(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)
5. Self Defense
This segment references reading, training and situational awareness that will be difficult for some people. Use what you can. Learn how to profile people and your surroundings. It happens in many forms, constantly. There are predators who don’t care about how nice you are. (Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”) They will take advantage of the graces and courtesies that we usually employ to soften or de-escalate a problem. Learn what and how those predators think. Trust me, you won’t like what you discover. But you must be prepared for it. That takes study and training. I use a triumvirate: Training, education, and legal representation. Those who just shoot a box of ammo on their birthday and on Labor Day are not trained.
Find a professional, dedicated trainer who won’t hesitate to call you out on your mistakes. The time to screw up is during training where you can get corrected and learn to do it right. Don’t wait til the dragon knocks the door down; if you don’t get killed, you’ll be left with woeful regrets, especially if you could have saved a loved one. Remember, it is not about killing someone. It’s about stopping an attack.
If your go-to defense weapon is a firearm; it’s not about the caliber, it’s about shot placement. Use a firearm that suits your physique, and is tactically efficient. I’m a Glock man. Remember this unpopular statement: There’s no such thing as “Knock-down power”. Read the info on Sergeant Timothy Gramins. Two police writers: Massad Ayoob and Charles Remsberg chronicled an incredible lesson about Sgt. Gramins’ encounter with a deadly assailant. Read it, seriously.
Also: Meditations on Violence, and Facing Violence. Both by Rory Miller.
For deeper stuff that we never think about, look into Dr. Karen Mitchell’s dissertation.
If you can find a copy of:
Political Ponerology – A science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes, by Dr Andrew Lobaczewski. Red Pill Press – then get the first edition. It’ll be expensive, and tough to find, but worth it. The second edition is, unfortunately, watered down. The original book is a slow, almost meditative read; but it will challenge you and change you. Don’t expect to sail through this. If you’ve ever wondered why politicians are the way they are, and why they legislate for evil and not good, then this will help answer those questions. But, don’t expect your mind to be comfortable with the answers.
I also chose to take a couple of knife courses. One of them, KITW (Knife In The Woods) used straight training knives; and the instructors were tremendous. However, I learned something unexpected. One of my training partners took a cheap shot to my kidneys and dropped me like a cut puppet. I will never let him get behind me.
For the wider context, Mike Shelby’s web resources will serve you well. Also see his Area Intelligence handbook.
6. Batteries, Batteries, Batteries
Generally, batteries come in two categories.
Disposable-
Task: Survey your home and count the number and type of batteries that are used in your home and garage. NONE of our toys, remotes, and clocks will work if we can’t buy these stupid little batteries that we take for granted. Our local Walmart said they lost over $5,000 in batteries in one month before they put them in lockup. Don’t forget to include thermostats, key fobs, computers, portable weather stations – keep counting. Buy a battery caddy and get the batteries in the formats you need.
Coin batteries. For example – CR2025: the CR is the chemistry (Lithium / Manganese Dioxide). The 20 means the diameter is 20mm and the 25 is the thickness at 2.5mm. Tip: Keep a spare CR2025 battery for your key fob in the glove box or go bag; fold a piece of paper around it, then tape it closed to limit discharge. BTW – I found that the thicker CR2035 will fit in my car key fob that takes the CR2025. The increased thickness results in longer battery life. An even bigger
Tip: Get comfortable with the learning curve to gain independence from disposable batteries. After we are no longer able to buy batteries that independence will save you many headaches in the future.
Rechargeable-
Automobiles: These take Starter Batteries. They are very different from Deep Cycle Batteries. Even though they are both Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) in chemistry, they perform very differently. I can’t take the time in this article to explain the difference, but a deep cycle battery will only work for a short while as a starter battery.
-At the alternative power level:
For folks with older solar systems; if you can migrate from FLA and get into LiFePO (Lithium Iron Phosphate) you will find:
a. The maintenance is by far much easier.
b. The charge/recharge cycling is more amenable to deeper discharge than older chemistries.
c. They will last longer than FLA.
d. They are becoming much more affordable/kW h.
-At the DIY/project level:
You can do this. Scrounge in places you’ve never been before. A battery store (not Batteries Plus) was the source of a recent windfall. I stopped in looking for LiFePO batteries that I could use in my portable solar power pack. There was one destined for recycling that would hold voltage at 13.3. But, it wouldn’t pass the load test which they thought was 400amps. At 200 amps it was just fine. Since that was within my use parameters, I decided to buy it as is, for $65. When I got home, I discovered that the battery was surge rated for, you guessed it, 200 amps. Look up Battle Born Batteries to see what their retail price is for a 100-amp-hour battery. Yes, I’m grinning.
The devices that come with a lithium battery on a USB charging port will give you about the best service technology provides till something better comes along. I strongly advise that you get several of the headband flashlights with a USB charging port. I have four of them.
