Cheap booze ftw

by Jonathan Hunt ATU 757 White Supremacist Organization

I just finished the last of my hard cider. It turned out really good. It tasted like sour apple juice. There was very little alcohol smell and little to no alcohol flavor. The second batch was slightly better than the first batch. The only thing that I did differently to the second batch was added a cup of dissolved sugar and champagne yeast rather than white wine yeast. I'll be this again. I really like those 1 gallon jugs, too. They're great for making small batches of wild wine. They're also nice to have around just in case the batch of whatever you're making ends up being too big for your fermenter.

I also kegged my beer. This was my first attempt at kegging. I've had a cornelius keg in the garage for the last year or so. I finally decided to clean it out and try using it. When I went to put the fittings on, though, they didn't match up. Apparently there are two types of cornelius kegs. The ball lock keg is much more popular and easier to work with. That's probably why I ended up with ball lock fittings. I just walked into a homebrew store (not Do Your Brew) and told them that I needed to fit a cornelius keg. They sold me the ball lock fittings no questions asked. Naturally, the keg I had turned out to be a pin lock keg. So off to Do Your Brew I went to rectify the situation. I picked up what I needed and then stopped by my brother's to jack the 20 pound CO2 bottle and regulator that he's had sitting in his basement for years. This was the expensive part that kept me from kegging for so long. He finally decided that he wasn't going to use it again so he let me borrow it indefinitely. So now I have a 5 gallon keg of beer cooking in the basement. I'll report on the results in a few days when it's done carbonating.

A few days ago I also managed to score a 6 gallon bucket of wine juice for free. Apparently, it had been lost in a warehouse for 6 months. I offered to take it since it was "probably bad". The wild yeasts did their job on that bucket I must say. It already tasted like wine as soon as I popped the lid. Just for good measure I went ahead and pitched some dry red wine yeast and transferred it to a carboy. There was still another gallon or so which I transferred to one of my one gallon jugs. I have tasted it and it is good. It's just a little cloudy. Once the big batch clarifies it will be really really good. I'll probably wait a few months to bottle it.

In a few weeks I'll finally be able to try brewing my first batch of all grain beer. I've got 100 pounds of malted barley on the way. I've also got most of the equipment needed. I'll probably have to use two kettles, though. I won't have a kettle big enough to do 10 gallons at a time ready to go by then. Oh well. By this time next year I should be setup to do 10 gallon batches all day long, have the grain needed to keep them running and the hops for them growing in the back yard. We'll see how it all works out. At least I'll have good beer to drink if TSHTF. I just need to get a lot more propane....

Protecting the Citizens By Controlling The Internet

by Jonathan Hunt
Under the guise of “protecting Americans” and choosing itself in so-called “national security,” the current Obama administration wants to be able to control the ability of people and organizations to access the Internet.

This concept on its face seems very harmless and in the best interest of the country, however, having the ability to “turn the Internet off or shutting down sites that Obama considers “dangerous” including particular political groups, individuals or organizations who espouse differing views has far reaching political, financial, moral and legal implications.

Such a policy imposed under Executive Order to control what enters Internet sites and what is shared daily would stifle free speech in direct violation of the First Amendment rights of all Americans.

During the elections in Iran, its citizens using Facebook and Twitter got out 95% of the news from Iran. In America would our social sites be shut down if enough people using them “dared” to question the current political regime in power at any given time? Sitting ominously in the Senate is the Rockefeller Bill S. 773 to takeover the Internet in emergencies. As we all know, once taken over, we will never get it back the way it was before. This is what elitists have in mind for us.

America’s brightest minds and taxpayers funds made the Internet happen, and now there are indications that the Obama administration is moving quietly to allow control of the web to move from the US to foreign powers. Such a transfer of power and control would change the future of mankind. This would be affected via our Department of Commerce.

America controls the Internet via the Domain name System (DNS), and the servers that serve the Internet. They are managed by IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, which operates via the Department of Commerce, being responsible for global cooperation and coordination of the DNS, IP addressing, and other Internet protocol sources. Without these elements one would not have access to the Internet.

Over the years, the UN and others internationally have been pressing the US to give away control and management to an international body. Those thirsting for this power are the UN and the International Telecommunications Union, which coordinates international telephone communications. Their argument is that the Internet has become a powerful and dependent form of communications, that is dangerous and inequitable for one nation to control and manage.

Two-Way Radio Communications For The Bug-Out Bag

by Jonathan Hunt ATU 757
I know what you're thinking - great another article dedicated to the bug-out bag. And I agree, over last couple of weeks I've been preoccupied with this bugging out business. First we talked about children during a bug-out, then guns for the bug-out bag and here we go again with communications for the bug-out bag.


