Chris Cox - Member - The Prepared

Reply to: Making and testing a trash can Faraday cage Posted 2 weeks ago

Reply to: Hackers infiltrated a Florida water treatment plant a few days ago and almost poisoned the town with lye. How do you prepare for attacks like this? Posted 3 weeks ago

So, does anything stand up to lye at all?

Reply to: News roundup for Thur, Feb 4, 2020 Posted 4 weeks ago

Stephanie, thanks for the extra weekly articles! From what I understand, this Brazilian strain may be more deadly, quicker to spread, and more resistant to vaccine. If that is true, *and* it spreads worldwide, could society be forced to accept that the higher death rate and lower life expectancy of past generations are here to stay? The general trajectory of these articles seem to suggest that possibility without to say it out loud.

Reply to: News roundup for Mon, Feb 1, 2021 Posted 1 month ago

Thanks for bringing this back!

Reply to: What is your favorite prepping tool? Posted 1 month ago

What about duct tape and baling wire? 🙂

Reply to: The best faraday cages and sleeves Posted 1 month ago

Thanks!

Reply to: The best faraday cages and sleeves Posted 1 month ago

EMP is a statistical certainty, eventually. From what I understand, however (and some of that knowledge is derived from this website!) it is quite possible that an EMP, though devastating, wouldn’t *totally* destroy the world as we know it. Some even suggest that many vehicles would survive. Between that, and my belief that our culture demands fear-based consumerism where contentment should prevail, leads me to believe that EMP is worth prepping for, but not losing sleep over. As for security, that is becoming an apocalyptic threat due to China’s imposition of a social credit system. As it rises in power and influence, techno-totalitarianism is going to be viewed as a serious alternative to liberal democracy, which hasn’t had a serious challenger since the fall of the Soviets. And I don’t just mean Facebook being mean. Having the wrong people in law enforcement, policy and intel theoretically makes much of mankind blackmailable, doxxable and otherwise vulnerable for life, barring an EMP. This has been called “soft totalitarianism.”

Reply to: The best faraday cages and sleeves Posted 1 month ago

Thank you!

Reply to: The best faraday cages and sleeves Posted 1 month ago

Thanks!

Reply to: What are some valuable tools to have on hand? Posted 1 month ago

No particular suggestion for the tool organizer. As for the selections, that might be local, because I’d say the opposite of my own Lowes and Home Depot.

Reply to: What are some valuable tools to have on hand? Posted 1 month ago

Everyone should always have at a 25′ Stanley tape measure, a good hammer, a spirit level and a stud-finder. When leaving hand tools in a vehicle in the heat, get fiberglass handles. Get a finish (regular) hammer for indoors. Get a framing hammer with at least a 21 oz. head for rough or outside work. Learn to swing it correctly. You can also use a rigging axe for this purpose, but don’t expect to make friends with OSHA! Get a bucket tool organizer because its cheaper than a normal tool box. If you get to the point where you want a tool belt and bags, just buy Occidental. It hardly even has competiton. Home Depot has better customer service than Lowe’s. The most important power tool is a cordless drill. For high quality without diminishing returns on investment, I’d suggest Makita, which I used when I was briefly in the trades. Wander around Home Depot for five minutes, and you’ll find the drill bits and drivers you need. If you get Holikme Drill Brush attachments, you can use it to scrub grout and toilet bowls as well. If you learn to use nothing else, you’re already head-and-shoulders above many homeowners, and nearly all of my fellow Millennials! Once you get good with that, get a skillsaw, sawzall, and angle grinder (probably in that order, as a matter of fact). The batteries are expensive, so once you choose a brand, stick with it. Your wallet will cry anyway. Most of all, get someone to teach you this stuff. Take a shop class, learn from a buddy who’s a contractor, anything. Make sure to do that before buying anything other than the drill. A good online source is here.

Reply to: The best faraday cages and sleeves Posted 1 month ago

Don’t mind at all! I had a feeling that was the reason for the title change. The Silent Pocket sleeve looks like something to seriously consider investing in, so thank you for that. I’m a former journalist and mostly concerned with security; I can make a Faraday trash can for EMPs. By the way, your post looks a lot like a foundation for the sort of article that you guys could put in Reviews and Guides!

Reply to: Scenario: Crime and break-ins are increasing in your neighborhood. What do you do to really lock down your assets and preps? Posted 1 month ago

Thanks. I learned about the drywall on my own as a crime journalist, but the bookcase idea comes courtesy of Massad Ayoob, who is the best living self-defense writer.

The best faraday cages and sleeves

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Reply to: Scenario: Crime and break-ins are increasing in your neighborhood. What do you do to really lock down your assets and preps? Posted 1 month ago

If you can’t move to a new neighborhood? A few things off the top of my head: Crossbars over doors, reinforced windows, make sure multiple people are at the house at all times, and constantly carrying a gun, including leaving one in the soapdish when you shower. Choose one room as a safe room, put all valuables inside (with emergency comms) and put all your bookshelves (you should have them) against the walls, stocked to the gills. This will produce enough drag to effectively bullet-proof the room. Drywall fills hollowpoints and turns them into fmj’s. Have water and food inside for three days. Teach this technique to trusted neighbors, and form a neighborhood watch with them.

Reply to: Doomshopping: How to stop overspending because you’re freaked out about the election Posted October 15, 2020

Thank you for the thoughtful article. The only problem with the end not being nigh – we can’t dress like Mad Max yet!