More forests and wilderness exploration

Here are some snapshots of my recent forest exploration.

Cutting Edge of Outdoor Life

Every good boy scout knows about having a decent penknife in his pocket.

Today, multi-tools available to outdoor types have come a long way since Robert Baden Powell first persuaded young lads to experience life under canvas 100 years ago.

Leatherman and Wenger are experts in the design and manufacture of what is still also known as the Swiss Army Knife, with a comprehensive range of multi-purpose blades, pliers, files, saws and screwdrivers in a compact, all-in-one piece of kit that weighs far less than an old-fashioned penknife so beloved by schoolboys years ago.

Trusted By Adventurers All Over the World
Leatherman’s best-selling Wave and Skeletool CX are amongst those trusted by adventurers and explorers all over the world, weighing next to nothing and taking up minimal room in your rucksack…yet with enough attachments to see you through the toughest tasks on the hill and mountain.

Wenger’s EvoWood and EvoGrip are equally well-known; fitting for a company that was original supplier to the Swiss national army that gave this extraordinary piece of kit its name in the late 1800s.

Every Swiss soldier was equipped with a regulation single-blade folding knife, until 1889 when a new rifle was introduced. To disassemble the rifle, a screwdriver was needed, and a decision was made to create a multi-purpose tool incorporating a knife, screwdriver, reamer and can-opener - and the Swiss Army Knife was born.



Cutting Edge of Design and Development
Leatherman have been in the multi-tool market for a much shorter period of time….but in nearly 30 years they have been at the cutting edge of design and development since bringing out their original Pocket Survival Tool in the early 1980s.

Their 1986 Mini-Tool was the most compact multi-tool in the world, with a unique folding system which allowed the handle to fold down so small it was hardly noticeable in your pocket, and its miniature successor, the aptly-named Squirt series, measured just two-and-a-quarter inches long…yet still managed to pack in a range of knives, screwdrivers, pliers and wire strippers.

Today, both these iconic brands are revered by camping types and outdoor enthusiasts across the globe - who delight in the combinations of gadgets on offer, which today can include anything from toothpicks to tweezers, corkscrews to can openers, spring-loaded scissors to sheep's foot serrated knives.

• Gerber, also long known for its expertise in the outdoor world, has teamed up with survival expert Bear Grylls to produce a range of vital survival equipment for climbers, cavers and camping aficionados, including the Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Multi-tool, Basic Survival Kit and Firestarter.

The popular TV adventurer and former SAS sabre soldier knows what it takes to be a survivor in extreme situations, and has not just given his name to the collection - each item in the series has been meticulously researched and designed by the man himself in association with Gerber.


Copy writer Nicki Williams works for Gear-Zone, leading on-line, outdoor specialists stocking all the major camping, climbing and clothing brands including Leatherman, Wenger, The North Face, Rab and Berghaus
Click here for details
Picture source: Compfight

The Great Outdoors and How to Survive it

tent  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Camping shouldn’t mean you have to be a bearded, half-crazed survivalist, but with the British weather as it is at the moment, you could end up wishing you’d listened to all those tips for life in the great outdoors.  Camping offers the original budget break, but with the poor conditions to contend with this year, it could offer the original breakdown as well.  Here are a few tips on the wet survival and sanity front.
Tent essentials

Tents should be checked thoroughly for waterproofing before you go.  The outer skin and groundsheet are the most important bits to check – invest in an extra groundsheet to add extra damp-proofing.  Consider an additional tarpaulin that can be slung over the tent to add extra protection from all that rain, and use an inflatable mattress to keep you even further from the damp ground.

Cooking and Heating
Choose a tent that has an adequate porch/entry area that’s sheltered and protected in which you can cook safely.  Staying dry and warm inside is great, but not so great if you have to cook in a force ten gale accompanied by torrential rain.  The entrance should have adequate space to manoeuvre and cook safely, without getting wet but still with adequate ventilation.  Do not, under any circumstances, be tempted to use the stove as additional heating overnight.

Drying Room
Create wet and dry storage areas.  Where possible get wet clothes dried in a laundry room on the camp site and ensure that your wet and dry areas are kept strictly separate.  If you have to dry clothes in the tent you’ll need ventilation; condensation in the tent will as cause as much dampness as letting all that lovely, fresh, healthy rain in.

Light layered clothing
In terms of clothes you’ll have to accept that you’re going to get wet while out and about this year.  Try to have warm, dry clothes for evenings in the tent and light weight easy dry clothing for hiking, sailing and general gambolling around in the fields.  Less is more in rainy weather, and if you’re staying active you’ll not feel the cold too badly, but have additional layers to hand to protect against wind chill.
Packing precautions

If you are camping and hiking don’t over-pack your rucksack when setting off.  If you have to carry damp kit, which is unavoidable sometimes, it’s not only heavier but will also take up more space.  If you’re camping with the car and want to move around take plenty of towels to dry off the wet tent before striking camp.  This will help to dry it more quickly and allow you to get moving, towels will ring out (which a tent won’t) and they can be relatively easily dried off.


