Task Rabbit-Putting you to work; The Forever Recession & Coming Revolution

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       Community supported agriculture resources

2.      Buy bulk products online to save

3.      TaskRabbit-Make extra cash

4.      Freedom is about taking risks

5.      Prepping for the worst case scenario

"You need to know that a member of Congress who refuses to allow the minimum wage to come up for a vote made more money during last year's one-month government shutdown than a minimum wage worker makes in an entire year."
—William Jefferson Clinton

According to an ABC news report…Americans pay the highest premiums in the world!

The cost of a health insurance policy for the average American family rose by a whopping 9 percent last year. According to a report put out by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, the average family health insurance policy now costs over $15,000 a year.

How in the world can most families afford that? Yes, in many cases employers are paying for at least a portion of that, but still that seems absolutely outrageous.

The median yearly wage in the United States is just $26,261, but the average American household is carrying $75,600 in debt.

Last year, 2.6 million more Americans dropped into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.

The housing crisis continues to worsen.  In Detroit alone there are more than 33,000 homes which have been abandoned outright.

As I indicted in the previous issue, more adult children are returning home to live with their parents.  Perhaps communes will make a comeback in this country?!

According to a Yahoo News article, minimum wage jobs generate only about $22,000 annually, the poverty level.  After taxes and household expenses, not to mention any extras such as auto repairs or medical emergencies, there’s nothing left for these families.

One thing that keeps many families going is their religion but even that is under assault in this country.  During a Congressional hearing earlier this year, U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee warned that "Christian militants" might try to "bring down the country" and that such groups need to be investigated.

 According to a shocking FBI document obtained by Oath Keepers, the FBI definition of "suspicious activity" now includes making "extreme religious statements" and believing in "radical theology".

Is it any wonder why so many Americans are giving up hope?  Do you think there is justification to be worried about the future?  What would you do if you were the President?

Your bug-out kit should also include area maps…your smart phone may not operate in the event of emergencies.

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources  

TaskRabbit: Putting Americans Back to Work, One Odd Job at a Time

Great idea for earning extra money - as seen on ABC news…

TaskRabbit gets you in touch with friendly, reliable people who can help you get just about anything you need done, and put some free time back into your life.

Currently Tasking in Boston, SF Bay Area, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Orange County… more coming soon!  http://www.taskrabbit.com/

Related Story:  "Job creation is a false idol. The future is about gigs and assets and art and an ever-shifting series of partnerships and projects. It will change the fabric of our society along the way. No one is demanding that we like the change, but the sooner we see it and set out to become an irreplaceable linchpin, the faster the pain will fade, as we get down to the work that needs to be (and now can be) done." --Seth Godin

The forever recession (and the coming revolution)

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/09/the-forever-recession.html

 Community Supported Agriculture

Look for a nearby CSA that works with a number of family farms. This way you have a variety of products from which to choose. For instance, Abundant Harvest Organics' basic box contains seasonal fruit and vegetables. However, you can select "add-ons" such as organic almonds, grass-fed beef, open-range chicken and eggs, gourmet cheese, honey, and more.

To find a local CSA, search online. Use the term CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture/Fishery/Dairy/etc. And include the name of your town. Or, you can look over these related web portals.

www.localharvest.org

www.csacenter.org

www.eatwellguide.org

https://namanet.org

 Buy Products in Bulk Online

Buy a case of the same product and save.  If you find it cheaper elsewhere, this firm will pay the price difference and give you an extra 5 percent. 

Stockngo.com

Southface is a nonprofit organization that for more than 30 years has promoted energy-, water- and resource-efficient workplaces, homes and communities throughout the Southeast

Southface.org - site with articles and resources for environmental living.

5-in-1 Portable Power Dome

Interesting device I ran across in a catalog (I might just order this)…compact rechargeable battery providing emergency AC and DC power, auto jump starter, 260psi air compressor, and a built in utility light.  Provides 400 watts of power.  Priced at $150 plus shipping from WhateverWorks.com or 800-499-6757

Prepping for the Worst Case Scenario
What would you and your family do if the economy were to completely collapse? The idea of total economic collapse is very frightening. However, if you are prepared for it, you should be able to survive for years. So how do you make sure you are prepared for the worst case scenario?

