Odds ‘n Sods:

Now the call of the media begins: State Can’t Let Gun Scofflaws Off Hook – B.B.

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If I Had a Hammer. . . ( Homemade Submachinegun Photos)

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RBS sent in this link to “The Blaze” on What You Need to Know About Filming, Photographing Police in Public. If you ever plan on using your cellphone to do this, you may want to read this article.

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K.B. sent in this 86-second video of Penn and Teller on the Second Amendment. It’s an older video, but it is spot on and easy to understand. They got this one right. Warning: To the surprise of no one who is familiar with these two, Penn drops a totally unnecessary f-bomb at the end. Stop the video before the 1:23 mark, if you can.

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This sentence leaves an editor cringing, but it’s hard to ignore the message: Dr Barbara Bellar sums up Obamacare in one sentence – M.B.

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As an engineer, I’ve always enjoyed mathematics. As a Christian, I love a good object lesson. This video sent in by D.A. doesn’t really “prove” anything mathematically, but it makes a really neat object lesson: Beauty of Mathematics

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“I keep feeling like I’m living in The Matrix. The Obama administration and liberal progressive media would like to force Americans to take the red pill and stay in fantasyland where everything is lovely. They will cover up the truth by draining our will and energy. Instead, we must wake up and see the ‘real world’ behind the smoke and mirrors, behind the Potemkin President, and understand the truth of this presidential cover-up.” – Retired Col. Allen West

Notes from HJL:

Ammunition and Government Contracts

Much ado has been made over government contracts for ammunition in the last two years (or since the ammunition shortages began). I really think the excitement stems from not understanding how government contracts work, so I’d like to explain to our readers how this process actually saves them money (tax dollars) and does not mean that the government is buying all of the product that has been reported as under contract.

I work in a small volunteer fire department. While we have excellent quality fire gear, it does eventually wear out and must be replaced. It is expensive– about $3500 to outfit a fireman in standard gear (not including breathing gear). Because of past concerns with “under the table” bids, no-bid contracts, and possible corruption, the government has established procedures for the purchase of any items of significant value. Normally, this is a three bid process. Our fire department must submit a Request for Quote (RFQ) publicly. At least three companies must bid on supplying the high value items, and the fire department is required to accept the lowest bid. During the bidding process, if any person or company believes they can provide the equipment, they have a right to submit a bid. With budget challenges and the fact that each individual fire set is relatively expensive, the most we can purchase is 12 units at a time. If our department attempts to purchase more, we have to justify it to the county. Just obtaining spares isn’t good enough, because each set is tailored specifically for the fire fighter wearing it. There is no guarantee that the spare jacket would even fit a new person.

It’s a real pain to go through this bidding process, which can take months to complete. The department may be willing to put the manpower in if it’s for the whole department, but if we are replacing just one set because of damage, it may not be worth the effort. That particular fire fighter may be sidelined unless he/she is willing to put the time in themselves to replace the damaged equipment. However, there is an answer for this problem.

The state itself has multiple fire departments that they run. Every year, they have to replace damaged equipment on a much larger scale than what our county needs. When the state puts out the RFQ, they will specify the equipment needed, estimate the needed amount of equipment (based upon the needs of the previous year), and then increase that number by a significant amount. If they are pretty sure they will need to replace 100 sets of gear for their own departments, they may place the RFQ for up to 1000 sets of gear. Notice that the RFQ does not specify they will actually buy that many; the RFQ indicates only that whatever they do buy, the bidder agrees to supply them at the bid price. Once the bid is accepted, it becomes a contract. Now, if my local fire department needs to replace only one set of gear, they no longer have to go through the entire bid process themselves. They can piggyback on this state contract to obtain the gear they need at the contracted volume pricing. Rather than go through that cumbersome process of getting a minimum of three bids and so forth, they simply need to ask the contracted company to supply them with the gear at the bid price under the state’s contract. Now they can easily and quickly purchase the same gear the state obtained. Rather than a multi-month process to obtain the replacement gear, we can now get it in just a few weeks.

What if the county doesn’t like the gear that is under contract with that bidder? No problem. Most states have a wide base of contracts. One large fire company may prefer gear from Company A and another may prefer gear from Company B. It’s a pretty good bet that both companies have contracts with the state. In fact, the state may pursue contracts with both companies because they know the individual fire departments may prefer different gear. If relatively similar contracts are procured between both companies, it saves the taxpayer money and the fire departments get their equipment easily and quickly. On paper, it looks like the state is getting ready to purchase 2000 sets of gear, but the reality is that only the gear necessary for the job will get purchased over the course of a year.

This same process works well and is in place at a national level. When the FBI needs to purchase ammunition, whether for practice, range qualification, or duty, they issue an RFQ for a much larger amount than what they need. They get a better price from the manufacturer because of the high quantity and the expectation is that other agencies will piggyback on their contract to fulfill the order. The bidding company under contract and the FBI (or other agency) are well aware that the maximum number specified in the contract may never be purchased. In fact, it probably won’t. When another agency gets ready to purchase ammo, they may not even like the particular ammo under contract by the FBI. They will then pursue an additional contract with another company or possibly a different ammo line with the same company. We may even see contracts with the same company and the same ammo line because the first agency to issue the RFQ may not have specified a number large enough to obtain the desired discounted price. On a state level, the process can be convoluted, but that complexity is magnified on a national level because of all the different companies, all the different agencies, and all the different product lines in the system. If you simply add up all the numbers expecting that a contract will be completely fulfilled, you end up with astronomical numbers of rounds of ammunition. That is an incredibly irresponsible way to report those numbers, because it puts a very positive, money-saving process in a very negative light. A much better reporting process would be to report the actual number of rounds delivered from the manufacturing companies.

