20 July 2010
Beware
Were you aware that there had been an increase in the "import duties" of 17% on certain items coming into the US? When we made a purchase through our wholesaler we noticed a 17% increase in our cost. The wholesaler told us that there had been an increase in this tax. Although this was the only wholesaler who gave this reason for the increase, we noticed that other wholesalers had increased their prices as well at about the same percentage. I have not seen anything on the news or internet about this increase but I will look into it. Be aware that anyone who purchases items from outside the US will be increasing their prices - Walmart, Lowe's, Target, etc. This comes at a time when so many are out of work and can barely afford the essentials to get by. Since so many of our products are made elsewhere (where were these "duties" when so many companies were moving their production out of the US), many products should see an increase. This tax may have been passed as an add-on to another bill, or as a tax that was set to become effective months or even years after the bill passed. However it was done, it is here now.
19 July 2010
Absent but not gone
Water, water everywhere. In my line of work that means 20 hour days, seven days a week. Surviving in this difficult time. I am back and all because a friend of mine told me a strange story.
Back in the sixties life took on a different meaning. This was before many of us had arrived upon this earth. The serenity that existed after the second World War was being replaced with many forms of protest. Racial unrest, political upheaval, war protests, etc. were part of the everyday news. Many people were killed, maimed, arrested, and imprisoned during this time. People who had survived the second World War and the Korean Conflict were arming themselves for a war right here on their own soil. My friend was growing up during this time and remembers clearly what was going on in the larger cities within this country. He lived in a large mid-America city at this time. Although his neighborhood was small, his dad felt that it was his family's responsibility to protect the neighborhood. His dad had a number of weapons that he had collected over the years and he felt that it was time to make sure that each family in his neighborhood was armed. As a boy, my friend remembers cleaning, loading, and providing additional ammunition to each of his neighbors. Although the riots that took place within the city did not come close to his neighborhood, the news within other parts of the city was not good. The uprisings were controlled and life moved on. As a boy, this man felt protected by his dad's actions.
What does this have to do with us? Other than a history lesson to learn from, this does not affect us today. Or does it? This same friend, now with grandchildren of his own, was told by his dad last week that the time is coming again to arm ourselves and protect what is ours. My friend is now cleaning guns for the future.
How about us? Are we ready? Do we have enough resources to protect our families?
What are you doing to get ready?
Back in the sixties life took on a different meaning. This was before many of us had arrived upon this earth. The serenity that existed after the second World War was being replaced with many forms of protest. Racial unrest, political upheaval, war protests, etc. were part of the everyday news. Many people were killed, maimed, arrested, and imprisoned during this time. People who had survived the second World War and the Korean Conflict were arming themselves for a war right here on their own soil. My friend was growing up during this time and remembers clearly what was going on in the larger cities within this country. He lived in a large mid-America city at this time. Although his neighborhood was small, his dad felt that it was his family's responsibility to protect the neighborhood. His dad had a number of weapons that he had collected over the years and he felt that it was time to make sure that each family in his neighborhood was armed. As a boy, my friend remembers cleaning, loading, and providing additional ammunition to each of his neighbors. Although the riots that took place within the city did not come close to his neighborhood, the news within other parts of the city was not good. The uprisings were controlled and life moved on. As a boy, this man felt protected by his dad's actions.
What does this have to do with us? Other than a history lesson to learn from, this does not affect us today. Or does it? This same friend, now with grandchildren of his own, was told by his dad last week that the time is coming again to arm ourselves and protect what is ours. My friend is now cleaning guns for the future.
How about us? Are we ready? Do we have enough resources to protect our families?
What are you doing to get ready?
26 March 2010
What are you preparing for?
No one really knows what the next survival situation will be or how it will play out. It could be the car breaking down or getting two flats in the middle of nowhere, a hurricane or tornado, a home invasion or terrorist attack, economic collapse or one (or even more then one) of many other things that are frankly too numerous to list. You must assess your own situation and determine what you need to prepare for. Of course some basic preparations will be useful in everyday life, and these are what we are going to talk about. What I basically mean, if you are Kansas you don’t need to worry much about an earthquake, but a tornado should be a fairly high priority.
In order to get an idea of what to prepare for, look at the area you are in. What types of situations do you think you or people around you might face, or what you or the people in your area have been through? Also, do not forget your workplace or places you take vacations or are going to take a vacation. We need to learn from the past so that we do not repeat previous mistakes. Look at the healthcare bill that just past the House and Obama promised to sign. Every industrialized that has past some type national healthcare has faced economic hardships related to healthcare. In good times these countries were able to cope. Presently these times are not so good economically. How will we cope? Like I said we must learn from the past. I personally pray that nationalized healthcare in the US will not face the economic hardships it has faced everywhere else, but just because I am praying for that, does not mean I will not prepare for these hardships. Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.
I personally like hiking and being outdoors, so for me learning how not to get lost and how to stay alive in the outdoors are high priorities. These skills may also come in handy if I become stranded for any reason and I may need to walk to safety say during a terrorist attack because all of the roads and public transportation are closed or because the roads are flood or damaged by earthquake or hurricane. Frankly living in your house without power and maybe water is not too different from camping except for the nice tent over your head and all of your stuff that you cannot carry when camping. It is important to also take basic first aid classes. It may be limited in coverage but still very useful in a variety of situations.
