Bees, Bugs & Other Crawlers

My son will enjoy this and I have another nice young man that enjoys following my page so I think he will like this post as well.  His name is Sam.  Just click on the photo to get an awesome closeup of these creatures.  My source is from Bees, Wasps, and Other Beneficials.  Check out their Facebook page as they have some interesting information....

Experts Predict Japan's Mount Fuji Will Erupt Soon

The last time Mount Fuji erupted, the year was 1707. A lot has changed since lava and ash spewed out of the 12,000 foot mountain. 

Now, volcanologists think the active stratovolcano may catch up with the times.
The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention recently measured the pressure within Fuji and the results were startling. At 1.6 megapascals, the pressure in Fuji's mega chamber has now surpassed levels measured right before its 1707 eruption, reports WIRED. Keep in mind that the reading is 16 times the 0.1 megapascals needed for an eruption to occur.
Some experts believe a "massive eruption" is likely to occur within three years. The warning signs: steam and gas emitting from the crater, hot natural gas and water being released from nearby massive holes, and most telling, a recently discovered 21 mile long fault beneath Fuji. If an earthquake were to occur along the fault line, the eruption could cause Mount Fuji to collapse, sending mud and landslides cascading down along with the lava. 
Japanese officials have begun preparing for a possible evacuation of the surrounding Honshu Island region, with a test run scheduled for 2014, Japan Today reports. In 2004, the government conducted a report that estimated an eruption would cost the country $31 billion.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/experts-predict-mount-fuji-will-erupt-soon-2012-9#ixzz25kqCam75

Make Fire With A Coke Can And Chocolate Bar

Ok, let's get to it... The can.... The key to this is the bottom of the coke can (by the way, any pop can will do), which is ideal for reflecting and concentrating the sun's light and energy. Here is a photo of a coke can bottom. Note that it has a slightly dull finish. In its present condition it is not shiny enough to concentrate the sun's rays enough to ignite tinder. That's where the chocolate bar comes in ....

The chocolate bar.... The can bottom is not shiny enough to function as a good reflector and concentrator of sunlight. It needs polishing. The chocolate does an excellent job of this. So, simply break off a piece of chocolate and use it to polish up the can bottom! P.S. Any type of chocolate will do. Probably the purer it is, the better. In that case, maybe a Toblerone bar isn't so great, as it has nuts and honey in it.

This is a close-up of the surface of an un-polished can's bottom. Note the fine straight lines in the aluminum. These fine lines on the unpolished can are actually the grain of the aluminum roll stock from which the can is made, indicating a small degree of surface roughness which limits the can's reflectivity. These scatter the sun's rays, and prevent them from being focused together into a single bright point. This is why the can needs polishing. Compare this to the picture below of a polished can bottom.

Here is a close-up of a polished can bottom. Compare this to the picture above of an un-polished can bottom. There's a big difference. How can you tell when it's polished enough? What you are looking for is a "mirror" finish. An object placed near the bottom of the can should produce a clear (although distorted) image.

A note from A. Robinson, via email: "DO NOT eat the chocolate after you have used it to polish the can! It will pick up aluminum from the can, which is toxic. I've done metalwork with aluminum, and you're actually supposed to handle it with gloves, since it leaves a black toxic residue on your skin. Once it has been exposed to air for a few hours, aluminum is safe to handle because it forms an oxide layer on the surface which is non-toxic. But polishing it will remove the oxide layer and expose bare metal, and the chocolate will definitely pick up some aluminum. Not a mortal danger, but not the best thing in the world to eat!"

Polishing the bottom of the can. Note: For polishing the can, one needs to use the wrapper (or something else) in the process. Just rubbing chocolate on the bottom of the can won't do too much. The process is to smear some chocolate on the bottom, then use the wrapper (or whatever) as a "cloth" to do the polishing. Every now and then, one needs to add a bit more of the "abrasive." As a reference point, it will probably take ½-1 hour or more to finish the process.  Toothpaste also works as a good polish. Using the chocolate bar holds to the initial challenge - but using fine steel wool, some sort of cleanser or other polishing compound gives much more rapid results.  Jeweller's rouge will get the bottom of the can to a mirror finish in a few minutes.  Chocolate at best would take an hour!

