Odds ‘n Sods:

Some good news from Canada: Matt Gurney: Ian Thomson acquitted after shooting at his attackers. BTW, donations to help Ian Thomson recoup his huge legal expenses can be sent to:

Ed Burlew, In Trust
16 John Street
Thornhill, Ontario L3T 1X8 (or phone: 1-888-gun-loss)

Barrister Ed Burlew’s bona fides can be found here.

   o o o

Though nearly all of the dealers in the country seem to be sold out, Bob at Ready Made Resources wrote to tell me that they have three DPMS AR-15s still on hand: Two TAC2s and one Recon. These are not listed at their web site, so please call for details: 1(800) 627-3809.

   o o o

Prison Inmates Using Recently Published Pistol Permit Map to Intimidate Guards

   o o o

File under G., somewhere between “Global Warming, Unanimous Agreement” and “Gore, Al, Planetary Savior”: China is experiencing unusual chills this winter with its national average temperature hitting the lowest in 28 years, and meanwhile, we read: Russia is engulfed in the harshest winter in over 70 years, with temperatures dropping as low as -50 degrees Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit).

   o o o

To also file under G.: An article from what G. Gordon Liddy calls “Washington’s quaint little alternative newspaper, the Washington Bleep“: White House weighs broad gun-control agenda in wake of Newtown shootings. Their perceived “problem” is your birthright! Please contact your Senators and Congressional Representatives, and tell them NO to civilian disarmament, and that magazines deserve the same Second Amendment protection as the guns themselves.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I believe we have long passed the point where the good people of the world are in the majority.  Good, reliable, honest people are a minority.  If we had a severe world-wide crisis now, where governments would be powerless to help, I think we would have massive social unrest and anarchy on our hands.  Some would prey on the innocent, while few would rise in their defense.  Presently, any crisis or war short of collapse will only engender a call from the world-wide majorities for more government power – not less – especially now that a so called “conservative” American President has stated that a government ‘Safety net’ is a legitimate right for all people to expect. ”  – Joel M. Skousen, in The Secure Home, (3rd Edition, 2006.)

Notes from JWR:

I’m sad to report that John Noveske died in an automobile accident on Friday night, near Grants Pass, Oregon. John was the president of Noveske Rifle Works. Please keep his family in your prayers. Our sincere condolences.

—

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 44 ends on January 31st, 2013, 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.

Wilderness Fire Making: We Have Ignition, by Brad M.

I have been a scoutmaster for 18 years. It is a lot of fun teaching scouts how to make fire using unorthodox methods.  Seeing the look in their eyes as they get their first fire built in the outdoors using no matches is a great experience.  As a matter of fact, in winter camps where the ground is not frozen I like to use a trench fire pit with rocks in it, then bury it and sleep on top for a very cozy and warm night. I too was bitten by the survival bug when I was a young scout, and the first priority in survival is ‘keeping your wits about you” so you can focus on what is important.  One real force multiplier in helping to keep people calm is a fire.  It can warm the heart as well as the body, but it doesn’t have to be a bonfire by any means.  As a matter of fact a small fire using only sticks can do just about everything you need, and is much easier to leave no trace with when you are done.  Here are a few simple methods anyone can use to get a nice little fire started.  Please remember that little is the key word in a survival or bug out situation.  Cowboys used to light a very small fire just big enough to put their coffee pot on, because they ate their food cold, and a hot drink was all they needed to warm their spirits. The methods below are simple and inexpensive methods of turning the first spark into a flame. 
Before we start, I would like to say that I have no financial interest in any company or manufacturer that I list, and only do so out of my experiences over the years with them.  No matter how much I would like to have them sponsor my scouts, the only thing I get from them is the potential opportunity to pay Uncle Sam his Tax.
 
IGNITION SOURCES:
Matches: enough said, unless it is windy in which case you may only have a 0.5 second flame.  Let’s read on, shall we?
 
Lighter: ditto…but wait what if your lighter is out of fuel?  Well if it still has a good flint, then you have a handy little spark generator.  I prefer the older Zippo style lighters since I don’t have to worry about a seal drying out and I can store some lighter fluid for many refills.  It also lets me have a refill of flints right in the bottom of the lighter.  Zippo even now offers a small 4 oz. refill canister that you can place into your pack and will not spill.  It will provide you enough fluid for one full refill of your lighter.  If you are thinking longer term SHTF scenario then storing fluid or using disposable lighters would be wise.  Then again if you keep reading I have some other ideas for you to consider as backups.
 
