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theculturedmarxist · 4 years

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Bryan Fogel’s “The Dissident” was too hot to handle.

The documentary about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist and political activist who was allegedly killed in 2018 on the orders of the Saudi Royal Family, was one of the hottest films at last year’s Sundance. It had glowing reviews, a ripped from the headlines subject, and a big-name director in Fogel, fresh off the Oscar-winning “Icarus,” a penetrating look at Russian doping that got the country banned from the Olympics.

And yet, Netflix, which had previously released “Icarus,” and other streaming services such as Apple and Amazon steered clear of “The Dissident.” Without any interested buyers, the film languished until last fall. That’s when Briarcliff Entertainment, an obscure distributor run by former Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg, announced it would release the movie on-demand.

Fogel thinks the subject matter was too explosive for bigger companies, which have financial ties to Saudi Arabia or are looking to access the country’s massive population of well-to-do consumers. Using interviews with Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz, as well as friends and fellow activists, Fogel creates a damning portrait of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s apparent involvement in brutally silencing the writer and thinker and the country’s crackdown on free speech. Thanks to previously unreleased audio recordings, “The Dissident” draws a direct line between Khashoggi’s assassination at the Saudi embassy in Turkey and the Saudi government’s anger over his outspoken criticism of the country’s human rights abuses and mismanagement.

“The Dissident” is currently available on-demand, but its rather muted release isn’t the way Fogel had dreamed of provoking a larger conversation around Khashoggi’s murder. He spoke to Variety about the difficulty of making “The Dissident” and then getting it seen and why he thinks his new movie had the major streamers running scared.

Why did you want to make “The Dissident”?

After the success of “Icarus,” I felt a great burden and social responsibility to make a worthy follow-up. I was looking for a story regarding human rights, regarding freedom of speech, freedom of press, journalism. I also wanted a story that had real world implications that could create real world change through social action or political action.

As the investigation into the murder of Jamal unfolded, my ears perked up and I immediately started reading more about this man. I hadn’t heard of him, but I found out how trusted and regarded he was as a voice on the Middle East. He was also being presented in many media circles as a terrorist sympathizer or member of the Muslim Brotherhood or a friend of Bin Laden. This was not true. He was a moderate, who was fighting for free speech for his country and believed women should have rights. He believed Mohammed Bin Salman’s policies were putting the country on the wrong direction.

Was it difficult to get his friends and fiancee and family to speak to you?

It was very very difficult. This is where the accolades and recognition of “Icarus” and the Academy Award really changed the conversation. In those weeks following his death every journalist was after Hatice. As I approached her and other people, they were able to see my prior work. Hatice invited me about a month after his murder to come and meet with her in Istanbul. I didn’t bring a film crew. I spent the next five weeks there just building trust. It was a harrowing time in her life and I just kept explaining that I was not there for a day or a week or a month. I told her: if we do this, we’re going to go on this journey together. I promised that if she let me into her life, I was going to protect Jamal.

At the Sundance premiere, you challenged distributors to “…not be fearful and give this the global release that this deserves.” How did that turn out?

[Netflix CEO] Reed Hastings was there that day and so was Hillary Clinton. We had a standing ovation. People were wiping tears from their eyes as Hatice took the stage. It was the same scene at each one of our screenings. We were blessed with incredible reviews from all of the trades. In any normal circumstance, you’d think of course this film is going to be acquired and distributed. And yet not only was it not acquired and distributed, there was universal silence. Not a single offer. Not for one dollar or not 12 million dollars, which was what was paid for another documentary title at the festival. Nothing. It was literally as if nobody knew me. It was that startling and that shocking.

Six months later Tom Ortenberg and Briarcliff Entertainment stepped forward and said, hey we want to distribute this film. That’s wonderful. People will be able to rent this film on-demand. But what I wanted was for this film to be streaming into 200 million households around the world. I wanted people to have easy access to it. Instead we pieced together global distribution here and there.

Will this have a chilling effect on movies that want to tackle these kinds of controversial subjects?

This is a depressing and eye-opening moment that any filmmaker that wishes to tell a story like this needs to pay attention to. These global media conglomerates are aiding and abetting and silencing films that take on subject matter like this despite the fact their audiences want content like this. I was told that “Icarus” has had somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 million views. I don’t know if that’s accurate, but I know it was substantial. The decision not to acquire “The Dissident” had nothing to do with its critical reviews, had nothing to do with a global audience’s appetite to watch a docu-thriller, but had everything to do with business interests and politics and, who knows, perhaps pressure from the Saudi government. Netflix did remove Hasan Minhaj’s episode of “Patriot Act” [at the Saudi government’s request] in 2019 and defended that decision by saying, “we’re not a truth to power company. We’re an entertainment company.” It has been a struggle to get this film into the world and to shine a light on the human rights abuses that are happening in that kingdom. These companies, that have chosen not to distribute this film, in my opinion, are complicit.

Have you had conversations with these companies about why they didn’t want to release “The Dissident”? If so what has been their response?

It has been to not respond.

Is this about money? Are they wary of angering the Saudi Royal Family because they have money from Saudi Arabia or want to access their market?

My guess is both. Decisions are being made that it’s better to keep our doors open to Saudi business and Saudi money than it is to do anything to anger the kingdom. Netflix released a statement regarding Black Lives Matter that is in direct contrast to their statement regarding Hasan Minahaj. One stands behind truth to power and the other says we’re not a truth to power company, so it appears they are a truth to power company when it is convenient. But when their business doesn’t align with that or it might impact their subscriber growth, they’re not. The same can be said for all the streaming companies. In the film, there’s Jeff Bezos on the stage with Hatice. Jamal worked for Jeff Bezos [at the Washington Post, which Bezos owns]. So the same can be said of Amazon. I don’t want to point a finger at anyone because it’s all of them. This is a situation where business, subscriber growth, investment was more important than human rights. There’s got to be greater accountability. Not just on a business level, but on a political level. Trump vetoed the desire of both the House and the Senate to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for this crime. He continued to sell them weapons. He’s trying to get the Justice Department to grant Mohammed Bin Salman immunity from prosecution.

Would you still work for Netflix or the other streamers who declined to release “The Dissident”?

Listen, this is my career. This is my work. I’m sure that I will have other projects that might not take on subject matter like this and are not at odds with their business interests. When those projects come along, I will be glad to work with any of these companies. Look, I love Netflix. I really, really do. I’m so grateful to them because without Netflix, “Icarus” would not have become what it became. I’m not insulted by this. I’m not personally offended. I don’t view anything that is happening as personal. I just view it as business. I can understand it on a business level. I don’t agree with it, but I get it. I’m not mad. I’m disappointed.

What message do you want viewers will take away from the film?

There’s a hashtag #JusticeForJamal and the question has to become what does justice mean? We know that Mohammed Bin Salman will not stand trial for this murder. We know that the henchmen he sent are unlikely to truly stand trial. We have to look to the future. So what I hope people will take from the film is knowledge, because knowledge is power. Just like “Icarus” or “Blackfish” or “The Cove,” I hope this film has the ability to change hearts and minds. As more and more people come to “The Dissident,” I hope there’s a call to action. I hope that takes place on social media or through writing letters to congressmen or senators. The first thing I hope is people will spread the word. The second thing is I hope they will use the power of free speech that we have in this country and are so blessed to have to change the narrative. The Arab Spring happened because of Twitter, the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements took hold because of social media. We’ve seen that through combined action, change can come.

Disclosure: SRMG, a Saudi publishing and media company which is publicly traded, remains a minority investor in PMC, Variety’s parent company.

#netflix #saudi arabia #mohammed bin salman #jeff bezos #the dissident #sundance #jamal kashoggi #bryan fogel #cinema #film #censorship

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ahiddenpath · 4 years

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My Favorite Writing Stuff

One of the best things about writing is that all you need is a pen and paper! But we all have our favorite tools and luxuries, and I thought it might be fun to talk about mine below the cut. Lotsa pics, long post.

Word Processors

Scrivener

The single writing item I use most is my word processor, Scrivener, by Literature and Latte. At some point waaaaaay back in 2012, I found myself writing Growing Up with You in Microsoft Word... And having to wait ten seconds for the screen to adjust and load new text as I scrolled. It was just too danged long for the program to handle. Just reading my manuscript was a nightmare, let alone copying and pasting to move text, shuffle paragraphs, etc. Making a new doc for each chapter quickly became a clunky chore.

