So for those of you trying to get your feminine counterpart to start thinking about survival. This is the website that might do it. :)
The information is great and easy to follow. Lots of great ideas and simple tips to do now.
This is the link to the article "Start Preparing Here" Great advice to get you started.
http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/11/19/start-preparing-here/ (http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/11/19/start-preparing-here/)
(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.soloops.com%2Fforums%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fimage019.gif&hash=f97f3d05a60e57569f2fdbba3c5b0a630ff8a1d2)
http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/11/19/start-preparing-here/ (http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/11/19/start-preparing-here/)
I love the last thing she packs...
Here's a checklist of items to keep in your vehicle should you find yourself having to hoof it home.
* comfortable pair of shoes stashed under the car seat, one pair per person (You will SO thank me for this tip one day. Count on it.)
* an extra pair of socks per person (could double as strange looking mittens in cold weather)
* a small backpack per person
* bottles of water* (If you wrap the bottles with paracord and then wrap a couple of feet of duct tape over the paracord, you'll have two extra survival supplies on hand without taking up any extra space.)
* a few water purification tablets (If bottled water runs out and all you can find is "wild" water, these are a compact method of water purification.)
* long-sleeved, cotton shirts and floppy hats
* large black plastic trash bags (use as raincoats, protection from the weather, an emergency sleeping bag)
* band-aids, moleskin
* small bottle of sunblock
* hard candy (sugar for quick energy)
* granola bars (2 or 3 per backpack)
* cell phone charger (just in case cell phones are still operational)
* one or two flash lights with a set of extra batteries
* signaling mirror
* roll of toilet paper
* Swiss Army knife
* waterproof matches and a fire striker
* 2 or 3 vaseline coated cotton balls
* pepper spray and a handgun with an extra loaded magazine (What? You want me to be out on the road, alone with the kids, and no way to fend off zombies??)
In your last post one of the people talked about Sun Oven in the feed back area.
I think this could be used year around.
How Sun Oven Work Video. (http://www.sunoven.com/video_how_sun_ovens_work.php)
Hmmmm •1 GLOBAL SUN OVEN (Retail Price $299)
Locate a GLOBAL SUN OVEN® dealer near you. (http://www.sunoven.com/usa/locate-dealer.php)
Quote from: walkstall on November 21, 2010, 07:53:44 PM
In your last post one of the people talked about Sun Oven in the feed back area.
I think this could be used year around.
How Sun Oven Work Video. (http://www.sunoven.com/video_how_sun_ovens_work.php)
Hmmmm •1 GLOBAL SUN OVEN (Retail Price $299)
Locate a GLOBAL SUN OVEN® dealer near you. (http://www.sunoven.com/usa/locate-dealer.php)
Cool idea. I bet if I asked Solar could make me one... ;) ;)
Quote from: Solars Toy on November 21, 2010, 07:58:07 PM
Cool idea. I bet if I asked Solar could make me one... ;) ;)
From what I could see there would be no problem making one of your own.
We do something like this with sun tea all summer long.
Quote from: walkstall on November 21, 2010, 08:20:42 PM
From what I could see there would be no problem making one of your own.
We do something like this with sun tea all summer long.
I made one of these back in college, just go to home depot and get the 1" thick foil backed wall Styrofoam and make a bog, paint it with engine grade black spray paint, cut a sheet of plastic to cover the top, or glass.
Then cut some more Styrofoam for reflectors and line with new foil, shiny side out.
It all takes about 2 or 3 hours to make the first one.
The rest take about 20 minutes.
Quote from: walkstall on November 21, 2010, 07:53:44 PM
In your last post one of the people talked about Sun Oven in the feed back area.
I think this could be used year around.
How Sun Oven Work Video. (http://www.sunoven.com/video_how_sun_ovens_work.php)
Hmmmm •1 GLOBAL SUN OVEN (Retail Price $299)
Locate a GLOBAL SUN OVEN® dealer near you. (http://www.sunoven.com/usa/locate-dealer.php)
I forgot to mention, these things kick ass, I used to throw a chicken and a couple of cans of mushroom soup and season to taste in a covered Pyrex pot, must be covered, it will splatter a bit.
