Some Helpful Tips For Prepping

Disinhearted by Blogger and Lack of Readership

2014-03-06T00:26:00.000-06:00

I am not happy. Any of my regulars have suggestions on improving readership?

Some Helpful Tips for Bug Out Bags

2014-02-27T14:50:00.002-06:00

The second book of the Some Helpful Tips For series has been PUBLISHED! Some Helpful Tips For Bug Out Bags is now available from Amazon as a print book, and as a Kindle book. It is also available from Create Space. If you can, please share this book link with your friends and family, and if you read it, please leave a RATING on the Amazon page! Create Space link in the comments:

http://www.amazon.com/Some-Helpful-Tips-For-Bags/dp/1496084926/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393533869&sr=8-1&keywords=Some+Helpful+Tips+For+Bug+Out+Bags

https://www.createspace.com/4691396

Welfare and Martial Law

2013-10-17T08:39:00.001-05:00

I would like to examine, for a moment, the causes and potential effects of a loss of welfare and EBT or “Food Stamps” benefits to a large portion of the US population. A few questions must be answered to reach a possible conclusion:

First, why would a government want something like that to happen?

Second, why would a government allow something like that to happen?

Finally, what would occur is something like that did happen?

In order for us to grasp the why portions (why would they want it to happen, and why would they allow it to happen), we must make a basic assumption: the US Government does not wish to relinquish control of the nation. It cannot be misconstrued as a very broad assumption. The Civil War was about control, not slavery. The nation split and in order to re-unify the states, the Union went to war to literally beat the opposition into submission. The US was reunited under force of arms.

So, why would a government allow “welfare” benefits to cease flowing to literally millions of people? To put it as simply as possible, control. The Federal Government, through its various funding programs and monetary disbursements, exerts control on the states using regulations tied to the moneys given; take the No Child Left Behind program as an example. If a state wants certain Federal monies, they must participate in the No Child Left Behind program, including all of the rules and regulations that various state school districts must comply to. If a school district or state fails to comply to the rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Government this results in the Federal monies being cut off to the State or school district. That is control.

The only way the “welfare” system would crash is if the Government allowed it to crash, or if they defaulted on the debt. Once the Government defaults on its debt, every aspect of Federal control begins to slip. The Government sacrifices “unnecessary” programs, like welfare, to prop up the core government and the military. The only way to secure that control again, barring having money, is force.

What would occur? Imagine if you will, hundreds, if not thousands of people in every city, state, municipality suddenly without EBT benefits. They rush down to the EBT offices to find them closed, doors locked and a sign on the door: Due to Lack of Funding EBT Cards Will Not Be Funded Until Further Notice.

The national unrest – rioting, looting, and chaos would make the Rodney King Riots look like a picnic with Grandma. In short order, local police and emergency responders would be literally overwhelmed.

Mayors frantically call the Governors of their respective states, Governors call out state law enforcement, which is also easily overwhelmed. Governors then call on the Federal Government “help us” they beg. The Federal troops are deployed. Food drops start, feed the hungry and the rioting starts to quell. Military medical teams step in and set up temporary hospitals, helping relieve the burden on the overwhelmed and understaffed hospitals.

This is where the president steps in. The emergency broadcasts system is activated, and in his speech, he laments the vast destruction and devastation caused by the riots in the cities, burned buildings, businesses, and the unnecessary loss of life. The words “This is a disaster of National proportions” comes from his mouth. He continues “in order to secure the safety of law abiding citizens and ensure that businesses can begin to rebuild, we are instituting a state of national emergency”.

Welcome to the police state. He just declared martial law.

Got preps? Pray for the Best, prepare for the worst.

And That's The Way It Is

2013-10-16T19:49:00.002-05:00

The debt ceiling, that scary term. Let us take a look at this and figure it out first since so much hinges on it. Wait..I am shocked I actually typed that with a straight face. I digress - where was I? Oh, yes, the debt ceiling.

What is it?
The debt ceiling is the maximum amount of monies the United States can borrow. The debt ceiling was created under the Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917, putting a "ceiling" on the amount of bonds the United States can issue.

Pretty simple.

In other words, they are going to have to hold off on printing money until the debt ceiling is raised. This is good and bad.

Good - the devaluation of the Federal Reserve Note is on hold. However Fed interest rates will have to be raised from the artificial 0% they are being held at in order to compensate for the lack of liquid capital flowing through the system.

Bad - the Debt Ceiling will be raised. Take my word on it, or don't. The scenario will play out within a few hours at most. When the debt ceiling is raised, the Republicans and Democrats essentially "kick" the debt down the road a little further. The Fed will resume with QE III and the Federal Reserve Note devalues and we suffer massive continuing inflation. Why? Because, we have been warned by Asian and European investors that if the unbridled Federal Reserve Note printing continues, they will start to dump United States Treasury Bonds. Already the United States credit rating has been downgraded - and we are at 106% debt to GDP - this is not good. At all.

As for the rumor of the Chinese seizing United States hard assets in exchange for debt? Not on our soil. Perhaps some overseas assets. If they even attempted to take hard assets not directly owned by their debtor (The United States Government) - it is theft and could be construed as an act of aggression, even war.

China can make demands all they want for being paid in land...they will never get it. Minerals and other commodities, perhaps they could. Commodities like Gold and Silver will be the first and most preferential thing any Creditor nation will take from the US. There is however, a Caveat. The true issuer of the US Bonds - The Treasury - physically holds all the gold and silver the nation has in it's coffers, supposedly.

However, the primary owner of that Gold and Silver - in the form of Certificates of Guarantee issued from 1913 to 1971 - is (drumroll) - The Federal Reserve Bank - a Privately Owned and Held corporation that is not beholden to any of the United Sates debtors, at ALL. All the Federal Reserve Bank has to do to completely drive the last nail into our National Fiscal Coffin is call those Certificates of Guarantee as "owed and due", and the US has to pay up. It is truly a zero sum game - We, The People, lose. The US Government Loses, the private shareholders of the Federal Reserve Bank OWN the United States. They hold more US Treasury Bonds than any other creditor in the world, and are buying Billions more a week, every week, in the form of QEIII.

Public roadways are owned by the States, and are only partially subsidized by the Federal Government. That is why if any of you ever drive Interstate 10, for example, from end to end, in some states the road is in excellent repair. In others it is in shoddy shape. It is all dependent on how much money and time each state decides to invest on "their" stretch of "US" Highway. So, the Chinese could not seize those.

I have said it before, I will say it again - this is truly a zero sum game. The US Treasury alone burns through $90 Billion in two weeks. That is an average of approximately $6.5 Billion a day. That is one sector of our Federal Government. Just one.

Where do we stand?

Ladies and gentlemen, we are well and truly screwed. And that is the way it is.

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst as fast as you can.

Homemade MRE...My Way...

2013-09-24T19:49:00.000-05:00

Making MREs for your emergency preparedness is not difficult in the least. I made a video tutorial outlining the process. Hope you enjoy!

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Remembrance Day

2013-09-10T20:33:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is September 11. Twelve years ago I was living in Albany, New York and that day started like any other. I got up early, had my coffee, went to work. The radio was on that morning, and my co-workers were listening to the Howard Stern show, which was on regular FM radio back then. I did as I normally did, went in, grabbed my paperwork and started working and tuned out the background noise. I was working on a particularly sticky coding issue...when I heard something odd. The background noise of my coworkers suddenly stopped and Howard Stern was speaking in rapid fire, concise statements, talking about an airliner accidentally crashing into on of the World Trade Center towers. My boss snapped her portable television on and we were mesmerized. She kept the volume down, and we all listened to Howard Stern delivering up-to-the minute real journalistic reports. For the first, and I daresay only time, Mr. Stern was very serious. He could see the smoke plume from his studio in New York City and when he was talking about it, I glanced at the television in time to see the second airliner crashing into the second tower. This was the most surreal thing I had experienced in my life.

"This is not happening...I mean what are the odds of two airliners crashing into the WTC towers on accident within an hour of one another?" I thought.

Before we knew it, the city of Albany went into a "shut down". As the capitol of New York State, it was a prime target, as far as anyone knew at that time, New York was the only target. So, the residents of Albany were forced to go home and told not to go out onto the streets until we were given the "all clear". I recall, as I was heading out of work to go home, the silence of the air. I worked near the Albany International Airport, and airliners were always crossing the airspace above. This day, they were silent. Not a single plane was seen in the air, not a person on the street (I lived downtown, on the main street) save the authorities, for three days. I could go on and on. It was as historic a day, in my opinion, as the day the Challenger blew up, or the Berlin Wall fell.

For the first time since the British burned Washington during the war of 1812, we had been attacked on our home soil by forces intent upon causing harm and destruction. Those of you who do not know of the burning of Washington can find some interesting information here.

So, today, twelve years to the day after that historic day, I urge you to take time to remember the important things in your life, and how diligence is the best guardian against loss of your life or freedom.