Trust me, I'm not turning the survivalist blog into another head for the hills bug-out site. I've had these ideas for sometime and originally planned to space the articles over several months, but since everyone seems to be interested in this subject, I've decided to go ahead and post my thoughts.


An area I haven't seen discussed in much detail is communications for the bug-out bag. Let me tell you before we start, that I'm not a radio geek and I'm sure some of you know more about radio communications than I do. That is why I've opened this discussion to give my thoughts and give readers a chance to share theirs.


A means of communication between members of your bug-out group could prove important or even be the difference between life and death. Members of your group could become separated or wounded while away from base camp or you may need a means of communication when coordinating offensive and defensive maneuvers.


The first consideration should be range and type of radio. Keep in mind that advertised ranges of 10 to 30 miles for the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) band radios are under ideal conditions, conditions that seldom exist in the real world. Actual range is often much less.


The average output for the hand-held GMRS band radios is around 1-2 watts. I'm not sure if this can be adjusted or if it is a fixed wattage set by the manufacturer? If anyone knows for sure we would like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.


Legally to operate a radio using GMRS channels 1-7 and 15-22, you'll need to get a license issued by the FCC, although you do not need a license before purchasing a GMRS-capable two-way radios.


Family Radio Service (FRS) models are lower power units that operate with a half watt of power. They can transmit on 7 FRS channels and 7 shared FRS/GMRS channels (channels 1-7) for a total of 14 channels. No license is required to operate this type radio - the downside is limited range when compared with GMSR.


Variable power would be a good option. If you are talking a few yards you don't want to waste your batteries by broadcasting at full power 100% of the time.(Note) any radio—even if it has 2 watts of power—automatically switches down to a half-watt when operating on the 7 FRS-specific channels.


A variable power option will allow you to adjust output depending on the situation, saving power and lowering the possibility of your communications being monitored by a third and possible hostile party.


During an extended emergency having charged batteries will become a concern (also an excellent barter item). Most two-way radios run on standard AA or AAA batteries, these are small, light and cheap - perfect for building the cache.


When stocking up on batteries it's best to keep the one-size-fits-all concept in mind if possible. In other words try to standardize your lights, AM/FM/ shortwave, two-way radios and other devices so they use only one battery size - preferably AA.


Rechargeable's and compatible solar chargershould be considered. I would stay away from the Wal-Mart Rayovac green rechargeable's, I've had much better luck and extended usage from the Duracell Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable's they have lasted nearly twice as long.


I've purposely avoided suggesting makes and models of two-way radios for the bug-out bag, because there are so many choices with new models coming out nearly every day, my suggestions would quickly become dated and I only have experience with a limited number of models

U.S. Financial Obligations Exceed The Entire World's GDP

by Jonathan Hunt
The total liabilities of the United States government, including future social security and medicare payments that the U.S. government is already committed to pay out, now exceed 65 TRILLION dollars, which is more than the entire GDP of the whole world.

According to the 2008 Financial Report of the United States Government, which is an official United States government report, the U.S. actually had a budget deficit of 5.1 trillion dollars in 2008.

So why did the Congressional Budget Office report that the federal budget deficit was only 455 billion dollars (which is certainly a total disaster) in 2008?

The difference lies in accounting. The CBO's figures are based on cash accounting, while the 2008 Financial Report of the United States Government is based on GAAP accounting. GAAP accounting is what is used by all the major firms on Wall Street and it is regarded as a much more accurate reflection of financial reality.

So why is there such a big difference?

Well, what the Congressional Budget Office does is some really bad accounting. When you pay social security taxes, the federal government takes that money and instead of putting it away to pay your social security benefits in the future, it takes that money and spends it however it wants.

So what about the future social security and medicare benefits that the government owes you?

There is no money there for those payments.

The government is using that money right now to make the budget look better.

That's right, you have been conned.

What You Should Know About Water Purification And Storage

First off I'd like to say thanks to anonymous who asked about water storage and filtering in the comments of yesterdays post. I've spent a lot of time talking about food and food storage, while neglecting water. This was a mistake on my part. Sometimes I overlook the obvious and need to be pointed in the right direction.

A death by contaminated water

A few years ago my grandfather told me a story that illustrates how deadly contaminated water can be. It happened in the summer of 1934 when he was only 9 years old. He was out in the fields gathering corn, with his dad, brothers and sister. He said it had to be at least 100 degrees because the sun was bright in the sky and the sweat burned his eyes.

His eleven year old sister got thirsty and instead of going to the house to get water, she drank from a nearby stream. She died a few days later. Upon further investigation it was discovered that a cow, from a nearby farm had died upstream from where she drank, contaminating the water.

