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Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF

 
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 03:55 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
What percentage of Americans receive assistance in any kind?

During the Great Depression, many Americans and immigrants lost their employment and ability to regularly provide themselves with food and shelter. Forget about medicine. We simply had no structure for medical care in those days. In fact most of the social programs we have today are the result of programs initiated by FDR's New Deal, and it steam rolled from there.

In the 1920's, many immigrants has been lured by the gear up of factories, some peripherally. For example, Mexicans legally were allowed into the country to work as migrants since many Americans moved from those jobs into factory work (and thus making up to 4x there former salary), and the Mexicans worked those now vacant jobs. Filipinos also worked in migrant labor. Some immigrants came to work in International Fair jobs in California. Others worked in the factories as the price of the automobile fell and many Americans purchased them, and there were so many factory vacancies that Italians, Ukrainians, Serbians, etc relocated from their countries to work them.
As the economy declined, Mexicans were repatriated to their country. In the rush, some American citizens of Mexican ancestry, were also forced to leave. Some European immigrants left.

Sharecroppers lost their jobs as crop prices declined, and many lost their homes as a result. Students of history often remember them from songs about Okies relocating to California, but many of them were from the South and they relocated to the North to escape discrimination and allocation of New Deal public assistance, much of it initially through the CCC in places like NYC, but then subsequent money through the WPA.

What would most likely happen today if the Dollar collapsed and the American government was concerned about its citizens?

Much of the movement of people in the Great Depression (1929-1941) was random. Since public assistance at first was nonexistent, people moved based upon rumor of work and climate. In those days, our population was 122 million and 34 million people had families with no full-time wage earner. 34/122 = 28% of the US population.

What about the facts today? How are they different? The US population today is 307 million. Three times the number of 1932. 92 million are on public assistance in one of more forms. 92/307 = 30%

92 million is 3x the number of families who don't have a full time wage earner. 33 million of those people are children (under the age of 18).

When we think of public assistance, we think of welfare. Let's break down the illusion that many of you have. Who is on public assistance? It's true that we have people who have receive welfare benefits who are poor. We also have people who are disabled. We have veterans. We have retirees.

None of this includes any children in families who currently have a full time job. No does it included students in college who might or might not have part time employment.

So only looking at 92 million who do receive government assistance, if the economy tanks, how would you feed 92 million people? How would you house 92 million if they lose their homes? How would you provide utilities for 92 million?

In 2009, over 2 million were in prison and are not included in the statistics above. Over 7 million were under correctional supervision.

National Guard/ Military Reserve in the US = 467,587
NORTHCOM 1200

CCC
Because there were no jobs, and the government needed to put people back to work, and receive some sort of return for providing them jobs, some of these people were employed in camps like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). While only 300,000 were employed at any one time, 9 million were assigned over it's history. Workers lived in camps and performed jobs like replanting trees. They received $30 per month of which $25 went back to their parent. $5 a month income.

WPA
20 million received public assistance of one kind or another. Many were unable to work like retirees. The average amount of assistance was $100 per month.

Today
Imagine the difficulty today of finding the money and resources in the event of a global depression. We already have 92 million on assistance. Imagine even great unfathomable amounts on relief.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 05:02 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Quick list of the most medically fragile populations. Some double counting occurs with co-morbidity (that's when you have multiple issues)

Type I Diabetes 1.3 million
Type II Diabetes 25 million

Schizophrenia 2.2 million
Depression 30 million
Chronic Lung disease 35 million

Chronic Heart disease 27.1 million

Nursing Home census 1.4 (lots of co-morbidity there)

61.4 are disabled in one form or another (20%)

Expect this segment of the population to die off first due a lack of logistical support to medicines and availability to access routine medical care.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 05:48 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Drug Abuse in the US
Alcoholics 17.6 million

In a post-SHTF scenario, most illegal drugs will not be available. There will simply be no supply chain since people will not have money. Eventually that may change, but in the short run, expect chaos as suddenly many meth-heads can't score a deal. Heroin or morphine addicts will flip out.