Permanent Matches:  These are an interesting combination between a Lighter, and a “Ferrocerium bar” (below). It comes with a small reservoir which you fill with lighter fluid.  The ‘cap’ has a magnesium striker it with a glass wick that is supposed to burn up to 15,000 times. The wick is in the screw top lid which extends down into the lighter fluid.  You strike the magnesium stick on the side of the container to ignite.
 
Fire Piston: The fire piston uses the friction from compressing air to get an ember from tinder.  You can buy them on amazon, but you can also find a variety of videos showing how to make your own, and how they work online.  If you are at all skeptical try searching Charles’ Law or Boyle’s Law on the Internet regarding pressure and temperature effects on gases.
 
Flint and Steel:  If you can find some flint, and you have a piece of high carbon steel then all you do is strike the two together and you get a spark.  These are usually used with char-cloth (cloth which has been charred) to catch the spark, but you could use a number of items to catch them.  To use it effectively you would hold the char-cloth just over the top of the flint and strike down onto the flint with a piece of steel, hoping to catch the spark on the cloth.  Videos of making and using char-cloth are also available online.
 
Ferrocerium fire starters:  Sometimes mistakenly referred to as “flint”, these come in many different styles from the straight bar you slide across a piece of steel to create a nice spark, to the Magnesium fire starter bars.  These all will get you a great spark, but remember that you want to pull your Ferrocerium across a stationary piece of steel so you can put your spark where you want it.  If you try to slide the steel down the bar you may ruin the tinder nest / pile you have created when you hit it.  Used with Dryer Lint or Steel wool, you will have a fire the first time, every time.  You can buy these inexpensively just about anywhere, but my personal favorite is the one made by Strike Force which has a small storage compartment in the handle.
 
Magnifying glass:   Everyone remembers burning insects with a magnifying glass, and yes you can get things to smolder, but you really need a good amount of sun to get a magnifying glass to start a fire.  To do it you need to focus the brightest part of the light coming through the glass into the smallest most compact point you can make it, and then hold it there.  It will work on paper, and really dry small vegetation, but you do have to be patient.  You could use a disassembled Camera Lens or Binoculars for the lens as well.
 
9V batter and fine steel wool:  I find that the finer the steel wool (0000), the better it lights.  Also spread it out just a little bit to get more air to the fire, and you don’t need a lot.  Just rub the steel wool across the top of the battery and the electrical shorting sparks will ignite the oil on the steel wool.  (The oil is what helps prevent rusting on the steel wool)  DO NOT STORE THE TWO TOGETHER…it gets hot fast. You can also use a standard 1.5v AA, C, or even a D batter, but then you have to stretch the steel wool from one end of the battery to the other, and it gets a little awkward.   A little goes a long way with this. Fine steel wool will also work very well with a Ferrocerium rod and will light right up.
 
Potassium Permanganate (a powder) and Glycerin (a viscous fluid):  Potassium Permanganate is an oxidant which can be used to sterilize water, treat ulcers like canker sores, and a general topical disinfectant, but it will stain the affected area purple. It is used to treat candidiasis (superficial fungal infections like Oral Thrush and Vaginitis) and will neutralize Strychnine (poison).  Glycerin, or Glycerol, may be used as a laxative (2-10 ml used as a suppository or enema), and has been used to treat psoriasis, burns, calluses, and other minor skin irritations.  It works as a bacterial desiccant (it removes moisture through absorption) on contact so it can also help with periodontal diseases.  Okay back to the point, when you create a small mound of Potassium Permanganate with a small depression in the top, and then place a few drops of Glycerin in the depression you get a very impressive exothermic reaction which will start a fire, or even can be used to initiate a thermite reaction.  It takes a bit of time for it to occur but don’t put your hands over it to feel for heat.  It happens very quickly and is very hot when it happens.  I recommend testing this method, but don’t do it on your kitchen table with a thick folded up piece of heavy duty tinfoil.  It will go through it and make your wife very unhappy with the black mark it leaves.  Trust me on that one.
 
