Ask a question and I will give you an answer. It can be about pretty much anything – politics, firearms, current events, survival, preparedness, or “Can you daydream at night” – whatever.
Go ahead – “make my day.”
JR
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From the Supply Depot: RECOMMENDED MOVIES
The Magic of Belle Isle – awesome movie!
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Looking for Preparedness Supplies? Check out the Fantastic Monthly Sale at Emergency Essentials.
Emergency Essentials has been an industry leader for over 25 years. Excellent service and prices have kept them leader of the pack.
From food storage products to camping supplies Emergency Essentials carries it all.
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Need clean water?
Thoughts on communicating over HF Ham radio before/after event? I’ve been looking into AmRRon.com for frequencies/times, any thoughts on group to group comms? I got licensed(AmateurExtra) and have been doing various digital comms but thinking about how to get with other folks on the radio later…
Anyone going to PrepperCamp Sept 16-18?
Any more on the setting up extra memory cards for Amazon Fire for saving various PDFs etc of various resources? I got one during that big sale but have not done much more. Have a ton of PDFs on computer & mem sticks. Any tips on organizing?
Take care, Jonathan
Jonathan,
Which Amazon Fire did you get, do you like it and can the WiFi be switched off?
I am not sure what it is beyond an Amazon Kindle Fire 5th Gen 7″ screen that was on a big sale. I have not used it much at all. I did just locate that Wireless can be turned off, and it also has an Airplane mode like the iPad. At this point I can barely run it.
Until JR’s Kindle article, I’ve been mostly storing on mem sticks, my home/work computers, and “the cool prep thing”, a used/refurbished/cheap Panasonic Toughbook. List price was way way expensive (like $5000) but I got it refurbished from Amazon Merchant for $300 with a fresh Windows 7 install. Has been great and works great with portable ham radio stuff/digital modes. Runs on battery, 12V, and AC. Built like a tank, has interchangeable batteries.
I have a good number of books too as primary store of knowledge. I print out some important extra items too. All my extra stuff that I possibly can have on PDF I do, like manuals, guides, HOWTOs, etc. Want to be very portable…
Good stuff Zenblaster. I am wanting to pick up a Toughbook as you described as well Things are expensive unless purchased as you did. Need to start looking again.
I have several tablets and so far the Kindle Fire 7″ 2015(latest model as of this writing) is my favorite for the purpose of a survival library. It can take mini-SD cards, shows video’s, reads pdf’s, can read Office documents with the correct app – and is only $49.95 – cheaper on sale.
Right now a 64 gb mini-SD card on Amazon can be had for less than $20 – cheap! See http://amzn.to/2ctO0Ta . I have put away a lot of files and need to do a total reorganization soon in addition to adding a lot of files – especially YouTube video’s that need to be downloaded.
Mini-SD cards plus the Kindle = a great system.
Good call on the Toughbook. I use a CF-30 and have had it for 11 years. It’s lived on an explosive demolition range, ran instruments etc. and not skipped a beat.
I don’t do packets with it but I do run PSK-31 on it (DigiPan) and directly control the radio (Yaesu FT897D) with FTBasic. I absolutely refuse to part with it. Didn’t know I could get another in refurbished form and will look into that.
I am studying for my Technician license now. Panhandle Rancher can probably comment on HF communications if willing.
As far as tips on organizing the files I created directories such as GARDENING, DEFENSE, MEDICAL, etc. on my mini-SD cards. Within each directory a subdirectory called VIDEO’s to further organize.
Like Zenblaster and PB I am an extra class operator. Back in the old days I held an FCC commercial license and have a degree in electronics. I advocate obtaining the amateur license at least the general level not for the legal permissions that such offers as we all know grid down we would most likely be in a world without rule of law, but for the practical knowledge gained. Done correctly the successful general practitioner should be able to construct and maintain transmitters, receivers, and antenna systems. Done expeditiously, the extra class practitioner can do neither but just pass an exam. The practical knowledge of electronics gained by being an amateur radio operator extends far beyond just operating a radio – that knowledge will help one troubleshoot all manner of electronic circuits from HVAC to automotive – certainly an useful skill set. I put such knowledge on a pedestal just behind advanced medical knowledge such as a paramedic, nurse, or physician.
I maintain contact with my friends using a variety of rf modalities, including packet driven for meteor burst and moon bounce using a variant of JT65. Sometimes we just rag chew on SSB as it is the easiest for a group to maintain consistency of conversation.
