Music or Podcast?

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     I am a fan of music, and have been for as long as I can remember.  Anything from jazz, to punk rock, you name it, I have probably listened to it at some point in my life.  I was never a big radio person, and in fact, have owned some sort of music player since they have been on the market, preferring my personal play lists, over music and talk radio.  That was until recently.  I started to find while I research info for my book and blog, I wanted to fill my down time (things like commuting, jogs, work-outs) with productive learning.  It occurred to me one day, while reading over one of the many survival blogs I follow, that there is an alternative to music and radio; podcast's.  Podcast's have an advantage over talk radio, because they are not as restricted, and typically don't have commercials.  You as a listener have an advantage, because you can pick and choose what topics are interesting and subscribe to it.  I own an iPhone, which makes subscribing to a podcast extremely easy, and gives me many different shows to choose from.  I am finding podcasts perfect for me right now, as I'm focused on learning, and hungry for knowledge.  Podcast's allow me to fill in as much info into my day as possible.

     One of my favorite podcasts out there right now is The Survival Podcast, and I definitely suggest you look it up.  The creator, Jack Spirko, has been doing the podcast since 2008, and has about 500 episodes released.  The podcast also has a YouTube channel here with some useful videos.  Jack releases new episodes daily, so you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and just listen to the new stuff.  If you like the show, you can find back episodes on his website.  I have been listing to TSP for a few months, and I'm now slowly catching up on his previous episodes.  There is a ton of information on these shows about survival, homesteading, gardening, and a bunch of other useful things that most modern survivalists (and people) should know.  Happy Learning!

Quick Pick: Underwear

     Clothing is considered gear and is one of the most important things to have on you, (Even though I doubt you ever leave the house without it!) second only to knowledge.  During the summer months it gives you protection from the sun and insects.   In winter, it helps keep you protected from snow, and the biting cold.  Clothing is also essential to personal comfort.  The human body of modern “clothed” man is conditioned to handle tropical temperatures of around seventy to one hundred degrees.  Any variation can lead to hypothermia or heat exhaustion.  Knowing how to dress properly for the right climate can make a bad situation a bit easier to deal with.   Using the proper fabric in layers is the key to controlling a micro-climate around your body. 

     Today's Quick Pick is underwear designed for warm weather, or activities.  (I will get into long-underwear base layers when we are closer to the cold seasons.)  The idea of this base layer is to wick (Here is a great article on base layers, and explains wicking very well) the sweat away from your skin.  This allows your skin to breath and stay dry by dispersing your sweat into the air.  Wicking materials also dry extremely quick, making them much more comfortable to be in.  Wicking fabrics like polyester and nylon are found in many performance clothing these days, and have definitely put materials like cotton to shame.  Socks and underwear are perfect candidates for wicking fabrics during the warmer months of the year here in the city.

     

     These are ideal for those of you that are used to wearing boxer briefs, or when you need a bit more coverage.  ExOfficio makes well made, reasonably priced clothing.  I own a few pairs of their underwear, and though they show a little bit of wear from use, they still hold up, and are durable.

     The next pair that I suggest are briefs with a sport cut.  They are low rise, making them much more fashionable for all the low cut jeans and pants that are in style right now.  They also have excellent support.

     Next is from my favorite clothing company right now Patagonia.  They make great clothing, and are a very ecologically responsible company.  I don't own a pair of these yet, but plan on trying them out in the near future.

     Here we have a pair I suggest for active women.

     I hand-wash my underwear for the most part, finding that I can own fewer pairs.  This way I can go longer between laundry loads, saving money and causing less of an environmental impact.  Here is the soap I use to wash my wicking base layers, and the hand washer with bucket I prefer to use. 

Rock Climbing

     I have mentioned it briefly in a previous post, and would like to give a bit more detail about one of my new hobbies; rock climbing.  A few months ago I starting to crave more out of my work-outs and was finding trips to the gym boring.  A good friend of mine suggested a trip to a huge indoor rock climbing gym in Brooklyn called Brooklyn Boulders.  We went, and I was hooked by the first day.  I attended the belaying coarse, and literally "learned the ropes".  The survival applications of learning how to properly belay became evident to me instantly.  Belaying teaches you how to work with rope and teaches a few basic knots.  It is excellent for people that are; afraid of heights, not agile, or those that do not have a lot of upper body strength.  It's safe for all, and I recommend you bring children, as they tend to have lots of fun and are naturally good at it.

