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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Bartering can save your life! Batteries for Bomb Shelters, Banking Alternatives...


Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources


For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

 

You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy.
- Eric Hoffer

From The Smiling Dog Saloon Files

 

 

In This Issue:

1.       Has a bank black-listed you? People seek alternatives

2.      Batteries for bomb shelters, How many seeds to stock?

3.      Can you fix it? Free Garden & Food Storage Downloads

4.      Bartering can literally save your life

 

Banks Say No to New Accounts-Give Rise to Pre-Paid Service Popularity

 

You've heard of credit reporting agencies. But did you know there are companies tracking your banking history and any money mistakes you make? We're talking about your consumer report, and most banks look at it before allowing you to open a checking or savings account. If your record is not good, you could end up literally "blacklisted by banks."

Natasha Carmon pays her bills by driving around Louisville, business by business, then going inside and settling up with cash or a money order.

"It's definitely frustrating," Carmon said.

Frustrating because she would rather pay by check, but each time Natasha tried to open a checking account at several different banks she said she got the same surprising news.

"They all denied me and they all said that it's because you owe this bank 'x amount' of dollars," Carmon said.

She said four years ago she got hit with a bank fee and when she could not pay it the charges piled up and her account was closed.

"The fees just got so extreme that I couldn't keep that up," she said.

Unpaid fees and involuntary account closures are just some money mistakes banks and credit unions may report to two different tracking companies - Chex Systems and Early Warning. These consumer reporting agencies receive information about people who have had financial mishaps or even fraudulently bounced checks. And before they approve a new account many banks check your past records with these companies.

"It's a good indication of whether the person can manage the account and what risk they present of causing the bank to lose money," said Nessa Feddis of the American Bankers Association.

An FDIC survey reveals 65% of banks deny checking account applicants who have prior mismanagement in their consumer reports.

"A consumer who bounced a check once is not a deadbeat, a consumer who bounced a check once may not even have made a conscious mistake," said Ed Mierzwinski of the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups.

7 Myths About Secured Credit Cards

It’s hard to function in America today without some sort of credit card. They’re the safest way to shop online, and are often important – even necessary – to arrange for travel expenses like rental cars, hotels and plane tickets.

For many, access to credit cards is as simple as responding to a solicitation in the mail, or filling out a simple online application. But for those with past problems, low income or no credit history, it’s not so simple.

That’s where secured credit cards come in. Put up a deposit to secure your card, and odds are good you’ll be approved.

Sound simple? It is, but there are still plenty of misconceptions about secured cards. In the following video, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson dispels some of the myths. Check it out and then read on for more.  Read more at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2013/09/13/7-myths-about-secured-credit-cards/#WIQB2GH0SAEcxDaS.99



PC Magazine has just released the results of its tests of antivirus software, both paid and free programs. Bitdefender, Norton, and Webroot all shared top honors. Among free products, Ad-Aware and AVG did well. The best malware removal tool was Malwarebytes, which is free.

 

 


PM’s Roundup of Useful Resources…

 

Gardening & Food Storage How-to’s – More than a dozen free download reports at:


 

 
Have you heard about the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation?
(NaturalNews) A brand new, revolutionary approach to pet care is gaining attention. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation is emerging as an alternative answer to pet care. Based on a philosophy of integrative medicine, this holistic...

 

 
Batteries for bomb shelters, Part I

When you need power, but there isn't any…

There are lots of scenarios where you can imagine not having power for a day or two.  In those scenarios batteries aren’t really an issue.  Most modern devices that you would reasonably need in a two-day power outage don’t gobble up those batteries.  Even portable gaming devices, for kids or to pass the time with, are much better than they used to be.  The real challenge comes when you have to plan for longer power outages or for going to places that have no reliable power at all.