When I got home I always had a hot meal waiting, but it doesn't work very well from September through March.
Three hundred bucks isn't all that much when you think about it, the thing will pay for itself in about 5 to 10 years, in gas alone, or 2 years over an electric oven.
Generally I make fun of survivalists but what the hell.
A site to add to your bookmarks that's got a lot of clever solutions to pretty mundane problems along with practical advice on a bunch of the issues thrown around on this topic - http://www.instructables.com/ (http://www.instructables.com/)
More specifically, http://www.instructables.com/solar/ (http://www.instructables.com/solar/) and finally http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Foil-Glue-The-Solar-Funnel-Cooker/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Foil-Glue-The-Solar-Funnel-Cooker/)
The sidebar of the solar cooker link has a bunch of similar gadgets of varying complexity, flexibility and cost.
Quote from: arpad on November 23, 2010, 06:28:30 PM
Generally I make fun of survivalists but what the hell.
A site to add to your bookmarks that's got a lot of clever solutions to pretty mundane problems along with practical advice on a bunch of the issues thrown around on this topic - http://www.instructables.com/ (http://www.instructables.com/)
More specifically, http://www.instructables.com/solar/ (http://www.instructables.com/solar/) and finally http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Foil-Glue-The-Solar-Funnel-Cooker/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Foil-Glue-The-Solar-Funnel-Cooker/)
The sidebar of the solar cooker link has a bunch of similar gadgets of varying complexity, flexibility and cost.
Thanks for sharing the link. Will definitely check it out. I have decided to create my own binder of these things for future use...
Thanks for not making fun...I will remember that when the world as we know it goes to hell. ::) ::) ::)
Quote from: Solars Toy on November 23, 2010, 06:39:27 PM
Thanks for sharing the link. Will definitely check it out. I have decided to create my own binder of these things for future use...
Thanks for not making fun...I will remember that when the world as we know it goes to hell. ::) ::) ::)
Oh sure, you say that now. But what happens when civilization collapses and cable no longer works? Will you loan me your Netflix DVDs before sending them back? Probably not.
Quote from: arpad on November 24, 2010, 04:17:30 AM
Oh sure, you say that now. But what happens when civilization collapses and cable no longer works? Will you loan me your Netflix DVDs before sending them back? Probably not.
I see, you're one of those hoping for the end of times, just so you can get our DVD collection.
Well you'll have to pry them from my cold dead hands!!!
That is, unless you have something we have yet to see, then we can barter.
See, even if civilization collapses, Capitalism will continue. 8) ;D ;D
Now see what you've done? You caused me to ignore my resolution to not make fun of survivalists.
Just as well I suppose. My heart's not in the game much any more although I used enjoy it a great deal starting arguments about the best material for sandbags and such. Now I'm more interested in the "why" of survivalism which I think implies pretty clearly that I don't have any faith in the rationalizations thrown around by survivalists themselves.
Quote from: arpad on November 24, 2010, 02:34:14 PM
Now see what you've done? You caused me to ignore my resolution to not make fun of survivalists.
Just as well I suppose. My heart's not in the game much any more although I used enjoy it a great deal starting arguments about the best material for sandbags and such. Now I'm more interested in the "why" of survivalism which I think implies pretty clearly that I don't have any faith in the rationalizations thrown around by survivalists themselves.
But Arpad, you must know that civilization will come to a complete halt overnight, you will wake to complete chaos, no utilities, no gas for your car, zip, nada, nothing, your friends and neighbors will be running in the streets with pitch forks and axes.
Me? I have the latest in axes, gas powered, I'm prepared.
And for sand bags, I used concrete mix, I completely barricaded the house, then turned the sprinklers on it, stuff set up pretty fast.
Now if I can find a way into the house, no one will be able to touch me, or my DVDs. :D
Yeah, yeah, I'm well aware of that along with the somewhat vague reasons given that are matched by unarguable certainty.
