Planning Who Shares Your Parachute – Part 1, by L.M.

Imagine that you are a passenger on a large commercial airplane headed to paradise. The people on board are excited, because they are embarking on the vacation of a lifetime. The skies are beautiful and things are going along just fine; then, suddenly, the plane develops engine trouble. There is a horrible metallic bang. The nose of the plane dips. The plane banks down and to the left, and smoke starts coming from the left engine. It is obvious to you that the plane is going to crash in just a few moments.

Being the prepper that you are, you and your spouse have packed parachutes. You and your beloved open your carry-on luggage and don your trusty parachutes while heading for the door. You have prepared for this day. You have held several dry runs. You took skydiving classes to hone your parachuting skills. You are ready. It’s time to put your good plan into operation.

Several other passengers watch you make your way toward the exit and ask if they can hold on to you when you jump out of the failing aircraft. They just want to survive, too. You know that the extra weight of full grown adults will collapse your parachute and you all will die, so you refuse. Then, just before you jump, a young lady comes and delicately asks if you would only take her infant son. He is light enough, but you will have to care for him (perhaps forever) and he certainly will make your plight much worse when you land. How will you feed him? How will you clothe him? He wasn’t part of your parachute plan. Do you refuse to take the baby? How about taking that small, cute, three year old girl with the pigtails that reminds you of your favorite niece? How about the two infants in the next row? Where do you draw the line?

Being preppers, we are a peculiar people who believe in packing our parachutes for the very likely case of uncertain times. Yet, we are surrounded by those who, despite our best warnings, refuse to prepare their own parachutes. Sometimes, they even giggle and say, “When the SHTF, I am coming to your house!”

Plans need to be made that can be implemented quickly. Foreknowledge, which comes from thinking about a situation in advance, can be invaluable. Your plan should start with the biggest, by far, variable– who. Once you have planned for “who”, you can move on to other things, such as “how” and “how much”. This article will help you forge plans without which your parachute will most certainly collapse.

You have to decide now who you will include in your plans for TEOTWAWKI. It is pretty evident that you cannot care for everyone, but you will have to decide which ones. This article poses more questions than answers, but I am hoping that the questions spur you to think about this. Deciding who may potentially live or die is not a very pleasant thing, but the reality is that you, being a prepared person, will have to make some of those decisions. When you have food, shelter, and security and others do not, you must decide, or they will decide for you. When you have the parachute, you must plan for who can ride, or everyone will grab on, in which case you are sure to meet the ground in a most severe manner.

Think About It Now

Now is the time to think about, and plan for, who you will include. I am not writing about your fellow preppers who are in your Preparedness Group. I am writing about those loved ones or neighbors who will not (or cannot) prepare and who will look to you for help in TEOTWAWKI. I am talking about those who want to share your parachute because they don’t have one!

During TEOTWAWKI your emotions will run high. Your stress level may be through the roof. That is not the time to make serious life-affecting decisions. Think it through now, while your emotions are cool and you can take your time to ponder it. Plan it now, while you can turn it over and over in your mind.

Will you take all of your children? What about any grandchildren? How about your kids’ spouses? Are your parents and in-laws welcome? Are extended family members going to be welcome, such as cousins, aunts, uncles, or the in-laws of your kids? Will your grandchildren be safe if your daughter-in-law decides to go to her parents because her parents are not welcome at your sanctuary? Will you take ex-spouses so your kids have both of their biological parents? What will you do for the elderly widow down the street?

Thinking these things through now, while you can take your time with it, and making a plan is best. Discuss it with your beloved and get in agreement now. Many of us have solid plans for how we might greet green-toothed, wild eyed, half-human zombies during TEOTWAWKI; I doubt we would want to use that same welcome for someone we love but forgot to plan for.