For wet weather camping (a.k.a. camping in the UK) tents should be good quality and lightweight.  Wet and dry areas in the tent helps to ensure you’ve a warm dry change of clothes for those evenings ‘in’ and outdoor clothing which should be light and easy to dry.

Catching Bigfoot: A Beginners Guide

Big Foot!

The mythical beast Sasquatch has evaded capture for decades and currently stands supreme champion of a long standing game of hide and seek, having out-hid Saddam Hussein and Raul Moat with some ease.
All evidence points to the fact that Sasquatch or Bigfoot as he is also known is similar in biological form to a human. Thus, it can be said that any attempt to capture this beast could be accomplished with ideas and apparatus that you would also use if you were searching for a person.
So, what would you need in your Bigfoot hunting kit?

Camouflage

Sasquatches are elusive creatures, for the best chance of finding one in its natural habitat you are going to have to become one with nature. Buy some good quality outdoor gear, as you may be out in the wild for some considerable time. Rub some mud from the local area onto any exposed skin and you’re ready to go. If you are unsure if the effect of this has been successful, try concealing yourself in your neighbour’s front garden for a day. If you are unnoticed, the first stage of training is complete.

Cameras and recording equipment

Now for one of the most integral parts of any hunter’s kit - the infrared wildlife camera: This technology was completely out of reach for anything less than the most well funded of Bigfoot hunters but it is now available at an affordable price.
Recording devices that can be activated by sound are also a great idea as you can buy enough to set up a perimeter. There’s even a myth that the Sasquatches residing in the northern Canadian Rockies are partial to the song Orinoco Flow, should you choose to try and lure them near your camera...

Helicopter

If you have an army of accountants funding your quest, you could go all out and get a helicopter to your quest. Using a helicopter, you are able to cover vast distances and access areas that would not be accessible via any other method.

Peanut butter sandwiches

Well, you are going to get hungry if you are in the wilderness for a sustained period of time.
 You may want to think about attending a survival course if you are really in it for the long haul.

Tranquiliser gun

When you finally confront the beast that you have been searching for, you will have to think about your next step. You are most likely wanting to show your capture to the rest of the world, but the rest of the world isn’t  going to travel out to the middle of nowhere...you need to take bigfoot somewhere for all to see!
Of course, even with all this equipment to hand, you will still have to fend for yourself when it comes to actually capturing the beast, a feat that has never been completed before. Why not enlist the help of someone from a safari park or even a military background to help you have your wits about you?
In any case, do let me know how you got on your hunt...I wish you success.

Image: Steven Perez

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Estelle Page is a thirty something interior designer, loving life with her husband and two kids! She loves the outdoors and is currently enrolled on a number of photography courses. She also writes and blogs for flyonthewall.uk.com

Protecting Your Family And Home In 5 Simple Steps

So you've just bought a new house? Should this be the time to rejoice and relax? I'm afraid it isn't. Buying a home for you and your family is only half of the battle. Now you must protect it from criminals who may be eyeing your possessions. But how do you protect your family and home from these people? Can you pull it off without wrecking your savings account or wallet? Fortunately, the answer is Yes. And I am about to show you how to do it in five simple steps.

Assess Your House and Corresponding Needs

Step one is to know your house inside out. Check how many doors and windows you have that could be used as an entry point by criminals. Doors located in the basement, garage and balcony should also be considered. Know which areas of the house should be put as the highest priority. Find out which floors or walls have weak points that could be easily smashed open and used to access by criminals. Also, assess how much money you can shell out for home security as you will be needing money to pay for good door locks, alarm systems, etc.

Install a Home Security System

A home security system is the simplest yet most effective measure you can implement when working on your home's security. A home security is both a product and service due to the fact that the device is linked to a home security company that monitors signals made by the device during detection of a threat. Through this system, you get immediate help from the police when a suspected break-in occurs. Aside from alarms, fire and gas detection devices can also be installed if possible. This will safeguard you against fires, floods and gas leaks that could be as dangerous as theft.

Have a Plan

Always have a plan. At our house, I taught my family where to go during a fire, what measures should be carried out and so on. These safety drills have somewhat become our precious bonding time. By having a plan, you improve the security of your home plus survival of your family during the most dangerous of circumstances. Know your way out or what tools to fight with if necessary.
Improve Privacy

By closing the drapes at all times, you not only get privacy but also a way to deter criminals from knowing if you are inside the house, where your valued items are, and how to get inside the house. Criminals won't be stupid enough to break into a house if they don't know what is going on inside.

