Watch how they respond to a series of common questions covering topics such as American history, geography, and politics.

• In which war did our country win its independence?
• Who is the Vice President?
• Which countries border the U.S.?
• How many stars on the flag of the United States?
• Can you name a country starting with the letter “U” ?

Hat tip Igy

 Your right to watch the government and record what you see is a natural right that is protected by the Constitution, and it cannot be taken away by the government.

-Judge Napolitano (State of the Police State)

When President Obama spoke of transparency on the 2008 campaign trail millions of his supporters believed that his election would usher in an era of no more closed doors, no more covert deal making, and no more lies. Contrary to his promise, however, the Executive and Legislative branches are now more secretive than ever, refusing in many cases to even allow video and audio cataloging of important Congressional hearings and negotiations.

While the President and democrats in Congress often take the brunt of the criticism for restricting Constitutional protections like freedom of speech, they are far from being alone in their efforts to quash the voice of the people and the dissemination of information to the public.

The latest Constitutional transgression comes to us from republican Andy Harris (MD), chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, which recently heard testimony on the controversial issue of fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and its effects on ground water. Attending the hearing with camera in hand was Josh Fox, producer of Gas Land, a documentary that was highly critical of the oil and gas industry’s fracking procedures. In it, Fox highlights the growing environmental and health dangers posed by fracking, which not only uses some 3.5 million gallons of water per well, but dumps 80,000 pounds of chemicals into the ground, 65 of which are believed to be hazardous for human consumption and the majority of which remain in the ground once fracking has been completed.

The latest hearing involving discussions about EPA confirmed groundwater contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming, included evidence that unsafe levels of benzene and methane had seeped into public water supplies and private wells. When Fox attempted to record the proceedings of the public hearing (which was being simultaneously broadcast on the committee’s web site), he was met with significant resistance from Representative Harris. Though Fox cited that the First Amendment to the US Constitution restricts Congress from creating laws that prohibit or abridge the exercise of free press, the committee Chairman invoked an often ignored rule that Harris was not a ‘credentialed journalist.’ When Fox stood his ground and refused to leave he was arrested by Capitol Police and charged with unlawful entry.

The Arrest:

Josh Fox Responds to Charges After His Release:

In a statement following the hearing, Andy Harris said, “The Capitol Police treated Mr. Fox the same way they would any other individual violating the rules of the House or a House committee.”

Fair enough, Mr. Harris. But how, then, should the American people treat an individual, a member of Congress no less, who would strip away the First Amendment protections of an American citizen?

Also See: Gasland (Trailer below)

Sidenote: Did that faucet water just combust?!?! And, seeing as he believes there are no harmful side effects to fracking, would Representative Andy Harris willing to swap out his favorite $2-a-pop bottled water for this instead? Just curious.

With three kids in elementary school, the Slavo household regularly goes on quarantine lock-down as a result of fevers, flus, vomit inducing noro-viruses, colds and a host of other surprisingly powerful (and sometimes scary) contagion the kids pick up from friends and classmates. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that once the symptoms have been identified in one of our kids, chances are that some or all of us have already been infected. In fact, it’s gotten to the point that, during the winter season, I often joke that my kids, as well as those of our neighbors, are little biological weapons just waiting to be unleashed on the population.

And it’s true – if a sinister group wanted to spread a virus and make a statement, they could easily start in a public school (of course airports and other public venues are on the list). There is simply no way to contain it once released, especially with kids sharing  school supplies, food and drink, hugs, high fives, and of course, their constantly annoying lack of any reasonable level of hygiene when their parents aren’t present. By the time contagion has been identified, it’s already too late.

In his thoughts on the flu, Todd discusses his experiences as an educator in a Houston public school during the H1N1 pandemic scare which led to the closing of 11 district schools. Others, like those in our area of Houston, remained open, which led to a good deal of confusion among parents who had no idea whether the ‘pandemic’ was the real deal or simply an overreaction by school boards, medical advisers and media.