I will remember:
The Astronauts that died in the Challenger and Atlantis tragedies
The people who died to found our Country and those who scarified so much to buy that freedom.
The people in my life who are gone now, my Father, my Grandfathers, and my anscestors who came before them, all of whom volunteered to serve our country in a time of peace or war.
Those Emergency Response personnel who risked, and in many cases lost, their lives to save as many people in the WTC towers as possible.
Those brave men and women who lost their lives in the Pentagon.

Most specifically I urge you all to remember, like I do, that our freedom was not free. It is a trust passed from our Founding Fathers (and Mothers).

As Ben Franklin said to the question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?"
His response, as elegant and simple as possible - "A Republic, if you can keep it."

Semper Fidelis.
(Forever Faithful.)
US Marine Corps Motto - Semper Fi, dad. I miss you.

Non Sibi Sen Patria.
(Not For Self, but for Country.)
Old US Navy Motto

Haec protegimus
(This we defend)
US Army Motto

Ab Alto
(Death from above)
US Air Force Motto

Semper Paratus
(Always ready)
US Coast Guard Motto

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
(It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.)
From Horace's Odes - and found on the front entrance to the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington Memorial Cemetary.

Cold Steel Trail Hawk Modification Project

2013-08-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

A little background:
I am not a blade smith. I am not even nominally an axe nut. I learned a very long time ago how to care for an axe by my Grandfather (rest his soul) and have always had a good quality hatchet or camp axe when I ventured out of doors.

Recently I was turned on to the quality of the Cold Steel tomahawks by a friend of mine, and decided to look into them. After much deliberation and research, I purchased a Cold Steel Trail Hawk. This is what I got:

One "Made in Taiwan" stamped steel tomahawk. Black epoxy coating on the head, and a plain, sealed hickory handle.
Another view. Note the set screw. Obviously, this will need a lot of work.

So. I take the set screw out and toss it. A good axe needs only friction to hold the head on, and a well designed handle will accommodate that. Once the head is off I note the scarring that the shoddy stamp job on the eye of the head (which left a nasty burr all the way around, both top and bottom) left. Ten minutes work with a round file, and the burr is gone. Sanding of the handle commences. It takes quite a bit of work to round the handle, remove the scarring, and smooth the handle to the profile I want.

Once the nasty epoxy has been stripped from the head, and the head scrubbed down with mineral spirits and steel wool, it is time to put the steel into an acid bath and give it a protective patina. Into boiling vinegar the head goes...

Some work on the edge improving the profile and sharpening it properly (not a razor blade by and far, you do not really want a working axe to be that sharp); 2 coats of Onyx stain followed by 2 coats of boiled linseed oil on the handle later, and the project is nearly finished.

So, I am left with a very slick and smooth haft. How to fix that? Well, you wrap it. I chose 20' of fully cored 550 for my wrap. It has utility and function. I chose black and olive drab because I like the colors together.

So I have now a completed tomahawk. I am happy with the results.

Another view...

Last, but not least...one in the hand is better than one in the head...

Thanks for your patience.

IFAK on a budget

2013-07-30T23:08:00.002-05:00

One of the many things I have been working on for my family's preparations, for both camping and emergencies, is a very direct take on the IFAK or "Individual First Aid Kit". I know the practical purposes behind them and agree wholeheartedly that each person should have a medical kit of some sort on or about their person when camping or during an emergency.

What I cannot stomach is the high price of the commercially available IFAK kits available on the market - $120.00 to $229.00 for a pretty comprehensive Basic Life Support IFAK. I also cannot stand the fact that many of them only resemble an IFAK in the most broad sense of the term "first aid kit".

So I did some research. The content list of an IFAK is readily available. Each and every item in a IFAK is available online through very reputable sources. Setting out armed with some knowledge and some time on my hands, I began to build my version of the IFAK on a budget. I added some items not necessarily on the list because I could afford to, and for practical purposes.

I need to add here that a vast majority of the items for the PEAK (Personal Enhanced Aid Kit) as I am calling it are found at (of all places) the 99Cent Only Stores, Dollar Tree, and some items (like the CAT Tourniquets and Condor Rip Away EMT Pouch) were bought at full retail elsewhere.

I will provide a break down of each item and their cost. I will include shipping in the cost of an item (if at all applicable). Tax is NOT factored in, because it would confuse the issue as tax rates vary radically within each state from city to city and county to county. Some items, like the CAT Tourniquet are optional.

Shall we begin?

Commercial IFAK:
Dimensions: 7" x 7.5 x 2.5"

IFAK Contents
1 - 4" Israeli Bandage or 4" ETD Dressing
2 - Pair of Nitrile Gloves
1 - H&H Compress Gauze (4.5" x 4yds)
1 - Asherman Chest Seal
1 - CAT Tourniquet
1 - Tape (1" x 10yds)
2 - 5" x 9" ABD Pads
1 - Nasopharyngeal Airway with Lubricant
1 - Decompression Needle
1 - EMT Shears
Cost: $150.00

Now for my PEAK or "Modified" IFAK:

Size: 8" H x 6" W x 3.5" D

1 Condor "Rip Away EMT Pouch" - $15.00
1 SOF Tourniquet (BLACK) - Generation II (optional) - $18.95
1 IDF Israeli Army Bandage - $5.97
1 EMT Shears - $4.50
1 non-sterile Triangular Bandage - $1.97
1 Pack Mole Skin - $6.50
1 Pack Quick Clot (mesh bag - 50 gram) - $13.50
3 rolls sterile gauze, 4 yards each - $1.00
2 "Ace" Style Bandages - $2.00
18 Alcohol Prep Pads - $0.50
4 count Picot Antacid Powder - $0.50
2 Bottles Murine "Real Tears" - $2.00
1 Tube Hydrocortizone Creme - $1.00
1 Tube Triple Antibiotic ointment - $1.00
2 rolls Kerlix 4 Yards - $2.00
16 count Halls Defense Vitamin C drops - $1.00
16 count Halls Honey Lemon Cough Drops - $1.00
Hand Sanitizer Spray - non alcohol - $1.00
Waterproof "silk" medical Tape - 1.5"x8 yards - $1.00
100 Assorted Curad Bandages - $3.00
Vaseline Lip Therapy - $1.00
Cold Gel Compression Wrap - $1.00
Instant Ice Pack - $1.00
Red Sharpie - $1.00
6 packs burn Gel - $4.80
6 count Tylenol travel packs - $1.00
6 count Alleve Tablets - $1.00
2 Pairs Blue Nitrile Gloves - $0.10
1 set metal tweezers - $1.00
1 Mylar Emergency Blanket - $1.00
1 Disposable CPR face Shield - $2.50

2 film canisters with assorted home medications (allergy pills, aspirin, etc.) - negligible cost.

Total including the optional Tourniquet: $98.79

Average Cost savings against top of the line commercial IFAKS? over $53.00

Assurance that you have built something that is not only good, but very much functional and serviceable, as well as know what is in your kit, backwards and forwards? Priceless.

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Prepping tip of the day: BOB Food

2013-07-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

Spices go a long way to making otherwise unpalatable, bland, or different foods more appealing. The weight is negligible and worth adding to your BOB, especially of you have children. As for adding raw goods like flour, "and such" (like sugar, etc.), the weight to benefit ratio is exceeding small. Not knowing what others may intend to use flour, sugar, etc. (I consider salt a spice and necessary addition to a BOB) for, I can only say I am not carrying much in the way of raw goods. Most of my BOB food is either prepacked, or requires little in the way of preparation and fuel to heat. All foodstuffs are hermetically sealed in bags, with all the original packaging intact.

Bug Out Bags (commonly called "BOBs") are not intended to be lived out of for excessively long times. If you are not within, say 3 days walking distance of where you are going to bug out to, you may want to consider altering your plan to include a lightweight all terrain "wagon" to tote your excess gear. Otherwise, you need to research things like long distance, extended period hiking, such as the Appalachian Trail hikes, where hikers literally carry everything they need for weeks at a time on your back. Items like freeze dried food, micro light camping and hiking gear, as well as tips and tricks from experienced long distance hikers can go a long way towards preparing you for a longer duration or distance bug out. Knowledge weigh as nothing and can be gotten for free off the internet with some diligent searching and research. It is worth the investment of time to learn these things.

When you are preparing for any contingency, you have to look at *all* contingencies, and play the "what if" game. Ask yourself things like "what if I have driven my vehicle halfway to my BOL and the vehicle is damaged or breaks beyond easy repair?". Asking yourself a series of questions like this and trying to look at as many contingencies as possible will help you not only feel more prepared, but *be* more prepared.

In a crisis situation, the less energy you have to expend to solve problems, the more you have to spare for getting where you need to go or doing the things you need to do.

Be sure you do NOT store potent items like mints in with foods that absorb odors or flavors (like rice).

As always, pray for the best, prepare for the worst. Got Preps?

The B.O.B. - Revisiting the Bag

2013-06-18T11:55:00.002-05:00

A recent development at the house, and the advent of hurricane season, has prompted a long look at our bug out bags. I thought the bags were very compact and held the basic necessities for the family. Well, in re-examining the load outs, it seems I was very overzealous. The packs, while very complete, are too heavy. Even the adult's packs are a bit much. A couple of things I did to save space, like vacuum sealing clothing, will not change. As an aside on the vacuum sealing of clothes - this provides multiple benefits: water and dirt proofing, compacting the clothing, and providing extra plastic bag for storage, carrying water etc. once the bag is opened and the clothing removed.

