10 Uses for Leftover Candy, The Mess We're in, Jury Nullification

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.        10 Ways to use leftover Halloween Candy

2.       Fabulous Freebies for 2012

3.       The One Minute Lifesaver

4.       Home Economics making a comeback

5.       The Magnitude of the Mess We’re In

 

 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...
- Dr. Seuss

 

Your Rights as a Juror & How you could stop Prosecutorial and Bureaucratic Overreach

 

In our popular series on Taking America Back from Dysfunctional Politicians and Bureaucrats (see our main page at PoorManSurvival.com), one of the more popular and least understood elements offered is that of Jury Nullification or juror rights.

 

Simply put you have the right to say “not guilty” even if a law is broken.  Most citizens are bullied by the legal system because they have become cowards or have failed to educate themselves.

 

Often considered a controversial issue, most folks simply know nothing about the process.

 

A properly functioning jury system consisting of fully informed jurors can accomplish what elections don’t – a check on bureaucratic, legislative and legal nonsense.  Keep in mind that just because something is a law does not mean it is right or ethical.  When cases go to trial, prosecutors and judges often seek to impose their will by sidestepping the jury system altogether and coercing defendants to accept plea deals under the threat of being overcharged. 

 

Broadcasting your intention is not wise…

One fellow was called to jury "duty" for a marijuana case. He told the judge outright that to his mind, no crime occurred, that he would not convict and, further, added that he would attempt to nullify those laws that would otherwise convict the defendant. The incident created a notable courtroom stir. He was not chosen for that jury.

Juries are routinely instructed falsely that they must convict if the prosecution shows that any arbitrary statute of has been violated.  In no state can a juror be punished for voting his or her conscience!  You can also learn more by going to our Civil Disobedience section at our site or by getting a Free Jury Power Information Kit from the Fully Informed Jury Association at 800-TEL-JURY or at their site:  Fija.org

 

Eating breakfast every day reduces your risk of getting diabetes by 24 percent.  Eat something within 2-3 hours of awakening.

 

 

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

 

10 ways to use leftover Halloween candy

Use surplus sweets in frugal, educational or even charitable ways.

The most frugal way to deal with leftover Halloween candy?  

Avoid having it in the first place.
Base your purchase on how much you gave away last year, plus one extra bag just in case. Then observe these steps:

·     Save all receipts.

·     Open one bag at a time.

·     Hand the candy out yourself, one or two pieces per child.

·     Return all unopened bags the next day.

http://money.msn.com/frugal-living/post.aspx?post=c909668b-84f6-4eab-8528-833cd711bbcf

Fabulous Freebies 2012

Kiplinger just published its annual list of "fabulous freebies" which includes free software, free wi-fi, free passport pictures, free e-books and audiobooks, and more. http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/fabulous-freebies-free-stuff-2012.html

 

One Minute Life Saver

You could save a life by watching the simple instructions on hands-only CPR or you can download their free app at:

www.handsonlycpr.org

 

Think Security as we all have a lot to lose…good site to visit and use for personal security ideas and resources…one of our new Twitter followers.

http://www.thinksecurity.org/

Hillsdale College Video Series  https://constitution.hillsdale.edu/page.aspx?pid=1232

Visit Constitution for the United States at: http://constitutionalsheriffs.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Home Economics is Making a Comeback

When I was a lad in high school they didn’t permit us boys to take home economics classes (I had more interest in cooking the auto shop mechanics)…topics ranging from canning  to gardening are becoming popular online via webinars.  Example:  Two Frog Home offers presentation on preserving citrus fruits, apples, and tomatoes…also check with your University or County Extension offices for other courses.

 

Just say no to soda…sweet sodas are particularly risky for women a Univ of OK study found.  Increased risks for diabetes were the most encountered problems.

 

 

The Nanny State Updates…

If any American was still foolish enough to believe that the United States is still a democracy protected by the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, documents handed over last week to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) should put those notions to rest. The government files “reveal that federal law enforcement agencies are increasingly monitoring Americans’ electronic communications, and doing so without warrants, sufficient oversight, or meaningful accountability.”

Electronic Surveillance on Public Soars; Congress Shirks Oversight Responsibility

Is Your Kindle (or other eReader) Spying on You?