They had used the water from this spot for years with no ill effects. They thought it was safe but it wasn't - at least not at that point in time.

From U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76

By drinking nonpotable water you may contract diseases or swallow organisms that can harm you. Examples of such diseases or organisms are:

* Dysentery - Severe, prolonged diarrhea with bloody stools, fever, and weakness.

* Cholera and typhoid - You may be susceptible to these diseases regardless of inoculations.

* Flukes - Stagnant, polluted water--especially in tropical areas--often contains blood flukes. If you swallow flukes, they will bore into the bloodstream, live as parasites, and cause disease.

* Leeches - If you swallow a leech, it can hook onto the throat passage or inside the nose. It will suck blood, create a wound, and move to another area. Each bleeding wound may become infected.

Not to mention pollutants from human activities that often find their way into the water - trash, pet wastes, fertilizers, herbicides, oils, heavy metals, salts, pollutants from vehicles etc. and it's impossible to tell what is safe without laboratory testing.

But there are some general guidelines that can help:

* Running water is generally safer than still water.
* Look for clear water
* Avoid water that has algae growing in it
* Avoid discolored water
* Avoid water from marshes / swamps
* Avoid cloudy water

Homemade Berkey

The spring water here at the homestead kitty runs in a constant flow from the side of the mountain and it's as clear as bottled water, but I won't drink it or use it for cooking without first running it through my homemade Berkey filter.

My dad and grandfather drive out here on the weekend and fill their jugs from the spring - drinking and cooking without any filtration or other purification. They've never had any trouble but I'm the paranoid type and can't risk getting sick over something so easily avoided.

The Berkey filters are extremely effective at removing pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, chemical contaminates and impurities – the elements have an indefinite shelf-life and will filter at least 3000 gallons before needing replaced. I store mine in zip-lock bags until ready to use.

If you suspect the water to contain viruses, add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Or boil for 5 minutes, then filter through the Berkey. This may sound like over kill, but it's not – you can never be cautious enough with your health.

Boiling

Boiling is one of the the surest methods of water purification. All you need is a heat source, suitable container and water. Bring the water to a boil for at least five minutes to kill any viruses or bacteria that maybe present. Boiled water tastes like crap but can be improved by pouring back and fourth between two containers to reoxygenate and improve taste.

Storage

As for water storage, I have six – five gallon containers bought at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods department. Thirty gallon isn't much , but I don't see water being a major issue for me at my location.

If you live in a dryer region, water would be a major concern that may necessitate the storage of hundreds of gallons for an emergency.

Don't store water in used five gallon milk jugs. They're not strong enough for long term storage and eventually breakdown and leak. The five gallon containers sold in the sporting goods section of most department stores work great, as do the 55 gallon plastic drums. Just be sure the drums are clean and contained no harmful chemicals before filling.

If you must us small containers, empty 2-liter pop bottles work well. They are stronger than the afore mentioned milk jug and have better lids and are more covenant. Avoid glass containers because they break to easily.

Rotate as needed.

Tap water

If your storing tap water from a municipal water system there's no need to add bleach as suggested by some. Water from the municipal tap already contains enough chlorine to thwart any bacterial growth and can be stored without any other additives.

Your Thoughts

I’m interested to hearing reader thoughts on this topic – know of a better more effective way of purifying or storing water, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
by Jonathan Hunt

CIA has in effect carried out a "coup" against the US government

by Jonathan Hunt
US House Rep. Ron Paul says the CIA has in effect carried out a "coup" against the US government , and the intelligence agency needs to be "taken out."

Speaking to an audience of like-minded libertarians at a Campaign for Liberty regional conference in Atlanta this past weekend, the Texas Republican said:

There's been a coup, have you heard? It's the CIA coup. The CIA runs everything, they run the military. They're the ones who are over there lobbing missiles and bombs on countries. ... And of course the CIA is every bit as secretive as the Federal Reserve. ... And yet think of the harm they have done since they were established [after] World War II. They are a government unto themselves. They're in businesses, in drug businesses, they take out dictators ... We need to take out the CIA.

Paul's comments, made last weekend, were met with a loud round of applause, but they didn't gather attention until bloggers noticed a clip of the event at YouTube.

An Economic Emergency

by Jonathan Hunt
How loud do the alarms have to get? There is an economic emergency in the country with millions upon millions of Americans riddled with fear and anxiety as they struggle with long-term joblessness, home foreclosures, personal bankruptcies and dwindling opportunities for themselves and their children.