Don’t Rely On Other People

If the economy collapses, you cannot rely on the government or anyone else to help you out. In that situation, you will only have yourself and your family to fall back on. Other people will be focused on their own survival. Hence you will have to make sure that you and your loved ones have the skills needed to survive. You will also have to make certain preparations. Suggested Reading:

The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse. By Fernando Aguirre

The book is based on his first-hand experience of the 2001 economic collapse in Argentina - available on Amazon.com

Save the Dream – Slay the Dragon

All of us will be affected by the fiscal crisis our country faces, especially our young people.  Heritage.Org has a new, free download which encourages students learn about the problems with its Slay the Beast:  How you can save us from our massive debt.

Heritage.org/Slaythebeast

When assembling a bug out kit, include a 3-day supply of non-perishable items for the whole family such as non-refrigerated cheese and crackers, high calorie nutrition drinks, pop-topped canned items and pet food.

The Nanny State Updates…

Pepper-Spraying Cop in RNC Lawsuit

Anthony Bologna, a New York City police officer who was accused of pepper-spraying women during the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations last week, is still involved in pending legal action for his role in the 2004 demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Eighteen hundred protesters were arrested for protests during the 2004 convention. One of the protesters accused Bologna of false arrest and civil-rights violations, and filed suit against him; the case is expected to be heard next year. After the pepper-spray incident, the hacking group Anonymous claimed responsibility for releasing Bologna’s name to the public, saying, "You know who the innocent women were; now they will have the chance to know who you are. Before you commit atrocities against innocent people, think twice. WE ARE WATCHING!!! Expect Us!"

Artistic License
Mark Chase got a federal court order allowing him to paint on Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk without a license. That didn't impress Baltimore police, who arrested him for painting at the Inner Harbor without a permit. When Chase complained that the permit requirements violated his constitutional rights, and officer told him "Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law."

Barack Obama continues to run around the country talking about "infrastructure jobs", but according to ABC News, thousands upon thousands of those jobs are actually going to Chinese workers....

In New York there is a $400 million renovation project on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge.

In California, there is a $7.2 billion project to rebuild the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland.

In Alaska, there is a proposal for a $190 million bridge project.

These projects sound like steps in the right direction, but much of the work is going to Chinese government-owned firms.

Emergency radios, either windup or battery powered are good items to have.  The Red Cross offers a Microlink FR 160 emergency radio (about $35) at:  Redcrossstore.org – they also offer Emergency First Aid kits for about $15

The Parting Thought – Freedom is about taking risks

 Since the 1960s, it has become a given not only that the government should be more involved in areas like health care and poverty, but that these problems remain intractable because the government has not gotten more involved.

A competitive party system ensures the legitimacy of opposition to government, promotes public debate about policy options, and gets citizens involved in the public sphere. The two-party system never does these things perfectly, but it does them well enough. Without it our system would collapse overnight, leaving gridlock and hyperpluralism--or so most political scientists think.

In his 1973 “Libertarian Manifesto,” the late Murray Rothbard argued that the biggest obstacle in the road out of serfdom was “status quo bias.”

It’s always been my contention that government is too involved in every aspect of our lives along with having its greedy hand in our collective pockets.  In many respects, voting Republican or Democratic has proven itself dangerous to the American citizen.

Neither party has proven itself good stewards of the public trust or treasury, especially in the last 30-years where greed and public corruption among government officials and elected leaders seems rampant.

Yet, most Americans seem satisfied with maintaining the status quo, constantly re-electing the same people to office, despite its poor results.  Third parties rarely succeed in this country.  Various explanations from political scientists are offered, but I feel the most logical explanation is that few Americans are educated enough to understand how our two-party system works to exclude third parties and the party in power manages to influence popular media (a manner of brainwashing the electorate).

With the government insisting on inserting itself into the business world more and more, there will be more financial flops that we, the taxpayers, will be forced finance. With government's hand ever more in our pockets, it becomes imperative that we find more and better ways to live independently .

Politicians spend more time currying favor and raising campaign funds than they do tackling the problems our country faces.  Oh, they try to put on a good face for the public, but they are deceptive.  Many of the problems we face, such as energy, and stupid tax system have plagued us for years, yet nothing meaningful is ever done.  Incompetence, or simply a matter of maintaining the status quo?

Oh what the hell, I guess we’re all happy with letting Washington destroy our way of life!

