People Are Going To LOSE IT When Times Get Tough For Real

People were “losing it” during “good times”. But what’s going to happen as the world proceeds further into COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic?

How often have you seen others around you “losing their minds” over seemingly trivial things?

Now we’re facing COVID-19 social distancing, isolation (orders?), business shut-downs, and we’re just getting started on the ramp up to hyperbolic…

Anxiety is high, and getting higher. Tensions are growing as more people in America are under “stay at home” “orders”. Are people going to snap?

 
Now imagine what will happen if and when times get “really” tough (for real)…

I mean, when this virus is putting out crushing numbers that are further up the exponential scale of cases and deaths… even more so than today — say, lots more…

When the people can’t get the foods, the comforts, the entertainment distractions that they are used to?

When they are forced to begin taking matters into their own hands? The threshold of time at which they realize .gov cannot supply all of their needs?

People are going to “lose it”.

Personal & Home Security

I try to plan for the worst. I suggest that you do as well.

It’s going to be much, much worse in the cities and urban areas. Population density logically creates more problems. If you live there, you are at the highest risk.

Suburbia. You are not immune from the problems of security.

Rural. You too face risk. You are further out from population density. However that doesn’t mean that your neighbors are prepared. And that doesn’t mean others won’t show up at your door looking to “ride it out”.

The time to consider your home security is NOW

Listen. If COVID-19 Coronavirus and all its ramifications turn out to be a nothing-burger, you will have lost nothing by considering and preparing for your own security.

With that said, it’s RIDICULOUS to believe that this is a nothing-burger. In my view, we’re at the beginning of a major change in life as we knew it — in a number of areas / ways. Hey, maybe I’m wrong. And I’ll admit it, if and when it’s apparent. I’m not proud, so it doesn’t bother me none… However my gut tells me otherwise.

I will be writing a series of articles in the near future in this regard (one’s security) as it relates to this current event. This short article is a teaser to get you thinking about this important aspect of your probable future…

In the mean time, you can search this blog for articles on Personal & Home Security

171 Comments

  1. As some here may remember, last August we lost our only dog, maggie. Only recently we thought we might get another pup. Now I am afraid to go to anyone’s home to buy one.I really miss the early warning bark a big dog provides.Anyway she was the first line of defense, to give me notice to arm myself. So I’ve set up warning noise makers on ext. doors.And if need be I’ll sleep with one eye open.I also walk my 30 acres side armed now, when I didn’t use to.Mainly for when we return to house, in case someone was checking it out. Not paranoid just cautious.

    1. I live in an apartment…not ideal in times like these. There’s a dog in the building and it makes me feel safer. I do always have my eyes peeled when we go out to walk (at a distance). I don’t like it when my wife walks alone, but she has pepper spray. I’m keeping a good eye on the neighborhood as days go on to note what’s normal and what changes. Our vigilance is our first line of defense.

    2. Maggie’s Farm, Although our hearts break when we lose a beloved pet, please consider another dog. Or two! Not only are they the best early warning system, but the companionship is priceless. Our two GSDs have discouraged many people from wanting to enter our house, lol! And dogs never lie. If they don’t like someone….neither do I.

    3. Lost mine this winter, feeling the same. Most shelters etc around me are absolutely ridiculous in their requirements. I think it is easier to adopt a child? I would love another dog, any breed. Miss my friend terribly. I am even stocked up on food have a large yard and years of experience with challenging breeds and previous rescues……but I rent these days, do not have the required fence, have a cat (who loves dogs) etc etc etc. :-(. I feel so sad knowing there are also animals who will be left behind in shelters and abandoned by owners if this situation gets really bad…..Maybe people like us we will be able to help? Sorry for your loss. <3

      1. The last cat we adopted had many restrictions, one was she could not go outside. I lied like a rug and after a few weeks inside we unlocked the pet door so she could go outside.

      2. DJ5280 and awka72, thank you for your comments to me.It has been the worst mourning in my life. Will never be over her.I have always connected with dogs on another level from most people.Always believed I was a dog in a previous life.Problem is we are both mid 60 S and don’t know if we’ll be here long enough for another dog’s lifespan, especially NOW. That as well as risking infection from going to someone’s home to get another Lab.But I miss her terribly still.

    4. Maggie’s Farm: Go to your county pound and get a dog or two. Adopted dogs are normally devoted to the one who rescues them. Our pound give a certificate to get them spayed / neutered and a free rabbies shot. Just saying….

    5. Sorry to hear about your dog, I know they can be a wonderful companion.
      You should stay armed at all times especially when walking those 30 acres not only if you run across those two legged predators but also the four legged ones too, we’ve got packs of coyotes in my area.

    6. Maggie’s farm;
      On not going Crazy as to keep this on subject.

      Best Friend I had before ole Blue here was a “Shelter” pup. Called him Photon cause he could run faster that a Photon Torpedo (Star Trek thing).
      Had that mutt for 19 years, had to finally put him down due to Cancer (I HATE that word Cancer), anyways I swore I would not get another PTIA….

      Well as the song goes “Than Along comes Blue”, will admit the owner had a litter of 8-9 pups great puppies, So I did what I always though the best, Asked the owner to keep back 30 feet or so and I plopped my fat butt on the ground leaning against a tree.

      Oh course all the pups come running over and wanting their petting, than off to Mom of course……. All but that big ole overstuffed fuzz ball that wondered of 2-3 feet, turn back and plopped right down against my leg and went to sleep……
      That was almost 8 years ago now, and I will admit ole Blue and I have that special bond that forms between ‘Man and Dog’ so to say.

      It has always been my thinking the Dog chooses the Owner, not the other way around.
      So regardless of what people say, you will know when it’s the right time AND somewhere the “Right” dog will find you. Take your time, BTW, Blue found me when I was 58

      One last thing, and I don’t care what others here think, but I do believe in the “Rainbow Bridge” Look it up.

      1. NRP and Blue,Thanks, I remember you were the first to respond last August when we put her to sleep.Means a lot to me.And you are right dog chooses owner. Give blue a hug for me.

        1. Maggie’s farm:
          Well that “hug” for Blue turned into a full on face lick… I mean from the Adams Apple right over the glass to da forehead
          YUCKO!!!!!!
          Gata go scrub the face now 😛😜😝
          Got yo love em though

      2. NRP:
        I too know about the “Rainbow Bridge”. It brought tears to my eyes when you mentioned it, but thanks for bring some memories back to me.

  2. I’m generally the first one to feel a little dark about human nature. But I’m finding myself wondering if I haven’t been too negative. I’m seeing lots of wonderful acts of community and kindness. However, I’m 43, and I suspect that this is the worst thing the world has seen in my lifetime. So maybe I am looking through too narrow a lens. I have educated myself some about the great depression (I love history), so I am trying to translate how that kind of economic situation would translate in the current times. I feel like the best and the worst both come out at these times.

    1. Lovelypoet, The thing is their are so many more evil people today than during the depression, not to mention drug users that will be more desperate. Be careful and vigilant.

      1. Maggie’s Farm and Lovely Poet also the History of the Great Depression was heavily sanitized. Folks in bad situations can choose to suffer and die OR do something-anything to survive one more day. Some sold known bad eggs or lime water as “Milk” some…..

        Nothing is as dangerous as a sweet normal non-drug using Mother or Grandmother hearing their kids saying “Mommy I’m HUNGRY”.

        Today we have school meals and EBT cards, Food Banks and charity from churches and kind folks. COVID19 and the Greater Depression fallout will stop most or all of that.

        Illegal Drug use changes things very deeply. A once trusted and loved Family member even your own Child WILL Harm you for that next fix. A druggie will USE their own kids in anyway to get that next fix. Anything they say and do is to get that next fix. The most dangerous animal in the world is a druggie who wants his-her next fix from YOU.

        My first reality check was decades ago when I finally had to tell one of my own soldiers that the lovely young woman he married and I was AT their Wedding as the Best Man was NO LONGER. She was a Crack Pipe, a walking talking, Crack Pipe.

        Short term emergencies Good People help others and the fear of the law keeps most Bad people under control. With the releasing of prisoners to “Protect them” from COVID19 and reports that Police will no longer punish criminals but be catch and release (IF that) on most crime is very concerning.