Our view, and one that Todd shares, is ‘better safe than sorry.’ If you suspect that something is up – perhaps you’ve heard that some of the kids in the area have been hospitalized, or there is a CDC warning, or you’ve been tipped off on your favorite preparedness/survival forum or web site – it may be a good time for you to take those sick days off from work and keep the kids home, isolated even from their neighborhood friends.

As Todd points out, an alarming recent development is that scientists have actually created a flu virus in a lab (H5N1), it’s much deadlier that the H1N1 and has been confirmed to be airborne. On top of that, the details on its development have been shared publicly via the internet with those who would like nothing less than to do us harm. It’s contained for the time being, but how long before this or some other deadly virus – perhaps something similar to the black death (1348 – 1350) or Spanish flu (1918) – start spreading across our very interconnected globe.

For the parents out there, consider discussing flu and cold viruses, how they spread, how to know if a friend or classmate is sick, and what protocols to follow if they suspect a buddy or girlfriend may be coming down with something. Using some of Todd’s recommendations, explain to them how to best prevent the spread, and finally, how to self-quarantine so as not to infect others and why that’s important. Additionally, consider what steps you would take if a truly deadly virus turned pandemic.

Thoughts on the Flu in our Public Schools
by Todd Sepulveda

I wear my prepper mask and cape at night when I scour the internet for great prepping articles to link to from my site.  But during the day, I’m a mild mannered educator in the public school system.  As I prep for the various scenarios that my family might have to go through, I often think about these scenarios happening when I’m at school with a school full of kids!

I’ve written about my worst nightmare, an EMP during school hours, before.  I also often think about possible terrorism and of course natural disasters.  But in this article, I want to touch on something that can be so deadly and yet creep undetected around your child’s school, the flu.

My office is close to the school clinic.  I often look in and see the frequent flyer patients who are trying to avoid their school work.  I give them “the look” and encourage them to get back to class and start working.  But more often than I would like, I see kids laying down on the clinic beds with a cool pack on their head because they are running a fever.  When I talk to these students, the story is often the same, they woke up with a fever, mom or dad gave them some Tylenol and put them on the bus!  After a few hours, the Tylenol wears off and the students start feeling bad, all the while they were spreading germs all over the classroom and school.  We often tell students and their parents that we want them to have good attendance, but we don’t want them to come to school sick.

In the Spring of 2009, 11 Houston area schools were shut down because of confirmed cases of the Swine Flu, H1N1. The problem could have been worse, but thank goodness that it wasn’t.  The scary thing is that officials did admit that cases were slow to be confirmed because of a lack of resources.  “One reason for the uncertainty is because laboratories cannot test specimens as fast as they are coming in.” http://goo.gl/7CiiW

The problem with the flu is that the little boogers don’t want to keep the status quo.  They want to change and evolve and mutate! The recent experiments with H5N1 show that it only takes five mutations to get the deadly form of the flu airborne! http://goo.gl/UrSD4

Now what happens when the SHTF in the form of a flu pandemic and major cities are overrun with cases that they can’t identify?  How do we protect our kids when students are coming to school sick and parents don’t do the responsible thing and keep them home to get better?  You can help your child be better prepared to face the challenges of the flu in public school if you do a few things…

Give them the talk – When I was a classroom teacher, a few times throughout the year, I would give my elementary students the “germ talk.”  It went something like this…

“Students today I want to take a few minutes to talk about germs.  You can’t see them or taste them or smell them, but they can make you really sick.  This is an example of how they can spread.  Your classmate comes to school sick.  They cough in their hand or wipe their nose because it is runny and then continue working or writing using their school supplies.  At some point they lay down their pencil.  You don’t realize that there are germs on their pencil and you pick it up, maybe by mistake.  Now the germs have gone from your sick classmate to their hands to their pencil to your hands.  You then touch your face, your eyes, mouth, go to lunch without washing your hands and now the germs have gone from your hand to inside your body.  Now you are probably going to get sick too!”

I’ve done that same talk as an administrator too. Often I have to do it during their lunch, the last few minutes of course…it’s the only time I can get whole grade levels together at one time!  The kids always get grossed out, but the parents who are eating lunch with their students always appreciate it!

