22 Reasons To Be Concerned About The U.S. Economy As We Head Into The Holiday Season

Are we on the verge of another major economic downturn?  In recent weeks, most of the focus has been on our politicians in Washington, but there are lots of other reasons to be deeply alarmed about the economy as well.  Economic confidence is down, retail sales figures are disappointing, job cuts are up, and American consumers are deeply struggling.  Even if our politicians do everything right, there would still be a significant chance that we could be heading into tough economic times in the coming months.  Our economy has been in decline for a very long time, and that decline appears to be accelerating.  There aren't enough jobs, the quality of our jobs continues to decline, our economic infrastructure is being systematically gutted, and poverty has been absolutely exploding.  Things have gotten so bad that former President Jimmy Carter says that the middle class of today resembles those that were living in poverty when he was in the White House.  But this process has been happening so gradually that most Americans don't even realize what has happened.  Our economy is being fundamentally transformed, and the pace of our decline is picking up speed.  The following are 22 reasons to be concerned about the U.S. economy as we head into the holiday season...

#1 According to Gallup, we have just seen the largest drop in U.S. economic confidence since 2008.

#2 Retailers all over America are reporting disappointing sales figures, and many analysts are very concerned about what the holiday season will bring.  The following is an excerpt from a recent Zero Hedge article...

Chico’s FAS [CHS] Earnings Call 8/28/13:

“Traffic was our issue in quarter two. In a highly promotional and challenging environment, comparable sales result was a negative 2.6 percent on top of a positive 5.6 percent last year and a positive 12.8 percent in 2011.”

William-Sonoma [WSM] Earnings Call 8/28/13:

“The retail environment, it seems to indicate there’s still a lot of uncertainty out there, that the promotional environment has not gone away and that the retail environment in general continues to be choppy, especially with the recent earnings releases and this global unrest, and we just don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

Zale Corp [ZLC] Earnings Call 8/28/13:

“Overall, we continue to take a conservative view of market conditions in both the U.S. and in Canada. That being said, we do expect to continue to achieve positive top line growth. We expect store closures will impact our overall revenue growth for the year by about 250 basis points. It represents net closures of approximately 50 to 55 retail locations.”

DSW Inc. [DSW] Earnings Call 8/27/13:

“We did have a traffic decline in Q2, sort of similar to what just about every other retailer in America has reported.”

Guess? [GES] Earnings Call 8/28/13:

“The Korean business continued to be strong as revenue grew in the high single digits in local currency during the quarter. This was offset with theweakness from China, where we are seeing clear evidence of a pullback in consumer spending behavior because of the slowdown in the economy.”

Aeropostale [ARO] Earnings Call 8/22/13:

“Our business trends in the second quarter did not change materially from earlier in the year, which was disappointing given the level of change we registered with the brand. This performance in the third quarter outlook is being influenced by a challenging retail environment, with weak traffic trends and high levels of promotional activity.”

#3 Domestic vehicle sales just experienced their largest "miss" relative to expectations since January 2009.

#4 One of the largest furniture manufacturers in America was recently forced into bankruptcy.

#5 According to the Wall Street Journal, the 2013 holiday shopping season is already being projected to be the worst that we have seen since 2009.

#6 The Baltic Dry Index recently experienced the largest 4 day drop that we have seen in 11 months.

#7 Merck, one of the largest drug makers in the nation, has announced the elimination of 8,500 jobs.

#8 Overall, corporations announced the elimination of 387,384 jobs through the first nine months of this year.

#9 The number of announced job cuts in September 2013 was 19 percent higher than the number of announced job cuts in September 2012.

#10 The labor force participation rate is the lowest that it has been in 35 years.

#11 As mentioned the other day, the labor force participation rate for men in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket is at an all-time low.

#12 Approximately one out of every four part-time workers in America is living below the poverty line.

#13 Incredibly, only 47 percent of all adults in America have a full-time job at this point.

#14 U.S. consumer delinquencies are starting to rise again.

#15 The Postal Service recently defaulted on a 5.6 billion dollar retiree health benefit payment.

#16 The national debt has increased more than twice as fast as U.S. GDP has grown over the past two years.

#17 Obamacare is causing health insurance premiums to skyrocket and this is reducing the disposable income that consumers have available.

#18 Median household income in the United States has fallen for five years in a row.

#19 The gap between the rich and the poor in the United States is at an all-time record high.

#20 Former President Jimmy Carter says that the middle class in America has declined so dramatically that the middle class of today resembles those that were living in poverty when he was in the White House.

#21 According to a Gallup poll that was recently released, 20.0% of all Americans did not have enough money to buy food that they or their families needed at some point over the past year.  That is just under the record of 20.4% that was set back in November 2008.

