DPT--Connecting in the Community

If you want to make connections in your community, there are a bundle of online resources to help this happen:

• Freegans. From their site: "Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources".
• Meet Up. There are 47,905 meet up groups in 112 countries that allow people with similar interests to get together and discuss everything from ghost tracking to Spanish language practice to investors groups to pug aficionados.
• Freecycle. Whether you need something or want to give something away, this is the website that allows you to connect with people in your community.
• Craigslist. Much like old fashioned bulletin boards at college or your local grocery store, Criagslist is the new fashioned bulletin board listing everything from work to housing to ride shares and a whole bunch of other stuff.

10 Ways to Stop Being Brainwashed

I'm not sure if I am getting old and crotchety or the world really is going to Hell in a hand basket. I believe my grandfather felt the same way many decades ago so maybe it is a generational thing--at first you are young and don't know any better, then you get older and know too much. Anyway, my latest rant is about people who are brainwashed. They hang on the latest Jerry Springer show thinking that is what real life is supposed to be like. They listen to people selling all kinds of crap, fall for their lines, then wonder why they are in debt. They follow the crowd and don't think for themselves; casting blame on everyone but themselves if things don't work out the way they expected. Here are a bunch of ways to stop following the crowd and stop being brainwashed by society:

1. Cut back on the news. Way back. Even though we supposedly live in a country with freedom of the press, the news is skewered. It is filtered, regurgitated, and processed in a way that tends to instill fear in the public and fearful people are much more easily led.
2. Cut back on TV. There are some educational programs but a lot of the stuff on TV is crap. Again, most of it revolves around the element of fear/anger/hatred and can literally raise your blood pressure. Why succumb to this voluntarily?
3. Look at who you surround yourself with. The phrase "you are only as good as the people you hang out with" is true. You hang around idiots, you become an idiot. You hang around drug dealers, you will either become one or be found guilty by association. Hang around intelligent, straight thinking, forward moving people and you will become that product of your environment.
4. Have basic skills--math, science, logic, history, English--all of those classes in school were meant to give you the skills to survive and move forward in our society. I am always amazed when people do something dumb (one guy loaded a new refrigerator in the back of his truck, didn't tie it down--guess he thought it was so heavy it wouldn't move--headed off down the freeway and it promptly blew out of the truck and shattered all over the freeway. Did he flunk physics? Also, the next time a kid at the fast food restaurant can't figure out how much change I get because the computer didn't tell him, I'm gonna go ballistic. Don't they still teach math?). These basic skills when used appropriately will help people figure out simple--and more complex--things in life.
5. Question everything. People are either too dumb or too trusting and they don't question ANYTHING. From the PayDay lender: "we want to help you in your time of need so here take this money at 300% interest". Ask: What's wrong with this picture? Why would someone want to give me money? What's in it for them? Are their terms reasonable? What are my other options?
6. Know your rights. If you don't know what they are, you don't have any. Start by reading the US Constitution. Then read your state constitution. Research applicable rights and laws that pertain to any situation you find yourself in. The only person who is going to look out for your best interests is YOU.
7. Home school your kids. The state of public schools is frightful in many (not all) areas. Teachers spend half of their classroom time being policemen or social workers; this leaves very little time for actual education. The home schooled kids I know are intelligent, well socialized, and a pleasure to be around (a friend said it's because if you spend that much time with your kids, you have to teach them to be the pleasant people you want to be around).
8. Take a stand. When you feel you are in the right, when you have a defensible position, take a stand no matter what society or your peers think. Many people would rather roll over and play dead than stand up for themselves, stand up against things that are illegal/immoral/unethical, or worse, let the government think for them.
9. Don't follow the crowd. The crowd buys $400 purses on credit. They persecute people based on rumor. They excuse behaviour that is inexcusable. There are ways to fit into society (good manners, good attitude) and there are times when you need to do your own thing (like being debt free when everyone you know lives on credit).
10. Experiment, explore, and continue learning. Growth stops when learning stops. There is always more to learn, always ways to improve your lot in life, and always room for taking control of (and personal responsibility for) your life.

Health Preps...The Rest of the Story

We've covered physical preparedness skills, exercise, health, and nutrition outlining ways to incorporate nutrition and physical fitness in order to improve your health. Here are the rest of the things you need to do, health-wise, in order to be ready for anything:

• Get your vaccinations. We make sure our kids are vaccinated all the way through school but most adults stop getting vaccinations somewhere in their late teens. Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date and ask you physician about any other vaccinations you need (chicken pox, hepatitis, measles, etc.). If you will be traveling overseas, ask you doctor about location-specific vaccinations you need. Here's some info from the CDC on this topic.
• Take care of little health problems before they become big problems. See your doctor annually, your dentist bi-annually, have your vision tested as needed, keep up with any current medical problems (ie: diabetes, high blood pressure) by instating exercise and nutrition to combat these problems and of course, take medications for these problems as prescribed by your doctor.
• De-stress your life. Stress is one of the leading causes of the most common medical problems in our country (high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, etc). Take up yoga, meditation, or anything else that will make you calm and serene.
• Use common sense, basic safety precautions to protect your health (and your life). Never drink and drive, use a helmet when you ride a bicycle or motorcycle, wear a life jacket when you are on small boats, use your seat belt religiously, don't drink out of that clear stream without purifying the water, etc.
• Take care of mental health issues, substance abuse issues, obesity, and domestic violence issues immediately. All of these problems can significantly lessen your life span. Unfortunately these types of conditions require action only by the person that has the problem since telling them "you have this problem, go get treated" doesn't work, unlike if someone has cancer or a broken leg--in these cases you don't have to point out that they have a problem and need to seek treatment. As a side note, all of these conditions can significantly decrease your ability to respond during a disaster.
• Realize that the most dangerous activities, statistically, are some of the most common. You don't find bungee jumping and snake wrangling on the mortality statistics pages--what you do find, in excess, when it comes to death and traumatic injuries, are things as basic as falls (middle aged men fall off ladders with surprising regularity), drownings (due to lack of safety precautions), car accidents (teens and older people tend to spike this stat), poisoning (everyone from babies eating poisonous things to people OD-ing on drugs or alcohol is included here). plus the serious results of high blood pressure (heart attack), cancer, and other diseases.
• If you are taking prescription medication, try to have a three month supply on hand. This will come in handy for traveling, for evacuating during an emergency (take the meds with you since the pharmacies in your area probably won't be open), and as a back up, if by accident, a portion of your meds gets destroyed (a friend had one bottle of meds in her emergency bag and had one bottle over the toilet in a medicine cabinet--one day as she was taking out her meds they fell from her hand into the toilet. The emergency meds meant she didn't have to call her doctor for a new prescription and run to the pharmacy immediately).
• Avoid activities that can get you maimed or killed. Sounds simple doesn't it? Apparently not to the legions of people who post their latest (dangerous) exploits on You Tube (bus surfing, drunk driving, fight club style fighting, et al). Of course there are some dangerous activities that people will do regardless of the danger (riding a motorcycle, climbing up ladders to trim trees/hang lights/clean the gutters, skateboarding) but at least if you partake in these activities, learn the safest way to accomplish them.