Teach them to wash their hands – This is a no brainer, but you can’t imagine how many students don’t wash their hands properly.  When students are caught playing in the restrooms, I always stress to them, “stop playing, do your business and wash your hands.”  I’m a big user of hand sanitizer too.  But this is a temporary solution until you can wash your hands properly.

Make sure they have their supplies – You don’t want your student touching or borrowing supplies from other students.  It is best to make sure that they have their supplies and use what they have.  Yes they are going to want to use their friend’s huge box of 65 Crayons, but try to minimize this as much as possible.  Buy them the cute pencils and erasers so they would want to use their own supplies.

Teach them to cough correctly – Your child can do their part of coughing and not spreading germs themselves.  Teach your child to cough in the fold of their elbow.  This keeps germs away from their hands which in turn will touch everything else.

Feed them healthy food – Make sure your child is getting their vitamins and eating well.  You wouldn’t believe some of the junk that kids bring and parents allow for lunch.  There is no way that a lot kids are eating right.  But it is important to maintain healthy bodies so that their immune system is working on all levels.

Monitor the news and be informed – If it looks like the S is HTF, keep them home.  A few days of being absent is better than the risk.

In 2009, when the Swine flu was being called a pandemic, I was a little concerned that it could get out of hand.  I monitored the news and monitored the clinic as well.  I wanted to know from the nurse how many students were going home sick and I got info from the registrar on how many students were absent.  Ultimately, it didn’t get as bad as I feared, but it could have.  But the prudent thing to do is to always be vigilant and prepared.

For more info. on talking to kids about the flu, visit the CDC site – http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/

Todd Sepulveda is the editor of The Prepper Website – http://www.prepperwebsite.com The mission of The Prepper Website is to provide links to quality articles and websites that focus on preparing for emergencies, survival, homesteading, simple life and alternative news.

From time to time we get a glimpse into the goings on of the well connected. This may be one of those moments:

Cameron has successfully applied to buy 1,067 hectares (2,636 acres) of farmland in New Zealand. In an application filed with the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office, Cameron says he and his family “intend to reside indefinitely in New Zealand and are acquiring the property to reside on and operate as a working farm.”

Source: Associated Press, via Matt Drudge

As we’ve outlined before, farmland is one of the only reasonable physical assets to hold in the event of a major crisis, as you’ll be outside of highly populated metropolitan areas, you’ll have the ability to produce your own food, generate your own energy, and, more so than your urbanite and suburbanite counterparts, stay away from the chaos that will ensue during a major upheaval.

Liberty Media CEO James Malone, like director James Cameron, has also taken refuge outside of major cities at his ranch on the Quebec border, giving him and his family an immediate international bug out plan in the event of an emergency. Another sign from the elite is that large net worth individuals and investment managers are buying up and taking physical delivery of precious metals, which in our humble opinion, is a leading indicator that large in-the-know investors are preparing for a loss of confidence in the stability of the global economic, monetary, financial and/or political systems.

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett recently warned that Those Who Can, Should Move Their Families Out Of the City, and insiders are worried about game changing riots stemming from the Occupy movement.

The theory that elite members of society know something is amiss is further strengthened by comments such as those of financier George Soros who publicly declared in a recent interview with Newsweek that he expects violent riots on the streets of America in coming months and years.

Furthermore, we have federal agencies and local police departments actively training for urban conflict, and the Pentagon has been war gaming scenarios that include large scale economic breakdown and civil unrest.

The stories reported over the last several years point to a growing consensus among elite business leaders, politicians, and military generals that we’re headed into a situation that is wholly unpredictable. They know the system is on the brink, have said so repeatedly, and are actively taking steps to manage a crisis should it ever come to that.

Short of the mainstream media coming out and broadcasting to the American people that the system is about to destabilize and to expect nothing short of total meltdown and pandemonium, reading between the lines and watching the actions of those who are interconnected with the money and power structures on which the system is built will be our only warning signal for the difficult times we face in the near future.

The message is loud and clear. Are you listening?

In the following post we present another experience, this time from Cairo, from someone who was there at the height of the riots and violence that would eventually lead to the collapse of the entire political structure of Egypt and imposition of military rule.