Long of the short, I will be emptying, revising, and repacking all of the family's bags this weekend. I will make posts to track the total progress on these and outline what we have in our bags. Perhaps you will reexamine your load out as well.

Got preps? As always, pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Prepping Tip of the Day: Medications and Their Expirations - Educate Yourself.

2013-05-15T09:16:00.002-05:00

Prepping tip of the day:

Medications, with a few exceptions, have been found to be effective well past their listed expiration dates.

Consider aspirin. Bayer AG puts two-year or three-year dates on aspirin and says that it should be discarded after that. Chris Allen, a vice president at the Bayer unit that makes aspirin, says the dating is "pretty conservative"; when Bayer has tested four-year-old aspirin, it remained 100 percent effective, he says.

So why doesn't Bayer set a four-year expiration date? Because the company often changes packaging, and it undertakes "continuous improvement programs," Mr. Allen says. Each change triggers a need for more expiration-date testing, he says, and testing each time for a four-year life would be impractical.

Bayer has never tested aspirin beyond four years, Mr. Allen says. But Jens Carstensen has. Dr. Carstensen, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin's pharmacy school, who wrote what is considered the main text on drug stability, says, "I did a study of different aspirins, and after five years, Bayer was still excellent. Aspirin, if made correctly, is very stable."

Only one report known to the medical community linked an old drug to human toxicity. A 1963 Journal of the American Medical Association article said degraded tetracycline caused kidney damage. Even this study, though, has been challenged by other scientists. Mr. Flaherty says the Shelf Life program encountered no toxicity with tetracycline and typically found batches effective for more than two years beyond their expiration dates.

Read, educate, elucidate. Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/drug-expiration-part-one.aspx

Man Portable Power Options for Communications or Other Uses

2013-03-09T21:54:00.000-06:00

Here are some options for "man portable" HAM comms - long distance comms. Bear in mind, this came from a discussion regarding the near infamous Chinese hand cranked surplus generator. After much research, I have determined that setup will NOT WORK as it stands, and would need to be heavily modified, as it only outputs 6.3V DC. You need 12V DC. An electrical engineer has posted some mods on the internet, if you or your group is bound and determined to buy a hand cranked generator, you can look them up yourself.

All information is based on some basic math and knowledge of the systems being discussed. I try to give easy to understand breakdowns.

Using a pair of 7 amp hour (7aH) gel cell batteries (similar to the ones used in alarm systems, and uninterrupted power supplies). This is exceptionally portable, and if you throw in a solar panel with charging attachments, silent and literally free energy. Note: the radio (or electrical gizmo) needs power pole connectors for the battery pack. You add some weight with the gel cells, but it gives you more transmit/reception time. The 7aH batteries are really cheap as well (about $20.00 each). However, research has shown that a 12v 1.5w 120mA output solar panel from Harbor Freight which, while it runs under $20.00 requires about 66 hours of good daylight to charge one 7 aH battery to full.

Based on extensive research, I provide the following options. Always remember "Fast, good, or cheap", pick 2.

Option 1: "Good and cheap"

At under $100.00 you can run portable, with extremely light weight.

Pros: Extremely portable (panel is 13.75"x4.75"x0.5"). Free energy from the sun (no labor needed), can charge the batteries while on the move.

Cons: exceptionally slow charging speed. Cannot run a small radio directly from the panel.

Break down as follows:
1.5 Watt Solar Panel: $12.99 (trickle charges a battery. Will fully charge [from 0 charge to full] a 7 aH in approximately 66 hours under full sun - 1.5 watt/12 V = approx .112 Amps. 7 aH/.112 A = 66 hours In direct sunlight.)
Connector wire set: $8.99
2 Qty. 7mA hour Gel Cell batteries: $40.00
Total cost, minus tax or shipping: $60.00

Option 2: "Fast and good"

Allows for faster charging, more flexibility and a bit more cost. For just over $120.00 you can have a larger portable solar panel (14 Watt) that charges faster, and it comes with a connector wire set.

Pros: Extremely portable. Free energy from the sun (no labor needed), can charge the batteries while on the move. Charges the battery in 1/10 the time of the smaller, lower powered cell. Can potentially run the radio (as long as TX power is in the 4-5 AMP range, you are golden, as the radio draws less than the 14 Watt output of he panel) without any battery source during daylight hours. At 9 and 15 AMP TX you would drain a battery fully in .75 and .5 hours of constat transmission (approximate).

Cons: Larger solar cells (20"x15"x1.5"). Higher price point.

Break down as follows:
"Briefcase" Solar Panel: $79.99 (trickle charges a battery. Will fully charge [from 0 charge to full] a 7 aH in approximately 6 hours under full sun - 14 Watt/12 V = 1.1666 Amps. 7 aH/1.1666 amps = 6 hours In direct sunlight.)
2 Qty 7aH gel cell batteries: $40.00
Total cost, minus tax or shipping: $119.99

Please note, these charging times are very conservative as all panel ratings are calculated using winter time sunlight. Sunny locations with more daytime hours will give higher Amps, thus shorter charge times. One of the heftier 14 Watt portable panels will fully charge a standard car battery (40 aH) in 34 hours.

Also to note, the larger panel can be used to charge NiCads, relatively quickly with an adapter and battery charger hooked in (I have one that is cigarette lighter adaptable, and the large panel comes with a 12V DC "cigarette lighter female adapter"), or a separate charger can be bought.
I took the time and built two of the option #2.

I housed the batteries in surplus ammo cans (water tight and nearly indestructible) and connected the batteries in parallel, thereby doubling the amp hours of the bank, while maintaining the Voltage (14 aH at 12vDC as opposed to 7 aH at 24vDC). I lined the bottom of the ammo cans with 1/2" thick styrofoam. I installed 6" tall 3/4" dowels as "legs" in each corner of the box, and installed a cover plate of 1/8" balsa ply with a power switch. I screwed through the outside of the ammo can into the legs to anchor them tight into the structure. Sealing them with silicone, I painted them olive drab to match the outside of the can.

The foam and dowels keep the batteries tight in the box, yet keep an airspace around the batteries to help keep them cooler during use and charging.

The switch (which is recessed approximately 1/2" below the ammo can lid) allows me to turn the power on or off as I need. I ran a female "cigarette lighter" 12vDC connector with a cover cap to the outside of the box (sealing around the wire with silicone), wired to this to a charge controller (mounted under the wooden plate), switch, and then batteries.

My briefcase solar panel can be plugged directly into the batteries using the male 12vDC connector. any 12vDC item can be plugged into the system. If you know what kind of amerage your equipment draws, you can easily figure out how long you can run on this battery pack. This was designed as a portable power pack for comms, but it can have many uses. I will be building another battery box, and will post pictures as I progress.

As always, pray for the best, prepare for the worst. Got preps?

Learn About Local Edibles

2013-03-09T21:33:00.003-06:00

What do you do when you garden does not produce well and you are in desperate need of food? Understanding wild edibles is not only a wilderness survival skill, it is an essential long term preparedness skill.
I live in Texas, near the city of Houston. We have a very large variety of "wild" edibles. Jerusalem Artichokes, Mesquite (pods make flour, and coffee substitutes), Prickly Pear Cactus, edible "decorative" items like ginger, dandelions, are just a few examples of what I can find locally. Learn to identify and locate wild edibles, like blackberries.

Buy plant identification books for your area. Be especially certain you buy one that identifies each plant clearly, and if at all possible, get one with full color pictures. If you have a wild edibles trainer in your area, I suggest you pay the money and take the class, take the class several times, if possible. In Houston, you should contact Merriweather. Get the kids out and explore nature and find edibles.

Oh, and never, ever, ever eat a wild mushroom. You are better off safe than sorry.

Prepping tip of the day

2012-11-14T22:14:00.000-06:00

Prepping Tip of the Day: Store food that you normally eat.

If you decide your food stores for Hurricane season or that potential emergency needs a little beefing up, your best bet (as far as health, nutrition, cost and ease of use) is storing food you already buy and eat on a regular basis. That means no MRE's, freeze dried foods (unless you camp extensively and eat these regularly), or buckets of "emergency food". Why? Well, for one thing, you may not even like the "new" food's taste, smell, texture, or even how it looks (it may look plain gross to you). Also, there is a very significant cost and comfort factor involved. Thirdly, there is the digestive issues to consider. This is ESPECIALLY important if you have kids.

Let us consider an an MRE - These military meals are highly concentrated, heavily vitamin fortified, and superlatively preserved. They pack a HUGE dose of calories, vitamins, and minerals all in one go. However, the taste is not very good (due in part to the recipes that are used, and the heavy vitamin fortification), and they are VERY expensive (even the "cheap" MREs run about $7.50 per meal per person). Also, the current MRE, according to regs, should not be consumed as your only food source for more than 21 days straight, and I can personally attest to the ramifications of subsisting on them for 30 days with no supplemental foodstuffs as recommended, such as fruit and milk. It was a gastrointestinal disaster. The things one learns after a Hurricane devastates your residence are amazing.

