SUMMARY: This page gives you the details on getting a good deal on extreme cold weather clothing material AND how to build your own custom extreme weather clothing.

Imagine how much you would spend to store enough fuel to keep the “area warm”, verse how much you would spend to keep the person warm with extreme cold weather “foam clothing”

This is my MOST IMPORTANT GROUP-BUY I’ve EVER done!

WORKSHOP

WHEN: November 1, 2014 3-8pm

WHAT: Come to an “extreme cold foam clothing workshop” with Mareen Robinson. Seamstress & foam clothing maker of the Jim Phillips Extreme cold weather Foam Clothing system.  Mareen will have patterns for attendees to “duplicate”.

To learn more about Jim Phillips and his systems. see:

CHECKLIST for WORKSHOP

 In the workshop, you will be making/teaming up to make–vest/coat for men, lady or child

1. sewing machine AND thread (ready to go)
   1. Black Coates Dual Duty XP thread, (this is heavier, but not heavy duty) make
      sure it is 100% polyester, not cotton covered Make your bobbin the same
      (Please do this at home, we have so much to cover–don’t waste time)(Same
      with serger–the cotton covered thread holds moisture) use Guterman upholstery
      thread –polyester)
2. measurements for your project (see http://www.winterfoamclothes.com/how-to-take-measurements
   1. Use this measuring chart worksheet BEFORE the workshop
3. extension cord
4. black garbage bag, for each foam piece you will be working with (black will help block the sun (which can color the foam)).
5. serger if you have one
6. size 14 needles
7. Measuring tape
8. Sharp scissors
9. Seam Ripper
10. Scotch tape tissue paper or blank newsprint for copying pattern
    (you can use old sheet from DI to make a sample to be sure it fits–pants, etc)
11. Long quilting pins
12. Small trash can
13. Black and 1 color marking pens
14. Pen & paper for notes, but I’ll give you a manual
15. Lint roller (foam is very electrostatic, it picks up everything)
16. snacks/water

ADDRESS

you may purchase “mesh/shell” at the workshop from Mareen.

ICE CHALLENGE in ALASKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hs59EFv2Z0#t=1m30s

MATERIALS GROUP BUY

We are also doing a group buy on materials for foam clothing. By building it yourself, you are saving hundreds of dollars. How much would you spend for gore-tex everything, but still not be covered as well in extreme cold weather? The PALS system is at least TWICE as good as gore-tex IMO.

We need to get these materials BEFORE the workshop. So you MUST order & pre-pay before Oct. 24th.  Those that signup, will be given details of where to pickup their materials before Nov. 1st.

ONE SHEET of foam, should be enough for an adult for everything. hat, coat, pants, boots & mittens. 1 sheet is 88″x96″

1/2 foam clothing is good for 10 degree, idle in a shelter.  If you are not idle (moving around), then a 1/2 setup will allow you to thrive in even colder.

1″ foam clothing is good for 40 degrees below zero, in any condition (without shelter). 40 degrees below being idle.

WARNING: you will need an industrial sewing machine for the 1″ foam clothing!

SLEEPING BAGS: Mareen no longer makes sleeping bags, but can refer you to a sleeping bag builder.

VOLUME DISCOUNTS

Thomas will have pre-orders available BEFORE the workshop. The cost per half-inch sheet is $45.

Those that pre-order/pre-pay, Thomas will  bring your materials to the workshop. OR you can pick them up at my house.

MESH KIT, the mesh is what you enclose the foam in. Think of the mesh as a shell. gore-tex is NOT a good shell, you will want mesh if you want the foam clothing to work at its highest capacity.

Mesh kit is $60.

WORKSHOP & Group Buy are worth coming in from out of state!

[gform form=’https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r0_HO8BLLA8rGR6GjU7fiDE7JyFro-1yLzg3hfTIzY4/viewform’ ]

Thomas’ plan.

I plan to buy a foam sheet for everyone in my family (7 people). I plan to take all the training Jim is offering our group buy. With that training I plan to make two adult suits (top to bottom: hat, coat, mittens, pants, boots). One for me and one for my wife.

The other 5, I will have the materials and build my children their extreme weather foam clothing when they stop growing, or when there is need in a winter/long-term emergency.

Because I live in Northern Utah, and don’t have plans to visit Alaska in the winter, I’m going with the 1/2 inch sheets. I may buy ONE 1 inch sheet, just in case.

I now only need to store fuel to cook and hygiene, I will literally be saving tens of thousands of dollars by not having to store 12+ months of fuel.

I did a similar plan with my cowboy action holsters. By learning how to make them myself and getting a deal on the materials, for the cost of one holster rig, I was able to make a cowboy holster rig for everyone in my family.

Additional Videos and resources

Thermal Johns Freezer Test, 1999 (complete)

 RESERVE YOUR SPOT

WHAT TO BRING: Bring your dutch oven, ingredients and a picked out recipe from marksblackpot.com

TWO OPTIONS

• Builder, you bring or borrow an oven & recipe

• OR you watch & take notes.

COSTS: This is a FREE workshop.

equipment list (you can still come if you don’t have everything…ask Thomas if you can borrow stuff).

see also blog:

https://libertyfoxdefense.com/dutch-oven-preparedness/

• dutch oven

• recipe & ingredients

• large cookie sheet to put your coals onto (reduces mess and scorching of cement).