Basically good health comes down to common sense. The up side is that when you are in good health, responding to a disaster will be that much easier.

Nutrition 101

The cornerstone of good health is good nutrition. Here's 35 ways to improve your nutrition and thus, improve your health. p.s. This will also save you a lot of money as well.

1. Ditch soda pop. This is expensive sugar water and the carbonation leaches the calcium out of your bones.
2. Ditch coffee. Some people would be comatose without coffee but it's worth a shot. If you are addicted to this stimulant you will probably have the mother of all headaches while you detox.
3. Drink water. This is the only beverage you really need.
4. Avoid alcohol as well. You're liver will thank you for it.
5. Eat five vegetables and three fruit in their natural form (ie: an apple, not apple juice) each day. Most people don't get this much vegetation in a week but it will greatly improve your health, especially your digestion.
6. Switch to whole grains only. Whole wheat bread instead of white bread, brown rice instead of white rice, bulgher instead of processed noodles.
7. If your great (or great great grandmother) could identify a food item it's probably good to eat. Back then they didn't have the processed foods that make up the typical American diet.
8. Bake/cook from scratch--you'll know what your meal is actually composed of.
9. Toss the white sugar and corn syrup--use honey and maple syrup instead.
10. If you must have dairy, go with yogurt. Most adults don't digest milk very well.
11. Try to eat more fish and wild game.
12. If you must eat beef, pork, and chicken, raise them yourself (ideal) or buy them from a local farmer (good too) and stay away from the factory raised variety.
13. Toss anything with partially hydrogenated oil. It will give the product a shelf life of like forever--not good for you.
14. Eat a wide variety of foods.
15. Cook your food in a cast iron pan--the iron that is absorbed in the food is good for you.
16. Eat more ethnic foods, the more "real" (ie: braised chicken feet for the calcium it gives you) the better.
17. Go easy on the salt, Americans get plenty of salt in their diet and don't need a heavy hand on the shaker.
18. Pay attention to how food is prepared. Baked is better than fried. Steamed is better than boiled.
19. Cut out daily dessert. A fatty, sugary treat is not necessary every day and should be saved for special occasions.
20. Eat less. Unless you are doing physical labor 15 hours a day, 5000 calories each day is not needed.
21. Avoid fad diets. Of course you will loose weight when you cut out all carbohydrates but eventually your health will suffer because the body needs carbohydrates.
22. Use spices--it peps up your food without calories or salt.
23. Plan ahead and make healthy snacks for the family instead of opening up a bag of chips.
24. Eat raw food each day--raw nuts, vegies, fruits, etc.
25. Build meals around salads, vegetables, and grains instead of around meat.
26. Eat out less often. Restaurant food is usually loaded with fats, sugar, and other items to make it taste better, at the expense of your health.
27. Eat in a pleasant atmosphere then take a walk after dinner--it helps your food digest better.
28. Limit your diet then expand it slowly in order to determine if you have food allergies. Many people are unaware that they are allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, etc. They just suffer with the side effects and think it is part of growing older.
29. Bring your own healthy food instead of picking up fast food on your way to work or on long trips.
30. Avoid highly processed foods--a twinkie can last for years.
31. Shop at stores that receive daily shipments of vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. Stores that only get deliveries once a week mean that the produce and meat won't be the freshest.
32. Avoid canned soups and sauces--these usually contain massive amounts of salt along with copious amounts of corn syrup as well.
33. Read the labels if you do buy canned or packaged foods. If the first few ingredients are sugar and salt, that's a bad sign.
34. Avoid "sugar free" and "fat free" items. These usually include aspartame and other chemicals not found in nature--and that shouldn't be found in you.
35. Avoid foods that have been irradiated or chemically altered. Fruits and vegies should be grown organically instead of covered with pesticides.

Prepping for a Cold Winter

In the news today was a short article about the Farmer's Almanac and its prediction for a colder than usual winter. With prices rising for everything and our heavy addiction to fossil fuel for heat, this may not be such a nice winter for many folks. Here's some ideas to keep your home warm and toasty this winter:

