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Israel’s Deadly Strikes Continue Despite Ceasefire Deal, Raising Doubts About Lasting Peace

This article was originally published by Cassie B. at Natual News. 

    • Israel intensified Gaza bombardment hours after announcing a ceasefire deal, killing 77 Palestinians, including 21 children and 25 women, in the deadliest 24-hour period in over a week.
    • The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., aimed for a six-week pause, hostage-prisoner exchanges, and Israeli troop withdrawal, but violence has cast doubt on its durability.
    • Ceasefire celebrations in Gaza were overshadowed by Israeli airstrikes, which killed dozens, including a human rights worker and his family, sparking criticism and skepticism.
    • Political infighting in Israel, including Netanyahu’s delayed cabinet vote and far-right opposition, threatens the fragile ceasefire agreement.
    • The deal offers hope with increased humanitarian aid, but unresolved issues like Gaza’s governance and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain.

Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza just hours after announcing a ceasefire deal with Hamas, killing at least 77 Palestinians—including 21 children and 25 women—in the deadliest 24-hour period in over a week.

The agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, was meant to bring a six-week pause to the fighting and facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners. However, the continued violence has cast a shadow over the fragile truce, raising questions about whether the deal will lead to lasting peace or merely a temporary lull in the bloodshed.

The ceasefire, set to begin Sunday, outlines a phased approach: an initial six-week pause in fighting, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the deal as a “critical first step” toward ending the conflict, which has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives and displaced nearly 2 million people since October 2023. Yet, as Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate Gaza, many are left wondering if the agreement is more about optics than genuine reconciliation.

Ceasefire celebrations overshadowed by violence

The announcement of the ceasefire sparked jubilation in Gaza, where residents have endured 15 months of relentless bombardment, severe shortages of food and water, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. In Khan Younis, crowds took to the streets, waving Palestinian flags and chanting in celebration. “I am happy. Yes, I am crying, but those are tears of joy,” said Ghada, a displaced mother of five.

But the celebrations were short-lived. Hours after the deal was announced, Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza City, Rafah, and Nuseirat, killing dozens and destroying homes. Among the victims was Ihab Marwan Kamal Faisal, a 33-year-old human rights worker, along with his wife and two young daughters.

The timing of the strikes has drawn sharp criticism. “Every time there is talk about a truce or ceasefire, we witness an escalation in the intensity of the bombardment,” said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense. The attacks have left many questioning Israel’s commitment to peace.

The ceasefire deal, while a significant diplomatic achievement, faces numerous hurdles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed a cabinet vote on the agreement, citing last-minute demands from Hamas. Meanwhile, far-right members of his coalition, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to withdraw their support if Israel does not resume fighting after the initial six-week pause.

This political infighting underscores the fragility of the deal. “It’s stunning to me that the prime minister—the magician, the master politician—seems to have miscalculated,” said Aaron David Miller, a veteran American negotiator.

Even if the ceasefire holds, the broader conflict remains unresolved. The agreement does not address the future governance of Gaza or the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A glimmer of hope

Despite the violence, the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for Gaza’s beleaguered population. The deal includes provisions for increased humanitarian aid, which is desperately needed to address the enclave’s dire conditions. The United Nations and other aid agencies are preparing to ramp up their operations, but the scale of the devastation will require years of reconstruction.

For now, the people of Gaza remain caught between hope and despair. Although they’ve been waiting for a breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations, they’ve suffered monumental losses.

As the world watches, the question remains: Will this ceasefire mark the beginning of a lasting peace, or will it be another fleeting pause in a cycle of violence that has claimed too many lives?

What Will You Do When You Can’t Buy Or Sell Anything On The Internet Without Your UN-Mandated Digital Identity Chip?

Imposing mandatory digital identification on every nation on the entire planet has become a primary goal for the global elite.  It isn’t going to happen tomorrow, but eventually the plan is to get virtually everyone in the world into the system.  If the global elite get their way, a time will come when you will not be able to buy or sell anything on the Internet without logging in with your UN-mandated digital identity chip.  You won’t be able to go to school, get a job or open a bank account without your UN-mandated digital identity chip either.  In essence, you will become a complete and utter outcast from society.

I have been astounded by what I have discovered.  Leo Hohmann and a few others have been writing about this, but the general population has no idea what the global elite have planned.  All the way back in September 2018, the United Nations established the “UN Legal Identity Agenda Task Force”

Inspired by the Secretary-General’s determination to tackle the global problem of statelessness (affecting more than 10 million people worldwide), but also noting the wider (and larger) issue of lack of legal identity, the Secretary-General’s Executive Committee, in January 2018, mandated the Deputy Secretary-General to convene “UN entities to develop, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, a common approach to the broader issue of registration and legal identity…”. To operationalize the decision of the Executive Committee, an inter-agency coordination mechanism — the UN Legal Identity Agenda Task Force (UNLIA TF) — was established from September 2018, where 13 UN agencies, under the chairmanship of UNDP, UNICEF and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, are working together to try to assist Member States achieve SDG target 16.9.

One of the responsibilities of this task force is to “oversee the implementation of the UN LIA at the regional and national level”.  The following comes from the official UN website

  • To oversee the implementation of the UN LIA at the regional and national level;
  • To develop and maintain normative work related to the UN LIA (with UNDESA leading as normative focal point);
  • To fully engage in fund raising, advocacy and communication of the UN LIA;
  • To convoke UN system-wide meetings to advance the implementation of the UN LIA;
  • To brief the DSG and other senior UN principals as required (including the Strategic Results Group on SDG Implementation) on latest developments in the implementation of the UN LIA;
  • To support the UNDP Administrator in his role as member of the WBG ID4D programme’s High-Level Advisory Council.

The United Nations Development Program is on the ground in 170 different countries and territories, and they have become one of the key UN agencies that is working to advance this agenda.

On the UNDP website, they have an entire page that discusses what they intend to do.  They argue that “embracing digitalization” will help to close the “global identity gap”…

Legal identity serves as a fundamental gateway to accessing both public and private services. However, a staggering 850 million people worldwide lack the means to establish their identity. Embracing digitalization offers a pathway to bridging this global identity gap, with digital legal identity serving as a cornerstone of digital public infrastructure, fostering interoperability among diverse systems.

Whenever they want to sell us on some horrible new thing that they want to do, they make it sound like it is something that is necessary to help the poor and needy.

The UNDP has listed five “compelling reasons” why digital identification must be imposed on the entire planet.  The first reason they give is that digital identification will allow them to track all of us

Digital legal identities offer a unique means of tracking population movements, facilitating swift access to essential information for each human being.

I’m sorry, but I don’t want the UN to ever track my movements.

I am sure that you feel the same way.

The second reason they give is that it will allow governments to register people more quickly during major disasters…

Several countries are adopting digital IDs to register disaster impacts, aiding in the comprehensive understanding of these events. With support from UNDP, countries are establishing tracking systems to collect data from various agencies, including environment, health, public works, transport, agriculture, statistics, and others at national, provincial, and sub-national levels.

So what would happen during a long-term global emergency such as a pandemic?

Would everyone be required to register for “assistance” with their national governments?

The third reason they give is that digital identification is necessary for “identifying vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure”

Digital IDs aid in identifying vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure, thereby bolstering resilience and guaranteeing a dependable energy supply during adverse events like extreme weather, seismic activity, wildfires, or power grid failures. Utility providers and emergency services can utilize this personal data during disasters to precisely locate individuals in need of special assistance, including those reliant on medical equipment powered by electricity or facing mobility challenges. Targeted support ensures that the most vulnerable members of the community receive prompt assistance and access to necessary energy resources.