All polished and shiny. Note that other polishing agents will work as well, such as toothpaste, powder cleansers, etc.

How to actually make fire... On a sunny day (yes, you do need sunlight!), Hold a piece of suitable tinder, such as a fragment of tinder fungus, at the focal point of the can bottom -- about 1 - 1.25" away from the center of the "bowl". One doesn't need to use tinder fungus. To keep to the core of the challenge, one can use pieces of the chocolate wrapper to get a coal. If the chocolate bar has a black paper insert, this is of course the best due to the dark colour. It takes a bit longer with the wrapper - but, as with a magnifying glass, many things can be used.

It is important to orient the bottom of the can towards the sun. If the bottom of the can is "off-axis" from the sun, then the the light gathering will be less optimal. To make sure that you are finding the optimal focal point, try using some black newspaper. Take a small strip, and move it towards the focal point. As you move the paper in and out, you should be able to see the light converge to a small point. At this time, the newspaper should start to smoke. Wearing sunglasses is suggested. It protects the eyes and also reduces the intensity of the light so that it is easier to identify the sharpest focus. CLICK HERE for more info and photos of how to do this.

Holding the small piece of tinder fungus is easier with a long thin stick with a small split in the end, such as is shown in this photos. Other materials can be used as tinder. Eye safety tip: Stand facing away from the sun (facing your shadow) and hold the can above your head so that you are looking at the bottom of the tinder and the side of the can instead of the top of the tinder and the mirror. Move the tinder to find the brightest spot. (Thanks to Thomas for this tip)

After a very short time (only a few seconds in the bright sun), the tinder fungus will be smouldering. Then transfer it to a tinder bundle and blow it into flame (if you're using a large enough piece of tinder fungus). If you're using a very small piece, then transfer the ember to a larger piece by holding the two pieces together and blowing on them. Alternatively, you could use a small bundle of very volatile tinder. For more info about Tinder, click here.

... And that's all there is to it! Article Source: http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/cokeandchocolatebar/

Alien Baby Found?

I usually have no interest in things like this.  This is from a few years ago but I just stumbled upon it.   I must admit I find this one interesting....

 Is this bizarre creature really an alien baby or just part of an elaborate hoax - and was it the cause of a mysterious revenge death?

 

Mexican TV revealed the almost unbelievable story - in 2007, a baby 'alien' was found alive by a farmer in Mexico.

He drowned it in a ditch out of fear, and now two years later scientists have finally been able to announce the results of their tests on this sinister-looking carcass.
At the end of last year the farmer, Marao Lopez, handed the corpse over to university scientists who carried out DNA tests and scans.
He claimed that it took him three attempts to drown the creature and he had to hold it underwater for hours.
Tests revealed a creature that is unknown to scientists - its skeleton has characteristics of a lizard, its teeth do not have any roots like humans and it can stay underwater for a long time.
But it also has some similar joints to humans.
Its brain was huge, particularly the rear section, leading scientists to the conclusion that the odd creature was very intelligent.
But it has seemingly left experts stumped.
And in a further mystery, Lopez has since mysteriously died.
According to American UFO expert Joshua P. Warren (32), the farmer burned to death in a parked car at the side of a road.
The flames apparently had a far higher temperature than in a normal fire!
Now there are rumours that the parents of the creature Lopez drowned were the ones who in turn killed him out of revenge.
There are frequent UFO sightings and reports of crop circles in the area where the creature was found. Perhaps it was left behind deliberately by aliens.
Mexican UFO expert Jaime Maussan (56) was the first to break the story. He claimed it was not a hoax. Farmers also told him that there was a second creature but it ran away when they approached. 
The puzzle has caused intrigue amongst BILD’s readers. Some say it is a mutant, others wonder why aliens would leave a baby behind - and one reader asked why aliens don’t wear clothes.
And the bizarre story has reached as far as South Korea and China!

