Some good points from Southernprepper1

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SP1 has make another great video, this time talking about God taking care of you.  I think he made some great points, share what you think down in the comments.

News- Survival Summit

What happens when a whole host of preparedness experts get together?  You get the Survival Summit.  Found online at http://thesurvivalsummit.com/, you get six straight days of presentations for alot of your favorite youtubers, and other innovators.  The cost is free to view the presentations up to 24 hours after they were given, then can be viewed at a cost later.  I think that this will be great because you don't need to miss work, pay for an admission fee, or even to travel.  In fact, if possible, it might make your time at work pass faster :)

News- Brink of Freedom

The Bring of Freedom website is going to print!  The popular web based magazine announced today that it would begin to have a regular publication in traditional magazine format.  More info can be found at http://brinkoffreedom.net/product/brink-of-freedom-magazine/

Cool Wood Splitter (Video)

So, I found this on the wonderful The Survival Podcast forum.  It is a video of a spring and weight powered wood splitter.  Check out the video here http://www.wimp.com/choppingfirewood/

Holiday Break

Due to the holidays, travel, and surprise sickness, I am taking the last bit of 2013 off.  However, I will be back in 2014 bigger and better.  I have several projects in the works, including getting to use some of the fun things that I was able to pick up over my Christmas break.

I wish you all Merry Christmas or what ever you holiday de joir is, and Happy New Year.  See you in 2014

Story Saturday- Chapter One Part One

  One man could't make a difference, could it?  Perhaps not, but one man, who joins with another, who then continue to join with more like minded individuals, they then become a force for change and for good.

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    The students were hardly phased when the lights went out.  Ever since the economy tanked, brownouts were common.  Many of the Recreation students at Northern Arizona University were outdoorsy types, and had layered up on clothing to fight off the cold.  Many other students on campus looked like hobos, with their layers of mismatched clothing.  The rec crew was, in contrast, dressed with layers of clothes made to actually layer on top of each other.  It was a record breaking winter, with sub zeros highs, and even colder lows in Flagstaff, Arizona.

     Mat was dressed with thermals under a flannel shirt, and he had removed his two coats, but was still wearing a pair of thin gloves to ward off the chill.  Called the 'Old Man on Campus' by this classmates, He was 32, at least 10 years older than most of his classmates.  A former police officer, he had been laid off when the economy started to really take a dive and the population of the town he worked for went down with it.   When every other town in the area was in the same bind, he was fortunate to qualify for a grant to go back to school and finish his last year.  He dropped out of college when we had the chance a few years ago to apply for the department of a small, rural, Arizona town.   He just hoped that there were still jobs available when he graduated at the end of the semester.  

     A couple of flashlights came out of pockets or bags and lit up the room, Mat's being one of them.  The professor, who insisted to be called Betsy and not Doctor, at the front of the class looked at her watch.  

    "Ok folks, we are close enough that I will just wrap up.  Do your reading assignment online and I will see y'all Wednesday."

     Mat put his notebook into his shoulder bag and pulled out his cell phone and sent off a text.  He put on his wool hoodie and his down jacket before tossing his bag over his shoulder and heading out.  A bitter chill hit him in the face and made him put his beenie on.  His walk headed him off campus towards a set of apartments nearby.  

    "I don't see why you make me walk all the way across campus to meet you here," a voice behind him said in a teasing manner.

    Turning to face the voice, "I make you walk out here because you need the exercise AND because I get free parking off camups."  Mat contested.

    The source of the voice was a large man, about 6' 5" and near 300 LBS, with reddish gold hair and a leather jacket on.  "I know, just teasing you.  But it is wicked cold today, and you're late."

   Mat scoffed at the comment, "No I'm not, you are just cranky, and probably hungry."  He tossed his friend a granola bar and asked, "Ready?"

    "Yeah,"  he took a bite of granola bar and continued with a mouth full, "Let's roll," but it sounded more like "ruts rlll" in almost a Scooby Doo voice.  

    

    His friend, Nick, was actually older than Mat by a year.  They met at church when Mat and his family moved to Arizona, and they hit it off, both being video game loving, sci fi aficionados.  Their wife's also became fast friends as well, both being artists.  Nick also took time off of his studies, to work for a while after he got married, and resumed his schooling after his first child was born, working full time and taking classes on the side.  When Mat started going to school, the two friends took turns carpooling to save on rising fuel costs.

    The two friends hopped into Mat's old diesel Blazer, which had trouble starting due to the cold.  The duo began to make the hour commute down the the Verde Valley where they lived and worked.  They talked for a while about the role playing game that they and their wife's were playing once a week, and about their shared interest in guns.  As the drive turned quiet, Nick, in the passenger seat started on homework while Mat tuned the radio to the local conservative talk radio station.  They continued this way until Mat dropped of Nick and headed out to his house for a quick bite to eat.

