Evaluation

*Reader Product Evaluation*

Hello, Warlord---

Logged onto your site recently and downloaded some material. Some very good information there. I'm impressed with the attitude of information sharing that you demonstrate. Perhaps I can reciprocate by sharing a little information that I gave gained. However, I have no delusions---you seem exceptionally well-versed, and you're likely already privy to much of what I have to say; nevertheless:

1) US Cav and others offer an 80 minute, $19.95 video called "The Art of Camouflage." As I am studying camo, and have been on the net getting info from several sites on ghillie suits, I decided to spring for the tape, expecting nothing more than tips for fat guys on how to hide while hunting wild turkeys and whitetails. Much to my everloving surprise, the tape is 80 minutes of military experts (Rangers?) demonstrating full step-by-step construction of a ghillie suit, its use, facial camo techniques, movement, and impromptu camo suiting. An excellent video. Worth a hundred bucks, easily.

2) The next bit of info is choice, and the concept will resonate with some of your readers. It is not well known. What I'm talking about is called "The Project---the Ultimate Hobby." There is a fellow in Washington State, a prof at a college near Seattle, who started a do-it-yourself civil defense project under his house several years ago. He excavated a room, and then went further, and further, and further, now having about 9 rooms with very high ceilings, on 2 levels, underneath his house. The entrances are heavy-duty doors, well masked. There is electricity, and back-up, as well as water and back-up. Only ten percent of the construction time is said to be involved in digging. The rest in planning, mixing and pouring concrete, finishing, etc. His rooms are constructed safely and with extreme care against construction dangers and later problems. The guy's name is Kenley L. Snyder, Ph.D. (P.O.Box 418, Blaine, Wash. 98230). I have his 260 page (looseleaf) "Instruction Manual." He charges $139, as I remember. Purchase of the manual entitles you to visit his home and tour his "project," and to discuss any questions or problems you have. He also offers free telephone consultation to purchasers of the manual. He charges expenses + $50/hr for on-site consults.

Drop him a line. He will send you a couple flyers explaining the thing. One needn't do 9 rooms (after all, this is his hobby), but a couple would be handy for anyone. (See the current ASG (6/98) for info on a buryable room, called the HIVE. They don't mention price in the article; however the company says they are $1527 per unit.)(Along the same line, contact Utah Shelter Systems 1950 E. Forest Creek Lane, SLC, Utah 801-942-5638 for more underground shelters, and things like blast doors, air ventilation systems, etc.)

3) I believe if people set themselves to developing specialized survival skills that interest them (as well as general survival skills), when a group comes together (or if I'm caught in the middle of the Warsaw ghetto) the group will have experts of many sorts and all the various specialized skills will complement one another. I'm not a member of any group, and I know that no such group will materialize out of thin air (nor be ready to go even if it does). Nevertheless, one skill I'm attempting to acquire is that of tricking locks. A very good, little known, low distribution layman's guide in video format is available from Woods Wisdom, P.O. Box 228, Fayetteville, PA 17222. It comes with a couple implements helpful in studying lock construction. I know there are other videos on the subject, but I've not seen them to comment. This one is down to earth and practical.

4) There is a book seller named Edward R. Hamilton (Falls Village, CT 06031-5000) who puts out two catalogs a month. One is new books at discount prices (a recent innovation with Hamilton), the other is his long-time standby, "Bargain Books." The latter is a big catalog of remainders, books that didn't sell completely out, and which are offered at one third to one tenth of the original cost. Very few hardcore survival books there (although I bought "Tank Traps" last year for a buck), but lots of very good and cheap books on medicine, gardening, hunting, etc. Various issues may have bunches of books on the same subject. Recently there were several dozen different titles offered on chess, and another time not too long ago many books on nursing. Of course, good political books like Thomas Sowell's "Vision of the Annointed" and Bork's "Slouching Toward Gomorrah" are usually available there 6-12 months after they first appear. It pays to go through the "New Arrivals" part each issue of the Bargain Books catalog, book by book, an interesting activity and a skill that develops speed the more you do it. No telling what you'll find. Get on their mailing list and see if you like it.

5) Ron Hood's "Woodsmaster" tapes--I know you already know about these. IMHO, they aren't at all bad. See at www.survival.com.

6) Are you familiar with the Baygen Radio? It is a wind up deal, with SW, AM and FM. A great radio. I use mine to pull in far-away stations (which I can't do with my living room stereo recvr). We're in mountains, and reception is tough. The Baygen lets me listen to G. Gordon Liddy. Just takes 30-40 seconds of winding to get 20 minutes of free play. They now have one that comes with a plug-in light with 12' cord; the light lights when radio is playing. Be aware that Baygen now has a wind up flashlight (lantern). Thirty second crank for 3-4 minutes of light. For longer play, you can also charge internal ni-cad battery by cranking. See Baygen web site (www.baygen.com), or better go to C. Crane Co. (www.ccrane.com). These are GOOD quality products.

7) A few misc: hollow points shoot with more accuracy, etc; for hand hollowing-pointing tools for .22 rimfire go to Ron Allard, Box 47, Gilbertville Road, Ware, MA 01082. Interesting 3rd gen night vision combat sight called the Black Cat, go to www.nait.com (cost as per company e-mail: $3600-6000 depending on lp; also for excellent night vision scope go to www.mcmfamily.com ($6200 for 2nd gen+, 7100 for 3rd gen, and Ultra 64lp $7860). Now available is an AR15 magazine adapter kit for the Galil. Go to 203-230-5476 (ask for Bob). Do you know of Jeff Cooper? Been around the gun world forever. Developed Gunsite Training Center in AZ. Originator of recent Steyr Scout Rifle in .308. His interesting periodic newsletters are at www.concentric.net/~mkeithr/jeff/index.html. Do a search for the cyber survival novel, "Triple Ought," for some good reading and excellent instruction. Softback version now out, with a few new chapters, and is caled "TEOTWAWKI" (see review at www.survival-center.com/books/teotwawki.htm). A must read is the long novel, "Unintended Consequences," available from Loompanics, Amazon and others. See reviews at www.amazon.com. To discover why America in its current incarnation will be dead-on-arrival in the new millenium, read James Dale Davidson and Lord Rees-Mogg's contraversial "The Sovereign Individual" (this is not Y2K-problem related). Reviews and comments also available at Amazon. Excellent new magazine out recently, "Tactical Shooter" ($32/12 issues). Hathcock is their technical advisor. This is a sister publication to "Precision Shooting." Inquire at 222 McKee Street, Manchester, CT 06040 (860-645-8776).

Thats the news, Warlord. Hope there are a few things here you can use.

Cisco

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