To assess the likely dangers to where I live and work I used several resources including FEMA and even CBS or Fox News (or any other news organization). Believe it or not, the government wants you to be prepared in case of emergency. Find your local emergency response office. But do not rely on the government too much for planning or for that matter help. As we learned with the Katrina response, their information and advice is far from perfect as well as their response times. FEMA has always said it will take 72 hours to respond, I personally assume they will take at least a month at a minimum, plus I would rather not need their help when they do respond. So the way I look at it, during Katrina, FEMA and the various local governments failed to live up to their own expectations. But even if FEMA had been able to provide more food and water, I believe I would still be much better off taking care of myself and my family. Do you really want to be told what possessions you can hold, when to eat, when to sleep, and live in close quarters with thousands of strangers? Sounds like a prison to me. Plus look what happened at the Superdome; backed up toilets within hours, trash and rodents everywhere, not to mention the rapes, theft and other crimes hardly reported on. During an emergency I would not want my family in the next Superdome.
There are hundreds of books out there that will get you started on a plan for most common disasters, some even put out by FEMA and the government. Their plans can be a little passive (don't take any risks and follow all FEMA directions) and their kits may lack some important things like knives or maybe even a gun. Still they do offer good starting points. I am putting together a comprehensive book list that I plan on posting when it is complete. It will take several more weeks however, some books on the list I am still reading or rereading and reviewing.
Naturally family should be included in your planning and preparations, but only as much as they want to. Do not push them too hard, if they want nothing to do with it, them you prepare for them. When the shit hits the fan you will have a plan and people who are unprepared look for a leader (i.e. you). Do not forget to include your friends in you preparations. But limit how much you tell (family or friends) based on how trustworthy they are. However, be very careful about telling people who you do not trust (friends or family), do not know well or do not know at all. You certainly do not want to become a target in a crisis.
I personally believe one of the best sources for thinking about what you are preparing for and what does and does not work is news stories or first hand accounts. A few of them seem kind of bravado but often the advice given about survival is sound.
More to come…
In order to get an idea of what to prepare for, look at the area you are in. What types of situations do you think you or people around you might face, or what you or the people in your area have been through? Also, do not forget your workplace or places you take vacations or are going to take a vacation. We need to learn from the past so that we do not repeat previous mistakes. Look at the healthcare bill that just past the House and Obama promised to sign. Every industrialized that has past some type national healthcare has faced economic hardships related to healthcare. In good times these countries were able to cope. Presently these times are not so good economically. How will we cope? Like I said we must learn from the past. I personally pray that nationalized healthcare in the US will not face the economic hardships it has faced everywhere else, but just because I am praying for that, does not mean I will not prepare for these hardships. Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.
I personally like hiking and being outdoors, so for me learning how not to get lost and how to stay alive in the outdoors are high priorities. These skills may also come in handy if I become stranded for any reason and I may need to walk to safety say during a terrorist attack because all of the roads and public transportation are closed or because the roads are flood or damaged by earthquake or hurricane. Frankly living in your house without power and maybe water is not too different from camping except for the nice tent over your head and all of your stuff that you cannot carry when camping. It is important to also take basic first aid classes. It may be limited in coverage but still very useful in a variety of situations.
To assess the likely dangers to where I live and work I used several resources including FEMA and even CBS or Fox News (or any other news organization). Believe it or not, the government wants you to be prepared in case of emergency. Find your local emergency response office. But do not rely on the government too much for planning or for that matter help. As we learned with the Katrina response, their information and advice is far from perfect as well as their response times. FEMA has always said it will take 72 hours to respond, I personally assume they will take at least a month at a minimum, plus I would rather not need their help when they do respond. So the way I look at it, during Katrina, FEMA and the various local governments failed to live up to their own expectations. But even if FEMA had been able to provide more food and water, I believe I would still be much better off taking care of myself and my family. Do you really want to be told what possessions you can hold, when to eat, when to sleep, and live in close quarters with thousands of strangers? Sounds like a prison to me. Plus look what happened at the Superdome; backed up toilets within hours, trash and rodents everywhere, not to mention the rapes, theft and other crimes hardly reported on. During an emergency I would not want my family in the next Superdome.
There are hundreds of books out there that will get you started on a plan for most common disasters, some even put out by FEMA and the government. Their plans can be a little passive (don't take any risks and follow all FEMA directions) and their kits may lack some important things like knives or maybe even a gun. Still they do offer good starting points. I am putting together a comprehensive book list that I plan on posting when it is complete. It will take several more weeks however, some books on the list I am still reading or rereading and reviewing.
Naturally family should be included in your planning and preparations, but only as much as they want to. Do not push them too hard, if they want nothing to do with it, them you prepare for them. When the shit hits the fan you will have a plan and people who are unprepared look for a leader (i.e. you). Do not forget to include your friends in you preparations. But limit how much you tell (family or friends) based on how trustworthy they are. However, be very careful about telling people who you do not trust (friends or family), do not know well or do not know at all. You certainly do not want to become a target in a crisis.
I personally believe one of the best sources for thinking about what you are preparing for and what does and does not work is news stories or first hand accounts. A few of them seem kind of bravado but often the advice given about survival is sound.