But didn't you ever wonder about the "why" of survivalism? Why's it so seemingly attractive when the reality's worse then all but a very few people can possibly imagine?
Up where we live I am more worried about the weather and other things that could lock us in for a few days. Being on Solar we are lucky as we do have power even when our neighbors don't. The food part fascinates me...how much can I safely store??? Right now that concerns me as prices for even our basics start to rise... :) :) Just for that reason I am stockpiling flour, yeast, rice etc. 8)
Quote from: arpad on November 24, 2010, 05:53:44 PM
Yeah, yeah, I'm well aware of that along with the somewhat vague reasons given that are matched by unarguable certainty.
But didn't you ever wonder about the "why" of survivalism? Why's it so seemingly attractive when the reality's worse then all but a very few people can possibly imagine?
I hate to say it, but I think some tend to romanticize about it.
Myself, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime, but if it did, I would do just fine, though it won't be a stroll in the park.
But I always felt I was born 200 years too late.
I'd be quite happy with a bare bones lifestyle, assuming the rest of the population is dead. ;)
But with that said, I do see times getting a lot worse, but not to the point of riots or neighbors breaking into neighbors food stuffs.
Just people cutting back on the frivolities of life.
Washington State has had at least 20 damaging earthquakes during the past 125 years. Large earthquakes in 1946, 1949, and 1965. I have been in all three. We have annually 1,000 earthquakes occur in my state. I was also within 60 miles of Mount St. Helens when it eruption in 1980. So a disaster can happy any time. So there is more then one reason "survivalism," I live within 5 hrs drive of 5 volcanos. My state is not unique, each state has there own unique desaster problems. But for the most part the States can not supply the needs for everyone when needed. Understand some big city may be help first just like they do when there is a power problem. The little person comes last. Out of the way places and Rural areas just like power will come last. The Columbus Day Storm of 1962, I gave power, water and fire wood for 3 week for 6 neighbors. Yes they could have gone into the main part of town in a hotel at 250.00$ a night. But then they would have lost all there food and who know what all. So I have no problems being prepared for something that my not happen.
Quote from: walkstall on November 24, 2010, 06:52:14 PM
Washington State has had at least 20 damaging earthquakes during the past 125 years. Large earthquakes in 1946, 1949, and 1965. I have been in all three. We have annually 1,000 earthquakes occur in my state. I was also within 60 miles of Mount St. Helens when it eruption in 1980. So a disaster can happy any time. So there is more then one reason "survivalism," I live within 5 hrs drive of 5 volcanos. My state is not unique, each state has there own unique desaster problems. But for the most part the States can not supply the needs for everyone when needed. Understand some big city may be help first just like they do when there is a power problem. The little person comes last. Out of the way places and Rural areas just like power will come last. The Columbus Day Storm of 1962, I gave power, water and fire wood for 3 week for 6 neighbors. Yes they could have gone into the main part of town in a hotel at 250.00$ a night. But then they would have lost all there food and who know what all. So I have no problems being prepared for something that my not happen.
But Walks, A volcano, or earthquake is nothing next to the collapse of civilization. :o ;) you know I kid....
My biggest worry over any other, is a forest fire, it is almost a given that I would lose everything.
There are just some things we can't prepare for.
Did I mention meteorite? ;D
But you're right, we can prepare for some things, and should, because no matter how much we like to think gov will help, there just isn't enough resources to go around when a natural disaster hits.
"Romanticize"? That is a VERY strange way to characterize the sharing of preparation and survival information.
Nobody I know WANTS a disaster to happen. Nobody I know WANTS the U.S. economy to tank. Nobody I know WANTS a massive terrrorist attack. Nobody I know WANTS a natural disaster.
Those that ridicule and mock and criticize will be the FIRST ones to try to steal from and do harm to those of us who are prepared. That will be the LAST mistake those people will make.
Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 24, 2010, 09:41:28 PM
"Romanticize"? That is a VERY strange way to characterize the sharing of preparation and survival information.
