.

Friday, December 29, 2017

Back to the Dark Ages: 3 Months later half of Puerto Rico still without Power

Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria

 Puerto Rico Hurricane MariaPuerto Rico Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria sent Puerto Rico back to the Dark Ages and three months later half of Puerto Rico is still without power and struggling badly. What’s it like to live without power, how people cope and what challenges they face.

Like our previous post, the linked presentation below is also worth the time.
Puerto Rico, back to the dark ages.
Nothing like hands on accounts of actual events to understand for real what SHTF is like.
Notice that in general the areas that struggle the most are the more isolated ones and the ones further away from the main power grid. It is logical that these would be the ones where it is harder to re-establish power for. This contradicts the common “preper” advice of living away from main urban areas.

In the real world there’s no easy, black and white answers. The reality of such events is far more complex, what can be a benefit in some aspects can be a big handicap in other areas.
The trick is to know how to balance and prepare accordingly for whatever compromises you decide to make.

Have a great weekend folks!

FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Christmas in Venezuela: What’s life like after Socialism destroys your Country


Article on Venezuelan prepper
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-12-25/christmas-venezuela-what-its-after-socialism-destroys-your-country
-Gary
.

Thanks Gary, a fantastic read.

I get some emails from people there and what they are going through is just terrible.
Venezuelans have lost in average 19lbs because of the extreme poverty and lack of food.
So that you know, in general it’s the other way around: In developed countries poor people tend to be more overweight than the more affluent segment of society. They can afford a better lifestyle, exercise, education on what to eat, buy more expensive healthy food rather than just junk food.
When a society becomes so poor that they end up losing weight, then you’re talking about an extreme SHTF situation.

Do yourself a favour and read the article linked above. Its worth every minute of your time.
At the end of the day it’s a similar situation to other worst-case, large scale disasters. The only right answer is to just get the hell out of there. Most of the rich and middle class have left Venezuela already.

Of particular interest is the part about Christmas and toys. People that are literally starving will still do an extra effort to get their kids something for Christmas, something to put a smile on their faces.
It reminds me of Argentina in many ways.

Right before we left we sold a lot of our belongings. I remember posting how toys brought in a lot of money. They sold at a premium. My kids had many I had brought from abroad, US and Europe. I explained to them that we couldn’t take most and they were more than happy to sell them and then go to the toy store to buy new ones after we left. Many sold for even more money than what I paid for them, even after being used for some time.  I know, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it? And preppers will rarely mention stuff like this. In theory its all tools, guns, knives, bullets and food. Well, in the real world it turns out that for millions that are going through a real, long-term SHTF, a nice toy for their kid is a ray of light in their otherwise dark existence.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Micarta handle Upgrade for Schrade SCHF38


Monday, December 18, 2017

Which Rice has the Least Arsenic?

The Chinese Take on American Cuisine | Understanding China

Rice is a classic staple in the survival pantry.
It is shelf stable, can be stored for years if kept in vacuum sealed mylar bags. It has good nutritional value and can be easily integrated into your daily meals.  You’re supposed to store what you eat, eat what you store.

Since you not just stock up this for when SHTF, it’s important to understand what you’re eating. What you eat daily is the most important decision you make every day, directly impacting both your quality of life and survival rate.

Therefore it’s important to understand what food you choose to eat. Rice is a fantastic staple, but not all rice is created equal. One important piece of information to take into account is the amount of arsenic in rice. Some rice has more arsenic than other and eating it as a fixed staple in your pantry means you should try to consume the one with the least amount.
Check out this article from Consumer Report.
How Much Arsenic Is in Your Rice?
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Thursday, December 14, 2017

How to keep your Bitcoin safe


So you followed my advice, put some money in Bitcoin and by now you doubled or tripled your investment. Good for you my friend!
Keep in mind what we’re doing here though. Keeping eggs in different baskets right? Crypto currency is a VERY attractive basket thought and if it ever reaches just a percentage of its true potential…
Anyway, if you bought some coin I’m sure you’re a happy camper and that’s fine but just like you keep your gold and cash in a safe, just don’t leave your money sitting there in an online account. It’s not safe, and if something happens to the company, lets say Coinbase goes under or gets hacked, you may lose your Bitcoin. I know that with reputable companies this is unlikely, but it has happened before and all experts agree on not being a good idea to leave large savings just sitting there.