• chair

• sunblock & sunhat

• charcoal tongs

• food tongs

• charcoal “warmer”heater.

• table if you have one (thick wood to put HOT dutch ovens onto…so you don’t damage the table(s).

• cutting board, knives & other prep gear.

• paper plates & plastic ware

• wet wipes/paper towels.

June 2016

June 2015

June 2014

Dutch Oven gear & skill should be apart of everyone preparedness.

Dutch Ovens can & do last forever. They are multi-use items for preparedness & recreation.

Mark of MarksBlackPot.com came and did a workshop for us. He said it was so successful he would like to do this again. So, the last Saturday of every June, we will be offering this FREE workshop. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming workshops.

The devil is in the details. Mark lectured in the classroom for about an hour, the rest of the time was hands on experience with dutch oven cooking.

Recipes we “followed”:

• http://www.marksblackpot.com/2013/06/dutch-oven-boneless-buffalo-chicken.html
• http://www.marksblackpot.com/2010/01/dutch-oven-bread-in-all-my-years-even.html
• http://www.marksblackpot.com/2014/05/dutch-oven-jazzy-bbq-pork-ribs-with.html
• http://www.marksblackpot.com/2012/01/dutch-oven-dump-cake-cobbler-mastered.html

Everyone was excited to share their successes (voluntary potlock).  We all learned a lot and had a good time.

RESOURCES:

Listed in priority IMO.

Mark’s books

 Lodge (quality that will last a lifetime) 12 – my local walmart has the 12 for $60. and two bags of kingsford coals  for $10.

Charcoal Chimney Starter– my local walmart has one I like for under $10.

Multi-use channellock Pliers

Volcano Lid

Dutch Oven Table

Dutch Oven Stand

 Volcano 3 fuel stove (I got mine at costco for about $100). Make sure you get the one with the propane insert.

 Lodge 2 qt SMALL dutch oven (on my wishlist)– I already have three 6 quart ovens, so a smaller one will be handy for frying, deserts and sauces.

I recently attended a TacMed class taught by Doc Gunn, hosted by Marksmanship Matters.

For one day, it was $260; well spent for just the material/handout.

The few times I’ve helped with major trauma, taking charge & being calm/professional was as much help as stopping bleeding.

You must push through the self-doubt to take charge. Allow the care for others to overcome your fears and take two actions and you’ll be on your way to help others!

I took my first tacmed class back in 2008/2009. It was a one day class where we learned to assess a person’s condition. Communicate under fire. Very simple techniques that work were practiced.

We practiced tourniquets on ourselves, to the point of  numb & hurting limbs.  There the seed was planted that my weak-link was medical response. So,  I read the PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life Support: Military Edition & bought over-priced medical kits.

Doc Gunn’s tacmed was much more useful than my last tacmed class in 2008.  We talked at length about bullet placement and the importance of Marksmanship. We did brain stem drills and upper torso mid-line shoots at paper targets.

So, I was DONE procrastinating building a Everyday Carry (EDC) Major Medical Trauma “kit”. So, I made TWO. I think you should consider doing the same.

My requirements of EDC Med kit:

1) Flexible enough to be used for hundreds of uses/applications.

2) Small enough to have WITH me at all times. AKA concealable.

3) Be able to manage bleeding from major trauma for the 0-45 minutes (Stay alive the first 45 minutes!).

I really like what Ron Hood said, if you can’t fix it with duct tape and a bandage, you need a helicopter ride (speaking about being way way out in the wilderness).

Items to include:

• Neckerchief or a blue-medical towel like mine.
• 1″ gorilla duct tape.  at least a million uses.
• 4 “protective” gloves.

This home-made vacuum seal, got a small hole in it. So, I’m looking for a flat EDC equivalent that won’t wear out.

Maybe this? http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Trauma-QuikClot/dp/B003BS2PW4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404318357&sr=8-2&keywords=Pocket+Trauma+Kit

 http://www.itstactical.com/store/edc/its-edc-trauma-kit/

Recommended car gear:

http://www.amazon.com/THE-EMERGENCY-BANDAGE-Dressing-Compression/dp/B00CBX90FK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403759524&sr=8-2&keywords=battle+dressing

We practiced..

The following is used by the Permission of Doc Gunn.

Tactical Treatment of Gunshot Wounds Kit.

(In Memory of M-SGT William Chris Dwiggins. 1946-2002)

Basic:

2 bags of saline, tubing and angiocaths.

ABD pads, 4x4s and Kerlix. 6″ ACE.   (Not necessary if you have an Israeli Battle Dressing.)

ISRAELI BATTLE DRESSINGS. (See below.)

HALO SEAL or a Vaseline gauze pad in its wrapper. (Remove one side of the wrapper and tape three edges down with tape to form a flutter dressing for sucking chest wounds.)

Trauma scissors.

1″ and 3″ adhesive tape.

Flexible nasal airway.  (#28-32 French.  The correct length is from corner of mouth to external auditory canal.)

14 and 16 gauge angiocaths. (#14 angiocatheters should include both 1¼ ” for IVs and 2” for Tension Pneumothoraces.)

Alcohol swabs.

Latex gloves.

