Notes for Thursday – November 03, 2016

On November 3, 1903, Walker Evans– the American photographer best known for his portrayal of America during the Great Depression– was born.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 67 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  9. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).

Round 67 ends on November 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.

Protein Sustainability, by SKB

Protein is an essential part of the human diet. It is one of the main building blocks for healthy muscle tissue as well as other organs, which are heavily called upon during times of crisis. The majority of North Americans rely on beef, supplemented by other animal meats. Purchasing dried and canned meat products is essential to any prepper’s well rounded food storage arsenal. It brings a sense of accomplishment to see those items stacked on the shelves. The big question, though, is “What happens when this runs out? What happens when we can’t buy and stock anymore?”

Not everyone can raise a cow in their backyard. Even if you could, a 1000-pound cow equals approximately 350 pounds of meat. If there is little to no electricity available to freeze, the practicality of preserving all of that raw protein in a timeframe that prevents spoiling is monumental. How many canning jars would it fill? How many trays of drying space would you need? How much jerky seasoning is required? While it is possible to preserve that much meat, is it practical? What would the costs be physically, emotionally, and financially when a SHTF scenario is already placing enormous demands on you? The solution is to start now to reduce the dependance on beef and learn to grow and enjoy smaller meat and protein sources that are available to pretty much anyone with a backyard.

Poultry

My number one choice of sustainable protein is poultry. By sustainable, I mean that I can grow and harvest a meal’s worth of protein with only a small amount leftover needing preservation. Raising poultry is not a difficult skill to learn. It’s essential that it become a part of our current routine before the stress of need occurs.

A few years ago, I purchased some chickens as a type of therapy in response to a life crisis I had just gone through. It gave me something to focus my time and energy on as well as the lovely benefit of providing eggs for my family. I didn’t know at the time that I was purchasing “dual purpose” chickens, valuable for both their meat and their eggs. While this particular breed was not the absolute best egg layer nor the highest quality meat bird, they provide an adequate supply of both proteins. One egg is roughly the equivalent to one ounce of meat in terms of the amount of protein it contains. Once a hen ages and the egg laying dwindles, it can be consumed as a stew bird. If one chooses to breed their own chickens, which would be a necessity if stock is no longer available on demand, at least one rooster and several hens are required. In a batch of hatchlings, approximately half will be roosters. At sixteen weeks of age, a dual purpose rooster is old enough to butcher. You can see that just adding chickens alone to your sustainability plan will provide a steady source of protein.

Feeding the chickens is, of course, absolutely essential. Here’s the great thing about poultry: they really prefer natural food found on the ground– bugs, weeds, grass, tree berries, et cetera. If you’ve ever seen a couple of chickens fight over a prized grub, you know this to be true! When times are tough and feed store food is scarce, a chicken can forage for most of their nutritional needs. A fenced yard will protect your chickens from neighbor dogs and in turn the chickens will keep the yard almost bug free, while providing natural fertilizer through their excretion. In the search for insects, they scratch the soil, loosening it to easily receive water and nutrients. They may also dig up some of the grass in the process of debugging, fertilizing, and tilling, but let’s face it, you’re not going to care if the grass and yard are manicured when they are keeping you from starvation.

I was recently told by a well-meaning (but completely wrong) source that a chicken should have 80% of their diet composed of grains. This grain-heavy diet has come about within the last century because of the need of large poultry farmers to push their birds to the limit in egg production.That simply is not nature’s way. Grains are not natural to poultry.

There are other, less popular poultry available that provide eggs and meat as well as providing additional benefits. My flock is comprised of chickens as well as guinea hens and heritage turkeys.

Guinea hens require a lot of space, which would be a challenge for someone in the city. They are also incredibly noisy, which is actually one of their benefits. Guineas are highly suspicious of anything new, which makes them a fantastic early warning system if something is out of place. While they won’t bite or chase someone off, they will raise a ridiculous ruckus, letting you know you need to go check on things. Most of the time, it’s something as benign as a bunny getting too close for comfort, but you will have the assurance of an alarm when a true threat arises. Once they reach adulthood, guineas are excellent at foraging for their own food. They like all kinds of bugs, including ticks, mosquitoes, spiders, and snakes, as well as grass and weed seeds. Their immune systems are almost bullet proof, making an adult guinea practically maintenance free.