#22 Right now, one out of every five households in the United States is on food stamps.  There are going to be a lot of struggling families out there this winter, so please be generous with organizations that help the poor.  A lot of people are really going to need their help during the cold months ahead.

Machetes In Your Preps

Consider the machete to be a jungle survival tool. They are generally seen being used to hack trails through tropical rain forests and jungles. Most North American forests are more open and have plenty of trails and game trails for passage. I was recently scouting a site for future training activities. The area included a lot of high grass and thick sapling growths. I had to wade and push through these obstacles. I realized that a machete would be ideal for clearing paths, campsites and training areas. I would never advocate a machete as a replacement for a good survival knife, but if you anticipate surviving or just camping in swamps, marshes, grasslands or thick growth areas a machete may be a better choice than an axe. Not only can this tool be used to clear trails and campsites, it can quickly cut grass and brushes to thatch a shelter or cut light firewood. What it lacks in weight it makes up for in velocity for cutting. You can clear a campsite, and build a shelter much faster with the big blade of a machete than with a knife. In general the bigger 18-inch blade machetes are not as handy unless you are only going to be clearing grass and brush. The shorter 12-inch blades are easier to use, safer and better for axe work.

These big blades need to be respected. The wide swing arch makes them a hazard to the careless user and anyone nearby. The wide blade can deflect off of hardwood and do serious damage. Some machetes come with a full “D” handle while others provide a safety strap. You can get a good machete for about $25 to $40.00. Beware of cheap ones with flexible blades and unsafe handles. I selected a Gerber ™ machete with a thick 9-½ long blade and a strong composite grip. The full length saw blade on the back will be very useful for the more precision cuts and notches required for building shelters, traps, rafts and other survival devices. As a weapon, the machete is somewhat clumsy, but very intimidating and lethal. It may not be a “must have” item, but it’s not a bad investment if you anticipate operations in the back country.

Missionary Mailing Addresses

Everyone - the missionaries mailing addresses are now posted on the right-hand side of this page. Please take time to write them a letter. I know they would appreciate them!

54th Missionary Mailing Addresses

Elder Kevin Thompson
Ohio Columbus Mission
19 Clairedan Dr.
Powell, Ohio 43065

Sister Britny Mortensen

New York South Mission

85-69 60th Dr.

Elmhurst, New York 11373

Elder Michael McCann
New York South Mission

85-69 60th Dr.

Elmhurst, New York 11373

Elder Benson Rice

5200 N. Main Street

Vidor, Texas 77662

Elder Brad Taylor

78 Colfax St APT #2

Jamestown, New York 14701

Elder Josh Bacon

5521 West 129th PL

Crestwood, IL 60445

Elder Trey Dougher

German Riesco 230, Suite 703

Rancagua, Chile

Elder James Nicholas Golden

1945 109th St

Edmonton, AB T6E5J3

Canada

Elder Deitrich James O'Rullian

Washington Everett Mission

POB 13390

Mill Creek, WA 98082-1390

Elder Colby Jones

5213 Pacific Ave. #2

Tacoma, WA 98408

Elder and Sister Moon

valandbrent@gmail.com

Elder and Sister Rust

Auf der Postwacht 6

31582 Nienburg/Weser

Germany

Reach Out with Love to Less-Active Returned Missionaries

Despite enjoying successful missions, some returned missionaries return home only to later drift into inactivity.

Josh loved his mission experience in the California Ventura Mission, but he found the transition home harder than he had anticipated.

“It’s just really difficult,” he said. “When I came home from my mission I thought life would be a lot different and it wasn’t.” After a year and a half of feeling frustrated, Josh went inactive for about eight months.

Josh said his inactivity was not immediate, but happened over several months. “I wouldn’t say my prayers every day, then not studying my scriptures, and pretty soon I wasn’t attending church anymore,” he said.

In a 2001 general conference talk, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve acknowledged that “the adjustment associated with leaving the mission field and returning to the world” is sometimes difficult. Then he asked, “Wouldn't this be a good time for a little self-evaluation to determine if we still have the same relationship with our Father in Heaven that we enjoyed in the mission field?” (“The Returned Missionary,” Oct. 2001 general conference).

Elder Perry had three suggestions for returned missionaries: pray more frequently, study the scriptures regularly, and continue to share the gospel.

Pray More Frequently
“If the world has diverted us from the practice of prayer,” Elder Perry said, “we then have lost a great spiritual power. Maybe it is time that we rekindle our missionary spirit through more frequent, consistent, and mighty prayer.”