Nobody I know WANTS a disaster to happen. Nobody I know WANTS the U.S. economy to tank. Nobody I know WANTS a massive terrrorist attack. Nobody I know WANTS a natural disaster.
Those that ridicule and mock and criticize will be the FIRST ones to try to steal from and do harm to those of us who are prepared. That will be the LAST mistake those people will make.
More that 80% of my customer base is survivalist based, and a small percentage of them are looking forward to the what they perceive as the end.
They've done all the planning, stocked up with years of supplies, built traps and a home in the middle of nowhere.
Some are Kazinsky like, some are extremely quiet, and some are outright hostile.
But they think the World will be a better place when we start over.
And not one of them are willing to listen to reason, they are counting on the collapse, it's what they did all this hard work for.
Can you imagine the let down when you spend 40 years planning for something that you were certain would happen, only to get too old to live the lifestyle you planned so many years before?
I watched one old guy sell off everything he had, when his heart was giving out, he was bitter and disappointed, and now lives with a relative.
Yes, there are some that romanticize about shooting people trying to steal what they have, and when you talk to them, you see their eyes light up about it.
If it hadn't been for these people, I wouldn't have made it in business.
You'd be surprised, but most think I'm a survivalist, but I'm just a pack-rat that just can't seem to throw anything away.
Don't say a word ST! :D
Quote from: Solar on November 25, 2010, 07:00:31 AM
You'd be surprised, but most think I'm a survivalist, but I'm just a pack-rat that just can't seem to throw anything away.
Don't say a word ST! :D
Oh Pleeeaase....pack Rat is not the word for it.... Don't worry I'll keep trying.... ;D ;D
Quote from: Solar on November 25, 2010, 07:00:31 AM
More that 80% of my customer base is survivalist based, and a small percentage of them are looking forward to the what they perceive as the end.
They've done all the planning, stocked up with years of supplies, built traps and a home in the middle of nowhere.
Some are Kazinsky like, some are extremely quiet, and some are outright hostile.
But they think the World will be a better place when we start over.
And not one of them are willing to listen to reason, they are counting on the collapse, it's what they did all this hard work for.
Can you imagine the let down when you spend 40 years planning for something that you were certain would happen, only to get too old to live the lifestyle you planned so many years before?
I watched one old guy sell off everything he had, when his heart was giving out, he was bitter and disappointed, and now lives with a relative.
Yes, there are some that romanticize about shooting people trying to steal what they have, and when you talk to them, you see their eyes light up about it.
If it hadn't been for these people, I wouldn't have made it in business.
You'd be surprised, but most think I'm a survivalist, but I'm just a pack-rat that just can't seem to throw anything away.
Don't say a word ST! :D
Unfortunately, it's a fact of life that there are radicals and extremists in every walk of life. They make those of us who have common sense and boundaries look bad.
Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 26, 2010, 04:47:28 AM
Unfortunately, it's a fact of life that there are radicals and extremists in every walk of life. They make those of us who have common sense and boundaries look bad.
Yep AF there are.
My planning is not because I am expecting the end of the world but because I know its going to start getting tougher to feed the "family" and just pay for the day to day. For that I want to be prepared. 8)
Quote from: Solars Toy on November 26, 2010, 06:34:07 AM
Yep AF there are.
My planning is not because I am expecting the end of the world but because I know its going to start getting tougher to feed the "family" and just pay for the day to day. For that I want to be prepared. 8)
If I believed that the "end of the world" was coming, I wouldn't bother stockpiling food and preparing for life off the grid. I would just wait for the "end" to happen.
I believe that very tough and dangerous times are coming, and we are preparing accordingly, so we can survive and emerge on "the other side".
Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 26, 2010, 06:56:03 AM
If I believed that the "end of the world" was coming, I wouldn't bother stockpiling food and preparing for life off the grid. I would just wait for the "end" to happen.
I believe that very tough and dangerous times are coming, and we are preparing accordingly, so we can survive and emerge on "the other side".
