Reader H.J. sent this news of a trial balloon: Obama Admin Plans To ‘Force’ Americans To Move Into Cities – “Redistributing” the Wealth
H.L. sent: Market Analyst Is Looking at Something He Says Should Be Causing ‘Panic Aplenty’
Rob McEwen: “Our [Currency] Is Being Debased, And One Needs To Protect Their Capital”
Items from The Economatrix:
37 Reasons Why “The Economic Recovery Of 2013? is a Giant Lie
Obama to Give Wind Farms 30-Year Pass on Eagle Deaths. (The number of bird kills associated with wind turbine farms, exceeds 570,000 annually.)
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A conspiracy so vast — the FBI, your local police are also spying on US citizens By Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. (Thanks to Tim J. for the link.)
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And on a similar note: The NSA Mindmeister Web of (your) Data
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And one more: How the NSA infers relationships based on mobile location data (Thanks to T.A. for the link.)
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Pierre M. sent us one to file under “Global Warming”: Snow in Cairo First Time in 100 years. Oh and: Study: Earth was Warmer in Roman and Medieval Times
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” – Galatians 4:1-7 (KJV)
December 14th is the birthday of the late John Warren Wadleigh. (Born 1927, died September 24, 2013.) Wadleigh was better known to many SurvivalBlog readers by his pen name, Oliver Lange. He was the author of the best-selling resistance warfare novel Vandenberg. He reportedly authored 55 novels, but only 13 of them were published.
This is also the birthday of Air Force General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle. (Born 1896, died September 27, 1993.)
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Today we present a guest article…
I have recently been introduced to Essential Oils and I am by no means an expert, but I believe they definitely have a place in the prepper’s medical bag. They are a pure, all-natural alternative to many types of medications and ointments without the side effects of chemicals.
Essential oils are extracted from certain varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, and flowers. The oil is concentrated in different parts of the plant. The most common way of extracting oil is through steam distillation. It takes thousands of rose petals to make one small bottle of rose oil! Most essential oils are not ‘oily’ like vegetable oil, but will penetrate the skin without an oily feel. Shelf life varies, but I’ve read the shelf life of citrus oils is 1-2 years, and other oils possibly up to 8 years, making them a great addition to your 1st aid kit. They should be stored in a dry, dark place. A 5 ml bottle of essential oils contains approximately 85 drops. One drop goes a long way, so I suggest getting a few glass droppers to use instead of dripping from the bottle-sometimes the oil can come out too fast and you don’t want to waste a drop!
Some common words you will see when reading about essential oils and their meanings:
EOs=Essential Oils
Neat=Undiluted drops of essential oil
FCO=Fractionated Coconut Oil (regular coconut oil is solid at room temp, Fractionated Coconut Oil stays liquid),
Carrier Oils = Oils used to dilute EOs. Some common carrier oils are: Olive Oil, Grape seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and FCO.
Some ways to use EOs: Smell straight from the bottle or place a few drops on tissue/handkerchief and inhale, diffuse, dilute with carrier oil or witch hazel, apply neat to skin, room sprays, roller bottles, or apply to a clay pendant necklace.
Here’s a small list of some things EOs can be used for: burns, bug spray, aches and pains, insomnia, cold and flu symptoms, toothaches, PMS, athlete’s foot, ADHD, allergies, anxiety, constipation, bed bugs, lice, cleaning solutions, animal issues and many more.
If using on infants, use 1-2 drops EOs to 1 TB carrier oil.
If using on children, use 1-2 drops EOs to 1 tsp. carrier oil.
Do not ingest unless it specifically states on bottle that it is safe to consume.
Use only pure therapeutic or pharma grade oils.
Use glass bottles when mixing up an EO ‘recipe’. The EOs will often break down plastic.
Many oils have similar properties, so if you don’t have an oil you can substitute another.
There are many sources to buy EOs from; I recently became an Affiliate with Spark Naturals. They are very affordable. If you are just starting out, I would suggest the most common oils- Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree (also known as Melaleuca), Lemon, and blends thereof are great for specific issues without having to buy many different oils. Spark Naturals offers oils and oil blends. (You can use Coupon Code “DISCOUNT” for 10% off your order.)
-Lavender is one of the most popular EOs, and is great for burns or scalds. Lavender has anti-biotic, anti-septic, anti-depressant, and sedative properties. Promotes healing and prevents scarring. It stimulates the immune system.
-Peppermint has analgesic, anesthetic, anti-septic, decongestant, and stimulant properties. It is great for digestive issues, respiratory, circulation, fatigue, and headaches. It can also keep fleas, ants and mice away.
