----------------------------------------------------------- ETS Survival News Equipped To Survive Issue 1, Volume 3 March 32, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------- *********************************************************** ETS Survival News is an irregularly published compendium of news related to survival, survival gear and search and rescue. Published with support from the Equipped To Survive Foundation. Please visit us at: http://www.equipped.org *********************************************************** EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE AND THE MOUSE TEAM UP Doug Ritter, Chairman and Executive Director of the Equipped To Survive Foundation, announced a deal to license the use of its trademark name to Walt Disney Company and to also serve as a consultant to help develop a new adventure ride for their Disneyland and Disney World theme parks named, "Equipped To Survive." The deal has the ultimate potential to be worth 5.3 million dollars over 10 years. Disney spokesperson J.S. Kidring remarked, "the continued popularity of reality television shows such as "Survivor" and "The Race" illustrate that there is a huge demand for this sort of adventure and a ride that captures this excitement and risk, without the pain and suffering of real life, should be a huge hit." The new Equipped To Survive ride will combine elements of existing hit rides such as Star Wars, Space Mountain, and the 3-D Honey I Shrunk the Kids into a new multi-environmental ride that includes both active and 3-D virtual reality components. Disney's Imagineers are already hard at work developing the advanced technology that will give guests a taste of adversity and fear that can be experienced in a survival situation, without either rumpling or dirtying their clothing or sending them to the hospital with a heart attack. In one scene developed in consultation with Ritter and portrayed in a prototype scenario shown to journalists, each guest appears to see his seatmate's head mangled by an enraged lion whose hot, smelly breath washes over the guest as they move on to the next survival scenario. Blood splatter is simulated both visually using holograms and with pinpoint shots of warm air that provide a tactile feel to the splatter. It was admitted that there was some concern about reaction by guests to seeing a loved one being apparently mutilated like this, but it is expected that since it is obvious in a matter of seconds later that all is really okay, hopefully only a relatively few will actually panic. Just in case, panic buttons are being provided and provisions will be made to quickly shunt individual two-person cars to specially prepared rooms next to each survival scenario where counselors will calm any overexcited guests. Said Kidring, "we recognize that this is upping the ante a bit in terms of what is considered wholesome fun for the family, but if we don't do it, someone else will. What was over-the-top as little as a few years ago is now considered tame fare. We feel we are best prepared to do it well and look out for the guest's welfare." At least 15 survival scenarios in a wide variety of environments from the arctic to the desert will be presented during the nine-minute ride. Ritter noted, "this is an extraordinary opportunity to teach a huge audience something about survival and being equipped to survive while entertaining them at the same time. While in the long lines waiting for the ride (hidden from view, of course), guests will be treated to an Equipped To Survive video that provides tips for survival in many environments and suggestions for carrying basic survival gear, such as a whistle and flashlight. The gift shop at the end of the ride will carry the usual mix of ride related t- shirts, caps and the like, as well as Ritter's Pocket Survival Pak and related personal survival gear. It is expected that the ride will open first at Disney World in Florida for the 2007 season. DUMB AND DUMBER - BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TSA In a move that is expected to create considerable conflict between the Transportation Safety Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and flight safety advocates and which could potentially stop all international flights to and from the U.S., the TSA has issued a rule that requires airlines to ensure that life raft and slide raft survival kits stored in or accessible from the aircraft cabin (which covers the majority in service) must satisfy the TSA's carry- on luggage prohibited items requirements. Prohibited items are "weapons, explosives and incendiaries." In accordance with both U.S. and international regulations, required raft survival equipment includes "at least one pyrotechnic signaling device," commonly called flares and most definitely incendiary in