Probably should have phrased that better. End of civilization... :) Your right if it's the end of the world I hopefully won't be here...(God willing.) 8) 8)
Quote from: Solar on November 24, 2010, 06:22:10 PM
I hate to say it, but I think some tend to romanticize about it.
Myself, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime, but if it did, I would do just fine, though it won't be a stroll in the park.
But I always felt I was born 200 years too late.
I'd be quite happy with a bare bones lifestyle, assuming the rest of the population is dead. ;)
But with that said, I do see times getting a lot worse, but not to the point of riots or neighbors breaking into neighbors food stuffs.
Just people cutting back on the frivolities of life.
I've got enough mileage on me to remember what are now referred to by some as "the good, old days" and they weren't all that good. I kind of doubt that, unless you were pretty lucky, 200 years ago was better. So I see a trend but it's not pointing in the direction of "a time of tribulations". In fact, just the opposite.
Twenty-eight years ago we elected Ron Reagan, watched him can the PATCO strikers and then re-elected him in a landslide. I've watched the number of states with "shall issue" CCW go from seven to forty. More recently I've watched the first man to be elected to the presidency based on the color of his skin come to the slow realization that he's not going to escape being judged on the content of his character.
On the international stage I've watched the threat of international communism collapse, along with the Soviet Union, so shockingly quickly that it takes an effort of will to recall how real the threat once was. Now if I want to feel threatened by communism I have to fire up a first-person shooter.
With that out of the way, I
don't see times getting a lot worse. Trouble is, the human race has spent most of our time in conditions so much worse then what we know I just wonder if the strengths we developed to deal with those sorts of times now have too little outlet. Human characteristics being what they are, we see what we want to see absent an effort of will to look at the realities.
200 years ago if you went boldly where no man had gone before the chances are that you wouldn't last more then a couple of years there being all sorts of awfully mundane ways to end up being a meal for the coyotes. Trip and break your knee cap? Have an abscess flare up? Drink water from a stream some miles downstream from a human habitation? Any one of those might easily have killed you 200 years ago and the list is hardly started.
I'm not arguing against preparing for unpleasant possibilities. Far from it. I go to sleep with a loaded firearm within arm's reach, there's a couple of weeks worth of eating stowed away in the basement and my spare tire's just been checked. But preparing for unpleasant possibilities is a form of insurance and you try to insure against reasonable risks. Survivalism strikes me as much more of an indulgence of people who've never known anything but, relative to most of the human race's experience through most of history, plenty.
Quote from: arpad on November 26, 2010, 08:03:53 AM
I've got enough mileage on me to remember what are now referred to by some as "the good, old days" and they weren't all that good. I kind of doubt that, unless you were pretty lucky, 200 years ago was better. So I see a trend but it's not pointing in the direction of "a time of tribulations". In fact, just the opposite.
I agree, I don't see dire circumstances either, just a rough road ahead.
QuoteTwenty-eight years ago we elected Ron Reagan, watched him can the PATCO strikers and then re-elected him in a landslide. I've watched the number of states with "shall issue" CCW go from seven to forty. More recently I've watched the first man to be elected to the presidency based on the color of his skin come to the slow realization that he's not going to escape being judged on the content of his character.
On the international stage I've watched the threat of international communism collapse, along with the Soviet Union, so shockingly quickly that it takes an effort of will to recall how real the threat once was. Now if I want to feel threatened by communism I have to fire up a first-person shooter.
Communism is far from dead, it, like all diseases morphs to survive.
I'm not talking about NK style of communism, but that of China and Russia, they will do what is necessary to hold on to power, and when the time is right, return to their old ways.
QuoteWith that out of the way, I don't see times getting a lot worse. Trouble is, the human race has spent most of our time in conditions so much worse then what we know I just wonder if the strengths we developed to deal with those sorts of times now have too little outlet. Human characteristics being what they are, we see what we want to see absent an effort of will to look at the realities.
When I speak of times getting worse, I'm talking about people having to cut back on, as I stated "frivolities" of life, but this is a good thing, it is a cleansing so to speak, it will only make the Country stronger.
But I don't see it lasting more than about 3 years, from which will emerge a population of people no longer taking for granted what we have.
