Homemade Tear-Gas Mask

Here is another technique I found in picture form.  It diagrams how to make a homemade tear-gas mask using a 2 liter (not litre) soda bottle.  Looking at the instructions two items that you may not have lying around the house: a clinical mouth-cover and a strip of rubber foam.  Get the mask mouth-cover at any local pharmacy.  I'd check the local hardware store for the rubber foam seal.

As with any technique, practice & perfect before you really need to use it.

Two More Melees for Zombie Mayhem

I'd like to take a step back to yesterday's feature: the machete.  Please note this is one of the cliches of the any Zombie survival kit.  In reality, it should be part of any survival kit, least of all the Zombie.  A very versatile edged blade, but not sure if it has the reach necessary for close quarters with the brain biters.

Today I would like to introduce two medium range melee blades to appease your appetite for Zombie bloodbaths.

The first is the Two Handed Kukri machete by Cold Steel.  Always been a fan of the Kukri style blade.  Now add a two handed grip, and it's hard to make it any better.  Overall length:  33.75 inches.  Straight from the sites description, "When two or four legged predators threaten, the two handed Kukri will make short work of them..."  Personally, I don't know too many two legged predators.  Take a look:

Two Handed Kukri Machete at Cold Steel

Next is the Gerber Gator Brush Thinner.  I don't need to do much explaining here, just take a look:
Gerber Gator Brush Thinner at gerbergear

Mexican Invasion (In Red Dawn it was Cuba)

Here is some interesting news on the border.  Seems as though some men in a truck crossed over from Mexico.  And here I thought paratroopers from Cuba would be knocking at my door at any moment.

Story brought to you by KRGV.com, Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Mexican Red Dawn

Hopefully the keep the story on the site up for a substantial time.

Gerber's Lineup of Machetes

Looking at the projections for the ultimate survival scenario, it appears that Zombies ranked the highest of the current 6 votes.  So I decided to devote this week to must have melee weapons for the Zombie Apocalypse.

First, I would like to stress the importance of a good melee weapon (one that does not involve a projectile).  There will come a time when the loyal followers of this blog, Are You Ready, will run out of ammo.  Yes, we will all survive long enough to actually run out of ammo.  So there must be an alternative, fail safe way to ensure Zombie destruction.  Hence the need for a melee weapon...preferably one without the aid of gasoline.

Browsing YouTube, I found several videos of individuals showcasing their gear for the flesh hungry bone junkies.  And I have to say, poor form on many parts of these arsenals; four or five folding pocket knives.  In the words of Yayo in Get Shorty, "What the fuck you gonna do with that."

However, some the individuals enlightened me.  Gerber on of my favorite knife brands (yes, I know it is the town whore of knives) makes a pretty vicious looking machete for the a reasonable price.

Gerber Gator Machete at gerbergear

Furthermore, they have an even more Zombie worthy machete, the Gator Machete Pro.  Just looking it, who wouldn't want this in your arsenal of gear.

Gerber Gator Machete Pro at gerbergear

Terminator Isn't too Far Off

Of all the deathly survival scenarios, the least likely in my opinion to occur is the machines take over the world.  Yes, ranked below zombies on my scale of actually happening.  From Matrix to Terminator our own creation takes the beauty of humanity away from us.

Well, I found these three sites/articles in the past week and it does not seem so farfetched.  AI, thinking machines is right around the corner and maybe even here. 

Watson will compete against two humans on Jeopardy later this month.
Watson on Jeopardy
Wiki Watson

Now all the computer needs to have physical functionality.  Introducing the Cybernetic Arm.
Skynet is Officially Here - YouBentMyWookie
DLR's Arm

To bad the two can't talk to each other
Linking Computer's to Get Smarter

There you have it.  Now all they need to talk to a robot in a manufacturing plant and start production.

How to Estimate Remaining Daylight

On my search through the vast internet, I came across this picture to estimate remaining daylight using just your fingers.  In the survival handbooks I read, I have yet to run across this bit of information. 

Survival techniques not are an emphasis of this blog; however, I feel this information should still be shared with my loyal followers.

To ease the reader the captions states:

"Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon.  Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes, with each hand totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble shelter. (A caveat: if you're near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading.)"



As with any survival gear, gadget, or technique try this at a time of leisure.  Your fingers might be 10 minutes width or 20 minutes width, giving you an inaccurate reading.  Don’t put yourself in a survival situation and expect spot on results.  Practice to be ready for when the time arrives.

Venn Diagram for Human Destruction

The good people at Snorg Tees have graphed the relationship between zombies, robots, and aliens with regards to how they will ultimately destroy humans.  Take a look.

