For the Good of the People

There are those of us who write our blogs for the good of the people. Then there unfortunately there are those of us who appearently blog for their own personal and financial gain. Shame on those people. Greed is the exact sin which prohibits us from growth in all types of spectrums.

I enjoy writing my blog as a part of the NEVADA PREPPERS NETWORK, in hopes to help people with resources and other people of great knowledge with the heart of a teacher, the soul of goodness, wanting like me to help mankind get through this challange in American history and be prepared even if a catastrophic event does not ever occur.

Something as simple as a layoff, etc. Will make all these things we learn here on the Nevada Site and all the sites encompassed by American Preppers Network so valuable.

I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to blog, pour their hearts onto these pages for the good of the people, and hope you continue to do so. As for those who are aspiring to make financial gain out of others fear and discontent will hopefully move on, or be seen by true preppers for what they are.

God Bless America, Freedom of Speech, and the ability to choose the path we want to take in live positive or negative.

Please know that I am only affiliated with NEVADA PREPPERS NETWORK and will continue to post what is in the best intrest of the American people to the best of my knowledge. I appreciate any comments, as that is how we learn and grow.

Now let's move on!

LAS VEGAS Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare!

Write on Nevada: Rep. Dina Titus to hold a health care town hall next Monday

The link above will give you the details for the Town Hall, we can only hope one will occur in Reno, and Elko. Show your support for what you believe in, and be heard!

NVBarbarella

Looking for a Good Deal on Food Storage?

If you have been on the hunt like me, picking things up here and there. Wishing you had started stocking up your food storage months ago. Here in Northern Nevada we really do not have that many local options, and as we all know shipping is not cheap. Plus, finding things such as simple canning items has been scarce, and a little frustrating.

Southern Nevada as discussed in the previous post "Morning Moo's coming soon near you" will be carrying Morning Moo's packs at an incredible deal! To far away to travel but I bet it does well enough to be carried everywhere. *crosses fingers*

Then I got my Costco Online circular and my mouth dropped!

Limited Time Offer:

$200 discount is reflected in the price.
Valid for orders placed
September 28, 2009 through October 18, 2009.
While supplies last.

Online Price $999.99
Less -$200.00
YOUR COST $799.99


Shelf Reliance is your premier source for food storage and emergency preparedness planning. Because nothing is more important than the health and safety of your family, they provide only top-of-the-line products. Shelf Reliance’s line of THRIVE Foods are held to the highest standards. All THRIVE Foods have been developed with everyday menu planning in mind; however, they are also designed to be added to your long term food storage. With their great taste and simple preparation, THRIVE foods are the perfect place to turn for healthy, delicious meals anytime.

The THRIVE 1 Year Food Supply comes complete with 78 #10 cans ranging 5 food groups: grains, fruits, veggies, meats & beans and dairy. With over 4,700 servings and many foods with a shelf life of up to 20 years, this package will give you variety, nutrition, and peace of mind. In addition to the high quality foods this package provides, a wheat grinder is included.

1 Year Food Supply for 1 Person
6 Month Food Supply for 2 People
3 Month Food Supply for 4 People

Shipment arrives in 14 separate boxes

Freeze-dried products have up to a 20 year shelf life if unopened
Dehydrated products have up to a 10 year shelf life if unopened
Simple rehydration instructions, recipes, and helpful tips on each can
4723 total servings

Seventy-eight #10 cans

Wheat Grinder included

This THRIVE 1 Year Food & Storage contains 78 #10 (gallon size) cans and 1 Grain Mill grinder. See below for specific package contents.

Grains

3 Cans of Instant White Rice (48 servings per can)
9 Cans of Hard White Winter Wheat (44 servings per can)
1 Wheat Grinder
3 Cans of Spaghetti (32 servings per can)

Vegetables

6 Cans of Potato Chunks (42 servings per can)
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Sweet Corn (54 servings per can)
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Green Peas (41 servings per can)
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Chopped Onions (50 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Cauliflower (43 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Broccoli (47 servings per can)

Fruits

3 Cans of Organic Apple Slices (17 servings per can)
3 Cans of Freeze-Dried Strawberries (43 servings per can)
2 Cans of Freeze-Dried Blueberries (50 servings per can)
2 Cans of Freeze-Dried Raspberries (48 servings per can)

Dairy

3 Cans of Instant Milk (65 servings per can)
3 Cans of Chocolate Drink Mix (65 servings per can)
3 Cans of Cheese Blend (36 servings per can)

Proteins/Beans

The taste and texture of TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is consistent with real meat, making it a great addition to vegetarian diets

6 Cans of Bacon TVP (54 servings per can)
3 Cans of Beef TVP (44 servings per can)
3 Cans of Chicken TVP (45 servings per can)
3 Cans of Taco TVP (42 servings per can)
3 Cans of Pinto Beans (49 servings per can)
3 Cans of Lentils (52 servings per can)
6 Cans of Whole Eggs (236 servings per can)



Have you checked out your Costco Online circular this week? When I went a little deeper, they also carry other Shelf Reliance product packages, Mountain House, Backpack kits, Medical Kits, Bucket Kits, among other items. I was very surprised!

But no Morning Moo's or Blue Chip... but I am very excited about the find!! I had to share this with you!

Posted By: NVBarbarella

Have you Heard the News? Morning Moo's Coming Soon to you!!

If you are lucky enough to live in Southern Nevada....

Las Vegas, NV; Henderson, NV; Gilbert, AZ; Southeast Gilbert, AZ; or Mesa, AZ you should feel pretty darn special cause you’re getting a product that isn’t available anywhere else. Costco now has 2 special 6-packs of the Morning Moo’s/Blue Chip foods that they are selling. In one 6 pack they have “breakfast items” and in another 6-pack they have “dinner items.” The 6-packs contain 6 #10 cans.

In the Breakfast Pack they have the whole Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Creamy Wheat, Buttermilk Pancakes, Scrambled Egg Mix Imitation Bacon Bits and the Potatoe Shreds. There’s over 200 servings in these 6 packs, and they have up to a 25 year shelf life.

Looking for Recipies to incorporate these items go here:

http://preparednesspro.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/morning-moos-foods-coming-near-you/

The rest of us in central or northern Nevada? Costco does not have Morning Moos', Go figure, as 0ur Walmart's can barely carry mason jars and lids, Sorry folks no Spiffy Whip, or Ultra Maxi Gel. I looked everywhere. We have to look online for these nessesities and I have found some good retailers along the way, thanks to Preparedness Pro's help and guidience!

Keep on Keeping on!

NVBarbarella

The Honor In Being Brepared

By Kellene Bishop

Preparedness is a full-time job for me. I live it, breathe it, and think about it constantly. Obviously I teach and write about it regularly as well. I used a Saturday this weekend to learn about how I can be better prepared. Then I spent some more “spare” time reading a novel that illustrates other possibilities I may not be prepared for yet. Why? Because I believe that preparedness is about honor.

Many people would label those who strive to be better prepared as paranoid lunatics. And yet they would not think of calling our honorable men and women who serve in the military, who are on night watch with AR-15s in hand right now, “paranoid.” Are those of us who are watching carefully to what is going on around us and trying to mitigate our losses of life and freedom “paranoid?” No. A person who is prepared is honorable. They are willing to carry their own weight to protect themselves and those they love, instead of naively or cowardly delegating that responsibility to others. We are all night watchmen. We all need to honorably command our posts as careful guards over our family’s safety, nutrition, and peace. None can delegate that responsibility without bringing shame upon themselves. It’s hard to think this way when we’re enjoying life’s luxuries or being tossed to and fro with life’s schedule, but it doesn’t change the state of what truly is. There is honor in being prepared, not paranoia.