     The second part of climbing in a place like Brooklyn Boulders is something called bouldering.  It can be a bit more challenging then belaying, but the rewards are great.  You don't use the ropes like you do in belaying to support you while climbing the wall.  Instead you "free climb" the route without any assistance.  The walls are not too high, about 15 feet in most spots, and if you fall, there are thick mats underneath to cushion your drop.  I find bouldering challenging and fun as you get excited about finally finishing lines that you previously found impossible.  Similar to a game of chess, you plot out the possible moves to climb up a route, then seeing if your body has the ability to perform the moves.  If consistent, you can build your strength and endurance up in a much different way your body is used to helping you to achieve completion of some of the harder grades.  

*Survivalist Alert* The strength you build in your hands and upper-body have important self-defense implications.  As anyone who practices martial arts will tell you, finger and hand strength can help in a fight for your life scenario.  Making the ability to debilitate your opponent with shots to the vitals, (eyes, neck, ears, groin) much more devastating.

     So if you are like me, and find your gym membership suffering, give climbing a try.  The rates are very reasonable, and the learning curve is not as steep as it seems (no pun intended).  After a few times, you can try your hand at some outdoor climbing as there are a few premiere climbing destinations not far from the city.  Places like The Gunks are considered some of the best climbing on the east coast.  While visiting The Gunks, you can check out some of the campgrounds for a weekend camping trip.  Below, I put a few items from Amazon I use for climbing.  Shop around, you can probably get better prices, and if you are looking to buy shoes, (You can rent them at Brooklyn Boulders if you were curious) make sure to try them on before you decide.  The people at EMS are very knowledgeable and can help you find the right pair.

Quick Pick: Garbage Bags

     That's your Quick Pick, garbage bags?!  This guy off his rocker?  I am not, or at least the people around me tell me I'm not... Any who, garbage bags, or I should say, the right kind of garbage bags are extremely useful to keep in your apartment, and in your B.O.B.   In fact, they are so important, that I have this post labeled as a "Bare Minimum" and "Quick Pick".  They have a ton of applications, too many to mention here, and are cheap, easy to find, and compact. 

     There are many garbage bags on the market, though these are not the bags I mean.  The ones I'm suggesting are called Contractor Bags and are not typically meant for everyday use.  They have different capacity options (anywhere from 30-55 gallons), and are made of different thickness (1.0 mil up to 3 mil).  I personally suggest the bigger, thicker versions of these; the 55 gallon, 3 mil versions.  I can't link the exact ones I use on Amazon here, but you can most likely find them at the local hardware store.  A few survival themed uses for these awesome bags would be;

• Use as a Tarp for a make shift shelter.
• You can use it as a poncho if caught in the rain.
• It's a strong, light bag to carry things, like clothes in.
• You can use them as a rain catch.
• Very useful as a lining when you fill something like a dirty bucket or bathtub with water. *This is a very important survival strategy.  If you know a disaster is about to happen (e.g.hurricane), you can fill your bathtub, sinks, and anything else large enough with water in case you lose utilities.  These things tend to be unsanitary, so by putting a clean bag liner in them before filling with water, you can make sure the water does not get contaminated.  If the utilities don't come back in a few days, I suggest filtering, or chemically cleaning the water before you drink it.*

     Here is a link to some bags they sell, on Amazon.  They are not the largest, but they are thick.  Like I mentioned, I bought mine at the local hardware store in a box, I'm sure you can do the same.  While there, pick up some WD-40.  Stuff is priceless.