Since 20% of the nation is disabled, and many are on pain medication, expect a switch to stealing pain meds. Many are already abusing them, and since they have no supply, then the natural way to get them is by breaking in. Since they don't know how to function in society well, and they can't get their medicine, and they can't earn money through their normal means, expect robberies anyway to get food and supplies and the occasional score of old prescription medications in cabinets.

17.6 million are alcoholics. Suddenly their legal drug of choice is cut off. That withdrawal will be very ugly. Since many forms of alcohol can be found in homes (some dangerous to drink since the alcohol is not ethanol and can cause blindness), expect break-ins to steal alcohol. Any alcohol in stores will be gone with 48 hours of warning. If that. Ethanol is a perfect barter item. It can clean wounds as well as offer a minor lift, so any alcoholic knowing how bad withdrawal is, will know to avoid it. It is particularly nasty. It can rapidly escalate to a medical emergency. I won't post any videos, but there are many which demonstrate delirium tremens and major health issues like seizures during the withdrawal. You won't have benzodiazipenes, the primary drug to assist them, so God bless you. If you're not a believer, I guarantee you that you'll be praying for relief for them.

If you have that problem, or have a family member who lives with you that does, I urge you to carefully include that aspect in your preparations. There's a lot of resources. It takes time for people to clean out. Expect them to fail, and realistically some of them will steal rather than go through it. The very best way is to taper off slowly now, but of course many of you can't or won't. The recidivism rate is enormous, and so even getting a handle on it, will be a problem forever.

Other drug abusers while psychologically addicted, will be able to taper off, but someone who can later offer them illegal drugs will be an enormous temptation. This poses just as much of an issue for survivors as a way for a criminal to gain new gang members in the short run.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 06:23 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Based upon a 20% rate of disability,a drug abuse rate of 8%, and a former felon rate of 2%(those currently being monitored), expect many break-ins based upon the population density of your area. There will be many sociopathic people and ex-cons and desperate people and all of these will most likely first prey on medically fragile people and then on the weak. If you live in a major city of any significant size of 50,000 or more, then expect to immediately see issues based upon a lack of security.

Of course, there is law enforcement, but no doubt many will be smart and bugging out too based upon logic and reason. While there are National Guard troops totally over a million, many are deployed somewhere, and so that number is realistically under 500,000. If you are one, and you think you're family is in danger, will you show up for muster? Who knows? Some will.

As I previously discussed, there are many fragile people in nursing homes. As there is an enormous concentration of medical supplies there, and little to no security, I expect en masse robberies there due to a concentration of newly defined wealth. Either the prescription medicines as potential illegal drugs or medicines for sale that are impossible to acquire post-SHTF. Expect pharmacies to be overrun as first people attempt to last minute refill, lack authorization to do so, and as criminals decide to rob them.

A major consideration is the location of sex predators within a ten mile radius of your area. This will factor in to your bug out extraction. Since violent offenders do not have to be in a database, you should be concerned about their location too.

If many robberies are going on simultaneously, a normal law enforcement response is impossible. They know that. Expect curfews, blocked roads, an inability to bug out based on closed exits, travel restrictions, blocked bridges, cordoned off lower income areas with high concentrations of ex-cons and known gang activity, etc.

The biggest concern for city leaders is critical infrastructure personnel bugging out. Utility workers, doctors and nurses, law enforcement, will all consider their safety and their families, and could suddenly be forced to stay to manage the event. That will be very difficult to control as if you have those skills, you have a bargaining chip, and in the absence of a military to prevent you leaving, then it will be hard to back it up.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 06:48 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Because of concern over medical contagion in the last five or so years, many laws have been quietly passed to deal with a national emergency. If you do a google search, you'll discover than there are comprehensive plans on controlling critical infrastructure during those kinds of event. Just look for contingency and critical infrastructure and pandemic. It applies to all national emergencies, so an intelligent person doing a minimal amount of research, could determine the operating plans of their area. Risk assessments were done in cities of any significant size. This means that your civic leaders know the potential ways of dealing with a national emergency and what they might have to do to control it.