        Hard to reestablish Good Faith and Trust in the Police after they allow criminals free reign. That was one of the main Reasons the FBI was created during the Great Depression to RESTORE Faith by eliminating CORRUPTION seen in local Police Forces, like the Big Badges in Chicago who were “On the Take” from Mobsters.

        TODAY most of us look at the FBI as corrupt as they’ve done so much to bring down an Elected Sitting President and their Entrapment cases against “Patriots”.

        I posted elsewhere the startling % of Americans on LEGAL Drugs like Opioids and Anti-Depressants. When their Legal Fix is unavailable how will they respond. I suspect given that China and or India makes them for us and they are not shipping. The 30-90 day cycle of prescriptions refill and the depletion of in the pipeline supply WE will KNOW in about 30-90 days…..

        Even “Normal” “Nice” well off neighbors you snowmobile with may have a darker side hidden by Legal Drug Use. Time will tell what THEY will do to get more of their Legal Drugs they think YOU might have in your bathroom.

        Situational awareness is more than a color coded game. Paying attention to those “Little Tells” like constant touching of a spot MIGHT indicate they are carrying a weapon there and they are checking it’s ok. Friends who are showing distress might need calm reassurance but be aware of both what they are saying and how their actions support or deny what they are saying.

        Don’t be that person who says I KNEW something was Wrong BUT…. God gave you gut reactions listen to them. Better to be standoffish and wary than embrace your inner Julius Caesar in the hug and Knives from your trusted friend Brutis as in the Ides of March.

    2. In my view, for the most part, a typical short-term disaster does bring out the best in people – helping others during the initial challenge of the situation – which is often the aftermath of a severe weather related storm event. I’ve seen it. I’ve done it. As I’m sure many of you have, probably including you too “Lovelypoet”.

      What I am eluding to in the article is something different. It’s a situation that may arise which will last a long time. And it’s not just a regional situation. It’s worldwide.

      We could be looking at a sort of “Great Depression”. “If” this were to come to pass, it’s going to be quite different from the last one. And my suspicion is that most people won’t be about wonderful acts of kindness after awhile. I sure hope this hypothetical never happens. However it might be a good thing to prepare for it, just in case.

      Rather than assuming most will be kind and helpful during desperate times, it might be good to plan for the worst while hoping for the best. But that’s just my view…

      1. I understand. As people get more desperate, they will take more extreme measures to survive.

      2. Too many are still convinced this will only last a few weeks. It is easy to step up and be kind and generous for a short time. We have a tradition of coming together during a crisis we perceive as short-term, but no real template for longer term.

        This isn’t a bad winter storm, or something regional, as you pointed out. It very well might keep cycling, grinding and impacting people in ways we have not considered. People who are cheerfully helping now might be pretty ugly in a week or two, even, just from burnout.

      3. Hey y’all, just to let you all know, I work at one of the “big box stores”. I started to notice this shift about 4 weeks ago and I’ve been working through it since. We have no answers to when items will arrive. Heard rumors we wont get majority of cleaning products till August. Bits and pieces may trickle in and its first come first served, including employees. The total disregard of Government warnings is astonishing. When people are told to stay home it seems it only works when it rains or its nightfall(curfew). Apparently it seems to most that the virus is like a vampire, as long as the sun is out the virus cant infect anyone. People are using the work at home/stay at home time to put their refund checks(if they got them) to an early Spring cleaning/remodeling. Record sales of paint and exterior lumber and yard goods. What i’m getting on about is if people don’t take this serious it only has one option but to continue. It may slow but until all get on board with the program it won’t stop. People, especially employees are stressed to the max. we are operating with a skeleton crew,which for anyone who’s been to any box store, can only imagine the lack of help if any. Most are being pushed to do 4 times the amount of work they normally do, and again for most that is violating the 8th amendment. All I can really say is thank God for this site and everyone that contributes. It’s been a long 14 hour day I’m exhausted, thanks for ignoring my grammar and typos. God bless and stay safe!!!

    3. You are not alone in your beliefs…….I keep working the math in my mind, and I just don’t see how things ever go back to normal after this……From my understanding, this virus is something like herpes in the sense that it never really goes away, it just goes into remission….From what I’ve read, there is likely no “herd immunity” and if you go into remission, it can come back at any time with a vengeance….I believe we will see waves of outbreaks and deaths from this virus from here on out…..Not to mention different strains/mutation popping up…On top of all of this, we have a probable greater depression/economic collapse waiting for us as a result of the economy shutting down…I believe that the economic damage has been done and there is no recovering from it…In my mind, this is 1918 Spanish Flu meets the Greatest Depression…..If the disease doesn’t get us, starvation etc might in the near future from economic collapse…..I believe our nation has been mortally wounded by this virus, most people just don’t know it yet….

      1. For what it is worth…this type of RNA virus doesn’t seem to behave like herpes. It does not appear to integrate it’s RNA into our Dna…which is seen in RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase. This is not that type of virus. It seems as if it could be biphasic.

        Though…I agree with you. Life as we know it has changed.

        1. @kynase….Point taken…..I’m not a virologist, so I don’t know the proper medical terminology/jargon to describe this virus. I know this is not like herpes (that’s why I said “in the sense that it never really goes away”). The point I was trying to make is that this virus (from what I’ve read) possibly goes dormant if we survive the initial infection, but we could relapse to a more serious manifestation at any time. All I know is that I want no part of it.

      2. Germ,
        I have to agree with that assessment. Though, I feel it is worse (going to be worse) than the great depression as people aren’t as self sufficient as they were back then.. The sheeple just don’t have the knowledge, supplies, or animals, to lead an agrarian lifestyle.
        We are going to have go back to an agrarian lifestyle to survive, if that is even possible after contracting this disease. That is of course, if it doesn’t kill you first.

      3. It is my understanding that as a virus mutates, it will generally become less lethal, the reason being that if the virus kills its host, it kills itself…I am not a Doctor by any means, but it seems to make sense to me, in a Darwinian way. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can weigh in on this…

        1. kevinH,

          That is my understanding as well, that viruses typically become less lethal as they mutate. However, that is not always the case. I believe the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic mutated during the 2nd wave and was more lethal to young adults/children during the 2nd wave. During the first wave, I believe it was more lethal to older adults. With the novel coronavirus, Americans are going to see things that haven’t been seen in this country for over 100 years (since the Spanish Flu). For example, I remember reading an old archived local newspaper printed in the midst of the Spanish Flu outbreak. In the paper was an article detailing how dead bodies was stacked up like cord wood on the sides of the streets in a nearby city. They simply had nowhere to put them. Could you imagine the panic today if bodies start stacking up like cord wood? It wouldn’t be pretty. As I read more and more stories of morgues filled to capacity or overflowing around world, I have no doubt we will see something similar here. That’s why China had the incinerators going 24/7…

      4. It’s like the “walking Dead Virus”. Not to make light on the subject but I do think we ALL have it, it’s just a matter of when it rears it’s ugly head.

  3. Was worried didn’t see any post that were new for a day or so .
    Be safe out there to all in msb community.

    1. @97who, This week my presence is thin until after my gate closes end of this week. No in-depth post time. Currently in a temporary transitional mode, and offline for most of the days. Come this Saturday, it’s go-time. Meaning, security, level 3/4 preparedness engagement, and full-on for the MSB intel command center.

      1. We were thinkin the same actually Ken. May try to make one more final grocery run this week and then lock it down. Think it’s on the cusp of really ramping up in the next couple of days

      2. Same here , am glad it was a moment of silence on your part due to prepping.
        And not being silenced by others .
        We have been very busy here getting garden preps done .
        We have four 33 gallon cans of potato’s started and four more 15 gallon containers outside.
        Also started multiple vegetables and some fruit bearing trees indoors in a make shift grow room .
        Has been a huge success so far .
        Be safe and look forward to all the knowledge from msb community to help get through this.

  4. Hard times bring out the worst people and the best folks.The bad ones
    will have to learn to behave the hard way.The good ones wont be all that
    difficult to spot.

    This is the time to form a mutual assistance group if you haven’t already.

  5. I too have started wearing a sidearm walking the property. I have told myself it is because all the biting critters are waking up, but it is also for the 2 legged kind of critter. I feel lucky to have a dog that likes to bark. We definitely need to have a chat at our homestead about security and I am looking forward to your coming articles.

