From JULY, 1990 ISSUE of "DIRECTIONS: A Magazine for the Survivalist" Copyright (C) 1990 by Live Free, Inc., Chicago, IL All rights reserved. Executive editor: James C. Jones Managing editor: Duncan Long Production and mailing: Marie Jones Back issues (as available): $1.75 Year's subscription (12 issues): $15 Live Free, P. O. Box 1743, Harvey, IL 60426 SELECTING A SURVIVAL VEHICLE By Ed Pederson [The following article is excerpted from material that will be used in a comprehensive book on survival vehicles that the author is preparing.--Editor.] If you're looking for a survival vehicle, you've probably narrowed the field down considerably to a few general types. Now how do you narrow the field down to THE vehicle you will buy? Choosing the individual vehicle model, especially if its a used vehicle, desires much thought and consideration. Researching the individual models of your chosen type will help in making the final choice. More than one information source should be used. Good sources of information include books, magazine article, opinions of owners, and opinions of mechanics. "I know a person who has one and they seem to like it," isn't enough. The first point to consider is if your needs are best suited by a new or used vehicle, as some models and types are only found in new vehicles while others are no longer made. Your budget may dictate consideration of a used vehicle rather than a new one. This brings up the questions: What are the differences in models? And how do I get a good used vehicle? These are not easy to answer. There is a large number of books and articles around that discuss different models or give suggestions and instruction on how to buy a used vehicle. Consumers Reports magazine produces one of the better examples. They also publish summaries of used car frequency-of-repair (FOR) records and model evaluations in their "Buyers Guide" issue. Often this information can be obtained in older issues from second-hand stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) for pennies. Individual issues of the magazines are sometimes found in used book stores or at flea markets. Perhaps the best source is any large public library which should have files with Consumers Guide and Consumers Reports. Before eliminating a vehicle model based on magazine new model evaluations, carefully read the comments and qualifying statements in the publication. Their information is for the "average" consumer with little though of the possibility of using a vehicle for survival. Remember these ratings are biased toward an average consisting of family cars in normal usage. The person looking for a survival vehicle needs something outside the average. Four-wheel drive models are more complex and are used more roughly--therefore they have a higher repair frequency than grandmothers "going shopping" car. You can get additional information about various vehicle models you are considering by talking to owners. Mechanics and auto parts salesmen will often give you insights into the most common repairs for the different models you're considering. Using the "Frequency of Repair" information is another way to help build an opinion of the relative merits or advantage of one vehicle over another. In Consumers Reports (Vol. 41, No. 12, 1976, pps. 375-383) is the FOR data on 1972-1975 models that I will use for discussion. Rather than comparing year to year for the some model (for example, International Scout V8s 1972 and 1974 show average for engine repairs while 1973 shows much worse than average), look for trends. When you do this you'll discover such facts as: Chevrolet Corvettes have more exhaust system problems than Chevy trucks and vans; Jeep station wagons have more cooling system problems than International Scouts; in a VW beetle, there is less trouble with the mechanical parts of the engine than in a VW bus where it has to work harder. These FOR listings show generally higher ratings for passenger cars than trucks and 4X4 vehicles for the same manufacturer. This may show only that these vehicles lead a harder life. A large 1972-1974 Ford sedan shows less than average engine repairs while the same years of Ford trucks show more than average (both vehicles probably have the same engines). Another useful information table available to you is Trouble and Cost Indexes (TCI) published in Consumers Reports. The TCIs compare a vehicle model against most other vehicles of the same model year. For example, if you look at the Consumers Reports (Vol. 46, No. 12) and check the 1975-1980 model years, you'll find some interesting trouble trends: Chevy 6-cylinder and Ford V8 pickups rate slightly better than Chevy VI and Ford 6- cylinders and much better than Dodge V8 pickups. This same TCI listing shows that the VW Rabbit diesel models have less trouble than gasoline models but that, for the Oldsmobile 88, the gasoline versions have less trouble than diesel models. Jeep Cherokee and Wagoneer V8s are shown to have required slightly more repairs than the International Scout V8s and Chevy Blazers; and all three of these models have more trouble than Ford 4X4 pickups with V8s which rate below Olds 88 models with gasoline engines! Don't let this type of information should not overwhelm your