Best thing for your G.O.O.D. bag is some good old fashioned homey items like Jerky, bullion cubes, granola bars, packets of crackers with peanut butter or cheese, boxes of animal crackers, Cracker Jacks, tea bags, instant coffee single serving tubes (about $1.00 for half a dozen at the dollar store - Taster's Choice - both leaded and unleaded varieties), various condiments and spice packets, graham crackers, flour tortillas, instant soup packets (Cup O Noodles for example) - all of which can be vacuum sealed and stashed in your G.O.O.D. Bag. The sky is the limit, use your imagination. Heck I even suggest buying items like "Soup Starter" or "Stew Starter" (try to find the ones that are just dried vegetables - no "soup bullion" etc.) and portioning it out into small vacuum bags. They make a great addition to plain bullion, add vegetables (nutrition, substance, texture, and taste), and make what would be just a cup of broth into a nice meal.

Bonus 30 minute bug out/camping meal recipe: Beef jerky (the real stuff, not the moist junk you find in a Jack Links bag) cut or broken into chunks, dropped in pan of boiling water, add a beef flavored instant soup packet (like onion soup mix), pour in a small pack of your "Soup Starter" veggies into it and you have a very hearty soup with meat ready in 30 minutes.

Prepping is about logical practicality, not gear. It is about being ready to ride out those emergencies that hit our life in comfort. We are not about "surviving", we want to THRIVE.

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

The Role of Christianinty in Politics: Is There One?

2012-10-07T14:45:00.001-05:00

This post is not an attempt to put folks off because it mentions religion and politics in the same title, quite the opposite. The old adage is "polite people do not discuss religion or politics". That adage is dead wrong. Religion forms the moral basis of your worldview. I do not care if it is Buddhism or Christianity, it is the moral foundation of your life. If your "religious belief" it is not the moral foundation on which you base your life, then you have no religion, and that is another article. Your political beliefs should reflect your moral foundations. Only a truly seasoned politician can say something like "I believe the bailouts are fundamentally against what I believe. Therefore I have to vote for these bailouts to protect my fundamental beliefs" and still be considered a "conservative" candidate.

Yes, Congressman Paul Ryan, Wis. (R), the Vice Presidental candidate for the Romney/Ryan ticket said those very words in his speech to the congress just before the vote for TARP. But, I digress.

The outside of Christianity "worldly" view of Christians, in general, reflects a negative attitude brought to bear upon Christian believers due to a lot of bad press and worse behavior. But I am not saying the press is solely to blame, we have blame enough on ourselves.

Let me remind you, dear readers, and anyone even remotely claiming to be a Christian that may be reading this, of what our duty as Christians should be when involving ourselves in political discussions. I am guilty of acting against some of these things myself, so I am casting no stones here.

We need to be cautious of investing too much interest in politics, to the detriment of our faith. Matthew 7:1-5, most notably: "give not what is holy to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine lest you be trampled beneath them". Do not act unwisely in such a way that the very thing you are focused on takes away from your personal faith.

There is nothing gained by your candidate winning an election, if you must lose your soul in the process. Matthew 16:24-26, most particularly says "for what is a man profited if he gains the world, but loses his very soul in the process? What will a man exchange for his soul?" The answer should be NOTHING. Do not sacrifice your soul on the altar of being "politically righteous". Also remember that politicians, for the most part, talk far too much. As it states in James 3:6 "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

God gave us 2 eyes and 2 ears and only 1 mouth. Stop listening to the words, and understand the deeds performed by the speaker (look at a politicians record yourself). I feel this is the most vital lesson to be aware of.

Respect the opposition and be cautious of self righteous myopia. Read Romans 2:1-11, remember we are all sinners. and easily fall into the trap of self righteousness.

Respect and listen to our leaders and pray that they gain wisdom, for no matter if you like them or not, their decisions impact all of us. Again, this is a vitally important lesson. Read 1 Timothy 2: 1-6

In trying to solve the problems of society, let us be cautious of our own capacity for being hypocrites. Isaiah 58:1-12 says we should be asking "what am I doing to respond appropriately?"

Religion and politics, at least for a Christian, are the fundamental things that define us as believers and citizens. We have a moral and personal obligation to be Christ-like in all the things we would do.

These are two subjects that must be talked about openly, loudly, and frankly all the time. The role of the pulpit is not to dictate how we should vote, or what we should believe politically. It is the role of the pulpit to call us to our moral task, to ensure that we bring a very Christian attitude into all aspects of our lives and behave according to our beliefs, not the dictates of a political party or ideology.

God bless, and be well.

Got Preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Rememberance Day

2012-09-11T20:12:00.001-05:00

Today is September 11. Eleven years ago I was living in Albany, New York and that day started like any other. I got up early, had my coffee, went to work. The radio was on that morning, and my co-workers were listening to the Howard Stern show, which was on regular FM radio back then. I did as I normally did, went in, grabbed my paperwork and started working and tuned out the background noise. I was working on a particularly sticky coding issue...when I heard something odd. The background noise of my coworkers suddenly stopped and Howard Stern was speaking in rapid fire, concise statements, talking about an airliner accidentally crashing into on of the World Trade Center towers.My boss snapped her portable television on and we were mesmerized. She kept the volume down, and we all listened to Howard Stern delivering up-to-the minute real journalistic reports. For the first, and I daresay only time, Mr. Stern was very serious. He could see the smoke plume from his studio in New York City and when he was talking about it, I glanced at the television in time to see the second airliner crashing into the second tower. This was the most surreal thing I had experienced in my life.

"This is not happening...I mean what are the odds of two airliners crashing into the WTC towers on accident within an hour of one another?" I thought.

Before we knew it, the city of Albany went into a "shut down". As the capitol of New York State, it was a prime target, as far as anyone knew at that time, New York was the only target. So, the residents of Albany were forced to go home and told not to go out onto the streets until we were given the "all clear". I recall, as I was heading out of work to go home, the silence of the air. I worked near the Albany International Airport, and airliners were always crossing the airspace above. This day, they were silent. Not a single plane was seen in the air, not a person on the street (I lived downtown, on the main street) save the authorities, for three days. I could go on and on. It was as historic a day, in my opinion, as the day the Challenger blew up, or the Berlin Wall fell.

For the first time since the British burned Washington during the war of 1812, we had been attacked on our home soil by foreign forces intent upon causing harm and destruction. Those of you who do not know of the burning of Washington can find some interesting information here.

So, today, eleven years to the day after that historic day, I urge you to take time to remember the important things in your life, and how diligence is the best guardian against loss of your life or freedom.

I will remember:
The Astronauts that died in the Challenger and Atlantis tragedies
The people who died to found our Country and those who scarified so much to buy that freedom.
The people in my life who are gone now, my Father, my Grandfathers, who all volunteered to serve our country in a time of war.
Those on flight 93 who mustered their courage, knowing full well they would likely perish, and fought and beat the Hijackers, and saved untold lives.
Those Emergency Response personnel who risked, and in many cases lost, their lives to save as many people in the WTC towers as possible.
Those brave men and women who lost their lives in the Pentagon when the plane struck.

Most specifically I urge you all to remember, like I do, that our freedom was not free. It is a trust passed from our Founding Fathers (and Mothers).

As Ben Franklin said to the question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?"
His response, as elegant and simple as possible - "A Republic, if you can keep it."

Semper Fidelis.
(Forever Faithful.)
US Marine Corps Motto - Semper Fi, dad. I miss you.

Non Sibi Sen Patria.
(Not For Self, but for Country.)
Old US Navy Motto

Haec protegimus
(This we defend)
US Army Motto

Ab Alto
(Death from above)
US Air Force Motto

Semper Paratus
(Always ready)
US Coast Guard Motto

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
(It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.)
From Horace's Odes - and found on the front entrance to the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington Memorial Cemetary.

Clearing The Air Regarding Justice Roberts

2012-07-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

Justice Roberts did indeed screw us. I want to be absolutely crystal clear. I have thought about this long and hard. While I agreed with my friend Tom, at least initially, that Roberts did his job, upon further consideration I am now in complete disagreement with this stance.

In fact, his 5-4 ruling validating the constitutional arguments against purchase mandates and 5-4 ruling endorsing them as taxes is far more dangerous, and far more political, even than it first appeared last week.

First, he basically re-wrote the law from the bench. Rather than analyzing the law and ruling on it's Constitutionality, he stepped beyond the bounds of his authority. He did not simply "relabel" or "repackage" the individual mandate - Congress would not have passed a tax, even one with a fancy label. Taxes and penalties are defined by their purposes, and how they are effected - how they operate in practice.

Taxes are a way to exact moneys, a means of raising revenues. Penalties are used to punish individuals for breaking the law. You do not call a parking ticket a tax, it is a fine, a penalty under law. While these boundaries can be blurred by government agencies, legitimate taxes may also have strong putative aims such as carbon taxes and carbon credits (which in my opinion are another kettle of fish for later). Obamacare's individual mandate was supposedly designed to regulate individual conduct, it's ideal (pie in the sky) aim was to help achieve universal coverage. Should it have operated perfectly, there would never be one penny collected for governmental use.