Yes, I see better days after the fact, it's human nature.
Quote200 years ago if you went boldly where no man had gone before the chances are that you wouldn't last more then a couple of years there being all sorts of awfully mundane ways to end up being a meal for the coyotes. Trip and break your knee cap? Have an abscess flare up? Drink water from a stream some miles downstream from a human habitation? Any one of those might easily have killed you 200 years ago and the list is hardly started.
Yet man still managed to survive and have off spring, guess they weren't all that bad?
QuoteI'm not arguing against preparing for unpleasant possibilities. Far from it. I go to sleep with a loaded firearm within arm's reach, there's a couple of weeks worth of eating stowed away in the basement and my spare tire's just been checked. But preparing for unpleasant possibilities is a form of insurance and you try to insure against reasonable risks. Survivalism strikes me as much more of an indulgence of people who've never known anything but, relative to most of the human race's experience through most of history, plenty.
Of course not, it's like stocking up on food for the week, or going to the store daily, most prefer to have food at home, it merely makes life easier throughout the week.
The point I've been trying to make is, things are going to get tougher, not because things aren't available, but because they are going to get very expensive.
Thats why we are stocking up now, while prices are still relatively affordable, like Coffee, something that has to be imported.
But I still don't see riots or pillaging in the streets, just more complaining, which will keep the Dims out of power.
Quote from: arpad on November 26, 2010, 08:03:53 AM
I've got enough mileage on me to remember what are now referred to by some as "the good, old days" and they weren't all that good. I kind of doubt that, unless you were pretty lucky, 200 years ago was better. So I see a trend but it's not pointing in the direction of "a time of tribulations". In fact, just the opposite.
Twenty-eight years ago we elected Ron Reagan, watched him can the PATCO strikers and then re-elected him in a landslide. I've watched the number of states with "shall issue" CCW go from seven to forty. More recently I've watched the first man to be elected to the presidency based on the color of his skin come to the slow realization that he's not going to escape being judged on the content of his character.
On the international stage I've watched the threat of international communism collapse, along with the Soviet Union, so shockingly quickly that it takes an effort of will to recall how real the threat once was. Now if I want to feel threatened by communism I have to fire up a first-person shooter.
With that out of the way, I don't see times getting a lot worse. Trouble is, the human race has spent most of our time in conditions so much worse then what we know I just wonder if the strengths we developed to deal with those sorts of times now have too little outlet. Human characteristics being what they are, we see what we want to see absent an effort of will to look at the realities.
200 years ago if you went boldly where no man had gone before the chances are that you wouldn't last more then a couple of years there being all sorts of awfully mundane ways to end up being a meal for the coyotes. Trip and break your knee cap? Have an abscess flare up? Drink water from a stream some miles downstream from a human habitation? Any one of those might easily have killed you 200 years ago and the list is hardly started.
I'm not arguing against preparing for unpleasant possibilities. Far from it. I go to sleep with a loaded firearm within arm's reach, there's a couple of weeks worth of eating stowed away in the basement and my spare tire's just been checked. But preparing for unpleasant possibilities is a form of insurance and you try to insure against reasonable risks. Survivalism strikes me as much more of an indulgence of people who've never known anything but, relative to most of the human race's experience through most of history, plenty.
So let's Say Yellowstone Blows will you be set. Humanity will survive, but civilization will be knocked on it's ass big time for sometime. I for one say when it blows, not if it blows. It will make Mount St. Helens look like a small fart. LOL VolcanoCams (http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/) This time a year it may be blocked by fog or cloud cover.
Quote from: walkstall on November 26, 2010, 08:40:07 AM
So let's Say Yellowstone Blows will you be set. Humanity will survive, but civilization will be knocked on it's ass big time for sometime. I for one say when it blows, not if it blows. It will make Mount St. Helens look like a small fart. LOL VolcanoCams (http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/) This time a year it may be blocked by fog or cloud cover.
C'mon now, walkstall. This is the United States Of America. We can handle ANYTHING. Our government is prepared to handle any and all crises. Just sit back and relax. Everybody LOVES us.
