Magnesium and Flint for fire Starting

This is a combo flint and magnesium fire starter.  I bought this one at Wal-Mart; but you can get them anywhere they sell camping supplies or, of course, on line.  You can see That I scraped a good-sized amount of shavings off of the magnesium.  I recommend about a quarter-size, but you can make do with less depending on your tender.  

As you can see, I used my multi-tool knife to scrape the magnesium.  I recommend a crappy knife that you don't care about.  Something about metal to metal that doesn't help to keep an edge...

I'm about ready to strike the spark.  I did this by flipping the starter over to get to the flint side.  Obviously, this will only catch and burn out quickly as there is no tender beneath it.  You would want to have some dry tender first and then shave the magnesium on top of that.  I just did it this way to demonstrate the amount of mag that you need.  I added a little bit of dry grass to the side of it (below) and it started right up.

Be warned that magnesium is a soft metal, but it still takes a bit of effort to get the shavings off with your knife.  You may have to work at it for a few minutes to get the amount of shavings that you need.  

As with any fire starting technique.  Start small and build your way up.  Make sure to have all the different sized burning materials handy before you start your fire.  You don't want to be running around trying to find some small twigs when it's time to go larger.  Also, try to split your wood before throwing on the fire.  Whole logs do not like to burn well.  Remember fire safety- only you can prevent forest fires.

My first choice in building a fire will nearly always be the easiest way.  I have a few lighters in my 72 hr kit that I would turn to first; then I would use my 2 boxes of fireproof matches; after those, I would use my magnesium and flint.  But, I need to practice with all of them- just in case.

Quote of the Day:

John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

In the News:

BILL WOULD GIVE OBAMA 'EMERGENCY' CONTROL OF INTERNET...

POLL: 57% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress...

Capitalism the villain as Moore movie hits Venice...

Banks' struggles have worsened...

Wheat Grinder Mechanization

This is my Family Grain Mill attached to their hand crank base.  I got this unit a few months ago and have been generally pleased with my purchase.  I was attracted to it because of the price and the supposed easy cranking and fine flour production.  At first it a novel and I enjoyed cranking by hand but then it soon became a chore.  I began to think of ways to ease my pain.  I considered purchasing an electric grinder and just using this as a back up.  I considered buying a Bosch or food processor (they sell attachments for the grinder part).

Then, I decided to try my cordless drill.  I purchased a bit of hexagonal metal from www.Speedymetals.com and see if I could get it to work.  It's a 10mm bit.

It's the exact same size as the crank bit that goes into the unit.
Wala!  It works great.  One battery is enough to do just slightly less than 4 cups of wheat.  I have 2 batteries, so that grinds me about 8 cups of wheat.  That's enough to make four loaves of bread.  I did try my craftsman corded drill, but it wasn't strong enough to do the job (started smoking!).  So,  this way I can easily knock out 8 cups of wheat in just a fraction of the time.

*Disclaimer- I called the company about my method and they don't recommend it.*  I've done about 5 batches this way and haven't noticed any problems.  I actually think this method puts less stress on the cranking unit as there is no rotational forces moving it around.  Be sure to clean the grinder good after each use.  Wash the metal parts of the grinder in the sink and air dry.

Solar Garden Lights

I purchased these solar lights from Wal-Mart a few months back when they were having a sale.  I got 11 lights for $12.  This was a dang good deal if you ask me.  There were a few models- I chose the one with only one LED.  There were others that had three LEDs per lamp, but for the price and sale going on, I felt this was the best deal.

