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Live Oak · 02-01-2010, 11:57 AM

I am a daily reader and figured there might be some others here who read it as well.....if not, this might be a great time to take a look, especially since they are a forum section sponsor.

chrpmaster · 02-01-2010, 09:32 PM

I read them sometimes. I think you were the one who recommended it to me. Very addictive stuff. Really gets you thinking of the "what ifs".

I got Rawles book "the Patriot" and "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know it" from our local library and really enjoyed them. I also liked one of his recommended books by Steve Solomon on Gardening when it counts (or something like that).

Tons of good info on his website. In fact its almost overwhelming how much is there. Can't count the hours I have spent there.

Is that why you ended up in small town Tenn?

Andy

Live Oak · 02-01-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrpmaster
Is that why you ended up in small town Tenn?

Andy

Actually no. We moved to the country pretty much out in the boondocks fairly near a small town thinking it would be a great place to raise our children and to get our family away from what the wife and I felt were the general deterioration of common sense and morality around the bigger cities.

WOW! Is all I can say. Were we WRONG about that! Perhaps I don't get out enough and am hopelessly out of touch but we were TOTALLY shocked and overwhelmed by the level and magnatude of the small town, "Billi-bod", wink, wink, nod, nod, blatantly overt corruption at EVER level of local government.

The underage drinking and drug abuse problem is hopeless. The number of adults who are engaged in drug abuse, especially methamphetamine is shocking.

The school system is beyond mediocre and further compounded by the fact that about 90% of the students are related by blood and the parents just don't seem to care about what their children do or even learn at school.

Probably 75% to 85% of the local population "lives out of the mailbox".

Crime such as buglary, theft, arson, drive by shootings, assault, and now even murder are very common.

Since moving to this "small town" I have had the very regretable experience of very nearly taking the life of another in self defense for the first time in my life.

In short.......there are some VERY notable and wonderful exceptions but this area is God's country with respect to the scenery and natural beauty but the culture and local people and moraes are tantamount to living in Sodom and Gommorah.

Its not all bad and there are some really positive things but that is another story I'll have to tell you sometime.........I am even considering writing a book about it.

Sadly, many folks I speak with tell me this is way things have become across the country and much worse than here.

Probably more information than you wanted

Actually my good neighbor kept asking me if I read Survival Blog and read Jim Rawles book entitled Patriots. He kept after me about it and finally gave me the book. After reading the 1st few pages, I was hooked and could not put the book down.

This same neighbor got me to take the wife and girls to our 1st Appleseed Shoot which was a great experince for them and me as well.

Then a few things like Katrina, the psunami, and a few other tragic events happened that REALLY got my attention.........the latest of which is Haiti. The EXACT same thing could happen right here tomorrow.

Even the most recent snow/ice storm demonstrated to our entire family just how fragile the thread of society is that we hang by when we lost electrical power for about 15 hours.

There a just SOOOOOOO many things we take for granted in our culture and this country that we don't even realize. That is one reason I posted the story about the person who wrote about their own nearly freezing to death. They never saw it comming until it was far too late and they were beyond totally unprepared.

Stop and think about what would you do if you had no electricity, running or potable water, refridgeration, transportation, fuels, renewable source of food, clothing, firearms, ammunition, and medical supplies.........

Other book I consider an ESSENTIAL read is "One Second After" by WILLIAM R. FORSTCHEN. This book is an even further eye opener in view of the annoucement today of the failed missle defense exercise in the Persian Gulf.

http://onesecondafter.com/

**tractor beam** · 02-01-2010, 11:07 PM

It's amazing stuff you talk of. We are very isolated here in Vay. We are very self suffecient, and set for a minor disaster. If, say....Yellowstone were to blow up, likely, we'd all be dead eventually, but as far as the corruption and violence you talk about Chief, are pretty brutile it sounds. I'm going on 43, and we never heard of school shootings or places going into "lock down". It really is getting nutty out in the world, and I don't believe it's going to get any better. It for the most part is very quiet in Vay though, and that's fine by me.

**tractor beam** · 02-02-2010, 12:43 PM

I have a very close and dear friend over in Montana. He gave me my second AK 47 a soviet block beauty, just because. Heck of a friend. Anyways, he is a hardened survivalist who owns just about every gun imaginable, has underground bunkers and tunnels leading underground away from his house. He has a chamber that he uses, to let off tear gas and locks himself in there without a mask! Yeah, he's a bit nutty!:crazysun: He's a huge giant of a guy, and I love him like a brother. He's always tried to get me to join a militia he belongs to. I've always resisted, for fear of becoming tagged as a free radical by "Big Brother", and I'm also sort of a low key, blend in, don't draw attention sort of guy, who just wants to enjoy life without becoming radical. My question to you guys is....Have you had any experience with a militia? Are they whack and full of crazy's or are they justified? My friend has gone overseas to mercinary camps and other events that sort of........well.....definately spook me. Input please!

chrpmaster · 02-03-2010, 10:36 AM

Randy I read "One Second After" and found it eye opening how easy it would be to do to an industrialized nation. Makes me wonder why we don't use that against other countries or if there aren't already some of our missiles set up to do that to targeted countries instead or actually landing on cities. No nuclear fallout and complete military shutdown in the targeted country. Could blame it on internet hackers or something.