So if the the ammunition manufacturing companies are running at capacity and the government isn’t actually buying all those rounds, who is responsible for the ammunition shortages? The answer is simple; you are, and I am. In days past, many gun owners only had a box or two of ammunition at home. If we were going to the range, we might stop off at the local sports store to get what we thought we would burn up on the way. Only those who were “radical” or shot competitively (or reloaded their own) dealt with bulk quantities of ammunition. Then along come the reports that ammunition may be scarce, and we all run out to the stores and buy a large supply. There is a small amount of buffer in the supply lines, but with everyone purchasing anything they can get their hands on for fear of it being unavailable, that supply is quickly depleted. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You are afraid there soon may not be any ammunition, so you buy more ammunition than you normally would, thus making it scarce.

It is probably also true that Reid, Schumer, Feinstien, Obama, and others are the finest gun and ammunition salesmen that have ever lived. They have managed to motivate us to purchase weapons and ammunition that we simply wouldn’t purchase before. We moved on purchases that we had been questioning or in quantities that we never dreamed we would. Thus, the supply couldn’t keep up with the average gunowner’s extraordinary demand, rather than the government’s extraordinary demand.

The Practicality of Bartering Ammunition, from JWR

Some folks have suggested that in a post-collapse environment, bartering your extra ammunition, telegraphs that you have a stash of stuff that is worth looting. I disagree! I would not barter ammo if I lived somewhere like downtown Indianapolis or greater Dallas, but the benefits outweigh the risks for those of us who live out in the boonies. I will feel safer knowing that my neighbors have a couple of thousand rounds of ammo on hand.

Sid’s R.E.A.D.Y. Book Review

  CONTACT! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival
Revised and Expanded Second Edition
by Max Velocity

ISBN-13: 978-1478106692

Publisher: CreateSpace www.createspace.com
Publication date: 2012

Sid’s R.E.A.D.Y. SCALE 1=Low 5=High
Readability: Literary style and ease of assimilation
Educational : Utility of the information
Accuracy: Fact or conjecture, opinion or consensus.
Detail: Depth of information. Are the nuts & bolts of the concepts present?
Yes Factor: Overall rating

The author Max Velocity (not his real name) is an ex-U.S. and U.K. armed forces member. He served with British Special Operations Forces. Per the authors bio: The author served on six operational deployments, including to Afghanistan immediately post-9/11, and also a tour training and selecting recruits for the Regiment. In explaining what the Parachute Regiment is, it is easiest to compare it in role to the 75th Ranger Regiment, although it is of course its own unique and elite force. He retired from the British Army in 2003. Following retirement, the author spent five years serving as a security contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This included working on contract for the U.S. government in Iraq– a year of which was based out of Fallujah, the rest variously based out of Baghdad and country-wide. He also spent two years working for the British government in Helmand Province and Kabul, Afghanistan. These roles were operational security roles that included exposure to multiple different training methods and operational schools of thought, as well as both high profile and low profile mobile operations across Iraq and Afghanistan. The author then joined the U.S. Army and trained as a Combat Medic and Civil Affairs Specialist. He is a U.S. citizen and lives in the United States.

CONTACT! Offers the novice both basic and advanced military-based strategies for enhancing survivability in a post-event or societal collapse environment. This book is not suitable for children, due to theme. This is the second edition, revised and expanded with numerous blog posts that embellish the material from the first edition. There is considerable discussion across the Internet, blogs, and forums as to the utility of these techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTP). There are those that firmly believe that all one needs to do for training is to attend and participate in an Appleseed Course or take a Tactical Firearm Training course to learn advanced firearm handling, target acquisition, shooting on the move, et cetera from Front Sight,  Thunder Ranch, Gunsite Academy, Vickers Tactical  or any of the hundreds of trainers around the U.S. Proponents of each are adamant in their defense of their chosen path. Others still will stand by their years of experience hunting and strongly feel that’s all they need come SHTF. My thoughts are that all of the above methods have their benefits, and one would be well-served to take advantage of them all. However, to discount the value of the TTP’s in Contact! would be, IMHO, a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect  or as they say, “You don’t know what you don’t know”.

Now here’s the clincher, just reading this book in no way, shape, or form is enough. You actually need to get up out of your chair, step away from the computer, and take a Combat Rifle course from one of the fine instructors out there. Max Velocity and John Mosby  are couple of solid trainers who really care about getting you, the patriot/prepper/American, up to speed. So, read the book already and GitSum !

Readability= 5 A very well-written text with numerous illustrations, which greatly enhance the understanding of the concepts. If you have never served in the Armed Forces, I would suggest keeping a running list of the military acronyms used throughout the book, or refer to lists that have been compiled in the past, such as the Survival Blog Glossary I’d recommend creating your own to help in the memorizing process. “Recce” (pronounced: r?ki, as in Wreck – E) is British slang for reconnaissance and is used frequently in the book.