-Tea Tree is anti-septic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It helps the immune system and helps the body fight off illness. It can be used to treat ringworm, athlete’s foot, infections, and mold. I’ve used it on blemishes-1 drop applied twice a day is very effective. It is also great for cold sores.
-Lemon is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic, and diuretic. Lemon can be used as a water purifier. Add a drop to a glass of water to detoxify and stimulate the lymphatic and digestive system. I’ve even read it can help with weight loss and keep wrinkles away!
-Shield is a blend based upon the legend of grave robbers in 15th century England. They developed a blend of clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary to protect them while robbing the plague victims. I use Shield in my diffuser during the winter or when someone in our house is getting sick. It smells great. I like the Zaq Allay Diffuser. I’ve bought cheaper ones that haven’t lasted long. (Spark Naturals is one place that sells it) Shield can also be used neat on the bottoms of the feet (feet have the largest pores and EOs get into bloodstream quickly) to protect against germs. I apply Shield (diluted with carrier oil) on my daughter’s feet before school using a roller bottle. I also make a hand sanitizer with Shield.
Other blends: Amend for sore muscles, Bliss for calming, Dream for sleep, Jeddy’s blend for ADHD and anxiety, Respire for respiratory issues, and more.
Essential oils that are good for Sinus issues: Basil, Rosemary, Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Oregano, Lemon.
Oils that can help with cramps/PMS: Basil, Clary Sage, Geranium, Cypress.
Uplifting oils: Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot, and Clary Sage.
Oils for stress relief/calming: Frankincense, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang.
Oils for energy/alertness: Lime, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Rosemary, Peppermint.
Frankincense was of course one of the gifts for baby Jesus. It can be used for anxiety, asthma, and to treat bronchitis. It is a strong anti-inflammatory and has anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.
Myrrh was another gift for Jesus. It is used in skin care, diffuse for bronchitis.
Ylang Ylang and Coriander are said to be aphrodisiacs.
White Fir is a powerful antioxidant, can be used to reduce cold and flu symptoms.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
My suggestion when starting out with EOs is to start a journal, write down or print off recipes you find on the internet. Experiment and write down what works for you.
Here are some recipes I’ve found to work for common ailments, and other uses:
Allergies: Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint applied to feet morning and night.
Athlete’s foot: Apply tea tree neat to affected areas twice a day.
Backache: Equal parts Lavender and Peppermint. Use with a little carrier oil if you wish-makes it easier to massage and helps it go farther. My mom suffers back pain and has become a believer after I told her to try this! My dad has diabetes and suffers neuropathy and this has helped him also.
Bleeding: Helichrysum can stop bleeding.
Bug Spray: In 2 oz. glass bottle, 10 drops Lemongrass, 10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Geranium. Top with alcohol free Witch Hazel. You can also use Citronella or Peppermint EOs.
Burns: Apply 2-3 drops neat Lavender. Helps burns heal faster and have less scarring.
Colds and Congestion: Diffuse any combination of Lemon, Oregano, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint. Or place a drop on a tissue and inhale often.
Constipation: 1-2 drops Lavender in carrier oil, massage on abdomen every few hours.
Coughs: Apply 4-6 drops Eucalyptus on bottoms of feet. Dilute for children.
Cramps: 1 drop Rosemary, 1 drop Cypress, plus carrier oil. Apply to abdomen as needed.
Ear aches: Use carrier oil and Basil EO applied to a cotton ball; rub all around ear several times a day until symptoms are gone.
Fever: 1-2 drops each Peppermint, Lavender, Frankincense with a little carrier oil applied to bottoms of feet.
Hair growth: Add a few drops of Rosemary to your shampoo.
Hand Sanitizer: 2 oz. alcohol free witch hazel, (I like Thayer’s Aloe Vera Witch Hazel) 15 drops Shield, 10 drops Tea Tree.
Headache: 1-2 drops each Lavender and Peppermint applied to temples.
Homemade vapor rub: Melt 2 oz. coconut oil, 5 drops Rosemary, 5 drops Tea Tree, 3 drops Peppermint, 3 drops Eucalyptus. I use a small 4 oz. canning jar.
Mice (Repelling): Put peppermint oil on cotton balls and place around areas needed.
Other types of pain-joint pain, carpal tunnel, arthritis, etc.: Peppermint, Lavender, Birch and Wintergreen in carrier oil. Birch and Wintergreen are very high in methyl salicylate; which is the same component in aspirin. They should both always be diluted in carrier oil. Both are an anti-inflammatory. Birch and Wintergreen should not be used if you are allergic to aspirin or are on blood thinners. People with epilepsy and pregnant women should not use Birch.
