California Preppers Network

We have moved to Wordpress

2012-02-26T02:02:00.002-08:00

Please visit us at www.California.PreppersNetwork.com

I moved from CA to Texas, come visit me at my new blog

2011-09-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Since I have moved from CA to TX, I will now begin posting at Learning to survive in Texas! I will still maintain my CA blog for a little while longer at Prepare to survive in California.
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Purslane - Another "weed" you can eat

2011-08-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Common in our yard but little known in the kitchen, purslane is both delicious and exceptionally nutritious.

Regarded by many as a weed, common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is also known as duckweed, fatweed, pursley, pussley and wild portulaca.

Purslane is somewhat crunchy and has a slight lemony taste. Some people liken it to watercress or spinach, and it can substitute for spinach in many recipes. Young, raw leaves and stems are tender and are good in salads and sandwiches. They can also be lightly steamed or stir-fried or simply make a wonderful fresh garden salad with it.

Purslane has high levels of soluble fiber help lower cholesterol, six times more vitamin E than spinach, is best known plant source of essential omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), seven times more beta carotene than carrots, rich in vitamin C, magnesium, riboflavin, potassium and phosphorous.

In addition to ALA, other omega-3s include eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids mostly found in aquatic plants and animals, especially oily fish. Nutritionists now think all forms of omega-3s need to be plentiful in our diets plants such as purslane may be part of the missing link to better nutrition. Ethnobiologists — scientists who study the relation between primitive human societies and the plants in their environment — believe that the plants humans ate long ago provided a greater proportion of nutrients than the plants we consume today. They estimate, for instance, that humans 40,000 to 10,000 years ago consumed an average of 390 milligrams per day of vitamin C from wild plants and fruits. In contrast, the average human today consumes just 88 milligrams of vitamin C per day.

One cup of cooked purslane has 25 milligrams (20 percent of the recommended daily intake) of vitamin C

Records show that wise folks in the East Indies and in Persia were chowing down on this glorious weed 2,000 years ago. Folks in China and Mexico, in Europe and Africa were all getting into Purslane munching long before it was ever introduced to the good old U.S of A.

In England a number of varieties were raised just for nutritious eating. Purslane can be confused with another plant that is dangerous to eat, so before you go grabbing a handful to eat, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLANT!

For more fun and exciting info...come visit me at Prepare To Survive In California

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Here is why you need Guns AND Gold

2011-08-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

I remember studying in my economics class how the process of civilization ends when a government systematically violates property rights. You can see this of course under communist governments, but it is a characteristic of any dictatorship.

Peaceful civilization involves delayed gratification, saving and building. If you think how the United States was built, these elements were critical. When we undo them, people are making choices more similar to the barbarians who sacked Rome than to a peaceful, civilized, educated population.

When a natural disaster strikes or a criminal robs you on the street, it has a terrible effect on you as an individual, but society at large doesn’t really feel the act. However, when a government is systematically confiscating wealth, property and freedoms, you can actually begin to measure the changes.

The US dollar is now being questioned around the world as people are losing faith in the value of the currency, which is itself a reflection of the government to tax the people. The oil producing nations have already left the dollar for the Euro, while China, Russia and the UN are calling for a new world currency, and our ability to print money to pay our bills is in doubt as even our closest allies and trading partners are hesitating to continue financing our spending spree.The rest of the world watches as the US acts like a drug addict who simply can’t admit the problem and can’t bring himself to make any changes.

Gold prices are near all-time highs and gold coins are now hard to find. In fact, in November of last year the US Mint suspended sales of American Eagles, after coin prices went up by 88% last year. Gold bullion is of course also appreciating, but the value of the coins as a means of trade and with a fraction of the value of a full bar of gold means the coins are particularly valuable.

At the same time, you can’t find ammunition for your .380 pistol. It’s just not available. I’ve walked into gun shops, pawn shops and big box stores and everyone is out. Ever since the election of Barack Obama gun and ammo sales have been at all time highs. The liberals and their co-conspirators in the media like to paint it as a bunch of crazies who hate the President because of his skin color, but the evidence is that people are worried about an infringement of the 2nd Amendment as well as a societal breakdown that might require more vigilant self defense.

The price and scarcity of commodities such as gold and ammunition is easily observed. Millions of Americans are not buying precious metals and ammunition because they think the party is just getting started; they’re worried that the party is coming to a predictable and yet horrific, dangerous end and could become violent.

If you can’t find a gold coin, maybe you can find a silver one, and you’ll be okay. If you are looking for ammo for your .38 special and can’t get it, maybe you’ll trade in your .38 and get a .45 or a 9mm or a .357 and buy that ammo instead. You might prefer one over the other, but both can get the job done. But what happens when you go to the pharmacy and you can’t get the antibiotics you need, or you visit the grocery store and they’re out of bread and milk? What do you do then?

What we are witnessing may very well be the beginning of a widespread commodities shortage brought on by overconsumption, government regulation and interference, and panic buying by a population that has been asleep at the wheel for far too long.

For more informative posts, come visit me at Prepare to Survive in California.blogspot.
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California Preppers Network has moved

2011-08-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

We have moved to www.CaliforniaPreppersNetwork.net

www.CaliforniaPreppersNetwork.com will redirect to the same domain.