As is generally the case, first hand experiences offer an often informative and realistic view of what you can really expect, the challenges you’ll face, the thoughts that will be running through your mind, and actionable steps to take in the midst of crisis.

Via John Rolls, pierrelegrand.net, M4Carbine.net
Originally published at The AK Forum by Eightbore

From the somewhat guilt filled comforts of Greece, I have been thinking about what I learned from the recent Cairo SHTF experience. I am not putting myself forth as an expert of any sort and, frankly, many or even most items on the list below might be flat out wrong….who the hell knows. We were in Cairo from Jan 25th until late Feb 3rd when the neighborhood gunfire became full-auto and regularly occurring. At that point, we decided that Friday prayers (the next day) might not yield a pleasant experience. We had no way of knowing that we had already seen the worst.

Lesson #1….the best weapon for SHTF is truly whatever F*&$ING firearm you can lay your hands on and it does not matter the slightest bit what it is! I had a borrowed three shot semi-auto Beretta 26″ bbl trap grade shotgun. I LOVED IT. It was my baby and I truly miss it now!. That said, I would have given my left nut for my Yugo underfolder or SGL-21. Frankly, I am now of the opinion that if, in the moment, you are being AT ALL picky about firearms then by definition the shit has NOT truly hit the fan. One guy on our street only had a nice little S&W J-frame .22 and he seemed a lot more relaxed than the guys with baseball bats I can tell you that!

Lesson #2…..Good will with one’s friends and neighbors has the power to greatly enhance or even make unnecessary ABSOLUTELY ANY prep you can make (including having money). Bad will with ones neighbors similarly has the ability to completely nullify any prep (again, including having money). I am and was the lucky beneficiary and supplier of the former. As an example, one night on the street a local young cop who lived in the neighborhood asked me “where did you get that shotgun”. I winked and said, “I found it”. He just smirked and said, “Oh…OK”. End of conversation. That’s what is achieved by six years of being the “Cool American” who takes the time to chat with everyone from street vendors, doormen, and neighborhood kids to villa owners and businessmen.

Lesson #3….Bugging out is really only an option if you are lucky enough to be psychic and see the shit BEFORE it truly hits the fan. The bug out plans you have will almost certainly physically be blocked when SHTF. Good luck getting to Alexandria after SHTF in Tahrir square or to Aswan when the government shuts down the rail network! Frankly, we almost realized we had those options before they were blocked off but by they might have been more dangerous than bugging in with our friends and neighbors and banding together to protect the neighborhood. Further, I did not want to be a “refugee” so bugging in was perfectly fine since we prepped wisely. That said, and in spite of the above, when you see an escape route, RUN (see Lesson #4 and #11)!

Lesson #4….Do NOT be too proud to become a “refugee” if you can manage it comfortably. There is a world of difference between being a penniless “refugee” and taking a “strategic vacation” (new term I just invented!) on a commercial flight with a fat wad of cash (see Lesson #13).

Lesson #5…People are stupid. There MAY (repeat…MAY) still be time to prep the very day and even the second or third day the shit is “kinda” hitting the fan (SKHTF! another new term!). Grocery stores MAY still be open and things MAY be as normal for a short time. Now is the time to stock up on little things you may need more of or on comfort items. I saw this happen in Cairo even the first days of the worst rioting. Stores were open even a couple blocks from Tahrir strangely enough….for a while. Day three of the revolution, when Tahrir looked like a legitimate war-zone, the Souq two blocks from the square was selling us vegetables and canned goods and, amazingly, was not all that busy! We cleaned them out and distributed surplus to those in our building who could not or would not go out (See Lesson #2)

Lesson #6….Murphy’s law applies. Preps will fail or break or prove impractical when you least expect. For example, the sat phone I just replaced worked just fine for all of the last five years. I wanted to upgrade and bought the new model that arrived in Cairo a week before the riots when my wife returned from the US. The brand new com equipment that would have totally bailed us out when the govt cut cell and internet….you guessed it….had a bad battery shipped with it!! Moral of the story: Invest in MULTIPLE redundancies! I am now also buying a handheld HAM system.