NOTE: If you buy a rechargeable flashlight, don’t make my mistake of buying the ones with proprietary 18650 batteries. These have both the (+) and (-) terminals on the same end. The other end of the battery is inert. Like coin batteries, the ‘18’ is the diameter in mm. The ‘65’ is the length (mm). I think the (0) is a modifier depending on whether or not the battery has its own internal BMS (Battery Management System). Otherwise, the 18650 battery is a huge market. There are dozens of DIY ideas on how to use these little gems.
-Books:
Batteries In A Portable World by Isador Buchmann
DIY Solar Power (How To Power Everything From The Sun) by Micah Toll
-YouTube channels:
https://www.youtube.com/@WillProwse
https://www.youtube.com/@engineer775
-Forum
https://diysolarforum.com/
7. Plumbing
Learn how to use galvanized pipe. You can stock up on Teflon tape, but I prefer TFE plumber’s paste. You’ll also need the proper taps and dies, and a good hacksaw. You’ll need a few lengths of ½”, ¾” or larger galvanized pipe. Learn how NPT (National Pipe Taper) threads differ from regular coarse and fine threads. These taps and dies are essential to making new threads or cleaning up rusty fittings. And some second-hand sales are nearly ready to give them away. I love the convenience of PVC. But if/when the grid goes down your PVC glue will jelly up w/in a year or less. Your slip fittings will be useless if you can’t buy glue.
You can also store some black poly pipe, barbs and fittings to use in areas that are above freezing. Threaded PVC fittings will fit into galvanized pipe threads (NTP); and that’s how it should be. Always thread male PVC fittings into female galvanized fittings. Otherwise, you risk splitting the PVC. Ask me how I know.
There are numerous methods on the market for fixing leaks. Learn a few of them, and try to befriend a plumber. If you can learn the tricks needed to fix a toilet, or clear a P-trap you and them (plumbers) will be in high demand. BTW if your home has any kind of filtration system I strongly suggest you pick up several new filters. Same goes for homes that use the long, pesky UV bulbs to sterilize your water.
8. Fasteners
Start with the smaller screws, bolts, and washers; or whatever you tend to use most. A screw and bolt gauge will help you sort them into #6 through ½” and larger sizes. Find your fasteners at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, St. Vincent DePaul’s, yard sales, and estate sales. Scrounge, and don’t be proud about it. You’ll be glad when you really need that part or widget to sustain your family’s quality of life. The ReStore in our area sells fasteners at $2/pound. Compare with buying them new at $6 to $35/box and up. Yard/estate sales are even better.
9. Fire Starters
We have an abundance of pine cones on our preperty. (Hmm, pun intended) They’re the small, tight little buggers that are an annoyance under your feet. So, I decided to get creative and dry out a couple of dozen, 3/16” drill out the center, then soak them in wax with a short piece of wick.
10. Food
Stock up on spices. Find a few food-grade buckets, or use the clear plastic bins with the large screw on lids. Go and buy a pound of pepper, and 5 pounds of salt. Then do it again next week or month. The relative value of spices will shoot up when people start to run out. Schedule the increase of your shelf-stable products. Include detergent, trash bags, etc. Sometimes I use the practice of ‘use one and buy two’.
If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time to laugh at me. I like Top Ramen. Here’s how: It’s a quick snack. First, I throw the chemical packet away. Heat my water, add a tsp of my favorite bouillon, then add the noodles. The advantage is also economic. They’re about .25/package, sometimes a bit more depending on brand. Buy them in bulk.
Many people don’t like organ meat. We do. With beef heart at $2.36 per pound it sure beats $4 and up for the usual cuts. I recently bought two pillow packs of beef heart. Made one into jerky, the other we like to freeze in 1-pound packs to be used later. The jerky is delicious and jerks well because it’s so lean. It does take a little while to trim off the fat and membranes. Our neighbor’s dogs got a treat.
11. Saving The Best for Last
If you don’t identify as a Christian think about why you care to prepare. What motivates you to go to these lengths to secure your life, home and substance? We prepare homes and property for some measure of security on earth. That depends on our earthly work, which is imperfect. The concept extends to the hereafter. Someday this life will end. What follows will depend on what you do with Jesus Christ. Preparing for eternity means depending on God for His work through Jesus Christ. No other work will satisfy God’s standard for eternal life.
For those of us who are already trusting in Christ for eternal life – learn the value of Hebrews 5:14. “Solid food is for the mature, those who, on account of constant use, have excercised the powers of discernment for the discrimination between both good and evil.” The signs of the times are here. They have meaning for those who care to observe and discern. If we ‘hope things will get better’, or try to ‘vote harder’ if we don’t like a particular election outcome, then we are deceiving ourselves. Do not put your hope in mankind. Those who do have repeatedly been disappointed, or ashamed. We’ve all been there. Those who put their trust in God and Jesus Christ will never be disappointed, or ashamed. God always delivers on His promises.
Learn to love the Lord Jesus Christ and the glories that are His. Your sanctification will expand and push pestering carnalities and temptations into the shadows. Spend time in The Word. Often. Be faithful and diligent. Jesus Christ will return. May God speed you on His way.
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