2 Blue chucks. (Wrap each IV bag and tubing set in one of these and secure with latex tourniquet.)

Advanced Kit: to also include:

Chest tube and flutter valve.

#10 scalpel.   4-0 Silk on straight-needle suture.

7.5 Endotracheal tube, laryngoscope and bag-valve mask.

SOF-TT

“Snivel Kit:“ (This is for the minor things that occur where you don’t want to access your major kit.)

Tylenol or Advil/Aleve, Band-Aids, alcohol swabs, Bacitracin.

Diaper wipes are big and wet and good for cleaning wounds prior to Band-Aids.

Israeli Battle Dressing:

It’s a semi-flexible ACE attached to an absorbent gauze dressing with a plastic clip on the other side. You apply the dressing and wrap the strap around (an extremity or the trunk or a head) to the desired tension.  IF a tourniquet is required, you can twist and lock the plastic clip. (Write a “T” on the victim’s forehead when tourniquet applied.)  It comes in either a 4” or 6” Olive Drab dressing.  I prefer the 6” as the all-purpose dressing.  The NSN for the 6” dressing is # 6510-01-492-2275.  (The 4” is NSN# 6510-01-460-0849.)  They may be obtained from Performance Systems at (888) 737-7978.

Misc. Equipment (Written in 2004):

There is a dandy 7x6x3″ orange nylon pack by North American Rescue Products. It contains an ABD, large and small Kerlix, a 2″ ACE, trauma scissors, two pairs of latex gloves, Vaseline gauze dressing (3×9″), 4x4s, 2x2s, mole skin, Band-Aids, safety pins, alcohol swabs, tweezers, 1″ adhesive tape. These are contained in two compartments. I take this kit with me when we vacation or travel. (Similar units are  similar available as the Traveler’s Medical Kit in a blue bag with bandage scissors from Brigade Quartermasters for $39.99. Add a pair of $5 trauma scissors.)  Gander Mountain has an excellent kit for $49.99.

There are dedicated nylon TacMed packs, but a simple and brightly colored gym bag would do for range safety purposes. Be aware that the kit tends to “explode” when you open it. The dedicated kits have many small compartments so you may directly access what you want. (You must be very familiar with the pack before you need it in a TacMed setting.) We would be well served with a gym bag as it is “pre-exploded.” Have extra room for rummaging around.

Know your equipment bag well.  You must be able to find what you want instantly or in the dark.

Doc Gunn, Inc., 1492 Roanoke Road, Ste #73, Daleville, VA 24083

docgunn45@gmail.com

“Willingness is a state of mind; READINESS is a statement of fact.”

The wonderful life of bee keeping

My daughter Camille asked if we could get into bee keeping. We both went to a home school event where a family of bee keeper presented and we were both HOOKED on bee keeping!

I listened to a bunch of Podcasts on Bee Keeping.  Found Lee Knight Family Honey, and signed up for a bee kit and training early 2013.

Everyone is fanicnated with bee keeping and really wants to find out more! I always tell them, take professional training (Just like firearms professional training. Having firearms doesn’t make you an expert, just like owning bees doesn’t make you an expert…but a bee-haver).

Our Youtube videos 2013

Please subscribe to “Camille’s Backyard Honey”.

Our 2014 Vidoes:

Sorry about the audio, I left the water proof case on the gopro!

2014 second year hive

2014 Honey Harvest Video

A Preppers’ “Investment Mindset”

Many have money in the bank, but their food pantry is bankrupt. Others waste money on consumer “status symbols”, yet are unable to protect their loved ones! Having a holistic mindset of “no weak links” in your preparedness is key. Often we are attacked when we are weak, or in our weak areas. Why have 12 months of food, but only one week of water? Why invest in “stuff” and not have skills? Also, many times will beats skill, but what about the person that is squared away in all things in their life? We are preparing for life, not just a disaster. How many people over the age of 50 regretted having food storage? NONE! How many people that had a life-challenge regretted being debt free?!?

Why have preparedness items (food, water, hygene, survival gear) and not be able to protect it?!?

I have found that I have a pretty unique view on resource prioritization, planning for everyday life & planning for life’s disasters (common and uncommon).
I often joke that I invest in “copper & lead” AKA FMJ & HP ammunition. Seriously though, we need to use “tools & planning” to ensure our futures. Failing to plan for your future financial posture; means you plan to fail.

Lets talk about real diversity of investments(not putting all your eggs in one basket). To me, I group stocks, bonds, mutual funds & index 500 funds all into the same bucket.  There are many “experts” that would have you drain your retirement funds and try something “radical”, that they happen to benefit by.  My solution for you is a rational, disciplined, hard-work and planning!

I recently read, “The Millionaire next door”  and “The Richest Man in Babylon“. One key thing I learned is not to isolate your children from adversity, otherwise they will not know how to overcome difficulty; and always be fearful of hard things. Do NOT provide “family welfare”, it ruins them (at least until they are matured).

I recommend you play “Cashflow” with your family/kids.

I HIGHLY recommend both books. Seems each author is “jaded” towards their “investment pet”.  You must PLAN and structure your life so you can save a minimum of 10% of your income. Again, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail (Benjamin Franklin).”

Phase1: Structure your life with a budget, so you live within your means (spending LESS than you make–seems so unAmerican 😉 — Having Financial Independence is REAL FREEDOM!  (Freedom FROM and Freedom TO).

