Why Prepping is a Good Thing, by P. S. in Virginia

Based on some of the latest articles I have read, I wonder if there is a misunderstanding of prepping or the Preppers themselves. Everyone has their own reasons for prepping, what they consider prepping, prepping for or at what level they can prepare. Not everyone can afford prepping to the levels of others, not everyone has the skill sets as others or can go out and find that perfect piece of property to call their retreat or bug out location (BOL.)

For the grannies who buy a few supplies or have found a like-minded social group of preppers where they meet once a month or so and talk about things they have read or heard about, good for them. For all we  know, for that granny, this may be her (or his if a grampy) only form of social networking and for them survival is getting out and meeting these people and enjoying the time spent. If after that meeting on the way home granny stops in Wal-Mart and picks up a few supplies and she is happy, more power to her and God bless her.

For me, I would have to say I’m a closet prepper. I prep for the needs of myself and my family. I do not hang out in prepper forums or blog sites, I do not attend preparedness expos to meet others or go online to find like-minded folks in the local area for coffee. My neighbors do not even know that I’m a prepper. In a way I live in fear, if something was to happen I really do not want anyone to come knocking on my door for supplies. As for the people you may meet at these places I think you’re going to find some who are “way out there” to some who really do not have a clue. You have to size up each person individually and decide for yourself as to whether or not these are people you want to get to know.

I, like many, have not actually killed anyone. Could I? I hope the time never comes when I have to find out. I spent 26 years in the Coast Guard and have gone through all the drills and training I could get my hands on. I have dressed out and practiced for Nuclear, Biological & Chemical (NBC) warfare without actually being in any of those scenarios. Could I still do it, if I had the gear? Yes, but not everyone has the budget of the military to buy the correct gear. In the military we had to train and know how to do these things because we had to get our ship back up and into the action. As a civilian the best thing to do is get as much distance between you and the situation. Does this mean because I have not actually been in a survival situation that I cannot perform and do things from what I have read and studied? I don’t think so. Some say a little knowledge is dangerous but having the basics is a good start. One of the things we use to believe in the military is, no one person can know how to do everything but the important thing is to be able to know where to go to find the information on how to do it. If you have a member of the family who read an article and says they know about how to eat the inner bark of a pine tree for example, instead of telling them they do not know anything, take them outside and try it out. Encourage don’t discourage, and learn together.

Does anyone know what will happen or when? No, but I used to teach a course in terrorism, and as ugly as it sounds to us because of the way we have been brought up in this country, terrorism is actually a beautiful way of warfare. You have all the elements of surprise, when, where, how, what and who. One of the things about terrorism is that it does not have to kill many people. All it has to do is change our way of doing things after. How many people actually remember not so far in the distant past when you could go to an airport and actually meet your party at the gate. Those days are long gone. Now you cannot get near the gate unless you’re a passenger, show your tickets, ID and go through a strip search. Now the drinks you buy inside the terminal are subject to testing for explosives. I personally will miss going up to the Burger King or McD’s in the terminal ordering a burger, fries and a volatile Sprite. Just one act of terrorism can change our freedoms and our way of living for decades. So the terrorists win.
           
One of the things people prep for is the coming economic collapse. What is the coming economic collapse? We are living in a depression. Many people have lost their jobs, homes and benefits, we have a government that cannot even come together to pass a spending budget and the only thing that is a priority for them is getting re-elected.  How much more needs to happen before its decided that we are in an economic collapse? Are we talking the Government shuts down, all the banks close up, the stock market zeros out, money is worthless and no one in the country has a job? Another item is civil unrest. If what is happening with all the riots in the Middle East were to happen in a city here in the States would it be enough to send you to your BOL or are we talking civil unrest on a national scale? What kind of event would it take to cause it on such a scale where every city is in riot?

Everyone has to determine their comfort zone. I live in a hurricane prone area. Some people pack up and get out of Dodge while others stay. One day I hope to be able to buy a safer piece of land further from the coast in the mountains. But for now, like many, I have to deal and adjust for where I am. Many people who live in this region live with the dangers and beliefs that nothing is going to happen to them or the situation is not going to be as bad as predicted. What does truly bother me about that is that they are told to leave, they don’t. Then shortly after things get truly bad, they are shouting “Help, come rescue me” and put someone else’s life on the line.