Study the Scriptures Regularly
Elder Perry also encouraged returned missionaries to engage in daily personal scripture study as well as studying them with roommates, a spouse, or other family members. ”The practice of holding regular study classes would help keep the doctrines of the kingdom clear in our minds and offset the persistent intrusion of worldly concerns,“ he said.

Continue to Share the Gospel
Returned missionaries don't need a badge to share the gospel, Elder Perry said. ”I call on you returned missionaries to rededicate yourselves, to become reinfused with the desire and spirit of missionary service.“

Jennifer also loved her 18-month mission in the Canada Edmonton Mission. When she returned, she was active until she met and started dating a nonmember.

“In the end we did break up because of religion,” Jennifer said. “But we had hashed it out so much that at the end of it, I didn’t even know what I believed anymore. I decided to start looking into other churches and be more open-hearted.”

Unlike Josh, Jennifer has not found her way back to activity in the Church. “I don’t have any resentment to the Church,” she said. “I feel so blessed to have grown up in the LDS Church, … but I still feel confused because I don’t have answers to everything yet.”

Whether you're a Church leader, parent, or spouse, watching someone you care about wander from the paths of the Church and the teachings of the Gospel is never easy. Orson F. Whitney shared this hopeful message: ”Though some of the sheep may wander, theeye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooneror later they will feel the tentacles of DivineProvidence reaching out after them anddrawing them back to the fold“ (in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).

After Dan returned from serving in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission, he got a job and enrolled in school. School and work were headed in the right direction, but Dan soon became discouraged with his social life, particularly dating. “I was trying to find people to hang out with and click with, and it was no one in the Church,” he said.

Dan's friends drank alcohol and eventually Dan started drinking too. “It got to the point that I was so frustrated that I kept on drinking every night. … I felt guilty for my actions and I felt like I couldn’t come back.”

President Ken Peterson, mission president over the Ohio Cleveland Mission from 2006 to 2009, said some less-active returned missionaries “feel ostracized because inwardly they feel like they are disappointing people. As a result, they pull away from those they feel they have disappointed.”

Parents, friends, and leaders can help, President Peterson said. “Be a good example without preaching. Reach out to them.”

That is exactly what happened to Dan when he and his roommates attended his ward’s family home evening. “[Ward members] just swarmed us,” Dan continued. “It felt good, and I knew that I wanted to be around these people. They were friendly and inviting and welcoming.” His experience that night was something he never forgot. After five years of inactivity, Dan returned to the Church in 2012 and was recently married in the Salt Lake Temple.

Josh, Jennifer, Dan, and all agree that criticizing or reprimanding returned missionaries for not going to church only pushes them farther away. “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Josh said. “You don’t know what they’re going through in their life. The most important thing to do is be their friend.”

Jennifer agreed. “You never know where people are coming from,” she said. I feel like often people don’t get to know my heart; they just judge.”

President Peterson has seen a few of his own missionaries fall away and agreed. “It’s important that we love them. It’s a pretty tough world we live in, and a lot of times we are completely unaware of individual struggles.”

President Thomas S. Monson said: “Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing [his or] her best to deal with the challenges which come [his or] her way, and may we strive to do ourbest to help out” (“Charity Never Faileth,” Sept. 2010 general Relief Society meeting).

What To Do If You Are Ever Caught In An Earthquake

Most people aren’t familiar with earthquake protocol, which can mean that total panic ensues. Educate yourself about what to do if you feel the earth start to shake, so that you can be as safe as possible.

By: The National Guard

Have Control Over Yourself

Sudden and dramatic movement of the ground beneath you is very disorienting, to say the least. Try to remain calm in order to be able to think clearly. Be aware of the type of building you are in, where you are located in it and where the general way out is. Take immediate action, even if the tremors cease.

Find Sturdy Cover If You Are Inside During An Earthquake

Don’t try running outside, despite the natural inclination to flee. Instead, look for something solid to crawl under, like a metal desk, a table or even a doorway if that’s all there is available. Get low to the floor and place your arms over your head and face for protection. If there is no furniture in your vicinity and you are in a tall building such as a skyscraper, get to the inner walls as quickly as you can. Remember to protect your head with your arms and crouch to avoid falling debris.

Head For Clear Ground When Outdoors

If you are caught in an earthquake while you are outside, get as far away from structures and trees as you can. Don’t assume it’s safe to seek shelter under a mighty oak either, as the ground opening up can easily tear the roots up on the sturdiest of trees. Beware of falling glass from any building, as this is a leading cause of harm. Run as fast as possible away from them without giving a thought to any personal belongings. Until you are out of the danger zone, your only concern should be that of your personal safety and of anyone with you.