Curling up on the couch with a Kindle and reading an eBook might seem like a private experience, but what if someone was watching you read, making notes about your... Read more

 

Homeowner Forced To Allow Bum To Live In Her Home

Because of a Detroit city law she is not allowed to kick a squatter out of her house who had moved in recently when she was away. In Detroit, apparently, if someone breaks into your house and starts living there, you are not legally allowed to remove them on the spot. You are supposed to get some paperwork together, go to court, and get an "eviction notice"!

The reporter asks the poor homeowner, "People might find it strange that you are living with a squatter," to which the obviously exasperated homeowner replies, "That's, I guess, something that happens in Detroit"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29GptjzEJiE

 

Do not transport precious coins in checked luggage.  Baggage theft and TSA theft is a  growing problem.

 

The Parting Thought-The Magnitude of the Mess We’re In

Less government is the cure for what ails the country…

The cure for politicians, their lies, their over regulation, their greed and need to control…

If you want to reduce many of the problems our nation faces, you don't need to re-write or amend the Constitution. Instead, you need to follow it.

 

Why our taxes really are too high... what's really wrong with our schools and our very ideas about education... and why nobody will admit that America is no longer the "Land of Opportunity" and hasn't been for some time. (Hint: the biggest troublemakers are the "fixers" we supposedly elected to protect those opportunities in the first place!)

 

Big Government is an obstacle to the better life, not a solution.  We can longer afford the government in its current bloated condition.

 

We definitely need a tax revolt! I'm 100% with you there. The problem, maybe the biggest one we face, is the inequity inherent (on purpose) in the tax code. There's a reason the tax code is as thick as it is; all those rules and regulations are there to be manipulated. The more rules we have, the more loopholes there are to be created. That's the game. That's why "the strong seem to get more, while the weak ones slave."

 

A flat tax is the way to go. It can be a flat and progressive tax. I like federal rates of 5% on gross income of less than $20,000, 7% on gross between $20K and $30k , 9% on gross between $30k and $40k, 11% on gross between $40k and $50k, 13% on gross between $50k and $75k, 15% on gross between $75k and $1m, and 17% on anything greater than ordinary income of more than $1m. I like a flat corporate rate of 20% after expense deductions. I'd like to see dividends be allowed to be 100% deducted as an expense to any company paying them and have dividends taxed at half everyone's ordinary income rate.

 

That's my starting point to what would be a long discussion. The rest of it would be all about limiting the growth of government spending and having balanced budgets... or else.

 

The Magnitude of the Mess We’re In

The credibility of paper assets continues to crumble under massive public excesses.  It’s so bad that even foreign policy establishment figures are speaking up such as former Secretary of State George Schultz and other Hoover Institution fellows…

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303561504577497442109193610.html

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

 

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A Shallow Planet Production



Spy Pills, Toothbrush Saliva & Gov't Data

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.      Like a shotgun blast to my middle

2.      Boomers struggling to recover

3.      Digital media – pros and cons

4.      Spy pills, toothbrush saliva & government databases

 

 

"The Democrats and Republicans stand at two extremes, characterized by which
parts of our lives they emphasize their desire to control. Libertarians reject
both extremes in favor of the government leaving control of your life to you."
-- Michael Badnarik

 

A Shotgun blast to the middle…

I’m finally home after nearly three weeks in the hospital getting heart bypass surgery.  Now, at home I’m still hooked up to a monitor and have nurses arranged to visit.  I have a lengthy recovery period to look forward to.  I feel like one of those guys in the movies who gets a shotgun blast to the middle of the chest, crashing him into a wall.

Better than Great staff and heart surgeon (Cleveland Clinic trained) at McLaren Systems…reminded me of a visit to the United Nations however.  Folks from all over the world still migrate here to seek freedom and some kind of living.  Still, during my conversations with nurses and other staff, it’s evident they’re frustrated with how a middle class lifestyle is slipping away…fewer benefits, no pensions, etc. 

 

During the nights of the televised debates, 100% of the staff I spoke with commented on how they no longer trust Washington politicians or the ‘system.’  Typical were comments such as “those bastards haven’t a clue how most of us live and not one of them gave up their raise or benefits during these rough years-no leadership by example.”

 

I’m pretty certain too I’ll be facing additional challenges by applying for disability benefits.  You can bet your vote if it happened to a Congressman, it would not present the same set of problems!

 

Finally, if you ever need reviews about a doctor, make use of free sites such as Vitals.com and HealthGrades.com or to find top doctors in your area, visit: Health.USNews.com/top-doctors

 

In future issues, I’ll share some health tips I picked up from the healthcare providers who helped me.