THEN I FOUND SCRIVENER, AND IT’S THE BEST.

Scrivener is... not very user friendly; there’s definitely a learning curve. But it was immediately so much better for writing long fiction than Word that I bought a book on the program and read it from cover to cover, which... I don’t think I’ve ever done before. That’s how much of a game changer this was.

The feature I rely on most is the binder.

This is the binder for Four Years, which currently has... Forty-eight chapters. I corralled the chapters into two folders, one for the first year of college (1), and one for the second (2).

If I click folder 1, all of the chapters appear, each snug in their own folder. Once the Scrivener file loads, there is no further loading time. Each folder can be moved by clicking and dragging, as can each text file inside each folder. FREEDOM!

This feature alone was worth the price of the program. They offer a free trial, so please check it out if you’re interested!

Portable Word Processors

I’ve mentioned these before, but I have two portable gadgets that allow me to write on the go, distraction free.

Alpha Smart Neo 2

This might look like the baby of a toddler’s toy computer and a keyboard, but it’s actually my baby.

Just kidding! Sort of! The Alpha Smart Neo 2 is a portable word processor that boots up in a second, is powered by three AA batteries for eons, and weighs about 2 pounds. They are no longer in production (which is a crime), but there are oodles available on Ebay for about $20-30.

(I used to own and talk about my Alpha Smart 3000. The Alpha Smart Neo 2 is the latest model before the company shut down, and the keyboard is nicer; it’s quieter and easier on the fingers).

I honestly can’t say enough about this device. I rarely draft on a computer anymore; it’s just too easy to find yourself surfing the web, falling down a research vortex, or even reading your manuscript instead of writing. Alpha Smarts can remember what you wrote until you delete it. That’s it. That’s all they do. It’s beautiful.

I write about 800 words/hr on a computer. I write about 1,500 words/hr on an Alpha Smart. Distractions are so, so real.

When you’re ready to port your writing from your Alpha Smart to your word processor, all you have to do is connect a printer cable to your Alpha Smart, then plug the usb end into your computer. Open your word processor, turn on your Alpha Smart, select the file you want to transfer, and hit send. If you forget any of this, it’s written on the back of the Alpha Smart.

I know that no one should blame their success or failure on their tools, but... I wouldn’t be able to write nearly as much without my Alpha Smart. And if you ever do writing meet ups, you’ll be the only person who isn’t fighting for a power outlet! It also fits easily into a tote bag or backpack.

Oh, Alpha Smart Neo 2. My partner and friend!

Freewrite

The Freewrite by Astrohaus is... um. Well, it’s a lot like the Alpha Smart Neo 2, except that it’s waaaay more expensive, much harder to use, and has terrible firmware.

There are cool things about it, for sure! For one, it has this weird... Pseudo typewriter feel. It’s much larger and heavier than an Alpha Smart, and I’m not sure that I actually consider it portable... But the thick, angled base practically functions as a lap desk. It’s comfortable to use and has a nice mechanical keyboard.

It has wifi capability, so you can send drafts directly to your dropbox/cloud/email, no cords or transfers needed. The screen is an e-ink scree, like a Kindle Paperwhite, easy on the eyes and readable in the sun. It’s also backlit, which is the one major win over the Alpha Smart.

I bought mine used off ebay for a fraction of the list price (this thing is NOT worth $600 on any planet, goodness gracious mercy dang! I paid about $180), and, um... I still don’t know if it was worth it, not when I can buy an Alpha Smart Neo 2 for $30 tops. I mean, I like the e-ink and the backlit screen, but... There’s a lag between typing and the words populating on the screen. There are no arrows to fix a typo. I had to send 10 emails back and forth to tech support to get it updated and working. It was not broken, and I understood all the directions... It’s just god awful firmware. I also lost a draft because it wipes your device if you open their Sprinter program while using your Freewrite.

I still use it, though! The tactile sensation is really nice, the keys make a satisfying clickety clackety, the E-ink screen is lovely, I adore the option to write in a not-that-well-lit room, and the wifi transfer is faster than my Alpha Smart’s wired method. But I still can’t recommend it as long as Alpha Smart Neo 2s are available, not unless you’re some combination of the following: a writing nut who writes so gosh dang much that these toys are worth it, someone who is big on tactile sensation, someone who likes hipster stuff, or someone who would love an Alpha Smart but can’t read the electronic screen well. If this is you, make sure you also have a strong grasp on how to talk to and understand tech support, because you will need them.

Just never ever EVER open Sprinter...

Notebooks

Leuchtturm1917, hard cover, A5, dotted

MAY I INTRODUCE YOU TO MY LOVE, THE LEUCHTTURM NOTEBOOK.

WHERE DO I EVEN START.

The Leuchtturm is... Just the best. The hard cover takes abuse well, stickers hold onto it nicely, it has two ribbon bookmarks and an elastic closure, there’s a folder attached to the back inside cover... The dot version is unobtrusive and encourages smaller writing, which helps the notebook last. And it is available in a rainbow of colors!

The paper is lovely, the pages are numbered, and IT HAS AN INDEX.

I’m a scientist, and working in a Leuchtturm is just like working in a fancy, expensive lab notebook. The set up is done already, man. You just gotta jot down what pages contain what. IT’S SO ORGANIZED, with almost zero effort! Mi amor.

Sure, I could make an index page and number all of my pages manually... But I’ve met myself. I won’t do it. When you combine all of these lovely features, you have one unbeatable notebook.

Plus, they’re easy to obtain in the states! I order them off Amazon or buy them at my local Barnes & Nobles.

Midori MD Notebook, A5, grid

The Midori has even nicer quality paper than the Leuchtturm, but the cover can’t take abuse, and it lacks the nice features. I truly appreciate the paper quality, but the other features bring me back to my Leuchtturms every time.

It’s a Japanese item and is more difficult to import to the states. You can get them off Amazon, though!

Pens

I use Uni-ball Signo 207 gel pens. They write comfortably, and using them feels satisfying. They should be available in most Walmart/Target type stores, at least in the states!

It should be noted that I’m just not a pen buff. I tried fountain pens, and it was more trouble than it was worth for me.

Folios/Traveler’s Notebooks

Okay, so you found the perfect notebook! Wanna make it SUPER DUPER FANCY PANTS?! Well, you could try a traveler’s notebook.

I only learned what a traveler’s notebook is about a year ago, so if you’re also in the dark... It’s a leather cover that holds notebooks inside with elastic. I own these chic sparrows, one for my Midori notebook (or whatever notebook I’m using at the time), and one for my journal.

My full name is etched into them, so please pardon my censorship XD

The chic sparrow traveler’s notebooks are so elegant and decadent and... I won’t lie, I literally move one or both around the house with me, just so I can look at them.

The one on the left is a Mr. Darcy deluxe, size A5, in the Wickham color. The one on the right is an Enchanted Woods deluxe, size A5, in the Elderwood color.

They have lots of pockets on the inside, a pen loop, and elastics to hold multiple notebooks. This one is strung with a Midori notebook. I also have a smaller B6 one that I use as a wallet! It holds a small notebook, so I can write down those ideas that always happen when I’m out and don’t have paper. The pockets hold IDs, credit cards, and cash.

It’s just this... magical, opulent item. While it’s likely the least practical thing on this list, it’s very special to me.

Lap Desks

I HAVE A HARRY POTTER RAVENCLAW STORAGE DESK FROM POTTERY BARN AND I FEEL LIKE A WITCH WHEN I USE IT.

Oh dear, I took a terrible picture, it looks so lovely in person.

The top can slide in both directions, revealing enough storage for several A5 notebooks, pens, and more. It’s a great way to cart your stuff into your favorite cozy nook for a writing session. Plus, you’ll feel like a Hogwarts student! It’s available in all four house designs, plus a Hogwarts crest version.

Pottery Barn puts these on sale occasionally. I’d aim for 25% off before buying.

My Writing Bag

I decked out a tote bag in writing pins to carry my Alpha Smart, thesaurus, a notebook, and pens. You can use any bag, as long as it accommodates what you need! Here are my fave sources for writing-related pins:

Literary Emporium, who makes my favorite pin, “Still I Rise,” a Maya Angelou quote. They have the most gorgeous pins.