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This article is brought to you by HappyHealth.Net

How To Survive A Nuclear Holocaust

From: BestHealthDegrees.com

A funny info graphic about surviving a nuclear holocaust

Related articles

• Would you be prepared to survive in the event of a complete breakdown of modern civilization?"
• Book Review: Nuclear Holocausts Atomic War In Fiction, 1895 1984

Top Ten Zombie Movies of All Time

Zombie Movies seem to be a popular niche in the film industry. Here is a list of the top 10 "must see" movies for any zombie enthusiast.  In my many years I have watched numerous zombie related movies hundreds easily. (Some bad... some GREAT) Non zombie enthusiasts simply don't understand the passion and thrill that is associated with these films. I've met many people that are baffled by the love for zombies.

Yes, zombie movie making is an art. Think of the art that goes into the choreography of just a simple zombie scene.  One that would make a dance choreographer pull their hair out.  Working with a massive crowd of extras is hard enough but amateur extras all in make up is the hardest by far.  One guy sneezes and he blows the whole scene.  Imagine the difficulty with that.  The make up preparation daily is a time consuming procedure.  With all this said lets dive in.

I review these movies on a 4 brain system instead of stars with 4 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.
Here are the most prominent Zombie movies of all time according to me in importance.

10.  Fido (2006) - This was a classic in all senses of the word.  It takes pleasant ville to a whole new level.  Taking place in post World war times the technology to subdue zombies to become slaves and make life easier is genius.  People and zombies coexisting in your wildest dreams.

9.  28 Days Later (2002)  The apocalyptic visions of an empty metropolis is amazing.  Also a first the pictures of a vacant city alone plus the rage virus version lets this crack my top ten for originality and realism.

8.  Shaun of the Dead (2004)  One of the best Zombie comedies ever if not one of the funniest comedies ever.  It pokes fun of the slow zombies and takes place in England.

7.  Zombieland (2009)  My favorite Zombie comedy hands down.  Starring Woody Harrelson and guest appearance by Bill Murray.  How could you go wrong?  The movie mixed with amazing visuals and guideline to survival to a feel good love story this movie has it all.

6.  White Zombie (1932)  is the grandfather of the American zombie film, whose influence is felt everywhere from movies to music even being the influence to the band White zombie. surprisingly scary looking zombies, and an important lesson for all zombie movies to come.  This movie is important because it fathered the shoot them i the head to kill theory enacted as a staple in all zombie movies regardless of what type of Zombie.

5. Zombie (1979) The best of the Italian zombie movies best know for it's underwater shark zombie scene.  Arguably the most gruesome of all the Zombie movies.

4.  Dawn of the Dead (2003) Remake Beside the fact that it takes place in a mall nothing is the same as the original.  It breathes new life to the fresh zombie theory where zombies are able to run.  A classic in its own right.

3.  Night of the living Dead (1985) Remake Although Romero purists will argue against John Russo's post-Night-of-the-Living-Dead impact on the zombie movie genre, "The Return of the Living Dead" had an indelible impact. First, it featured fast-moving zombies. Second, it introduced the zombie motto "Brains!"

2.  Night of the Living Dead (1968)- George a Romero first masterpiece was a classic instant classic.  Taught the importance of fortifying and boarding up for an upcoming horde.

1.  Dawn of the Dead (1978)  Besides being born in 1978 this is my favorite film as it captured the imagination of a Zombie apaclypse.  Turned it from horror to fantasy with the controlling of a mall and being able to get everything that you ever wanted.

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Written by Peter Van Deusen, CEO of ZombieAttire.com. A website focused on bringing Zombie Clothing to the everday enthusiest.

The costs of energy

The costs of energy have been increasing since they were first explored and exploited to fulfill daily needs. Speaking specifically about crude oil, the use of this limited resource has been increasing in use and cost in the last several decades, and even quite dramatically in the last fifteen years or so. People are driving larger, less gas efficient vehicles, more technology is being produced and need additional electricity, more people travel via airplane, take cruises, sail boats, and drive for sport. Not only is the fundamental source of fuel, crude oil, a limited resource, but it is also very costly to refine it into a usable substance. The discovery process for crude oil can be a hit or miss journey. Once a source has been located, then the drilling begins. The equipment is expensive and so is the labor. And, as we have seen in recent weeks, the costs of any and all “accidents” are also financially, and environmentally, costly.

So now it has been established that the main source of fuel in the current world is limited and costly, it is imperative to understand why the search for an alternative renewable source of energy is imminent and much needed. Many different sources of renewable energy have been explored, but none have fully taken root in the United States. Other countries, such as China, have taken an interest in some of the technologies discovered and harnessed here in the US. According to one American business owner “many of these technologies were invented in the U.S., but they have since migrated overseas because there has never been much of a market in the U.S.” (Heim). This could very well be what separates the “thinkers” and the “doers” in regards to implementing a mainstream renewable energy source.

