TEOTWAWKI
‘Doomsday Preppers’ Jay And Holly Blevins Featured On FOX Washington, D.C., News Story
“Since the year 2000, more than a million people have died in catastrophic events.”
-Jay Blevins, former law enforcement officer and “Doomsday Prepper,” in an April 29, 2013, FOX 5 (Washington, D.C.) TV news segment
Last Thursday I came across a pretty good piece on preppers by Sherri Ly over at the FOX 5 (Washington, D.C.) website. It features Jay and Holly Blevins, who appeared in season 2 episode 3 of the National Geographic Channel hit series Doomsday Preppers:
“Preppers: Ready for disaster”
FOX Washington, D.C. Video
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Tinley Park, Illinois, Site Of Urban Warfare Training Exercise
A little over a year ago, I blogged about Chicago hosting one of these military training exercises that since have popped up with increasing frequency in the news. From that April 16, 2012, post:
The City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) released the following statement about the scheduled urban warfare training exercise today:
The City of Chicago is providing support for a routine military training exercise in and around the Chicagoland area on April 16 -19. This routine training is conducted by military personnel in cities across the country, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments as service members meet mandatory training certification requirements and prepare for upcoming overseas deployments.
The training sites have been carefully selected to minimize the impact on the daily routine of residents.
The training is not open to the public.
“The training is not open to the public.”
I guess downtown Chicago residents and workers were supposed to close their eyes and pretend the helicopters that buzzed them during last year’s event didn’t exist.
Anyway, last week, another one of these exercises took place in the Chicagoland area- in the southwest Chicago community of Tinley Park, Illinois. From the Chicago Tribune website today:
Department of Defense training exercises that included explosions heard miles away and helicopters flying over Tinley Park angered residents.
Residents said they heard “bomb” noises from about 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on April 23 during what was an urban warfare training exercise at the former mental health center. Tinley Park police received about 25 calls from residents who were either fearful or angry, especially in the wake of the bombings in Boston the previous week.
Defense officials followed up with another exercise April 24 involving helicopters that flew over Tinley Park for much of the night. Residents reported hearing them from 8:30 p.m. until about 12:45 a.m…
Local police were not involved with the training, said Pat Carr, Emergency Management Agency director.
Like the Chicago urban warfare exercise last year, the public was not allowed to view the training. But that didn’t prevent a few from trying.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Source:
“Urban warfare exercise rattles Tinley Park residents.” Chicago Tribune. 2 May 2013. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/tinley_park/ct-tl-tinley-park-dod-exercise-20130502,0,7645588.story). 2 May 2013.
Spring Break Over, And Stupidity Still Reigns
I’m back.
And it’s discomforting to know the world I “left” for a few days remains more or less the same.
Led by a man some refer to as “President Sparklefarts” (not too respectful if you ask me, although I have heard that respect is something that must be earned), many Americans continue to grasp onto some mythical notion of utopia on earth.
Or at least here in the United States.
One nation, under God (maybe not), with moonbeams and butterflies for all.
While at the same time, accountability, civic duty, common sense, humility, maturity, morality, and reality become increasingly alien concepts.
Did I miss anything? This Gevalia coffee is playing with my head tonight.
Upon returning to my well-worn keyboard (give me an A! no, really), my mind brings me back twenty years or so to when I first watched the “Dish and Dishonesty” episode of the British sitcom Blackadder (back then I was mocked for watching British TV; these days, if you’re not a fan of Downton Abbey, you’re not “in with the in-crowd”). From an exchange between Baldrick and his boss Blackadder:
BLACKADDER: We are reprieved. It is a triumph for stupidity over common sense.
BALDRICK: Thank you very much.
BLACKADDER: As a special reward, Baldrick, take a short holiday. [Pauses for a second.] Did you enjoy it?
“A triumph for stupidity over common sense.”
“A short holiday.”
I can relate on both counts.
Glenn Beck, Food Insurance Emphasize Preparedness In These Uncertain Times
Monday night I got the chance to watch The Glenn Beck Program on TheBlaze TV. It was a terrific episode- as usual. Glenn Beck is a big believer in preparedness these days. And Monday, in the wake of the Cyprus “bail-in” announcement, he revealed that he recently instructed his adult children to have 30 days of cash on hand in case of an emergency/currency crisis. Not a bad idea. Glenn also pointed out two more things that evening that might be of particular interest to Survival And Prosperity readers.
First, on the web site of another affiliate program I belong to- Food Insurance (company reviewed here)- the emergency food supply company is making available a free download of their list of “Top 50” must-have emergency items along with access to exclusive preparedness tips and special offers.