Educational= 4 The author has put together a well thought out text on military strategies, both offensive and defensive, that was palpable and concise. Realize that some of the material cannot truly be implemented, without having squad-level numbers of personnel available to you, as the average reader with a family to protect. However, having a basic introduction to all of the techniques described in this book may serve you well in the future. Initially, post-collapse, the more complex activities might not be on your list of “things to do today,” but as time passes and the situation evolves/devolves they very well could be important skills. Granted, much of this information is available in the U.S. Army’s Ranger Manual or Military Operations in Urban Terrain (M.O.U.T.) Manual and other military texts, the author has put together some excellent information for the amateur survivalist or the seasoned, quiet professional in a manner that is much more assessable to the average untrained person. Regardless of whether you and your family can implement these defensive and offensive maneuvers is not relevant. Knowledge of what types of offensive engagements you may be subjected to can help you prepare to defend your retreat/home and family/group. In medicine, doctors miss more by “not looking” than by “not knowing”. In conflict, failure comes by not looking AND not knowing. The knowledge in this book can prove instrumental to your survival.

Accuracy= 4 The strategies and techniques contained within this reference are based off of sound military concepts and have proven effective for decades. The author, having served in both the U.S. and U.K. armed forces brings a wider perspective to the subject manner.

Detail= 4 Both offensive and defensive maneuvers as well as techniques for hardening vehicles and buildings are discussed. Mounted and Unmounted (in a vehicle or on foot) operations are explained in detail with many illustrations that are very useful. Practicing these techniques with a team is catamount to the learning process, and the author reinforces this throughout the book. As it goes with “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men”, individual results will vary.

Yes Factor= 5 I would encourage adding this book to your library of essential texts. It was a very enjoyable read, and I realized many misconceptions I personally held relating to what I would do in many SHTF scenarios. I see now that many of my preparations are inadequate and, perhaps, were ill-conceived in the first place. When a book inspires me to take positive action, I feel it was money well spent and time properly invested. Time is short folks!

Take care and God Bless. – Sydney

Pat’s Product Review – Cold Steel’s Counter Point

There are many stupid knife (and gun) laws on the books, all over this country. Many are archaic in nature and aren’t enforced; however, they are still on the books just the same. There are some states, like Texas, that prohibit “daggers” or double edge knives. Believe it or not, some areas forbid the ownership of anything called a “Bowie” knife. Insane!

My late friend and mentor, Col. Rex Applegate, co-designed the Applegate/Fairbairn (A/F) double-edge fighting knife during WWII. It was a vastly improved Fairbairn/Sykes double edge knife. However, WWII came to a close before the A/F came into production. It wasn’t until the early 1990s, if I recall, that Applegate finally had the A/F produced commercially by Blackjack Knives. There were some serious problems with the first few production runs, and the center line of the knife didn’t meet at the tip of the blade. They were off-centered, to be sure. Since then, several companies have been licensed to produce the A/F double edge fighting knife. Gerber Legendary Blades also produced a folding version of the A/F fighting knife, and I had an early pre-production version. Gerber placed the pocket clip on the wrong side of the knife for right-handed use, with no option to move the clip. Stupid!

This is a review of the Cold Steel Counter Point Series line of folders that for all the world appear to be partially double-edged knives, dagger-esque, or spear point in design. However, the upper edge of the blade is NOT sharpened. The design allows for deeper penetration than many other folding knives, if the knife is used in a self-defense situation. I’ve said many times that most knife fights consists of slashing moves instead of stabbing moves, but if the opportunity presented itself, you can sure stab instead of slash. That’s for another article on self-defense with a knife.

We have three different-sized Counter Point folders in the series. The Counter Point I has a blade length of 4-inches; the Counter Point II has a 3-inch blade; and the Counter Point XL has a 6-inch blade. My test sample was the 4-inch blade version, and it was a good balance in size between the three folders. All are identical in that the blades are made out of AUS 8 stainless steel– one of my favorites, and the handle material is manufactured out of something called Griv-Ex– a super-strong polymer material pioneered by Cold Steel that is tough, very tough.

All three of the Counter Point folders have the famous Tri-Ad Lock, and it is one of the strongest, if not the strongest lock you can get on a folding knife. Cold Steel isn’t afraid to demonstrate the strength of the Tri-Ad Lock in their “Proof” video or on their website. There is also a reversible pocket clip for right or left pocket carry, with the tip up. (There is no option for tip down carry.) There is also a thumb stud on the blade for easy deployment, too.

The Counter Point I sample has an overall length of 9-inches, when opened. It weighs a mere 4.7-ounces and is 3.5mm thick. Seriously, you don’t even know you have the Counter Point clipped inside your pants pocket. Needless to say, but I’ll repeat it again: I believe Lynn Thompson, the owner of Cold Steel, set the gold standard when it comes to sharp knives. All of his knives come shaving sharp from the box. Everyone else has had to jump on-board with manufacturing sharp knives, or fall by the wayside. Thompson did us all a service, and it is a rare thing to find a major name knife company that doesn’t have hair-popping edges on their blades these days. Well, that’s just my take on it all.

The Griv-Ex black polymer handle scales have several holes on both sides of the handles, which lightens the weight of the knife as well as gives it a sleek appearance. The handle also has heat-treated aluminum liners to add more strength to the Counter Point’s Griv-Ex handle scales.

