It has been said history does not repeat but it often rhymes. The reality is that looking back at past events and their outcomes is the best tool we have for predicting what might happen in the future.  While the events transpiring in the world around us today might seem unprecedented or even chaotic, the truth is that there are many parallels with the events of today and the last great information revolution that happened around the development of the printing press. The cost of information has never been lower The introduction of the printing press greatly lowered the cost of information and increased the...

Over the last few days the situation near Houston has been one of fire and fear. The fire at Intercontinental Terminals Corp in La Porte, TX, just outide of Houston has been raging since the morning of March 17 and authorities are now unsure just how long the situation could go on. This means all hands on deck for a lot of emergency personnel and a lot of strain on all the resources needed to contain the fire to just the tanks that are hopelessly lost. The fire cannot just be put out but most be allowed to burn out...

The idea of having a pistol and rifle that use the same ammunition has been around since the days of black powder. In the late 1800’s basically every caliber from the .22 up to the 45 long Colt was available in both a rifle and a pistol, so it was easy to just use one cartridge. As firearm technology changed, things like necked cartridges, rimless cases, and detachable magazines made ammunition more specialized so less of the new calibers developed were suitable for use in both a rifle and a pistol. The idea of only using one cartridge remains appealing....

The importance of good lighting cannot be stressed enough during a short or long term situation. Without adequate lighting, injuries and mistakes become more common. Easy lighting options are more plentiful than ever. For this post, I wanted to talk about a wide range of lighting options for those that want to be more prepared and secure. I even chose to include an emergency radio that has an excellent light on it. Charging and power Some of the lights discussed have multiple ways of charging. If you are concerned about having some power on hand to keep lights and small...

Dieting and fitness are about self-control, and that is a skill that is good to practice for SHTF or a long emergency Lack of self-control is the root of a lot of behavior that can get you into trouble during a long emergency. Learning better self-control could prevent you from making some poor choices in the future as well as help you combat some of the problems you may be battling right now. Before Matt and I moved to our property we both had been office workers for 2 years and to be blunt, it had wreaked havoc on our...

The idea of having a pistol and rifle that use the same ammunition has been around since the days of black powder. In the late 1800’s basically every caliber from the .22 up to the 45 long Colt was available in both a rifle and a pistol, so it was easy to just use one cartridge. As firearm technology changed, things like necked cartridges, rimless cases, and detachable magazines made ammunition more specialized so less of the new calibers developed were suitable for use in both a rifle and a pistol. The idea of only using one cartridge remains appealing....

I read and write a lot of articles about preparedness. This has led me to think about how to bring all this together to create a household that runs well during an SHTF scenario or long emergency. How does one go about planning out their home so that they can keep everyone fed, hydrated, clean, healthy, and entertained? This post explores the different areas of the household functions that need to be considered. While it is impossible to fit all possibilities and methods in a single article, I hope this overview helps you think about how to get all your...

I have not bought pre-made laundry detergent in over a year, and I couldn’t be happier about it! Making your own laundry soap is very inexpensive, and I have to say that our clothing and linens smell better for longer and are easier to get clean. Matt and I have 1,600 grape vines to tend, a herd of sheep, dogs, cats, chickens, and geese. On top of that, we grow gourmet mushrooms and put back firewood for two houses. All those outdoor activities mean we have a bit of laundry to do, and it can be pretty dirty. In the past,...

I have carried many pistols over the years, but the one I always seem to come back to is my Bersa Thunder CC. The Bersa is a single stack .380 that holds 7 rounds in its standard magazine plus 1 in the chamber. Advantages of the Bersa .380 Price An everyday carry pistol is going to be out in the rain, it’s going to get wet from sweat, tossed into work bags and generally banged around.  I don’t want to spend too much on a gun I know is going to get beat up from daily carry around the farm....