According to the recent Shanghai Expo, China is displaying a very competitive edge in regards to a clean energy source. “Environmental disasters and China’s reputation as a prime polluter have driven some of that urgency” (Heim). China has become the world’s largest consumer of energy as well as the largest carbon emissions location in the world. As a result of these facts, China is looking at new ways to get ahead of the game by investing large sums of money into eco-friendly renewable energy sources.

One question many people have is why is a new source of energy needed? The first thing that comes to mind is that gasoline prices have skyrocketed in the last several years, which has been costly to many individuals as well as countries. In addition, crude oil is not a renewable source of energy. There is only so much oil on earth and it is being used at a much faster rate than it is being formed. The question as to whether or not oil has peaked in its supply still remains uncertain. However, oil is a finite source of energy and will eventually deplete, so the peak is not as important when making a decision to find alternative sources of energy. Also, take into consideration that the current main source of energy is very environmentally unfriendly. There are many pollutants that are caused by the current source of energy that can be eliminated if the primary source of energy is changed (Crump).

There are many risks associated with the locating, drilling, manufacturing, and use of crude oil. One of the current media frenzies surrounding crude oil is the Gulf Coast oil leak. According to CNN, the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill has released 4.9 million barrels of oil into the gulf coast region and only 3.3 million gallons have been recovered. The costs to BP are drastic however the economic impact to those who reside in this region will suffer more. The entire gulf coast relies on fishing, crabbing, oysters, recreational tourism, and other sources of monetary revenue. It is expected for the negative impact of the oil spill to impact this area for approximately the next three years. According to studies collected by CNN, the tourism travel source of revenue is estimated to be $7.6 billion within the next fifteen months. And we all know that the current oil spill is only one of the numerous incidents which have placed the environment at risk as a result of oil spills into natural habitats.

In searching for a new source of energy there are many factors that must be requirements. The replacement source of energy must be renewable. In order for the new source of energy to be a benefit, it must be able to be renewed and not a finite source. The new main source of energy must also be eco-friendly. The main reason why a new source of energy is being searched for is because the source of energy currently used, crude oil, is harmful to the environment. Looking for a replacement must have improvements, including being environmentally friendly. This also means that there must be minimal or zero pollutants as a result. If the renewable energy creates byproducts that are harmful to the environment, then it is pointless and counter productive to utilize that source. The new energy source must also be effective and reliable. If the new source cannot be relied upon to be consistent and effective in its delivery, it is not a viable substitute to what is already being used. And last, but not least, the replacement source of energy must be cost efficient. Part of the problem with crude oil is that it is far too costly to continue to maintain. Not only is it finite in its availability, but it is also very costly environmentally and financially. The byproducts created by processing crude oil causes harm to the environment and the cost of manufacturing the oil and transporting it harms the pocketbook.

There are many alternative methods to fuel today’s modern world. Some of the more popular renewable sources include hydro-electric power, wind power, all electric power, and solar power. Hydro-electric power offers a multitude of benefits including cost-efficiency and eco-friendliness, however not all geographical set-ups have fast enough running water to utilize this potential resource. Wind fueled electricity is cost efficient and wind is available all over the world. However, not all areas are suitable for building wind turbines on them. Converting to all-electric power requires an initial power supply. Essentially, switching to an “all-electric” source of energy requires it to be coupled with another source of energy in order to make it work. It is far too reliant on another component. And last but not least, solar power is very popular in eco-friendly conversations. Solar panels are quite costly in the onset of setting up solar energy as a renewable source however it pays off in the long run. Also, there are some areas on the globe that are not viable places for this type of renewable energy, such as far north and far south on the globe due to shortened daylight hours (Withgott & Brennan).

Wind power utilizes kinetic energy that is then converted into electrical energy, which can be used as a replacement to nonrenewable sources of energy. The use of wind power is dramatically increasing across the world. Germany, the United States, and Spain account for more than half of the world’s wind energy usage. Denmark is the leader in wind power output with 20% of power supplies coming directly from wind turbines. (Withgott & Brennan). Within the US, both California and Texas produce the majority of wind energy. This could be because both Texas and California are amongst the top five largest states as well as financial ability and space to place turbines.

As wind speeds are significantly greater over water than land, there are prospects of building wind turbines in the ocean to help maximize the amount of energy that can be produced and harnessed. Turbulence is also lessened over water. However, the cost to build and maintain a turbine in water is much greater than if they were built on land. At the current time, “offshore wind farms are limited to shallow water, where towers are sunk into sediments singly or with a tripod to stabilize them” Withgott & Brennan, p. 368).

