The Chronicles of Harold: Korea 6 of 8
The Chronicles of Harold
Korea: First Tour 6 of 8
Radio School
By Harold, Editor-At-Large
I went into radio school and had learned Morse code and I was still working on qualifying as a radio technician, which
required the ability to actually build a radio. I came down with a virulent form of Asiatic flu and spent a week in the hospital and they dismissed me from the course. When I got back to the company, the Captain wanted to know was how much I had learned. I told him,”Basically all of it, except how to build a radio.” And added that I knew the theoretical portion of it, but missed the hands-on.
He said that due to them dropping me from the course, I could not be assigned as a radio operator since I did not receive the certificate. “But I don’t care, if you feel confident that you can handle it.”
I said, “I think I can.” And I returned to the section where I ran the switchboard during the day and once in a while I would work on telephone lines that were malfunctioning while a radio operator sat in on the switchboard.
The manning of the section called for three switchboard operators, four radio operators, a supervisor and a line technician. At no time did we ever have a full complement. We usually had two radio operators and two switchboard operators and the supervisor was the line technician also.
One day after the supervisor had rotated home and there were just four of us up there, the Captain called me down to the Orderly Room. He said, “I want you to go to the replacement company and pick up your new men and bring them back.”
Common Heirloom / Open-Pollinated Seed List
Common Heirloom / Open-Pollinated Seed List
by John Rourke
Without a doubt the most controversial and significant topic in the gardening world revolves around heirloom versus GMO/hybrid seed use. To understand why this is so controversial is to know what the differences are:
From Burpee.com -
“Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated–meaning that unlike hybrids, seeds you collect from one year will produce plants with most of the characteristics of the parent plant. And that’s key to their survival.
Many heirloom varieties were preserved by home gardeners who saved seed from their family gardens from year to year. Other seeds traveled around the world in the pockets or letters of immigrants, which is why, though the tomato evolved in Central America, we have varieties from Russia, Italy, Japan, France, Germany and Kentucky.”
So, heirloom and open pollinated seeds can grow wonderful food and the seeds can be saved – and planted for continued enjoyment for generations.
Hybrid seeds actually occur totally natural in nature all the time. A hybrid seed comes from two similar plants which cross-pollinate. My opinion is hybrids sometimes get a bad reputation they may not totally deserve. Shocking statement? Well – hear me out. Hybrids are often developed to be very disease resistant, require less water, grow in smaller spaces, etc. So – hybrids can allow a larger crop which could be important long-term survival situation. So – hybrid’s do provide some benefit.
A major drawback of hybrids is that most seeds from the plants you grow are sterile – and will not allow you to grow more crops the following season. This, of course, is problematic if seed saving is what will allow you to plant your garden the following year.
GMO Seeds are to be avoided. Genetically modified seeds have been genetically created – sometimes from many, many different varieties or plants AND other organisms. That’s right – genes from a frog can be spliced into corn genes. Due to gene splicing, very specific characteristics can be built into a plant and any undesirable ones removed. Sounds great doesn’t it?
Well…..not really. There are some serious questions as to what effect these GMO foods may have on the human body. Additionally – some GMO seeds are designed to produce crops with sterile seeds. There are a lot of confusion as to what is myth and truth about GMO seeds – but here is one truth: I am staying away.
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I am no expert on all this stuff but what I have put forth is my understanding. There are many great sources on the Internet to buy heirloom and open-pollinated seeds but they can be on the expensive side. I have been working on a list for some time of heirloom/open pollinated seeds that are often found at your local grocery store, home improvement, and even dollar stores. Often these seeds can be purchased as low 10 cents a pack versus $2.50 and up when they have “heirloom” printed all over the package.