Terrorists? Just a bunch of disorganized goofballs. They can't do anything right. Just that one time.
Multi-trillion dollar debt? No big deal, we'll just print more money, and borrow more from our enemies.
Corruption and financial fraud and failed banks? Who cares. Just keep your money in a mason jar.
Marxists and communists infiltrating the highest areas of our state and federal governments? No problem, we'll eventually vote them all out.
Looming hyperinflation and hyperunemployment and hyper-interest rates? No big deal. It's happened before.
Everything is fine, and it will always be that way.
Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 26, 2010, 08:59:44 AM
C'mon now, walkstall. This is the United States Of America. We can handle ANYTHING. Our government is prepared to handle any and all crises. Just sit back and relax. Everybody LOVES us.
Terrorists? Just a bunch of disorganized goofballs. They can't do anything right. Just that one time.
Multi-trillion dollar debt? No big deal, we'll just print more money, and borrow more from our enemies.
Corruption and financial fraud and failed banks? Who cares. Just keep your money in a mason jar.
Marxists and communists infiltrating the highest areas of our state and federal governments? No problem, we'll eventually vote them all out.
Looming hyperinflation and hyperunemployment and hyper-interest rates? No big deal. It's happened before.
Everything is fine, and it will always be that way.
Wow!! I feel so much better now. I may sleep 4hrs and 10 min now a night not just 4hrs. LOL
When your in government hands, it like being with All State. ::)
Quote from: walkstall on November 26, 2010, 08:40:07 AM
So let's Say Yellowstone Blows will you be set. Humanity will survive, but civilization will be knocked on it's ass big time for sometime. I for one say when it blows, not if it blows. It will make Mount St. Helens look like a small fart. LOL VolcanoCams (http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/) This time a year it may be blocked by fog or cloud cover.
You raise a good point. Based on what I've read here, most prepare based on the geographic location.
Like me, I don't worry about volcanoes, or earthquakes, or even scum from the city, I 'm only concerned with prices.
But for those located near large cities or potential natural disasters to prepare acordingly.
Which makes me ask, why do people that live in hurricane prone areas, build stick houses?
There should be a law, just like those of us that live in the forest, we have to use fireproof materials, no shake roofs etc.
Why don't they have to build with cement or brick, even build underground?
Just something to ponder...
Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 26, 2010, 08:59:44 AM
C'mon now, walkstall. This is the United States Of America. We can handle ANYTHING. Our government is prepared to handle any and all crises. Just sit back and relax. Everybody LOVES us.
Terrorists? Just a bunch of disorganized goofballs. They can't do anything right. Just that one time.
Multi-trillion dollar debt? No big deal, we'll just print more money, and borrow more from our enemies.
Corruption and financial fraud and failed banks? Who cares. Just keep your money in a mason jar.
Marxists and communists infiltrating the highest areas of our state and federal governments? No problem, we'll eventually vote them all out.
Looming hyperinflation and hyperunemployment and hyper-interest rates? No big deal. It's happened before.
Everything is fine, and it will always be that way.
And some canned food and ammunition are going to offer protection against which of those catastrophes?
Perhaps my favorite in this topic:
http://survivalblog.com/ (http://survivalblog.com/)
Great information.
I read thru this entire topic and didn't see any reference to rechargeable batteries, led lamps and small solar panels to recharge batteries. They're cheap and available at Harbour Freight.
Quote from: surfer_squirrel on November 27, 2010, 12:05:48 AM
I read thru this entire topic and didn't see any reference to rechargeable batteries, led lamps and small solar panels to recharge batteries. They're cheap and available at Harbour Freight.
Rechargeable batteries are fine, except for that word "rechargeable". Small solar panels take a LONG time to produce enough energy to recharge NiCad batteries. Unless you have a solar panel array and already live off-the-grid or close to it, the small solar panels are very limited in what they can do in a reasonable amount of time. Solar, you are the expert with this. If I am wrong, please let everybody know.
