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.

Merry Christmas

Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas.


For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a Happy Holidays.

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.

Response to Anonymous Comment from Proof

If we serialize all ammunition then it will be another better tool to catch criminals. I happen to agree, in the short term at least, but I am more interested in stopping crime than catching those that commit crime. Plus one easy way around this is for the criminal to steal someone else’s ammunition and then commit their crime.

We are being told again and again by lawmakers that another new gun control law is absolutely necessary to reduce crime. Do not kid yourself; the serialization of ammunition is another gun control law. Plus there are already over tens of thousands of State and Federal gun control laws that apparently have not produced these desired results, so why would you or anyone think criminals will finally retire when yet another gun control law is passed?

In spite of all the gun control laws that have been passed to reduce crime, criminals are still living and working and prospering. This is because gun control laws have been proven to have no deterrent effect at all on a criminal who is intent on breaking the law. Criminals ignore laws they do not like. An even scarier thought is that some just plan do not care.

When it comes to gun control laws, lawmakers obviously disagree with me and more recently the majority of the American public. They need to provide us with independently verifiable proof that their next proposed gun control law will actually convince criminals to quit their criminality and become law abiding citizens. Then I will support it, until such time though, I cannot support any gun control law that is passed. One thing that is a proven fact is that citizens with guns that confront criminals reduce crime.

The nation does need fewer criminals, but there is a much better way to achieve that. Look at criminals as businessmen, because that is what they are. They do this business of crime because there is greater personal profit in crime than personal risk. When a businessman’s profits are less than its costs of do business, they eventually quit or go out of business.

Rather than pass more gun control laws, the lawmakers should pass more open and concealed carry laws in all states or federally. The problem here is the criminals can openly carry guns just like the average citizen, but like I said before laws are no deterrent at all on a criminal who is intent on breaking the law. By allowing more people to carry guns the cost of being a criminal goes up significantly and the majority will quit (become law abiding citizens) or go out of business (i.e. get shoot). For this to work it must be immediately applied to the criminal by their intended victim at the time of the attack. The police can not and do not arrive in time to stop a criminal attack (or they would be no attacks at all). Therefore, several hundred thousand random citizens can begin putting criminals out of business right at the source of the crime. Criminals will decide to change jobs only when the consequences are immediate, personal, and so very costly. Plus we already know thousands of gun control laws do not, and can not do that.

The next proposed gun control law will meet a similar fate. Lawmakers, who are truly concerned with the public’s safety and stopping violent criminal businesses should loosen restrictive gun carry laws, so going armed in public is less cumbersome for those of us who can or do carry.

Now I will say there will be one downside to this. With more law abiding citizens carrying guns, when they choose to use them they will do so in the open. Criminals do their best to operator their business in private and behind closed doors so their transactions are rarely seen openly. Do not be surprised to see more acts of violence to stop the criminals who are willing to risk everything to stay in business. Especially in the short run, as criminals have had free rein for so long they will not see the consequences of continuing their business practices at first. Then you have the few that just plan do not care, (society has coined a statement about them, suicide by cop) we will always have them around.

More to follow.

Proof

A guy who knows me read my last post from Tuesday (08 December 09) and called me up. " You really think that the government is going to limit guns and ammunition again? You're nuts. Last time when Clinton did it in 1994 the backlash put the republicans in power in the congress. Obama isn't that stupid, he already has the lowest approval ratings in history and is only going down. I can't believe with all of the other high profile problems ( economy, unemployment, debt, health care, etc ) he is already completely screwing the pooch on, he is going to do something that will hurt him politically that much more. I mean forget re-election, he could be run out of town on a rail here."

That is mostly what he said, I did edit it a little for space and content, but the bottom line is he didn't believe me. After I explained some of the FACTS I had dug up and put together, he was then convinced I am not the space kook he originally thought I was. Now, straightening out my buddy is one small step for man, but then I thought, how many other people think like him and don't believe that the time to prepare is now. So I decided to put a little information on the weblog to open your eyes.

Dateline California, October 2009, Gov. Schwarzenegger SIGNED INTO LAW assembly bill 962. This bill forces ammunition retailers to take the fingerprints, register, and log ALL AMMUNITION SALES of any and every person who purchases any brand, style or quantity of ammunition in the state of California. Now the interesting part is this: in 2004 Schwarzenegger VETOED THE SAME BILL saying " it was of no public benefit ". Now I could go into why this law is bad and how it would hurt the law abiding citizen and the businesses that are now required to keep these records. But you can figure that out on your own, what I am going to give you to think about is how to put this information together. Give you the tools to see beyond the surface and put these things together on your own.

Why would the governor change his mind and put in place such a restrictive law? Easy, he wants bailout money from the federal government. And when you get anything from the feds, there are conditions. Mostly ones you don't like. This law is not going to stop any crime, not going to lead to any gang crackdown, what it will do is INTIMIDATE and SCARE people ( who are already afraid of the federal government ) into NOT BUYING AMMUNITION for fear of being ' listed ' on a database somewhere with the ability of any government agency to view it for any reason they make up.

The first step to ELIMINATING your enemy IS TO IDENTIFY your enemy. They need to know who may be a threat to their forced rule, so they can strike first. Passing more and more restrictive laws and intimidating the people into submission.

If you see or hear about a proposed law that you think will not lead to the result that you are being told is the reason for the law, don't dismiss it! Think about what else it can be used to do, and why they want it in place, and how it can be ' backdoor-ed ' in. Like forcing governors to do it under the threat of withholding money the states need, that way it is the states doing it so there will be a lot less press coverage and you will blame the states instead of the feds. Good plan on their part. Think people, look under the tent not just at what is sticking out the flap, and you will see that there is a lot they want to keep hidden from you.