Forming Plans And Storage Targets

Coming to some even tentative conclusions about who might be welcomed at your door can be quite informative. Knowing how many you will need to feed can help you plan food storage targets. Discerning who has valuable skills can inform your resupply and security plans. Identifying the medical needs of potential TEOTWAWKI induced “guests” can assist you in making decisions on what medicines you might need. Knowing who might be welcomed at your door can help you form your plans for the bullets, beans, and Band-Aids we all need.

There is also the other side of the coin. Knowing who might show up at your door will help you plan for the liabilities they may bring, too. Do they have a need for refrigeration for medicines? Do they have any mental or emotional disorders for which they take medication that may not be available during TEOTWAWKI? Are they likely to bring weapons, or do you have to provide them? Are they capable of properly using those weapons? Are they likely to bring unwelcomed friends, pets, or diseases? Can they be trusted? Can you bear to live with them for the duration of TEOTWAWKI? Can you bear to live without them?

Talk With Those You Choose

Whatever you decide, you must communicate that decision to those you are inviting (or uninviting). They need to know that they are welcomed. That fact alone may help them see the depth of your prepper commitment, and as a result they may offer some help, whether it is with finances, planning, or skills enhancement. Talk with those you choose so they are not left wondering if they are welcome when TEOTWAWKI hits. Hammer out some plans. During TEOTWAWKI are you going to pick them up? Will they have to provide their own transportation? Can they bring friends without your prior permission? How long will you hold their spot until you give their portion to another? How long can they stay? Will they be expected to work? What pets can they bring?

This communication works quite nicely toward your peace of mind, too. You can know, because you talked about it and planned for it, that when the proverbial balloon goes up, your loved one is not just floundering but is on their way to your mutually planned security. You will both be on the same page because you discussed it and formed a plan.

The other side of this conversation is true, too. Those that may have jokingly said they were coming to your house when the situation gets dire need to understand that just showing up uninvited will not be acceptable. Things they said in a joking manner while society was intact, may take a whole new tone of seriousness when hunger and fear are on the horizon. Talk with them and let them know that you are giving your help now in the way of information and encouragement for them to become preppers too. Everyone needs a parachute, and they must be encouraged to pack their own or made to understand that they will take the ride down without you and yours.

During these conversations, one thing you must always concern yourself with is OpSec (Operational Security). Operational Security is very important. In your conversations, perhaps it is best to not disclose all of your preps. You should keep quiet about the total amount of your food and not discuss, in specific terms, your weapons and other defenses. This is not because you don’t trust those you chose to talk with (although you may not) but because, even if they know the rules about your OpSec, they may unwittingly reveal something that should not be made public.

Once, my daughter, in a very innocent conversation with her friend found that both the friend’s father and I were preppers, although we didn’t know each other. My daughter’s friend went on to write an article for the local television station using my name and quoting me on several “prepper” topics, even though I never met her nor talked to her. That was a serious breach of OpSec! This is just one example of why we must always guard our preps and plans. Have good conversations, but be wise when you do so.

Be Flexible

Flexibility and adaptability are key and important to any plan. Revisit your plans frequently and on a regular schedule, such as once a year. Note any changes in the constitution of the families that you may have invited. Have there been any deaths? How about divorces or marriages? Were there any new children born? Did someone move far away, join the military, or begin to attend college out of state?

If you are planning for your child and his or her spouse to come to your retreat during TEOTWAWKI, the birth of a child to them may radically change your preps. Now, you may need baby formula, diapers, ointments, bottles, nipples, shampoos, breast pumps, and a place for another to sleep. The list could go on to include baby strength medicines, wipes, food grinders, vitamins, teething rings, and a whole host of very expensive items. You have to be flexible with your plans and diligently revisit them periodically. You may have to store things that you did not originally plan for but if you have created a plan, and revisited it occasionally, you will be prepared.

On the other hand, changes in family dynamics may have you include people that you previously rejected. Perhaps your sister’s no-good husband left and now she is alone. You previously excluded them because you just could not see your way to support that lazy guy. Well, now he is gone. The family dynamic is different, and you now have new information with which to re-decide whether or not to adjust your plan.