If you’re not paranoid, then surely you must be crazy, right? Tell that to the police officer who disciplines himself to train 3 times a week with his firearm instead of relinquishing his lifesaving skills to the whopping TWO times a year his department pays for firearm training. He’s not crazy. He values the breath of life—whether it be his own, his partner, his family, or members of his community. The Supreme Court says he’s not obligated to protect any citizen—he’s only required to protect the interests of the State, City or County he’s hired by. So certainly he doesn’t require shooting practice 3 times a week to protect a non-living, breathing entity, right? (Yes, that’s sarcasm.) We are ALL defenders of our community, family, and selves. We cannot delegate that responsibility to someone else—not today and certainly not in the future in the midst of some disaster. There is honor in being prepared, not a label of being mentally deranged.

Preparedness isn’t about hoarding. It doesn’t mean you have a scarcity mentality. If that were the case then there are millions of farmers, Amish, and Mennonite people throughout the U.S. that believe that the world as we know it will end tomorrow. (This list would also include the founders of Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s!) It isn’t hoarding to have a year’s supply of food, water, and other necessities. Rather it’s the epitome of the Boy Scout theme! Having supplies of food and water has nothing to do with hoarding. It’s about fighting back against inflation, poisonous food recalls, disasters, crazy crowds, limited time, future “nutrition” manipulation, water contamination, etc. It doesn’t take much more time to pay for 6 cases of chicken than it does to pay for one. And at least one who prepares is PAYING for their items. Would our critics prefer that we simply become looters in a time of trouble and chaos? I watch herds of looters on my television screen every time a disaster of a hurricane or tornado is imminent. And I still have yet to seen one of the cowardly opportunists be prosecuted in court. Is it not more honorable to financially stabilize our homes by being prepared with the bounty that is available now, rather than become criminals or desperate cowards in the future? Clearly, there is honor in being prepared, not a scarcity mentality.


Is there one shred of honor in the person who claims “I’m coming to your house when things go south” and means it? How would you respond if a person were to say, “When I run out of money, I’m coming to your bank account”? Or “When I get sick because I was foolish, I’m bringing my disease to your house to let you care for me.” “When I lose my job, I’ll just eat your food, have you pay my bills, and pay for my schooling.” Of course there’s no honor, integrity, or virtue in these thought processes. And yet it is these same individuals who mock and impede those who would prepare themselves for just such occasions. When one takes themselves out of the selfish “me, me, me” mode and begins to think about the care and nurturing of others, there’s honor. When one decides NOT to violate eternal laws by delegating the responsibility of taking care of their fellowmen to some governmental agency, there’s honor. When one looks past today to prepare for the well-being of those they love tomorrow, there’s honor. When one actually prepares to put themselves in a position where they actually HAVE something to share with others who have nothing, there’s honor.

Yes, there is certainly honor in being prepared.



Copyright 2009 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop. All rights reserved. You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to Preparedess Pro & Kellene Bishop.

A Note from NVBarbarella:

Please Take a Moment and visit the comments attached to this moving post and give her site a gander she is a wealth of information and resources, and a dynamic lady to boot.

http://preparednesspro.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/the-honor-in-being-prepared/

Glenn Beck "List of Obama's Czars"

I think the best role of an American and being a part of the democratic society is being apart of the process. In the past six months we have proven that our voices still count, and have been noticed. We need to keep up the good work!


I want to thank Glenn Beck for this post, and encourage YOU to do research and remember we are who we surround ourselves with. Most importantly WATCH his speech tomorrow, because it is up to us as AMERICAN citizens to listen with an open mind, dig for the truth, and pray for the future. Our voice... every single one of us is what makes America tick, not just the few....

List of Obama's Czars

By; Glenn Beck

As of July 20, 2009:

• The Brainroom counts 32 czars in the Obama administration, based on media reports from reputable sources that have identified the official in question as a czar.
• In addition, President Obama has said that he will create the position of cyber czar, and there have been media reports that there could be a health insurance czar and a copyright czar. When and if those positions are filled, that would bring the total to 35.
• Since czar isn't an official job title, the number is somewhat in the eye of the beholder.

NOTE: positions that also existed under previous administrations are indicated with an *.

1. Afghanistan Czar - Richard Holbrooke

Title: Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

• Will work with CENTCOM head Gen. David Petraeus to integrate U.S. civilian and military efforts in the region.
• 45 years of experience have made him a fixture of the Democrats' foreign policy establishment.
• Was U.S. ambassador to U.N., 1999-2001
• Brokered the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia
• Also served as Assistant secretary of state, East Asia and the Pacific (1976 to 1980); worked in foreign service (1962 to 1976)
• From 1972 through 1976, was the editor of Foreign Policy magazine.

2. AIDS Czar * - Jeffrey Crowley

Title: Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
Salary: $102,000
Reports to: President Obama (as part of the Executive Office of the President’s Domestic Policy Council)
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

• Coordinates HIV/AIDS policy domestically and internationally.
• Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute and a Senior Scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center.
• Was Deputy Executive Director for Programs at the National Association of People with AIDS
• Has Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

3. Auto Recovery Czar - Ed Montgomery

Title: Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Larry Summers, the president's top economic adviser, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Labor

• Will work to leverage government resources to support the workers, communities and regions that rely on the American auto industry.
• Was Deputy Secretary and Chief Economist at the Labor Department (1997 to 1998)
• Is Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland (2003 to present)
• Has PhD in economics from Harvard
• In 2008, made $1,200 in political donations, all of which went to Obama’s presidential campaign.
• Wife is the granddaughter of a General Motors worker from Portland, Mich.
• Drives a 2000 Lincoln

4. Border Czar * - Alan Bersin

Title: Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Appointed: April 2009
Agencies that might have handled similar issues: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

• Will coordinate all of the department's border security and law-enforcement efforts.
• Essentially had the same job under President Clinton; served as Attorney General Janet Reno's special representative on border issues, a job that he held while retaining the position of U.S. attorney for San Diego.
• This time, boss will be Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who will expect him to handle illegal immigration and drug violence issues along the Mexican-American border
• Previous experience: Chairman of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority (2006 to 2009); Secretary of Education for California (2005 to 2006); Superintendent of San Diego Public Schools (1998 to 2005); U.S. Attorney for San Diego (1993 to 1998)
• Graduate of Harvard and Yale Law School
• Talking about border security shortly before he was named Clinton border czar in 1995, said he wanted to focus on suspected smugglers of both drugs and people and was not interested in prosecuting “economic migrants.”
• Often tied to the 1994 border policy called “Operation Gatekeeper.” The policy shifted the U.S. focus from the arresting of immigrants who actually crossed the border to an increased border presence designed to stop border crossing in the first place. When Bersin left the position in 1998, border arrests were on pace for an 18-year low of just more than 200,000. Latino groups complained that Operation Gatekeeper was immoral, saying the program monitored the border near San Diego but simply forced illegal immigrants to other, more dangerous areas.
• Has given more than $50,000 to political campaigns since 1999, almost all of it to Democrats.

5. California Water Czar - David J. Hayes

Title: Deputy Interior Secretary
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Appointed: June 2009
Confirmed by Senate (as Deputy Interior Security): May 20, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Interior

• Charged with coordinating federal agencies to ease California's water shortage
• Graduate of Stanford Law School; clerked for U.S. District Court for the D.C., has been a partner at two big D.C. law firms
• Was deputy interior secretary under Bruce Babbitt during Clinton administration
• From 1993 to 1995, was chairman of the board at the Environmental Law Institute, a non-profit research center.
• As a lobbyist, represented the Southern California Metropolitan Water District in 2001
• In August 2008, wrote a policy report while working at the Progressive Policy Institute accusing the Bush administration of leaving a “damaging legacy” in their natural resource management policies
• Donated $2,300 to Clinton during 2008 campaign; after she withdrew, donated $2,300 to Obama

6. Car Czar - Ron Bloom

NOTE: on July 13, 2009, Bloom took over as head of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, replacing Steven Rattner

Title: Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council head Larry Summers
Appointed: July 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

• A leader of the White House task force overseeing auto company bailouts; worked on restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler LLC.
• Was special assistant to president of the United Steelworkers union from 1996-Feb 2009
• Has negotiated restructuring deals for more than 50 companies, getting major concessions from unions and companies.
• Was raised in New York in a pro-union family, which included a schoolteacher mother and unionized relatives.
• After working for the Service Employees International Union, got an MBA from Harvard University because he thought unions lacked business smarts, he said in a 1996 interview in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• From 1985 to 1990, he worked as an investment banker with Lazard Freres & Co., which specializes in mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring, before co-founding the investment-banking firm Keilin and Bloom.