Let’s get to the list – feel free to suggest others and I will add them:
Artichoke, Green Globe
Asparagus, Mary Washington
Basil, Greek
Bean Shell, Bush Dragon’s Tongue Wax
Bean, Bush, Early Bush Italian
Bean, Cannelino
Bean, Gold of Bacau
Bean, Italian Rose
Bean, Lima, Big Mama
Bean, Pole, Green Anellino
Bean, Purple Podded Pole
Bean, Runner, White Half
Bean, Snap, Red Swan
Bean, Triumphe De Farcy Bush
Bean (Pole) Romano
Bean – Harvester Bush Snap
Bean – Kentucky Wonder Pole
Bean – Henderson Bush Lima
Bean – Top Crop Bush Snap
Bean – Cherokee Yellow Wax
Bean – Contender Bush Snap Beans
Beet, Albino
Beet, Bull’s Blood
Beet, Chioggia
Beets – Detroit Dark Red
Beets – Ruby Queen
Beets Early Wonder
Broccoli, De Cicco
Broccoli, Green Sprouting Calabrese
Broccoli, Purple Sprouting
Broccoli, Romanesco
Broccoli – Calabrese
Broccoli – Waltham 29
Brussels Sprouts, Catskill
Brussels Sprouts, Long Island
Cabbage, Brunswick
Cabbage, CharlestonWakefield
Cabbage – Copenhagen Market
Cabbage – Early Jersey Wakefield
Cabbage – Golden Acre
Cabbage – Michihili
Cabbage – Pak Choy White Stem
Cabbage – Red Acre
Cabbage – Savoy
Cantaloupe, Hales Best Jumbo
Carrot, Danvers 126 Half Long
Carrot, Touchon
Carrot – Chantenay Red
Carrot – Little Finger
Carrot – Scarlet Nantes
Carrot – Tendersweet
Cauliflower, Snowball Self-Blanching
Corn, Country Gentleman
Corn, Golden Bantam
Corn – (Sweet) Golden Beauty
Cucumber, Lemon
Cucumber, Straight Eight
Cucumber – Boston Pickling
Cucumber: Lemon
Cucumber, National Pickling
Cucumber, Spacemaster Cucumber
Cucumber – Poinsett 76
Cucumber – Marketer
Cucumber – Marketmore 76
Eggplant, Black Beauty
Eggplant, Long Purple
Lettuce Head – Iceberg
Lettuce – Black Seeded Simpson
Lettuce – Buttercrunch
Lettuce – Salad Bowl Green
Lettuce – Romaine
Onion – Red Creole
Onion – Tokyo Long White
Onion - White Lisbon Bunching
Pea – Green Arrow
Pea – Mammoth Melting Sugar
Pea – Wando
Pea – Lincoln
Pea – Alaska
Pea – Oregon Giant
Pepper – Hot, Cayenne
Pepper - California Wonder
Pepper – Jalapeno
Pepper – Sweet Banana
Pepper – Grand Bell
Pumpkin – Jack O Lantern
Pumpkin – Small Sugar
Squash – Crookneck
Squash – Straightneck
Tomato – Delicious
Tomato – Beefsteak
Tomato – Rutgers
Turnip – Purple Top White Globe
Watermelon – Congo
Watermelon – Charleston Grey
Watermelon – Sugar Baby
Watermelon – Crimson Sweet
Zucchini – Grey
Zucchini – Dark Green
Zucchini – Black Beauty
All around the web news…..
All Around the Web News
By: Editor at Large Suni
Fed’s Ending Economic Stimulus Program? http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fed-is-talking-about-ending-its-stimulus-2013-5 Business Insider
Embarrassing IRS Bombshell http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/why-obama-released-embarrassing-irs-bombshell/ WND
Obama Breeds Rebellion Among the States http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/05/obama-breeds-rebellion-among-states.html Facts Not Fantasy
Open Secrets: Pentagon Plan to Share Missile Secrets with Russia http://freebeacon.com/open-secrets/ Free Beacon
Terrorist Super-Axis to Strike Within US http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/terrorist-coalition-to-strike-within-u-s/ WND
Syrian Rebels in Disturbing Shock Video Article w/link to video http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168009#replies Israel National News
Gosnell “Shocked” at Murder Verdicts http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/05/13/kermit-gosnell-shocked-first-degree-murder-verdicts-producer-reports#ixzz2TDJlM9TQ Fox News
Gosnell LIFE in Prison http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/14/convicted-pennsylvania-abortion-doctor-gets-life-in-prison/ FOX News
Police Kicks Down Door without Warrant with No Probable Cause and Tarser Occupants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeEz_tBjeU&feature=player_embedded YOU Tube
Worst Case EMP Scenario? http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/worst-case-emp-scenario-half-in-u-s-dead/#qEyXB6I44ExWOomK.99 WND
Holder Lashes Out in Defiance http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/hot-tempered-holder-lashes-out-in-defiance/ WND
IRS Commissioner “It is Absolutely NOT” Illegal for IRS to Target Conservatives http://conservativevideos.com/2013/05/irs-commissioner-it-is-absolutely-not-illegal-for-irs-to-target-conservatives/ Conservative Videos .com
Congressman Gets Standing Ovation for Nailing IRS Chief http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/congressman-gets-standing-o-for-nailing-irs-chief/ WND
Terrorist Super-Axis to Strike Within US http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/terrorist-coalition-to-strike-within-u-s/ WND
Video Triggers Call for Investigation of Abortionist in TX http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/video-triggers-calls-for-investigation-of-abortionist/ WND
Deadly TX Tornado Caught on Camera http://www.wnd.com/wnd_video/deadly-disaster-texas-tornado-caught-on-camera/ WND-TV
Wrong Color in the Wrong Place http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/wrong-color-in-the-wrong-place/ WND
What Did I Do This Week To Prepare?