Although not originally in my plan, I added heritage turkeys to my flock as a solution to a problem I was seeing with my chicks. Chickens can get a gradual and ultimately fatal neurological disorder called Marek’s virus, which presents as tremors, falling over, and eventually the inability to walk. Many of my three-week-old chicks appeared to have these symptoms. Not wanting to lose my investment in these babies, I did some research and found that wild turkeys are carriers of a similar Marek-type virus, but they do not get ill from it. When raised together with turkeys, chickens receive a sort of immunity to Marek’s disease simply by being exposed to the turkey form of the virus. I promptly bought three Rio Grande Valley wild turkeys, and my babies recovered. Once the turkeys were old enough to lay eggs, we discovered that turkey eggs are delicious. Because the eggs are one and a half to two times larger than chicken eggs, they provide an excellent source of protein. Turkeys are also highly personable. I once had “mama turkey” follow me way out in the field just to see what I was up to. She then very graciously accepted a ride back home in the passenger seat of my truck.

Gardening

Most preppers have heirloom vegetable seeds stored away as part of their food arsenal. While home grown veggies provide an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and roughage to one’s diet, they do take several months to grow and require significant water as well as nutrients to remain healthy until harvest time. Additionally, unless you are able to grow legumes in quantity (beans, lentils, et cetera), there is almost no protein content in vegetables. This isn’t to say, “Don’t grow vegetables,” because they are an essential part of a healthy diet. Instead, grow your vegetables in the smartest way possible.

In search of a way to produce a little more protein and also have the benefits of vegetable gardening, I have turned to aquaponics. Essentially, aquaponics is a container growing system with fish added to the equation. This is the simple explanation of how it works: there are two types of containers, a fish container and a plant container. The two container systems are connected by PVC pipe with an integrated pump for circulation. Water is pumped from the fish container to the vegetable container. The plants naturally clean the fish water of excretion, are fertilized at the same time, then send clean water back to the fish. Unlike conventional gardening, there is very little water evaporation and no water is lost to the soil substructures. The fish benefit. The plants benefit. The environment benefits, and you ultimately benefit from an ongoing source of fish and vegetables.

There are other benefits of aquaponics vs. traditional gardening besides requiring less water and nutrient supplementation. Because soil is not used as the medium in which the plants grow, weeds are almost non-existent. If you have ever gardened, you know that weeding is time consuming as well as back breaking work. One configuration of an aquaponic bed contains ¾-inch sized gravel or clay pebbles, which are not conducive to weed germination. The healthy plants grown in an aquaponic system are also better able to withstand the onslaught of most insects.

Another obvious benefit of aquaponics is the periodic fresh fish. These fish are not “farmed” and therefore do not absorb the chemicals that are associated with the industry’s standard. So what about fresh water sources? Many of our rivers and streams are contaminated by farm chemical runoff or city sewage as well as other unknown toxins. You cannot be guaranteed that the fish you get are free from these unsavory conditions.

Is aquaponics a perfect system? Absolutely not. It’s imperative that you monitor ph, levels of nitrites and nitrates as well as temperatures, and there’s the obvious need for electricity to run the pumps. Just a few hours with no aeration of the fish containers and elimination of waste in the vegetable containers and you can lose all your fish. Fortunately, in the last couple of years, solar electricity has become affordable and within the reach of most preppers. Additionally, solar electricity has become simpler to set up and run, thereby making it a viable option to support an aquaponics system. You can buy various sizes of pre-fabricated aquaponic systems. For those who have the skill to build a custom bed, comprehensive schematics are also available for purchase.

Milk

Another excellent source of protein is milk. Going back to the backyard cow scenario, there are few people who can honestly sustain a milk cow. In order to produce milk the cow has to be bred by a bull and Mrs. Cow has to produce a calf periodically to maintain her milk supply. This really is not practical for most of us. There is, however, another milk producing mammal that can fit the bill and your backyard. Goats come in a variety of sizes. Even a small yard can accommodate a dwarf goat, which is no larger than a medium-sized dog. Goat’s milk is the least allergenic to humans and is often prescribed for babies with cow milk allergies. It’s true that the goat needs to be bred and have a kid (baby goat) once a year to continue producing milk, so in that aspect it is like a cow. It does not, however, require two 1000 pound animals in your backyard to maintain the milk flow. Once weaned, young goats can be sold or eaten. If you continue to milk the goat, you have the assurance of a liquid protein source that will be available until approximately three months before she is due to have another baby.

Goat milk is also useful in many other applications. It can be used to make cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other food staples we often relate to cow’s milk. Soap made from goat milk is gentle and soothing to the skin. Various beauty products can also be made by combining the milk and a few other ingredients. If it becomes necessary, goat milk can be fed to other animals as a sustainable protein source.