First tier of amateur radio I recommend is VHF H/Ts followed by more advanced mobile HF equipment such as the FT897. As most mobile equipment is designed for operation from a 12vdc storage battery such offers the greatest versatility. The military considers 20w HF to be the minimum power for CONUS communication; most amateur mobile rigs are 100w.
I advocate for amateur comms as it is independent of any infrastructure; radios are easily powered and easily protected from emp.
Should anyone be interested, I propose a SSB ‘meet up’ on one of the approved general class frequencies (to open the ‘net’ to the greatest number of operators) in both the 40 or 20m band. Anyone interested can propose frequencies in both bands and time (alternates are often useful if the frequency is in use or propagation unsuitable.
PR
Jonathan, Where is a Prepper camp being held?Thanks.Lightning
this is 3rd year, Great classes, people, vendors. Top prepper info, high quality. BUT, is sold out. i wondered if anyone on here had bought tickets. i got mine when they first released this year. Excellent info every year. sign up for email list if possible to consider it next year. This has been much higher quality than the Preparadness Expos I’ve attended…
Do check the class list and speakers on the web site:
http://www.PrepperCamp.com
Many are on twitter like me, and we post with hash tag:
#PrepperTalk
Take care,
@zenblaster / Jonathan
Zenblaster
I’ll be at Prepper Camp ..
Looks like they are sold out now .. hmmm
I have a ticket .. so I’m good I guess
GG58
How about this? Much in the news lately about tampering with voting machines, Russia having a covert Op to influence the election, etc. Do you think all of that blows over or does it become the thing that sends up the balloon for us all? Does the SHTF due to some election crisis? If so, how does that change any of the emergency preps/plans we have? Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
RocketCityPrepper – DO I think there will be election fraud? Yes. Do I think it will determine the election? No. I think the discovered election fraud will get some attention but will be overlooked as crazy-talk by the sheeple.
I continue to look at as the election of Hillary Clinton as a noteworthy event on my preparedness timeline. Many of us have talked of prioritizing preps to coincide with 6-12 months after her election. Doesn’t mean that the S will suddenly hit the fan at that time but things will not get better with her in office.
Jonathan,
Wow. I’m sitting here loading up a micro SD card with files (all kinds) and thought I’d bring up Rourke’s site and ask if anyone else was doing the same. I guess so.
With the planned turn over of the internet’s control to the UN the end of this month, it may be time to reach out and gather files while they can still be gathered.
I’m working MP3 files now for for a SanDisk clip sport player. The entire Bible, LOTS of studies and messages going on this one. Have only used about 7 gig so far. I delete the many folders (music, audible, audiobook etc.) and make my own folders to organize things. TIP: Once you do that, go to the “view” tab and hit “refresh” or it won’t take on the card.
Cheers, PB
Thanks PB – good stuff.
What is everyone’s favorite freeze-dried food producer? And why ?
Ditto on files… Been doing that for a long time.. and keep 3-4 backups. They don’t go through the washer well ..
And i don’t think my preps change since I prep for multiple scenarios.
Favorite freeze dried food hands down is Mountain House however full disclosure my experience with other brands is fairly limited. I have had some WISE soups that were good but the ethics and quality of WISE is questionable. Mountain House has been around a long time and is proven.
I always order from Emergency Essentials. They also have their own brand but have never tried it.
I agree JR Emergency Essentials is an exc. company and your web site gets a little if we mention you. Lightning
Thanks Lightning. If you click on any Emergency Essentials link on this website we get a small commision at no additional cost to the customer.
My all time favorite is Bear Creek. Their powdered soups are delicious and need only water and heat. We eat them from time to time and if at home add relevant stock to augment the experience. All of my kits have Bear Creek included.
PR
I’ve ordered from Wise (contact the factory first for the best discount), EE, Mountain House, and Provident. I’ve never noticed a problem with Wise. JR would you amplify please?
Here is a press release from Mountain House –
http://www.mountainhouse.com/blog/2015/mountain-house-educates-consumers-long-term-emergency-food-isnt/
Our favorite freeze dried foods LEGACY,Mt House, and Wise.Theres a company that sells only non- GMO no preservatives that is delicious called LEGACY. Provident
Pantry is also exc. Lightning
We’ve used a few of Emergency Essential’s freeze-dried foods, but I prefer dehydrated, so we don’t get them often. The kids liked their diced beef, but it left me with an odd aftertaste. The bananas were excellent; the raspberries were a waste of money. I’ve had too many issues with EE in recent years to buy from them any more, but I’ve found their foods to be excellent over all. My problems were with the staff, not the products.