Justice Roberts changed all of that. Even if the Democrats had passed the mandate tax as rewritten from the bench by Justice Roberts, and they did not, the Supreme Court has never in it's long history ever held that Congress can call anything it wants a tax! The taxation powers, like the Commerce Clause, is broad, and the courts are generally deferential. However, the powers outlined by the Constitution are limited for a reason, and these limits - unique to each branch of government must be meaningful and fully enforceable by our legal system. Period.

Justice Roberts errors compound upon themselves, and give the taxation power of this legislation unlimited and unrestrained power. Article 1 Section 8 of our Constitution grants Congress the power to "lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States." All taxes by Constitutional law must originate from the House, the one political body implicitly designed to be the most responsive to the voters, and the voters desires. There are also very important safeguards built in to control the type of taxes we call direct taxes.

Indirect taxes—"duties, imposts and excises"—are taxes on activities and products. They are passed on by a seller, triggered by a transaction and more or less optional: Consumers don't have to buy taxed goods and services. Direct taxes, on the other hand, are those that the federal government is empowered to impose on individuals as citizens. They cannot be avoided because they are levied on the existence of people.

America's very foundation originated in a rebellion that among other things, was started in response to arbitrary and pernicious taxation. The Founding Fathers wanted to make it extremely difficult to impose or raise direct taxes. These can easily morph into massive police powers, the full regulation of private behavior and every conduct that the Constitution vests in the states. For this reason, while the taxing power in addition to raising revenue can achieve regulatory results, those regulatory results must be constitutional themselves.

Justice Roberts has effectively destroyed those safeguards, eliminated the only recourse the voter had, the voting booth, and laid a massive burden upon the middle class.

The Chief Justice ruled instead that the mandate was an unconstitutional exercise of federal police powers under the Commerce Clause, only to transform the taxing power into a license for the federal government to impose taxes whose defining feature is commanding people as members of society.

Chief Justice Roberts concedes that "Congress's ability to use its taxing power to influence conduct is not without limits" and that in the 19th and early 20th centuries the Supreme Court "policed these limits aggressively, invalidating punitive taxes obviously designed to regulate behavior otherwise regarded at the time as beyond federal authority." But then he writes that "more recently we have declined to closely examine the regulatory motive or effect of revenue-raising measures."

His error—or more likely, his deliberate sleight-of-hand—is that this modern jurisprudence does not deal with direct taxes but indirect taxes and income taxes. Income taxes were authorized in 1913 by the Sixteenth Amendment, which was necessary to bypass the other important limit on direct taxes, called apportionment.

The Constitution says that "No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken." Colloquially, direct taxes are known as head taxes and they must be spread among the states according to population. Apportionment's onerous limits were meant to protect against abuse and sectional favoritism. If Congress uses direct taxes, the residents of South Carolina will pay the same overall share as Massachusetts, and so forth.

Ladies and gentlemen, I refer you back to my last post, dated July 1st, 2012. Sincerely I urge you re-examine the Declaration of Independence. I urge and plead you, my fellow patriots to grasp firmly in your mind and your hearts that this country is now in the grip of a tyrannical government. I pray the Lord God guides us and lights our path forward from this point, and clearly shows us which direction we should tread.

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

We The People...

2012-07-01T16:38:00.000-05:00

Ah, those historic, stirring first words of one of the most important documents in the course of secular human history; We The People. Written with a flourish in large, bold lettering, to establish once and for all, it is We The People who make this country what it is.

We the people are also responsible for the state this country is in today. Stop. Stop right now. Your blame game thoughts betray you. It is not the Liberals, the Conservatives, the Democrats, the Republicans, the left, the right, the center, Occupy Wall Street, or the Tea Party's fault. It is our fault. We have only ourselves to blame.

You may, or may not, be familiar with the parable: the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. The best of intentions, no matter how noble, altruistic, moral, high and mighty they may be, are just intentions. The result of those intentions are the true outcome of one's desires. Look at the state of the nation at this moment, and understand something: it is our fault, and only We The People can fix it.

How is it our fault? Laziness, complacency, voting along party lines and following party rhetoric, hell sheer ignorance are all the reason why. Not perhaps individually and all at once (though I can argue rather heatedly that I know at least 3 or 4 people who suffer from them all). None the less, these small, innocuous traits when they were coupled with good intentions have resulted in the problem we have today. Overarching government, outlandish and nightmarish laws, and a voting populace that is by and far more dangerous than not to the Republic.

We The People may or may not be capable of fixing this with votes and candidates that we think will do the right thing while in office. More than likely not in this case. Many years ago when I started this blog, it had a distinctive political flair, mixed in with social and religious commentary along the way. It has evolved to a "prepper" blog, a SHTF, Doomsday, oh crap what now readiness blog. Part of being ready is being aware, and the only real way to be truly aware of what is happening is to open your eyes, set aside everything you thought you knew and understood, and really look at the world with a fresh perspective. What does this have to do with "fixing" what is wrong with this nation? Quite a bit.

If you think that voting for the right candidate will fix the problems, may I point out that is exactly the platform our current leader campaigned on. Hope and Change. We got a lot of change, none of it for the good, and the nation has lost hope.

Now, being prepared that means being ready to do what you need (reasonably speaking) to do to survive. We The People are responsible for the survival of the Republic as much as we are responsible for the survival of our loved ones. In the words of our founders:

"If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country shall stand in need of it's experienced patriots to prevent it's ruin." - Samuel Adams

"To compel a man to furnish money for the propagation of opinions in which he disbelieves or abhors is tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. " (emphasis mine) - Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, passed by the 53 founders of this nation at the 2nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated as signed on July 4, 1776.

Just consider these few quotes. Hundreds, if not thousands of quotes, papers, documents, and pamphlets (or the text thereof) exist to this day. Each and every one touches on the responsibilities We The People have toward our nation and what we may have to do to save her.

As always, prepare for the worst, pray for the best.
Got preps?

On Obamacare, Justice Roberts, and "Fairness"

2012-06-29T15:33:00.003-05:00

OK so the Supreme Court of the United States ruled yesterday on "Obamacare". I myself have got to say, this will break our nation. A massive broad spectrum tax on the American people in a deep recession, nay, early stages of a massive depression, bodes ill at the minimum. At the maximum, the depression will deepen, and thousands, of not hundreds of thousands of people will potentially lose their jobs. That is just in the Healthcare Insurance industry. But, wait! It gets better.

Let us look at the whole thing in an objective light. Is the health insurance system broken? Yes. Why? It is our own damn fault. Allow me to explain. This is really simple.

When you go to the store to buy apples, you check the price for a pound of apples, right? When the price is too high, you seek a lower price elsewhere or do not buy. That is the fair market system at work. In order for store A to sell their apples, they must be competitive with stores B, C, and D. Easy to understand right? OK, moving on to healthcare.

When you go to a doctor, do you ask what he is charging the insurance company? When you get a prescription filled, do you ask what the pharmacy will be charging the insurance company? When you go in for a surgical procedure, do you ask the hospital what they will be charging the insurance company? I know your answer is no, because that is my answer as well. I usually just wait to be told what I owe the care provider or pharmacy, pay, and go on my merry way, expecting perhaps even trusting the health care provider is charging a fair and equitable fee. So, basically, you take more effort determining you are paying a fair price for a $1.00 or so a pound fruit than your healthcare costs. Seems about right.

This leads to rampant abuses of the system. Since you have no idea what the insurance company has to pay to each doctor, hospital, and pharmacy to obtain your health care services you will not shop around for the best deal. Since the transaction takes place relatively seamlessly behind the scenes, you remain blissfully ignorant. Until. . . your claim is denied by the insurance company. Then you get an inkling of the real cost of healthcare. Not your twenty or thirty something dollar co-pay. Hundreds if not thousands of dollars in bills.

Now, what kind of disparity are we speaking about here? What kind of disconnect is there? Simply put, you have placed yourself at the mercy of the health care industry and the health care insurance providers.

Obamacare, no matter how you cut it, does not fix this. In point of fact, it makes it worse. How does it do that? Well, the Federal Government currently runs the "insurance companies" that accounts for over 50% of health care monies paid to providers, per year. Medicare and Medicaid. Both of those systems are broke, falling apart, and to say the least one of the largest factors for the high cost of healthcare nationally today. This is because it is historically the lowest and slowest paying of all the health care "insurances" out there. When over 50% of the monies doctors, pharmacies, and hospitals lose handling Medicare/Medicaid patients, this is passed on to you and I in the form of higher health care costs. Pretty amazing, of you ask me. This is by and far simplistic, but very true.

Now, here comes Obamacare to the rescue, right? Wrong. Obamacare, according to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, is a tax, and as such is not unconstitutional. This is not insurance. Let me stress that again. This is not insurance. This is an additional tax on every tax paying American out there. The issue with illegals and undocumented workers draining the system is unchanged. They do not pay Federal Taxes except perhaps in a round about way. They still get health care. They still drain billions of dollars per year out of the system. Again, this is not mandated insurance, per Justice Roberts (I'll get to him in a minute) this is a tax, plain and simple.