Lesson #7….Marry well! Perhaps this should be Lesson #1. My wife was calm and collected for the 10 days we were in Cairo during SHTF. She was organizing things around the house and with neighbors and even making improvised weaponry (clubs) even better with the addition of protruding nails etc. She rocks! She also cooked for the “neighborhood watch” and is now absolutely LOVED by the people around us! She helped with Lesson #2 immensely because NO other wives in the neighborhood were bringing tea and food to the guys on the street.

Lesson #8….You don’t have to “bug out” to MOVE and make things a great deal easier for yourself! Just because the shit is hitting the fan where you are does NOT mean it is hitting the fan even 10 miles away. This is not bugging out…just moving. When we were driving to the airport on day ten or eleven, I was amazed that a short 10 minute drive away there were no tanks or APCs and people were calm. The whole vibe was so different that it kinda made me suspect that something was wrong. SHTF had become “normal” for me to the point that “normal” now looked scary and suspicious. We even passed a wedding that was taking place where everyone looked totally calm. We didn’t realize for 10 days that all we really had to do was find a new apartment or take a nice hotel room 20 miles away from our current location. Lesson learned! Don’t become married to your “role” in SHTF.

Lesson #9…When the players in a conflict become ill-defined, it’s time to step aside. If you know who the bad guys are, you can play this game but when it becomes a war of all against all, it becomes imperative to stay out of the game where EVERYONE loses. The Feb 2 riots that took place the night before we left were a perfect example of this. It was no longer just looters we were worried about, it was EVERYONE. Buildings were being occupied in Tahrir presumably by both sides of the conflict and I didn’t want to wait for this phenomenon to come 5 blocks south to us. If SHTF starts to look too much like civil war, it’s “game over” and time to make a change.

Lesson #10…Stockpiling is 100% rational. Even if you wind up bugging out or SHTF is short enough to not use everything you have stashed, your foresight will help others and will contribute greatly to your ability to adhere to Lesson #2. Just because you are able to bug out does not mean others will have the same luxury and these people WILL need your help.

Lesson #11…People WILL sell you out. Be prepared for it and know that it might come from anywhere….”Friends”, Relatives, or employers. Someone will almost assuredly ditch you or put you in a tight spot while covering their own ass. The toughest part of this lesson is coming to terms with the fact that at some point, it’s totally justifiable and yes even forgivable. Understand that at some point your OWN family will be the priority and that you will be the one who is selling out people you know and likely care for. I know that this is not at all a comfortable thought, but it is realistic.

Lesson #12…Some people will surprise you. People from whom you might expect animosity, will sometimes provide you with the help you need and incur substantial risk or personal cost to do it. Just like you will at some point very likely be embodying Lesson #11, you will (or definitely F($**ING should) be embodying Lesson #12 as well.

Lesson #13….Diverisfy your financial position. Gold will not buy groceries (but see Lesson #14) and cash won’t buy an emergency flight over the internet. Similarly, your big neighborhood Christian grocer will get freaked out over the religious implications of SHTF and close. Guess what, he is the only guy in a 10 mile radius who takes credit cards…so have cash! Further, diversify your currencies in international terms by holding foreign currency for the place you intend to bug out too (and maybe even one or two others since you never know where you might be going). From now on I will hold Egyptian Pounds, Dollars, Euros, and Jordanian Dinar….at a minimum.

Lesson #14…Gold….OWN IT! It may not work with the grocer you barely know as a medium of exchange but it damn sure makes great collateral eg. “OK…you keep this gold sovereign and I will buy it back from you for the 200 Egyptian pounds I owe you as soon as the ATMs start working”. It’s great bribe material too, though I didn’t have to resort to it, when you want to get your beloved dog on a “no-pets” flight.

Lesson #15….Silver….Keep some but only buy it in major quantity with your gold when things have calmed down and you know you wont be bugging out! Silver had taken a good dip about a week before SHTF and I was this close to buying a few kg bars the day or two before the protests started. I didn’t and am VERY glad. Silver is of course bulky and heavy and I would not have needed those extra kgs when we were finally on the move ten or eleven days later. Silver is a great medium of exchange when things have settled down after SHTF but it is not a great prep UNLESS you keep it confined to maybe a single kg of junk silver or small rounds.