If You Are In Your Car When It Strikes

An earthquake may fell like a large truck passing close by when you are in your vehicle. If you suspect an earthquake, safely slow down until you can make a more accurate assessment of the situation. Once your suspicions are confirmed, pull over, but avoid doing so near any telephone poles or power lines. Also, in the event that you are located on any kind of overpass or bridge, drive off of it to solid ground immediately. Park in a clearing if you can and turn the car’s radio on to get an update on what’s going on.

Shopping Malls, Restaurants And Movie Theaters

You could be anywhere when an earthquake occurs, but the logic behind your response is basically the same no matter what your location. Crouch down to protect yourself while covering your head underneath something that can absorb the impact of falling debris. Remember that even during a minor earthquake, items will fall from shelves that can seriously hurt you. Fixtures may also fall right out of the ceiling. While it may be difficult to fight your urge to vacate the building, seeking instant cover is your best course of action.

When It’s Over

You’ve probably heard of after shocks and know that they can be just as life-threatening as an earthquake itself. Because of this, it’s essential that you quickly analyze your situation and position and relocate to a safer location at once. Since damage has already been done to buildings, trees and other surroundings, the slightest vibration could cause catastrophe. Follow the instructions of emergency response professionals or get on your phone with 911. Do not assume you are safe simply because the earthquake appears to have subside; take every precaution for yourself and others until there is no doubt at all.

Earthquakes come in all sizes and strengths. Depending on where you happen to be, the instantaneous decisions you make may very well save your life or the lives of others. Know what to do well in advance and remember to keep your cool.

Cold Rain – Natures Most Deadly Combination

Winter and late fall operations when the temperatures are well below freezing can offer the perfect opportunity to test equipment and skills with a minimum of risk, Snow can be managed and used for shelter building, snow-showing and other winter survival training operations, but cold rain introduces a high risk of hypothermia and other hazards without compensatory training opportunities. The three main counter indications for this kind of operation are:

• Outdoor classes would be almost impossible in cold rain and wind.. Exposing shivering wet participants would counter the main imperatives of cold-weather survival “stay dry and out of the wind”
• Setting up tents and equipment under these conditions will result in everything and everyone getting wet before camp can be established. The dangers of hypothermia would be unavoidable and everything would be frozen that night.
• Driving conditions including possibly ice covered back-roads and whiteout visibility would put everyone in danger

In the case of cold or potentially freezing rain the risks outweigh the training advantages. Testing of rain gear, stoves, fire starting techniques and other “cold wet” survival skills can be done in short exposure classes where shelter is immediately available.

Freezing and Cold Rain are the most dangerous of weather conditions

Of all the hostile weather conditions: cold rain and freezing rain are the most dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. History is filled with horror stories of armies and refuges being caught in such conditions leaving thousands of frozen corpses along the roads. Marathon runners often succumb to irreversible hypothermia after running in rain at temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees. Arctic blizzards and desert heat will not kill you as fast or make survival techniques harder to use than a cold rain. Once the temperatures get below 60-degrees there is only one survival rule “Don’t Get Wet!” Even if you manage to stay out of the actual rain, the humidity will be near to100% and seep through your clothing to steal your warmth.

Obviously a fire is going to be a great way to drive off dampness, but you cannot risk getting soaked trying to start a fire. If you can get a fire going and stock dry wood before the rain starts you should do so. A fire combined with even partial shelter will be a big benefit. A big fire can survive a light rain for some time, but a heavy rain will put any fire out, leaving you wet and could. If you are able to get a fire going or hope to start one when the rain stops, you must try to gather dry wood and protect it from moisture. Cold rain will saturate all available wood and then freeze. Frozen wet wood and dry wood look alike until you waste time and matches trying to burn it. Shelter should be your first priority unless you are already soaked. Getting wet standing by a fire in the rain is not smart. Getting wet trying to start a fire in the rain is not smart. The heat from a fire without shelter will be lost to the wind. Shelter is the first priority! Once cold and/or freezing rain is encountered finding shelter, staying dry and conserving body heat are the primary objectives. Only risk traveling if you have full rain protective clothing or you are sure that you can reach shelter and warmth within an hour or less. Being wet and cold for more than a short time is an invitation to hypothermia and death.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of carrying rain and wind protective items with you in every pack, vehicle, pocket and purse. When going into the outdoors a good quality poncho or rain suit should always be carried. Survival kits and packs should include heavier rain gear, space blankets, plastic sheets, tents or other shelter systems. Even large sized plastic trash bags can be modified to make serviceable rain suits. Wet and frozen feet can stop you in your tracks and set you up for frostbite and/or “trench foot”. If caught without waterproof footwear a dry pair of socks kept in your pack or under your shirt will be a lifesaver. Dry socks can be used to replace wet ones or to provide emergency mittens to save your hands. Wool and some modern synthetic clothing will retain some body heat even when wet. Select GoreTex ™, RianSuede™ or other water resistant insulated clothing for outdoor activities. These kinds of garments are well worth the investment if you anticipate extended time in the outdoors during wet conditions, but long-term survival still will depend on staying dry or getting dry. Avoid cotton clothing in cool damp weather. Cotton loses all of its insulating value when wet. Under some conditions, wet blankets, clothing and sleeping bags can be “freeze dried” . Wet items can be put out in the cold (below 30-degrees) and allowed to freeze stiff. Once frozen they can be beaten and shaken to knock out the ice crystals. In addition to a SpaceBlanket ™ I carry a white Tyvek ™ suit in my survival packs. These take up very little room, weigh almost nothing and can be used as clothing while my wet clothing is drying not to mention the obvious NBS protection and winter camouflage uses for these suits. The “poor mans rain suit” can be improvised from two heavy duty, 42-gallon trash bags with arm and head holes cut in one and a skirt made of the other tucked into the belt. I carry cheap rain ponchos in ever jacket. Remember: “it’s not what you have that saves you, it’s what you have with you”

