Mountain Steps

Our Book: Step By Step Guide To Emergency Preparedness by Mountain Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:48:00 +0000

Our book Step By Step Guide To Emergency Preparedness is now available on Amazon.com!

The book is 184 pages. It includes the most relevant posts and articles we've written pertaining to preparing you and your family for future emergencies. The book is organized in easy to digest sections and chapters.

From Amazon.com:
This book is based off a collection of posts from our blog Mountain Steps http://mountainsteps.blogspot.com. This was originally written so that friends and family can learn what we've learned (without needing to make the same mistakes we've made) and can use it as a source of helpful resources. Since October 2008 we've gone through a crash course on survival skills, American and political history and economics. We've created short term and long term goals for ourselves. We've documented what we've learned, what we've accomplished and hopefully these will give you some ideas and resources to better yourself. This book, like our blog, breaks preparedness topics into easy to digest sections and goals. This makes it easier to prioritize what you want to focus on and makes this otherwise overwhelming topic more manageable. The sections in the book cover Short Term Goals, Long Term Goals, Water, Food, Health, Security, Skills, Personal Finance, Frugal Tips, Precious Metals, Investment Strategies and Economics.

Makes a great reference. Be sure to consider buying one for family members as a gift.

Buy the Step By Step Guide To Emergency Preparedness by Mountain Steps

CERT: Community Emergency Response Team

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:37:00 +0000

If you are looking for a way to get some Emergency Preparedness Training as well as serve your community by helping out duringg an emergency or training and educating people about Emergency Preparedness you might want to consider checking out your local CERT. They also have a free online course located here: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/IS317/ Both the online course and the hands-on course taught in your local area go over how CERTs are organized and itneract with first responders, fire safety, hazardous material and terrorist incidents, disaster medical operations and search and rescue. I've taken the online course and I'm pretty impressed. I like the idea of the CERTs. Basically you first take care of yourself and your family, then work outward to your neightborhood, then your city, and then your county.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

More Info: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

Animation of US Recession - Unemployment Across the Country 2007 - Present

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:51:00 +0000

This is a fascinating animation titled The Geography of a Recession.

It shows US unemployment via a colored map of the nation with each county colored accordingly. It starts from 2007 to the present.

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

Movies: Dual Survival - new Discovery Channel Show on Survival Premiering

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:43:00 +0000

I got this email from a publicist for the Discovery Channel. Passing along the information to you all:

Hello,

My name is David, and I am a publicist for Discovery Communications. I saw that you cover survival tips and have written about The Colony, so I wanted to make sure to share this upcoming Discovery Channel premiere with you and Mountain Steps readers.

Experts agree there are some very basic - and universal - rules for surviving in the wild. Find shelter, find water, find food, find help. Beyond that, there's not much they agree on. Meet the military-trained Dave Canterbury and naturalist Cody Lundin - the odd couple of survival experts featured in Discovery Channel's all-new series Dual Survival, premiering Friday, June 11, at 10pm ET/PT. Together, Canterbury and Lundin take on some of the planet's most unforgiving terrain to demonstrate - in their own way - how the right skills and some creative thinking can keep you alive.

Links to embeddable video clips from the show are available below, along with a few images. Please contact me if you would like more information or additional video or images.

Dual Survival: "Bush Hippie Logic"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HX2clxorE4

Dual Survival: "A Run in the Dark"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkiS88WmErc

Also, The Colony is returning for a second season so I can also include you on new information about the series when it becomes available.

Thank you for your time,
David

Book Review: A Back to Basics Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:44:00 +0000

This is a beautifully produced book. It's broken down into 7 different sections that cover all the basics of independent living - and every page has many, many full color pictures and illustrations. The negatives are that this is a basic book - so if you are just starting prepping for independent living this would be a great book to start with, but it does not offer a whole lot of new information for more advanced preppers. I did love the section on making your own ice cream and different cheeses and I'm definitely going to experiment with a few of the easier cheese recipes! The other thing with this book is that it seems to be written for more of the yuppie type who is concerned about their "carbon footprint", etc so a few ideas are very expensive and not too practical, but overall very informative.

From instructions on making your own composting toilet to trimming the toenails on your llamas, this back-the-land guide offers a vast wealth of resources for the eco-minded, twenty-first-century homesteader. The crowded chapters cover growing and harvesting food; keeping livestock (and building structures to house them); incorporating renewable energy technology, such as solar panels, into existing homes; making crafts, household items, and toys; homemade health remedies; and earth-friendly interior design. With so many topics introduced in such a limited space, it’s inevitable that some subjects are treated more superficially than others; for example, a spread on stress management, which includes tips such as “take a walk,” seems out of place in a title filled with so much targeted, useful advice. Best are the practical specifics, and even city dwellers with no interest in taking up beekeeping or basket weaving will enjoy browsing this for recipes, gardening ideas, and, as the introduction states, other accessible ways to “take a few steps closer to a healthier, happier, and more responsible lifestyle.” --Gillian Engberg
Product Description
The companion to the bestseller Back to Basics for country, urban, and suburban folks. Who doesn’t want to shrink their carbon footprint, save money, and eat homegrown food whenever possible? Even readers who are very much on the grid will embrace this large, fully-illustrated guide on the basics of living the good, clean life. It’s written with country lovers in mind—even those who currently live in the city.

Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or even the wilderness, there is plenty you can do to improve your life from a green perspective. Got sunlight? Start container gardening. With a few plants, fresh tomatoes, which then become canned tomato sauce, are a real option. Reduce electricity use by eating dinner by candlelight (using homemade candles, of course). Learn to use rainwater to augment water supplies. Make your own soap and hand lotion. Consider keeping chickens for the eggs. From what to eat to supporting sustainable restaurants to avoiding dry cleaning, this book offers information on anything a homesteader needs—and more. 1000 color illustrations

Buy: Homesteading: A Back to Basics Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More (Back to Basics Guides) by Abigail R. Gehring

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building ~ Robert A. Heinlein Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:56:00 +0000

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. " ~ Robert A. Heinlein

America Is Not The Wealthiest Nation, Americans Are Not The Wealthiest People - Response To A Preacher

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:06:00 +0000

I Heard an interesting sermon on Sunday. This is my thoughts on it.

------------

Hi Pastor,

I enjoyed your message on Sunday May 23.

I understand the basic point of your message that we each individually need to figure out what we do with our own resources and wealth, but there were many parts of your sermon I disagreed with. I hope you don't mind me emailing you about them.

I've heard this basic message about how America is the wealthiest nation and how Americans are the richest people preached by a variety of preachers from many different denominations throughout my years as a Christian, and always previously I've believed much if not all of it. So - this is more of a resulting response from messages I've heard over the years than a direct response to you personally. In fact, for all I know, your sermon may have been perfectly targetted to your audience, the congregation.

Since this financial collapse began happening in 2008 I've been reading voraciously - mainly about how to protect myself and my family from the next great depression which I believe more and more everyday is soon coming, if it's not already upon us. Through my extensive reading and pondering I've come to the appalling conclusion that America is NOT the wealthiest nation, if we ever were the wealthiest nation.

Don't get me wrong - there are many wealthy Americans, but most American's are not the wealthiest people. There are basically two separate ideas here - individual worth and national worth. Let me explain.

Just because people have lots of stuff does not mean they are wealthy. I hate to generalize, but in this instance I believe it is accurate. Most people who have lots of stuff do not actually own that stuff ... yet. They've bought it on credit.They have borrowed from someone and hopefully will pay for it later. They now have an appearance of wealth, but if you subtract their assets (what they actually own) from what their debts are (what they actually owe) they often are far, far poorer than they appear or maybe even realize. What separates Americans from other citizens of other countries is the ease at which we can gain access to credit and can borrow money - this can be a useful tool or a cement block around ones neck because sooner or later the borrowed money will need to be paid back. This easy ability to borrow for the recent past has been reliable, but the assumptions many Americans have made (that they will make more in the future and their purchased goods - like houses - will always increase in value, etc) are proving to many people to have been bad assumptions. As a result many of these purchased goods purchased with borrowed money with the intentions of being paid back at a later date are now worth less than they were purchased for - making the purchaser even more poorer then before. To compound the problem, many Americans are finding they can not get jobs that make enough to pay back what they owe.

When you are indebted to someone you are basically enslaved to them. You lose a little bit of freedom. We have whole congregations of poor people who feel rich because they have lots of stuff which they think they own. And then they hear a message of how because they are so wealthy they need to give more and so instead of paying down their debts they give the money to some other cause - money that could be used to help free themselves from enslavement. If they then do not make a payment on their debts larger than the interest generated on what they owe (and on credit cards this can often be 20% or higher interest rate) they are in fact now going deeper into debt because they now owe MORE than before. All because they feel wealthy and are told by authority figures that they are wealthy and because, maybe, they don't want to face the fact that they are not wealthy.

But let's take this to a national level. It's essentially the same situation. Over and over we're told America is the wealthiest nation - yet when you look at the figures it doesn't add up! We, as a nation, currently owe over $12 Trillion - and the government has promised over $100 Trilllion in entitlements such as Social Security, Foreign Aid, Medicare, Pensions, etc.

If we owe $12 Trillion and have promised over $100 Trillion where does the money come from?

There are three current ways that money is gained for governments.

Taxes - the government can take money from it's citizens by force. Unfortunately - the government is coming close to owing more money than all the citizens together have. If the government takes all money and all assets from all citizens it will still owe money. This is compounded because the individuals will still owe their debts, but now have even less to pay the debts down with.

Borrowing - currently the government is borrowing money from foreign and domestic sources - mainly from China and Japan. Of course this money is charged an interest rate and sooner or later will need to be paid back - but how? Well - if it is pushed far enough into the future then it will be paid for by our kids and grandkids and other future generations through very excessive taxes. This is also assuming people and nations will be willing to always loan America money, but what if at some point they no longer want to? Then this option will no longer be viable.

Printing Press - Since the government has a monopoly on currency and since the currency is not tied to a tangible asset like gold the government can increase and decrease the money supply at it's own discretion. If the government chooses it can print up more and more money and then pay it's debts back. Individual citizens can not do this - it's called counterfeiting, but when it's done by the government it's called Good Economic Policy. At any rate the debts can now be paid off, but the end result is that the dollar is now worth less. This solution creates inflation and is essentially a hidden tax on citizens and theft from the individuals who money was borrowed from because they are being paid back in cheaper dollars - dollars intentionally cheapened. So far the US Government has been fairly lucky doing this - they haven't suffered the extreme inflation as quickly as other countries. It's taken the US government over 80 years to decrease the value of the dollar by 95% - some countries manage to do this same thing to their currencies in weeks and days!