    1. Good move re: wearing a sidearm walking the property. One’s individual home security measures will surely vary – because many live in varying situations. I’ll do my best to address these variables.

    2. Folks, bad guys plan and prepare too. They have groups sometimes with a lot of members. Many are well skilled and intelligent. They work outside of society and the law already. What we see now and unfortunately will possibly see in the future gives them an edge. They will adapt way faster than most others to this crisis and will take advantage whenever they can.
      Security will be important . Hope it doesn’t get crazy.but I would be prepared for worsening criminal behavior. Having the ability to keep your “eggs” in many different baskets might be prudent.I would start planning for caches . Me2 and I have mentioned them for quite a long time now. I have built many in my life.Can give some ideas if folks want…

      1. BJH

        I agree with you about the bad guys. I was going to write something similar but you beat me to it. In fact, since this whole thing started their way of life never ended. They’re out there now, watching, taking notes, waiting and planning. It’s probably very exciting for them. A new game.

        All those stores reserving the first hour for seniors is a noble and warm and fuzzy idea. But just wait till the gangs decide to wait in the parking lots for seniors walking out with carts full of stuff they want.

        They’re also watching people’s houses. They see the essential workers going off to work and they watch when the other members of the house go shopping. There will be times even now when no one is home. They can go inside, take what’s there, or worse, wait inside till the shopper comes home.

        1. Grits,
          Not much is different in bad guys criminal world before and now During the outbreak. There will be more opportunities for them and they will take advantage every chance they get.
          Security will be important especially the longer this goes on. Folks should really consider their own situation.

      2. Your offer to share some ideas on cache’s would be most helpful. Thanks!

      3. BJH
        I’m always open to new ideas….lol
        I have been wanting to ask for awhile on different cache ideas, but didn’t want to blow anybody’s OPSEC

      4. Sounds like a great Guest article :-)

        I’ve been thinking more lately about how to protect what I’ve worked hard for. Having read way too many EMP/Apocalyptic fiction series, I shudder at the thoughts of strangers showing up. Security has been on my mind a LOT recently.

        DT

  6. Great subject to tickle the brain cells with. As was mentioned above these times will bring out the worst as well as the best in people.
    I feel our biggest concerns may be the people that live within a mile or two of us. We continue to build freindly relationships with those around us as well be aware of any “flakes” in the nearby community.
    I feel theft is going to be a bigger problem when things get nasty. According to my local sheriff , 90% of crimes in our small area are drug related .When the drug heads can’t get their drugs,things will escalate further.
    Even the “nice folks” of today will change when things really get serious
    Home security will be a critical point for survival as the craziness moves ahead .

  7. Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.

    ~ Dr. David Bruce Banner

  8. I got our tech support center squared away a year and a half ago, allowing me to step back and engage other opportunities. But I will not tolerate any caller abusing my staff. Anyone crosses the threshold of abject stupidity and I will throw on a headset for however long it takes to frappe’ their ass and beat some respect into their addled little brain.

    Those call escalations have been happening more frequently of late. People are hostile, enraged and ready to commit violent acts. Generally they are drunk and tend to follow a predictable pattern. First comes the chest beating vitriol, followed by the ubiquitous threats to file complaints with BBB. Once we smack that down, they whip out the lawyers threats… we have a creative and effective way of dispensing with that crap too.

    After the pattern is complete, the angry caller feels backed into a corner – because they are.

    Next step is unpredictable. About half who make it this far will threaten us with violence… Dumb-asses, in their rage, they forget all about caller ID. But recently it seems the other half break down and start crying, begging for help that we may or may not be able to provide. These are destitute people who are living in the proverbial van down by the river – or worse.. This virus stuff has just catalyzed the fire.

    1. There has been a massive amount of stress introduced into the already volatile mix. This will not end well.

      1. Speaking of “massive amounts of stress,” Ken…

        I’ve found myself falling apart with grief lately in such exaggerated ways. My mom passed away a year ago. We were given a few weeks with her, but God graciously blessed us with 3 months. As long as I live I will cherish every moment of those 3 months just soaking up the time with her. God gave me the opportunity to just love her and be present for everything and I have been forever changed. All glory to God! BUT…why oh why am I missing her to such an extreme degree NOW? I mean, I miss her terribly, and that’s nothing new. But THIS — this is something oddly different. Just the other night I said to my husband, “I miss my mommy. I just want to crawl up in her lap and hear her say everything’s going to be OK.” Why? Anyone? I’m in my 40s and this has been consuming me for the last week. Not looking for sympathy; we all grieve and loss is hard. But wisdom? I’ll take it!

        1. Also…is anyone else feeling like “this can’t really be happening to us?” Or am I alone in this? My husband is DOD (many years) and we’ve seen a lot; this, though…this feels unreal.

        2. Ellie

          I’m still trying to catch up on reading all comments, even from last night!

          But I can relate to your post.
          So here’s Joe’s 2¢

          I’m 50ish.
          My brother and I lost both our parents, months apart. 15 years ago.
          This old man still tears up when I think about certain things. and I think about the good things, too.
          It’s human emotions. You’re human.
          Our parents protected us in times of good and bad.
          Sometimes we wish we still had that type security.
          You’ll be okay

        3. Ellie…it is good you have had the good memories and experiences and trust with your Mother, which you can keep in your mind/heart. All that she had shared with you is still there, just waiting for you to pass it on to someone else who could benefit. She would be very glad to know (and she will know as she is most definitely in heaven watching over you and yours), very glad to know that hers words and deeds and thoughts are flowing through you to another. You can use her experience with you to benefit someone else…

        4. Ellie,
          You said it has been almost a year. Death (passings) have “trigger” dates for most people. By that, I mean anniversaries. When my lovely LEO hubby was killed, that created an anniversary for me. MANY years later, even remarried, I would find myself in a funk or tears around that same week….My (then new) husband would remind me of the calendar and just let me “ride it out”. Now some 35 years later, I still get caught off guard, but to a lesser extent (not lesser emotionally, just lesser surprise).
          Let the flood gate of tears open. It can be quite cathartic. Blessings sent your way.

        5. Ellie
          Your mom represented a time of security in your life as a child. My thoughts are, it is a coping mechanism for your brain to hold on to, so that the whole of you can cope. Especially with what is happening and it is not within your grasp.

          Humans do not do well when they can not control their environment in there day to day life schedules.

          Many of us who work at being self reliant knew something would occur in our life time but prayed that it would not. The items we slowly built up to protect us from job loss, medical injuries. Never in anyone’s wildest scenario did we expect this type of outcome.

          We all handle stress, grief in many different ways. Do not beat yourself up over this which you have no control. It is a growing process we all will have to endure at sometime. Yes, I went through several in my life time. Wishing you the best on your journey, just know you are not alone.

        6. I lost my mother when I was 12. I am in my middle age now. I have had dogs and cats I knew longer than my mom.

          They say time heals all wounds. It does not. Time makes it better, slowly, but our wounds do not heal.

          Take care of yourself and allow yourself to grieve. I think this crisis brings us to a new normal that we have not experienced and we all long for the days when we felt safe and secure. At least some of us….my DH never had that as a child. Maybe God put him in my life to help me thru this, and vice versa.

        7. Ellie, I think that is normal to look for those people who made us feel secure. Our first experience with fear and uncertainty happens when we are kids. Moms are the ones to comfort us when we are young. There’s nothing wrong with wanting some of that comfort especially with what is going on now. My Mom has been gone a long time now. I find myself eating alot more oatmeal these days. I have great memories when I was a kid with oatmeal and my Mom. Mom was an artist. She kept Hershey’s chocolate syrup in a squeeze bottle and would make character drawings in our oatmeal bowls. I always looked forward to what she drew and a little chocolate was a bonus.
          Maybe look for a memory like that which brings you a little comfort. Could be anything. Food,tv show song,a piece of her jewelry. Look for your talisman to give you comfort.
          My Dad always had a folding stick ruler in his carpenter’s pouch. I keep one with me as well and think of him when I use it. It’s the little things that can keep you done in these crazy times…

        8. My daughter of 49 also said she wanted her mommy to me when she was sick with the virus the other day on Facetime. Sometimes mom can’t be there physically, but mom is there. Just remember how she comforted you when you were scared or lonely, then do it for somebody else who needs it.

    2. Tmcgyver, good for you! It is important to have your staff members’ back. Never let a bully get the advantage; they will continue their poor behavior.

