Practical Prepping Protocol even if Poor

My goodness, growing up we had an 83... DL? I forget what the hatchback was back then. Had the spare tire on top of the engine. Mine is a 96 Legacy, spare is in the trunk. Have a 98 Outback that I'm rebuilding the engine on, it'll replace the Legacy when I'm done. Never ran across a hill holder though I've heard of them. I grew up in West Virginia too! You can tell which vehicle is mine when I parallel park because I always turn my wheels towards the curb.

I was asked to expand on what I was saying here so I'll try to do so.

Yunohost offers a Linux distribution that, by default, will install Metronome, a XMPP server. This is software that will provide instant messaging, voice and video conferencing. It can be installed on practically any spare computer that is laying around. It also provides something called Owncloud which is a fantastic piece of software that provides storage and retrieval of all kinds of information. One application that I've used this for is a searchable library of ebooks that can be shared over a local network.

Combine this with a wifi access point and suddenly everyone in your reception area has a way to communicate with everyone else.

All that is needed is a smart phone with the proper software installed on it. Or a tablet, or a laptop. This is stuff that most people have and the proper software could be put into your digital preps. Jitsi is only one of many xmpp clients that could be used.

Yes, a wifi access point has limited range but it can be extended using a mesh.

What I'm suggesting does need a little sophistication when it comes to computers and networking but it's not that hard to learn and, indeed, you might have someone already that can manage it.

Last Edited by Lowkey Cyberpunk on 08/31/2020 03:41 PM

We had a customer come in with a complaint the front brakes were dragging. Got it on the lift, and sure enough, if you pushed and released the brake pedal, the front wheels stayed locked up. I was suspecting a swollen brake hose or a bad master cylinder. I started cracking bleeders and lines, working my way back toward the M/C. Tracnig the lines back, I had to remove the spare tire on top of the engine. The lines went to a contraption underneath the spare, that also had a cable connected to the clutch linkage!

Started digging through manuals and discovered it was the hill holder. Semi-local dealer had one in stock. Said it was a common problem item. Replaced it and bled the brakes. Problem solved. You learn something new every day.

Yes, yes you do. Well done!

I'm in flatland right now so I guess that is why I haven't run into this before. My wife refuses to travel through the Appalachians anymore because I will drive full speed through curves and weather. Poor thing was born in Texas.

What an amazing gift!! You were blessed!

Look up hamburger gravel or hamburger rocks on YT. I've made that a couple times and liked the result, although chicken me stuck the bags in the freezer after they were done! LOL

As for dehydrating ground beef, again I would go to youtube as there are bound to be many options. Good luck!

Hey, MK - good to see you!

I used to go get those roll ends myself, for my child's art projects from very young. They were wonderful. Seems like last time I asked they were not giving them out any more - charged for them, I think. They were great while they lasted!

I'm enjoying the truck discussion - I recall when we were trading firewood for something, don't recall what, and the truck owner needed me to put a blanket - my own - in the bed of his pickup so it would not be marred by the firewood. I was so disgusted! A truck is a truck is a truck - is what I thought. Apparently not. A truck is a point of beauty, apparently, and must not be used as a truck, to lessen the perfection. Oh, Barf!!!!

Sometimes I get "normalcy bias" syndrome.

I was starting to think everything is gonna be OK.

Then, I listened to Full Spectrum Survival tonight. He was talking about the amazing exodus from big cities and how many are out of work, losing their homes, etc.

Read the comments below his utube tonight. Lots of desperate people with nowhere to go.

Its gonna get hairy this year and next and maybe the next.

Reminds me of a family story:

Great Uncle Clyde and his family lost everything in the Great Depression. Their farm in Oklahoma was swallowed by the Dust Bowl. Repossessed by the bank.

The family of Clyde, his wife, and 8 kids loaded everything on the family's only vehicle, a primitive pickup and headed West. They heard there was work in California.

They ran out of money and gas in Modesto. Pitched a tarp on the side of the truck on the roadside for shelter.

At dawn he started walking. Found a farmer digging stumps out of a field. Hired on to dig stumps for one dollar per day. You could buy a can of beans or a loaf of bread for five cents, so the family would have something to eat.

When he got back to their camp, he discovered that his wife and 8 kids had hired on to pick lettuce for one dollar per day EACH. Earned nine dollars.

They survived.

He saved his money and found some worthless land on the edge of the valley that no one wanted. Bought it.

He found out they were doing demolition of a hotel in San Francisco and selling doors for five cents each. He brought home truckloads. Built an entire house out of doors.

Pop said it was confusing because you did not know where to enter. It was all doors.

After WWII, Clyde started digging in plumbing and putting in electric service on his land. Opened a trailer park.

Clyde died as a millionaire.

What have we learned?

1. Stick together with family.
2. WORK at whatever you can find.
3. Save your money.
4. Improvise and overcome.

5. darth is getting old and probably told this story before! Maybe on this thread.

My parents generation survived the Great Depression, Dust Bowl, losing everything, WWII, the Cold War, hippies in the 1960s, and everything else that has happened.

Have faith. We shall overcome.

Apparently you are not the person of whom I was thinking, but I'm still delighted you have returned!

We don't do arguing and accusing in this thread - totally unnecessary and undesirable. I just remove and ban that kind. We badly need to be learning, teaching, supporting one another as the worst of times comes closer and closer. The amount of information in this thread could save many, many lives and I hope those who need it, find it.

Hope you feel comfortable in being in this thread often, by ignoring the rough threads that are angry and accusatory. I avoid those myself. Just want to help others, to keep us all going and prepared and aware.

People, please give green karma to KTee and Crunch to repay them for spending their karma on pinning us. And somebody please keep pinning us so we save as many as we can by the amazing information available in this thread. One life saved is a miracle - multiple lives is a blessing from God.