Yours in freedom, the Poor Man.

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 A Shallow Planet Production

40 Extra Income Ideas, Save on Pet Med and more...

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.      40+ Extra Income ideas

2.      Save on Pet Meds and services

3.      Homemade baby food recipe resources

4.      Smart meters, smart fuel sources

5.      From work to welfare – our changing demographics

Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. --Banker, Sir John Quinton

From Work to Welfare-Changing Demographics

   When I studied economics during the 1970s I learned a few things that I believe are relevant during today’s economic challenges.  See if you agree with me.

First, a country begins its decline when it stops producing things.  Our manufacturing sector has been in a decline since the 1980s with no let up in sight.  I’ll never forget when the US Army ordered one million new berets for our soldiers - they ordered them from China.  Due to public outcry, they finally rescinded that order.

Most of our police now use Glock sidearms instead of Colt or other American made weapons.  Not a good thing and I don’t especially like the Glock.

Capitalism, as the old wisdom was taught, was built on the Three C’s:  cheap resources, cheap labor and cheap money…(consumerism was based on cheap credit and decent jobs; something which no longer exists).

Everything is Cyclical

Currently, international capitalists are leveraging the cheap labor in Asia and resources of third-world countries while environmental red tape in the USA helps strangle growth here.  This is why most global firms are still raking in profits.

By 2028, 80 million citizens will be on Social Security and Medicare.  The Baby Boom generation was the richest generation and spent money like crazy (1 in every 2 consumer dollars spent).  This means they will be spending much less on goods and in fact, they will downsize which will have vast consequences for our economy and governments everywhere; something no central banker can fix.

America is at the end of a 60-year cycle, simple demographics.  Asian countries are entering an up cycle with their own version of Baby Boomers and a prospering middle class.

After decades of buying autos, computers, homes, vacations and the like, the feeding trend is over.  This will most likely mean a continuing downward trend for the price of real estate, both personal and commercial.  Many big ticket items will likely take a hit and with poor wages for those who still work, government treasuries will squeal while the costs for retirees and pensions will continue to skyrocket.

It won’t surprise me if many more banks crash while the economy continues to suffer.  We may not crash entirely, but the government has few, very few options to ward off these trends.  With inflation roaring its ugly head, more Americans are probably destined for the welfare line…what other choice do many have?

Eliminate unpopped popcorn by keeping your supply in the freezer; good for microwave or regular.

PM’s Betty Shocker Compendium of useful resources

Cutting Pet Expenses

A trip to the vet can be costly for cash strapped Americans.  Here are a few tips for saving money from Consumer Reports.

>Avoid premium food.  “Premium” has no legal definition, look instead for phrases such as “complete and balanced” or “total nutrition.”  If it’s labeled as such, it meets industry standards and the needs of most pets.

>Check your vet’s pricing.  Most vets set their pricing as a percentage or multiple of their standard physical exam fee, so shop around.  The best time to call around is when your pet needs a routine exam, not when you’re stressed out over an injured or ill animal.  If your pet needs medication, check if your local drugstore carries it as vets usually charge premium prices for pet meds.

>Fight fleas for less.  An expired patent means that the active ingredient in Frontline Plus flea and tick collars (fipronil) is now available from more affordable brands.

You can also save a lot of money by learning how to trim your pet’s nails on your own and by bathing and grooming yourself.

Free Samples Rachel Ray Dog Food

No, we're not criticizing Rachel Ray's cooking. She is now hawking her own brand of dog food. Here are two separate offers to receive a free sample of two different dog food products: Nutrish free sample and Just6 free sample, while supplies last.

Chances are, you're sitting on (well, under) hundreds of dollars in unwanted household goods. These three sites will help you get cash for your castoffs

Sell.com: Instead of working your local paper's classifieds, try this Web alternative. It's free to join, and it costs between $1 and $6 per item to post an ad that runs for up to 30 days. Once you accept an offer, you can receive payment directly or through a service like PayPal, and negotiate shipping costs and methods with the buyer.

Furnituretrader.com: Consignment shops aren't just for clothes. This virtual store helps your old dining room set or Grandma's dresser become money in your wallet. Prices to list items vary with the value of each item and length of time listed (from $1.95 to $19.95 for one month up to $4.95 to $49.95 for four months).