     Just set them out in your garden or along your driveway to charge.  Then when you need them, just pull off the stake part and turn them upside down!  They don't put off copious amounts of light, but they do work well.  This is only 2, but I have 11.  That's even enough to help out neighbors if need be.  If I were to have all 11 spread around my house, there would be no problem with lighting at all.  What's nice about these is that you don't have a fire hazard and they will stay on all night for trip to the bathroom or for a glass of water (from my gravity fed water filter).
     If you need to turn off the light, there is just a rechargeable AA battery inside that you just pop out.  Which brings up another good point, should you not have your lights pre-charged, you can just put in any old AA and it will work fine.
     I have kids, and so any time the power goes out, they freak out.  This goes a long way to bringing normalcy to the home.  I believe that the grid will eventually turn off, so until I purchase a several thousand dollar solar system, this will have to do.  So, even if you have a generator or candles, I recommend getting some of these cheap landscaping lights to add to your preparedness stuff.  Easy, cheap and it works.

Savage Arms .22 cal Mark II Review

     I've owned a Savage Arms Mark II GXPB for about 14 months- no AcuTrigger.  I purchased it as a tool to add to my preparations.  I wanted a rifle to shoot varmints and for hunting rabbits and the like.  I was looking for something cheap and accurate.  I knew I wanted a scope on it.  I also wanted a .22 vs. a .223 for varmints due to the shooting characteristics and cartridge prices of .22 cal firearms.  I also have children; so having a light-powered (and quiet) firearm for them to train with was ideal.  I also wanted bolt action- generally better accuracy and better ammo conservation.

 I picked up my Savage at Dick's Sporting Goods.  It was on sale for $130 including the scope.  I purchased an extra 10 round magazine at the same time. 

Upon inspection at the store, I was impressed with the smart and crisp bolt action movement.  It was also a full-size rifle vs.. a youth model- that was a bonus considering I'm a fairly tall man.  There were sling points already on the stock and that made me happy.

I took the .22 home and broke it down.  Everything was clean (of course), but it was good to see all the parts laid out.  The machining appeared fairly good.  There were no rough edges or burs that needed attention.

After putting it all back together, I took it out to the range to zero it in.  The scope was supposedly bore sighted- it wasn't.  No big deal, but it took a few rounds to get me on paper at 50 yards.  After zeroing, it shoots a consistent pattern about at 3/4". Not going to win any contests with this one- but it will do the job.  I call this one my nail driver.  I've gotten even better with this rifle and after breaking it in (500 rounds) it will shoot within 1/2-1/4 inch patterns. 

     I tried a number of different rounds through it to see how it performed.  Hollow point XPert HV Winchester caused several misfeeds (3 out of 250 shots);  I suspected that the short stubby bullet would not feed nicely- and I was right (this can be remedied by buffing the ramp with a dremmel tool).  Also, the ejector did not function properly on a few rounds.  I had to remove the magazine and work the bolt hard several times before it would eject.  I understand this is common in this rifle and a new ejector may be needed.  The Winchester copper plated rounds loaded and shot the best for me.  No ejection problems with those- that will be my ammo of choice.

On the negatives, this rifle does not have iron sights.  This is a real negative from a survival aspect.  If the scope fails, then I have no way to aim it.  My options are to get a spare scope (I did) or to get iron sights put on by a gun smith (cost prohibitive at $300). This is something you will have to weigh in when considering this gun.  I would do it again- simply b/c of the great price.

Be careful when cleaning it- there is a port on the left side that will leak solvent onto the wood finish if your not careful.

In all, I recommend this rifle if you can find a good deal on it like I did.  It shoots straight and is reliable (once you find the right ammo for it).  It does not have sights- but this can be overcome with a little more $.  It is a good looking firearm- very rugged- but not overly heavy- especially when you put a sling on it.

BTW, if you're into prepping for emergencies, I highly recommend shopping at www.internetprepper.com for emergency water filters, grain mills, canned and dehydrated food.  The prices are among the cheapest on the web (when you consider shipping) and the owner is a USAF veteran.