 

 
How Many Seeds to Stock or Plant (link)

Trying to figure out how many seeds you should REALLY stockpile can seem like a daunting task. The following guide attempts to shed some light on the issue and even provides a few links to handy references you may like: “How many seeds do I need to plant? How much seed is enough in a…


 


Here’s a sad truth: most of us can’t repair a darn thing anymore! We simply call somebody or choose to buy a new one. But, in a long-term situation neither of these solutions will work… you simply MUST be able to fix whatever it is that’s broken or do without. Now, I’m no “Mr. Fix…

Continue reading Can You Fix it? (link)

 

 
Why is Obamacare so unaffordable? Because it was conceived as a political weapon of mass economic destruction
(NaturalNews) Right now, all across America, employees are receiving notices that their insurance coverage is being dropped because it isn't "compliant" with Obamacare. Simultaneously, employers everywhere are ...

 


Always trying to find new ways to nickel and dime their customers, rental car companies have found a new way to charge you for gasoline used. Most savvy renters won't accept the rental firms' pricey gas plans, but instead agree to bring the car back with a full tank. A typical renter might fill the tank on the way to the airport because the gauge will still be on "F" by the time they get there. Now Avis and soon Hertz will be using electronic meters that can tell how much gas is missing from your tank, down to 1/10 of a gallon, and charge you at the rate of over $9 a gallon for it.

 

 

The Nanny State-We love our government

Drug War Statistics

Amount spent annually in the U.S. on the war on drugs:
More than $51,000,000,000

 
Number of people arrested in 2011 in the U.S. on nonviolent drug charges:
1.53 million

 


Number of people arrested for a marijuana violation in 2011:
757,969

Number of Americans incarcerated in 2011 in federal, state and local
prisons and jails: 2,266,800 or 1 in every 99.1 adults,
the highest incarceration rate in the world   
 

Estimated annual revenue that California would raise if it taxed
and regulated the sale of marijuana:

$1,400,000,000
 

Number of people killed in Mexico's drug war since 2006: 70,000+

Source
: http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics

 

 

The Parting ThoughtNot to worry in the land of the free!

 

 
Bartering can literally save your life!

You see, the first thing you should do is develop your "BATNA".

That stands for your "Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement".

Here's an example...

Let's say that your only form of transportation is walking and you need a better way to seek out provisions further from home.

You may be trying to negotiate with someone for a car, but you may decide that your "best alternative" (ie. BATNA) may be a bicycle.
You first find someone who has BOTH a car and a bike.

Then, you negotiate HARD for gaining use of their car with what you have to offer.

By bartering aggressively with your goods for such a high-value item as a car, you attach a much higher value to what you have to offer.

 
http://www.negotiations.com/articles/best-alternative/


 

 SHTF Barter Items, Beans/ Bullets/ Bandaids

 


 


 

 
Support the Revolution – Make a Donation to the Poor Man today!

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

 

Much of what the Poor Man does is to promote the concepts of self-reliance, a voluntary society and economic independence -- writing articles, giving talks, maintaining blogs and an educational website -- he does for free. Donations made to support him in these efforts are much appreciated.

 

Keep our services free-Check our Resources

 

Free – Updated Sideline Income Resources and Tools


 

Get the No BS – Ready for Anything Survival Files Download-Now includes…

Home Prepping Database Program

This software will assist you and your family in what and how many supplies you will need when you will need to lockdown in your home until things settle down


 

 

 

 

A Shallow Planet Production

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

TSA Forces Mom to Drink Her Own Breast Milk, Homemade Breads for the Fall, More




Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources


For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

 

If you buy what you don't need you might have to sell what you do.
- Irish Proverb

From The Smiling Dog Saloon Files

 

 

In This Issue:

1.       DIY Shrub syrup recipe

2.      Guide to homemade fall breads

3.      5 places to find free firewood, 10 things to stop buying

4.      Simple tips for selecting the right shotgun

5.      More outrageous TSA acts-Mom forced to drink own breast milk

 



DIY Recipe for Shrub Syrup…

Just because summer is coming to an end, you don’t have to part ways with the delicious fruits of the season. In fact, this is a perfect time to give those summer berries a second chance in the kitchen by making your own shrub syrup.