      We live rural and still must be vigilant. The next town over (pop @ 45,000) is already having major nightly thefts at local businesses. I haven’t heard about homes yet, but I’m sure it is occurring . People are already acting out.

  9. Best you can do is make your home look as uninviting as possible.
    Allow your front landscaping to look unkempt a little. still mow the grass but mow high… lightly trim shrubs leave the front windows dirty. Take down the US flag that is a sign that an armed patriot lives in the home and in most cases people may pay a visit looking for guns and other supplies to steal.

    You have to become a gray man/woman your home and your property needs to be gray as well. Block easy access, alarm your blind spots with motion sensors.

    I have left over Halloween fake blood… if things get bad I may splatter the front porch under roof with the fake blood. make it look like a murder scene right out my front door. 👿 This would not be visible from the front driveway until you actually walk up to the porch. It may scare off the mooching neighbors.

    Walking around back of the house use natural choke points to funnel people into areas were you have motion senors setup or other stuff used for two legged critters…

    Make sure to keep your garage and sheds closed when you are not around. Someone can gain easy entry into the home via the garage. sheds should now have a padlock on them.

    Identify your weak spots and try to correct them as best as possible.

    1. White Cracker –

      You just got me off the hook with my wife, neighbors and the city all at once!

      I am NOT an effing slob! This is TACTICAL yo!

      I owe you brother.

  10. Haven’t seen any incidents here in the Greater Seattle area. In my northland ‘burb there was one incident at the local PCC Market, apparently someone looked’ at someone else the ‘wrong’ way. Quite a few 20-somethings (and 30, 40, 50-somethings) here who have an entitled, ‘I deserve’, attitude. They may not take the next few weeks/months well. I keep ‘grey’, avoid any potential incident, and take advantage of working from home to grocery shop in the mid-day slack time. Will be interesting to see how the entitled ones fair now that the good times are over.

    1. I agree DLS, the coming weeks and months are going to be very ‘real’. Real bad. I hope I’m wrong.

      1. Just wait till the me first and the gimme gimmies go to the grocery stores and there isn’t anything there. I predict there will be a major uptick in violent crimes this next weekend. (4/4)

  11. A while ago, I posted a recommendation to view a You Tube video: 5 REASONS WHY AMERICAN RIOTS WILL BE THE WORST IN THE WORLD. Even though this video is now years old, it is even more relevant today, vis-à-vis what is happening, than ever. Click on the Art Deco icon of Ayn Rand. It has a run time of 9:56. Bleib ubrig.

    1. Deputy Dweezil –

      I call BS. American riots are the VERY BEST in the world! No one comes close. Everyone knows that.

      1. TMCG,
        I second that!!
        Causing hell is what we do and we do it well. Just ask England. Honestly I would put any 1 of our riots against any in the world… That’s why no one would invade Merica.

        1. Jabba

          Not all hell is brought on by riots. There have been many times in history when millions of people have gathered for festivities or religious events, when a panic has started a stampede killing thousands.

      2. Watch the video and get back to me. You do not want this to happen.

  12. I’m in a “Active Adult Community “ about 15 miles from the nearest big city still pretty rural, I would say 90% of my neighbors are ex military and are armed to the teeth, this is not their first rodeo, I guess being their age and me being a part of the around 55 age, they have their chit together plus they have more toilet paper stored than I do!😂😂

    1. Living in a community that’s well armed and like-minded is likely a good thing! We don’t yet know how bad this is going to get. We won’t know for sure until looking back in history after the fact. Until then, it’s a good idea to have a hard look at where each of us live. Think about “what if” we all wind up in a sort of “Greater Depression” with ongoing Coronavirus fallout. How might the fallout affect you in your location. How might you better secure your situation.

      1. Do you have any specific advice on how to be more secure when one lives in an apartment building? Logistically, this means that 5 other families have access to the inner hallway. Luckily I “know” who lives here for the most part. The only thing I know to do right now is pay attention to the goings on in the neighborhood.

        1. Lovelypoet, are you on the ground floor or up one flight or more? Makes a difference….if you are on the ground floor you might have concerns w/ a sliding glass door and windows that are much too easy to break for easy access in.

          One thing you can look into are the security door jams. Rather than give you a description, I will give you the names of a few that are listed at Amazon. You can see photos and read descriptions there. Hopefully others will give some tips, too.

          From Amazon, use the item title below and put in the Amazon search engine. Be sure to look at the similar items listed on the pages of the items you will check:

          Heavy Duty Security Door Bar | Fully Adjustable, Universal Door Stopper Device for Home Defense | Perfect for Residential and Commercial Use to Protect Against Forced Entry by SecuraDoor

          LOKmate Deadbolt Guard Door Lock Security – Magnet Version

          Guard Dog Security Door Jammer 2-in-1 Adjustable Door Knob Jammer & Sliding Patio Door Security Bar – 40 Different adjustments

          SABRE HS-DSA Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm with 120 dB Siren — Great for Home, Travel, Apartment or Dorm

          I would strongly suggest getting a firearm, perhaps a shotgun. Then practice, “drill”, practice, “drill”, practice.

        2. Thank you for the suggestions, Modern Throwback. I am on the second floor. One plus is that we have a double entryway. The outer door is supposed to be always locked. A couple of people do go outside to smoke and leave it ajar, which may be an issue in the future if things get very bad. My second “exit” is a fire escape via a window. It is odd, I have never had that before, and we do not live in the city, so I was surprised to see it. That exit makes me uncomfortable to say the least.

          Thanks again, I will absolutely be looking into your suggestions.

  13. Looking forward to the coming article and all the great comments that will come with it. This has been on my mind last couple days. Been walking around the house trying to find spots that could be problem areas
    Been cleaning up the basement in case it might be safer to sleep below ground level
    Find I’m getting up more during the night to check on things when I hear those little noises

    1. Make sure you can get out of there if need be, don’t allow yourself to be trapped.

  14. Had an incident today when leaving the grocery store. Had just 1 small bag and so realized that I didn’t need to take the small cart out with me. I pushed it aside in the large foyer area. This middle agish, older guy getting his bicycle that he had left right by the door came unglued. He followed me on his bike in the parking lot to my car screaming and dropping F bombs and worse about how the world was so messed up because of people like me. I ignored him and we went our ways. I went to the park with the dog and I’ll be darned if this same guy didn’t come sailing through. He didn’t stop but went on out the other side. A little unnerving.

    1. I have literally knocked people out in parking lots on multiple occasions for pulling that same kind of crap in me. I usually wait for the third sentence, then, I don’t let them finish it.

  15. i have had the feeling that SOMETHING horrible was coming and soon for MONTHS just didnt know what i had stocked up on some stuff
    i have had a shotgun for some years and have gotten a fair amount of ammo we are on the 2nd floor which helps a LITTLE as i write this that shotgun is in arms reach right now i pray to god i will NEVER have to use it on anyone but as the old line goes better to have something and NOT need it than the other way around all we can do is hope and pray things turn around and get better

  16. For those who have posted that they are now carrying a firearm when walking your property, and for those who are thinking on it. If you aren’t, then why not?

    I’ve always got a small pistol on my person, always. I sometimes carry a larger sidearm in a holster, but always in addition to, not instead of the smaller pocket pistol (sometimes the little one is carried in an inside the waistband holster, according to my dress for the day). It goes with me from the moment I get dressed in the morning, until I bed down at night.

    Some might question the need. I understand that. Most folks will live their entire life and never need to use a firearm in self defense. I’m a person that doesn’t ascribe to bigger is better when talking handguns for self defense. I am a person who believes everyone owes it to themselves to be able to ward off those folks that hold no value for lives other than their own.

    A small, lightweight, reliable handgun that you have trained with, will save your life. The one I have on me right now is resting in the pocket of the sweat pants I’m wearing. It’s unnoticeable to me or anybody I happen to encounter. At a few ounces less than a pound loaded with 10 rounds, it tugs at my pocket less than the Leatherman tool in the other pocket. It’s a (gasp) .22 rimfire. I have all the popular “manstopper” calibers in my inventory, all bigger, bulkier, heavier, and much less comfortable to carry. That said, I have no doubts about my and this little pistol’s ability to stop a fight. That is, unless I’m unlucky enough to be attacked by a 300 pound AMA fighter, hopped up on PCP, accompanied by his trained attack grizzly bear. In that case, I would probably be screwed even if I was carrying my .357 Sig.