7. Central Region Czar - Dennis Ross

Title: Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Central Region (encompasses the Middle East, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Pakistan and South Asia)
Salary: unknown
Reports to: National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

• Spent 12 years in the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations trying to create a permanent agreement between the governments of Israel and the Palestinian territories
• In 1981, was named to President Ronald Reagan’s national security staff as the director of Near East and South Asian Affairs.
• Was director of the State Department’s Policy Planning office during President George H. W. Bush’s term.
• 1993: appointed to the position of Middle East coordinator, making him the top negotiator for peace between Israel and Palestinian territories
• After he left government in 2000, headed up Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a hawkish think tank with a pro-Israeli bent

8. Climate Czar - Todd Stern

Title: Special Envoy for Climate Change
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency; State

• Responsible for developing international approaches to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
• Served in the Clinton White House from 1993 to 1999; Was Head of the Initiative on Global Climate Change (1997 to 1999) and Adviser to the Secretary of the Treasury (1999 to 2001)
• As a top aide to President Clinton, helped negotiate the Kyoto and Buenos Aires climate pacts, both of which fell apart partially because of a lack of U.S. support during Bush administration.
• After Bush was elected to office, went to the Wilmer Hale law firm, where he is a partner in the regulatory and government affairs division.
• Was most recently a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he focused on climate change and environmental issues.
• Has written extensively on climate change, and has called on the American government and the international community to take a series of steps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
• Supports a national cap-and-trade system that would limit carbon emissions and reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil
• Has law degree from Harvard

9. Domestic Violence Czar - Lynn Rosenthal

Title: White House adviser on Violence Against Women
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama and Vice President Biden
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

• Will advise the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues.
• 2000-2006: served as the Executive Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence
• Was an advocate for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2000 and 2005 and has assisted states and local communities with implementation of this federal legislation
• Was director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

10. Drug Czar * - Gil Kerlikowske

Title: Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: March 2009
Confirmed by Senate: May 7, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Justice

• Directs drug-control policy in the U.S.; is expected to shift drug policy to intervention, treatment and a reduction of problem drug use.
• Was police chief for the city of Seattle from 2000-2009
• Was Deputy Director of the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (1998 to 2000); Police Chief for the city of Buffalo (1994 to 1998); Police chief of Fort Pierce, Fla. (N/A to 1994)
• A strong gun-control advocate, urged both the Washington legislature and the U.S. Congress to pass an assault-weapons ban and has worked to close the loophole that doesn't require background checks at gun shows
• 2003: admitted that busting people for personal marijuana possession was not a top priority of the Seattle police department.
• As Seattle police chief, assigned an officer full-time to the drug court, which commuted sentences of drug users who complete medical treatment in lieu of going to jail.

11. Economic Czar * - Paul Volcker

Title: Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Salary: Volcker reportedly isn't paid for his advice.
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

• Charged with offering independent, nonpartisan information, analysis, and advice to the President as he formulates and implements his plans for economic recovery.
• Some reports say he's been marginalized by Larry Summers.
• Former Federal Reserve chairman (1979-1987)
• Was Undersecretary for Monetary Affairs, Department of the Treasury (1969 to 1974); Deputy Undersecretary for Monetary Affairs, Department of the Treasury (1963 to 1965)
• Gave Obama campaign $2,300 in 2008.

12. Energy and Environment Czar - Carol Browner

Title: Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
Salary: $172,200
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: EPA

• Coordinates energy and climate policy, emphasizing regulation and conservation.
• Was Environmental Protection Agency administrator in the Clinton administration (1993-2000)
• Was Florida Secretary of the Environment (1991 to 1993)
• Founded and continues to serve as a principal of The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Also a principal of Albright Capital Management, an investment advisory firm that concentrates on emerging markets.
• Worked on the Socialist International's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which argues that the global community must work collectively to address environmental policies
• Described Bush administration as the "worst environmental administration ever"
• While orchestrating private discussions between the White House and auto industry officials on vehicle fuel efficiency standards, kept the talks as quiet as possible. Mary Nichols, the head of the California Air Resources Board, said, "We put nothing in writing, ever."
• 2003: A federal judge held the Environmental Protection Agency in contempt for destroying computer files during the Clinton administration that had been sought by a conservative legal foundation. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth also ordered the EPA to pay the Landmark Legal Foundation's legal fees and costs because the agency disobeyed his order to preserve the electronic records of Browner, the former EPA chief.

13. Faith-Based Czar * - Joshua DuBois

Title: Director of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Salary: $98,000
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

• Acts as a liaison between faith and secular community groups and the White House, often partnering with them to tackle social issues. Helps these groups apply for federal grants available to them.
• Is 26 years old
• Has master’s in public affairs from Princeton University; served as associate pastor
• Worked for Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) as an intern and then as a fellow for Rep. Charles B. Rangel (DN. Y.).
• Hired as a legislative correspondent in Obama’s Senate office in May 2005
• In 2008, at the age of 25, was appointed director of religious affairs for the Obama campaign.

14. Government Performance Czar - Jeffrey Zients

Title: Chief Performance Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orzag
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by the Senate (as deputy director for management for the OMB): June 19, 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

• Charged with cutting costs and finding best practices throughout government.
• Has never worked in government before
• Was a chief executive and former management consultant
• Was founder of Portfolio Logic (2004 to present); Partner of the Washington Baseball Club (2004 to 2006); CEO of the Advisory Board (1998 to 2004)
• Has donated just over $90,000 to political campaigns since 1999, almost all of which went to Democratic candidates

15. Great Lakes Czar - Cameron Davis

Title: Special advisor to the U.S. EPA overseeing its Great Lakes restoration plan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson
Appointed: June 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency

• Oversees the administration's initiative to restore the Great Lakes' environment.
• President of the Chicago-based environmentalist group Alliance for the Great Lakes
• Was a litigating attorney and served as an adjunct clinical assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School.
• Served with the United Nations Environment Program in Nairobi, Kenya, where he worked on the Montreal Protocol to protect the Earth’s ozone layer, and U.S. EPA’s Office of Regional Counsel in Chicago.