Shrub syrup is an old favorite that has made a big comeback this year. When mixed with water or alcohol, the fruit-and-vinegar concoction is transformed into a refreshing beverage and is a great way to use seasonal fruit before it goes bad.

While you can make shrub syrup with virtually any fruit, right now is a good time to use strawberries, blueberries and blackberries — anything that might otherwise be wasted because it’s on the verge of spoiling is a good candidate.

Ready to try it out for yourself? Here’s an easy recipe, created by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Feel free to adjust the amount of fruit, sugar and vinegar based on your personal taste.

Ingredients:

·         2 cups fruit

·         1 pint vinegar

·         1 ½ to 2 cups sugar (white, brown or raw)

Place your fruit in a glass container with a lid (a mason jar is perfect). Heat the vinegar to just below boiling, about 190 to 200 degrees, then pour it over the fruit, leaving about ¼ inch at the top. Cap tightly and place it in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or refrigerator.

Let it stand undisturbed for at least 24 hours and up to four weeks, depending on how much flavor you’d like. Then, strain the vinegar through cheesecloth and place it in a saucepan along with the sugar. (Keep the fruit for use in other dishes.)

Bring the vinegar and sugar to a boil, remove from heat and, after it’s cooled, pour into a glass jar. It can last up to six months refrigerated.

To use, mix 1 tablespoon of syrup into a glass of water or with alcohol — and enjoy.

 


PM’s Roundup of Useful Resources…

 


Cooler days mean more time spent inside, and while some may be lamenting the end of summer, others are looking forward to warm, comforting meals, pulling out the slow-cooker, and most importantly, baking up a storm. Homemade bread is a homestead staple, and with so many variations, it’s possible to go an entire season without repeating one recipe. Consider this your official guide to homemade fall bread making. Dill, pesto, sundried tomatoes, cherries and even chocolate are just a few ingredients that will transform your favorite basic bread recipe. If you’ve never tried your hand at sourdough, this is your year. We have step-by-step instructions for attaining and maintaining a starter, and a recipe if you’d like to start one on your own. Enjoy this wonderful season of baking!


 

5 Places to Find Free Firewood
Folks living in the country already know how plentiful firewood is, but whether you live in a large city or small town, free firewood for burning is all around. You just have to look for it. So where is all this free firewood where you live?

 

10 Things You Can Stop Buying at the Grocery Store
We've been sold a lot of imaging and branding through advertising that has convinced us that we need to buy this brand, that bag, this carton. What we really need to do is live less expensively, eat healthier, and be more environmentally responsible. Here are ten ways you can do just that.
Read more.


Start a fire with an aluminum can and a chocolate bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipMd5A7eUsc&feature=player_embedded

 

Running your household using a generator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdufshn6S9U

 

Frugal indulgences help you wind down when you're stressed out!
read more here
 
 

Simple Tips for Selecting the Right Shotgun
The choices available in shotguns can make selecting one a daunting task. Following these simple tips will help you hunt down the perfect scattergun.

If we start with the double gun, we find that the days of the moderately priced, new in the box, American side-by-side (SxS) have long waned. A few years ago, Sturm & Ruger tried to bring out a SxS but ultimately had to abandon the project.
Read more



The Nanny State-We love our government

The American Dream is a 30 minute animated film that shows you how you’ve been scammed by the most basic elements of the government system.

From the author: All of us Americans strive for the American Dream, and this film shows you why your dream is getting farther and farther away. Do you know how your money is created? Or how banking works? Why did housing prices skyrocket and then plunge? Do you really know what the Federal Reserve System is and how it affects you every single day?

The American Dream takes an entertaining but hard hitting look at how the problems we have today are nothing new, and why leaders throughout our history have warned us and fought against the current type of financial system we have in America today.

You will be challenged to investigate some very entrenched and powerful institutions in this nation, and hopefully encouraged to help get our nation back on track.