Again, flexibility and adaptability are key and important. Periodically revising your plans is just as important as having the plans in the first place. Having an out of date plan is dangerous. If you were planning to accommodate six people during TEOTWAWKI and now you have a seventh; you are suddenly fourteen percent (14%) short on provisions. To put that in perspective, if you have provisions and plans for six people for one year and a seventh person shows up, you are now six weeks short of your year’s supplies. Six weeks is a long time for everybody to go without food because you didn’t reconsider your plans.

Letter Re: Well Pumps

Hugh,

Regarding the recent information about well hand pumps on the blog (Simple Pump, Bison Pump), I would like to add that there is another robust and reliable pump that has not gotten the attention of many people outside of the farm & ranch community. It is the Model 11HD (for deeper wells) pump made by Baker Monitor. This pump is heavy duty (cast iron) with a design that has been around for almost a hundred years. This is the same type of pump that has been reliably attached to windmills on farms since its creation and has also been used by the Forest Service at some of their campgrounds (the shallow well model). I researched the Bison and Simple pumps before I learned about the Baker Monitor pump from a local well pump installer, who has installed many of them in our area. The installer was able to add this pump onto my existing well (200 ft) without interfering with the electric pump. The cost of materials plus installation (including optional garden hose adapter) was less than the cost of materials for the Simple pump or the Bison pump. We placed the bottom of the Baker Monitor pump at 84ft (static water lever was 45ft), and we have no problem pumping considerable water in our tests. I like that this pump can be attached to a windmill at some future date, if I desire. The one drawback to the pump is that it is heavy. – K.K.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Citizens’ Growing Protests against Border Patrol Checkpoints Inside the U.S.. – H.L.

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NYPD investigating disturbing video of Uber traffic stop . – M.F.

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New study shows mutated ‘Polio-like’ virus may be responsible for paralyzing more than 100 children in the past year. – P.M.

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Pastor Cruz: ‘We Are on The Brink of The Destruction of This Country’. – B.B.

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Chicago Robbers Appear to Copy Mexican Cartel Roadblock Tactics. – D.S.

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From Wranglerstar: The Axe Is Back! Keep It Sharp

Notes for Wednesday – April 01, 2015

April 1st is both April Fool’s Day and (unofficially) Molly Ivins Day. The latter refers to this key verse: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1 KJV)

April 1st, 1886 was the birthday of Arthur W. Pink, who died 15 July 1952 and was an English Christian evangelist and excellent Reformed Biblical scholar. It was his meticulously referenced arguments in his book, The Soverignty of God, that first convinced JWR of the truth of the doctrine of Election.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 58 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 58 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Round 57 Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winners Announced!

First prize goes to M.R. for “Your Brain On Paper—How to Write Useful Operating Instructions – Part 1”, “Part 2”, and “Part 3”, which were posted on February 27th and 28th and March 1st. He will receive the following prizes:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 Nato QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second prize goes to D.M. for “The World of Bug Out Bags – Part 1” and “Part 2”, which were posted on February 15th and 17th. He will receive the following prizes:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third prize goes to F.C. for “Caring for Babies in a Post-Collapse World”, which was posted on February 12th. He will receive the following prizes:

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift certificates via e-mail) have been awarded to the writers of these fine articles:

Note to all Prize winners: Let us know your current e-mail address. We will also need the UPS and USPS addresses for each of the top three prize winners.

Round 57 ended on March 31st, but Round 58 has started, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. Those articles that we received for Round 57 but that did not get published in time will be automatically entered in Round 58.

Our Founding Fathers Were Right, by a Florida Mom

Our Founding Fathers were right, about education, too. Have you ever wondered how a generation with one-roomed schoolhouses produced so many great thinkers? Have you wondered what types of books were available when Abraham Lincoln studied on his own? Unlike many instructional books today, the educational books our founding fathers used were designed for simplified teaching, and self-teaching. They used McGuffey’s Readers, Harvey’s Grammar, and Ray’s Arithmetic. These were not grade level books; they were progressive level books, and they produced great thinkers who became great men.