In The News:

FDIC, Hit by Failing Banks, May Sink Into the Red
LIVESHOTS: U.S. Hospitals Save Canadians' Lives

Quote of the Day:

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

AK-47 Grip & Charge technique

It turns out, your not supposed to shoot an AK like an M-16/15/4.  What?  Yeah, all this time you were supposed to be holding the area shown above, somewhere between the magazine and the receiver.  It makes a lot of sense once you try it.  Better balance, grip, easier reloading, don't have to worry about magazine falling out... Besides, this is how the pros will teach you.  **Note my finger is straight along the frame.  Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready and willing to fire what your aiming at.  I see way too many yahoos at the range (including military and police) with their fingers on the triggers way before it should be.  That's just asking for trouble.

Here I'm demonstrating one of the many ways (probably the best) to charge/reload your AK variant.  Many people go OVER the gun with the left hand this is cumbersome to me and plus, with my scope there, it's dang near impossible.  Plus, it could block your field of view and just looks wrong IMHO (below).

Taking your right hand off to charge is a possibility, but then you have to transition back, which will slow you down in a firefight.  Remember to slap your bolt back hard and let the spring bring it forward.  Don't ride the slide back.  This is true with auto pistols as well.  (another day)

I'm sure I'm going to get several ppl tell me that my technique is wrong.  But, truth be told there are many ways to fry an egg.  You need to practice with all of them and use the one for the right situation.  When I went through firearms training (16 week course), we practiced one handed reloading, one handed firing, firing with your weak hand, firing prone, firing on your back, firing from a vehicle, firing at a moving target, firing while being a moving target... you get the idea.  I didn't use weaver stance for hardly any of those situations and neither should you.  The techniques demonstrated above are ideal and should suit most AK-47 users just well.
(BTW, the firearm above is a MAK-90 sporter made by Norinco with a Chinese scope mounted on a NcStar dust cover and a Czech plastic magazine.)

In the News:

Dire Warning on H1N1 | VIDEO | FULL COVERAGE
- SURVIVAL GUIDE | LIVESHOTS: Worst Scenario
Social Security Payments to Shrink for First Time in a ... (here it comes)


Quote of the Day:

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

A word about survival firearms

While the subject has been covered before, there is an excellent discussion of the usefulness of the AK-47 (and its variants) over at Survivalblog.com. 

This is my choice in assault weapons.  I choose it for dependability.  I chose it b/c I do not require marksmanship accuracy in my region of the US (wooded).  I chose it b/c it's easy to shoot. Rusty had this to say about dependability:

Just how important is dependability? On March 23rd, 2003, a convoy of the 507th Maintenance was ambushed at Nasiriyah, Iraq. Aside from the fact that 11 American soldiers were killed and 6 taken POW, the US Army's after action report found that every single American firearm had been rendered inoperable by the desert conditions. M2s, M4s, M16s, and the SAW-all of them were found to be nothing more than good-looking clubs during the battle. Of course, the Iraqi Kalashnikov didn't have the problems the American firearms had, and they held the field after the remnants of the 507th high-tailed it out of Nasiriyah. There have been other noted incidents of M4s and SAWs failing in the desert conditions of Afghanistan and Iraq. One has to wonder how many Americans have paid the ultimate price over the last 40+ years dealing with such an unreliable weapon.

In conclusion, the M4/AR15 is a excellent range rifle or SWAT weapon, but unless you intend on cleaning the firearm numerous times a day, which is doubtful in a SHTF situation, it is best to go with an AK or other dependable rifle and take a pass on the finicky M4 platform. -

___

Not every AK variant is accurate or reliable enough to use however.  Just b/c it's an AK doesn't mean it will function as designed.  Take yours out to the range and find out how accurate it is.  It will take time and training to use it well.  If yours is awful, get another.  I think that the AK has to be the best "survivor" rifle in a total SHTF scenario.  If you have time to clean and maintain any gun, then it hasn't hit the fan.  I think though there is hope for those of you who bought into the AR15 platform.  I've read that using teflon lubricant after a very good cleaning helps minimize dust and gunk accumulation- I use teflon spray on all my firearms and I am always surprised at how clean they are after a long day of training.

Check out Gabe Suarez's forum.  Good info there on the AK. (you have to register)

In the news:

Analyst Bove sees 150-200 more bank failures...