When life gives you lemons, read them, advice for the ages

And fandom:

Digivice pin

My beloved Sailor Moon pin, the loveliest pin I’ve ever seen (not shown because it lives on my Sailor Moon jacket!). All of the inner senshi are available!

THAT’S ALL, THAT WAS SO MUCH. Please let me know if you try any of these out!

#writing #writing supplies #my favorite writing stuff #my writing stuff #faves

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thecoroutfitters · 7 years

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Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest contribution from R. Ann Parris to The Prepper Journal. As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and possibly receive a $25 cash award as well as be entered into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies, enter today.

Get In Shape

No, really. With absolutely nothing to your name, you can be better off than a quarter if not half the preppers with gear, land, and partners. Want a little ‘for example’? How about the huffing and puffing we hear when folks run from the cold or rain? Or are forced to hustle to catch mass transit of some kind?

There’s the muscle injuries and heart attacks that get warned about ahead of winter storms. There’s a lesser publicized set of aches that even active homesteaders work through at the beginning of spring or late summer and autumn as we get back in to full swing – doing more than shoveling snow, poking in checking on things, hauling feed to the (usually) closer barn than to and around pastures. Every year, there are hikers who end up overextended and in distress.

We shake our heads at news stories when people put themselves in sucky situations. Let’s make sure we’re not one of them sometime in the future.

Get in Shape for WORKING

General physical ability can be helpful, and it’s a leg up, for sure. However, there’s gym fit and there’s street-woods fit. Gear your “workouts” to things you’ll be doing. You can also find exercises that directly relate to activities you expect.

Mix up your walking/packing/jogging/sprint surfaces. If you live rural and plan to cut cross-country if you’re away from home, sure, focus on the “natural” surfaces around you. Don’t ignore hardtops, but they’re less important for one-time, single-digit day-count packing. If you live or work in a lot of urban environments, though, make your training more fifty-fifty.

Walk on the sides of ditches and in loose leaves to build your ankles up. Sandy beaches offer a variety of challenging textures that can also help seriously strengthen legs and ankles depending on where in the tide line or above it you exercise and run. It’ll be helpful in snow and ice as well, and in tilled gardens or hand-harvesting hay and grains and big bean plots.

Those strong ankles will also be an aid in keeping your balance anytime you lose it – like if you anticipate ever getting shoved or tripped.

If you live somewhere floods are a risk or where you get a fair bit of snow, start plowing through some water if any’s available. You may be able to find times of day or parts of parks where you won’t attract attention slogging through a little stream or knee-deep in lake, bay, or marsh water. You may also be able to find an affordable YMCA or similar pool, although you’ll be “stuck” with waist-high instead of the more-unique pulls of calf- and knee-high slogging. (Please watch for snakes that will be annoyed with you and wear good sneakers.)

Go slow – this isn’t a sprint, it’s preparing you for winter work and bug-outs, not a footrace. Steady, certain steps are the biggie, and developing the muscles. Don’t be too ambitious at first. Rushing is a broken ankle or wrist and be careful waiting to happen. Be smart in cool weather – hypothermia doesn’t require freezes.

You can find gym equipment or band workouts that can help you build muscles for raking and shoveling, swinging an ax, or hauling and pushing carts and wagons. Bands require an investment, and there are contrasting opinions about them, but they’re affordable and compact – exercise anywhere.

Boxing and kick boxing exercises abound on the internet. Both build an enormous amount of core strength.

A gallon of water weighs about eight pounds. (Start with a half-gallon or liter, please.) If we get milk, we can get weights at home without spending an extra penny or having to build in time to go somewhere. When you’re ready for more, look around your environment for pipes, golf clubs, sturdy pruned limbs, etc., that can be used to create a bar. (Duct tape them – sliding weight, even “just” 8-16 pounds, is a recipe for an injury.)

Do Exercises Correctly

Do weight, stretching, and isometric exercises slowly. Use a mirror to check your form. When your form is muscle memory, close your eyes and concentrate on the feel.

Bucking, rocking, kipping or whatever you want to call them are not only cheating yourself. They’re also an injury waiting to happen. You also work more of your muscles, longer and harder, by working them slowly.

Build the Right Strengths

Start with low weights and high reps. Keep those high reps and slow motions even when you advance in weight. Practice holding at each point, and stopping midway for holds, too.

There are the instant-action parts of homesteading and camping/packing/paddling, absolutely: that moment when you heave the pressed hay up and over, to stack or to carry, or slinging a bag of feed up and over your shoulder, shoving off rocks or getting flipped backwards. There are “power pops” when you stress your tool maintenance guy and your body taking bypass pruners to tough wood and at funny angles.

However, many of our tasks are endless repetitions – raking, forking, shoveling, paddling, hauling a rope of a beaver slide or pulley lift to get hay or straw to a loft or hoist an animal for butchering.

In low-power or no-power situations, and low- or no-noise situations, there’s also hand sawing – which is a fast action, but a lot of it. There’s things like rocking a garden weasel back and forth, and push-pull lawn cutting with a rotary mower. There’s the bent or crouched schnick-schnick-schnick-turn-toss-schnick-schnick-schnick of harvesting grains or hay or straw, or gathering small branches or vines, or trimming down tree feeds for livestock.

Do, absolutely, work some of the hand-and-footwork speed drills, too. There are times when higher weights and quick motions do come into play.

I have to have the “snatch” strength to catch that ladder before it tips, or to snag a tree when rotting stuff gives way underfoot, to help somebody on steep trails or slipping on ice, or the harness line when my goofy dog accidentally bounces another dog over the edge of something (most recently it was her brother off a boat dock).

My medical supplies do me no good if I can’t heave my heavy dog over my shoulder and get it somewhere, or drag my family and partners out of something or into something. Maybe it’s a house fire, maybe they slipped off a bridge, maybe a bookshelf tilted. Maybe it’s a large animal, and being able to slam and brace and hold a gate to keep something out and away from them.

Even so, most of those have an endurance aspect. Catching for a moment is only half the battle.

I have to sustain that hold, and I have to be able to pull without losing my grip. I have to scramble with that hold sometimes, or not lose my footing.

Maybe today there’s an earthquake or tornado that starts a fire, some nut-job shooting, or a 500-year flood strikes. If I can’t carry or drag my loved ones all the way out of harm’s way, I lose them.

Maybe today’s task is sitting on the ground or edge of something, digging in heels, straining against a rope and “climbing” to haul something to a loft or my kid/partner/lover/parent out of a well or somebody’s deer pit. If I can’t hold onto that timber we’re hauling, if I slip as belay anchor or lose my grip on that rope, I hurt somebody.

Initial adrenaline will only take us so far. It’s worth getting in shape for.

Prepare Your Body, or Prepare to Fail

All the gear in the world isn’t going to help somebody who can’t get out of a building or down the road, who can’t escape a fire or flood, who can’t evade a mob and then put enough distance between them to beat the police barricade lines.

The best bug-out location on earth won’t help somebody who can’t get to it and keep it going – who can’t lift their kid and that fancy bag up over a fence, who can’t build a shelter against cold, wet weather to keep their family from hypothermia, who can’t lift enough water in big buckets to keep livestock and gardens watered, let alone bathe.

The expensive spotting scope and fancy rifle that found and took a deer doesn’t help the guy who then can’t get it up a hill or across the flats – at all, without injury or heart attack, or “fast enough” in some parts of the world where bears, hogs, and human scavengers like to check out gunshots.

Side Benefits to Exercise

Exercise is also incredibly good for the brain, both in combating stress and depression, and in sharpening our minds and senses. Tired bodies help us sleep better, with sleep hugely important to stress, recovery, mood, and decision making.

When you feel stronger and fitter, you’ll also find your confidence increasing, which in some cases actually decreases aggression and combative attitudes. (Lack of confidence tends to lead to those small-dog yappy-snappy, argumentative people who take everything as a personal insult and a direct challenge to authority.)

That’s going to make a disaster of any scale a whole lot easier to deal with, no matter how active or sedentary it is.