 

Move your clocks back one hour as Standard time begins at 2am on Sunday Nov. the 4^th.

 

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

Boomers and the Great Recession: Struggling to Recover

This AARP Public Policy Institute research report examines how boomers fared during and after recent recession. It is based on the findings of two on-line surveys of a random sample of boomers aged 50 to 64 who were in the labor force in October 2010 or who had been in it at some point in the previous three years—roughly since the start of the recession in December 2007.

The report confirms that many boomers have had a very rough ride over the past several years. The recession and its aftermath have left many without jobs, having exhausted their savings, and with homes they can neither afford nor sell. The surveys indicate that boomers are uncertain about what the future holds for them as they edge toward retirement.

Although anxiety on the part of the unemployed and even those recently employed after a spell of unemployment would not be surprising, majorities of even the steadily employed expressed concern about, for example, being able to maintain a reasonable standard of living in retirement, having enough money to pay for adequate health care, or depleting all their savings. Nor did they expect to do as well as their parents or people of their parents’ generation in retirement.

Digital Media Pros & Cons

Digital media has made information easier to gather and present.  It’s also cheaper to update, package and ship, especially for Cloud-based information.  I was especially happy when CD ROM and DVD’s became available to a mass market.

The introduction of Kindle readers had me shaking my head.  I did not think it would catch on.  After all, I thought, who would spend up to $200 for a device which needed batteries and was expensive to replace?  But then again, I never thought Americans would shell out $5 for a cup of over rated coffee from Starbucks.

Nonetheless, Kindle readers have caught on, despite the challenges it has presented to publishers…too many formats, not enough ‘early adopters,’ reluctance to invest in untested waters, etc.

But, like so-called ‘Smart Phones,’ which are easily monitored by government authorities, expensive to replace, and prone to thieves (especially with the introduction of Smart Wallets) nearly 51% of the American public loves these high priced gadgets.

With the inclusion of cameras on phones, we’ve seen an explosion of instant movies appearing everywhere from local and national media outlets to Facebook and YouTube – everyone has become a movie producer!

Whereas Amazon champions digital books, eBay remains wary of digital media in that it won’t allow instant download products in most categories except in its high priced classified listings.

This policy forced many sellers to create digital products using the compact disc format which requires additional shipping costs. I could just as easily upload files into a Cloud service for immediate download as I do for my Premier subscribers or send content out in zip format as an email attachment, saving time and money.

 

There are many folks who do not like either method of distribution, instant download or CD ROM…they want printed books.  In many ways, I’m in that camp, but printing and shipping has become an expensive route to go which is why new, mass market softbound novels have an average retail price of $11.95 today versus $4.95 or less for a Kindle version.

Decades ago when digital watches first came on the market, they retailed for $200.  Now you can find digital watches on clearance for $5.  My guess is something like this will take place with Kindle readers and even high end cell phones.  As the market gets flooded with similar brands and products, prices will drop.  

Long term, my guess is everyone will be implanted with a chip and built-in reader device where they (and the government) can instantly access everything from their money to movies and friends…I’ll pass on that future.  What do you think?

 

Using Saliva from Your Toothbrush for Facial Recognition

Scientists have identified five specific genes linked to facial shape and features. Initial DNA studies from the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands help researchers predict features such as hair, skin, the space between the eyes and bridge of the nose, nose length, width between checks bones, and even eye color.

Scientists also discovered how specific genes influence "the gap between the centers of each eye socket being narrower by just 9 millimeters," according to the website New Scientist.

This research is in its preliminary stages, however, the scientists believe their ability will improve as they identify additional genes that affect facial construction. As this research advances, a small DNA sample such as a strand of hair from a comb or saliva from a toothbrush could be enough to create a "police sketch" of your face.

Protect your pets from the cold

Temps of 45 F and lower can be dangerous for pets if they’re left outside too long.  On cold days outfit your dog with a coat to keep the animal’s core warm and to help the rest of the body heat up.

 

The Nanny State Updates…

 

Government Has More Data On an Average American Than Stasi Did On East Germans

We’ve written plenty about how the US government has been quite aggressive in spying on Americans. It has been helped along by a court system that doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the 4th Amendment and by the growing ability of private companies to have our data and to then share it with the government at will. Either way, in a radio interview, Wall Street Journal reporter Julia Angwin (who’s been one of the best at covering the surveillance state in the US) made a simple observation that puts much of this into context: the US surveillance regime has more data on the average American than the Stasi ever did on East Germans. And, of course, as we’ve already seen, much of that data seems to be collected illegally with little oversight… and with absolutely no security benefit.

techdirt.com

 

Spy Pills Snitch If You Haven't Been Taking Your Medicine...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is approving "tiny, indigestible microchips capable of being embedded within drugs prescribed by doctors so that patients can be monitored remotely."