CASH CRUNCH: Colorado Springs police may sell seized firearms...

POLL: New Low for Obama Approval Index...

Government Plans Vast Swine Flu Vaccine Effort... (not for me)

Quote of the day:

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?

Benjamin Franklin

G.O.O.D Bag/ 72 hour kit

I made my first 72 hour kit several years ago. I used a plastic tote box (the kind you get at Wal-Mart) and it served its purpose. It was able to hold everything that I wanted. It did have drawbacks though; it would be very difficult to carry it any long distance and it was not very durable.

I have decided to re-do my kits now that my kids are getting old enough to carry their own stuff (at least most of it).

I've been checking around and reading up on what I need to have in my kit. There are several commercial kits like this one:

This kit gives a complete inventory list:

1 - Backpack 1 - 3600 Calorie Mayday Food Bar 1 - Vegetable Lasagna 6 - Pouches of Water 1 - Mayday large Solar Blanket 1 - pair of Work Gloves 1 - Adult Poncho 2 - 12 hour Light sticks 1 - Dynamo FM Radio w/LED Flashlight 2 - Maxi-pads 1 - Clear Solution Hygiene Kit 2 - Pocket Tissue 2 - Wet Naps (3 pack) 1 - Yellow Rope 1 - Spoon/Fork Combo 1 - Blood stopper Trauma Dressing 1 - box of 50 Waterproof Matches 1 - Slow Burn Emergency Candles 1 - Wag Bag Sanitation Kit 2 - Anti-Bacterial Bar Soap 1 - Blue Tarp 1 - Personal Water Filter

_________________

I think this would be a good start- I also plan to include:

A change of clothes (2 changes if room)

Extra boots

Small Bible

6 MREs

Hatchet

Knife

Cash and change

Maps

Collapsable shovel

All of these are easy to carry and easily obtained.

What other items am I overlooking?

Rainwater Catchment

Here you can see my rainwater catchment barrel. Nothing fancy. I just have it running off my gutter system. After a very short rain this barrel will fill up in minutes.

The hand pump/siphon I have connected to it works great. I have another one that I use for my drinking water storage. I got it from NorthernTool for about $15. You just pump a few times to get the siphon started and then you just sit back and watch the water flow. I want to figure a way to may the hose longer though- I have to use a watering can to reach all but the closest tomato plant.

Oh, and I have a doubled screen on the downspout to act as a filter for bugs and crap. I clean it from time to time and there are lots of bugs that would have gone in otherwise.

The system currently serves as my garden water supply; but, when the water eventually shuts off, I can filter it with my water filtration system to drink for myself. When that happens, I'll hook up my other 2 barrels to catch even more water. For now, it's just my garden water though.

The barrel was used and previously had hydrogen peroxide in it. Very clean- I got all three barrels for 12/each.

Questions at the doctor's office

Last week my wife took our kids to the clinic to get immunizations for school. I didn't go with her.

After I came home from work, I asked about how it went, if the kids cried, etc., etc.

My blood pressure began to rise when she told me that the nurse administering the immunizations, pulled out a questionnaire and started asking my wife and the kids questions.

The questions started like this, (to my wife) "How do you discipline your children?"

Wife replies, "We use timeouts." (We spank on occasion too.)

Then she turns to my kids, "Does mommy spank you?"

Kids, "Yeah, she spanks us."

Meanwhile, she's jotting down the kid's answers on her notepad.

The questions continue, "What do you eat for breakfast?, What do you eat for lunch?" Etc, etc...

Alright, this is not a WIC appointment. We are not on welfare, we are not at a government clinic, we are paying for the immunization ourselves- out of pocket to a private practitioner.

What in the world are they doing asking these types of questions? Whose database is this going into? Why didn't my wife say, "None of your business" and walk out? (My wife is not the survivalist/conspiracy nut that I am.)

These questions and more are going through my head and I need to call the clinic on Monday to find out what is going on.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'd like to hear about it.

