Fall And Winter Checklist

In the late fall nobody wants to be doing chores around the house. It's time to snuggle in by the fire and stay out of the cold. But...there are a few items that should really be taken care of before the weather gets too cold and brutal. This may only be a partial list for some people due to your location. I consider this to be a list for average climates. I recommend you print this list for use around the house and add the unlisted items that you should do for your climate or area.

Indoors:
Change furnace filters and if needed replace thermometer battery
Check smoke detector battery
Check fire extinguisher
Clean and turn on humidifier
Wash windows
Have chimney and flue cleaned
Have furnace professionally checked, cleaned, and tested
Turn off and drain garden hose spigots and cover if needed
Check weather stripping around doors and windows (replace as needed)
Have furniture and carpets cleaned to help cut down indoor pollution

Outdoors:
Put away patio furniture
Drain and store garden hoses
Check around doors and windows for gaps, caulk as needed
Wash windows
Put up storm windows
Put away or cover grill (make sure gas is turned off)
Clean gutters and downspouts (important to keep ice build-ups minimal)
Check your roof for any problems and sweep or use a leaf-blower to clean off you roof.
Put up Holiday lights and decorations (the holidays will be here before you know it)
Trim trees and shrubs away from house
Chop and stack firewood closer to the house, cover if needed (order firewood if you've been lazy)

Garage:
Winterize lawn equipment
Seal concrete floor to keep salt damage minimal
Set rodent traps if you have an attached garage
Get snow blower running and ready
Find snow shovel
Clean and oil all tools that need it

Yard:
Apply winter fertilizer to lawn
Mow lawn for last time to keep matting of grass to a minimum
Rake leaves
Stake driveway sides to mark for plow if needed
Check yard for any needed repairs (walk and look at everything)

Garden:
Remove dead plants
Cover perennial plants with a thick layer of mulch
Wrap or protect shrubs from winter winds
Turn soil for next year
Harvest late crops before first heavy freeze

Looters And Your Bug Out Location

This is a good read I found it at http://www.xcolony.com/

by Jeff T.

I am the leader of a band of 8-to-12 looters. I have some basic military training. We move from place to place like locusts devouring everything in our path. My group is armed with light weapons and can develop and follow simple plans of attack. We take what we want by force of arms. We prefer none of our victims survive because that could cause problems for us in the future.

It has been six months since the grid went down. You and the other five members of your party have settled into what may be a long grinding existence. The every day tasks of growing and gathering have now become routine. The news from the outside is extremely limited but you don’t really miss it much. Life is simple but physically demanding.

Although things may seem stable you will need to keep your team focused and alert. This is your first and most important layer of defense. You should hold an immediate reaction drill once per week. Keep things simple. Practice a specific response to such threats as injury, fire, attack and evacuation. Despite the challenges you must maintain contact with those around you such as neighbors for vital clues that trouble is brewing. Regular monitoring the radio will be critical in providing an early warning of trouble. You may be able to safely interview refugees with risking your party. Keep in mind the information you get from them may not always be reliable.

While you have been farming I have been learning the best tactics to employ to seize your property and your goods. I have been refining them since we hit the road right after the lights went out. I have conducted eight “hits” so far and have been successful seven times. Here are some of my “lessons learned”.

Intelligence gathering and target selection is critical to my success. Targets include those who have large quantities of fuel, food and other valuable supplies. My posse is constantly questioning anyone and everyone we contact searching for this our next victim. Anyone who has ever had knowledge, even second hand, of your preparations is someone of interest to me. I may approach them directly or indirectly. If anyone knows something I will find out about it. Who seems well-fed? Who still has transportation? Who has lights? Who was prepared? Where are they exactly? Somebody talks, either in person or on the radio. They always do.

We search for victims night and day. During the day we are listening for the sounds of machinery, cars, tractors, gunfire or generators. Day or night without a lot of wind those sounds can carry for miles. At night I look for any sort of light. Even a small flash indicates somebody with electricity and that means a rich target. I always have somebody listing to the scanner for any news, leads or insecure chatter.

Operational Security is an important concept for your entire group to understand and maintain. If somebody outside your circle doesn’t have a real need to know about your plans, preparations or procedures then they shouldn’t know period. Develop a cover story and live it like was a bulletproof vest. It is no less important to your protection and survival. During an event you need to blend in with the surrounding environment. Carefully observe noise (such as generators and other engines) and light discipline especially at night. If you need to test fire weapons do it in one sequence to avoid a prolonged noise signature.

Once I find and target you reconnaissance of your retreat is my next step. Only a fool would try to rush in and try to overwhelm a group of “survivalists”. We had a bad experience with that during our second hit. Now we spend at least a day or two trying to size up a large opportunity and the best way to take it down. I will observe retreat activity from a nearby-concealed position. I will get an idea of your numbers, weapons, routines and so much more by careful surreptitious observation. If your group seems alert, I will try and trigger a false alarm with a dog or child to watch your reaction to a threat. That helps me know how you respond, where you are strong and how to attack. I may also obtain a topographical map of the area to identify likely avenues of approach and potential escapes routes you will try to use. I may coerce your neighbors into uncovering a weak spot or access point or other important intelligence. I also have a Bearcat handheld scanner. I will be listening for any insecure chatter from your radios.

Regular patrols at irregular intervals focused on likely observation points and avenues of approach could keep me at bay. You could put down sand or other soft soil in key choke points as a way of “recording” if anyone has recently traveled through the land. Dogs, with their advanced sense of hearing and smell are able to detect and alert you to intruders well in advance of any human. Motion sensing IR video cameras as a part of a security plan could play a part in your layered defense as long as you have power. A 24 hour manned observation point equipped with high quality optical tools is a must. It should be fortified and if possible concealed. It should have a weapon capable of reaching to the edges of your vision. Seismic intrusion devices, night vision and thermal imaging are phenomenal force multiplying tools. They can give you critical intelligence and warning. You should use them if you have them. Understand they are not fool proof and I can often neutralize them if I know you have them.

These tools and techniques provide you reaction time. Time to plan your response and time to execute that plan. Recognize that a “defender” is always at a disadvantage. By definition a defender will be reacting to my attack. Modern warfare has emphasized the ability of the attacker to operate faster than opponents can react. This can be explained by the OODA loop. Below are the four steps of the classic OODA loop. These are the steps a defender goes through when under attack.

1. Observing or noticing the attack.
2. Orient to the direction, method and type of attack.
3. Deciding what the appropriate response will be.
4. Acting on that decision.

As an attacker I will try and operate at a pace faster than you as a defender can adjust to. I will change my direction, pace, timing and method to force you to continue to process through the OODA loop. This creates confusion and wastes your precious reaction time. As a defender you will need to disrupt or reset your attackers timing with a counter-attack. When you are successful you become the attacker. Your defensive plans should utilize and exploit this concept. Here are a few scenarios:

1. Snipe & Siege

I will begin the attack when I can engage at least half of your party’s military age personnel in one coordinated effort. I will infiltrate my team into concealed positions around your retreat within 50 to 75 yards. I will target any identified leadership with the first volley. Two thirds of my people will be engaging personnel. The other group will target communications antennas, surveillance cameras and any visible lighting assets. I want your group unable to see, communicate or call for help. The members of my band will each fire two magazines in the initial exchange. Two thirds of my group will change to new concealed positions and wait. One third will fall back into an ambush of the most likely avenue of escape. We will stay concealed and wait until you come out to attend to your wounded and dead. We repeat the attack as necessary until any resistance is crushed.

Ensure you adjust the landscape around your retreat so that I don’t have anyplace offering cover or concealment within 100 yards of your residence. You can create decorative masonry walls that can be used to offer cover for personnel close to your residence. Fighting positions can be built now and used as raised planting beds and then excavated for use in the future. These can be extended or reinforced after any significant event. These structures or other measures such as trenching must be sited carefully to avoid allowing them to be used effectively by an attacker if they are overrun.

2. Trojan Horse

For one hit we used an old UPS truck. We forced a refugee to drive it to the retreat gate. We concealed half our group inside the truck. The truck was hardened on the inside with some sandbags around the edges. The other half of our group formed an ambush concealed inside the tree line along the driveway. We killed the driver to make it look good and had one person run away. Those preppers almost waited us out. After nearly three hours they all walked slowly down the driveway. They were bunched up in a group intent on checking out the truck and driver. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

They could have worked together as group to sweep the area 360 degrees around the truck and they would have surely found us. A dog would have also alerted the residents to our presence. They could have taken measures to eliminate the vegetation offering us concealment on the road near the gate. They could have used CS gas or something similar to “deny” any suspicious areas. Lastly they could have done a “reconnaissance by fire”. Shooting into likely hiding spots, including the truck, trying to evoke a response. They should have established an over watch position with the majority of their group. This over watch group would have provided visual security and an immediate response if there were an attack. They were not expecting any additional threats. They didn’t consider that there might be additional danger lurking nearby aside from the truck and they died.

