Comments

Episode-881- Joe Nobody on BOL Security and More — 32 Comments

  1. Looking forward to this podcast. I bought his book about a week ago and started reading it. It is a really really good book and I hightly recommend it.

    Thanks!

  2. I’m a big fan of Joe Nobody’s books. Holding Your Ground and Without Rule of Law are my two favorites – good stuff that’s not covered in other books I’ve read and reviewed. Great podcast!

  3. Great show! I just downloaded Holding Their Own, can’t wait to read it. We’ve got a home on the SW side of Houston and can confirm the problems with the evacuations that were mentioned in the interview. I can also confirm that many of the folks that evacuated, or were relocated to the Houston area from New Orleans after Katrina brought a lot of crime and problems with them. Keep up the great work Jack!

  4. I have to agree with the concept of Defense/Security being a high priority. Great interview – very informative. I like the parts about not throwing money at the problem.

  5. Great show! Lots of things to think about. I was watching tv last night and after seeing a commercial for MMA fighting, I wondered how nasty people could be. The violence and speed of these people amaze me. I have often wondered if I am doing the right things to prepare for people problems. I feel this is going to be the worst problems after any extended disaster where most have not prepared.

  6. Started reading “Holding Your Ground” recently. Lots of great info and things to think about. Great podcast.

  7. @Jack,

    Do you have any recommendations on wireless cameras in addition to MURS detectors? Ive seen alot of game cameras, but couldnt seem to find any that stream to your computer. Thanks!

    • Great question. Wondering the same thing myself.

      On a related note, came across this stuff recently, relevant to the idea of security monitoring. Software to detect people in scenes and give alerts/actions:
      http://lifehacker.com/5860538/how-to-turn-your-webcam-into-a-streaming-motion+detecting-surveillance-system
      http://lifehacker.com/5404307/vitamin-d-turns-your-web-cam-into-a-security-camera,
      I’ve tried one of the programs recommended (Vitamin D) on my Mac; haven’t tried the Windows version:
      http://www.vitamindinc.com/
      Seems to work very well. One-cam version is free. I’ve no connection to the companies above, but was impressed.

      Curious setups others have used.
      David

    • @ Rob,

      In regards to your question about wireless cameras – I have been using DropCam cameras around my home for over a year now and I am very pleased by their performance. The cameras tap into your home wireless network (PC or Mac), and you can be anywhere in the world, and if you have internet access, you can tap into any of your home cameras live.

      You can use your home computer to show all the cameras live, or you can use your iPad or iPhone while away from home to view any of your cameras live, via the internet browser on your device. Once you buy the cameras, there is no cost for live coverage. If you want to store the video for either 7 days, or 30 days, you can pay for that service (I pay for the 7 day service). The video is stored off sight, so it cannot be accessed and erased at your home location. At any time you can access past video and even save video clip segments, via your internet browser.

      The cameras also have motion sensors, and you can set the cameras to send you a warning when there is activity. The cameras plug into a normal home power outlet.

      https://www.dropcam.com/

  8. Jack this is one of the most compelling podcasts you have ever done. It makes the listener pause in a hushed, breath-holding urgency to listen to every word your guest has to say. I have always agonized over not telling my yuppified family and friends that I am a prepper because the whole concept is just too crazy for them. But this is THE podcast that I will be e-mailing to all of them.

    Thank you.

  9. Great Job Today Jack! Thank you for continuing to bring Top Notch Guests on your Podcast. I was really intrigued with ideas on protecting your home without making it look like a hard target..

  10. Great podcast. One thing I have always thought – even people who have prepared, listed to TSP, etc., like me, once our preps run out in a full-blown EOTWAWKI, we will do what we have to do. I hope ‘what we have to do’ means we scavenge items that are not already ‘claimed.’ We hope we never resort to taking FROM someone. But what if your kid is starving? So we need to try to get as many people prepared, so we can avoid people getting that desperate if at all possible. And hopefully, we have enough preps to hold us over until we have a new functional system to feed & provide for us all…
    Also thinking about things to do if hiding doesn’t work – & if discovered by people who are desperate. After 6 months of no society, i would get the ugliest face tattoos, and do things that make it look like we’re cannibals.. [bizarre skull trees, ‘looters will be eaten’ signs, etc, go total road warrior look] that would scare away just about ANY roving hoard that discovers your hidden location. you want to look like you MUST more dangerous than they could ever think of being.