Quote of the Day:

Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part.

Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

In the News:

Swine flu shot link to killer nerve disease; Concern over 25 deaths...

California declares emergency as wildfires spread...

PRESIDENT ACCUSES INSURANCE COS. OF 'FUNDING IN OPPOSITION'...

$12 Million Ad Blitz Backs Obamacare

Colonial BancGroup, 4 Other Banks Shut

Emergency Fact Binder

The purpose of having an emergency fact binder is to have all the paper that make up your life and the lives of your family together in case of an emergency. WE may not have much warning when we need to exit our homes in the face of eminent danger. When we return and have to piece back what was our life, having the notebook will ease the hassle and let you feel as though you still have some control over your life. You will not be in a helpless situation, but rather in a situation of action.

To make the notebook you will need the following:

2" or 3" rind binder

plastic page sleeves

subject divider

pocket pages

CDs or DVDs

Your first task is to identify and copy all those things that hold valuable information. If you have a scanner, you can copy them onto a disk. After you have made copies, return your documents to the water and fireproof safe containing your personal files.

This first list contain the items that need to be kept in a safe:

• Birth certificates
• marriage certificate
• baptism certificate (if applicable)
• diplomas
• death certificates
• wills
• life insurance policies
• stock certificates
• deeds
• contracts
• loan documents
• articles of incorporation (business docs)
• patents
• copyrights
• savings bonds (if you should have any of them get rid of the now and buy precious metals)
• appraisals of precious goods or antiques

It is a good idea to make a video of your home and possessions. Jewelry, collectibles, appliances... Keep this video in your safe.

Taking the time now will certainly reduce the amount of stress when disaster strikes.

Take the photocopies/ disks and put them into a another fire/water proof file box (something portable that you can grab in a hurry).

Then add original documents or copies of the following to the binder:

• immunization records
• passports
• warranties
• school transcripts
• medical records
• blood types
• eye glass Rx
• contracts
• bank records
• credit card info
• tax records
• utilities info
• Christmas card list
• durable power of attorney
• veterinary records

After you have compiled everything, put it them into a portable safe. I also recommend that you keep $100 in small bills in this safe as well as a few silver ounces.

Quote of the day:

In planning, forming, and arranging laws, deliberation is always becoming, and always useful.

James Wilson, Lectures on Law, 1791

In the news:

FALL PREVIEW: ABCNEWS: Fear Grows for President's Safety as Hate Groups Thrive...

Town Hall in Missouri mocks 'climate change myths'...

Obama Again Inflates Number of Uninsured Americans--Falsely Claiming '46 Million of Our Fellow Citizens Have No Coverage'

Precious Metals

I'm sure that many of you have already purchased some precious metals, whether that be gold or silver. I have purchased silver, in one ounce units. I have a significant amount of bullion or rounds, but very little in "junk silver" (i.e. pre-1965 US coins). -I suspect that while many of the "preppers" may know the value of "junk silver" I doubt the average joe even knows the difference. However, a big round that's stamped .999 silver is unmistakable.

Notice that I did not say that I "invested" in precious metals. I don't think that- in the long run- precious metal actually increases in value. I define value as to the amount of goods which that metal can buy. Investments are expected to increase in value.

For instance, In 1964 a single shiny new silver dime would buy a 12-ounce bottle of Coke from a vending machine. Three dimes would buy a gallon of gasoline, or a pound of bacon. In 2009 the same (not quite as shiny) 1964 silver dime will still buy a 12-ounce bottle of Coke from a vending machine, and three 1964 dimes will still buy a gallon of gasoline (with a little change to spare!) The REAL price of goods has not gone up (and the real value of the metal has not either)- the value of the dollar has gone down (since taking silver out of the coinage).

So, why buy precious metals? I did for three basic reasons.

1) To preserve my wealth. Should hyperinflation (or any inflation for that matter) hit, I know that after the schumar has settled, I can exchange my silver coins for whatever currency is in use. Greenbacks, at that point would be worth less than toilet paper.

