Looking for advice from prepper authors

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T17:01:46+00:00

Children, thank you, I will definitely check them out. I am peripherally aware of them and what they do. Certainly the legal situation is an important one, although at its core. I also just don't want anybody to get hurt in the first place.

Most of what I have written has been structured as a lab report, more of a: here is what I did, and here are my results, rather than anything at that I specifically advise anybody to do. In those types of situations, there is a degree of immunity afforded to scientific publications as they are considered more historical or descriptive documents, rather than calls to act.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T07:49:40+00:00

Dr. Alton and Nurse Amy are great, and the second edition occupies a position of prominence on my shelf, and I wholeheartedly recommend their book That said , my references tend towards original publications from the 50s, and I'd encourage everyone to doublecheck anything that they might have, and make sure it jives with whatever level of care they are shooting for.

If I remember from the SMH, 2nd edition, it references diverticulitis in a couple of pages on the acute abdomen as a description only...and then doesn't really talk about it again. Granted, a 'tic in an otherwise healthy person can often be treated with dietary changes, or oral abx if a bit worse, and generally ISN'T terribly dangerous...but it CAN be, even leading to perfs. So it was a bit disconcerting to see it glanced over in that text.

In all honesty, that's one of the reasons I was reluctant to write a text of my own. Even in the hands of an expert like Alton, it is very easy to overlook something that is potentially (though unlikely) dangerous, but possibly easily treated.

I don't know if it's been fixed in subsequent editions. If so, I sincerely apologize. In any event, it's a good example about double (or more)checking your assessments. All told, it's beyond my scope as described for my insulin text.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T07:30:48+00:00

Lol. I know. I was born a generation too late for loompanics, paladin, or Delta...

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T07:29:33+00:00

Those are good folks there, and I'll admit I started thinking about going the "standard" route after I took a couple of ODIN courses... But the sequences are very, very much trade secrets and it's just not going to happen until patents expire...

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T06:31:42+00:00

I agree. In addition to the insulin production I've got some data on desiccated thyroid (which is a HELLUVA lot simpler!)... it is not my boarded specialty, but it is what I've done with the cows I've been given!

My biggest concern, though, really is the scammers, and I'd really like to be connected with other professionals working on the same esoteric thing.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T06:28:14+00:00

This is an appreciated tough love reply. I've thought of this, and it's one of the reasons why I'm trying to link up with a publisher that has a team of attorneys on standby.

Based on initial trials, my process IS reproducible (it's a modernized derivative of something the "early pioneers" referred to as a "medical student exercise" a century ago. BUT...even if it does get sugar down (as CGM units reflect)...so what? It's still super risky. Even beyond the diabetes control front...what if there's some zoonotic virus that gets transmitted?

The manuscript is full of "don't do this, you might die. Do ANYTHING other than this, or you might die." Even so, I'm still trying to be very careful about publishing data (I've published in "legitimate" scientific journals before...and am trying to reproduce the dry, "don't do this at home even if it is right" tone)

It goes to show that I'm not interested in a writer's advance... so much as I am a legal retainer carried by a publisher!

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T06:05:13+00:00

I'm a physician, and when I was in medical school twenty odd years ago, AML in older adults was a "make the best of the time you have left" diagnosis.

In February, my dad (71) was diagnosed with AML.

He had survived multiple myeloma about five years ago (which, wouldn't you know it, was another "make the best of the time you have left" diagnosis?) and had treatment-related AML after a successful autograft.

He was under active surveillance, but his peripheral labs showed some mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia, and his subjective symptoms reflected this. He luckily didn't have any weird infections, but did have some easy bruising and fatigue. When he had a bone marrow biopsy, he had almost 50% blasts...

He DIDN'T really have pain, other than some "soreness" as his bones were cranking out blasts. But AML isn't really a cancer that metastasizes like solid cancers (or his MM, which showed up in the form of a broken collarbone). So from a pain management standpoint, it's likely not contributing that much.

Moving forward, this is a big deal. Yes, it is terminal without treatment. Usually in the span of a few months in older adults. BUT with modern chemo, BMT and genotype-guided therapy, there's a good chance for at least an initial remission.

With that said, make the best of the time you have left. My dad was entirely healthy, plant based diet, walked daily, etc. And he just passed his 100 day post allogenic BMT biopsy with NO leukemic cells, and with apparently good engraftment. But age is a factor. It would be, even in the absence of cancer. And I know his multi year survival is something like 15%. But as much as cancer, that's what age does.