Prep for Retaining & Regaining Strength

If you’re lucky enough to have a bunker, a storm cellar, or a tight compound, don’t forget to stash ways to stay in shape while you’re locked down. You only need a little space and some things that – besides bands – are probably already there. Make sure you also have a variety of exercises, stretches, and drills printed out and stashed.

Not only is endurance and raw strength important, and something that can be easily handled at little to no cost, work on flexibility. Exercises for seniors can be an excellent source there.

Physical therapy exercises are beneficial as well. Don’t forget to print up what they apply to. It can range from post-stroke and nerve damage recovery, to knee replacements and torn ACLs, out to oddballs like whiplash and dislocated fingers and wrists. Not only are many actually pretty fantastic stretching, mobility, dexterity, and strength-building regimens, if there is an accident or injury, you’re prepared for full recovery.

The One Irreplaceable Prep

Every disaster and evacuation, we hear of refugees surviving incredible hardships and long journeys, and people managing incredible physical feats to save their loved ones. But for every feel-good victory, there are losses. Not everyone makes it fast enough, far enough.

Increasing physical ability can be done in two, three, or four 10-20 minute sessions a day, a few times a week. It can cost nothing.

Some of it can be done pumping our fuel or during regular shopping trips, adding less time than we’ll stand in a checkout line or lust over goodies behind glass. Some of it can be done one hand at a time, reading or scrolling the internet with the other. We can keep up with weekly shows/sports doing cals and Pilates and physical therapy on the carpet and kitchen chair, or using a bar hung from a sturdy doorway.

Your body is the one thing there is no backup for. There are no excuses. Not time, not money, not current physical limitations. We can get stronger, and by doing so, improve our chances of survival.

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foursprouthappiness-blog · 7 years

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7 Surprising Books That Will Make Your Life Better

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/happiness/7-surprising-books-that-will-make-your-life-better/

7 Surprising Books That Will Make Your Life Better

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Before we commence with the festivities, I wanted to thank everyone for helping my first book become a Wall Street Journal bestseller. To check it out, click here.

***

I read a lot of books. I reference at least one book a week in these blog posts but I have to read a lot more than that — usually 4 to 5 times as many — to find the ones worth citing.

So a lot of people ask me what’s worth their time. And that’s not a simple question. Just because I reference a book in a blog post doesn’t mean it’s “good” — it means it had something good in it. (If you need to know the definition of “smorgasbord” then a dictionary is very useful. That doesn’t mean I’d suggest reading it cover to cover.)

So I’m going to recommend some books that are helpful in navigating this sprawling, lovely mess called life. Very big picture. Books specifically on career or relationships or happiness will have to wait.

While I’m busy caveat-ing over here, let me say that doing a booklist is like painting a bullseye on your forehead. Everybody who ever read so much as “Goodnight Moon” is going to come out and say, “Well, you know, you really should have mentioned…” You can never win with a booklist; you can only do “pretty good.”

So this list isn’t exhaustive. It isn’t perfect. But you can do a heck of a lot worse. Everything here is either scientifically validated, based on non-magical time-tested ideas, or expert insight.

Oh, and readability is a factor. Yes, that ancient text in the original Greek might be more authentic or the 600 page textbook by the guy who won the Nobel Prize on the topic might be more thorough. But a diet you don’t stick to is not a good diet and a book you don’t finish is not a good book.

So how did I pick? My first book came out last year and there was one compliment that I held in higher regard than all the others: “I wish I had read this many years ago.”

Someone felt it provided enough insight that if they had read it sooner it would have seriously impacted their life and the decisions they made. So that’s the standard I used.

Oh, and one more thing. I’m going to warn you right now: there is a book below with a “bad word” in the title. Don’t like “bad words”? Then don’t read any further. No whining. You were warned.

Alright, let’s get to it…

1) The Effective Executive

So I said this booklist wouldn’t be about career stuff and then the first thing I recommend has the word “executive” in the title. What gives?

“The Effective Executive” is most certainly a business book. But it also happens to be the best book out there on the vague but essential concept of “getting your act together.”

Managing your time. Knowing what’s important. Setting priorities. Being productive. Learning to focus. Making good decisions. These are skills usually associated with career but each one of them is also critical when it comes to family, relationships and just having a good life.

I put this book first deliberately. Getting your act together is another one of those things everyone praises and nobody explains how to actually do. Read this book first and you might actually get around to reading the other books before you’re distracted by something shiny.

Check it out here.

2) When

Everyone says “timing is everything” but they sure don’t act like it.

Dan Pink has crafted a very enjoyable read, but it’s also a reference book of sorts you’ll come back to as different situations arise. It’s loaded with information on the best time to do almost anything — when during the day is the best time to get work done, but also when in your life is the best time to get hitched.

Bookstores have an entire “how to” section but not a “when to” section. This book covers a very important topic that few others ever touch. If “timing is everything” then this book is essential reading.

Check it out here.

3) ACT Made Simple

High school taught me what a parabola is. They also taught me the quadratic equation. I have never come within a country mile of using either in my entire adult life.

What didn’t high school teach me? How to deal with troublesome thoughts and feelings. Few people would say that emotional health is unimportant. Yet school doesn’t teach it and there is no mental equivalent of an annual physical. Got problems in your head? Well, if it gets really, really serious you can pay through the nose for therapy. Short of that, tough noogies.

ACT is a scientifically-validated mindfulness technique and this workbook makes it something anyone can learn to use on their own. (And it’s a lot more useful than a parabola.)

Check it out here.

4) The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck

Yes, it has a “bad word” in the title. If you’re offended that I’m posting this, you might want to delete your Amazon account too because they have literally sold over two million copies of it.

Here’s the thing: I knew listing this one would offend some people. And then I mentioned it anyway. Yes, I think that highly of it.

This book is one of the most accessible ways to learn about some of the core (non-religious) takeaways from Buddhism. If you want the lowdown on some ancient ideas about how to live a good life, presented in a fun, conversational tone, this is the book.

Check it out here.

5) The CBT Toolbox

If ACT and mindfulness can teach you a more effective overall system for handling troublesome thoughts and feelings, CBT is a more tactical weapon for dealing with specific psychological issues like fears, anxieties, depression, or stress.

Again, these are problems we all struggle with, but we’re never taught an effective method for coping with them. Productivity and relationship advice isn’t very useful if you struggle to get out of bed in the morning due to worry or sadness.

Derived from work by the ancient Stoics, CBT is the most scientifically-validated form of psychological treatment available. This workbook is step-by-step, easy to use and presented in a simple, straightforward format.

Check it out here.

6) The Obstacle Is The Way

Much as Mark Manson’s book makes some concepts from Buddhism accessible, Ryan Holiday does the same for the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.

Some people are going to say, “You should have just recommended ‘Meditations’ by Marcus Aurelius.” No, actually. No, I shouldn’t have. “Meditations” was a notebook Aurelius kept for himself and was never really meant to be read by others. And it reads like it wasn’t. While it’s filled with brilliant insights, it’s not the best overall introduction to Stoicism for modern readers unfamiliar with the central tenets of the philosophy. This is.

Check it out here.

7) Triumphs of Experience

What makes a good life? Most people would just speculate, cite one-off examples, perhaps reference a personal religious doctrine — or just shrug. But shouldn’t we have at least some scientific answers to this question by now?

Actually, we do.

The Grant Study has followed a group of men for their entire adult lives. It has tracked them for over 75 years. What factors make for a good life? How does personality, marriage, children, career, friends and lifestyle contribute to fulfillment over the course of decades?

Most studies last weeks or months. The Grant Study is still going on. It’s one of the most illuminating glimpses into what makes life meaningful.

Check it out here.

Okay, let’s round it all up and look at one more book…

Sum Up

Here are 7 surprising books that will make your life better:

The Effective Executive: How to “get your act together.”

When: “Timing is everything.”

ACT Made Simple: How to deal with troublesome thoughts and feelings.

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck: A modern take on ancient Eastern ideas about the good life.

The CBT Toolbox: Effective strategies for overcoming anxiety, depression, and fear.

The Obstacle Is The Way: A modern take on ancient Western ideas about the good life.

Triumphs Of Experience: Real scientific answers on what makes a fulfilling life.

So what other book is worth a look?