More to come…
23 March 2010
Long Repose
It has been a little over a month since my last post. Life has been hectic and I do not think I’ve sat at my personal laptop for more then an hour since my last post. I keep thinking in the back of my mind, while working and whatnot, that I need to post. By the time I get home the thought has left my mind. I will see something while I am out and about, thinking I need to mention that in my web log, and then I will forget it by the time I get home. Well no more, I am starting to write down everything, including my thoughts for this web log. You should see more posts from me from now on. Just don’t expect posts every day, I try my best to avoid computers. I said I am starting to write stuff down and I mean pen and paper style, screw computers.
What has brought me out of my repose was the passage of Obamacare. I believe it passed the house 219 to 212. That is within the half dozen votes that the Executive Order on abortion brought over. I point that out because executive orders cannot go against the law voted on by congress and signed by the president, so if the wording of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) supports abortions then the law trumps the executive order. If this was not the case a new president could come in and write all the executive orders he wants to do whatever he wants. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I personally do not care who is in office or what they pass while they are in office. I just found it amusing that a half dozen house members were hoodwinked by a shell game. Though my personal opinion is they received something of more substance for their votes, other then an executive order, but I cannot prove this nor once again do I truly care.
The main reason I bring up Obamacare is because of the national debt. The website http://www.usdebtclock.org spells it out fairly well, and if it is a third accurate our country is currently in trouble. If that website is to be believed, we may have five years left until total financial collapse in this country, because the numbers keep going up and we keep getting farther in debt. Historically nationalize healthcare is expensive. As far as I am aware, no country that has nationalized healthcare has been able to successfully keep the costs down (more then a few years) to a level that does not add significantly to their national debt. Healthcare in this case may be the straw that breaks the camels back.
With financial collapse come several problems. This is where survival comes into play. I pray this never happens, I work for the government and they pay my bills, many of my friends work for the government. I am out of more then just a job if our economy collapses. I need to have a way to survive, and I started the process years ago. I am not worried about myself or my family in case of a financial collapse or any other manmade or natural disaster. I am prepared should the shit hit the fan (Airplane! (the 80’s movie) visual flashing through my head here). I am worried and pray that you who read my web log (along with others too) will survive. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and nothing will ever touch you.
In the next few posts I will cover basic preparedness. Sort of a how to guide on what to get and why. There is always something I have forgotten and each persons situation is different, so I give you warning that it is not an absolute how to guide. Comments are always welcome, and I personally am always learning.
More to come…
What has brought me out of my repose was the passage of Obamacare. I believe it passed the house 219 to 212. That is within the half dozen votes that the Executive Order on abortion brought over. I point that out because executive orders cannot go against the law voted on by congress and signed by the president, so if the wording of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) supports abortions then the law trumps the executive order. If this was not the case a new president could come in and write all the executive orders he wants to do whatever he wants. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I personally do not care who is in office or what they pass while they are in office. I just found it amusing that a half dozen house members were hoodwinked by a shell game. Though my personal opinion is they received something of more substance for their votes, other then an executive order, but I cannot prove this nor once again do I truly care.
The main reason I bring up Obamacare is because of the national debt. The website http://www.usdebtclock.org spells it out fairly well, and if it is a third accurate our country is currently in trouble. If that website is to be believed, we may have five years left until total financial collapse in this country, because the numbers keep going up and we keep getting farther in debt. Historically nationalize healthcare is expensive. As far as I am aware, no country that has nationalized healthcare has been able to successfully keep the costs down (more then a few years) to a level that does not add significantly to their national debt. Healthcare in this case may be the straw that breaks the camels back.
With financial collapse come several problems. This is where survival comes into play. I pray this never happens, I work for the government and they pay my bills, many of my friends work for the government. I am out of more then just a job if our economy collapses. I need to have a way to survive, and I started the process years ago. I am not worried about myself or my family in case of a financial collapse or any other manmade or natural disaster. I am prepared should the shit hit the fan (Airplane! (the 80’s movie) visual flashing through my head here). I am worried and pray that you who read my web log (along with others too) will survive. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and nothing will ever touch you.
In the next few posts I will cover basic preparedness. Sort of a how to guide on what to get and why. There is always something I have forgotten and each persons situation is different, so I give you warning that it is not an absolute how to guide. Comments are always welcome, and I personally am always learning.
More to come…
09 February 2010
Seeds and Dehydration
To cover the whole spectrum of survivalism, I thought I would share with you an a few articles I happened to find while waiting on the doctor recently. I ran across a copy of "The Heirloom Gardener" magazine, and while I have never heard of it before this, it seems like a good magazine. The Winter issue has a couple articles of particular interest for survivalists. I will not plagiarize the articles, but want to let you know about them.
The two articles that caught my attention deal with drying fruits and vegetables and storing seeds. What a lot of people do not know or even think about is the fact you can dehydrate several types of food in your own oven and you do not necessarily need an expensive dehydrator. This article gives you many of the dos and don'ts of dehydration no matter what you use. A very useful article not just for survivalism, but also for your everyday life.
The seed article discusses starting your own seed bank. Now I am sure the purpose of this article is to allow you to cultivate and store seeds from your own plants, but given the current news about the genetic modifications of seeds that is going on, this may be something to look into and consider. Survivalism is about surviving anything, be it a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or end of the world. More realistically, seeds may be needed should the economy crash and food become scarce. In that case you may find yourself supplementing what you can get with your own garden (when living in the city), or growing your own food out-right (when living in the country). This is also where the dehydration of food can help you too, not to mention that in this down economy where it is money that is scarce, supplementing what you buy with a garden or having dehydrated foods may help you save more of your own money.