Of course, a government and individuals can simply claim bankruptcy and default on their debts. If done completely intentionally this also is a form of theft as the borrowed money is never paid back and borrowed with an intention of never paying it back. Of course, between countries, doing this can often be a cause for war.

At any rate - when you look at the numbers much like how many individual Americans appear wealthy the US Government appears wealthy when in fact it's not. The Treasury has been pillaged, the coffers are empty, and the economic laws of give and take can not be repealed and the piper must be paid someday.

If you want to look globally the situation is even worse. Since 1972 the entire global economy has become unhinged from any tangible assets and is based entirely on faith in paper money and faith in governments ability to manage it. The entire system is simply an illusion - a house of cards that is now teetering. Even mainstream leaders are beginning to face up to the facts instead of simply ignore and deny it - recently on the David Letterman show in mid May of this year the news anchor Brian Williams admitted how economists are telling him that the dirty little secret is that "The world has no money and the emperor has no clothes."

But let's go back down to the individual level - many Americans are wealthy and many Christians are wealthy - and as you stated - the bible does not necessarily say this is bad. But by far most Christians are not wealthy and bible verses of what to do with wealth do not apply to them. I believe unneeded frustration and damage can be done when they apply the wrong verses to themselves. Instead - bible verses against debt and it's enslavement are what they should be worried about, not wealth. This is a free country and if indebted Christians want to pay themselves last and risk long term enslavement of themselves or intentionally enslave themselves to their debtors that's, of course, their prerogative. I personally think you can do more good the freer you are. But if Christians are borrowing and paying for charities, churches, etc. and have no intention of ever paying it back - that's just being dishonest and being a thief. I would hope Christians would not be considering that option.

You gave an example of how poor Bedouins are when compared to the wealthy who were in a bus driving pass them on your trip to Israel. But this isn't an accurate comparison. As you said - within their culture there are even wealth disparities - some have more goats than others. But further, just because they have less Stuff doesn't mean they are poorer. Stuff alone does not create wealth - owning stuff that retains value free and clear creates wealth. I would argue that many of these Bedouins may actually be more Free then many Americans because they may not be indebted like many Americans are. But again it's not an adequate comparison - they have different responsibilities which may actually hinder their own freedom - they are reliant on certain livestock, geography, etc for their survival and they are in a different economic system.

You state that wealth is having more than you need. This to me is not an accurate definition - wealth is simply retained value which you can use in the future at your discretion on things or services you desire to use the value on. As I've shown above - many individuals have lots of stuff, much stuff maybe they don't actually need, yet they are not wealthy since they actually do not own much of it. But for arguments sake, let's assume a person does own all the stuff they have in their possession - who is to say whether it is for a need? A need for what? Survival? Enjoyment? Their career? Their hobby? Government Central Planners attempt to answer this through force, but it always fails and never equalizes completely. Very often it simply makes most people poorer while enriching the select few. The reason it can never adequately succeed is simply because all humans value things differently. Whoever is in power will use their values to determine when someone has more than they need, based on whatever variables they desire to measure this by.

But let's assume having more than you need is simply about standard of living - how can another person determine what someone else's standard of living should be? I can tell you that my wife and I are probably on the bottom mid level of standard of living - and it's largely by choice - should other people not making the same choices as us be punished because they have more stuff or make more or have a bigger house or prefer a different hobby? We will, God willing, be increasing our standard of living soon, but the level of our standard of living will still largely be determined by all sorts of variables such as our future financial goals, career goals, hobby goals, recreational goals, etc. and will definitely differ from many other peoples standard of living.

Now let's assume two people have the exact same incomes. Person A receives $1000 and Person B received $1000. If Person A saves $200 of their money by choosing to go with less now and Person B spends all their money now - well Person A will now be more wealthy if Person B spent money on items that do not retain value. Done long enough Person A will have far more wealth than Person B - especially if Person B is purchasing consumables or items that do not retain value over time. Someone on the outside might be tempted to say Person A is selfish or greedy when all they are is a saver - they value things differently then Person B. Now what if Person A received $800 while Person B receives $1200 and Person A still saves and Person B still spends. Person A will still be more wealthy - and yet, even though they make less, because they have different values (and in my view are more responsible with their money) they will often be viewed as being more greedy, more selfish, OR be expected to give even MORE. After all - they are richer than Person B.

In a sense - every dime you save, assuming it's retaining most of it's value, is a dime that can be paid in the future to purchase various goods and expenses - that savings is what creates wealth. If you save enough than at some point you can stop working to generate an income and simply live off the savings - this is often called retirement. BUT who is to say when it's right or wrong for someone to retire? Is 62 the earliest someone needs to retire - why? If someone can retire at the age of 52 - why shouldn't they? If they saved their money and want to use their money to retire earlier - why shouldn't they? The current retirement ages are simply arbitrary numbers picked by the government for it's various entitlement programs. Most likely these retirement ages will need to be raised in order to keep programs like Social Security working. Once this happens will it now be wrong for someone to retire on their own at age 62? And what if someone doesn't even want to retire? Should all people be required to work as long as they physically can? Why is it called prudent to save for retirement, but only when you retire at a certain age, but possibly considered hoarding if it's being saved for other reasons or for an earlier retirement age?