In other words, when things go wrong, digital identification will make it easier for governments to “help” us.

We just have to give away all of our privacy first.

The fourth reason they give is that digital identification will help fight “climate change” because it will allow governments to “track energy consumption” and “inspire behaviour change”

Leveraging digital legal ID data to track energy consumption, inspire behaviour change, and enhance sustainability measures can mitigate climate-related disasters.

In other words, they want to monitor how much energy you are using.

If you use too much, lowering your “social credit score” will “inspire” you to use less energy.

The fifth reason they give is that digital identification that is tied “directly to digital wallets” will allow authorities to encourage people to fight “climate change”…

By offering rewards or subsidies directly to digital wallets, individuals are encouraged to invest in renewable energy, leading to broader adoption and increased participation in sustainable energy initiatives.

Ultimately, linking your financial life to your digital identification is such an important part of their program.

They will know what you buy, what you sell, and everything else that you are doing online.

In fact, eventually they want to make it impossible to conduct any commerce on the Internet at all unless you have digital identification.

They argue that forcing everyone to reveal who they really are will make the Internet “safer” for everyone.

But of course the potential for tyranny would be off the charts.

Once you have the ability to track the behavior of everyone on the planet and you also have the ability to exclude people that are unwilling to submit to your demands from the system, you would be able to exercise a level of control over the globe that is unprecedented in the entire history of humanity.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”“End Times”“7 Year Apocalypse”“Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post What Will You Do When You Can’t Buy Or Sell Anything On The Internet Without Your UN-Mandated Digital Identity Chip? appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Death Camps, Hard Labor, Abductions, Executions And Burned Churches – 380 Million Christians Are Facing “High Levels Of Persecution”

Are you willing to die for what you believe?  This is a question that hundreds of millions of Christians have to ask themselves every single day.  The things that you are going to read about in this article are absolutely horrifying, but you won’t hear about them from the corporate media, because the corporate media hates to share stories that put Christians in a sympathetic light.  The Christian faith is the most persecuted faith on the entire planet, and every single day Christians are being beaten, tortured, taken to death camps and executed.  According to the latest report from Open Doors, a staggering 380 million Christians are currently facing high levels of persecution…

Christian persecution spiked around the globe in 2024, with more than 380 million Christians suffering high levels of persecution and discrimination, according to a report released Wednesday.

The human rights watchdog group Open Doors has published its World Watch List 2025, which ranks the fifty countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.

But we aren’t supposed to talk about this, are we?

In fact, this article will probably get a lot less attention than some of my other articles, because we have been trained to ignore the systematic persecution of Christians that is happening on the other side of the globe.

In Africa, one out of every five Christians is facing severe persecution, and in Asia it is two out of every five Christians

Worldwide, one in seven Christians is persecuted. For Christians in Africa, the number is higher still: a full 20 percent live in persecution. Meanwhile in Asia, two in five Christians are persecuted for their faith, an astonishing 40 percent.

North Korea claimed the number one spot in the report.  According to Open Doors, if you are identified as a Christian in North Korea “you could be killed on the spot”

If your Christian faith is discovered in North Korea, you could be killed on the spot. If you aren’t killed, you will be deported to a labour camp and treated as a political criminal. You will be punished with years of hard labour that few survive. And it’s not only you who will be punished: North Korean authorities are likely to round up your extended family and punish them too, even if your family members aren’t Christians.

The concentration camps in North Korea are some of the most brutal that the world has ever seen.

But we don’t really talk about them anymore, and so most people don’t even know that they exist.

Somalia claimed the number two spot in the report.  A radical Islamic terror group that controls much of the country is absolutely obsessed with eradicating the Christian faith

In Somalia, following Jesus is a matter of life and death. Al-Shabab, a violent Islamist militant group, is at war with the government and controls large swathes of the country. This group enforces a strict form of Sharia (Islamic law) and is committed to eradicating Christianity from Somalia. They have often killed Somali Christians on the spot. The dangers have increased over the years, as the militants have increasingly focused on finding and eliminating Christian leaders.

Yemen claimed the number three spot in the report.  Sadly, the Houthis have absolutely no tolerance for Christians…

If someone is reported to be a Christian and or involved in Christian activities, they could face severe monitoring, arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment and even murder. In Houthi-controlled areas it’s dangerous to possess a Bible or other Christian books. Leaving Islam to follow Christ is seen as a huge betrayal of the native tribe—punishment by the community can include being disowned, disinherited, divorced and losing custody of their children, being banished or even murdered.

Libya claimed the number four spot in the report.  The U.S. went to a great deal of effort to overthrow the government of Libya a number of years ago, but now it has become one of the most anti-Christian nations on the entire planet

In Libya, following Jesus is a huge risk for anyone. Libyan Christians with a Muslim background face violent pressure from their families and communities to renounce their faith. Foreign Christians, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa, are targeted by Islamist militant and criminal groups. These groups kidnap and sometimes brutally kill Christians. Even if they avoid such a fate, sub-Saharan Christians face harassment and threats from radical Muslims.

Sudan claimed the number five spot in the report.  A nightmarish civil war is raging in Sudan, and both sides seriously hate Christians…

After a year and a half of war, Sudan is now home to the world’s largest displacement crisis and the world’s largest hunger crisis, with nearly nine million people having been forced to flee their homes. Neither side is sympathetic to Christians, and the conflict has given Islamist extremists more opportunity to target them. More than 100 churches have been damaged so far, and Christians have been abducted and killed. Sudanese Christians who have come to faith from a Muslim background face severe backlash from their families and communities. These believers tend to keep their faith secret, even from their own children.

There are two countries that didn’t even make the top ten that I think deserve special mention.

More than a billion people live in China, and over the past several years the persecution of Christians in China has greatly intensified

China, where persecution is also intense, has also moved up the “World Watch List,” ranking 15th on the 2025 ranking as the most difficult nation for believers; it was previously in the 19th spot.

Brown said much of the growth of the Christian church in China has been centered on small house churches — unregistered houses of worship.

“And the Chinese government, over the last couple of years, has had a very intentional and deliberate effort to stamp out many of those unregistered churches,” he said. “For those churches that are registered, there is a lot of ideological control that the state is looking to exert, looking for your pledges to the Communist Party there.”

Unless you attend one of the churches that has agreed to full ideological control by the communist government, it is very difficult to be a Christian in China these days.

More than a billion people also live in India, and more churches are being attacked in India than anywhere else in the world

Property crimes are a key concern in India, which topped GCR’s list for targeted attacks on Christian property with 4,949 attacks. The ancient Christian community in the region of Kerala believe the Apostle Thomas planted the Christian faith during his apostolic ministry in the first century. But today, the Malankara Orthodox Church and Syro-Malabar Catholic Church face targeted assaults.

“This isn’t just random violence. Persecutors use violence to drive out Christians to take control and capture the culture in some of these countries,” said Six. “This is a decade of systematic, planned, organized occupation of some Christian areas. And it’s now at the point where every single rung of civil society and government is armed against impoverished Christian communities,” which “have no recourse.”

India engages in “mass suppression of the church,” observed Six. Yet Perkins said India is “getting a pass from many in the West, because of its growing economic power.”

What would you do if you lived in one of these countries where the persecution of Christians is rampant?

If you were faced with a life or death choice, would you be willing to die for your faith?

It is so important to know why you believe what you believe, because someday you may be faced with such a choice.

Every day, more Christians are being arrested.

Every day, more Christians are being taken to secret prisons and concentration camps.

