Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #201. Yes, we made it and now we move ahead. Just another week and addition to this product we call the Patriot Express Newsletter. Let the fun continue and if it is meant to be we will strive for edition #300. Our next big event is to reach our 4th year anniversary come April 9th. Now that is certainly a head scratcher for sure because the likelihood of achieving four years was highly unlikely at the start in 2019. Several of you are original readers and supporters and I can't express how much I appreciate each of you, your input, friendship and for your time to come back week after week. Even when I play Pink Floyd, "Is there anybody out there?" I know you are close by and always supporting our effort. Thank you.
Happy Valentine's Day next week. Go buy your loved one or sweetheart some camo painted candy or a new set of camo boots and matching sunglasses to go with the camo styled sleek hunting pants and jacket from last year. He will love it. Gents don't forget to go buy our loved one a new crossbow or hunting rifle to go with the one you got her last year. Make it a special day. Please don't credit me or tell her it was my suggestions.
It was a bit of a wacky week on this end. I think I had something to do every night this week. Never a dull moment for sure, but no complaints either. I do enjoy being busy when it includes time with other Patriots who are sisters and brothers. Our Bible study group this week discussed Romans 13 which is very interesting scripture "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established" Now be careful to not apply the principles of many buffet style churches today where you can take what doesn't hurt your feelings and leave the rest. Does this verse in scripture ruffle your feathers a bit?
I'm always thinking and working to simplify yet upgrade our security posture around the house. Bells, whistles, trinkets, and ding dongers. I want to see you and hear you as soon as you approach our property line. Layered security to achieve a defense in depth posture. Ms. Lucy and I had wiggled back and forth over the years over adding a K-9 to our family. She was nay and I was absolutely, which meant it's not going to happen at this time, right? I actually wanted two, a yapper and a chaser. The yapper lets us know someone crossed the state line 90 miles away and the chaser goes out the door after the person who crossed the property line without a passport.
The God's spoke, the winds blew, and the air changed. Ms. Lucy called me from VA last weekend to ask me about a dog in our extended family and my thoughts on it. Of course, I was open to the discussion. I was familiar with the dog, type, and so forth. The next day Ms. Lucy shows up back in East TN with our new yapping alarm system, named Nico. Strangers approaching our yard is one thing, watching the UPS or FEDEX driver bring a box to our porch is a new experience. Oh my, imagine an alligator whipping his neck back and forth while clamping down on his objective. Our youngest daughter had warned us of this reaction to delivery drivers and boxes. As the driver walked through the yard from the street with a box, Nico was yapping and attacking the window and then to the door. Once the box was dropped on the porch and the driver was back in their truck, Ms. Lucy opened the door to allow Nico out. Oh my. This little, short legged fur ball went straight to the box, bit through the cardboard in multiple places and then gripped the box in his jaws and started swinging it left to right like a towel. It was unreal. My first thought was, hired and ready for duty.
Let us move along....
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival -Join us for daily posts on preparedness.
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Odysee - Hope for Survival (odysee.com)
HFS Thursday Zoom Session - HFS conducted zoom rally #103 this week with a special guest family who lives the homestead life and brought so much outstanding information to the HFS family. It was a great evening together and based on the many positive comments from attendees we all learned a lot during the event. HFS gives a big shout out to our guest. Thank you so much for spending your evening with us. HFS conducted zoom rally #103 this week with a special guest family who lives the homestead life and brought so much outstanding information to the HFS family. It was a great evening together and based on the many positive comments from attendees we all learned a lot during the event. HFS gives a big shout out to our guest. Thank you so much for spending your evening with us.
Check out HFS YouTube. - HFS interviews Marine Veteran and Podcaster from Philly, PA, Christopher Scott to talk preparedness, homelessness, and his own recent experience with a natural disaster. Check it out here.
If you have not, please consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube channel by hitting like and then subscribe. Connect and give me a shout. Again, hit subscribe and share with family and friends.
