by Ron Foster
The first three months of the study closely monitored the men’s normal eating and activity patterns. For the next six months, they followed a semi-starvation diet of around 1500 calories a day, and the final three months involved re-feeding.
During the six months of semi-starvation the men lost around 25% of their body weight, and some startling patterns emerged:
• They became obsessed with food, it was the major topic of conversation and reading, several so much so that after the study they changed their career plans and became chefs. They dawdled over their meals for up to two hours.
• They ate every last crumb and many even licked their plates.
• They drank more tea and coffee and ate more gum.
• They smoked more, some non-smokers became smokers.
• Their weight loss was also an endless topic of conversation. Several reported being annoyed about it in others, but were unable to stop themselves doing it.
• They became highly nervous, restless, anxious, apathetic, moody, tired, and depressed.
• Mood swings were common.
• They were unable to concentrate and their interests narrowed.
• They became very self-centered and antisocial, looking out only for themselves; their sense of compassion for others faded along with their idealism, previously a driving force in their lives.
• They lost their ambition.
• They neglected their personal appearance.
• They lost interest in their girlfriends, replacing their pictures with pictures of food. They seemed to lose their libidos.
• Psychological tests confirmed that their hypochondria, hysteria, and depression had all increased markedly.
• Their metabolisms dropped by almost 40%, saving 600 calories per day.
• Their heart volumes shrank by about 20%. Their pulses slowed and they felt cold.
Many other physical symptoms rose: skin ulcers, thinning hair, aching eyes, ringing in the ears, insomnia, dizziness, stomach pains, headaches, muscle cramps, tingling in their extremities, frequent urination, and they reported feeling old.
There were extreme reactions to the psychological effects during the experiment including self-mutilation (one subject amputated three fingers of his hand with an axe, though the subject was unsure if he had done so intentionally or accidentally). The participants reported a decline in concentration, comprehension and judgment capabilities, although the standardized tests administered showed no actual signs of diminished capacity.” Donald advised before getting to a more gruesome point needing to be addressed.
“I am not trying to shock or scare you any more than necessary to make you aware of a situation developing; well maybe I guess I am, in a way. I am doing it so that you become fully aware of the gravity of the situation we are in as well as a horrific danger. These previously so called well adjusted people in that experiment all had one thing in common. They all thought about how cannibalism is a terrible option for a starving person, and tried to put it out of their minds, but they couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it and contemplating who to eat. Keep in mind these people that volunteered for this were religious conscientious war objectors who volunteered to ”do their part” and knew that it was a controlled experiment and that they would not die from starvation. The men had responded to a brochure that asked: “Will You Starve That They Be Better Fed?” to help malnutrition and starvation in people in war torn Europe.
They all complained to the man, that thinking about Cannibalism, death through starvation, grass salads and eating garbage were more than fleeting thoughts to them and that’s the crux of the problem. WE got people now in this city that are sinking into some very nasty mind frames and it’s not safe for us here even if it’s only a dozen or thousands that are becoming unpredictable as to when they might go over the edge. There is a saying, that when people lose everything, they lose it. I think lots of people didn’t have but three days worth of food in their houses weeks ago and I bet the atrocities have already started with missing pets etc. first, and maybe for some people, it might be a missing neighbor next that is considered as a menu item. We already have a population segment dependant on psychotropic drugs to get rid of “bad thoughts” or voices in their heads and I don’t want to hang around to find out what that might mean about right now to my safety, so I am leaving, it’s as simple as that. People are becoming very mentally ill and desperate. You got anything to needing to go to my place, make up your mind now. I doubt I will be coming back this way for sometime to come.” Donald said laying it all on the line while presenting a heart rending choice for both of them to separate a beautiful friendship.
Janice looked at him a moment and then broke down in tears as he sought to comfort her. “I can’t leave now! Momma and my sister haven’t said what they are going to be doing yet in regards to bugging out. Stay another day PLEASE! I will talk to them and tell them the dangers of staying here, I promise. Oh Donald, this is too hard of a decision to make a snap judgment on. Come by here in the morning. I want you to take some stuff with you now because I WILL be coming by your place one day to stay, but let’s not end us like this. There has to be something we haven’t thought of yet or figure out how to bug in here longer.” Janice wailed all the while soaking his shoulder and chest with salty tears.
“I don’t see it sweetie, I got to see to my preps and family right now and a delay is not an option I care to consider. My door’s always open to you, as you well know, but I am kind of like a guy that has seen a fuse lit leading to a whole keg of dynamite and decided to make tracks. I can’t get out of the area fast enough to suit me or wait on any stragglers that haven’t started running for cover yet. You decide and I will abide, but my truck and my mom will be packed in the morning when I come by and you know how I am when I am in a hurry.” Donald somberly related.
