Solar Desalinator - Purifies Contaminated Water

Gary sent a link to UrbanSurvivalSkills.com and I was wondering if anyone out there had any experience with this solar desalinator?  Same principle as a survival solar still.  Heat from the Sun vaporizes the contaminated water, leaving contaminants at the bottom while the purified condensation collects on the underside of the clear plastic top and runs down to be collected. 

While anyone handy can build much the same device, a couple of kits, one always bagged up for immediate Bug Out or cached someplace, may be a handy and effective way to ensure you have this capability.

Four to six liters of pure water per day would require one or more kits per person in order to produce enough water for daily needs.  Anyway the ad:

Our University of Alabama patented solar desalination product uses no electricity, can be taken anywhere and extracts pure water from any contaminated water source. It removes radiation, fluoride, salt, pesticides, bacteria, dirt and other contaminants from any water. Be prepared for disasters, save hundreds on bottled water and utility bills.Our panel is a desalinator, not just a filter. It removes pure water from the contaminated source, one pure h2o molecule at a time.

The panel water is up to ten times more pure than tap water and up to 700 times more pure than contaminated ground water. Use over and over with no filters to clog and nothing to wear out. our panels are made of UV-stabilized, FDA-compliant, food-grade plastic to give you years of trouble-free use.

You already know how important water is to your emergency kit, and you may already have reserve water with your food and other preparedness gear, at least enough for a few days or weeks. But what about for months and years? And how much water weight can you carry if you need to take the show on the road? Can you be sure you’ll have water pressure at your tap if you need it most to fill up emergency water containers? Is that well or stream water contaminated? Do you have the equipment to remove radioactive isotopes and fallout from your water? Is your regular water filter enough? Water filters are the time-tested preparedness tool, and they work great for short-term use, but they often need a steady supply of replacement components and they can’t remove salt, arsenic and other dissolved contaminants.

When the contaminants are in solution with the water, they slip through even the best filters. To make the most difficult water sources drinkable you’ll need a full-fledged desalination system, but those are usually power-hungry, they foul with the wrong kind of contaminants, or they require single-use chemical pouches. If you live near the ocean, you’ll need a way to convert seawater into drinking water with robust reliability. If you have access to contaminated surface water, you’ll need a way to remove pesticides, arsenic, fluoride and chemicals that are in solution with the water, and which can’t be filtered. There’s a better, long-term, robust solution for your emergency kit! It can convert any contaminated source into pure, delicious drinking water for you and your family for months and years into the unknown using only sunlight.

No replacement filters, no chemicals, batteries, or parts to worry about sourcing into the unknown. Everything you’ll need for years-worth and thousands of gallons of water making is in a single lightweight bag.

Are Foreign Troops Here for Martial Law?

I received this alarming e-mail from a reader called STONE03: "UrbanMan you need to understand that the government is bringing in foreign troops to start martial law. I think the Government is going to use Homeland security and the foreign troops because the US military would be unreliable enforcing martial law and confiscating guns. Go to this link at Before It's News to see the latest breaking news on foreign troops ALREADY in this country! You need to get the word out and put it on your site. OUT STONE03."


UrbanMan replies: Okay Stone, I'm posting it now. I went to the provided link. Bottom line is I know some of it is total bullshit and I suspect all of it is. For the reader here is what is being reported on Before It's News:

"DHS armored vehicles being delivered from Kentucky to Tennessee. What makes this interesting is that the drivers were not AMERICAN military, but rather FOREIGN military troops driving these vehicles."

"When American people spoke to these foreign drivers, they detected they were either Russian or Eastern European/Slavic in background. Many Americans are wondering what this is all about."

"I will tell you exactly what this is all about, from years of research across America, and traveling to Europe to uncover more of the role of foreign troops in America's grim future."

"After I heard that Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM, had been turned over to the GERMAN BUNDESWEHR LUFTWAFFE (German Air Force) for their military use and training of German pilots, I decided to go down to Alamogordo to see what was unfolding."

"Six weeks were spent in interviewing both American and German troops in Alamogordo. I also went live on radio with Mike Shinaberry to discuss martial law in America and the role of foreign troops, including German troops. My book then in print, "PREMONITIONS OF AN AMERICAN HOLOCAUST," was also being distributed at that time there. IN fact, the Germans sent one of their military men to purchase a copy of my book at the radio station."

"I came away from that sobering experience very enlightened...and also shaken. I remember thinking, "SO it IS true...everything I have been reading about the NWO and martial law!"

"German military were actually bragging at times to the Americans, that they were indeed there for martial law. One German military officer informed a Christian group out for Sunday buffet after church, that they were there to do the dirty work that the American troops did not want to do to their fellow Americans under martial law."

UrbanMan again: The German Air Force and their Air Defense Missile people have been in the U.S. training, in a permanent fashion, for something like 40 years! I understand that the U.S. Army is moving their Air Defense center to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. So again, the German Air Force has been in this country for decades.

