Thursday, September 28, 2023

Don't Get Careless

By Tim Gamble

We all get careless from time to time. This morning was one of my time to get careless. 

I had somewhere to be early this morning. It was time sensitive. I was rushing around the house getting ready. And it was one of those mornings where there seemed to be 101 other distractions going on. In my haste and distraction, I left the house without my phone. My first careless mistake.

I was a couple miles away from my home when my car started overheating. Steam coming from under the hood. I was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. No stores, no gas stations, and no visible homes around me. I pull over on the side of the road, intending to grab the bottle of engine coolant I keep in the back as part of my vehicle kit. I could refill the coolant and get back home, or so I thought.

It wasn't there. I remembered that I had used it months ago for my other vehicle, intending to replace it in a couple of days. I didn't. My second careless mistake.

Eventually, everything worked out. But it surprised me. Me. A 20+ year veteran of preparedness. Unprepared for a simple car break-down. Frustrating. 

So, what lesson can I learn? Simply this: Don't get careless. But how?

How Not To Get Careless

The first thing I should have done was to have immediately replaced the engine coolant I used months ago. No procrastination. No putting things off until later. 

The second thing I should have done was to have gotten ready earlier so that I would have been less rushed. Don't wait until the last minute to do things. 

The third thing I should have done was to quickly go through a mental checklist of what I needed as I left the house. Car keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Reading glasses? Check. Phone? Nope. I need to go back inside and get it. 

Carelessness usually results from poor planning, undue haste, poor organization, and/or a lack of focus. We all, especially me, need to work on these areas. 
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Advanced Preparedness: Hardened underground nuclear blast shelter

By Tim Gamble

The American Civil Defense Association (TACDA) recently released a video lecture entitled "Learn how to design and build a hardened underground nuclear blast shelter." The 1 hour 15 minute video features Sharon Packer, who "has been on the board of directors for TACDA for over 20 years. She has a bachelors degree in mathematics, a minor in physics, and a master's degree in nuclear engineering. She is an expert in nuclear weapons effects, shelter design, and civil defense."

Direct link to video on YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7-xU4zJSfE or watch here with additional information and links below:


From TACDA: "The American Civil Defense Association (TACDA) educates Americans how to prepare for and survive disasters through civil defense concepts and techniques. Learn from experts from our 60 year old non-profit, non-political organization that teach all aspects of civil defense. What is civil defense? It is the process of the civilian population to take care of disasters and emergencies in their area before government help arrives. Many countries in the world have trained their citizens in civil defense and they know exactly what to do in catastrophic situations. Our citizens in America are grossly unprepared. Join us and learn the basics of civil defense, then share your knowledge with others. Together we are stronger! TACDA is an individual entity run by volunteers and is not associated with the US Federal Government. We do not discuss politics. We are for all people who wish to reduce fear, suffering, and panic from the effects of disasters, by preparing their homes, neighborhoods, and communities for unexpected emergencies."

TACDA website: https://tacda.org/

TACDA YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tacda4949

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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Situation Report: Disease and Famine Edition

By Tim Gamble

Note: The following news reports are  presented here not to induce panic, but rather to raise awareness of potential and emerging threats. In reading these or other reports, or making your own observations, try to identify overall trends. React to trends, not isolated incidences. 

United States, Colorado, Archuleta County: Resident dies from the Plague. Public health officials have confirmed that a local resident has died from the Plague. Spread by infected flea bites and direct contact with infected animals, the Plague is very rare in modern times, but occasional deaths do happen. So far, this appears to be an isolated event. In the United States, the Plague is often detected in rock squirrels, prairie dogs, wood rats and other species of ground squirrels and chipmunks. (Link to Source)

Canada, Alberta: West Nile Virus Outbreak. Nine cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Alberta in recent weeks - two cases in Edmonton and seven cases in the southern Alberta. Although the virus can be deadly, so far no deaths have been reported. West Nile Virus is spread by certain species of mosquitos. (Link to Source)

Italy, Lombardy Region: 34,000 pigs culled to contain African Swine Fever outbreak. Italy is experiencing its largest outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) since the 1960s. ASF is deadly to domestic pigs and wild swine, but poses no direct threat to humans. Instead, this is yet another hit to the global food supply chain. (Link to Source)

Documentary: No Farmers No Food: Will You Eat The Bugs? The Epoch Times earlier this week released the documentary No Farmers No Food: Will You Eat The Bugs? The documentary exposes "the hidden agenda behind global “Green Policies,” the untold stories of farmers forced out of business, the disruption this will have on our food supply, and why edible bugs are suddenly being pushed to the fore as a "Global Green Solution."