For me, prepping is a hobby. I truly enjoy reading the information I find here on the Internet and in books. I like reading survivalist fiction because the books get me thinking of things that could happen and what I will need to do to prepare even further. To be honest I never thought of stocking up on a year’s worth of dog food until I read the novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen. I enjoy reading of what others have done and how they went about doing it. One idea I picked up on SurvivalBlog here was in an article back in August, 2012: “Technology Today, by KCL04” he suggested getting an Android phone that you can store apps and down load all your survival books on.  Well, I’m not into the phone thing, but I took that information, did some research and bought a Nook reader from Barnes & Noble. Slowly but surely as I can afford it, I’m building my library. All my books in one of my kits must weigh about 100 pounds but I can store all of that on the little Nook and whole lot more.

I enjoy organizing and making lists. I enjoy going to the store, picking up the type of storage containers that work for me and filling them full of supplies. As one container gets full, I may take out the toilet paper and start it in its own container. It’s not long before that one jar of Vaseline becomes a stackable container full of 12 tubs, the bottle of Listerine becomes a stackable container of 16 bottles and on and on it goes. I keep track of everything I have in inventory and as the kits and containers change. I get into the computer and adjust my inventory. I have made check-off sheets of items I use around the house every day and I keep a log of when I opened up the product and when it became empty. This way I have a working knowledge of how long an item will last and how much I need to buy to last me a year.

The other day my wife had some insect bites so I went to the medicine cabinet to get the calamine lotion then ended up searching all over the  house to find some cotton balls. Guess who now has a container full of cotton balls? Every time a disaster happens I find little chinks in my armor of what needs to be purchased and done so that next time I’m more prepared. I have my lists of things I need to save up for and buy and also list of projects I need to do. This past spring I finally built some raised garden beds and tried my hand at gardening. Cucumbers went totally crazy so I teamed up with a neighbor and we spent a day canning. With that experience, a couple of things got checked off my project list.

People who believe in God do so because we need to have faith and believe in something that will continue our survival once we leave this earth. We believe he has given us a set of rules and a guide we should live by, the Bible. So we spend our lives trying to do what is right and which serves our God and our belief. Well, prepping is not much different, we do not know of what kind of disaster will happen or even if one ever will. Some people prep more than others, just as some people serve God more than others. The important thing is that they are doing something. If prepping gives someone hope that in a time of a disaster what he or she has done will make them a little better off or more comfortable in a time of despair, well, more power to them. People sit around and love to hear stories about God and things that happened back when Jesus walked the earth. Well people also enjoy sitting around and talking up the prepping, learning new things and telling what they have experienced. The beauty of this country is we all have the right to do these things–buy, sell, prepare as we wish and love the God of our choosing and conducting our faith as we wish. If you are frustrated as to what you see other preppers doing or how they go about it, stop for a moment and be thankful. For now, we live in one of the few nations that allows this. God Bless America and each and every one living here.

Letter Re: Thrive Foods Available From COSTCO

Mr. Rawles,
I just discovered emergency storage food is sold at Costco.com. They have a sale going on right now that bears mentioning in your blog. A year’s supply package of THRIVE food from Shelf Reliance for $1,199.99 including shipping and tax-free. No additional cost for existing Costco members. Non-members can also purchase this but must pay a small surcharge. They quote shipping as 5 to 7 days. 

This is the best deal on emergency storage food I’ve found after quite a long search and was the first deal that prompted me to pull the trigger and stock up.

Thanks for all you do. – L.B. in Western Washington

News From The American Redoubt:

How crowded is the American Redoubt? To put things in perspective: Delaware measures 2,489 square miles and has about 910,000 residents. Meanwhile, Connecticut is 4,845 square miles and has about 3.5 million residents. But consider Idaho’s two largest counties: Idaho County, Idaho is 8,503 square miles and has 16,267 residents, and Owyhee County, Idaho is 7,696 square miles and has 11,526 residents. Then there is Phillips County, Montana, with 5,212 square miles and 4,253 residents. And how about Sweetwater County, Wyoming? 10,491 square miles (think of it as more than two Connecticuts or three and a half Delawares) yet is has 43,806 residents. Or consider Harney County, Oregon. It is 10,226 square miles but has just 7,422 residents. That is less than one person per square mile. Now that is elbow room!

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Bruce in north Idaho reports: “As you probably know, the wheat woes hitting the rest of the world, and perhaps areas of the central U.S., are not being felt by our farmers here in the Northwest. You can find some broad, general statistics posted by the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. My neighbor’s son had a good wheat harvest on the family farm outside Great Falls, Montana, and the folks harvesting wheat on the Rathdrum Prairie of north Idaho are also having good yields close to 80 bushels per acre. Someone told be that wheat farms down around Walla Walla were getting close to 125 bushels per acre. I don’t know what the yields have been in the valleys north and east of Bonners Ferry, but from the golden crops I saw there back around July, I’d guess they did very well. The wet spring and hot, dry summer were exactly the right combination for wheat growing in the Northwest.”