I did my usual testing of the Counter Point. It was used around the kitchen and out on my small homestead. I stabbed it into stacked cardboard, and I really abused the knife by throwing it a lot against trees. I got it to stick a few times, but this is not a throwing knife. I wanted to really abuse this folder. The Tri-Ad Lock never failed. It’s stout and, aside from a few small scratches, the Counter Point was good as new.

With many folding knives, I can draw them from my pocket and “flick” them open. It took some serious wrist-action to flick the Counter Point open, but I was able to do it. The Tri-Ad Lock really holds the blade closed, as well as locked open when deployed.

I recently had one SurvivalBlog reader take me to task on the Cold Steel AUS 8 blade steel and their serrated blades. This reader told me that he could bend the serrated portion of the blade he had with his finger nail. Uh, no!!! I tried this on several of my older Cold Steel folders, and I couldn’t bend the blade at the serrations. I’m not quite sure if this reader was taking me to task for serrated blades, AUS 8 stainless steel, or was against Cold Steel knives. I referred this reader to Lynn Thompson, if he felt he had a defective knife or whatever his complaint was. I have used AUS 8 stainless steel bladed knives for years, and I have never had it fail me. It’s a great compromise stainless steel that is affordable, holds an edge a good long time, and is easy to re-sharpen (and I’m not a wizard when it comes to sharpening knives).

Now, for the good news. The Counter Point I– the knife I tested– has a retail price of only $71.99. Additionally, it can be found discounted on many websites. The Counter Point II is retailing for $55.99, and the Counter Point XL is $99.99. All are made in Taiwan, where many high quality knives are being manufactured these days. You get as good as you want. If you want a 50-cent knife, you can have one made. If you want a thousand dollar knife made, you can get that too, and the quality will be exactly what you want. So, don’t let “Made In Taiwan” scare you away. You are getting a great deal. If you purchased the same knife made in the USA, you’d pay a lot more.

If you’re in the market for a new folder, check out the Counter Point Series. I bet you’ll find one that will fit you “just right,” as Goldilocks once said, and, it won’t drain your checkbook either. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Pat’s Product Review: Altai MF Tactical Boots

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that it doesn’t pay to purchase cheap shoes or boots. You only have one pair of feet, so treat them nicely by buying the best you can get!

In 1969, when we were on our first day of Basic Training in the U.S. Army, there was one thing the drill sergeants told us (and I’ve never forgotten it) was to “not wear your boots into the shower, get them wet, and wear them until they dry on your feet.” We were told we’d get an Article 15, which is a military reprimand/punishment. Now, we might have been young and dumb back in those days, but we all understood it to mean that we should get our boots nice and wet, and wear them until they dry so they will mold to our feet, but don’t get caught doing it. Back in the day, it sure worked with all-leather combat boots. A good soaking in the shower and allowing those boots to dry on your feet, actually molded them to your feet, thus bypassing a break-in period. Some soldiers didn’t do this, and they had blisters on their feet in short order. It took weeks to break-in those all-leather combat boots, otherwise.

With many of today’s artificial fabrics used in the manufacture of boots and shoes, it’s almost impossible to get your shoes or boots to mold to your feet by soaking them in water and wearing the footwear until they dried on your feet. If you have plans on bugging out on foot, for whatever reason, you must (and I repeat MUST) have a good-fitting and comfortable pair of boots or hikers. Shoes just don’t cut it, especially if you are in the boonies, on rocky or rough terrain. So, boots or hikers are the order of the day if you plan on bugging out on foot.

Sure, go ahead, and purchase that nice “looking” pair of boots or hikers from one of the big box stores. Then see how long they last, how comfortable they are, or what kind of material they are made out of. In the end, you’ll regret purchasing bargain basement boots or hikers. To be sure, I’ve done some research over the years and learned that approximately 90% – 95% of our footwear is made in China. Heaven help us if we ever go to war against China. Inside of a couple months, we’ll all be barefoot.

I have a couple pair of books and hikers that I’ve designated for hunting and bug out purposes, and they are well broken-in, too. Some took a few days, but most took a few weeks or a month to break-in properly, so they were comfortable on my feet and wouldn’t raise blisters. Some are made in the USA; some are made oversea. You get as good as you want when having products made overseas.

I recently received a pair of Altia MF Tactical Boots for testing for this article. They are made in Vietnam, if it matters to you. That war is long ago over with, and we weren’t allowed to win it. It’s not the fault of the military who fought and died there. It was the politicians who wouldn’t allow us to win, but that’s for another time. The very first thing I noticed about the Altai MF Tactical Boot is how super light-weight they are. We are talking about a 9″ high boot that weighs only about 23-ounces for the pair!

Some other specs on the Altair boots is that the upper is made out of something called “SuperFabric,” and I’m not privy to what the material is, other than I can tell it is light-weight and very strong. The SuperFabric is meant to withstand harsh environments and rough applications. If you look closely at the material, it is covered with evenly-placed “armor plates,” according to the Altai website. They are little tiny “nubs,” and they protect the SuperFabric. This SuperFabric allows for fast-drying; the boots are waterproof and breathable. In my neck of the woods, where it rains for eight months out of the year, I prefer waterproof footwear most of the time.