• Winterize as much as possible. Put up storm windows or seal drafty windows with plastic. Add insulation to the attic and the basement/crawlspace ceiling. Weather strip doors and windows. Seal drafts with spray foam or insulation. Call you local energy company and see if they offer free home energy audits or provide other freebies to cut your energy costs such as low flow shower heads, an insulation blanket for the hot water tank, etc. Even if these items aren't offered free, take a look at your local home improvement store for cost-effective, energy saving ideas.
• Have a number of sources of heat. Most homes have gas forced air, electric, oil, or propane heating systems as their main source of heat. Alternately, you may want to also have small space heaters so you can heat only the area you are using and not the entire house, a wood stove or pellet stove, and a kerosene heater on hand for emergencies. Be sure that any heating system you use is functioning as efficiently as possible. A friend just moved into a home with a plain fireplace. After noting that it burned up wood quickly and gave off very little actual heat, he promptly installed a highly efficient wood stove and is very happy with his decision.
• Be sure that any heating appliance you use is properly ventilated--there is always a rash of carbon monoxide poisonings each winter from improperly vented heaters and generators.
• Speaking of generators, if you absolutely must have heat and your heating system will not work without electricity, consider having a generator and fuel on stand-by. Those with small children or elderly in the house may find a generator particularly necessary.
• If you have a fireplace or wood stove, be sure to have plenty of seasoned firewood ready for winter. Ditto for pellets if you have a pellet stove, kerosene if you have a kerosene heater, and oil/propane if you have these types of heating appliances.
• Practice some good old fashioned heat management. Years ago when homes were drafty and windows were of the thin, single pane-type that you puttied into place, families used a variety of ways to conserve heat. Some of these include: wear heavier clothes, bundle up under blankets, heat only one room where all of the family gathers, use heavy blankets to curtain off the cold sections of the house, use heavy drapes to keep the drafty windows closed up, only heat the home during the day when people are home (lots of blankets and the occasional hot water bottle were used to keep people warm in their beds overnight), etc.
• Ask your fuel/electric company if they have some sort of monthly payment plan. These plans usually estimate your fuel/electricity usage over the course of the year and bill you even payments on a monthly basis which is often better than receiving tiny bills in the summer and astronomical bills in the winter.
• If you qualify and if you absolutely can not afford to heat your home, check with local social service agencies to see what programs they have to help with winter heating bills.
• Be creative. Here's one idea: The Amazing Wood Burning Stove
• And some final ideas: spend more time away from home if this is plausible (at work, at friend's homes, at the mall, at the library, etc), get moving (physical work and exercise raises your body temperature and thus makes you warm without as much heat), bake and cook more at home (the heat radiates into the kitchen, usually making it the warmest room in the house), cuddle up with the spouse, wear socks to bed, take a quick hot shower then get under a blanket, drink a cup of cocoa (at night) or coffee/tea (in the morning)...

To my friends in the southern hemisphere--have a wonderful summer (and save this post for March).

Shut the F*%@ Up

Well the title may be a bit harsh but when it comes to talking to the authorities or basically anyone else, it is good advice. When it comes to the authorities, people's nature is to be as talkative and helpful as possible. As it has been pointed out time and time again, this usually works against the person in the long run. Anyway, I came across this video and while I often will watch a two minutes video and rarely watch anything longer than five minutes, this video held my attention for the full twenty minutes. Watch and learn...

Update: Here is the discussion preceding the above video.

Domestic Violence--Some Preparedness Tips

People spend a lot of time preparing for big disasters--pandemics, earthquakes, the complete breakdown of society--yet they spend surprisingly little time preparing for the most common disasters that strike people on a daily basis. Things like job loss, a house fire, or a heart attack happen to people in our community every day but these things that can be prepared for ahead of time get little recognition in the preparedness community.
One very common problem that happens in many families is domestic violence. A friend came to my home this evening and this is exactly the situation she is facing. The situation, as it often does, didn't suddenly happen this evening, it had been growing and developing over quite a period of time. Was she prepared to take action when it got to be too much? No.
Everyone should be prepared for domestic violence--it can happen to men or women or teenagers, it can develop in a long term relationship or a relationship that only began a few weeks ago, it can be a short burst of intimidation or a full-fledged physical/emotional/psychological attack. Here's how to be prepared for this type of situation:

• Know if you are being subjected to domestic violence. In our happy world, people often overlook or explain away clear signs of domestic violence. Here's a check list.
• EVERYONE should have a secret emergency fund stashed away. Many people stay in bad situations because they simply don't have the cash to fund a get away.
• Develop a support system. Friends, relatives, and advocates you can depend on are very helpful, especially in an emergency situation.
• Have an escape plan: where will you go, what will you take with you (BOB, valuables, passport, medical/financial/other records, prescriptions, etc), how will you get there, etc.
• Be as self supporting as possible. Get a part time job, sell things on EBay, continue your education...all of these things will help you get on your feet more quickly once you leave the situation.
• Leave a paper trail. Police reports, hospital records, and restraining orders all create a trail of the events that are happening to you. Keeping a journal and documenting everything pertaining to your case can also be beneficial.
• Keep a low profile if needed. The perpetrator showed bad behaviour in the first place which is what got you into this situation so imagine how they will react when you take action to stop the abuse. You may need to switch towns, switch jobs, get a different car, change your cell number, and take other precautions to ensure your safety. Check out www.howtobeinvisible.com for some excellent advice on low profile living.
• Realize that cell phone records, a GPS device attached to your car, credit card records, and information provided via the grapevine can lead your abuser right to you. Take steps such as having your car inspected for a GPS device, using a pre-paid cell phone, and using cash instead of credit to cover your tracks.
• If you stay in the home and the perpetrator leaves, take steps to make the home as secure as possible (change the locks, install steel doors, put in a security system, have a cell phone to call for help if the phone line gets cut, etc).
• Take steps to protect yourself: learn karate, carry Mace, learn how to use and carry a firearm, inform your boss and the kid's school about your situation (they should institute a domestic violence protection plan for you and your kids), etc.
• Use the law to the fullest extent. File for divorce, file for a restraining order (it won't protect you per se however it shows your intent), cancel all joint credit cards, call the police if necessary, file charges...basically bring the wrath of the legal system down on the perpetrators head.
• Deal with the psychological impact of the situation (ie: rebuild your self esteem and confidence, get counseling if needed, find a support group either in person or online, etc).

As you can see, many of the preparedness tips for domestic violence are the same for any bad situation. Knowing how to protect yourself and having the means to do so will pay off in the long run no matter the type/severity of the situation.

Summer "Finish Up" List

In the northern part of the US, fall will be here in ten days! The summer sure went fast. Here's a "to do" list of things that need to be taken care of before fall gets here:

• Get the yard prepped for winter (mulch plants, cut the grass, prune shrubs and trees, take care of any possible erosion problems that will show up with winter rains, etc).
• Have all firewood cut, stacked, and ready for winter.
• Food production and preservation (canning, freezing, etc) should be in full swing now.
• Buy a cow and pig for the freezer.
• Thoroughly clean the house.
• Sign up for a fall class (at a local college or online) that will help improve your job/income earning skills.
• Extend the growing season in your garden (make a cold frame, put up a green house, etc).
• Be sure the gutters and down spouts are clean and in good repair.
• Make any exterior fixes before the cold weather sets in.
• Winterize your home if needed (put up the storm windows, put in weather stripping, etc).
• Be sure the generator is ready to go and that you have fuel on hand for it.
• Go on a final summer camping trip.
• Get the kids ready to go back to school (or prep for homeschooling if that's what you do).
• Bring out the fall and winter clothing and shoes.
• Put together your fall exercise plan (this may include more options for working out indoors).
• Be sure your emergency supplies are ready for fall and winter (ie: have equipment and supplies on hand in case of hurricanes, floods, snow storms, etc).
• Rotate stored food and water.
• Start saving now for Christmas shopping, Christmas vacation, or other holiday events that include spending money.