    Point is, there is no reason I can think of for you not to have a gun on your person, especially if you are at home. The gun in another room is totally useless when surprises happen.

    Under the present situation and uncertainties, being armed at all times just makes sense. Especially when at home where you are king or queen.

    1. MMA fighter, not the dreaded AMA medical doctor fighter. Past my bedtime. Good night and God bless.

    2. @ Dennis
      I am with you on always having a weapon on me brother. My wife ( who does shoot ) often questions me on this saying why would you need to carry in the house? Her reasoning is I have weapons in different spots all around so why not just use them? She doesn’t really seem to get that I could be approached outside when stacking wood or unloading grocery’s or just pulling in the driveway. I just tell her that home security is my job and while I love her she has lived in a different world than I have.

      1. poorman
        just my thoughts, on this, and remember, I do not have a gun, but, re
        “why would you need to carry in the house?” —truly if I had one/permit and was well trained/practiced often to keep sharp, I would.

        There are more and more home break ins and robberies and home invasions for theft and assault and rape.

        As this Pandemic situation evolves and folks get more desperate (both because short of cash and drugs, and because they may start to suspect that preppers or sensible folks may have their cash stored at home, or extra supplies, there will be vastly increased numbers of home break ins.. Also, as this pandemic situation progresses, there will be more and more stress, domestic home stress, and the nutters who lean that way will be committing more personal assaults and rapes, in the “street” and in “homes”.

        yup, if I had one, I too would carry at home.

        Please consider some extra practice to stay sharp. Please consider taking your wife with you (make a date of it). Maybe if she gets more comfortable with how good you are (?), she will feel easier about it all. (and you do want her to). maybe she would even start to consider taking lessons herself (and that would be a good thing. In fact, I have always firmly believed that if a person, any person, lives in a home with guns of any sort, they too should take extensive handling and shooting lessons. Extensive. Nothing more deadly than having deadly weapons around the uninformed. Nothing more sad than having a home invasion / rape in home happen and there was a defensive weapon close at hand if it had been understood. etc)

        1. Jane,
          The time for practice is over, as it has become extremely hard to find ammo (at least it is here in NY). We are conserving ammo now.
          The Governor has shut down the gun shops. Walmart only has so much and that gets wiped out pretty quickly if and when they do get shipments in.
          Before that, my group an I were shooting every weekend.

        2. Jane
          Wife does go shooting with me and also has carry permit. Actually she shoots better than me with a long gun. She just thinks it’s strange I carry inside the house with the doors locked

        3. Poorman — all good.

          I still think, I agree with you. I live in a good/decent area, and still hear of much which would warrant it.

          why waste a good skill/talent, when it could save a life?

      2. poorman

        Hah, when FWTB and I first met, we went camping and I had to set up a picket line for the horses.
        While reaching up my concealed pistol was exposed.
        OMG he has a gun! Why?
        I had to explain.

        She would laugh when I constantly carried when we went to town.
        Really? She would say. We’re just going to town.

        In the home. You’re still wearing that thing?

        Now it is not questioned.
        She’s had her CCW for years. Has her own favourite. Now if she would ask me for a date on some practice, like she used to… I’d be game.
        LOL

  17. I have to agree with Dennis. If you have a conceal gun, carry it. It’s no more trouble than a pocket full of change. (Or a “fist full of dollars”, LOL). Anyway, it’s still pretty sane up where I live, but I can see the writing on the wall. The cracks are starting to show. If this goes on for a long time, I’m sure it will start to get crazy. The stores now have a LOT of empty shelves in them, but I can still get the few things I need mostly. Toilet paper now has a new name on T.V. NRP will love this one. “WHITE GOLD.” HA! Take care everyone, and take no chances.

    1. Speaking of WHITE GOLD, some kids toilet papered all the trees in our front yard last night. What a waste of toilet paper.. Good thing is, it doubled the value of our property overnight!!!!

  18. Whenever I go “outside” to work, I always go with my two friends, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson. (.38 Airweight revolver) We got mugged on Christmas Eve 1993 and have had our concealed permits since then. Too many, “snakes” around.

    Moses was told by God, ” Do not murder”. Thus human life is to be protected. Murder of course is an unjust killing of your fellow man, but it does not negate self defense, of your life or Another’s. Nor Just Warfare either, if your country is under attack.

    Christ told His Disciples to sell their coats and buy swords. Not to advance “The Good” by violence, but to preserve and defend against ” The Bad” of this world. i.e. SELF DEFENSE!

    So stay safe, God Bless, and watch out fur dem hogs!

  19. Naturally, it does not help the government is opening the doors to all their institutions and letting the inmates out. And, the police let every criminal know they will not be arrested for most crimes, which do not leave blood on the ground.

  20. Odds are if you are on this reading here, you are a step ahead of the masses. You may not have every prepared fully for contingency, who could afford to or maybe you just started as being totally comfortable in your preps takes time. Regardless, know you are likely more prepared than most and you have a great resource that shortens the learning curve. This BLOG.
    Yes parts of life are not pleasant currently. They will improve. I say this after speaking to my 89 year old grandmother who was 9 years old when WW2 started in England. They slept in the coal room next to the furnace of their apartment from the age of 9-15. They were allowed 1/4 lb of butter per week for the entire family and she didn’t see a tropical fruit again until she was 18. That was after she hooked up with an American GI and got on post
    Point is this isn’t that bad. Generations before us went through much worse and are better people for it. This issue will pass and it will shake out the weak in our herd making us a better in the long run. My grandmother is currently at home sewing mask for the hospitals. As Americans we need to toughen up buttercup and move forward.

    1. RWT,
      I totally agree. But previous generations didn’t have as many snowflakes as we have now. Most can’t even boil water to rehydrate a freeze dried meal…

  21. Definitely already starting to see this at work. The public is definitely getting a little more “snarky” if you will. Tensions a little higher and fuses seem a little shorter. I live in a rural area and have always been terrible about leaving car doors unlocked and garage bay doors open. Should have broken these bad habits a long time ago but better late than never I suppose.

  22. I am a first time commenter, but have been following this site on and off for a few years. Hello to you all. I have contemplated commenting numerous times, but obviously decided to be a “lurker” instead. Haha

    I read a book several years ago by one of my favorite authors, Steven Konkoly. It’s called “The Jarkata Pandemic.” It was the first thing I thought of when the coronavirus started in China. If you haven’t read it I would suggest it. It’s a bit scary in some respects, but sure goes right along with what you’re talking about here Ken. It changed my mindset on what could happen in society and this site has given me much practical advice along with all your comments, so thank you.

    1. Jaguar,
      Welcome to the site! This is a good group here with many to learn from. Just about all here are polite, even when sometimes agreeing to disagree. The trolls get taken off (thank you, Ken!) May all of you here be blessed in these trying times…!

    2. Jaguar
      Hello and welcome! Like you I read the book when it came out, never expecting such a life changing event would occur here in our section of the world. Especially during our life time.

      1. Antique Collector, thank you. I agree, You read fiction like that and realize that yes, it could happen and that’s how people would react, but I never figured it would in my lifetime.

    3. @ Jaguar,
      Nice to hear from you. It love it when lurkers decide to comment. And thanks for the recommendation regarding the book and author.

  23. At times like these, a person should reach for his/her Bible.
    And, actually read it.

    1. Preacher,
      I am with you. Paul said he did the things he should not do and didn’t do the things he should. In order to reverse that behavior I read the Bible daily and remember Jesus as I do my daily work. Pray and prepare.
      I hope the prevailing mood is with out merit however I have had no indication thatt
      the bad news will soon end.

    2. For a lot of people it’s a “doorstop,” or something they reach for when they want to prove a point. Most people haven’t read it cover to cover even once.

    3. Preacher,
      One of my favorite Bible stories is of Joseph which aligns with prepping for the future when disasters hit.

    4. Preacher, well said Brother, yes read it, live it and pray without stopping.

  24. In Vietnam, a lifetime ago, some of us used our Bibles for target practice.
    Young and stupid.

    1. To all…stay strong!! Many of us, like WarVet have observed things that most will never see or even comprehend…. in our service. As a lifetime first responder, volunteer firefighter/EMT from the age of 16, to my 5 years active duty Army as a medic, to 25 years as a street LEO (retired) I have observed FAR to much death at close range…. I still see some of those scene in my mind on a regular basis, when something trivial brings it back. Many of us could just curl up and let it get to us, so do, others deal with it.