Phase2: Debt is Cancer, Kill it! Seriously, you are shortening your life and destroying your current/future happiness with debt! “Things” don’t give you real comfort, having a rainy day fund helps you sleep better at night! (Priceless!).

Becoming debt free! wow, I’d say this is one of my all time best investments! I breath easier, sleep better, live life happier! It helps me be a better husband and father too!

 Also, think about your ROI on paying off your credit cards! Find me somewhere you can make more than 15-20% ROI from! Paying off a credit card, saves you 15-20%! And its not a maybe ether!

Phase3: START TODAY saving 10% of your income. Don’t touch it until you have 3-6 months of expenses! Anything above 6 months can be invested.

Phase4: Investing. Whatever you choose to invest in, your focus is on “not losing your principle”, secondary is increasing your investment. AKA Return of Principle vs return on investment (ROI).

INVESTMENT VEHICLES:

I’m almost 40, and I’ve seen a lot of “scams” come & go. I’ve made money & I’ve lost money. The following are some traditional and non-traditional investment vehicles; each with their own pros/cons.

MY PET, of course is” Copper & Lead, Blue Steel and Stainless steel. I have a major case of “Black Rifle Disease” (BRD), in case you couldn’t tell 😉

PROS of “Firearms” as an “Investment”:

1) Firearms have an inverse value to the stock market; meaning when stocks tank and the world seems to be tanking, gun value is at a premium.

2) Most importantly, Guns can and do save your life! When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away! No matter how much money you have made in your lifetime, when monsters attack your family; if you do not have the training & means to protect what matters most to you(your family), then you have failed! Do NOT fail to protect your family!

3) Guns are fun and teach responsibility & discipline.

4) Guns are a hedge against the worst of times. I can not think of anything more valuable than a good person armed and trained during an extended emergency! Why buy food/water before buying a gun? That food/water will be taken from you without a gun. Buy the gun first, then acquire food/water; otherwise you are extending the life of monsters so they can attack other good people!

5) Guns are  a remarkably liquid asset, so long as the govt doesn’t mess things up, you can sell a gun within 72 hours for cash or trade.

Investing in Training/education etc:

Education and IT certifications has been pretty good to me and has helped me provide and protect my family. But, I’m getting the impression that college is another govt-scam. A 4year degree seems like graduating from high school these days! I have a BS, MS and half a Phd. I’d say its been worth the time & effort for me because I didn’t have over a year of school-loans!, I wouldn’t recommend a Phd for everyone 😉

Again, why even own a gun if you don’t have professional training to go along with it! BE ARMED AND TRAINED! Its fun, it gives you confidence in all aspects of your life, you meet awesome people/friends–but above all if (WHEN) thugs attack you, you can protect yourself. Also, if there is a long-term emergency, you can team-up with your neighbors to protect your neighborhood.

Gun Training/defense training has been VERY beneficial to me and my family.

Investing in Guns & Ammo has also been a very good investment. Its hard for me to diversify away from Guns & Ammo. Its a solid investment unless you shoot the ammo 😉 (WORTH IT when you are at Professional Firearms training like www.MarksmanshipMatters.com

Investing in Real-estate:

Real estate has been HORRIBLE for me. TWO properties pretty much hosed me for at least a decade! I’m still trying to recover.  It hurts me to see my family & kids suffer because of my poor choices in this regard.

Investing in Multi-level-marketing (MLM) and other scams:

I got a taste of a MLM when I was in my 20s, and it really made me sour for them…for the rest of my life. You can talk to me until you are blue in the face, I just don’t trust nor like MLMs…period. They seem to give you something…for nothing.

Other scams that come to mind:

1) govt-scam social security
2) govt-scam health insurance
3) anything that comes after govt-scam…

Investing in Traditional Markets:

The Stock Market has been “ok” for me, I put all my money into a money market a few months before the market tanked in 2007/2008 and I’ve not been really into the “Market” since the socialist took over our country. Recall 2007/2008 was the market “adjusting” to the socialist govt take over! The market lost 57% of its value! 

In 1999 when I began my professional career, I got stock options & participated in Employee Stock Purchase Plan; where you buy stock at a big discount, and then resale it. That worked out ok, but then I learned I could sale the “silly stock” and buy guns 🙂

My thought is, inflation is a “hidden” tax imposed by the govt AKA Fed.  Many try to use the stock market to out-pace inflation. I think they are playing the stocks at Las Vegas. Sooner or later, they will lose big time!

401ks and other similar programs are “The Most Controled” money on the planet! It almost always makes sense to do an ROTH IRA (pay the taxes now). Think about it, we KNOW taxes are going up! Why not lock-in a “tax rate” now and not have to pay in the future. I’m happy to double my money by having my employer’s match. But I do NOT go above the match.  I don’t feel it necessary to put my money and my employer’s money at risk in the market (taken over by the socialist).

See my friend John Pugliano’s article on “Investing in markets”.”So what am I doing?  As noted in a previous article, I took profits early and for now remain mostly in cash, patiently observing market conditions.”
http://www.investablewealth.com/first-quarter-closes-flat/

John is an expert in markets, I trust him because he has that prepper mindset.

