DIY: Make Your Own Hot Tub

It’s not the easiest job, but building your own wood-fired hot tub can save you thousands of dollars if you’re willing to dig a hole and learn some basic concrete skills. Use a shovel and a pickax to dig a pit, making it at least six inches bigger on all sides than the size of the finished tub you want. Be sure to pick a location free of roots or bedrock. Make the hole as deep as you like, but smaller tubs will heat faster. As for the shape, a keyhole design is ideal, since you can place the woodstove safely away from the larger sitting area. Remember to cut benches and steps, too.

Line the pit with plastic sheeting, using roofing nails to tack it into the dirt. Cut sections of two-inch-thick closed-cell insulating foam—available at any home-improvement store—and line the pit, laying the foam on top of the plastic sheet. Hold it in place using chicken wire, which should cover the interior of the tub and anything else you want to make out of concrete.

Get a professional to help you estimate how much concrete you’ll need. Mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow, slathering it onto the chicken wire as smoothly as possible. Start high and work low, since drops will fall to the floor of the tub. Wear gloves. Smooth? Good. Now let it cure for a week. Once it’s cured, paint at least two coats of concrete sealer. (Note: You’ll need to reseal it every year with concrete paint.)

Buy a submergible stove for around $750 (http://snorkel.com) and place it in the narrow part of the keyhole pit. You’ll want to install wood fencing between the stove area and the soaking area to keep people from accidentally bumping into the burner. Though the stove comes with mounting brackets, it’s best to anchor it with dumbbells to keep it from floating.

You’ll need a way to drain the tub. The simplest method is to buy a Quick Drain system—a handheld pump that siphons and vacuums out water ($75; http://hottubessentials.com).

Make an insulating cover out of two-inch closed-cell foam to hold in heat. Fill the tub and stoke the fire at least six hours before your party. The first heating can take closer to 10 hours, depending on the size of the tub. But once the water is warm, it can take as little as six hours to get hot again.

Aaron Huey made a giant wood-fired hot tub a few years ago for some of the best parties that northern New Mexico has ever seen. They involved numerous DJs, a giant golden bull made of fuel-soaked papier-mâché (which burned gloriously), and dozens of naked women.

Source:
http://homesteadsurvival.blogspot.com/

Original Source:
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/how-to/diy-/-maintenance/2009/01/diy-make-your-own-hot-tub

Obama Vows Fast Action in New Push for Gun Control

HERE WE GO......

WASHINGTON — President Obama declared on Wednesday that he would make gun control a “central issue” as he opens his second term, promising to submit broad new firearm proposals to Congress no later than January and to employ the full power of his office to overcome deep-seated political resistance.Leading House Republicans responded to the president’s pledge in the aftermath of the Connecticut school massacre by restating their firm opposition to new limits on guns or ammunition, setting up the possibility of a bitter legislative battle and a philosophical clash over the Second Amendment soon after Mr. Obama’s inauguration.

Having avoided a politically difficult debate over guns for four years, Mr. Obama vowed to restart a national conversation about their role in American society, the need for better access to mental health services and the impact of exceedingly violent images in the nation’s culture.

He warned that the conversation — which has produced little serious change after previous mass shootings — will be a short one, followed by specific legislative proposals that he intends to campaign for, starting with his State of the Union address next month.

“This time, the words need to lead to action,” Mr. Obama said. “I will use all the powers of this office to help advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.”

At an appearance in the White House briefing room, the president said that he had directed Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead an interagency effort to develop what the White House said would be a multifaceted approach to preventing mass shootings like the one in Newtown, Conn., last week and the many other gun deaths that occur each year.

As evidence of the brutal cost of gun violence, Mr. Obama said that since Friday’s school shooting in Connecticut, guns had led to the deaths of police officers in Memphis and Topeka, Kan.; a woman in Las Vegas; three people in an Alabama hospital; and a 4-year-old in a drive-by shooting in Missouri. They are, he said, victims of “violence that we cannot accept as routine.”

Accompanied by Mr. Biden, the president signaled his support for new limits on high-capacity clips and assault weapons, as well as a desire to close regulatory loopholes affecting gun shows. He promised to confront the broad pro-gun sentiment in Congress that has for years blocked gun control measures.

That opposition shows little signs of fading away. While the death of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday appears to have persuaded some Democratic lawmakers to support new gun control measures, there has been little indication that Republicans who control the House — and are in a standoff with Mr. Obama over taxes — are willing to accept such restrictions.

House Democrats urged Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday to bring a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines to a vote by Saturday — a step he is highly unlikely to take.

Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, an influential conservative leader, said in a statement that “it is clear that criminals will always find ways to acquire weapons and use them to commit acts of violence.”

“Passing more restrictions on law-abiding citizens will not deter this type of crime,” he said.

Mr. Jordan and other House Republicans declined to be interviewed, saying through aides that it was time to mourn, not to debate policy.

“There will be plenty of time to have this conversation,” said Brittany Lesser, a spokeswoman for Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, “but it is not amidst the funerals of these brave young children and adults.”