3. Kidnap & Surrender

A few weeks ago we surprised and captured a couple of women out tending a garden. It was totally by chance. We were traveling through a very rural area on our way to another town when somebody heard a tractor backfire. We immediately stopped and I sent a small team to recon the noise. They bumped into a small party tending a field at the edge of their retreat. They seized two women and immediately dragged them back to our vehicles. We began negotiations by sending a finger from each one back to the retreat under a white flag. The rest was easy.

This didn’t need to happen. Better noise discipline would have kept us from discovering their retreat. Some simple boundary fencing or tangle foot could have delayed us. The women should have been armed and aware of such a threat. If they has established an over watch for the garden they could have engaged us before we took our hostages or at least alerted the others that there was a problem. They also could have had a quick reaction SOP developed prior to this incident. That Quick Reaction (QR) force could have followed the kidnappers back to our vehicles and set up an ambush of their own. Rural retreat security is a full time job. If you snooze you may lose everything.

4. Fire and Maneuver

I don’t like this option but sometimes the prize is just too tempting. We typically infiltrate quietly at night to prearranged start points. We begin our attack just before dawn when your senses are dulled by a long night watch or from sleep. Based on our reconnaissance we divided your retreat into positions or zones that need specific attention. We prepare for battle by using an air rifle to target any lights or cameras. Our first priority is to engage any LP/OP site and destroy or degrade them as much as possible. I split my forces into two supporting groups. One group keeps the target position under constant fire. The other group also fires and maneuvers, closing on the target and destroying it with gunfire or improvised weapons. Many times these positions only have one occupant and the task is relatively easy. Often these positions are easy to spot and are too far from each other to provide any effective mutual support. We will work from one position to the next. In the darkness and confusion most of the defenders are disoriented and ineffective. They fall like dominos. We have also used motorcycles to negotiate obstacles and speed through cuts in the perimeter fence. Then throw Molotov Cocktails into any defensive position as they roar past. If you fall back into your residence we will set up a siege. If we can maneuver close enough, perhaps by using a distraction, we will pump concentrated insecticide into your building or we may introduce LP gas from a portable tank into the house and ignite it with tracer fire.

If there was enough warning time from your OP you could execute a pre-planned response. Your planned response should be simple, easy to understand and execute. Half your group occupies your fighting positions, two to a position. The rest of your party establishes an over watch and concentrate its fire at the enemies trying to fix your positions. If you had more than enough prepared positions the enemy might not know where to attack. It would also provide more flexibility in your defense based on the direction of attack. I would use Night Vision if available or illumination from flares or lights as a last resort. Rats hate light.

Usually people keep main access points blocked from high-speed approach. Likely avenues of approach should also be blocked or choked and kept under observation. Remember though what keeps me out keeps you in. Typically the common techniques of parking vehicles in roadways will only delay my approach not stop it altogether. An ordinary 12-gauge shotgun, shooting slugs, can stop most types of non-military vehicles at close range.

Don’t forget the threat of fire or other non-traditional weapons in your defensive plans.

You could create the illusion of a “dead end” for your main access road by positioning a burned out trailer home or a couple of burned out cars at the false “end” of the road. Concealing the fact that the road actually continues to your residence.

Lastly, develop a plan to evacuate and evade capture. When faced with a significantly superior force it may be the only viable option. This should include simple, reliable communications or signals such as three blasts on a dog whistle. Your fighting positions and barriers need to be constructed to allow coordinated withdrawal in an emergency. You should establish a rally point and time limit to assemble. I believe this should be a priority in your practice drills. During a real emergency you may be able to rally, rearm and plan your own version of the “snipe and siege” to retake your retreat.

Key messages:
Your rural retreat defense can be visualized as a set of concentric rings:

Location – Location – Location: High and remote are best
OPSEC – Think of it as a form of armor or shield: Practice it and protect it.
Observation Post / Listening Post: Your first best chance to counter attack
Gates / Fences / other barriers: May slow me down. Might keep you in.
Fighting positions: Must provide mutual support and allow for evacuation.
Residence: Last line. Don’t become trapped
People, Planning and Practice

Remember:

An aggressive and unexpected counter strike can win the battle.
Stay alert for multiple threats or diversionary tactics.
Criminals excel at feigning weakness to lower your guard.

Don’t underestimate me.

More On Bug Our Location

I have got a few e-mails and think I need to clear up a few things. In my last post I give some info on bugging out to government lands. That was not the full topic of the post. In the post I said to find a good BOL and for the people who can't afford a retreat on there on, they should look for a good bug out area to retreat to in a SHTF event. In my thinking if you have no BOL and you live in a city or town with a lot of people you need to look for and set up a retreat. You will need to scout out an area and cache items you will need. And as one of my e-mailers said people that are not use to living out side would die in the cold of winter or die in the full heat of the summer. I would say yes to that, if you have never spent any time in the woods with camping or you are not an outdoors person you would need to rethink the bug out plan and make one that fits your lifestyle. Maybe a small RV or Tent Trailer both will help you with a more home like set up, but it will be hard to get them to the BOL and once there they will be a little harder to hide or conceal. I had a friend back home in North Carolina the had a Bug Out Trailer, as I do now. In this trailer he had fuel, food, water, tools and other supplies but he also had a shelter made from 4' X 8' plywood and on the inside he had the 4' X 8' styrofoam insulation. The walls hooked together with a metal plate and it had 2"X3" supports and a roof with a small pitch to let rain run off. After a few years he added a small set up to catch rain water and a floor system. The whole thing would take him less that 2 hours to set up alone and would fold and break down and fit in his bug out trailer. It was a great set up and if I can I will get him to sent me some photos so I can post them. My point is you can bug out to government land with a plan and the right supplies. Will you or could you have problems, Yes!! But if your home is over run with gangs or hoards of the walking dead then your best bet may be your BOL. With planning you can do this and survive. Your best bet is to get your own land off the main roads and if you can't do this alone, (which is not a good idea because a small group is much better) then get with a small group of people who think as you do with the same plan to survive. Just think if you can get 5 people or families and then find a fair lot of land like 10-15 acres. Lets say it cost $12000.00 with 5 people or families you each would pay a little over $2400.00 and with taxes and other fees you would each pay less than $25-$50 a month. This is a hard thing to do because people are funny and 1 out of 3 people are a little crazy or is just a fool and you can't tell up front you only find out later like when TSHTF and now you live with the towns fool, so be very careful with who you try this with your best best is to find two or three families or small groups and get together and work as a survivalist group for a period of time to get to know each other and at the same time save money for your land buy, plus you can use this time to look for the perfect lot. Survival in a group is great and a pain in the ass at the same time. Find that group of people you work well with because if you go this route you and your families life will depend on it.

Life goes on.........will you?

Bug Out Location

A "bug-out location" (BOL) can be anything from a carefully-prepared private retreat on land that you own to uninhabited wilderness land owned by the state or federal government. For most urban and suburban people who do not own such property in the country, public lands or remote private lands with absentee owners are the only option. This is not the dismal situation that it seems. The United States is blessed with public lands, with a whopping 30 percent of the entire nation's land area, or nearly 650 million acres, owned by the federal government. Finding a good bug-out location is a matter of exploring potential areas near your current location, beginning with tools such as maps and Google Earth and then on the ground by actually getting out there and pounding the ground a little bit.
You need to find a BOL that will sustain life with water, food and good soil to grow a garden. Some of the best BOL can be in very hard to reach locations and others can be in wide open areas, but you will need a BOL that will be safe and not so hard to defend. If you set up on a great site and have food, water and a nice garden if you are not in a safe place or you can't defend your area the first set of bad guys that come by will take everything you have worked for and in a collapse event I'm sure they will not just let you go on about your way with a few lumps and a unhappy feeling. Life in a post collapse world will be dog eat dog and every day will be a fight for life. So when you pick a BOL make sure you cover the true points of a survival retreat:
#1 To provide safety and security
#2 Must have a source of water (well, river, lake, pond or stream)
#3 Must have a source of food (hunting, fishing or farm with livestock)
#4 Must have good soil to grow food
#5 Fruit trees or nut trees would be nice
#6 Shelter in place or easy to build (cabin, Small house, Barn or other shelter)
#7 Trees for fire wood and it would be nice to have a cord or two cut and ready to go
#8 BOL or retreat should be in a remote area and a little hard to get to, this will cut down on the walking dead who just wander by. After the collapse the walking dead will use up all the supplies in town and move out to the country so you will want to be off the main road and off any side roads. The harder it is to get to you the safer you will be.
#9 Area should have a high point where you can post a look out (Tower, hill, big tree or something you can go up on and check out the area around you.
#10 Survival Cache Containers, you must have supplies cached at you BOL or retreat.