I guess - my ultimate point is this. It would be a grand thing for Christians to be in a financial position where they need to grapple with many of the questions I've just asked, BUT as long as they owe more than they have these questions and many of the verses in the bible about wealth do not apply. It can not apply - because they are not wealthy!

I think individuals need to give to themselves first - free themselves from their enslavement to debtors, before they can ever do maximum good. This may sound selfish, but it's not when you think about it. If it is selfish, then all retirement savings are the epitome of selfishness because that's what retirement savings is all about - amassing enough wealth to no longer work. But it's not selfish because if individuals neglect themselves, if they martyr themselves financially, they are in the long run creating an unnecessary burden on their fellow brothers and sisters. It's unnecessary because it's being created by their own mismanagement of their resources and not a crisis or bad luck and circumstances. People who are genuinely in need are then competing with people suffering from self-inflicted needs for available resources. If the people were not inflicting the crisis on themselves then more resources would be available for the genuinely needy.

Once freed from debt then of course they will be in a position to start saving wealth. At this point they can individually grapple with what to do with that wealth. To these Christians you're well delivered sermon will be very applicable, but only when they are truly wealthy, when they are truly freed. Then again, maybe _______ is an exception - maybe most of the members are wealthy. If that's the case than please disregard all I've just said - you know your flock better than I.

Peace be with you.

DVD Review: 50 Outdoor Skills Everyone Needs To Know

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:36:00 +0000

This is a good DVD for the audience it is aiming for - the very beginning backpacker with next to no outdoor experience. The biggest flaw with the DVD is the misnamed title - it only has about 15 actual outdoor skills, the rest are basic descriptions of equipment like types of packs, knives, tents, food, etc. It is not the DVD I was hoping it would be - although there were a few things I learned. I particularly liked the idea of a survival scarf which can be used for a multitude of purposes. None of the topics are covered in depth and it's assumed if you want to learn more you'll watch a DVD, read a book, or take a class that is devoted to the topic of interest. The host, Dick Person, does seem like quite the character and I bet he'd be a fun trip leader - full of fascinating and interesting stories and tips.

From Amazon.com:

Whether you're a veteran camper or an occasional hiker, you'll find information to enhance your outdoor adventures in this program from expert guide and environmentalist Dick Person. Along with his assistant, Laura Zealand, Person provides advice for every possible eventuality: from basic skills such as how to build a "one match" fire to information on proper gear, staying safe and dealing with emergencies.

Buy: 50 Outdoor Skills Survive Survival DVD

DVD Review: Gunshot Wound First Aid

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:45:00 +0000

After taking a Red Cross Basic First Aid and CPR course I've been looking for a few good sources for learning some advanced First Aid. I came across the DVD Gunshot Wound First Aid and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. Mr. Klatt presents the course in a no-nonsense fast paced manner. In this DVD he demonstrates how to do First Aid if a person is shot in various parts of the body. This DVD is geared for anyone who wants to learn, but since Law Enforcement and Military also use his DVD's he does talk about a few situations that might occur in those fields. He has more DVD's I'll be getting in the future - one on Basic First Aid and CPR, Knife Wounds, and Blunt Trauma. I learned more efficiently watching his DVD than I did attending the Red Cross course. Definitely worth the small investment to have on hand to periodically review!

From Amazon.com:

About the Actor
John Klatt is a former US Navy Medic as well as a former US Navy rescue diver. He is also the president and founder of America Safty.

Product Description
Imagine you're at the shooting range and the guy next to you has an accidental discharge that hits your friend or loved one! What would you do? The hospital is 30 - 45 minutes away on a good day, and it will take an ambulance 45 - 60 minutes to respond. What should you do to help this person have a better chance of survival? This program will show you how to minimize bleeding and trauma, prepare the wound for transportation, and handle shock and victim duress. These are life saving First Aid techniques, to teach you how to access and evaluate gunshot wounds more efficiently. This is a MUST view for all police officers, federal agents, CCW license holders, and everybody who carries a gun or is around firearms for a living!

Buy: Gunshot Wound First Aid DVD

Protests Are Spreading Across Europe - May 2010 - Dramatic Video Footage

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Sun, 16 May 2010 07:17:00 +0000

The protests started in Greece over the austerity measurements are spreading.

In Dublin Ireland riots broke out near banks were people were protesting. Below is a clip from coverage of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BA8pi-ZGGA

Also in Romania protests happened, but from a completely different demographic. Cuts are being made to pensioners and it was retired people who were doing the protests. These are rebellious young people, but grandparents doing the protests. Here is footage from those protests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp_I3Ruviv4

As other countries in Europe began making severe cutbacks to avoid a meltdown like Greece you can expect more. America is still on a spending spree (including bailing out Greece and other countries) and the difficult cutbacks haven't begun, but it's only a matter of time before cutbacks must be made - and all those dependent on the system will be directly affected. And there will be those who will protest these required cutbacks.

Book Review: This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries Of Financial Folly by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:42:00 +0000

This book was a bit too scholarly and dry for my taste. There are lots of tables and data included and the authors definitely did their research! I personally like anecdotes from history more than simply numbers, although I do understand the importance of good collections of data. The authors take a look at the past 800 years of financial data and various crisis that have occurred and compare it to the present. Essentially, they come to the conclusion that, not surprisingly, right before a crisis many people come to believe that this time is different. They won't make the same mistakes as people in the past, etc. The last few chapters which is section III of the book read easier and present a pretty good overview of the current crisis that is unfolding.