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U.S. Railroads Are Booming, Thanks to Bakken Oil. (The Bakken regions extends into eastern Montana.)

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An Idaho headline: Hunter bit by grizzly bear.

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Insecurity feeds Idaho ammo supplier’s growth: Howell Machine’s workforce has grown fourfold in five years and is still expanding.

Economics and Investing:

Does anyone really believe this Pollyanna pie-in-the-sky nonsense now coming from the mainstream media? With QE3, We All Win — Poor and Rich Alike. What balderdash! Let’s face facts, folks: The Federal Reserve has backed itself into a corner. They can’t do anything that will trigger higher interest rates. So the only arrow left in their quiver is monetization (“quantitative easing” is the gentler, sugar-coated name.) Their brilliant plan is to re-inflate the housing bubble by buying up $40 billion per month, indefinitely, in mortgage derivatives using make-believe money. This pure fiat “money” is coming from their Sunshine Pump. I can only ask: How long can that continue? And how long will it be until our foreign creditors demand a higher rate of return to roll over their Treasury paper? Once interest rates rise, the party will be over. We will see a credit collapse and then a collapse of the US Dollar.

The producers of the popular Silver Bullet, Silver Shield videos have begun minting their own one-ounce .999 fine silver medallions. They are being sold for as little as $2.99 over the spot price of Silver. If you orders yours using the link from SurvivalBlog, we will earn a small sales commission to help defray our considerable monthly bandwidth expenses.

Over at Dr. Housing Bubble: Betting the house with the Fed – Stock market at levels last seen in December of 2007 – Examining what has changed and impact of Federal Reserve on housing. QE3 preemptive strike on fiscal cliff?

At OilPrice.com: Libya – Doomed from Day One

Seeking Alpha‘s analysis: 324 Years Of The Gold-To-Silver Ratio And $195 Silver

Items from The Economatrix:

Gold & Silver Prices Today On Fire!

How The Financial Collapse Would Happen In An Obama Second Term

US Jobless Claims Rise To Highest In Two Months

Fed Bets Big In New Push To Rescue Economy.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Rick in New York mentioned this latest bit of Bloomberg-inspired insanity: New York OKs nation’s first ban on super-sized sugary drinks

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Sue C. was the first of several readers to send this: Gun Sales Hinge on Obama Re-Election: Cabela’s, Other Retailers Prepare for Surge in Demand

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G.G. forwarded a link to some Slate commentary that confirms my conjecture about the secret cache of Revlon Equave Hydro Nutritive Shampoo: The Biggest Problem With the Post-Apocalyptic Show Revolution: the Women’s Perfect Hair.

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R.B.S. sent this news from Oz: Superbugs spread into NSW community. And in related news, AmEx sent this: NIH superbug claims 7th victim

Approaching Fire or Extreme Fire Alert, by Matthew Stein, P.E.

After living in The States off and on for several years, in 2008 Andrew and Mary Hall moved back to their home in Buxton Australia so they could  be closer to their aging parents. It was a modest three bedroom two bath house with exterior walls of “mud brick” (adobe) that helped keep the home’s interior cool during the hot Australian summers. With large eaves, a metal roof, and adobe style mud brick walls, many would consider their home to be reasonably fire resistant, but its construction proved no match for the forces of nature that turned the neighboring towns of Buxton and Marysville into deadly infernos on Australia’s tragic “Black Saturday” on February 7, 2009.
The prior week, the weather had been extremely hot, with several days recording temperatures of over 40°C (104°F). On that Saturday morning, record breaking temperatures combined with long term drought conditions and high winds (over 60 MPH) to generate the most serious fire conditions that anyone could remember. An official “extreme fire alert” was issued along with a strict “no burning” command. Mary remembers looking at the thermometer on that day, and it read a blistering 47°C (117°F)! Around 4:30 in the afternoon, a neighbor came by and pointed out a large ominous plume of smoke rising to the southwest. Andrew dialed 000 (The Aussie equivalent to America’s 911), and it just cut out. When attempts to call the fire department also failed, they decided to pack-and-go. Knowing that they did not have enough water and other resources to stay and fight should a major wildfire break out, Andrew and Mary’s fire plan had always been to evacuate. They packed some clothes, the dog, a few files, their computers, and a couple bicycles into the car and left their home, hoping and praying it would still be standing upon their return. 