These sensors are the size of a grain of sand and made of silicon, magnesium, and copper. It reacts to the digestive juices and actually generates a small electrical impulse that sends out a signal through the body. A special patch can be worn on the skin that reads the signal and simultaneously sends a message to a healthcare provider's mobile phone!

 

The Parting Thought-

 

The Rise of American Incompetence...

We used to be the world's most skillful entrepreneurs and managers. Now we're laughingstocks. What happened?

 

The dollar plunged to new lows against foreign currencies this week. There are plenty of reasons for its plunge, but at the most basic level, the dollar's weakness reflects the world's collective, two-thumbs-down verdict about the ability of the United States—businesses, individuals, the government, the Federal Reserve—to manage the global financial system and the world's largest economy. Countries that outsourced their monetary policy by pegging domestic currencies to the dollar are having second thoughts.  

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2008/03/the_rise_of_american_incompetence.html

 

Patronizing a Casino where the House uses a stacked deck is not a very good idea. If the House (Congress) permits the people to vote on who will deal the cards, the results will remain the same as long as the dealers are employed by the Casino (International Bankers)

Changing the dealers only gives us the illusion that we are in control. We need to return to the principles of liberty and individual responsibility. We need to reclaim our freedom by reaffirming the Declaration of Independence.

 “Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

 

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New self sufficiency books added weekly

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 Happy Halloween! 

A Shallow Planet Production

10 Ways to Fly Under the Radar, DIY Water Filters

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       10 Ways to fly ‘under-the-radar’

2.      Using Food Shed Maps

3.      DIY water filter & purifier plans

4.      Track Me if You Can+More on an Over Criminalized America

 

A man's admiration for absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he
feels for those around him."
-- Alexis de Tocqueville

 

New data from the Census Bureau shows working at home is increasingly common.

According to the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the number of people who worked at home at least one day per week increased from 9.5 million in 1999 to 13.4 million in 2010, increasing from 7.0 percent to 9.5 percent of all workers. The largest increase occurred between 2005 and 2010, when the share grew from 7.8 percent to 9.5 percent of all workers, an increase of more than 2 million.

The median household income was significantly higher for mixed workers at $96,300,” the survey says, “compared with $74,000 for home workers and $65,600 for onsite workers.” Mixed workers are those who are based in an office, but also get to work from home part of the time.

The fastest-growing work-from-home jobs involve computers, engineering, and science – those jumped 69 percent from 2000 to 2010. A quarter of stay-at-home workers are in management, business and financial jobs.

 

More resources at:

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/jobresources.aspx

Pets:  Cats love newspaper: whole sheets, crumpled or torn - its absorbent and free. I have a homemade pet door. Frontline/advantage are toxic to environment, but I use them: get large (126 lb.) dog size and a free 1 cc syringe (drug store) WITHOUT needle, draw up 0.75 cc (do your own weight calculations) per month. I give kibble, with just a tsp. of wet food to keep their diet interesting, leftover chicken, and a daily tsp of safflower oil to those with dermatitis (they love it).

 

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

 

Make Your Own Homemade Water Filter & Purifier

Just Need an “Emergency Only” Water Filter & Purifier?

http://life-linewaterpurifiers.com/homemade-water-filter-and-purifier/

 

10 Ways to Fly Under the Radar

http://listverse.com/2008/03/27/top-10-ways-to-fly-under-the-radar/

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-live-under-the-radar

…1.3 million requests for cell phone data were made by law enforcement last year.  Cell phone carriers turned over text messages, caller locations and more without batting an eye or regard to warrants or privacy.

 

Track Me If You Can is a must-watch for anyone interested in protecting their privacy. He covers some of excellent tips and gives a lot of necessary information. We live in a world where we are being constantly watched and monitored. What would it take to wipe the slate clean and live a life free of big brother? Security expert Aton Edwards takes the viewer on an amazing journey off the grid and under the radar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkPU9NSfPQ

Consider your options. Since surviving an encounter should be your number one goal, think about your two primary options. The first option is to give the attacker what they want. If this option is not available, you may use what is known as "The Nike Defense." This simply means: Run away. Survival is much more important than looking tough or injuring someone for sake of your pride.