Conclusion

In order to remain healthy during a prolonged crisis, you need to include protein in your diet. At some point, your storage will run out. You must have a plan in place to address this problem head on. It is essential that you think through the plan and implement it before you actually NEED it. While you may not be able to utilize all of these suggestions, don’t panic. Having some strategies are better than having none. The more you practice your sustainability plan, the better off you will be. As a true poultry lover, I for one am happy not to have “all my eggs in one basket!”

Letter Re: Prepping for Elderly

Gentlemen,

A few days ago you advised retired and elderly folks about possibly finding a young person with a back to the land mindset to help out on their property in exchange for rent of a room. Might I add that they should also consider recently discharged veterans? Most have a proven work ethic. Many of them are not able to find meaningful employment in our current economy. In a SHTF situation, they already have recent military training. Check with your local veterans service office, the DAV, and the VFW for possible prospects. – JBA

Economics and Investing:

How I Became A Gold-Bug by Hugo Salinas Price

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What traders are buying if Trump wins

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How Could Shift In Monetary Regime Affect The Gold Market?

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Venezuela is telling hungry city dwellers to grow their own food – Seems like something I’ve read before in a JWR novel, turning every available space into crop producing land.

Buy Gold No Matter Who Wins the Election, HSBC Says – Remember, never use money you need. Having weak hands in an investment hardly ever leads to good things.

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity – A Pentagon Video JWR’s Comment: The dystopian predictions are based on some solid demographic trends. Urbanization will surely continue. The choice for survivalists is clear: Avoid urban areas! – JWR

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At The Charles Carroll Society page: Support local producers, produce for yourself and then others – a homesteading theory

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I just noticed that KeepShooting.com now has British Army Arctic Woodland (DPM pattern) Trousers back in stockBritish Army Arctic Woodland (DPM pattern) Trousers for less than $20 a pair.

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Pirate Party Surge Falls Short as Icelanders Back Stability

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According to an analyst in Israel, Turkey has apparently started a stealthy invasion of northern Iraq. Take a look at this video: Amir Tsarfati Prophecy Update – The Pope, Turkey, Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia 11/1/16

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Steal a fish from one guy and give it to another–and keep doing that on a daily basis–and you’ll make the first guy p*ssed off, but you’ll make the second guy lazy and dependent on you. Then you can tell the second guy that the first guy is greedy for wanting to keep the fish he caught. Then the second guy will cheer for you to steal more fish. Then you can prohibit anyone from fishing without getting permission from you. Then you can expand the racket, stealing fish from more people and buying the loyalty of others. Then you can get the recipients of the stolen fish to act as your hired thugs. Then you can … well, you know the rest.” – Larken Rose

Notes for Wednesday – November 02, 2016

On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a declaration of intent to establish a Jewish homeland known as the Balfour Declaration. While Arab hostilities and the outbreak of World War II delayed the desired outcome, the Nation of Israel was eventually re-established in 1948.

Today, we present another entry for Round 67 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  9. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).

Round 67 ends on November 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.

Five Things Women Need, by J.W.

My wife has a love-hate relationship with all this personal defense stuff.  She hates the idea of needing to be prepared and can’t stand that her day-to-day life is affected by potential or perceived and often unseen threats of violence, bUT she loves me.  So that means she agrees to all my training, prepping, security protocols, and most of my gear purchases.  Most? Okay, many of them. Many? Okay, fine. I just buy what I want. She gets mad for awhile and then eventually forgives me!

The point of this article is to give you five things that we think a woman needs for personal and family security when kids are involved and she finds herself in a dangerous or disastrous situation. These are a 24-hour get home bag, an exfiltration plan, communication resources, personal defense tools, and a proper mindset.

Twenty-four Hour Get Home Pack

My wife’s 24-hour pack is very similar to mine in terms of the gear she carries, but there are a few additions that I will highlight below. This retro-looking pack is similar to what my wife carries everyday in her Suburban. It’s large enough to carry the gear she needs but not too big to attract attention. On that note, do not pick a pack that makes a statement, especially if that statement is “I have a gun.” For this reason, you should stay away from military or tactical-looking packs, in my opinion.

REI Klettersack

We have four children. So, as you can imagine, my wife needs to carry enough equipment for five people, whereas my pack is designed just for me. The major additions to her kit include a bothy bag, a water purification filter, and enough food to sustain five people for 24 hours.