10 Reasons NOT to Have a Firearm in Your Home

I am all for people utilizing their second amendment rights to the fullest. The possibility that many of the homes in a neighborhood have firearms is a good deterrent to criminals, being able to protect yourself is a natural right, and well, I just like having my guns around--it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. There are circumstances, however, when it makes a whole lot of sense to (usually temporarily) not have firearms in the home. Here's when:

1. When there is domestic violence in the family or the possibility of domestic violence such as during a contentious divorce. This is a bad situation that needs to be fixed immediately, generally by putting a lot of distance between the parties. If the violent people are all in the same house and there is a firearm, there is an increased possibility that one will use it on the other.
2. When there is a suicidal person in the home. Firearms are often used to commit suicide. Ideally the depressed/suicidal person receives treatment and all is well, but until treatment is successfully completed, having a firearm on the premises generally exacerbates the problem. Some people say yes, but if there is no gun they will just hang themselves or use pills. Possibly, hopefully not, but on a macabre note, if there is no stopping the suicide, walking in on someone who has hanged themselves is a whole lot better than finding someone who has blown their head off.
3. When alcohol use is out of control. Excessive alcohol use and anything else (driving, using a firearm, carrying around a knife, etc) usually winds up with stupid if not deadly results. An alcoholic with a gun is bad all the way around.
4. When there are troubled teens in the home. Gang banger kids, show off kids, kids who are bullied or out of control make for a very volatile situation. Also, kids are pretty clever so if they really want to get to your firearms they probably will and the results can be deadly (or at least lead to incarceration).
5. If there is a convicted felon in the home. The law is pretty clear that unless an ex con has had their rights restored, being in possession of a firearm--which usually happens when there is an ex con and a firearm in the same vicinity--can send them back to the big house. Why take the risk?
6. When the gun was purchased years ago "for protection", has never been used or practiced with, and has been stashed in the back of the closet under the sweaters to use in the event of an emergency. This is a sign of an irresponsible gun owner who probably shouldn't even own a gun.
7. If you are a pacifist or are diametrically opposed to gun ownership. Just because a person can own a gun doesn't mean they should.
8. If it is illegal in your jurisdiction. Deciding whether or not to break the law is a personal decision; in this situation some people feel their right to own a gun as outlined in the constitution overrides the whim of the city council. For others they will follow the law and thus avoid a nasty legal situation.
9. It's against your religion. Some religions are like that and people need to do what they feel is right.
10. If you think you will only use it to scare away a burglar but would never actually use it. Hopefully the sound of chambering your 12 gauge will send a smart burglar right out of your home but this may be wishful thinking. The only time you should point a firearm at a person is if you fully intend to use it on them.

Obviously owning a gun is a big responsibility. Part of this responsibility is knowing when not to have one. If any of the above situations apply to you, consider temporarily storing your firearm at a friend's home or at your local gun club. In the place of a firearm, in order to protect yourself and your family, consider other non-lethal options such as pepper spray or a taser.

Can You 'Live Homeless'?

I pass homeless people on the streets of my city, I've walked through local forests helping with a homeless count, I've camped numerous times in the wilderness by choice, but fortunately I have never been homeless. Since we need to be prepared for anything and since being homeless is a reality that many people are currently facing in our country, I figured now is a good time to find out how others do it. Mostly they seem to be creative, often they just get back to basics, looking for a dry place to sleep. Keeping a low profile and blending in also seem to help. Here's some ideas:

• Homeless at NYU (this guy had an excellent blog during his homeless days at NYU, unfortunately its been taken down).


• How to Live Homeless


• The Couple Who Lived in a Mall


• The People Who Live at Heathrow


• How to Be Homeless


• Hiding Yourself


• Urban Camouflage (creative!)


• Hobo Poet (check out the links to other hobo blogs)


• How to Become a Hobo

Physical Preparedness 101

At the most basic level of preparedness is your body. How is your hearing? Have you had it tested lately? Do you need hearing aids? Being able to hear well is one of the most basic warning systems the human body has. How is your eyesight? Have you had it tested lately? Do you need glasses? The ability to see what is happening around you is another first line of defense. Smell, taste, and touch are our other senses that warn us about dangers in our immediate area. Keeping your senses as sharp as possible is one of the most basic ways to up your preparedness abilities. This is why tactical shooters practice with shoot/no shoot pop-up targets--it tests their ability to quickly view a scene and make a split second decision. This is why skilled trackers use all of their senses to efficiently track their prey. While you are taking an inventory of your senses, don't forget your sense of intuition. When you talk to people who work on the front lines (cops, soldiers, etc) you will often hear how intuition helped them make the bust or avoid a deadly situation. For more on this often under-rated sense, check out 'The Gift of Fear'.

How to Change Someone's Mind About Shooting in Five Minutes

Yesterday at the range, something happened that occurs with some frequency. A lady was grudgingly brought to the range by a friend who likes to shoot. The first words out of her mouth were "I don't like shooting, I'm afraid of guns. Guns are only for killing people". It always surprises me when people think that way whether it is about guns or anything else. Many people have preconceived notions about so called "hot topics" such as abortion, guns, immigration, or anything else that polarizes the population, yet they have no actual knowledge of the subject! They have been brainwashed by friends, family, the media, their religion, etc. and without immediate knowledge of a subject, they automatically hate (fill in the blank). Personally, I have no immediate knowledge of abortion so I stay out of the debate, since I cannot take a position on something based on theory alone. The same is true with firearms. I was raised around firearms, I own firearms, I practice with firearms, and I carry a firearm so I feel perfectly confident in my ability to delineate my position on the issue while at the same time, allowing others to have their opinion about the issue (as long as their opinions are based on experience not just heresay). So back to the story...
After a bit of cajoling, this lady--even though she was literally shaking--agreed to try shooing a .22 handgun. Once. Just so she would know what it was like. She shot once, hit the target, and relaxed a bit. She shot again, and even smiled. With her first magazine, she knocked down six plates on the plate rack target (Wow...talk about a natural!). After three magazines she declared she had found her new passion. Amazing. And this actually happens quite often. A little bit of hands-on practice along with some common sense talk (such as: Handguns are used 99% of the time for target shooting which is a fun activity. Handguns are a tool that when used properly can be perfectly safe, the same can be said for a chainsaw. And, if you are in a life and death situation, a handgun will be like a seat belt--something that can save your life even though you hope you will never have to use it).
So anyway, score one for knowledge overcoming fear.