The SuperFabric is also stain-resistant, and the outer sole is made out of Vibram– one of my favorite materials for hiking and trekking. The laces are a figure 8 style for speed-lacing, which makes the boots easy to get on and off. The eyelets are metal rather than plastic, which breaks easily. The tongue is padded nylon, and the leather toe is waterproof and polishable.

I will readily admit that the Altai boots were comfortable right out of the box, and needed no break-in period at all. The one thing that “bothered” me more than anything was that the boots are light-weight. They might be the lightest boots I’ve ever worn; if they aren’t the lightest boots I’ve ever worn, they sure feel like it. I have light-weight hikers that aren’t this light-feeling, and I do a lot of walking, so I like boots and hikers that are light-weight and durable. I hike some of the logging roads in my area, and they can be rough with big rocks that are used for paving the roads for the log trucks. Those big rocks are really tough to walk on and tough on footwear. The Altai boots had no problems on the logging roads or the asphalt roads when I was wearing the boots. It just doesn’t seem right that boots this light-weight are so rugged. Go figure! In spite of their light weight, they are tough boots, to be sure!

I like the speed-lacing system, as I mentioned, that makes them easy on/easy off. In a bug out situation, you may not have all the time in the world to get properly dressed. You don’t want to waste time trying to lace-up a pair of boots. It can take time, especially with some other boots, to get them on and laced-up. Did I happen to mention, how light-weight these boots are? Yeah, I did. I wanted to mention it once again! I was totally blown away with how comfortable the boots were right out of the box and how nice they felt on my feet . I’ve had tennis shoes that weren’t this comfortable, seriously!

Right now, Altai is having a special on their boots. They are normally $180, but for a limited time, they are on-sale for $160. They are one heck of a bargain, in a light-weight, super-tough boot. One last word, the ONLY product that Altai sells are the Altai MF Tactical Boots. Altai has to have a LOT of faith in their product to make a living selling just one product. I can easily see these boots for law enforcement and security officers. I’m not sure what some of the regulations are in the militaries in other countries, but if troops are given some leeway in the types of boots they can wear, these Altai MF Tactical Boots would be a wise choice. One more note: I’m told the boots run a little bit on the big side, so order half a size smaller than you’d normally wear. I take a 10.5 in shoes and boots, and they sent me a size 10. It fit nicely, very nicely! So, if you’re in the market for a new pairs of boots for hiking, hunting, or bugging out, take a close look at the Altai MF Tactical Boots. You’ll be impressed, very impressed. — SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Mrs. HJL’s Roast and Vegetables

This is a recipe for Comfort Food that is simple and yummy.

1 Rump or Chuck Roast

Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

2 Onions, sliced

1/2 cup water

Roasting pan

Aluminum foil

Place the roast in roasting pan. Sprinkle the seasoned sale heavily over the roast. Lay onion slices on top of roast. Pour water into the pan (not over the roast). Tight cover the roast and roasting pan with foil, sealing the edges around the pan. Place in an oven at 300 degree Fahrenheit. Cook all night (at least 8 hours).

Peeled potatoes, halved

Carrot pieces, large chunks

In the morning, add the potatoes and carrots into the broth/water that is beside the roast in the pan. Recover with foil. Cook at 350 degree Fahrenheit for another 1-2 hours, until potatoes and carrots are soft.

Pour broth off into a pan to make gravy (with flour and water). Enjoy!

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Communication Radios

HJL,

Thought I would give my two cents worth regarding T.K. ‘s question about emergency communication in his valley. About 20 years ago I posed the same question to a ham operator friend of mine. His suggestion was for me to buy a cb with sideband. He claimed that would be the easiest and cheapest way to call for help if needed. He also stated that I may not be able to reach anybody locally due to my remoteness but should find somebody in the country if not the world to respond. I was skeptical at his claim to say the least but decided to give it a try. Soon after, I purchased an older mobile rig and antenna at the local flea market for under 35 dollars. That started my journey to becoming a ham operator myself. With that first setup, I logged many hours talking to places from Japan, Alaska even Australia. Most of my contacts were in the States however. Locally my signal would travel well enough to be able to communicate with my friend about 30 miles away. Which doesn’t sound impressive except that there was a very large mountain in our line of sight. When people would come to visit we had good reception throughout most of their drive up. It would be easy for me to get long winded about the possibilities, technicalities, probabilities, ect. So I will conclude by saying that my belief is that T.K. would do good to try cb radios and go up from there if need be. – M.Z.Y.

HJL Replies: CB radios are a good, relatively easy way to start, but you need to be aware that CB frequencies (known to hams as 11 meters) suffers from the same problems that 10 meters does. Ionospheric skip is highly unreliable. One of the nice things about obtaining a Ham license is that a much broader spectrum of RF is available for use. When 10 meters is down (due to sunspots, solar storms, etc…) other longer wavelengths are generally more usable. The really long wavelengths (80 meters and 160 meters) tend to be better at night. When 40 meters isn’t working so hot, 20 meters is usually good. With CB, you get 11 meter performance and that is all. Granted, in a SHTF situation, governance of the airwaves may not be an issue, but you really need to practice communications before then. To have the flexibility, ham licenses are practically a must.