From what I can tell, "The Heirloom Gardener" is published in Missouri and I am looking into weather or not it is worth the $12 per year subscription price as I am not really a gardener, but I do like to keep a library of survivalist related publications. Therefore, I thought I might recommend this magazine for my survivalistic minded and gardening readers.
Their website is www.theheirloomgardener.com and while I still have not fully explored the website, it looks like you may be able to find and read these articles online (if I find them I will link them in the comments).
I might also add that there are several companies out there that offer survival seeds prepackaged and vacuum sealed. I have heard several advertisements on the radio and seen a few on TV. This issue is really starting to gather speed, which is another reason I listed it here. I have never personally looked at or tried out any of these companies, so as of now I do not have any to recommend. If you have some ideas please add them to the comments, but please also include you experience with this company. While I will not necessarily delete any comments that I feel are people just trying to make a quick buck, those people do not add anything to the conversation and they potentially can be fraudulent. I do reserve the right to delete them however, if I feel they are getting out of hand.
More to come
The two articles that caught my attention deal with drying fruits and vegetables and storing seeds. What a lot of people do not know or even think about is the fact you can dehydrate several types of food in your own oven and you do not necessarily need an expensive dehydrator. This article gives you many of the dos and don'ts of dehydration no matter what you use. A very useful article not just for survivalism, but also for your everyday life.
The seed article discusses starting your own seed bank. Now I am sure the purpose of this article is to allow you to cultivate and store seeds from your own plants, but given the current news about the genetic modifications of seeds that is going on, this may be something to look into and consider. Survivalism is about surviving anything, be it a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or end of the world. More realistically, seeds may be needed should the economy crash and food become scarce. In that case you may find yourself supplementing what you can get with your own garden (when living in the city), or growing your own food out-right (when living in the country). This is also where the dehydration of food can help you too, not to mention that in this down economy where it is money that is scarce, supplementing what you buy with a garden or having dehydrated foods may help you save more of your own money.
From what I can tell, "The Heirloom Gardener" is published in Missouri and I am looking into weather or not it is worth the $12 per year subscription price as I am not really a gardener, but I do like to keep a library of survivalist related publications. Therefore, I thought I might recommend this magazine for my survivalistic minded and gardening readers.
Their website is www.theheirloomgardener.com and while I still have not fully explored the website, it looks like you may be able to find and read these articles online (if I find them I will link them in the comments).
I might also add that there are several companies out there that offer survival seeds prepackaged and vacuum sealed. I have heard several advertisements on the radio and seen a few on TV. This issue is really starting to gather speed, which is another reason I listed it here. I have never personally looked at or tried out any of these companies, so as of now I do not have any to recommend. If you have some ideas please add them to the comments, but please also include you experience with this company. While I will not necessarily delete any comments that I feel are people just trying to make a quick buck, those people do not add anything to the conversation and they potentially can be fraudulent. I do reserve the right to delete them however, if I feel they are getting out of hand.
More to come
30 January 2010
Winter Survival Kit
First let me say Sorry Once again I have not posted in awhile. Once again I’ve been busy. I could go on to tell you why I’ve been busy, but not only do you probably not care; it’s nothing more than an excuse anyways. On to what you really read these posts for.
Yesterday a winter storm came through the central/south central US and dumped a fair amount of snow and a lot of ice to the south of me. Once again I realize that it is a little late in the year for this, but it took this storm to remind me to mention this to you. Like I have said in the past, for me this stuff all comes to me by memory, years of training and instinct. This storm took out power to thousands and stranded hundreds on the roadways (I was temporary one of them during a white out). I do not worry much about this stuff as I rarely travel much beyond the state where I live, but I do travel from time to time. When I travel I always carry (especially during the winter) ten days of supplies with me. Ten is kind of an arbitrary number used because that is what fits into one duffle bag (this is what I call my winter kit). The important part is to have at least three days (per person) of food, water and basic supplies in case of an emergency. Now basic supplies can mean many things. Think of where you live and what an emergency in your area may mean. Also for people who really want to take this to the next step, all these items plus more will fit in a standard military rucksack or in a hiking backpack.
In my winter kit I carry twenty MREs (Military grade “Meals Ready to Eat”). This is two meals a day. Each one of these meals has 2000 calories for psychically active personal. Plus they frankly do not taste as bad as they used to. You can live off one of these meals every other day if the situation may last that long. Look at the people they are still pulling out (10-11 days after the quake) from the earthquake in Haiti. They are staying alive by drinking toilet water or eating a snack like half a Twinkie every other day. There are all kinds of stories out there of survival where people barely survived because they did not have the supplies on hand to meet their needs. You never hear how long the people who did not have the supplies they needed live before the pasted; you just hear that they are dead.