Andrew and Mary headed for a friend’s place with a defensible piece of property that included a swimming pool and a dammed reservoir, plus an extensive supply of fire fighting materials such as pumps, a tractor, and backpack sprayers. Unlike Andrew and Mary’s property, which backed up to a steeply wooded hillside, their friend’s property was mostly grassland, making it easier to hold back a bush fire. About 10:30 PM a 3 meter (10 foot) high wall of fire descended upon that property,  and for the next eight hours family, friends, and neighbors fought to keep the flames and flying embers at bay. Exhausted, around 6 AM they were able to catch an hour  and a half of fitful sleep before braving the drive back to their home to survey the damage. At this point, they still had hopes that a favorable wind direction had spared their home. As they walked up the hill to their front yard, they saw that all but three mud brick walls had been totally obliterated. Except for the few things they had packed in their car they day before, all of their personal belongings and the tools for Andrew’s bicycle repair business had been reduced to cinders and scraps of molten metal.

Andrew also had a commercial coffee roaster (“The Great Divide Coffee Roasting”) housed in a shed on his partner’s property just outside of the neighboring town of Marysville. The entire commercial section of Marysville, except for the bakery, had also been destroyed by the fire, but miraculously, the shed that  the coffee roaster was stored in, as well as their friend’s home, had survived. Both were scorched by the flames, but spared the destruction which had taken all but 14 of over 400 buildings in Marysville. In spite of having lost their home, one of their businesses, and nearly all their personal possessions, they fared much better than many others in the surrounding area who had lost their lives or loved ones. On what has become known as “Black Saturday”, bush fires took the lives of 173 people, wiped out whole towns, and entire families were found incinerated in their cars while trying to escape the inferno.
In addition to the details of their trials and losses, Mary also had this to say in her official statement to the local police, “I don’t believe we would have done anything any differently. As far as having adequate warning, we weren’t given any. Other than knowing that it was a high fire danger day, there was no real warning. I don’t know that having had any other warning would have made a difference. I know I didn’t hear any siren or warning sound that day.” For my friends Mary and Andrew, knowing when to stand and fight, and when to pack and run, clearly meant the difference between life and death for hundreds of folks on that blazing hot Saturday in Australia!

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Extreme Fire Alert, or Approaching Fire

  • Stay tuned to local radio stations, but keep your eyes and ears open, not counting on authorities for proper warning. STAY SAFE! BEST TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION!
  • Keep pets and children close at hand and ready for rapid evacuation.
  • Place 72 hour emergency kits in car(s) along with important documents and computer backup files (“My Life in a Box”). Park cars facing towards the driveway exit for a speedy evacuation.
  • When concerned about an approaching fire, a lawn sprinkler left running on your roof improves the chances for saving your home.
  • Hose down bushes and hedges next to your home, and trim back if you feel it may be helpful or necessary.
  • Close all windows and doors. Block foundation and roof vents to slow penetration of superheated firestorm gases inside the building envelope.
  • Close fireplace or chimney dampers to minimize the “chimney effect” from drawing air up your chimney. Whatever volume of air draws up your chimney, will be replaced by superheated air from the outside firestorm.
  • Remove drapes from windows and move furniture into center of rooms away from windows.
  • Turn off natural gas lines at the meter (you may need to contact your gas company to have a qualified workman safely turn your gas back on) and propane lines at the tank. Place a lawn sprinkler on your propane tank.
  • Remove gas grills and portable propane tanks far from the home, as well as combustibles such as portable gasoline cans.

When a Fire Strikes Your Home

Crawl under the smoke

Remember that hot air rises, so if your step into a hallway filled with choking blinding smoke, drop to your knees to see if that will get you into a bearable level of smoke so you can speed crawl your way to safety.

Putting out a clothing fire with a blanket, or rolling on the ground

Normal types of fires needs oxygen in order to burn. When hair or clothing catches on fire, quickly smother the fire with a towel, blanket or jacket tightly wrapped around the burning area on the victim. Alternately, get the victim to roll on the ground to smother the flames, or grab and hug the victim while using your own body to smother the flames.

Bust through sheet rock walls

In an emergency situation, realize that most homes are built with interior walls covered in sheetrock. If necessary to avoid a fire and smoke filled hallway, or to gain access to a room to rescues a family member, realize that this sheetrock can be easily kicked through to allow a person to slip between the studs from one room to another without using a door or window.