Every day, more Christians are being tortured, and every day more Christians are being killed for what they believe.

If we won’t speak up for them, who will?

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”“End Times”“7 Year Apocalypse”“Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Death Camps, Hard Labor, Abductions, Executions And Burned Churches – 380 Million Christians Are Facing “High Levels Of Persecution” appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

18 Incredible Statistics About America’s Rapidly Growing Retirement Crisis That Will Blow Your Mind

We are facing an unprecedented retirement crisis in this nation.  Millions upon millions of Baby Boomers are retiring, and most of them are struggling.  In fact, it has been estimated that 80 percent of our retirees are either struggling right now or are in serious danger of falling into financial insecurity.  We are supposed to be the economic powerhouse of the world.  How could we have allowed this to happen?

There are several reasons why our retirement crisis has become so severe.

First of all, people are living significantly longer than they did decades ago, and so retirees need more money these days.

Secondly, most retirees did not save enough for retirement, and many of them entered their retirement years carrying high levels of debt.

Thirdly, healthcare costs are completely and utterly out of control in this country.  We desperately need to do something about this.

Fourthly, high inflation has made the cost of living extremely oppressive.

Fifthly, pension plans are less common then they once were, and so more retirees than ever are depending upon Social Security as their primary source of income.

When you step back and consider the big picture, it is clear that we have a major problem on our hands, and there are no easy solutions.

The following are 18 incredible statistics about America’s retirement crisis that will blow your mind…

#1 Back in 1940, the average life expectancy of a 65-year-old was about 14 years.  Now, it is over 20 years.

#2 The number of Americans that are 65 and older will rise to about 77 million by 2035.

#3 Americans that are retiring now will need an average of $1.22 million to last thirty years in retirement.

#4 Only about half of all U.S. households currently have retirement savings accounts.

#5 One recent survey found that 93 percent of Republicans, 86 percent of Democrats, and 94 percent of independents believe that there is a retirement savings crisis in this country.

#6 47 million U.S. households with older adults are either “financially struggling” or are “at risk of falling into economic insecurity”.

#7 Approximately 80 percent of Americans have thought about putting off retirement due to financial reasons.

#8 Over 90 percent of Americans are concerned that they may have to work more years than they originally planned.

#9 There is supposed to be approximately 2.7 trillion dollars in the Social Security trust fund, but our politicians took all of that money and spent it instead.  Today, our Social Security trust fund is simply a colossal pile of government bonds.

#10 Social Security is the primary source of income for most Americans over the age of 65.

#11 According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, 33 percent of Social Security recipients receive all or nearly all of their income from Social Security.

#12 Nearly nine out of ten people age 65 and older are receiving Social Security benefits.

#13 In 2009, nearly 51 million Americans received $672 billion in Social Security benefits.  In 2024, nearly 68 million Americans received $1.5 trillion in Social Security benefits.

#14 More than 180 million U.S. workers have earnings covered by Social Security, and they pay approximately 1.2 trillion dollars in Social Security payroll taxes.

#15 As you can see from the previous two items, our Social Security payroll taxes are not enough to cover the amount being paid out in benefits.

#16 The average Social Security benefit for a retired worker in the U.S. was $1,922 per month in September 2024.

#17 Back in 1950, each retiree’s Social Security benefit was paid for by 16 workers.  In 2010, each retiree’s Social Security benefit was paid for by approximately 3.3 workers.  By 2035, it is being projected that there will be approximately 2.4 workers for each retiree.

#18 Close to 50 percent of all American workers do not believe that the Social Security system will pay them benefits when they retire.

Needless to say, our federal government is facing an unprecedented financial nightmare, and our retirement crisis is a big reason for that.

Social Security accounts for approximately 21 percent of the federal budget, and Medicare accounts for approximately 14 percent.

That means that those two programs alone account for more than a third of all federal spending.

The politicians in Washington would never dare to make cuts to those programs, because elderly voters would revolt in a major way.

So if we are going to do anything to get our exploding debt under control, cutbacks will have to occur elsewhere.

But we desperately need to do something, because our 36 trillion dollar national debt is growing very rapidly and it threatens to overwhelm us.

We are in so much trouble.

As our debt continues to explode and general economic conditions continue to deteriorate, I expect the plight of our retirees to continue to intensify.

And that is not good news for any of us.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”“End Times”“7 Year Apocalypse”“Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post 18 Incredible Statistics About America’s Rapidly Growing Retirement Crisis That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

It Literally Looks Like A Nuke Went Off – We Are Witnessing The Costliest Fire Disaster In U.S. History By A Very Wide Margin

Some of the images of the destruction that has taken place in the Los Angeles area are hard to believe.  We are being told that approximately “75% of Pacific Palisades has been completely leveled by fires”, and the use of the phrase “completely leveled” is not an exaggeration at all.  It literally looks like a nuke went off and wiped out everything.  There have been plenty of fire disasters in California before, but never anything like this.  At this point, Accuweather is projecting that total economic losses will be “between $52 billion and $57 billion”

The blazes — which are ripping through some of the nation’s priciest real estate — are likely to cause between $52 billion and $57 billion in damages and economic loss, according to a preliminary AccuWeather estimate.

That may sound like a very high estimate, but JPMorgan analyst Jimmy Bhullar came up with a very similar figure

A separate estimate from JPMorgan analyst Jimmy Bhullar also pegged total economic losses from the LA fires at close to $50 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. That total includes insured losses at more than $20 billion and “even more if the fires are not controlled,” Bhullar said.

Those losses would make the Los Angeles-area infernos the costliest wildfires in U.S. history.

Previously, the Camp Fire in 2018 was the most destructive wildfire in history — causing an estimated $12.5 billion in insured losses, WSJ said.

Read that last sentence again.

Prior to 2025, the costliest fire disaster in U.S. history caused 12.5 billion dollars in insured losses.

This disaster is going to beat that by a very wide margin.

One of the reasons why this disaster is going to be so costly is because homes are being destroyed in an area where home values are extremely high

Some of the worst damage is located in Santa Monica and Malibu, where median home values are over $2 million, AccuWeather said.

On Thursday, multiple fires continued to spread all around Los Angeles.

Sadly, it was being reported that the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire were still zero percent contained

Firefighters on Thursday continued to battle multiple deadly wildfires that erupted across Los Angeles, creating an apocalyptic scene as residents fled the raging infernos.

At least five fires were active in Los Angeles County, scorching more than 40 square miles across the region, according to Cal Fire. The Palisades Fire in the coastal Pacific Palisades community and the Eaton Fire, located east in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, remained the largest blazes with 0% containment.

Why aren’t they able to contain these fires?

So far, over 2,000 structures have been destroyed, and more are catching fire with each passing hour…

Out-of-control blazes are still raging in Los Angeles, with firefighters unable to contain one of Southern California’s worst natural disasters in history.

Roughly 30,000 acres were on fire, and at least five people were dead early Thursday, with more than 180,000 residents ordered to evacuate, and more than 425,000 without power. More than 2,000 structures have been lost in the Pacific Palisades fire and in the Eaton fire in and around Altadena, with critical fire weather forecast through Friday night, local officials said. Forecasters said no rain is expected over the next week.

This disaster is far from over.

And what is making things even worse is that arsonists have apparently been trying to start additional fires.

In fact, podcaster Andrew D. Huberman says that he literally witnessed this happening

Huberman, who has 5.2 million subscribers to his health podcast Huberman Lab, took to social media platform X to share the footage, urging people to ‘call in any activity’.

He wrote: ‘People are lighting fires in otherwise non-burning urban areas of LA.