Investing in Food:

FOOD – inflation on food has been about 20-30% EACH year (don’t believe the CPlie (CPI))! imagine the return on investment of making 20%!!!

Its hard to waste money on food, assuming you eat what you store and store what you eat! Buy 2-3 of everything you are already buying for food!

Investing in your posterity:

So many delegate or offshore the raising of their children! Think about the growth opportunities missed by hiring someone to take care of your yard (when your children need to learn how to work). Or, delegating the education of your children to a govt-school teacher! Not that teachers are bad, but they are trying to work within a socialist-education system; with high-cost, low-quality, high-corruption and low-freedom (All socialist systems have those attributes).

Investing in my children non-govt school education (yeah, socialist education is another govt-scam!), but man I love to see my children grow and learn the things I never learned. Think of the things (bad/good) you learned from govt schools? Really…anything worth while? Now think of the things you learned from your parents and those that love you! I’m really trying to teach my kids to be self-sufficient and be successful in life (BY BEING HAPPY!)

 Investing in Precious Metals:

Silver being at 60 units to 1 unit of Gold, instead of 16:1, means that silver is under valued…or Gold is over valued.

Do NOT invest in precious metals, until you read this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dads-Advisors-Investing-Financial/dp/0446510998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396804666&sr=8-1&keywords=rich+dads+advisor+silver

The pros of Silver are as follows:

1) Hedge against many risks. Do NOT invest over 20-30% of your wealth in Precious Metals.

2) off-grid, anonymous “value” (see also bit coin!)

3) long-term holdings.

Investing in Permaculture:

Permaculture is our only hope for the future, IMO. It’s the only way to beat the looters and to safeguard your way of life from the looters (the looters of today in govt & the future looters that would steal your gear you need to survive).

Organize your life, business, home, garden and education based on Permaculture principles!

Wealth Building Cottage meeting

I recently hosted a cottage meeting with John Pugliano of investablewealth.com and I’m NOW “converted” into leveraging the stock market.

John has an excellent podcast! http://www.wealthsteading.com/

Here are my notes from the cottage meeting.

Why is money management so important? Because studies show that ½ divorces are related to money…or intimacy. Consequences of money mismanagement 10x years==very hard consequences to you and your family.

Realities of a “auction” of consumers w/o savings because of  job loss or other life-event-disaster.

3 phases of money management.

Phase 1 – debt free

Phase 2 – 10% saving until 6 month of emergency fund, then move to phase 3. But NEVER touch your emergency fund…unless its an emergency.

Phase 3 – Return on investment. Passive income greater than expenses.

Questions:

Q:What is a commonly accepted 20 year avg of ROI on Index 500?
A:6-8%

Q:How much did Index 500 drop in BO crash of 2007?
A: 57%

Q: Assuming our house is paid for, how much should we plan for retirement?
A: 1-2 million depending on individual circumstances. John suggested that I have 2 million upon retiring. 

Strategies on being disciplined?  Americans consume because prices are going up & buying power is going down!  No good ROI on money. We are Social Engineered to consume…not save.
Weird what happens in your mind when you know you can get 15% ROI…vs .0001% ROI. Easy debt from the govt vs private capital investment. Who owns who?

Pros/cons of investment vehicles.

-preps – food/gear/water/sanitation/defense

-permaculture

-stock market

-foreign currency exchange

-realestate

-small business/side business.  IE buy $500 of leather, turn that into $5,000…with skill & labor

-Over funding a universal life insurance. AKA maximum funded tax advantage. AKA Missed fortune.
A: If it sounds complicated and they are making money off you, do NOT trust them.

– Roth IRA – employer match 100% of 6%…into a money market account vs stock market.

Scenarios.

ONE – socialist take over…consequences in the stock market

100k in 2005 invested in the market. Blindly dollar cost avg adding to Index 500…doing what the financial liers say.

How much money do you have in 2015? 10y later?

If you lose 50% in one year. after 10y, you have 89k!…assuming 6% ROI..except that 1 year where you lost 50%.

TWO-credit card debt. instant 17% ROI

5,000 in credit card debt. paying ONLY minimum payment.

How much will you owe in 10years?

THREE: 250,000 house. 15 year loan  vs 30 year loan. 1% lower on 15y.   15y…no mortgage insurance.

250k 30y 4.5%. payment 1266+200 for tax and home owners insurance. plus 150 for mortgae insurance. Total 1617.  Total financing charges 206k!

10y later you owe 200k

250k 15y 3.5%, pmt 1787, junk fees (tax/ins), total= 1987.. total financing charges 71k!

10y later you owe 96k!

cost diff. between 30 vs 15y.  2000-1600=$400.

plug in your numbers:

Home Mortgage calculator

psychology of wealth

**saving

**basic investing principles

**pay smallest debt first

qualitative not quantitative–human nature

law of 72

72/10=7.2 interest   –amount of time or amount of money

72/6=12 years –6% interest.

 80% of millionaire in america are approx 50 years old, they live next door, 1 wife.  Typically 1 house and 1 wife. House swapping and divorces are expensive!

Build framework of:
–take 20% profits
–limit losses to 8%

don’t buy stocks during confirmed downtrends

consider selling stocks during market turbulence

BUILDING WEALTH

-apprentice –7 years to master

-business model (entrepreneur)– make money off skill. takes the risk, get reward.