DPT--A Good Watch

An important tool to have for survival as well as travel, is a good watch. Whether you choose a wristwatch or a clip-on watch, having a multi-function watch is a good item to have on hand. Here are some of the functions you may want your watch to have:

• Ways to tell time (digital or analog)
• Alarm settings
• Altimeter
• Barometer
• Waterproof-ness
• GPS capability
• Compass
• Count down timer
• Assortment of time zone settings

And some watch pointers:

• Click here to see some of the cool tech watches (found mostly in Japan).
• Choose the watch that meets your needs, not what others think you "should" have.
• Choose a watch that doesn't weigh five pounds if at all possible. All of the little add-ons take up space and weight.
• Save the Pateks and Rolexes for times when it is appropriate. In most cases they draw too much attention.
• I know uniformity is valued by special ops teams and pin-point, synchronized timing can be necessary at times. however it is usually a dead give away when five "strangers" in the same immediate location all are wearing the exact same watch.

Coming Up: Hunting Season

The fall hunting season is big around here. If you plan on hunting this fall, here's some things to do:

• If you have never hunted, need a refresher, or it is required, complete your hunter's safety course as soon as possible.


• If you have never hunted or are new to the area, find someone to go with the first few times you head out.


• Make sure your licenses, permits, and tags are in order; and know the local hunting laws.


• Plan where you will hunt (do you have a current map of the area, do you need blinds or stands, is there specialized gear you need to get ready based on the location you will be going to).


• Plan what you will hunt with (ie: what kinds of firearms you will take with you, will you use a bow this season).


• Make sure your firearms are clean, in good working order, and that the scope is sighted in.


• Gather your gear (this includes ammo, clothing, field dressing kit, and about a hundred other items). Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the season/area and that it doesn't smell like Bounce.


• Practice. This means target shooting, improving tracking skills, making sure your dogs are ready if you hunt with them, etc.


• Do all of the little things that will make your hunt better (these range from applying now to take time off work to knowing basic field first aid to gathering information from other hunters to leaving an itinerary for the spouse to weight training--a good idea if you are going elk hunting, not so necessary for grouse hunting).

Obilivious or Survivalist or Somewhere in Between?

There is a whole spectrum of people out there when it comes to being prepared. They range from the completely unprepared (imagine far left of the spectrum) to prepared for lots of things (the middle) to the hard-core, I can survive in the world for years, survivalists (far right of the spectrum). I would rate myself a few clicks past the middle moving towards the right. For the totally unprepared and unaware, I say good luck but don't come knocking on my door when disaster strikes, anyone that oblivious can't be very helpful in a disaster. For the people who are moving from oblivious and heading towards preparedness, I am their biggest cheerleader. These people are trying to do something to improve their life and should be applauded. For the preparedness people all the way to hardcore survivalists, I say let me get my notebook, I want to take notes. These are the people you can learn a lot from.
Also in the middle, are the specialists, those who may not be well-versed in doing everything for themselves (such as hunting down their own meat, growing the vegetables to serve with it, building their own home, and performing emergency surgery) but they do know a whole bunch about one, two, or a range of preparedness topics; I like to take notes from these people as well. They include the HAM radio enthusiasts, the guys at the gun range who know seemingly everything about firearms, the prolific gardeners, builders, emerging disease researchers, etc.
Where do you fit in the spectrum?

Gun Gear--What You Need

In addition to having a nice collection of firearms, most gun owners also have a nice collection of gear. What kind of gear (and other stuff) do you need to go with your firearms? Here's a list:

• A Concealed Carry Permit
• A gun safe (a big one for all of your firearms and a small one by the bed)
• A gun class (or two or three to know how to use your guns and improve your skills)
• CPR/basic first aid (usually you will be shooting far from the nearest hospital so it pays to know how to take care of basic medical emergencies)
• Spare magazines/speed loader
• Mag holders
• Nice grips/Stocks
• Binoculars
• Scopes/sights (laser sights are particularly nice)
• Targets
• Shooting glasses
• Hearing protection
• Gun cleaning kit
• Gun case
• Holster/Sling
• Ammo case
• Ammo (lots of it)
• Small digital camera
• Shooting gloves
• Multi tool/spare parts/lube
• Range bag (include stuff above plus masking tape, stapler, Sharpie marker, Wet Wipes, foam ear plugs, granola bar, ziploc for spent brass, bottle of water)
• Specialized stuff (for Black Powder, Cowboy Action, Tactical, or other types of shooting)
• Clothing (ie: I wear a certain jacket at the range only figuring if I wear it through the detectors at the airport it may cause a commotion)
• Access card to the range

Cool Site: GunBroker.com

I just ran across www.gunbroker.com. While I haven't yet used this website yet, the idea of an online auction for firearms seems like a great idea. And here is a nice little write up on how their auctions are run: http://www.wisebread.com/will-guns-change-the-way-ebay%C2%AE-auctions-operate

DPT--Using the Bathroom...When There Isn't One

The first time one goes to the bathroom in a third world country, it's almost always a memorable event. I've seen dozens of varieties of toilets in my travels and most of them aren't like the one I left behind in the US. After an extended trip to a third world country, one of my first reactions upon arrival to the "first world" is "Wow! There's a door. Wow! There's a toilet seat. Wow! There's toilet paper." Funny the things that can cause gleeful happiness after a lengthy trip abroad. Anyway, I ran across this useful article on How to Use a Squat Toilet and realized that this may seem an option that most people would just as well leave alone--either by choosing their hotels carefully overseas or not leaving the country at all, however in a dire situation (disaster, toilet paper shortage, extreme hike in the cost of toilet paper) this may end up being something that people should know how to do. After all, a majority of the world's population already knows how to do this.