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
What did I do to prep this week?
By Bev Sandlin, Executive Editor
As a homesteader, I have always put by food, tucked away nickles and quarters “in case”, had extra medical supplies on hand and ample ammunition. Why? Because as surely as there are good times, there are bad times.
Guns and ammunition are always salable, if nothing else. Having medical supplies around can not only save your life, but save you a lot of money on unnecessary doctor bills. And good food? Well, nothing beats a good meal when your world is crashing in around you! A full belly helps everything look a little better.
We prepare because we know that a rainy day could be around any corner. Yes there is economic collapse, pandemics, etc., but where preparedness pays off is that everyday sense of security knowing that in almost any event, you can get by. Bob (my ex who rents from me) does not believe in preparedness. He spends every dime as fast as he gets it and buys food daily—doesn’t look behind; doesn’t look ahead. But he enjoys the security that I offer. I’ve heard this from other couples–one does, one doesn’t. But the one who doesn’t always benefits from the one who does.
When it rains it pours, and Bob just had a SHTF event in his life. And we are now getting into my preps. And Thank the Lord I Prepare! Yup, I’m grocery shopping in the basement! And I just had a meal of fresh asparagus—yummy! The rhubarb is coming up. The raspberries are leafing out. I saw a blossom on the one of the strawberry plants. The dwarf apple trees I planted are leafing out and should bear this year. I’m hoping I will be here for the harvest. And we will be eating lots of eggs as the girls are PRODUCING! Normally a fussy eater who doesn’t eat fresh veggies, Bob has decided that if he doesn’t have to pay for it, fine, he’ll eat it. :-)
A few things are going to get unplugged and disconnected—such is life. Maybe I will play with bringing in the solar lights at night. And Bob will be quitting smoking, which won’t hurt my feelings a bit!
And what did I do to prepare this week? I am gardening with a vengeance!
Coming up this week! More of Harold’s Chronicles!
Okay Patriots, what did YOU do this week to prepare?
*****
A smile for you…
Last week you didn’t like my dark humor. Well, this week I had a “drive by gnome attack” aka I came home to a box of gnomes dropped off on me! It could be worse, I hate it when people drop off dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks and once even an old horse landed in my pasture! At least gnomes don’t eat! Enjoy!
In God We Trust
- Pocket Firsherman by Ronco – a Classic!!
- 2 Pack P-51 Military Can Openers – FREE SHIPPING!
- Patriots: A Novel of the Comming Collapse (book)
- Doulton 10″ Super Sterasyl Ceramic Gravity Water Filter Candle
- Ultrafire 1000 Lumen Cree 501b T6 LED Flashlight Torch – FREE SHIPPING
Get your heirloom, open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds……
My red lights are flashing, folks! Alert! Alert!
This isn’t necessarily so you can plant a big garden now, either; it’s so you’ll have seeds to grow from, a.k.a., “food supply”, but you will need to grow from them within one to five years, depending on what it is and how you store them. Growing food does not require an acre of garden; most veggies and fruits grow perfectly well in containers, but you have to have the containers and the soil mix and the…fill in the blank…It’s amazing how much food can be grown on an apartment patio, or even indoors. Veggie plants can clean the air in your house just like any other plant.
Think it won’t happen “here”? It already has; The Potus just isn’t enforcing it (yet). If you’ve followed Monsanto, DuPont, Natural News, and Dr. Mercola, and many other natural/herbalist sites for about two years, you know this is true.
Get your heirloom, open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds and everything you need to grow them NOW, no matter what else you have to forgo to do it. Seriously. Skip Disney World (you didn’t want to support them, anyway!); take a local staycation instead. Make sure you can grow food and feed your family; you’re going to need the seeds, tools, soil, and knowledge. Count on it.
