This is the blade I carry every day. It’s the famous Kershaw Blur, but with a carbide tip designed to shatter glass with ease. It does, as you can see in my video review below.
I’ve been testing the Kershaw Blur for 2 months now. I love it. It’s quality, and produced locally in Tualatin, OR. I rep gear made in the USA as much as possible, especially Oregon. The first thing that fascinated me with the knife is the unique design. It’s beautiful. Simple. Elegant. The subtle curves are sexy. I couldn’t wait to get her out of the box. Initially, I noticed how fine the blade is. It’s razor sharp. Also, I was impressed with how well the scallops cut. Slicing through materials like cardboard, plastic, rope, and paper is effortless, and so is opening it, thanks to the SpeedSafe assist. It flies out, and feels extremely secure in place with the liner lock.
Another excellent feature is the rigid angled thumb studs. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to grip the nubs, and whip it out. Kershaw really made something special with the Blur. They even upgraded the steel in this new version to Sandvik 14C28N with DLC coating. So it’s tough. Which brings me to the tiny carbide tip embedded in the aircraft aluminum handle. People don’t even notice the special tip at first, but believe me, it works. I broke a sheet of glass in my video, plus several bottles with minimal effort. The glass breaking feature is one I have to have on my EDC knife. It could save my life if I’m ever trapped in a vehicle, and it’s not bad for self defense either.
The Kershaw Blur is a great size, and light at only 4.2 ounces. I like the blade length too, at 3 3/8″. The overall length is 7 7/8″, and 4 1/2″ closed. And the belt clip is removable, so you can have the tip up or down. In the end, this is the knife I trust with my life right now. It’s blacked out, and stealth. But above all, it’s well made, and sharp as hell. Survival Bros gives it 5 Stars. I can’t complain about it at all, besides the handles getting a little scratched up after smashing so much glass. I go into more detail in my HD video review below. Please comment, and feel free to ask me any questions about it. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros – Emergency Preparedness.
Visit http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/ for more.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
If you follow Survival Bros, then you know I just got back from St. Louis. I had too much fun there. Now, it’s back to the grind, and making videos. The short video above is what it’s like to be inside the beautiful Gateway Arch. The ticket to the observation deck is $7. The pods that took us to the top are tiny. They uncomfortably sit five. It took 4 minutes to float up via elevator. From the peak of the arch I had a spectacular view of all St. Louis. It’s a fascinating, and lively town, especially if you enjoy baseball, beer, and BBQ. But the arch was the highlight of my trip.
Cameron whipped up a video of his favorite moments from 2012. It’s been a crazy, and productive year. Best wishes to you and your friends. Thanks so much for supporting this blog. We have big things planned for the new year. Peace.
By Cameron McKirdy
Survival Bros shows you all the stuff that is half off in the back of a Safeway grocery store.
Retail is for suckers. Don’t pay full price for anything, ever again. Store owners get everything wholesale, and you can too.
I often start my shopping trip by going to the back of the supermarket. That’s where you can always find items 50% off, because they are discontinued, damaged, or close to their expiration date. You’d think these products are no good, but I’ve found the sale goods are usually organic, and simply not well known, so they go unsold. Don’t be too good to save money. People pass on these deals because they are too proud, and must feel like the product is inferior to what’s on the regular shelves. It’s silly.
Think about getting a membership at a wholesaler like Costco. It will save you cash, and probably pay for the card on the first trip. Be on he lookout for an asterisk on the price sign at Costco. An * means the item is being discontinued, and it’s not coming back, so the price is usually reduced. Buy more then if needed. Not that I support big box stores, but it’s worth going just for the free food samples. I will have to produce a video on that. And my friends that work there seem to be happy.
You can also compare prices online. Additionally, I like to practice patience, and use eBay auctions to save money. Plus, check out smart phone apps like ShopSavvy that get you the best deal possible. The only time I pay jacked up full retail prices is when I’m buying local. Even then I will haggle. Prices are made up. Things are worth what you pay for them.
The clearance rack at Safeway in the back
By Cameron McKirdy
Season’s greetings! On Christmas Eve my Dad and I hiked from Indian Beach in Ecola State Park to the Hiker’s Camp on Tillamook Head. We checked out the abandoned World War 2 bunkers, and the viewpoints too. Pops split, leaving me to spend the night by myself. In this HD video I show you the trail, my gear, and my fire. I also cooked up some Goulash thanks to my new flameless cookwear system by Trekmates. Enjoy the video. After a two hour nap, I decided to back to Seaside in the dark night. It was crazy. I used a glow stick, and my Coast HP14 flashlight to luminate the path. A recent storm kicked tons of massive trees down. I had to climb over many, with my 40 pound pack on. I booked it from the cabins, and got back to Seaside in just over 2 hours, covering 4 gnarly miles of ground. It was an intense op. I lost the trail briefly once, slightly rolled an ankle, and nearly slipped down a steep bank. It was one of the most rewarding, and challenging adventures of my life. Next, I plan to raft the Nehalem river this weekend. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. I’d appreciate your comments, and likes. %^).
If you’re looking for the perfect gift this Christmas for the prepper on your list, take a look at our Amazon Wish List. It’s also a Survival Bros Donation page. Your gifts to us help keep this blog going, and make us more prepared. All content on this site is provided for free. Please help. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Click here for emergency preparedness gift ideas, from superfoods, to signal mirrors.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1MLVC8ALHXBH5/ref=topnav_lists_1
Happy holidays from your friends at Survival Bros. This community is really taking off. The members of our Facebook Group has doubled this month. Like us, and we’ll like you back. http://www.facebook.com/SurvivalBros
A few years ago I gave up my Cadillac. It was a waste of money to operate, and I love being active anyways. This blog is about my use of alternative transportation, while surviving on the Oregon Coast.
