I really need to start keeping a checklist of things to do weekly, monthly, semi-annually and annually. For example, I should probably check the stored water supply every month to make sure nothing has sprung a leak. I’ve had that happen before, actually…. a water jug had a tiny porous leak that dripped water at a glaciatingly slow pace…but over time a  drop every so often  added up and when I went to move the container I was surprised to find it only half full. The moral to the story, of course, was to check any container thoroughly for leaks before using it.
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Someone brought up the topic of book recommendations the other day. One of the best I’ve found seems to be this one: Crisis Preparedness Handbook by J. Spigarelli ISBN#0-936348-07-0

Its a good, solid, well thought out book that adresses everything and acknowledges that it isnt the last word on the subject. (Really, an entire book would be needed just to cover food, another would be needed to cover logistics and storage, etc, etc.)

While the list of books I can recommend is fairly short, I have a fairly good idea of a bunch I’d advise you not to waste your money on. Sadly, Ragnar Benson’s books on ‘Survival Retreats’ is one of them…matter of fact, let me save you $12.95 and give you the only useful thing in there which we all probably know anyway: Rule of Three- have three escape routes, three ways of providing lighting and heat, three layers of protection, etc, etc, etc. There. Saved you twelve bucks.) While we’re on the subject, although Mel Tappan’s ‘Survival Guns’ is a classic and loved for its overkill, it is so dated as to be almost worthless, in my opinon. Tappan suggested you needed a defensive rifle, hunting rifle, training rifle, pest rifle, hunting shotgun, defensive shotgun, defensive pistol, working pistol, training pistol, air pistol, hideout pistol, etc, etc. By the time it was over if you didnt have about 15 different guns you were woefully unprepared…and that 15 does NOT include redundant backups. Entertaining, but I wouldnt put much stock into it. Additionally, the AK/SKS series of weapons were extremely uncommon back then so they arent really covered, the .40 S&W and Glock guns were unknown, tactical lights and lasers werent around in any serious way, and web gear was almost all WW2/Vietnam leftovers. Sure, theres a nugget or two in there but for a better take on the subject any of the ‘Boston’ books, while equally as opinionated, will give a well fleshed-out arguement for or against a particular piece.
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For those of you whom are interested, Sportsmans Guide ‘HQ’ milsurp catalog has a nice deal on the German snowcamo pants/jacket combos. These are strictly for putting over your winter clothing to give you concealment…they have no insulative value beyond what a thin layer of fabric offers. However, Ive used them for years and theyre cut generously, are cut at the hem to go over boots, and are reversible from solid white to solid white with spruce. Price is pretty good thse days. If you really wanna be a cheap charlie, one of the Tyvek painters coveralls from Home Depot will work as well but not be nearly as durable.
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Rotated out some gasoline last night. I’ve decided that for long term storage Im going with the steel Blitz jerrycans. I want something that won’t vent gases like porous plastic, and something that will fit the usual gas can rack. For less-than-long-term storage (a year or less) Im going with the Blitz plastic containers. Trouble is, the nozzle arrangements on the plastic containers never seems to work right…it takes forever to empty the gas. This isnt a problem on the metal cans because of the venting thats on them. However, after looking at some pictures in lemonhd‘s LJ I decided to pick up a few funnels (interestingly, also made by Blitz. <$2.00 at WallyWorld. ) to use. So I tried using the funnel instead of the spigot on the plastic container. Definitely easier to use. I'll paracord a funnel to every other gas container. I can still use the spigot if I have to but the funnel is much easier to use. Oh, and the gas is stabilized with the PRI-G that the bunkerbabe got for me a few months ago. Should be good for at least a year.

Why the difference in longterm vs. shortterm gasoline? The short term gas is for throwing in the back of the truck as ‘extra’ in case a road trip gets a little too long or runs too late into the night after gas stations have closed and that sort of thing. Its gas to be used for non-emergencies or very, very mild ones. The longterm stuff is the ‘use only in case of nuclear war’ type of stockpile. Its there solely to provide transport to get us away from here and to somewhere safer. No other use. Period. As such, it gets stored in the best manner possible and rotated annually. When a generator is purchased it will have its own dedicated stockpile.
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The fabulous and highly recommended Yugo SKS rifles are being offered from Southern Ohio Gun for $89.95 g/vg and they are C&R eligible. Guys, if you dont stock up on a few of these youre going to be kicking yourself in ten years like people now who wish theyd bought more of the $179 S&W 1917 revolvers and $99 FR-8 Mausers in the ’90s. Ninety bucks. You spend more than that on dinner and a movie for you and a date. Ninety bucks for a semiauto rifle built like a tank. Perfect truck gun, great for unprepared guests and utterly fabulous trading stock in Katrinaworld. Spend the extra $10 and get a buncha stripper clips also.