Notes 1/2/16

Also, some miscellaneous notes I've collected for those interested in doing evil:

 

Weapons and Equipment

---------------------------------

>Open source software for paintball sentry guns is available for free from Rudolph Labs, it's ballistics can be modified for regular firearms. A working sentry gun is multiple levels of illegal by ATF laws but so long as the firearm being used has it's trigger group removed then at that moment it is technically not a complete firearm. Keep illegal non emergency weapons partially disassembled.

>Weapons are designed to kill the target for the user. The less care when taken during creation and handling, the more damage can be directed from target to user. A safe and secure area to test weapons multiple times is worth more than however much money you'd have to spend on it.

>An assistant willing to commit murder is worth their weight in gold. First aid kits, trauma kits, body armor, ballistic shielding, and other safety equipment is a small price to pay for keeping a high value person alive during operation.

>High quality and properly maintained weapons, body armor, quick and long term medical kits, surreptitious entry and exit tools, regular entry and exit tools, rations and survival items to survive several days, item alternatives for contingencies, communication and navigation devices are what I have decided are standard provisions for any sort of field operatives. Other things like currency, transportation, or disguise vary on situation.

>C4 is a very safe explosive to handle but it has a delicate creation process. Old books from Paladin Press contain verified recipes but one should compare and contrast recipes to check for inconsistencies. Always pick C4 over something like Semtex when possible.

>Civilian legal grenade launchers can be purchased under the guise of really big flare guns, and everything you need to load your own grenades are available online.

>Thermite can melt through steal and won't light up with anything cooler than burning magnesium, making it ideal for custom bunker busting grenade loads.

>Commonly known smoke bomb formulas can have things mixed in to give their effect. Gas pressure inside the case can force toxic materials in the smoke mix to disperse with the smoke itself.

 

Psychology

---------------

>So far, people that are open sexually, use heavier illegal substances, or express even slightly fringe thinking type of thoughts tend to react the best when introduced to radical or strange ideas. Results have ranged from enthusiasm to understanding in these groups. A personal relationship should be well established before such introduction should take place, though.

>Simple psychological tricks like copying body movements, vocal cadence, and attitude to a manipulation target are surprisingly successful. People have proven they like interacting with those like themselves and will go out of their way to continue doing so. This in combination with regularly feeding their ego when needed turns you into a reverse-sycophant, them eager to please you because you've demonstrated an understanding of them.

>An understanding of a person creates a stronger bond than extended company or similar interests. At least claiming to have the same experience with a dysfunctional family, past medical problems, or any other personality defining handicap demonstrates understanding. A positive outlook and strong will in combination both sets you as an example they should follow and makes them want to keep you as a positive influence.

>Respect for someone, even fake, makes them respect you in return. They believe you have similar integrity and will begin making note of things they respect you for. How you indicate your opinion of them will influence whether they respect you as an equal or superior.

>Two things that alienate people the most are peer pressure and arguing offensively. If someone doesn't want to partake in something because of views based on falsehoods, don't try to force them and don't do anything more than a surface level correction (avoid questioning reasons based on emotions such as fear, past trauma, illogical biases, religious faith, etc). Anything more than this makes them uncomfortable and should be dealt with gradually and with care, if at all.

>Generosity begets generosity in useful people. Frequently being helpful to someone can set a precedent far more useful than the debt accumulated by those favors. If you've found a worthwhile person, lend them money when they need it, let them pay you back when they can and/or allow for partial repayment. In doing this, I can get a ride, a meal, or a place to stay whenever I need to without ruining a good relationship with indentured servitude.

>Morale is staggeringly important to keeping people's support. Most people prioritize what makes them happy over what provides material wealth. Instead of paying an employee more, give them more time off to enjoy the money they already work for. People do things for those they like, and workers accept less pay from employers they like.

 

Law

-----

>Police officers are people doing their job. How you interact with an officer in any given situation can change how the law is enforced on you at any given moment.

>Judges are elected by the county and public opinion influences their decisions. If a judge based their campaign platform on being tough on the particular crime you're committing, try to avoid doing it when they're up for re-election.

>Law enforcement officers rarely interact with those from other jurisdictions and close to never with those from other cities and states.

>Even cases like rape or murder are dropped after less than a week provided no leads are found.

>DNA and recordings are the only two concrete things that can link someone to a crime. Fingerprints have never actually been proven to be unique but can still be damning. A competent lawyer and some friends for an alibi can overturn just about everything else.

>Public defenders shouldn't be disregarded. They work for criminals with no money, meaning they get a lot of experience with theft, breaking and entering, assault, drugs, and other poverty influenced crime.

>In most places in the US, carrying around a large weapon is not illegal, and it's not required of people to carry around proof that said weapons are completely above board. It can still agitate people, so expect law enforcement to try to remove you or the weapon. Know your legal rights, but do your best to diffuse the situation.

>Law enforcement can not conduct searches without consent or probable cause. If an officer dislikes you, though, they will go the extra mile to hurt you. Behaving indignantly may make them claim to smell a controlled substance in your vehicle. This means they can search your car and your person, arrest you, detain you for 24 hours, and tow your vehicle for nothing more than being rude.

>Security cameras in your home, dash cameras in your car, and being ready to record with your phone are three things that make law enforcement think twice about their behavior. Video evidence of them doing their job improperly can lead from huge financial settlements to criminals being set free, and they are well aware of it.

>When doing something illegal, have a burner phone for that one thing alone. Have a phone for each operation, disposing them when completing the operation they were used for. Relatively low price to keep evidence out of your phone records.

>Get a PO box with your real name. Any packages with illegal content should be shipped using your real name. If caught, you can say that someone sent you something illegal to incriminate you, and you can't control what people send. If a fake name is used at the PO box and on the package, it proves that you are somehow involved with who sent the package and were trying to avoid being caught.

 

Emergency Preparedness

----------------------------------

>A gas mask is only as good as its seal and filter, and doesn't protect against everything. Filters don't stop everything, require changing as they become contaminated, and can't protect against anything that isn't larger than the molecules they're filtering. Your military surplus mask won't stop carbon monoxide poisoning or helium suffocation.

>Emergency water should be stored beforehand and actually decontaminated. A tablespoon of bleach can clean a drum of water better than any filter system.

>The ability to kill animals/people and start fires are the most important things during long periods without infrastructure. In past societal collapses, bullets and Bic lighters were the most valuable resources, followed by alcohol. Food, water, and sex were at about the same value.

>Alcohol can be distilled from plants, used as fuel, doesn't occur naturally on it's own, and is more valuable to some people than water. Keep this in mind when stocking up for emergencies.

>Prostitution is the world's oldest profession for a reason. Recreational sex satisfies biological urges, elevates mood, boosts morale, and doesn't require a loss of capital for the provider. Use sex as a bartering chip in any way possible whenever possible.

>Grocery stores and large houses typically have the most stuff worth taking in emergency situations. When their life is in danger, the average person will do a lot of things their morals wouldn't typically allow. Especially during the early days of disaster, normal people will fight, kill, and die attempting to pillage these places.