Yeah, yeah, yeah — it’s mine. But I wrote it for a reason.

The other books above offer good ideas most of us aren’t aware of. I wanted to scientifically dispel the myths we are aware of — and all too often believe. You’ll never find the right answers if you think you already have them.

School doesn’t teach us everything we need to know, our parents can only teach us what they know, and learning from experience can be very painful. (I learned that from experience.)

But books let you cheat at life. They give you the answers before the test.

They let you spend less time frustrated… and more time living well.

Join over 320,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.

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militaryspouse101 · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/msoy/town-hall-2017-did-we-empower-you/

Town Hall 2017: Did We Empower YOU?

Military Spouse magazine hosted its 5th annual Town Hall sponsored by Allstate on May 11 at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. Five sessions throughout the day touched on a different aspect of empowerment. Check out what each panel and speaker contributed to the message.

Sponsors, How Do YOU Empower?

Moderator: Sue Hoppin, founder and president, National Military Spouse Network

Panel members:

Melissa Christmann, military program manager, Allstate

Tom Down, diversity and military talent acquisition manager, Capital One

Herrick Ross, recruiter, military talent acquisition, Starbucks

Theresa Lepow, senior program manager for military recruiting, Amazon

credit: Steve Barrett Photography

TAKEAWAYS:

“The people in the room with you today are your tribe. In a time when resources are scarce and vary from installation to installation. We have one resource that never goes away: each other. Remember that and you’ll go far.” ~Sue Hoppin

Allstate: “If your program doesn’t include military spouses you only have half of a program.”

Capital One: “We look at spouses as equally as we do veterans.”

Starbucks: “As military spouses you have the opportunity to see the world in a different way.”

Amazon: “We look to hire military spouses and then retain them and honor them. I look to build a military spouse program with a menu of options.”

Each of the representative companies championed the military spouse employee and what they can bring to the table. One key takeaway? Be proud of the fact that you’re a military spouse. Be sure to self-identify if there is an option. These companies want to know you’re a spouse. They are looking for the skills you bring to the table.

As with any other job seeker, though, be calculated and specific about what jobs you apply to. Keep your resume to one to two pages. Use your cover letter to show your personality, explain any gaps in your resume and really iterate what an important role being a military spouse is. “Your cover letter should reflect what job you’re applying for. I know it’s a lot of work, but it’s what gets you a job.”

Consider three Cs when applying for jobs: Culture, commute and compensation. How you prioritize those is up to you.

Regarding the sometimes awkward salary conversation, the panel members emphasized research and realistic expectations. Websites such as glassdoor.com and salary.com give reasonable expectations as to what number is appropriate based on job title and location. Don’t forget to take other benefits into consideration, too; the whole benefit package counts. Don’t focus on a target number. Rather, have a salary range and be flexible.

Each company differed in work from home policies. The common takeaway is to have a conversation with your manager. Company policies vary, and policies vary by specific job and manager as well.

Empower YOU Panel of Milspouses

Moderator: MJ Boice, in-house staff writer, National Military Family Association

Panel members:

Holly Vega, stay-at-home parent, 2017 Quantico Base Spouse of the Year

Brittany Boccher, advocate, 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year

Lauren Hope, entrepreneur for-profit, 2017 United States Military Academy Spouse of the Year

Verenice Castillo, entrepreneur nonprofit, 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Air Force Spouse of the Year

Jennifer Mullen, business professional, Verizon Wireless, 2016 Armed Forces Insurance Coast Guard Spouse of the Year

credit: Steve Barrett Photography

TAKEAWAYS:

Why do you do what you do?

“We pursue this niche because we have to. I’ve strived to have my own circumstance aside from the military. I like my own identity. What that means for me is I work and have something I’m passionate about. It’s whatever is appropriate for me in that season of my life. It’s a chosen reason.” ~Mullen

“I’m not in my husband’s shadows. I’m equally beside you. I am a volunteer. I am proud to be a volunteer and serve my community wherever I go and my children get to see that.” ~Vega

“We all have a purpose. It took one day for me to start meeting families for me to realize why didn’t I choose to do this sooner? Then I started getting more involved until there was no turning back. If I was going to do this, I would do it all the way. Running a nonprofit can be crazy and overwhelming. My husband will tell me to remember why you’re doing this. It’s not about you; it’s about those who you serve. That will always be my why.” ~Castillo

How do you measure success with what you want to do?

“At the end of the day, it’s about happiness. That’s it. I don’t need accolades or recognition. It’s if I’m happy with what I did that day when I lay my head down on my pillow at night. I don’t measure success over time; it’s literally each day.” ~Boccher

“We’re all here for a reason and I’d like to know that reason. The tribe I surround myself with is success. I’m a professionally trained chef by trade. After my son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies I had to stop everything that identified me to take care of him. Life changes. Priorities change. My family comes first. I’ve had a hard time identifying with my new life. Jewelry has always been a hobby but when cooking went out and I needed another creative outlet, jewelry came in. I’m flattered and honored it’s taken off.” ~Hope

All of the panelists agreed spouses need to ask the questions about what they can do to help and have a meaningful answer when someone asks them how they can help. Junior or senior spouse, moving is still scary. Find an organization, go in and tell them what you can offer. Ensure you share a mutual vision. If visions aren’t in alignment, you’ll end up following someone else’s rather than yours. “There is someone out there with your vision and passion who will want to work you.” Also be sure to ask for a seat at an organization’s table; you might be surprised how many tell you to pull up a chair and join.

Mentorship also is important. Find at least one mentor you can talk to; these people can change based on what season of life you’re in. It’s about building a whole support system.

Do three things: Embrace military life, embrace military community and embrace opportunities afforded to you as military spouses because they are abundant.

Now that YOU’re Empowered – How to Talk to the Decision Makers

Presenter: Elizabeth Adams, Director, Ceremonies and Protocol, Air Force District Washington

credit: Steve Barrett Photography

TAKEAWAYS:

Etiquette and formal protocol is never out of style. Within 30 seconds of meeting, people have established first impressions. Wear age appropriate clothing that reflects your personality, is appropriate for the occasion and is current and fashionable – but not trendy. A little trendy is OK; a lot trendy is not.

Dining etiquette: Don’t unfold your napkin until it’s already on your lap. Then, unfold it only half. One never drinks a toast to oneself. Set a knife down on the plate with the blade facing in. Never take a bite off of a roll; rather, break off the bite you’re going to eat and butter only that.

Cell phone etiquette: Maintain a privacy range. Use your library voice. Put it on vibrate or turn it off. Do not put your phone on the dining table.

RSVP etiquette: Respond by the due date no matter what your answer is. If you must cancel, do it personally within 48 or 72 hours.

Nearly 75 percent of adults experience anxiety at a party with strangers. To help alleviate that, improve your mingling skills and small talk to find connections. Be well read and listen to the news. Focus on the other person and remember to never interrupt.

Handshaking: Shake from the elbow using two smooth pumps. Maintain a firm, but not hard, grip. Clammy hands? Own it. Avoid large rings on your right hand and wearing fragrance to be sensitive to many people who have fragrance allergies.

Empowering YOU While Keeping You Safe

Presenter: Alexandra Brown, senior consultant in the advisory services, Ernst & Young LLP

credit: Steve Barrett Photography

TAKEAWAYS:

In a world of oversharing with social media, Brown recommends following The Dinner Rule: “If you wouldn’t invite them into your home, do not have them on your social media.”

Information is power, money, safety and security. Protect yours. The C.I.A. of information is it needs to be confidential, maintain the integrity of how it was originally published and it needs to be available.

Even if you post something online and delete it, it never fully disappears (the “digital tattoo”). Think before you post anything on social media. Online photos now will exist for generations. “We have become a generation of content producers. Privacy as you know it no longer exists.” When you post a photo of your child, think about if it could come back to bite them in 10 years, or when they’re looking for a job. Will your social media post affect or hurt them in some way?

Secret apps also are prevalent these days, such as Cover Me, Calculator Photo Apps and Omegle. Monitor your child’s technology closely. Encourage your child to write in a journal using a pen and paper rather than posting their feelings online. Brown does not give her children privacy with technology, but gives them total privacy with their pen and paper journals. “They are one click from anyone in this world; most children are not equipped with the maturity to handle that.”