This is just my two cents on a bug out location. Time is short and the collapse in near.

Life goes on.........will you?

It Is Official: The US Is a Police State(Infowars.com)

Paul Craig Roberts
Infowars.com
September 25, 2010

On September 24, Jason Ditz reported on Antiwar.com that “the FBI is confirming that this morning they began a number of raids against the homes of antiwar activists in Illinois, Minneapolis, Michigan, and North Carolina, claiming that they are ‘seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.’”


FBI and ATF agents raid the home of Minneapolis activist Mick Kelly on Friday, September 24, 2010.


Now we know what Homeland Security (sic) secretary Janet Napolitano meant when she said on September 10: “The old view that ‘if we fight the terrorists abroad, we won’t have to fight them here’ is just that – the old view.” The new view, Napolitano said, is “to counter violent extremism right here at home.”

“Violent extremism” is one of those undefined police state terms that will mean whatever the government wants it to mean. In this morning’s FBI’s foray into the homes of American citizens of conscience, it means antiwar activists, whose activities are equated with “the material support of terrorism,” just as conservatives equated Vietnam era anti-war protesters with giving material support to communism.

Anti-war activist Mick Kelly whose home was raided, sees the FBI raids as harassment to intimidate those who organize war protests. I wonder if Kelly is underestimating the threat. The FBI’s own words clearly indicate that the federal police agency and the judges who signed the warrants do not regard antiwar protesters as Americans exercising their Constitutional rights, but as unpatriotic elements offering material support to terrorism.

“Material support” is another of those undefined police state terms. In this context the term means that Americans who fail to believe their government’s lies and instead protest its policies, are supporting their government’s declared enemies and, thus, are not exercising their civil liberties but committing treason.

As this initial FBI foray is a softening up move to get the public accustomed to the idea that the real terrorists are their fellow citizens here at home, Kelly will get off this time. But next time the FBI will find emails on his computer from a “terrorist group” set up by the CIA that will incriminate him. Under the practices put in place by the Bush and Obama regimes, and approved by corrupt federal judges, protesters who have been compromised by fake terrorist groups can be declared “enemy combatants” and sent off to Egypt, Poland, or some other corrupt American puppet state – Canada perhaps – to be tortured until confession is forthcoming that antiwar protesters and, indeed, every critic of the US government, are on Osama bin Laden’s payroll.

Almost every Republican and conservative and, indeed, the majority of Americans will fall for this, only to find, later, that it is subversive to complain that their Social Security was cut in the interest of the war against Iran or some other demonized entity, or that they couldn’t have a Medicare operation because the wars in Central Asia and South America required the money.

Americans are the most gullible people who ever existed. They tend to support the government instead of the Constitution, and almost every Republican and conservative regards civil liberty as a coddling device that encourages criminals and terrorists.

The US media, highly concentrated in violation of the American principle of a diverse and independent media, will lend its support to the witch hunts that will close down all protests and independent thought in the US over the next few years. As the Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels said, “think of the press as a great keyboard on which the Government can play.”

An American Police State was inevitable once Americans let “their” government get away with 9/11. Americans are too gullible, too uneducated, and too jingoistic to remain a free people. As another Nazi leader Herman Goering said, “ The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peace-makers for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger.”

This is precisely what the Bush and Obama regimes have done. America, as people of my generation knew it, no longer exists.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts is the father of Reaganomics and the former head of policy at the Department of Treasury. He is a columnist and was previously an editor for the Wall Street Journal. His latest book, “How the Economy Was Lost: The War of the Worlds,” details why America is disintegrating.

We Are In Big Trouble!!!!

The dollar is going down the drain. I think that our time is running out and the collapse is coming even faster than I first thought. If you look at the commodities market over the last 3, 6, 12 months you can see a pattern that is scary. Across the board you can see that most every item is going up and some of the items are going up at a crazy rate. What is different now than 3, 6, or 12 months ago? A troy oz of gold is still the same and a barrel of oil is still a barrel of oil, so what is different? I will tell you what is different the dollar is worth less today than months ago. Every few months the dollar is slipping down and as it slips the price of the commodities go up. Here is last weeks commodities list and the gains:

Commodities
 Energy:
Oil                     + 1.70         Barrel
Heating Oil        + 0.0161     Gallon
Natural Gas       - 0.138        BTU's
Unleaded Gas   + 0.0297      Gallon

Metals:
Gold                  +1.70          Oz
Silver                 + 0.189       Oz
Copper              + 0.285       Pound

Agriculture:
Corn                  +22.50         Bushel
Soybeans           +32.50         Bushel
Wheat                +22.75         Bushel

Livestock:
Lean Hogs           +0.60
Pork Bellies            0.00
Cattle                    -0.01

Consumer:
Cocoa                    +14.00
Coffee                     -1.05
Cotton                    +2.16
Sugar                      +0.74

The good news is the if you like coffee it went down but I'm sure you will not see it it the store, because the Oil and Gas to get the coffee to this country and to the store has gone up. We are in a big bubble that is about to pop and when it pops all hell is going to break lose. The walking dead will run for the stores and buy everything that's not nailed down. Be smart and stock up on food now, don't wait till it's to late. You don't have to go out a buy a full year to start with, just start with a week or two and add to it but start now because time is very short. Prep like your life depends on it, because it will!
Life goes on.........will you? 

We Are In A Police State

This country is in an almost lock down mode. Every where you look you see the great leaders of this country tell some group in this country that what they are doing or selling in a big no, no!!!! Look at some of the BS that is going on:

Officials in Boston, Mass., are contemplating a ban on “sugary” beverages from the vending machines of all city municipal buildings in an attempt to whittle down public employees’ waistlines.

Likewise, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom used his executive order power to ban sodas and other sugary beverages from public building vending machines, replacing them with diet drinks and soy milk products.

In a separate executive order, the San Francisco Mayor also single-handily banned the use of city funds to purchase bottled water. “[Bottled water manufacturers] are making huge amounts of money selling God’s natural resources. Sorry, we’re not going to be part of it,” he said.

In New York, a Brooklyn Democrat introduced a bill in the state legislature earlier this year to ban the use of salt in restaurant cooking.

The New York Times dubbed the state of California a “national trendsetter in all matters edible” when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill in July to ban trans fats from the state’s 88,000 restaurants. “Under the new law, trans fats, long linked to health problems, must be excised from restaurant products beginning in 2010, and from all retail baked goods by 2011.” Other places that have banned trans fats include New York City, Philadelphia, Stamford, Conn., and Montgomery County, Md. — a suburb of Washington, D.C.

In perhaps one of the most outrageous cases of regulations restricting small business, health officials in Oregon shut down 7-year-old Julie Murphy’s roadside lemonade stand in August for failing to secure a $120 “temporary restaurant” license.

Kids may also be getting the shaft in San Francisco where officials are launching a campaign to ban “Happy Meals” or any other meals that come with a toy. The so-called “Healthy Meals Incentive” would ban toys if the food contains too much fat, sugar or salt. It wouldn’t be the first time meal-time toys would be nixed in California; earlier this year, Santa Clara County approved an ordinance “to break the link between unhealthy food and prizes.”

New York City has banned school bake sale as part of a new wellness policy that also limits options in vending machines and student-run stores. Proceeds from the ventures generally used to help help finance school-related activities like pep rallies and proms.

Under state laws in Texas, a single piece of candy landed a 10-year-old Brazos Elementary School student in detention for a week in May.

And in the news today, the state of Florida may become the first in the country to ban chocolate milk from public school cafeterias. The Florida Board of Education voted Tuesday to remove all sugary drinks in schools, including soda and flavored milk. The board is considering allowing only three types of drinks for younger children—water, unsweetened juice and plain, low-fat milk. High school students would be allowed diet sodas and other low-calorie drinks.

Just look at The Airport Body Scanner Project and everything about the TSA. Every time I fly I get messed with, the last time was on a flight to Denver for my kids wedding and I just made the plane. I was the last person to board and they were about to close the door till the lady at the ramp called so I could still get aboard. As I walked on the plane the flight attendant said, "you should get to the airport sooner" and my response was, "I got her on time and was held up by the TSA thugs"! I only fly when I have to I would drive a 12 hour day before I fly a 2 hour flight.