Lesson #16….Be flexible and creative. SHTF will be unique to the surroundings and people and cause thus necessitating quick thinking that is outside the box and the formulation of solutions to problems that may work today but not tomorrow. Do NOT become married to a situation, your role in it, or the solution to a problem that may not work for you tomorrow.

Lesson #17….Be intimidating when you think it will work. Develop a war face! Be loud and fearless and look like someone capable of anything…it minimizes negotiation and whining in other parties.  Simultaneously, know when to fly under the radar and when to say “Katy bar the door!” The nature of SHTF changes over time and necessitates that YOU change who you are to a very substantial degree.

Lesson #18….Stock your liquor cabinet. Do so partially for barter and good will purposes, but also understand that when a curfew is imposed during SHTF, the impromptu “revolution party” will become common. I was teargassed on day 3 or 4 and scooped up six random study abroad journalism students who were literally trapped by police in my neighborhood. The police had blocked off all entrances and exits so these red-eyed kids could literally not get home. We all went back to my apartment where, over the next 6 hours or so, my wife, these kids, and I did some serious damage to a bottle of red label. On top of that, the realistic reason for stocking up is that after a few days of staying up all night enjoying what SHTF has to offer, you will have trouble sleeping and a wee dram never hurts.

Lesson #19…When SHTF is over, be prepared for a LOT of odd behavior on the part of people you know. There will be lots of unnecessary crap about “who did what” during SHTF and arguments about how we can avoid SHTF in the future or how we can rebuild or “unify” in the wake of SHTF. Everyone will think their ideas are the best and the very real conflict between people you know will push you and those around you back toward a SHTF situation to some degree. The moral of this story is, if you are a foreigner, keep your damned mouth shut. Even if you are a local, the arguments are just not worth it.

Lesson #20…You learned who your friends are during SHTF…now treat them that way! For example, I no longer visit my big neighborhood grocer who closed and locked sh!t up tighter than a drum for the FULL DURATION of SHTF. I do, however, now regularly frequent the tiny-a$$ little grocery store with the mediocre selection around the corner. Why? Because it is owned and operated by a 50 year old guy who was open every single day of SHTF and I saw him regularly at 2:00am guarding the front of his store (and others) armed with nothing more than a hippo-hide whip (sjambok). He was doing this when the very reliable rumor was that looters had stolen police vehicles, uniforms, and guns. I don’t care that this guy doesn’t have the shampoo my wife likes, I am buying my groceries from him!

In addition to some 50,000 U.S. troops currently in the region waiting for orders (apparently they won’t be home by this past Christmas as was originally promised), Nobel Peace Prize winner President Barack Obama is deploying an additional 50,000 soldiers to be ready for ‘any contingency’ by March:

President Barack Obama is reported exclusively by DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military and Washington sources to have secretly ordered US air, naval and marine forces to build up heavy concentrations on two strategic islands – Socotra, which is part of a Yemeni archipelago in the Indian Ocean, and the Omani island of Masirah at the southern exit of the Strait of Hormuz.

Since 2010, the US has been quietly building giant air force and naval bases on Socotra with facilities for submarines, intelligence command centers and take-off pads for flying stealth drones, as part of a linked chain of strategic US military facilities in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

The Socotra facilities are so secret that they are never mentioned in any catalogue listing US military facilities in this part of the world, which include Jebel Ali and Al Dahfra in the United Arab Emirates; Arifjan in Kuwait; and Al Udeid in Qatar – all within short flying distances from Iran.

Additional US forces are also being poured into Camp Justice on the barren, 70-kilometer long Omani island of Masirah, just south of the Hormuz entry point to the Gulf of Oman from the Arabian Sea.

…

Western military sources familiar with the American buildup on the two strategic islands tell DEBKA-Net-Weekly that, although they cannot cite precise figures, they are witnessing the heaviest American concentration of might in the region since the US invaded Iraq in 2003.