16. Green Jobs Czar - Van Jones

Title: Special Adviser for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Head of Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley
Appointed: March 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency; Labor

• Will focus on environmentally-friendly employment within the administration and boost support for the idea nationwide
• Rose from near obscurity in the Oakland, Calif., grassroots organizing scene to the leader of a national movement to spur the green economy.
• Founded Green For All, an organization focused on creating green jobs in impoverished areas
• Also co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Color of Change, which includes Bay Area PoliceWatch, a group devoted to "protect[ing] the community from police misconduct"
• Published New York Times best-seller The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, in October 2008
• Started career as a prison-reform advocate in Oakland, Calif., lobbying for reform of the juvenile justice system and youth-violence prevention programs
• Has law degree from Yale
• 2007: worked on the Green Jobs Act with then-Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.), who co-sponsored the bill in the House
• 1993: was arrested at the Los Angeles riots that followed the acquittal of cops in the Rodney King beating. "I was arrested simply for being a police observer," says Jones, who had just graduated from Yale Law School and was working with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco.
• 1999: was arrested in the 1999 Seattle protests against the World Trade Organization
• Excerpt from a Nov. 2005 interview in the East Bay Express:
Jones had planned to move to Washington, DC, and had already landed a job and an apartment there. But in jail, he said, "I met all these young radical people of color -- I mean really radical, communists and anarchists. And it was, like, 'This is what I need to be a part of.'" Although he already had a plane ticket, he decided to stay in San Francisco. "I spent the next ten years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary." In the months that followed, he let go of any lingering thoughts that he might fit in with the status quo. "I was a rowdy nationalist on April 28th, and then the verdicts came down on April 29th," he said. "By August, I was a communist." In 1994, the young activists formed a socialist collective, Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement, or STORM, which held study groups on the theories of Marx and Lenin and dreamed of a multiracial socialist utopia. They protested police brutality and got arrested for crashing through police barricades. In 1996, Jones decided to launch his own operation, which he named the Ella Baker Center after an unsung hero of the civil-rights movement.

17. Guantanamo Closure Czar - Daniel Fried

Title: Special envoy to oversee the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Justice; State

• Works to get help of foreign governments in moving toward closure of Guantanamo Bay, in fulfillment of Obama's promise to close the prison within a year of taking office.
• Was Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, State Department (2005 to 2009); Director for European and Eurasian Affairs, State Department (2001 to 2005); U.S. Ambassador to Poland (1997 to 2001)

18. Health Czar * - Nancy-Ann DeParle

Title: Counselor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform
Salary: $158,500
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Coordinates the development of the Administration's healthcare policy agenda.
• Experience: Managing Director, CCMP Capital (since 2001); Adjunct professor (focusing on healthcare policy), Wharton School of Business (since 2001); Commissioner, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (since 2001); Fellow, Harvard Institue of Politics (2000 to 2001); Director, Healthcare Financing Administration (1997 to 2000)
• Has law degree from Harvard
• Served as the OMB’s representative on health-care reform during Bill Clinton’s first term
• As head of the HHS Health Care Financing Administration under Clinton, ran the largest health insurance provider in America, overseeing $600 billion in payments annually to 74 million recipients of Medicare and Medicaid
• 2001: left government to take a year-long fellowship at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, where she was part of Harvard’s Health Care Policy Forum and led a weekly study group on reforming Medicare.
• During Bush administration, sat on the boards of many health companies, from medical treatment producers to hospital systems
• In September 2008, donated $2,300 each to Clinton and Barack Obama.

19. Information Czar - Vivek Kundra

Title: Federal Chief Information Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag
Appointed: March 2009
Agencies that might have handled similar issues: other federal agency CIOs

• Basically in charge of overseeing other federal agency CIOs and for setting technology policy across the government.
• Head of a federal technology budget that amounts to $71 billion annually
• Operation is housed in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and will likely have authority to question how money in departmental technology budgets is used
• Formerly head of the District of Columbia's technology operations
• Shortly after he joined the OMB, federal authorities raided his old District government office. They arrested two technology office managers and a subcontractor, charging them with a bribery scheme that allegedly defrauded the city out of at least $500,000. Kundra was not a suspect in the case, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
• Has a masters from Maryland in information technology.
• Experience: Washington, D.C. Chief Technology Officer (2007 to 2009); State of Virginia's Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade (2006 to 2007); CEO of computer security firm Creostar

20. Intelligence Czar * - Dennis Blair

Title: Director of National Intelligence
Salary: $197,700
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Confirmed by Senate: January 28, 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: CIA

• Nation’s top intelligence official.
• Retired four-star admiral.
• Graduate of the United States Naval Academy, 1968; sixth-generation naval officer
• Lacks professional roots in the world of intelligence
• Held a number of prestigious Washington posts, including the Pentagon’s top liaison to the CIA and director of the Joint Staff.
• Ran the non-profit Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), which focuses primarily on issues related to national security, and does a lot of work for the Defense Department. Left IDA under a cloud of controversy in mid-2006.

21. Mideast Peace Czar - George Mitchell

Title: Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

• Works to maintain the shaky peace between Israel and Hamas after recent hostilities
• Senate majority leader from 1989 to 1994
• Was special envoy to Northern Ireland during the Clinton administration and lead investigator into steroid use in Major League Baseball.
• 2000: led a fact-finding committee to study violence in the Middle East; 2001's Mitchell Report formed the basis for the road map for Middle East peace

22. Pay Czar - Kenneth R. Feinberg

Title: Special Master on executive pay
Salary: reportedly receiving no compensation for his work.
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

• Named to examine compensation practices at companies that have been bailed out more than once by the federal government
• Oversaw the payouts to the families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
• Was the chief administrator to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which commemorates the students who died in the April 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech
• Founder and managing partner of Feinberg Rozen LLP (1992 to present), law firm specializing in mediation
• Was Chief of staff for Sen. Edward Kennedy (1978 to 1980)
• While working with the Feinberg Group, donated over $150,000, nearly all of which has gone to Democratic candidates and political action committees. In 2007, donated $2,300 to 2008 presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani (R).

23. Regulatory Czar - Cass R. Sunstein *

Title: Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Office of Management and Budget head Peter Orszag
Appointed: January 2009
Nomination was sent to Senate on April 20, 2009 - no action yet taken
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

• Will be responsible for reviewing draft regulations and assessing their costs and benefits
• Is a Harvard Law School professor; prior to that, was a professor at the Univ. of Chicago Law School (1981-2008)
• Academic specialties: constitutional law, administrative law, and regulatory policy
• Obama: "Cass is not only a valued advisor, he is a dear friend"
• Known for advancing a field called "law and behavioral economics" that seeks to shape law and policy around the way research shows people actually behave; though embraced by conservatives, critics say it fails to account for the sometimes less-than-rational aspects of human behavior.
• In his 2002 book, Republic.com, discussed the drawbacks of limitless choices on the Internet that allow people to seek out only like-minded people and opinions that merely fortify their own views; he talked about the idea of the government requiring sites to link to opposing views. He later came to realize it was a "bad idea."
• In his 2004 book, Animal Rights, suggested that animals ought to be able to bring suit, with private citizens acting as their representatives, to ensure that animals are not treated in a way that violates current law.
• In a 2007 speech at Harvard he called for banning hunting in the U.S.
• The American Conservative Union started a website, Stop Sunstein, in an effort to keep him out of the White House.

24. Science Czar - John Holdren

Title: Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: December 2008
Confirmed by Senate: March 19, 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Energy

• Top adviser to Obama on science and technology, issues that are increasingly relevant to other issues such as homeland security, energy and environmentalism
• Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director, Program in Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (1996-2009); Harvard University Professor of Environmental Science and Public Policy (1996-2009); University of California, Berkeley Professor of Energy and Resources Emeritus (1996 to present)
• Studied aerospace engineering and plasma physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — where he earned his BS and MS — and Stanford University, where he received his doctorate in 1970
• Is an outspoken advocate of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and believes the United States should sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.
• In a 2008 New York Times op-ed, Holdren called climate change skeptics “dangerous” members of a “denier fringe.”
• In 1971, co-authored a paper in Global Ecology suggesting "some form of ecocatastrophe, if not thermonuclear war, seems almost certain to overtake us before the end of the century."
• Some conservative media outlets have called attention to a book Holdren co-authored in 1977 titled Ecoscience: Population, Resources, and Environment. The book reportedly includes this statement: "population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution." Holdren's office says he "does not now and never has been an advocate of compulsory abortions or other repressive measures to limit fertility."