I can hear the liberals now.."HAH But now everyone will have health insurance, and that will fix the unpaid for health care costs!".

Survey SAYS?! BZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Wrong. Here is why:

According to the legislation, illegals are exempted from this system (but by law they will never be refused medical care, ever, which still costs money), as are certain religious groups (Muslims in particular), and all high level politicians and their families (wife and if applicable kids). So that lays the burden still squarely on our shoulders, except they just made it much heavier. See, when we work and get a paycheck there are already deductions on the base earnings for federal income tax (from which Medicare and Medicaid is funded) and FICA (social security). These are automatic. They are done by "law" without your approval, and every legal employer in the nation must, again by "law" apply these taxes against your earnings. Now, your employer, that same person who "pays" for your health insurance (actually they pay a portion of it in 99.9% of the time), can now opt to not pay for any of it. What does that mean? Simple. If your employer is say, MegaCorp One, and they pay, on average $12,000 per year (average dollar amount, usually 50% or more of the cost of insurance), per employee for health insurance, they can now opt to not pay at all. Under Obamacare, MegaCorp One gets slapped with a hefty fine of $2000.00 per employee per year. Net gain of $10,000 per employee per year on their bottom line. Oh yeah, big win for the sick and dying.

But wait, there is more.

You, as a good, law abiding citizen are now required, by law, to get insurance. That insurance is to be provided for by a private insurance company, who will now charge you the full $24,000.00 per year cost, or you can get the Government plan for $10,000 per year. If, for some reason, you chose not to get insurance, when you file your taxes you will be charged a tax for noncompliance to the law. If I remember correctly it is 2.5% of the cost of the Government insurance plan, approximately $2500.00.

But wait, there is more!

The IRS is the enforcement arm of the tax system in the US. Failure to pay that tax will result in the IRS seizing your assets, levying additional fines and fees against you - which collect interest (a tax on a tax), and possibly imprison you.

Second reason why this will ultimately fail? We are basically handing 100% control of the health care insurance system to the government. The same folks who, if I may remind you, have mismanaged and bankrupted the more than 50% of the industry they already control.

Now lets digress to Justice Roberts. I know for a fact that many hard core conservatives are measuring ropes and sizing Justice Roberts up for a hemp neck tie. Step back a second and take a deep breath and consider this. From my buddy Tom, a real hard line conservative:

To me Justice Roberts sly as a fox, he just drove a wooden stake through the blood sucking vampire heart of the current administration. This should turn so many people against him that he will lose his re-election bid. Perfect timing for an election year!

The silver lining to this decision, is that now Obama *owns* this massive regressive tax increase.

Think about what he managed to accomplish by upholding President Obama’s highly unpopular, signature piece of legislation.

Though he shocked many by joining the left plank on the high court, Justice Roberts pretty much did what he was supposed to do. He finally put a boundary on how much freedom the federal government can gobble up from states and individuals under the “commerce clause” — that most specious scheme for so much federal thievery.

Then he told President Obama and his kleptocrats in Congress that they can have their health care law, but they cannot keep lying about it. A tax is a tax and they are liars if they call it anything else. And they just stuck the crippled American taxpayer with one of the biggest, broadest, most regressive tax-hikes in history — and during a deep recession!

Let that digest a minute. Mull that over. Aha, I see the light coming on...yep. He did his job exactly. In his comments, Justice Roberts also admonished the American people saying

"Members of this Court are vested with the authority to interpret the law; we possess neither the expertise nor the prerogative to make policy judgments. Those decisions are entrusted to our Nation's elected leaders, who can be thrown out of office if the people disagree with them. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

In other words, "You elected this idiot. I am not responsible for his actions. You are. If you don't like them, get rid of him and elect someone who will do what you think is right". I think he added "dumb-ass" under his breath there at the end.

So in a nutshell, is Obamacare fair? Hell no. Is our current system fair? Hell no. Can we fix it? I hope so. The cure may be painful, but there is a cure. There always is.

And as always - prepare for the worst, pray for the best.
Got preps?

Real History of the United States – Part 4 – “I killed the bank!”

2012-06-28T23:07:00.000-05:00

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana

Prior to the Presidential election of 1832, a new political party formed – The “Anti-Mason Party”. This party was formed primarily by concerned persons with political influence to openly warn the American People about the power and influence the Masons, also known as the Freemasons, held. It was also formed after a prominent, infamous mason, one Captain Morgan, who wrote a 110 page booklet exposing Masonic “secrets” was carried off and allegedly killed by Masons who saw Morgan as an oath breaker. The allegation about the responsible parties for Captain Morgan’s death were made in a book entitled The revolutionary Age of Thomas Jefferson written by Robert Remini, who stated “…the Masonic Order had arranged his (Captain Morgan’s) abduction and probable murder”.

A Meeting Of The Minds
The Anti-Masons met on September 11 (!!), 1830 in Philadelphia, where delegates from 11 states met to “denounce the Freemasonic Order and to call upon their countrymen to join a political crusade to save the nation from subversion and tyranny at the hands of the Masons”. It should be noted one of the attending delegates was William Seward, from New York, who was later to become Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln. Another staunch Anti-mason was former President John Quincy Adams, who published a series of letters that were abusive of Freemasonry and directed at political leaders. These letters were published in the public journals from 1830-1833. The Anti-Masons were able to get their candidate on the 1832 Presidential ballot, adding further pressure against Andrew Jackson’s chances of getting re-elected.

The Real Issues
The real issue at hand for the 1832 election was the renewal of the charter of the Second Bank of the United States. Nicolas Biddle, the President of this organization, decided to ask Congress for renewal of the banks charter in 1832, a full 4 years before the charter was set to expire. This move was simple, it made the charter’s renewal an issue for the Presidential candidates, thus permitting the charter’s renewal through force of political maneuvering. Henry Clay, later to become the Republican candidate against Andrew Jackson, and Daniel Webster both took the lead in pushing the legislation through Congress. Their efforts were not disappointing. The charter passed the Senate by 8 votes and Congress by 22 votes. President Jackson, however, had his chance as sitting President to act, and act he did. He resoundingly vetoed the bill on July 10, 1832, just under 4 months until the election. He again stated, rather emphatically that “the belief that some of the powers and privileges possessed by the existing bank are unauthorized by the Constitution, subversive of the rights of the States, and dangerous to the liberties of the people…”

The Votes Are In
While Andrew Jackson risked the ire of the pro-bank Americans he was not concerned. He ran on the platform: “Bank and no Jackson, or No Bank and Jackson”. He faced great opposition, especially in the press, largely from “advertizing pressure”. This meant that large, wealthy segments of the business sector had something to gain by the rechartering of the Bank. The only ones, apparently, who did oppose the rechartering of the Second Bank were the American People. They re-elected Andrew Jackson with 55 percent of the vote, with the Anti-Mason Party gaining just 8%. That left only 37% of the vote to Clay, who was openly pro-Bank.

Screw You, Jackson. I Have Other Plans.
After the election, Jackson ordered Biddle to withdraw all Government funds on deposit at the Bank. Biddle refused, and to show his vast displeasure at Jackson, he ordered a “general curtailment of all loans in the banking system”. This order was so sudden, it threw the country into economic panic, which was exactly what Biddle wanted. The awesome power a central bank holds to destroy an economy was now being used against the very people who did not want the bank, the American people. The people were right. They wanted no part in an institution that could destroy them economically, and now they were being punished. Biddle embarked on a campaign to force the American people into capitulation and acceptance of the Bank. He is quoted as saying: “Nothing but the evidence of suffering abroad will produce any effect in Congress. . . My own course is decided – all other Banks and merchants may break, but the Bank of the United States shall not break.”

Jackson saw the efforts of the Second Bank as not only dangerous to the American economy, but also the economy of Europe. He also felt the Bank posed a real threat to his personal existence. He is know to have said to his Vice President Martin Van Buren “The Bank, Mr. Van Buren, is trying to kill me. But I will kill it”. It is not absolutely certain if President Jackson meant that the bank was trying to destroy his political career or to murder him, but on January 10, 1835, would-be assassin Richard Lawrence stepped into his path and fired two pistols at Jackson at close range. Both pistols misfired, and President Jackson was unhurt. Lawrence later claimed he had “been in touch with the powers in Europe who promised to intervene is any attempt was made to punish him”.

Jackson’s Parting Shots
In President Jackson’s 1836 farewell address he once again warned the American people. “The Constitution of the United States unquestionably intended to secure the people a circulating medium of gold and silver. But the establishment of a national bank by Congress, with the privilege of issuing paper money receivable in payment of public dues… drove from general circulation the constitutional currency and substituted one of paper in its place.” Jackson’s final words are also said to have been “I killed the bank!”

The United States was free from a National Bank from 1836 until the Civil War Started in 1861. So for that time, the United States was free of the bankers attempts to enmesh the American people in a web of permanent banking control.

Real History of the United States - Part 3 - The 2nd Bank of the United States

2012-06-28T23:02:00.001-05:00

I left off in my previous "Real History" post in the year 1804. Arron Burr shot and fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton’s death did nothing to stem the vicious power of the “First Bank”.