  11. Thanks for the show. I’ve always wondered about security that’s not in close proximity to your residence. We have sheep/cattle that we have set up on pasture. We can see them from the house most of the time but on some paddocks we can’t. Someone would have to be with them all the time then out in the open.

  12. I really enjoyed “Holding Their Own.” Looking forward to listening to this podcast.

    Jack, I’d love to hear some more excellent prepper-fiction authors on. Like, David Crawford (Lights Out), Thomas Sherry (Deep Winter series, now on 4th novel), and/or JF Perkins (Renewal series).

    Didn’t you once have a collaboration going with David Crawford?

  13. Jack, I’d love to hear from an expert on more conventional home security measures. My first priority isn’t protecting myself from some guy on a water tower at 600 yards. No offense to those who are preparing for a Mogadishu-like scenario, but I’m more interested in knowing how to keep my door from being kicked-in or what to look for in an alarm system. Real simple stuff, but it’s worth doing right.

  14. Thomas Sherry would make an intersting interview. I liked his books, a little cheesy at times. The best thing about his writing is the day to day practical rebuilding of a community. That put a whole new twist on what I have been reading.

  15. Moultrie has a wireless GPS modem which will allow you to view your game cameras and download photos or video to your smartphone or computer. There also are wireless camera systems that do the job cheaper and better from security companies.

  16. @ Rob,

    In regards to your question about wireless cameras – I have been using DropCam cameras around my home for over a year now and I am very pleased by their performance. The cameras tap into your home wireless network (PC or Mac), and you can be anywhere in the world, and if you have internet access, you can tap into any of your home cameras live.

    You can use your home computer to show all the cameras live, or you can use your iPad or iPhone while away from home to view any of your cameras live, via the internet browser on your device. Once you buy the cameras, there is no cost for live coverage. If you want to store the video for either 7 days, or 30 days, you can pay for that service (I pay for the 7 day service). The video is stored off sight, so it cannot be accessed and erased at your home location. At any time you can access past video and even save video clip segments, via your internet browser.

    The cameras also have motion sensors, and you can set the cameras to send you a warning when there is activity. The cameras plug into a normal home power outlet.

    https://www.dropcam.com/

  17. On the comment “Walls don’t stop bullets.” That’s a VERY broad statement. There’s all sorts of information about what bullets penetrate what material or don’t.

    It seems to me, it would be much more accurate to say “Don’t assume your walls are going to stop bullets.”

    This is also an interesting contrast with what Frank at Fortress Defense talks about, which is how POOR many rounds are at (reliably) penetrating even common materials (even teeth).

    The point–it is important to be realistic about what bullets can or can’t do in regards to penetration.

    • @KAM, well frank is mostly talking about handguns and low caliber rounds. Step up to 7.62 and Joe is pretty accurate. As someone that has done a LOT of penetration testing let me say residential construction won’t stop rifle fire is a HIGHLY accurate statement.

      • @Jack,

        True, most of what Frank talked about (in the classes I attended) was Handgun related (but some 5.56mm/.223 and shotgun). 7.62mm (another interesting thing about Frank) is of course different.

        Most residential homes are extremely flimsy construction, that’s for sure. A lot of people look at a cinder block and think it is substantial, but even that is penetrated (or it loses its integrity) by many rounds.

        Both are important–don’t depend on it for protection as a defender, but don’t assume as a shooter.

  18. On “Hiding in plain sight.” Yes–great when it works…except when it doesn’t.

    I think there is a lot to be considered here, but again, in contrast with another Guest (Fernando), looking abandoned is not a “win-win.” Joe seems to be focusing here on “Raiders” as opposed to what is probably more likely–people that have nothing and are in need of things like…oh shelter.

    Fernando pointed out (in one of his videos) that looking abandoned is a DRAW for someone who is essentially a refugee. They WILL come to your doorstep at that point. Someone without anything is going to be more than happy to pick through the seemingly discarded clothes in your yard.

    A burned out home that’s standing is still a roof to shelter under for someone without.

    Additionally, what makes anyone think that a “raider” type visitor isn’t going to take 10 minutes out of his daily raiding to check out a house that looks picked over. Maybe he needs a frying pan or even he needs a bit of shelter away from “home.”