Everything we do and say is under fire, the Bill of Rights and The Constitution are underfire as well. We need to stand up and raise hell when pushed in to a corner. I'm sick of this BS and the leaders of this country that think they know whats best for me, TO HELL WILL YOU ALL!!!!!!! I know whats best for me and I will do whats best for me and stay the hell out of my way.

Make a stand for freedom and lets vote out the shitheads and try to find a few that will do better. Hell I have no idea who would be better if any, but we have to get the fools out that are there now.

Pray for this country, because I fear we have lost it forever.

Working On The Preps Today

Did a little work on the preps today. First I made a trip to the Great Wall of China(Wal-Mart) got a good bit of stuff. They even had some ammo and I had to get some, got some 22LR and some 9mm. It's been a long time sense I was able to buy both at the same time, maybe I'm wrong and the great Obama is right everything is going to be fine. I don't think so, I just walked into Wal-Mart at the right time and got lucky. So I got some more rice, beans, oats, brown sugar and grits and some more food saver bags. Got home unloaded everything and started to work and now I'm done. After everything was done I now have four more 5 gallon buckets of survival food and a little more ammo. We all just have to keep at it and do as much as we can each and every week. And with the help of the Good Lord and if the creek don't rise we will get it done. I feel like I have a ton of things I need to do right now and I know if I don't just start on one or two at a time I will never get any of it done. Our time is running out and the collapse is near, but I need to keep to my plan and stand ready. I know I more ready than 98% of this country and have food, water and gear to survive for many days, but I just know there is so much more I need to do and get ready. To all my friends is the blog world I would say to keep up with all your hard work and add to your preps as time and money allows. I look at the news and see all the people that are just rolling down the road of life and know that the time is almost upon us when this country will change forever. The collapse will hit and most of the walking dead will die off or be killed within weeks of the collapse and even more in the weeks and months to follow. Very hard times are coming and most are not ready.

Keep up your preps and stock up on ammo. Our time is very short.

?????????

What the hell is wrong with this country? What is going on with the people of this country? I am sick of all the bull crap the people of this country put up with. Why do the walking dead just eat up the crap that the news feeds them and why are the people not in the streets ready to fight to get this country back from the evil empire that is in a place of leadership for this country. We are going down a road of doom and I think we have crossed the point of no return. The dollar is just about dead and the collapse is just around the bend of life. So what do the walking dead think of the country and the coming doom. If asked most will tell you things are getting better or we are on the right track to a rebound! Bull crap, the country is going down and not a damn thing you or I do about it will stop it from the big crash. Our country that most of us love will be gone soon and we will never get it back. But if you ask some of the walking dead what they are doing to get ready, most will ask ready for what? It kills me to know I walk amongst so many fools. And if and when I talk to them about preps or survival I get the deer in the headlights look and the, are you crazy looks. I am now at the point to where I say to hell with them all. I have talked till I'm blue in the face and gone over and over with so many and I still get the same look from 99% of them and the 1% who may ask a few questions will still never start to prep. I have to say I think I'm batting at about .0001% and have the worst rate of talking people in to survival or preps. So I think now is the time for me to shut up and not speak one more word to the fools around me of survival or preps. From this day on I will keep to my prepping and blogging but in the real time world of life I will no longer talk of the coming collapse or of the need for food or water. And to tell you the truth I don't give a shit anymore about them, because over all the years and all the little laughs and the BS stories I hear about how people think I'm crazy, I say to hell with them all. When the collapse hits and all hell breaks loose I will retreat to my BOL with my food, ammo, guns and hope of life and I will have the last laugh.

Life goes on........will you? I plan to live a long life before and after the collapse!!!

I Feel Much Better...........

Now that the recession is over and the great Obama has said that everything is going in the right direction, I feel so much better. Even as the unemployment is going up, the price of food, gas, heating oil, and just about everything you can buy is going up. As Obama said, "we are moving it the right direction", I don't get this statement because we are headed in a downward direction. And this country is going down the drain and it looks like the rest of the world is going with us at the same time. The dollar is just about dead and with the death of the dollar we will have the death of this country. We have been in the grip of death for many years but just over the last few years has death gotten his hands around our throat and is moving in for the kill. The collapse is very near and our time is short, so now is the time to make your stand. Now is the time to buckle down and stock of on supplies like food, water, medical supplies and other needed items. Just remember that every item you put away today will give you more time after the collapse and after the collapse the only items you may have to survive will be the items you have stocked up on. When the collapse hits the walking dead that can't or will not accept the truth of the coming collapse will run crazy and grab everything not bolted down. The tools you have with you may be the only means you have to survive, and tools can be the hardware tools you have or the skills you have developed over the years. Your skills and supplies will be a base for you to make a new life after the collapse and the more you know and the more you store gives you more of a chance to survive. Know one can secure a 100% chance of survival but the more skills you have and the more tools you have to use will sure help you with your fight to survive. Life after the collapse will be a fight to survive every day and the more help you have to aid you the better chance you have to live. Keep up your prepping and stay ready to fight for your life!!!! Life goes on.......will you?

The Recession Is Over!!!!!!!

This is the biggest load of Bullcrap I have ever seen. Read at your own risk........

WASHINGTON (AP) - The longest recession the country has endured since the end of WWII ended in June 2009, according to a group that dates the beginning and end of recessions.The National Bureau of Economic Research, a panel of academic economists based in Cambridge, Mass., says the recession lasted 18months. It started in December 2007 and ended in June 2009.Previously the longest postwar downturns were those in 1973-1975and in 1981-1982. Both of those lasted 16 months.The decision makes official what many economists have believed for some time, that the recession ended in the summer of 2009. The economy started growing again in the July-to-September quarter of2009, after a record four straight quarters of declines. Thus, the April-to-June quarter of 2009, marked the last quarter when the economy was shrinking. At that time, it contracted just 0.7 percent, after suffering through much deeper declines. That factored into the NBER's decision to pinpoint the end of the recession in June.Any future downturn in the economy would now mark the start of anew recession, not the continuation of the December 2007 recession,NBER said. That's important because if the economy starts shrinking again, it could mark the onset of a "double-dip" recession. For many economists, the last time that happened was in 1981-82.The NBER normally takes its time in declaring a recession started one year earlier, in December 2007.Similarly, it declared in July 2003 that the 2001 recession was over. It actually ended 20 months earlier, in November 2001.Its determination is of interest to economic historians - and political leaders. Recessions that occur on their watch pose political risks.In President George W. Bush's eight years in office, the United States fell into two recessions. The first started in March 2001and ended that November. The second one started in December 2007.NBER's decision means little to ordinary Americans now muddling through a sluggish economic recovery and a weak jobs market.Unemployment is 9.6 percent and has been stuck at high levels since the recession ended.

Kerosene Lamps

Use #2, water-clear kerosene; tinted/scented lamp oil gives less light, can gum up the wick or smoke up the chimney excessively. Lower grades kerosene with higher number will work but may cause similar problems with wicks and the chimneys will be dirty sooner.

Cost of Fuel:

May cost as much as $3.00 +/- a gal. Using 5 traditional lamps and a lantern 5 hours /night in the winter will use about 1 gallon/month.

Transferring the fuel:

Use a cheap bulb siphon and ONLY use it for kerosene (gasoline residues in a kerosene lamp is extremely dangerous). Try not to siphon any of the sludge and throw away the last 1/2 cup in the can. Siphon outdoors to minimize problem spills. If you spill over several thickness' of newspaper, do not burn in wood burning stove (chimney fire).

Lamp:

Do not overfill kerosene reservoir. You need air space between the bottom of wick holder and top of the kerosene for good wicking. When installing a new wick, soak it in kerosene first. You will then burn the kerosene and not the wick. If the top of the wick is dry only ht wick will burn. Trim the wick occasionally while using it and the first time you use it. A wick trimmed straight across will give a wide, flat-topped flame and will smoke excessively; too pointy of a wick produces a thin flame and little light. You should cut off the corners, and round the top of the wick a bit. After many hours of burning, the top of the wick will get ragged and charred. The flame may even have two lobes. Trim the char off into the shaped that works best for your lamp. There are two kinds of lamp owners: those who've burned themselves and those who will. Always check before touching the chimney. You cannot see heat.

To light a kerosene lamp, remove the chimney, turn the wick up a bit, and light and replace the chimney. As the wick begins to smoke, turn it down, just enough to keep from smoking. Adjust the wick for max light without smoking.

Extinguish a kerosene lamp by holding your hand just behind and above the chimney top. Adjust the angle of your palm to direct your breath straight down the chimney. Blow against your palm and a quick puff will blow it out.