Pets: add a few drops of tea tree or peppermint to your dog’s collar to get rid of fleas. For an ear infection, apply tea tree and carrier oil to a cotton ball and wipe inside of ears. Horses, goats, sheep and other farm animals can benefit from EOs too!
Runny nose: 1-2 drops Lemon on the sides of your nose will stop the running. Use caution when going into the sun, citrus oils can cause skin to burn easily.
Sweet Dreams Spray: Water and Lavender in small spray bottle. Shake before using. (I use this when my daughter has trouble sleeping. She gets excited about it and asks for it!)
Toothache: 2-3 drops Clove oil applied to cotton ball, apply to gums.
I am not a doctor; please do your own research!
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to essential oils! I am thankful God has given us this gift and the ability to research and use them. There are so many more oils out there and so much more you can do with them. I’m excited to keep learning about them so hopefully I can be prepared for whatever comes our way. God Bless!
JWR,
I am a fan of Infidel Body Armor, and appreciated the recent review by Pat: Pat’s Product Review – Infidel Body Armor Goes Soft. As a member of the LE community, I always wear [Level] IIIA soft armor on duty, and while it will stop some rifle rounds, a piece of ceramic or steel armor is definitely better as it spreads the impact over a larger area. My reason for writing is to familiarize your readers with an aspect of all soft body armor that carries NIJ ballistic ratings. It is very important to note that the ratings allow for approximately 44mm of back face deformation. This means that you are going to have a bruise “to beat all bruises”, and possibly some broken ribs and internal organ damage, even when soft body armor does its job of stopping the bullet. This is why I have a raid vest with steel plates to go over my soft armor. If you are in the market for body armor and can afford it, get both soft and hard. The ceramic is a little lighter and will generally stop AP better than steel, but it breaks when it absorbs the hit, so if Uncle Sugar isn’t buying you a replacement plate, I’d go for steel with an anti-spall coating. Get on YouTube and watch the body armor tests, research the NIJ ratings and find out more than just what certain levels will stop. If you are planning on being in a gunfight, expect to get shot, and even if you’re wearing body armor, expect a [blunt force trauma] injury from the impact. – Carl C.
Five Bullish Indicators That Will Drive Silver Prices Higher
Andre recommended this photo collection: Modern Ruins of Abandoned Detroit. (Quite sobering, and hopefully not a preview of the demise of America’s other large cities.)
Items from The Economatrix:
Another Government Shutdown In Sight?
Five Trends Beneath The Surface In Nov. Jobs Report
Depreciating Cars And Expensive Diplomas Fueled By Easy Debt: 95 Percent Of Consumer Debt Growth In Past 12 Months From Cars And Student Loans
Many blog readers will recognize this locale from my novel Survivors: Farmington Police Department buys armored military fighting vehicle . (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)
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J.B.G. sent: Imagine America Without Los Angeles’: Expert Warns Southern California Isn’t Ready For Major Quake
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Bob G. suggested a video by Josie The Outlaw: Why Good People Should Be Armed
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The first edition of the Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) has been released. It is available as a PDF on the OEC web site. No printed copies are planned.
The AUXFOG is a reference for auxiliary communicators who directly support backup emergency communications for State/local public safety entities or for an amateur radio organization supporting public safety. It contains information about AuxComm best practices, frequently used radio frequencies, mutual aid channels as well as tips and suggestions about auxiliary emergency communicators integrating into a NIMS ICS environment to support communications for planned events or incidents. It can serve as a reference both for auxiliary emergency communicators and public safety communications professionals.
“And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.” – Psalm 78:35 (KJV)
Notes from JWR:
Please pray for Mat Stein (our Backcountry Editor) and his wife Josie. She is nearing death, with cancer. Heaven awaits her.
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Today is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York.
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Last day! Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until midnight tonight (December 13, 2013) with 25% to 42% off, free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand.
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Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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), F.) A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy. G.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. H.) A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com. The current value of this roll is at least $225, I.) Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad. They have a combined value of $195. J.) 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. and K.) APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit.
Second Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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. C.) A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. D.) $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P.), E.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials F.) A full set of all 25 of the books published by PrepperPress.com. This is a $250 value, G.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value). H.) EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles is donating a $250 gift certificate, and I.) Autrey’s Armory — specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts and accessories — is donating a $250 gift certificate.
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.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security., E.) A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises. F.) Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and G.) Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies. This assortment has a retail value of $208.