25. Stimulus Accountability Czar - Earl Devaney

Title: Chair of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Vice President Biden
Appointed: February 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

• Leads oversight board that monitors money spent by the stimulus package
• Experience: Inspector General at the Interior Department (1999 to present); Director of criminal enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency (1991 to 1999); Special Agent at the Secret Service (1970 to 1991)
• During his tenure at Interior, uncovered the shady dealings of disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, an investigation that eventually led to Abramoff's imprisonment and the resignation of Interior's no. 2, J. Steven Griles, for lying under oath about his own role in the scandal.
• On July 8, 2009, the U.S. General Services Administration issued a press release announcing an $18 million contract for a new recovery.gov web site, which quoted Devaney as saying, “We are pleased that another major milestone has been achieved."

26. Sudan Czar - J. Scott Gration

Title: Special Envoy to Sudan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

• Will coordinate U.S. role in the aftermath of the genocide in Darfur
• Experience: Supreme Allied Command, NATO (2004 to 2005); Air Force assistant deputy undersecretary for international affairs (2003 to 2004)
• Commanded all air operations during the Iraq war in 2003
• 2006: left Air Force position to join Obama’s staff after traveling to Africa with the then-Senator from Illinois, even though he was a Republican
• Has won a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, a Defense Superior Service Medal and 16 other awards
• Is a fluent Swahili speaker who grew up in the Congo
• Has called on the Obama administration to incentivize participation by the Sudanese government in peace talks by lifting sanctions, a position that is controversial. Also worked to position himself as the principal negotiator between the Sudanese government and its adversaries in Darfur, and is planning an international conference for September 2009
• Has M.A. in security studies from Georgetown

27. TARP Czar - Herb Allison

Title: Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

• Leads the government's $700 billion financial rescue program in the office of financial stability
• Veteran Wall Street banker and interim head of the mortgage-finance company Fannie Mae
• Worked at Merrill Lynch for 28 years, reaching position of president and COO
• Was CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (2002 to 2008); CEO of the Alliance for Lifelong Learning (2000 to 2002)
• Has undergraduate degree from Yale and MBA from Stanford
• 2000: was John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign finance chairman
• In 2008, donated $2,300 to Obama's presidential campaign

28. Technology Czar - Aneesh Chopra

Title: Chief Technology Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by Senate: May 21, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Commerce

• Will lead in the effort to eliminate wasteful government programs
• Will probably work to increase broadband access nationwide and computerize medical records
• Was Virginia’s secretary of technology (2005-2009)
• Has degree in public health from Johns Hopkins, Master's from Harvard in public policy
• Worked at Morgan Stanley as investment banker; also worked at Advisory Board, a health-care research and consultancy firm
• Has donated more than $24,000 since 1997 to various campaigns. With the exception of a $1,000 donation to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) in 2004, all of Chopra’s contributions have gone to Democrats. From 2007 to 2008, Chopra donated $2,750 to Obama’s presidential campaign.

29. Terrorism Czar - John Brennan

Title: Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
Salary: $172,200
Reports to: National Security Adviser James L. Jones
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Homeland Security

• Under Obama's plan the homeland security adviser’s office would be eliminated, and the National Security Council would take over those duties. Brennan would be responsible for guarding against natural disasters and terrorism.
• Has called for increased integration between the Departments of Commerce, State and Defense
• Graduated from Fordham University in 1977 after a year of intensive Arabic and Middle Eastern studies in Cairo. Earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin before joining the CIA as an intelligence director in 1980.
• Is a CIA veteran and fluent Arabic speaker
• Was CIA deputy executive director (2001 to 2003) and National Counter-Terrorism Center, Chair (2004 to 2005)
• Worked at Analysis Corp, (2005 to 2008);
• Staunch supporter of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Program; defended the use of extraordinary rendition, saying it is “an absolutely vital tool.”

30. Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion Jr.

Title: White House Director of Urban Affairs
Salary: $158,500
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Housing and Urban Development

• Job entails coordinating transportation and housing initiatives, as well as serving as a conduit for federal aid to economically hard-hit cities.
• Has undergraduate degree in world religions from Kings College; became an associate pastor at a Bronx church; earned his master’s degree in urban planning from Hunter College
• Was Bronx Borough President (2001-2009); President of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (since 2007); City Council member (1998 to 2000)
• Many reporters say he has higher ambitions and will probably run for New York City mayor in the next ten years.
• Was an active campaigner for Obama, travelling across the country to speak on his behalf. He focused particularly on states with large Hispanic populations.
• The NY Daily News reported numerous developers made tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Carrión around the same time he was considering approving their projects in the Bronx.

31. Weapons Czar - Ashton Carter

Title: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by Senate: April 23, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Defense

• Will coordinate the Pentagon's acquisitions, technology and logistics for weapons.
• Will oversee a weapons-buying system that Obama has placed at the top of his list of federal programs he wants to fix and will be asked to quickly weigh in on difficult decisions concerning at least 10 major defense programs, while also instantly dissecting the procurement system’s ailments so he can advise the administration on its Pentagon acquisition reform agenda
• Is a physicist and Harvard academic whose only previous Pentagon stint was in a mid-level policy post from 1993 until 1996 under the Clinton administration
• Graduated from Yale summa cum laude; studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar and earned a doctorate in theoretical physics.
• Chair of Harvard’s International Relations, Science & Security Area International Security Program within the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy (1993 to 1996); Director of the Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School (early 1990s)
• Has donated primarily to Democratic politicians since 2000. He donated $6,900 to then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in 2007 and 2008. He gave the same amount to then Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) during that same span.

32. WMD Policy Czar - Gary Samore

Title: White House Coordinator for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Security and Arms Control
Salary: unknown
Reports to: National Security Advisor Gen. James L. Jones
Appointed: January 2009
Department or agency that might have handled similar issues: NSC; Defense; State

• Will coordinate issues related to weapons of mass destruction across the government. His portfolio includes proliferation, nuclear and conventional arms control, threat reduction, and terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction.
• Position sits within the National Security Council.
• Is a veteran arms control negotiator.
• B.A. in sociology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his PhD in government from Harvard University in 1984.
• After brief stints with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the RAND Corporation, joined the State Department during the Reagan administration in 1987. Held several positions there, including director of the Office of Regional Non-proliferation Affairs; special assistant to the Ambassador-at-Large for Non-proliferation and Nuclear Energy Policy; and deputy to Ambassador-at-Large for Korean Affairs Robert Gallucci. Helped to negotiate the 1994 U.S.-North Korea Framework Treaty
• Joined the Clinton administration’s National Security Council in 1995 as an adviser on nonproliferation. Coordinated U.S. policy on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
• Was Director, Council on Foreign Relations (2006 to 2009); Vice President for Global Security and Sustainability, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (2005); Researcher, International Institute of Strategic Studies (2001 to 2005)

Check out Glenn Beck's Website for more info HERE

Jamming! No Cook Freezer Jam

The lovely thing about Costco is their price on produce. Nowhere else here in Nevada can you beat the price of scrupulous heads of lettuce, large bunches of bananas, strawberries and more. Buying a huge lot and only using half still beats prices of other stores! Then for my small household what could I do with the leftovers to really get more for my money?

There are several options really; canning, dehydrating, flash freezing, OR my choice for today was making freezer jam! Now I have been accumulating things for canning all summer so I can put things away from my garden, but thus far the garden has seen better years.


What did I have in abundance today? Plums about half a box from Costco, and I had a package from Ball, No-Cook Freezer Jam Pectin, and 5 8 oz plastic freezer jars.

I cut up about 8 plums and put them in the food processor till they were a semi smooth texture, next I added the package and a cup and a half of sugar (i am sure Splenda would work too) and stirred it briskly for about two minutes, poured into the five jars screwed on the lids and Tada!
It really does not get easier than that.



Now I know if I have a lack of power I will have issues there but I plan on doing some serious canning when I have more fruit available but for now, this was just right.

Hold it... We CAN Save Cheese!