As far as the information -"What makes this interesting is that the drivers were not AMERICAN military, but rather FOREIGN military troops driving these vehicles." - If the government was trying to smuggle in foreign troops to enact martial law, do you think they would have them readily recognizable as foreign troops?

As far as this quote: "German military were actually bragging at times to the Americans, that they were indeed there for martial law. One German military officer informed a Christian group out for Sunday buffet after church, that they were there to do the dirty work that the American troops did not want to do to their fellow Americans under martial law." - Are you kidding me? If the German military actually said that to someone, they were feeding that person's ignorance. As for the speech in church, who actually heard it? I'll bet that was totally fabricated.

For sure, DHS (Homeland Security) is doing some strange and suspicious things, like the humongous ammunition purchase and the fielding of Mine Resistant Vehicles (MRAP's). As to the MRAP's they are surplus from the military. From a few of my DHS contacts, they say there are plans to use them at the land ports of entry where immigrants and visitors come through in case there is a "rush" through there, as well as for situations like Hurricane Katrina to protect relief and rescue employees.

I don't know Stone,...maybe I'm trying to be too reasonable. Maybe I am wearing rose colored glasses,.....I know there are way too many situations to prepare to survive without having foreign troop enacted martial law being the main threat!!

Gold and Silver Prices Sliding - Chance for Preppers

The current slide of Gold (and Silver) prices which now appear at this post time to be possibly be inching  up again, nor reports of Gold scarcity from purchases by foreign governments (read Chinese among others) have nothing to do with the Survivalist's need to have some gold and silver on hand as an essential component of their collapse plan. Let me say that again,....all the hoopla around Gold and Silver, .....as investments, as hedges against inflation, or to protect against deflation of the dollar have nothing to do with the the need for preppers to have some precious metals on hand, be it gold and/or silver bullion, and/or coins for silver melt value just to have some type of buying power after a economic or financial collapse.

It has been reported by several respected financial analysts that China and India alone account for almost 80% of the annual Gold purchases. Add in Russia's new focus on building national wealth through Gold purchases does not leave much for the rest of the world. There have also been reports that the U.S. is vastly overstating the Gold Reserves that the Federal government holds. Nice! In some minds this makes it more likely that the U.S. Government will develop some sort of regulation on physical precious metal holdings and even a confiscation program under the guise of national security, a la F.D.R.

In my mind, damaged as it is, I draw a difference between a economic collapse and a financial collapse. In short, an economic collapse would be commodities driven with shortages (fuels and food among others) and skyrocketing prices driving food riots and the projected government attempts to control the mess. On the other hand a financial collapse would be a collapse of the dollar, a tanking of Wall Street reminisance of the Great Depression, or a possible attack on our banking systems and networks.

I don't expect many people to agree with me on the above definitions, but that's how I have to cateogorize these real threats in my mind and in my speech to predict possible scenarios.

Back to Gold and Silver. So again, the market forces, large foreign government buys and investment advice all have nothing to do with the need for the totally prepared survivalist to have physical gold and/or silver on hand as purchasing power if and when the dollar holds no more value, or is even perceived to hold no more value and people will refuse to accept it for transactions.

I fully realize that most people cannot buy Gold as it is prohibitive expensive to buy much if any at all. Gold closed on Friday 19 April at $1,392.70 an ounce while Silver closed $23.30, so Silver is the poor or average man's precious metal.

Two of the questions I get asked the most regarding keeping cash and precious metals on hand, are:

"How much cash should I keep on hand?"

Well how much can you afford to keep on hand? I know a guy who, every two weeks at payday, takes all his money out of the bank except for the mandatory minimum enough to pay bills. While I don't advocate this, I do admire this guy for the committment he has, as he has been doing this for three years now. No telling how much cash he has at home! And no, you can't have his address.

I believe that upon the imminent and actual collapse of fiat currency there will be people accepting cash for a short period of time,...until food runs out or until it is clear that fiat currency won't be making a comeback anytime soon.

Just like noted financial guru Dave Ramsey advocates an emergency fund, I just think this emergency fund should be partially kept at home if you can take measures to safe guard it.

"How much precious metals should I keep on hand"?

Again, how much can you afford? I have a very small amount of gold. SIlver is the poor man's precious metal and taking last week's closing price of $23.30 and not counting the premium you pay for rounds or bars, 100 ounces would cost you $2,330.00

Starting from nothing, if you bought 2 to 4 ounces a month after a year's time you would be a quarter to half way towards 100 ounces. I think that's a decent target goal. If you can afford mre then go for it. That advantage of buying small amounts at local sources, and paying cash, would keep you under the radar for both robbery and confiscation,...sorry about being redundant,..I should have just said robbery.

So just like that AR-15 you have in the closet and hope to never use for real, Gold and Silver fill an  emergency need as well.  Consider putting some away.   