Planning for that scenario is overwhelming. I am starting with defense against home invaders and a natural disaster. So that means buying and training with guns for home defense. Also increasing storage of food and other supplies to survive a few weeks to a month without electricity which for me means a decent generator and more food storage.

It makes sense to deal with the most likely things and move on to the bigger but less likely things. The ones in "Patriots" and "one Second After" both have such long term recovery times that surviving until then requires major investments of time and resources. Both of these take away from what is available for other things so everyone needs to make their own decisions on what is too much. If I am going to militia meetings and missing my kids ball games or other family activities I must understand the personal costs involved. My wife and I have discussed this and prayed about it and are comfortable dealing with the basic issues I mentioned. We may never move to the next level. Your decisions are just that - your own and have their own costs/benefits.

Live Oak · 02-03-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by music in a bott
I have a very close and dear friend over in Montana. He gave me my second AK 47 a soviet block beauty, just because. Heck of a friend. Anyways, he is a hardened survivalist who owns just about every gun imaginable, has underground bunkers and tunnels leading underground away from his house. He has a chamber that he uses, to let off tear gas and locks himself in there without a mask! Yeah, he's a bit nutty!:crazysun: He's a huge giant of a guy, and I love him like a brother. He's always tried to get me to join a militia he belongs to. I've always resisted, for fear of becoming tagged as a free radical by "Big Brother", and I'm also sort of a low key, blend in, don't draw attention sort of guy, who just wants to enjoy life without becoming radical. My question to you guys is....Have you had any experience with a militia? Are they whack and full of crazy's or are they justified? My friend has gone overseas to mercinary camps and other events that sort of........well.....definately spook me. Input please!

MIB,

Read the United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights. YOU ALREADY are the militia.

These other groups that call themselves militia's I chose not to get involved with . Not saying that they are bad or good. Some may even provide a great service to the community.

My advice to you would be to prepare yourself and family as best you can within the limits of common sense, reason, and your financial resources. Then keep as low a profile as you can as well as observe STRICT OPSEC about your preparations.

**tractor beam** · 02-03-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TF Admin
MIB,

Read the United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights. YOU ALREADY are the militia.

These other groups that call themselves militia's I chose not to get involved with . Not saying that they are bad or good. Some may even provide a great service to the community.

I was aware of the constitution. I'm also aware, that we are these days...Powerless! My buddies militia, could be wiped out in a second. I also believe that they are watched. Bigtime. I only communicate with my friend in person. Under the radar.

rj'sbarn · 02-07-2010, 10:39 PM

survival blog is an awesome site with some extremely useful information. It opened up doors and gave me ideas and let me see through the eyes of others experiences exactly how unprepared I really am. At least I had the good sense to start reading it shortly before the snow storm that raked out my power for 2 weeks. We had enough non-perishables, firewood, campstoves, fuel, and level headedness to keep from losing our minds and panicking. Having fuel, food and blammo onhand at all times is a good feeling.JWR has his head and his heart in the right place and it's just my pure dumb luck I stumbled onto his site and got some reading in before TSHTF for a short time in my world.
my 2 cents.

chrpmaster · 02-08-2010, 08:35 AM

I'm with you RJ. I can't see too many scenarios where I am going to "change the world" with my political savvy or anything. But I figure I if I can take care of my family and maybe some stupid neighbors during a crisis I have done my part.

The militias, like Chris's buddy, may serve a purpose if TSHTF though I'm not sure what that might be. If nothing else they may take the spotlight of the Feds off us regular guys who just want to survive a disaster.

**tractor beam** · 02-08-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrpmaster
I'm with you RJ. I can't see too many scenarios where I am going to "change the world" with my political savvy or anything. But I figure I if I can take care of my family and maybe some stupid neighbors during a crisis I have done my part.

The militias, like Chris's buddy, may serve a purpose if TSHTF though I'm not sure what that might be. If nothing else they may take the spotlight of the Feds off us regular guys who just want to survive a disaster.

I think it's sort of funny. When I first met my friend, Zack, I was over at his house, and he was showing me all the guns he had, and then the underground tunnels, the tear gas room, the secret hidden door to enter his gun room, which was a large room, full of weapons. He kept saying......."So when the ********* shows up, I'll trip this spot and their transports will fall into this hidden hole in my driveway, then I can take up a position and fire upon them." And all these different scenerios that he has trained for. I remember looking at this guy who is absolutely huge........6ft 8........and asking........"Zack, why would they be showing up here???? We are close friends but I'm sort of glad that he lives nearly 100 miles from me. I keep telling him, I'm gonna see him on the news one day!