nature. Some, such as aerial flares, which are commonly used, can be classed as explosive. The TSA's list of prohibited devices explicitly names flares. While the FAA has recently issued a TSO for a non-pyrotechnic replacement for the required pyrotechnic signaling devices, "TSO C-168, Aviation Visual Distress Signals," the FAA has refused, to date, to allow these devices to substitute for flares. So, at least at this point, an aircraft without the required pyrotechnic signaling devices would be technically unairworthy and cannot be legally flown. Since the TSA prohibits sharp objects, fishhooks must be removed from all survival fishing kits. Some of these kits include a pocketknife or single edge razor blade, which will also have to be removed. Life Raft Safety Knives used to sever the line attaching the raft to the sinking aircraft will also have to be removed. While safety experts note that the safety knife meets the exclusions listed by the TSA, the TSA has indicated that since it is called it a knife, regardless of its impracticality as a weapon, the Safety Knives will have to go. One suggested solution is to rename this required device to "line severer" which would sidestep the TSA's objection. Reacting to the rather pointed questions at the press conference announcing this new policy, TSA spokesperson Don G. Dam said, "we really couldn't give a rat's ass how many problems this will cause or how many billions of dollars this could cost the economy, it's all about looking like we are doing something. They don't call us the Terminally Stupid Administration for nothing." Apparently the spokesperson's candid response wasn't much appreciated by certain higher ups at the Terrorist Support Administration and he's been reassigned to a remote airport in the frozen north of Alaska. ULTIMATE PLB PROMISES FINANCIAL REWARDS TO SURVIVORS ECB Electronics has introduced a new 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) with advanced capabilities never before seen in such a device. The new AquaSaver Extreme PLB combines a variety of devices into a single unit, providing a survivor the greatest opportunity to be rescued. Said ACB VP of Sales Don B, Levitt, "never before has a survivor been provided so many rescue tools in a single device. Anyone carrying the new AquaSaver Extreme is sure to survive and be rescued, or at least their heirs will profit." Besides, the minimum required 406 MHz beacon and 121.5 MHz homer, the AquaSaver Extreme also includes another popular option for these devices, a GPS receiver, as well as two-way VHF voice communications on 121.5 MHz., most commonly found on military beacons. However, that's only the basics in this Extreme beacon. If the survivor has signed up for the optional service (at extra cost) and conditions allow (not all environmental conditions will), they will also be able to make use of a built-in Iridium Satellite Phone with pre- programmed Search and Rescue Phone Numbers for Mission Control Centers and Rescue Co-ordination centers through the world. The PLB automatically deploys its dual retracted antennas when activated and floats in an upright position, much like an EPIRB, so it will transmit the emergency alert effectively even if just dropped in the water. However, that only covers the alerting and communication devices. More radically, the PLB also includes a built-in Canon 5-megapixel, 14x image stabilized zoom, digital camera with 1280 x 960, 60 frames-per-second Digital Video capabilities. This resolution is adequate for reasonable quality network broadcast. With the included 20 gigabytes of Sandisk Ultra Extreme Three memory and a proprietary compression scheme, this provides over two hours of digital video capability as well as 500 photographs in a separate reserved memory partition, or 100,000 photos with no video. Macro focusing and wide-angle capability allows the user to hold the camera only inches from their face and still get their entire face in the frame and in focus. A built-in variable output 60-lumen medium-wide angle color- corrected LED floodlight allows for nighttime video or photography, while licensing discussions continue with Sony to adopt their infrared "Night Shot" technology as well. These digital video and photographic capabilities allow the survivor to record their survival experience and rescue, especially important for future movie and book negotiations. Sale of this video and photos will allow the survivor to, at the least, replace their boat; and at best, retire to a warm, dry spot. Or, if things aren't going so well, plenty of time to say goodbye to anyone or everyone, or to curse whomever you wanted to. Should the survivor not survive the experience, even with all that rescue capability, their heirs should gain some solace from the financial windfall gained from