Is A Zippo Lighter Best In Harsh Conditions?

  I thought I'd share this as it struck me between the eyes in its simplicity from a survival point of view.  If you want to be prepared, do you have a source of heat ignition that will perform in all conditions.  Stocking up on the items it takes to keep a zippo going might be a worthy investment-even if you don't smoke.

Problems Finding Pecans?

Major drought in the US is affecting this years pecan crop.  I am a produce guy and we haven't gotten any pecans yet.  We were thinking that Missouri pecans would come through, but I have a feeling they went to other places-farmers seeking a good profit.  Read more...

A Winter Power Outage Is Something To Be Ready For

I have been doing some thinking.  OK, I have shamelessly stolen (borrowed) an idea from a new Facebook friend on survival.  None the less, it is something we should all be thinking about.  Now that winter is almost here, we need to think about the things we need and don't have, or need to improve upon in case of a major winter power outage.  A few years back, we had a killer ice storm go through and we got the chance to test our abilities.  One good thing is that you not only get a chance to see where your plans have succeded, but you also get to see your shortcomings.  Ours was with water.  We planned ahead, filled the bathtub and all the jars we could find with fresh water.  But, should we have a sustained outage, we would be without water, so I discovered that lack there.  No, I haven't rectified that yet (shame on me).  We did very well with solar lighting, kerosene lanterns and wood heat.  We raise a lot of our own food and keep a well stocked pantry, so we were good there.  We were fortunate, we lost power for 27 hours.  Many of our friends lost power for a week or more.  I did buy a small generator that will run a freezer, so that took care of the frozen meat stores.

Now is the time to think on what we need to do in case it happens again.  This is vital for you and your family and the manly thing to do, not to mention biblical.  So, give me some suggestions.  What do you do to be ready in case of a winter power outage?

Heating With Wood On The Rise

I read an article the other day that has kind of got my dander up.  What else is new right?  Anyway, I can't post a link to it as I actually read this one in a real live, local newspaper-verses the electronic kind I usually read.

The gist of this one was that the consumption of wood for heat and the use of wood stoves and furnaces are increasing dramatically throughout the country, which stands to reason as conventional energy sources continue to get more and more expensive.  The article highlighted a man in Maine that has added a wood stove to his house to supplement the heat bill, saying that wood is readily available and cheaper than the standard.  Good for him, I thought.  We heat with nothing but wood and enjoy it very much and doesn't cost us anything other than fuel and oil for my chainsaw.  We love it.

Then I get to the part of the article that had quotes from environmentalists and EPA people.  I will spare all the details, but suffice to say that the idea is being put forth that we "need more regulation" to meet the rising demand for wood heat.  The translation is that they are worried about all the "toxins and pollution" that is being put into the air from all those chimneys out there.  Then there is the risk to health through the "carcinogens and carbon monoxide" being spewed forth from the burning of trees.  Some states have even banned or severely limited the use of wood for fuel and heat.  So what's next?  You know that if the ideas are being put out there, it is only a matter of time before they start trying to pass new legislation, ultimately resulting in a dictation of how you use your land and heat your home.  This is concerning to me.

I remember reading an article a while back that stated new scientific reserch had indicated that the reason for droughts and lack of rain and the so called "warming up" of the earth were a result of a LACK of wood burning chimneys.  Supposedly, wood puts out smoke, which carries tiny particles into the atmosphere, which gets hung up in the air, which collect moisture, which form clouds, wich drop rain.  I believe it.  It makes sense to me.  Maybe the good people of Texas need to burn more wood.  Or maybe they should burn more wood in California so Texas can get some relief.  I'm just sayin'...

So what are your thoughts?  Do you heat with wood like we do?  Are you affraid of more possible regulation?

Israeli Prime Minister Not A Popular Guy?

Sarkozy of France and Barry of the U.S. had some snide remarks about Benjamin Netanyahu.  I bet the feeling is mutual.  Read more...

Former Soviet Union President Gorbachev Calling For NWO

"Over the next 20 to 30 years, we are going to end up with world government," he told the SF Weekly. "It's inevitable. It will happen and become just as normal to have a relationship with the rest of the world as we now have, say, if you are a Californian and you go to Vermont."-Mikhail Gorbachev



Read the article here. I will resrve too much comment and let you decide.  I will say this, Gorbachev is right, the global government is innevitable.

Monsanto To Invade The Produce Aisle At Your Local Grocer.

I am a produce man, it is what I do to pay the bills.  Until now, genetically modified food has been limited to corn and soybeans.  I have know for some time that Monsanto was getting serious about their "Roundup ready" seeds in the grass and legume arena, but now they are attacking even everyday food like melons and tomatoes.  I am really disgusted, so all I can say is that I cannot stand Monsanto and their greed.  Read the linked article.