 

 
 
The Parting ThoughtNot to worry in the land of the free!

 

Dear Unconcerned Citizen…

 

More outrageous TSA blunders: Incidents that should get your blood roiling.

The first story concerns a new mother and breast milk. Stacey Armato had some trouble with TSA agents about bringing the liquid through the security check points. The TSA had previously classified it as a medical liquid, which would have allowed Stacey to request an alternate screening, instead of having it pass through the airport's x-ray machine.

As a new mother she didn't want her to endanger her child's milk.

What the TSA did next should surprise anyone who isn't used to the agency's outrageous behavior.

They put her in a glass holding area in the middle of the security checkpoint, and kept her there for an hour and a half while they tried to figure out what to do. A uniformed police officer told her that she should comply with the TSA's requests and have the breast milk x-rayed, or else he'd have to arrest her. They finally let her transfer her four 3-ounce bottles into smaller containers of around 2 ounces each (because that somehow makes it safer).

Oh, and she missed her flight.

This is your tax dollar at work.

Sadly, that's not the only breast milk debacle the TSA has under its belt. Another incident in Hawaii involved a new mother who tried to board a plane with a breast pump and some empty bottles. The officials on the scene were suspect on this contraption, especially since the bottles used in conjunction with it were empty.

So they did was any unreasonable government employee would do. They told her to go to the bathroom and fill the empty bottles if she wanted to board the plane with the pump.

In their eyes, this was a completely justifiable solution to the problem at hand. The fact that this woman had to do this in front of any traveler who entered the bathroom didn't concern them as much.

Outrageous stories like this sound like something that would come out of a sitcom on TV. And to any outside observer not used to our customs, they might think this was all part of some comedy.

 

Support the Revolution – Make a Donation to the Poor Man today!

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

 

Much of what the Poor Man does is to promote the concepts of self-reliance, a voluntary society and economic independence -- writing articles, giving talks, maintaining blogs and an educational website -- he does for free. Donations made to support him in these efforts are much appreciated.

 

Keep our services free-Check our Resources

 

Free – Updated Sideline Income Resources and Tools


 

Get the No BS – Ready for Anything Survival Files Download-Now includes…

Home Prepping Database Program

This software will assist you and your family in what and how many supplies you will need when you will need to lockdown in your home until things settle down


 

 

 


 

A Shallow Planet Production

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Build an Outdoor Stove, Grill or Smoker, DIY Backyard Butchering




Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources


For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

 

"If we can just pass a few more laws, we could all be criminals!"
-- Vinnie Moscaritolo
American computer security expert

 

From The Smiling Dog Saloon Files

 

 

In This Issue:

1.       Build an outdoor stove, grill or smoker, DIY Meat Butchering

2.      What Big Data collects on you

3.      DIY Tiny, tiny house

4.      How to profit from our Food Stamp Nation

 

 


Build an Outdoor Stove, Oven, Grill and Smoker
From MOTHER EARTH NEWS, by Owen Geiger

The MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors and I wanted to design a highly efficient, multi-purpose stove that uses little firewood (or charcoal) and retains heat for baking and cooking. So, we included a thick insulation layer of lightweight perlite/cement between the firebox and surrounding concrete block, and we included a removable door. This design holds the heat in the firebox where it’s needed. (Perlite is the porous white stuff often found in potting soils. You can buy this mined mineral product at garden centers.)

You can build the
outdoor oven in stages, a few hours at a time. (You’ll need a few days between some steps.) Check local building codes before you start building. The oven is made from materials you can buy at local hardware or building stores. You may be able to find some of the materials at a salvage yard, too. Even if you only use it to bake bread, you can save enough money in one year to more than pay for the $300 cost.

Ideally, the stove is built to a comfortable height with
concrete countertop space on each side, plus a roof to protect against the elements. Having an outdoor sink and storage space nearby is also convenient.