As with many sources of energy, wind power comes with pros and cons. In order to make an educated decision on whether or not this type of energy source can provide value and help protect the environment or not requires people to understand the benefits and detriments. The people of Atlanta, Georgia, for example, were informed of the pros and cons regarding wind energy as a viable source and made their decision based off of the information provided to them. Given the location of the city, the industrialization of the area, and the lack of spare fields, Georgians are not yet convinced that wind energy is a viable solution for them (Keefe). However, there is growing interest in this area of renewable energy and more research needs to be conducted to figure out how to make the turbines more efficient and area friendly.

Wind has no by-product emissions once the equipment is in place. In addition, wind power is more efficient than previously relied upon resources. The return of energy versus the amount of energy that goes into producing wind energy and harnessing it is much higher, thus resulting in a higher return rate. It is believed that wind turbines create 23 times more energy than is consumed to harness that energy. An economical benefit in favor of wind energy is that those who own land can lease their property for the use of wind turbines, thus creating additional personal revenue (Withgott & Brennan).

With all of the benefits for wind energy, there are some negative avenues to explore. The main setback for the argument in favor of wind energy is that wind is not constant. Being that wind is a natural occurrence, it is impossible to have any control over how often the wind blows and how hard it blows (Cape Times). If wind used in conjunction with another type of renewable energy source then this issue is moot. The second energy source, such as hydrogen fuel for example, could store the energy that is generated by the wind and permit it to be ready for use at a later time. Also, some places on the globe are much windier than others. The Great Plains would have greater success regarding wind energy than a densely forested area. In addition, wind turbines can be costly to maintain and repair when needed. The turbines are subject to damages from birds and bats, as well as the birds and bats being damaged or even killed by the turbines (Withgott & Brennan).

“As a replacement for fossil fuel combustion in the average US utility generator, the US Environmental Protection Agency has calculated that running a 1-megawatt wind turbine for 1 year prevents the release of more than 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide, 6.5 tons of sulfur dioxide, 3.2 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 60 lbs. of mercury” (Withgott & Brennan). Looking at those numbers alone can sway most to put their energy into producing wind turbines to replace limited resource energies.

There have been many pieces of legislation put forth in encouraging and discouraging the use of alternative forms of energy. Recently, a law regarding cleaner energy won over the voters in the city of Aberdeen, South Dakota. According to the recent article written by Emily Arthur-Richardt, the city councilmen and women wish to encourage alternative eco-friendly energy, but they also wish to minimize any hindrances on the community.

Specifically speaking, wind turbines would have a height limit and noise restrictions imposed on them in order to decrease any issues with property values and inevitable noise pollution. The various areas surrounding this city would also be zoned for turbines or not, thus ensuring that not all acreage would be subject to having turbines built on them. Also, there would be set distances from highly traveled, highly populated, or frequented areas of the city in order to maintain safety of its population (Arthur-Richardt). One can conclude from the actions taken by just one city, the use of wind turbines to create and harness wind energy is a feasible, viable solution for an alternative form of renewable energy. With the right restrictions, planning, and incentives for the people who reside around them, it is possible to get community members to vote in favor of wind farms.

In summary, the only way a renewable form of energy to take root in modern culture is if the communities impacted are on board. Without the support of the population, no alternative source of energy will replace fossil fuels. Changes in how energy is produced and provided will cost money initially, however the savings will pay off long term once the preliminary costs are made. Also, there are many arguments in favor of wind energy as a viable replacement to crude oil, as much as there are arguments against it. Looking at the totality of circumstances, it is logical to conclude that the pros outweigh the cons, thus drawing the conclusion that wind turbines are a cost efficient replacement to current methodologies.

References:

Arthur-Richardt, Emily.  (29  June). Energy law approved: Wind, solar ordinance

gets final adoption. McClatchy - Tribune Business News.  Retrieved July 3, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand.

Cape Times. “Everyone enjoys the idea of renewable energy, but there are obvious

practical problems. A wind farm gives zero energy for, perhaps, 30 percent of the time.” (2010, July 2). Cape Times,8.  Retrieved July 4, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand.

CNN (August 2010). “Gulf Oil Spill is Worst Accidental Spill Ever.” CNN US. Internet:

<http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/03/gulf.oil.largest.spill/index.html>.

CNN (July 2010). “Gulf Spill Could Cost Region $22.7 Billion in Travel Dollars.” CNN

US. Internet: < http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/07/22/ gulf.oil.travel.impact/index.html>.

Crump, C. (2010). From coal to wind, energy has become cleaner, more efficient.

Crain's Detroit Business, 26(18), E54. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier database.

Heim, Kristi. (2010, August 7). “Clean energy: China charges ahead of world.”

Seattle Times. Internet: <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ businesstechnology/2012565355_chinatech.html>.

Keefe, Bob.  (2010, June 28). Georgia not sold on wind energy push. The Atlanta

Journal - Constitution,p. A.1.  Retrieved July 3, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand.

