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) situations.
Today we’re going to talk about stressor events and triggers. A stressor event is an occurrence that has the potential to change a system or society. Stressor events happen all the time and can vary dramatically in the amount of stress or influence they place on a system. Some examples of stressor events are election outcomes, legislation, trade wars, disease outbreaks, government spending programs, wars, acts of terror, social movements, development or loss of key infrastructure (like the internet you’re browsing), information releases (like the Watergate scandal) or changes to the physical environment (like drought or natural disasters). From a societal standpoint, stressors often manifest themselves in multiples and if significant enough disruption occurs…they can create a situation that cascades out of control. While it’s an overly simplified model think of these stressors from the last century:
- Germany loses World War I and a large percentage of its reproductive age males
- War damage and reparations create severe economic hardship
- Rise of the National Socialism in Germany bringing Adolf Hitler and his Brownshirts to power (were the Brownshirts easier to recruit due to a lack of fatherly guidance?)
- Election of 1933 gives Hitler enough power in the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act and assume dictatorial powers
This example from history led to TEOTWAWKI for much of the world from the mid 1930’s to the mid 1940’s and eventually ushered in the atomic age.
What Keeps The Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Awake At Night?
Ever wonder what perils and threats keeps senior defense officials up at night? Well you don’t have to guess anymore what keeps the Department of Defense’ Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs (how does that title even fit on a business card?), Paul Stockton up because he told us.
