I will be the first to tell you I am no expert on comms, security, or digital safety but I do understand the concepts and more over the importance. I had a few projects I have been working on that went well enough to share and hopefully at least spark some interest or thoughts. I am a huge fan of repurposing old tech if available. There is large online following of DIY cyber decks, alternative phone OS's, and security focused software but navigating these waters are a challenge always. There are tons of distributions to deal with, hardware and software, even wireless connectivity standards. Below I want to share some of what I learned making my own secure messenger out of a found q10 that still very much works.
While spending some initial research on LoRa wan messengers seen all over the internet I was really intrigued by the range and flexibility of the standard, however as I dove more in it seemed to be somewhat limited for bandwidth. It's realistically an IoT standard repurposed out of necessity for communications and the security piece was based solely on "it's just not popular right now" this temporarily suspended my plan to build one myself and test it. It is still very viable but the complexity wasn't worth the time invested. So on went the search, which lead me back to some simple android apps that offer secure communications over cell or Wi-Fi which was far more accessible. But which one? The absolute default was Signal in most circles. I liked the idea of having voice, picture and end to end encryption but I wasn't super excited about requiring a phone number. I was really not ready to sign up for a phone plan on a q10 that only sort of worked. So as I dug in more on what alternatives I came across a few options. I will admit I didn't test them all but the criteria was pretty simple. Secure, widely available on a number of devices, easy to use so I could share it across anything. My first (and last stop) was a Briar, widely touted as a secure messaging app for protestors and journalists it seemed to have the basics. The further I got involved I began to really love it for so many reasons. You are welcome to read on their website some of the absolute home runs were, picture support, end to end Tor encryption, messaging over wifi, internet, and even bluetooth. The other big stand out was you needed no email or phone number to create a name, you could jump right on from there. Many other features are also available, including group messaging and blogs and message boards. As well as the ability to share the app directly no internet required, great if you meet up with someone who may not have it yet. It had it all but could I run it on a very old phone? Emphatically yes! I didn't have to do any fancy "hacking" to get this I found an excellent resource called uptodown.com which has a huge library of different versions of android APK's so all I had to do was find the right version, side load it and off we go. Honestly I did have to try a few versions in order to find just the right mix of features and compatibility since I was running android 4.1 which is quite old, but there was one that had all the functionality and also compatibility. So beware if it's really old, like ancient, you might have some limited use. None the less it worked very well, I had a free (ish) secure messaging device for on the go. But what about connectivity over a large area? Like I said earlier LoRa is cool and all but it's not everywhere like wifi. So how far could you push wifi? As I was digging for the q10 I also found my old hootoo, it was a pocket router, Ap, file server, and battery pack all in one. I used to travel a ton with it but my travels slowed so it got shelved. Quickly it had a new use, could I setup my own semi large wifi network on the go? Yes. I was able to use it stand alone to fill in some gaps in converge for a small area, even to pair with the hotspot on my cell phone to get internet and spread the coverage a little bit. It was a free and easy solution, but how far could I push it? I hit up a good friend of mine to get some ideas and see what was possible, since most major locations have wifi with some pretty good coverage you might not need another option, but I have been plenty of place where radio, wifi, and cell just wont work at all (think basement building, construction style) or it might have been shut off for one reason or another. So can you build your own on the go? After some details passed along and some searching I cam across a similar device (like my hootoo) that was a little more modern but did not power itself internally. The GL.iNet really had the exact functionality but missing a battery. These days there are numerous ones available (I even have a few extras lying around) where you could easily make this completely independent or create your own secure network for comms or internet. Seemed perfect, now in full transparency I have not test this, but the concept is sound, four or so of these on the appropriate channels in the right conditions could give a pretty good spread of coverage per the usual it will depend heavily on environmental. Again in no way a wireless engineer but the concept seems pretty straight forward even for a novice.