Upcoming Training Opportunities -
- Kentucky Gun and Preparedness Expo - $10 per person, Leburn, KY, March 25 & 26, HFS Kentucky family come check out this event. The classes and speakers will be posted later in January. HFS will be on site teaching three classes at this event. Eastern Kentucky's Largest Sportsman Show – The Gun & Preparedness Sportsman's Expo (gunpreparednessexpos.com)
- Mountain Readiness - Harmany, NC, May 5 - 7, 2023 - $0 TO $64.95 - Mountain Readiness is family friendly event centered around learning the skills of our ancestors. Mountain Readiness in an expo in which survival and readiness experts from across the country will gather to teach their craft. There will be live demonstrations, classes, and vendors. Mountain Readiness is an expo in which survival and readiness experts, presenters, and vendors will provide the knowledge, tools, and hands on training to further develop your self-sufficiency skills. HFS will be on site teaching classes at this event.
- Heritage Life Skills - Lite - July 21-23, 2023 - This is still in the works and hopefully very soon the official announcement will be made. Hope for Survival will be teaming with Carolina Readiness Supply (CRS) to put this event together and offer some mid-summer preparedness training in Waynesville, NC. Stay tuned for more information.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional.
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books and HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents -: You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents - We just restocked the HFS Thumb drive and have them available now. Follow this link and you will see the add at the top of the page. Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week -
Something funny, sort of - Do you randomly, okay constantly run drills and scenarios in your head on "what if" and "how would I do this if that happened" and so forth? Be honest? Have you ever had an event happen and you automatically reach for your protection or physically turn and look for your ready bag or day bag? Habit, right? I had a funny (sort of funny) event occur to me this week. I had to go do an outpatient procedure that required me to be put to sleep for a short bit. Well, I was originally scheduled for the first bull out of the shoot at 6:15 AM. NOT. 7 AM, 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, still waiting. Of course, I'm in the non-Patriot, non-bug out backless non escape gown at this point. The IV was inserted to my arm earlier in the AM which restricted my ability to jump across the bed and do my impression of an elderly James Bond.
Now, I'm not totally unprepared because all my personal clothing and shoes are stored in a hospital backpack which is the plastic drawstring bag. The nurse had placed it on a table by my bed. So, in my mind, I'm thinking, I can still brake out and escape if needed. Right? So, a medic of some sort comes in and tells me he's going to start me on some "sleepy" meds and then I will get the gas when I'm in the room ready for the procedure. Cool. Right as he is about to inject some sleepy meds, I hear nurses discussing the fact the internet and phone system for the entire hospital has just gone down and will be down for at least three days. With limited knowledge of their setup, I'm thinking in most cases, this means their entire 911 call system is down, along with their fire notification system. In my mind and circumstance this is not a good thing. As I'm quickly realizing that my option of bugging out is being replaced by drugged out instead.
Thinking was becoming difficult, and my legs grew heavier by the passing minutes. My plastic draw string bug out bag appeared further away and my arm heavier. Soon, I would become part of the 95% group who remain unprepared. It's just not a feeling I enjoy or want to be placed in again. I drifted off and before long I heard my name being called and it was time to wake up. Once I had my mental marbles back in the right bag, I had to identify the nurses marching orders to escape this place legally. Drink, tinkle, and go home. It was a successful day, but I now must come up with a plan for future visits where I'm incoherent and immobile. This is bad enough and then you realize your gown is missing a key ingredient, the backside. Until next time, cover and concealment have an entirely new perspective.
Next ...
Soap Box - The Jan 6 fiasco remains a blemish on our nation. You can stand on either side of the fence and have an opinion to what happened and who should be punished. Having an opinion is a right, agree or not, just as the rights afforded by our Constitution. Remember that document? As a 20-year veteran, part of my service was defending your rights as a citizen of the United States. My oath remains in place today and I stand by it as does many other veterans.
Remember, this could be you, your child, my child, a parent, good friend, or a total stranger who attended the Jan 6 rally and ended up in the nightmare that continues for many of these Americans. Remember the Constitutional right to a speedy trial and you are innocent until proven guilty and the right to a speedy trial? This is a nightmare that keeps on giving like non-citizens crossing our border. It never ends.
Ahh, so why are so many rights being neglected as guaranteed by the Constitution? Why are little to no elected officials speaking out to the civil rights violations against these Americans being held? Well, I heard something interesting this week. Remember the crafty document titled The Patriot Act, put forth like a bolt of lightning in the middle of the night out of nowhere? It is now my understanding these American citizens being held as political pawns are being held as domestic terrorist under the Patriot Act which means they can be held as long as the government wishes to hold them and without proper council and trial. Think about that. You, me, the others, agree or not, show up at a location to promote a candidate or support or speak against a new bill or law, and we are arrested and held like the Jan 6 prisoners.