    To Be Continued

Every Day Carry For the Gentleman, Practical, Tactical, and Everything In Between Part 1

In the preparedness community there is a fetish for everything militaristic and tacti-cool, which has led to many sporting military style ruck and haversacks bursting with all sorts of gear. While I do enjoy looking at, fondling and playing with all manner of mil-spec, surplus, and mil-style tools and toys, I do believe that there is a time and place for everything. As a proper gentleman, you should look sharp, and stand out in a positive manner, as opposed to looking like the odd man out.  

Every day carry (EDC) is a mentality embraced by the preparedness community that states that the tools that you carry with you  every day is your EDC. If you don't have it on you everyday then it isn't EDC.  There are a number of things that compose different people's EDC, some to the extreme of ridiculousness in my mind. I knew someone who used a blanket as a jacket in case they were somewhere and wanted to take a nap, but by doing this she couldn't use both hands at the same time. Like ever. Others keep gas masks in their bags in case there is a gas terror attack on their place of work. A person's EDC is a personal choice, based on individual daily needs and routines. if you're looking to put a useful EDC together, here are a handful of things that I feel should be part of any lady or gentleman's EDC. 

1. A pen. I know many of you are thinking, 'say what?' complete with classic sassy tone. The number one question I get asked at work is 'Do you have a pen?' With the forms that I had to fill out daily as a police officer, and now in my current work place, a pen is the tool I used the most. The reason that I get asked is because nobody carries their own anymore! I keep at least two on me, one that I can lend out and don't care if they forget about returning it to me. Usually it's a free pen that some company, someplace, gave away as swag. The second pen is only for me, usually a nicer, better quality one. I also carry a mechanical pencil out of habit from being an officer. 

2. A proper pocket knife. I use mine just about everyday, whether to do some whittling, cut cordage, or pick gunk out from under my fingernails. I also said “proper” meaning, in my mind, to be made of a good steel that can sharpen easily, stay sharp with simple use, and isn't dull.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I came across somebody who had a knife, but it was too dull to use safely. If you are going to carry a knife, at least make sure it is useful. 

3. A pocket flashlight. For $15-$40, you can find a flashlight smaller that a highlighter marker, that is wonderfully bright for many of the simple tasks that you might need it for. I have helped others find dropped keys, found my own dropped keys, hooked up jumper cables, found light switches in unusual locations, and changed the batteries in my other flashlight. I carry mine in my back pocket and never leave home without it. I use good rechargeable batteries in mine, change them weekly, and never have to worry about it going dead. In my shoulder bag I carry extra AAA batteries just in case. (Be prepared) 

4. A handkerchief or two. I have allergies, and get sick on a regular basis, and have found that a good cotton handkerchief has been wonderful to have on hand. I carry one in each one of my back pockets, one for me, and one to lend out, usually to my wife.  I always keep the used one in the same pocket, no matter what I am wearing. The unused handkerchief is also available for first aid, if needed. 

5. A belt. A belt can be used to keep your pants up, something many younger people need to learn to do properly.  It can also be used for first aid, a short rope, to keep things together, and a lot of other things. It is also a handy way to carry things, via holsters and pouches. I have learned that a properly dressed gentleman is never without a belt. 

6. A Multi-tool. I love a good multi-tool: having a tool box in your pocket. Ask anyone that carries one and they will share with you all manner of stories about how they have used it. I have even seen a gentleman use one to hold a door open. My usual model has a small pair of scissors that I use often, as well as an interchangeable screwdriver.  I will discuss models in the next post.

7. A CPR mask + Nitrile Gloves. I have seen people carry large first aid kits in backpacks to everyplace they go, only to mostly use adhesive bandages and triple antibiotic ointment. Please understand that I am not negating the benefits of having a proper first aid kit nearby. However the most common life threatening event most will encounter is a heart attack. On my key chain I carry a pocket sized CPR mask. In this day and age, I don't want to get any sort of transmittable germ from some stranger I locked lips with while saving their life. The gloves are for first aid purposes, also to protect me from unseen unknowns.

8. Duct Tape. The handyman's secret weapon.  I carry a few yards wrapped around an old credit card (which is another trinket that has proved quite useful in many of my adventures.).

9. A Cell Phone. 'Nuff Said. Do your best to keep it charged, and have a secondary method to charge it. Mine is a car charger. 

10.  A Concealed Firearm and Permit. Take good training courses to go with it, too. All good gunfighters have a balance of training, a reliable gun, and proper ammo. I won't go into brands or types of guns for you today. There have been hundreds of others fighting that fight and I don't want to involve myself in that today. Any gun made by a big name manufacturer is more than enough. Some guns turn out to be lemons but that is rare, and if made by a major manufacturer it should come with a good warranty to take care of any problems you may come across. Extra magazines should be manufacturers original production.

Stay tuned, in Part 2 I will discuss the other things that I have in my EDC and how I carry it around.