Our
outdoor oven requires a fire in the firebox for about 45 minutes to one hour to reach a baking temperature of 450 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, if you want to grill, you can start in less than half an hour.

Another key design element is the firebox size. Properly sized fireboxes heat up quickly, have improved combustion, produce less smoke and stay hotter longer. We measured cookie sheets, bread pans, medium and large
roasting pans, canners and baking dishes to arrive at our optimal firebox size of 13 inches wide by 28 inches deep by 13 1/2 inches high.

If you like to cook, you’ll love this stove. Our favorite cooking technique involves cooking foods in rapid succession at dinnertime. We like to start out with pizza when the oven is about 500 degrees. The pizza bakes in about three minutes. After that, the oven has cooled to 350 to 400 degrees — perfect for baking bread. (The temperature of the air in the oven drops momentarily when you open the door, but the brick is still hot and maintains temperature.) Sometimes we throw in some potatoes at this stage if we want baked potatoes. When the bread is done after about an hour, we bake various combinations of veggies (and sometimes dessert). You can bake a lot of food from one firing. Another efficient method is to grill meat and veggies before the baking phase.

In addition to all the other cooking options, you can cook in a Dutch oven placed inside the firebox. Dutch-oven cooking is ideal for stews, chili, roasts, certain types of breads and rolls, beans and some desserts. It’s more efficient to use the Dutch oven inside the outdoor oven than outside on a campfire because it requires fewer coals.

After you’ve selected and cleared your site, build a foundation to support the stove. A low-cost rubble trench foundation is recommended for most situations. The specifics will vary due to climate and soil conditions, but a rubble trench is usually 18 to 24 inches deep and filled with gravel, or gravel and stone. If you’re building the stove in a harsh climate with strong freeze-thaw cycles, add a French drain (a small valley filled with stones) to remove moisture. Raise the building site if necessary to avoid moisture problems.

For our rubble trench foundation, we used chunks of recycled broken concrete, also known as “urbancrete,” instead of stone. Concrete chunks from flatwork slabs, such as sidewalks and driveways, work best. They can be recycled and stacked like stone. Stack these up in layers to the top of the trench. Fill gaps with gravel and then tamp solid.

On top of the rubble trench, pour a 3 1/2-inch by 40-inch by 40-inch concrete pad. This will create a strong, level foundation for your stove. Make sure the pad is level and square.

The next step is to build a concrete-block base two courses high with ladder reinforcement (a wire mesh designed to add strength and prevent cracking) between each course. Use 4-inch by 8-inch by 16-inch blocks with a few half blocks as needed. Be sure to lay the block as perfectly plumb, straight and square as possible. Allow to dry for two days or so to gain strength.

Fill the base with gravel or a mixture of sand and gravel. Fill the base with two 6-inch layers, tamping each layer gently. Go easy on the tamping so as not to strain the concrete block joints. All you’re trying to do is settle the materials.

Complete the base by pouring a 4-inch layer of lightweight cement level with the top of the block base. This creates a strong, insulated layer under your firebox. Perlite is perfect for high-heat applications such as this.

After about five days, the lightweight concrete should have cured sufficiently and you can begin building the firebox with firebrick. Place a half-inch layer of fine, clean sand on top of the lightweight cement. We screened our own sand (one two-gallon bucket) through fine mesh. Use a straight edge to make it as level as possible. Precise leveling is a critical step that determines the accuracy of the firebox.

The first layer of firebrick creates the hearth. Standard firebrick size is 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches by 9 inches. The front row of firebricks is perpendicular to the other firebricks and extends 2 inches beyond the concrete block. This makes it easy to sweep coals and ashes into a bucket. We added half-inch concrete board shims under the front edge for stability, where sand would fall away.

All firebricks are placed without mortar so they are free to expand and contract. The placement technique involves carefully sliding each firebrick straight down — one against the other — into place to avoid gaps. After the first course is set, use the end of your hammer handle to tap on any high spots until all firebricks are flush with each other.
Measure the front of the base and find the center, which should be about 20 inches from either side. Start the first layer of firebricks by placing two bricks on either side of the center of the base, making sure that the brick hang over the front about 2 inches.