To avoid ransomware, which prevents a victim from accessing critical data and system function until a fee is paid to the attackers, get in the habit of once a month downloading everything on your computer to an external hard drive and then unplug the hard drive until your next update.

Consider using passphrases instead of passwords. “Criminals are smart, don’t make it easy for them.” A passphrase, for example, could be derived from saying “I like Starbucks at 2 p.m.” The passphrase is shortened to ILoveSB@2p. That’s a strong password, and very hard to hack into. “Passwords are the key to your kingdom. Protect those.”

For more information, visit Facebook.com/OPSECforFamilies.

Take Care of YOU and Empower All Generations

Presenter: Corie Weathers, Licensed Professional Counselor, 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year

credit: Steve Barrett Photography

TAKEAWAYS:

The biggest thing Weathers hears from spouses is that they don’t know what their purpose is. “My biggest concern is spouses today are chameleons and we have an identity problem,” she says.

“How will you serve or empower anybody else if you don’t know who you are? Let your own light shine, which gives other people permission to do the same. When you stop being afraid and insecure, that’s when you have power. Not that you use over other people – power you use as influential to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

What kind of a superhero are you as a military spouse? Where are you on your superhero journey? Weathers walks through the steps each superhero takes on their journey.

Backstory. Before a superhero has a power, they have a backstory. It’s often painful, but your backstory matters to your purpose and to what makes you passionate.

Call to adventure. Some superheroes have denied their calling at first, which is a sabotage moment. It’s not about who’s against you or who you’re out to rescue; it’s about yourself, who you’ll be and what you need to do within yourself to deal with it all.

Answer the call. No one can make the choice for you if you’re going to answer a call or not; you have to answer it yourself and realize it’s worth it to move forward with messy people and a messy life. True healing happens in the backstory when you can bring purpose and meaning to what’s happened and use it to bring hope into other people’s lives.

Blessing, which comes right after internal conflict. There is always a blessing on the other side of answering a call. We fear the blessings won’t come after internal conflicts, but they do.

Establish a dual persona. Superheroes have gone through a growth. Every superhero must go home and wrestle with the fact they are different. They know something about the world and about themselves they didn’t know before. You’re ready to make an impact on the world when you realize you can be in both places. You don’t have to be fully accepted anywhere for you to accept yourself. You are you wherever you go.

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#cybersecurity #military etiquette #Military Spouse Employment #military spouses are super #MSOY17 #Spouse Empowerment #Town Hall

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thecoroutfitters · 6 years

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Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another article from R. Ann Parris to The Prepper Journal. As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share then enter into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies!

Looking back at past history, recent and far removed, can help prepare us in all parts of life. In some cases, early conventional wisdom’s stand the test of time. Others prevent us from repeating mistakes of the past.

I’m looking at the wartime Victory Garden programs here, but not at food production. An awful lot of the advice applies across the board, both in daily life and as preppers, and definitely should we find ourselves in times of hardship, personal or widespread.

Succession Cropping for Success

Succession Cropping wasn’t new for WWI and WWII, but it was – and is – one of those things that gets a little less focus. It’s when you plan for staggered harvests and have fast-growing seed or transplants ready to plug into rows or beds as soon as something else comes out.

(In the growing world, it’s given steroids with inter-planting and under-seeding, planting one thing around another before it’s out of the ground – like radish and lettuces that go in around corn and peppers, to be harvested before the larger plants need their space, or seeding peas or cabbage around tomatoes before those even start yellowing.)

Ignoring the charmingly non-PC advice of many VG guides, we want to get the most out of everything. They’re focused on growing space, but it also applies to the time, labor, and money we put into preparedness.

That one’s universally applicable just from the mindset of looking well down the road and making a real plan.

Budgeting in time, labor, money and tools with a realistic tally of total cost and returns as well as the anticipated lifespan of any project or purchase helps us prioritize. It also lets us plan for its replacement instead of getting caught unawares and rushing to come up with something (the equivalent of empty, wasted spots in our rows).

We also check the box by trying to source multi-function items, making the most out of the space and money they’ll require (keeping our row space in production).

We can also apply the similar mentality of being creative in how and when we decided something is no longer useful, and being flexible and adaptable to the possible uses the things around us can have.

It’s not a new concept. “Make it do” is as old as those WWI and WWII garden programs. Many of us grew up with and continue to hear “reuse it-recycle it”.

With some Internet searching, we can find a DIY or up-cycles for pretty much any interest, and tips for getting the most life humanly possible out of all our belongings.

Don’t Go Overboard

Usually when we hear about Victory Gardens, it’s a ministry or department entreating everyone to do everything possible. And yet, most guides, even in simplest form, included some form of the warning – “Don’t Overextend Yourself”.

“Don’t Over-Seed” and “Don’t Crowd Plants” were also common warnings – warnings that persist today, right there with “failure to thin plants” being one of the common reasons for garden failure and low yields.

They’re possibly the most universally applicable pieces of advice ever issued.

As the VG guides tell us, we have to account for the time something is actually going to take, and honestly weigh whether we can/will devote that time. When we take on more than we can handle, and-or set unrealistic goals, we’re setting ourselves up for failure.

It’s tempting to empty both barrels and to go hard charging into preparedness. Even experienced preppers sometimes cave to the monkey on our back. However, things turn out better pretty much universally when we apply some moderation and maintain diversity.

We have to find a balance between sanity-saving activities, unscheduled downtime, and work/labor. Otherwise eventually we drop a ball, end up frayed, or burn out.

Stepping away from the garden examples (which would be companion planting or SFG’s), it’s the balanced recipes – and lives – that are healthiest, that make the most out of what we have and prepare us best for the future.

Many of us do have some “fat” that can be trimmed from our lives – literally and physically, as well as our internet, TV, and other time and money sucks. We want to get to the meat of things, and we want to be prepared, but remember that other old adage: “fat is where the flavor is”.

Take a step back, and evaluate honestly.

Otherwise, we wind up being wasteful, just like the wasted seeds, fertilizer, tool purchases, and time invested in a Victory Garden that ends up neglected, choked with weeds, and overcrowded.

If we’re buying preparedness items on credit, or we carry significant credit debt, it’s wasteful to continue to buy past the duration’s of most-likely events instead of cutting that debt so we can apply the interest payments and principle to getting financially fit, extending our physical preparedness later.

It’s wasteful to get an expensive rifle, then not be able to afford the time and money for ammo and training, for basic accessories like a light and sling.

It’s also wasteful to get an inexpensive gun that’s expensive to feed, or such a beast to carry or such a shoulder thumper that we’re not going to practice enough to develop the needed muscle memory.

It’s wasteful to get the hot-ticket pistol or battle rifle, and only 1-2 magazines because they’re model and manufacturer-specific, $30+ a pop, and we can’t justify more with our budget.

It’s wasteful, period, to get a $500 gun when a $150-$300 gun checks all the same blocks.

In some cases, inability to replace something does increase its worthiness for our attention. However, an awful lot of the time, we overextend ourselves in one direction, or we focus on the furthest bar, letting everything in between slide.

Then when real daily life happens (flat tire at 2 a.m., overheating engine in rush hour, 10-20 day midwinter power outage just in our neighborhood with no water, uninsured floods, under-insured fires, job loss, spouse/child requires care, death/disability of a breadwinner or major pantry contributor), we’re sitting on NBC gear, a surgical suite, AKs and G19s, and 12 logging axes for the 7 elms on our street. They do us no good.

We can apply the VG “moderation” advice and realistic self-assessment parameters to pretty much everything on our lists, supplies or skills.

Weigh Value Points When Planning

During the war garden eras, rationing was in effect. There were coupon or chit systems, sometimes hard constants, and availability systems, not unlike the fuel rationing Baby Boomers will remember, the Cuban oil crisis, and today’s WIC program.

In war gardens, it meant producing things that would be least available in stores. Saving the points on something they could produce also sometimes meant saving points to apply elsewhere.

Both of aspects of value apply across the board.

We have to take advice about value with a grain of salt, though, because what’s valuable where, and specifically to us, will change.

A Northern Canadian trying to grow grain corn during WWII, or a Deep South American trying to keep salads and beets going through the summer … just not such a hot idea. There are usually workarounds. The Canadian could plant Norwegian rye and barley, and the Southerner can plant green beans. They’re not the same things, though, and there’s commonly a trade off (in this case, post-harvest processing time and labor).