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There is a significant interest in firearms and preparedness for many folks these days. Between general uncertainty, political climate, and civil unrest there is the prepared folks are having their day and the unprepared are making a commitment to change. The major uptick in those first-time gun buyers, by the droves the casual user has become far more interested and has already made several purchases (I know a few personally). I often am getting hit up about questions and recommendations and I do my best to offer what I can or tidbits from my training to help think about the big picture. Most have been turning to the internet for reference which is a solid idea, but how do you know what's marketing, if the source has any idea what they are covering, or asking questions to better understand. You just don't get those. I will always advocate that gun owners should spend 3x their budget on training, no fancy gear, not semi-trailers full of ammo but real useful training. I wanted to share some of my favorite resources I have been pointing other too. Hopefully, it's a good starting point but please seek professional help. YouTube This could be a tricky one, everyone has access and there is absolutely no way to vet what is being taught. As a benchmark, you should always look up the teacher/instructor and see their background, look at their website, read social posts and comments to see how these folks interact with others, handle questions and take feedback. Remember no one knows it all, and that's what you need to look for. That being said I do love the SureFire field notes series. It's some of the best and brightest (ha) in their respective fields and isn't just shooting drills or tactics. There is a ton more, and bonus points for the safety rule reminder at the beginning of each one. There are several fantastic videos to unpack and will likely give you some sort of value. Another personal favorite of mine is the good folks over at Fieldcraft survival. They offer a ton of great videos and span much more of the general preparedness category, it worth looking through what they have to get a big picture of not just tactics and gear but planning and practice as well. Have a Look. Social Media This is where we need to be extra careful. There is a literal big rig convoy of bad/misleading information and toxic garbage that floats around all different circles. While it may seem hopeless it's not a completely fruitless platform. A best practice is like I mentioned earlier do some research on those folks, who are they? where did they gain this knowledge? how are they interacting with others? These are all good starting places, but also ask your self would I pay for this information? or pay for a live class? If the answers are yes then it's probably a good follow for a reason (we will come back to this). For some of my favorites, I love to follow @SheepdogResponse as well as @Knockoutlights. I prefer to do this on Instagram due to the video portion and the interaction, as well as an always informative live session where you may get a chance to Q/A with some very Insightful folks. The bonus point is these folks also offer YouTube channels and live pieces of training to get even more if you find something that's working. Go Live All this is great but nothing will ever beat in-person live training. There is no way you can get the context needed, ask questions, or get the right amount of information without going in person and being hands on. Everything is theoretical if you don't practice it. My picks are here but what you will see is those truly dedicated have shown up in this post more than once. These are folks that on any platform are informative and dedicated. Once making the choice (and budget) to go live in-person and hands-on you will gain important knowledge from not just tactics, tools, and even medical care you will be a member of their community. You can continue to ask questions, connect with others that share the same passion. It's a greater investment sure, but what you get will be leaps and bounds above anything you can read or watch, and while not all educators offer force on force I recommend you find someone that does. Be sure to check in on Force options, Sheepdog Response, Fieldcraft Survival, and the good folks at Haley Strategic. These are all excellent organizations that offer training in several states or regions, this means it could be very easy to get to if timed right available now. I won't rule out the local folks but again, please do some research unfortunately there are some less than stellar programs out there. If you spend any amount of time on the internet or social media you likely to come across everyday carry posts. For me, they range widely from the realistic to the outlandish. Why is the internet fundamentally infatuated with what's in another man's pocket?
It spans several mentalities, for some its a way to flex on the fancy gear they carry or show off its bespoke origins. At its core the preparedness portion is important but who makes the item is of far less importance. When I began training the everyday carry (or EDC) was clearly defined as "essential as underwear", these were combat vets and active law enforcement so their word was worth it. The first thing I noticed wasn't how fancy what they carried was, it was a clear definition of its use and real stories of how it got them out of a tight spot. I simply can't (or won't) cover all the things you can carry every day, but what I can offer is some insight into what I carry and more importantly why I carry those things. There are a few considerations you need to make right out of the gates. Anyone with a history of a dangerous lifestyle will tell you there are some irrefutable laws of gear. To start it needs to be durable. That doesn't mean most expensive but it does mean you need to ask yourself, "would I bet my life on this". Is a ten-dollar blade going to cut? Yes. Is it sharp enough to cut a seatbelt? Maybe. The best medicine here is abusing whatever you land on as much as possible. I often misuse my EDC gear to see if it can handle the abuse, blades as pry bars, cutting rough materials, or just using it every day. It won't take long if something is overused to see where the failure points are, and then you can judge if you would bet your life on it. On top of that, redundancy is key. Things break all the time, plumbing, cars, tools. There is a common saying in certain circles "two is one, and one is none" and it won't take long to prove that right. In a critical situation, something will fail, and without having a backup readily available you will find yourself in a heap of trouble. Now, this doesn't mean carry 10 of everything because leading up to the point of necessity you hopefully have full confidence in that product (remember testing it?) but it does mean having a backup will solve any failure. With all the being said, let me share a little about what I carry. The humble pocket knife, a staple of a gentleman for ages. It does it all open a box, cut a steak, clear a path, or defend yourself. Its versatility is unmatched and most would argue these are as unique as the person who carries it. Mine is suited for defense first as I can't always carry a firearm, but it gets used every day for many other tasks. Folding isn't always ideal for defense, a fixed blade may be