Your best bet is to buy a diesel-powered backup generator, and plan on running it for a limited number of hours each day (3-4 hours). Store a lot of diesel fuel/heating oil. It's very safe to store in large quantities, unlike gasoline. If you have a boiler for your heat and hot water, and you use home heating oil, you already have about 150 gallons of diesel fuel if your storage tank is only half full. Otherwise, buy several 5-gallon plastic cans (or larger) and stock up on diesel fuel.
Make a "duty list" of the things you want to do during the time that your diesel generator is in service. Things like charging rechargeable batteries (buy the "quick-charge" charging stations.......they're more expensive, but well worth the cost). If you have a well, run that well pump and top off all of your water storage containers. If possible, this is also the time for everybody to take a quick hot shower or hot bath. If you have children, let them watch some DVD movies on TV during this time, to take their minds off of what is going on. If you don't have a wood stove or "alternative" means of cooking, this is also the time to cook the food for the day. The list is a long one, and it will make life easier for everybody.
Solar chargers are fine, if you have plenty of batteries in the system charging, but you can't always count on the Sun.
Ideally buy a cheap inverter at Sams club and about 6 true deep cycle batteries (T-220 or L16) type batteries and that will give you plenty of back up power for the small things like portable DVD players, cell phone chargers radios etc. If you want to run a fridge, try 36b batteries and an Outback inverter for around $1500.00 with a built in charger.
It would be cheaper to buy a propane fridge in the short term.
To keep the batteries charged, you will need a couple of shop type battery chargers with a steady 60 amp output at 12v, this way while the Gen is running 3 hours, the battery will deep charge, one charger won't be enough.
On well water, the best and most cost effective means of pumping water, is solar, for $2500 you can drop a small pump in the well that will pump 230' ft in elevation to a holding tank, at 600 gallons per day.
This is cheaper than the utility will charge you with a big ac pump, pumping the same amount of gallons of water.
One other point, if there is heavy smoke, don't rely on your generator, I've seen many occasions where people were fighting fires near their home with a gen running because the power lines burned up, only to have the smoke choke the gen and lose everything.
This is why a battery bank is so important, you can have a holding tank and a small 12 volt pump for under $100 and be able to shower and fight fires.
If you are thinking of gravity feed from a water tank, you get roughly a half pound of pressure per one foot drop.
In other words, to get close to usable pressure, you will need a minimum of 50 ft tower, or hill side.
Oh and a minimum of 1" poly pipe to avoid friction loss.
But if you're going to invest in solar, Harbor freight is fine for just a couple of panels, but the quality is questionable at best, but you get what you pay for.
If you want more, see me, I will be happy to educate on the subject.
BTW, for small rechargeable batteries, NiCads are obsolete. The more efficient ones are Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). The NiMH are 1.5 volt cells and the NiMH are 3.0 volt cells. Both have high density energy storage and no charge memory problems. I built my own chargers to recycle these. I also have solar chargers for these batteries that I use during daylight hours. The solar chargers are cheap, only about $6.00 each. and are pocket size.
I have a lot of digital measuring instruments that use these cells as well as my calculators and other items.
I'll leave the big power stuff to Solar and Solar Toy. ;)
Quote from: surfer_squirrel on December 05, 2010, 09:33:41 PM
BTW, for small rechargeable batteries, NiCads are obsolete. The more efficient ones are Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). The NiMH are 1.5 volt cells and the NiMH are 3.0 volt cells. Both have high density energy storage and no charge memory problems. I built my own chargers to recycle these. I also have solar chargers for these batteries that I use during daylight hours. The solar chargers are cheap, only about $6.00 each. and are pocket size.
I have a lot of digital measuring instruments that use these cells as well as my calculators and other items.
I'll leave the big power stuff to Solar and Solar Toy. ;)
Lithium is the only way to go in my book, I love the fact that the battery gives you full power until it shuts off.
A bit expensive, its still my only choice.
One warning though, they cannot get wet, or the internal circuitry will short out.
I'm talking about the ones for tools, the individual cells are pretty well sealed.