More to come.

Start Now While You Still Can

Ok, as I said I have been doing a lot of research on upcoming plans and ideas the feds want to put in place in the near future. I am still looking at the health care bill, but have heard some interesting things about what could be in it. I am, however, very careful about what I tell you and want to make sure it is based in fact so I will not bring you wild rumors. When I have facts, so will you.

That being the case, I am telling you now to start buying, or stock up if you are already armed, weapons and ammunition. There are several in the congress, senate and of course the White House, including the appointed not elected cabinet members that are starting to make moves toward gun control legislation. With all of the new programs that are being put through and the EXTREME DISLIKE of them by the general citizens, politicians are becoming nervous. So rather than stop doing what the people don't like, they will just prevent the people from being able to do anything about it. Isn't that just like an out of control oppressive government?

My first suggestion is very useful and inexpensive. I will admit that sometimes I am "brand picky". But I do have reasons for talking up or down a particular brand. Number one is a Ruger 10/22 rifle in .22 magnum. It is a very versicle rifle, compact, and easily fired and maintained. And like the regular 10/22 you can get high capacity magazines for it made by Promag. A .22 magnum round will work for hunting small to medium game, and some people even use them to poach deer. They also will work for self defense. Not quite an all out assault rifle, but still effective, and easier for women and kids to shoot if they are not weapons trained already.
Ruger has a great reputation for quality and accuracy, and there are several dozen companies making all kinds of accessories for these rifles. Folding stocks, scope mounts, rail kits for mounting lights and lasers, you name it and you can get it for a Ruger 10/22 base rifle.

As for the mentioned accessories. I would suggest only a few things, you are able to overload your weapon and make it almost unusable. Number one is a good rifle sling, you won't be able to carry it all the time. I would go with a compact adjustable power rifle scope in the 1-4x range. It will work for hunting small game out to 100 to 150 yards on 4 power and still be good for close combat on 1 power. And a small but high quality flashlight is always a good idea. For hunting you can spotlight frogs and rabbits, and sometimes even squirrels. And it is also helpful when searching and clearing dwellings. But be sure you have EXTRA BATTERIES!!! and don't use it more than you have to. If you are just needing a flashlight to see where you are going or to set up camp, use a flashlight. The main purpose for a flashlight on a weapon is to light up where the barrel is pointed, that is not such a good idea when you are just trying to start a fire or open some beans. Folding or telescopic stocks are personal, some like them some don't. That's up to you. But that's about it. Like I said you can get about anything, but do you really need it.

And to go with it I would say get a Ruger .22 magnum auto pistol. Keeping the same caliber cuts down carrying extreme amounts of various rounds and also eliminates the problems of trying to put the wrong bullets in the wrong gun. This is very simple, all you need is a good holster and all the extra magazines you can afford. That is all you need for the pistol.

Get a good quality cleaning kit for then and a book on each for doing field strip cleaning and full strip down cleaning and maintenance on every weapon you buy.
Military ammunition cans are very good for holding and transporting ammo. And buy as much as you can as often as you can. And there you go.

I will try to get some links up for suppliers that I have confidence in for having good quality items and fair prices. Keep an eye out for them. I will get them up as son as I check them out first. That's all for now. Good luck, stay alert.

More to follow.

Return of the Computer

Ok the great annoyance of the world has been repaired. Yes I know they are great helps in many ways, information, a vast amount of knowledge and history at your fingertips, the vast spreading of information and opinions, etc. but damn they can be a serious pain in the ass at times.

Now I have been doing what research I could do without my personal computer, don't trust public ones without proper filtering. And a few thoughts have crossed my mind. I will share them with you and expand on them a bit later, just want you to think about them also. I was watching some movies over the last few weeks, I know they are just movies, but they do have some basis in reality. Have you ever noticed that the government has all these bunkers spread around the country? They are fully stocked and patrolled, self sufficient and self contained, and ready for the " proper government officials " to occupy them if the need becomes apparent. What of that last sentence seems odd to you? Proper government officials. The way they think is the problem. The "officials " are under the opinion that they are the most important people in the country, and as long as they are alive and well, all is good in the world. The belief is that the idea and structure of " government " must always survive or " the country " is lost. Well I hate to point this out to everyone, but " the country " was here long before the government and I feel fairly certain it will be here long after people have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Politicians think that they are the country. THE PEOPLE ARE THE COUNTRY. That is something that has been bred out of the children through the school systems and colleges and through propaganda. Save the country, do it for the country, we have to do this for the country. It always turns out that it is not the country that benefits, it is the politicians and the government entity that gets the rewards.

It is a thought that I feel more people should consider. And I would like to hear your thoughts on it as well.

Something else I noticed, when the country was founded it was based on the states as the primary and the central or federal government as a very limited secondary. It seems now that it has reversed. The federal people are running the country. I will touch on how this happened , but it may offend some people, and explain in more detail later. The civil war did it. When the north won, it succeeded in " uniting the country ". That was the start of the end to states rights. And for all of you misled and falsely educated people, the civil war was over STATES RIGHTS.

Now here we are with the feds dictating what the states can and cannot do, and in the realm of gun control, the feds are overriding state laws the feds feel are not restrictive enough. More on that later. But you get the point, what happened to the way the country started, and where does it look like we are headed?

Something to think about. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. More to come. Be safe, be alert, and think about what you see going on around you.