What do to then?

You have a few options. The idea is to have a cold wallet for the bulk of your coin. Cold storage means storage that is offline and therefore impossible to hack. You can create a paper wallet, with extreme precautions to reduce the chances of hacking such as going off line and using a live OS in a fresh USB drive, print with an offline, wired printer.

What most experts agree on being the best way to store Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is using a Hardware wallet. These are devices similar to a USB drive, with its own screen an pin number which even in a computer infected with malware (like may are these days)  it would be save to use.

I recommend these two, which are considered the best, the Ledger Nano S and Trezor.
Using it is easy enough following a few simple steps. Make sure you keep the recovery code VERY well protected (you write this down in paper), a couple copies in different safes. This would allow you to recover your money if the device is stolen, lost or destroyed.

FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Reply: American tourist stabbed 10 times in La Boca, Buenos Aires

Is La Boca the same barrio where that one tourist with a GoPro got mugged while he kept saying “amigo?”-Joe

I think it was. Either way Buenos Aires and pretty much Argentina in general, it’s a dangerous place. What I mean by dangerous is not just “crime like everywhere else”. I’m talking people getting killed daily in the city and violent crime very much out of control. There’s currently problems now with armed left-wing gangs occupying land in Patagonia, a group called RAM. The police seem to be unable to stop them and it says a lot about the country when an armed terror organization is free to operate in plain view, yet the police does nothing.

“When travelling always dress way down the fashion ladder. Always use cheap baggage. Always wear layered clothing with fake stuff in the outer layer and real stuff closer to the body. A money belt with a few Benjamins in it is also good. Plus a photocopy of ones passport. “ -A

That’s good advice. Those money belts are priceless and work very well. If mugged just give up your wallet, make sure you don’t keep anything too valuable there. I’d keep my original passport in there, not a copy.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Silly gimmick or wise addition? : 10 uses for the EDC Prybar



I think it has a place, yes even these tiny ones that look like a joke.
The logic behind it?  I have a small, Pico prybar in my keychain for all those prying, poking or scrapping tasks where most people would usually end up using their blades, often breaking the tip in the process.

Small Swiss Army knife blades such as the Minichamp I keep in my keychain make poor prying tools so I use it exclusively for cutting. Here is where these tiny prybars come in handy. They are surprisingly study and practical in spite of their small size.

For years I kept a Boker Vox prybar. The Boker Vox is a nice tool but a tad big  for an already loaded up keychain. Today, I keep a Pico in my keychain. Its about the size of a small key anyway and has come in handy enough times to earn its place there.

You also have generic, affordable 3" versions.
Like small P38 can openers, small prybars have a number of uses:

1) Prying of course. Any stuck drawer, box, etc.
2) Scrapping paint gun, anything you’d use your nails or some small scrapping tool for.
3) Cutting. I use mine frequently for opening boxes and packages, especially when in public and I don’t want to bring out a knife. I’ve sharpened it enough to open stuff but not cut without using force.
4) Screwdriver, works well as a big flat screwdriver.
5) Pulling nails. Yup, the tiny tool can do it with most nails you come across.
6) Opening paint cans and other sturdy lids. Works nice for this.
7) I’ve used it for scrapping stuff from my shoes. Little pebbles that get in there. Since its in the keychain already its convenient for this.
8) The V notch can be used for stripping wires.
9) The V notch or hole can be used for bending wire, even small nails.
10) Scratching and marking on both wood and metal.

FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Friday, December 8, 2017

American tourist stabbed 10 times in La Boca, Buenos Aires

La Boca: el turista estadounidense asaltado recibió 10 puñaladas y está grave

American tourist Frank Joe Wolek (54) was stabbed 10 times this morning in La Boca, Buenos Aires.
He was attacked by 2 criminals while taking photographs. The camera was dropped and left in the crime scene. I can only assume the intention was to rob the camera. This would be very typical for the area, popular with both tourists and criminals preying on them. If the victim resisted and refused to give up the camera I can see how he could easily get stabbed over it.  A plain clothes police officer in the area confronted the criminals shooting one in the chest while the other managed to escape.
Both the victim and wounded criminal are in critical condition.

This is just a reminder for everyone planning on visiting Argentina or other countries with high levels of violent crime. People plan their trip to these kind of places and 90% of the time it all works out great. But sometimes it doesn’t.

With places like these you really have to know what you’re getting into. I know my country very well, better than any tourist, and I would never be caught in such an area with an expensive camera or cell phone. Tourists simply don’t know any better.

What’s even worse, they don’t know how to react. When unarmed and kept at knifepoint or gunpoint by two criminals you just give them the camera. They are not bluffing and its just not worth getting stabbed or shot over.

It is a rather natural reaction to fight back when people are getting mugged. You see it with women holding on to their purses as they get dragged by snatchers on motorcycles.

Lessons learned:
*If you’re planning on fighting, then do it right. Be armed and keep a constant state of awareness. Chances are doing it will dissuade a good number of potential attackers.

*Now if you’re caught off guard in some 3rd world country then your camera or wallet just isnt worth getting killed over. Give it up and carry on with your life.

*When going to countries that aren't that safe, plan accordingly. Don't take anything too fancy, especially cameras. Don't try to be like the locals, just stick with your group and your guide when wandering around.
FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Monday, December 4, 2017

Schrade SCHF38 Frontier Knife: Great value knife for $30


The Schrade SCHF38 is a solid, full tang knife.
It has a sabre grind, quarter inch thick blade which lends itself nicely for tougher use such as batoning and chopping.
I believe that a survival knife should fall in that category of “sharpened prybar”, capable of cutting, chopping, prying, hammering, digging, or axing its way through anything on its way and this knife does that.

The blade is 5.8” long, but given the mass it has it’s a good chopper for its size.  On the other hand, with a fat blade like this you don’t have the finer edge you’d find on a thinner blade, so while it does cut it’s no carving knife. A bit of work reprofiling the bevel can certainly improve its performance though.
The blade is 1095 carbon steel and my sample was correctly heat treated without any visible chips or dents after batoning and chopping.

The tip of this knife is VERY strong.
The knife comes with basic but functional nylon sheath, a diamond sharpener and a rather nice quality ferro rod. Given the price, its surprising the amount of stuff you get for your money besides a sturdy blade made of quality carbon steel such as 1095, found in Becker and ESEE knives costing two or three times more.
Schrade SCHF38 Frontier Full Tang Drop Point Fixed Blade Knife
The only con I can think of is the handle. Trying to please the horde of youtube commandos Schrade went nuts with jimping on this thing, using it both on the front and back of this knife’s handle. Jimping is… I don’t want to offend so lets leave it there.  If they had left it as is without the stupid jimping this knife would have been a 10/10 in the budget knife category.

The good news is that scales are easily removable and making your own scales capable of covering the jimping isnt that hard. I already ordered a couple micarta scales which I’ll be using on mine. I’ll post pics once its done. As it is, it’s still very much usable as a survival or emergency blade but I’d rather do without the jimping for extended use sessions without gloves.
I just checked and the SCHF 38 Frontier is currently selling for $30.97. That’s a steal and wouldn’t hesitate to order a couple to beat around or to include in survival kits.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Friday, December 1, 2017

Survival and Enjoying the little Things

So today my wife and I had been running a few errands. Since it was getting late we talked about going to Burger King and grabbing something to eat.  Our youngest son who was hanging out with us was very much ok with that. 99% of the time we cook and eat at home so fast food once a while wont kill us. Its fast, it’s convenient. Junk food none the less but as burgers go…meh.
But then I looked around and thought a bit better about it. No one was rushing us. No one was forcing me to go to a burger joint. In fact I had a much better view and a nice restaurant just a few steps away. I told my son “Say, how about some paella instead?”
So we traded the interior of a Burger King joint for this view:

And traded a burger and fries for this:



And we traded yet another soulless evening of mass produced industrial garbage for this:

And wrapped up a perfect day in front of the fireplace.