From Amazon.com:

The authors use copious amounts of data . . . to make the compelling case that any well-informed person should have seen the Great Recession coming. The essence of their book is that while financial crises come in different varieties, they are not mysteriously born of undersea earthquakes, but frequently occurring events that can be spotted and even controlled if politicians and regulators know what to look for.
(Devin Leonard New York Times )

Reinhart and Rogoff have compiled an impressive database, which covers eight centuries of government debt defaults from around the world. They have also collected statistics on inflation rates from every country where information is available and on banking crises and international capital flows over the past couple of centuries. This lengthy historical study gives what they call a 'panoramic view' of the unending cycle of boom and bust, showing how claims that 'this time is different' are invariably proven wrong. . . . This Time Is Different doesn't simply explain what went wrong in our most recent crisis. This book also provides a roadmap of how things are likely to pan out in the years to come. . . . This Time Is Different is an important addition to the literature of financial history.
(Edward Chancellor Wall Street Journal )

Professor Rogoff and his longtime collaborator Carmen Reinhart . . . know more about the history of financial crises than anyone alive. The pair have just published their broad survey of financial crises, This Time is Different. In an era when most 'analysts' rely on maybe 30 or 40 years' worth of financial history--and then only that of the U.S.--the authors' knowledge of financial crises and government bond defaults going back to the Spanish empire and before offers a richer perspective.
(Brett Arends Wall Street Journal )

Buy: This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff

My Current Self-Education

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:36:00 +0000

Over the years I've gotten into the habit of constantly reading some sort of book - usually multiple books at once. My reading slowed down over the past few months as I focused on finishing my Masters Degree but you can view what I've read over the last few years HERE. Now that summer is here I'm excited to dive into the Wish List I've created at Amazon.com. I've broken down books into various topics and I usually try to get one book in each category. I might add, often I'll supplement my reading with watching DVD's if I can. I recently read about how to skin a deer, but during hunter's safety they showed a DVD demonstration. I learned far more watching than reading in this case at least. My approach to self-education is 1) Read about it, 2) Watch about it, 3) Do it. I try to integrate various media and ultimately, if I can, try it myself.

If you're interested here's the broad categories I usually am learning about / reading:

AMERICAN HISTORY - Largely to relearn so I can teach my children. I'm surprised at how much I haven't been taught.

SKILL BUILDING - Practical knowledge on many topics. Some things I enjoy more than others, but I'm convinced knowledge without practical skills won't be much use.

HOBBY BOOKS - This is often a subset of SKILL BUILDING. But sometimes, like coin collecting, it's not.

ECONOMICS - Often about Austrian Economic theories and about Capitalism vs. Socialism. I've slowed down on these books as I've read too many now and have to be more picky since I'm finding many authors are simply teaching me what I've already learned.

LIBERTARIAN TOPICS - I agree with the foundational basics of libertarianism, and am largely leaning towards the Libertarian approach towards foreign affairs. I'm excited to read about the approach to the environment.

SPIRITUAL TOPICS (Usually having to do with Christianity) - I don't post these reviews. It's for my own personal growth. Whatever your spiritual beliefs - don't neglect them! These beliefs are what will help you make it through the hard times. BUT, in case your interested, my favorite authors are - For Theology: George MacDonald and many of the early Church Fathers (Origen, Ireneus, etc.), Fiction: George MacDonald, Stephen R. Lawhead, and C.S. Lewis and for History: Rodney Stark.

FICTION - I don't know when the last time I read a fiction book. I've read a few over the last two years involving TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) themes. I'm a fan of science fiction and historical fiction / fantasy. Interestingly, many science fiction authors are libertarians and there are a whole slew of science fiction books exploring civilizations / cultures / etc involving the implementation of libertarianism. Now that I have more free time maybe I'll sample a few of these.

A Financial Tower Of Babel

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:03:00 +0000

"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4)

I was talking with my brother-in-law over the weekend and was sharing with him an analogy I've come to a realization on about the global economic system that is currently in place. We've created something unprecedented in history - a system so large, so complex, and so intertwined it boggles the mind to reflect on. And it seems to be groaning under it's own weight.

The underlying issue of the Tower of Babel was arrogance. In the story the generation that created the Tower of Babel wanted to make something the world had never seen - a building so large it would create an everlasting name for themselves. Something so great it would be a testament to the greatness of man - but not just man, but to them.

And the current economic climate has created this same arrogance. How many times have you heard someone claim "This is a new economy" or "This time is different" or "We know better than they did the last time they tried!" Or, often in regards to the Founding Fathers of America (or even the Church), "That was then. We know so much more now! Things are different!". Oh the arrogance of it all!

And of course the modern symbol of the Tower of Babel is The Burj Dubai in Dubai(renamed The Burj Khalifa in an attempt to kiss up, er, I mean honor the President of the United Arab Emirates to try to get them to bail the Burj out of debt!) - at about 2,600 feet tall and 160 stories it is the tallest building ever made. And it's largely vacant! At the moment of it's completion the current economic crisis hit and now the Los Angeles Times calls the Burj "the latest ... in [a] string of monuments to architectural vacancy."