2) To use in case of emergency as a last ditch effort. If it comes down to a real disaster, the precious metal could be used to "bribe" my way to where I need to get my family. (Although, they could just steal it from me and kill me- at which point I would probably be dead anyways.)

3) To barter with after a fiat currency collapse. People know that silver and gold have value- no you can't eat it or drink it, but for centuries people have been attracted to it and will trade consumables and durables for precious metals.

Silver has been pretty low this summer, and I suspect gold will drop drastically once the price of oil increases again (I keep hearing rumors that they are capping oil wells off shore?). The window of opportunity to purchase these metals cheaply will be brief. I recommend that you get about $1k of precious metals for your family. Some people recommend more, but that's just me.

I purchased almost all my coinage from E-bay. You can find some deals out there, but don't get carried away with the thrill of the auction. Set your price up front and leave it alone. You win some, you lose none.

You can also get some deals from local coin dealers. Expect to pay a small premium and tax though. I prefer the e-bay experience myself. I was able to get several ounces this summer for $14/ounce shipped to my door.

I also prefer smaller amounts of metal b/c it may not be easy to barter with a $1000 bill (ounce of gold). That's the main reason I went with silver.

**Also, very important to note** don't buy precious metals until AFTER you have all your other ducks in a row. You should have all your beans, bullets and band aids squared away first. Then, look into metals. See my list-of-lists spread sheet on the upper left to get you started and give you an idea of what you should have.

Quote of the Day:

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

-James Madison, speech at the Constitutional Convention, July 11, 1787

In the News:

'Extremism' report based on web chat

Raging California Wildfire Forces Hundreds to Flee

Poll: Obama Approval Rating Drops to 47 Percent

New Jobless Claims Rise Unexpectedly to 558,000

Are You Prepared?

If you believe that you don't need any preparations because some government agency will take care of you, or that nothing will happen because the sun is shining outside, or you refuse to take personal responsibility for your life and expect someone else to do it for you, then don't bother reading any further.

However, If your soul is restless at night with the thought of our troubled world, and you can handle the truth about your life and want to do something about it, then read on. You're ready to ask the bigger questions and take responsibility. We believe in starting within oneself the journey of self preservation and survival. If we each start with our self, then in essence we have started to help the whole. You have made a choice of self preservation. We are not prophets of doom and gloom, but rather realists who are not afraid to see into the future. If you're prepared, then you should have no reason to be fearful. You only need to pick up the latest newspaper, see the latest news on t. v., or look beyond your computer program to see what's going on in the world. You should be asking yourself, " this is what they openly say to us, then what aren't they really telling us?" Maybe you should ask yourself these basic questions:

1. Is my home or where I live safe? If I live in a city, how safe will my family and I be in a time of panic or emergency? 2. Do I have whatever I need if my family and I were not able to leave our house for long periods of time? 3. Do I have enough water stored if water tables shifted and/or water is not readily available? 4. Do I have enough food to eat that requires little or no energy to prepare? What if I couldn't get to a grocery store? How many people do I need to provide for? 5. What if I or my family were not able to get to a doctor or dentist? Do I have all my families medical needs stocked in case we're not able to get to a drug store? 6. Do I have what it takes to grow my own garden if I don't have sufficient food supply or needed to live off our land? 7. What if we had no electricity, how would we live and what would we need to sustain ourselves? 8. Is my home safe against outside elements, pillagers and rogue people? How would I defend our resources and protect my family in times of unrest? 9. Do I have the necessary tools and equipment on hand to be able to function and make repairs in case of an emergency or disaster? 10. Do I have sufficient resources for clothing, warmth, lighting and basic creature comforts, especially for infants and small children? 11. Do I have a preparedness plan mapped out and a safe place for my family to go in case of unforeseen disaster or emergency? 12. Most importantly, do I have a survivor attitude to rise above my situation and become greater than my environment? If you were brave enough to ask yourself these questions, then you probably have a pretty good idea of how to answer them. The products in our store are the answers to these questions. Contaminated food and water supplies, reliance on fossil fuels, teetering economies, and a war machine mentality government are just a few reasons why a wise person would take heed and secure safety and basic preparations. Ever stop to take the time to watch an ant colony? Nature could teach us a valuable lesson from these little creatures. They put away and stock up in times of abundance. Why don't you? It's never too late to prepare today!