Riding my mountain bike has been option #1. It’s way cheaper to use than a car. I’ve had to repair my Mongoose several times, but at least I can do some of the work. It’s not like a computerized vehicle, where I have no chance of fixing it. I’ve saved thousands of dollars by not driving, and haven’t had to get a real job. It’s allowed me to do things like run this blog, and avoid the rat race entirely.
I also love walking. I have rain gear and an umbrella, so I don’t have an excuse to not get outside. If course Oregonians don’t actually use umbrellas, but I know how to. The key for me is being comfortable moving around outdoors. I have a variety of shoes for the job, including boots for mud, sandals for the beach, and light running kicks too. Plus, I make sure to have rain gear on hand, or at least an emergency rain poncho just in case. I walk many miles each week. It keeps me loose, and strong.
This summer I also made a point to hitchhike. I walked along Highway 101 for a few hours before someone finally swooped me. The trick is to find a place where drivers can pull off the road, and staying in that open area. The gentleman that picked me up told me about his days thumbing on the road. He told me to bring toilet paper or I’d be sorry. Hitchhiking isn’t a viable option really. You can’t rely on others like that, especially if your in a hurry. But it was fun trying, and I will get around that way again for the hell if it.
I’ve been riding the bus at least once a week too. It’s great because in December you can donate a can of grub to the food bank for a free pass. Most riders have been taking advantage of that offer, unless they already have a monthly bus pass. You meet all sorts of people on the bus. Some want to borrow my phone, while others feel like talking the entire trip while I listen to music. Still, I like riding the bus. It’s a giant carpool, and less damaging to the environment than if everyone drove a car.
I have said cars are for lazy people. I think that’s true, especially if you never use your own power to get around town. We sit so much as it is anyways. I will own a vehicle again, but there’s no hurry. I’m more free without one. Less is more. Good luck getting to your destination over the holidays. Remember there’s more than one way to get there. I have Rollerblades too. Lol. Peace.
– Cameron McKirdy
Blog produced by Cameron McKirdy
Yes, I just blogged about a movie, and here’s another quick Survival Bros review. I make movies, so it’s only natural I critically look at them. I poked the Xbox, loaded Netflix, and watched the new 2012 documentary called Craigslist Joe.
This is another heartwarming survival tale. We follow Joseph Garner on a free-spirited journey across North America. Joe has no idea if he can count on the hospitality of others to endure homelessness, with no money, or contacts. He pops his thin comfort bubble, and sees if there really is a sense of community in the USA.
Craigslist Joe is a great story. It doesn’t ever feel cheesy, or forced. Comedian Zach Galifianakis, no relation to Andy Milonakis (besides being fat), was the Executive Producer. That’s probably why it’s funny. The premise is pretty ridiculous too. Joe had no survival gear, or training to make it outdoors. He should have died. But somehow, Joe didn’t get shot, or freeze to death on a park bench. He roughed it one night on the streets in NYC, but was housed by strangers he met online the rest of the 31 days of the experiment.
In all, this flick was worth watching. We see the generosity of strangers on full display. Humanity has hope. People can care. You just have to make them. Help them along the way. Most people Joe encountered just wanted a friend. Let’s make some new friends. I will be using Craigslist a little more now, but it’s still nothing special if you live in a small town.
I give Craigslist Joe 4 out of 5 Nuggets.
Official Movie Trailer for Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox (Available to watch instantly on Netflix)
Chances are, you’ve heard of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap. It’s 18-in-1! It can lather you from head to toes with a few tingly drops of peppermint, or other natural varieties. I could go on all day about why I like this product, and company, but here’s a few things I appreciate. Plus, Dr. Bronner’s is currently raising money to fight Malaria in Eastern Ghana. More on that, and the link below.
I like Dr. Bronner’s because they create Fair Trade Organic products. Their bottles are also made of recycled plastic. And you can clean just about anything with the soap. From clothes, to your stinky dog. The soap can revitalize it. Also, Dr. Bronner’s uses a “combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils.” Epic. I feel so good after scubbing down with this stuff. It’s unlike any product you’ve tried. My favorite is the Tea Tree liquid soap. I also use Dr. Bronner’s Lemon Lime lip balm. I got a tube from the Astoria Co-Op for $3.
While the soap products are fascinating, Dr. Bronner and his family are even more intruiging. In his movie Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, you see his rise from a desperate life, to a fulfilled one. His family carries his ideas, and legacy, and spreads it to a new generation of aware individuals. Common people love his story, and can relate to the company’s humble beginnings. Really, it’s what’s on the label that has so many people talking. It’s plastered with vast amounts of info, such as Bible verses, and important quotes. Buy a bottle for the read alone.
No I didn’t get compensated to write this. Refreshingly, Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t even advertise. I just think they are an excellent example of what a great American company can be. They call it Constructive Capitalism. It’s where you share profits with the employees that made them for you. Crazy idea huh? All is One.
Dr. Bronner’s is raising $25,000 to provide life-saving mosquito nets for thousands of families to prevent the spread of malaria, a common disease in Ghana. Help, and receive a free gift.
http://www.indiegogo.com/drbronners
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 