Today I practiced a lesson in cheese preservation. Like Kellene Bishop @ PreparenessPro I cannot live without cheese. So after some debating, I bought the Red Wax and Natural Brush and was ready to go for it!

I cant tell you how many times I just don't make it all the way through the cheese before it goes bad, and I hate wasting food so this was not just a practice in self sufficiency but also in frugality.

I read the blog from PreparenessPro about preserving cheese and I had to try it. Her instructions were impeccable and easy to follow. I however need to practice my dipping technique as you can see here.

So I purchased my products at a reasonable price from .cheesemaking.com and got my wax and brush promptly and was all set. Set a time that I could be uninterrupted and had let my cheese sit out till it was dry and about room temperature, I keep my home very cool naturally. Then I first brushed on my first coat (as you can see by the extremely chunky piece) on all my pieces then decided to do dip three times then brush one. There is quite a bit of wax on these babies, more than necessary I presume but for a first time try I don't believe I did to bad. However I think I will keep these first ones to myself.

The next chapter in cheese making is the Hard Cheese Kit from the same company and will soon be trying to make my my own cheese. After I have successfully completed that I will try it with the powdered milk from my food storage. Little steps... Little Steps. Lastly, I have several goats and hopefully soon a dairy goat as well and will try the Fresh Goat Milk cheese kit. I tried the Goats Milk from Trader Joes, and absolutely loved it! It was richer and creamier than whole milk, it was truly a treat!




If you have read about the upcoming Dairy situation, I thought it would be a good idea to get a jump start now, but then that is what we preppers do right?

Breaking News: Milk, Cheese, and Butter

By Kellene Bishop at Prepareness Pro

The Agriculture Department is raising prices on your dairy products. (How they have the authority to do this is beyond me, but for now, it is what it is.)

Farmers claim that it costs more to make milk than they get to sell it. Guess what that means? Can you say milk shortage?? In June of this year, The National Milk Producers Federation said they would PAY farmers to slaughter diary cows in order to manipulate the prices higher based on “supply and demand.” (Despicable, I know.)

Michael Swanson, chief economist at Wells Fargo, told Bloomberg, “The milk price remains well below the total cost of production.”

Cheese is expected to increase in price SIGNIFICANTLY as is butter. What does this mean to you? Start buying cheese and butter while you can afford it, and then wax or can it so that you can have it on hand!

By the way, on the internet you’ll find .50 cent off Challenge Butter coupons, $1.00 off coupon of any two pounds of cheese, plus a .75 cents off coupon of a gallon of milk. (There’s also a .75 cents off of any kind of yogurt.)

To capitalize on these coupons, go to coupons.com. If these offers don’t work for your zip code, enter in 84097. You may also want to use zip code 19542. Albertson’s has a double coupon out this week making your cheese, butter, yogurt, and milk VERY affordable. Limit is printing 2 coupon per computer.

Copyright 2009 Kellene Bishop. All rights reserved. You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to Kellene Bishop.

Homemade Cleaning Products

Today I am trying out the laundry soap recipe used by the Duggars, their site can be found here. The only exception to the formula is I used an ivory bar because I have been waiting two weeks for one bar of Fels-Naptha. have already tried the diluted softener sponges in place of regular dryer sheets. It works fantastic! So I had to try this out!



Their site got me thinking and sent me on a search of all the other cleaners that will be needed and what else can we do to become a little more frugal. My guess is that these homemade tried and true recipes may work better than the perfumed chemicals I buy at the store!



Here is where I found some fantastic recipes...and a an overall terrific prepping site! Looking forward to trying them out as well.

Kentucky Preppers Network: Homemade Cleaning Products

What do you use? What corners have you cut? Curious to hear what creative ways people are coping in this economy.

I just went on a search for Fels-Naptha and guess what folks, it is very difficult to find, as I have been waiting 2 weeks for a bar from Amazon. The washing soda is flat NOT AVAILABLE, and so I went to Ebay to search for these items. I finally found a decent deal on the Fels-Naptha, 24 bars for $40.00 which is a lot cheaper than the $4 and up for one bar I had previously found. This means two things, either it is in low production or high demand. By the washing soda being unavailable as well that tells me high demand may be the culprit.

So how is that an indicator the economy is turning the corner? I think what is keeping the economy going as it is, are those of us stockpiling and prepping. Just a thought.

What are your thoughts on OBAMACARE?

I am curious what the readers think about Obamacare? Do you think it is anything to be concerned about, do you mind having more of your freedoms taken so the masses will have mediocre health care? Because to create savings we all have to give up the coverage we have now have a plan that will cover a LOT less and we the taxpayers will and pay a whole lot more.



Here is a thought to ponder, I have had all four systems of medical coverage. Private insurance, self pay, Medicaid, and Medicare. I can say with unbiased certainty that I received the best care with private insurance that was paid by my employer. While in the Medicaid system the services while free, were often not given the same quality of care and definitely the respect previously received.

Private pay, you pay full boat for your services with no contractual adjustment and get dragged over the coals. Dont forget that you must make completely overzelous monthly payments or go to collection. So while Medicaid pays $473.00 for a $4000.00 procedure, the private pay person is expected to pay the full $4000.00. So on and so forth..

Now here is the quandary, if the purpose of nationalized health care to save the middle American money and cover more people, then why, when one is approved for disability does one have do wait 24 months for Medicare as mandated by the federal government. Don't you think a person that has disability does not acquire medical bills within a two year period? How is that different than a pre-existing condition clause?

Stated a little more clearly the point you are approved for Social Security for Disability, Nevada Medicaid will drop you, period. Then for 24 months the disabled person has NO INSURANCE... until Medicare starts and either you hinder your health care and do more harm OR go deeply into medical debt. If you are disabled, you understand how deep that hole can be. Even with Medicare what you are paid in Social Security goes to the remainder of medical bills. This is how the government system works... is that how you want your tax dollars to work for you?

Here is a link to the Heritage Foundation Post. They are a factual, informative group whose mission is to get the truth to the people and how the passage of these bills will effect YOU.. Read their post on this very subject by clicking HERE

P.S. You may wait in incredibly long lines for service so a copy of a medical manual, or EMT's handbook may be essential. Check my previous blog "Let's Talk about First Aid" for medical essentials.

Where do we start?

With all the events taking place in the world, with economy in the tank, with all the nonsense being pushed through Congress in the middle of the night, with our soldiers engaged in two wars 8000 miles away, with a Presidential press conference to watch every 30 days, with unemployment on the rise, with North Korea mouthing off...how can those of us who chose to prepare actually manage to keep our eye on the ball and prepare? The answer lies in a few simple steps.

First, we must turn off the television.  We all instinctively know to limit our children’s time in front of the tube.  Should we be held to a different standard?  Very little lasting good can actually come out of our time in front of the television.  Right now, time is a precious commodity.  How much more time do we have before (you fill in the blank)?  I’m not suggesting to completely unplug; we must keep abreast of what is happening and keep a keen eye for your individual ‘trigger’ that identifies to you that its time to GOOD.  Moderation is the key.

With all of our new found free time created by turning off the television, we can now concentrate our efforts on a building a viable and workable plan.  A proper plan must always begin with the end in mind.  We all have our own idea of what the future holds.  What does that reality look like to you?  Is it a nuclear catastrophe?  Is it a revolution?  Maybe its hyperinflation and civil unrest?  Whatever your reason for being on this website & reading this blog is, get that vision crystal clear in your mind.  Once its clear, consider what a day in that reality will look like.  How did you get there?  What skill set will you need?  What items will you need?  Will you need to be able to defend yourself?  Who will be with you?  Will your current shelter suffice?  Commit these thoughts to paper and build a comprehensive ‘to do’ list.  This list must be attacked with a sense ferociousness.