‘Saw this happen first hand in Santa Monica. Called it in & fire dept & police responded.

‘Stay safe and call in any activity ASAP. We don’t need more flames out here.’

Why would anyone do such a thing?

Have they gone completely and utterly insane?

There should be absolutely no tolerance for anyone that is attempting to set new fires in the middle of a major fire emergency such as this.

In areas where fire has already come and gone, many are discovering that there is nothing left of their homes except for a pile of ash

Some residents ventured back to areas the fire had already swept through, where brick chimneys were left looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles. The remnants of a tattered and scorched American flag flapped from a pole.

“I had just come from my family home where my mother lives that was burned to a crisp … And then I came up to my home and – same thing. It’s completely dust,” said Oliver Allnatt, 36, wearing ski goggles and a filtered face mask as he took pictures of the ruins. “Basically just a chimney stack and a pile of ash. I mean, it’s something out of a movie.”

Many of these homeowners will not be able to rebuild because they had their insurance policies canceled.

One woman that was interviewed by KABC was trying to ward off the fires with a garden hose because the home where her parents have lived for more than 70 years was no longer covered by fire insurance

Lynne Levin-Guzman stood in the front yard of her 90-year-old parents’ home in Los Angeles County, California, trying to protect it with a garden hose — because their insurance company no longer would.

“I know I’m not supposed to be here, but this is my parents’ home and they just lost — they got canceled from their fire insurance. So they’re dealing with this,” she told CNN affiliate KABC. “They’ve lived in this house for 75 years and they’ve had the same insurance and these insurance people decided to cancel their fire insurance.”

“And they wonder why people leave California,” she added.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

As I discussed yesterday, I simply do not understand why anyone would still want to live in California at this stage.

Yes, there are good paying jobs in the state and the weather is nice.  But in recent years California has been hit by historic disaster after historic disaster.

Sadly, this is just the beginning.

A lot more chaos is on the way, and natural disasters will continue to be a major theme throughout the rest of 2025.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”“End Times”“7 Year Apocalypse”“Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

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The post It Literally Looks Like A Nuke Went Off – We Are Witnessing The Costliest Fire Disaster In U.S. History By A Very Wide Margin appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

This Is One Of The Most Catastrophic Disasters In U.S. History, And High Winds Could Spread The Fires To New Areas Of L.A. Until Wednesday

High winds returned to Los Angeles on Sunday morning, and that is making one of the most catastrophic disasters in U.S. history even worse.  Already, more than 60 square miles in the L.A. area have been burned.  To put that in perspective, the entire city of Washington D.C. covers just over 68 square miles.  I have been trying to find the right words to describe the devastation that we have been witnessing, but I just can’t seem to find words that are sufficient.  According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, this is one of the worst natural disasters in the entire history of our nation…

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Saturday that the Los Angeles-area wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history and called for an independent investigation into the local water supply.

“I think it will be in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope,” Newsom said when asked whether the disaster would be among the nation’s worst ever.

The winds that have been spreading the fires calmed down for a while, but now they have flared back to life

On Saturday night and into Sunday morning, winds have been in the 35-55 mph range, with some gusts reaching as high as 70 mph in the mountains surrounding Los Angeles.

It becomes very difficult to control fires when wind speeds are this high.

In fact, a Cal Fire public information officer was warning that wind speeds had gotten so high that aircraft that are being used to fight the fires may need to be grounded again

Chris Harvey, a Cal Fire public information officer, said he was concerned that Sunday’s winds could become strong enough that firefighting aircraft would have to be grounded again. Aerial efforts were suspended for a time last week because of the extraordinarily strong winds, which made it unsafe for aircraft to make their usual drops of water and fire retardant.

What firefighters need more than anything is for the winds to die down.

Unfortunately, we are being told that the region will be under a “red flag warning” until Wednesday

It’s the last thing that wildfire-ravaged southern California needs, but a red flag warning will span several days, through Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m., with strong winds and continuing critical fire weather in the forecast, the National Weather Service announced on Saturday.

The warning indicates that existing fires could spread and new ones could start, meteorologists said. It begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, as fire crews continue to battle the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which are still threatening lives and property in Los Angeles County.

The latest red flag warning also includes the Inland Empire and Orange County, and residents throughout Southern California should be prepared for pre-emptive power outages to lessen the likelihood of wildfires being sparked by Southern California Edison or other equipment, officials said.

What is Los Angeles going to look like after several more days of burning?

Right now, the Palisades Fire is being pushed by high winds toward the “ultra-affluent Southern California neighborhoods of Brentwood and Bel Air”

The devastating Palisades Fire pushed to the northeast, prompting new evacuations in the ultra-affluent Southern California neighborhoods of Brentwood and Bel Air as the threat of more dry winds raised risks after a brief respite.

The spreading flames brought “another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said early Saturday.

The expanded evacuation area covers some of Los Angeles’ most important cultural institutions, including the Getty Center, an architectural landmark with a world-class art collection.

In a desperate attempt to save it, thousands upon thousands of gallons of pink chemicals are being dropped on Brentwood

A DC-10 air tanker was flying over the Palisades fire as it dropped around 10,000 gallons of the chemical to prevent fire from reaching Brentwood – a place many high-profile celebs call home.

Incredible pictures show affluent neighborhoods covered with the pink chemical in what looks like an apocalyptic movie.

One picture shows a backyard with a pool covered in hues of pink after tanker planes dropped chemicals all over the area.

Vast numbers of L.A. residents have been forced to evacuate over the past several days.

Unfortunately, they are discovering that many of those that have temporary housing to offer are really jacking up their prices

Days after an inferno razed the Pacific Palisades, Maya Lieberman is desperate to find somewhere to live. But unscrupulous landlords who are jacking up prices are making it hard.

“The price gouging is going haywire, it’s obscene,” the 50-year-old stylist told AFP. “I can’t find anywhere for us to go.”

Southern California used to be such a beautiful place.

Sadly, life in the region will never be the same after this.

And what makes all of this even more infuriating is the fact that the damage did not have to be this bad.

Firefighters were running out of water as they tried to fight the Palisades Fire because a reservoir that can hold 117 million gallons of water had been closed for repairs since February of last year

A large reservoir in Pacific Palisades that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system was out of commission when a ferocious wildfire destroyed thousands of homes and other structures nearby, the Los Angeles Times found.

Officials said that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed since about February for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117-million-gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades for nearly a year.

The revelation comes amid growing questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze, which ignited Tuesday during catastrophically high winds. The Times reported early Wednesday that numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving crews struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.

Why does it take a year to fix the cover of a major reservoir?

I just don’t understand that.

The “water czar” that is in charge of making sure that the reservoirs and fire hydrants are working correctly is a woman named Janisse Quiñones, and she is reportedly being paid $750,000 a year

The $750,000-a-year LA water czar is responsible for a raft of failures that contributed to the devastating Palisades Fire, fire department insiders told DailyMail.com.

On Mayor Karen Bass’s orders, the city maxed out its budget to ‘attract private-sector talent’, hiring Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones on a $750,000 salary in May – almost double that of her predecessor.

Now, Quiñones is being blamed by LA Fire Department (LAFD) insiders for leaving a nearby reservoir disconnected and fire hydrants broken for months, DailyMail.com can reveal, leading to firefighters running out of water as they battled the devastating Palisades Fire this week.

Most of the time, we don’t pay a great price for the extreme incompetence of our leaders.

But in this case, it is going to cost us billions upon billions of dollars.