-investment income–

Summary of key-take-aways:
Once you are debt free, saving 10% of your income until you have a 3-6 months of expenses (emergency fund). Then you can sock that 10% into a money market account. Once you have 50k, then buy Index 500 when the stock market is down. Sell when the Index 500 is flat or nearing highs (like it currently is), then go to cash (money market).

So, I’ve had a mix for my ROTH IRA of 85% money market, 15% index 500. I put everything into a money market because I believe the stock market is unjustifiably high & BO Insurance (AKA unhealth care) among many other things, like every tax payer will pay 1.1 Million for future unfunded “social justice” programs. AKA unconstitutional programs.

When the market corrects and is near the bottom, I will convert the money market and buy index 500. When I make 20%, I’ll convert to money market again.

My key take-aways is…be debt free. build a frame work where you are saving 10%. Once you have 50k (self advisement) 250k(hire John to manage)  put that money to work for you. The return of the principle is more important than the return on investment 🙂
Watch the Index 500(and/or read  John’s blog) , when it peaks or levels off…go to cash. When its bottomed out, convert the cash to index 500.

 How NOT to lose your savings in the stock market

Principles taught by John Pugliano of wealthsteading & investable wealth

The index 500 fund within our retirement is called:

Vanguard Institutional Index Instl Pl http://www.morningstar.com/funds/XNAS/VIIIX/quote.html

The money market is a bit easier to identify:

Vanguard Prime Money Market Instl

Most of us have had a nice ride up the past 4 years (2011-2015), take your profits early and protect your principle.

The simpletons buy & hold and have dollar cost avg, but if you listen to John’s podcast, you’ll be able to swing trade and not lose 20-30% and be able to make 20+%

http://www.wealthsteading.com/category/wealth-building-principle/

I suggest you read this article from John.

http://www.investablewealth.com/swing-trading-in-one-chart/

by following the 50 day moving avg & 200 day moving avg, you would have missed out on all the times the market really tanked.

Here is my chart I watch…almost daily.

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=%5EGSPC+Interactive#{“showArea”:false,”lineColor”:”#000000″,”lineWidth”:”4″,”showSma”:true,”smaColors”:”#38761d,#e69138,#ff0000,#9900ff”,”smaPeriods”:”5,10,50,100″,”smaWidths”:”1,1,1,1″,”smaGhosting”:”0,0,0,0″,”lineType”:”line”,”range”:”1mo”,”allowChartStacking”:true}

I was lucky enough to be in a money market BEFORE 2007 crash!

ABSTRACT:
There are many risks in life, including our online life. Be it social media, purchasing, online banking, chat, IRC, harmful content, addictive behaviors. PREVENTION is the key!

Internet Safety, a Parent’s Guide power point presentation

“Online Family Safety” Google Forum for add’l info and discussions – Link

<Meraki System Manager documentation – Link

<Deployment Guide and Best Practices – Link

<Device Enrollment – Link

<Profiles and Settings – Link

<Web content filtering on iOS devices in Systems Manager – Link

<Meraki YouTube Videos

<How to Supervise an iOS device – Link

<Cisco Meraki and Apple Configurator 2.0 to manage supervised iPads – Link (start at 3:45)

<Getting Started with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager – Link

<Managing Devices with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager – Link

<Managing Macs and PCs with Meraki Systems Manager – Link

<Systems Manager Sentry Overview – Link

Mobile Device Security for youth:

As a parent, I will not allow failure to provide protections result in evil to own my child. Why would I provide a device that could harm my child? I MUST plan and manage a mobile device so I can mentor my child into becoming responsible; with mobile devices & other dangerous devices!

For my 15y son’s bday, we got him his first smart phone. Its a post-pay ting.com phone(any sprint phone(buy a refurb off ebay or ting.com). Pay for what you use. I turned OFF Data and turned OFF SMS.  We run 3 smart phones on ting, which costs us about $45 a month!

I installed “Smart App Protector” to password protect ALL apps on the phone. By locking the settings, I can ensure he only gets “Internet” when he is on my home WIFI or Church’s WIFI (that is policy controlled Internet Access).  To get into “settings”, we must enter a code (that my son does NOT know).

I set the expectation, if I see you misusing your phone–it’ll be in the safe for 30 days.  I do weekly checks on the phone to ensure everything is running as I expect.
Also, I set the expectation that after 3 months; he is on the hook to pay the phone bill.  Ensure your children know to trust you on expectations(do not FLAKE on your expectations).

So, he can calendar, make/receive phone calls.  Use the “LDS Gospel Library”, kindle app–all without a code. When he wants to browse the Internet or use youtube, he must come and ask us to enter the code.

He gained my trust, so I unlocked “Google Voice”. Now he can SMS/TEXT, when on my WIFI 🙂

Also, there is an audit trail on all his SMS messages; which acts like a deterrent.

In fact, I’m now using “Smart App Protector” to protect my phone’s “playstore” and settings. The kids would hoodwink my phone and install their silly games, NO MORE 🙂

I’ve started experimenting with “android whitelist browser”.

 iphone/apple devices

SUMMARY: A supervised iphone has MUCH more granular & deep “security controls” than android by using an “mobile device management” (MDM like Meraki.

Meraki MDM is FREE for less than 100 devices!