It affects what’s most efficient and reasonable for us to store instead of produce, as well as what’s most efficient and effective for us to spend our time on.

That extends to our work, and our off-time hobbies, pastimes, tasks, training, and skills.

DIY’ing isn’t always practical, for many situationally dependent reasons. Just paying for somebody else’s mousetrap can save time and money sometimes. Sometimes, budgeting for “stuff” instead of “skills” is a better option – pretty universally, person to person, or for right now.

Some basic skills will serve us well, almost regardless, whether we ever see a long-term job loss or widespread crisis, find ourselves surviving in the woods, or not. On the other hand, until we have some basics covered, some other facet of preparedness likely has greater value.

We have to factor specific value, person to person, to best meet our short-term and long-term goals.

What’s Past is Prologue

Our evolving societies and technologies mean that particular adage hasn’t aged quite as well as some of the Victory Garden advice. It doesn’t hold true universally, but it hasn’t been totally overturned, either.

History is one of the best places to look for the challenges we’ve faced, both as a species and as nations. It also offers us solutions to most of those challenges.

The guides and practices developed for war gardens in both world wars and from all nations involved have enormous applications for preppers, both actually digging in the dirt and garden yields, and the lessons we can apply elsewhere.

So do the hardships overcome throughout that entire era.

The actions of Britain’s Ministry of Ag alone and the ways British farmers, urbanites and burgeoning ‘burb dwellers handled them – and got around them – make a great study.

There are also big takeaways from what livestock were “allowed”, and how small-space homeowners and farmers maintained their much-reduced livestock and brought some of our now-rare heritage breeds through the tough times, especially in this modern age of reliance on bagged feed and the small property sizes available to many preppers.

It’s particularly beneficial to those who expect any kind of personal disaster or worldwide crisis from the perspectives of what was pushed as the most-efficient and most-needed crops, and how long the shortages lasted – following not only the first world war, but also the second.

Some of the other local, civilian, and federal wartime programs are worth researching and possibly planning for (or planning to evade) if we’re preparing for widespread disasters on scales that range from Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba’s oil crisis, and another Great Depression, to the even greater nation- and world-shaking pandemics, wars/takeovers, or natural disaster possibilities.

Thanks to evolution and modern tech, those lessons from history are waiting at our fingertips and under our thumbs.

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The post Lessons from History – Victory Garden Advice That Applies To Everything appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

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thecoroutfitters · 6 years

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Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

The Bug-Out Bag is pretty much a ubiquitous prepper topic. As with GHB-Get Home Bags, 72-our kits, and INCH-I’m Never Coming Home bags, there’s usually some mention of water.

For good cause. Dehydration can take effect very quickly, and lead to stumbles, inattention, and poor decision-making. Pack-friendly water options deserve consideration, especially when we’re planning for interruptions in services and other hardships.

On the Road

Don’t ignore a BOB or GHB and field water resupply just because “I never leave home”. Almost all of us travel. Frequently or infrequently, we depart on trips that take 30-90 minutes by vehicle, if not hours or days.

Some of us go RV’g, camping, hunting, fishing, and off-roading – regularly, somewhere off the daily beaten path. Some of us may still vacation-vacation. Some of us chaperone school trips.

Friends and family draw us out with funerals, weddings, illness or injury, child births, holidays, and boot camp, college, and high school graduations.

Many of us take monthly, quarterly, or annual trips to feed stores, big-box warehouse retailers, and discount outlet malls. We might also infrequently travel to take advantage of back-to-school sales or tax holidays, either a neighboring state or brick-and-mortar locations outside our normal stomping grounds.

Trips that take next to no time when traffic flows smoothly can expand exponentially when roads get gummed up. Should our ride go down, those quick 30-60-minute road trips can extend to hours or days of foot travel.

Even if we keep our vehicle, we may end up needing a water resupply – for ourselves, or to keep that vehicle running.

Plan For Varied Water Sources

Ideally, we have starting points – the silcock valve behind a store that’ll be closed, the exact lay of a drainage canal or duck creek – and we’re familiar with area-specific risks.

Each water source and the approaches to it greatly affect how and what we can use to efficiently and safely resupply. “One is none, two is one” applies hugely to attaining clean, safe water on the move, but at the same time remember that we have to carry this bag (putting BOB on a diet is a whole topic on its own).

Especially if we’re planning to hike across the unknown using maps and terrain cues of surface water, however, and especially if we have kids, pets, injuries, or aging to deal with, we may need to pack differently than originally planned.

Filters – The Fine Print

Make sure to read-read the information about our portable filters. Most filters have a maximum number of gallons/liters they’ll effectively treat.

The effective lifespan also regularly varies based on how dirty water.

It’s just something to be aware of, and to remember while assessing our needs and distances. Small portable emergency filters tend to filter the lowest volumes. In some cases, they may only treat 3-10 gallons or 15-30 gallons.

We can extend the life of most filters by doing a rough pre-filtration through socks, tampons in a bottle neck, coffee filters, t-shirts, or sand drips.

We can also extend our filters’ lives by not using them if we’re accessing water that should be clean, like from a faucet on a trail, somebody’s irrigation line, or outside a building, or if we’ve used the fire we built to drip-catch distilled water.

To avoid the unnecessary use, we’ll sometimes just have to remember to unscrew a cap to drink instead of sucking on the nozzle. Sometimes we may have to get creative.

Water Treatment Tabs & Solutions

If we go for a chemicals to kill off uglies, we have to be as aware of the same total volume we can treat as we do with physical filtration methods. We also want to remember that they typically take some time to work, some in as little as 5-15 minutes, but others 1-2 hours.

That means we’re mostly likely going to want at least two water containers (which isn’t a terrible idea, anyway, especially for those of us who ascribe to that other “rule of threes”). One bottle is in use, while the other is going through its treatment process.

When we use chemical treatments, don’t forget to let it start working, shake it, then partly unscrew the cap and shake it again. Doing so gets the treatment solution into all areas of the threads and caps – which we’ll touch with our lips, and which can re-contaminate the whole container. If we have a sipper-nipple or sports top, open or pinch that, too, to fully expose all areas.

That goes for Camelbaks, too. Especially Camelbak-type bags, really. They already have some issues with stagnant areas to contend with, but it’s especially true of bags and hoses that are going to be lowered into water sources directly.

Which brings us to …

Water Access Capabilities

Filling a Camelbak without a faucet can be “funtastic” (at least Camelbak-type bags have that nice, wide opening). It gets more funtastic yet with a water source that’s barely trickling, shallow pools, ice, or a sketchy bank. Same goes for most types of canteens and narrow-neck bottles. Cold, moving water and slick rocks add to the adventure, especially if you don’t have a bottle or mug to use as a baler (which gets contaminated in the process).

It’s something to keep in mind when loading a get-home or bug-out bag, especially with kids, pets, and seniors.

The various straw types are fantastic, and they have a lot of benefits, but they also have some huge drawbacks.

One, you have to get your face right down 6-18” from the surface of water to use them.

That lowers audio-visual observation. It also regularly requires holding a push-up or squat (I hope your bag is well balanced) or laying flat on the ground, all of which decrease fast-response capabilities. It also increases the chance of soaking clothing and getting muddy (pack non-rip, sturdy rain gear).

Second drawback: If all you have is the life straw and a quart canteen or bottle, you’re going to be sourcing water again before long, especially in high heat. That’s going to slow you (significantly).

Third: You can’t use them to filter water for a pet or someone who can’t access that water source. (Workaround: Play the suck-spit game to fill a container.)

To reduce all the drawbacks, source a container that can be contaminated – even a plastic bag will work (if you have a name-brand LifeStraw, double check the amount of depth/width you need). Fetch and carry water in that and stick the straw in to drink. It’s not an option for pets, though.

Some of the pump-draw filters have nice 2-3’ intake hoses on them, but some of them require you to be just as close to the water surface as those LifeStraws. That can be handy.

Even so, we also have to consider the times when banks are frozen, wet or slick, steep, there’s an overhang and-or ice shelf.

It’s not actually a difficult fix.