This is already one of the worst disasters in U.S. history, and it is far from over.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”“End Times”“7 Year Apocalypse”“Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

Get prepared for what is ahead by visiting some of our sponsors…

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Final Blackout: https://trk.borderdatareport.com/2964TZB/2N721M/

Last Blackout: https://trk.last-blackout.com/2964TZB/2J2CRS/

The post This Is One Of The Most Catastrophic Disasters In U.S. History, And High Winds Could Spread The Fires To New Areas Of L.A. Until Wednesday appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Eating the Rich Is Not a Good Idea

This article was originally published by Lipton Matthews at The Mises Institute.

Criticisms of pro-market policies, such as lower corporate taxes and deregulation, are often rooted in a form of discrimination rarely acknowledged: upward classism. This prejudice against people of higher socio-economic status misrepresents the contributions of “the rich” and distorts discussions about public policy. While these policies are castigated as benefiting the wealthy, they have demonstrable benefits for broader economic growth and living standards.

For example, research by Suárez Serrato and Zidar—“Who Benefits from State Corporate Tax Cuts?”—reveals that reducing corporate taxes encourages business expansion, resulting in job creation and improved local economies. Similarly, Gordon and Young, in another paper, emphasize that efficient tax systems, including lower corporate rates, are essential for sustaining long-term economic growth. Far from being self-serving, pro-market policies are foundational to fostering an environment in which businesses and, by extension, workers and consumers, can thrive.

Nevertheless, critics berate pro-growth tax policies for favoring “rich people” on the basis that they are not paying their “fair share” in taxes, yet the evidence suggests otherwise. Between 2001 and 2020, the share of federal income tax paid by the wealthiest Americans rose from 33.2 percent to 42.3 percent, while the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers saw their share decline from 4.9 percent to 2.3 percent. Additionally, the bottom 20 percent of earners have negative tax rates—receiving more in government benefits than they pay in taxes. This dynamic underscores the disproportionate role that wealthy individuals play in funding public services, challenging the narrative that they exploit the system. Without their contributions, governments would struggle to sustain programs aimed at supporting poorer Americans.

Another popular narrative is that wealthy individuals are parasitic rent-seekers who extract value without contributing to the economy. However, in the United States—where only about 1 percent of billionaires can be described as crony capitalists—this depiction is far from accurate. Most affluent individuals create wealth through innovation and entrepreneurship, enriching consumers by providing goods and services. Moreover, contrary to stereotypes of idleness, wealthier Americans tend to work longer hours than their poorer counterparts, reflecting a shift from the leisure-centric culture of 18th-century aristocrats to one where work conveys social status.

Indeed, the issue of upward classism is not limited to the United States but is also evident in other countries, such as Jamaica. In this context, public discourse often reveals a stark inconsistency in attitudes toward policies that benefit different socio-economic groups. For example, the National Housing Trust (NHT)—a financial institution funded by mandatory contributions from Jamaican workers—recently offered a $3.5 million grant exclusively to low-income earners. This policy was widely celebrated even though the NHT is not a charitable organization but a financial entity meant to serve all contributors equally.

Contrast this with the criticism directed at the Jamaican government’s decision to remove the General Consumption Tax (GCT) from electricity. Critics argued that this measure disproportionately benefited wealthier households and small businesses, as many residential customers do not pay GCT on electricity. These contrasting reactions highlight a troubling double standard: policies favoring the poor are applauded, while those that alleviate burdens for wealthier groups are condemned. If the aim of government policy is to ease economic hardships, such efforts should be inclusive rather than selectively targeting specific groups.

Further, while pro-market policies are often criticized for allegedly favoring the rich, welfare programs are lauded for supporting the poor. However, these programs have significant limitations. Research by Alexander Bartik and co-authors demonstrates that while cash transfers boost immediate consumption, they fail to enhance recipients’ long-term prospects. Other analyses show that they decrease labor market participation and do not have a considerable effect on human capital investments. These findings highlight the risk of creating dependency rather than empowerment, perpetuating the very poverty these programs aim to alleviate. This pity-driven approach obscures the role individuals can play in escaping poverty and undermines the dignity of personal achievement. Effective anti-poverty strategies should focus on fostering self-sufficiency rather than perpetuating dependency.

The pervasive upward classism that informs criticisms of free market policies not only misrepresents the contributions of the wealthy but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Governments must design policies that promote economic growth without discriminating against any group, whether rich or poor. Addressing crony capitalism and wasteful welfare programs should go hand-in-hand with ensuring fairness in public policy.

By dismantling class-based biases, societies can foster a more equitable economic landscape that benefits everyone. The focus should shift from vilifying success to creating opportunities that enable individuals at all income levels to thrive.

BIRD FLU: The U.S. Will Build A NEW Stockpile Of Vaccines For Poultry

The United States ruling class has plans to rebuild the stockpile of bird flu vaccines for poultry. This current outbreak in the U.S., which began in poultry in early 2022, has killed more than 130 million commercial, backyard, and wild birds in all 50 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to a report by Reuters, the bird flu is also circulating among dairy cattle herds and has infected nearly 70 human beings, most of them farm workers exposed to sick poultry or cattle. The U.S. reported its first human death related to bird flu on Monday.

First U.S. Human Bird Flu Death Reported

The rulers have previously stockpiled “vaccines” for human use too, with some countries disturbing the injections already.

Ruling Class Has Prepared MILLIONS Of “Vaccines” For The Bird Flu Plandemic

Finland Will Begin Vaccinating Humans For Bird Flu Next Week

Deaths of millions of egg-laying hens pushed wholesale egg prices to record highs last month. Most of the deaths were caused by humans culling the animals, and not the actual infection with bird flu.

Nonetheless, the media is reporting that egg and turkey farm groups have called for deploying a vaccine, citing the economic toll for farmers of being forced to kill their flocks over a bird flu infection.

The CDC ADMITS: PCR Tests CANNOT Differentiate Between Coronaviruses!

The vaccines that were purchased by the United States Department of Agriculture following the prior bird flu outbreak were developed by Merck & Co, Ceva, and one by U.S. government researchers, have expired and been thrown out said David Suarez, who was acting laboratory director of the USDA’s Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia, in a 2023 interview.

“All the vaccines they purchased expired, and they threw it away,” Suarez said in 2023. Suarez at the time said there was limited appetite for rebuilding a vaccine stockpile until it was likely birds would be vaccinated.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said such deployment would not be possible in the short term, in part due to trade risks. Many countries ban imports of vaccinated poultry over concerns the vaccine could mask the presence of the virus. -Reuters

If the vaccines “mask” the presence of the virus, does that mean it doesn’t work? So what’s the point then? It sure seems that we have been through this before.

Pfizer Executive Admits COVID “Vaccines” Were Not About Preventing Transmission

 

How To Build A Clay Pot Candle Heater & Do They Really Work?

Candle HeaterAre clay pot heaters a wise last-resort warmth tool? Or just a silly gimmick?

Over the years, I’ve seen some incredible claims…

They usually center on getting something of high value for practically no cost.

Sound familiar? Sounds like an infomercial to me…

Some folks claim to heat an entire room with nothing but a few tea-light candles.

So let’s uncover the truth and see if a candle heater is as good as the rumors claim:

TOPICS IN THIS GUIDE…     ↓(click to jump)

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Best Candle Heater On The Market Today

Before you get too far down the “clay pot candle heater rabbit hole” the quick answer is YES, THEY DO WORK…just not very well.

I wouldn’t stake my families lives on it…that’s for sure.