I was watching a couple of youtube posts from Marjorie Wildcraft (herbalists and naturalists know this name) recently, in which she interviewed both a man and a woman who survived the Cuban “Special Time” (translation: they nearly starved to death). One of the things mentioned by both that contributed greatly to the near-starvation (when was the last time you couldn’t feed YOUR kids?) was that NO ONE HAD PREPARED FOR TOTAL LACK OF FOOD SUPPLY. The Cuban gubment had promised to “take care of the people”, but, hey! guess what?! they couldn’t. They didn’t. Children were given balls of brown sugar (sugar and molasses both DO grow in Cuba) as “snacks” to take to school. It was all they had. The gubment provided ample culture, arts, and entertainment (all home grown, of course), but could not supply food, or seeds, or garden supplies…or, anything else. They could not and did not live up to the promise to “feed their people”. Our gubment can not and will not, either; make no mistake about it, especially since it’s all in “the plan”, but that’s a very long story for another day and time.
A sheeple will ignore the warning; the prudent man or woman sees the “writing on the wall” and takes positive action.
The Proverbs 31 woman gives us this message.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
Get your seeds and supplies, your garden books for knowledge, or whatever you think you’ll need…and store them properly, so they remain “viable”. Amazon is a good source for garden books, but rest assured they are very gubment info friendly; don’t rely on an “older” one; I think you want the best technology we have available; if you can afford it, also pick up a book on “permaculture” When you look it over, you’ll know why. Aquaponics would be good, too, but, at least gardening and permaculture (growing food without tilling the land!). Aquaponics is lagniappe (lan-yap: “a little somethun extra” – for you fureners! ; ) Soon, these books will become difficult, if not impossible, to even find. Buy them now. Heirloom seeds will not always be available, either. Get them now.
You CAN NOT save seed and grow future food supply from hybrid seeds or hybrid plants. DON’T just go to the stuff mart and buy cheap packets of seeds, or plant and grow hybrids, thinking you can save the seed and get future crops. You MIGHT actually be able to grow SOMETHING from hybrid plants or seeds, but it may not be what you had in mind. Not only that, but Monsanto and DuPont now chemically treat their seeds so they WILL NOT grow future crops, beyond the first growth (and you have to buy those seeds, enriching, guess who?!). This is also part of “the plan”, in case you did not already know this; when The Potus tightens the noose, you won’t be able to get these seeds, either. You have been warned.
Buy only seeds that will produce food you know you like and will eat; long-term food supply is not the time or the place for “experimentation”. Experiment now. Save to eat later.
I have bought seeds off ebay sellers, but won’t do it again. Why? The seeds were fine, as far as I could tell (although it’s much harder to know what you’re getting from an ebay seller). But if you haven’t read last week’s ebay seller changes update, ebay now will basically require that ALL domestic sales be made available internationally, as I understand the message (educate me if I’m wrong!), AND our gubment has strengthened its agreement with information feedback from ebay. Yeah. Sellers will be sending their international packages to a third party shipper, for which the international buyer will pay, and the shipper will do the paperwork – all with your name on it! What if you sell something internationally that you thought was harmless but your gubment took an interest?
How about that Elvis impersonator in North MS whose life was just destroyed because feds decided he was responsible for mailing that bad substance? Yeah, that kind of power.
So, let’s make this easy: try –
Seed Savers Exchange: http://www.seedsavers.org/
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: http://www.rareseeds.com/
Heirloom Seed Company: http://www.heirloomseeds.com/
Ohio Heirloom Seed Company: http://ohioheirloomseeds.com/
If you don’t know how to compost, get a book and get started. It’s easy, and you’ll rarely waste food (or a lot of other things) again.
Submitted by servantheart, Editor-at-Large
Preparing for Cabin Fever
From Rourke: This post somehow fell behind a stack of preparedness books that I have been meaning to read…..for months. So – it’s been a bit delayed but still another great one form our Executive Editor – Bev!
Preparing for Cabin Fever
By Bev Sandlin, Executive Editor
Oh yah, I have Cabin Fever! Irritable, restless, bored, sleeping more than usual, and a bit distrustful and paranoid—yup, that’s Cabin Fever! And I usually deal with it by starting a new project to throw myself into!
I lifted this from Wikipedia, “first recorded in 1918, for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations.” And it got me to thinking of a SHFT situation and how this could be a very real situation to cope with.