Subscribers to The Epoch Times can watch it for free. Others can watch it for $4. Here is the Link.
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Emergency Radio - AM/FM + NOAA (weather) and Shortwave bands: Hand Crank, Solar or Battery Powered, Portable Power Bank, Solar Charger & Flashlight - Rechargeable, Headphone Jack and More! 

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Homestead Hints by S.K. Fox

By Tim Gamble 

There is a new neo-pioneering homesteading book on the market, Homestead Hints by S.K. Fox. I bought a copy a few weeks ago. I am extremely impressed with it, as it is a short (only 62 pages), very readable book that is absolutely crammed with highly useful information. There is no fluff or filler in it, just good info for anyone new to or considering the homesteading lifestyle. Even seasoned homesteaders will likely find this book useful.     

You may know S.K Fox as Sister Kate of Shofar Mountain, whose husband is Pastor Joe Fox (aka Viking Preparedness). They have been off-grid homesteading for over 10 years now, and have been into prepping and survivalism for a lot longer. Sister Kate's life experiences include being a girl scout leader, certified firearms instructor, firefighter, and EMT, among many other experiences. 

Homesteading Hints contains 13 chapters. Here are the titles, with my brief description of each:
  1. Before You Start Homesteading = Things to think about and do BEFORE starting your homesteading journey (such as getting out of debt)
  2. The Land = Finding and buying land
  3. Your Little Slice of Heaven = Deciding what you want in a homestead (will influence what you buy)
  4. The Cheapest Homesteading Options = Marginal land, going off-grid, solar ovens, water catchment, and other money-saving ways to homestead.
  5. Moving = Moving is stressful and costs money. Plan for it and budget for it. 
  6. Animals = Considerations for chickens, goats, sheep, cows, and other animals on the homestead. 
  7. Gardening = Growing your own food. Also some info regarding wild edibles. 
  8. A Way to Organize Your Homesteading Life = Year round, weekly, and daily calendars of activities. 
  9. Food Basics For the Homesteader = Recommended cookbooks, kitchen tools, canning supplies, food stables, and even info on milking goats, sheep, and cows. 
  10. Machines vs. Manpower = Nobody said homesteading must be off-grid.
  11. Vehicle = Vehicle considerations: trucks, tractors, ATVs, mules (the kind with wheels, not hooves), etc.
  12. Extras = Wi-Fi and Internet accessibility
  13. And Finally... 24 Homesteading Hints = This chapter alone is worth the price of the book, in my opinion. 
Homesteading Hints also fits in very well with one of my themes here on Dystopian Survival, that of Biblical Agrarianism. I believe that agrarianism is God's intent for His people. This doesn't mean everyone must be a farmer or homesteader - after all, there are plenty of support functions that must be done - but that as God's people, our lives, culture, economy, and civilization should reflect the primary importance of agriculture. This book defiantly points in that direction. And I defiantly recommend it to anyone interested in homesteading or a more agrarian lifestyle on any scale. 

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Related Articles:
*** You can find Tim Gamble and Dystopian Survival on social media! 
>>  Gab = @TimGamble (most active)
>>  Instagram = @DystopianSurv 
>>  Twitter = @TimGambleSpeaks 
>>  TruthSocial = @TimGambleSpeaks 

Monday, September 11, 2023

Some Notes

By Tim Gamble 
(Please Subscribe by Email.) 

Just a few notes:

1) Mystery plant identified? After getting suggestions from several people, and looking up pictures of the fruit and plant, I've decided that my mystery plant is most likely a variety of Winter Melon, also called Ash Gourd. Winter melons are a green fruit with white flesh and a mild flavor, according to what I've read. It is used in Chinese soups and stir-fries. I have no idea how one ended up in my garden, other than a bird probably "planted" it there. 