AK or AR?
When shooting AK with steel from wolf and tulammo, etc. Is it necessary to clean each time you shoot? I do but wonder?
Which vehicle is spelled the same forwards and backwards?
– Keep Looking UP
JBernDrApt – Regarding steel cased I don’t clean my weapons after shooting each time regardless of firearm or ammunition. I shoot a lot of steel in my AR’s and do not clean EVERY time. Really depends on how many rounds fired and how much time I have after shooting. No issues.
Now – if shooting surplus corrosive ammunition cleaning is absolutely required after each shooting.
Oh – and the vehicle: racecar
Thanks and yes, racecar!
I’ve put close to three thousand rounds through a WASR-10 AK before cleaning it without any problems except being a little gritty/dry and a LOT of carbon buildup at the muzzle comp & crown that can effect accuracy. You really should clean it after shooting it for a couple of reasons 1) to see if anything has been damaged, loosened, or lost. 2) that it’s ready to be picked up and used without any thing from #1 occurring. I had shot about 300rds didn’t clean it and at a modified IDPA shoot (carbine/handgun only), I was DQ’d for having a inoperable firearm. A primer had popped out and jammed up the trigger. By their rules, you MUST have a operable firearm when you showed up. No fixing of firearms. If I had to rely upon it, I would have been screwed.
JBernDrApt…
Yeah different makes. models, and mfg’s have different tolerances for grime, whether generated by the weapon or external, like sand or mud etc.. The AK platform is one of the more tolerant for dirty performance… depending on stamped vs billet (machined) maybe .. I haven’t shot every gun there is.
From the perspective of cleanliness.. I was taught .. “If you had to rely on this to save your life, or you buddies life.. How clean do you want it to be?” .. Test fire one round .. maybe not .. may even be worth it just to see if you screwed it up when you striped it, before you need it.. Anything after that is a risk… So how big a risk can you afford to take ? It’d be a good idea to find a problem on visual inspection or “feel” before a failure as well .. Sometimes it does more than just not shoot when it fails.. Firearms are exercises in very high pressure .. It’s not rocket science, but having one go book in your hand when you expect it to fire not good.. Then there is the whole accuracy thing.. if it is anything but point blank.. At distance .. cold bore shot .. you will want the barrel to be in the same condition (ammo and metallurgically) every time you take a shot or the destination is not as predictable. When I shoot with in-laws I consistently out-shoot (or accuracy) all the brothers in law… a good ting 🙂 .. part of it is training, but the other part is maintenance.. I have no idea how of which is which .. all the guns are dissimilar so there is no real comparison.. I will say when I got deer 3 years in a row .. with heart shots and they shot and missed.. AND When asked I said “I dunno , maybe you shoudl try cleaning the thing and zeroing it once in awhile”, as an answer .. the dinner table was pretty quiet… But one of them took it as a to do and next year he got one.. then the others came along begrudgingly.. some what ..
Missing a deer is not real risk except to pride .. could be worse..
rambling sorry
GG58
You can’t wonder around the internet articles/links without coming across those selling their wares. Some are items to use and many are collections of information that “you can’t survive without. Some of you know what i’m referring to….the 20-30 minute video followed by the “Click-Bank” link to make the purchase. “Survive the end times”is the latest one i’ve seen. Does anyone have an opinion or assessment of these ? I have never seen a reference to any in this community during the past couple years so have never thought of them in a real positive light.
Joyce – I can’t stand those video’s trying to sell and fear monger people into buying a product. Although I hate them they do serve a purpose. I have a few of those “ebook” packages from these video’s and overall pretty good. Some cost around $39 or so but you get tons of info in a short amount of time. It is all available free if you spend the time looking. I am not recommending any of them but for a newbie it is a good amount of information. I just hate their method of driving sales but apparently it works.
Joyce,
Any thing by Rawles is superior.
PR
Joyce,
Yes, there are many who are capitalizing on the fear that a lot of America is feeling. It’s hard not to recognize where this country and the western world is going. We’ve forced God out of everything–our schools, government, military and ultimately our morals. And the effect has been devastating. Good grief, people can’t even figure out which bathroom to use anymore. I believe and, God’s word promises, that nation’s that turn away from Him will eventually face judgement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x3WI9OWAL4
As far as paying these hucksters that are selling things like “Survive the end times”?