Quote of the Day:

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. – Patrick Henry

In the News:

Federal deficit higher in July, $1.27T this year; Record spending...

Study: Climate bill could cost 2 million jobs...

Officials see rise in militia groups across USA...

OBAMACARE

Here's the bill to read for yourself:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf

First 500 Pages

A small step for our representatives, but a giant step for the government. Thank you, President BO for change!

Subject: A few highlights from the first 500 pages of the Healthcare bill in congress

Contact your Representatives and let them know how you feel about this. We, as a country, cannot afford another 1000 page bill to go through congress without being read. Another 500 pages to go. I have highlighted a few of the items that are down right unconstitutional.

• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!

• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!

• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)

• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.

• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.

• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.

• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange. • Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (I.e., total government control of private plans) • Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens • Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan. • Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter. • Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed. • Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages. • Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives. • Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families. • Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll • Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll • Page 167: Any individual who doesn't have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income. • Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them). • Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records. • Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that. • Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected." • Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!) • Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc. • Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries. • Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs. • Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing! • Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions. • Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government. • Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies! • Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval. • Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN. • Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: I.e., rationing. • Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc. • Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals. • Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone). • Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia? • Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time. • Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death. • Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends. • Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT. • Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life. • Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN. • Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN. • Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage. • Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.

Homemade water filter

Homemade water filter (Black Berkey) Gravity fed- 100% filtration- will even take food coloring out of water!- dirty water goes in the top and filters to the bottom bucket where I have a tap. (buckets were 2.79 at Lowes). filters were $100 (I have since found filters much cheaper at www.InternetPrepper.com)- this will process lake water, rain water- pretty much anything I throw at it- good for 6,000 gallons.

I made this myself after looking at all the expensive ones. I've been running this now for about 3 months. The water tastes better than Britta. The hardest part was the spigot, but I was able to cobble it together from parts at Lowes. (Internetprepper.com sells a kit with a spigot that works much better). I made a stand for it next to my washing machine.

I like that it's portable and it works great. I put a gallon of water in and take a gallon of water out.

Seeds

I just ordered some non-hybrid seeds Non-hybrid or heirloom seeds are those that are not genetically modified and will reproduce true year after year. Conversely, hybrid seeds are genetically modified to produce large plants and fruit, but unfortunately, it's seeds will not.

I spoke to the gentleman from Everlasting Seeds on the phone and he was very nice. They offer discounts to military veterans and even deeper discounts if you are a disabled vet. This part interested me the most and led to my decision to purchase from him. Seeds can store for up to 15 years- if kept in a cool dark area. His seeds come with a "how to" guide that explains how to plant the seeds.

You can Click here to download the growing guide (zipped). (This is a good idea even if you don't buy their seeds.) I ordered the Vegi-Max #10 can. If planted all at once, it would take about 3/4 - 1 acre of land. This amount of food will feed a family of seven very easily. Now, if you were to supplement it with your food storage, it would go even further. You don't even have to plant all of it- just what you need. And you can harvest and save the seeds for the next season.

(I swiped the following from another seed company http://www.non-hybrid-seeds.com/)

"Food Supply Security – The economic crisis facing the United States and the world may come to a head in the food supply system. What are the real threats to food supply from the current economic crisis? If the economic downturn becomes inflationary, the cost of real goods, like groceries could skyrocket. It might become unmanageable very quickly, with cost of items like a loaf of bread going to $100 in paper money. It sounds unbelievable but this has actually happened countless times throughout the world and the signs of its potential abound now. [J.S. I think this is going to happen right after interest rates skyrocket in the next year or so.]