We ended up having a great time. What was a matter of just grabbing something to eat turned into a fantastic evening without even planning it.
Those of us with a strong survival mindset can focus too much on being efficient, preparing and being ready, we sometimes forget to stop for a minute, relax and enjoy. No need for anything special, maybe its just calming down for a few minutes and have a chat and a cup of coffee.
So as Zombieland Rule #32 says– Enjoy the Little Things
Have a great weekend.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Thursday, November 30, 2017

70 years isolated and living off the land

Very interesting documentary. Escaping communism, the Lykov family settled in the middle of nowhere in Taiga, hundreds of miles from the nearest settlement.  Agafia Lykova was born there in isolation with her family. She lived her entire life there. Now 70 years old, she’s the only survivor of the family.
It’s very interesting to see how such conditions affect a person. The survival and preparedness community often fantasizes about such things, romanticising what is in fact a very harsh, in many ways a very sad way of living. Being ostracized, isolated all the time, it clearly has an impact on a person.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Car Emergency Kit: Setup and Content Details



 Car kt content

I was recently asked to show my Car survival kit.
This gave me the chance to go through everything I keep there and sort a few things out.
Its amazing how in what it seems to be no time food and meds expire, batteries go bad, water bottles get used up and the spare clothes no longer fit the kids!

I even managed to misplace and lose some of the stuff along the way. No doubt brought out to be used at some point only to be left God knows where.
Your Car survival/emergency Kit works as a system, of which your actual vehicle is the foundation. I believe that your daily driver is your “first responder” when there’s an emergency so it’s much more important to have that vehicle ready than to have a loaded up off-road truck at home while driving a compact sedan with just a spare tyre and little else for emergencies.


The car must be very reliable, well serviced, large enough yet practical enough. Have 4x4 or AWD. Not necessarily an off road truck, but capable of dealing with some snow, mud or doing some light off roading if the situation requires it.

In my case I believe the Honda CRV balances these very well. Being diesel it also means I get considerably more miles per gallon of fuel. It’s also safer in case of an accident, diesel stores better than gas and diesel cars have roughly twice as much torque compared to similar cylinder engines.
I would also like to point out that both the vehicle and kit depend on the specific location, climatic conditions and family group. Living in the middle of nowhere in Alaska probably means your daily driver needs to be a 4x4 truck, in cold climates the spare clothes would be more winter oriented or if you have a baby in the family you’ll need a baby bag.
I used the list from my book “Bugging Out and Relocating” as a guide to make sure I was covering the important points.
Here’s the list:
  • First Aid Kit
  • Food (I'll be including some of the long term rations)

  • Clothes and footwear
  • Water
  • Flashlight and spare batteries
  • AM/FM radio
  • Tool Kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Duct Tape
  • Spare Tire, Lug Wrench and Jack
  • Jumper Cables
  • 50 Feet of 550 Paracord
  • Tow Strap
  • Lighter
  • Work Gloves
  • Map
  • Compass
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Wet Wipes
  • Sunblock
  • Bug Repellent
  • Toilet Paper
  • Cell phone with charger
  • Shovel (managed to lose my shovel, so I bought a folding E-tool to replace it)

  • Ice Scrapper
  • Tire inflator
  • Emergency Flat Tire Repair
  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • Reflective vest
  • Reflective triangle or road flares
I also included a Cold Steel Kukri machete and keep a can of Sabre Red OC spray on the driver's door storage compartment for quick access.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Black Friday Week: Deal Alert on Amazon

Some nice discounts and Deal of the Day in Amazon you may want check out. Stock runs out pretty fast and there's more deals showing up so look around. If there's something you like, grab it while you can.

