Scavenging, Squatting & Scrounging, Do I Really Need to Prepare?

 

 

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.       Scavenging, Squatting & Scrounging

2.      Do I really need to prepare?

3.      Free online gunsmithing video course

4.      Why Bureaucrats are more dangerous than terrorists-Part III

 

Politics,” said George Orwell, “is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.--Author of 1984 & Animal Farm

 

Scavenging, Scrounging & Squatting-Survival Ideas!

Scrounger:  a person who collects things discarded by others.

Welcome to Scrounger Training 101

Not long ago I found a box full of old Gameboy stuff and sold it for $50.  I’ve found discarded furniture that I repaired and sold at a profit.  I’ve scrounged old discarded computers that were repairable and sold at a profit too. 

There are many who make a decent sideline business (some even full time) income scrounging stuff to resell or to for personal use.  What follows are several resources you can use to learn more about the ‘scrounger’ life.

Main things we'll focus on:

What to look for.

Where to look for it.

What is worth taking

http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/Scrounger+Training

 

How to Squat in Abandoned Property -  11 Steps

Squatting, the practice of living in abandoned or unoccupied spaces that a squatter does not legally own, is a great way to avoid paying rent, if you’re willing to take the risk. While many squatters are routinely evicted, arrested, harassed, or even, in some parts of the world, beaten or killed, some manage to make comfortable long-term homes on someone else’s property. A few are even able to take legal possession of their adopted digs through a process called “adverse possession”, or, in difficult times, show a property owner that it may be in their best interest to work something out; they are quite possibly only reticent because they don't know you -- have your references handy. Whether you're unemployed, underpaid, or just extraordinarily thrifty, squatting may be the solution to your housing needs.

http://www.wikihow.com/Squat-in-Abandoned-Property

How To Scavenge For Groceries Before Dropping Cash At Whole Foods

 

At first glance, scavenging through someone else's trash for clothing, art, or appliances can seem a little gross—after all, the original user sent the item to the landfill for a reason. But driven by environmental concerns and financial constraints, some people get over the initial disgust to "shop" the trash, and bring home a few gems. If you're looking to engage in this money-saving pastime, here are 10 strategies to keep in mind:
Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-29/news/31109405_1_trash-clothes-plastic-bags#ixzz25iOcYk00

 

Freshen linens with vodka.  Mix a cup of vodka with 1 cup of distilled water and add about 15 drops of lavender essential oil and spritz your towels or linens between washings to keep them fresh & germ free

 

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

 

Do I really need to prepare?

Find our which disasters are prevalent in your area.
How likely that an earthquake will happen where I live?
Nuclear attack. Vulnerability of 4 US cities and their health care systems.

Links of Interest
Current US hazards on a map.
Receive emergency alerts in your email, pager or cell for free.
Center for Infectious Disease, current information and alerts
Nuclear blast damage map

For pets
Disaster preparedness for pets
Guide To Pet Disaster Preparedness for Renters and Homeowners

First Aid
#"http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Procedures/medical_procedures.htm" \l "Basic%20Procedures"Basic emergency medical treatment

Very complete first aid guide from Austere medicine (PDF)
Guidelines on Antibiotic use from Johns Hopkins University
Emergency War Surgery US DOD, 2004 (PDF)
Where There Is No Doctor (PDF)
Where There Is No Dentist (PDF)

Sensors monitor hydroponic plants, offer feedback to gardeners

The Bitponics sensor and data service is now making the process of keeping a hydroponic garden easier by monitoring plant conditions. READ MORE...

 

Free online gunsmithing video course

http://americangunsmithinginstitute.org/

 

 

Ambush! What You Want to Avoid in the SHTF or WROL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMRKiJ4n5Yk&list=PLD334989D57F5E5F7&index=7&feature=plpp_video

 

Desktop Factories-the wave of the future?
It now appears that crews will be able to "print" out your home... in a single day... and hey, on Mars, no less, if that's where you want to go.
Even NASA is now funding a project in the fast-growing field of 3D printers.
These are devices that take blueprints and turn them into real objects. The "printer" has a nozzle that spits out special polymers. Once you add a binding agent, you can create everything from replica car parts to human jaws.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/115503-what-is-3d-printing

 

Snag meat and produce bargains by shopping supermarkets later in the evening when they make room for morning shipments!