Then, 100,000 American troops were massed in Kuwait ahead of the invasion. Today, those sources estimate from the current pace of arrivals on the two island bases, that 50,000 US troops will have accumulated on Socotra and Masirah by mid-February. They will top up the 50,000 military already present in the Persian Gulf region, so that in less than a month, Washington will have some 100,000 military personnel on the spot and available for any contingency.

US air transports are described as making almost daily landings on Socotra and Masirah. They fly in from the US naval base of Diego Garcia, one of America’s biggest military facilities, just over 3,000 kilometers away. The US military presence in the region will further expand in the first week of March when three US aircraft carriers and their strike groups plus a French carrier arrive in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea: They are theUSS Abraham Lincoln, USS Carl Vinson, USS Enterprise and the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

A fourth US carrier will be standing by in the Pacific Ocean, a few days’ sailing time from the water off Iran’s coast.

Source: Debka

Still holding out hope that we won’t go to war with Iran?

There’s already reason enough for the powers-to-be to invade Iran based on the accusations that they are in the process of manufacturing nuclear weapons. Whether true or not makes no difference, as we saw with weapons of mass destruction that have yet to be found in Iraq.

Similarly, like Saddam Hussein before them, Iran’s leadership is attempting to trade their oil without going through the proper channels – in essence attempting to bypass the United States and Europe by striking deals with China, India, and Russia that will not require the exchange of oil for US dollars, but rather, Yuan, Rupees and Gold.

It may very well be that nuclear weapons, like WMD in Iraq, are simply the pretext, rather than the real reason, that will be used to crush those who oppose the financiers, politicians and influencers behind the new world order paradigm.

Make no mistake: this is serious business. They will kill as many as is needed (on our side and theirs) in order to push the agenda forward.

This is what happens when you mess with the men behind the curtains:

*Warning Graphic Video*

Hat tip Steve Quayle, Stan Deyo

Sponsored by Assemblyman L. Grace Spencer (D-29), A588 is cleverly disguised as police safety legislation aimed at armor piercing ammunition (which is already prohibited under federal and state law).  The measure actually opens the door to a sweeping ammunition ban by an unelected public official by executive fiat. Common hunting, target, and self-defense ammunition would be subject to ban, along with BB’s, airgun pellets, and non-metallic ammunition like plastic airsoft pellets, if the Attorney General decides that they pose a threat to the safety and well being of law enforcement.

Although the bill only mentions handgun ammunition, it is in fact not limited to handgun ammunition, and would apply to all rifle ammunition for which a handgun is ever made. As an increasing number of gun manufacturers make handgun models that shoot rifle caliber ammunition, the line between “handgun” vs. “rifle” ammunition has become blurred, and the New Jersey State Police have already begun treating rifle ammunition in this category as if it were handgun ammunition for regulatory purposes. As long as a handgun exists that shoots a particular caliber of rifle ammunition, New Jersey treats that ammunition as if it were handgun ammunition.

Source: NRA Institute For Legislative Action

As Aaron Dykes of Infowars points out, the bills themselves would not outlaw the ammunition, but they “would enable the state’s Attorney General to instate a de facto restriction of the Second Amendment via executive fiat.”

In essence, if the Attorney General determines that a particular type of ammunition poses a threat to the police or government officials, that ammunition could be completely banned under this new legislation.

The goal, of course, is to render the Second Amendment impotent – the ultimate endgame of those who would brink the darkness of tyranny over our great nation.

By all accounts, as SGT Report highlights in their latest micro-documentary (available below), the government has rebelled against the people, and they are working feverishly to eliminate, one by one, each of the Constitutional protections that have ensured the peoples’ right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for over two centuries.

I want to make the case that there has been a rebellion.

This government has rebelled against the Constitution and against the citizens of the United States. The invasion of the public safety has been made by the representatives of the people.

the public safety could not be more at risk now, that the NDAA containing S1867, is law. The signing of NDAA was the crossing of the Rubicon. The government has now pushed farther than could have been imagined even 12 or 18 short months ago.

…

I have long believed that the final straw will come when this government attempts to ban guns or ammunition, or declare a confiscation of precious metals.