considered if fighting is priority one. Beware fixed blades can be much more difficult to conceal. A powerful flashlight. The right tool for the right job here, your cellphone flash isn't going to effectively light an area or scare off a would-be attacker. I have always been a big proponent of carrying this particular item because I use it as much as my knife. It goes everywhere and is inconspicuous. It has guided me past late-night lego stomps, bare handing a scorpion and building power outages. Featuring a defense-first design it's suitable for fighting and throwing 500 lumens it will disorient so I can get the upper hand no matter what. With a 100% chance of darkness every day, why wouldn't you carry one? The mighty pen. I carry a Gerber impromptu that has a hefty weight, write anywhere cartridge and glass break end. I find it super important to have a pen handy in case I need to write down a license plate, description, or event timeline. This is much faster than fumbling with my phone and finding the notes app but also affords me a vehicle escape should a car accident render me trapped or in Arizona come across a child neglected in a hot car. The tourniquet. While in the modern world medical assistance is never far there are still critical seconds with major trauma. Whether it be a gunshot or impalement even the avid outdoorsman will agree this is a must. I carry a RATS on the body at all times but the CAT is never far behind, there are a lot of discussions on which is better and there is extensive coverage for both. I have seen several tier-one guys carry RATS and even heard Dr. Mike Simpson cover the merits in both directions. The best TQ is the one you have on you. bonus points here if you are educating your family on its use and importance as well as practicing, you may not be able to do this yourself. My firearm. This is a tricky one because there are many scenarios where I cant carry. Above is all items that can literally go anywhere with little justification, but the firearm isn't always a guarantee. Unlike underwear, its subject to local laws and depending on the job may be restricted. With that being said it's as critical as the TQ, you cant save a life if you are still in danger and you certainly don't want to be in an unfair fight. You can bet if you are going to carry your also going to need that spare mag so these two go hand in hand. There is usually a ton "what gun should I get!?" or "is ______ a good gun?" which can be argued in every way imaginable. You need to test this, go to the range and rent a bunch or call a friend and try theirs. In this community, there is no shortage of people that want to help. While I love my 1911 I can show a list of people that will disagree with its reliability vehemently. On top of all that my keys, wallet, phone, and sunglasses go also but those are of less importance and I can't find a single person that leaves the house without their phone and you may need to call for help. I hope this gives you some insight into not only what but more importantly the why. Don't get me wrong here, make your EDC uniquely you but don't forget why it's important and there is always room for items that have multiple purposes. Lets also not forget that redundancy is key, this is all on my person, what I carry in my car and work bag is a different story altogether. Need some ideas? A simple search on social media will ignite a treasure trove of different styles and combinations. I was fortunate to attend the Sheepdog Response course a few years back in Las Vegas. It was filmed professionally to be released for sale online. You can still order it online or physical disc, and while the information is ludicrously useful I certainly recommend going to one of their ongoing events. It has been nice to relive some of it through online releases like the below. It's great info for the experienced or novice shooter take this to heart, Jeremiah and Travis know what they are talking about. While it's never the goal to scare people into changing their minds when it comes to preparedness, sometimes a simple example will open at least a few eyes. I always want to see how events transpire, it gives me a unique view while keeping a safe distance. I received the below from my brother and training partner with the caption "what would you do?" and I genuinely appreciate that. There is a lot we can learn by analyzing a situation and coming up with ideas, hitting the range or mat, and preparing to face those challenges. Some say paranoia some say preparedness. Things like this always hit a little close to home, I have so many friends who drive and while it is a decent way to make extra cash, the safety of each driver and rider seems to be last on the priority list. Be warned NSFW (language) and feel free to skip up to 2:16 to see what happens. I ask you the same "what would you do?" in the comments below. The goal was not to become the worlds most dangerous dad, it was just to do something fun. It started out as a birthday party. I never realized what I would build a set of skills that ultimately would change who I was at my core. I also didn’t know at the time how many more would join me. I took a course with a local training company, and in one short day, I was hooked. I learned how to treat gunshot wounds, how to asses individuals, contact and control, and a variety of other skills. I started to apply what I learned every day, and much more frequently than I ever anticipated. This isn’t my career, this is daily life. Not long after that, I wanted more, I went looking for new trainers, special programs and craved learning from outside my comfort zone. I chose to push myself further and fell in love with the process. I started to see positive changes at home and at work where the skills I was learning were impacting everything I do. These were the new skills I relied on day in and day out. There was no manual, there were no resources to help me sort out who I should work with. There was a lot of trial and error. I had to learn on the fly, and while exciting it was a real challenge making sure I didn't get duped, or worse, seriously injured. The more I worked and recruited other dads to join in, the more an opportunity presented itself. You were either a tier-one guy or a tourist not much in between, but that’s not true I started telling everyone about what I was doing in my free time. The interest grew, and I began to see others want to join in. They would go with me to train and walk out blown away at what they were taking home. Knowlege, of how to protect themselves and their family. I knew I could help, but its time now to expand. It was a journey I had no idea I would love so much, it put me in contact with some great people, helped me overcome some epic challenges, and landed me in some pretty incredible places I’m not special, and I’m not alone. This inspired me to help other dads take ownership and make positive changes. I want to use my knowledge to enable others to start their journey, and to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to offer insight into the mindset, trainers, programs and tools to help those who aren’t sure, move forward. This is the place where the curious can ask questions and new ideas can inspire those ready to make positive change. This is where we challenge each other to be one percent better. |
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