Article Source:
http://www.bild.de/news/bild-english/news/bizarre-creature-found-in-mexico-stumps-experts-9516518.bild.html

How To Make Traps And Snares For Survival

Here's a nice collection of handmade traps and snares that can be used to trap animals:

Snares
Small-game snares can be made from the interior strands of parachute cord, braided strands of sinew, or fishing line. Snares stout enough to secure game as large as deer need to be made of rawhide or parachute cord.
skill Ground Snare
Position the snare at head height and tie off the end to a tree, a stake in the ground, or a log that the animal can only drag a short distance as the noose tightens. Make snares from cord, fishing line, or wire if available.
skill Spring Snare
This set employs a trigger that snatches game into the air as it strains against the noose. It’s good for rabbits and game as large as deer.

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Deadfall Traps
Deadfalls that use logs or rocks to squash prey are typically baited, but they also work along trails or outside burrows when a passing animal or bird brushes against the trigger.
skill Spring Deadfall
One of the easiest traps to make and set, the spring deadfall (see page 59) depends upon the game worrying the bait, so it’s best used for carnivorous animals and rodents such as pack rats.

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Tension Traps
Employing fire-hardened spear points under tension, these can be deadly to predator and prey alike. Always set and approach an impaling trap cautiously from behind and use only in an emergency in remote areas, where another human or domestic animals are not going to blunder past.

skill Spring Spear Trap
This trip-wire set is effective for wild pigs, deer, or other game that regularly sticks to defined game trails. Make certain the horizontal thrust of the spear is at a level that will impale the body of the game sought. This is an extremely dangerous trap; use it with caution.

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Bird Traps
Birds can be much easier to trap than mammals and should be among your first targets for a meal.
skill Ojibwa Bird Pole
Set this trap in a large clearing where birds will naturally seek it out as a landing place.

• Step One Sharpen both ends of a 6-foot pole and drill a small hole near one end. Drive the other end into the ground until it is secure.
• Step Two Cut a 6-inch-long stick that will loosely fit into the hole. Tie a rock to a thin cord and pass the cord through the hole in the pole, then make a slip noose that drapes over the perch.
• Step Three Tie an overhand knot in the cord in back of the slip noose and place the stick against the hole. Tension should hold it in position. When a bird flies down and perches, it will displace the stick, the rock will fall, and its feet will be caught as the loop quickly slides through the hole.

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Fish swim next to banks at night or move from deep holes into shallow water to feed. They can often be directed into traps from which they are unlikely to escape.

skill Funnel Trap
Make the walls of the funnel trap with piled-up stones or tightly spaced sticks driven solidly into the river or lakebed. Close the entrance to the trap, roil the water, then either spear the fish or net them with a seine made by tying a shirt or other cloth between two stout poles.

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Making Stone Points
Points and blades chipped from cryptocrystalline rocks such as chert, flint, and obsidian make the sharpest knives, arrowheads, and spear tips, although efficiently using the latter two requires lots of practice.
Step One
Strike flakes from a tool stone by hitting it with a hard rock. This is called “percussion flaking.” Some flakes will be suitable as is for knives; others will require more flaking.
Step Two
Place the tip of an antler tine or bone point against the flake and apply a twisting push toward the edge of the stone. Continue flaking off small cones near the edge until the point of the stone is evenly chipped and razor sharp.

Source:
http://www.survivaljunction.com/food-for-survival/finding-food/prepare-to-survive---essential-skills-for-finding-food.html


 

The Trapper's Bible: Traps, Snares & Pathguards
The Bushcraft Handbooks - Traps & Snareshttp://wrecksrme.survivcord.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ABC

Prepping your family – How to get started with emergency preparedness

Post from Clint Crafts

The greatest challenge I’ve faced as a prepper has been how to include my wife and four kids in my preparation efforts.  My wife and 9-year-old daughter are not particularly interested and my 3-year-old–well, he’s 3.  On the other hand, my 11 and 10-year old boys are a bit more interested, but have other interests, too.
When I talk about preparation efforts, I don’t mean showing up in the middle of the night with a metal garbage can screaming, “What do you do?”, to improve your family’s reaction time. That would not only be traumatizing, but would discourage your wife from any further “prep’ talk”.  Understand it’s not about you and your effort to prepare your family. It’s a team effort and without everyone’s buy-in, it will end in frustration.