 

The Nanny State Updates…

 

Law-enforcement agencies eager for Web-surveillance tools

Private technology firms are pitching software capable of analyzing large swaths of the Internet to local law enforcement looking for ways to stop the next mass shooting or domestic terrorist event before it happens; police departments hope the software will help them detect online information from terrorists, traffickers, pedophiles, and rioters.

 

DDoS attack on GoDaddy takes down millions of websites
PC World reports: "In a YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPGBZWGUE2g), secretive hacking group Anonymous has taken credit for the outage, claiming the move is a reaction to the company's support of the U.S. government's efforts "to censor and control the Internet," through its support of the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA)."

But claiming Anonymous did this attack may be false, it turns out. The apparent attacker said, himself, that he was not affiliated with the Anonymous collective:

"It is not Anonymous collective it's only me. Don't use Anonymous collective name on it, just my name," wrote Twitter user Anonymous Own3r. (http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/09/10/every-godaddy-registered-site-...)

Most likely scenario? A false flag cyber security attack in order to provide the excuse for Obama to sign a freedom-killing executive order focused on "cyber security."

 

The Parting Thought…Bureaucrats killing the country

 

More on why bureaucrats are more dangerous than terrorists…

 

Man Charged With Littering for Dropping Dollar Bill

 

Elyria, Ohio, John Davis generously offered a few dollars to a wheelchair-bound panhandler waiting at the top of a freeway exit.

Davis, whose brother is paralyzed, sympathized with the man. Offering a couple of bucks seemed like the least he could do. But, as he passed the money to the man, one of the bills slipped and fell to the ground. The man picked it up and pocketed it. Davis drove on his way, only to be pulled over within seconds.

The cop issued him a $500 ticket – for littering!

 

"All the profits of drug trafficking and none of the risk."

That's how the prosecutor in a federal criminal case described Carlos Garcia's smuggling operation that has landed him in the federal pen for 13 months.

Before wearing leg irons and striped pajamas, Garcia was a top executive in Marcone Inc., a leading supplier of home appliances.

His crime: He was the mastermind behind Freaky Freon Friday. On this day, the company would distribute to wholesalers and repairmen, at low prices, the thing that millions desperately want but cannot otherwise get, thanks to federal regulations. They want HCFC-22 to fill air-conditioning units... so that their offices and homes can stay cool.

It has been illegal for two years to sell units that use it. But nearly all existing units use the old coolant. Importing HCFC-22 is severely restricted. The government's idea was to drive up the price, making it too expensive to maintain existing units, and thereby somehow inspire manufacturers to invent things to make us all more virtuous. But replacing units with unproven technology is expensive and risky.

 

Pass Out Bottled Water on a Scorching Hot Day?
Not in Phoenix You Don't!

Angela's story is not a fluke. On the other side of the country, an Arizona woman found out that no good deed goes unpunished... at least not where city bureaucrats are concerned. During a festival, the woman offered free bottles of water to anyone who wanted them. It was 112 degrees outside, so I imagine her gift was welcomed by many.

However, a city official didn't agree. This overly self-important bureaucrat told her to stop or be ticketed because apparently you need a permit to give away bottled water in Phoenix.

 

$600-a-day Fine for Feeding Poor Children

Angela Prattis works with a Philadelphia charity to offer summer lunches to low-income children. She donates her time, earning nothing but personal satisfaction by helping people.

Every day, up to 60 low-income children come to a gazebo at her home to receive a nutritious lunch. Kids in need are getting fed because someone in their community cares about them.

Then local government officials found out about it. You'd think Angela would have gotten a commendation for meritorious conduct. But no. Angela was slapped with a zoning violation and ordered to file for a variance.