There’s a free sign-up (the company says the information will be kept “strictly confidential”), which I just got done completing. Now, I’m just waiting to receive an e-mail to download that “Top 50” list so I can see what their experts recommend.
(UPDATE: I just downloaded the list (.pdf file). It’s not bad, with more detail than I expected. I will study it more in the coming days.)
And speaking of experts, Glenn noted that this Thursday’s show will focus on preparedness. As such, The Glenn Beck Program will be having a number of prepper “experts” from a nearby prepping summit sponsored by Food Insurance attending the show that day. I’d expect Thursday’s programming to be quite interesting and informative. Those who have access to TheBlaze TV (I have it on DISH Network) might want to mark their calendars.
More information on that free Food Insurance download can be found on their website here. And TheBlaze TV, here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Lights Out To Become A Feature Film?
Anyone ever read David Crawford’s post-apocalyptic novel Lights Out? I did. Great book. And it could be coming to the silver screen soon as well. I received the following yesterday afternoon regarding an Indiegogo.com Crowdfunding Campaign for the project:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAVID CRAWFORD’S REVOLUTIONARY INTERNET BEST-SELLER “LIGHTS OUT” TO BECOME A FEATURE FILM
PRODUCED BY REEL EQUITY FUNDING & ATLANTA’S BUG-OUT BAG PRODUCTIONS,
DIRECTED BY THE BROTHERS YOUNG
Action-Packed, Post- Apocalyptic Prepper Novel Has Been Downloaded Over Three Million Times
Indiegogo.com Crowdfunding Campaign Launches Today at
www.indiegogo.com/projects/lights-out-saga / www.lightsoutsaga.comMarch 18, 2013 – ATLANTA – David Crawford’s wildly-successful, action-packed, post-apocalyptic novel LIGHTS OUT (lightsoutthebook.com) will soon become a feature film executive produced by Reel Equity Funding, Inc. (REF) and Atlanta-based Bug-Out Bag Productions (bugoutbagproductions.com). Downloaded over three million times, the novel has been championed by America’s growing “prepper” and 2nd Amendment Rights communities. The Brothers Young will direct the film, with pre-production and casting to start immediately in Atlanta. REF and Bug-Out Bag Productions recently wrapped production on feature film “Remnants,” with Tom Sizemore.
LIGHTS OUT’s Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign (indiegogo.com/projects/lights-out-saga) launches today, with a set goal of $175,000 for production costs. In exchange for contributions, the filmmakers and supporters 5.11 Tactical, Noveske Shooting Team, AR15.com, Airsoft Extreme, and Mystery Ranch are providing perks such as personal thank you’s; Limited Edition DVDs; 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 Backpacks; and special mentions in the film credits just to name a few. In addition, for the first 48 hours of the campaign, all contributors who donate $50 or more will receive a limited edition Challenge Coin (after that, the Coin is only reserved for Legend Level donors). The campaign runs through April 21.
In the tradition of “The Walking Dead,” the film LIGHTS OUT examines how a group of everyday middle-class Americans copes with a worldwide disaster that takes down the nation’s electrical grid, flips all technology off, and throws the country into a harrowing, fend-for-yourself downward spiral – as currently anticipated by preppers and planned for by the CDC, FEMA, and others. The story focuses on suburban accountant, karate instructor, and hunting enthusiast Mark Turner, who must find the strength within to unite his family, friends, and neighbors if any of them are to survive the harsh reality of life as the veneer of civilization strips away.
Initially shared by readers from a variety of prepper and gun enthusiast online communities – including AR15.com, BackwoodsHome.com, FrugalSquirrels.com, and TheSurvivalPodcast.com — this popular serialized novel was ultimately collected and published in December 2010…
I understand the first 48 hours of the Indiegogo.com Crowdfunding Campaign ends tonight, Tuesday, March 19, at midnight. So if you’re planning on donating over $50 to the project and want that limited edition Challenge Coin…
More information can be found on the Lights Out funding page on Indiegogo here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Apocalypse 101: New TV Show Premieres Tonight After Doomsday Preppers
Last night I saw on my satellite TV schedule a new show that’s going to be aired on the National Geographic Channel after Doomsday Preppers this evening:
Apocalypse 101
From the Nat Geo Channel website:
Episode: Expect the Unexpected
Next Airing: TUE MAR 12 10PM ET
Meet four former Marines who believe that they have what it takes to survive any doomsday scenario. Joel, Mark, Mike and Jimmy own Forge Survival Supply; their mission, use what they have on hand to teach and test their clients’ skills. In a remote area of Colorado, Mike and Mark meet a couple who are serious preppers. They want to step up their game, but the guys worry their open land and young children could interfere. The Marines will put them to the ultimate test with a simulation attack.