First, explain to your wife why you’re interested in the subject of prepping and keep it as general as possible (i.e., natural disasters, economic uncertainties, and man-made accidents).  Reassure her that the investment can always be there to help the family in case of a job loss.  In tight financial times, the issue of money can be a powerful obstacle; so, have an idea of how much it will cost the family per month before going to your wife to discuss partnering with her in this endeavor.  For example, I approached my wife and stated I would like to be able to pick up some food items every payday in the amount of $20.  This has been used to pick up 10 boxes of pasta and 10 cans of tomato sauce; also, 16 one-pound bags of beans; or, 40 50-cent cans of vegetables.  You would be surprised what you can build up in your food stash in a few months.

I know there’s a lot more to prepping, but a family of six requires lot of food over a long period of time; so, it’s a good place to start.  (The building of a small, monthly prep’ savings for “go bags” and water purification is a later step.)  The point is that you want your wife onboard as a partner in the effort–not as a recruit.  Stress that you need her help and ASK her if she would come alongside in this endeavor.

Remember:  “Tellin’ ain’t sellin’.”Next, explain to the kids why you and Mom are working together to prepare the family.  Avoid the scary details and focus on even more general reasons, such as “just in case we have to leave the house for a few days”.  Include the children by assigning them a task based on what they might seem good at. For example, I have given one of my kids the task of “medic to take care of anyone who needs help” (i.e., first aid); the other kid, the task of “navigator to help us get to where we need to go” (i.e., reading a compass and map); the next kid, the task of “logistician and cook who helps keep an inventory of all the things we need in our ‘go bags’ as well as ensures we have the food we’ll need”; last, the 3-year-old gets to walk around with his tiny “go bag” and dig out all of the contents while we work together.

For the kids who have a task, work with them and encourage them to share their newfound skills with each other.  After they become comfortable with their assignments, change who has what tasks.  This doubles their skillsets and keeps it from becoming monotonous.  You will be surprised at how enthusiastic kids are to learn new things they can actually apply to everyday life.

Lately, I have even included the kids in a simple series of exercises at least four nights a week.  I explained that it is to ensure if we have to carry our “go bags”, we are strong enough to do so.  This also helps to give them a sense of inclusion and empowerment, while building their strength.  Surprisingly, the kids are more than eager to participate.   By the way, don’t treat the exercises like a boot camp if you don’t want to turn them off to the idea of anymore prep’ talk.  Everyone needs to be in shape.  Remember:  If the wife and kids cannot “go” when it’s time, guess who’s going to have to carry them in addition to the “go bag” when it comes time?
Prepping can be a challenging subject to put towards your family.  Nevertheless, if you approach your wife and kids with an excitement to learn practical life-skills and to build up a cost-effective, survival stash, you will reap the rewards of seeing a talented and motivated team that not only works well together when it is needed, but in everyday life as well.
Clint is from Bossier City, Louisiana, and is currently a technical writer for a major contractor in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He is a military veteran of 9 years and has been an avid prepper for the past three years.  His interest in prepping  came about as a result of the housing crash of 2008 as well as his concerns of the questionable laws being passed since 9/11.  He is always looking for more information to improve his prepping skills as well as for some friendly individuals interested in building a community that goes beyond “online”.
Source:
http://offgridsurvival.com/familysurvivalprepping/

Cherry Tomatoes

12 Pound of assorted cherry tomatoes!  Delicious!

Glass Cleaner Recipe

Tired of spending money on glass cleaners?  With this simple glass cleaner recipe, you can make your windows squeaky clean.  Here's what you will need:

2 cups water
1/4 white distilled vinegar
1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap
1 spray bottle



Simply combine all ingredients into spray bottle.  Now you have saved money and the environment by making your own glass cleaner.

Want to be even more green?  Instead of paper towels use old newspaper.  The newspaper actually works better than paper towels.  When done just toss the used newspaper into a compost.