That brings us to water; I personally do not want to live off toilet water unless there is no other choice. In my winter survival kit I carry a gallon of water, and iodine tablets to purify any water source I come along. Look once again to Haiti. The main thing they do not have access to is clean water. They have access to water, but it is polluted by broken sewer lines among many other things. This again is why I also carry iodine tablets. Water is the hardest thing to carry on your person in a long term survival situation. Iodine tablets are small and portable. As a side note the water is wrapped in a terminal blanket that will keep it from freezing a little while longer if you lose heat or are out in the elements, yet another reason for the iodine tablets. I also change the water out for fresh water every two weeks; I mark it on my calendar so I do not forget. You can live off stagnant water for a short time if you have no other choice, but I would not suggest it otherwise. Stagnant water can be dangerous for drinking because it provides a better incubator than running water for many kinds of bacteria and parasites.
The next thing in my winter survival kit is clothes. I have two complete set of winter clothes plus waterproof winter boots. When I travel or even move around town, I do not wear practically warm clothes or winter boots (unless there is snow on the ground). There are many reasons for this, the main one being the fact everything is heated and you would overheat fast in winter clothes. In an emergency you may not have heat and will need the warmer clothes. I also carry ten pair of socks. There is nothing special with the socks as they are just standard athletic socks. My waterproof boots are good to -30 degrees Fahrenheit and you do not want your feet to sweat much in the winter. The additional pairs of socks are for when my feet do sweat I can change them out for a dry pair. If your boots are not rated for 30 below or especially if they are not waterproof you probably want to consider wool socks. Wool socks will keep your feet decently warm even when wet, but you do not want your feet to be wet for too long.
The other things I carry are a pair of fire starters. I carry one Bic lighter in the bag (actually a package of them) and an alternative method of fire starting (one that can be done without fuel). I personally carry a bow drill, but play with all the types of fire starting and figure out the best method you are most comfortable with. The bow drill uses the same principle as a hand drill, but the spindle is driven by a bow, which allows for longer strokes. With a well-built drill, fire can be rapidly created even in wet conditions. The final things in my winter kit are a sleeping bag and first aid kit. However, these items are always in all my vehicles and not actually in my kit.
So here is a list for my winter kit all of which fits in one duffle bag (one for each person)…
20x MREs
1gal water
1bottle iodine tablets
1x terminal blanket
2x changes of winter clothes
1pair winter/waterproof boots
10pair athletic socks (see above why athletic socks)
1x Bic lighter
1x alternative fire starter
1x first aid kit (standard for any vehicle)
1x sleeping bag (this does not fit in the duffle bag with the rest)
As a minimum I suggest the following (per person)…
3x MREs
1litter water
1x terminal blanket
1x changes of clothes
1pair additional socks
1x Bic lighter
Finally keep in mind this is just what I carry in my winter kit. I carry other things on my person and in my vehicles (which relate to survival), some of which have been mentioned on this weblog, but also others that may be or will be mentioned in the future. More to come…
Yesterday a winter storm came through the central/south central US and dumped a fair amount of snow and a lot of ice to the south of me. Once again I realize that it is a little late in the year for this, but it took this storm to remind me to mention this to you. Like I have said in the past, for me this stuff all comes to me by memory, years of training and instinct. This storm took out power to thousands and stranded hundreds on the roadways (I was temporary one of them during a white out). I do not worry much about this stuff as I rarely travel much beyond the state where I live, but I do travel from time to time. When I travel I always carry (especially during the winter) ten days of supplies with me. Ten is kind of an arbitrary number used because that is what fits into one duffle bag (this is what I call my winter kit). The important part is to have at least three days (per person) of food, water and basic supplies in case of an emergency. Now basic supplies can mean many things. Think of where you live and what an emergency in your area may mean. Also for people who really want to take this to the next step, all these items plus more will fit in a standard military rucksack or in a hiking backpack.
In my winter kit I carry twenty MREs (Military grade “Meals Ready to Eat”). This is two meals a day. Each one of these meals has 2000 calories for psychically active personal. Plus they frankly do not taste as bad as they used to. You can live off one of these meals every other day if the situation may last that long. Look at the people they are still pulling out (10-11 days after the quake) from the earthquake in Haiti. They are staying alive by drinking toilet water or eating a snack like half a Twinkie every other day. There are all kinds of stories out there of survival where people barely survived because they did not have the supplies on hand to meet their needs. You never hear how long the people who did not have the supplies they needed live before the pasted; you just hear that they are dead.
That brings us to water; I personally do not want to live off toilet water unless there is no other choice. In my winter survival kit I carry a gallon of water, and iodine tablets to purify any water source I come along. Look once again to Haiti. The main thing they do not have access to is clean water. They have access to water, but it is polluted by broken sewer lines among many other things. This again is why I also carry iodine tablets. Water is the hardest thing to carry on your person in a long term survival situation. Iodine tablets are small and portable. As a side note the water is wrapped in a terminal blanket that will keep it from freezing a little while longer if you lose heat or are out in the elements, yet another reason for the iodine tablets. I also change the water out for fresh water every two weeks; I mark it on my calendar so I do not forget. You can live off stagnant water for a short time if you have no other choice, but I would not suggest it otherwise. Stagnant water can be dangerous for drinking because it provides a better incubator than running water for many kinds of bacteria and parasites.