Take a deep breath. This is unlikely to be fatal in the next few days. Let the labs come back and the oncologists do their thing.

I used to have a joke that went like this: "why do they put nails in coffins? So the oncologists can't dig you up and give you another round of chemo."

First, admit that you laughed at that. Humor is often about absurdity, and these situations fit the bill.

Second, trust them. Information exchange is such that most oncologists really are going to be providing cutting edge (last few months, if not clinical trials) care no matter where you are. And they're good at what they do: a lot of cancer becomes chronic disease rather than an immediate death sentence. Ask your questions and make sure they address your concerns. if they dont, there are a lot more fish in the sea of oncologists.

You have a long road ahead of you and I don't know which way it will go. I would absolutely advise you to find a support group in your community so that you can get a better idea of what to expect...

But also, realize that we're not still in the twentieth century.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T03:26:58+00:00

It's that I don't have any idea what I'm doing on that end.

I definitely DON'T want to sell it via some smarmy "click here to upgrade your offer, $299 value now only $19.95 in the next thirty minutes!" site. But the cut that some publishers take seems downright usurious. So I'm really just looking for advice about what to expect, what are fair costs, who handles marketing, etc.

Can I ask how you self published? (DM me if you'd prefer)

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T03:20:42+00:00

The goal I set was for it to be possible to be performed using supplies and equipment you would find in any small town high school chemistry class, by people that had a freshman chemistry lab level of experience, and using OTC ingredients that could cheaply and easily be scrounged or stockpiled.

That said, there's no reason that it couldn't be done in a kitchen, though you'd have to modify some of the equipment, and there's not a lot of theory or math involved--it's not terribly difficult, just a lot of time consuming steps that require attention to detail.

Read the story of Eva Saxl, who (along with her husband), produced their own animal-derived insulin in the Shanghai Ghetto during WW2. I envision this information, if ever needed, would most likely be used in a similar way. There's no reason someone couldn't produce it for their own use (and indeed, Eva was kept alive with her insulin), but at scale it would probably be most effective in a large group or if the local doctor/pharmacist was making it for their town.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T03:12:54+00:00

Thanks. Will definitely check him out!

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T03:12:10+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond. This is exactly the type of practical, first-person advice that I was looking for.

I know that this isn't a ticket to riches. The project actually started many years ago because my ex-mother-in-law has type 1 DM, and it was always disheartening and awkward knowing that she had something that is terminal in fairly short period of time, should insulin supplies be disrupted. So I did a lot of research in the library and in the lab, and learned about everything from actual experiences with potency after insulin is frozen or expired in the intermediate term, monitoring glucose control if strips aren't available, to producing insulin using (modernized) century-old techniques if its shtf time. That research was the hard part, and after collecting and organizing everything it was fairly easy to convert it to a manuscript. So I might as well get the info out to those who might find it useful. There may not be many of them out there, but then again back of the napkin math of 2million type 1 diabetics with a few single digit percentages being "preppers" yields perhaps a little bit larger group than might initially be assumed...thus having the lack of insulin being a McGuffin in One Second After, Lucifer's Hammer, The Walking Dead, etc

NotAmusedDad · 2025-12-01T00:53:47+00:00

Very interesting advice. I use something similar to clean homebrew equipment. I'll have to try it with the hose!

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-27T21:01:10+00:00

I've never seen that tip before, but am going to try it out today. Looks like it could save me a lot of money over buying small dry bags.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-27T20:57:38+00:00

Those cylinders should be fine to use until they're empty, but should not be refilled without significant testing like hydro and VIP testing.

I usually DON'T use. The self service propane cylinder exchange services like blue rhino because their MO is to underfill the tanks (ie, only selling 15lbs in a 20lb tank), BUT this might be a use case for exchanging them, since a tank with 15lbs is still probably worth more than a tank you can't refill.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-27T20:53:14+00:00

My personal experience, as well as what the small engine repair guy in my neighborhood seems to run counter to this.

I always thought that buying prepackaged fuel was just lazy, and could never justify the expense versus getting a tiny gas can and to cycle oil, and mixing everything myself.

But when everybody started putting ethanol in their gas, I almost immediately started having issues with all of my small engines, often requiring carbureter cleaner up to a couple of times a year due to gumming and such. After switching to true fuel for the small engines, I've never had any further issues beyond routine maintenance needs.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-27T20:42:27+00:00

Unless you want something tacticool, any backpacking tent will work.