Lastly, prioritize and keep things in perspective.  The natural tendency will be to try and tackle it all at once.  That’s simply not possible.  Prioritize!  In your new reality, what skill(s), thing(s) will be most important to you? Protection?  Food?  Water?  Shelter?  I’d argue that not much else will matter if you aren’t right with your maker.  If you are so inclined to believe in a higher authority, it will be helpful to remember that nothing you are or will experience is happening without his prior approval.  If something is happening, it’s part of his plan.  Keeping that thought in mind, prioritize your list...and get to work.

Good luck.

Spegetti Sauce Ala Thrive Products from Shelf Reliance

As you search for the best products to place in your food storage, it is best to give these things a try. Don't buy things you normally would not eat. That being said, Shelf Reliance has food options that others such as Mountain House did not have, such as whole eggs, cheese blend, butter powder, and tomato powder. So before I did a hefty investment I bought quite a few pouches of things to try. From Shelf Reliance and The Ready Store.

This one was a success! Thrive Tomato Powder, which I assumed could be made into a tomato paste for creamy soups and red sauces. To my delight it works perfectly, with no compromise in taste over store bought canned products. So with a few fresh things, and some hamburger meat I suceeded in making some darn good Spegetti Sauce. Yea!



My THRIVE Spaghetti Experiment:

2/3 Cup Thrive Tomato Powder
2 Cup Water .. or more depending on desired consistency
1 Diced Fresh Tomato
1 Grated Carrot
1 Small Can of Mushrooms
1 lb Hamburger
Dash of Garlic and Onion Powder

Add your preferred amount of desired spices

Simmer Sauce for 15 Min then add browned hamburger meat .. or meatless if you desire.

And Tada .. Better than Ragu.


I was impressed, next time I will use the carrots, mushrooms, and possibly some onion from THRIVE as well instead of fresh.

This will be added to my food storage recipe binder, and from them I have also tried the drink mix, and banana chips. Yummy. I think one of the appeals to me is the lack of preservatives and things I cannot pronounce, along with saving me money from going grocery shopping. I have not found a negative yet, but with my animals, and canning my gardens harvest I can feel better that my food supply is diversified and growing.

From Prepared to Practice

I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. That we can prepare, learn, create, and believe we are as ready as we can be for the unexpected. However, until we put it into practice we may not know if we are as prepared as we need to be.

I had intended to attend a solar cook-off in Taylorsville, California. To gather information for use here on the ranch, and also to share what I had learned with you. A week prior the lists were made, shopping done, two days prior packed the 5th wheel and got the ranch ready for us to be away for a couple days. We really thought we were prepared.

Now, very few trips have been made in the 5th wheel, and I really had not gone on long trip in quite some time. That being said off we go... two hours into the drive, we blew a tire on the 5th wheel. Luckily, my father is a wonderful driver and other than the damage to the 5th wheel inside and out, we were able to safely get to the next exit. Then we realized that yes, we had the spare but the tire iron was missing. We were unable to change the tire without assistance. Our tire was changed, new ones purchased and we were back on the road 15 hours later.

The trip went on and there were several things we forgot. As prepared as we thought we were we truely were not. So what about our emergency preparedness? Will we have what we need when we need it? Like having cans of food without a non-electric can opener. How do we know for sure?

Maybe a trial run will be an important part of our emergency preparedness. Put our skills to the test and do a simulation of an emergency medical situation, living without power for a few days, etc. Because everything we have done to prepare is useless unless you have all the tools to benefit from your self sufficient resources.

Have any of you tried a trial run? What happened? I would love to hear your expierience!

Ice Cream Sandwich

As I have been stocking up my long term storage, I have wanted to try some pouches of the very things I am stocking up on. So I know what I really want to have a lot of, and others to avoid. While ordering these pouches of freeze dried food I came across something I thought as odd. An ice cream sandwich.



So needless to say I HAD to have it, even in tough times we all need a treat now and then. Honestly? It was quite tasty! A Mountain House Freeze Dried Ice Cream Sandwich, other than feeling odd for not being cold, nor did it drip all over it was just as good. Maybe even a little more filling than your normal ice cream sandwich. I will order more..as I do love ice cream.

This weekend I will be attending a Solar Cook-Off, which I am sure will give me insight on a new way of cooking and I will be sure to share my adventure.

The Greatest Depression

If you sometimes wonder ... am I being overboard? Is it just me? Maybe a little radical? Dont wonder visit the Trends Research Institute to a well known forecaster, Gerald Celente , who uses history and statistics to "predict" what is next! It does not only validate what we are doing, but that we need to do more!




So as we all get our gardens going, food storage in order, binders made of information we will need, and just get prepared folks, and no matter what we are ahead of the game!

A very good point he states in the video, and we all need to think about very seriously is ...

"When people have nothing, they have nothing to lose" Gerald Celente

Support your Local Tea Party!!

I found a listing of the Tea Party events for this Independence Day. I find it very important that we continue to show our support at these events and let the world know we are not taking these new policies lightly!!


Please see Tea Party Patriots for RSVP and Details




Fallon Tea Party II
Fallon, Nevada
Saturday, July 4, 2009
12 noon
Fallon Millennium Park
Maine & Williams
Bob Clifford (organizer)
775-530-7881 (organizer phone)



Las Vegas Tea Party
Las Vegas, Nevada
Friday, July 3, 2009
10:00 am / ?
Deser Breeze Park
8275 Spring Mountain Road
Frank Ricotta (organizer)
702-920-8788 (organizer phone)


Independence Day Tea Party Las Vegas
las Vegas, Nevada
Friday, July 3, 2009
10:00am - 2:00 pm
Desert Breeze park
8275 Spring Mountain Rd
FRANK RICOTTA (organizer)
702-920-8788 702-920-8788 702-920-8788 702-920-8788 702-920-8788 (organizer phone)



LAS VEGAS, NV., June 17 -- Several local groups will host a TEA Party at the Desert Breeze Park beginning at 10:00 AM, Friday, July 3rd. The program will feature three different speakers, each presenting varying solutions for the current federal fiscal morass that affect all of our lives. Featured speakers include Heather Kydd of KXNT radio 840AM, who will MC the event. There will be an Oath Keepers presentation ceremony at the event. The program will start promptly at 10:15 A.M. There will be a prize contest held for Best Sign and people will have an opportunity to find information on how to take back our city, state and nation. What better way to honor those who have fought and died for our country then for us to meet to discover actions to preserve the country for which they are fighting. The public is invited to attend and admission is free. About Nevada Leaders Coalition





Mesquite, NV TEA Party
Mesquite, Nevada
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
12:00 PM
Mesquite City Hall
11 W. Mesquite Blvd.
Rick Crain (organizer)
702-521-4665 (organizer phone)




RENO INDEPENDENCE DAY TEA PARTY
Reno, Nevada
Saturday, July 4, 2009
10 am-noon
SIERRA MARKETPLACE PARKING LOT
S. Virginia Street & Moana Lane
Debbie Landis (organizer)
775-827-1900 (organizer phone)

Cap and Trade .. Vote NO on the Energy tax!

Regardless of what side of the fence you are on.. This bill takes away all OUR rights and freedoms!



Call your Senate Member today!!

If you are looking for what to say, here's a list of facts about how the energy tax would:

1. Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
2. Destroy an average of 1-3 million jobs, every year
3. Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
4. Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
5. Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
6. Raise an average family's annual energy bill by $1,500 annually
7. Increase the federal debt by 26 percent, which is $29,150 per person

Source for facts: Heritage Foundation

Let's Talk about First Aid Kits!!

So everyone should have a first aid kit of some sort in the car, but what about at home? Sure most people have some band aids and Neosporin but what else do we need?
This weekend I started my first aid kit, and found that I there are a few things I need to pick up. I am curious out there, what do you all find important to have in your kits? Please comment and let us know!
!

Here is what I have started with:

I purchased a fishing tackle box, works great for organizing all the little things!