So if you’re looking for a REAL solution that takes the science behind a “clay pot candle heater” and scales it up so it actually works, check out the Vesta Self Powered Indoor Space Heater:

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  • Measures 11″ L x 7.5″ W x 10.75″ H when used as a heater.
  • Space heater indoors warms up 200 square feet.
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↓ Vesta Self-Powered Indoor Space Heater Review

Best DIY Clay Pot Candle Heater Designs

To start off, let’s take a minute to watch one of the original videos that started this clay pot heater frenzy:

↓ Candle Powered Air Heater – Flower Pot Heater

So the idea is to use stacked terracotta pots and a couple of candles to generate enough heat to warm a room.

With my engineering background, it’s hard to see how math can work out on a project like this.

A candle flame only puts out so much heat, and it’s small compared to even a modest electric space heater.

After analyzing kerosene vs. propane heaters, I was extremely skeptical, to say the least.

But most projects like this are based on some bit of truth, so it was worth exploring.

It turns out that people have been building versions of a candle-powered heater for years.

And there are lots of videos and plans to build your own DIY version of it at home (which you can find later in this article).

↓ Easy DIY Terra Cotta Heater

↓ How To Heat A Room With Clay Pots Heater

Now, nearly all candle-powered heaters share a few things in common.

You will already know basic clay pot heater design from watching the videos above.

A heater body is formed with nesting clay pots, often separated by and attached to a central steel bolt.

The bolt has additional steel washers in the spaces between pots to form a basic heat exchanger.

This clay pot structure is usually nested at least two levels deep.

This setup creates a series of internal spaces between the pots.

Once constructed, the heater body is flipped over and supported by bricks, pans, or a metal stand.

This allows you to position the center bolt directly above a small candle.

When the candle is lit, the flame heats the steel bolt directly, causing it to heat the clay pots.

The pots also trap the hot air rising from the flame.

This “trap” slows the heat escape into the surrounding cold air and gives it time to heat the clay further.

As the candle burns, the interior chambers can reach relatively high temperatures.

All the candle heat slowly builds in the mass of the clay pots.

After some time, you can begin feeling the heat on the outside surface of the largest pot.

Such a simple idea, but does it really work?

Before I attempt to answer that question, let’s see what others have said about the clay pot heater.

The Clay Pot Candle-Heated Debate

In my research, I found many passionate people who favor clay pot heaters and those against them.

These little heaters have caused quite a stir.

People share videos of them working like a charm to warm a small room, while others debunk such claims.

And the debate is not always civil; I stumbled across a surprising amount of name-calling!

So, let’s review the main arguments for and against the clay pot heater.

Those For

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s hear from others who claim this clay pot heater does an excellent job of heating a small space.

Here are three videos that “prove” these little candle heaters work:

↓ Clay Pot Heater Test | Does It Actually Work?!

↓ Clay Pot With Tea Lights Room Heating

↓ A DIY Tiny House Heater

Those Against

However, I don’t want to leave out the “against” arguments.

Here’s a video from someone who doesn’t think these clay post heaters are worth the time and effort to make.

↓ Flower Pot Heaters Don’t Freaking Work

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But Can They “Technically” Heat A Room?

How much can you really heat up a room with one of these candle heaters?

“Technically,” it’s the same as you can without one.

The first law of thermodynamics states:

The total energy in a system will remain constant.

Burning the candle releases stored chemical energy, converting it to heat and light.

The amount of energy released is the same whether you have clay pots or not.

Adding a candle heater above the flame doesn’t add heat to the room.

Since each tea candle produces only about 30 Watts, you’ll need dozens to heat even a small room.

Sure, you can buy them in bulk – for example, here are 125 of them for only $12.79 (that’s 10 cents each).

But they’ll only last a few hours before you need to replace them.

So why all the fuss about candle heaters? Why are so many people still building them?

Here’s the exciting part.

While a candle heater doesn’t increase the heat the burning candle releases.

It DOES allow you to convert that heat from one transfer mode to another.

Thus, it makes heat much more useful to humans.

Let me explain…

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3 Types Of Heat Transfer

There are three types of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation.

1. Convection

Convection is when a gas or fluid is heated and circulates within a space.

This is heat transfer via moving particles.

This is how most of the heat leaving the candle is transferred.

The rising column of hot air takes the heat and mixes it with the cooler surrounding air.

This process slowly brings the temperature of the room up.

If the room is large and the air is cold, you can imagine how little the effect will be.

2. Thermal Conduction

Conduction happens when a warmer object comes in contact with a cooler one.

Heat is transferred from the warm object to the cold one directly.

In the case of the candle, touching the hot wax would transfer heat to your finger via conduction – ouch!

3. Thermal Radiation

Finally, radiation is the transfer of heat by infrared radiation.

With our light tea candle, there’s a small amount of radiated heat from the burning wick.

However, it’s not an effective means of heating your hands, let alone a room.

There isn’t enough mass in the candle wick to radiate a large amount of heat.

OK, enough science; back to our candle heater –

Why There Candle Heaters Do Work (sort of)

Again, these clay pot heaters will never generate more heat than a candle without clay pots.

Because, well – science.

So what’s going on here? Why are so many people convinced these heaters do work?

The flowerpot heater does not increase the heat; just its usefulness.

Here’s what’s happening…

The candle under the clay pot heats the air rising via convection into the clay pots.

That superheated air is immediately trapped in the clay pots.

This means the candle heat collects and builds before it can dissipate and mix with the cold air in the room.

The trapped hot air heats the cold clay and steel, which acts as a larger thermal mass (a.k.a. an object that stores heat (or heat battery)).

Once the heater core is warmed up, it radiates heat from the outside surface.

This build-up and radiation make it much easier to “feel” the heat on your skin.

Think of how a campfire puts off radiant heat that warms us.

In addition to radiating heat, the heater surface can reach a nice hand-warming temp.

You can wrap your hands around the outer pot and heat them via conduction.

Imagine putting your hands around a hot mug of coffee – a similar idea.

Note: The more candles you use, the shorter time you can keep your hands on the surface.

Lastly – heat from a candle (without clay pots) will go straight up in a thin column to the ceiling – and stays there.

This ceiling heat provides zero benefits to the room’s occupants.

And it certainly provides no radiant heat.

However, when trapped under an inverted clay pot, the clay absorbs every bit of heat from the candle.

And thus, it allows it to radiate from a lower vertical location in the room (instead of at the ceiling).

So again, it’s a ‘heat battery,’ storing the heat near the floor.

Thus, helping more of it stay in a part of the room where it can be more efficient at heating our bodies.

So the bottom line is:

The thermodynamics laws are still valid (as they always will be).

But these laws can also miss the point.

The laws don’t always do a great job of accounting for real-world variables such as radiant heat vs. convection and floor vs. ceiling location.

These heaters aim to make a human feel warmer closer to the floor.

These candle heaters can do just that.

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Clay Pot Heater Upgrades

In my research, I found people who made worthwhile modifications to the original clay pot heater design.

The Hanging Setup Upgrade

This upgrade is more of an aesthetic upgrade and prevents heat damage to your coffee table (or other support structure).

↓ New Flower Pot Heater – Costs Just 4 Cents An Hour…

The Sterno Can Upgrade

One modification was to upgrade the heat source from a tea candle to a Sterno can.

Of course, using 2 or 3 Sterno cans will create A LOT more BTUs than the same number of candles.

So, if you use larger heat sources and larger clay pots, you’ll get more heat.

Enough heat to indeed raise the temperature of a small room.

However, with more BTUs, the costs of this setup go up quickly.

So maybe it makes sense to have the upgraded Sterno can version as a backup for a winter power outage…

You know – just in case.