Conspiracies and Such

I usually don't see conspiracies everywhere I look (actually I try not to look--just focus on my own tasks at hand), however when the government parades out another "suicide" along with "mysterious deadly accidents" it gets my attention. Note the following cases...

• Bruce Ivins
• Another Ivins Story
• An NYT Article about the Ivins Situation
• Suspicious Suicides
• Suspicious Deaths of Top Scientists
• DC Madam Death
• One of the Biggest 'Suspicious Death' Lists I've Found
• A Trail of Death

...and come to your own conclusions.

Lessons from the Dojo

A while back, I decided to find out about the sport of karate by way of my brother-in-law’s karate dojo (school). The first day of class was quite the eye-opener. Everyone seemed to know what to do, drills went off without a hitch (except for me), an eight year old came at me with fists flying, all in the name of practice of course, and in the middle of a lesson on kicking from another young student, the kid dropped and did ten quick, perfectly-formed push-ups…it was punishment for doing the exercise wrong and he had, to my surprise, doled out his own punishment.

Discipline, respect, excellence…all of these areas were repeatedly demonstrated during my weeks of class. My question was how? How do you get a room full of kids (and adults) to build confidence, accept discipline, give and receive respect, and strive for excellence while at the same time allowing them to have fun and build skills that they will use for the rest of their lives? The answer, from my fifth degree back belt brother-in-law and karate school master, includes the following points.

1. There is one leader. The highest ranking person in the dojo is in charge. Period. It isn’t a democracy and everyone knows there is no arguing, debating or whining when the black belt in charge gives an order. This age-old tradition is ingrained in students from the first day and is taught both by the example of other students and the formalized bows and salutes to the karate master.


2. The rules are consistent, thoroughly explained, and apply to everyone. Everyone must take off their shoes when entering the training area of the dojo. Not only does it show respect for the dojo, it also keeps the area clean that you will, no doubt, be rolling around on later. Everyone must attend class in a clean and complete uniform. This builds school unity, discipline, and shows respect for yourself.


3. Punishment is swift, fair, and consistent. What happens when a student wears their shoes onto the training floor or shows up for class with a dirty or partial uniform on? 10 pushups. Immediately. Everyone knows that is the standard punishment and they will often drop and do their pushups before the Sensei can even bark the order. The students especially get a kick out of watching the Sensei do push-ups because of a rare aberration to the rules. Push-ups are a consistent dojo punishment for a variety of altercations. They are swiftly doled out and serve the added bonus of making the students stronger which improves their ability in the sport.


4. Repetition is key. How many times can you do a kicking drill before you have the perfect height, snap and power to back it up? I lost count somewhere in the multi-hundreds but even though my kicks were OK there is still room to improve. And you improve by doing the action again and again and again. And being corrected again and again and again. How many times can the Sensei teach the kicking drill to one student before their eyes glaze over and frustration sets in? Fortunately this teacher knows that the student only learns by doing the same action over and over ad nauseum. His duty is to teach the student certain skills no matter how many times he has to repeat himself.


5. Teach someone a skill then allow them to teach it to others. No matter the students age or abilities, everyone is allowed to be a leader. A student, even if their skills aren’t perfectly refined, can teach what they have learned to others. What better way to build a child’s confidence than by having them lead the stretching exercises to a room full of students ranging from five to 65 and skill levels from white belts to black belts. Teaching others often has the added bonus of making the teacher an even better student.


6. Goals are clearly defined. One need only to look at the wall in the dojo to see what their next goal is. The belts are arranged on the wall in order of rank. If you are a white belt your next major goal is to earn a yellow belt. The goals you must achieve to earn each belt are listed next to each belt so there is no question what you need to learn next. Of course each component of the belt level test is broken down into smaller parts and taught at the students pace.


7. Testing of skills is done often. Every week students get to show what they have learned. During the Friday night class, all students from four year olds to the oldest in the class, from white belt to advanced black belt, line up in front of the class and show their skills. Testing by the sensei, either for a belt or for a stripe signifying advancement towards the next belt, is done during this class in front of all students. The atmosphere can’t help but be supportive since everyone else has been through this drill many times before and they know exactly what you are going through.


8. Celebrate small and large achievements. Every time someone reaches a large goal, like earning their next belt, or even a small goal like earning a stripe for their belt, the whole class recognizes their achievement. The student is brought to the front of the class, formally awarded the honor and then every student shakes their hand and gives them a hug. How’s that for a boost to the self-esteem?


9. Have frequent face-to-face discussions. During each mandatory monthly session, the sensei will discuss one aspect of karate. Topics can range from respecting others to the spiritual aspects of life, from controlling anger, to doing better in school. The topics are meant to educate and inform as well as open up discussion from all attendees.


10. Begin and end each day with acknowledgement from the Sensei. Every student is welcomed by name as they come into the dojo. He asks if they are doing well in class or if they are practicing at home, how their family is doing or what they did last weekend. This makes all students feel like someone really cares for them. At the end of class, the drill is the same; bows, hugs, often play time on the mats and positive parting words. No matter how class went, how many push-ups they had to do, or how much the Sensei yelled at them, the students can count on the beginning and end of their session to be happy and positive.

All of these lessons are applicable whether you are using them in your home, in your business, or with your team. The basics of practice, respect, discipline, and communication work no matter what lessons you are trying to instill.

Preparedness Foods from Your Local Grocery Store

Decades ago you could tell the "real" (read wealthy) backpackers by the kind of food they brought. A week's worth of Mountain House stuffed in their pack meant they had spent some serious cash before they hit the trail. On the opposite end of the spectrum was a kid I headed up a mountain with who brought a week's worth of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches squished into his pack and that was it. These days, your local grocery store can provide all kinds of vacuum-packed, pre-packaged food that can sustain you for a week-long pack trip all the way up to a year's worth of sheltering in place. Here's some items that I regularly pick up at my local grocery store that have a long shelf life, are light weight, and require minimal cooking if any (this means these foods can be used at home during a disaster or you could toss them into a pack and carry them away if you needed to evacuate):

• beef jerky
• nuts
• dried fruit (raisins, dried apples, dried cranberries, etc)
• tuna in a foil pouch
• dried soup mix (ie: cup a soup)
• tea
• powered milk
• powdered drink mixes
• hot chocolate mix
• bullion cubes
• instant gravy mixes
• minute rice
• instant noodles with sauce mix
• jello
• pudding mix
• granola bars
• energy bars
• instant oatmeal
• spices
• dried vegetables (mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes
• quick cooking pasta (couscous, etc)
• candy (M&Ms, etc)
• fruit leather
• pancake mix
• Bisquick
• Parmesan cheese
• cereal
• peanut butter
• instant coffee
• instant potatoes
• butter buds
• packaged curry mix

Note that there are lots more options if weight, cost, or cooking time are not an issue. In addition, if you are looking at long term--five years or more--food storage, you will want to move to the next level such as nitrogen storage, MREs, etc.