Withgott, Jay & Scott Brennan. Essential Environment: 3^rd Ed. Pearson Custom

Publishing: San Francisco, 2009.

Oil Shortage: Current oil prices are very high (Peak oil?)

English: New presentation of data in figure 20 of http://www.hubbertpeak.com/hubbert/1956/1956.pdf . Meant as replacement for non-free :Image:Hubbert-fig-20.png. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Environmental issues and the Oil Crisis : Impact on your survival?  Oil price per barrel:

Are we running out of oil? An oil crisis maybe? Unlikely but the following is very interesting.

According to geologist M. King Hubbert, the availability of oil and its production peaked around 1970 and is on the decline. Due to the limited resource, the price of gasoline has increased as many believe the source is depleting. According to the text by Withgott, Hubbert then recalculated his findings and then believed that oil would peak in 1995.

This puts us fifteen years after the expected oil peak, which based on the Hubbert peak theory would place us in a decline towards depletion of this resource. 

Contrary to the Hubbert calculations, the Buffalo News predicts that oil will peak in 2012 and then begin to decline. This is why so many people are adamantly working towards finding a renewable source of energy to replace fossil fuels such as crude oil. Since it is reasonably believed that oil is a finite source of energy, it makes sense to believe that the supply of oil will peak and then decline in a terminal fashion. The time it takes for oil to form takes a significant amount of time, which is far too long for the oil supply to remain available in order to sustain current lifestyles. 

  Although many believe that the supply of oil has or will soon peak in its supply and then terminally decline, many still believe that there is plenty of oil to supply many years in the future. Based on a new study by Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize winner and oil historian, the world is approximately 25 years away from its peak, which would then result in a decline that would support the world’s current oil needs for more time than previously anticipated. 

US Lower-48 oil production (crude oil only) and Hubbert high estimate (URR= 200Gb, K=6%, 1970), the red dotted line indicates the 1956 year (prediction year). Data from the EIA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With this new information, many are convinced that alternative energy sources will be more widely used before the oil peak is reached. Regardless of when the oil supply peaks and begins its decline, it will happen. For people to wait to react after oil has peaked is foolish. Oil will peak. Oil supplies will decline. 

There is nothing we can do to stop that, so why wait until we find ourselves in a time crunch in finding alternative sources of energy. It is much wiser to plan ahead and begin to shift to alternative renewable energies before it is a critical need. The environmental benefits clearly outweigh the cons. 

See also: current oil price, is there an oil shortage, oil shortage as good search terms.  

 References: Hall, Kevin. “Pulitzer Prize winner suggests world still has plenty of oil.” Buffalo News, New York. 11/15/06, A6. 

Internet: <http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.itt-tech.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=8422&sr=lni%284MBY-0PY0-TWDJ-02RD%29>. 

  Markov, Marko S. “The coming oil crunch; As world production peaks and then declines, the energy culture must change.” Buffalo News, New York. 10/7/07, H1. 

Internet: <http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.itt-tech.edu/hottopics/lnacademic /?verb=sr&csi=8422&sr=lni%284PVN-8WW0-TWDJ-01FK%29>. 

Withgott, Jay & Scott Brennan. Essential Environment: 3rd Ed. Pearson Custom Publishing: San Francisco, 2009. 

Survival: Currency collapse

"The New Fred Meyer  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Part two: collapse of the currency and asses resources.

Should the US currency collapse, you're going to learn a few things about resource management. I don't doubt that this. You will learn a harsh lesson in how to plan for your future, if you don't then you will fall. A secondary resource or currency won't take long to implement (or shouldn't) if your a conspiracy theorist I am sure you have already thought of some elaborate system. I assure you, none of that matters when family comes to mind. In a highly unlikely scenario that a new currency does not come quick, there are a few things you should know. All around our major cities are literally thousands of tons of material that can be scraped together to create items for bartering. Have you ever looked around at home being built the large bins of "trash." Inside these bins, are different kinds of scrap metal, fencing, and wood. Does your family rely on a wood stove for heat? You won't find a shortage look proper place. We should also note, in regards to your food that the average grocery store will be cleaned out in an emergency in about eight hours or less. There is never enough stock of food or medical supply's in a  catastrophic event or government emergency. A long time ago our grandparents and their grandparents used to can their food. So now, before anything happens might be a good idea to keep can goods stored. You don't need a can opener, all you need is a cement like service to scrape the bottom of the clockwise until you break the lid open. If you utilize your space, you should be able to store about three months of food relatively cheap and easy. Grab your coupon books pick up all the 10 cans for 10$ deals you can. These sales are happening all the time.