“Sandy and I talked about this whole thing of leaving in a hurry some while you were gone and we decided that when it was time to absolutely go, we are going to basically kidnap momma. Here is the plan. I am going to go over there and try my damndest to get her to leave on her own. If she doesn’t listen to us, Sandy and I are going to spike her tea with sleeping pills or something and carry her out of the house and to the country. We will drop her off with the Kin folk in Ramer and we will both see you in two days at your farmstead.” Janice said now dry eyed and looking as confident as she could under the circumstances.
“Let me get this straight, Janice. Are you actually saying that you and your sister are actually going to drug your Mama and drop her off with relatives and then you and your sister are moving in with me?” Donald said, both confused and alarmed at the prospect.
“You got it; we will hang around until she wakes up in Ramer with the relatives and have another talk with her but not for long. Sandy will help me settle in with you and may or may not go back and stay with her depending on how the whole kidnapping thing goes over. Mamma has got lots of relatives her age around there that she grew up with and is tight with them younger cousins, nephews and nieces of mine she has got around that community to take care of her and we think that will be the best thing for her survival. You take that batch of preps I got sitting over in the corner of the living room by the TV and Sandy and I will load our two cars with the rest of what’s in the second bedroom.” Janice said resolutely and motioned towards 8 large cardboard boxes.
“Damn. I got crap of my own to move, but the old lady will have her car, too, to carry some of the overflow of it. That ought to be cute getting her to follow me in her car on that interstate to my place. She is going to be upset and constantly falling behind in back of me no matter what I do. Ok, what’s in those boxes and don’t tell me it’s just heavy shit like ammo cans and camping equipment. If you are coming to stay with me long-term, then you best be food heavy in what you are bringing.” Donald said not at all pleased the sister was now one of his charges. She was nice enough but she was also moody as hell on a good day in his opinion and he drea
ded having her in the close confines of his home when he wouldn’t have the patience for her to decide on her own to go to her own house to satisfy her realization about how aggravating the three of them could be to one another.
“She can work harder in the garden than me because of my back and is a good shot with no qualms about using a gun if necessary. She is an asset we have already thought of this and discussed the possibility.” Janice began before Donald cut her off.
“I said I would take her in, I didn’t say I had to like it or she didn’t have to change her attitude some. I am not worried about her. What I am worried about is you separating your guns and ammo in a move. I know you are keeping a certain amount of shells or bullets with each weapon, but in spite of yourself you never really picked up on the difference between all the different rounds I bought for you and what purpose they do best.” Donald complained.
“Yes, I did too listen, remember I marked the cartridge boxes so I could remember later what was best to load and for what purpose.” Janice said as she started to go open a cardboard box with two ammo cans in it that probably weighed 45 lbs at least.
“You don’t have to show me. I remember your ammo filing system.” Donald grumbled reminiscing that after 5 years of trying to explain the differences in ammo specifications none of it had sunk in. The boxes were basically marked, practice, hunting and defense and he doubted she had a clue which to use for what in spite of long conversations that NATO ball 9mm was hotter than regular practice full metal jacket 9mm or that ball ammo might be a better choice to shoot through winter multiple layers of clothes than hollow point defense ammo. Or that the 9mm carbine fed better with one round or another and increased bullet speed where a soft point was better so they didn’t break up when hunting deer but use Ball on a big hog’s armor plated by gristle shoulder that could take small buckshot with little damage at a distance.
“I do know too, I shot better than you before you got your eyes fixed, remember and you told me bullet placement was the key anyway no matter what type of bullet I was shooting.” Janice demanded.
“Yea, you are right about that, but some of that stuff is a safety issue to remember. You remember the difference between high brass and low brass shotgun shells or not to shoot those damn viper 22 rounds in my charter arms survival rifle but CCI mini mags were fine and that target pistol of yours Ruger could shoot anything you got in the .22 caliber selection you have?” Donald fired back.
“Well, I remember most of what you said and marked all different boxes back then for daily carry or hunting. Every gun I got that I am carrying in the car has 50 rounds with it split down the middle. Those guns are already loaded and Sandy knows where they are at if needed. I am not a gun Prepper, I told you that many times before, it’s not interesting to remember all those facts you told me as you acquired those bullets way back then.” Janice told Donald to his exasperation and he had to renew this education once again and for everyone in the circle of friends that might inadvertently try to load some of the exotic but practical ammo he had been a connoisseur about buying for Janice to increase each weapons potential or usefulness according to his research in applications.
“Take the extra ammo and heavy stuff, Donald. It was your crazy ass that duplicated things like two sets of cast iron cookware or needing a tripod for them to sit over a fire, but I know why you did it so we both were equal in preps and have already given you my thanks. Do you want me to offer those types of items and duplicate preps if I stay with you to the neighbors or my family so you don’t have to haul them with you, or are you going to bitch and ask me where something is at if we leave preps behind?” Janice said doing the damned if I do and damned if I don’t look at Donald.