FRICTION FIRES:  There are many different ways to start a fire using friction.  The hand drill method, for example, where you spin a stick on a flatter piece of wood with a hole in the bottom and something to catch the ember below (blisters galore of you don’t wear gloves, and you will get tired very quickly).  The old Bow drill method (below) which is better, to the fire plough where you create a long notch in a piece of wood and then slide a stick back and forth in the notch and push the ember out onto your tinder pile.
 
Hand Drill: You will need a straight stick with a narrowed end (Drill), a notched piece of wood with a depression for holding the narrowed end of the stick (the notch should extend into the bottom of the depression for air movement). You will also need a piece of Leather, or metal under the notch to catch the ember. The notched board goes on the ground and you hold it in place by putting your foot on it or kneeling on it.  .  The drill should be standing straight up out of the depression, and held in place by your two palms.  By spinning the drill between your palms, and pressing down you will create friction and over time a smoking ember.  You will continually have to move your hands back up to the top of the drill as they will move down as you continue to spin and push down on the drill.  When you see some smoke coming from the depression then you can remove it to see if you have an ember.  When you have an ember you will need to move it quickly to your tinder and begin the process of nurturing it into a flame.
 
Bow Drill:  This one is probably the most complicated in that you must have: a straight piece of wood about 8-12 inches long which is narrowed on both ends (drill), a notched piece of wood with a depression for holding the narrowed end of the drill (the notch should extend into the bottom of the depression for air movement), a flexible but strong piece of wood about 16 to 24 inches long that has a slight natural curve to it (the bow) , a string (bow string) and a piece of something hard enough to withstand the heat from the drills friction with a depression to help control the top of the spinning drill.  You will also need a piece of Leather, or metal under the notch to catch the ember.  The notched board goes on the ground and you hold it in place by putting your foot on it or kneeling on it.  Then you have the drill standing straight up out of the notch.  The bow string goes around the drill (one wrap only) and then on the top of the drill is held by the hard small piece of wood and your hand (gloves are a good idea).  The bow string should be tight enough that when you push the bow back and forth it will spin the drill but not bind on it.  Once you have this balancing act in place, you move the bow back and forth until you see an appreciable amount of smoke coming from the notch then you look under it and see if you have an ember.  If you do then transfer it to your tinder immediately and start the gentle blowing that will bring you a flame.  If you don’t have any In-Laws that frustrate you, then this will help you understand what frustration is all about.  If you can do this, you can do anything.  This is a really primitive ‘art form’ method of making fire.

Getting that first spark to actually ignite your tinder is a little harder that it appears on the silver screen.  I have had many scouts go grab a handful of what they think is dry bark, or weeds only to find that it is still too wet, or the oils in them only smoke no matter what they do.  One of my favorite examples was an episode of a survival BASED reality television show where they gave the contestants a magnesium fire bar.  They were holding the magnesium side, and striking the flint side with a machete.  They were getting a pretty good spark too, but there was NO WAY they were getting a fire.  My wife, whom I love dearly, was sitting there saying “Oh that was a good one”, for every spark they got.  I on the other hand was sitting there thinking, “They would die in a real survival situation”.  It wasn’t until I explained to her that you can scrape magnesium into a little pile, hold the fire starter right down on the pile, and scraping the blade (held at a slightly obtuse angle towards the pile ) down the ‘flint’ side so that the sparks land in the magnesium and “Heywhadoyaknow” you have fire.
 
TINDER:
Ethanol based hand cleansers: these come in pocket bottles or pumps and the 10% ethanol will burn for a short time.  A spark can ignite this but the ethanol will evaporate quickly.  I only list this because of the dual purpose this item has.  I don’t recommend using any type of “Scout Water” (read: Flammable liquids) to start a fire due to the dangers involved.
 
Cotton balls and Vaseline:  These will burn once ignited just like a candle will.  If you spread out the cotton so it is not just a clump, you can light it with a good spark.
 
Paraffin and Cotton balls:  Very similar to above, just different substance.
 
Sawdust and paraffin blocks:  Fill the depressions in a paper based egg carton with a mixture of melted paraffin mixed with sawdust (from wood not particle board due to the glue).  Let them cool, and cut or break apart the individual parts, with the cardboard attached and it can be lit with a lighter, or match and will burn like a candle.
 
