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.

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

Probably one of the most interesting links Ive seen in regards to using shipping containers for shelters. While I wouldnt want to live in one, they certainly would make nice temporary emergency shelters if you stocked them right and made some modifications.

Of course, burying the thing into the side of a hill has alot of appeal…but some of these projects shown at the link look quite nice….esp. the ones that use multiple containers.

, looks like the sorta link youd enjoy.

Probably one of the most interesting links Ive seen in regards to using shipping containers for shelters. While I wouldnt want to live in one, they certainly would make nice temporary emergency shelters if you stocked them right and made some modifications.

Of course, burying the thing into the side of a hill has alot of appeal…but some of these projects shown at the link look quite nice….esp. the ones that use multiple containers.

bandicoot, looks like the sorta link youd enjoy.

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

Gun show in Kalispell this weekend. Not really much on the list of things to buy…at least, not gun-wise. In addition to thundertoys, gun shows also give me a chance to pick up surplus gear at good prices. Sleeping bags, tactical flashlights, winter shooting mitts, BDU's, etc, etc. In terms of gun stuff, Im curious to see if AR mags have come down any…I did an inventory a few weeks back and while Im probably better off than Joe Average in terms of AR mags, Im not at my personal minimum requirement per gun. (Ideally, I'd want fifty per gun.) I also need about four more mags for the FAL, a few more P35 mags, and if theyre cheap enough another few Glock mags. Really, nickel and dime stuff…in terms of firearms, Im pretty okay with what I have at the moment. There is stuff I want but its not urgent.
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Im taking a Red Cross first aid and CPR class next weekend with the girlfriend. Eight hours of french kissing a CPR doll. A tedious experience, to be sure…but a necessary one. Being the Zero is about more than just gear and stored food…theres skills and abilities to acquire. What else? Oh geez, its a long list…

vehicle maintenance/repair
bicycle maintenance/repair
welding
wiring
carpentry
metalwork
gardening
radio communications
electronics
cryptography
woodworking
plumbing
small unit tactics and leadership
rappelling
map reading
advanced first aid
etc etc etc (please dont comment with “You forgot…”, trust me, its a long list)
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Winter has hit one of its usual 'chinook' points….its the dead of winter and for a week or two its fifty degrees. Happens every year. Then we get used to it and nature pulls the rug out from under us with three weeks of subzero temperatures. However , I may take advantage of the weather to go shooting this weekend at some point. I still havent played with the CZ rifle as much as I would like.
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Was at CostCo yesterday and to my delight I discovered that the big packages of skinless,bonless chicken breast they sell now come as packages of several poly-bagged, heat sealed meat. This means I no longer have to individually vaccuum seal and repackage a dozen pieces of chickn. Nope, I can simply pull the individual packages out and freeze them. Very cool…makes my life a little easier. Not necessarily cheaper, but at least a little easier.

Gun show in Kalispell this weekend. Not really much on the list of things to buy…at least, not gun-wise. In addition to thundertoys, gun shows also give me a chance to pick up surplus gear at good prices. Sleeping bags, tactical flashlights, winter shooting mitts, BDU’s, etc, etc. In terms of gun stuff, Im curious to see if AR mags have come down any…I did an inventory a few weeks back and while Im probably better off than Joe Average in terms of AR mags, Im not at my personal minimum requirement per gun. (Ideally, I’d want fifty per gun.) I also need about four more mags for the FAL, a few more P35 mags, and if theyre cheap enough another few Glock mags. Really, nickel and dime stuff…in terms of firearms, Im pretty okay with what I have at the moment. There is stuff I want but its not urgent.
=====
Im taking a Red Cross first aid and CPR class next weekend with the girlfriend. Eight hours of french kissing a CPR doll. A tedious experience, to be sure…but a necessary one. Being the Zero is about more than just gear and stored food…theres skills and abilities to acquire. What else? Oh geez, its a long list…

vehicle maintenance/repair
bicycle maintenance/repair
welding
wiring
carpentry
metalwork
gardening
radio communications
electronics
cryptography
woodworking
plumbing
small unit tactics and leadership
rappelling
map reading
advanced first aid
etc etc etc (please dont comment with “You forgot…”, trust me, its a long list)
=====
Winter has hit one of its usual ‘chinook’ points….its the dead of winter and for a week or two its fifty degrees. Happens every year. Then we get used to it and nature pulls the rug out from under us with three weeks of subzero temperatures. However , I may take advantage of the weather to go shooting this weekend at some point. I still havent played with the CZ rifle as much as I would like.
=====
Was at CostCo yesterday and to my delight I discovered that the big packages of skinless,bonless chicken breast they sell now come as packages of several poly-bagged, heat sealed meat. This means I no longer have to individually vaccuum seal and repackage a dozen pieces of chickn. Nope, I can simply pull the individual packages out and freeze them. Very cool…makes my life a little easier. Not necessarily cheaper, but at least a little easier.

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

Freezing rain going on here in the Land O' Zero today. This is the sort of weather that really causes the winter chaos. Oh sure, you can talk about your blizzards and your -30 temps, but the real damages come from these ice storms. Power lines get heavy with ice and snap. Same for tress (which, naturally, land on powerlines that arent already down), and road conditions are just unbelievable.

Is the Zero worried? Is there fear in the Zero's heart? Is the Zero running down to the supermarket in a pacnicked state to buy milk and bread???
No. Of course not. I am the Zero and the Zero has prepared.

Kerosene in the heaters and lamps, vehicle will be parked away from overhead objects, constantlly updated weather map is playing on the desktop, plenty of food, and the Baygen radios are ready for use if the power fails. In short, I can just look at the weather map, shrug, and say “Hunh.”
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Did some geocaching the other day. I usually pack a bunch of zipties in my bag because they can come in handy for all sorts of things. In this case, they safety-wired the girlfriends YakTrax (foot-traction overshoe) to her boots so that if one came off in the snow it wouldnt get lost. Moral of the story: carry zipties. Find them in any hardware store, get several sizes, I carry about 20.
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Wonder if LJ has gotten the usericon image servers back up yet…..