Letter Re: EMP

Hi Jim,

Do you know if we have a EMP attack or if the grid goes down weather we will still have internet service? – GLB

HJL Replies: Since the vast majority of the Internet depends upon the power grid, it really depends on how much of the power grid survives an EMP event. The long hauls of the infrastructure would probably survive due to the fact that most are based on fiber optics, which are not affected by EMP. The hubs, connection points and routers all have to have power though, which is affected by EMP events. If the locations are sufficiently hardened, they may survive. If they are not EMP hardened, they most likely will not survive. I suspect that we would have isolated pockets that would be just fine and most long hauls would be fine as well. The connectivity of the Internet would greatly depend on those areas that are powered by commercial electric power or have sufficient metal wiring to be able to induce EMP spikes large enough to kill electronic equipment with minimal protection. The Internet was designed to be a self healing network (or at least able to route around isolated problems) so if enough infrastructure survives, it may indeed be useful. However, I suspect that it will not be very usable though since the usability is directly related to connectivity.

Economics and Investing:

I have subscribed to John Mauldin’s newsletter for quite some time now and while I don’t agree with everything he says, I usually enjoy his writings. I’m looking forward to his series on “income inequality”. Take a look at his latest: The Worst Ten-Letter Word. Warning: An email subscription is required to see the full article.

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Stoic Cyprus back from the dead after banking collapse – Telegraph – JBG

Items from The Economatrix:

Fed Minutes Point To Continued Paring Of Stimulus

U.S. Home Sales Plunged 5.1 Percent In January

Is Food Inflation Coming Back?

Return of Goldilocks Economy Means A Weaker USD, But Beware The 3 Bears

Odds ‘n Sods:

A number of people have sent in this link to Selco’s Blog, True Nature of Survival. It is particularly relevant because of the conflicts that we are seeing in Ukraine and Valenzuela. If your main concern is your survival or that of your family, then it makes perfect sense. My problem with it is that it is from a pretty self-centered perspective. If our founding fathers had held to the same ideals, the revolution would have died a quick, crushing death. The supposition is that you cannot affect the outcome, so don’t even try. Yes, there is seemingly senseless death that occurs in times of war, revolution, and civil unrest, but from the blood of those patriots willing to stand up to the atrocities committed upon them can rise up an uncommon movement of common people so profound that they affect the entire world for generations to come. We have seen it here in our own land and have ridden on the coat tails of these giants among men. Every founding father of the U.S. could have been tried and hanged for treason. That’s what makes a patriot stand out. On the flip side, not every conflict is worth fighting. If there is no moral high ground to take, then ducking the head may be the best option.

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K.F. sent in this video about bushcraft gear: My Backpacking and Bushcraft Gear

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P.R. sent in the links to this video seris on homesteading in 1883: Frontier House – FULL SERIES . It’s quite interesting to see some of the challenges they overcome.

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For those who like to use recycled pallets as firewood, this homemade prybar could be useful – R.J.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. Not for nothing was the revolver called an ‘Equalizer.’ Egalite implies liberte. And always will. Let us hope our weapons are never needed—but do not forget what the common people of this nation knew when they demanded The Bill Of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, and the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny.” – Edward Abbey, Abbey’s Road

Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand,
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589.
  3. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  4. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  8. EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles, is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  9. Autrey’s Armory — specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.

Round 51 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survival Health and Fitness

There is a preparation we can all make that doesn’t required much money, much storage, or much expertise. Yet it should be a critical component of your readiness. Yes, it is your personal health and fitness. If you started 2014 with good intentions but haven’t had the success you hoped for, this article is for you. This commentary outlines the whys and hows of improving your health and fitness.

Survival Benefits to Improving Health and Fitness

Prevent ever needing, or even reverse the need for drugs that you may no longer be able to get when the SHTF. Statins (Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor) for cholesterol control are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. Blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors and diuretics) are the next most common. Metformin, to help mitigate diabetes, also makes the Top 10 list. How will you cope when your supply is gone? Fortunately these are drugs that most of us can avoid ever needing simply by employing good nutrition and exercise practices. Even those who are already taking these drugs may be able to get off of them by improving their diet and exercise habits. For example, for every two pounds an overweight person loses, their blood pressure is lowered by approximately one point (1 mmHg.)

Improve your work capacity. When the SHTF, the technological advancements that have enabled Americans to enjoy physically easy lives may not function. Want to be warm or to cook? Start chopping and carrying wood…lots of it. Want to drink? Walk to your water source and/or carry water back from it, over and over again. It’s sad but true that even without the presence of a criminal element, many Americans will not be physically able to care for themselves after a major disaster.

Improve your self-defense ability. Of course, when the SHTF there will be a criminal element looking to prey upon others, particularly upon the weak. Don’t be one of them. Improving your fitness will go a long way in making sure you can hump that bug out bag (BOB), carry that rifle, climb that fence, and sprint away from danger when you need to.

Happily, the benefits of improving your health and fitness are not only highly beneficial to you if the SHTF, they are highly beneficial to you if it doesn’t. It’s a no-lose scenario! How do we know if we’re fit or fat?