But with more heat, you have also increased the possibility of a house fire.

Caution – Use At Your Own Risk

Before you begin using a clay pot heater, you must use caution.

They can be extremely dangerous, especially if you let them burn unattended.

Don’t leave them lit if you’re leaving your home; never do so while sleeping.

The paraffin wax will melt if too many candles are put into a tight space.

This wax can then become lit (not just the wick).

A large fire can begin spilling out of the clay pot setup, and the liquid wax may drip down and out.

Candles are a leading cause of house fires, so you should take the same level of precaution.

Open flames are not something to take for granted.

↓ Danger Of Flower Pot Candle Heaters

 

Final Thoughts

I think we can safely say that a small candle heater won’t be heating your house soon.

However, a candle heater is enough to warm up some icy fingers!

And it makes you feel a bit warmer as well.

If you’re going to burn a candle for light anyway, you may as well have a heater core above it to trap the heat, too.

The flowerpot does not increase the amount of heat, just its usefulness.

But for winter emergency heating, you’ll need to upgrade to using Sterno cans or get yourself a kerosene or propane heater.

You should always have one of these as a backup for each family member.

Because these last resort warmth tools are an effective and inexpensive insurance policy.

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  • Member of the 10TH Mountain Division Hut Association
  • Certifications: Avalanche 1, WFR, CPR
  • Official Gear Tester for Numerous Outdoor Gear Companies
  • Countless Multiday Backpacking trips into Remote Wilderness
  • Bachelor’s Degree In Mechanical Engineering 
  • Bachelor’s Degree In Civil Engineering
  • Bachelor’s Degree In Biomedical Engineering

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” – Warren Buffett

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Jason K.

  • Born & Raised In The Remote Woods Of Michigan
  • Engineering Degree From A Major University
  • Long Standing Member Of Mountain Search & Rescue
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    10 Best Survival Guns To Own When Civilization Collapses

    best survival guns - revolver pointing straight back at youWhat Are The Best Survival Guns To Own? 

    Before we can even attempt to answer that question, we need first to understand what the answer to that question is not: 

    It’s NOT a random laundry list of various makes and models because not all survival situations are the same. 

    For instance: 

    • Are we talking about surviving while lost in the wilderness? 
    • Dealing with a broken-down vehicle in the desert? 
    • Post “Captain-Trips” outbreak from Stephen King’s – The Stand? 
    • How about being stranded afloat on the open ocean after your fishing charter goes down? 
    • What about defending your home from armed criminals and intruders? 
    • The economic system collapses, making fiat currency worthless (and you don’t own crypto, silver, or gold). 
    • Or are we talking about an all-out TEOTWAWKI scenario? 

    In my accompanying firearm article, Top Ten Survival Rifles, I defined five roles a good survival rifle must fill. 

    But to be brutally honest, there is only one role for a survival handgun: self-defense. 

    Yes, I’m aware that you can hang a big-ass scope on top of a .44 Magnum and hunt deer, but frankly, hunting game is no reason to carry a hand cannon like this in a survival situation. 

    That’s not to say there aren’t a few useful roles for a Dirty Harry gun when you’re trying to survive. But hunting and long-range sniping are just not one of them.

    Instead, the handgun excels at short-range self-defense. 

    It’s practical for ranges under 60 feet and ideal under 10 feet. And the type of survival gun you want in tight and confined spaces. 

    Here’s a simple analogy: 

    It would be silly for an F-350 pickup to attempt to race a Mustang. So why would you try to employ a handgun as a sniper rifle? It’s always best to match the equipment with the goal. And with handguns, the goal is close-range self-defense. 

    So, the real question we need to answer is this: 

    What Are You Defending Yourself Against?

     This question can be further broken down into two broad categories: 

    1. Animals – wild predators with the ability to kill you 
    2. Humans – the most dangerous game of them all 

    With these two categories cleared up, the answer does not involve the best survival gun choice but the ideal cartridge for the task at hand. 

    Here are the most common handgun rounds we will consider today: 

    • .22 LR 
    • .380 Auto 
    • 9 MM Luger 
    • .357 Sig 
    • 38 Special 
    • .357 Magnum 

    Let’s face it: 

    Some of these cartridge sizes are impractical for survival, and we can dismiss them immediately. 

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    357 Caliber hollow point bullets near revolver pistol gun on black background

    So, Let’s Play The Elimination Game 

    .380 Auto?Really? Why the compromise? If your goal is to carry the maximum number of rounds possible, then go for .22LR.

    The .22LR is much more common and widely available compared to the .380 auto. 

    If you’re going to carry a 9mm, why a 9mm short? The round costs more is less powerful and is not nearly as available as the 9mm Luger. 

    While the 38 Special is an old cartridge and still attractive, it has no advantage over the much more readily available 9 MM Luger. 

    In fact, the 38 Special is a rimmed cartridge designed for revolvers, so its capacity is also limited compared to that of most 9 MM semi-auto pistols. 

    If you ramp this baby all the way up to Plus P hollow-point, then why not just go with the .357 Magnum?

    You can always shoot 38 Special in a .357 revolver if you happen to find any. 

    The .357 Sig is a great cartridge fired by high-quality Sig Sauer and other pistols, but again, it is not nearly as prevalent at 9MM. 

    Sure, the old faithful Luger round may not technically be any better, but its use is far more widespread. 

    How can I say something bad about the .357 Magnum? It’s a devastatingly powerful round.

    However, it is not nearly as common as .45 ACP or as powerful as the .44 Magnum. 

    A post-apocalyptic world will quickly run short of .357 Magnum.

    It always amazes me that Rick on The Walking Dead always has a full cylinder of .357 Magnum hollow points. 

    For the same reason, a 38 Special is a poor substitute for the .357 Magnum. 

    Also, the .357 Magnum is a poor substitute for the .44 Magnum. If you have to go large, then go with the .44 Magnum or .45 ACP. We’ll learn why in a little bit. 

    The .40 S&W is an excellent police round with more stopping power than the 9 mm, but then again, why round up just a bit? Why not round up a lot? The .45 ACP is more common and simply devastating. 

    The .500 S&W is a big, badass round fired from one heavy, giant hunk of a revolver. It is the most powerful handgun round in the world – designed to take down just about any animal you may run up against. 

    It was designed specifically for hunting. It’s also a round that will be hard to find in an emergency or survival situation. 

    So, in my opinion, there is nothing you can kill with a .500 S&W, and you can’t kill with a .44 Magnum. 

    Yes, it may take two shots, but it is still not worth dragging this huge revolver, which has only a five-round capacity, into a survival situation. 

    So, with all that said – I’m going to narrow our original list down to the following survival calibers: 

    • .22 LR 
    • 9MM Luger (Parabellum) 
    • .44 Magnum 
    • .45 ACP 

    These rounds represent the whole gamut of firepower we’ll need to survive; however, each has its own niche. 

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    Most Likely Survival Self-Defense Scenarios 

    Very few people intend to end up in a survival situation. 

    With an unexpected breakdown, a few poor decisions, and dumb luck, you can survive anywhere, in any climate, and any topography.

    It’s most likely to occur in a place you haven’t prepared. 

    That’s just Murphy’s Law. 

    Wolves | Coyotes | Wild Dogs 

    If a wolf or coyote attacks you, remember that one animal is not stalking you—a pack is. 

    A wolf is a pack animal, and his brother and sister Lobos will be waiting in the wings to ambush you. This is where a high-capacity handgun is ideal.  

    So, a good, double-stacked 9mm is perfect for this application. 

    No doubt the .44 Magnum will make a wolf explode, but you only have six opportunities in that big gleaming revolver. 