 

Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis

With the US raising their debt ceiling, are we in a global bail-out bubble that will eventually burst? This documentary offers a fresh insight into the greatest economic crisis of our age: the one still awaiting us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ECi6WJpbzE&feature=player_embedded

 

Post Script:  Think about how easy it is today to track people.  The government has all but eliminated financial privacy and like sheep, people have tagged themselves with multiple tracking devices…cell phones, iPads, social networking sites, PDAs, Blue Tooth devices, RFID tags in drivers licenses and more.

 

Tired of “Government by Intimidation?
Learn how we can take back America from dysfunctional politicians-without firing a shot! Or will Americans get what they deserve because they lack the cajones to act?
http://poormansurvivorblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/taking-back-america-from-dysfunctional.html

 

“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



Nat'l Preparedness Month, eBay Follies, Hi Tech Spy on US

Bruce's Poor Man Bulletin
Your choice for urban survival resources
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

In This Issue:

Secrets of living debt free
Can we sue the government
How to save cash-weekly freebies & tips
More '1984' style high technology
More eBay stupidity
Preparedness checklist


Happy Labor Day!
September is National Preparedness Month


"[R]eal charity doesn’t mean giving away someone else’s money."
-- Doug Bandow

Can we sue the government?

Governments at every level are famous for exempting themselves from lawsuits but are quick to marshal their nearly unlimited resources on some hapless citizen, after they've frozen his assets first of course.

News reports from the GAO and other sources tell us we've blown billions of taxpayer dollars in Iraq and they found at least $1 billion was squandered (and untold amounts were pirated away by dishonest contractors and Iraq government officials and/or unaccounted for).

All too frequently, government accounting practices are shady at best and if practiced by the common folk, it would land a citizen in jail.

The result is the American public is cheated, again and again and without any recourse. It's no wonder that politics in this country has become a “we vs. them”scenario and the public almost always comes out on the short end of the stick. Government fraud and waste has become an epidemic during the past 30 years and few ever seem to pay for their sins against the country. The same applies to their corporate masters. Contribute enough tribute to the various parties and even if you're caught, as the case of the recent Wall Street financial fiasco and no one lands in jail.

Several years ago I had what I thought was an honest case against the government and challenged the ACLU to go to court as they had done so in similar situations but they refused to fight the government on something which they felt would take them 50 years to win and would eat up their resources.

The government knows this and applies this strategy routinely. Also, most federal judges are essentially in the pocket of their superiors so it's a losing battle all the way around.

This is one of the reasons we now push for jury nullification.

Lastly, we're in the final stages of choosing a supplier for our log cabin and will videotape the erection of structure and post it on our site along with an evaluation of the process. At this point, ZookCabins of PA is the top contender...should make a decision within the week and then we'll have to ensure the foundation is set up properly and once erected, all the plumbing and electrical will be installed. Even with so much DIY, the project will still cost about $50,000 (no mortgage involved at least) and will be partially off-the-grid to begin with.


35.5% of Americans' garbage is now recycled


This week's free resources & money-savers

Save Cash on OTCs by skipping the drugstore
1. If you have a 99cent store or DollarTree in your neighborhood, visit them first to purchase aspirin and other OTC medications and save a ton of bucks over Walgreen's
2. Walmart and even Target offer OTC & vitamins cheaper
3. For prescription drugs, it's hard to beat Walmart's $4 prices or Costco (you don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy)

Learn Self Massage
Nothing beats a good massage for health and relaxation. Revive yourself by going here to learn how.
Www.Ehow.com/videos-on_3998_do-therapeuticself-massage.html

September is National Sewing Month-get free patterns at:
www.sewing.org

Winter is coming & start now to prevent heating bill surprises

Begin now while weather is nice to asses your caulking and window sealing needs. Contact your local utility provider as you may be able to lock in a favorable rate now with fuel oil or natural gas.

Have your heating ductwork checked if you live in an older home. Those which leak can increase your bill 30%...hire a contractor to perform a pressure test to locate leaks and then have them sealed.

Consider starting or joining a fuel cooperative to cut costs. Check your phone book or put an ad on Craigslist.