A bothy bag is like a giant-sized, waterproof/breathable garbage bag that can be used as a shelter in emergency situations. It’s designed for short-term use. You can’t really lay down inside of it as there’s no structure to it. Our bothy bag is designed so that five or six people can sit upright and lean against the walls of the shelter. It would not be comfortable to remain inside one for an extended period of time, but it will keep a person alive in a worst case scenario. I really like bothy bags as winter emergency shelters because with a group of people inside it the temperature rises dramatically. There is more information about bothy shelters online.

Food and water for five people would be extremely bulky and heavy for my wife to carry, so the way we’ve decided to manage this is through a water purifier and high calorie energy bars. Again, this is a short-term survival situation lasting a max of 24 hours. They can find water along the way. Will my children be happy about only eating a few energy bars all day?  Not in the least. Will they survive to complain about it later? Absolutely. She also carries first aid supplies, maps of exfil routes, a compass fire starter, personal defense weapons, light sources, a radio, and a cell battery backup.

Exfiltration Plan

What’s an exfiltration plan?  In the simplest terms, it’s about having a strategy to get from dangerous point A to safer point B in the most efficient way possible. By efficient I mean the route that requires the least amount of time, energy, and resources to arrive safely.

For example, my wife frequents Walmart, restaurants, and the library. Walmart and the restaurants are in close proximity to each other and therefore can share a similar exfil plan. The library, on the other hand, is much farther away and is located in a less than desirable part of town. The exfil plan from the library is more involved, due to the ground she would have to cover to get home safely from that area of town. Get the idea? This process requires some research and planning.

What I would suggest is to first get a map of your city. If you can find one that has topographic contour lines, that’s even better. (I’ll share more on the “why” of that later.) Now determine the locations of frequented places, such as your home, and the “bad” parts of town, hospitals, police departments, fire departments, and any other “safe” place that could provide you with food, shelter, or help if needed. Once you have all those places marked on your map, start looking at ways to move between them. View the map through the lens of your personal vehicle first.  Ask yourself things like, “If I’m at the grocery store and ‘Schumer’ hits the fan, what route will I take to get home?” Or “Oh, no. That road is blocked and I have to abandon my vehicle; what am I going to do now?” You absolutely must be realistic and critical in your assessment of the dangers you face and the details of your exfiltration plan. Next take a look at moving between your locations on foot.  Here is where that topographic map will come in handy. With this as a tool, you can locate hills, ridges, valleys, drainages, rivers, forested areas, and so much more. Then you can begin to get a better picture of the actual lay of the land between the library, store, or school and your house. Basically, you want to know how you can best use the land to your advantage.  Maps help the process.

You will, of course, want to drive and walk your exfil routes to make sure they work the way you had envisioned while doing your map planning. This can be made into a fun family outing for the creative parent. These days, I would bet you can find a geocache location literally on your exfil route, especially if you live in a city.  Take the kids out, and try to locate it.  This gives you the excuse to check things out without making it too obvious to the general public what your real intentions are.

Communication Resources

Nearly every adult human in the United States has a cell phone these days. Trust me when I say that there will be plenty of these available should the need arise for you to commandeer one. That being said, you have your own and should feel comfortable using it to communicate with your loved ones in an emergency.

Another tool you can utilize is a radio. I recommend the Motorola RDU4160, which costs about $300. The small consumer Motorola Talk-about radios are probably not sufficient, due to their pathetic usable range.  (That 15-mile range claim is misleading.) Also there is the issue of security. Someone is more likely to listen in on your conversations with those simply due to the large number of people that own them. You should look into something a lot stronger. Brands like Motorola, BlackBox, Kenwood, and Icom all make quality professional grade radios that will get you at least a mile of useable range even in the city. They use a different set of frequencies than the recreational talk-about radios and, therefore, should be more secure. They also operate on a much higher wattage output, so the signal should punch through buildings and terrain fairly well. CB radio is an option as well but again, there is the issue of security.

There are so many factors that go into radio quality and signal that I can’t possibly cover all that information here. The Motorola RDU4160 is what I’m using for the time being. It is sufficient as a backup to our cell phones and has performed well in our tests. Are there better options? Yes, there are, but I’m personally not willing to commit the time and effort to getting my Ham license right now.  There is a great article on radio communications from ITS Tactical for further study.