Gooloo 800A Peak 18000mAh Car Jump Starter (Up to 7.0L Gas or 5.5L Diesel Engine) Portable Power Pack Auto Battery Booster Phone Charger Built-in LED Light and Smart Protection  $52.49
Price is good? Check. Good reviews? Check. Good idea to keep one of these in your car, especially in colder climates.

Tactical Riggers belt with Cobra belt similar to the one I wear every day. This is what you want in a gun belt for CCW and the price is great.


Surefire going for almost half the usual retail price.

LG Electronics OLED65C7P 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV (2017 Model) $2,696.99
I’d tell you how much I paid for this same TV just a few months ago… yeah, should have waited until Black Friday.
Anyway, 65” OLED from LG. I did a ton of research before buying and it's simply the best TV currently in the market. Doesn’t get any better and yes, it is awesome. Totally worth it if you can afford it.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Reality Check: 5 common problems in your survival Kits



I was recently asked about my car kit so I took the opportunity to go through it.
What I found brought me very little peace of mind, the opposite of what preparedness is supposed to do.
After several months of neglect, my car kit was a mess and a reality check is in order.
Here are five of the most common fails found in kits.

1)Water
I had used up most of the water in my car for different reasons and only had one 2 liter bottle left in it. Hardly enough for my family if stranded in summer out in the road.
Water is so important, you end up using it up often. The problem is that sometimes we forget to resupply what we use.

2)Expired Food
While water gets used up, with food the problem I often come across as years go by is that is simply expires. Some types of food and some packaging is better than others but it’s still important to check. I just threw away several energy bars that came in individual mylar pouches. Mylar works well but it isnt magic and food can still go bad in them. Check the expiration date and replace as needed. Its cheap enough insurance.

3)Clothes
Spare clothes for each family member are an important part of the kit. For me it has saved the day more than once.
The problem is, kids grow and clothes don’t fit them anymore. I just realized we need to replace the ones we have for some that actually fit if/when needed.

4)Medical supplies
Just like food, your meds expire too. Check those vehicle first aid kits and make sure they haven’t expired. This goes for other supplies that have an expiration date or other items that require regular check, such as batteries or your fire extinguisher. Make sure it still has enough pressure.

5)Missing stuff
Oh, it sure is useful to keep a kit with gear handy. Now, you need to make sure you return everything back to its place because if not you end up with a kit missing many vital components. I just checked and cant seem to find the small folding shovel in my car kit. Who knows where that thing is now? I’m sure there are other items missing too.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Friday, November 17, 2017

Two Cheap DIY knife sheaths: $0.99 and $9.99


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The $9 Leather sheath: Quick, easy, and actually good!


So today I finally went for it and made a leather sheath for my Sykco Dog Soldier.
Making a leather sheath is something I’ve wanted to do for many years. Seemed simple enough yet when watching tutorials and looking at all the stuff needed for leather work, the techniques, time… it kind of gets overwhelming.
Well, today I just went for it. Did a sheath the most simple, straight forward way possible. I expected very little given the basic method and tools used yet I couldn’t be happier with the results. Yes, I bought a cheap leather tool kit but didn’t use any of it, other than some of the waxed thread.
All you really need for this project is some thick leather, 2 or 3mm thick. I got some buffalo leather. It was 9 bucks shipped and the colour was pretty :-) .
Keep in mind this isnt by any stretch of the imagination the correct way of doing this. Its more of a redneck/ Jerry-rigged approach to it.





1)You should make a paper template although to be honest I didn’t bother and marked on the piece of leather the shape of the blade. Buy one that is at least 4 cm wider than the knife itself. Mark up to what point you want the sheath to cover the blade and where you want the belt loop to end up. I just did the best I could with the piece of leather I had, given that I use rather wide, riggers shooting belts daily in my pants. Leave about 5mm for the welt, meaning the piece of leather that goes between the two layers.