Feel free to go to their website and purchase if in need of merchandising in the name of the Apocalypse.  Probably make a good undershirt for your tactical vest.

Zombies Aliens Robots

Replacing the Russian National Treasure, AK-47

Now I'm sure most have seen the news about the Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov's statement regarding the replacement of the AK-47: 

What Are They Really Thinking

Of course the news took me by surprise.  One of the most coveted supplies in any survival arsenal is the AK-47.  With over 60 years of tradition in killing, it's hard to find reason to replace a weapon with such durability.

A few statements in the article caught my eye, “accuracy target of 400 meters is not good enough for modern day warfare”.  And this is according to what military strategy.  The US continues to train troops in close quarter urban combat.  The good ole days of knowing and seeing your enemy over the hill down yonder are remnants of the first Gulf War.  400 yards makes for a lot of ground in an urban combat setting.

The second comment to draw attention, “likely the Russians would look toward something else, like the equally superior German G-1 or the smaller French and British 5.56 rifles.”  I see a truer reason for a change in the AK-47.  Red Dawn and the Russian have invaded the United States.  No better way to arm you troops than with the round/caliber of choice of the invaded nation.  There’s no doubt at times Russian troops will be in the heart of America cut off from resupply.  All a resupply that is needed is to pick it off our dead bodies.  No bigger of an insult.

Besides a change in military strategy, I am curious towards the economics of the replacement decision.  Will the demand for the rifle go down with decline in production?  Or will the demand go up.  If Russia chooses a 5.56 round, will that mean a surplus in that ammunition?  Keep and eye out, this will get interesting.

Solar Power is not Just for Hippies

I look at gadgets as items that are not necessary for the ultimate survival, but something you should have to assist during your hardships. 

Intrigued and excited when I stumbled upon the folding solar panel.  No better way to keep the American culture of the iPod alive while the Russians are storming at the gate.

In all reality, I believe this to be a vital piece of equipment in my get up and go bag (GUGB).  For the weight and compaction ability one these solar panels is not going to alter the overall loading of your GUGB.

Take a look what products are out there and consider the overall benefit.  I don’t recommend carrying electronic devices during any one of the fallout scenarios due to battery needs.  This gadget addresses that issue giving a new found reason to relook at the gadgets you would carry.  Several manufacturers of these type of panels:

• Sunforce
• Brunton
• Sunlinq
• Solaris

The only one of the top of my head is an MP3 player.  You must keep morale up!  No better way to do that listening to “Eye of the Tiger” as you dredge your way to the next safe house.  Who needs a camera, life as you know is over?  A cell phone can give away your position as well as a GPS device.  A recharger for your batteries is an option, but might get bulky and heavy.

The suns gonna be here for a couple more billion years so make use of it.  Get a solar panel to charge your selection of must haves.  Just remember that you stay out of the sun while the panel soaks it up.

The Down Low on 2012

I'm not one for the hype of 2012.  Come on, Hollywood made a movie about it so it must be full of crap.  Which is why I found this article by the Toronto Sun interesting: "Rogen stunned by Lucas' 2012 theory."

George Lucas' 2012 Rant to Seth Rogen

“I first thought he (Lucas) was joking... and then I totally realized he was serious and then I started thinking, ’If you’re George Lucas and you actually think the world is gonna end in a year, there’s no way you haven’t built a spaceship for yourself... So I asked him... ’Can I have a seat on it?’


Can I fault the man on his crazy theory on how the world ends?  Absolutely not!  Because what would then be the point of this blog.  Plus he's the father of Star Wars.

Having not seen the full movie 2012, (I feel asleep) I really cannot make any recommendations for achieving ultimate survival.  We all saw the trailers, and if you know how to fly a plane, it appears you would be doing better than the rest of us. 
Make this is my plea to make sure to come and pick me up as one of your stops! 

Furthermore, look up 2012 on a neutral site.  There are any number of changes that could occur in 2012 & one of them being a spiritual transformation, whatever that may be.  Pick your belief and start the preparation, first month of 2011 is almost over.

Welcome to Are You Ready

You simply need to ask yourself if you are ready when the time comes for you to go back to basic human nature, stay alive.

Darwin had it right for the animals: survival of the fittest.  No doubt physical fitness will assist in any survive situation one may encounter.  But can never be replaced by proper preparation.  Knowing what to do and having the right tools will prove to be your greatest assets on your road to staying alive.

This blog is just that, a tool.  Use it prepare yourself for the ultimate survival situation you will face.  Apocalypse, zombie hordes, foreign invasion, massive outbreak, hurricane, famine, 2012, riot or any combination of the mentioned.