“Homestead Fortification”
National Geographic Channel Video
Looks promising. And it’s not a one-off either. According to the Nat Geo Channel site, there are four more episodes on tap for the next couple of Tuesdays.
So, after watching Doomsday Preppers tonight, remember- don’t touch that dial.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Radio Appearance: Morning AMp, Vocalo Radio 90.7 FM Chicago
Last Chicago-focused post until next week- I promise.
However, this one’s not a “downer” like the other posts. In fact, I’m happy that I can share this with readers.
Back on Friday, February 8, I blogged about a terrific piece on Chicago-area preppers and guns that was done by Aurora Aguilar, a project editor over at Chicago public radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM. Published on the WBEZ website two days earlier, “Preppers: Guns are the most important tool in preparing for the end of civilization,” was the second story in a series by Aguilar entitled “Our Guns,” which are “conversations with gun owners.”
Now, later that Friday, Ms. Aguilar invited me to participate in a local show she was to be appearing on at the start of the next business week. I accepted, and on Monday, February 11, I found myself on the Morning AMp, a call-in talk show hosted by Brian Babylon and Molly Adams on Vocalo Radio 90.7 FM Chicago.
(Editor’s note: I didn’t have many details about the show beforehand, so I didn’t alert readers about the event)
From the show’s archive section on the Vocalo website:
Preppers: Preparing for the end of civilization with guns
George describes himself as “half-hillbilly, half-Viking.”
WBEZ’s Aurora Aguilar talked with George Drouillard (a pseudonym) about his preparedness plan. It maybe a devastating blizzard or a government takeover, either way George is ready with canned food, extra batteries, shovels, and lots and lots of guns. Aguilar joins hosts Molly Adams and Brian Babylon in the studio while Christopher Hill, editor of Survival and Prosperity, calls in to discuss the lifestyle choice that George has made and the community that supports it.
Brian and Molly were gracious hosts and were great to talk to. Aurora was terrific- again. As for me? I thought I could have done better, quite frankly. But I really appreciate having been given the opportunity to appear on the show and contribute what I’ve observed and learned over the last couple of years. Thank you so much Brian, Molly, and especially Aurora.
You can listen to our discussion of Chicago-area preppers and guns on Vocalo here (click on the “Play” symbol under the photo of “George” near the top-left-hand-side of the page).
By the way, before I said goodbye to the group that morning I pointed out there were still people without electricity as a result of Hurricane Sandy, which hit the East Coast last October. CNBC noted the Friday before the interview that some 2,000 people in New Jersey and and New York were still without power from the costly severe weather event.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
On TV: Doomsday Preppers ‘Solutions Not Problems’ Preview
Season 2 of National Geographic Channel’s Doomsday Preppers TV series continues tonight with a special Valentine’s Day episode, “Solutions Not Problems,” which airs at 9 PM ET.
I was lucky enough to be provided an advance-screening of the “Bachelor Prepper” episode. From a Nat Geo Channel press release I received at the end of last week:
Prepping for an economic collapse, Jeff is converting a decommissioned missile silo into the perfect bug-out getaway. But that’s not all Jeff is focused on. With an online dating profile, he is also searching for a special someone who can share his love for prepping. We’ll see Jeff, a bachelor on the lookout for love, not only work on his bunker, but also go on multiple dates to find his prepper mate. Will he select one to take to his secret bunker? We also meet Doug, who lives in the mountains of Tennessee. He currently runs his own stone quarry, and the locals call him “Rockman.” But what they may not know is that he is using rocks to prepare his underground bunker for the upcoming economic collapse. Will he build a safe haven out of his rock stockpiles?
Jeff Flaningam is a 37-year-old Wisconsin bachelor who owns 19-acres out in central Kansas- with a decommissioned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silo buried underneath it. Jeff is hard at work turning the abandoned missile base into a livable bug-out location. He told viewers:
I’m preparing for a catastrophic economic collapse.
According to the show:
The national debt currently totals more than $16 trillion. Jeff believes that if nothing is done to change this, the U.S. could go from becoming a global economic leader, to a nation struggling to provide food, water, and power. He worries that the consequences of such a collapsing economy could last indefinitely.