Coat Pocket Survival

Consider a “Coat Pocket Survival Kit”

There are all kinds of “survival kits” There are big tote bin kits for the home emergency, survival backpacks for when you need to head for the hills, survival kits for the belt, purse or briefcase. But no survival kit will help you if you don’t have it with you when you need it most. There are a few very inexpensive items that should always be in your pockets. These are the “very least” you should have with you “just in case”.

• The first item is always a knife of some kind. Although I generally carry at least one knife and one multi-tool, I still have a cheap penknife in the pocket of every jacket. Of course this will have to be dispense with if you are going to be going through any security checks.
• The second item is a fire starter. This can be as simple as a pack of common safety matches or butane lighter. Yes, waterproof camp matches are better but the box is bulky and you may not want to have them in every coat and pair of pants you have. Small magnesium fires starters are best of all if you can afford have one in every jacket.
• The third item is a few paper napkins. Better yet, carry one or two bandanas. These “old school” items can be used as emergency respirators, bandages, “help” flags and tourniquets. These are always handy, cheap and have many emergency applications. An even better choice is a folding N95 respirator.
• Fourth is a small plastic sandwich bag. This can be a handy container or it can keep your wallet dry. The bigger the bag the better but we are talking about your pockets not a backpack.
• Finally have a few heavy-duty rubber bands.

You can distribute these items throughout your pockets so you hardly know they are there. Here are just a few of the emergency uses for these items:

MATCHES / FIRE STARTER 
20 chances to make a fire
20 emergency flairs or on big one
20 x 20 second lights 

PAPER NAPKINS / BANDANA

Improvised dust, mist and soot mask
Improvised water filter
Wound dressing / blood stopper
Fire starter / torch
CPR mask

PLASTIC BAG (small) 
Water container
Keep matches and wallet dry
Wound cover
Eye protection

RUBBER BANDS (heavy Duty)
Hand cover for blood, etc
Hold napkins over mouth
Hold plastic over eyes
Hold wound dressing in place
Burn hot and smoky

Of course a few more items would help. Larger trash pages can be used to protect against wind, rain, and chemical agents and even keep radioactive dust off your clothes. A few Band-Aids are a good pocket item. A small square of folded heavy aluminum foil can also come in hands. But the items listed are dirt cheap, easy to carry and just enough to give you the survival edge in a number of emergency situations. Don’t leave home without them!

WHAT’S IN YOUR BEDSIDE DRAWER?

We spend about one-third of our lives in bed so there is a thirty-percent chance that the life or death emergency will strike while we are in bed. In that moment everything will depend on what you can reach right now. Think about it. You wake up in the dark and the house is shaking from an earthquake, a bomb blast or a tornado. You wake up in the dark and smell smoke or noxious fumes from a chemical incident or a fire. You wake up in the dark to the sounds of an intruder or the screams of your family. No time to get out your survival kit or look in your survival manual. You may suffocate, be trapped in the rubble, or be attacked in the next few seconds. You open the bedside drawer and find —-.

Okay. First of all, only emergency items should be there. You don’t want to be wasting precious seconds rummaging around in there for what you need. First you should have two key items right on top of the bedside table. Your cell phone should be placed there every night. Don’t depend on a landline phone for emergencies. The landline phone may be dead when you need it most and you cannot take it with you if you are forced to flee to safety. Your car keys should also be on the table. If all else is lost at least have access to your vehicle and you can also use the button on the remote to set off your car alarm as another way to call for help. Imagine escaping into the night and realizing that you cannot use your vehicle and you do not have a phone!