I have railed over and over to this topic and the mistreatment, misrepresentation and the entire laundry list of abuses, against our citizens. Did you know under the Patriot Act, the FBI can secretly conduct a physical search or wiretap on American citizens to obtain evidence of crime without proving probable cause, as the Fourth Amendment explicitly requires.
The Patriot Act today is called "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001."
I want you to listen to this lengthy interview with Brandon Strock and what happened to him since Jan 6. Anyone who believes the federal government cannot or will not, lie, cheat, and abuse its citizens is simply out of touch with reality. Furthermore, I have been telling Festus for years, it is my belief and remains my belief the majority of American Patriots will not respond past their personal mailbox at the end of their driveway. Listen to this interview and especially the past minutes where Mr. Strock explains his experience and major letdown by the Patriot movement.
I could say more on this topic but I don't wish to be censored or removed from the website. Hopefully you get the gest of my point.
Next ....
Bags, backpacks, and periods of mobility - Recent questions on this topic prompted me to address this topic again here in the PENL. It is important enough for everyone, or should be, that we all lend some level of focus and priority at some point on periods of transition and what we should have with us, in the event of A, B, C, D, and E. Size, type, and contents should be considered based on your age, physical ability, limitations, distance from home, location and threat you would likely face, and seasonal needs, to name a few. A caveat here is if you are leaving home for good, most likely, and not returning. This would be a bugout bag and likely be heavier and contain more contents. Some of your reasons for maintaining a bag could also be impacted if you have established a cache near your home or along your planned path to and from home, or near your bugout location. I think it is fair to say each case is different in many cases.
A recent question posed to me is "what could we consider adding to our vehicle to help us carry our gear in the event a situation drives us out of our vehicle and on foot for an extended distance?" Again, the exceptions above could impact your needs. Some folks have added foldable bicycles to their vehicles for extended distances from home. I know a few who purchased the pullable heavy duty golf caddy carts with three heavy duty tires. If you plan to stay on pavement during your journey, you could possibly use straps to hold your bag(s) to a flat skateboard and pull it with a rope or paracord. Be creative and think outside the box.
If you have children or pets, you will likely have added weight and additional backpacks. You may end up carrying a child part of the time and the weight of both a child and backpack is going to exhaust you quickly. A heavy-duty stroller that will carry a child and your bag may be appropriate for your situation. Remember, as the adult leading the family you must stay focused and keep your eyes and ears looking ahead and around you for possible threats to you and your family. If you are exhausted and also trying to watch your bags, pets, and kids, your attention is not going to be on possible threats around you. Plan now and adjust accordingly.
What if you are drive from your vehicle because of weather and snow, ice, or flood waters threaten you and your family where you are, and you decide to get to higher grounds away from these threats and leave your shelter in the vehicle. This is a huge risk to begin with but only you can make the decision on what to do at the time of the event. You may be in an area with no cell phone service or rising waters is preventing rescue vehicles from getting to you, even if you could make contact for help. If decide to leave your vehicle behind you better make sure you have all needed resources in your backpacks to provide warmth, shelter, food, water, and protection from your surroundings. What if it's 40 degrees and your family get wet. Does each family member have dry clothing in their backpacks?
You have departed from your vehicle and walked a mile when you approach a stream that is rising and spreading out of its bank towards you. You can't retract back towards your vehicle and must figure out a way to cross the water to get to a higher elevation on the other side. How are you going to cross the water, and do it with children? I doubt you carry a blow-up canoe in your bags so what could consider doing? Remember, recent rains, maybe snow and ice, will cause the stream to be moving quickly and with strength. If you have children, you need a plan in place to get your children, maybe pets, across the water. Time is not on your side because you could have water behind you rising and working towards you from the backside as well as the front of you. Do you have clothing in the backpacks packed in plastic bags? Could you inflate them and use as flotation devices to move across the water one at a time? Did you look up and down the banks of the location to see if someone possibly has a dock with a boat? Are you in panic mode yet? You should be because when you planned your backpack ingredients at home you didn't consider traveling from point A to B and possible threats you could face. Water. If you do the proper Risk Analysis of the route you would have determined where bridges and water sources would be. If it is a long trip you can count on the likely hood of numerous water passages, you will transit across. What is your plan?