But the Burj is nothing compared to the economic system currently in place. Around 1913 was largely the beginning of a grand experiment in paper fiat money and 1971 was the final nails in the coffin when money was permanently and globally separated from Gold and Silver. Thinking they could ignore economic principles and reality certain men and women have tried to create a grand system - thinking, like those who created the Tower of Babel, they will leave a lasting legacy to their greatness! I say certain men and women because we are not all guilty for the potential calamity, we did not all help build this Financial Tower of Babel, but we do all share the same earth and will still be affected regardless.

Unlike the Tower of Babel I do not think this financial crisis is Judgement or Wrath from God, but rather the universal principle of You Reap What You Sow playing out on a global scale. And wishful thinking, ignoring of economic principles, and self-confidence will not prevent the inevitable. Pushed too far the system will collapse under it's own weight. The entire system is intertwined and groaning. All of a sudden we find ourselves in a situation where seemingly unimportant countries actions can reverberate around the globe, sending tremors and shockwaves to the very foundations of it all! ~ And those involved will smile pridefully until the end, clapping each other on the back, congratulating each other on their brilliance.

Unfortunately we all know what comes after Pride. And this time it's Global.

Planted one of our gardens!

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:48:00 +0000

We planted one of our gardens. We're doing raised gardens and have a total of five. The other four will probably not be completed until the end of the summer. We planted Strawberries, Zuchinni and White Onions. We'll grow peas again in the small containers just for fun. For the main gardens though I'm aiming for large quantities of items we eat lots of instead of a small variety of a bunch of different vegetables. I'd like to have surplus vegetables so we can try preserving them via freezing, drying, etc. and also I'd like us to have surplus to give away (or sell).

A Tsunami of Red Ink - Debt!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:58:00 +0000

The Chicago Tribune has published an excellent graphic showing the US National Debt and the debts around the world.

Below is the graphic. It's rather alarming. I keep praying for more time - I'm not prepared enough!

Book Review: The New Deal In Old Rome by H.J. Haskell

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:57:00 +0000

I really enjoyed this book. It was written in the 1940's to reflect on the New Deal of the 1930's and takes a look at how the ancient Romans attempted to deal with modern problems. You always hear how there are parallels between Ancient Rome and America - well here's some proof. It's fascinating how many programs the Roman government established that were similar or the same to many of the New Deal programs implemented by President Roosevelt. For example, for almost 300 years there was free food (grain, bread, and later even salt and spices) given to poor citizens. What happened though was people became comfortable in their poverty and even many not-so-poor began getting the free food. In the end - the government ran out of money to pay for these and many of their other programs. There were land programs, farm aid, and even price and wage controls. The Romans ended up physically devaluing their currency by diluting the silver content to pay for these programs and their many wars they fought. It might be a good idea to brush up on Roman History before reading this book - there are no pictures and a lot of names are mentioned in a context assuming you already know who they are.

Buy: The New Deal in Old Rome by H.J. Haskell

Bread and Circuses

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:17:00 +0000

Bread and Circuses - I've been thinking about this phrase lately. I'm currently reading a great book about Roman History and how the Ancient Roman Government tried to solve many problems similar to modern problems via Big Government programs - much like today (and especially like during the FDR 1930's era). (See: Book Review: The New Deal In Old Rome by H.J. Haskell)

From Wiki:

"Bread and circuses" (or bread and games) (from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metaphor for handouts and petty amusements that politicians use to gain popular support, instead of gaining it through sound public policy.

To many across the political spectrum, left and right, it connotes the triviality and frivolity that defined the Roman Empire prior to its decline and that may contribute to the decline of modern society.

Roman politicians devised a plan in 140 B.C. to win the votes of the poor; By giving out cheap food and entertainment, politicians decided that this policy of "bread and circuses" would be the most effective way to rise to power.

The Annona (grain dole) was begun under the instigation of the popularis politician Gaius Sempronius Gracchus in 123 BC; it remained an object of political contention until it was taken under the control of the Roman emperors.

Now Consider:

More Americans Turn to Food Stamps for Help (VOANews) - "The economic downturn and ongoing under-employment in the U.S. have resulted in a big increase in the number of Americans using food stamps. Once considered a social safety net for only the lowest income Americans, the use of federally funded food stamps has grown dramatically over the last two years. New government data shows one in eight Americans now rely on food stamps to make ends meet." Please note: I'm not saying people shouldn't be helped! In fact, my wife and I have had to personally and privately help out more people than ever. I can't even tell you how many people we know who are balanced precariously on the cliff of financial ruin. The point though is dependency on the government and the bribing of the voters.

That above news article is literally about food (bread), but also consider the other recent variations - expansion of medicare, social-security payouts (an impressive $250 is coming to each retiree), mortgage bailouts, cash-for-clunkers, and other forms of hand-outs. Currently almost 47% of all american do not pay federal income taxes. This is expected to rise even further in the coming years. In Detroit a while ago there were thousands of people who showed up in the center of town when a rumor spread that President Obama was handing out "free money". Thousands! And of course there was the soundbite from the Obama supporter who voted for him because he would get her "Free Gas"! The flooding of New Orleans after Katrina was exasperated because of the over dependency of the citizens on the government - they relied on the government for food, transportation, housing, and ultimately did not know how to help themselves - many just waited for help to arrive. And then think of all the public interest groups trying to get their pet project funded - holding out their hands - begging. I write that as I reflect on the many special interest groups I support and with full understanding I can no longer support them - there is no money for them - the treasury is empty - it's all just borrowed money from the future - borrowed from Foreigners and borrowed from our children and grand-children through higher taxes.