“I can see your point. Damn this house was prepped for a stand alone bug in plan and it would take a U-Haul to carry everything you got around here. Think about it this way to load that damn little Honda skateboard car of yours. I will fit and secure on your car that roof rack bag I bought you at the Wal-Mart clearance sale. Those three big black nylon footlocker sized bags full of Mountain House cases of food will take up your backseat and maybe if you pack well, you could fit another 6-8 individual box cases in that tiny vehicle plus your bugout bag in the front seat. The trunk, if it was left open and tied with a cord, you might get a few pillow cases of canned goods from your pantry and a few more boxes of food and your winter clothes stuffed in as well as your Stove Tec stove. No other tools, no linens and minimal personal crap. That means before you start whining, take your portable easel and paints even though I doubt you will have time to be painting pics anytime soon. Get your sensible clothes together but don’t be packing a bunch of bulky suitcases full. You remember how you tried to load that booger just to go on vacation for 3 days with me? Now, I hope like hell you listened to me about practicality as well as timing. Don’t be spending three days talking and thinking about what to load. Just do it and be done with it! Its Beans, bullets, and bandages and light on the med preps except all your moms prescription medicines you need to be sure to gather. If you can’t eat it and/or make your load lighter by not taking it, don’t tote it. We are in Solar Max space weather event and if we get another CME of this size or larger it will be within the next 90 days. We are very, very lucky cars are still working now to transport some of this crap we are going to need. If a Geomagnetic solar storm hits again, which by the way is entirely possible in the next few days and your vehicle don’t work, you remember what I told you.” Donald gave as his final advice to his close friend before he had to leave and see to his other plans and preparations.
“I will be on time, don’t you worry; you are scaring the crap out of me. You be careful, too. Lets get your truck loaded and you can help me load up my car some too.” Janice said showing him she was committed to the idea of getting the hell out of dodge too.
An hour or so later, Donald then drove his heavily laden truck to his moms’ house so he could begin packing her car and ready for the big bug out he contemplated undertaking the next day.
29
Final Destination
“Hi Mom, I am back!” Donald declared as he entered his mom’s house. “You got back a little quicker than I thought you would. Nobody was at the office, Donald?”? His mom inquired of him.
“I didn’t go there, Mom. I got a little bit nervous about going downtown for no particular reason other than all those side streets crossing my direction of travel with no traffic signals and came back directly after visiting Janice. Streets were not too bad out in the city, all in all, and I made good time. I saw a few looted stores which is to be expected, times being what they are and told Janice that I thought it might be time for her to be thinking of leaving the city.” Donald said carefully broaching the subject of leaving in the morning.
“Do the stores being looted mean it’s getting too dangerous to stay?” His mom asked fearfully. “No, just an indication it’s getting harder for the law to control folks from taking what they want or need. Looting will be eventually less localized and more widespread and when there is nothing more for them to loot in the stores is when you really got to worry about any unwanted visitors. No one will be trying to go house to house or anything for some time thinking of robbing or stealing I don’t think for a few weeks so we will be ok.” Donald said only mildly assuaging her fears.
“Well, if you didn’t go to the office, I must assume we are leaving soon for your country place, am I right?” Mom queried resolved that escape seemed to be the best option right about now.
“Yes, we go in the morning. We may as well start living the country life for a while and I got lots of projects that need me seeing to about there.” Donald replied keeping the conversation calm so as to not alarm his mother about anything unduly.
“What does Janice say? Do her Mom and sister want to leave the city soon, too?” Mom said fishing for outside confirmation that somebody besides Donald thought leaving was a good idea.
“She was heading over to talk to her Mom
when I left. Evidently her Mom is willing to go because she said she would be at my place in two days time. They are going to drop her Mom off in Ramer and move some supplies up to my location; I got a partial load of Janice’s preps in my truck... Her Mom will arrive with her own supplies to stay in Ramer with the relatives and Janice and her sister will be moving in with us for a while to help me get my place running. Lots of garden work and other things to do.” Donald said twisting the truth a little and trying to make the move as casual as possible for his mother.
“I take it you are going to be sleeping on the futon. How long are they planning on staying?” Mom asked suspiciously “That I can’t really say for certain as for what time frame they have in mind. It’s always been Janice’s and my thing to supposedly Bug out together but considerations do change, unfortunately. I hadn’t counted on her sister joining us though, long term under my roof. She has hinted that thankfully, her sister would most likely be going back to Ramer and stay with her mom later on in a few weeks at her uncle’s house. He has a goat farm so that’s a good idea and I am going to try to buy a few goats off him in the coming weeks. As you know there is no more gas for a while so that most likely will be the last gas powered road trip I will ever take for some time. I wouldn’t even be thinking about it if were not for needing to try to start raising some of our own livestock. You ready to try to make some goat cheese?” Donald laughed at the disinterest his mom's features belayed.
“Well, I might help you make it if you got good instructions on how, like a cook book, but I am not milking a goat myself, period. I am not too keen on even eating it if we can make it ourselves. I still remember that nasty stinking goat of yours, Lucifer. Those are some foul animals.” Mom said making a face and showing her disdain for goats in general.