Round 50 ends on January 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 ice storm that hit north Texas this past Thursday was forecast at least four days in advance, if not longer, but when it hit apparently just about everyone was taken by surprise. Drivers on I-35 north of Denton were stuck for so long they eventually abandoned their cars and sought refuge in local churches. There was talk of sending in the National Guard to rescue them before that. These people had days of advance warning about the weather but chose to drive anyway. (Many of them apparently on their way to a rap concert in Dallas.) Imagine the conditions if there had been a sudden emergency or disaster.
The town we live in has one grocery store, and it was out of milk and bread by Saturday afternoon. As of Monday afternoon, they still had no milk but had received a bread delivery. When I say “no milk” I mean the liquid refrigerated stuff that is kept in dairy cases. I walked over to the baking supplies aisle, and lo and behold, an entire stock of canned and boxed Tetra-Pak milk, untouched. The shelves of powdered milk were well-stocked, too. Either things weren’t bad enough yet, or people just aren’t aware that there is more than one way to buy milk. I already had a couple of liters of the Tetra-Pak milk at home, and plenty of canned milk, but I picked up a few extra just in case it takes longer than expected to get the highways clear and the trucks through. (Two of those cans of evaporated milk turned out to be expired. Need to work on that can rotation!)
In addition to being stripped bare of milk and bread, the frozen pizza aisle was decimated, there was no chicken and no beef left in the meat section. The store was completely sold out of Coca Cola, but there was plenty left of the other brands. The canned soup aisle was pretty bare as well. There was very little bottled water left. My husband and I made sure to note the items that sold out first so we’ll remember to stock up on any of those that we use regularly in our household.
The doughnut shop near our house had plenty of small bottles of milk, and there was milk available at the convenience stores we looked into during the few forays we made outside the house. Those convenience stores were selling milk for four to five dollars per gallon. In our area a gallon of non-organic milk is normally less than $2.50.
The groceries that were still in abundant supply as of yesterday afternoon were the things that take a little work to turn into food: flour, sugar, rice and pasta. There were plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in the produce section. One takeaway for me- I need to become more proficient at making my own bread so that it becomes as easy as scrambling an egg is.
At one point in the weekend, there were over 250,000 people in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area without power. We were lucky that our power never went out, but if it had we had plenty of firewood, oil lamps and candles on standby. I would like to think that our neighbors had similar supplies laid in, but I would be surprised if they did. We lost power one night last summer and our house was the only one on the street with candle light flickering inside it. (Some blackout curtains are on our list for future purchase.)
I stayed home with our five year-old daughter because schools were closed and I was told to “use my best judgment” as far as driving in was concerned. We made a fire and played with toys while listening to the audio book of “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. When my husband came home and said there was no milk left at Kroger, our daughter said, “oh, no, now you’re gonna have to give me hot water to drink!” We took this opportunity to explain to her that this is the reason why Mama buys boxes of milk and puts them away in the closet. We do it because we love you, we told her, and because we don’t want you to go without milk just because there’s an ice storm. We went on to explain that people had known this storm was coming for days, but that most people waited until the last minute to go to the store and get the things they would need. We advised her to remember this when she’s older and act ahead of time so she doesn’t have to panic at the last minute. Our little girl tends to listen and pay attention to us, so we hope she’ll remember this as she gets older and takes our advice about preparation and self-reliance to heart.
Everyone makes jokes about how Texans freak out when a quarter inch of snow falls and how no one around here knows how to drive on ice or snow. That’s true because this hardly ever happens around here. Weather like this has become more common in our area over the past few years, though (see Super Bowl XLV), but no one seems to have decided to anticipate or plan for it, especially TxDOT, who as of yesterday, still had crews stuck all over the state, rather than working on clearing roadways. I saw crews sanding our local town streets for the first time this morning- six days after the storm first hit.
What I’m taking away from this six-day-and-counting inconvenience is that most people don’t plan and they won’t prepare. This would have been a relatively minor weather event if it had happened in another part of the country where municipalities are more prepared in general. I’m sure readers in more northern parts of the country will be chuckling and shaking their heads at the site a big chunk of Texas brought to a standstill by a few inches of ice. This experience has driven home the need for us to be more prepared, to bring in more supplies, to be ready for whatever may come. This ice storm has also provided us a good opportunity to teach our daughter about being prepared and being self-reliant without scaring her.
It also showed where some holes in our planning and preparation lie. While he was clearing ice from our driveway, my husband slipped and fell. He landed on his side and luckily didn’t break anything. If he had broken a rib or some other bone, we could have had quite a wait for an ambulance and/or faced a dicey trip to the hospital. This is one area where we need to make plans for the future. What would we have done? What other contingencies do we need to plan for?