Personal Defense Tools 

Guns probably come to mind first, and I highly recommend them as your primary defensive tool. However, relevant training in context absolutely must go hand-in-hand with guns for personal defense. I can’t overstate how important this is. I’ll say it again like this: If you spent $500 on your pistol, you should spend another $1000-$2000 minimum on one or two reputable training courses. I.C.E. Training Company, which is owned by Rob Pincus, offers the kind of training I am referring to. If you want another choice, then Gunsite is a fine option. One final company I would recommend is Asymmetric Solutions.

Ladies, if you are like my wife, then you may choose not to carry a pistol for self defense. I can speak for your husbands when I say it’s time to reevaluate your opinions on this topic. Guns and fighting are no longer just the stuff of a man’s world. Thugs these days could care less if you’re a woman. They will not take it easy on you, and they are most likely armed with some kind of weapon. You always want to “one up” their weapon choice.  If they choose a baseball bat, then you want a gun. If they choose a knife, then you want a gun. If they choose a hammer, then you want a what? That’s right, a gun! To be completely fair, I don’t think a gun is the answer to every personal defense question, but it stands to reason that if you find yourself in a “worst case” scenario, then you might want to use a “last resort” kind of tool.

Other choices in defensive tools fall under the “pain compliance” category. These tools are typically deployed from inside the reach of the attacker. Obviously getting in close with an individual that is trying to harm you is never a good idea, but if you find yourself in that situation you want to have more than just your fists to stop their advance. Things like pepper spray, tasers, and batons are solid choices but sometimes fail and will not stop a determined attacker. Knives are sometimes inappropriately placed in this category as well, even though you can clearly and easily kill a person with one. Knives are an excellent back up tool to your defensive firearm, and some are specifically built for in-contact fighting.

Lastly, personal defense tools can be found laying around outside, stocked at the grocery store, and purchased at the magazine stand. Improvised weapons can be anything you pick up and hit with or throw at an attacker that would discourage them from advancing towards you. Here’s a short list to get you on my thought level:

  • tree branches,
  • chairs,
  • soup cans,
  • broom handles,
  • rocks,
  • a belt,
  • that stray cat, and
  • even your car.

Yes, exactly, just run them over (the bad guy, not the cat). Constantly assess your environment and be aware of things you could use as weapons if the situation arises.

Proper Mindset

“The devil whispers, you can not withstand the storm.  The warrior whispers back, I AM the storm” –Author unknown This is likely not a popular conversation to have with most moms. However, ladies, you need to develop your ability to flip that switch in your brain from helpless victim to dangerous warrior. It’s absolutely critical for your survival in a disaster or emergency situation. Your life and the lives of your children depend on you alone. Do not underestimate yourself. You are able to think quickly and clearly. You are able to make it home. You are able to strategically utilize the tools at hand to get the job done just as decisively as any man. You need to be willing to sacrifice the life of another human being in order to preserve the safety of your family, if that’s what it comes down to!  

When it comes to mental toughness, sometimes you just need to start talking yourself into things instead of out of them. Positive self talk about eating better, working out more, and being good to your spouse don’t just miraculously happen. Things worth doing often take hard work. Don’t just tell yourself you can; tell yourself you will! Tell yourself often how they shouldn’t mess with a momma bear and her cubs! Convince yourself that you would do anything to protect your children.

I recommend training your mind to think the way you want to perform. It’s no secret that olympic athletes use visualization techniques as a training tool to help them mentally prepare for competition. I contend that mentally preparing for the fight of your life is no different. Practically, this looks like finding a quiet place where you can relax, close your eyes, and mentally live out your worst nightmare in extreme detail. Choose a realistic scenario in the context of your personal day-to-day routine. Imagine every conceivable detail of your encounter from start to finish. Spend some extra time on the ending. Make absolutely certain that you win in the end! Check out the related article from Mike Gillette. He’s kind of an expert on mental toughness and a nice guy. Be willing to stand up for yourself. Be vicious, if necessary.  Remember, you want to make it home tonight. You want to prevail!

Letter Re: Spare Tire From Hurricane Matthew Lessons Learned

Gentlemen,

I really enjoyed DD’s Hurricane Matthew Lessons Learned write up. There was a lot of good stuff in there, and it gave me a couple of things to work on. One thing I can personally vouch for is the mention of your vehicle spare tire. I recently had some work done of my main vehicle, and it required the removal of the spare, which is mounted on the undercarriage. The mechanic called and said he needed to cut the bracket with a torch, as it was so corroded that he couldn’t remove the tire. If I had broken down on the highway, I never would have gotten the spare out. I don’t do any of my own vehicle work, but relying on Jiffy Lube to check the spare doesn’t cut it. I won’t make that mistake again. I lucked out, this time.