When to Make a Stand, and When to Pack and Go

The 2001 Martis Fire started about two miles downwind from our neighborhood.
When a fire threatens, remember the story of Andrew and Mary Hall, keeping in mind the fate of those less fortunate families that were found incinerated inside their cars after being overtaken by a fire storm during Australia’s infamous “Black Saturday.”

When it comes to wildfires, it is better to err on the side of caution than to risk all in a moment of valor!

A Book Review by T.M. from Arkansas: The Original Counter-Argument

The Original Counter-Argument: The Founders’ Case Against the Ratification of the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century, by Paul Douglas Boyer
ISBN: 978-14477450673
Paperback and Kindle Kindle edition available from Amazon.com
298 pages, appendixes, bibliography, nice size print for those of us who wear eyeglasses.
Bad news first: there is no index. (Any nonfiction work should always have an index.)

How many times have you heard ‘they-he-she violated my rights’? How many times have you wondered just how many rights are in the Bill of Rights? How many citizens have actually read the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Articles of Confederation? Too boring?

Gratefully, all three documents are written in such a manner we do not need a lawyer to understand the wisdom of the Founding Fathers of this nation. The documents are included in this book as appendixes. Each is short, easy to read, and alone are worth the price of the book.

Another interesting appendix is the Population Chart of the first seventeen states from 1790-2010. One state leads the charge to overpopulation, while a handful has barely grown at all.

The most interesting document in the book is a short transmittal letter written by George Washington. I suggest you read it first, and then read the remainder of the book from the beginning. Then read the letter from a wise man once again.

The author presents thirty opinions from the beginning of the great debate concerning the need for a constitution. Some are less than a page in length while others are more long-winded. All are interesting and still relevant to the discussion. Each essay has a short, less than a page, introduction to set the stage, and a short list of key points after each essay. Both are helpful, and are not the author’s opinion. Whether you agree or disagree with each essay, they all add to your knowledge base of the most important documents of our nation.

It is surprising who opposed our constitution and how close the votes for ratification were in each state. The debates were spirited, thoughtful, and at times quite heated, as they should have been. The debate still rages today, and should continue as long we exist. Is our federal government too powerful is the eternal question.

Copies of the proposed constitution were printed and widely distributed to the citizenry for their input. People were encouraged to study the documents and voice their opinion. Nowadays, our legislators do not even read most of the legislation they cast a vote for or against.
The author is not an historian, which may be why this book is so good. With a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, he has applied his training to pick apart a complex issue, and the book is presented in an easily understood format.
You would do well to include this book on your reference shelf.

Our Constitution will be 225 years young on 17 September 2012, and a good day to buy this book. Happy Birthday to us all.

Pat’s Product Review: Propper Brand Outdoor Clothing

I have literally lost count of the number of SurvivalBlog readers I’ve heard  from, who asked “what is the best camo pattern…” Well, there is no easy or absolute right answer to this questions. It depends on the terrain, that you’ll be operating in, as to what camo pattern works best. I have always been fond of the old Woodland camo pattern – but it’s getting harder and harder to find this surplus clothing.

Without a doubt, I believe the US Army’s ACU gray digital camouflage pattern is one of the worst camo designs to come along. It doesn’t matter what terrain you might be in, if you are wearing ACU, you stick out like a sore thumb. The US Army has finally realized this, and are switching to other camo patterns.

The old US military woodland camo pattern is a really decent design and works pretty well, when you’re in the woods or grassy areas. However, it’s not the best camo pattern. Enter the new Propper Clothing blended  A-TACS foliage green blended pattern, that is really outstanding. First of all, the Propper uniforms are sewn to US mil-specs, and vat-dyed 50% Nylon/50% cotton rip stop fabric. There is hook and loop face for attaching rank insignia and unit patches, as well as name tags. The Mandarin collar can be worn up or down, and the hook and loop sleeve cuff closure provides positive closure and adjustments. There is a 3-slot pen pocket on the left sleeve and shoulder pockets are designed to fit optimally with the OTV.

Propper’s matching blended camo pattern pants  are made of the same material, and feature leg cuffs with front closure ties. Also featured are knee pouches with hook and loop closure for internal knee pad inserts. Button fly with a drawstring bellowed calf storage pocket and forward-tilted cargo pockets. Now, without a doubt, both of these clothing items are super-strong – we’re talking seriously tough material, that will give you years of service. Ok, so what’s the big deal, you ask? Mil spec ACU clothing is built strong as well.