Will New Executive Orders on Guns Affect Preppers?

Upon the failure of the Senate to pass gun control legislation President Obama has signed 23 executive orders address gun control issues in America. Of course, the Administration refers to these executive orders as efforts to reduce gun violence, from which any rational citizen can see is just an effort to control access to guns and the effects on violence levels will very minmal if any ta all. We are taking a look at each executive order and providing commentary, if necesary, on if this partivcular order will effct those of us preparing for the eventually collapse of the U.S. be it from economic, financial, or other SHTF catalysts. You can view these executive orders at Forbes.com


Gun Violence Reduction Executive Actions:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.

UrbanMan Comment: This could open the door to two way information sharing and a de facto registration of gun owners and could potentially also link these gun owners to specific gun purchases.

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.

UrbanMan Comment: This may be chip away at privacy act issues relating to medical conditions, problems, procedures and medications. This may be part of a larger net cast to collect information that can be clasified as derogatory in nature and lead to restrictions on gun buying for these individuals.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

UrbanMan Comment: Just leave the States alone....and the people while you are at it.

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.

UrbanMan Comment: So is this just a study? or will Eric Holder's list of dislikeables become "persons prohibited from owning guns"?

5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.

UrbanMan Comment: I don't have a problem with a background check on owners of record before stolen or recovered guns are turned back over to the indivdual, but I think what this directive means if guns are seized from and individual are are cleared for return to the owner, then a background check wil have to be done, which of course will show that the owner had been arrestt (not convicted) and guns seized, therefore failing a background check - this is a potential Catch 22.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.

UrbanMan Comment: This is a pretty troublesome directive. Does this mean that there will come about a regulation or prohibition on private sales unless ran through a licensed gun dealer? Is this in regards to a private sellers being required to get a background check for the private sale to another private citizen? If so, how is this going to be enforced?

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

UrbanMan Comment: You know this won't be done with an input from gun organizations like the NRA or NSSF, so I'm wrroed about the liberal spin on it which can continue the general theme that guns are bad.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

UrbanMan Comment: We all know the best gun safety is a trained and responsible gun owner who keeps his finger off the trigger until he/she is sure of their target.

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

UrbanMan Comment: What? This is already being accomplished as an essential part of any investigation involving guns. It is determined when and to what distributor the manufacturer ships the guns to and from there to what seller (gun shop or national sporting good chain). Law enforcement has a timeline on when the gun could have been sold and queries the seller on who bought the gun. This provides an investigative lead and that end user is questioned on the question of that gun and possible disposal through private sale or even theft.

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.

11. Nominate an ATF director.

UrbanMan Comment: I think Senator Diane Feinstein would make a good ATF Director. She seeming knows a lot about guns.

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.

UrbanMan Comment: Does this include prosecuting the actors and decision makers of "Fast and Furious".

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.

UrbanMan Comment: I'll save CDC the time and save the government the money,....causes of gun violence are criminals. Prevention is more complicated,.....triple the penalites for use of a gun in a crime and pass national right to concealed carry.

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effectiveuse of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.

UrbanMan Comment: Oh here we go again,....voice recognition gun safeties,.....magnet ring safety deactivators,.........20 lbs triggers,..........keys to lock or unlock firing mechanisms.

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

UrbanMan Comment: Doctors may have the "right' to question their patients about guns in their homes, according to Obamacare, but to what purpose? To determine the basis for approved or disapproved care? There are basicaly two choices in answering this line of questioning,..."Nope, no guns in the house" - whether it's true or not,....or,...."That's none of your damn business Doc!". Oh excuse me, I guess there is another way to answer this question........"Guns in my house? I don't have ENOUGH guns in my house."

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.

UrbanMan Comment: There needs to be some sort of standards and penalities so that Health Care providers won't be tempted to make reckless reports.

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.

UrbanMan Comment: I would like to see armed school resource officers at all schools as I think if children are not our most valuable resource, then what is?

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.

UrbanMan Comment: The government does not do well in planning especially in the realm of security related issues as well evident by the Benghazi consulate debacle. I say let the Government stick to what it knows best and that is spending money.

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.

UrbanMan Comment: Here we go again,...getting into the states' business. But it really makes no never mind as all the increased taxes, increased but under reported unemployment, decreased productivity and manufacturing, inflation and national debt are going to make Medicaid (and all other forms of entitlements and welfare) mute when the economic collapse begins.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

Forbes.com comment: It does not appear that any of the executive orders would have any impact on the guns people currently own-or would like to purchase- and that all proposals regarding limiting the availability of assault weapons or large ammunition magazines will be proposed for Congressional action. As such, any potential effort to create a constitutional crisis—or the leveling of charges that the White House has overstepped its executive authority—would hold no validity.

UrbanMan Comment: About time to buy that M1A Scout rifle I've been looking at.