decisions. Instead, use it to put different models into perspective. Another source of information is popular magazine articles on new models (back issues if you're interested in older vehicles) that feature the models you are interested in . Magazines such as Motor Trend, Off Road Vehicles, and Popular Mechanics represent just a few of the different ones available and all of these rush to cover the new models (hoping that readers will buy their publication first). Remember that writers will generally tell (and emphasize) the good things because they want the manufacturers or dealers to supply test vehicles or the "first look at the new models" for the next year. Once every year or so, magazines such as Car Craft, Hot Rod, Truck'N, Four Wheel Drive, and others feature an article on "How to Buy a Used...." or "The Best of...." These articles often give much better insight on the actual merits and values of the vehicles being discussed. (Dealers and manufacturers generally don't pay attention to descriptions of the flaws in models a few years old except to show "improvements" in this year's model over the one they were bragging about last year.) Time spent reading this material will help increase your level of knowledge and reduce the pressures (from the salesman and your own impulses) to buy right away. When reading this material, ask yourself what does "picked model of the year" or "best four drive of the year" actually mean? As discussed above, the evaluations of magazines (with the exception of ones like Consumers Reports and Consumers Guide) on new products can be helpful but shouldn't be used exclusively to make a selection. Magazines make (or lose) money on advertising and their total circulation. They have to cover the latest topics and merchandise or no one will buy their magazine. At the same time, they have to keep the manufacturers feeling favorable toward them. Articles like "Why You Shouldn't Waste Your Money Buying a New 4X4 This Year!" might triple circulation BUT would cost 80 percent of the magazine's advertising income. Every product has good points and--by mentioning mostly these-- everybody working with the magazine stays happy. What this boils down to is that you as a prospective buyer should look for the understatements such as: "The seating is a little tight" (meaning anyone over 5' 2" can't get behind the wheel); "It handled well on the open road" (meaning it won't turn corners); etc. And remember that the omission of information (like when they drove the test model 5,000 miles and don't report gas milage). This doesn't mean the articles are false or intentionally misleading--the writers are trying to do their best and still get their work published. Major defects and drawbacks are generally mentioned in any test articles and one or two items needing improvement will usually be mentioned (to show the writer is "honestly" evaluating the item). Articles (in any magazine) rating new models higher because of technological advancements are best viewed with a few years of hindsight. For example, the diesel passenger cars, full time 4X4 trucks, turbocharging, electronic ignitions, extended chassis lubrication, and electronic fuel injection were all highly rated when they first appeared. Some of these are good and have gotten better in later models, but others never have worked as well as the magazines predicted. My suggestion is to read and research on your selected models with the following thoughts in mind: Is the model using a known and time-proven drive train (engine, transmission, drive axle) and suspension? Are (or were) the "new models" features refinements, a redesign, or jest a name and cosmetic change? (For example, the AMC changed to the Concord from the Hornet-- name and cosmetic change only and later they added the Eagle--a major chassis and drive-train redesign--while keeping essentially the same 6-cylinder engine and body components.) NO MORE SURVIVALIST PAPERS Our $15 dues just barely pay for the production and mailing of Directions. So all of our other programs and publications exist only because some person or persons are contributing their own time, equipment, and money to make them happen. When these good people move, change jobs, become ill, retire, etc., it often means that they are no longer able to carry on their work for Live Free. Ken Sarabok, who created the Survivalist Papers program and has maintained it for many years, will no longer be in a position to continue to do so. Live Free has no office space or staff to take on any additional work at this time, so we are forced to terminate publication and distribution of the Survivalist Papers. We regret doing this because this was a good educational program and was a source of funds as well. We did have plans to add a number of new papers and we still hope to bring back Survivalist Papers some time in the future. At this point, NO orders for INDIVIDUAL papers will be filled. We WILL, however, sell COMPLETE sets of all 31 titles for just $20--while the supply lasts!!! (That's over $50 worth of information for just $20!) Be sure to add $2 for postage and handling. Address orders to: K. Sarabok, P.O. Box 33399, Dayton, OH 45433. LIVE FREE NEWS Explorer Post 10 is again attempting to run a Get-Together