Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

You know what I really like about being Commander Zero? When I do these posts and website updates I can be a completely different person. I dont have the worries and stresses and headaches of my civillian life. Everything is much more in my control. All I have to worry about is *things*…need food? Get food. Simple. Need ammo? Get ammo? Piece of cake. Nothing more complex than that. Being the Zero is sometimes a vacation from being the 'real' me. Its nice to be someone else once in a while.

Onto business……

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The Leatherman Wave is looking like the candidate for the Official Zero Multitool. I'll go price a few and see if its in the realm of possibility. Because, as the Zero, I'd have to get more than one.
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The weather here has cleared up a bit and theres very little snow on the ground so Ive taken to riding the mountain bike around town again. Great exercise and it very much reminds me that for short-range urban (or semi-urban) transport these things are hard to beat. Traffic becomes almost irrelevent, blocked streets can be bypassed for sidewalks or overland routes, more gear can be carried than if I were on foot, and its certainly much much faster than walking. The only drawback is, of course, lack of protection compared to a car or truck and the relative short range. One other seriously nice thing is that I could throw the bike in the back of the truck and if things got hairy I could always abandon the vehicle and continue on bicycle. (The movie 'Deep Impact' highlighted this in a scene where an evacuating family is caught in a monstrous and hopeless traffic jam..the young son survives because he can weave through cars on his little enduro motorcycle.) Which leads me to the midway compromise of a nice all-terrain motorcycle. More range, more speed, more cargo. Drawback is, of course, more inherent risk since you are travelling faster in an unprotected manner. Still, the military has a diesel Kawasaki out now that looks severely tempting. I've figured my motorcycle days are behind me since Im not young and invincible anymore, but at the same time there might be some merit to having a fueled and equipped motorcycle ready to go.
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LMI buddy of mine has been collecting the old Jerry Ahern 'Survivalist' series of 'mens action adventure' books off of eBay. Ah, the heady days of the Cold War. An interesting read in retrospect, twenty years after the series started. Invading Russians, AR-15's for everyone, no .40 S&W cartridges, ACOGS, Humvees or other staples of warfare and defense in the last decade. Very dated…but still a fun read. By the by, if youre looking for some interesting reading along the lines of 'Lucifers Hammer' or 'Alas Babylon' try getting yourself a copy of “Patriots: Surviving the coming collapse' (by Rawles)…a bit heay on the religion and UN NWO conspiracy but still a very very enjoyable read.
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I need to get the DSA scope mount for the FAL. I have the AR and AK for the close-n-cozy moments and I have the CZ550 for the reach-out-and-touch-someone moments but I think the FAL's niche is with a decent 4x (maybe 6x) scope and a bipod. Something for stopping vehicles at longer distances than the 7.62×39 and .223 but requiring more output of lead than a bolt gun can provide. Something for peppering trucks at four hundred yards, that sort of thing. A Barret .50 would be nice but if I had that kinda money Id be sinking it into Zeros Personal Chariot Of Apocalyptic Deliverence (read: a nice little get-me-the-hell-out-of-here vehicle).

You know what I really like about being Commander Zero? When I do these posts and website updates I can be a completely different person. I dont have the worries and stresses and headaches of my civillian life. Everything is much more in my control. All I have to worry about is *things*…need food? Get food. Simple. Need ammo? Get ammo? Piece of cake. Nothing more complex than that. Being the Zero is sometimes a vacation from being the ‘real’ me. Its nice to be someone else once in a while.