Taking Care of What Ails You

Of the people I know, the majority of those who don't/aren't/can't prepare for disaster usually have one thing in common--they have one (or more) major problem that takes all of their time, effort, money, and attention. By this I mean they are alcoholics, drug addicts, spend-a-holics, seriously ill, have major financial drama, have major relationship drama, or the like. Of these problems, the only one that a person has very little control over is being seriously ill. The rest of these problems can be fixed if the person so afflicted takes care of what ails them.
The reason this post came together today is because I had a meeting with a friend this morning along with a bunch of other people. We then had another meeting with a different group of people scheduled for later in the afternoon. Now I could have hung out in a coffee shop waiting for the second meeting but I asked my friend what he was going to do and he said "catch an AA meeting". I knew he had been clean and sober for nearly 20 years but he does still like to catch a meeting every now and then and there just so happened to be one down the street from where the events we were attending were happening. Being curious and always up to learn something new, I tagged along with him. Although I don't drink, I wanted to see why AA has become known world-wide for helping people recover from alcoholism. It turned out to be a really good, positive learning experience. In regards to preparedness, here's what I learned:

• Until you stop blaming others and take responsibility for yourself, things aren't going to change. If you want to see a positive change, you need to be the positive change. It is easy to point fingers after a disaster but that doesn't accomplish much; you need to pick up yourself, and pick up the pieces, and move forward.
• Once you realize you have a problem of any sort, you need to take steps to fix the problem. Other people can't fix your problems, only you can do that. There is help available if you seek it out. The corollary is that you can't make other people change whether it is in their best interest or not. You can lead by example and offer help when asked but mostly you go about your business, take care of yourself, and let others take care of themselves.
• If you have a major problem such as addiction, not a whole lot matters besides getting your next drink, hit, shopping spree, etc. Somewhere after that on the priority list comes work, kids, spouse, etc. Things such as planning for your future, making sure you can take care of yourself before, during, and after a disaster, and teaching the family preparedness skills probably won't even be a blip on the priority screen. Therefore, getting the problem under control is the first step in moving towards being able to take better care of yourself and your family.
• Take things one day at a time. Yes a tornado just wiped away your house, the cows have all run off, and your place of business no longer exists either. You can look at the big picture and feel so overwhelmed that you give up or you can take today and do the best you can with it then do the same tomorrow and the next day and the next.
• People are generally very supportive of others. The group today was so nice, understanding, and supportive that even I wanted to come back! A lot of times people feel alone, alienated, and adrift (this can happen on a good day, imagine how people feel after a disaster has just turned their life upside down). I think it is human nature that the majority of people you come in contact with will be helpful and supportive--good to know after a disaster.
• You can fall off track but it is always possible to get back on track. This happens often during addiction recovery, and it happens often in life. For example, I know it is important to be physically fit so I try to walk, jog, or run at least five miles each day. With my crazy schedule, I usually accomplish this goal but not always. For a long time, I would try to meet this goal, not be able to follow through because of a really hectic week, then figure it was useless to try so I would quit all together. Now, I aim for five miles a day but if I can only do one quick mile on the treadmill, that is OK too and I just try again the next day. Making a tiny bit of progress is better than making no progress at all.

OK, I'll hop off the soap box now. If you take anything away from this post, it should be that the opportunity to learn new things can come in a variety of ways, that if you have a problem that is holding you back try to fix it so you can move forward, and that judging other people or being harsh with them is a waste of time--better to spend the time focusing on yourself and your goals.

Food Stuffs: Know Your Neighborhood

Being bored silly with the treadmill, I used MapMyRun to map out a five mile route around my neighborhood this morning for my daily run/walk. Of course it is late summer so all kinds of food stuffs were in bloom, but it really opened my eyes to how many sources of free, wild food there are just outside my door. This may be a good project to do in your own neighborhood so that you will get an idea about the types of food available now, and with regular walks or runs (you can't see a lot of these things cruising by in a car at 60 miles per hour) throughout the year, get an idea of what kinds of food are available year-round where you live. Of course, in a SHTF scenario, everyone and their brother will be foraging for wild food when their stores get low, but at least you will have an idea of where to start looking. Here's what I saw near my neighborhood:

• Gardens: apparently many of my neighbors have green thumbs and wonderful gardens of all sizes


• Green houses: I didn't know there were so many of these in my neighborhood


• Trees: I saw apple, cherry, pecan, peaches, walnut, plums, pears, and more apples


• Berries: blackberries, raspberries, strawberries (done for the season), huckleberries, grapes


• Fish: there were three streams that I didn't even know ran through my neighborhood, I'm guessing there are at least salmon in these streams


• Ocean fish/shellfish: since I live by the straits, we have easy access to salmon, crab, mussels, oysters, squid, etc.


• Small furry things: rabbits (I didn't see any but I know they are around), squirrels (saw quite a few of these), possum (squished in the road), rats (this would be a last resort)


• Big furry things: plenty of cows, horses, goats, pigs, deer, bear (didn't see any bear but I know they are there)


• Wild edibles: lots of cattails, mushrooms (I didn't see any but I know lots of people forage for chanterelles around here), nettles, skunk cabbage

These are just the things I could identify. I'm sure that the trained, educated eye could identify many more sources of food.