Not a chance. God has given us His word–complete and full. We just need to get and keep our noses in it. Most importantly, we need to do so responsibly. There are and have been many date etc.predictors out there for decades–avoid them like the plague! We can’t know the day or the time. Those making wild predictions will only bring discredit and scoffing on God’s people.
With that said, we can understand the season. And, the signs are all around us. There are many out there on the net discussing it and it doesn’t cost a penny. The only way to avoid the hucksters is by studying His word and staying firmly grounded.
Remember what Jesus said when the apostles asked Him “when will this happen and what will be the sign” in Matthew 24? His first words: “Watch out that no one deceives you”
Keep yer nose in God’s word–responsibly. It’s the ultimate prep.
Patriot Believer – from the intro of the video – I believe we as a nation has abandoned God.
Thanks….i was pretty much thinking the same thing. Sometimes i need to run it by you all with the experience to make sure……..
Indeed. There is no political solution for America’s spiritual problem.
PB
Patriot Believer
Depends on what you call a political solution..
Demanding our “Leaders” adhere to our founding principals or be voted out of office, would count as a political solution. Setting the right example is a big deal. If sheep are going to be sheep, then let them wander in the right direction so when a sheep dog pops out of the crowd they lead int eh right direction.
Term limits to remove corruption by virtue of the clock and calendar if nothing else is a better solution and provides a chance to get more faithful leaders as well.
In today’s environment, there is no purely political solution I would agree, but the political process COULD and SHOULD be used to correct the issue. I doubt that it will but it could if WE THE PEOPLE demanded it.. Returning prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the classroom.. as well.. and the list goes on .. reversing the legal decisions as well as customs adopted that have systematically destroyed the fabric of this nation .. is also a political process.. Denying access to illegal immigration of refugees or aliens that have no interest of supporting the American Ideal as well..
What we lack so far is the necessary leverage to accomplish those changes.. IMO
For your consideration:
http://www.alt-market.com/articles/3006-clinton-versus-trump-and-the-co-option-of-the-liberty-movement
OK.. I’ve read it a couple times..
Like almost any article on the many subjects the author brings up .. facts, pseudo- facts and non-facts are woven together to form some conclusions… wright or wrong .. my opinion has no bearing really until we no longer have 1st Amendment rights.. (I will never call them privileges , ever.. because it implies the government allows you to have them and they don’t). Anyway .. I hav eto go back to the basics and bring my thinking forward .. to begin with .. What does political mean?
po·lit·i·cal
pəˈlidək(ə)l/
adjective
of or relating to the government or the public affairs of a country.
“a period of political and economic stability”
synonyms: governmental, government, constitutional, ministerial, parliamentary, diplomatic, legislative, administrative, bureaucratic;
Which means pretty much anything you do or we talk about here is political in destination if not origin, or is driven by conclusions we make about perceived political outcomes. I’m ok with that and we do a pretty good job of dong it civilly.
I will always think that the issues in and about the government can and must be corrected politically in order for civility to be fostered. Is it working well just now ? No.. decidedly not. Remember that politically everything starts with diplomacy and the process of compromise, until compromise can or will no longer be made. Thin also about what Carl von Clausewitz said that the continuation of politics by other means was … My point is that there is very little that is not political and only one thing comes to mind that antedates it.
Thanks for the article.. it was an interesting perspective
GG58
On licorice.
I was returning from an overseas trip and passed through Washington National en route to my northern VA home. For some reason, I purchased a sack of black licorice at the airport for the kiddos who were about 4 and 6. The daughter processed the licorice with no problem but the son had a fit. I had always heard the expression ‘climbing the walls’ and until had never seen it done. That boy literally tore down the curtains. We rushed him to the ER where he received a new drug – benedryl that calmed him down. I since learned that some cannot tolerate black licorice and never gave that lad any more.
PR
sorry I’m late to this, been waging a unholy jihad against fleas at the home & yard, that’s a whole post in itself. Post-grid down those will be a huge problem without modern pesticides/etc to deal with them… with the 15th anniversary of 9/11 coming up are you making/taking any special pre-9/11 plans just in case?
Get guineas for yard fleas then keep the grass and weeds short.
PR