Dryer Lint:   This is my personal favorite.  Simply take the lint out of your dryer and place it into a pill bottle, Ziploc baggie or other water resistant container and it can be started with the smallest spark.  This will also win you points with the significant other by cleaning out the lint filter.  With it being so flammable you may want to confirm that your dryer vent is clean and connected.  This is especially important if you have a furnace, water heater, or if your dryer is heated by Natural Gas (flame) in the same room. Remember; safety first.  Dryer Lint will also work very well with a Ferrocerium rod on the first strike.
 
Wax and newspaper:  Dip pieces of newspaper in paraffin wax and it burns like a candle. This one is similar to the sawdust but you can leave some of the paper not covered in paraffin and it will ignite easier.  You can do this with cardboard or any other paper product as well.  The paraffin only makes it a little slower burning and a little more durable.
 
Gun powder:  Yes you could remove a bullet from a cartridge with a pair of pliers and use some of the powder inside to catch your spark, but it is a violent reaction so if you are desperate enough to try this, PLEASE BE CAREFUL. (All the usual safety warnings and legal disclaimers apply.)
 
FIRE TYPES AND PURPOSES:

TeePee:  This is your typical campfire where you have sticks in the shape of a TeePee over your tinder and kindling.  It is great to keep warm, and puts out a lot of light.  This would be fine if you are trying to be found, but not if you don’t want to give away your location.
 
Parallel Fire: This fire has two logs, one next to the other, and the fire burns starts at one end and burns towards the other.  You need to have them slightly separated at one end and more so at the other.   You build the fire at the wider end, and can put a pot right on top and air can still get to the fire to keep it going, and the log does provide a bit of light discipline, but there are better ways to achieve this.  This one also provides some good heat. 
 
Swedish Fire log: Take a log and quarter one end (only one end if possible, but if you go through then just bind the bottom back together).  Into the end where you have partially split it, stuff some tinder down into the split and light it.  This will burn for a long time, and can provide heat and light when needed.  This is also be called the “Swedish Torch” so keep light discipline in mind.
 
Trench Fire: For a Trench fire, you will need to dig a trench and then build a long fire in it.  The idea is that it can burn for a longer period of time as the fire moves through the trench from one end to the other.  Depending on the depth, it can hide the light from the flame pretty well, and you can put a grate across it to cook on.  You need to be sure it is not so deep though that air cannot get to it and put it out.
 
Reflector Fire: A reflector fire is basically any fire built next to a block to prevent heat or light to escape in a certain direction.  These can reflect heat into a shelter, and help block light from moving, however the light can then again reflect off of whatever it hits and in the dark, the glow is enough.

Log Cabin: A log cabin fire is a fire where you stack the outer ‘walls’ as you would in a log cabin.  It is great to cook over because the heat tends to leave the top, in the same manner as the chimney of a house.  It too provides good heat, and light when wanted.
 
Dakota Fire: The Dakota fire [pit] is a convection fire, which provides a great fire with very little light.  First check the direction of the wind if possible to help your fire burn better.  Dig a hole in the ground about 1 foot wide at the top, 4 to 6 inches wider at the base on one side, and at least 1 foot deep.  The wider part of the base should be on the downwind side of the hole.  Then dig a second hole, with the closest part of the hole, about a foot away from the first one, on the upwind side of the first hole .  The second hole should be six inches across, and dug at an angle towards the bottom of the first hole.  In the first hole build your small fire and after you get it going you will see that air is moving from the second hole into the first one to keep the fire going, and it will become more efficient and put off less smoke due to the conductive air movement.
 
Fire stoves:  These have been around for years, and have been made from everything from a number 10 can (Hobo Stoves) to some of the wood gas stoves like the Sierra Stove.  I list these because they burn for heat, use the same materials that a campfire would, and last for a long time providing a stable cooking surface.  There are videos on the web on how to make wood gas stoves that you can build and put in your B.O.B. or Get Home Bag (G.H.B.)
 