Inside your bedside drawer

Now here are some suggestions for what should be in the bedside drawer. You should have a good N-95 dust mask in there. It will not protect you against poison gasses or carbon monoxide from a fire but it will offer some protection from soot and smoke and hot air as you escape. It will also protect you from dust in a building collapse. Of course have a good flashlight. It should be a high quality high intensity multi LED unit. Don’t be cheap on this item. The light may have to penetrate smoke and dust. It may be needed to signal rescuers to your location or to blind a would-be assailant. Make it bright and tough. You should also have one of those small, flat crowbars like the Stanley Wonder Bar ™ or the combination hatchet, hammer, pry bar survival tool to smash windows open jammed doors, chop through plaster-board walls and pry yourself out from under things. It’s not a bad weapon either.

If your family is spread out in the house a whistle and walky-talkies might be worth considering so you can activate the appropriate emergency plan. Some wireless phones work as walky-talkies even if the lines are down.

If you are 50-years of age or older you should keep a package of aspirin in that drawer. Many victims of heart attack wake up in the night with chest pain and don’t survive long enough for help to get there. If you awaken with chest pain you swallow the aspirin immediately and call 911 on that phone you have right there. Your chances are now significantly improved.

And last but not least a defensive weapon. If you have family members that come and go at odd hours, you may want to have a less-than-lethal first response weapon such as a police size, 200 gram pepper spray or a taser ™. The choice of lethal weaponry is up to you, but it must be reliable, handy and easy to use. A 38-caliber revolver is one good, simple and reliable choice. Anything in a good quality 380, 40, or 45 caliber auto pistol should do well. In this case you don’t need to put out lots of rounds of high-velocity, high penetration rounds. You need to stop one or two intruders in close quarters without shooting family members and neighbors in adjoining rooms or houses. 

If you wear glasses keep them there along with your wallet. These are items you will need to survive and continue after you escape. You may want to throw in a few light sticks and a good knife to complete the bedside drawer and you are one ready guy or gall when trouble come in the night.

Keys and cell phone placed on the table every night. Flashlight, respirator and escape tool are easy to access. Nonlethal peppergrass shown here can be replaced or accompanied by a reliable handgun based on the individuals situation and preferences.

Bandanas for Survival

In my various articles and classes where I talk about what you should have in your pockets, I often include tissues, dust respirators and/or Band-Aids. The tissues can be used as emergency respirators or wound covers. Somehow, I neglected to include large handkerchiefs or bandanas in my recommendations. My bad! Bandanas were a must have in past centuries and should be carried by anyone seeking to be perpetually self-reliant today. Bandanas come in a variety of colors and usually are about 22 x 22 inches square, costing less than $3.00 each. They can easily be folded into any pocket. A bandana can be quickly turned into an effective bandage, tourniquet, splint/sling, dust mask*, head cover, and short rope, carrying sack, help! flag, and more. MacGyver could probably find another 100 uses. Oh, don’t forget its use as a cleaning cloth and handkerchief. I recommend that you carry two, one red or yellow and one dark or camouflage.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO LDS GENERAL CONFERENCE LIVE... and invite a friend to watch!

This weekend is the LDS General Conference. 

WATCH:
You can watch it live by clicking below:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng


LISTEN:
You can listen live by clicking below:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/live/languages?lang=eng

INVITE:
INVITE A FRIEND TO WATCH ...CLICK BELOW:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/invite-others?cid=HPWE100213102

Candle Powered Pottery Heater

The instructables site is great at finding solutions to everyday problems.  I've found that the best solutions are that those that can be built with items that you already have around the house and don't take all weekend to make.  My goal is to make this instructable fit both of those criteria.

With Hurricane Sandy leaving many people without electricity and heat, I figured that I would share this option for generating heat.  Hopefully, this can benefit someone impacted by the hurricane, as well as yourself the next time you are stuck without heat.

Keep in mind that this will NOT heat your whole home, not even close.  However, you'd be surprised at how it will heat up a closed room and will keep you from getting hypothermia.  Essentially it takes the heat from the candle that would normally go straight up and radiates it out once the terra cotta begins to retain the heat.

My garage isn't heated and I used this today to provide heat while I was working on a project. 

You will need the following:

-  3 different sized clay planting pots

-  1 large bolt (approx. 5")

-  6 washers

-  1 flat bracket

-  1 Candle in a jar (like a Yankee Candle)

-  1 Alarmed looking black cat (optional)

Surviving an EMP attack: Part Three of Three

Cooking

Cooking without electricity or other public utilities doesn’t have to be difficult.  If you are using a wood stove for heating (as described in Part 2), the hot surface of the wood stove provides an excellent platform for cooking most meals.  Standard pots and pans can be placed on top of the stove and heat up as efficiently as a standard stove top.

