The screen flashes “transaction canceled” for the third time. Across the street, a fistfight breaks out at the last working ATM. Your phone buzzes with emergency alerts—bank withdrawals temporarily suspended “for your protection.” This isn’t a drill. The financial system is seizing up, and your survival depends on what you do in the next 72…
How to spot a surveillance state before it’s too late (lessons from recent protests)
You’re already in the panopticon. The question isn’t whether they’re watching—it’s whether you’re smart enough to notice. Governments and tech giants have turned cities into open-air surveillance labs, and most people walk through it like cattle in a slaughter chute. Here’s how to spot the traps before they spring. The surveillance state isn’t coming—it’s already…
Urban survival skills for beginners: start prepping today
That phone in your pocket? Useless when the towers go down. Your apartment? A death trap waiting for the right crisis. The good news? You don’t need tactical gear or a bunker to survive what’s coming. Just these 10 weirdly effective skills you can practice with junk already in your home. why urban survival demands…
How to blend in during a crisis (grey man theory in cities)
Most people think survival is about standing tall, looking tough, being ready. They’re wrong. The real skill is disappearing. Not literally—just slipping into the background so smoothly that threats glance right over you. That’s the grey man theory. And in a city during chaos, it’s the difference between getting home safe and becoming a target….
Review: Collapse now and avoid the rush: the urban survivor’s manual
Now for something a little different. John Michael Greer offers a unique perspective on the idea of preparing for collapse, one that’s well worth adding to your mental toolbox. Below are some of my key takeaways, with my own spin: Your stockpile of canned beans won’t save you. That generator collecting dust in your garage?…
Urban survival mindset: thinking like a survivor
The ATM screen flashes “insufficient funds” for the third time this morning. Across the street, a line forms outside the pharmacy as rumors spread about antibiotic shortages. Your neighbor—the one who always joked about prepping—quietly loads duffel bags into his car. The collapse isn’t coming. It’s already here. And your most vital survival tool isn’t…
How to purify water in a city (no fire needed)
That bottled water in your pantry? Gone in three days. The tap? Pumping poison within 72 hours of a blackout. Cities are water deserts wrapped in concrete, and your survival hinges on one brutal truth: purification beats thirst, but most methods will kill you slower than the pathogens. Let’s fix that. why urban water kills…