Get gift certificates for less
Use this site to get coupons and gift certificates for eateries...blowout sales now offer $25 certs for only $2. Go to: www.Restaurant.com or to www.TravelZoo.com

More great weekly grocery coupons – get 'em while they last
http://couponmom.coupons.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=WOOX5QMOGEYUM

Don't pitch your old towels...
Instead, donate them to animal shelters or use them as rags around the home instead of paper towels. Roll them up and tuck into doorways to prevent drafts.




"If the jurors feels that the statute (law) involved in any criminal offence is unfair, all that it infringes upon the defendant's natural God-given unalienable or Constitutional Rights, then it is his duty to affirm that the offending statute is really no law at all and that the violation of it is no crime at all - for no-one is found to obey an unjust law".
-- Harlan F. Stone
12th Chief Justice U.S. Supreme Court


New uses for old things - Forks

Long before I realized it was a tenant of green living, I loved finding new uses for old things. I drank my juice out of jelly jars in the morning, used old T-shirts as household rags, and made stock from veggie scraps that would otherwise go to waste.
It excites me when I can give new life to an item that might otherwise have wound up in a landfill.
With summer upon us, I was wondering what could be done with the amazing cherries I have been bringing home from the farmer’s market. I thought about baking a cherry pie from scratch, but the idea of pitting all of those cherries felt overwhelming.
That’s when I came across this video by chef Stephen Gibbs. Gibbs is the executive chef and co-founder of Hands on Gourmet, a San Francisco Bay Area company that offers culinary team-building events and private cooking parties. http://green.yahoo.com/blog/ecomii_healthy_living/113/new-uses-for-old-things-forks.html


10 ways to repurpose an old picture frame


Art is only art when it is synonymous with living." Mid-century designer Alexander Girard said this and he is the inspiration for this DIY project.
I recently went up in the attic looking for a sun-faced poster that I had as a kid. It was a popular '60s design by Girard. While I was digging around in the dust, I spied some pictures leaning next to old wood frames.
Many were handed down in our families, some of them ornate and gilded. They just don't work with our decorating style now. I'm not bringing the pictures back into circulation, but those frames possess untapped potential. http://green.yahoo.com/blog/care2/39/10-ways-to-repurpose-an-old-picture-frame.html


During times of scarcity, the quantity of ammo will become more important than the quality of your weapons. The guns you treasure the most may have little value if ammo is not available.




Another word of warning for people wanting to grow their own food--have a garden, etc. There is a bill, S510, that will make it illegal to do anything like that anymore (goes after Farmer's Markets, too). It's called a food safety bill but it's not - it's a food CONTROL bill, pure and simple. Puts the FDA in charge of all of this so it cuts out our elected representatives and no longer gives us a voice on what they are doing. Same for the animal ID using the USDA to implement and enforce it with outrageous fines and jail time for non-compliance. S510 needs to be STOPPED immediately! We tried to stop it in the House in July 2009, but they pulled some illegal shenanigans after the first vote (and they lost) and voted on it again the next day and it got through by one vote - and then they scrammed for summer break. The Senate made some changes and made it even WORSE. It may be the most dangerous bill to date that we've ever seen. New Subscriber...
Anita M.



Six Things to do when disaster strikes..
It's scary to think about natural disasters, but the fact of the matter is, they happen--no matter where you live.  The devastating floods in Nashville are a good reminder of that.  With hurricane and storm season right around the corner, NOW is the time to take action to prepare your family for an emergency.  Those who follow the old Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" will do much better in a disaster than the people who bury their heads in the sand and hope for the best...get the rest from the Dolans at:
http://www.dolans.com/article/57897/Are-You-Prepared-Should-Disaster-Strike-/;jsessionid=49FD78C3792171C67983C7EA30EA4E32

"Fascism will come wrapped in a flag and carrying a bible."
-- Sinclair Lewis

More 1984 Hi Tech from Big Brother
What Constitution?
The 4th Amendment has been under assault before in our nation’s history. And that has been chronicled in other articles on this site. But now that right, guaranteed by our Constitution, is as dead as a hammer.
The most recent major assault on the 4th Amendment came in the wake of 9/11 when President George W. Bush proposed and Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, which was most unpatriotic.
“The right of the people to be secure in the persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
The bill gives government investigators almost unlimited power to conduct wire taps, eavesdrop, access and search records and enter homes in an effort to root out those it considers terrorists. The bill was couched in a way that led Americans to believe it was to be used only in the war on terror but, like all other government powers, it has been abused and used against Americans. In fact, some Americans have been charged with terrorism-related offenses through the Act even though their “crimes” involved nothing more than making innocuous threats, taking or possessing photographs or drawing pictures.