Well there it is.  If you can’t get a fire started with the instructions above, then please be sure to live in the middle of a large population center so you don’t have to suffer to long in the event of a natural disaster or socioeconomic crisis.  Don’t get me wrong, a fire is not difficult, but you should know how to do it before you need it.  It is also very cool to be able to show your kids, friends, or others you want to impress how to make a fire without matches, or a lighter. For those who wish to be proficient at it a little bit of practice is all you need.  Remember when you are cold, hungry, and out in the middle of nowhere, a fire can save your life.  Just remember to think about what kind of fire you really need. 
 
Keep your powder (and your tinder) dry!

Letter Re: Just In Case

I was glad to read in M.L.’s article “Just In Case” that he packs some form of flashlight for the train commute. I wonder if he realizes the single-most important use for it would be inside a tunnel. A grid-down situation will stop subway and above-ground light-rail trains which operate on electricity delivered by overhead wire or energized third rail. Grid-down will also bring at least a momentary stop to diesel-powered trains if the signal system goes dark. Earthquake, terror attack, or even a derailment are other ways one might find themselves onboard a train that suddenly gets stopped inside a tunnel.

In addition to the Los Angeles subway, M.L.’s commute might involve several other tunnels if the initial rail journey from home is out of the suburbs or outlying canyon country north or northwest of Los Angeles. Both areas use rail lines which have several tunnels, two of which are about a mile in length. One of these mile-long tunnels is just outside Chatsworth; the other is near Sylmar. If it becomes necessary to evacuate from a train in such a tunnel, personal lighting will be crucial. One additional concern, in the event the locomotive is not shut down in a reasonable amount of time, is that the interior of the tunnel might become filled with diesel exhaust.

Rail commuters in New York, New Jersey, Seattle, and Portland also have the potential of finding themselves stopped inside a tunnel. And long-distance travelers on Amtrak trains pass through numerous tunnels, some of them quite long, on certain routes. Of the many tunnels which the Empire Builder train between Seattle and Chicago passes through, two of them are more than seven miles in length, one of these being northeast of Libby, Montana, the other being under Stevens Pass in the Washington Cascades. Imagine having to walk your way out of the middle of a seven-mile long tunnel. You had better have some spare batteries for that light.

One final thought. While most commuters become familiar with the landmarks and communities along the freeway, very few of them pay attention to where they are during a train ride. If getting home is the ultimate goal, it’s important for rail commuters like M.L. to take note of the location of communities, stores, infrastructure, and general terrain along their route. In addition to tunnels, are there bridges, gang-infested areas, or other “challenges” on the rail line you would need to be aware of in the event of an emergency? – Bruce in Idaho

Letter Re: Argentina Versus Chile as Offshore Havens

Regarding Doug Casey’s linked article on Argentina: The Freest Place in the World.  Seriously?  That country does all the things we fear the US might do.  Rampant inflation?  Check.  Confiscate retirement accounts?  Check.  Currency controls & dollar-sniffing dogs?  Check.  Crony socialism and capricious Diktat replacing rule of law?  Check.  Punitive taxes on the productive, such as farmer-exporters?  Check.  Hitler-style appeals to nationalism to justify seizure of assets (such as NPF, the largest oil company in the country) or to provoke rows with foreigners (Falklands).  Check.  Profound corruption?  Check.  Argentina is cheap for a reason.  Refer to FerFAL (An Argentine who publishes information on prepping from first hand experience in Argentina) for more reasons as to why that is so.  It’s a banana republic populated by physically attractive residents.  And with Cretina (Oops, I mean Christina) Kirschner as an Evita Peron wannabe.

My spouse is from Chile.  I grew up bilingual and fit in there quite well.  Our kids will be dual citizens.  Yeah, it costs more than Argentina.  There is a price for the rule of law and stability.  Chile offers more of that than any other Latin country.  Good grief, the left-wing former finance minister (Andres Velasco) was so fiscally conservative that he squirreled away windfall money from the copper boom for a rainy day….which came with the earthquake in 2009.  To the extent Chile had a “stimulus”, they paid cash.  To repeat:  That was from a left-winger.  And when push came to shove, Pinochet forced freedom (yes, I see the irony).  Notably, even the Left left-most of Pinochet’s free-market reforms unchanged.  Were I to bug out overseas (a debate for another day, I tend to view a bad US as better than most alternatives), it would be to Chile.  It is the most stable of the Latin countries.  If I wanted a worst case glimpse of what the US could be, and perhaps shall be, I’d visit Argentina.  Argentina is a mistress (popular concept in Latin America, my wife is violently closed minded about it), Chile is a wife. – J.H. in Ohio