The main features I use are allowed/denied applications, white-listing websites (block ALL websites except a few allowed), remote app install/removal & phone tracking (lost device or lost child).

Without these granular controls, parents are required to block browsers & all apps that could be mis-used.  With granular controls, one can allow them access to helpful websites via a whitelist.

The MDM has a phone finder features, but the native iphone finder is much better/accurate(use safari browser or an android app).

Here are some screenshots of Meraki MDM:

Home Internet Content Filtering:

I’ve been using OpenDNS for about 10 years. Most of my IT colleagues use OpenDNS for their family too. For more granular security controls I HIGHLY recommend Unified Threat Manager (UTM) for features like authentication & authorization based on groups & users, meaning parents can have a policy & kids can have their own policy applied to their username. Also, quota of time limits online for children.  The client2VPN is excellent too. You may need to be more technical to install & configure UTM. Opendns is much more simple, but doesn’t have the granular access controls that UTM has.

Unified Threat Manager (UTM)

UTM is a major upgrade since Astro Firewall!

The main features I use is browser authentication so I can apply Internet content policy to particular usernames. Logging, time restrictions & VPN are also used. The ONE feature that pushed me to UTM over OPENDNS is the fact I can give my kids 60-90 minutes of online time, once that is gone they are unable to use the Internet (they self-manage their allotted time).

UTM is FREE for home-use, but you will need to buy some hardware (mini-pc with two Network Interfaces).

Here are some of my UTM screenshots.

This screenshot shows that authentication is REQUIRED.

You can apply multiple policies to certain users & or groups!

Configuring quotas will determine if online usage goes against their “online allowance”

If the categories are not granular enough you can add allow/deny per policy!

You can also control what types of files are downloaded:

Enforce “safe search” for youth/kids & set how much “online time” they are allowed:

Geek out and see your trending Internet usage.  I bet my Internet Usage is WAY ABOVE your Internet usage!

Endless logs & reports on user usage and traffic!

REPORT based on user or ip address or both!

LOGS LOGS LOGS!

VPN allows me to close ALL ports into my home network, EXCEPT the VPN port. Once I VPN in, I can access all my internal resources like my NAS etc.

How OpenDNS works:

Basically, every time your computer request a website (Domain name), your computer asks a Domain Name Server (DNS) to convert the name into an IP Address.

If your DNS server knows your source IP address (Your public IP Address), it can intelligently apply policies to govern where you are allowed (whitelist) to surf the Internet or policy to block (Blacklist).

PROS of OpenDNS:
1) Configure on your wifi router and the policy applies to all devices on your network, including mobile devices.
2) Have ONE PC that keeps opendns updated on your Public IP Address.
3) Known malware and known botnet sites are blocked.
4) Ensure you enable, do NOT allow Proxies. If someone is using a proxy they could bypass OpenDNS’s policy.
5) Custom Configuration. Meaning, you could block all social nets, but allow Linkedin.com
6) You can login remotely and change the policy. For example, I’m at work and my wife calls and says, one of the websites the kids need to get to is being blocked. I login and whitelist that website.
7) FREE & easy to configure.

CONS
1) Device specific logging is missing. You can see a daily log of all devices, but segmented reports on specific devices is not in the free version.
2) With enough technical skills, it can be bypassed.
3) Free version only allows 25 domains to be whitelisted.

https://support.opendns.com/entries/26272175-Introduction-to-Configuring-OpenDNS

Other alternatives.

http://pandorashope.com/
I’ve helped people configure this router. Its pretty nice when a site is blocked, you can say, allow temporarily (with admin password) or allow site permanently (with admin password).
They also have an option to physically lock up the router, so cat5 cables can’t be re-arranged to bypass the content filter.

GENERAL BEST PRACTICES:

1) Use chrome, NOT IE. All malware targets IE…and its not secure. Also, its part of the OS, so once compromised; so is your OS. You can uninstall and reinstall chrome.
2) Use MS Security Essentials on Windows.

3) Use MS Malicious Software Removal Tool.

4) About every 12-18 months, windows gets owned/compromised; so reinstall it from scratch. Once “owned” you have little hope of really removing the malware.  Use Linux 🙂 Or a MAC; they get owned much much less often because they are less of a target, are architected to be more secure; from the beginning. Vs bolt’d on afterwards.

5) Encrypt email messages. OpenPGP message encryption and authentication for Thunderbird

6) Use lastpass.com & keypass and browser plugin to have secure passwords.

7) Password management

I’m finding a lot of friends using the same password for multiple accounts/websites. BAD BAD IDEA!

You may consider something like…a song, for example: I’m a child of God. Take that and make a standard password with a letter from each word.

Iaacog

Then, for each account, you add 3 characters denoting the site/location.

IaacogGOO (goo for google). IaacogAma (Ama amazon). Iaacogksl (ksl for ksl.com)

8) Have Full Documentation for Any Disaster Need

9) Encrypt your entire hard drive with truecrypt.

RESOURCES:

http://utahcoalition.org/event/ucap-conference/

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/protection-from-pornography-a-christ-focused-home?lang=eng

http://overcomingpornography.org/?lang=eng

http://ssuss.liveprepared.org/stake-safety-security-newsletter/

Staying Current with news, skills, interests QUICKLY…daily!