The “blended” A-TACS foliage green camo pattern on the Propper clothing is unlike any other camo pattern you’ve seen. It’s really hard to describe, but the colors aren’t “printed” – instead, the colors are actually “blended” – kinda like working with different water-based colors on a piece of paper, where you get the different colors to blend together. I’m not sure how Propper pulled this off, but I’m blown away at how well this camo can blend into the woods in the Pacific Northwest here in Oregon. I did a test, I walked across the road to my neighbors property, and placed the Propper shirt and pants on some blackberry bushes – this is only about 50-yards from my front door. Keep in mind, I knew where I placed the clothing. When I walked back to my front door, I turned around and it literally took me a few seconds to find where the clothing was on the blackberry bushes. I asked my wife and oldest daughter to come outside and find the “hidden” clothing – they couldn’t find it – even when I was pointing at it. That, my friends, is an outstanding camo pattern for the woods. It is perhaps the best camo pattern I’ve run across for staying hidden in the woods.

There are many SurvivalBlog readers who are hunters, and the Propper Foliage Green blended camo, would make an outstanding clothing for still or stalk hunting. It would be great for bow hunters who use tree stands – you just blend into the background with this foliage green camo pattern. I wish I knew how Propper was able to make this camo pattern, it’s very unique, to say the least. But very effective, to be sure. Check out the web sites above for a close look at the camo pattern, however, keep in mind, the photos don’t do justice to the camo – you can’t do this clothing justice, until you see (or not see it) in the woods. When I go hunting this coming Fall, this is what I’ll be wearing. And, if I ever have to bug out for the boonies, this will be my camo clothing of choice.

These Propper camo clothing items are made in The Dominican Republic. The jacket/shirt and trousers retail for $59.99 each. However, you won’t be wearing this clothing out anytime soon, so if you are in the market for some of the best woodland pattern camo clothing, that will hide you, take a close look at the Propper line-up.

Okay, on to my “uniform” of the day. I don’t honestly recall when I last wore a pair of jeans, or a suit – I believe the last time I had a suit on, was about 11-12 years ago, when my oldest daughter graduated from college. My “uniform” of the day usually consists of cargo pants, a t-shirt and hiking boots. During the summer months, I wear some kind of button-down shirt over my t-shirt, to conceal my handgun. I’ve been wearing cargo pants, long before they ever became popular, like they are today.

Along with the A-TACS Foliage Green blended camo clothing above, that I received for test and evaluation, I also received Propper’s Lightweight Tactical Pants. These are a step-up from my usual cargo pants, in that, they are designed for “tactical” use – plenty of pockets and other added features that you will find of use when carrying concealed. You’ll see SWAT teams wearing these pants (they come in various colors) as well as street cops wearing these pants. However, you’ll also be able to wear these pants off-duty as well…and “no” you don’t have to be a cop to wear these pants – they are great for everyday wear.

Okay, bear with me, there are a lot of features on the Propper Lightweight Tactical Pants. Fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant, DuPont Teflon fabric protector repels stains and liquids, low profile appearance for use on and off duty, includes a D-ring for keys or tools, extra-large belt loops, action-stretch waistband for enhanced comfort, reinforced seat and knees,zipper fly, nine-pocket design, two cargo pockets with hook and loop closure, two hook and loop closure back pockets with wallet (pocket in a pocket), two front pockets with reinforced opening for folding knife or multi-tool, internal openings for knee pads, cell phone pocket, two hidden coin pockets and they also come with a free matching belt. That’s a lot of features, to be sure.

The Propper Lightweight Tactical Pants are 65/35 poly cotton ripstop DuPont Teflon fabric. And, the fabric is coated to repel stains. In my case, this really comes in handy, especially when I’m in the yard playing with some of my German Shepherds and they are playing rough with me – I’m always getting my pants (and everything else) dirty – I often wonder why I bother to have my wife wash my pants, ’cause next time I put ’em on, and play with the dogs, they are dirty all over again.

Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few different cargo-type pants, some are good, some are really good, and some I wore one-time and gave them away. These new lightweight tactical pants, are really a cut above most of the rest. When I tried the pants on, they actually fit like they were supposed to. This isn’t as easy as you might think – some pants, just don’t feel right when I put them on. I almost felt like I was “dressed-up” in these pants. As comfortable as they were, they were even more comfortable after they were washed. For me, if my pants aren’t comfortable, I won’t wear them – simple as that. Additionally, the belt loops are spaced properly so when you wear a gun on your belt, the gun is just in the right position.