Food Shed Maps

What is a "foodshed"?
Though it may be unfamiliar, the term "foodshed" was used almost 80 years ago in a book entitled How Great Cities Are Fed (Hedden, 1929) to describe the flow of food from producer to consumer. Seven decades later, the term was used to describe a food system that connected local producers with local consumers (Kloppenburg et al., 1996). In this project, the general definition of a foodshed is a geographic area that supplies a population center with food. However, the Mapping Local Food Systems Project focused specifically on potential local foodsheds, areas of nearby land that could theoretically provide part or all of a city's food needs (Peters, 2007).

Learn more at:

http://css.cals.cornell.edu/extension/foodshed-mapping.cfm

 

No Increase in Standard of Living Since 1997”

There’s a belief among certain economists — and the wider population — that if the government takes a more active role in the economy, the social outcome can be improved. Dr. Lacy Hunt, executive VP of Hoisington Investment Management Company (HIMCO), says it’s a false belief...and he has proof to back it up. An unprecedented buildup of debt, he shows, can only lead to one outcome: a drop in Americans’ standard of living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FnSULxtcSw&feature=player_embedded#!

 

 

You do not need to let an attacker take the first shot. Most legal jurisdictions in the United States recognize your right to defend yourself if you feel you are in immediate danger of being harmed.

 

The Nanny State Updates…

I remember as a child being so grateful that I lived in America. I felt that America would always be a bulwark of freedom from oppression and torture…today, I’m not so sure!

Illegal spying on Americans actually began before 9/11.

Bloomberg reported in 2006:

The U.S. National Security Agency asked AT&T Inc. to help it set up a domestic call monitoring site seven months before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, lawyers claimed June 23 in court papers filed in New York federal court.

Senator Frank Church – who chaired the famous “Church Committee” into the unlawful FBI Cointel program, and who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – said in 1975:

“Th[e National Security Agency's] capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide. [If a dictator ever took over, the N.S.A.] could enable it to impose total tyranny, and there would be no way to fight back.“

Now, the NSA is building a $2 billion dollar facility in Utah which will use the world’s most powerful supercomputer to monitor virtually all phone calls, emails, internet usage, purchases and rentals, break all encryption, and then store everyone’s data permanently.

The former head of the program for the NSA recently held his thumb and forefinger close together, and said:

We are, like, that far from a turnkey totalitarian state

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t3sxOqe96Yc

 

Good news for salt lovers who are concerned over its affect on blood pressure…The USDA says today’s top source of sodium is processed foods.  Fix this by eating more home cooked meals and lightly salt to taste which can cut your sodium intake by 50%.

 

The Parting Thought-

Less Government equals More Freedom from the District of Corruption…

The past 75 years in America have witnessed an avalanche of new criminal laws, the result of which is a problem known as "overcriminalization." As the United States Congress refuses to stop new and unwarranted criminal laws, the key to curbing overcriminalization is the American public.

 

Overcriminalization: The Legislative Side of the Problem

The past 75 years in America have witnessed an avalanche of new criminal laws, the result of which is a problem known as "overcriminalization." As the United States Congress refuses to stop new and unwarranted criminal laws, the key to curbing overcriminalization is the American public.

Key Points

1. 1 No one knows how many federal crimes exist. Many criminal laws regulate conduct that is not inherently blameworthy in the commercial and environmental fields, for example.
2. 2 Often, those laws do not require proof that a person intended to break the law or knew that his conduct was inherently blameworthy or harmful. As a result, people risk committing crimes without having the “guilty mind” required by the common law.
3. 3 The practicalities of the legislative process contribute to this dilemma. There generally is little or no constituency for reducing the number or severity of criminal laws, and prosecutors are a powerful political bloc and seek to expand the reach and severity of the penal code.
4. 4 Legislators may enact unduly broad laws in the hope that prosecutors will exercise good judgment, which is not always the case. Public awareness is therefore essential if this problem is to be addressed.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/12/overcriminalization-the-legislative-side-of-the-problem

 

 

Download our series of reports on Taking America Back from Dysfunctional Politicians at:

www.PoorManSurvival.com

 

“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

 

Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/PoorManSurvival

 

 Twitter

http://twitter.com/poormansurvivor

 

Keep our services free, visit our sites…

Check our Resources

 

New self sufficiency books added weekly

http://www.OldBookNook.com

 

A Shallow Planet Production