Pioneers could only pack a few books with their belongings, so they picked the best. You’ve included many resources in your prepping library, but have you included these? Are you ready to teach another generation “Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmetic”?

Basic Library

  • The Bible is the bedrock of our faith, but the King James Version is also great literature. Familiarity with its phrasing and concepts allows you to see its reflection in the documents of our nation’s founding fathers.
  • McGuffey’s Readers(primer through the 4th reader) begin with a primer to teach reading and spelling. However, the sources they used were good literature and taught a sound moral code. By the time you’re in the Third Reader, the depth of the lessons becomes apparent: Effects of Rashness; The Consequence of Idleness, Advantages of Industry; On Speaking the Truth; and so forth. It also encourages critical thinking, if you answer the questions after each reading, and it provokes much laughter and discussion with other topic choices and antique word usage!
  • Ray’s Arithmetic(primer through higher math) starts with drills and memory work with practical applications. Practical Arithmetic teaches the rules to memorize and follow for basic operations, establishing a logical thinking model for mathematics. If you can’t get the entire set, start with Practical Arithmetic and the answer key.
  • Harvey’s Elementary Grammar and Compositionteaches sentence structure as well as composition with a structural plan to accomplish the assignment. The 8th grade graduation test that’s been floating around the Internet asks you to parse a sentence. If you make it through this book, you can do it. This also has an answer key (for busy parents).
  • Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, which Noah Webster saw as the “profitable use” of his talents. It unified spelling and language usage in the United States, reflecting usage from the great literature of the time, especially the King James Bible. A prolific writer, he also authored the Blue-Backed Speller, grammars, readers, and Elements of Useful Knowledge (the history and geography of the United States).
  • For me, this list is not complete without a newer phonics manual. The best I found was The Writing Road to Reading by Romalda Spalding. This program was developed to train children with language disabilities; then someone realized that teaching sound phonics with a multi-sensory approach actually prevented many learning problems. The method is teacher dependent: you have to study the book, listen to the “recording”, and learn how to do it. I purchased the book and set of flash cards for $30, and it gave me enough training and information to teach my children to read at an advanced level as soon as their brains were ready. It didn’t limit them to simple words, but it gave them the tools to advance at their own pace. (This methodology also makes it the best book I’ve seen for teaching older readers.) The book is still $20, and now the sound recording is available on CD or DVD. Another plus for the book is that the method requires teaching, writing, and spelling as a logical thought process, not just memorization, and not a guessing game.
  • I skipped history in the list above because the focus was reading, writing and arithmetic. We found one history book– Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Grandfather’s Chair– that relates the history of New England in light of the ornate chair sitting in their home. Hawthorne, as grandfather, didn’t hesitate to introduce the history of our nation into story time with the grandchildren, so much so that they begged him for more stories. For the history of the United States, I’d also recommend The Light and The Glory series by Peter Marshall and David Manuel.
  • When we began homeschooling, I used several “scope & sequence” charts from curriculum publishers as an outline to plan our study schedule. With a list of topics to cover each year, we started collecting a resource library instead of textbooks. The books listed above are the ones I used with my children. Those books and your preparedness library of gardening information, animal husbandry, medicine, repair manuals, country living, and a world atlas will give you plenty of information for elementary level studies.

Critical Thinking

More importantly, teach them how to think! Did you catch the hints in the list of books? Can your children think logically and critically? Do they know how to find foundational principles? Have they learned to reason from truth to its application in daily life and thought? [Disclaimer: The definition of critical thinking in education has been re-defined to be a focus on politically “correct thinking”. That is not the focus discussed here. Be aware when you read “critical thinking” in educational standards.]