I’ve purchased similar tactical cargo pants for a lot more money, than these Propper pants retail for $39.99. I’m sure you’ll find a good color selection, as well as size selection. For me, these are the only tactical/cargo style pants that I’ll be purchasing in the future. Yeah, I really liked ’em that much.

If you’re looking for some other type of tactical/survival/military clothing, be sure and visit http://ustacticalsupply.com/apparel.aspx and check out some of the other excellent clothing products they have. Every time I visit the walk-in store at US Tactical Supply, they always have something new and exciting there, that I find I must have.

Now, I know this article won’t end the debate over which camo pattern is “best” for concealment. However, if you find yourself operating in a wooded area, or the mountains, with lots of trees and shrubs, I think this A-TACS foliage Green camo clothing will be hard to beat – it really is amazing how well you blend into the woods when wearing this clothing. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Letter Re: To Arms!

Mr Rawles,
I must contest the foolish statement made by Mr. Prentice in his essay, To Arms! Prentice’s labeling Unlawful LEO Activity as a credible threat to the life of civilians is borderline absurd.  Yes, there are bad cops in our police forces. That’s nothing new and those officers should be purged as soon as possible and serve time in jail if needed. Bad cops irritate good cops and ruin the good will honest officers struggle daily to build. But there are bad cops because police officers are not super human genetically enhanced automated machines. We are picked from your neighborhood, go to your colleges, and live next door to you. The average cop sees far more death, depravity, and tragedy that most soldiers will ever encounter over their 25 year career. The average cop could easily qualify for a medical retirement based on the traumatic stress that we endure daily. The majority of all your blog followers would love to have 2, 3, 4 local cops living on their block to provide a Neighborhood Watch on steroids. Yes, even good cops have bad days and sometimes lose control. So throw the bum out? If so your local PD would have no officers employed very quickly.

Prentice’s belief that the average preppers should consider the local cop as a deadly threat is foolish and dangerous. Foolish in that the overwhelming majority of officers willfully run to your emergency with out reservation. They willfully, dutifully, risk their lives to save yours for low pay, horrendous working conditions and far to often with career ending injuries or PTSD issues. Yes, the bad ones out there do tarnish the work and valor of the honest cop. But to equate these few bad officer to the total vast good cops and deputies is reckless. Prentice equates officers to muggers, home invaders, foreign invasion, kidnappers, active shooters and even wild animal attack. Really? This is no different than the Prepper that steals, kills, or hurt others for what ever reason. It gives the rest of us  preppers a bad reputation and subjects us to public ridicule.

Prentice’s comparing police officers with such significant criminal activity is dangerous, very dangerous. He espouse the idea of active resistance to law enforcement. The cop or deputy is tense to say the least as their lives are at risk every time they put their uniforms on. Active resistance to police action is a commonly accepted danger sign to the LEO community. It is taught in the academies and learned through survival nightly.  If a person disagrees with an officers arrest rational and actively resist the officer, it will not end well. Pull a gun on a cop and dang right the LEO will fight for their life to get home that night! The officer also has the right to self defense. It is far better to get the incident recorded or witnessed than contest the officer physically if you disagree with reasons for arrest or detention. Fight the issue in court and/ or make a complaint with the officer’s internal affairs division. If the officer is a bad officer they will be removed from the department. But to promote active resistance to police officers is dangerous.

Why this route? Very few citizens know what their rights are or what heir responsibilities are. To physically resist or fail to comply with a legal order given by an LEO simply because you disagree with the offices rational for the arrest or detention is dangerous.  Instead of treating your local officers as a threat to you I suggest a some what radical but effective alternative. Rarely do officers receive thanks or appreciation for risking their lives night after night for strangers. I suggest thanking officers every time you can. We officers need your approval, your appreciation. This is not posterior kissing to get out of a ticket but a genuine thanks. We need to know that our lives and efforts have not been wasted. That the scars we endure, both physically and mentally, were worth the pain. Far to often we only see the negative that society has to offer. Officers rarely receive thanks or appreciation from those we protect. Your thanks, or hello will do far more than just bring a smile to our faces. It is a healthy reminder of why we officers run to danger. We need the approval and appreciation from the good people of society. Yes, there are incidents where rouge officers fail themselves, their fellow officers, and society.  But only the very minute few actively violate their oaths of office and pose a threat to society. This is why Prentice is foolish and dangerous in stereotypical labeling LEOs as a significant threat to the average citizen.

Thank you, – Mark B.