Maintenance:

Cleaning the chimney. Remove soot with a facial tissue and wash in hot, soapy water(Dawn?). Rinse in very hot water, to which baking soda has been added to eliminate spotting and then air dry. Wicks: Take stub of wick with you when buying a new one. There are circular wicks, and flat wicks, which come in different widths and thickness'. One that is too thick or thin will not feed through the wick adjuster and may even damage it. It is better to use one that is too narrow than one that is the wrong thickness or width. A narrow wick will not produce as much light, obviously.

Chimneys:

Keep spares on hand. A lamp without a chimney is worthless. Thin glass cost less but break easier; frosted diffuse the light but are less bright. Tall, thin straight chimneys produce a thin, very bright flame, while bulbous chimneys produce wider flame and maybe more total light. Different chimney styles means adjusting to trimming the wick differently. You may eventually have to put on a new wick adjuster through normal usage or by damage by improper wick. You will have to replace the whole burner. Keep an extra one or two on hand. The best lamp has a heavy glass base which allows you to see how much kerosene is left. The weight of the base gives stability.

Aladdin Lamps:

They are more expensive than traditional lamps. They use pressure to volatilize the kerosene and a mantle to distribute and intensify the flame. They use twice as much kerosene as a traditional lamp and the mantles have to be replaced frequently. The parts of one model of Aladdin lamp may not be interchangeable.

Running All Day Today

I will post something real later, Have a great weekend everyone.

When Do You Need To Bug Out?

At what point do you bug out? What is the single event that makes you jump up and run? I think I will shelter in place until I have to bug out but I think this is the plan for a lot of people, but I don't want to wait to long and have a problem getting out of dodge. I think I live in a nice size town and we are about 35 miles from Sacramento and less to the open woods and some nice area to bug out to, but this is what every other person here will be thinking so I have two real nice out of the way BOL to go to and both are very close to me and I know that not very many people know about the two areas. Me and the wife have been there very many times and have set out a few caches with needed items in them. But what will be you line in the sand? What will get you to bug out and hit the road? As for me when the collapse hits I will start the bug out and be ready in about one or two hours. I have a truck and small trailer and can load them both in a very short time. With me the wife and three kids we can take a few routes I have planed out. I would scout out ahead of the group and make sure we could go on. I know that no plan is 100% but I have worked out my plan and think it will work. I hope we can get the RV soon and get out on the road full time. I just don't see us having much time till the collapse so I am working on the back up to the back up plan. Keep up your prepping and stay on the task of survival, because your life will depend on it one day soon. Life goes on........will you?

Urban Plan of Survival

Need for a Bug Out Plan

Having a plan of action is critical in any survival situation. Any good Urban Survival plan should have a way to find food, water and other supplies within walking distance of your home. It should also include multiple routes to get out of the area should the need arise.

Urban Survival Plan
Get detailed maps of your area (or download one from Google maps). Plot out all the routes to where you can find various supplies during an emergency situation.

WATER – Ponds, streams, rivers, pools, wells or whatever other sources of water are near your area need to be plotted out in detail.
How far are they from your location?
How much water can you obtain from the source?
Are there water sources where you can bathe and wash clothes?
What are the risks associated with obtaining water from the source?
Are there safety issues that you may encounter and how will you overcome them?
Can you stay hidden along your route?
Make a cart or wagon to help move water to your retreat.
Have a filter and know how to use it.

FOOD - Know where to hunt, fish, and look for wild edible plants. And know where the stores, malls, restaurants, and other sources of dry and canned food.
Where can you find wild game around your area?
Are there area where you can easily set traps & snares?
What are the edible wild plants in your area?
Are there farms in your area? Local gardens?
What are the risks associated with transporting food in your area?
Are there safety issues that you may encounter and how will you overcome them?
Can you stay hidden along your route?
Know where stores, restaurants, drug stores and other places you can find food.

ESCAPE ROUTES – Having multiple escape routes is extremely important and should not be overlooked. Make sure you study your routes, and know them well! You should make a dry run of all your routes from time to time to make sure they are still a good route to use.
Find routes that have multiple other escape routes via the original trail.
Are there hiking trails in your area?
Are there train tracks in your area?
How easy is it to stay hidden while walking along your route?
Is there a river you can safely follow?
Make sure you also know where to find food and water along your escape routes.
Put a stock of caches along your routes to help you get out of danger.

Bug Out Location - Have one or two locations you can bug out to and have supplies there to help with your survival, the supplies will have to be hidden or cached so no on will still them.
Make sure the BOL is secure and safe.
One you get there check everything, look for any signs that people have been around.
Once you are set up and running you will need to have guards on duty to keep a good look out.
Your new retreat is now your new home but you will need a new bug out plan incase you need to move from you new location. Remember that a good survivalist will have a back up plan to the back up plan.

Survival Gear - Stuff you must have!
Guns and ammo (lots of ammo) you should have ammo at you BOL and in the caches along the way. You can never have too much. And having a few extra guns at the BOL is a good idea too.
Medical supplies, you can always use them if not today, I’m sure you will need them someday down the road. If you come across medical supplies take them!
Clothes and shoe’s, you need extras at the BOL and even in a caches or two. A good pair of boots and new socks can really make your day if your boots are messed up.
Tools and building supplies, have them at your BOL you will need them!
Maps, radios, knifes, gun cleaning gear and many other supplies are a must so have them at your BOL and you need most in your BOB (bug out bag)

10 Step Survival Plan (Repost But Great Info)

10 Step Survival Plan

#1 Determination- You must have the will to survive, the tools and the know how to survive.

#2 Have a Short and a Long Term Survival Plan- You have to be ready for any disaster or emergency and for any length of time. From a day to a year or more.

#3 Be and Stay Healthy- You have to be in good health to be strong, and being strong will increase you chance of survival.

#4 Practicing Your Skills- You need to use the skills you have to keep them strong and as you learn new skills you need to keep them fresh in your mind.

#5 Training- Going with number 4 you have to learn new skills, like rope making, soap making, how to grow a garden and woodworking. Having skills after a SHTF event is going to be a very important part of life.

#6 Don’t Show Off You Preparedness Items- Don’t tell, don’t talk and never show anyone your preps. If you show a friend and then he never stocks an item the second a SHTF event happens the first place he will show up is your place because what you have is part his because you have so much. When the chips are down you have no friends.

#7 You must have or Start a garden- If you don’t know how to start one then find out. Go to garden centers and see if they have a class on starting a garden. If we hope to return to prosperity, America must return to a time when families grew much of their own food. Moreover, if we find ourselves in the midst of an economic disaster, we can persevere by growing our own food in the back yard. Heirloom seeds will provide you food forever because unlike hybrid and genetically modified seeds, you can save the next generation of seeds and replant next year. Hybrids are usually sterile and their offspring are worthless. Whether by design or accident, it appears that the world is headed towards a worldwide economic and agricultural collapse you need to get some seeds now and start a garden and store some of the seeds.

#8 Guns and Ammo- First if you don’t have a gun you need one, but first take a gun safety class to learn how to use and clean a firearm. Then buy as much ammo as you can. And remember you can own more that one gun.

#9 Food and water- You have to have both and you need to store at least three months of it. The government said you need three days, hell it took them 4-5 days just to get bottled water to the flood victims in N.O. Me I have a year of food and water but to start off with go for the three months and work up. Mountain House freeze-dried foods are packed in airtight NITROGEN PACKED #10 cans and have a 25+ years of shelf-life. With a little money you can get your three months all at once.
Water is a hard one you need at least two ways to get water. One could be to store it you can get stabilized oxygen to store your water for long term.
WATER TREATMENT
This is one of the most important uses of our Stabilized Oxygen.
To keep you water safe, and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria (while in proper storage containers like 55 gallon drums), we recommend the following:
First, make sure your container is properly disinfected and clean.
If you're storing filtered water - 10 drops per gallon.
If you're using normal tap water - 20 drops per gallon.
And you need a 2nd so get a water filter system like backpacker use and have a lot of extra filters.