They will keep pushing, as all tyrants do, until the people push back. This latest transgression of our freedoms may be limited to a single state, but if approved, would open the door to similar bans across the entire country.

As Alex Jones warns in a recent  update, those who would make us slaves and strip us of our natural rights are doing so at an accelerated rate.

It’s really simple. We’re getting down to the wire here. Tyranny is out in the open. The destruction of our basic liberties, the overthrow of our republic and basic protections, and basic checks and balances, is in overdrive right now.

Four years ago, had someone told you that the government would take over major financial institutions, manufacturers, and insurance companies, or that they would legislate universal health mandates or indefinite detention of American citizens without trial, or that they would grope your children at public venues and transportation hubs, would you have believed them?

Most Americans would have balked at the very thought of such things.

Yet here we are. And the scary thing? They’re not finished yet. They won’t be; not until the Constitution of the United States is relegated to nothing more than a historical text in some museum rather than what it was meant to be – the fundamental law of the land.

Video: First NDAA “Indefinite Detention”, Now Our Right to Bear Arms (Via SGT Report)

Hat tip SGT Report, NRA-ILA, Infowars, Ammoland

Click here for larger image

Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected.

Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.

To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:

1. Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
2. Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
3. Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
4. Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
5. Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked.  If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
6. Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you begin acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
7. Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony that comes with eating the same foods day in and day out. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
8. Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
9. Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with piece of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), they will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Over time, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient.
10. Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought for the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.

Keeping the above considerations in mind when purchasing your food supply will provide your family with a well rounded food pantry stocked with an array of foods that will assist in promoting a healthy diet. Not listed in the suggestions is water. You must have water to survive. To learn more about potable water, click here. It would be prudent to have a 2-week supply of water on hand, as well as a water filtration device to rely on for extended disasters.

Prepping is a passion for some. For others it is the most efficient way to keep their family as safe as possible. For further resources and a list of essential items for your emergency supply, click here.

This article has been contributed by Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition. Subscribe to Tess’ Get Prepped Weekly Newsletter for more emergency preparedness tips, homesteading ideas, and insights. As a subscriber to her free newsletter you’ll receive the latest updates from her 52 Weeks to Preparedness Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Planning Series. It’s well worth your time, and oh, did we mention it’s totally free?

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There are over 3.5 million people officially listed as homeless in America, and with tent cities popping up all over the country as a result of foreclosures or inability to pay rent, the trend, like the rising number of food stamp participants (48.5 Million) and those living on the edge of poverty (100 million), is not abating. In fact, as the economic health of the United States further degrades, we can expect to see homelessness rise at a record pace. Most Americans are just a paycheck away from disaster, and once that income stops coming, there is no alternative except to join the millions already living on the streets.

There is, however, some light at the end of the tunnel, at least for those living in Florida, where legislators may have come up with novel solution for sheltering those without homes:

Back in 1988, Florida legislators passed a law that would allow sports stadiums to collect about $2 million per year from the government to build new shiny stadiums that would increase economic investment and improve the quality of life.

Tucked into the statutes is an obscure homeless shelter provision, which has mostly been ignored for 23 years, and could be a $300 million “Oops” for stadiums, arenas and spring training facilities across the state.

The law states that sports teams that accept taxpayer dollars to build facilities must house the homeless on off-nights, and lawmakers have brought it back from the dead in a pair of bills gaining steam this legislative session.

Senate Bill 816, which would make teams and stadium owners return millions of taxpayer dollars if they can’t prove that they’ve been operating as a haven for the homeless on non-event nights,  passed its first committee in the Senate on Monday with a unanimous vote.

There was some charged language aimed at taxpayer-supported sports franchises during the hearing:

“We have spent over $300 million supporting teams that can afford to pay a guy $7, $8, $10 million a year to throw a baseball 90 feet. I think they can pay for their own stadium,”  said Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, who is sponsoring the bill.  “I can not believe that we’re going to cut money out of Medicaid and take it away from the homeless and take it away from the poor and impoverished, and we’re continuing to support people who are billionaires.”

Source: Miami Herald