In addition to the wood stove, many cooking duties can be performed by a solar oven.  A simple solar oven can be constructed in under an hour from readily available materials.  A cardboard box, some black paint, aluminum foil, and a old pane of glass are all that’s required to make an efficient, sustainable cooking solution.

Solar ovens are an excellent survival option because they do not require maintenance, have no moving parts, and it is nearly impossible to burn food cooking in this manner.  On a sunny day, the internal temperature of a solar oven can easily reach temperatures of 200 degrees; plenty of heat to cook any meal without burning.  A solar oven does require significantly more cooking time than a conventional oven so it is advisable to put a meal in the oven in the morning and expect to have it ready in time for dinner.

Protecting Your Electronic Devices

Although it isn’t practical to protect most of the electronics in your home there is certainly value in protecting some things from permanent damage.  TVs, personal computers, and MP3 players won’t do you much good in a post-apocalyptic world.  Shortwave radios, weather radios, flashlights, and power generation equipment could become very helpful following an EMP and should be protected whenever possible.

There is a method designed to protect electronics from strong electromagnetic pulses known as a Faraday cage.  Named after a scientist who discovered the designs ability to shield equipment from electromagnetic waves, a Faraday cage is a versatile tool that can be constructed very easily in any size depending on your needs.

Contrary to the name, a Faraday cage doesn’t have to be a cage at all.  Commercially available units are commonly made in a cage configuration using copper mesh and solid aluminum but a simple Faraday cage can be made using aluminum foil and a steel trash can.

When constructing your own Faraday cage, you have to consider how many devices you are trying to protect.  This dictates the size of the unit you are creating.  A steel trash works well for a few household items but it is hardly big enough to fit a portable generator or other electrical device that you may need following an EMP attack.  Maybe you decide that you want to ensure the functionality of your vehicle.  This requires a large Faraday cage.  Many survivalists have successfully been able to successfully convert their garage into a large, walk-in Faraday shielding device capable of protecting a vehicle and many other household items that could be useful in a survival situation.  This can be done by constructing a cage of fine mesh caging inside the entire garage.  The mesh has to protect the entire area including any doorways in order to be effective but just imagine how many electronic devices you could protect in a standard size garage with built-in Faraday shielding.

For those with more modest shielding goals, the steel trashcan makes for an excellent solution.  The key to protecting electronics from an EMP is multiple layers of shielding.  The more insulation from the electromagnetic pulse, the more likely it is that your electronics will remain functional after an event occurs.

The first step in constructing the trashcan cage is to assemble your electronic devices and put them into non-conductive packaging.  This could be small cardboard boxes, shipping envelopes, or similar.  You can fit multiple small items into a single container or separate them into individual packages.  Once they are securely packaged, wrap each box in at least two to three layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil.  This is the first layer of protection against an EMP attack.  Unfortunately, this layer of conductive material is not enough.

This is where the trashcan comes into the equation.  The steel trash can acts as a second layer of protection.  For this to work, the aluminum foil wrapped containers cannot touch the metal of the trashcan at all.  If it does the cage will often work more like an antenna and amplify the EMP waves.  An easy way to ensure they do not contact the trashcan is to line the inside of the trash can with thick cardboard.  The bottom, sides, and even the lid of the trashcan should be completely covered in cardboard so there is no risk of metal-to-metal contact.

Items can now be stored in the trashcan and should be impervious to most EMP attacks.  Since an EMP can occur with little or no notice, it is best to have a supply of extra electronic devices that can be permanently stored in the Faraday cage until after an EMP has occurred.  Place the items in the trashcan, make sure the lid is securely fastened, and place it in a safe location until the day when they are required arrives.

As previously mentioned, larger cages can easily be made depending on your needs.  Maybe you have a portable generator that you plan on using for survival.  Solar panels, wind turbines, and other large survival-related electronics require a much larger enclosure.  Instead of using a trash can, consider converting your garage or a small storage shed into a Faraday cage by using fine mesh fencing and surrounding the inside of the enclosure.  This includes the floors, roof, and all four sides.  If there is an opening in the mesh, the pulse will find its way through and damage your electronic devices.

Although a Faraday cage is not a guarantee, it is the single best method to shield your electrical and electronic devices from an EMP.  Waiting until an EMP is imminent is not the time to start experimenting with various designs.  Constructing adequate protection is merely a weekend project and greatly increases your chances of survival.  Combined with other techniques for living after an EMP, you are well-equipped to forge a new life in a world most similar to that of your 19^thcentury ancestors

Surviving an EMP Attack: Part Two of Three Parts

After an EMP attack, life will not be the same.  Society will begin to crumble and law enforcement will no longer be available to help with emergency situations.  One of the most important survival strategies following an EMP event is evacuation.  This could be to a secure bug out location you have previously designated or to an area of the country not affected by the EMP.