“Mom, why do we have to learn this?” As a parent and teacher, I wanted to be able to answer that question. In a teaching workshop, I learned how to research with my children to find the answers to questions they had. Also, as we looked up answers together, I realized I was laying a foundation for critical thinking. With a Bible, a concordance, and Webster’s 1828 dictionary, we could find a Biblical answer: We learn to read so we can read the Bible and learn from what others wrote. History is studied to remember what God has done for us and can be seen in the greater picture of what God is doing in the world. Math and algebra are practical, but they also teach logical thinking. Grammar, composition, and spelling are essential to effective communication. Science is important in recognizing God’s hand in an awesome creation, in everyday life to avoid disasters and scams, and to teach principles of life. (“Consider the lilies” implies a lot more than looking at pretty flowers!)

One way we learned to apply logical thought was during the disciplinary process. We didn’t ask “Why did you do that?”; instead, we asked, “Why was that wrong?” We asked them to make a connection between one or more of the commandments and the choice they had made. For example, “You shall not kill,” includes deliberately causing hurt to your brother or sister! (Questions 99-153 in the Westminster Larger Catechism deal with the applications of the 10 commandments. The questions clarify very specifically “where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden….” In the example above, “You shall not kill” then also encourages actively looking out for the safety and welfare of others.) Another interesting (non-disciplinary) activity is reading Leviticus case law to see if you can figure out which commandment is being clarified. (Hint: Building a parapet around the roof is based on preventing injury and thus comes under “You shall not kill.”) Eventually, they will realize they can’t “keep all the rules” without God’s help and you have the joy of explaining to them that Jesus did it for them and offers it as a gift.

By “Teach your children to think critically”, I mean teach them logical thought processes. Start with the foundation of absolute truth. Explain why you do things the way you do. (“I wear gloves/use safety glasses for this activity because…”) Talk through your decision-making process with them. Evaluate what went wrong with a project and why. Learn to ask leading questions that guide their thoughts to logical conclusions and accurate analogies. (“What would happen if I did it this way?” “What do you already know that could help you figure this out?”)

Tell them the goal of an activity or lesson and give them several options for achieving it. Eventually, they will come up with creative options on their own that meet the goal. Also, be prepared! Pray! Teachable opportunities will present themselves, sometimes when you don’t expect them. You’ll have to be ready to give an answer, so think ahead. There will be times you aren’t ready with an answer for a decision you have to make, so please come up with something better than “Because I said so!” (“Will you trust me on this one and just obey?”)

[Another Disclaimer: When you teach your children to think, they will sometimes come to different conclusions than you have. Listen to them; evaluate their thinking process; correct any logic errors; and let them have their own opinions! Aren’t we teaching them to be independent thinkers? Lay the foundation in God’s word and His principles; trust Him with the outcome.]

Another application for high school involved essays and papers. For my children, no paper was complete unless there was also research and application of principles from Scripture. They started with research on their topic, defining terms; then they used those terms with a concordance to find the principles in Scripture. The conclusions included summarizing main points and bringing in applications. Your children will amaze you, when you give them the tools they need to succeed.

Find a good logic book. We used Better Thinking and Reasoning by Ron Tagliapietra. Have your children evaluate advertisements or commercials based on the reasoning being used to sell the item. What are they appealing to? Editorials can be interesting to analyze. Start with the definitions of the key phrases. Is the writer using the words accurately or twisting the meaning? Are the facts accurate? Do the reasons given support the conclusion?

I mentioned Webster’s 1828 Dictionary compiled by Noah Webster. The information contained in the definitions is challenging. For example: Education “The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.” A government school cannot address all of these issues. We, parents and grandparents, have a great responsibility to train up the next generation.