Credit Cards 101

Credit cards are either the bane of your existence or a small but important part of your financial life. Either way, it is virtually impossible to live without them in our high-tech society. In order to keep yourself ready for anything (ie: not deep in credit debt when a disaster strikes and you need to be financially solvent), follow these simple rules:

• Don’t have more than four or five credit cards. Keeping track of a dozen cards is difficult and if you are prone to over spending with your credit cards, having a handful of them could lead to disaster.
• Keep track of the credit cards you have. For each credit card, write down the name, account number, mailing address, 1-800 contact number, contact number if you are traveling overseas (it will not be a 1-800 number), the payment due date, and the credit limit.
• Try to use only one credit card each month and pay it in full each month.
• If you do have balances on, for instance, four different credit cards, make a plan to pay them off ASAP. Some people will pay off the card with the smallest balance first then move on to the next highest balance, while others will payoff the card with the highest interest rate first.
• For your cards that carry a balance, review your statements thoroughly. Your statement should tell you the credit limit, the interest rate, and any additional fees assessed (over limit fees, late fees, etc).
• For your cards with high interest rates, call the company directly and asked to have the rate lowered. Many companies will do this for you if you ask. Speak to a supervisor if necessary.
• For cards with annual service fees, once again call the company directly and ask to have the fee waived. Many companies will do this for you, but again you may need to talk to a supervisor.
• Realize that one late payment can raise the interest on ALL of your cards to the maximum level. Often buried in the fine print, the Universal Default agreement that you made with the company allows all companies to raise your interest rate if you are only late on one payment for one card.
• Realize that the interest rate you pay for purchases is usually lower than the rate you will pay for credit card cash advances. Also, cash advances often incur additional fees in addition to the higher interest rate.
• If you cannot control your credit card spending, quit cold turkey. Do not take the cards shopping with you. Do freeze them in a block in your freezer so that you will have time to think about your decision to use them while they are defrosting.
• If you are relying on credit cards to pay for your living expenses, that’s a sure sign that you need to earn more income or cut expenses. Credit cards, in this situation are a temporary solution to a long-term problem. If you can’t pay your basic bills then you really won’t be able to pay the basics plus your credit card bills so nip this problem in the bud immediately.
• If you do use credit cards responsibly, make sure you are getting more bang for your (charged) buck. Cards that give you rewards, a financial incentive, or frequent flyer miles are better than cards that give you nothing in return.
• Analyze the offers that your credit card company sends you with a critical eye. Credit card spending is down recently so all of the sudden, companies start sending out “blank checks” that allow you to withdraw funds from your credit cards. Good idea to use these checks if they have a low interest rate to consolidate other credit card bills onto one bill. Bad idea to use them to buy the big screen TV you always wanted.

The bottom line is that credit card responsibility lies with the consumer. The credit companies are doing everything they can to keep you in debt and paying them interest. It’s your job to beat them at their own game by using common sense when using your credit cards, keeping strict control over your spending habits with the cards, and paying off your debts as soon as possible. Besides, you will want to have large credit lines available on these cards, if, for example, you end up evacuating from your home and staying in a hotel for a number of days, you need to leave the country at a moment's notice and need a way to pay for it, or any other true emergency that pops up.

Spy Gear

If the time comes when you need to gather information on someone (ie spy on someone) here is the gear you will need. Note that said spying may not be legal/moral/ethical...

• Cell phone with GPS
• Binoculars (for surveillance from a distance)
• Digital camera (for pictures of the person/people/evidence/documents/etc)
• Digital camcorder (if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth 10,000)
• Night vision goggles (for better vision at night...)
• Wireless spy camera(s) (for watching/videotaping the action)
• Wireless audio device (for listening in)
• GPS device (for noting locations)
• Parabolic microphone (for listening over a distance)
• Voice activated audio recorder (for bugging certain types of locations)
• See behind spy glasses (gimmicky but they actually work)
• Telephone voice changer (for making calls, leaving messages with a different voice)
• Lock pick (for covert entry)
• Phone tap (for recording phone coversations)
• Lip reading (a skill that comes in handy sometimes)
• Computer keystroke logger software (for password grabbing, etc)
• Remote screenshot software (to see what your mark is seeing)
• Cell phone spy software (to capture cell phone coversations)
• Assorted covert audio/video recorders (disguised as a watch, a button an a shirt, a pack of gum, etc)
• Thumb drive (for copying files)

Notes from the Most Recent Preparednss Conference

Now that I've had a bit of time to catch up since the last conference I attended, I figured I should organize my notes and share the things that I learned that can apply to just about any situation. These include:

• About 85% of the preps you make will apply to any disaster situation. The other 15% will need to be tailored to the specific emergency.


• When you practice your drills, have each family/team member assume different roles. You shouldn't always be the leader because you never know if you will be around so others need to know how to be the leader as well. I found it funny when about 15 high ranking people were tossed into a hands-on drill situation and all 15 immediately assumed the incident commander role. Of course in their organizations, this is the role they would have, but when put into a different situation, with different people, the ability to quickly organize and fall into the necessary roles is important.


• There was an emphasis on resiliency being the thing that sets survivors apart. I remember talking to a man quite a while back who survived the tsunami in Indonesia. When I asked him what he did in the days following the tsunami, he said he and his family started cleaning up. He said if he would have waited for the government to help, nothing would have got done. I guess in his, and many other countries, people are much more resilient because they have to be or they wouldn't survive.


• People often think of a warrior as a fighter and that's all. A warrior actually encompasses a number of traits, only one of which is being able to fight. Warriors are responsible, they see the mission but they see the bigger picture as well, they use common sense, they are disciplined--both physically and mentally, they lead when they need to lead and follow when they need to follow...


• There are a number of community organizations that civilians can participate in to learn preparedness skills: Search and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Blockwatch, etc.
• Mobile command posts are cool--I was in gadget heaven in a few of the units. Are you ready to go mobile? You may not have millions to spend on such a unit, but do you have plans for things such as incoming and outgoing communications, a way to receive news and information, security for your mobile unit, food and water, et al?
• If you are in the vicinity of what may be a bomb, turn off all radios, cell phones, walkie talkies, and other radio-type devices.
• Train with your family to use HAM radios and make these a part of your plan. It's surprising how many organizations have HAM radios for back-up communications yet they either forget to rely on them when necessary or forget to turn them on so that people can call into them. Regular use will make them more likely to be used in an emergency.
• Experience counts. If you are planning for a hurricane, you want to pick the brain of someone who has survived a big hurricane. All of the preparation in the world will not be able to teach you what been-there-done-that experience will.