The government hasn't exactly got to the circuses part (except during some of their news clips and debates), but who knows how they'll want to distract us, pacify us, or rile us. There seems to be an awful lot of outrageous rhetoric directed toward the supposedly small and irrelevant Tea Parties. Maybe that's an attempt. At times I feel the self-righteous outrage at Global Warming, and Sugar, and Salt are other attempts of distractions. I don't know.

Just some things I've been thinking about ...

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." ~ Anonymous

Something To Think About: National Socialists and International Socialists Clash! 4/18/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:44:00 +0000

So this weekend (4/18/10) some National Socialists (called Nazi's for short) were protesting immigration reform in Los angeles[NewsOne.com]. Counter protesters appeared who were apparently International Socialists (Communist or Communist influenced based on some of the groups there) of some sort. The Communist/International Socialists began chanting "End the Hatred" and other slogans, began throwing rocks and bottles and eventually beat up a couple of the Nazis.

There has to be some irony there somewhere.

At any rate there is a lesson here and that is this:

Both of these sides in the scuffle are bad for you. They both want to control you - they have different end results they want, different motivations, etc, but they both are in favor of totalitarian governments where they are in power and control you. Don't get caught up in having to figure out which side is the better side - they are both BAD news.

Take a Hunters Safety Education Course

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:10:00 +0000

I just finished hunters safety education so now I can get a license to hunt. It was well worth it (despite having nightmares of junior high!) Seriously though, I learned alot about various wildlife, first aid, outdoor survival, and of course, gun safety. All useful skills. I recommend taking a hunters safety course even if you're an adult. Your state Fish and Wildlife should have information on the regulations for where you live.

Intergalactic Space Nannies: Anti-Human Collective Guilt Themes In Movies : Spoiler Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:14:00 +0000

SPOILER ALERT - specific movies and plots discussed below. For movies: Avatar, The Box, The Happening, and The Day The Earth Stood Still.

I know this isn't a new trend or anything, but I've been noticing more recently trends in many movies (usually science fiction) having to do with the themes of collective guilt and overall theme that humans are bad / evil / hopeless / etc.

For example - Avatar (2009)! I've heard this described as Pocahontas with giant smurfs! All kidding aside - in this movie us evil humans rape and pillage a foreign land, er, I mean world filled with innocent nature-loving primal aliens. James Cameron, the director and writer, appears to be feeling guilty for his success and his culture and projects this onto the entire human race.

But he's not the only one, of course.

M. Knight Shyamalan wrote and directed The Happening in 2008. Because I've watched many eco-horror films from the 1970's (Frogs, Squirm, Prophecy) I could appreciate Mr. Shyamalan's cheesiness in the movie (although overall the movie was boring), and like those 1970's movies his movie involves Nature turning on us evil humans - plants spontaneously start poisoning and killing humans apparently out of revenge for being exploited and abused.

Then there is the Keanu Reeves movie remake The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008). This is the type of Anti-Human movie I find the most annoying. In this movie an arrogant alien comes to earth in judgement of man. Because man is so evil and bad (to the earth in this movie) on behalf of the earth the alien will commit genocide and eliminate all humanity if they don't immediately change their ways. The Box (2009) was another movie like The Day The Earth Stood Still (except way better
produced/directed/filmed). Once again some arrogant intergalactic space nanny comes to earth to see if humans are worth saving. And I absolutely love the logic in The Box ... the alien wants to kill humanity not on the behalf of the earth, but because if he doesn't destroy humanity humanity will destroy itself. What the .... ? (I did find The Box very enjoyable until the stupid ending, by the way.)

Basically - I've come to the conclusion these Intergalactic Space Nannies are Socialists or some sort of Marxist / Communists. You naughty, bad people can't make the right choices, are too stupid to make the choices we want you to make so you'll all be punished. In these movies there appears to only be collective guilt - we are all guilty for other peoples sins. Well that's hogwash! I'm only guilty for my own sins, you're guilty for your own sins, neither of us are guilty for that other persons sins!

In the aftermath of this economic crisis that we are undergoing I've heard statements like "We were all guilty ... " or "We were all lazy ..." or "We were all greedy ... " or "We all deserve this ..." or "We all bought houses we couldn't afford .." and on and on.

Well sorry - but WE ALL did not do all that. Some of us were responsible, some of us settled for what we could afford and try to live within our means, some of us prepare, some of us educate ourselves, some of us do good, and many, many of us are not guilty for your sins!

Once you start down the road of collective guilt you open the door to mob rule! Individual rights do not matter and can be squashed in the name of the collective - either for the collective good or to correct the collective bad. Who are you really in the scheme of things? You're just one person - one measly member of the unwashed masses - a person working against the collective - standing in the way of progress - not living a lifestyle that the powers that be would prefer - you must be assimilated into the Borg!

Security: Don't Blog, Facebook, or Tweet when you'll be gone for vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:52:00 +0000

I understand it's all the rage these days - blogging, tweeting, and facebooking up-to-the-minute details of your life for all to read, but stop and think. Even with proper security settings in these applications the short notes you write are disseminated to your friends and often their friends (people you may not even know!). When you post an update that you'll be gone away for the next few days you've just told everyone your house is likely to be empty - a prime target for opportunistic thieves and / or desperate people! So before posting think how that information you're about to give to everyone may be exploited by nefarious characters and / or desperate people.