#10 Household Items- You will need lots of household items for your survival.
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS and MEDICAL SUPPLIES
AM/FM Radio / Solar Powered
Hydrogen Peroxide
Baking Soda
Multi-vitamins/Amino/Vitamin C
Batteries
Stitching Kit (for serious cuts)
Beef Jerky
First Aid Kit
Blankets Booze & Beer
Snake Bite Kit
Bottled Water
Pain Killer (Tylenol, Advil etc)
Bullion Cubes
Candles
Canned Foods / all kinds
Coffee
Fatigues
Decks of Cards
Hiking Boots
Feminine Pads
Rain Gear
Fix-A-Flat
Flashlights
Garden Hose /Garden Supplies
Ice Chests
Backpacks, Knives, Battery Charger, Light Bulbs, Binoculars, Lighter Fluid, Canteen, Matches / Lighters, CB Radio, Needles & Thread, Camp stove / Fuel, Notebooks, Chain Saws, Pens/Pencils, Coleman Lantern / Fuel, Plastic Bags / Garbage Sacks, Electrical Wire, Pots / Pans / Silverware, Fishing Gear, Rags (cloth), Gasoline / 5 Gallon Plastic Cans, Gun Oil, Scissors, Soap / Shampoo, Inflatable Raft, Spam and other canned meats, Lamps - 12V, Spices, Suntan Lotion, Magnesium Fire Starter, Tang & Vitamin C, Maps, Tape / Duct & Electrical, Thermos, Rope, Toilet Paper, Tools, Seeds - All kinds, Water pump/purifying filters, Tent & sleeping bag(s), WD-40, Water Purifier Tablets.

Urban Survival....Can It Be Done?

Can you survive in the big city? Or can you survive in a smaller city or town? Is it possible to make a go at survival in an urban area? I now live in a small town about 35 miles from a big city. I know that where I'm at is not the best location but I'm a lot better off than most. And I can be in the woods very fast, just 15 min drive or a good 1/4 days walk with pack and hand cart. I have a hand yard cart that will hold about 350-450 lbs of gear and with my pack and the cart I can walk 3-5 miles an hour. That would be in great conditions with no bad weather. Plus we have a yard wagon that will hold 800 lbs with big tires that my wife will pull if we ever have to walk out on foot. I have made a harness for each of us that we can use to help pull the cart and wagon and still have our hands free, and with two quick snaps you can be free of the cart or wagon to run for cover if needed. I made the harness system to make is possible us to carry a long gun or shotgun and still pull the carts. I would hope to be in my truck but as a survivalist I know to have back up plans to the back up plan. But my question is do you think anyone can survive in the city in a SHTF event or the coming collapse? If so why, and if not why not. I think I have made a few good plan for our survival and have two great bug out locations to go to and then have two other back ups that are not bad. I have items stashed on my routes out of town and stashed around my home base for any needs that may come up when I'm out on patrol.
Post a comment and tell me what you think. I know if TSHTF bad I need to bug out ASAP and have plans for that, but what do you think about the urban survivalist like in WWII how stayed out of sight and under the radar.

Waking Dead Season

It's that time of year again. Me and my wife went out to breakfast on Sunday and within seconds we both looked at each other and said, "what is up this place is empty" as we talked about all the reasons why the fine eatery was so empty it hit me this day was the first day of NFL football. I like football and think it's great entertainment, but so many of the walking dead treat this season as a religion. And go all out each and every week with the beer, food and all the other junk that goes with it. They will spend a ton of money and time to set up for each and every game and even have a "Game Plan" for getting ready each week. They will go out of there way to get just the right food and drink for the football party. But if you ask them about the coming collapse and what food will they have to eat after all the stores are empty and looted they look at you as if you are a fool. I'm not knocking the game or football at all, I love a good game and even a good game with all my friends. But if you have the drive to put a big party on every week for football you should have the drive to put away some food for your family for the coming collapse. If some of the walking dead would put just 25% of the effort on prepping that they put into other junk they would have a good amount of supplies in no time. But you know just as well as I do that they will not do this and will wait till TSHTF and then they will flip out and run crazy. The day is coming when the collapse will hit and the walking dead will not be ready, this I know is a fact. As for myself and my family I prep and I store food, water and medical supplies for the coming collapse. As I hope you do if you are reading my blog. I try to tell everyone I see to prep and get ready for the coming collapse. If you are not prepping or stocking up now is not just the time to do it but may be the last chance to do so. Out time is running very short and we have very little time left to prepare. Prep like your life depends on it, because it will! Life goes on.....will you?

What's Wrong With This Country?

I'm not an old man yet, but I'm not a young man anymore either. But I look around at this country and feel sick. I can remember when I was a very young boy things were different, a lot different. You would see a man open the door for the ladies and older people, but not as much now. I know I'm in the state of "rude people" with the state of California but I see the rudeness even when I make a trip back home to North Carolina, so I feel like it's all over. Why are we losing our manners and why are most young men now days more like young girls than young men. Me and my wife see the young men all three of our girls have dated over the last few years and more than 80% of them are little girly man/boys. The first daughter of mine to get married did good and has a good man at her side. He comes from a family that hunt, fish, and are good outdoors men, so I feel lucky to have a good son-n-law to work with. Plus he sees the world a lot like I do and knows that things are going to get bad real fast. It's good to have good family around you to help after the collapse.
I think my whole point to this post is what is going on with the people of this country? Why are so many people just getting so soft and disposable? It's just like 95% of the goods we have here in this country. You can get a toaster for $5 at Wal-Mart but it may last 6 months or a year if your lucky. I can remember my grandmother had an old Sunbeam Toaster that she had for 10-15 years before she gave it to my mom and dad and then they had it for 10 or more years after that and if I remember right it was worked on one time for a spring that needed to be replaced and when they got a new one and gave away the Sunbeam I still remember my dad fussing about not keeping it. Everything in life now days seams to be disposable like goods, homes, cars & trucks, and now with the new health care junk soon people will become disposable as soon as there age or bad health gets to great to justify. This country is in a big mess and everyday we are sinking more and more into the void of death. It's very sad to see a once great country get so down in the dumps and the people of this country so out of touch with our past and traditions.
Our only hope is to make a stand, the few people of this country who still keep and care for the traditions that made this country strong. We need to stand up and fight this sickness that is over run this country. We need to survive this coming collapse and fight to make this country strong and full of it's old traditions.
Keep up your prepping and stocking up on your ammo, now is the time to stand and be strong!!!
Life goes on.........will you?

9/11/2001

Never forget this day,
John 15:13 (King James Version)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This Weekend.........

Got a few things going on this weekend. First is tomorrow with a yard sale, we are still trying to get rid of unneeded stuff and make a few bucks at the same time. I look at it as thinning out the junk that has weighted us down for years. I still am coming across junk that was bought years ago and I never needed it then or now and don't know why the hell we got it to start with. Some of the stuff I find I can see why I bought it, but don't know I never used it. My new rule is to get rid of it if I don't use it period. If it's not needed to do something or used for something on a regular basis then it's out of here because I don't need it anymore.
The rest of this weekend I plan to work on my prepping with some more 5 gallon buckets of rice, beans, oats, grits, salt and sugar. I plan to stay at it all weekend and get as much done as I can. I have the food saver out and just got five more boxes of food saver bags and I'm ready to get to it. The air at night is starting to get that little cold nip in it and that is great. I love colder weather and miss the North Carolina weather with the ice and a little snow.
This weekend is full and I hope I get a lot done. And I hope you guys are all keeping up with your prepping and getting ready for the coming collapse, because it's sure on it's way. All you have to do is look around and you can see the coming collapse. Stay ready with your mind and body and as always keep your guns and ammo near! Life goes on......will you?

Great Info From Infowars.com

50 Mind Blowing Facts About America That Our Founding Fathers Never Would Have Believed

infowars.com
Posted By: Kurt Nimmo September 8, 2010


The United States is a much different place today than it was in 1776, and unfortunately many of the changes have been for the worse.
If our Founding Fathers were alive today, what would they think of America? Surely they would be very proud that the United States stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and has built some of the most amazing cities that the world has ever seen. They would probably be surprised that the country they founded went on to become the greatest economic machine in the history of the world, and they would be absolutely astounded by things like our interstate highway system and the Internet. However, there are quite a number of things that they would be horrified about as well. The fact that over 40 million Americans are dependent on the federal government for their daily food would be deeply disturbing to our founders. Also, the fact that the U.S. government has accumulated the greatest mountain of debt in human history would be incredibly distressing to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the founders. But perhaps most of all, our founders would be absolutely disgusted that the land where Americans could once be free to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has become so tightly regulated and controlled that Americans dare not even squeak without the permission of the federal government.

Needless to say, our founders would certainly not understand many of our institutions or many of the advanced technologies that we have today. But without a doubt they would be able to grasp how far we have fallen as a nation and how far we have strayed from the fundamental principles that they enshrined in our founding documents. The United States is a much different place today than it was in 1776, and unfortunately many of the changes have been for the worse.

The following are 50 mind blowing facts about modern America that our Founding Fathers never would have believed….

#1 In 2010, not only does the United States have a central bank, but it also runs our economy and issues all of our currency. The Federal Reserve has devalued the U.S. dollar by over 95 percent since 1913 and it has been used to create the biggest mountain of government debt in the history of the world.