Hopefully by now you have figured out building a backpack of any sort requires proper planning and decisions to have the best bag available to you and your family at a time of need. Your efforts and proper planning today could prevent a disaster and panic from occurring in the future. There are numerous potential threats one could face based on the situation, world events, and your location. This is just one example you could face. I can "what if" the situation until tomorrow and so can you. Be realistic and plan for the most likely scenarios you could face.
Here's some examples of different types of backpacks for one to consider. Bags are personal and should be purchased and packed as such. Don't buy a bag and then buy what fits in it. Buy what you need and then buy the bag your resources will fit in nicely. They do not make bags with expanders or dual garages for city folks. Pack your bag and get out and try it on for fit and comfort. Better to find out now your neck, shoulders, back, or hips, won't support your effort.
A quality packed bag is as important as packing quality and dependable shoes/boots of your choice. When your auto is finished and you now resort to your LPCs or leather personnel carriers, your ability to walk and get to your destination comes down to how well you prepared before the event. Right? Backpack and resources, shoes/boots, mole skin, good route plans and more. Check out my recent podcast with Christopher Scott on YouTube where he talks about the tornado that struck his community and how he had ignored my advice to him to pack a bag. Listen to this combat veteran Marine, all 6'5" of him tell you the importance of a get home bag today. It's your choice. Make the right one. Your family is counting on it.
Next ...
Let us move along....
Preparedness News -
1. From Clayton Morris - Redacted - Chickens, feed, fires, oh my. What happened to the egg layers? Why so many fires? Excellent video covering this concerning topic. This is a national level problem. (Thanks, Festus, for this submission) https://youtu.be/uzeQJVlFGoc
2. From Farmers Almanac - 2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer's Almanac - This is a really nice tool for growing food and especially for first timers. Determine what should be planted and when based on the zip code you input. I tried it and it works for my town. How convenient is that? (Thanks to our Atlanta Patriot Brother for this submission.)
3. From Linda Loosli - Food Storage Moms - How to Prep Your Home for Allergy Season - Food Storage Moms - I don't know about you but spring is always dreaded here in East TN from the perspective of allergies. FSM offers some good tips in this article.
4. From Tara Dodrill - New Life on a Homestead - Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon Melt and Pour Soap Recipe (newlifeonahomestead.com) - Here's some more recipes to consider adding to your paper library.
5. From Michael Snyder - The Economic Collapse - 16 Signs That The U.S. Economy Is Going To Be "Just Fine" (theeconomiccollapseblog.com) - Does the title get your attention? It is a bit sarcastic by the author and you will read such is the case in the article.
Other News -
1. From Paul Joseph Watson - YouTube - https://youtu.be/DWzprRWPI68 - Remember, Former CIA direction Casey said something to the tune of "once a majority of our populace believes the media, we (deep state) have won. (Thanks, Festus, for this submission)
2. From Tyler Durden - Zero Hedge - The WEF Wants To Hack Your Brain | ZeroHedge - Interesting article and to newcomers I'm sure this is mind blowing information. It is actually older news still making rounds and gaining some steam. Typically, these methods and procedures are developed and deployed on the military side of humanity and once it is older and/or replaced by another program it is then recycled and sanitized before being deployed on the civilian populace. Think of predictive programming on warp speed with steroid shots. (Thanks Festus, for this submission.)
3. From Rob Braxman - YouTube - https://youtu.be/2geCZpp4vCg - This is important to your privacy going forward. (Thanks Festus, for this submission)
4. From Rob Braxman - BitChute - Is Protonmail the safest? Most of our HFS users use Protonmail for the encryption security. (Thanks Festus, for this submission.) Is Protonmail Safe for Security and Privacy? (bitchute.com)
5. From Nic Carter - Pirate Wires Operation Choke Point 2.0 Is Underway, And Crypto Is In Its Crosshairs (piratewires.com)- I have always believed, if it isn't sponsored or controlled by the Feds, it will never survive competing against the chosen currency program of the U.S. Government. (Thanks Festus, for this submission)
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
HFS currently has several sisters and brothers in great need for prayer and uplifting. Please keep our HFS family members in your prayers. We still have numerous prayer needs. Prayers are needed in Central AL up to Huntsville, AL and our Patriot brother who is in the hospital at this time. Prayers are still needed in northern GA, MD, KY and TN. Please also keep the son of Skinny Medic in your prayers as he continues his recovery process from a severe medical condition.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community, and nation need us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on faith and hope. Remember we are a blessed nation, and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