Bare Minimum: Radio

     I'm starting a series of posts called "Bare Minimum".  It's being created because of friends who often ask me to suggest a few basic survival prep items they should keep in their apartments.  These posts are also for those of you that are just starting out in survival prep and want some advise for the bare minimum stuff I suggest you keep in the apartment for "little disasters".  Events that I consider "little disasters" are things that last anywhere from a few days to a week.  A few examples would be loss of electricity, big snow storm, or a bad rainstorm.  If there is anything you get out of this blog, I prefer it be these items and ideas from the "Bare Minimum" posts.  These are the "no-brainer" most important, must have things in my opinion.  All of the items in this series are easy to acquire, cheap, and most will not take up much space at all.  No more excuses, as I'm doing the research for you!  The littlest bit of prep can go a long way in keeping you, and those you love, safe.   

     The first post in this series is about an item that I feel is an absolute necessity to keep in your apartment; the radio.  A radio can take up virtually no room, and will help in most disasters from minor (power loss) to major (hurricane).  Having a portable AM/FM radio can keep you "in the know", telling you what is happening and if you need to bug-out (A term used for when you have to leave your residence in a hurry.  Also referred to as G.O.O.D. or Get Out Of Dodge).  I suggest a radio with a sustainable power source such as hand-crank or solar power, and will go over the two I own and recommend. 

     *Survivalist Alert* (My disclaimer for thoughts and ideas that go beyond most people's vision of survival.  Intended for "hard-core" survivalists.)  EMP (Wiki; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse ) attacks and CME's are two known problems if relying on any electronic devise for your safety.  A large enough EMP pulse could force all electronic devices near it to receive a damaging power surge rendering them useless.  A massive CME could leave whole countries, or even the world, without power for years.  If educated on EMP, and CME damage you would probably piece together what happened when all of your electronics stopped working, and hopefully could figure out your next coarse of action.  If something like either of these disasters was to occur, humans would be put back into the dark ages in an instant.  Let's hope that is never the case.

      The Kikkerland radio I suggest below is a perfect hand-held radio.  It has a hand-crank and is also solar powered.  Hand-cranks need to be cranked every few months or the battery in them dies, so what makes this little gem ideal is that you can leave it on a window sill and it will be constantly charged by the sun.  This radio is also small and compact, making it perfect for carry and is a great size to put in your Bug-out bag if you decide to make one.  It receives AM/FM signals as well as weather band, and can find a signal without problems even in a Manhattan apartment.   

     The next radio I suggest is a bit bigger and has a hand-crank system for charging.  It has the added benefit of being able to charge some cell phones (does not charge iPhones, but there are alternatives that I will get into at a later date) as well as having an LED flashlight built into it.

     Radios are cheap, easy to store pieces of equipment that no apartment should be without.  Make sure to check that it is in working condition every year or so by testing it.  If you want more privacy, keep a pair or headphones secured around the radio with something like a Ranger Band so you can listen to it without interrupting those around you, or if you would like to keep your location covert.  Remember that in the event of a disaster, all TV and radio stations transmit The Emergency Broadcast System.

Quick Pick: Recon Wrap

     Today's Quick Pick is an item called a "Recon Wrap".  Similar in design to a neck gaiter, these are lightweight, multi-climate, multi-mode pieces of fabric that are used by the military and hunters.  Typically worn on the head, it is comparable to a bandana with a bit more function and use.  They are made of a lightweight, stretching fabric that is durable and doesn't shrink when washed.  Perfect for all seasons, I use one in the summer as they are perfect for keeping the sun off my head, and help with wicking sweat.  During the colder months in the city, I use them in the hat, or beanie, configuration to keep my head and ears warm or as a neck gaiter to keep my neck warm. 

     If you buy them in neutral colors, you will find that they look no different from what most people on the streets wear these days, and you will "blend in" perfectly.  Remember, the N.Y.C. Survivalist wants to blend into the crowd, and never draw attention.  We don't walk the streets of Manhattan in full battle fatigues, all camo'd up.  Attention is unwanted in the city, and in most situations in life for that matter.  Items like this are perfect as multi-functional pieces of gear that you can have on you at all times, without "announcing" to the world that your a survivalist.

     Here is the official site for the Recon Wraps, it explains the multiple configurations they can be used in.

     Here is a version that can be a little more fashionable for the ladies.  It still has just as many functions, and is great to have on hand.