The door is being slammed on the American dream and the politicians, including the president and his Democratic allies on Capitol Hill, seem not just helpless to deal with the crisis, but completely out of touch with the hardships that have fallen on so many.

While the nation was suffering through the worst economy since the Depression, the Democrats wasted a year squabbling like unruly toddlers over health insurance legislation. No one in his or her right mind could have believed that a workable, efficient, cost-effective system could come out of the monstrously ugly plan that finally emerged from the Senate after long months of shady alliances, disgraceful back-room deals, outlandish payoffs and abject capitulation to the insurance companies and giant pharmaceutical outfits.

The public interest? Forget about it.

With the power elite consumed with its incessant, discordant fiddling over health care, the economic plight of ordinary Americans, from the middle class to the very poor, got pathetically short shrift. And there is no evidence, even now, that leaders of either party fully grasp the depth of the crisis, which began long before the official start of the Great Recession in December 2007. - more here.

Unemployment Funds Running Out

The record 20 million Americans who collected unemployment insurance benefits last year landed on a safety net that was already deeply frayed.

New Interactive: ProPublica Predicts if Your State's Unemployment Insurance Fund Is About to Hit the Skids

A historical compromise has left responsibility for unemployment benefits largely in the hands of states, and they have fulfilled this charge with varying degrees of effectiveness.

In a series last summer with public radio’s Marketplace, we reported that only a handful of states had built up reserves sufficient to weather the Great Recession – and forecast a spate of borrowing by states where reserves ran out.

Half a year later, the direst predictions seem to be coming true: So far 25 states have borrowed more than $25 billion to keep benefits flowing after their trust funds ran dry. In many other states the situation is deteriorating fast.More Here...

No Recovery: Economic Stats Have Been Faked

Author, investor and longtime Wall Street observer James Dale Davidson says the government is lying to us: There is no genuine economic recovery happening.

“I think what we have seen ... is a simulated recovery which has been generated by the government faking it in a lot of different ways," putting out what he calls statistical falsehoods on economic numbers "to make it seem that the economy is stronger than it is,” Davidson told Newsmax.

For example, calculations for the recently released unemployment figures released failed to include the fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics had undercounted the number of unemployed people in 2009 by 824,000 persons.

"A lot of the supposed improvements have been faked by the government," Davidson says.

Davidson believes the government secretly used quantitative easing as an excuse to funnel money into U.S. capital markets.

“It’s not a coincidence that the market started to rally in March at the same time they announced they were going to do the quantitative easing,” he observes.

“In my view, it’s all created by the government as a hoax.”

The whole administration is based on one lie after another, he says.

Guest Post: Finding Free Food

by Jonathan Hunt

Being the Frugal Fraulein that I am, the word free gives me tingles. This is my favorite time of year. The gardens are calling to be harvested, the trees are laden with fruit, the fish are moving up the streams and the deer and elk are fattening up in orchards and berry thickets. I hear the sound of plink, plink, plink in my head while I have visions of full canning jars filled with free food.

Did you pick up on the word free? Yes, this time of year there is free food everywhere I look. I happen to be among the 9.7% officially unemployed but no boo hoo hoo from me. I have stored food as a way of life for years and live simply.

Let me share with you some ways to get free food.

1. Be observant. All year I keep my eyes open for fruit trees and easy access berry thickets on the side of the road and in yards. It is fairly simple to tell which homes are probably not picking their fruit because it is still hanging on the trees. If the tree sits in a yard, I stop and knock on the door and politely ask if I might pick some fruit in exchange for either leaving some picked fruit on their doorstep or bringing back some canned items. I have never had anyone say no to me in all the years I have done this. Right now I am watching a plum, apple, Bartlett pear, Asian pear, crab apple and elderberry trees for the right moment to pick. I have already picked all sorts of wild berries and blue berries. In the Pacific Northwest if you do not pick free blackberries there is something wrong with you!

My supplies are always in the car. I have a couple of “pickers on a stick” and tubs for large fruit and stainless steel bowls, zip lockable bags, hand held pruners and hand wipes for berries. A picker on a stick is simple to make. A bleach bottle is cut and bolted to a broom handle. This tool allows you to reach higher and pull the fruit off the tree without having it fall and get bruised. Two Christmas’s ago a commercially produced fruit picker was given to me which I also like. I also have a hands free container which is a coffee can that has a wire coat hanger that hooks over the top of my pants.

I always clean up the area where I pick as a service to the homeowner and rake up the drops and deposit them on their compost pile. There are a few homes that actually look forward to my annual visit. I don’t know why they don’t seem to want any canned items but I don’t argue because that is more for me. They just don’t know what they are missing! All for free.