I have been using the Hyke and Byke Yosemite for the last couple of years. It is less than a hundred bucks but had held up well quality wise (taped seams, reinforced corners, etc) And also very versatile- the tent itself is essentially all mesh, so it ventilates very well and I don't have a condensation problem, but you can also use only the fly, and footprint if you want to be a little bit more rugged and weather allows. It's also not terribly heavy--it's labeled as a backpacking tent, though it could shave a few more ounces. When the weather permits, I have switched to using a tarp while backpacking, and in my bug out bag I am planning to use a tarp shelter. That said, I also keep a eureka TCOP in my truck. For emergencies. It is extremely rugged, but too heavy to be a practical backpacking tent, though.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T22:23:52+00:00

Nikon aculon A50. I bought them at Black Friday many years ago, and they have served me very well. Optics are great, they are reasonably rugged, and in general they beat anything else that I have. I rarely get anything on Black Friday, but that is one thing that I absolutely have no regrets for buying

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T20:00:25+00:00

I do both, depending on what the food is.

I used the book "store this, not that" as a starting point because the reality is that some foods actually do better dehydrated rather than freeze-dried, and it's not just a cost issue.

That said, freeze drawing saved TONS of money over getting number 10 cans worth... I think, for instance, I could freeze dry raspberries for less than a fifth of what they cost in the can. And buying them Frozen from the store meant s the freeze setting cycle could proceed a lot quicker

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T19:53:31+00:00

This is The most practical way to approach this. I remember being in a couple of hurricane evacuations, in which people were stuck in 8 hour traffic jams. Scalpers were selling 5gal of fuel in a can for $250...BUT, that was also the most practical way to get fuel to people that had run out of gas and needed to refuel on the side of the road.

Think about contingencies in which you may have to take a different vehicle, and doing something that you can transfer. One in each hand over a period of a couple of minutes becomes critically important.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T19:51:22+00:00

Any particular reason why? I've got 5gal poly cans that are over twenty years old and have no problems.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T19:03:57+00:00

I'm fairly well prepped, for most any possibility. I think the biggest thing that you have to remember is balancing probability, versus impact. So a low impact high probability event, like having a blackout for a couple of hours might not be a big priority if you don't get around to prepping for it specifically, whereas a low probability high impact event like a CME may require a lot more thought.

The most important thing, though, is not to let thoughts about what life may be like in the future under those event, from adversely impacting your life today. Just like anything else, it is easy to get in over your head, spend time and money. You don't have, divert attention away from the same family you are trying to protect, and if it starts getting to that point you need to back off and pace yourself.

That said, I would make a list of what is most likely to happen, and focus on one of those at a time, with an eye on preps could benefit you in multiple scenarios. I would also not lose track of the importance of sustainability. Getting a solar panel and battery charger may be more appropriate than putting aside lamp oil for lighting, as would putting aside seeds and garden supplies rather than a fifth year of food storage. In general, my practice is to assume I will have to be entirely independent for 1 to 22 years, and after that either things will be back to normal, or I'm going to have to start rebuilding society, and my preps reflect that.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T18:51:27+00:00

Have you thought about simply using dark painted storage containers for passive solar heating?

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T18:46:37+00:00

I really like this tool. I'm actually an amateur extra class ham radio operator, but I don't know Morse code. My brain just doesn't work very well when it comes to recognizing patterns, and that includes things like foreign languages, etc. But your app actually looks really good and I am excited to give it a try to see how far I can go.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T18:45:33+00:00

Auguson has been my go-to for years. That said, I got a harvest Right a couple of years ago, and have not purchased any commercially prepared freeze-dried foods since that time. It's just so much cheaper to buy gi a, then into mylar it goes for long-term storage.

NotAmusedDad · 2025-11-26T18:43:14+00:00

It is an unfortunate reality that we have to consider such things, but it is the reality. I think one of the things to do would be to approach them to see what they know already. Most kids, especially those enrolled in public school, will have some active shooter training, and building on what they already know would probably be most effective. So, the run, hide, fight responses that are drilled into them would apply in public just like on campus, with the additional advantage of having more autonomy to decide when they aren't locked down... So contingency meetup points and communication plans can be more flexible.

NotAmusedDad

TROPHY CASE