Also, I couldn’t help but notice the comment in the Odds ’n’ Sods article about the defensive gun use in Texas. A gentleman noted that he “has a gun permit, but doesn’t carry”. He goes on to explain that if he was in the same situation as the victim, he would have done the same thing. It’s kind of hard to do if you’re not carrying though! Maybe you could give the perp a nasty paper cut with your permit.

Spotlight

Economics and Investing:

Video: This Is Gold’s Turnaround Year – Aden Sisters JWR’s Comment: I am still more bullish on silver than I am on gold. I can foresee that by around 2030 the silver-to-gold price ratio will slide back closer to the historical norm of around 16-to-1. (Presently it is around 71-to-1, making silver a huge bargain.)

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Reader A.N. sent us this evidence over at Zero Hedge that there is another Zimbabwe in the making: Venezuela Throws In The Towel On Hyperinflation: Will Print 200x Higher-Denominated Bills

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Also at Zero Hedge: “Recession Risk Is Rising” Fast, Deutsche Bank Warns “Outlook Remains Fragile” JWR’s Comment: The Great Unspoken is the fragility of the U.S. stock market, which is now quite over-valued. Be ready for a big drop in stock prices, folks.

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books:

The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications

Idaho for the Curious: A Guide

Movies:

Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (recommended for children and teens)

Rooster Cogburn

Music:

The Best of Guy Clark

Gloryland: 30 Bluegrass Gospel Classics

Podcasts:

Podcast-James Wesley Rawles – We’re Still Headed For A Cataclysmic Event – Part 1

Podcast-James Wesley Rawles – We’re Headed For A Cataclysmic Event – Part 2

Instructional Videos:

A YouTube video from VikingPreparedness about mental preparedness for Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) situations: “It all happened SO FAST!”

YouTube Video Collection 152 Do It Yourself Projects Using Wood Pallets (for sheds, furniture, hen houses, greenhouses, and much more!)

Gear:

QuikClot Advanced Clotting Sponge, 50 gram

Seamand Hydration Pack with 3 Liter Water Bladder for Hiking and Climbing

Odds ‘n Sods:

Video: Hicock45 test shoots, describes and field strips the TNW Aero Survival Rifle. This is a straight-blowback AR variant that uses Glock magazines. It is available chambered in .45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, 10MM, and .357 SIG. Though I’m not a fan of pistol caliber carbines, the TNW looks quite well machined and finished. However, as you can see from the video, the ergonomics of the undersize grip are so-so, and the feeding reliability appears to be highly dependent on having fully-seated magazines. – JWR

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New social media tools empower citizen journalism. SurvivalBlog readers are strongly encouraged to get themselves free press credentials over at our CFAPA.org spin-off web site. Always carry your press credentials whenever you are out on the road!

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Now available on YouTube: The History Channel’s Bielski Brothers Partisan Group documentary. (Note: Most of the historical footage that accompanies the interviews is from Russian WWII propaganda films and NOT of Jewish partisans.)

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Rawles Interviewed by The Daily Coin on the Presidential Election and global threats.

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Seven of the Top Places U.S. Expats Are Living in Latin America (and Why)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“How bad do things have to get before you do something? Do they have to take away all your property? Do they have to license every activity that you want to engage in? Do they have to start throwing you on cattle cars before you say: ‘Now wait a minute, I don’t think this is a good idea.’ How long is it going to be before you finally resist and say: ‘No, I will not comply. Period!’ Ask yourself now because sooner or later you are going to come to that line, and when they cross it, you’re going to say well now cross this line; ok now cross that line; ok now cross this line. Pretty soon you’re in a corner. Sooner or later you’ve got to stand your ground whether anybody else does or not. That is what liberty is all about.” – Michael Badnarik

Notes for Tuesday – November 01, 2016

November 1st, 1923, was the birthday of science fiction writer Gordon R. Dickson (born 1923, died January 31, 2001). Many of his novels and short stories, such as Wolf and Iron, have survivalist themes.

November 1st is also the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was a prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven years in prison without a trial, the longest Federal incarceration for contempt in American history, Armstrong was finally put on trial in a proceeding that was branded as a sham. He was convicted on securities fraud charges based upon some marginal testimony and given a five year sentence. He was released from prison in September of 2011. Notably, Armstrong continued to write his economics newsletter while in prison, producing most of the issues on a prison library typewriter.