This week, Mr. King told an Iowa radio station, KSCJ, that “political opportunists didn’t wait 24 hours before they decided they were going to go after some kind of a gun ban.” He also expressed doubt about gun control measures, saying, “We all had our cap pistols when I was growing up, and that didn’t seem to cause mass murders in the street.”

Representative Howard Coble, Republican of North Carolina, said in an interview that he thought the talk of gun control was “probably a rush to judgment” that missed the real issue.

READ MORE....http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/obama-to-give-congress-plan-on-gun-control-within-weeks.html?_r=0

The Body Hollow

(As featured in the May 2007 issue of Practically Seeking)

This style of shelter is an easy step up from the most basic idea of burrowing down into a big pile of leaves for warmth or protection from the elements.

Advantages:

• Quick to construct
• Will keep you warm and dry
• Takes far less time and materials than a full-on debris hut.

Disadvantages:

• Can be tricky to keep water-tight in a heavy rain

Other Uses:

• Makes a great "hide" or ground blind when hunting with firearms
• Good short-term cache (for non-food items)
• Adaptable to a wide variey of terrains and conditions
• Snug — Needs no other heat source
• Camouflages very well into the landscape (See how our completed Body Hollow shelter blends into the surrounding area)

Wonder how well this simple shelter would really hold up? Check out our post-Nor'easter pics!

Step-by-step instructions for building this quick, easy-to-construct shelter.

http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/bodyhollow.html

The Body Hollow shelter blends well into the surrounding landscape

Source:
http://homesteadsurvival.blogspot.com/2012/12/primitive-body-hollow-shelter-for.html

30 Year Old Powdered Milk

     Yesterday, I was given a can of powdered milk that was produced by San Andy about 30 years ago.  Being interested in long-term storage foods I had to open it and do a taste test.
      Now San Andy is a company thats been around for a long time.  I first encountered them in the late 1960’s.  Since then they seem to come and go.
     The can I was given had no damage and appeared to be in good condition.  It was labeled United Commodities International with the words San Andy underneath.  When I went to open the can I noticed it was made of a much heavier gage metal than I currently encounter.  There was no oxygen absorber in the can and it showed on the label that “A stabilized Storage Atmosphere introduced as packed”.
     The contents of the can looked fine, but I noticed a slight odor of rancidity.  It was faint so I mixed some up and taste tested it.  The taste was not bad considering its age.  In an emergency, it could be used.
My friend had several cases of this milk, my recommendations to him were to keep the rest in his storage.  But consider it second rate.  It could be used to help others or to feed animals........

Howard

Source:
http://preparednessadvice.com/uncategorized/30-year-old-powdered-milk/#.UM_30XewYgI





Peak Dry Whole Milk Powder
Nestle Nido Instant Dry Whole Milk Powder, Fortificada, 1.76-Pound Cans (Pack of 2)

School Violence Warning Signs - What To Look For

What to Look For: School Violence Warning Signs

[Editor's note: This article was originally hosted on MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, our sister site.
It's now featured here as part of our new general-health section.]

by Richard Shadick, Ph.D.
Q. How do you know when a troubled young person is in danger of becoming violent?
A. Tragic school shootings in the last few years have made many parents worry whether their kids will be safe at school. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to predict what might happen because there are many different reasons a person may become violent. However, law enforcement officials and mental health professionals have learned from past tragedies.

Red-Flag Characteristics

Most school shooters are males who are isolated, have limited social skills, and have suffered a series of embarrassing or humiliating situations in their life, often involving peers. Being bullied is often a common theme with violent people. They also tend to have problems in relationships with parents, girlfriends and friends.
There are warning signs parents can pay attention to that suggest violence is a real possibility. Things to look out for include an in-depth plan to hurt others that may or may not include a threat, carrying firearms or other weapons, a history of torturing animals, problems with controlling their emotions—particularly anger (which often leads to fighting)—and a high level of drug or alcohol use.
There are other things to consider, particularly if the person’s problems have been present for a while. Often, violent and aggressive people become more and more withdrawn and irritable over time. Sometimes they lose touch with reality and become fearful that others are out to get them. Their appearance may worsen because they don’t care about how they dress or whether they’re showering. They may be intrigued by violence and fascinated by weapons and gangs. Some even join gangs. They may have difficulty acknowledging other peoples’ feelings and may be quick to feel hurt even when there is no provocation.

 SAS Survival Handbook, Revised Edition:

How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics,

Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis

 

What to Do If You See Warning Signs of Violence

Knowing when and what to do if you recognize these issues in someone is a lot easier than knowing when someone will turn violent. The best time to intervene is immediately.
If your child is worried about a student, have them tell someone they trust and who is in a position to help with the concern, such as a school official. In this day and age, virtually all school officials have specific training and follow guidelines about how to help a troubled person. They know how to reach out to the violent student to get him the help he needs.
It is most important that your child not remain silent. This silence is most often how violent people slip through the cracks and don’t get the help they need.
If your child feels in harm’s way it’s best for them not to be near this person. Help your child get some protection or come up with a plan to minimize contact.
Identifying the warning signs and taking immediate action will go a long way to ensuring school is a safer place.