JWR Replies: I agree that in the present day that local law enforcement is not a threat. Nor are most of our other neighbors. However, under the exigent circumstances of a major, widespread disaster some police might be co-opted into enforcing martial law, or might be co-opted into enforcing new unconstitutional laws, or they might even go rogue in order to feed their own families, but I think that would be a rarity.

It is difficult to predict how things might play out in a societal collapse. I agree that generally most local police officers and sheriffs deputies will be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. But it would be foolish to assume that at least a few who are in positions of authority won’t be tempted to overstep their bounds in the midst of chaos and a power vacuum created by an extended interruption the power grids, a lack of telecommunications and the loss of influence of–or perhaps even the very existence of–whole sectors of government and public services.

Recipe of the Week:

Adele Davis Low-Sugar Granola

This is nutritionist Adelle Davis‘ recipe, that I copied from a magazine in a doctor’s office waiting-room more than 30 years ago, and have since shared with many dozens of people.

In a large pan (a shallow roasting pan is good) combine dry ingredients, mixing well:

5 c. regular rolled oats

1 cup chopped almonds

1 cup raw sesame seeds

1 cup raw sunflower seeds

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup powdered milk (not instant mix)

1 cup soy flour [or wheat flour]

1 cup wheat germ.

In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine 1 c. honey and 1 c. vegetable oil.  Mix very thoroughly with the dry ingredients.  Using a large mixing spoon in each hand saves time.

Spread evenly in the pan and bake at 300 degrees.  After 30 minutes, remove from oven and stir the mixture.  Return to oven for another half-hour or until a toasty golden brown.

Stir and chop so that clumps don’t form upon hardening. Toasted nuts could be added while stirring.

Store in airtight containers.

Chef’s Notes:

This granola tastes like oatmeal cookies, but is much more nourishing – and wonderful to take on long trips where mealtimes are uncertain. Small zip-lock baggies and plastic spoons are easy to pack.


Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

Adelle Davis Tiger’s Milk (“Pep Up” )Recipe

Adelle Davis Whole Wheat Bread Recipe


Currently Available as Free Kindle e-Books:

The Quinoa Cookbook: Nutrition Facts, Cooking Tips, and 116 Superfood Recipes for a Healthy Diet

100 Easy Recipes in Jars

Make and Freeze Recipes: Great Foods You Can Cook, Freeze, and Use Quickly and Easily

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

Economics and Investing:

Unlimited monetization: Get Ready For An Epic Fiat Currency Avalanche

First corn and now wheat: Weather Woes Sow Worry on Wheat. Stock up your larder before prices gallop! (Thanks to U.E. for the link.)

John Embry Expects a Silver Price Explosion Driven by Physical Shortage

Items from The Economatrix:

German Court’s Backing Bailout Fund to Test EU Resolve on Crisis

Fed Seen Starting QE3 While Extending Rate Pledge to 2015

Gary North:  Gold Bugs and Anti-Gold Bugs, It’s a Fight for Civilization

Odds ‘n Sods:

Safecastle’s current “Repel the Chaos” sale has transitioned to Week 4, with the following special offers (ending September 21st): 1.)  Safecastle Royal members who make any single purchase (one weekly incentive per member) totaling at least $450 receive a free Katadyn Vario water filter and a 20-pack of MP1 purification tablets ($117 value). 2.)  Or, make a purchase of at least $1,250 and receive a free Katadyn Pocket water filter. (a $379 value), and 3.)  They are now discounting selected Mountain House can cases up to 33% for a very limited time. Don’t miss out.

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Reader Steve H. wrote to mention that he found a great deal on used, original U.S.G.I. woodland pattern camouflage Gore-Tex Bivouac (“bivy”) bags. These cost Uncle Sugar $200+ each, but are being sold as surplus at just $39.15 each!

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My dear Mum sent this: A solar tractor, solar chain-saw, even a solar MG, all built by a engineer John Howe of Maine.

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A.S. mentioned that the 35-year-old survivalist classic novel Lucifer’s Hammer will finally be available as an unabridged MP3 audio book. The release date is Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

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My September 6, 2012 interview on Coast To Coast AM is now available at YouTube.

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Reader “Out of Sight Out of Mind” (OSOM) recommended Michael Bane’s television series The Best Defense. It is noteworthy that Bane has included Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) in several segments of the show. OSOM’s comments: “These short videos are a really valuable acting out of criminal attack scenarios and the best tactics to handle.  Probably more important than tactics, they are great for priming your situational awareness and avoidance instincts. Happily, most of us don’t live in a criminal jungle on a day to day basis – but we need to mentally ‘pre-load’ the ability to switch gears fast.”