This is no panacea since any plan is contingent upon being able to control these personnel, usually subdivided into multiple tiers based upon their importance. There are some on there that you most likely haven't consider. Morticians for example. Food distribution. Ham radio operators.

It would be wise to look through that material as it details projections based upon a lack of workers and supply chains and security. All very appropriate information to consider for bugging in or out.

Of course, most of my discussion has dealt with an economic collapse, not contagion, but most of the material deals with similar issues.

I feel genuine sympathy for many of you who live in these cities. You have a lot of tough decisions.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 08:57 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
It's 1937, and the country is experiencing a minor recovery. The last several years of the New Deal have saved many folks from starving, but no real economic gains have happened. FDR decides to curtail part of the deficit spending, but almost immediately his actions create another financial downturn. Life goes on, and it is not until 1940 as Britain is faced with a Nazi invasions, and we begin selling destroyers to them so can put a limited number of people to work, that minor improve is really seen. His actions propel us into conflict with the Axis powers, which continues with the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. With that the US is at a state of war with Japan, and declaration of war from Germany and Italy soon follow. It was in the end the only way that FDR managed to get Americans back to work, by mobilizing a massive infantry of men, and by making armaments that of themselves created no wealth. The deficit spending was enormous.

The Council on Foreign Relations is suggested a war with Syria and Iran. It's clear that Russia and China will not tolerate us progressing forward, as they are primary purchasers of Iran's oil. Syria has received just as much foreign aid from Russia as we have sent to Israel. They're heavily invested in them. Any such plans would no doubt propel us into World War III.

If we continue, this won't be like a coalition war that we had with Iraq. It would be a disastrous war, requiring ground troops of a far larger size, and a huge buildup of armaments. It seems that President Obama is considering using the same path as FDR to extricate the USA from it's economic malaise. It's a proven path, but fighting a war with Russia and China is not the same as fighting Germany, Japan, and Italy. There are far more dangerous weapons like tactical nukes, a weapon that's been considered as a potential weapon on such a battlefield. Of course there are even greater weapons, but that's mutually assured destruction.

Watch for the spin doctors in the days ahead to be the apologists for such a war. Remember, war of itself brings no wealth. It's the seizure of resources and the rebuilding effort in the nations that suffer in the aftermath that produces wealth. This appears to be the way we are going in the days ahead.

Look for an event to make all reticence to enter the war evaporate. That's the normal pattern regardless of the veracity of who will do it. An attack on US soil, an attack in Western Europe, or an attack against Israel, are the three most likely candidates. Such an event would be the catalyst to WW3.
Anonymous Coward
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12/28/2011 08:57 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Reticence to lift a finger to help themselves

Lately, I've been reading a lot of you post responses that it's silly to prepare, that if things get bad then the nukes will start flying, that I don't want to live without electricity and running water, that I'm ready to go home to Heaven, that I don't have enough money to prepare, etc. I think I've talked about every one of those things here. Well, no one can make you prepare, but don't expect that the government will come bail you out, or that your neighbors who did prepare should feed your children, or that when at the last minute you decide that you do want to live that you can come take what I've carefully prepared. I'm incredulous at times how weak we've become. Our ancestors would be ashamed.

In some cultures, they talk to their ancestors. Westerners do too, they might visit their grave sites, and while praying in Church, or on Christmas sitting by the tree remember and even talk silently to their Grandma or a favorite old uncle. Think about doing that. Imagine a conversation with them discussing why you feel like you can't prepare.

What do you think would be their response? I'll bet a lot of them would laugh at you, if they were good natured. Some would just shake their heads in disbelief that they didn't teach you any better than that. Some of them might actually be angry and tell you to grow up.

Few of your ancestors who struggled and saved every little scrap during the Depression to recycle way before it was cool, would just be wide-eyed to see the incredible luxury in our homes: the vast diversity of our food, the time saving devices, the incredible wealth of things that they would never have had during the 1930's.