Onto business……

=====
The Leatherman Wave is looking like the candidate for the Official Zero Multitool. I’ll go price a few and see if its in the realm of possibility. Because, as the Zero, I’d have to get more than one.
=====
The weather here has cleared up a bit and theres very little snow on the ground so Ive taken to riding the mountain bike around town again. Great exercise and it very much reminds me that for short-range urban (or semi-urban) transport these things are hard to beat. Traffic becomes almost irrelevent, blocked streets can be bypassed for sidewalks or overland routes, more gear can be carried than if I were on foot, and its certainly much much faster than walking. The only drawback is, of course, lack of protection compared to a car or truck and the relative short range. One other seriously nice thing is that I could throw the bike in the back of the truck and if things got hairy I could always abandon the vehicle and continue on bicycle. (The movie ‘Deep Impact’ highlighted this in a scene where an evacuating family is caught in a monstrous and hopeless traffic jam..the young son survives because he can weave through cars on his little enduro motorcycle.) Which leads me to the midway compromise of a nice all-terrain motorcycle. More range, more speed, more cargo. Drawback is, of course, more inherent risk since you are travelling faster in an unprotected manner. Still, the military has a diesel Kawasaki out now that looks severely tempting. I’ve figured my motorcycle days are behind me since Im not young and invincible anymore, but at the same time there might be some merit to having a fueled and equipped motorcycle ready to go.
=====
LMI buddy of mine has been collecting the old Jerry Ahern ‘Survivalist’ series of ‘mens action adventure’ books off of eBay. Ah, the heady days of the Cold War. An interesting read in retrospect, twenty years after the series started. Invading Russians, AR-15’s for everyone, no .40 S&W cartridges, ACOGS, Humvees or other staples of warfare and defense in the last decade. Very dated…but still a fun read. By the by, if youre looking for some interesting reading along the lines of ‘Lucifers Hammer’ or ‘Alas Babylon’ try getting yourself a copy of “Patriots: Surviving the coming collapse’ (by Rawles)…a bit heay on the religion and UN NWO conspiracy but still a very very enjoyable read.
=====
I need to get the DSA scope mount for the FAL. I have the AR and AK for the close-n-cozy moments and I have the CZ550 for the reach-out-and-touch-someone moments but I think the FAL’s niche is with a decent 4x (maybe 6x) scope and a bipod. Something for stopping vehicles at longer distances than the 7.62×39 and .223 but requiring more output of lead than a bolt gun can provide. Something for peppering trucks at four hundred yards, that sort of thing. A Barret .50 would be nice but if I had that kinda money Id be sinking it into Zeros Personal Chariot Of Apocalyptic Deliverence (read: a nice little get-me-the-hell-out-of-here vehicle).

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Okay, multittools – Leatherman, Gerber, Buck, etc, etc.

Opinions, comments, recommendations, warnings?

Im looking for the one tool to rule.

Okay, multittools – Leatherman, Gerber, Buck, etc, etc.

Opinions, comments, recommendations, warnings?

Im looking for the one tool to rule.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Someone, , I think..posted a link to military packaging guidelines online. Can some post that link again..I cant find the post it was in.

Someone, durable, I think..posted a link to military packaging guidelines online. Can some post that link again..I cant find the post it was in.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Been quiet lately. Things in my civillian life have taken priority over my Zero-life. This isnt bad since many of the more urgent things are taken care of. I guess really Im at the point of simply maintaining my preparedness level rather than advancing it…although if an opoprtunity presents itself I will, naturally, add to things.

Went shooting the other day. Shot the SKS, which really is a rifle worthy of respect. Its easy to dismiss it as a glorified 10/22 but its definitely something to ber eckoned with. Reasonably accurate as well. Also shot the AK which is always fun. Played with the FAL some more and confirmed that, indeed, the gas regulator setting it is currently on is the one to use. Its official name is the “Big Stick”. I do need to sit down and load ammo..esp. for the CZ550. I just never seem to get around to it.

On the bright side, I took Red Cross CPR and first aid earlier this week. It was about 7 hours and really wasnt that difficult. In fact, it was so not difficult that it makes me wonder if there was anything to be learned. No, I think the next step is to hit the more advanced courses. Something that goes beyond “Call 911″. If nothing else, taking this class might fill some sort of prerequisite to take a more advanced class. I've been lucky (or , rather, the people around me have been lucky) in that Ive never really had to deal with a serious emergency. Its almost always been something that was remedied with the application of some neosporin and a 4×4 gauze pad. Still, Im glad I took the class. Its good for building confidence.

Been quiet lately. Things in my civillian life have taken priority over my Zero-life. This isnt bad since many of the more urgent things are taken care of. I guess really Im at the point of simply maintaining my preparedness level rather than advancing it…although if an opoprtunity presents itself I will, naturally, add to things.

Went shooting the other day. Shot the SKS, which really is a rifle worthy of respect. Its easy to dismiss it as a glorified 10/22 but its definitely something to ber eckoned with. Reasonably accurate as well. Also shot the AK which is always fun. Played with the FAL some more and confirmed that, indeed, the gas regulator setting it is currently on is the one to use. Its official name is the “Big Stick”. I do need to sit down and load ammo..esp. for the CZ550. I just never seem to get around to it.

On the bright side, I took Red Cross CPR and first aid earlier this week. It was about 7 hours and really wasnt that difficult. In fact, it was so not difficult that it makes me wonder if there was anything to be learned. No, I think the next step is to hit the more advanced courses. Something that goes beyond “Call 911”. If nothing else, taking this class might fill some sort of prerequisite to take a more advanced class. I’ve been lucky (or , rather, the people around me have been lucky) in that Ive never really had to deal with a serious emergency. Its almost always been something that was remedied with the application of some neosporin and a 4×4 gauze pad. Still, Im glad I took the class. Its good for building confidence.