      But the best thing I have ever heard to put it in perspective was by a WW2 vet during an interview I saw about 10 years ago. He was a Marine vet of both Okinawa and Iwo Jima at age 18 and was asked about his experience and if given the chance would he do it again. Just paraphrasing, but it was close to “I would not take 10 million dollars to do it again, but I would also not take 10 million to NOT have experienced it, to wipe it from my mind. That experience made me what I am today, made me the man I am and shaped my character.”

      Those words helped me put a lot in perspective in my mind and strengthened me…..

      Take heart….. this will pass,likely it will affect someone we hold dear…. but this country and our people will come out the other end…… smarter, wiser, stronger and more resilient in the end!

      Stay vigilant…..stay safe….. keep loving….. God Bless!!!

      1. Today is, coincidentally, the anniversary of the raising of the flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima…take the time to thank a Marine!

  25. Peoples normalcy bias gives way to desparation and then they lose it

    1. That is when the True SHTF will happen.
      Still planning on having a lawn chair and a six pack to watch the show…
      Kula, you are still invited to share..lol

  26. DW has a Christian Sister who works a suicide hot line in New Orleans. According to her the virus is “raging” there and people are killing themselves at a faster than usual pace there. Yes people are ” Losing It!”, because of being ill or out of work. Or both !

  27. I am not afraid to say, I have pretty close to “losing it” myself the last few weeks. Not at someone, but in general, at the enormity of the current situation. I have found that when I feel it coming on, I think about the full freezer, the toilet paper, the rice and beans, the home canned meats etc…or I look at the wife and the grands that are with us and think how it affect them.
    Also, I find that watching entertainment television, rather than a news channel, obessing over every last report, looking for it coming towards me, helps tremendously.
    Today, I took a giant step towards locking down, rumor has it there is a case or three in town, the local bank just shut down for two weeks ( there are other local branches, a 45-55 minute round trip, to sit in a line of cars 15-20 deep at the drive thru), a local manufacturing business has shut down their office for two weeks…and I am in an “essential” job…if anyone at those two locations becomes ill, I am closing the gate.

    1. Kevin
      If you are having a big problem dealing with all this then STOP.
      From what you said you have done what you can with food storage ECT and what will happen will happen no matter if you worry about it or not. There is no reason to make yourself upset about things out of your control.

    2. Kevin H,
      I don’t know if you saw my threat assessment post. Here’s a suggestion to help you cope a little.
      Write a risk assessment on this outbreak as it pertains to you and your family . A list of what ifs. Then seperate them in to what you can control and what you can’t. Chances are there will be a bunch you can’t control. None of us can. All you can do is control how you plan and act upon those things out of your control.
      Now on what you can control…
      Seperate them into what could “possibly ” happen and into what will “probably ” happen.
      Then prioritize the probables.
      You will feel more in control of this situation and your anxiety level should diminish.
      Hope this helps ya…

      1. Bill Jenkins Horse

        I want to thank you for your outstanding advice to MSB Patriots who are scared and wondering what to do.

        My hats off to you. A true Patriot.!

        1. SMG,
          I believe it’s no coincidence that we are all spread out across the country and even the world on this site.
          This my opinion only…
          That this is part of Heavenly Father’s plan. For like minded people to be across the land like clumps of grass to pass on knowledge and belief and fill in the bare spots of ignorance and disbelief.
          Maybe just wishful thinking but hope can be a good thing.
          Seen some real evil in my life. Have had to do hard things for what I was told were the right reasons.
          I know the “Big Guy” gets the final say on me and I’m ok with how it works out. Hoping the good I do evens out the ledger…

  28. To those who lost a parent—
    You never get used to the loss, you learn to live with it.

    In my opinion things are gonna get worse with this Virus. I don’t believe we are being told everything. Either “they” know and aren’t saying, or they don’t know at all.
    We will get thru this, but, it will be a totally different country when we do.

    Covid 19 will bankrupt many more than it kills!

  29. I’m in the older demographics, but what amazed me were some of the remarks I have seen on line. On a gun blog, an older member stated he was sure glad he didn’t have to resupply his ammo stocks today, with the run on ammo. He stated, he had learned his lesson from the Clinton era and always kept his firearm, magazine and ammo stocks up since then. I laughed and agreed with him, since I had learned the same way but from Bush senior. We were both immediately attacked by younger gun owners who thought we were being a $%#@ for bragging about it. Instead of using our knowledge and experience as a learning tool, “they were jealous and angry” because we were not suffering like everyone else. Even after I explained how prepared people will not be a burden on scarce supplies and the story about the ant and the grasshopper, they never relented and continued to criticize us. We were accused of hoarding, even after I explained the difference. Prepping during times of plenty, “not scarcity” was not hoarding but preparing. This did nothing to change their minds. This was on a so called conservative gun blog and not a leftist one. If this is a representation of the younger, instant gratification generation mind set, then how do you think the millions of people who have an ingrained belief, “what is theirs is theirs and what is mine, is also theirs” going to react when the basics are no longer available ?? How are the millions of people on psychotropic drugs, newly released prisoners, etc, going to react, when the supply runs dry or basic services are no longer available. Security should not only be be a big part of any preps, but a main one.

  30. Totally hear ya. What I do know about RNA viruses is that they mutate hella fast…. sometimes good and sometimes not so good. The mutation strains of COVID 19 are being analyzed. If you Google search phylogeny of coronavirus you will find images to show how it is changing. This thing has he potential to impact our world for a very long time.

  31. Of course, you realize that you are no long a “Prepper”.
    You are now a “Hoarder”.
    Justifies the thinking that whatever you have, now belongs to whoever wants it, because you shouldn’t have it in the first place.
    You’re just a Greedy Person, who wants it all for yourself.
    You don’t deserve it !

    1. Myself I am 70 and have seen and been thru a bit.
      In Vietnam I thought I would do my time in country and go home, sudden change was a medevac chopper and a long way back!
      Life in general has been all of the usual ups and downs.
      But thru it all I guess God never gave me more than I could handle!
      This folks has me wondering, I am very concerned and wondering if the world is capable of dealing with this crisis!
      Those of us here if not overrun by lowlifes will probably be ok. Most of the unprepared however are not going to.
      We might be able to help some but not all and we owe it to ourselves and our families to not be dragged down by them!
      I wish us all luck, prep on, and I hope God holds us in the palm of his hand!

  32. One of my sons is now unemployed. He was a chef. They are/were in the process of buying a house…

    My eldest son sent me 6 texts last night — long texts. He and his wife are having a very difficult time. He wrote that they were having a number of issues. Their kids are home now since school has been cancelled for the remainder of the 2019-2020 year. Both he and wife are working at home now. He is leaving his top level position with a computer firm and going elsewhere, starting in mid April. He lives in n. VA and the upper east Counties are hot zones. He is to call me later but said he needs to get his head screwed on straight before he talks to me. lol

    I wrote him back this morning, reminded him of what is truly important. He knows that I am the calm one in the face of tragedy and adversity…it’s just how I’m wired and was trained. I believe he is overwhelmed and anxious over the lifestyle changes and all of the unknowns. He still grieves the loss of his little brother, and, like me, understands how precious life is. I know he is very worried about his kids. We have seen too many children dying this year from “the flu”…. I reminded him that he can always come here to stay, and that if for any reason he felt unsafe, to pack up and get here. Of course, they would be in quarantine if they came. Staying in an RV might give them something else to focus their frustrations and fears on. lol

    Earlier today, we went to a friend’s butcher shop and made some purchases. I hope we didn’t make a mistake by being ‘out’. The shop only allowed 4 people in at the same time and there were quite a few reminders about keeping away from others. Limited quantities for shoppers, but that wouldn’t apply if we ordered a side of beef. We are thinking of a second freezer to do just that…but I don’t know if I want to be out where people are again.

    I track a bunch of COVID numbers and have done so since Mar 10. I got the numbers this morning, then just checked and was floored at the increase in just 12 hours. OMG.