Transportation Following an EMP Event

Getting to either your bug out location or even to just a less-populated area can prove to be a difficult challenge.  All modern cars rely heavily on electronic components to operate and will be completely useless after an EMP event.  Older vehicles are not as susceptible to complete failure because they rely more on mechanical processes for operation.  An older model vehicle is defined as a vehicle manufactured in the1970s or before.  The simpler the engine, the better your chances of being able to use that vehicle for travel.

If you are fortunate enough to have one of these vehicles on your property, it may be ready to go right away.  Worst case scenario, the battery and starter solenoid are damaged.  These items are only used for starting the vehicle and can be bypassed by pop-starting the vehicle.  If it is a manual transmission, simply hold in the clutch and push the vehicle until it reaches 5 to 10 mph before rapidly releasing the clutch.  In an automatic, keep the gear selector in neutral while gaining speed and then quickly switch it into to drive.  Once the engine on one of these older vehicles is started, the process is self-sustaining.

Even in older vehicles, an EMP could disable the few electronic components that are necessary for operation.  Specifically, these include the spark plugs and the distributor.  These parts are inexpensive and small so it is advisable to keep an extra set of spark plugs and a distributor cap in your survival bag just in case.

If an older vehicle is not present, other modes of transportation might include tractors, gas powered golf carts, or older model ATVs.  Following an EMP it is not guaranteed that any of these machines will be fully functional but there is a good chance that they can help you travel faster than you would be able to on foot.

Food and Water

The technological advances made by society during the Information Age will become serious drawbacks following an EMP event.  Computers, the Internet, manufacturing facilities, and communications all rely on the power grid to function.  Once the power grid has been disabled, all these operations will cease to function.  That means no food on the shelves, no public water purification services, and no law enforcement to keep order.

Scientists have estimated that most humans will only survive for 12 to 18 months after a large scale EMP.  Society has become so dependent on technology that without it, very few necessities are going to be available.  The mass population is not preparing; even the U.S. government is not prepared for the devastating effects of a large scale EMP.

Supply lanes will be halted as they also rely on the power grid.  Unfortunately, society has become so dependent on importing food that many areas cannot sustain themselves for even a week without food from outside sources.  Think about a large city like New York or Los Angeles.  These places have huge populations of people and no agricultural production of their own.  Stores are 100 percent reliant on trucks to keep the shelves full of food and supplies.  Potable water is usually transported from hundreds of miles away into these large metropolitan areas.  These transportation systems require the power grid and without it, millions of people will instantly feel the effects.

Storing your own non-perishable food supplies is an excellent way to avoid the immediate effects of the EMP.  Although your supplies are finite, a couple months supply of food puts you in a position where you can carefully plan your long-term survival strategy.

Water is another concern.  The human body can only survive approximately three days without water.  Without public water supplies, you need to have a large supply of potable water on hand or have methods for purifying your own water.  Boiling, iodine treatments, and constructing a still are all excellent ways to purify water.  Iodine treatment should be considered a short term solution because excessive exposure to iodine is harmful, especially to children and women who may be pregnant.

Heating

Every modern home relies on either electricity or fossil fuels for heating.  Some homes even use a combination of both to maintain a constant temperature throughout the structure.  These services are not going to be available following an EMP.  Air conditioning is a luxury that did not become mainstream until about 50 years ago.  It is certainly not a necessity.  Cold weather, however, is responsible for thousands of deaths each year.  Exposure to freezing temperatures can bring the human body to its knees within hours.  Even in desert climate zones, nighttime temperatures can often fall below the freezing point.

Heating your home in a world devoid of modern conveniences is paramount.  You have to look for heating methods that do not require electricity or fossil fuels.  The single best option is to use wood.  In most areas of the country, wood is a plentiful resource and can be used to efficiently heat a home.

The wood stove is the easiest and most cost effective method of home heating.  Available in a variety of sizes and styles, a wood stove provides heat and a hot surface perfect for cooking.  Wood stoves have been used to provide reliable heating for centuries and in some parts of the country are still used as a primary heat source.

In more moderate climates where temperatures remain relatively stable, a wood stove may not be required.  Passive solar heating is often all that is required to maintain a constant temperature.  Solar heating harnesses the power of the sun by allowing as much sunlight as possible into the home through windows during the day.  The insulation of the home holds the heat in during the night.  This type of heating can be used anywhere but in colder climates it should be considered a supplement to a wood stove or other heating source.