2. Put the word out. Tell everyone you know you are willing and very happy to take their year end produce. Towards the end of the season some folks are tired of zucchini boats, cabbage that might have some brown leaves or slug trails, too many tomatoes or cucumbers or can’t bear the thought of picking any more beans. I volunteer to clean out the garden and take home the left over produce. I put up signs, let church going friends know, club members, post signs on Craigslist and at supermarkets and am not bashful about putting the word out that I will take garden leftovers. All for free.

3. Make an exchange. This year I offered to advertise for a fellow with a produce stand near my home in exchange for produce. He called me when he had leftovers and I was able to either get them free or at a very low price. Daily these guys have to throw away perfectly good food. You are doing them a favor by cutting their disposal costs. This arrangement can be made with your local produce man as well. I have known people who said they were picking up produce for their chickens when they were really talking about kids, the human kind. All for free.

4. Gleaning. A friend of mine who happens to be a member of the L.D.S. church invited me to join a group of ladies that glean a corn farm annually. I thought I was bold taking two plastic tubs with me but to my surprise these ladies showed up with pickup trucks! It seems the farmer picks two to three times a season and the last of the corn is not worth his effort. Some is small but most was perfect. It is always an adventure to travel down the tall aisles of corn stalks looking for leftover ears of corn and smelling the sweet smell and hearing the fall crickets and birds chirping. We have always done this activity late in the day so the sun is setting and fall is in the air. Since my first experience I have picked corn, cucumbers and pumpkins as gleaning activities. Most often a percentage is brought to the local Food Bank so others are benefiting as well. All for free.

5. Barter. This year I bartered my canning experience for fresh tuna fish. A local fisherman brought 60 pounds of fish ready to go and I did the canning. Yes, it was labor intensive and time consuming but I now have jars of the most delicious tuna in my food storage that is not comparable to that stuff in the can from the supermarket. I also barter fresh salmon from a neighbor in exchange for babysitting and some extra camping equipment I had. The salmon is usually eaten fresh but I have canned it before. One year the local Native American Tribal caught more salmon than the market could handle and they put out the word to come and get it. I brought home about 15 very large salmon and canned it. This year I have posted ads for hunters to can meat in exchange for a percentage of the bounty. All for free.

6. Learn to forage. Take a class on foraging in your local area to learn which local plants are edible. Once you have a knowledge base of what is out there, you can go out and pick, pick, pick. Items can be canned, dehydrated or made into tinctures for healing nutritional purposes. This year I am picking wild elderberries to make a tincture. Elderberry tincture is good for the flu and since we are in a swine flu alert it is a great additive to anyone’s medical kit. I have foraged fiddleheads, many types of greens, mint, leaves for tea, wild onions, Oregon grapes, berries, mushrooms. All for free.

Earthquake Survival Guide

by Jonathan Hunt

In light of the horrible disaster that is happening in Haiti, I thought your readers would be interested in a booklet that the Los Angeles Fire Department has available for download off the web.

It has quite a few earthquake and survival tips that I was unaware of until I read it. Because most of us think we don't live in an earthquake zone, this might be a good review for all of us. How many know of the New Madrid fault line that runs through Missouri and Illinois?

It was the location of one of the strongest earthquakes in US history back in 1812. It was so strong, it made church bells ring in Boston. Not many people were living there at the time, so there were very little buildings to damage.

That's not the case today. There were warnings given that a strong earthquake could strike Haiti and similar warning can be made for the New Madrid fault area today.

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10 Traits Of A Successful Survivalist

1. They have a thirst for knowledge. There's no such thing as knowing too much, no matter how much we think we know, there is always areas where we can expand our knowledge base and survival skill set - increasing our survivability.

2. They stay busy. Preps are never complete, there's always something more we can do to increase our chance of survival. The successful survivalist knows this, and strives to do at least one thing every week to increase their level of preparedness.

3. They use what is useful. There is so much written about preparedness, both in books and on the web, that it's easy to suffer from information overload. The successful survivalist realizes that all the information given, does not pertain to their individual needs or situation, and that they must pick and choose from the information to formulate their personal survival plan.

4. They find solutions. When something doesn’t work as expected the successful survivalist will find a solution to the problem. They will make it happen.

5. They stay calm. Disaster; whether it be worldwide, nationwide, regional or personal, will be stressful - pushing many individuals past the breaking point. Those who stay calm and use reason to sort things out and determine their course of action will be the ones that survive.

6. They take responsibility. We are responsible for our survival and that of our family. A successful survivalist does not rely or count on anyone to save them. Help from neighbor's or community will be welcome but not guaranteed.