    Mar 25 (Wed) Total cases: 424,863 Deaths 18,939
    Mar 26 (Thurs, 4am) Total cases: 472,762 Deaths 21,305
    Mar 26 (Thurs, 4pm) Total cases: 524,007 Deaths 23,670

    What is not known is the rate of testing and when those testing rates increased.
    All of the data is dynamic and too fluid, making comparative analysis too unreliable. Geez, I wish I wasn’t a numbers-person.

      1. Hi McCatfish
        Yes, thanks for sharing that lilnk. I’ve been tracking Virginia numbers for most of the month of March.I have found it helpful.

        I just read an article at Zero Hedge about NY. The New York urbanites don’t seem to care about being in crowds or trying to protect themselves. The videos and photos prove it all. Those who were afraid to be in the city have left for Florida (I really feel for FL!) A great deal of the others are jamming into subways or at the public parks. About 1/3 of our total US cases are in NY and now I see why. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a more self-centered, oblivious group of people before….which pretty much aligns with their generally obnoxious personalities.
        I wouldn’t be surprised to see forced lock-down or Martial Law in NYC before long.

  33. To the title of this piece, I won’t be “losing ‘it’, or anything else over this scare. BTDT. I spent a good chunk of 1995 in an ICU, on a ventilator, catheter fished into my heart… and other unmentionable places. I eventually went home by 1996, as a high-level quadriplegic, in a wheelchair, with poor prognosis for ever walking again. I’m still working on beating back the damage each and every day.

    FFW 2020, I am very calm; knowing that it is God’s miracle that I am even still alive to see this happen. I’m just passively watching it all go down. In the back of my mind, stuck on loop, is an old Simon and Garfunkel tune: “Hello darkness my old friend; I’ve come to talk with you again.” It is a surreal experience. None of us gets out of this alive. Our time on Earth is a lesson to be learned. When the bell rings and class is dismissed – you move on to whatever is next. Simple.

    1. tmcgyver
      OMG..!! I’ve spent many nights suffering PTSD, looking out my window in pitch black listening to the Sound of Silence. I can not believe you posted that. Just blows me completely away. That’s totally creepy.

      1. Keep your head on a swivel when out and about, especially if shopping for necessities. Things are getting ” real ” for different people to differing degrees, even now.
        The stories are coming out. For instance, someone stole meat from an older lady’s shopping cart in the grocery store parking lot of an affluent neighborhood.
        People are losing their jobs, and homes. Some are getting very desperate, obviously.
        No need to be paranoid, however, it may be helpful to be on top of your awareness game. Sometimes referred to as, situational awareness. Ken has some very good articles on that subject.

        1. I live near a small town in the Bible Belt. I’ve been hearing of the exact same thing happening at the grocery stores around here. Stuff like that just doesn’t happen around here in normal times. It seems like we as a society are on a rapidly accelerating downhill slide. Question is, where is the bottom?

      2. SMG, can I ask ya a question? Up to you if ya answer or not. It’s ok.
        The weight has gotten a little heavier with all that’s going on. Wife has noticed it and brought it up.Do you get bad dreams? Is what’s happening affecting yourPTSD?
        The dreams always come around the same time. Between 11:30-1:30.
        I make a point of not sleeping then. That’s why I take the11-4security watch on the homestead.
        Wondering if it’s just me.
        Anybody else can chime in…

        1. Bill Jenkins Horse
          The PTSD has kicked up quite a bit, a lot.

          The bad dreams usually come between midnight and 5 am. Some, are really bad, almost as it was happening again, in real time. I wake up sweating, shivering, dis-orientated, nauseated, and goose bumps scared. No sleep after the really bad ones, afraid they will come back.
          I don’t wake up mean, thank GOD. My dogs, know I’m all messed up, and will lick my face. That’s when I come around, and realize it was just a nightmare.

          Not cool, or pleasant at all. At least I’m not violent, just scared shitless.

          I listen to Bjorn Andreas Bull-Hansen, sometimes, or just sit in the dark and listen to old time rock&roll. Caffeine seems to ease the jitters, as I do not drink alcohol.

        2. SMG,
          I watch,listen and relisten to Bjorn’s videos. They help a lot and explain alot sometimes. Had a couple aha moments listening to him .
          He’s having a tough go of it right now himself. I can relate.
          My sons watch his videos too. I show appropriate videos when my grandson is with me. Funny how dogs know isn’t it?
          I hang out in my workshop more too. Helps to keep the mind and hands busy. I don’t sleep much anyway but even less so now. Taking more of those short naps lately. Always amazes the wife that I can sleep anywhere. Fall asleep in minutes,wake up in an instant. I know you know what I mean. It is what is…

        3. Stand my ground
          BjH
          Mine also ramped up in the after midnight time frame, taking it as a warning as I feel it is related to world events.

        4. Bill Jenkins Horse

          You and some others hear will understand this, It has taken me years to accept quiet as not a threat, That has been a real journey.

          All but one of my buddies, are dead. Elk Hunter, is the only one still alive, but He is not well at all. (cancer)

          Years ago, one of my team mates said to me, “Your’re one mean, cold hearted SOB, I’d hate to be one who crossed you.” This op, turned into a shit-storm, lives were lost.

          That actually hurt my feelings. I went back to my ranch, thought things out, and turned in my badge, I QUIT. I’ve never regretted that decision. I’ve never talked about my past here on MSB, but, I’m no rookie, by a long shot.

          I worked EMS for a while, but, the human carnage on the freeway, was more than I could handle.

          Then, I drove a Tow Truck for 14yrs, without a day off. My last tow was a fatality, 3yr child. Was the worst thing I’ve ever seen, I quit the next day. I had seen enough death and destruction. (2008)

          I’ve been to counseling, that didn’t work out so well for me. Really, the biggest thing has been my Heavenly Father. He’s carried me through more struggles, than I can count. I have actually seen an Angel, up close, that came into ICU, and saved my 9yr daughter. With my own eyes, I have see the Glory of the Lord, it’s probably obvious here on MSB, that I believe.

          It is what it is. I’ll continue, as before, I don’t know how to quit, besides, you NEVER quit, not when it’s for real. This Wuhan virus, is as real as it gets.

        5. North woods ,
          You got a PTSD Buddy?
          Ya know ,someone you can call. Someone who can call you. Kinda keep an eye on each other.
          Really is important especially with what’s going on now.
          Just checking on ya my friend…

        6. I feel my PTSD has also been causing my nightmares. They don’t hit me unless I oversleep. I can’t sleep past 6 am or the dreams start. So I am usually up at 5 am. Even if I don’t fall asleep until well after midnight, I still can’t sleep past 6 am without a bad dream. They have been more intense as well.

        7. Peanut, do ya have someone to talk to about your PTSD?
          Its important to have a buddy to help ya deal with the additional stress from what’s going on.
          We need to check on each other even if it’s just through phone calls,texts,email.
          Or here…🙂

        8. Thanks Bill Jenkins Horse. I had been to therapy many many years ago. I think that the stress of what is going on in the world seems to have dredged up a lot of bad memories. I deal with it by avoiding the news, social platforms, etc. It’s hard to avoid all together as this is all people want to talk about lately.

      3. Stand my Ground:

        I think it is logical that one can only fully appreciate life, after staring into the eyes of death. That song was extremely profound to me, perhaps prophetic; even as a child. It’s a big world, yet some of us are interconnected on a plane of existence we don’t quite understand. That’s what makes it creepy.

        You are a good and noble man. You put your ass on the line against tyranny and almost lost everything. I salute you as a brother. Take good care of yourself. You’ve earned it.

    2. First there used to be a leave a comment at the end of all the comments if you just want to comment and not reply. It’s not there?
      Anyway we have been locked down since the 13th of March when I got the Great news I don’t need any further medical for thyroid. We haven’t gone anywhere but the post office and clean all mail and ourselves. Other than not being able to get some things we forgot, I haven’t seen any large panic. None in our county at all. But we are locking up all outbuildings including our orchard. And we are considering moving some food we have in Old Man’s art studio to my studio, right outside the main house. I would move my weaving in with him. Good thing we like each other. He and I are worried about the gov coming in and taking our supplies.

      1. Old lady
        Good news on your thyroid. Also notice you & your dh are past the time frame you were concerned about from the contact at church a few weeks ago.

        A raised bed garden with wood sides to keep all those large plastic ware tubs from escaping😎. Then contained with stuff, lots of stuff to hold their lids up, with all that dirt for your new raised bed garden🍉🍅🍓🌶🥒🍆🧅🥜🥔🥦.