Continue stacking firebricks for the sides of the firebox. These are stacked on edge. The firebox is easy to build and the bricks can be stacked in about one hour. You may encounter a few firebricks that are not perfectly sized. Buy a few extra so you have spares. It’s important to keep everything plumb, square and level, and all firebricks flush with each other, with no gaps.

At this point, you can put the steel shelf (lintel for chimney) in place. It measures 14 3/4 inches by 18 inches by 1 1/2 inches (the sides are 1 1/2 inches high) and is made of quarter-inch steel. The most important measurement is the inside width, which for our shelf was 14 1/4 inches. This allows firebricks to fit perfectly without being cut. The steel parts are joined with six spot welds: three per side, on the bottom so they don’t interfere with placing the firebrick. With a cutting torch, cut a 6-inch diameter hole in the center for the stovepipe. With the steel shelf in place, flush with each side, set the remaining firebricks in place to form the chimney base.

To form the outside of the oven, set the remaining two courses of concrete blocks (with ladder reinforcement between courses), being careful not to bump the firebricks. Around the firebox opening (where the concrete blocks meet the firebricks), leave an eighth-inch space to allow for expansion and contraction. We stacked CEBs (compressed earth blocks) temporarily inside the firebox to keep them in place. Bricks would work just as well. Let the block dry for two to three days.

The next step is to build the countertop.We were looking for an inexpensive way to make concrete countertops and came up with a pretty good solution at a fraction of the cost of custom made countertops — about $20 instead of $2,000. (This cost is for 12 1/2 lineal feet of 25 1/2-inch countertops.)

We used 100 percent scrap materials for forming, about a half bag of cement, some quarter-inch rebar, and baling wire, sand, gravel and iron oxide pigment. Forms consisted of leftover eighth-inch cement board and scrap wood. We placed rebar in a grid pattern and then poured concrete on top. Create an eighth-inch space between chimney and countertop with a removable shim to allow for expansion and contraction.

Building the chimney is straightforward. There is a damper within easy reach to control air flow and save firewood; open it up when starting fires, and close it down when baking so all the heat doesn’t shoot up the chimney. A cap on top of the stovepipe keeps out rain and snow, and a boot (or collar), along with some silicone, seals the connection on the roof. The stovepipe is in sections to facilitate removal and cleaning. The gap between the stovepipe and chimney base is filled with lightweight cement.

All you need to turn your outdoor oven into a smoker is a grill grate (or typical oven grate) about (midheight) in the firebox. Simply drill four holes in the firebrick lining the firebox, insert steel pins in holes and add the shelf. You can also suspend a drip pan from the grate with wire.

The door is the key feature needed for baking. We built a 2-inch-thick insulated door of sixteenth-inch steel filled with perlite. This is another firewood saving feature. The front piece of the door forms a lip that hangs over the firebox opening about half an inch to help reduce air leaks. The large wooden handle doesn’t get too hot to touch and enables the door to be installed and removed with one hand. There are no hinges; the door wedges into place. We added an adjustable vent to control airflow and spray painted the door with heat paint. Based on our experience, a 1 3/4-inch hole in the door seems to be the perfect size. If you’d prefer a simpler method for building the door, make a thick hardwood door with a piece of metal on the inside, allowing about a quarter-inch air gap between wood and metal. You could rabbet the edges for a tighter seal. Also, a thermometer built into the door would be a nice feature.

Wait a few days for the tile to cure before firing up the stove for the first time. We started with a small fire and gradually, one fire per day, built increasingly larger fires in order to drive out any remaining moisture.

Excerpted from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, the Original Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, please visit www.MotherEarthNews.com or call (800) 234-3368 to subscribe. Copyright 2013 by Ogden Publications Inc.