2 Pair of latex gloves 50 Individually wrapped alcohol pads
1 Box of large assortment of Band-Aid 20 12 ply Gauze Pads
1 Drawing Salve 1 Bottle of New Skin
1 Tube Hydro cortisone Cream 1 Tube Triple Antibiotic Ointment
1 Digital Thermometer + covers A set of Tweezers, Medical Scissors
A File and Finger/Toenail Clippers 10 Oral Swabs
1 Bottle of Allergy Medication 1 Bottle of Saline & Allergy Eye Drops
A heat/cold pack 5 Steri-Strips
Aspirin/Baby Aprin Advil/Aleve/Tylenol LiquiGel Caps
2 Ace Bandages 1 Roll of Coban Wrap
1 Wrist/Knee Brace - ACE 1 Eye Wash Cup
5 Sterilized Needles 20 Finger cots
Betadine Wipes Mouth Moistener

Also on hand I have:

1 Hot Water Bottle 1 Box Masks (See Swine Flu Blog for link)
Aloe Vera Plant for Burns Heating Pad (given there is electricity)
Cane Extra Advil, Aspirin, and Tylenol
Rubbing Alcohol Witch Hazel
Hydrogen Peroxide Pepto Bismol
Epsom Salt Vaseline
Calimine Stool Softener (Change in Diet can cause issues)
Arithicare Pain Rub Immodium AD
Abosol and Oragel Demiform - Hypo Allergenic Knitted Tape
Dermaplast Pain Relieving Spray 12 Heavy Duty Masks


I still need to pick up... , Dentutemp, and I am sure I will think of more.

Most important to go in the First Aid Kit is instructions for CPR, and how to treat common ailments. When danger strikes you don't want to be searching for it!

Learning as we go

This preparation process can be very daunting, if you have not been a creature of this habit for years now. But don't fret every step we take today; is a learning experience, and one step closer to self reliance.

There are a few things that we really need to put thought into. Like diversification of our investment portfolios (or what is left of them anyway) we need to do the same for our preparations.

For example for the food storage you don't want to place all your eggs in one basket. Here is what I have done.


For the short term:

• Bought fresh fruit and veggies flash froze and vacuum bagged. They will be good for one year.
• Bought twice my normal amount of pasta, rice, flour, sugar, instant milk, and protein powder. Also used the food saver and vacuum packed.

For the Emergency without power:

• Canned meats as I could, this included chicken, albacore, tuna, salmon, corned beef hash, beef stew, chicken and dumplings,
  
• Case of canned corn, peas, broths, potatoes, and canned milk
  
• Used the food saver again for sugar, cornmeal, cereal, cake mix, pancake mix, pasta, beans, dried peas and instant milk
  
• Spices, Coffee, tea, hot chocolate
• Extra canola oil and other cooking provisions
  
• LABELED each box with what was in it and when it expires.

For the long term plan:

• Years worth of #10 cans of veggies
• A starter pack of # 10 can entrees
• Live animals to breed and have organic meats.
• A special #10 can of seeds that we can plant in the garden.

I plan to add to each of these three plans as I can, but i think it is a great start. So you may be wondering, what about non food items?

These are things we want to ensure for not just good hygiene and safety but there is only so much roughing it that is feasible. So I am starting my list for non foods items to include:

• Toilet paper a couple of cases
• Extra paper and cloth kitchen towels
• Paper plates and utensils
• Bleach
• White Vinegar
• Borax
  
• Case of Ivory Soap Bars (for cleaning body and making cleaner with)
• Washcloths
• Stock up on underwear and socks for every household member
• Disposable and cloth diapers
• Rubbing Alcohol & Hydrogen peroxide
• First Aid Kit essentials (I will save that for another blog but I put my own together)
• Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Ambosol and Dent u temp.
• Deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner if you cant live without it.
• Feminine Products and spare contraceptives (not sure about the expiration date on the last one but I would hate for someone to be in a bad situation in bad times, and not able to purchase birth control
• Vitamins, Herbal remedies
• Spiral notebooks and Pens
• Learning materials in case your children are housebound! Workbooks are fantastic
  

As I write this blog I see lots of areas I will go into more detail, but this is a start! Naturally people with limited space, or living in an urban location would expand in some areas and not others that is really up to the individual but the important thing is to make it feasible to attain, and happily live. Make it a fun learning experience for the whole family. Not only is learning self reliance fun, but it is a skill that you can pass down to the generations. Especially if you write a diary of your journey and make binders of your new learned skills!

Big Brother in Healthcare....is coming full speed ahead!

It is bad enough that the Government has determined that soda is not good for us so it must be taxed, along with the higher taxes on nicotine products which was already ridiculously high. It is preposterous to allow your health care to be determined by a governmental agency and not your doctors. Do you want your medical records open for the world to see, might as well. Do you think your medical records are accurate to begin with? You may be surprised with what you find. Just like your credit report that has flaws, and errors; your medical record does too.

A report on Fox News today will terrify you, and if it doesn't it should. Check the link below for the video footage

Big Brother? Health House Keeps Patients 'Safe' by Watching Every MoveGov

So with Government watching how many times you open your fridge, wash your hands, and any and I do mean ANY move, that in turn will be used against you in paying for your health care. Not for your "safety". Do you want your safety in the hands of others? What makes Government believe that we as a whole cannot and will not think for ourselves? Does it take away from what our founding fathers intended? Definitely, Big Brother takes away freedom. It is amazing that no one understands that. Once it is taken away my friends we will never see it return. Like IRS and Income Taxes were to be a part time thing this too will be permanent. It cannot be allowed, the Health Care reform has to be scrutinized very closely by ALL of us while we still have a choice.

For example as I was a Medicare claim specialist for 9 years I had the opportunity to see first hand how Governmental Health care works, or should I say essentially does not work. Doctors and hospitals had to conform and compromise to Medicare rules which were usually absolutely ridiculous. Which, sorry folks in turn compromises the care of the disabled and elderly.




Here is a simple example; Medicare can say we will not cover this procedure, test, or hospital stay because they have a diagnosis of obesity. Now what if the diagnosis is purely secondary to steroid use for an auto-immune disease, asthma, or other inflammatory condition. What if the weight gain is contributed to thyroid, hormones or diabetes? Those are not normally included in a claim if they were not seen directly for that condition that visit. However as your blood pressure and weight are taken every visit it is commonly included in your diagnosis without your even knowing. Then the patient gets the bill and has to fight from there.

Sadly a persons care depends on what the insurance allows, or in this example the Government. We don't want this for our children, ourselves or our nation. We want our disabled and elderly to be treated with respect and dignity and not denied care because of the conditions they face. Not all illness is a result of bad behavior, but even if it was it should be our freedom to have our own practices in life. We forget that we have paid along with our employers into the Social Security/Medicare system and should not be penalized for its lack of ability to run efficiently.

My suggestions are to obtain a copy of your medical records from all your doctors, labs, hospital stays, etc. Go as far back as possible. Verify these records stem to stern for accuracy and completeness. When you see an error in dictation or possibly the doctor misunderstood you, make an appointment to discuss the errors in your medical record. I recommend making an appointment instead of calling so you can ensure it is corrected then and there. Then request a copy of the correction along with the current visit note. Once you obtain all your records make a habit of requesting them at each visit.

These records in your possession are good for many reasons;

• You may require specialist care that you may need the information. No matter how healthy we are, our memories are not perfect and it is good to refresh ourselves of what was preformed when or what medications we have tried.
• To verify accuracy and completeness in our permanent medical record.
• For legal issues, we never know what will be sequestered and used against or for us in a court of law.
  
• Lastly before our records become property of the Government which may happen we want to ensure what is in there is correct to safeguard our own care.
  

On that note I think I will enjoy a bubbly refreshing soda of my choosing... from while I still can.