The next thing in my winter survival kit is clothes. I have two complete set of winter clothes plus waterproof winter boots. When I travel or even move around town, I do not wear practically warm clothes or winter boots (unless there is snow on the ground). There are many reasons for this, the main one being the fact everything is heated and you would overheat fast in winter clothes. In an emergency you may not have heat and will need the warmer clothes. I also carry ten pair of socks. There is nothing special with the socks as they are just standard athletic socks. My waterproof boots are good to -30 degrees Fahrenheit and you do not want your feet to sweat much in the winter. The additional pairs of socks are for when my feet do sweat I can change them out for a dry pair. If your boots are not rated for 30 below or especially if they are not waterproof you probably want to consider wool socks. Wool socks will keep your feet decently warm even when wet, but you do not want your feet to be wet for too long.
The other things I carry are a pair of fire starters. I carry one Bic lighter in the bag (actually a package of them) and an alternative method of fire starting (one that can be done without fuel). I personally carry a bow drill, but play with all the types of fire starting and figure out the best method you are most comfortable with. The bow drill uses the same principle as a hand drill, but the spindle is driven by a bow, which allows for longer strokes. With a well-built drill, fire can be rapidly created even in wet conditions. The final things in my winter kit are a sleeping bag and first aid kit. However, these items are always in all my vehicles and not actually in my kit.
So here is a list for my winter kit all of which fits in one duffle bag (one for each person)…
20x MREs
1gal water
1bottle iodine tablets
1x terminal blanket
2x changes of winter clothes
1pair winter/waterproof boots
10pair athletic socks (see above why athletic socks)
1x Bic lighter
1x alternative fire starter
1x first aid kit (standard for any vehicle)
1x sleeping bag (this does not fit in the duffle bag with the rest)
As a minimum I suggest the following (per person)…
3x MREs
1litter water
1x terminal blanket
1x changes of clothes
1pair additional socks
1x Bic lighter
Finally keep in mind this is just what I carry in my winter kit. I carry other things on my person and in my vehicles (which relate to survival), some of which have been mentioned on this weblog, but also others that may be or will be mentioned in the future. More to come…
14 January 2010
Another Overlooked Item
Sorry it's been a while, been busy. However, I recently was in a situation that reminded me to mention something to you. You see my problem with doing this is that I am a doer, not an instructor. So for me it all comes by memory, training and instinct. Sometimes it takes something to jog my memory and point out something that you may not have thought of.
Now I am sure that you are all varied in your backgrounds, education and life experience, but have the goal of surviving major civil, economic and natural disasters that may be coming. So in view of that knowledge, let's look at something I take for granted because of my background. Vehicles.
Now I have never worked in a mechanics shop, but having grown up in a rural setting I learned at an early age about general vehicle repair and maintenance, then as I aged I continued to learn more as it became a hobby. A basic knowledge of how cars, trucks and generators work. You never know when something will break down and need repaired to make it work when you find it. So get some general knowledge.
You could take a class, local community colleges and such, trade schools and so on. Also the knowledge of vehicle and engine repair could be very valuable in a post-collapse society, if you follow me. We will be in a ' trade for product/service ' society. Books are also very good learning aids. You can pick up books on all kinds of motor and vehicle repairs. Don't worry about body work, you need it to go not win a trophy. Practice on your own car, lawn mower, stuff around the house.
You will also need to get some tools. Now while I have a tool collection that would make most mechanics jealous, but I also started when I was 8 years old. You need a basic tool kit.
screwdrivers flat phillips star
combination wrenches standard and metric
pliers round nose needle nose lineman style
allen wrenches standard metric star
adjustable wrenches crescent and vise grips
hammer
nut drivers standard and metric
socket set standard and metric 3/8 drive
That will be enough to get you started and fix most things around the house. Now there are tools that will make some jobs easier, but also remember this, you will be taking these tools with you when you bugout. So the more fancy things you have in your tool box, the bigger the tool box has to be which takes up space and adds to the weight. Not really the best thing in a survival situation.
So get to the bookstore or library and start learning an essential skill that will help you get by in the times to come. And as a bonus, while you are waiting for society to fall apart, you can start doing basic repairs on your own and save money to put into ammunition and supplies for later.
More to come.
Now I am sure that you are all varied in your backgrounds, education and life experience, but have the goal of surviving major civil, economic and natural disasters that may be coming. So in view of that knowledge, let's look at something I take for granted because of my background. Vehicles.
Now I have never worked in a mechanics shop, but having grown up in a rural setting I learned at an early age about general vehicle repair and maintenance, then as I aged I continued to learn more as it became a hobby. A basic knowledge of how cars, trucks and generators work. You never know when something will break down and need repaired to make it work when you find it. So get some general knowledge.
You could take a class, local community colleges and such, trade schools and so on. Also the knowledge of vehicle and engine repair could be very valuable in a post-collapse society, if you follow me. We will be in a ' trade for product/service ' society. Books are also very good learning aids. You can pick up books on all kinds of motor and vehicle repairs. Don't worry about body work, you need it to go not win a trophy. Practice on your own car, lawn mower, stuff around the house.
You will also need to get some tools. Now while I have a tool collection that would make most mechanics jealous, but I also started when I was 8 years old. You need a basic tool kit.
screwdrivers flat phillips star
combination wrenches standard and metric
pliers round nose needle nose lineman style
allen wrenches standard metric star
adjustable wrenches crescent and vise grips
hammer
nut drivers standard and metric
socket set standard and metric 3/8 drive
That will be enough to get you started and fix most things around the house. Now there are tools that will make some jobs easier, but also remember this, you will be taking these tools with you when you bugout. So the more fancy things you have in your tool box, the bigger the tool box has to be which takes up space and adds to the weight. Not really the best thing in a survival situation.