Fatness Tests. You probably already have a general idea if you need to drop a pound or 20 or 100. Certainly the scale and the mirror are easy places to start. However, the scale and the commonly used Body Mass Index (BMI) can be misleading. By BMI standards, every six foot, 205-pound piece of twisted steel that plays defensive back in the NFL is “overweight.” And the linebackers are obese. A much better standard is to actually have your body composition tested. As a general rule, men should have less than 20% body fat and women less than 30%. While commercial body composition testing can be expensive, embarrassing, and/or unreliable, there is a very simple and effective method of estimating fatness that can be done at home– the Waist/Height ratio. Your waist measurement should be less than half your height. For example, if you are 5’10” (70 inches tall) and have a 32″ waist, you probably have relatively low body fat. If you’re 5’10” with a 40″ waist, you have some work to do.

Fitness Tests. This is a critical tool that even many people who regularly exerciser ignore. How will you know if your personal physical training (PT) program is working if you never test yourself? Obviously, there are a myriad of these tests, from expensive VO2 Max tests (measuring the maximum rate of oxygen consumption during incremental exercise) to simply seeing if you can touch your toes. Since we are talking about survival fitness it seems logical that we look toward military physical fitness standards. In order to graduate from basic training, male Army recruits must perform roughly 30 push-ups, 40 sit-ups, and run two miles in under 17.5 minutes. Female recruits must perform 11 push-ups, 40 sit-ups, and complete two miles in under 20.5 minutes. (The actual numbers vary somewhat due to age-related adjustments.) Keep in mind, these are the basic military training MINIMUMS, and therefore not at all representative of an elite warrior, like a Ranger or even a basic infantry troop. If you want to survive TEOTWAWKI, it seems like those minimums would be a good place to start. Another way of measuring your fitness for survival is to test your performance in survival simulations. Can you carry a five gallon bucket of water the 200 meters from your hand pump or creek to your shelter? How many times? How much wood can you chop in an hour? One excellent survival-specific test would be to actually load your BOB or get-home bag and walk the number of miles you anticipate walking when the “balloon goes up”. If you can’t do that easily, you need to improve your fitness or change your plan. Important caveat: If you’re not already pretty healthy, do NOT try these fitness tests. Employ gentler methods of improving your health first, then worry about improving and testing your fitness.

Hacks To Improve Our Health and Fitness

Despite what the marketers of commercial exercise and diet plans will tell you, this is not rocket science. To lose weight, eat less. To run faster, practice running. You get the picture. However, there are some scientifically proven strategies which can improve the effectiveness of your quest to improve your health and fitness, and some of these are not as commonly known as they probably should be. Listed below are seven of the most important strategies (along with supporting references, so you can see that this is not just one person’s opinion.) With 33% of Americans overweight and another 33% obese, most of the recommendations here are of highest relevance to those who need to lose weight. However, all of these strategies will also help people who are already at a healthy weight.

Step 1: Start! Nobody’s perfect. Only a select few have the genetics and discipline to be SEALs or Olympians. All of us have factors that make it difficult to completely incorporate ideal health and fitness habits. Still, every one of us can be healthier and more fit in two months than we are today. Setting your intention is the first and most important step in any self-improvement effort.

Step 2: Don’t Drink Your Calories. Sugar in liquid form, like in soda or even juice, is less satiating (satisfying) than in solid form.[1] Notably, diet colas are not a suitable substitute. Not only is there scant evidence of their consumption being beneficial to weight control, but some research has reported they increase hunger[2], which of course can lead to weight gain. Additionally, fruit juice is not a healthy alternative to soda. An 8-ounce glass of orange juice contains about 21 grams of sugar! Get in the habit of drinking WATER.

Step 3: Obey Your Hunger, NOT Your Appetite. Distinguishing between hunger (a physiological need for energy) and appetite (a psychological desire to eat) can prevent overeating. There are several ways to effectively reduce hunger.

  • Eat slowly. This allows more time for our hunger-related hormones to adjust to our food intake. Specifically, it allows ghrelin levels to fall and peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels to rise, effectively telling you that you are not hungry.[4] This strategy has been demonstrated to effectively reduce total caloric intake.[3]
  • Consume plenty of fiber. This provides a physical feeling of fullness that can reduce hunger.[5]
  • Avoid liquid calories and simple carbohydrates. Instead, choose foods that promote feeling full, as outlined in steps 2, 4, 5, and 6.
  • Engage in mindful eating. Observe, smell, and really taste your food. Pay attention to your body’s cues. Zoning out in front of the TV while eating often results in eating well beyond the point of natural fullness.

Step 4: Eat Complex Carbohydrates, Not Simple Carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates include vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. Simple sugars (syrup, candy, soda), which contain few nutrients and cause a potent insulin response, should be avoided. A logical next step is to consume foods with a low glycemic load. Not only do such foods cause a less dramatic insulin response than high glycemic foods, but they are more satiating than high glycemic foods.[5] In general, low glycemic index (GI) foods include vegetables, beans, and berries; medium GI foods include whole grains and most other fruits, while white breads (pasta, rice, pretzels) are high GI foods.

Step 5: Avoid Foods Labeled “Low-Fat.” Despite the low-fat mantra being drilled into Americans’ psyches over the past few decades, there is scant evidence that simply changing your macronutrient ratio to include a lower proportion of fat has any desirable influence on weight or health. Worse, most “low-fat” foods have replaced the fat with extra salt and sugar. Compare any “low-fat” snack with its “regular” counterpart to see for yourself. Finally, fat is an important nutrient in its own right, promoting good endocrine health. Notably, most of our fats should be monounsaturated. A diet above 12% in monounsaturated fats has been demonstrated to increase satiety, reduce fat mass, and lower blood pressure.[6] Examples of healthy monounsaturated fats are nuts, avocados, olive oil, and cold-water fish.