Any reasonably concerned head of family or community would benefit form the simple insurance of non-hybrid seeds. The more the better. Savable, re-plantable seeds are simply a requirement in food security for the individual, family and community. This is no time for little packets of seeds. For a true sense of security in your food supply, ensure that you, your family and community have plenty of non-hybrid- seeds available for use and also for storage.

Lower Cost of Living – In difficult times, one of the best ways to reduce your cost of living is growing your own food. In WWII 1940’s, America’s 20 Million “Victory Gardens” produced the same amount of food as the entire commercial farming industry! The economic crisis of 2009 may demand the return of home gardening as a way to endure and thrive in tough economic times. Saving your own seeds from your personal harvest is not only an immediate way to save money on next year’s produce, it’s the best long-term plan for economic security by lowering your cost of living immediately and permanently.In summary, seed storage should be a part of your preparedness regime. "

Lastly, don't just let your seeds sit in a tin somewhere, PLANT them and get the practice now while your survival is not in jeopardy. Now is the time to get your garden going and learn how to do it- that way, when some of your crops fail, you can learn from your mistakes and do better the next time. My garden this year produced a good amount of potatoes- my tomatoes didn't fare so well though. My herbs did OK, but my peppers were awful. That's why it's a good idea to plant a good variety so if one crop fails, the others will buoy you.

In the Headlines:

Entering The Greatest Depression In History

US Labor Dept. Shows 70% of American Industries Are Cutting Jobs

Billions in Bad Loans Still Threaten U.S. Banks

Quote of the Day:

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. – John Adams (1814)

Wake up call

Had a good discussion with a few friends today. We were talking about the "snitch" e-mail that current administration set up. Apparently, if you know anyone who speaks out against or see someone blogging negative things about the National Health Care Plan, you are to report them immedately to flag@whitehouse.gov

Just what are they going to do with this list of dissidents? Not too sure myself... but it can't be good.

Also, we touched on the Emergency Powers act that enables the Pres to do just about anything if he declares an emergency first.

Well, all that chat got me modivated again to do some shopping. I got a crap-ton more canned goods tonight. When I came home, my wife was like, "Where are we going to put all this stuff?"

My larder is looking pretty deep at the moment and it makes me feel a little better knowing I can feed my family when the shumer hits the ocilator.

I'm planning another trip to get bulk grain in two weeks. I'm hoping to start on my second year of supply... more later.

Prepare for Economic Collapse

Prepare for Economic Collapse - wikiHow

Anyone who’s spent time on misc.survivalism has probably seen this huge list maintained by David Lee. Now, it’s available in a new, hypertexted version for easier downloading and on-line reading.

Captain Dave offers a special tip of his hat and a hearty thanks to David Lee for the time and effort he puts in maintaining and updating this list. We're also appreciates the opportunity to include it in Captain Dave’s Survival Center.

So, if you’ve ever thought about preparing a bugout bag or survival kit, here’s a feast of information.

But first a disclaimer from David Lee:

"The following lists were culled from the best survival books on the market. Each book is worth a place in your library! Any errors/ommissions are mine. Please refer to the listed book for more information."

Contents:

• Introduction
• The SAS Survival Handbook
• The Urban Survival Handbook
• Survival: A Manual that Could Save Your Life
• Camping and Woodcraft
• The Backpacker's Handbook
• Backpacker Magazine
• Common Sense Survival for Outdoor Enthusiasts
• Backpacking One Step at a Time
• Ten Essentials
• Sports Afield Outdoor Skills
• Staying Alive
• Basic Survival Kit
• Advanced Crisis Pack
• Auxillary Crisis Pack
• Fast Food For Your Bug Out Bag
• Basic Crisis Pack
• Short Survival List
• Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue List
• Food for Thought
• An Abstract List
• A Compact Kit
• Disaster Supplies
• Greybeard
• FEMA
• Retail Kits
• Backpacker Magazine
• Survival Kit Contents
• 10 Packs for Survival