Economics and Investing:

75 Economic Numbers From 2012 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

Reader “Rock Farm” recommended a piece by Victor Davis Hanson: Very Scary Times

Putin Saves French Actor From Tax Slavery With Russian Citizenship

Items from The Economatrix:

My Name Is Cash

New Gold for a Scary New World

Moody’s Says “Fiscal Cliff” Deal Doesn’t End Credit Downgrade Risk

2013 Predictions:  S&P 500 Plunges, Gold Soars

“Panic Buying” In Gold, Just Four Days Into 2013, A New Gold Milestone Has Already Been Passed

Odds ‘n Sods:

All of the major firearms industry vendors are gearing up for SHOT Show, 2013. It will be held January 15-18 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lot of our friends and associates will be there. For example, Mil-Comm lubricants will have a booth there (Booth # 4227) and Italian Gun Grease will be sharing a booth with Hero Guns (Booth #3727.) They will also have their own booth at the SHOT Show Media Day at the Range, which will be on Monday, January 14, 2013 at the Boulder Pistol & Rifle Range, Boulder City, Nevada.

   o o o

Tim J. sent: FBI: More People Killed with Hammers, Clubs Each Year than Rifles

   o o o

County Sheriffs Can Block Federal Gun Control. (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.)

   o o o

Jeff H. liked this piece by Bob Owens: Of alarms, militias, and destiny

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” – Luke 6:22-23 (KJV)

Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of the late John Pugsley. (Born January 5, 1934, died April 8, 2011.) He is remembered as a libertarian and economics author. Pugsley’s writings were followed in preparedness circles. He was the author of The Alpha Strategy. (This bestseller book is out of print, but a PDF is available for free download. And used hardback copies can be found through Amazon.com for less than $3.)

—

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 44 ends on January 31st, 2013, 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.

Occam’s Razor, by K.Z.

Occam’s Razor is a notion that among opposing hypotheses, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be selected as most likely. For example, if you come home and find that next to an open window your floor is wet, it is a better assumption that it rained while you were away then the conclusion your neighbor came over flung a bucket of water in your house. This same concept applies not only to beliefs, but also our actions, and should be considered pre- and post-TEOTWAWKI.

Bear with me for a moment as I set a baseline. If I had a special camera recording everything I’ve done and thought in my life, heck even the last week, and it was made into a short film of the highlights and low lights and was then broadcasted to friends, family, or even strangers, I would run away in embarrassment. If you’re honest with yourself, you’re in the same boat as I, not by nature a good person who deserves God’s mercy, but actually deserve his wrath. God is love, and is uncompromisingly just; he has to punish those like myself who have lied, stolen, looked with lust, used his name as a swear word, etc, etc. Only a corrupt judge would let someone as guilty as I go free without payment.

Only when we understand this can we understand the cross! Christ literally took the wrath of God that we deserve upon himself (See Isaiah 53).  He literally took the penalty I deserve, but as a sinful man could never pay for. When He opens our spiritual eyes to that reality, repentance and faith are a natural reaction of gratitude, not as something done to earn favor, but as a reaction to His unmerited grace.  And God’s purpose in all that we and the entire universe experiences, is to bring Glory to Himself, mainly through the person of Christ Jesus.  When it comes down to it, He truly deserves the rewards of His suffering.  I don’t deserve anything except His divine judgment, and he amazingly gives me the opposite! Adopted into the family of God instead of remaining a child of wrath…truly a gracious God!

So back to my main point of this article; the end all be all, is the Glory of Christ, He deserves it, and quite honestly it is also for our best. You see, when we do what is right in His eyes, things go better for us even in this temporal world. Lying, stealing, cheating, drunkenness, argumentative, lacking mercy for others, boasters, selfishness …they all get us in trouble. Growing in virtue has its rewards and closeness to God, its pursuit is what brings true happiness. Sadly the pursuit of happiness for many is the opposite of virtue; it’s just doing what feels good in the moment, and leads to heart ache and of course eternal consequences. God will not be mocked – he knows who have come to Him for a “get out of jail free” card, and those who truly understand they deserve His punishment and live accordingly out of the grace and faith he bestows on them in their understanding.