Letter: Storm Pump

I have first hand experience with the Storm Pump, made in Sagle, Idaho in the American Redoubt. This is a hand pump that attaches to your well head and sits next to your submersible pump. It costs about the same as the Simple Pump. I actually took a second job to save up for it, but the peace of mind was well worth the effort. They are manufactured by Terry Deal in Sagle, and he will also install them for a reasonable price. I have had the pump for about a year and a half now, and I am very happy with its quality. My well has a static level of 150′, and the pump retains its prime so well that it never takes more than 20 pumps to bring water to the surface, even after being left alone for several months. Terry has torture tested one of his pumps by hooking it to an engine and cycling it 250,000 times with no loss of pressure. I seriously doubt that my storm pump will be cycled more than a quarter million times, during my lifetime and my children’s lifetimes.

I will say that when you are pumping your own water from 150′, you become VERY aware of your water usage. It should be a regular event for your family to shut off the breaker and practice living without grid electricity.

Aside from personal preparedness, I would like to discuss the mindset behind owning a manual well pump. If in the future we are reduced to a society without electricity, access to water is going to be of significant importance. I have heard other preppers talk about locking up their well pumps to prevent people from stealing water from them. I ask you, if Jesus owned a piece of property and installed a hand pump onto his well, would he deny his neighbors and their children access to the near limitless supply of clean drinking water God has provided beneath his feet? Instead of allowing your neighbors to die of thirst in a grid-down situation, causing them to resort to desperate (or deadly?) measures to obtain water for survival, would it not be preferable to allow them access to your well, thus strengthening your community as a whole? – D.R.

HJL Responds: Locking a water pump is always a good idea. You can still share your water; however, allowing unfettered access is a sure fire way to get your well sabotaged by the fellow down the road who wants to sell his water at a premium price. It happens all the time in water scarce areas now. Many wars and battles have been fought over scarce water resources. When water is the currency of the day, you still have your “evil bankers” to contend with.

Economics and Investing:

This digital currency has an unusual gold spin

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The College Debt Bubble Is Collapsing Now; 33% Of All Student Loans Are Delinquent On Repayments

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

You May Want to Pay Extra Close Attention to the Economic Data This Week

Philip Haslam: When Money Destroys Nations – This is a great article and good podcast interview

Why The Mania Is Getting Scary—-Central Bankers Are Running A Doomsday Machine

Gold In Fed Vault Drops Under 6,000 Tons For The First Time, After 10th Consecutive Month Of Redemptions

Notes for Tuesday – March 31, 2015

March 31 is the birthday of economist Dr. Walter E. Williams, PhD., who was born in 1936.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

The Long Good-bye, by Captnswife

Well, it has begun. Today, I closed my Paypal account. This is just the first step in the slow and admittedly painful process of disconnecting from the Internet. I’ve known it was coming for awhile, but I can’t say that made it easier. Honestly, I love this thing. The greatest joy in my life was the moment, at age six, I realized that because I could read I would never have to stop learning. The invention of the information super highway was beyond my wildest dreams. It’s the largest and most diverse library in the world, and it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

However, I must go. Like any relationship, it is only healthy as long as the boundaries are clear, strong, and respectful. My technology partner has now violated them beyond repair.

All of this began the day I read about the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), the White House drive toward universal biometric identification for every person using the World Wide Web. I was literally sick when I realized the “trusted identities” were not the government departments, public institutions, or big box retailers responsible for managing our records. No, the trusted identities are us… but only after we are “authenticated”.

If you haven’t heard of NSTIC (nastique!), you are not alone. Most Americans have no idea there is a public-private partnership between government and technology companies whose mission it is to propel us into a brave new world of human-machine integration in every aspect of our lives.  The plan, which is well underway and well-funded with our tax dollars, will require you to prove you are you before you can go online. This authentication is to be carried out by a third-party and can only be achieved after you submit a part of your body– a fingerprint, iris, palm, or some other uniquely patterned part– to be stored in some great cloud server. When you wish to go online, then you will present your biometric part to the proper digital authority; if it agrees that you are who you say you are, then you will get access.