Flaningam added:
Transportation system falls apart, fuel costs go through the roof, people can’t get the goods that they need. The normal courtesy that we share with our fellow man is going to degrade and get thrown out of the window. Violence would be rampant. I don’t think anyone can know how long an event like that could last. I know I have to be prepared to stay off the grid for as long as it takes.
The Wisconsin-based prepper plans on bugging out 800 miles to the Kansas bunker when the first signs of a SHTF situation arise.
But before that happens, he’d like someone to share those “special times” with.
“Doug,” aka “Rockman,” owns a stone quarry in the Tennessee mountains. He told viewers:
I’m prepping for an economic collapse that will change the world forever.
Doug added later:
Our economy is in distress. And I don’t see it getting better. Can you imagine paying $17 trillion dollars back?
Along with his employee and best friend Inés, the two of them are shown building an underground shelter constructed out of a shipping container that their families will use as a bug-out location, and putting a 3-tiered defensive plan for the bunker into place.
It was a fun, informative, and not too overboard (reality TV-wise) episode to watch. And if you’re not into that lovey-dovey stuff, at least catch it for the “Rockman’s” segment, where he, with the help of a former U.S. President, shows you an easy way to make money from money.
Don’t worry. You’ll get what I’m talking about by watching tonight’s episode.
For more information about the TV series visit the Doomsday Preppers page on the National Geographic Channel website here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Chicago-Area Preppers And Their Guns
Some time ago, I received a message from Aurora Aguilar, a project editor with Chicago public radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM. Her request was one that I’ve received with increasing frequency over the last year or so. She was hoping to interview a prepper. Not just any modern survivalist- but one who is “stockpiling guns.” I gave Aurora names and contact info of more well-known and visible preppers who might be willing to talk to her, while at the same time cautioning her about the shying away from publicity that’s common among survivalists. I explained:
If you don’t know already, many preppers tend to be secretive about their activities. Not because they’re doing something illegal, but rather because of something called operational security (OPSEC).
Last night, I came across Ms. Aguilar’s piece on preppers and firearms. Published on the WBEZ website Wednesday, “Preppers: Guns are the most important tool in preparing for the end of civilization,” is the second story a in a series entitled “Our Guns,” which are “conversations with gun owners.”
Another hack-job?
Hardly. Aguilar pretty much hit this assignment right out of the park.
Now, the headline “guns are the most important tool in preparing for the end of civilization” may be a bit of a stretch. Guns are certainly a tool but the “most important” one? Debatable. Also, while some modern survivalists prepare for the “end of civilization” plenty of others prep for emergencies, man-made and natural disasters, and the end of civilization- as we know it. Firearms could have a role to play in those scenarios as well.
But Aguilar comes back strong in the body of the article. Consider the following statements:
“A growing group of Americans who believe life, as we know it, will end”
“In a family of war veterans, hunters and farmers, guns are thought of as tools, meant to provide food and protection”
“The fear that their stockpiles of food or weapons could be stolen stops preppers from talking.”
“After all, the entire family needs to be prepared.”
“Preppers go through a lot of ammo because many practice shooting at least once a week. They also see ammo as an investment. They believe people will need ammo if there’s a catastrophe.”
“The idea is to always be prepared…”
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
Aguilar gets its. She demonstrates that she has a good handle on what the Prepper Movement is about.
Too bad the same can’t be said about many of her colleagues.
A terrific, refreshing article, which can be found on the WBEZ website here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Doomsday Prepper Peter Larson’s Underground Shelter
Fans of the National Geographic Channel hit TV show Doomsday Preppers- remember Peter Larson? Larson appeared in the series pilot back in the summer of 2011. I blogged back then:
The Larson family- Peter Larson lives with his wife, children, and grandchildren in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah. Fearing a nuclear strike (it looks as if Peter is describing an electromagnetic pulse attack in the show), the Larsons have constructed a Rocky Mountain retreat for twelve. For those of you who don’t know what an EMP attack is, it’s when a nuclear device is detonated in the atmosphere, where it’s theorized the resulting electromagnetic pulse generated by the blast will “fry” microchips at the heart of electronic devices, rendering them useless.
Well, Mr. Larson is back in the spotlight again these days. From the CNN website last night:
Inside a Doomsday Prepper bunker
Gary Tuchman talks to a peaceful man in Utah who is proud to call himself a survivalist. He built an elaborate $65,000 bunker stocked with supplies, money and weapons. Watch this up close look at his hideout.
Nice setup. And nicely done by Gary Tuchman and CNN, considering the number of hack-job pieces out there these days on underground shelters and their owners.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
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