Oh, we can all laugh about Cabin Fever, but when trapped in a situation where you can’t get out and visit, go shopping, even chat with someone on the telephone, it is very real! When I lived in the mountains there was a murder every year, ultimately attributed to Cabin Fever—it is a very real condition. And we don’t even want to go into that horror flick, “The Shining” based on cabin fever!
So, how do you prepare for a Cabin Fever situation? Know the symptoms and be self-aware enough to recognize them in yourself, and others, as opposed to giving into your feelings and reacting to others—MUCH easier said than done!
Here is your checklist of symptoms:
1. Extremely irritable over an extended period of time and increasing.
2. Very restless over an extended period of time and increasing.
3. Very bored, even with things that used to interest you.
4. Sleeping more than usual.
5. Increasing distrust of those around you to the point of believing that they are plotting to harm you—paranoia.
Three or more of these symptoms lasting more than a week (when in a closed area) and there may be reason to consider Cabin Fever.
Solutions:
1. Physical exercise.
2. Get out in nature (hard to do when the snow is deep and temps are freezing).
3. Change routines.
4. Present yourself and others with intellectual stimulation.
5. Increased doses of vitamins D & B12 could be helpful.
6. Loving touch (massage) could be helpful.
7. Group recognition of the problem could be helpful—watch out for one another.
8. Be prepared to isolated or restrain an individual
9. If possible, keep weapons away from individuals displaying symptoms (that may be difficult in a SHFT situation).
I’ve prepared with multiple decks of cards, games, etc. But I also know that these fail when faced with a case of real Cabin Fever. Suggestions?
Top 20 Items to Have In a 72 Hour In-Home Survival Kit
Top 20 Items to Have In a 72 Hour In-Home Survival Kit
By Bev, Executive Editor
I have an inexpensive box that I keep ready as my 3 Day Survival Kit. I keep 2 gallons of water per person beside it, for us that is 12 gallons.
1) Water and/or an individual water filter like a LifeStraw—we have a creek that borders the property.
2) Two flashlights, with batteries beside them (no potential for corrosion and there for failure when needed). One headlamp for chores—my job.
3) Waterproof matches and lighters.
4) Four good quality Mylar emergency blankets that I purchased from DealsOnlyWebStore.com Go to our discount tab and you can get 8% off! These are tough and reusable! You can sleep in your own bed with one on top and one on the bottom. Two will keep Bob, 6’5” tall, warm.
5) Single serving bags of coffee, tea, propel zero and mio to add to water.
6) Three days of canned food, so I don’t have to cook, just warm up and serve—even if warming is with a candle, grill, or on our Deadwood Stoves!
7) A good quality manual can opener.
8) Paper plates, cups and utensils.
9) Garbage bags for personal sanitation and more!
10) Baby Wipes for personal sanitation and cleanliness.
11) A bottle of hand sanitizer.
12) Two rolls of TP.
13) A roll of paper towels.
14) A roll of heavy duty aluminum foil, mostly for cooking.
15) Candles, for light and heat, and because they are always handy!
16) Hard peppermint candy and hard chocolate candies.
17) Two deck of cards!
18) Two emergency radios, because one just never seems to work! #3 is the car radio!
19) A SURVIVAL WHISTLE!!! Need to signal anyone? Low tech; high impact!
20) Pepper spray! Yes! Inexpensive, simple and effective!
The Chronicles of Harold: Korea 5 of 8
The Chronicles of Harold
Korea: First Tour 5 of 8
Cryptographer in the Communications Section
By Harold, Editor-At-Large
The Captain then explained that due to my scores on the aptitude test they figured I had the ability to learn most 
anything and they sorely needed a cryptographer in the communications section and one of the requirements was you had to be a good typist. He asked me, “Are you willing to do this?” And they would send me to school for crypto, radio, switchboard and long lines signalman school. He said there was going to be a rapid turnover up there and “I need someone who can handle it all when new people start to come in.”
They rapidly secured a secret clearance for me, and later on a top secret, and I went to crypto school, which was a week long. On my return, I was assigned to the Comm. Section and since I was not only the newest, but still a teenager, I was the brunt of all kind of practical jokes and abuse until the old crew left. 
I started in running the switchboard and decrypting the encrypted messages that came in. Most of which were just routing stuff like weather reports, etc. and by the time I was sent off to signal school for the linesman’s and switchboard course, I was already qualified, so they just signed me off.
D5 Creation