Whatever our decision when it comes to what we do, the question we should ask ourselves when we have more than one option, is which one will bring the most honor to Christ. The most logical option when it comes to how we interpret scripture and our doctrinal understanding; is which conclusion brings the most glory to Christ. Christ’s Razor if you will. For example: Does it bring more glory to Christ if us doing good helps us gain acceptance into heaven, or does it bring Him more honor that he paid fully for our sin and our works are because of His amazing grace? Which gives Him more glory, us choosing Christ, or Him choosing us? Does it bring Him more glory for us to share our faith without using words (Gandhi actually said this), or to also verbally share the Truth of Christ’s amazing mercy to those who are perishing?

“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.” – Tim Keller

So moving this into a TEOTWAWKI situation, for me this has major implications on our choices to bug in, bug out, our charity to others, how our preparations affect our current lifestyle, and how we should prepare spiritually for the hardship that is coming.  Is our goal is to merely survive the coming collapse or should we use it to grow closer to God? Charles Spurgeon once said, “When you get bitter waters…do not throw a drop of it away, for that is the water you have yet to drink. Accept your afflictions. They are a part of your education.” You see our character grows when we are faced with trials, not when everything is going good in our own eyes.

Everyone personally needs to come to their own conclusion about each of the many issues we will each face, but I’d like to share our personal conclusions on a few based on the aforementioned Truth:

  1. What is our main purpose in life prior to and after TEOTWAWKI? My conclusion is that my primary goal pre or post TEOTWAWKI no matter my financial situation, job, health, etc. should be to preach the word in season and out of season. Sharing the Truth of Christ is not just for Pastors (which I am not); it is for all believers in Christ, pre and post TEOTWAWKI! If we understand what Christ has paid for on our behalf, how can we possibly stay silent to those who need saved from their sin against a Holy God? If Christ truly has changed your life, if your not coming to Him for selfish reasons (to simply avoid Hell or Go to Heaven), then you have Faith you are certain of, a Hope that is sure of what you know. Sharing our faith in Christ is not hard; there are many resources out there to get you started. My absolute favorite is WayoftheMaster.com. There is a video on the bottom of the main page called “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” that will radically change your view of our Christian witness.
  2. Bug In or Bug out? Now I may be wrong, but I believe most ‘Survivalist’ who read this blog has the same primary goal whether bugging in or out – and that is to survive.  If the news of Christ is true, and it’s changed your life, you know the meaning of life is the glorification of Christ, and to die is actually gain. I’m not suggesting at all that we not try and survive, but the biblical mindset the purpose of surviving is to share Christ with others by our actions and words. Whether we see it or not, God always turns bad situations into good for those who love Him (see Romans 8). I am convinced that when false foundations (money, job, family, and even religiosity) crumble, the Truth of Christ, the only firm foundation will be sought and found, Christ will be glorified in our struggles! We live on almost 10 acres (mainly wooded) surrounded by farm land, but only 30 minutes from a fairly large city. Our family has personally decided to bug in as we feel this will give us the best opportunity to fulfill what God has called us to do. Christ being glorified comes higher then mere survival, living another day.
  3. Security – Jesus Himself stated, “let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36).  Self defense is biblical; Jesus was not only for it but also for the protection of others.  If a group of rapists and murders take out your family because you are unarmed and/or unprepared, you are also responsible for the blood of the next family they attack. We will fight not because we want to kill, but because we want to protect life.
  4. Survival Group – Does everyone in the group need to have the same conviction about the primary purposes of the group? First, we have decided our bug-in location is to be run, at least initially, by a leadership team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).  A leadership group that does hold to the same core beliefs. Others will be allowed in the group who do disagree on the primary goals of the group, they will however be expected to adhere to certain codes of ethics, responsibilities, and even attitudes. My goal of course will also be to try and win them over to the Truth; by my actions, logic, and sound doctrine. But only God, the Holy Spirit can ever change someone’s heart.
  5. Mental – We will be a group of Prayer; a group that makes studying God’s word a priority. We experience the most personal growth when we go through trials. Let’s make the best of it and allow Christ to conform us closer to His image. Adaptability, Focus. May sound minor, but one attitude we will insist on is, consistent complaining is not acceptable. If you have a complaint you must present at least one viable option. Complaining is a form of self righteousness and coveting; not being grateful of God’s rich mercy when we rightly deserve His wrath.