weekend during September 8-9. They would like to invite ANY Live Free members who would like to attend. The Get Together will be held in BSA Camp Alpine, NJ. There will be rappelling, first aid training, training videos, a Get- Together seminar, etc. Class instructors are wanted to cover other skills and classes and it is expected that more will be added for the actual Get Together. (Let them know if you're interested in helping out with classes.) Cost for attending the whole weekend will be only $20. Information about rules and directions to the camp are available from: Explorer Post 10, Apt. 2E, 11-15 45th Ave., LIC, NY 11101. PRESIDENT'S CORNER BY JAMES C. JONES: LESSON FROM LITHUANIA Events in Lithuania should be all the argument anyone needs for survivalism: Here, when faced with a people demanding their freedom, the Soviet first step was to go after the guns. Once the gun control operation was completed, the next step was to cut off the sources of fuel, electricity, water, and food. How can anyone miss the point that a people can't be free when someone--anyone--controls a monopoly on deadly force and the sources of necessity and survival. It must be kept in mind that a government (any government) needs the people a lot more than the people need a government. A population of armed and self-reliant citizens that can hold out even for a short time without government support will always be free. For the unprepared, freedom is an illusion, a bubble that can burst at any moment.--J.C. Jones REVIEWS THE BASIC ESSENTIALS OF SURVIVAL by James E. Churchill is a little, 63-page softcover book that is just what it says: the basic essentials. This is a fundamental "Box Scout" level outdoor survival manual. There are short, simple, and well-illustrated chapters on making a fire, finding water, shelter building, signaling, navigation, and finding food. There is also a suggested survival kit list. This is a beginner's book, but a good one to consider for children and novice adults. --J. C. Jones. Fingertip Firepower: Pen Guns, Knives, and Bombs by John Minnery (Paladin Press, P.O. Box 1307, Boulder, CO 80306, 120 pages, $12) gives detailed drawings and photos of the James Bond-type devices that have been used over the last few decades to arm criminals, saboteurs, and even government agents with concealed weapons that are hard to detect. Minnery is best known for his banned-in-Canada How to Kill series of books. Those familiar with his earlier books won't be disappointed with this book. He details Balisong pen knives, hypodermic needle pens, poison darts, tear-gas pens, and even exploding pens. Many of the weapons detailed in the book are not legal to own without a special permit; consequently this is not a how-to book. BUT, the detailed drawings in this manual could easily be adapted to such do-it-yourself fabrication of small, easily-hidden firearms and the like. As such, many may wish to add it to their "just-in-case/for-informational-purposes only" bookshelf.--Duncan Long AFTER THE CRASH: Survival Investing During the Financial Crisis of the 1980s by Geoffry F. Abert (Signet Books, 1979, 1982; 310 pages) is about how to survive the "financial crisis" of the 1980s, which , to the author of this books meant 1983 or 1984 and no later than 1985 or 1986. So, as you can see, this book is already outdated right from the start. This does NOT mean, however, that this book is of no value. The book contains quite a bit of good information.... IF... If you have about $100,000 to invest, of which you can spare about $15,000... If you like to do business with Swiss banks... If you like investing in commodities such as gold and silver... If you agree with Abert about what will happen in the future. The good information is also buried pretty deep in the book. There is quite a bit of wheat here, but the chaff is almost overwhelming! The first third of the book (about money, how, what, why) can be skipped almost from the start. The subject covered in the first part is covered as well if not better in dozens of other books such as Howard Ruff's How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years, most anything by Harry Browne, John Pubsley's The Alpha Strategy, or even Robert Preston's How to Prepare for the Coming Crash, all of which were used as a basis for this book. The next third of the book (the future, what why, where) can be skipped as there are books that cover this subject better, and again were apparently the basis for this part of the book. All you have to do is look up the appendix list of books to see the list of books that Abert thinly rewrote to use here. Most of the books listed are interesting, however, and you should get a copy of this book at your public library. (This brings up an interesting point: most of the books listed for the first two thirds of Abert's book are themselves wrong in their timetables!) For most people that I have met in the survivalist movement, the book really starts at about chapter seven with Yourself: The Best Investment" (see Pugsley's The Alpha Strategy, Mel Tappan's Tappan on Survival and Cobb's Bad Times Primer to see where most of this chapter came from!) One part of this book I did like was the idea you will need to store water, something far too many have missed in the rush for guns and ammo, freeze-dried food, and other survival supplies. Chapter ten, "Build Your Own Dream House for Nightmares" was good, even if it really didn't contain anything earth-shattering, or that you couldn't get out of other survival books. Chapter eleven "Setting Up Survival Teams" was, I thought, rather weak-- as was the rest of the book. You might like to read this book, but there is nothing here that is not covered better elsewhere.