James Monroe had allowed the First Bank’s charter to lapse in 1811. However massive pressure was placed on the government to re-charter the bank, when the English started the War of 1812 against America. The full intention of this war was to force America into needing a central bank to pay for the costs of the new war, thus increasing it’s interest payments, and thereby it’s debt. It was the hope of the English bankers to force America into rechartering the First Bank or creating a new central bank under a different name. Their main “allies” in this endeavor were Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, who were early, vocal supporters of not only the war, but also of the creation of a new central bank under the name of The Second Bank of the United States.

The war of 1812 was extremely expensive. It raised the national debt from $45 Million to $127 Million. Some perceptive people, like the then President of Harvard University, Joseph Willard, saw the war as a conspiracy, backed by none other than the Illuminati. In his famous speech, on July 4, 1812, he declared:
“There is sufficient evidence that a number of societies of the Illuminati have been established in this land. They are doubtless striving to undermine all our ancient institutions, civil and sacred. These societies are clearly leagued with those of the same order in Europe. The enemies of all order, seeking our ruin. Should infidelity generally prevail, our independence would fall of course. Our republican government would be annihilated…”

The pressure to find a way to fund the war of 1812 through the rechartering of the central bank continued. In 1816, The Second Bank of the United States was chartered with a 20 year charter. This bank was given the ability to loan the government $60 Million. That money was created out of nothing, created as bonds, and loaned to the Federal Government. The bank now had the power to control the entire fiscal structure of the country.

It did not take long for the bank to start exerting it’s power over the economy. Banks had spread fairly far and wide through the country, most notably into Kentucky, Tennessee, and other western states. Currency flowed out into the economy, the money supply and inflation were high. Then in 1819, the Bank reversed it’s policies and began contracting the money supply creating a depression. Money flowed out of the west, leaving in it;s wake a large population of debtors unable to meet their obligations. The bank was using it’s powers to inflate and deflate the currency benefited the bankers, who were able to repossess large tracts of land for a mere fraction of it’s value.

The debt of the War of 1812 was paid up by 1834. This most certainly did not please the Second Bank. What did happen that set the stage for where we are today is that in 1819, the bank was declared Constitutional by the Supreme Court, in the case of McCulloch vs. Maryland. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall decreed that Congress had the implied power to create the Bank.
There was no specific power granted to the Congress by the Constitution, so the Constitution was stretched a bit to fit the needs of the Bank by the courts by giving the Congress some mysterious implied power. All of Thomas Jefferson’s arguments against the bank went completely unheeded. Alexander Hamilton had won, even in death.

Andrew Jackson, who had been elected President in 1828, mostly because of his opposition to the bank, is on record as stating:

“I was one of those who do not believe the national bank to be a blessing, but rather a curse, to a republic; insasmuch it is calculated to raise around the administration a moneyed aristocracy dangerous to the liberties of the country.”

Jackson had no love for the bank, or what it was doing, and the election of 1832 was a critical one. It was the year the charter for the bank was to be renewed. Andrew Jackson was running for office again in 1832. He promised the American people:

“The Federal Constitution must be obeyed, state rights preserved, our national debt must be paid, direct taxes and liens avoided, and the Federal Union preserved.”

It is extremely revealing how, at this early date, Andrew Jackson was so concerned about the preservation of the Union, which was the supposed cause of the Civil War years later.

The next Real History article will cover Andrew Jackson and his fight against the bank.

Two Minutes to Midnight

2012-04-17T10:17:00.004-05:00

Those of you who are old enough will remember the "Doomsday Clock" from the cold war era. The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock face, maintained since 1947 by the board of directors of the Bulliten of Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer the world is estimated to be to global disaster and the destablilisation of civilization. Originally established to represent global thermonuclear war (shall we play a game?), since 2007, it has come to represent any occurrence including economic disasters that could destabilize the world as we know it.

As of January 10, 2012 the clock has been at 5 minutes to midnight. Current developments in the Middle East and Russia revolving around a conflict between Israel and Iran as well as economic developments in Europe, mostly involving the total collapse of the Eurozone have me believing we are much closer to "Midnight" than that.

As we ease into the summer season, gasoline is at all time, even inflation adjusted, highs. Summer blend gasoline will be hitting the markets soon, and that is historically 15-20% higher in cost to produce, and therefore in price. That will inflate the already high costs of food and raw goods, affecting how Americans spend.

Matthew Bishop, the US Editor of The Economist, has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal TV about gold and why “people have lost faith in the 20th century religion of government backed fiat money." He says that he has become an agnostic or an atheist with regard to his belief in government-backed money as he fears that governments are in a position whereby they are going to debase currencies such as the “paper dollar and “paper euro” “in a big way.”

Translation? Your currency will buy even less, if it exists, after massive debasement. Higher fuel, food, and finished goods prices will put even further pressure on stressed economies, that will have even fewer goods moving because the US Dollar, of Euro buys even less, so people will hold on to as much as they can "just in case".

Throw in a potential regional, even potentially global conflict starting in or around Iran, and you have a nasty stew. We are far closer to "Midnight" than 5 minutes, in my humble estimation. More like 2 minutes to Midnight. Within the next month or so, we should know.

Shared Post "Cold Civil War, But For How Long?"

2012-03-23T20:42:00.002-05:00

Original article can be found here

Former Navy SEAL: “Cold Civil War, but for how long?”

OUR COLD CIVIL WAR

By Benjamin Smith

On the heels of NDAA, ObamaCare, Stimulus, Son of Stimulus, Patriot Act, takeover of auto, energy, media and movie industries, and the relentless implementation of Agenda 21… the Obama regime running our country into the ground has issued an updated Executive Order which suggests the probability of impending MARTIAL LAW.

We are left to scratch our heads and ask……… Why now?

The only possible answer is…

America is in fact, right now, in the vicious throes of a Cold Civil War.

Cold as in non-violent and Civil as in nationwide; an attempt to force a new government-controlled ideology upon an unwilling public.

And the forces implementing this agenda are relentless.

The National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order is nothing more than a blatant attempt to stir trouble of the highest intensity. The regime is looking to see who jumps and to see the movement that happens amongst the most vocal defenders of our rights, (you and me). They are poking us to see if we will go over the edge and do something so stupid that there will be a crisis… it will be our fault… and if any of our number are provoked enough to rise to the proverbial bait — they will finally lower the hammer… all in the name of “national security and public safety.”

These are classic Soviet style tactics designed and implemented in an effort to make us react, get us to either flinch and shut up, or overreact and get suppressed. It is also an exercise so they can gather intel on who is who and who has pull.

Many of us are trained. We know this game.

But we cannot stand down. We cannot be silent. We MUST stand together as one…WITHOUT VIOLENCE, for there is no going back from that; we MUST speak out with the conviction and the authority granted by our unalienable rights and the United States Constitution!

Remember Martin Niemöller and his immortal wisdom about the failure of courage in speaking out; “Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

The regime is limiting our speech on a daily basis, so speak up while you still can. But be smart about what you say. Do not be tempted to phrase your words in terms of violence. For this is the way of the enemy and we should never stoop to their low and bloody tactics, whether in word or deed.

Keep preparing for rough times ahead. Stock your pantry in preparation for lean days, even as the regime attempts to make such things illegal. Focus your mind on liberty, that it should never die.

I cannot tell you exactly what is coming but I know, as do you, that something unprecedented in American history, perhaps even all human history, is coming soon.

This is the common theme in most of all the conversations that I hear… there is something coming, no one really knows what it is; they just know that whatever it is, it will be momentous. The discussions range from quantifying this “something” to describing what we will do after “IT” happens. I even hear serious open conversation of the Biblical “End of Times.” People, even those outside the grassroots Tea Party movement, feel it in their bones.

Speculation runs rampant as people ponder the feeling in their gut. It could begin with something as simple as personal unemployment. It may be the 2012 general election — or NOT. Or it could be any number of events that will trigger Martial Law and the now legal occupation of America by her own troops, under the un-Constitutional NDAA.

Those types of events are limitless and terrifying. It could be a full scale crash of our economy and dollar. It could be a new World War launched by Israel attacking Iran, or vice versa. It could be the launch of the rumored North Korean EMP attack designed to hurl America 100 years back into pre-electronic time. It could be Islamic jihadists succeeding in a catastrophic terrorist attack. It could be the enemy within if the Obama Administration’s aided and abetted “Occupy” movement transfers and escalates the violence witnessed in Oakland to the rest of the country.

Whatever the trigger might be, we are about to get the education of a lifetime on what it is to struggle. It will either make us more committed Americans, earning the Latin communitas – or it will literally tear us apart. I believe that the source of this struggle springs from the complex sublimity of global despotic tyranny – ultimate oppression.

Our culture is in the midst of a moral dilemma where bad is now good and what was deemed originally American by our Founders is now un-American. The Founders are all but outlawed because soon, unless those who hate freedom are halted, after the regime finishes destroying the Bill of Rights they will also totally erase the Founders from the educational curriculum. They will outlaw the works of our Founding Fathers and destroy their very existence, burning books and erasing American liberty from history. It will be done incrementally and they will transform our history into one that aligns with their totalitarian views.