Lastly, if you have a home in the mountains or a resort away from the city this might be your best bet. Store your food and fuel keep your family safe and secure for about a three month period. You need more time than that it's a good idea to stock up on tools and supplies to help you gather food. Tents and other shelters can keep a family for a decent amount of time. Always remember that while you may find it easy to rely on the system, it has failed in the past. (Hurricane Katrina) you would be wise to plan out a good means to keep your family safe until the worst  part blows over. This is not meant to scare you or drive a panic, just to inform you that relying on the government to keep you safe is not a good plan. Why? Because 300,000,000+ people could also be using this same plan and that my friend is a recipe for disaster.  So invest some time, build your food storage.  Clip your coupons. Buy tents, axes , and other useful tools. Have a med kit and bug out bag ready. It's your responsibility to make sure your family is safe. Not the governments.   Food and commodities for you family is always a good investment.

Survival: Currency collapse.  A Web Directory, likes you.

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Survival Tip on Fire: It brings many opportunities, master them all!

This survival tip is going to be about fire. (Burn!) With all of the situations you can get into, you should know of different ways that you can use to build a fire. When you suddenly come to notice that, you can not prepare most of what you packed in your bags, fire is needed. Many other reasons exist to learn fire. Here I will attempt to explain some . Survival Tip; Fire from the Lower Paleolithic times. Quick Warning. Kids need to use adult supervision, fire can and will destroy your house, property, items and life, hyperbolic? yes, but remember we warned you. Don't just play randomly with fire, think about other people also. So,  please don't do it with no parent/guardian supervision if you are under 17 years old.  Fire is an excellent tool if worked with the proper way, it is dangerous if you don't respect the elements.
Survival Series Fire Starter: Durable, under 15$ @ Amazon When there is no risk currently for you or  you feel a calm front moving in, prepare. Now is the time to practice and master your skills. Don't wait until It hit's the fan.

Ziploc bags

Survival Tip #1: For starting a survival fire - without going into details of what method you use, you need a fires stick (We are currently writing a detailed article on this) or tinder and some small bits of wood to begin with, so start and collect all of that now. Any light weight combustible material that may be light on fire. Chop sticks, dry grasses, and stringy bits of tree bark can all function properly. Occasionally, I take a small bit of lint from a laundry mat and pack a few Ziploc bags with it, then put it in my backpack and head out, lint is not something people fear the loss of (hey that guy stole my LINT?) Lint makes for an awesome fire starter. It is best to use wood that's finger sized in diameter for your beginning wood. Make sure to go ahead and gather a couple of slightly larger pieces of wood also. Right after going through the process of gathering to begin your fire,  this way the fire will not die out because you were not prepared. Clear out the region or section where you are going to make a fire to avoid the accidental spread of any practice fire. Place the scrap leafs and wood etc, into a good location where wont be bothered by it. If this is a practice survival fire or a campfire, be sure to have a hose, or buckets of water available to be tossed on to the fire. If your fire begins to get out of hand, you can quickly put that sucker out. Do NOT run into dry woods on a windy day and start burning things to test out some of the methods we teach here. Bad idea!

Bic lighter

Survival Tip #2: Always have a cheap lighter like a BIC with you when you travel, smokers may already do this, non-smokers should start too(not smoking just carrying a lighter). Lot's of cheap lighters or fire-starters exist on the market today(like one of the fire starters linked in this article.) Don't purposely make things harder then they need to be. Keep them on you or in a truck, preferably on you. The lighters weight almost nothing and are cheap.

Survival Tip #3: For those of you who have a radio (9volt) with you, use the batteries to begin a fire. Buy a few nine volt batteries, and a pack of steel wool (never hold the wool in your hand when you touch them together.) You can purchase all of this in the hardware store. The wool is made with small fibers. They will react to the battery because of how small the fibers are. The electricity from a 9VOLT battery will cause them to burn up or "react." Always pack some steel wool to your survival bag or Bug-Out-Bag as a back-up. Practice this method in case your lighters do not live up the the huge task of lighting.

 Survival Tip #4: You are able to obtain flint and steel from quite a few sources (also linked in this post.) Practice striking the flint and steel together to send a spark into your tinder. This can take some practice. You need to know how to do this if you find yourself in a situation that lacks any of the other methods, it gets easy with practice and lasts a very long time. You may also be able to strike your steel against rock. Practicing will prepare you for this situation. I do not suggest utilizing your knife for this objective. Your knife is too beneficial to you in a survival situation, and usually does not make that excellent of a fire starter anyhow. Bring no harm to your knife, for it is your friend. For those who just don't listen and  have to try it, make sure to use the back of the knife blade and not the edge. Elk Ridge 4-Piece Fire Starter Kit with Striker (Low cost bulk kit)

In Conclusion: There are a multitude of different approaches you can use for beginning  and maintaining a survival fire. Choose one and begin to master it. Now, move to the next, master and repeat. You can never be over prepared, and the lady's love a man who can build fire (and Vice versa.) Fire light fills the night bring warmth to us all! ---------------------- Survival Tip: Master the Elements, Master the FIRE!