--Douglas P. Bell. Pool Cues, Beer Bottles, and Baseball Bats: Animal's Guide to Improvised Weapons for Self-Defense and Survival by Marc "Animal" MacYoung (Paladin Press, P.O. Box 1307, Boulder, CO 80306, 152 pages, $12) gives a look at how to use almost any tool or handy object as a weapon to defend yourself AND how to "see what's coming" before you get laid low by an improvised weapon. The book is quite entertaining, though some may be a bit taken aback by the four-letter words that punctuate much of this book. This point aside, the book proves to be one of the few available that gets into the mind set you need to create weapons from what is at hand rather than becoming a compendium and this and that (as is too often the case with such books). Once you've read this book, you'll realize that it is nearly impossible for you-- or anyone else--to be unarmed or disarmed. In addition to not pulling any punches in real life, the author of this book doesn't pull punches when evaluating various styles of fighting with the improvised weapons detailed in the book. While many writers tend to overrate Oriental fighting styles, MacYoung is as tough on this as he is with Western styles. He tells you EXACTLY what does and does NOT work. This in itself makes this a very valuable book to read and study. In a time when bureaucrats seem determined to disarm us, this book tells you why they'll never be able to do so and how you can be armed no matter how "disarmed" you may become.--Duncan Long How to Pressure Flake Stone Arrowheads, featuring Brian James (30 minutes, VHS, $30 from Northwestern Video Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 251, Roseburg, OR 97470). After watching this video, within a few hours I was able to make an arrowhead. Previously, from only written instructions, I was NOT able to do this. This is the second time a video has shown me that I was on the right track and thus encouraged me to continue practicing a skill until I learned it (the first was with cordage making). James first demonstrates how to use a hammer stone to knock spalls off a melon-sized piece of obsidian. Then he shows and explains how to apply pressure with an antler tine to remove flakes from the spall's edge, thus shaping the spall into an arrowhead (or other cutting tool). A piece of stout copper wire can be substituted for the antler; even a nail can bused, but steel doesn't get as good a grip on obsidian as antler or copper. James says obsidian is 500 times sharper than surgical steel. Obsidian knives are good for cutting things like flesh and fruit, brian says, but they are not durable for cutting harder materials. Glass can be pressure flaked, too. (I use pieces of broken bottles.) Taking adequate safety precautions is stressed, especially for the eyes. For one hand, a leather glove or palm protector is used. James seemed nonchalant about using his bare hand to flick away stray flakes. He apparently didn't get cut; but from my own experience, getting small cuts on my hands from unnoticed, minuscule pieces of glass, I would urge caution. Animated diagrams are used to graphically show the forces at play when shaping stone. I feel the combination of live demonstration plus animated diagrams makes this video an excellent teaching tool.--Julie Summers (writer/editor of Message Post--see ad in classified section). IMPORTANT NEWS & NOTES: The American Civil Defense Association and Doctors for Disaster Preparedness have informed us that their 1990 Seminar will be held August 10, 11, 12, and 13 at the Ramada Inn in Northbrook, IL--a Chicago suburb. Preliminary plans include a banquet with Edward Teller, and General Dan Graham of High Frontier as speakers; civil defense exhibits; workshops; and round-table discussions. Live Free will have a delegation and an exhibit. Here is an opportunity for Live Free members to get together and to support TACDA/DDP at the same time. (Please note the change from the Woodfield Hilton planned earlier). For complete information, contact: TACDA, P.O. Box 1057, Starke, FL 32091 (904) 964-5397. THEY'RE HERE!!!!! Duncan Long's NIGHT STALKERS action/adventure series about the US Army elite helicopter team that ferrys CIA agents and anti- terrorist squads to trouble spots around the world. The first book is now available from Harper & Row, 10 East 53rd St., NY, NY 10022. Book One: 324 pages, paperback, $3.95 plus $1 S&H; Book Two: GRIM REAPER, will be out in August, 1990 with same price. Successive books in the series will appear every other month through 1991. Also included in this issue of DIRECTIONS is Phil Hunter's HOW TO BUY A USED .22 SEMIAUTOMATIC and an interview with Bruce Clayton, author of LIFE AFTER DOOMSDAY, plus Classified Ads and information about upcoming survival events.