Darth, you have not told this wonderful story here before, at least not in my reading and I don't miss many posts here. Your family is amazing and the story is terrific!

Such determination! Have you any photos of the door house? That would be such a treasure - would love to see. You come from the best of stock, Darth, and I believe in your survival and that of your family.

Thank you so much for sharing this! All your advice is exactly right and highly desirable.

What have we learned?

1. Stick together with family.
2. WORK at whatever you can find.
3. Save your money.
4. Improvise and overcome.

5. darth is getting old and probably told this story before! Maybe on this thread.

My parents generation survived the Great Depression, Dust Bowl, losing everything, WWII, the Cold War, hippies in the 1960s, and everything else that has happened.

Have faith. We shall overcome.


Darth, you have not told this wonderful story here before, at least not in my reading and I don't miss many posts here. Your family is amazing and the story is terrific!

Such determination! Have you any photos of the door house? That would be such a treasure - would love to see. You come from the best of stock, Darth, and I believe in your survival and that of your family.

Thank you so much for sharing this! All your advice is exactly right and highly desirable.


I love that story too. Unfortunately, no photos survive.

I am descended from a bunch of cowboys, drunken Indians, and some VERY capable women. My grandmas were as tough as boot leather.

I have survived cancer, a medical error in my treatment that made a young med student exclaim "We can't figure out why you're not dead yet!", bankruptcy, two divorces, and years of poverty.

Yet now, I am serenely living on my five acres with The Queen, our cows, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, and cats. I am prepped and continue to improve our preparedness.

If SHTF, I know that my kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews, and others will show up here. They know that Uncle Darth will provide. I will give them a tent in the pasture, food, and water. And put them to work.

Togther!

I've mentioned this before but in these troubled times...it's not tinfoil-hat to consider being attacked in mass.

Make a plan...a fall back position...that mirrors the battle of Thermopylae.

Set up a bottle neck so only one attacker can get to you at a time...then their numbers mean nothing!

If you partially block a hallway or a staircase with a couch or some other obstacle...and only one attacker get get to you at a time...you can kill them one by one...and each body that stacks up is now just a further obstacle for them to get around.

The only consideration to this plan is to have an exit incase they torch your house.

- MC

GLP posters today big on food shortage posts

Keep prepping. You may think you have enough, you don't.

en masse is my greatest concern and attempt at burning is my second. Both are great concerns. Thank you for the suggestions.

I have been lurking on this thread and would like to say thank you to everyone for their ideas and expiences. I cannot recall if this has been posted before but The Latter Days Saints have canneries.

You can use their facility to can dry goods that they sell very cheaply.. Options are #10 cans and mylar bags.

Here is their price list which is reasonable for long term food storage. They are open to the public by appt and are all over the USA and Canada.

They will also prepack and ship to you if a centre is not close by.

Available in Canada and the USA

[link to providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org (secure)]

I agree. Get a spray on bed liner if you're going to worry about it!

My truck is still pretty good looking, but I use it for what it was intended...A TRUCK!

Funny...when I first got the thing everybody and their brother was asking me to help them move shit...it got so bad I finally had to tell EVERYBODY "no". Boy some got pissy.

- MC

For the first time ever I'm trying to make spaghetti sauce from scratch.

I have tomatoes coming out of my ying yang and I don't know what to do with them all. Wish me luck!

- MC

I had a 1970 Chevy C-10 some years ago. 6-cylinder and 3 on the tree.

Nobody wanted to borrow it, because nobody knew how to drive it.

Win-win!

I've never lent a vehicle to anybody EVER...nor would I.

Sure made me unpopular in highschool & college :(

- MC

Luck!

I made some last year and canned it. It was good, but a little runny.

Not as thick as I like.

I have lent vehicles to people on occasion. I nearly always regretted it.

I avoid borrowing anything as well. My luck dictates the item will become damaged/break/etc., while in my possession.

I once borrowed my FIL's bass boat for a day. My wife and I went fishing. The anchor rope got snagged on a buoy cable. After an hour trying to get it loose with weather coming in, I had to cut it off so we could get out of there.

The next evening, when I got home from work, I brought over a new anchor and rope to my FIL. He said, 'Oh, you didn't have to do that'.

Yes, I did.

Hispanic stores are absolutely lively, colorful & fun...plus their meat prices are the absolute best.

Often it is a minimum of 10 pounds of meat(not always bulk though) but here are a few of the current prices.

Pork country ribs 99cents
Stew meat pork 98cents a pound, seemingly every week prices
Skinless chicken breast 87cents a pound
Chicken drum sticks 47cents a pound
White onions 3pound $1
Huge mangos 69cents

Also one can purchase a huge bag of dried poblanos with an indefinite shelf life to Stuff & roast for chiles rellenos.

The prices in the chain stores are rising. I just don't buy if price is high.

Shop better & one will find better prices.

Don't lend my vehicles ever.

Common knowledge...all borrowed vehicles are thought to be four wheel drive, all terrain.

This does cause problems.

My response, ever so sweetly is "No but thanks for asking."

Big mexican store here closed down about a year ago. Odd.

We have a bunch of poblanos on our plants that we won't be able to use this season. I think they are too large for our dehydrator. May be time to try out the 'dehydrate' function in our oven.

I love those poblanos.

I never allow anyone to drive a vehicle belonging to me. Too much risk involved. Not a wise thing to do.

How's everybody doing today? Somebody up for green-pinning us on Saturday morning? Would be good to catch those off on weekends. Please let us know here if you are going to pin us so we know for sure. Thanks, all.

I don't believe you can do it yourself these days. FDA cracked down on them. Shame.

I'll do it if I can remember how...and what day it is.

Give me a break. I'm retired.

Pinned it. Sorry, I have been watering olive trees all morning.