And despite all of those things, we've become weak, ineffectual, and lazy. It's really tragic and I just am dumbfounded to respond any more to those kinds of replies.
If you're one of those kinds of people who just refuses to prepare, and especially if you might have someone that you'll be a caregiver too, like an aging parent or a grandchild, then I urge you to do some independent research and watch some documentaries about life during the Depression. Don't believe me because I've written so much, be a good critical thinker. Don't believe me and then do nothing. Watch those early movie reels and see how people starved and struggled to make it.
Anonymous Coward
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12/29/2011 07:23 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
The difference in believing in the Source and showing you believe


Many years ago, I knew a Peace Corps volunteer. She'd been working in a tiny African village that was located three days by horse from the nearest town. That's pretty remote, and it could be a lonely life at times. Let's just say she had few conveniences and one of them was the horse.

She was there to learn from the villagers. Being there would mean encountering very different people and trying to empathize with their situation and do what she had been trained to do: facilitate their success. She was also there to learn about herself as she did so. Few of us can effect long change by our actions. Instead about the best we can hope for is to lighten their burdens, by sacrificing a little of our lives, and then at least in that moment we've done our best.

She was lonely and missed her family, and they missed her, so they traveled many thousands of miles to do so. They admired her sacrifice, and wanted to acknowledge it, by being present with her and praising her efforts.

Before they left they asked what they could bring to best help the people of her host country. They got donations of those items, mostly practical items like medicine, but also brought some luxury items for the people. More on that later. Of course they had limits on what they could carry, so they brought the least amount of their personal belongings, and maximized every space that they could in order to bring as much for the people as possible.

The ride to the village was very far and bumpy, and it was hot and sweaty. They were bounced around for hours and felt like they'd rode in a blender by the time they arrived many hours late.

Part of the ride was on a little mini-bus that traveled on a highly variable schedule. You merely waited for hours for it to come along, perhaps it did when it could, and sat patiently. They got on the bus, the only people of their race on the bus, and yet the people often gave up their seats or scooted over to make room, a jam packed bus containing people and their goats and chickens. After several hours, the bus stopped and greeted another bus, and the drivers chatted and laughed. After inquiring what they said, someone translated, “Your bus is so crazy man, you got white people on there”.

They finally arrived and found that despite the many hours that they were late, that the people of the village, the chief of the people, all of the elders, and the children were waiting to greet them. They'd been practicing songs, dances, and words as a gift for her family. Livestock was sacrificed for a delicious community meal. Special dishes were prepared.

The chief had given his special protection to the Peace Corps volunteer. He understood her sacrifice of her time, talent, and treasure for his people. He made sure that she had whatever he could offer, his own time, talent, and treasure so that her mission would be successful. He treated her with respect and like his own daughter.

In the little village, an older woman, with nothing in common with the Peace Core volunteer, decided to befriend her. She checked in on her every day, helped her with conversing in the unique dialect of the village, assisted with any misunderstandings, taught her about any cultural differences. They became friends, not just acquaintances being polite. The Peace Corps volunteer realized that much of her success had come from the old woman's many contributions every day of her time, talent, and treasure.

Later after giving the chief a tiny present of a useful tool that would help him, and giving the old woman some very tiny luxury items like a mirror compact and lipstick, they went to take the medicines for the clinic to help everyone. The recipients were grateful to be remembered and honored by gifts carried thousands of miles for their benefit.

The visitors went to see the children at the AIDS orphanage. These children had lost their parents to the ravages of the disease. One in four has HIV in this African nation. In many cases, the children had acquired the disease at birth, and it was only a matter of time before they showed signs of the “wasting disease”. The children were bright and loving, normal kids hungry for love and attention, and for the most part sweet and kind to one another. They had few adults to supervise them, constant issues with having enough food, medicine, clothing, and someone to teach them.

The family had brought children's toys, an unheard of luxury as none of the children had anything like a toy in their lives. Some played with a broken piece of a brightly colored glass that they'd worn down by rubbing it on a rock.

The family and volunteers gathered the toys into tiny piles of three or four objects. They were things that most children in America would push away in disdain. They were things that were worth nothing to them, but priceless to the orphans.