Read more
: http://www.ogdenpubs.com/Syndication/articles/Feature_Stories/22126.aspx#ixzz2emTUaZAe

 

 


 

PM’s Roundup of Useful Resources…

 

DIY Backyard Meat Butchering Resources

Butchering a deer can be a messy and time-consuming process. This is especially true if you have no knowledge on what steps to take first or which parts you would need to pay close attention to. Butchering a deer is almost the same as processing other animal meats. You just need to be careful at identifying the parts of the animal and using your tools to cut through the meat. Once you are familiar with all these things, butchering can be a lot easier to accomplish.

Read more:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7432672_diy-deer-butchering.html#ixzz2fSS9VztT

 
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/home-butchering.html

 
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/skills/how-to-be-a-butcher

 

 What Specific Information is "Big Data" Collecting About You? Find Out Now!

Some people are creeped out by the amount of information being collected about us, usually for marketing purposes. Now, one of the big data warehouses is letting you peek inside to see what information they have amassed about you. They also give you an opportunity to correct errors, or to opt-out of targeted marketing that uses that data. The catch: you have to provide personal information about yourself in order for them to make sure they are delivering YOUR record to you rather than someone else's.

 

Finding matches to start bartering
read more here

 


DIY Tiny, Tiny House to Build - This is the first tiny house we have built, so it was enough of a challenge to build that the documenting side was let slide to a fair extent. Regardless, I will walk you thorough what we did, and how we did it to the best of my ability.
We used as many natural, unprocessed, and re-used materials as possible, which made it less expensive but much more time consuming than buying everything from the lumber yard. 


http://www.instructables.com/id/Tiny-tiny-house/

 

The Nanny State-We love our government



 


 


 

 
 

 

The Parting ThoughtNot to worry in the land of the free!

 
Dear Unconcerned Citizen…

 
A NASDAQ article entitled, “How to Profit From ‘Food-Stamp Nation’,” (which noted a 70% increase in the number of college graduates, some with advanced degrees, working for minimum wage in this country), explained: Wherever there’s a societal or business trend in the making — however troubling — chances are someone stands to benefit.

 
The megabanks and megacorporations have totally incentivized the food stamp program in this country, as Breitbart has reported: …companies that administer EBT cards like J.P. Morgan and Xerox are incentivized to get as many people on the program as possible. Schweizer noted J.P. Morgan has contracted with 26 states and has taken advantage of the “loosened requirements concerning food stamps” after the stimulus program. “As food stamp rolls expand, so do corporate profits,” Schweizer said, noting that is why corporations like J.P. Morgan lobby the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees, which have oversight over the food stamp program. Food stamps are actively being promoted all over the country, not discouraged.

 
The government is spending millions on food stamp outreach programs instead of actual food, to get more and more people enrolled. California is in the process of passing a bill that would simplify the food stamp application to expand the rate of participation in the program. The government is even giving EBT cards to kids now. The employment gap between America’s richest and poorest is the widest since data tracking on it began, with unemployment for the lowest-income families above 21%.

 
 For all the Obama Administration’s attempt to make it seem like unemployment is dropping, the actual evidence suggests the figures our government releases are fudged. For the first time in American history, the number of full-time private sector workers in this country has been overtaken by the number of food stamp recipients. July’s jobs report showed that only 47% of U.S. adults even have a full-time job anymore.

 
Many people are being forced to work multiple part-time jobs just to make ends meet. So many people have fallen out of the workforce, the number has dropped to its lowest level since 1978. The main reason? A lack of decent-paying jobs: “We know there’s a lot of hardworking people that want to be productive, we just don’t have work for them to do,” said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute.

 
- See more at: http://www.thedailysheeple.com/you-arent-officially-poor-if-you-get-food-stamps-and-medicaid_092013#sthash.tV4XoqOW.dpuf

 
Almost 50 million Americans are now on food stamps as nation plunges into widespread poverty
http://www.naturalnews.com/042094_food_stamps_widespread_poverty_national_economy.html


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