Use a coozie with a strap as a pouch or source a container with a wide mouth to use as a mini well bucket, even something like a used Powerade bottle or a tin can we can punch/drill some holes around the lip of – anything we can duck-tape a carabiner to or get 550 cord tied around securely. We can pitch them out and haul them back up to skip sketchy approaches.

Psst … Remember that on most lanyard-ready bottles the clip/loops are attached to the lid, not the bottle, and bottle-lid attachments are regularly flimsy. Plan for that.

Some of my stand-alone, inner-bag, and vehicle kits are in soft mini-coolers or thermal lunchboxes. They’re handy for a whole host of tasks and reasons, but I increased their use specifically to expand my water capabilities.

Most have a hard plastic liner, and the bags themselves will hold some water long enough for me to haul them up or toward me, even if they don’t have a film liner or the liner gets punctured. I can use them to lift water up to me safely, and I can carry (and be treating) a gallon-plus of water, even if my bottles get lost or damaged.

A wet-dry bag or pouch of the type with open handles or a cinch closure can also be used to bring up water with less observation loss and less risk of getting soaked, slipping, or falling.

Both beat the pants off a bottle, canteen cup, and Camelbak when there’s a skim of water over ice and for catching solar-still drips, and they haul up more per load as a well bucket when access is iffy.

Water on the Go

Over even just hours, we can easily dehydrate (even when it’s cold) and any circumstances that slow us down increases that risk. Don’t neglect a BOB/GHB, and don’t neglect practical water resupply for it.

Longtime through-packers and multi-day hike-in campers can be excellent sources for information about water options for our bags. The military can also be an excellent source for gear and reviews.

It’s important that we remember their context, though, especially the military, campsite, and trail hikers. Things that work or are available to them – like faucets and bottled water – aren’t always an option for us, and won’t be as safe or as readily obtainable in a scenario where we’re actually using a bag, short term or long duration.

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thecoroutfitters · 6 years

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Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another article from Angela Williams to The Prepper Journal. As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and be entered into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies!

It has been awhile since we talked about the most important of survivalists gear, known the world over by preppers as BOB, the Bug Out Bag. Most everyone has one, even people who don’t think they do and call them their “day pack”, their “emergency bags” and as every parents knows, their “get through a day out with the kids bag”, most complete with a finite supply of diapers. In fact most Preppers carry them under a different name as well, things like my “get back home bag” while their real BOB’s sit at home at the ready, of course under the assumption that they can get home and get their BOB and collect their family.

No matter the reality of YOUR BOB and where it lives the fact remains it will not serve you very well if you do not know how to pack and use it. Everyone has an opinion as to what belongs is a bug out bag and the rule of thumb is it should be able to sustain you adequately for up to three days. However, if the circumstances change, it should be the basis to keep you alive for an indefinite period. This is why you have to get it right before a survival situation knocks at your door. In this post, I will share with you my tips for your bug out bag before you can choose the best gears to include in the BOB.

Consider the Size of the Pack

The thought of what to include in your BOB could cloud your judgment as to the right size of the bag to use. It would be calamitous to overestimate the weight you can carry or handle versus the pack you choose. The fact that these packs come in various sizes means you can find the right fit for you although the task could be a daunting one.

Most Bug Out Bags are rated in cubic meters or liters or square feet. There is really no correlation between the volume rating and the actual weight of the pack when fully packed. However, a trick I have learned is that you can actually infer the expected packed weight of the Bug Out Bag from the volume rating.

For instance, if the volume rating is 40 cubit liters (1.4 cubic feet), the weight of the pack could approximately be 35-40 pounds. Using this estimation, you can choose the perfect fit for you from the various pack sizes available in the market. Make the right size choice because it could make the difference between comfort and suffering.

Balance between Weight, Security, and Speed

We have already discussed a little about weight. Another helpful tip is to balance the weight of the pack vis-à-vis your speed and security. How does this work? Picture this: can you carry 50-lbs comfortably on your back all day long? If so, can you also run with it in case a situation demands so? In most cases, the maximum weight we can carry when standing or walking proves too heavy to allow us to run or move at speed.

When packing your Bug Out Bag, ensure that you can guarantee your security and that of your loved ones by balancing/attaining a weight you can comfortably run with if such need arises. Try out the pack after placing the necessary items to see if it would weigh you down to prevent you from achieving the speed necessary to safeguard yourself and your family or friends.

The items that will increase the weight of your BOB include shelter, foods and cooking items as well as sleeping items. These are also the most vital items. Therefore you must do a serious balancing act in order to ensure you carry enough of these items yet you keep the weight of the pack as low as possible.

Cultivate Stealth and Quietness

In an emergency situation, stealth could make the difference between death and survival. For one, the noise will scare away potential prey that could be your only food source or at worst alert a predator to your presence. One of the most important tips for your bug out bag is to cultivate stealth. Let your BOB be as quiet as possible.

Before setting out on your journey, grab your pack and shake it. If you hear any noises that is bad news. The items notorious for noisy packs include ammo, cook sets, half full water bottles as well as an assortment of loose tools. Since you cannot get rid of some of the noisy items, a good piece of advice is to include extra bandannas and ranger bands. In case you have not maximized your pack, reduce the noise level by pulling and tightening its straps.

Arm Yourself with a Freeze Alert

This tip is especially true for those residing in cold temperature areas and generally in areas that experience winter. Colder temperatures are enemies to batteries, your water supply, and even your water filters. Always pack items in a manner that makes batteries and other electronic gadgets close to your body so that they can obtain warmth especially when temperatures drop below freezing.

Water bottles are extremely difficult to deal with since they are made of materials that are difficult to warm. The same goes for bladders at the back of the pack. A good tip would be to use insulated water bottle and bladders. The insulation will cushion these items from a drop in temperatures and save your water supply.

Organize Your Pack and Secure Your Gear

As a frequent camper and hiker, I always come across abandoned gloves and other items on the trail. Why is this happening? Many campers and survivalists pack these items and forget to zip or button up the pockets from where they removed such stuff. The best way to secure your gear is to ensure that you zip and button up all the pockets after retrieving an item. Never assume the item is secure and lose it altogether.

Besides securing your items, you also need to ensure your BOB is well organized. Put items depending on the frequency of their uses and type in different pockets. This will allow you to carry more items and at the same time make it easier for you to retrieve the item you want quickly and with ease. In case of a stuff sack, do not trust cord locks. Instead, tie a slip knot after cinching the sack’s cord lock to prevent the unit from sliding or the knot becoming loose.

Ensure Your Bug Out Bag Is Always Ready

The biggest mistake you can ever do is to have items scattered around your house. Some people have packed their items well but somewhere along the way, they may realize that one or two of the items originally stored need replacement. This thought is good but many fail to replace them immediately only to run up and down looking for missing item when they are bugging out.

Even worse is the fact that they can forget to double check their pack only to realize a vital gear is missing when in the wilderness or when an emergency strikes. Pack your BOB with all the items you will need and always have it ready for survival at all time. If you have to replace an item, please do it immediately. Ensure you replace any consumables immediately.

Maintain Your Gear, Keep it Dry and Make Sure it Floats

Consider what will happen to your gear if you were to trek through a trail on a rainy day or crossing a creek. An important tip you need to keep in your mind is the dryness and flotation of your gear. You can use a pack cover which in most cases will double as a rain collector. However, a pack cover could prove useless in just a single misstep.

Thankfully, you can use a dry bag. Such bags have a variety of uses including gathering food, water and keeping things like blankets and kindling moisture proof. Besides they are virtually waterproof making them ideal for crossing creeks since they trap air and remain buoyant. A good pack should be able to float. You can just remove your BOB from your back and toss it in the water before you or off your side (as long as you have it tethered of course.)

Final Verdict

Think about it! What is the worth of making a mistake in bugging out? Simply put, your safety and security (and therefore your survival) depend on optimizing your BOB. If you follow the above tips for your Bug out Bag, you will not go wrong in your preparedness. Experienced survivalists know these tips and that is their reason for success.

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The post Time to Revisit BOB appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

#SHTF #TEOTWAWKI #MARTIALLAW #BUGOUT #PREPPERBAG #USAF #USSOCOM #ARMY #NAVY #SurvivalFirestarter #Sur

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