    If you miss, you better pray for a small pack. 

    The .45 ACP will do the trick as well, but again, it’s a big round, and at best, you may be looking at ten rounds. So, I prefer 9MM Luger in this circumstance because of its combination of capacity and power. 

    huge grizzly bear surveying the landscape

    Grizzly Bears/Sharks/Big Cats 

    You may be wondering why I haven’t eliminated the .44 Magnum? These beasts are why. 

    The grizzly bear is the bad-ass MF of the animal world. 

    You need stopping power when facing something nine feet tall, 850 pounds, with long teeth and six-inch claws. 

    Unless you hit him right in the eye, the .22LR represents a mosquito bite to this fellow. I’m not even sure a .22 LR would crack a grizzly skull. 

    The 9 mm will annoy this giant and maybe even kill him – after he bleeds out over the next few hours – long after you’ve bled out. 

    So, this is the one instance where the .357 Magnum almost makes the grade. 

    I’ve been told no one should enter the Alaskan wilderness with less than a .357 Magnum. But, again, why not be sure and go with the .44 Magnum instead? 

    If you are in an area with large predators, bears, large cats, etc., plan on equipping yourself with a gun that can kill any of them with just one or two shots. 

    What if you’re in the open ocean being attacked by a shark? Believe me; you’ll be happy with the .44 Magnum here, too. 

    Finally, this brings us to the most dangerous animal of them all: Man. 

    Gas Mask On A Man With A Rifle

    Fellow Man 

    • This species can reason, plot, plan, and adapt.
    • He can be a solo attacker or work in large packs.
    • He’s often unpredictable, illogical, and irrational.
    • Or, just as easily, he can be cool, calm, and collected with a predatory instinct. 

    That’s why other humans are a challenge to plan for…

    The toughest ones arm themselves with similar or superior firepower—and they shoot back.

    In some cases, they may even wear plate carriers, making them an even harder target. 

    Here’s the really bad news:

    In a post-apocalyptic world, after only a few months, the only humans you will be facing in combat will be the ones who are truly adept at self-survival.

    The talented, well-armed fighters will remain. 

    The days of the rank amateur will be over. 

    However, there is some good news here:

    Any of the rounds mentioned above can kill a human, and no one wants to be shot by any of them. 

    pile of 22LR bullets

    The .22LR 

    Even the lowly .22 LR will crack a human skull. 

    Sub-sonic .22 LRs, by the way, deliver the same punch with all the sound of a survival air rifle – a good option if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. 

    Still, let’s be realistic.

    You probably don’t want to be in a gunfight holding a .22 LR pistol, even if it has some advantages.

    These guns tend to be accurate because your aim is not affected by recoil. Why? Because there is no recoil. 

    Also, many .22 LR semi-autos and revolvers can hold more than six rounds—but you will need every one of those rounds.

    Unless you hit your opponent with a headshot or possibly a heart shot, he is not going down right away. 

    With the .22 LR, penetration is not guaranteed.

    If the guy turns and the round hits at an angle, the energy of the .22 LR may dissipate before doing any real damage. 

    The same applies to shooting through bulky clothing and winter coats. The one nice thing about the .22 LR is that you can carry a lifetime ammo supply on your person. 

    So, if you are planning on bugging out, 500 rounds of .22 LR can be stashed in your bug-out bag without destroying your back. 500 rounds of any other ammo will make your bug-out bag too heavy to carry. 

    On the other hand, if you are in a gunfight with a guy with anything larger, that lifetime will be over in minutes – in which case the other thousand rounds in your bug out bag really didn’t help, now did they? 

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    9mm pistol bullets on old wooden table.

    The 9mm Semi-Auto 

    How About A 9mm Semi-Automatic? Now we’re talking. 

    The Luger is not the last word in stopping power, but it’s still a lethal round.

    There is a reason military forces worldwide have employed this round for almost a century. 

    The beauty of the 9 mm is two-fold.

    Many makes of semi-automatic pistols offer double-stacked magazines holding up to 17 rounds. More is always better. 

    Plus, next to the .22LR, the 9mm Luger is the most common pistol cartridge in the world. 

    In a post-apocalyptic world, hopefully far into the future, I can imagine that the last round fired from any weapon anywhere may very well be a 9 mm Luger (Parabellum). 

    The .44 Magnum 

    The .44 Magnum is no doubt a lethal round.

    If it can take down a grizzly, it can destroy a man.

    Let’s face it – if it can blow holes in engine blocks, it can blow bigger, messier holes in human beings. 

    No doubt about it. 

    Most firearms that employ these rounds are revolvers – carrying at most six shots.

    Revolvers are inherently more accurate than semi-auto pistols, but the recoil of this round is monstrous. 

    This round will do the job in a pinch against a single assailant, maybe even a pair of bad guys.

    However, in a more crowded gunfight, you will want more capacity. And since you are carrying one in the case of a grizzly encounter, you’d be advised to carry a few speed-loaders and become proficient in their use. 

    The .45 ACP 

    That leaves the somewhat mythic .45 ACP. The catchphrase associated with this round is, 

    “.45 ACP. Because it’s just silly to shoot twice.” 

    Against a human being, the .45 ACP is damned deadly. 

    This round blows big holes in people and is generally delivered from firearms with at least eight-round magazines.

    Since this round is fired from a semi-automatic pistol, most of the recoil is absorbed in working the action. 

    These guns shoot smoothly with little recoil for such a large a bullet, typically 230 grain. 

    The only advantage the 9mm has over the .45 ACP is capacity—which usually starts the whole argument of stopping power versus capacity—although at least one manufacturer offers a 13-round capacity for .45 ACP. 

    handgun and ammunition

    Final Thoughts: Ten Best Survival Guns (pistols) 

    These firearms are not listed in any particular order, and the order doesn’t indicate relative value or quality. 

    1. Glock 17 – 9mm (17 rds)
    2. Glock 41 – .45 ACP (13 rds)
    3. Springfield Armory XD9 – 9mm (16 rds) 
    4. Springfield Armory XD-M – .45 ACP (13 rds) 
    5. Beretta Model 92FS – 9mm (15rds) 
    6. Sig Sauer P320 – .45 ACP (10 rds)
    7. Sig Sauer P226 – 9mm (15 rds)
    8. Smith and Wesson Model 629 – .44 Magnum (6 rds) 
    9. Ruger Single Ten – .22LR (10 rds) 
    10. Ruger Super Blackhawk – .44 Magnum (6rds)

    That’s ten.

    And here’s a runner-up: 

    11. Smith and Wesson Model 686 –
    .357 Magnum (6 rds) – (if you absolutely must have to have a .357 Magnum) 

    One caveat I do want to stress as you read this:

    I made this list practical for the average survivalist – which means there are no custom $3500 Les Baer 1911s on my list. 

    There are some great 1911s out there, like Colt, Kimber, Rock Island Armory, and Ruger, to name a few.

    However, I wanted a list of weapons most people can afford while having the same utility as the more expensive alternatives. 

    Although the 1911s are a tried-and-true design with excellent ergonomics, reliability, recoil management, precision sights, and accuracy, they are also typically restricted to ten or fewer round magazines. 

    They also tend to be made of old-school, heavy metal—pretty beefy to carry around in a survival situation when there are quality-made, lightweight, composite-rich alternatives. 

    So, to wrap this up: 

    The real choice in the best survival gun is not which one but which two. 

    Carrying one survival gun for capacity and one for sheer power makes for a winning combination. 

    Go here if you want to find the best ammo deals online!

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    Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

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