We cut down one old, dying tree just a week before the storm but there is still one tree that overhangs our roof. This tree, too, may need to go for safety’s sake. Falling trees and now falling ice have done a lot of damage to buildings and cars in this area over the past couple of days.
As I noted, we never lost power (or haven’t yet), but if we did, can we be certain our fireplace would have kept at least part of the house warm enough? We’re planning on adding additional insulation to one room in particular so we’ll have at least one room that we can keep snug and warm without electricity. I’m certain we need to add more candles and oil lamps or lanterns to our stores, as well. If our power had gone out Friday like it did for some, and was still not back on, as it isn’t for some, we would certainly burned through our supply right now. I doubt, too, that the small supply of Sterno and Stoves in a Can see us through a five-day power outage.
We don’t let our daughter play on the computer much, so she’s not one of those kids who can’t function without electronic media to distract them, but she does enjoy listening to audiobooks and watching DVDs. We played “school at home” to keep her in school/learning mode. Putting seed out for our wild birds and then watching them eat kept her entertained as well, but in an extended power outage, we might have had boredom and cabin fever to deal with on top of everything else. We’ll need to stock up on more coloring books and puzzle books and look into a battery-operated CD player for her.
Our pipes did not freeze, but if they had, would the water we have stored lasted for six days? I believe it would have, but we do need to store more water and purchase additional water BOBs or other means of water storage in case of long outages in the future.
The real problem in my mind though is what we’ll do if a summertime storm or other disaster, manmade or not, knocks out power for extended period of time while it’s 100F outside. That would be a much more serious problem. It’s always easier to get warm in Texas than it is to stay cool, and judging from TxDOT’s lackluster response to our icy highways and overpasses, and the fact that there are still people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area without power we’ll likely have no one to turn to for help except ourselves- as if we didn’t already know that. Thank you for considering this piece.
James W. recommended this market analysis: Five Charts: The Real Story Behind Silver
If you’ve ever wondered which charities are top-heavy, R.B.S. recommended this site: Charity Navigator. BTW, I was pleased to see that Compassion International (one of my favorite charities) was so highly rated.
Items from The Economatrix:
Billionaire Eric Sprott – The End Game Is Absolutely Horrifying
PrepperPress.com has just published R.P. Ruggiero’s sequel to his novel Brushfire Plague. This is the second book in a planned three part series, and it brings the total prize package they’re giving the Second Prize winner of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest to 25 books. The latest novel is Brushfire Plague: Reckoning.
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Todd Savage with Survival Retreat Consulting has recently completed an evaluation on a great cabin retreat in the American Redoubt that will support up to eight separate hydroelectric sites from a extremely large volume year round spring (over 1,000 gpm). This fantastic bug-out or full-time retreat meets every aspect of the survival criteria: Water, Food, Energy and Defense. The property has the potential to support a year round aquaponics/greenhouse food production system, all powered from a sustainable power source. Please contact Todd via e-mail for more information www.survivalretreatconsulting.com
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An observation on Mikey Bloomberg’s Special Mayors Club: After they are caught red-handed (taking bribes, conspiracy to extortion, and extortion), and then indicted and tried by a jury of their peers (at taxpayer expense), and found guilty, and sentenced, they still have the best attorneys that all that copious cached graft money can buy, so they can finance unlimited appeals, until they get a new trial. (Again, at taxpayer expense.) This is the new norm for corrupt politicians. For instance, I have no doubt that Kwame Kilpatrick will spend much of his 28-year sentence filing appeals. (He is another one of Bloomberg’s MAIG members that was quietly removed from their roster.)
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File Under “Burning Irony”: A SurvivalBlog reader who open carries wrote to mention that he was turned away from the Jordan Page liberty concert in Cocolalla, Idaho on Wednesday by a man at the door who told him that “no guns are allowed.” Some patriot event!
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Tattler Reusable Canning Lids has made a 50% off sale announcement. For just Friday the 13th, they are having a Christmas sale! Everything they sell (except All American Pressure Canners) will be 50% off for 24 hours! Use coupon code “madness” during checkout.
“If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey, he is obligated to do so.” – Thomas Jefferson
Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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), F.) A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy. G.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. H.) A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com. The current value of this roll is at least $225, I.) Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad. They have a combined value of $195. J.) 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. and K.) APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit.
Second Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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. C.) A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. D.) $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P.), E.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials F.) A full set of all 25 of the books published by PrepperPress.com. This is a $250 value, G.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value). H.) EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles is donating a $250 gift certificate, and I.) Autrey’s Armory — specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts and accessories — is donating a $250 gift certificate.
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.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security., E.) A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises. F.) Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and G.) Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies. This assortment has a retail value of $208.
Round 50 ends on January 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.