Amazon.com: You've been on the receiving end of this online giant's packages for years, but now you can peddle your own books, toys, DVDs, housewares, and tools with the site's "Sell Your Stuff" feature. Amazon gets a 6- to 15-percent commission, plus a $1 transaction fee per item

Read more: Money Saving Strategies - Energy Saving Stategies - Good Housekeeping

40+ Extra Income Ideas and Resources

PLUS…links to Alternative Income Resources:

Don’t forget the many resources for developing sideline incomes at our PoorManSurvival.com site - click on: BootStrapBiz

http://www.moolanomy.com/462/30-alternative-income-ideas-and-resources/

Easy Homemade Baby Food & Baby Food Recipes - Tasty,

Nutritious

http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/

The average American now works 230 days to pay for government – the longest on record!

The Nanny State Updates…

In a world where everyone is a "potential terrorist", we are told that things like liberty, freedom and privacy are "luxuries" that we can no longer afford. We are assured that if we just allow the government to watch all of us and investigate all of us that somehow that will keep us all safe. But it isn't just the government that is watching us. Now we are being taught to spy on one another and to report any trace of "suspicious activity" to the government immediately. The entire civilized world is being transformed into one giant prison grid, and many of the new technologies that are now being introduced are going to make things even worse

According to a shocking document obtained by Oath Keepers, the FBI is now instructing store owners to report many new forms of "suspicious activity" to them. According to the document, "suspicious activity" now includes....

-paying with cash

-missing a hand or fingers

-"strange odors"

-making "extreme religious statements"

-"radical theology"

-purchasing weatherproofed ammunition or match containers

-purchasing meals ready to eat

-purchasing night vision devices, night flashlights or gas masks

According to WorldNetDaily, this document is part of a "series of brochures" that will be distributed "to farm supply stores, gun shops, military surplus stores and even hotels and motels."

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2009/03/03/declaration-of-orders-we-will-not-obey/

Unstick photos, envelopes and stamps by putting them into your freezer for about 30-minutes, then use a butter knife to gently separate the photos or envelope.

The Parting Thought…Smart Meters and Smarter Fuel Sources?

Smart meters" are going into homes all over North America and Europe. These smart meters monitor your home every single minute of every single day and they transmit very sophisticated data about your personal behavior back to the utility company.

They are already being used by police all over the United States in drug cases. If a smart meter catches you using an "unusual" amount of energy there is a good chance that your home will be raided.

The European Parliament has set a goal of having smart meters in the homes of 80 percent of all electricity consumers by the year 2020, and Barack Obama is working very hard to get them into as many American homes as he can.

The Car of the…

future may only require 8 grams of thorium.

Thorium is abundant and radioactive, but much safer to use than an element such as uranium. When thorium is heated it becomes extremely hot and causes heat surges allowing it to be coupled with mini turbines producing steam that can then be used to generate electricity. It also helps that it has a very large liquid range between melting and boiling point.

Combining a laser, radioactive material, and mini-turbines might sound like a complicated alternative solution to filling your gas tank, but there’s one feature that sells it as a great alternative solution.

Stevens has worked out you’d require a 227kg, 250MW thorium engine in order to power a typical road car. Within that system 1 gram of thorium produces the equivalent of 7,500 gallons of gasoline. So if you fit the Thorium engine with 8 grams of Thorium, it will run the vehicle for its entire lifetime without needing to be refueled while all the time not producing any emissions. The engine lasts so long in fact, that it could be taken from one vehicle and used in another as and when they wear out.

The issues to overcome are the radioactivity and the mining of thorium to make this engine possible. Stevens says the radioactivity can easily be contained with aluminum foil. As for the mining, the reserves are there, with 440,000 tons alone in the U.S., we just need the mining facilities to extract it in large enough quantities. With the potential benefits that is sure to happen.

Finally, an odd note…a state liquor store in New Hampshire is under fire because its hybrid car parking spots are closer to the store than the handicapped spaces.  The store, which has solar panels and geothermal heating, wanted to reward those who drive hybrids, but state legislators deemed ‘the deplorable.’

That’s it for this exciting episode from your friend, the Poor Man.

Follow us on Facebook

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 Twitter

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Keep our services free, visit our sites…

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New self sufficiency books added weekly

http://www.OldBookNook.com

A Shallow Planet Production