2)With the knife wrapped in plastic film, I placed the other piece of leather under the faucet and got it soaking wet. Once softened I placed it on top of the knife and moulded it with my fingers and using a spoon to mark the curvature of the grip. I gave it about 10mm overlapping the grip, over the choil and the finger guard so as to hold the knife in place. This would save me from having to use any snap buttons which I didn’t have.  I also placed a hair dryer and left it pointing towards the formed leather for it to dry up and harden.

3) On the bottom leather piece, the one I draw the shape of the blade, I soaked a bit the top section of leather that folds to form the belt loop and kept it down in place with a couple clips. I also used some sand paper on the section I would later glue and sew, so that the leather glue got a better grip on the surface. Once glued I kept it in place for a few minutes until it dried, then used an electric drill to drill a few holes with the smallest drill bit I had. I didn’t use any fancy stitches, just made an eight figure knot to keep the end of the thread in place, passed the thread to the end and then back on the same holes. I know this isnt the way you’re supposed to do it but oh well.

4)Now that I had my belt loop ready, I glued the welt to the bottom piece (sandpaper on the area before the glue), then glued the top one with the knife form on top of it and kept the three players in place with several clips. Before gluing check if the knife fits just keeping the pieces in place with the clips. This should give you somewhat of an idea of how it fits. Once glued and with the clips keeping everything in place I let it try for another 15 minutes or so.

5)Now I drill the holes along the edges, leaving a drain hole at the bottom of the sheath. I measure four lengths of thread per side of the sheath and sew all the way, then back the other way using the same holes. You’re supposed to use a technique using two needles but I just did it this way making sure everything was nice and tight. When I was done I hammered the thread to flatten the stitches.

6) I used a Dremel to sand down the sides, then using the hair dryer and some beeswax I worked the sides of the sheath, rolling a wooden handle to even and flatten the sides of the leather sheath. The wax presses and flattens the leather, keeping it from coming apart.
And that’s it. Not the best most sophisticated way of making a leather sheath but its cheap and relatively fast. Give it a try!
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

More questions about Bitcoin


Message:
Hello, Fernando. I was wondering more & more about Bitcoin, but I can't find too much clear information about it- everything starts in the middle & doesn't seem too concerned about telling you how not to get snagged-up with it (ex: looking like a drug dealer or a money launderer). Would you people tell me some more about it? I would hate to miss a good investment, but I don't even get how it IS an investment- it doesn't seem like there's any company that distributes it, so how can there be any stock? And why not just make your own?
A-

Hello A,
Again, I’m no Bitcoin expert by any stretch of the imagination but I’ll try to answer some of your questions.

Bitcoin is a currency, a virtual one at that but some Bitcoin does not make you a drug dealer any more than having a roll of 20s in your pocket makes you one. Don’t let the mainstream media agenda intended to stigmatize Bitcoin get to you. In any case, ALL large financial groups are into Bitcoin at this point, so don’t feel bad about doing it yourself.
Second, it is not an investment. Investments generate profit. Buying Bitcoin will only get you… Bitcoin. Like gold, it can go up or down and you selling at the right time may leave you with a profit but it’s a currency, not an investment.

Finally, you CAN make your own. You can mine Bitcoin with your computer. The problem is that by its own nature Bitcoin is HARD to mine, meaning you need a lot of computer power to mine it so that its profitable and compensates the electric power you are using to generate it. People used to buy mining computers to mine Bitcoin and many still do. How profitable it is today is hard to say. All I know is that you need some initial investment for the mining computers and electric power better be rather affordable where you are.

As I said before, I think Bitcoin is extremely interesting but it’s not on the same line as gold and silver, which have been around for thousands of years. Can it be the gold of the future generation? Maybe, but don’t put into it anything you can’t afford to lose. That would be my advice.
As for buying Bitcoins, I suggest you do a lot of google and reading first. Chances are you’ll end up in Coinbase or maybe Localbitcoins. No, I don’t have any association of any kind with either one, they are just some of the most common names that pop up.
Good luck!
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Manuals for Every Firearm


Steve’s pages is famous but well worth remembering. A ton of good info, gun manuals but also many manuals for optics.

http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm

Download any manuals you may be missing for some of the guns you own.

FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Where to buy Bitcoin?


Ferfal,
I just saw your bitcoin article and have been looking into it.  Can you explain who exactly you use to set this up/the easiest process as it seems to be sort of complicated for the average guy.  I assume I open an account with a bitcoin broker, link a normal bank account, buy bitcoin, and hold in their "wallet".  Is there a company you use/recommend?
A-
.
Let me say this first, I’m no Bitcoin expert.
I understand enough to believe it has potential, maybe even great potential, but please by all means do a lot of research and make up your own opinion. Wikipedia is actually a good place to start. Google it and read up some of the many good articles out there about Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies in general.
Long story short for those looking for a straight answer would be that after looking up and checking safe places to buy, in general they will point towards Coinbase as one of the most reputable places to buy and keep an account in. Again, I’m no expert. I’m not affiliated in any way to that site and it’s not the only place for buying Bitcoin. Remember, only spend what you can afford to lose.
Good luck!
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Friday, November 3, 2017

Survival Finances: So, did you buy Bitcoin when I told you to do so?


No? That’s ok. There’s still time.

I try to be very careful with my advice. You don’t see me telling people to run for the hills (or relocate to areas where a real estate broker friend of mine will sell you property and giving me a cut) When I firmly recommend a product, it’s because I truly believe it’s worth it.
Now from a practical survival perspective, Bitcoin is a powerful tool. Not in theory, not in the future. Today, bitcoin is used in places like Venezuela, where the entire society has basically collapsed into a nightmare of inflation, crime and corruption, ran by a dictator. If in that environment people find Bitcoin useful, then its empirical information, not theory.

I like empirical. Its not supposing, guesses or assumptions, it’s observation of facts.
A few weeks ago I did that thing I rarely do and gave actual financial advice by saying “some precious metals, investing in reliable stocks, investing in good real estate. And yes, putting some money in Bitcoin.” If you did put a few bucks in that Bitcoin basket back then, Bitcoin was around $3.400… Today its worth  $7.300.

As I said back then. Bitcoin is just one more tool to work with, but it may well be a game changing tool if it fulfils its prophecy as the global currency of the internet era. If it becomes that, if it becomes the gold of the digital era then the sky is the limit.

Or not. Don’t spend (like Gold, Bitcoin isnt an investment) more than you can afford to lose.
I like to see Bitcoin going up but to be honest I’m betting on it for the long run. Some people sold thinking that it peaked at $1000, then at $2000, Then $3000 and so on.  Like precious metals, but it and store it for that rainy day.

My advice remains. When funds allow it, buy a bit of precious metal here and there, same for some actual cash for a rainy day because cash is still king, and also put some in Bitcoin every now and then.
Enjoy the weekend folks.
FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

WWII French Resistance Weapons Cache Unearthed


Ammo, grenades, three Sten submachine guns and several magazines, about five for each Sten. There’s also two auto pistols and a revolver. Nice French Resistance cache, recently found by a couple in in the Quarré-les-Tombes area, France.

There’s the saying though, that when its time to burry your guns you really should be digging them up. Yet these guns were not found by the enemy and could have been dug up to fight if/when needed. Maybe they were cached again after doing just that.
I still think it’s pretty interesting how successful caching can actually be.
Of course doing it properly with modern supplies, PVC pipes or sealed polymer gun cases, well oiled guns for protection and who knows how long a good cache can last.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Glock is #1... But what should be your 2nd or 3rd Handgun?