    In a TOTAL collapse sort of scenario, it is very possible that you’ll have to deal with actively hostile people, but also refugees. What works to deter one, might not work against another.

    It seems to me that unless you are literally hidden (not in plain sight) you really aren’t going to deter people who either passively or actively want what you have.

    I don’t think it is a good idea to depend on what your home looks like as a means of defense. That being said BLENDING is not a bad idea–it might at least buy time.

    • @KAM I agree with 100% of what you stated. I think everything is situational and most swords have more than even two edges. The person approaching the “abandoned” home for instance will do so with their guard a lot LOWER and is thereby more easily confronted by those who are well prepared.

      Every situation is different. If you read Joe’s books he goes into the counter arguments, etc.

      • @Jack,

        Sure. I probably should have stated, that I think Joe was an interesting guest, and I’m sure there is a lot more depth in his books that can be covered in an hour interview.

        It is interesting to hear the different views from people such as Joe, Fernando, Frank (and others), specifically because they are different.

        Lots of variables to consider, but all of it underscores the importance of being prepared.

  19. Awesome interview! I own and have read “Holding Your Ground” and “Holding Their Own.” I have enjoyed them both immensely and I have learned a lot from the real-world experience that Joe shares.

  20. Good show, good comments. I’ve been very concerned on this topic for a while. I live in the country, so my first early warning system is made of dogs, geese, and guineas. Some are visible and some are stealth. We are planting berries and osage orange trees (very strongy and thorny) as a hedge row. Thinking about bamboo, too. On checking for clear views, I realize that what hides me, will also hide someone looking in. Made raised beds in front of doors, so I’m glad to hear I may have done one good thing. As long as we have high tech, cameras and radios sound good, but low tech will make the most of what I have already and can afford. My son thinks lights are good, but I think dark will require intruders to use their lights and alert me and my noisy animals. What do you think about lighting, Jack? Also the second season of “Colony” shows the pitfalls of the lack of security. It got my attention, for sure.

  21. Jack show. I had just read Joe’s WROL a couple of days prior to the interview and I really enjoyed it. I was super happy that you addressed the issue of his name and why he has credibility to offer opinions on the subject matter. Even within the “tactical” community their are a lot of “ass-hats” so I was really interested in assessing Joe’s credibility beyond being knowledgeable and articulate. Anyone one has had their ass in the fire so to speak has a certain credibility and perspective that just can’t be obtained though study and after listening to Joe’s interview I’m confident in Joe is the real deal. His answers were spot on, especially about desperate people’s capacity for total and senseless violence. I just ordered the rest of his books and I’m really looking forward to adding some new thought processes and tools to my tactical tool box. BTW Jack I would love it if you would have Joe again sometime.

  22. Just had a incident here in houston where 4 kids (16-18 y.o.) were cruising looking for prostitutes to rob because one of them was out of work and wanted supplies for his 1 year old. Instead they robbed a homeless guy and shot and killed him for one dollar. How many more people are there out there like this and how many more people out there can become like this given the right situation?
    http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Four-teens-accused-of-killing-homeless-man-for-a-3489480.php

  23. I agree with the thoughts about being careful in the decision to “hide” or make a home look abandoned. I’ve had theoretical discussions with my kids before about what might make an average person become a thief. I am 5000x more likely to go into an abandoned home to steal food for my starving kids, than I am to attack someone in order to steal something they are using.
    I guess it’s tough to know which scenario is best until a person is in the situation.
    Definitely an outstanding show, though. I already have some new ideas on inexpensive ways to make us more secure. And I will read his books.

    Let’s just not forget what Jack often talks about in using community and creating cooperation first if possible. I’m lucky that we live in a rural area where most neighbors already practiced prepping before prepping was cool πŸ™‚ They also make a habit of watching for strangers wandering around other people’s property.

  24. I was initially skeptical about “Joe Nobody’s” credentials and expertise. But hearing him talk, he knows his shit – he obviously has nothing to prove, he just genuinely wants to help people be better prepared. So I went from skepticism to respect. I didn’t agree with everything he said, but I also realize that an interview is a short period of time to clearly explain all your philosophies and insights. I plan on ordering a couple of his books today and learning more from him and his experiences. I’d also like to have him return again as a guest.

  25. Pingback:Apartment Prepper Talks to Nobody – Part 1 | The Apartment Prepper's Blog