2) Over on my Resistance Website, I just posted a two-part article on Guarding Your Privacy. Readers of Dystopian Survival may be interested in it:
3) Also on my Resistance Website, I recently posted a four-part series on Protecting Your Family From the State and Society: 
4) A reminder: Dystopian Survival (and TimGamble.com) is now an affiliate of Refuge Medical and Refuge Training. Refuge Medical is a family-owned business based out of Oklahoma, which designs and manufactures high quality, American made, first aid kits and supplies for military, law enforcement, EMS, firefighters, and civilians. The kits are made in America and guaranteed for life. A 10% Discount Code will automatically be applied at checkout when you visit their website using links from my websites.

5) I am now on Instagram. Yeah, I know... Instagram. It is my attempt to reach out to a broader audience with my message, especially a younger audience that likely isn't hearing much about self-reliance, preparedness, or traditional values on a regular basis. My Instagram account is @DystopianSurv. Check it out if you are on Instagram, and give me a follow. You can even see my Bigfoot photo on there (for real - and its not blurry!).  

6) I'm also on Gab at https://gab.com/TimGambleSure, there are some "unpleasant" folks on there, but they're easy enough to mute and block. I've found that most Gab folks are decent people and there are more actual interactions on there than on Twitter/X. Reminds me of the old days of Twitter before the censorship crap started. I am the most active on Gab. 
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AD:  Augason Farms Long-Term Food Storage - This is where I get powdered butter, eggs, cheese, milk, and other long-term foods for my Survival Pantry. Shelf-life up to 20+ years. Good quality, good taste, good value. For my money (literally, since I am a paying customer), Augason Farms is the best long-term foods option. 



Tuesday, September 5, 2023

What is it?

By Tim Gamble 

A volunteer plant is growing beside my back porch. The vine and leaves remind me of a watermelon plant (which I originally thought it was), but the fruit looks more like a zucchini (but not exactly). The fruit is smooth, not rough barbs like on cucumbers. Look though the photos and tell me what you think it is. Just click to enlarge the photos. Thank you! 




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AD:  Augason Farms Long-Term Food Storage - This is where I get powdered butter, eggs, cheese, milk, and other long-term foods for my Survival Pantry. Shelf-life up to 20+ years. Good quality, good taste, good value. For my money (literally, since I am a paying customer), Augason Farms is the best long-term foods option. 




Monday, September 4, 2023

Boosting the Immune System

By Tim Gamble 
 
Please Note: I am NOT a doctor or other medical professional. Nothing in this article is meant as professional advice, nor is it an attempt to diagnose or treat any illness or medical condition. If you have specific medical questions or concerns, please consult with a licensed medical professional. The following information is meant only for general educational purposes. A list of sources appears at the bottom of the article.

Ways to Boost the Human Immune System

Generally speaking, anything that improves overall health will help boost the immune system - the body's natural defenses against disease. The immune system also repairs the damage done once the body does become sick. There are a number of things that can be done to boost the human immune system.

1) Eat right, and not too much. You are what you eat, as the saying goes. A healthy diet is low in sugar, white potatoes, and grains, high in real veggies (leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), contains some fruits (don't go overboard or you will get too much sugar), and has plenty of good protein (meat & fowl) and healthy fats (fatty fish, olive oil, tree nuts, etc.). Of course, use commonsense and don't eat foods that you are allergic to. And don't eat too much food. Strive to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. 

2) Stay hydrated. Surprisingly, studies have proven that many modern people are suffer from mild dehydration on a regular basis, despite having ready access to clean drinking water. This is bad for the immune system. Stay well hydrated.  Good sources of hydration: water, unsweetened teas. Horrible sources of hydration: soda pop, alcohol. 


3) Be physically active.
Regular exercise is very good for the body and the immune system. Being a couch potato is not. You don't have to be a professional bodybuilder or a world class athlete. You do have to do something to keep yourself physically active. 

4)  Get plenty of sleep. An often overlooked, but extremely important, factor in the human body's ability to fight off disease and repair itself is sleep. In today's modern 24/7 world, most people don't get enough sleep (7 to 8 hours a night on a consistent basis). In fact, many people ignorantly brag about how little sleep they can "get by on." Sleep is too important to ignore if you want a immune system that functions at its best.  

5) Stop damaging your immune system. Certain activities suppress the immune system, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, using illegal drugs, abusing or misusing legal drugs, and consuming too much sugar. You MUST stop these if you want your immune system to achieve peak performance. 