Threats to your safety: Floods, Economic, Molecular Nanotechnology?

Chernobyl disaster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many probable threats to your safety and the safety of your loved ones, and in many different forms, from natural disasters (Twisters,  massive burst wind, Arctic Blasts, Cat 3+ hurricanes, flash floods and the list goes on) to man created terrors like (Chernobyl type events, Chemical released bio-toxins, pandemics, terrorism and Nanobots, many more we are unaware of.) recently it's more likely to be an economic disaster, which is definitely a possibility. There are techniques to use where it is possible to start out to prepare now, to safeguard your family by collecting survival gear, survival food, along with other survival type items.

Survival gear and supplies will have to be collected to keep your family fed and sheltered for a 72 hours minimum. You'll want to carefully take into consideration the threats at your location (which is specific to you) and build a kit accordingly. There are plenty of items like  sanitation products, medications, water and food that should definitely be included. Here are two crucial suggestions I learned the tough way when our energy went out I did not feel a need to shop for women's sanitation products and that really pissed off my wife. This added unneeded stress.  I also forgot about the pet food and we ran out, forcing me to give out human food to my two dogs. Do you know what happens every time the energy goes out? The

stores all shutdown or sell out, so you can not just run out and restock or grab some. These are two really important survival commodities that should really be on your list(Women products/animal food.) Take into consideration what you use every single day and start to collect and stock these supplies. Take a couple of items out of a brand new box or package and put them together with your survival supply kit. This allows you to build-up and help in creating your kit without having to grab up a bunch of extra survival items all at once. Remember shelf-life!

Chernobyl radiation map from CIA handbook, svg'd by User:Sting, and re-anglified by me (to the same strange names used in the original). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With a 25year shelf-life, why wait? Grab your survival food today!

Be 100% aware of the survival foods that you collect. You need to ensure that they are stored safely and last long enough. Canned goods typically last one year, so you should add in a rotation variable to your survival plan. You can check them often, I suggest every 26 weeks then if you don't want to eat them when they are close to expiring, donate whatever you need to get rid of to a food bank, this also helps your fellow man. Other foods have a number of shelf life's so be sure to set up a program to rotate.  This can be carried out with other foods also. Make certain that your survival food storage is out of harms way and in correctly sealed containers. You don't want to head down to get your bag of flour only to bring up all the bugs that always seem to find their way into your important cache of goods. By taking these steps I have been able to build up and fully work on my survival items  and have more than enough time and make sure that they are fresh and usable when they are required. With all of the severe weather events seemingly on the rise and the world seeming to get crazier by the day, I have been stocking some canned goods for an emergency.  Never rule out "Grey goo." Molecular Nanotechnology would suck.  Remember, most survival food and good can be bought with a huge shelf life, there is really no excuse.

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• Zombielyptic

Zombielyptic Review Survive zombie attacks | Free General Web Directory

Zombielyptic Review Survive zombie attacks | Free General Web Directory

Cool site I added to the directory!

The woods

Love the woods and they will love you :-)

Lake resources

Sometimes I like to get down to the lake and find cubby holes or spots good for camping unnoticed. If you go completely unnoticed then odds are you can live there for a while.

Full image below click it.

Canning food: Preservation and building a garden

English: Galveston, TX, October 10, 2008 -- Insulated food storage containers called "Cambros" are lined up for loading onto Red Cross ERVs and Salvation Army canteens, which will distribute them throughout Galveston. Over 30,000 meals are delivered daily. FEMA photo by Greg Henshall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How dependent are you currently on the goods, service, of other people? It's almost as if we are bound to social programs,  and if one went away a lot of family's could possibly feel desperate  and acting without thinking . All of use power and purchase our food and goods from the local marketplace. If there was a major power outage coupled with the markets shutdown, honestly, are you ready? I recommend having a cache of survival items. If you've been watching the current round of economic and government problems. Then check out what is going on in other countries; we are not that far away from comparable events.

Canning food preservation & Food storage

Supply lines for food distribution in this country are roughly three days, which means a full dependence on "The Kanban Method" or Just in time (JIT) distribution systems, which will leave shop shelves empty within the event of even the smallest crisis. For people who don't have the capability to grow their own food for the long-term, you and your family's well-bing could be in jeopardy. It is a rewarding feeling to start your own garden, you should get started on one as soon as possible. You should have good solid information about do-it-yourself canning to boost your survival food storage cache. For what amounts to a small investment, you can setup your own food system, saving loads of money over the long haul. Start buying seeds that are organic or not modified genetically in any way. Avoid hybrids that wont allow to you reuse the seeds or start new seeds from the plants natural abilities (Genetic use restriction technology). It can be never too early to build a strategy in the event of an emergency. Having  food , evacuation and survival plans  in place will set you above a lot of people in terms of how well your family last in the event of an emergency.

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