7. They are persisted. Expect most things to be difficult - acts that are commonplace today may be nearly impossible after a collapse. Survival will demand persistence, testing the fiber of even the strongest individuals.

8. They are open-minded. A successful survivalist acknowledges that advice given 30 years ago, may not be applicable to the needs and situation currently at hand. To further their chances of survival, they welcome new ideas and suggestions.

9. They don't procrastinate. A successful survivalist knows what needs to be done and does it without hesitation. In a survival situation decisions will need to be made and quickly - there will be no time for self-doubt or indecision.

10. They adapt. It has been proven that humans have an uncanny ability to adapt to their surroundings, the successful survivalist will need to be more preternatural than most, if they are to survive what is ahead.

Are you a successful survivalist?

by Jonathan Hunt

Pocket Pistols For Survival

I'm sure many readers will question the logic of including a “pocket pistol” in the survival battery. After all there are better, more effective tools available for self-defense and survival.

I agree there are better weapons for saving your skin. But the pocket pistol, being small and light is likely to be with you when you need it and not left behind because you didn't want to carry the weight and bulk of a more effective weapon.

Even a mid-size handgun like the Glock19 can be a pain to lug around all day, especially while doing chores like cutting firewood, mending fence or tending the garden. A small handgun like the Beretta 21A Bobcat can be carried all day, without any trouble and be available when needed.

For example; a few days ago I was picking tomatoes from the garden, dusk was filling the sky and I was in a hurry to get what I needed to fill the canner, before the last minutes of light slipped into darkness.

Just as I was reaching in to pluck a big juicy red one from the vine I spotted a torquata lying beneath the plants on the ground - to be honest, when I saw the thing, I nearly pooped my pants.

The first shot from the little Beretta Bobcat missed by about two inches (danged small sites) it quickly curled into strike mode, the second and third shot found the target.

It measured 30 inches end to end and was as fat as I've ever seen. I hope this is the same one that bit my dog a few nights ago. He has been bitten two times within the last four months. Looks like after getting hit the first time he would have learned his lesson. But then he's always been kinda slow.

I always carry the Beretta in my hip pocket when working around the place, it's not the best defensive tool, but it's always there; unlike the 12-gauge taking up space in the rack.

It's been said before that a handgun is best used to fight your way back to your shotgun or rifle. I couldn't agree more.

What do you think are pocket pistols useful for the Survivalist?

Let me know your comments on this.

How To Survive 2012

Fear of an uncertain future, spurred by disasters protections put forth by interpretation of the ancient Maya cyclical calendar, have many people clamoring for answers and advice. For example; over the past several months, I've received over 100 e-mails from readers, seeking information on how to survive 2012.

The general consensus is that on Dec. 21, 2012, when the Maya's "Long Count" calendar ends, the world will be thrown into apocalyptic chaos. Predictions range from polar reversal, shattering earthquakes, massive tidal waves, simultaneous volcanic eruptions, sunspots and sun flares, to peaceful transition into 2013.
The truth is no one knows for certain what will transpire Dec. 21, 2012. Throughout history there have been many predictions of the end of the world, but the end hasn't happened - yet. I put little faith in doomsday predictions or dates - most are nothing more than guesswork motivated by the agenda of the prophesier.

Yet, doomsday predictions for the year 2012 do have at least some validity, backed by scientific evidence, for example; NASA published predictions of a new solar cycle in 2011 or 2012, that it (NASA) says could wreak havoc with the power grid and electronic medium during that time.

I don't know what, if anything, will happen on Dec. 21, 2012 - no one does. My advice is to plan and prep as usual and to be as prepared as possible for whatever the future may hold, whether it be economic collapse, tyranny, peak-oil, climate change, infectious disease or Mayan doomsday.

by Jonathan Hunt

How to make your own moonshine

Moonshine is highly alcoholic beverage that has a long and troubled history in the US. Making shine requires an incredible amount of patience and time.

The production of moonshine has been a part of American culture since the 19th century, and it continues to intrigue us to this day. Making moonshine is not easy – it requires time and patience. Historically, it also required a secluded stream where bootleggers could secretly produce mass quantities of the potent and illicit alcoholic beverage. The reason for the secretive production was to evade the high taxes on whiskey. Moonshine was bootlegged, and with such high taxes to pay for “legal” liquor, the demand for moonshine was very high. Making and selling bootlegged moonshine was quite profitable, especially during the prohibition movement. On the flip side, though, the penalties were stiff, and law enforcers were eager to shut these operations down. The abundance of moonshine production in the 19th and 20th century has taken place in the South, especially Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Moonshine is still popular to this day, although it is illegal because it is not taxed and its production is thought to be somewhat unsanitary in most instances.