So get to the bookstore or library and start learning an essential skill that will help you get by in the times to come. And as a bonus, while you are waiting for society to fall apart, you can start doing basic repairs on your own and save money to put into ammunition and supplies for later.
More to come.
28 December 2009
Compass and a Stick
Greetings. Today I would like to touch on a subject that is very neglected in our culture but can and very well may save your life someday. A simple compass. I have used all kinds, high end military lensatic, commercial, and even cheap wrist style. I am telling you right now that you need to know how to use one. My suggestion to you is a commercial version made by Silva, a rectangular flat unit with a rotating bezel to find your correct bearing. Finally do not assume that GPS unit in your car (or hand-held GPS) will get you through. They may cease to work in an emergency.
You can spend two weeks taking a 'map and compass' course, or go through the boy scouts as a child. Or you can learn on your own with some help from a very good book a friend of mine found and told me about. " Basic Essentials Map & Compass
" by Cliff Jacobson. The isbn number is 0-7627-0481-0 (2nd edition)
and isbn number 0-7627-4016-7 (3rd edition),and they sell for less than $10. It is a good book for learning the basics of map reading and compass use. With a lot of tips and tricks to help you make learning easier and even fun. It even has tests in it.
The book also tells you where to get maps from. I have mine supplied to me, so I have not used any of these and cannot testify to them. True, you need to get good quality up to date maps, and the topographical ( or topo ) maps are the best. They show how the terrain lays, hills, valleys, canyons, spars and so on. That way you can plot the best and safest course anywhere you want to go. And the best places to hide yourself in as well. Remember this, if it is hard for you, it is hard for those tracking you. I would suggest getting maps as current as possible for your immediate area as well as where you intend to go and along the path you plan on using to get there. If that means road maps, county and state maps, street maps, tourist maps, etc; some of these are not real great for details, but something is better then wandering around lost. And you can still use compasses with them. Just because the map says you can drive there from here, don't bet your ass on it. There could be road closings, damaged bridges, roadblocks, check points, and so on (depending on the emergency) that would slow or stop your progress and you may have a need to find ways around them.
And while we are on the subject of driving, can you and everyone in your group drive a standard transmission? Learn to. Even if you build a survival vehicle with an automatic tranny, which I suggest to leave one hand free for using weapons, communications gear, etc. (if needed), you may have to ' combat requisition ' (i.e. take) the nearest vehicle you can find and it may be a stick. America is the only country where the majority of vehicles on the road are automatic, if you travel outside the US it is a pretty good bet the vehicle you drive or find will be a standard transmission. You need to learn.
So go get a good orienteering compass, some maps, oh I almost forgot, protect your maps. I use military map cases, which you can find at military surplus stores, or you can put them in Ziploc bags. The book even says you can paint them with Thompson water sealer like you use on wood decks to make the maps water resistant, but not waterproof. Now with your compass in hand and maps in your pocket, go practice driving a stick. And do practice using the compass and looking at the maps, practice makes perfect you know. Most areas have wildlife preserves and four wheel areas, both these are good places to practice the compass and driving. All of the things I am teaching you need to become second nature, done without thought as a reflex action.
That is a serious statement. If you have to stop and think you are hesitating, and hesitation can get you or some of your group killed. Learn what you need to know, live it every day, think about what you would do if you had to react at any given moment of the day. If you were half way to work, sitting on the toilet, mowing the yard. Look around and see what is going on around you, your escape routes, where is your ' bug-out bag '? How far are you from a gas station? Every night when you go to bed, run through some situations as you assume they will play out. What will your reactions be? Think about them, and work out some different ways to play it out. After a few times, it will become ' memory learned ' and then you will be able to function without thinking about it. That is the goal. Several different alternative actions for you to take, instinctively without thought, and effectively to have a happy ending for you and yours.
More to come.
You can spend two weeks taking a 'map and compass' course, or go through the boy scouts as a child. Or you can learn on your own with some help from a very good book a friend of mine found and told me about. " Basic Essentials Map & Compass
" by Cliff Jacobson. The isbn number is 0-7627-0481-0 (2nd edition)and isbn number 0-7627-4016-7 (3rd edition),and they sell for less than $10. It is a good book for learning the basics of map reading and compass use. With a lot of tips and tricks to help you make learning easier and even fun. It even has tests in it.The book also tells you where to get maps from. I have mine supplied to me, so I have not used any of these and cannot testify to them. True, you need to get good quality up to date maps, and the topographical ( or topo ) maps are the best. They show how the terrain lays, hills, valleys, canyons, spars and so on. That way you can plot the best and safest course anywhere you want to go. And the best places to hide yourself in as well. Remember this, if it is hard for you, it is hard for those tracking you. I would suggest getting maps as current as possible for your immediate area as well as where you intend to go and along the path you plan on using to get there. If that means road maps, county and state maps, street maps, tourist maps, etc; some of these are not real great for details, but something is better then wandering around lost. And you can still use compasses with them. Just because the map says you can drive there from here, don't bet your ass on it. There could be road closings, damaged bridges, roadblocks, check points, and so on (depending on the emergency) that would slow or stop your progress and you may have a need to find ways around them.