#2 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled that U.S. government agents can legally sneak onto your property in the middle of the night, place a secret GPS device on the bottom of your car and keep track of you everywhere that you go.

#3 The 50 wealthiest members of Congress saw their collective fortunes increase by 85.1 million dollars to $1.4 billion in 2009.

#4 The U.S. government has accumulated a national debt that is rapidly approaching the 14 trillion dollar mark.

#5 All over the United States, asphalt roads are being ground up and are being replaced with gravel because it is cheaper to maintain. The state of South Dakota has transformed over 100 miles of asphalt road into gravel over the past year, and 38 out of the 83 counties in the state of Michigan have now turned some of their asphalt roads into gravel roads.

#6 Americans now owe more than $849 billion on student loans, which is more than the total amount that Americans owe on their credit cards.

#7 In 2010, Americans waste an astounding amount of food. According to a study by the California Integrated Waste Management board, 63 percent of the average supermarket’s waste stream is food. When you break that down, it means that each supermarket wastes approximately 3,000 pounds of food each year.

#8 The city of Cleveland plans to sort through curbside trash to ensure that people are actually recycling properly. If it is discovered that some citizens are not recycling they will be hit with very large fines.

#9 Once upon a time, U.S. industry was the envy of the world. But since 1979, manufacturing employment in the United States has fallen by 40 percent.

#10 Even though the U.S. population has exploded in size, the number of Americans with manufacturing jobs today is smaller than the number of Americans who were employed in manufacturing in 1950.

#11 Having one out of every eight Americans enrolled in the food stamp program is now considered “the new normal” and Americans continue to drop into poverty in astounding numbers.

#12 One out of every six Americans is now being served by at least one government anti-poverty program.

#13 A family of four actually has difficulty surviving on an income of $50,000 a year in America in 2010.

#14 Barack Obama is backing a proposal to create a national database that will store the DNA of all individuals who have been arrested, even if they end up not being convicted of a crime.

#15 In 2010, it takes the average unemployed American worker over 8 months to find a job.

#16 The U.S. government has made some parts of Arizona off limits to U.S. citizens because of the threat of violence from Mexican drug smugglers. The federal government has actually posted signs more than 100 miles north of the Mexican border warning travelers that certain areas are unsafe because of drug and alien smugglers.

#17 One recent survey of last year’s college graduates discovered that 80 percent moved right back home with their parents after graduation.

#18 In one of the very first military commissions held under the Obama administration, a U.S. military judge ruled that confessions obtained by threatening the subject with rape are admissible in court.

#19 The average American worker now pays literally dozens of different kinds of taxes each year.

#20 In recent years the U.S. government has spent $2.6 million tax dollars to study the drinking habits of Chinese prostitutes and $400,000 tax dollars to pay researchers to cruise six bars in Buenos Aires, Argentina to find out why gay men engage in risky sexual behavior when drunk.

#21 Christians are being arrested and thrown in jail in some areas of the United States for quietly passing out Christian literature on public sidewalks.

#22 The Florida State Department of Juvenile Justice has announced that it will begin using cutting edge analysis software to predict crime by young delinquents and will place “potential offenders” in prevention and education programs.

#23 Organic milk is now considered such a national crisis that the FDA has been conducting military style raids on Amish farmers in the state of Pennsylvania.

#24 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that they are considering a crackdown on farm dust.

#25 According to a new CDC report, nearly half of all Americans now use prescription drugs on a regular basis.

#26 Oakland, California Police Chief Anthony Batts says that due to severe budget cuts there are a number of crimes that his department will simply not be able to respond to any longer. The crimes that the Oakland police will no longer be responding to include grand theft, burglary, car wrecks, identity theft and vandalism.

#27 Today, Americans are losing their homes in staggering numbers. One out of every seven mortgages was delinquent or in foreclosure during the first quarter of 2010.

#28 Many of our leading scientists are now calling themselves “transhumanists” and are openly proclaiming that a future where men have fully merged with machines is inevitable.

#29 Americans who spend large amounts of cash are viewed as “potential criminals” by the U.S. government in 2010.

#30 New full body security scanners going into airports all across the United States can actually see through our clothing and produce very clear and very detailed images of our exposed bodies as we walk through them.

#31 The U.S. financial system has become a massive gambling parlor in 2010. As a result, a horrific derivatives bubble has developed that threatens to destroy our entire economy at any moment. Nobody knows exactly how big the derivatives bubble is, but low estimates place it at around 600 trillion dollars and high estimates put it at around 1.5 quadrillion dollars. Once that bubble pops there simply will not be enough money in the entire world to fix it.

#32 The U.S. government is spending an amount of money equivalent to approximately 25.4 percent of GDP this year.

#33 Today, 10,000 people make 30% of the total income in the United States.

#34 A 2006 Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation discovered that 250 employees of the Defense Department used credit cards or PayPal to purchase images of children in sexual situations. However, the investigation also found that the Pentagon investigated only a handful of those cases.

#35 According to a recent poll of Americans between the ages of 44 and 75, 61% said that running out money was their biggest fear. The remaining 39% thought death was scarier.

#36 Approximately 57 percent of Barack Obama’s 3.8 trillion dollar budget for 2011 consists of direct payments to individual Americans or is money that is spent on their behalf.

#37 A recent Department of Justice guide for investigators of criminal and extremist groups lists “constitutionalists” and “survivalists” alongside organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Aryan Brotherhood.

#38 The U.S. trade deficit has exploded to nightmarish proportions over the past two decades. Every single month tens of billions more dollars goes out of the United States than comes into it. Essentially, the United States is becoming far poorer as a nation each and every month.

#39 Factories are closing in droves across the United States because the American people would rather buy things made in China.

#40 Millions upon millions of good paying middle class jobs are being shipped off to China and they are never coming back. Meanwhile, U.S. politicians stand by idly and do nothing.

#41 Some analysts now believe that China could become the largest economy in the world by the year 2020.

#42 If the U.S. government was forced to use GAAP accounting principles (like all publicly-traded corporations must), the annual U.S. government budget deficit would be somewhere in the neighborhood of four to five trillion dollars.

#43 According to one recent survey, 28% of all U.S. households have at least one person that is currently searching for a full-time job.

#44 The U.S. dollar continues to rapidly decline in value. An item that cost $20.00 in 1970 will cost you $112.35 today. An item that cost $20.00 in 1913 will cost you $440.33 today.

#45 Major international organizations are actually proposing that the United States start considering the adoption of a truly global currency.

#46 Students at a high school in Missouri have built a car that they claim can get up to 450 miles per gallon. On another note, some of the top energy experts in the world believe that thorium could solve our energy problems and supply very cheap energy for society for hundreds of thousands of years. But in today’s world technologies such as these are endlessly suppressed by the rich and powerful.

#47 One Colorado high school student is seeking an explanation from officials at his school after he was ordered by security guards to remove American flags from his truck because they might make other students at the high school ”uncomfortable”.

#48 Three California high school students were recently forced to remove their American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo.

#49 Memorial crosses erected along Utah public roads to honor fallen state troopers have been found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court and now must be removed permanently.

#50 One group of high school students made national headlines recently when they revealed that a security guard ordered them to stop singing the national anthem during a visit to the Lincoln Memorial.

KISS Plan

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

If more people lived by this simple little plan life would be so much better for them. I try to keep everything I do as simple as I can, it's when I make things complicated that everything goes to hell. I will sit down a plan out a weekend and make a simple list of things to do and it works fine for me until I make it complicated and mess up the plan. I know I'm good for two or three things at a time, like clean up the shop and clean and oil my tools. Both I can do at the same time but it's when I try to add in the other stuff, like when my wife calls me and wants me to find something or work on something for her. I guess what I'm trying to say is stick to your plans and only change them if you must. Just like my preps I have a plan and about every three months I recheck my plan and change as needed.

Keep up your prepping and stay ready....... The Shit Is About To Hit The Fan!!!! I can feel it, do you? Stay ready to survive and keep your guns and ammo ready it's about to get crazy..... Life goes on........will you?

100 Items To Have Before The Crap Hits The Fan

This was posted in 2008 in a fourm I go to off and on, I have posted this before but I think it needs to be seen again.

A list I give folks who show an interest in getting prepared... Now mind you nothing is in specific order of importance. Its the shock value of the list I try to get. After they've looked at it for a couple days you weed out the ones that are going to waste your time... The folks that ask questions are the ones that get it...

1. Generators: Good ones cost dearly. Diesel ones are the best. Gasoline storage can be a bit risky, Noisy... They will also be a target of thieves; maintenance etc. Permanent mounted propane units really are the best for stationary usage.