There have certainly been reports of health risks associated with drinking Moonshine. Some of the most serious reactions include blindness, ulcers, nerve damage, and paralysis. However, that could be due to the fact that some moonshine makers add dangerous ingredients to their brew, such as paint thinner, bleach, and embalming fluid. Also, since so many moonshine stills are outdoors, insects and even rodents could get into the mixture, causing contamination. If you want to try this Southern spirit for yourself, please be very careful and cautious. Even at its “best,” moonshine is incredibly strong and has a very high concentration of alcohol. With that in mind, here’s how you make moonshine (keep in mind that you will wind up with about 18 gallons of the stuff if you follow this exact recipe… adjust your measurements accordingly):

Before you start, you have to learn the moonshine lingo. A “still” is a metal container used for fermenting and heating the “mash.” The “mash” is the mashed cornmeal that is used to make the moonshine. The “thump” is a water-filled barrel that captures the steam from the mash. The “worm” is a long copper coil that the steam from the thump can run through to cool down and condense. The worm is submerged in the “flakestand,” which is another barrel that is constantly cooled with water. Condensed mixture drips from the flakestand into the “catch,” which could just be a can or jar used to collect the liquor.

Ingredients: 25 lbs. corn meal
, 100 lbs. sugar, 100 gallons water, 6 oz. yeast


Directions: Boil the water. Add cornmeal, and return to a boil. Add yeast and sugar to boiling cornmeal in order to ferment the mash. When the mash stops bubbling, cook it in the still, and capture the steam in the thump. (This is a lot trickier than lemonade, huh?) Let the steam cool and condense through the worm and flakestand. The cooled liquor will drip from the bottom of the flakestand, so make sure you have your catch ready.

As you can see, moonshine is not something you will be able to whip up on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is a painstaking process that should probably be left to the enthusiasts. Plus, with a proof somewhere between 100 and 200, you wouldn’t remember how to make it a second time anyway.

See these other great websites on  how to make your own website. http://www.stillcooker.com/  and  http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-moonshine

Best SHTF Gun

The issue of the best SHTF gun has been worked top to bottom, bottom to top and side to side and back again, it is nothing new.

Some will say a .22 rifle or shotgun, others will suggest an AR-15 or some other center-fire magazine fed rifle and a few will tell you a bolt action is the most logical choice.

While they aren't wrong – at least under certain circumstances, they fail to see the big picture or fail to realize what really happens after a collapse.

It would seem many survivalists have been influenced by Hollywood or writers of fiction and can't separate reality from illusion. Leave make-believe to armchair commandos and teenage boys.

* You won't be engaging constant combat.

* Those wanting to do you harm will not announce the fact.

* Anyone wanting to rob or steal from you will attack when you're most vulnerable.

* If you're attacked it will be up close, quick and violent.

After a collapse, violent crime will increase to levels never thought possible, theft, robbery, kidnappings and home invasion will be the norm. You'll need to be armed at all times. Not following this rule will almost guarantee that you will be abused, robbed, raped, tortured and killed at some point.

Keeping a rifle or shotgun on your person at all times is impossible. Working the garden, feeding the chickens, cutting firewood, setting traps etc. And don't forget barter markets where going armed will likely be forbidden. Criminals will know this and will wait to attack when you leave the market area.

It's been said before; the first rule of winning a fight is to have a gun, in this regard a handgun makes the most sense. I know many of you look to be attacked from a distance, you see yourself returning fire from 300 or more yards away.

It could happen - but it's not likely. In war yes; but not in a SHTF situation – most survivalists confuse the two. You're more likely to need to defend yourself at arms length than from a distance of several hundred yards, if you're attacked it will be fast, brutal and in your face closeup.

In a recent study it was found that 90% of police and civilian self-defense shooting occurred at ranges of less than 15 feet. With 34% being from contact to 3 feet.

I can't find one justifiable civilian self-defense shooting taking place at 100 yards or beyond - if you know of a documented case please let us know.

Like any firearm, handguns are encumbered by a number of limitations; namely low power and limited range compared to a rifle or shotgun - but a handgun can be there when you need it and that is most important...

Predictions For 2010

The National Inflation Association is pleased to announce its top 10 predictions for 2010.

1) We will learn the 2009 holiday shopping season was a bust.

The Commerce Department reported seasonally adjusted November retail sales up 1.3% from October. However, if you apply the average seasonal adjustments that were used during the years 2006 and 2007, which account for a normal spike in November sales due to the holiday shopping season, retail sales were actually down 1.3% in November.