Source
http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2012/12/18/school-violence-warning-signs/

To Repair Or Replace?

Saturday, December 8, 2012

To Repair Or Replace?

  We seem to live in a throw away world now days.  We have inexpensive,cheaply built products that for the most part are cheaper to throw out and but a new one than to try to fix them.  I for one can remember the days when if the toaster broke you got out the tools and repaired it.  Yes it might have taken a little time and patients and s little swearing thrown in just for good measure but you could keep an item for more than a year and you also learned how to work on things along the way.

  Knowledge like this was passed from father and mother to their children.  This was also a bonding experience between the two.  I still remember the first time my father had me help him sharpen the blade on the lawn mower.  I felt so empowered by this as though my father was imparting the meaning of life to me and I was the only other one on earth to know it.  My Mom showed me how to sew by hand and to fix things that got torn.  This came in real handy when I went into the Army as most of my Platoon had no idea how to even sew on a button.  I became very popular very quickly.


  I guess where I am really going with this is that we need to start fixing things rather than just throwing them out and go down to Wal-Mart and buying another one just to do the same thing in six months.   Learning the skills that will be necessary some day and having the skill and knowledge to make things work.  Passing them on to the next generation is also very important.  We need to do this before the knowledge is gone and no one remembers how to do them.  I have made a personal commitment to fix things until they are no longer fixable and to then strip the item apart and use it for it's parts.  I have started to show my youngest son how we used to do things and I am surprised by his interest in learning this kind of stuff.  He is 17 and about 6 months ago he sold his computer and has been spending most of his time outside working on things and helping me fix the things that need repair around the house.

  As he told me not to long ago that he needed to learn how to do these things so that he is ready for when he will really need the skills.  I am more than willing to pass on what I know and if I don't know then we go about learning how to do it together.  YouTube is a great resource for this kind of research and we use it all the time. .

Source:

http://prepplace.blogspot.com/2012/12/to-repair-or-replace.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FWTIZW+%28The+Retreat%29





 

Human Zombies Unaware Of Real World

How often have you seen this… head down – in their smartphone – texting – while crossing the street – driving their car – at the dinner table – in a meeting – in the bathroom… ? An apparent human Zombie.
Survival preparedness stems from a combination of risk awareness and a desire to be less reliant on external systems while being more self sufficient. It is a way of life. The lifestyle can easily fit within the modern world while we carry out our business. However, there is something that I’ve noticed for quite some time that I believe is a hindrance to real world awareness. Something that has created a human sub species of Zombies. The following excerpt from a recent ZDNET article spells it out clearly…

You’ve seen these poor, lifeless beings everywhere. People… if you can still call them that… with pallid, emotionless faces, staring down at small screens while they walk direction-less down the street, completely unaware of their surroundings.
Yet these poor souls actually believe they are more “connected” to the outside world and more people than ever.
Sometimes they return to real life, and have real interactions with living human beings, but then this horrible urge kicks in which compels them to pull out their iPhone, their iPad or their Android device. Their PRECIOUS.
They’ll pull it out in the middle of a business meeting while someone else is talking, and they’ll fiddle with it in the bathroom stall at work (or, good heavens, take calls on it and seal deals while on the can).
They’ll pull it out in the middle of dinner with family. They’ll mess with it while everyone is cuddling on the couch, watching TV. And even after satisfying the most basic of human requirements, it still won’t go away. “Oh was it good for you, honey? Great, you nap, I’m gonna play Scramble with Friends.”
If they can think of any inappropriate, awkward time to stare at their little screen and tap on their little itty, bitty keys, they will. Because their PRECIOUS compels them.
And the longer they have their favorite toy turned off or not being used, the greater the urge is to pull it out and use it, as if it has some evil spell cast on them. They must Tweet. They must Status Update. They must Check In. They must Text. They must check for emails. They must. MUST!!!!! EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE.
They’ve become the 21st-century equivalent of Smeagol. Once, they were human beings. But now they’re Smartphone and Tablet Zombies. They may think they’re connected to more and more people and information than ever, but for these poor creatures, life is just an illusion.

Shut if off. Take some time to discover the REAL WORLD that you actually live in. When TSHTF, your little electronic device is not going to help you. Just a thought…

Source
http://daily-survival.blogspot.com/2012/12/human-zombies-unaware-of-real-world.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FwjrD+%28Daily+Survival%29
Original Article:
http://modernsurvivalblog.com/communications/human-zombies-unaware-of-the-real-world/




Estwing E24A Sportsman's Hatchet Metal Handle
Kershaw Camp Ax
Coleman Red Canyon 17-Foot by 10-Foot 8-Person Modified Dome Tent

The Declaration of Natural Rights

Great Video

Source:
http://americansurvivalistorg.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-declaration-of-natural-rights.html