2. Water Filters/Purifiers: Berkley and Brookfield outback units have been used in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America for years.

3. Portable Toilets, buckets with lids, chamber pots. Something to remove wastes.. An Outhouse is probably best but a pain to move.

4. Seasoned Firewood: Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home use.

5. Lamps, lamp Oil, Wicks, spare globes and glass chimneys (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) Kerosene works in most cloth wicked lamps.

6. Coleman Fuel: It is impossible to stockpile too much.

7. Guns, Ammunition, reloading equipment, casting equipment, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots. I also suggest a compound bow or crossbow with plenty of bolts and arrow shafts for taking larger game.

8. Hand operated can openers, egg beaters, whisks, grater, and other manually operated kitchen tools and accessories.

9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar. Again, something you cannot store too much of. Makes a great trade/barter item.

10. Rice - Beans – Wheat (If bought whole be sure to have a mill/grinder)

11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food easily burns and must be boiled etc. Three gallons of oil per person per year is about right.

12. Charcoal and Lighter Fluid. (Will become scarce suddenly)

13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade poly barrels if for drinking water. 2 and 3 liter soda bottles are best. Store at least 20 gallons per person per week. Don’t forget your pets either.

16. Propane Cylinders 20# and 30# (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. If you have empties get them filled or exchanged.)

17. Survival Guide Book. Mostly for entertainment purposes..

18. Mantles for Aladdin lamps, Coleman lamps, and replacement cotton wicks for liquid/oil lamps (Without these items, longer-term lighting is difficult.)

19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula, ointments, aspirin, Tylenol, etc.

20. Washboards, Mop, mop Bucket w/wringer (for laundry and cleaning)

21. Cook stoves and lots of spares.(Propane, Coleman fuel & Kerosene)

22. Vitamins, trace minerals, stock up on vitamin C, Zinc, and Calcium.

23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)

24. Feminine Hygiene, Hair care items, Skin products.

25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)

26. Bow saws and extra blades, axes, hatchets, wedges, hack saws and extra blades. (also, whetstone and honing oil)

27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)

28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)

29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many)

30. Toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, and paper napkins. Toilet paper is cheap now but becomes very, very valuable when nobody can get any.

31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed. Follow rotational standards set forth by the expiration dates on the product. (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)

32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid and/or Heirloom) (AN ABSOLUTE MUST)

33. Clothes pins clothes line, clothes hangers (AN ABSOLUTE MUST)

34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit Get several along with cork filler seals.

35. Tuna Fish (in Oil and in Spring Water) Tuna in oil has higher density of nutrition.

36. Fire Extinguishers or a large box of Baking Soda in every room. Buckets of children’s play sand also.

37. First aid kits (Commercial or home-made) Include manuals if necessary. Nitrile gloves since some are allergic to latex.

38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) You can never have too many batteries. Great trade and barter item.

39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies.

40. Have Dogs? Big Dogs require plenty of dog food both canned and dry, mostly dry. Great security so feed them well and keep treats if budget allows. Keep medications like flea treatments and heartworm pills for at least a year.

41. Bulk flour, yeast, beans, rice, sugar, pepper, & salt by the bag or box. Freeze the flour, beans, and rice for 48 hours before putting into final storage. It kills any bugs that might have gotten in to the bags. (Vacuum sealer is a good investment)

42. Matches {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first. Old chain Grocery stores are best source. BIC lighters, Zippo’s, and refillable butane lighters and an ample supply of butane and Ronsol/Zippo lighter fluid. You can use the “flint” from a BIC brand lighter after it runs out of fuel in your Zippo’s. Or use them in a 22lr HP projectile against hard targets with flammables around.

43. Writing paper, pads, pens and pencils, solar calculators, erasers,

44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Winter time.)

45. Work boots, belts, Levies & durable shirts. Good stuff not cheap.

46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns, Oil Lamps, LED head lamps and flashlights.

47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Write down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times) Keep dry with heavy duty Ziploc freezer bags.

48. Garbage cans Metal or Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels) Appropriate sized trash bags as well. Steel drum for burning trash is also a recommended item as well.

49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail
Clippers, razors, shaving cream, etc

50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) Cast iron Dutch ovens too.

51. Fishing supplies, rods and reels, lures, and tools. Worm bed in your yard is best source for bait.

52. Mosquito coils, repellent, sprays and creams

53. Duct Tape, Electrical tape, masking tape and lots of it.

54. Tarps, stakes, twine, nails, rope, spikes, ratchet straps

55. Candles Emergency type, not just fancy ones from the Hallmark store.

56. Laundry Detergent. Liquid and powder both have their uses.

57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags, Military Surplus Alice packs w/frames

58. Garden tools & supplies- Shovels, rakes, hoes, 10-10-10 fertilizer, powdered lime, etc.

59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies and a book if necessary.

60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, Stews, gravy, olives, pickles, etc.

61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) Pool “Shock” treatment will make gallons upon gallons of bleach.

62. Canning supplies- Jars, lids and bands, wax, pectin, pressure canning pot, hot jar clamp, canning thermometer, and a canning book or two. Pectin and paraffin wax also.

63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel, honing fluid

64. Bicycles...Extra tires, tubes, pumps, chains, etc

65. Sleeping Bags & blankets, pillows, mats, inflatable mattresses, extra sheet sets,

66. Carbon Monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. (Battery powered)

67. Boredom busting- Board Games, Cards, Dice, etc. But nothing that requires batteries like a Game Boy or Nintendo.

68. D-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer, or 22lr shot shells and a 22 pistol to take out mice and rats. Poison has other uses too..

69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets.

70. Paper plates/cups/utensils. (stock up, folks)

71. Baby wipes, bulk paper towels, essential oils, waterless & antibacterial soap. (saves a lot of water)

72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, ponchos, rain suits, etc.

73. FRS, GMRS, or CB radios for communication. A shortwave is best for long range communication.

74. Hand pumps & siphons. (for water and for fuels)

75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions, gravy, dry soup bases,

76. Reading glasses

77. Chocolate, Cocoa, Tang, Punch, Root beer extract, and coolaid. (Water enhancers)

78. V-8 Juice "Survival-in-a-Can"

79. Woolen clothing, scarves, ear-muffs, mittens, watch caps, baklavas’

80. Boy Scout Handbook also Scout Leaders Catalog

81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO) or window film like tint.

82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix, Beef Jerky, Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts, chips, dried potato fries, candy bars, any of your favorite candies or treats. Comfort foods.

83. A year’s supply of any medications you or a family member is on.

84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. A two week supply, at minimum, before having to wash.

85. Lumber of all types including plywood. Don’t forget nails, screws, bolts, glue, and exterior grade earth tone paints.

86. Wagons & carts. (For transport big, bulky, or heavy items to and from)

87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses for guests and family that pop in…

88. Gloves: Work, warming, gardening, etc.

89. Lantern Hangers, wall hooks, free standing Coleman style

90. Screen Patches, glue, epoxies, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

91. Teas (Any and all you like plus bulk up on sale branded teas for trade)

92. Coffee will be more valuable than gold in this Starbucks overly caffeinated world we live in. If you have to buy ground coffee in sealed cans that’s fine but I highly recommend whole beans vacuum sealed and a hand operated grinder. Be sure to have an old style coffee pot you can use over a fire.

93. Cigarettes (Your brands if you smoke, Generics or what ever is cheap at the time) See #97 also!

94. Wine, Liquors, and beer. (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)

95. Paraffin wax and bee’s wax

96. Toilet plunger, toilet repair kits, flapper valves

97. Chewing gum, hard candies, and pretzels if you have to quit smoking..

98. Atomizers and spray bottles are great for cooling off with and for bathing when water becomes scarce.

99. Hats, cotton neckerchiefs, gloves, and hand towels.

100. Goats/chickens- IMHO Chickens are best rapid feed to food conversion and the benefit of fresh eggs is so, so appealing. Imagine the trade values of fresh eggs.. Be sure to store up plenty of food for your animals.

***********************************************************

There are many horrible things that can happen during a war or complete shutdown of America’s infrastructure - Death of Parents, siblings, and friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold or boiling heat, fear, theft, direct attacks by people homeless and starving, and possibly sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. But you never no how long trouble will last, so locate nearby or develop your own renewable food sources.

2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.

3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.

4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to do without (Especially if you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)

5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you’ve stocked to eat during a crisis somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.

6. Have lots of books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as an event continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.

7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many people who will trade a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in surviving if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.

8. Slow burning candles, oil lamps, oil candles, and matches, matches, matches