After Armageddon by The History Channel (Flu Pandemic Aftermath) Video

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:21:00 +0000

I watched After Armageddon which was produced by the History Channel. It is available in 9 parts on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcYpgfI564

It is well worth watching! But not specifically because it gives good advice. The program follows a family who struggles to get to Idaho from Los Angeles after a Flu Pandemic causes societal collapse. Much like the show The Colony - much of what you learn is in discussion about whether you would have reacted the way the family in the show does or what you would have done differently. The enactments were compelling and the acting was ok and the discussions with the experts were very well done.

Part 1 - 9 below:

A response to Obamacare passing this past weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:41:00 +0000

I saw someone hold up Medicare as a successfull government program and a reason why this healthcare that has passed will also be a success. Below is a quick note I've written as to why this is not the case.

I hate to break it to you - but Medicare has lots of issues. For one it will be bankrupt within 8 years at the most not to mention the limits imposed on members. Now that millions more will be added on to it this will quicken the bankruptcy (And the national debt) AND the quality of care for all will decrease. Social Security is another example many Pro-Obamacare people hold up as a shining example of success. Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme and the paying base is about to be overshadowed by the amount of people retired and getting payments (ie. It will become unsustainable as most Ponzi schemes do). Not to mention that the accounts been "borrowed" from by the politicians and is now full of IOU's. Oh yeah - and the healthcare is not free - Someone is paying for it. Currently it looks like mine and your children are the ones being enslaved to the Chinese and the Japanese as the government borrows money to prevent an economic collapse while the wealthy in this country will be impoverished through brutal taxes. Expect unemployment to climb as companies lay off people in order to be compliant with the new regulations or decide it's not worth the punishment to start and expand businesses. Oh yeah - and for the first time in American History it is now a crime for citizens to not buy a certain product (Health Insurance). Expect small insurance companies to go bankrupt or be bought out while large insurance companies become enriched and expand into huge monopolies. Watch the prices then increase to unsustainable levels. The good news is that none of this is sustainable and so will not last. The bad news ... that means a complete economic collapse.

100 Skills Every Man Should Know - Popular Mechanics List

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:13:00 +0000

I stumbled upon the following list from Popular Mechanics titled 100 Skills Every Man Should Know. I'm not sure what gender has to do with these, but it seemed like a pretty broad list. It's an interesting list. What do you think? What would you change?

From: PopularMechanics.com -

Automotive
1. Handle a blowout
2. Drive in snow
3. Check trouble codes
4. Replace fan belt
5. Wax a car
6. Conquer an off-road obstacle
7. Use a stick welder
8. Hitch up a trailer
9. Jump start a car

Handling Emergencies
10. Perform the Heimlich
11. Reverse hypothermia
12. Perform hands-only CPR
13. Escape a sinking car

Home
14. Carve a turkey
15. Use a sewing machine
16. Put out a fire
17. Home brew beer
18. Remove bloodstains from fabric
19. Move heavy stuff
20. Grow food
21. Read an electric meter
22. Shovel the right way
23. Solder wire
24. Tape drywall
25. Split firewood
26. Replace a faucet washer
27. Mix concrete
28. Paint a straight line
29. Use a French knife
30. Prune bushes and small trees
31. Iron a shirt
32. Fix a toilet tank flapper
33. Change a single-pole switch
34. Fell a tree
35. Replace a broken windowpane
36. Set up a ladder, safely
37. Fix a faucet cartridge
38. Sweat copper tubing
39. Change a diaper
40. Grill with charcoal
41. Sew a button on a shirt
42. Fold a flag

Medical Myths
43. Treat frostbite
44. Treat a burn
45. Help a seizure victim
46. Treat a snakebite
47. Remove a tick

Military Know-How
48. Shine shoes
49. Make a drum-tight bed
50. Drop and give the perfect pushup

Outdoors
51. Run rapids in a canoe
52. Hang food in the wild
53. Skipper a boat
54. Shoot straight
55. Tackle steep drops on a mountain bike
56. Escape a rip current

Primitive Skills
57. Build a fire in the wilderness
58. Build a shelter
59. Find potable water

Surviving Extremes
60. Floods
61. Tornados
62. Cold
63. Heat
64. Lightning

Teach Your Kids
65. Cast a line
66. Lend a hand
67. Change a tire
68. Throw a spiral
69. Fly a stunt kite
70. Drive a stick shift
71. Parallel park
72. Tie a bowline
73. Tie a necktie
74. Whittle
75. Ride a bike

Technology
76. Install a graphics card
77. Take the perfect portrait
78. Calibrate HDTV settings
79. Shoot a home movie
80. Ditch your hard drive

Master Key Workshop Tools
81. Drill driver
82. Grease gun
83. Coolant hydrometer
84. Socket wrench
85. Test light
86. Brick trowel
87. Framing hammer
88. Wood chisel
89. Spade bit
90. Circular saw
91. Sledge hammer
92. Hacksaw
93. Torque wrench
94. Air wrench
95. Infrared thermometer
96. Sand blaster
97. Crosscut saw
98. Hand plane
99. Multimeter
100. Feeler gauges

Take a CPR and First Aid Course

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Steps) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:12:00 +0000

We just finished a full day of CPR and First Aid training from the Red Cross. If you're interested in a class check out the Red Cross's Website: RedCross.org. This should be a good foundation for us to build upon.