In our fast paced world, staying current can be challenging. Staying current with news/events, professional skills, hobbies/interest can be challenging.

I want to teach you how to save time & money, so you can live a better life.

I’ve been using RSS readers for about a decade to stay current with my fast changing “IT Profession”.

Imagine not having to watch the news everyday! but in that same amount of time, cover ALL the news material!?!

Imagine finding new articles, podcasts, videos in your hobbies/interest?

Imagine not having to re-review articles over and over as you hit a dozen different websites daily/weekly!

For me, I have not watched TV since 1999! BUT, I stay current on news, trends, intellectual theory/journals etc by using an RSS Reader.

Why you should use an RSS Feed Reader

1.  Quickly consume massive amounts of information that YOU are interested in. Not what “popular culture” believes YOU should be interested in.
2. Subscribe and be “notified” of new articles from sources you want to read.
3. Research and stay current on technology, theories, skills & even “news”
4. So you can subscribe to your favorite blog; https://libertyfoxdefense.com/blog

My REQUIREMENTS for RSS Feed reader.

1) Support mobile device (smart phone). Meaning, I can review while eating breakfast, or throughout my day as I have a few seconds here and there as slack time.

2) Be able to configure it on a full sized keyboard.  Also, I want what I flag as READ on my mobile-device and computer to synchronize.

3) Flag articles as favorites to be referred to later…maybe for the rest of my life!

Products evaluated.

1) Firefox RSS “live bookmarks”. hee hee, remember when we used that!?! Pretty cool technology at the time!

2) Thunderbird email client, forums reader and RSS reader.

3) Google Rss Reader. Yeah, we are all sad it is no longer available!

4) INOreader (my favorite, that meets all my requirements).

So, lets talk about INOreader.

I have the app on my phone, and a toolbar link on my browser. I really do hit it everyday of my life 🙂 Gone are newspapers, books and old-school distribution of information!

Here is a screenshot of inoreader on my laptop. Its very similar on the mobile device!

 Where does Thomas get his information/learning?

1) http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/ – daily 60-90 minute podcasts that will change your life for the better. Healthier, happier, better family life, gardening.

2) My inoreader subscriptions (see above).

3) Marksmanship Matters

 ALSO, I’m highly recommending that you use an RSS Feed to be notified of my new BLOGS.

So, to be honest, this is my 2nd attempt at a kydex sheath. I’m very good at making quality leather sheaths, mostly because I’ve made dozens of them. I’ve made hundreds of “perfection” Foxy Tucks; and I’m very happy with the fit & function of Kydex/leather holsters (and so are hundreds of customers). BUT, I don’t have a lot of mileage with Kydex Sheaths. 

Kydex is quicker, easier and less expensive than leather.  Kydex also has the advantage of not retaining water which in the field could rust your high-carbon blades.

This awesome knife came with a horrible sheath:
KNIFE: TOPS Steel Eagle 107C, 1095 High Carbon Alloy RC-58

Making a kydex sheath is quite EASY.  However, attaching that Kydex shell to a backer in an “ideal” way is often difficult because the screws or other fasteners used to attach the shell to the backer might catch/rub on the blade and/or handle.  I do want to make an attachment system out of leather; likely on my next project.

My idea was to take the junky sheath that came with the knife and cut off the part behind which you insert the blade; then use the remaining part of the original sheath as a backer for a Kydex shell.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1) If your blade has a saw on it, use file-folder cardboard to cover the saw. Otherwise it’ll be too tight and the saw will cut into the kydex.
Make sure you get the perfect blade gap. I believe this is achieved when you can wobble the blade inside the sheath.  If you have an esee blade, try wobbling it inside the sheath and see how much blade-space there is.

2) Make sure you have 3 layers of painters tape to add a needed gap between the blade and sheath. I like painters tape, because it doesn’t leave a residue. You do NOT want the retention on the blade, it binds, has too much drag, and could wear your blade…or at least impact the finish.

4) Do you really need to spend a lot of time measuring and marking straight lines? Perhaps.  I cut the kydex to fit the nylon…after all that precise measuring 😉 The lines helped a lot for putting in the eye-lets.

5) I’m using my holster making screws (Chicago screws) to put the kydex on the nylon. This is a small fortune in screws…but it’s worth it. (About $7 in screws)

6) I used a rubber washer for retention; so I could get the perfect retention…I want the blade to be vertical upside down…over my heart.  1/4″ of very hardened steel could provide “some protection”.

In fact, this sheath has molle on the reverse side; so I should be able to attach it upside down to a Load Bearing Equipment (LBE) vest (chest rig), pack, or even run it horizontal on a belt.

7) You need to consider the “drop” for a large blade. Otherwise, you may need to lean to the side in order to “present the knife”. For mine, if worn on the hip, the drop is perfect for this size knife! But, you MUST have the leg strap in order to draw the knife one-handed…the nylon has too much flex in it otherwise.

SUMMARY:

Yeah, I think I could get into making custom sheaths. But I don’t know how much to charge given the time it takes to make one of these.
Looking back at time & materials…this sheath “cost” as much as the knife
BUT, I learned a ton. I think I can do the next one in half the time…the one after that, in half-that-time.
Now…I need to find something to give this knife some good character… like some good old fashion field-wear