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Lessons learned from the Puerto Rico Disaster: Cash and knowing when to Bug Out


Dear FERFAL: Have you keeping up with the Puerto Rico disaster?.
Lesson learned:
1) Bug out
2) Have a lot of liquid assets available (Cash)
3) Generator, runs out of fuel, then you have hundreds of thousands of individuals with the same problem!
4) You can’t have enough food or water.
5) You may think that you’re prepared, but nearly a meter (39 inches, for my fellow Americans)of rain change all that. Look at number one.
6) In one evening your back in the early 1900.
7) Save your money for bugging out.
8) Just bug out!.
I’ll keep you posted.
-Maria
..
Hello Maria, thanks for those points.
Not surprised to see you mention and insist on the importance of cash and bugging out to safety.
These are essentially the two biggest points during these worst case scenarios. Supplies are important, food, WATER, generator, fuel, but when that water keeps raising and destroys everything in its path you just understand your life may be the next thing you lose.

So when it comes down to it, it’s a)Bug out! And save your life and the life of your loved ones.  b) Have the cash to get back on your feet. That money is all too important for rebuilding, getting things fixed and pay for those million things you just couldn’t prepare for.

For getting ready to bug out and evacuate when these disasters hit, when you have hours, minutes or just seconds to escape, check out my book “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying Put is not an Option”. Floods, fires and a variety of disasters affect people that believe they have prepared, but in fact they only prepared for what they HOPED they would be facing one day rather than true disasters.
Since we’re talking cash. How important was cash in Puerto Rico? Well, it was so important that extra cash had to be rushed to meet the surge in demand. "Demand for cash is extraordinarily high right now, and will evolve as depository institutions regain power, armored car services are able to reach branches, and ATMs are once again active," said the spokeswoman of the New York branch of the U.S. central bank.
Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

My EDC update and some other Tips and Thoughts


Tuesday, October 17, 2017

EDC Sunglasses: Wiley X Valor


Just got my Wiley X Valor (polarized) and I’m very happy with them.
The fit is very nice. They are comfortable to wear which not all sunglasses are. I’d say they are a good fit for small/medium faces and a bit of a tighter fit for larger ones.
The field of view is excellent, 100%.

What surprised me the most was how good the polarized lenses are. Wiley X Valor glasses are available both with and without polarized lenses. Do get the polarized ones. They eliminate that bright glare, which burns away a lot of detail where intense light is being reflected. It works great against car lights as well. My wife tried them and was just as surprised as I was, she even asked for me to buy her a pair. Check the image below and see the difference between the 9mm rounds, how shinny it looks without the glasses and how you can see much more detail with them.

These are also security, ballistic glasses which provide significant protection to the area covered.
If you happen to be looking for good tactical sunglasses that doubles for EDC use, give these a try.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Monday, October 16, 2017

Quick & Easy: Cleaning and Lubricating your Glock (or most other handguns)


Friday, October 13, 2017

Unboxing Busse's SYKCO Dog Soldier Knife


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

EDC Sun glasses


Wiley X Slay Sunglasses, given to a good friend a long time ago.

Message:
In 2014 you recommended WileyX Revolver Sun glasses, so I got 2 that I used for 2 years, but I lost the first and broke the second through abuse.
I am curious if there is a better kind of sun glasses for 2017 ? Now that you are back in a sunny country, I guess you are using more your glasses ? A new type, technology or brand you would recommend?
I used my glasses daily and sometimes even at night, as I felt like I lost some visibility but still got all the advantages of the glasses: Protection from wind, dust, random objects, and just psy advantage over people.
-Sam
.
Hey Sam,
Wow, you went through two Revolvrs? I’m still on my original pair and I’m using them everyday, every time I’m driving or walking.
You know, I was thinking about getting a spare pair in case I broke them. The great thing about the Revolvrs is the fantastic field of view you get.
They don’t seem to be selling them any more though so after some research, reading reviews and such I placed and order for these. They are Wiley X Ops Valor. I bought the Polarized version which reduces glare. Of course they have the 100% UV protection, impact resistance and all that good stuff. These can also use different lenses if you need clear or red ones.

I’ll see about trying them out and letting you guys know how I like them after some use.

FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”