Every single day we have now turned to reacting to what the regime is putting out instead of looking to where they are taking us. The powers pulling the levers of tyranny are every day more draconian and daring in scope as they usurp our institutions and drain the power from our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Most all of the stories that are important and should be seen are buried by the complicit media at the end of the weekly news cycles and under the cloak of darkness.

In Quantum Theory there is a concept called a singularity or a black hole. Just as a black hole cannot be seen in space, the actual truth and facts of the world situation and the intentions of the U.S. government must be judged by the influence exerted on the objects around it — extortion, manipulation, intimidation, czars, fascist over- regulation designed to purposefully strangle an economy and legislate away your right to defend and provide for yourself — all in an effort to force you into their food line dependency and powerlessness!

The gravity of a black hole is so monumental that even light collapses upon itself. And in the same way, the lights of liberty are also collapsing upon themselves as media, government officials and useful idiots corrupt our understanding of American Exceptionalism so we can never really know the nefarious plot that seeks to turn our good country into an empty carcass they can declare the “failed” American Experiment. Their answer to the great philosopher’s question, “Can man govern himself” will surely be no.

It must be noted that this current Administration is not the only perpetrator. A long history of Administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have eaten away at our freedom. This Obama Administration, so fatally attacking our liberty, is just the one closing the noose. The broad strokes of true Communism were tightly woven into the ObamaCare and Stimulus bills, yet most Americans had no clue. The technocratic, lawyer-istic drool contained within those bills made it even harder to comprehend that Soft Tyranny was the true intent. And Soft Tyranny always ends in Hard Tyranny — a horror not yet experienced by Americans never exposed to adversity and real stress — where tyrannical forces purposefully separate us from each other, turn us against each other (compulsory service, Ready Reserve, NDAA and the coercions in 5201 of ObamaCare) and control every aspect of our lives… lives which then become CRUEL because YOUR life will now be totally and completely ruled by THEIR choice.

IF THEY WIN, even the passion to be free and ultimately the reality itself of being free will be as if these blessings have never existed. Tyranny can never allow such powerful ideas to remain in the collective consciousness.

They will burn our books and they will attempt to erase our God. Because without the concept of freedom codified in books by the brilliant minds of Cicero, Locke and Montesquieu; without the inspiration and institutions from our Founders; without the guidance of God to the understanding that there is a higher power than the government, there would never have been our nation “conceived in liberty.”

But while I believe this struggle in which we are engaged is the struggle of the century, nay, the struggle of all centuries, I also believe in American Exceptionalism.

I believe that the heart and soul of America is strong and vibrant and that we shall not falter in our commitment to liberty.

We live NOW in the times that will try men’s souls.

CHOOSE NOW!

Are you a Summer Soldier, a Sunshine Patriot only to speak out when times are easy and there is no risk?

Or are you an American Exceptionalist who will STAND with me, RIGHT NOW to preserve our liberty, our beliefs and the American Way?

About Benjamin Smith:
Former Navy SEAL, Benjamin Smith took an oath to defend our Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. That oath has no expiration date. As a writer, speaker, political strategist and ardent Constitutionalist, Benjamin Smith continues to battle tyranny and defend the freedoms that enabled American exceptionalism. Benjamin is a regular contributor to multiple news outlets including Breitbart and Fox News.

The New Normal

2012-03-15T22:11:00.004-05:00

What will the new "normal" be after a massive SHTF/collapse? Well, if you are like me, you play the "what if" game. What if...it is the worst possible outcome it could possibly be?

Imagine, if you will, after struggling for 6 months to maintain a semblance or relatively "normal" pre-collapse life, you are now unable to generate or maintain regular power generation. Your stored food supplies are dwindling faster than you calculated, because you are feeding an extra 4 people you did not prep for (your brother and his family). You have no livestock, no idea how to get any, and no idea even how to feed them. You have a seed bank but have no clue what to plant, when to plant it or in what quantity. Your alkaline batteries are about gone, and you have no way to charge your re-chargeable batteries. Your stored water is running out, and while you have a lot of surface water nearby, you are uncertain if the water is chemically contaminated, requiring purification methods that you do not have. You sit in your kitchen, staring out the window, worried.

You thought you had approached prepping the right way. You bought all the right stuff. All the best gear. You read all the blogs, forums, and newsletters you could find. You read Patriots and One Second After a hundred times. You thought you had a great handle on things. What went wrong?

What went wrong indeed? You are not really prepared if all you do is buy food, batteries, gear, and books. You are only truly prepared if, and I mean if, you have cultivated, built and practiced a solid skill set.

A skill set is the one thing money cannot buy, but money helps. Skills are learned. Trial and error, experience, and mentors are the way to go. Skills like gardening, land management, animal husbandry, woodworking, food preservation, and metal working for example. Focus on skills that you would have to know if you were living in the 1800's.

I cannot stress enough how important skills are. Without skills, all the gear in the worlds is just a waste of money.

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Doomsday Preppers...Thoughts and Reflections

2012-03-05T08:50:00.002-06:00

Doomsday Preppers, the new "buzz" of "reality" based television programs. Focused on preppers, and their lifestyles. For me, it is a fun program to watch, but it is disconcerting at the same time. Let us take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good:

It is fun to watch in the simplest sense, as it provides a basis of comparison, a good idea of what prepping involves, and some humor. Many of the people featured on the show have done quite a bit to be prepared. One of the shortfalls of the program is the fact that each group or individual is forced by the show's producers to select only one scenario for which they are preparing. In my estimation, the more dramatic the scenario, the better. I have seen some exceptionally good preparations and some exceptionally poor ones. The preparations are reviewed and judged by a company headed by two very well known, and very "prep savvy" individuals on YouTube - SouthernPrepper1 and Engineer 775. I find these judgements to be solid and sound. The recommendations they give are exactly what I would have recommended to each group or individual.

The bad:
The downside to the show is the portrayal of these "preppers". While I understand each segment is edited for expedience, drama, and other basic principles of "reality" television, the editing leaves much to be desired. What do I mean? Each segment seems to be edited to marginalize the prepper community. The producers seem to make each individual or group out to be "fringe" or even borderline crazy. This is, in my opinion, a way to make the preppers come across as "out of touch" with reality. Especially when NatGeo displays their expert's opinion's on how likely the scenario that an individual or group is preparing for is going to happen. Some shows leave me shaking my head in wonder at the ignorance of not only the "experts", but of the general populace - the "sheeple" - as a whole. While some scenarios, like the eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano, are very unlikely, things like economic collapse are staring us in the face. This leads me to the "ugly" part.

The ugly:
First and foremost, OPSEC. OPSEC - Operational Security - should be the first and foremost thing on every prepper's mind. You do not advertize your location, preparedness level, or even discuss them among mixed company. Why? Simple. In a SHTF scenario, you will be a have. You will have food, water, shelter, fuel, security, and skills. Every other person, who are not prepping, will be a have not. What do you do when your neighbor, who knows you are prepared but is not prepared themselves, show up at your door begging for food, water, shelter, or protection? When you turn them down, because of the finite nature of your preparations, what happens when the begging turns to desperation? You will have placed yourself in a very untenable situation that could result in violence, injury, or even death. Your family is at risk. You are at risk. Everything you have becomes a driving force for the "have nots" to take from you to ensure their survival. Every single person, or group featured on this show has compromised their basic OPSEC. Now a nation of "have nots" know who has food, water, and equipment. Some of those are likely to even be the neighbors of these preppers. Not wise in the least.

Secondly the so-called "experts" assessing the odds of something like economic collapse actually happening. These folks are sidelining and marginalizing the preppers featured simply by giving unrealistic and very untrue statistical analysis of many, if not most, of the scenarios. Looking at history, and current events, one would reasonably be able to estimate the potential occurrence of economic collapse at much, much higher than .2%. This sidelining and marginalizing serves, in my opinion, only one function. To dissuade any person who has not yet started preparing from actually starting.

Preparing is so much more than being ready for economic collapse. It is insurance against catastrophe. How many people, who were unprepared or woefully under prepared, have had to rely on outside help to survive in a post disaster scenario? Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in the past century. Preparing keeps you out of 10 hour long lines waiting for a charity or government organization to hand out basic foodstuffs and water so you can make it another day or two. It allows you to invest that time you have saved by being prepared in repair work, debris removal, contacting your insurance company, and securing your domicile. It also saves you from having to pay exorbitant or scalper-like pricing for items, like generators, ice, or fuel when you are in an extended disaster scenario, such as a recovery period after a major hurricane.

You must not base your thinking about prepping off of a television program. Just look at the nightly news and see how people are affected by massive natural disasters, and put yourself in their position. Play the "what if" game. Look at your family, either immediate or extended, and think how will I care for, feed, and protect my loved ones if something really big happens. Being prepared is insurance. The odds of some disaster visiting you or your family are greater than .02%. It is not imprudent to buy life insurance or homeowners insurance. Why not buy some survival insurance?

Got preps? Pray for the best, prepare for the worst.