There are plenty of other areas we could discuss, but the foundation of all remains the same. Now is the time to get your spiritual house in order. In Mathew 7 Christ says that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’… everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Phillipians 2, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Letter Re: Traffic Web Cams as Remote Intelligence Assets

JWR:
I was looking at the weather in Ohio the other day. I was using web cameras operated by the Department of Transportation and it got me to thinking that this could be a good way to gather intelligence.

If the power stays on and you have computer / Internet capabilities you could look at weather cams in any of the 50 States by going to the link:  State Traffic Webcams

Click on the state and go from there. Most have the major areas covered, where there are expected to be traffic problems but some have back roads as well.

It might be worth studying your area now and looking at your bug out routes to gather some intelligence on the normal, day-to-day, road conditions and also how the traffic flows all year long.

Living in Hawaii I check the Honolulu Traffic Cams daily before I leave work and sometimes when I come home.

It might help!

I love living in these United States of America! 73, – D.S.H.

Letter Re: Prison Jobs: Consider Them Reliable Income and Training for Bad Times

Dear Editor:
With people constantly being laid off and unemployment money becoming more scarce you should look into your states dept of corrections.

I’ve been working in a state prison going on three years, and I can tell you the things you learn can help you post-TEOTWAWKI. You will get basic firearms training, self defense and first aid. Keep in mind that its very basic but its better than nothing.

What you learn on the job is the valuable stuff, over time when dealing with inmates you learn to read body language and can even learn to subtlety alter ones mood to avoid unwanted confrontations or to give you the second extra you need to get the upper hand in a fight. This can not be taught at school or at any self defense classes. You also start to learn how to pick up on the mood of a population by analyzing things you hear and see, without anyone knowing what your picking up.

Over time your senses become more aware of the little things as inside the prison your life often is in constant jeopardy. You can tell when your being watched or followed and can turn the tables on your adversary. Again these skills can be applied everywhere you go in life.

The pay is decent. (Not great, but decent.) The big boon is healthcare is paid for, in my state your entire family is covered, medical dental and vision. That’s a substantial chunk of change not coming out of your pocket.

In these hard times working for a state prison is a safe job choice as I’ve seen several private prisons go under, but the state prisons will not close for a very long time. Maybe not till its past time to bug out. So you’ll have income until you have to leave for your Bug Out Location.

If you can learn to deal with the inmates inside a known hostile environment then you stand a better chance in dealing with people post hell on earth. The things I’ve learned thus far have been priceless and I know I could never learn them else where.

With everything you do learn something and put it in your tool bag you might need it at a later date. – Jeff in Southwest Oklahoma

Economics and Investing:

News from Greece: Communities set up local currencies and exchange networks in attempt to beat the economic crisis

Jim W. recommended: The Dow to Silver Ratio

By way of Tyler at Zero Hedge: Why Did a Train Carrying Biofuel Cross the Border 24 Times and Never Unload?

Items from The Economatrix:

Swan Dive of 2013 Economy

Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why

Three Landmines Hidden In The Fiscal Cliff “Fix”

How The Budget Deal Will Push Up Unemployment

Odds ‘n Sods:

Warning! Rep. DeGette’s magazine ban bill may come up for a vote as a “compromise” in just the next few days. DeGette is talking about momentum behind this bill, that now has umpteen co-sponsors. Please contact your congresscritters TODAY and demand that this bill and other civilian disarmament bills be stopped!

   o o o

Cool Tools had a pointer to this book: Hawke’s Special Forces Survival Handbook.

   o o o

Wayne B. wrote to mention that he enjoys reading Pastor Bret McAtee’s blog, Iron Ink. Wayne says: “It is not for the faint of heart.”

   o o o

Over at Zero Hedge: Moody’s Warns On US AAA Rating; IMF Piles On

   o o o

Ex-Burglars Say Newspaper’s Gun Map Would’ve Made the Job Easier, Safer