The leader of the children told the children they were going to go inside soon and that the family had brought them some toys. One child aged nine, a sweet little boy who was a leader and who helped everyone, “Is there enough for everyone? Is it okay for us to have several? I don't want anyone to not get one. They can have some of mine, if you need them...”.

The children filed into the room quietly. They didn't push. Their eyes were brightly lit up with wonder. They were grateful, their eyes wet at the incredible luxury.

The family wept as they watched the children playing. It was the most normal of things, children playing with toys, but quietly and sharing with each other their new toys, and not arguing one bit. They knew that many of the children would be dead in a matter of years with no way to save them.

This is what it means to love the Source. Actions speak louder than words. Your life may be the only Gospel that they know in their lives.
Anonymous Coward
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12/29/2011 10:01 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Creatively combining old tech with new tech

One of the aspects of permaculture is taking a time tested tribal means of survival and community skills and adapting it by using modern technology and in the synthesis come up with better ways to utilize resources, save time and effort, and produce more work from the same ordinary devices.

One such idea is to take the rocket stove that you only use for cooking or heating, and use it in novel ways. One idea that's being tried is coupling a TEG or a peltier device to generate electricity. A TEG uses the difference in temperture to generate a small amount of energy, and then that could be used to recharge an electrical device of very low voltage and amperage.

Sure, a solar cell might do this easier, but the village may not have a solar cell recharger, but they can make a rocket stove, and might have a TEG. I agree that it seems the best way currently for no waste of resources is a solar charger. There is one company that is marketing the device for 3rd world nations and has a working model: [link to www.biolitestove.com]

Such a device would work best when the temperature is greatest but not interfering with the recharging process. An experimenter is working on the idea here, but he's not getting a good heat transfer due to the insulative properties of the brick versus a standard metal rocket stove. A brick rocket stove however is the easiest rocket stove to assemble since all you need is clay, grass, a mold, and time to produce them.


[link to www.youtube.com]

Another example of a multi-use idea is to use a solar oven for water purification. Wood (or an alternative fuel like dried animal dung) may not be in abundance. The solar oven might be used to generate a sustained heat source for cooking, but also might be used at other times as a way of heating up the water hot enough to kill many bacteria and parasites. Of course it still requires filtration. A cheap means of doing this in the heat of summer is merely placing water in two liter soda bottles on rooftops and using the roof tiles to heat up the water.
[link to solarcooking.wikia.com]

The solar oven can also work as a food dehydrator.

A solar oven that's pointed at the sky at night in certain circumstances can lower the ambient temperature (several degrees above freezing) and generate ice. That might be something very important for a variety of reasons. See the article below for three alternative refrigeration methods.
[link to www.provident-living-today.com]
Anonymous Coward
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12/29/2011 03:31 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Alle beetjes helpen, zei de mug, en ze piste in de zee. (Dutch saying)
Every little bit helps, the mosquito said, pissing into the sea.

Helping

If you read this today, and you think there is even the tiniest truth within it, I hope when you happen to be near a mirror, you peer into it, and looking at your reflection think, “What kind of person am I?”

Each of us is a unique gift to creation. You are one of the rarest of treasures. Because of genetics, someone may come along that resembles you, but no one will ever be like you again.

One day, I saw a tiny quote in the newspaper. Sometimes you read something and it resonates in you. I carried it for twenty years, and it got very fragile, and I had to carefully open it, eventually putting in plastic and read it each day to inspire me. Here's the words set to music

[link to www.youtube.com]

If you take a tuning fork and strike it, it will vibrate. One of the coolest things is if you bring it close to another still tuning fork, it will cause the other tuning fork to oscillate. You've probably seen this when in elementary school, but did anyone ever explain why?
[link to www.physicsclassroom.com]

The two tuning forks exist within the sea of our atmosphere. We see them as disconnected and alone. In reality the atmosphere connects them. The vibrations from the first action that set the tuning fork in motion will in turn, if placed within the proximity of another, will shake the air around it, and in turn cause resonance.