Step 6: Eat At Least 1.5 Grams of Protein Per Kilogram of Body Weight. Protein is vital to maintaining our lean body tissue, particularly as we age. There is convincing evidence that a higher protein intake increases thermogenesis, as well as it being very satiating.[7] Both of these factors promote weight loss. The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein is a meager 0.8 grams (g) per kilogram (kg) of body weight. However, the International Society for Sports Nutrition recommends 1.5-1.9 g/kg for adults engaged in regular resistance training, which you’ll do if you follow Step 7. Following those recommendations, a 180-pound man would eat about 145-155 g per day. First convert pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2. Then multiply by 1.9 to get the target daily amount of protein. (The math looks like: 180/2.2 = 81 kg; 81 kg x 1.9 g/kg = 155 grams.)

Step 7: Resistance Train At Least Twice Weekly. Like in the case of avoiding fat, mainstream health advocates have been tireless but misguided in their promotion of endurance or “aerobic” exercise. Certainly, that type of exercise is beneficial. However, resistance training provides benefits that endurance training alone does not, such as an increased basal metabolic rate (which aids in weight loss/maintenance), reduced potential for injury, and increased strength and work capacity.[8] A well-rounded exercise program includes both endurance and resistance training. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends resistance training 2-3 times per week. One other note: Because it incorporates balance, proprioception (an unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation), and natural movement paths, resistance training that uses free weights (like barbells and dumbbells) will be much more transferable to survival activities than resistance training with machines would be.

Step 8: Seek Help if Needed. Many preppers understandably take pride in their self-sufficiency, but we must be wise enough to know when we need to consult an expert. This is particularly true in the world of nutrition and fitness because there are so many charlatans out there peddling ineffective or even dangerous plans. If your plan isn’t working, seek out a trainer and/or nutritionist who possesses: a) a degree, b) a recognized certification, and c) a physique/lifestyle that proves he or she practices what they preach. There are some good trainers who don’t have all three of those qualities, but finding someone who has all three all but assures that they will be able to help you.

I’m confident that incorporating these strategies into your lifestyle should leave you healthier, happier, and better prepared. Valeo Valui Valiturus.

References

[1] Mourao DM, Bressan J, Campbell WW, Mattes RD. (2007). Effects of food form on appetite. Int J Obes (Lond). Nov;31(11):1688-95.
[2] Mattes RD, Popkin BM. (2009). Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans: effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr. Jan;89(1):1-14.
[3] Andrade AM, Greene GW, Melanson KJ. (2008). Eating slowly led to decreases in energy intake within meals in healthy women. J Am Diet Assoc. Jul;108(7):1186-91.
[4] Kokkinos et al. (2010). Eating Slowly Increases the Postprandial Response of the Anorexigenic Gut Hormones, Peptide YY and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jan;95(1):333-7.
[5] Chang et al. (2012). Low glycemic load experimental diet more satiating than high glycemic load diet. Nutr Cancer. 2012;64(5):666-73.
[6] Schwingshackl L, Strasser B, Hoffmann G. (2011). Effects of monounsaturated fatty acids on cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Nutr Metab.;59(2-4):176-86.
[7] Halton TL, Hu FB. (2004). The effects of high protein diets on thermogenesis, satiety and weight loss: a critical review. J Am Coll Nutr. Oct;23(5):373-85.
[8] Knuttgen HG. (2007). Strength training and aerobic exercise: comparison and contrast. J Strength Cond Res. Aug;21(3):973-8.

Letter Re: List of Lists

Hi,

My fiance and I really appreciate the work that you do at SurvivalBlog.com. We are Reformers who are trying to figure out our strategy as I speak. We live in British Columbia and were looking to South America, but realize that maybe being in English-speaking remote BC would be a better idea. I am a horse/farm girl. He has always been a city boy. I know the meaning of hard work, and I am taking everything sometimes too seriously. (I think I over focus.)

I am actually just reading Jim’s novel Founders.

At any rate, I thought that on your list of lists there needs to be another tab or additions on the home tab. (Well, I will be adding these to my list of lists anyway.)

  • Music (guitar and sheet music) and flutes. A piano is always a good thing, if one is really stationary.
  • Homemade paints (milk paint) and paint brushes.
  • Homemade Ink and papermaking.
  • Knitting needles and knitting books and wool.
  • Candle-making equipment and supplies.

I suppose these are less important than say food, but these things sweeten life. They are also good barter items and useful when there is no electricity.

You (JWR) are right; we have about 80-90 times around the sun. May we use our time wisely. Thanks – KLW

HJL Replies: You are doing exactly what is intended with the “List of Lists”. It would be impossible to create a list that fits everyone, and the one provided by JWR on SurvivalBlog.com is intended to get you started. Most of the items are common items that nearly everyone needs, but there will be items that you don’t need. You should remove those from your copy of the list. You should add items that are important to you. For myself, a guitar would be bulky and worthless, since the only instrument I can play is the radio. Certain members of my family might suggest differently though. Everyone needs to customize that list with exactly what fits their lifestyle and needs.