the sale of the survival video and photographs. All this fits into a waterproof compact case only 1.5 x 3 x 5.5 inches (3.81 x 7.62 x 13.97 cm) that weighs in at less than 15 ounces (425g). This Class 1 PLB will operate for a minimum of 24 hours at -40 degrees including all the available video and photographic capability, 1 hour of floodlight operation and 30 minutes of a combination of VHF comm radio and Iridium Satellite Phone communications. Suggested retail is expected to be a modest $10,250 when is reaches stores later this year. The Coast Guard expressed some concerns about this new technology. While they already video many of their rescues, this video quality is not all that great. With the survivor potentially having such high quality video and macro close-up capability, the Coast Guard feels they may have to look for extra funding for make-up training for their Rescue Swimmers so they always look their best during a rescue, to the advantage of the Coast Guard recruiting efforts. JOY OF SURVIVAL COOKING TURNS SURVIVAL INTO EPECURIAN DELIGHT Equipped To Survive founder Doug Ritter and epicurean Ethan Becker, co-author of the all-time best selling "Joy of Cooking" and founder of Becker Knife & Tool Company, have joined forces to create "Joy of Survival Cooking." This extraordinary groundbreaking cookbook is an exquisitely illustrated collection of recipes for the survivor, no mater what level their survival or cooking skills. Becker remarked, "as my grandmother introduced the joys of cooking to the average housewife with her Joy Of Cooking, so we hope to open the possibilities of enjoying a decent meal in a survival situation to survivors everywhere." The Joy of Survival Cooking starts off with chapters on the basics tenets of survival cookery, fire making and improvised cooking utensils and tools. Ritter and Becker cover a wide range of fire starting techniques and technologies. Said Ritter, "in today's world the average person has likely never had to make a fire in the wilds. If we're to cook for survival, we have to start at the foundation, making a fire to cook upon." Reviewing this chapter, world-renowned survivalist Aron Ralston noted, "even a one-armed survivor could make a fire with these excellent instructions." Ritter and Becker devote an entire chapter to Knives and Safe Knife Handling, with Ritter noting that "many persons today haven't a clue how to safely use a knife and common sense has proven time and again to not be all that common in survival situations." Whether you're hunting for the best tasting grubs or slugs, rocky mountain oysters, rainbow trout or moose, you'll find tips and tricks for procuring your meal in the wilderness with only the most minimalist of hunting tools in the chapter on Procurement and Preparation of Wild Game. Within the not-quite-pocket-sized 456 pages just about every imaginable survival food is covered, from the most simplistic Gramp's Grub Stew to the somewhat more exotic Tenderloin of Venison with Fiddlehead Ferns, Wild Watercress and Lemony Red Ants in a Black Beetle reduction. For those feeling more adventurous, there's Scorpion Tails on Dandelion and Cattail Salad with Sorrel Dressing. As with the potentially deadly Fugu (Blow Fish) beloved by the Japanese, extreme care must be taken in preparing this dish lest the survivor not survive dinner, but as long as the detailed recipe is followed explicitly, no harm should come to the diners--hopefully. The Joy Of Survival Cooking is printed on waterproof Rite-In- The-Rain paper in expectation that the weather may not cooperate for your survival picnic. The publisher, Kant Doittle Press' Fantasy Cooking division, expects the book to hit store shelves this Summer with a suggested retail price of only $104.95. _______________________________________ ETS Survival News is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Permission is granted to share this newsletter in its entirety with friends and associates via email or it can be found on the Web at . ETS Survival News is published irregularly when we damn well feel like it, most often on March 32nd. We welcome submittal of news items, but reserve the right to disregard most anything we don't feel like publishing. Letters to the editor are generally ignored unless they are complimentary. Today's issue was written and edited by Doug Ritter, just so you know whom to blame. We hope you have enjoyed this attempt at some April Fools humor. If we have inadvertently offended anyone, well, you really need to get a life. "The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." - Mark Twain If you enjoyed this newsletter, prior issues of ETS Survival News can be found at . _______________________________________ Copyright (c) 2005 Equipped To Survive Foundation All rights reserved - www.equipped.org