  34. Some viruses may work that way but not all. Look at Ebola. Kills something like 90 percent.

    1. I may be wrong, but I think Ebola is so efficient that we have never found the source vector, and the outbreaks burn out so quickly that it has had little opportunity to mutate appreciably.

      1. KevinH,

        Careful son with your racist rhetoric. Just because this form hemorrhagic fever originated in the Ebola River region of Africa is no excuse to cast aspersion on a whole race of humans by insisting on pointing out where it originated.

        As penance, you should go out and hug seven Ebola region natives.

  35. The past couple of weeks has been a minor inconvenience in that I seldom go to town and when I did the idiots were out in full force. We’re still up on the mountain, working in the garden, burning a few brush piles, reloading when it rains and going about our daily routine.

  36. No crazy stuff here in northern wi. Just had first case in our county. Shit won’t hit the fan unless suppy chains brake down.
    Worst case right now is ppl keep going out and hospitals get overwhelmed.
    Then economy crashes.
    Then we see if the government can keep the financial bubble from contracting to much and thereby collapsing the dollar.
    On issue at a time.

    1. Sounds like first responders need to up their game in strengthening their immune system. Ken has good articles on that subject. Plenty of info. Just wonder how aware they are that that can be done. Perhaps even to their great benefit.

  37. Everyone handles things in their own way.

    A memorable EMS call: I was stationed at a fire station. Worked with the same guys every shift. Firefighters are fine folks.

    There was an alarm for a grass fire along the highway. A group of firefighters left on the call. Routine as can be. A few minutes later, a frantic call on the radio (unusual) from the Captain on the scene.

    An older lady had driven into the smoke and rear-ended the fire truck. One of the firefighters was caught in-between the lady’s car and the running board of the fire truck. My EMT partner and I responded.

    The call went extremely well, IVs, EKG, Oxygen, etc. etc. etc. The firefighter lost both of his legs about mid-femur. He nearly lost his life.

    After the call and back at the station, there were discussions. Everyone was upset, as we all knew this guy from working together every shift. Everyone was handling it pretty well.

    Fast forward a couple of hours; Here comes the brass with head shrinkers in tow. Within an hour, we had guys in tears and leaving for home. These guys had been dealing with it just fine until “help” arrived.

    Most first responders are NOT snowflakes. If ya can’t stand the heat, Don’t cook!! These guys had been dealing with death and injury on a daily basis. We all learned to deal with our jobs, in our own way. When forced to deal with things in an “expert’s way” it didn’t go well.

    This all happened years ago and was my first experience with the wussification of America. The wussification has continued through the years, to the point of debilitating folks who would otherwise handle things on their own.

    Now, having said that, I have no problem with folks seeking assistance with issues they may have. PTSD is real. I would only hope, the “experts” would wait for people to seek their services rather than shove it down their throats. IMHO it can create a problem, where one didn’t really exist.

    We had better toughen up! Things are gonna get real!!!!

  38. Back in the 60s, and back from ‘NAM, the VA was Zero help.
    We Vets had to handle it ourselves, with a result being too many suicides.
    I had the gun in my mouth twice, but a higher power than mine, stopped me.
    Then, into my life entered my future wife, and she pulled me through.
    (Still doing it.)
    We Vets were left to ‘tough it out’, and too many didn’t.
    Today, the Military, and ex-Military suicides continue.
    The Unforgivable Sin is “the shedding of innocent blood”.
    So, who’s to say who is innocent and who is not.
    The Government certainly does not.

    1. War Vet, the Bible answers your question ” Who is to say who is innocent?” for ” All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God”. As a fellow veteran from the same era I understand your anger which leads to depression often. Knowing that the Creator of the Universe loves YOU like a Father loves his own Children is the cure.

    2. WarVet
      Bless you and especially your dw for being there when you needed a helping hand with the memories & stress.
      Been in your dw shoes many a time, understand what you both went through. From this families home to yours, thank you for being there, we appreciate your time in service.

  39. Today is my birthday. I am going into work this afternoon at my large hospital grateful that I still have my health and my job for now.

    I lost my father some years ago…we were close. Though he is gone from this earth, I feel his presence with me as I do my job as both medical worker and faithful husband.

    For those that go outside to check the fence line and/or perimeter of your home or property, remember my past story of going away from home to do my laundry with a fellow LEO some years ago:

    My coworker had a large, heavy, latest generation of high capacity 9mm but that day he had it in his sock drawer over 15 miles away from home. I had my 5 shot 38 special snub nose in my daypack at my feet that day as the clothes were spinning in the drier.

    The best gun in the world is the one you have with you/on your person.

    To Joe C: The shotgun was in the back of my truck since I was going to shoot League Trap that evening with “the boys”.

    Stay safe out there folks.

    1. Calirefugee:
      Happy B-day young man.
      Have a Gin on my tab tonight.
      Please be safe at work.

    2. Happy Birthday, Calirefugee!!

      I hope that you have a joy-filled day today (even though it probably won’t be easy…).

    3. Happy Birthday, Calirefugee ! Hope you have a nice QUITE night.

    4. Happy Birthday Calirefugee🎂🎉.
      Hope ya have a good weekend and can celebrate with wife and fur family. Grill up a big ol steak and enjoy.
      PEACE
      MadFab

    5. Calirefugee,

      Happy Birthday my Friend. Be careful, take care of yourself, keep us posted.

    6. Calirefugee,

      Happy Birthday! go spin a few cats in celebration tonight!

    1. Larry, All is well. Been offline most of this week. Which has led to MSB home fortress “shield’s up”…

  40. DJ, you guys are doing GREAT! Thanks for sharing with us. I find that learning what others are doing, and what their ‘obstacles’ are, can be educational.

    And yes, you can go full-on Concertina on the top of your fencing. We are probably about a month away from adding our on.

    …and to think that my spouse used to look at me with a quizzical face and wonder what in the world got me so ‘paranoid’. ROFLMAO Now I am a Wise Woman. lol

  41. …………makes me want to send that GM ceo a picture of my General Motors manufactured WWII M-1 carbine……..and maybe my income tax returns to show who bailed them out when they were about to go belly-up and they were begging for our help.

  42. This social distancing thing is definitely going to last longer than 2 weeks. The Army Corps Of Engineers is currently converting McCormack Place in Chicago to a 3,000 bed COVID-19 hospital. They expect it to be ready by April 24th. Chicago’s shutdown was supposed to last till April 7th. 🤣 That’s not happening. Dr. Birx is predicting Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans to be the next hot spots.

    I haven’t left the house in a week and I’m keeping it that way for at least 3 months! We have food enough to last at least a year but I want to resupply before digging too deep into the larder. My mom and I are healthy and social distancing is the norm for us. We’re just gonna have to ride it out for now. Wish us luck guys, and we wish you all the best as well. This is gonna be a lengthy process. Get ready.

  43. Been kind of busy at work getting ready for this to say much. Moving an entire operation to be able to support remote work that is federally mandated to never be done remotely except in a crisis is a PITA.

    Anyway, the only thing I’ve been worried about is ending up in the hospital at the same time as everyone else. Car accident. Chainsaw accident. Any number of stupid things that could end up with my stupid buttocks in the hospital with all the sickies.

    I’m more worried about the recession that will follow. All the people that have been rolling the dice with medical care since it’s mandates lessened by out fearful leader. A lot of medical bankruptcy and maiming of people that do survive being infected. Millions of jobs that might not come back for years.

    I expect you will see a lot of expensive middle management jobs and white collar jobs disappear that were originally safe due to not being amenable to remote work. Might not be to another country but maybe a cheaper locale. Or any where other cheaper remote workers are like IT did over a decade ago.

  44. Tea party-style protests break out across the country against stay-at-home orders

    anyone see the photos of these folks on NBC? They look like a bunch of crazed zombies to me….On a good day, I am not interested in shoving in to a crowd like this…In the time of COVID-19…YIKES..

    Protesters shout outside the Statehouse Atrium
    About 100 people assembled outside the building to protest the state’s continued stay at home order and non-essential business closures

    Across the nation, protests against the stay-at-home orders that health experts say are needed to save lives are taking place, with more set for the coming days.

    More events are scheduled for Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, Oregon, Idaho and Washington state.

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