And while we are on the subject of driving, can you and everyone in your group drive a standard transmission? Learn to. Even if you build a survival vehicle with an automatic tranny, which I suggest to leave one hand free for using weapons, communications gear, etc. (if needed), you may have to ' combat requisition ' (i.e. take) the nearest vehicle you can find and it may be a stick. America is the only country where the majority of vehicles on the road are automatic, if you travel outside the US it is a pretty good bet the vehicle you drive or find will be a standard transmission. You need to learn.
So go get a good orienteering compass, some maps, oh I almost forgot, protect your maps. I use military map cases, which you can find at military surplus stores, or you can put them in Ziploc bags. The book even says you can paint them with Thompson water sealer like you use on wood decks to make the maps water resistant, but not waterproof. Now with your compass in hand and maps in your pocket, go practice driving a stick. And do practice using the compass and looking at the maps, practice makes perfect you know. Most areas have wildlife preserves and four wheel areas, both these are good places to practice the compass and driving. All of the things I am teaching you need to become second nature, done without thought as a reflex action.
That is a serious statement. If you have to stop and think you are hesitating, and hesitation can get you or some of your group killed. Learn what you need to know, live it every day, think about what you would do if you had to react at any given moment of the day. If you were half way to work, sitting on the toilet, mowing the yard. Look around and see what is going on around you, your escape routes, where is your ' bug-out bag '? How far are you from a gas station? Every night when you go to bed, run through some situations as you assume they will play out. What will your reactions be? Think about them, and work out some different ways to play it out. After a few times, it will become ' memory learned ' and then you will be able to function without thinking about it. That is the goal. Several different alternative actions for you to take, instinctively without thought, and effectively to have a happy ending for you and yours.
More to come.
20 December 2009
Merry Christmas
For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a Happy Holidays.
18 December 2009
Non-Political/Food Storage
Hey, sorry about sounding a bit political on the gun control post the other day. I assure you that is not the intent. A person in my position cannot take sides on politics, not that it really matters. This is not a political weblog, from what I have seen they are both corrupt and out for only power. Neither party has this countries best interest at heart, they are out for control period. It is only by what level and at what rate of degradation that there is a difference. I have watched both parties while in control and in the minority for some time now and the goals never change. At every new election and a turn over of power all you get is BOHICA.
My desire here is to inform you of what is quietly being done behind the scenes, what is on the horizon, and in the planning stages. Then advise you of my best thoughts as to how to prepare and try to limit the damage that will be done to you and your family. So if it does seem that I am taking one side or the other I will apologize in advance (funny note, one of my instructors used to say "it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.") I am only trying to point out what is being done and who is doing it. I am for the original intent of the founders and the constitution, the people control the government, not the way it has been twisted and changed to allow the government to control the people.
So let's get back to what we are here for. There are tough times coming, and you need to prepare. Start to pick up a little extra food that will store for a year or so. Extra soup, tuna, etc. that you know is sealed and will stay good for long periods. Start now, two or three things extra per shopping trip. Two reasons, one it is cheaper, grab it when it is on sale. And with this method it will only be a few dollars per week but it will add up in the pantry faster than you think. Two, it will attract zero attention. Two or three extra items per week raises no interest in anyone, even family or friends. Have a designated area to put your storage, put it there and leave it alone. I will tell you later to pick up military mre meals, but trust me, you want to have better tasting stuff if at all possible. And as a cold, logical follow the dots kinda' guy, I would be very amiss not to point out when you find it on sale buy toilet paper. You have to put it in to live, and you know it will have to come out at some point, and toilet paper is the best friend you have in those situations. Stockpile some.
Hope I have made my position and my intent clearer, and maybe you know a bit more about me and my line of thought. Or at least as much as my position allows. And I hope my advice helps you prepare. More to come.
My desire here is to inform you of what is quietly being done behind the scenes, what is on the horizon, and in the planning stages. Then advise you of my best thoughts as to how to prepare and try to limit the damage that will be done to you and your family. So if it does seem that I am taking one side or the other I will apologize in advance (funny note, one of my instructors used to say "it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.") I am only trying to point out what is being done and who is doing it. I am for the original intent of the founders and the constitution, the people control the government, not the way it has been twisted and changed to allow the government to control the people.
So let's get back to what we are here for. There are tough times coming, and you need to prepare. Start to pick up a little extra food that will store for a year or so. Extra soup, tuna, etc. that you know is sealed and will stay good for long periods. Start now, two or three things extra per shopping trip. Two reasons, one it is cheaper, grab it when it is on sale. And with this method it will only be a few dollars per week but it will add up in the pantry faster than you think. Two, it will attract zero attention. Two or three extra items per week raises no interest in anyone, even family or friends. Have a designated area to put your storage, put it there and leave it alone. I will tell you later to pick up military mre meals, but trust me, you want to have better tasting stuff if at all possible. And as a cold, logical follow the dots kinda' guy, I would be very amiss not to point out when you find it on sale buy toilet paper. You have to put it in to live, and you know it will have to come out at some point, and toilet paper is the best friend you have in those situations. Stockpile some.
Hope I have made my position and my intent clearer, and maybe you know a bit more about me and my line of thought. Or at least as much as my position allows. And I hope my advice helps you prepare. More to come.
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