Here’s what really killed the 4th Amendment. Technology and government have taken the next logical step beyond airport scanners. American Science and Engineering, Inc., one of the manufacturers of the backscatter radiation machines now being employed at airports, has made the backscatter radiation system portable.
The Z Backscatter Van™ allows law enforcement to look inside vehicles, buildings and homes just like the airport backscatter scanners allow agents from the Transportation and Security Administration to peer beneath your clothes.

The company’s main contractor — not surprisingly — was the Department of Defense, where the trucks were deployed in war zones. But the vans and trucks have been sold to other government entities — including states and municipalities — as well.
That means that, right now, ZBVs and Mobile Search HEs are prowling around our streets and towns looking into our cars, homes and businesses searching for something — anything — the heavy hand of government finds “suspicious.”
No longer are you secure in your “persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.” Government agents can peer into your car, home and business and you will never know it until they show up on your doorstep flashing a warrant based on something they saw through the walls.
And not only are you no longer secure in your home, your thoughts — or future thoughts — are being probed as well. A University of Pennsylvania professor has developed software that the developer says can predict which individuals on probation or parole are most likely to murder or be murdered.
According to ABC News, if the software proves successful it could influence sentencing recommendations and bail amounts. It is being used in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

They call it the Halls of Justice because the only place to get justice is in the halls.
--Lenny Bruce

September is also National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to encourage individuals, businesses and communities to prepare for emergencies. Ready.gov, a Website produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers tips on how to handle disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.

All Americans are encouraged to prepare for emergency situations by creating a basic emergency supply kit. Recommended items include:

* water
* non-perishable food
* a first aid kit
* a can opener
* a cell phone
* a flashlight with extra batteries
* a battery-powered radio
* a list of emergency contacts

Depending on your situation, the site also suggests keeping the following items on hand:

* prescription medications
* baby food and diapers
* pet food and extra water
* important papers (insurance, wills, passports, etc.)
* matches
* a fire extinguisher
* a complete change of clothing
* cash

Parting thoughts, observation & words of wisdom

If stupidity were a disease, the CDC would declare an epidemic in America. Nothing frosts my cajones more than petty censorship and eBay takes the cake for being the self appointed arbiter of taste and moral authority.
Because your listing MIGHT promote illegal behavior, we have pulled your auction. Anyone who has used feebay for any length of time already knows it bows to pressure from certain elements in this country to disallow many kinds of listings ranging from animal parts (ivory – but you can list bone) to anything Nazi or gun parts of any kind – not even pellet guns.
I've had original editions of Hitler's Mein Kampf pulled from ebay because it was in the original German. Listing editions in English is fine. (Most don't know that this book continues to generate royalties for Hitlers descendants of which many live in this country under assumed names).
Although I've sold a dozen or so on feebay already, they recently yanked a listing for a how-to book on growing marijuana...that evil weed our government has spent billions trying to eradicate without success. Keep in mind, pot for medical purposes is becoming the norm in many states, though local municipalities are often in a tizzy over how to implement such laws.
Indeed, one county in CA, where feebay is based, generates $22 million in annual tax revenues...and many states are looking at medical pot as another revenue source. It is amazing how quickly such activities like gambling, become OK once the state is making money off the deal!
FeeBay, like many government agencies is now in the business of predicting potential illegal behavior...next they'll pull books on skydiving because it is potentially dangerous behavior. Watch the 2002 Tom Cruise movie Minority Report for a taste of what MIGHT come!

That's it for this week pardners...keep the good stuff coming!
Yours for better living,

Bruce 'The PoorMan'

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
http://www.GreenIrene.com/PoorMan
http://www.OldBookNook.com

A Shallow Planet Production