6) Fresh air and sunlight. Whether you think humans were designed by God or by nature, the fact is humans were designed for the outdoors. However, most modern people live the vast majority of their lives indoors - in their homes, at school, at work, at church, at the store, and while driving. This is both unnatural and unhealthy. Humans need fresh and and sunshine. Oh, and don't fear the Sun. There is no connection between sunlight and skin cancer. The problem isn't with sunlight, which humans need both physically and emotionally. Rather the connection to skin cancer is with getting severely and repeatedly sun burned. Normal exposure to sunlight is normal and healthy. 

7)  Destress. Stress, particularly chronic stress, is known to contribute to inflammation, high blood pressure, high levels of stress hormones, high blood sugar, and heart disease, among other things. Stress also acts to suppress the immune system, weakening the body's defenses against all forms of disease. Work on eliminating stress from your life, and better managing the stress you do have. 

8) Emotional and Spiritual Health. There is a connection between mind and body. People should pay as much attention to their emotional and spiritual health as they do their physical health. It is all interconnected. Overcome your addictions, whatever they may be. Pray. Read the Bible. Reconnect with your spouse, family and friends. Spend time in nature, enjoy beauty, art, music... 

9) Vitamins, minerals and other supplements. Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and Zinc play significant roles in the immune system. Quercetin Phytosome is another nutritional supplement that has received lots of attention over the last few years. There are other supplements that are also beneficial to the immune system, so do some research in this area. 

Sources:  

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! 
>>  Gab = @TimGamble (most active)
>>  Instagram = @DystopianSurv 
>>  Twitter = @TimGambleSpeaks 
>>  TruthSocial = @TimGambleSpeaks 

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TimGamble.com is my #Resistance website. I cover politics and current events from a "red-pilled" perspective, as well as providing strategies, information and resources for resisting the forces of tyranny attempting to enslave us all. Much of my attention is given to exposing technocracy and building alternative systems to those being foisted on us by the technocrats. 

Friday, September 1, 2023

My Personal "Boots on the Ground" Report For September 1

By Tim Gamble 

Here is my personal boots on the ground report of what I am seeing and experiencing in my area (small town in western North Carolina) over the last few weeks. Please feel free to leave your own reports in the new comments section (now unmoderated) of this website. (Hat tip to SouthernPrepper1 for the concept.)

The Bad News At The Stores

Although it is nothing like what happened in 2020, there are again noticeable gaps on the store shelves in this area, worse than its been in at least a year. It is the usual suspects: canned meats & fish, mac-and-cheese & other meal-in-a-box foods, certain snack foods, OTC medications, vitamins & supplements, and some cleaning supplies. The shelves of fresh meats and frozen foods are also noticeably thinner. Olive oil is non-existent in this area, except for a few bottles of the most expensive brands. 

The Good News At The Stores

Eggs remain in the $1.78 - $1.98 range for store-brand white eggs, much cheaper than they were earlier this year. The price of Member's Mark canned chicken at Sam's Club is now  $12.84 for a six-pack, down considerably from a peak of $18.98 earlier this year. Despite rumors of a rice shortage, all stores in my area have plenty of rice on the shelves, in various sizes of both the name-brands and store-brands. If there is a rice shortage, it hasn't shown up here yet. 

The Weather

Despite all the talk in the media of climate change and an extremely hot summer, this isn't what we are experiencing in my area. In fact, this has been a noticeably mild summer. For example, we normally have 4 or 5 days of 100-degree every summer, usually around late July or early August, yet this year we haven't had any. In fact, our hottest day so far has been 97 degrees (which we've hit twice). 

Restaurant Closings

Two local restaurants have closed in recent weeks. I don't know the owners, so I don't know the why of the situation. However, each represents a least a dozen or more people who have lost their jobs. 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! 
>>  Gab = @TimGamble (most active)
>>  Instagram = @DystopianSurv 
>>  Twitter = @TimGambleSpeaks 
>>  TruthSocial = @TimGambleSpeaks 
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AD:  Augason Farms Long-Term Food Storage - This is where I get powdered butter, eggs, cheese, milk, and other long-term foods for my Survival Pantry. Shelf-life up to 20+ years. Good quality, good taste, good value. For my money (literally, since I am a paying customer), Augason Farms is the best long-term foods option.