Not surprisingly, this universal or “federated” ID is being sold to consumers as a convenient alternative to passwords. Once you get on with your authenticated ID, you don’t need passwords any longer. You will be free to check your bank balance, go shopping, video chat, et cetera without having to remember all those letters and numbers and %&*!$.  The Apple iPhone 6, with Apple Pay, was the first major consumer product to fully integrate the technology. Next time you see an ad for Apple Pay on television, look closely. Notice how carefully the thumb scan is edited out.

The other big sales job on biometric is that it will be more secure against fraud. The IRS, in documents discussing biometric ID programs for tax filing, justifies its use by highlighting the amount of money they lose to cheaters every year.  Some politicians apparently like it, too. One state senator from New Mexico asked the secretary of state in March 2015 to force citizens to use biometric ID to vote.

Of course, the bureaucrats and geeks claim biometrics will prevent the compromising of your debit and credit cards, or any card, for that matter, including school IDs. K-12s all over the country are now using fingerprint scans in the lunch line. You won’t be surprised to learn that biometric readers are now being rolled out in airports for passenger “security”.

So, let’s stop for a moment. Do you see the pattern?  The focus of online security has changed since our mutual Internet journey began nearly 20 years ago. In the past, the onus was on the site you patronized. However, universal biometric IDs shifts the responsibility to you, the individual user. If you are a responsible citizen, the thinking goes, you will gladly be authenticated to “stay safe”.  Instantly, all global corporations and bureaucratic quagmires involved in online communications and money handling have been absolved of their duties to make your personal actions private and secure.

It almost goes without saying that none of them bothered to ask customers and tax payers what they thought about it, which might be because they already know nobody likes this “666” thing, except the companies in line to make billions. Wherever I mention it– whether at the bank, with my hairdresser, or at family gatherings– every single person makes a face. Not one has smiled and said, “Oh, what a good idea!” when hearing about it the first time. The most common response is the word “creepy”. Even the non-religious can see it is very much like the descriptions of the Biblical “mark of the beast” https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Revelation%2013:17, including the part about buying and selling. In the very near future, you may find yourself prohibited from commerce and basic transactions– from Coke machines to banking – without having first been authenticated by your biometric mark.

So I made the decision to unplug.  I know a lot of folks have been prepping for a time when the Internet and other products and services are not available, but I don’t think this was the crisis most people anticipated. We expected an external event to turn out the lights and stop the trucks. It was to be an act outside of our control that forced us to rely on stored supplies, strong bodies, and community support.

Now, we see that the day we prepped for isn’t coming from out of the blue after all. It will come by our own hands. If we choose not to submit the intimate details of our biological imprint, we might not be able to get money from the bank, or buy food at the grocery store with a credit or debit card, which must be authenticated. We might not receive healthcare or be able to sign in at work.

So I started with PayPal. The security chief there is one of the leaders of the push into a “passwordless” world. His statement forced me to realize we were beyond both “if” and “when”. I honestly thought I’d have a couple more years before I had to start pulling the plug, and I am truly sad to be making this decision.  We, the people, should be the innocent ones. We have committed no crime. We have done nothing to deserve this forced reduction of our human personhood into a series of zeros and ones that fit through a digital gateway.

A couple of years ago I understood that my beloved country was not the one in which I was raised, and I spent several weeks in deep grief.  I remember the 60s and 70s and 80s, and the years before 9/11 plunged us into a state of constant surveillance. It’s good that I do. A life without Internet is slow. Fortunately, I have the benefit of having lived the majority of my life before on-demand movies and instant cash and an around-the-clock digital encyclopedia.

Today, I leave PayPal, but tomorrow it will be something else, and so on, until the separation is complete. You, too, have a decision to make. Will you retain your individuality, or will you join the biometric collective?

I leave you to think and to plan. Unlearning, or discovering, a life without “login” will be a lengthy process. For those of us who choose liberty, the time has come.