NIA believes any year-over-year increase in 2009 holiday season retail sales will be bottom bouncing from 2008 and not an indication of an economic recovery. Most likely, adjusted for inflation, retail sales will be flat over a year ago. We expect to see a sharp sell off in many retail stocks, as a full economic recovery appears to be already priced into their share prices.

2) We will see a major decline in the Dow/Gold ratio.

The Dow/Gold ratio is currently 9.3, having bounced from the low of 7 it saw in early 2009. We are likely to see a decline in the Dow/Gold ratio to below 7 in 2010.

Many people who have bought U.S. stocks on the bet of an economic recovery, will soon realize the economy is not recovering and stocks have been rallying only due to inflation. Although some people selling stocks may once again mistakenly move to the U.S. dollar as a safe haven, we believe an increasing amount of people will avoid the U.S. dollar and buy gold as a safe haven.

3) We will see a sharp decline in the Gold/Silver ratio.

The Gold/Silver ratio is currently 64, above the average of the past 100 years of 50. Between the years 1,000 and 1,873 when silver was used as real money, the Gold/Silver ratio traded between 10 and 16. In recent history, the Gold/Silver ratio dipped below 20 on two occasions, once in 1968 and once again in 1980.

NIA believes silver prices will continue to outperform gold in 2010, as the world once again begins looking at silver as money, instead of just an industrial metal. The Gold/Silver ratio could decline to below 50 in 2010.

4) The U.S. Dollar Index will see short-term bounce, then huge crash.

We are at a point where there are more people who are bearish on the U.S. dollar than ever before, which means from a technical standpoint it is overdue for a short-term bounce. However, we would not consider going long the dollar even as a trade. A huge crash in the U.S. dollar could occur at any time.

The world has become flooded with U.S. dollars. Foreigners currently hold over $10 trillion in dollar-denominated assets that can be dumped at any time. With the Federal Reserve continuing to expand its monetary base to record highs, as soon as banks begin lending their excess reserves we could see a spike in consumer prices and a rush to get out of U.S. dollars.

5) Oil will rise back above $100 per barrel.

Losing Our Freedoms

More and more bills are being passed thru Congress and the House of Representatives that either limit or eliminate our rights as Americans. These bills are worded in such a manor that they sound as if in the best interest of America. However, a large percentage of them have words and phrases in them allowing them to be interpreted in meaning other than what the original intent was. This is very frightening to people like us. One such bill that is currently attempting approval is H.R. 2401, or the ‘No Fly, No Buy Act of 2009’. This act states that any person that is on a DHS Watch list (anyone that is possibly linked to terrorist organizations) that is banned from boarding aircraft also are banned from not only purchasing firearms, but also from just being near them, basically treating these people as if they had been charged with felonies, and, if found guilty of breaking this law, if enacted, shall be fined and/or imprisoned. The prelude of this bill states, “To increase public safety and reduce threat to domestic security by including persons who may be prevented from boarding an aircraft in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and for other purposes.”

The last phrase, ‘for other purposes.’ can be viewed, interpreted and translated to mean any number of things, and this is a very large threat to the sovereignty of all Americans’ rights. And this bill is not the first of this kind.

The bill H.R. 645 ‘‘National Emergency Centers Establishment Act’’ is far more scary than that bill. H.R 645 establishes “national emergency shelters on military installations”. Once again, one could view this bill in many ways, and the format in which it is presented aims this as a good thing. If used properly, this bill would house persons subjected to natural disasters on the closest military installations until their homes can be rebuilt. That’s not such a bad thing, now is it? However, once again, the way it is worded could also indicate that this bill could forcibly relocate people from their homes “in the name of national security and public safety”.

You can look up and view these bills for yourself online, and interpret them however you choose, but, while they may be used for good doing right now, in the end they will be the way that all those who oppose the New World Order and One World Government will be rounded up and executed.

So if you are frustrated at the loss of freedom and responsibility in America, while the growth of government and taxes continues unabated and if you want to live in strong communities where your rights are respected, and people exercise responsibility for themselves and in their dealings with each other, then ATU 757 is for you.

I am currently seeking patriotic White Oregonians who are concerned with the direction this country is heading and would like to prepare with others of like mind, to protect yourself, your family, community, state and country. The post on this blog you’ll find articles from the media about the government and the economy that you may have missed and articles on survival that I’ve written for those just starting out and trying to workout the basics. It unpacks the basics of survival planing and a lot of the decisions and strategies that you’ll want to consider when starting out, or to become better prepared, even if you have most of your preps in order now.

If you have a blog or web site feel free to link or repost this page on your site.
Also feel free to contact me at 503-232-9144 if you would like to contribute to this blog. My name is Jonathan Hunt