We are not alone. Even when we feel alone, we live together on this planet. We can see each individual as something rare and special. That this person will never again exist. That in this moment we have an opportunity to be present with them, and share goodness even if we are different. When we do that, share goodness for no reason, but to merely pass along the goodness that has been given freely by the Source, then there is a chance that it will resonate with them.

If I have made a ruin of my life, and it seems like people around me are terrible, even so I can look back and find at least one time that some person was kind and good to me, and because they were, I can allow that to resonate today and pass along that kindness today.

The easiest thing to do is give up, criticize the failings of others, since we see our failures everyday. Or we can start over despite those failings, and find one glimmer of Hope, and without a chance of receiving back anything, pass along the Hope. Even if you feel terrible, in the action of passing along that Hope, you will usually feel better. In fact, in risking the chance to help another, they may recognize what you've done and thank and praise you, so you receive a second helping of Hope.

It may seem like the most miniscule attempts to hold back the Darkness. It may not be recognized by the Other as a goodness. It doesn't matter. That goodness will someday be remembered by the Other and may inspire them to do good far later.
Anonymous Coward
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12/30/2011 12:16 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
When the SHTF, it won't just be the major things that will freak us out. It'll also be getting a darn cup of coffee! We're addicted to this delicious beverage, mostly because of the artificial lift it gives from the caffeine, and that stimulant used to keep us going after lunchtime and a heavy meal.

It's relatively easy to make a coffee substitute. It's pretty hard to find a stimulant from wild edibles for identification reasons.

Roasted dandelion and chicory were both used as inexpensive coffee substitutes and as ways to extend the coffee you have on hand. Since coffee comes from very far off, and it's production in the USA is limited to Kona Hawaii, you're going to run out of it. HORRORS!

Dandelion is very easy to harvest. The taproots can go deep, but are not that hard to pull out. Chicory has a much better root, but it goes deep. It's more time consuming to harvest.

Both are common to the US, easy to identify, simple to harvest,easy to roast, and can be brewed in the same ways as coffee. It's hard to believe, but dandelion and chicory are both non-native plants to the US. They actually both came from Europe and people deliberately brought seeds from back home since they loved them so much. Now they're ubiquitous.

A perfect way to brew them is a French Press. This method allows for timing your brew strength without overheating the brew. The problem is they're breakable, but they do make camping versions.

Of course old style camping percolator type brewing makes for a simpler method since it fits right on the camp or rocket stove.

Of course, most people use the automatic drip method, but you won't have electricity. All you have to do is scoop up the substitute, and slowly pour boiling water over the material. That's all the fancy automatic drip does other than also controlling the temperature in a specific range.

Here are two videos. If you know of a common plant that is easily identifiable and produces caffeine then please post it here.



Anonymous Coward
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12/30/2011 08:25 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
MAJOR RED FLAG II
HR 3166 and S 1698

Both the US Senate and House of Representative Bills would expel those citizens who engaging or support hostilities against the USA.

Now on first glance, these will seem self-evident. That sounds like terrorism to a nation now existing under Fascism instead of the ideal Republic which we hold so dear. It's actually Doublethink (war is peace) right out of George Orwell's 1984!

Here is the original document written by the Patriots of the USA. It is our most sacred document (my emphasis):

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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 to 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.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Reasonable dissent after long suffering is not only expected, it is our right. When such abuses pile up it is our duty to throw off tyrannical governments.

Because this was declared from the onset, it is the basis on which we declare our freedoms. To remove people who dissent is the antithesis of a Republic.

No SHTF scenario happens at once. It comes slowly by an erosion of liberties, or a gradual change of events, or by warning signs of potential acts of God.

It's coming folks...
Anonymous Coward
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12/30/2011 10:19 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
How to look more attractive, get praise, have more sex, lose weight, make yourself stronger, and PREP.

Based upon the longest scientific study that we have completed in the US, the incident rate of being overweight, which is having a body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9 was an average 34.2 % of the US. The number of people over a BMI of 30.0 or more (could be a lot more) was 33.8. This means that 68% of the 307 million Americans we have or 209 million Americans are overweight or obese.

A normal body mass index is 18.4 – 24.9.

Let's look at the average 5' 9” man. That man in order to be “normal” should weigh 125-168lbs.

An average woman 5' 4” in order to fit into the normal category should weight 110-151 lbs.

That variability is based upon mostly muscle. If you're not an athlete, a real athlete not someone who minimally exercises on rare occasions, then you should be at the lowest end. As you gain muscle, and become more athletic, a good benchmark would be to hit the middle. Very few of us unless we keep at it with copious exercise should be at the top range.

That means that you are eating more food that is healthy. That food is your prep food.

Not only that, but it's wasted time. It represents time that you could be making yourself look beautiful versus better clothes, getting your hair done, getting your nails done, etc. As you lose the weight, that will enhance your beauty 10x more than those things which all cost money. That money is your prep money. Hair, nails, makeup and clothes do not make people truly more beautiful. They enhance beauty that is already there.

Not only that, but as you get praise, and notice in the mirror that you are getting healthier each day, your mind gets healthier since it's connected to the body. We have clear evidence that this is true. As you feel more confident, you become more interested in making love, and the people who are your companions are more interested in making love with you. Romance is the highest valued commodity in my book. I know of nothing that will motivate me more. I will do just about anything for it.

Most people exchange their lack of praise of their body and lack of romance for things. I've talked about this. Most things are not necessities, they are shiny toys for grownups. Many people are purchasing shiny toys to make them happy, but what they really want is love, affection, friendship, and romance. A shiny toy will never give you any of those things.

If you are healthy and fit, you will have the ability to play more with your companion and children and friends and family. That builds community. The very smallest amount of denial of food and a little exercise = more happiness.

Or you can keep eating, and feel bad and lonely, and make your blood pressure rise, and your blood glucose skyrocket which forces your pancreas to feeble control it, and make yourself depressed, and you will die from a chronic condition of hurting yourself.

I love all people no matter what they look like. I'll bet that deep down you do too. But wouldn't you feel enormously better and fulfilled if you considered my words and acted on them? That's the very best thing you can do to prepare for the future.

Prepping is about doing a series of actions that logically will make you feel more secure. It's not about lots of guns and ammo. It is certainly about learning to move fast, learn how to shoot for hunting and home defense, and about improving the security of your home. Based upon the level of potential loss of security, some people have to prepare more and this consideration can unbalance them. There is great wisdom in learning about combat multipliers, don't get me wrong.

For a beginner, the very first thing you must do is make yourself healthier so that you can improve your abilities at living life to the fullest. If you are dependent upon others, that is a kind of slavery. If you are dependent upon food purchased in a grocery store to make you happy, then you are enslaved by it.

When you learn how to grow your own food and see the power of God in creation, your spirit will soar like Brother Eagle. That is freedom, real practical freedom. That is healthy prepping of your mind.

Today please eat a little less. Try doing that in healthy ways to understand what hunger is really like and to focus just how much you need God. The more you eat sensibly, and move around to pump up your blood, the more your color and complexion will improve. Your fat stores will begin to decline in two weeks. Your body will relearn where to send energy reserves by storing up glycogen in your muscles. The muscles will tear down and rebuild to add tone and bulk and you'll become more muscular in 4-6 weeks. In three months you'll look remarkably different. In six months you'll be transformed.

The easiest way is to measure, but we loath seeing our naked selves and understanding fully how the world sees us. The easiest and bravest thing to do is photograph yourselves from the side and face on to see the transformation each week. This is far better than a scale. You will begin to see a difference in a week, and this will build success far faster.

You can do this. I believe in you.

Here is a secret, shhhh, "All of you are beautiful." Madison Avenue doesn't want you to know. Manufacturers of beautify enhancing products don't want you to know. The entertainment industry doesn't want you to know.

But in your heart, you know it. You just were either lied to or forgot it.
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bumpity bump bump
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Thank you, OP for taking the time to pass on this valuable info.

may you be blessed 100 fold.

from a grateful parenthfhfhf
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GLP