I've added something new to my pantry - whole canned chicken

2011-08-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

In the event of an emergency, I like to try to stock up on various canned food and so I've added something new to my pantry - whole canned chicken.

I don't expect it to look visually appealing, but I bet it tastes damn good in pot of soup or with some rice. If nothing else, if I was really hungry, I bet I could eat it right out of the can too.

To see how I just cooked up some frog leggs, come visit me at Prepare to survive in California.
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Pet Survival Care

2011-08-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Dogs, cats, horses, etc., could be very scared during a disaster. After some disasters, pets should be tied up, put into a crate, or kept in a closed section of the house until they can be calm enough to not run away out of fear. Some situations may warrant keeping them under "protective custody" for an extended period. There could be broken glass, live electrical wires, and spoiled food out there - just to name a few dangers.

An open jar of mayonnaise is one example of a "tasty" threat to your cat or dog. It only takes a few hours for this to become lethal. It is a good idea to keep a bottle of ipecac syrup on hand to deal with this or other poisons. Just a little ipecac syrup spooned into the pet's throat will cause him to vomit out the poison.

Pets that are easily stressed might need tranquilizers, so you may want to talk to your veterinarian about getting some in advance. If your veterinarian does not want to let you get regular pet tranquilizers in advance, ask him if your pet would have any problems with Valerian (a natural tranquilizer for humans and animals) and what dose would be safe for him.

Those of you who live in an area where flooding is possible might want to keep a pet life jacket in your emergency kit. Most dogs and cats can swim (dogs with heavy bodies and short legs can't - like basset hounds), but for how long? It could be a long way in treacherous rapids and debris before they could find an escape route. The life jackets are bright yellow to allow your pet to be seen from a long distance, they have a grab handle so anyone could pull them out of the water easily, and they're incredible inexpensive. You may not be in a flood zone now, but would you be if terrorists or an earthquake destroyed a nearby dam?

A great "quick-escape" survival kit you can just grab and run would be kept in a backpack. You could also grab "Fido's" backpack (which you keep filled with his survival essentials, including a collapsible water bowl for compact storage). Once you are both in a safe area, simply strap his backpack on so he can carry his own load - or get one large enough to carry some of your essentials also.

Dogs and cats should always wear an ID tag so that they can be returned to you if they do get lost in an emergency. You might even put a second phone number of a friend or relative in another neighborhood. Since ID tags can come off, an even better idea is to have a microchip placed under your pet's skin by a veterinarian.

Prior to an emergency (now) is the time to get all shots their up to date. Wild animals carrying rabies could come to your home looking for food after a disaster, and flood waters might bring diseases with them.

For other fun and informative stuff, come visit me at Prepare to Survive in California.
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Are you?

2011-07-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

from infowars.com
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When will the blinders come off?

2011-07-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

The following is a great article/speech about keeping YOUR freedoms. Plus, by doing so, you help ensure that all of us are able to maintain ours. From 1997 until about 2006, I was/am a land use consultant for the off-road community. We did try to make progress in protecting our rights but surprisingly the biggest obstacle wasn't the enviros and their attorneys. Guess who/what that was and still is.......the users. That's right, the very people we were fighting for stood in our way at every turn. I was at the beginning of the Sierra Nevada Framework and also the club president of a fairly large 4x4 club. I'd blast up to Sacramento at 3 a.m, be in meetings all day, then run back to preside over our monthly meeting all in the same day. I'd try to get folks active but...sighs, rolling of eyes, comments that if they close that trail we'll just go somewhere else, total apathy reigned. The same can and should be said in our current nation-wide struggle with economics and the lousy political scene. Cruising around today I stumbled upon the following. Read it and then re-read it 3 more times. If you just scan through it and dismiss the article, then I feel you are hopelessly lost. If that statement pissed you off....GOOD! Now read the damn thing and sit back and think for once! And get off your ass!

The follwing is from http://www.alt-market.com/

The Essential Rules Of Liberty

Wednesday, 06 July 2011 01:58 Brandon Smith

There is nothing worse in this world than an enslaved man who naively believes himself free, except, perhaps, trying to explain to that same man his predicament. You can lay truth after truth before his feet. You can qualify your every position with cold hard irrefutable data. You can plead and scream and raise veritable hell, but before he will ever listen, he must first become aware of his own dire circumstances. As long as he views himself as “safe and secure”, as long as he imagines his chains to be wings, he will see no reason to question the validity of the world around him, and he will certainly never invest himself into changing his own deluded destiny.

Unfortunately, there are many such men crawling and scraping about here in what was once a land graced with a self sufficient and independently minded public majority. The great lie that has been perpetuated in this country over the past several decades is that we can defer our responsibilities of vigilance and place our well being and our futures into the hands of others for the sake of “collective efficiency”, or leisure. We have been conditioned to live in a state of constant indifference, a society which prizes compromise over principle and steadfast resolve. Those who refuse to compromise that which is honorable for the sake of ease and comfort are indicted as “extremist” or even criminal. The idea of personal revolution is treated with discomfort, and all we claim to stand for becomes muddled in a fog of inaction and cynicism. As Americans, we have forgotten what it means to earn and protect our own freedoms. We have forgotten that in liberty, there are standards that must be defended.

This, however, does not mean we cannot yet again remember ourselves. The desire for freedom is as inborn and natural as our own heartbeat, as our own breath. It is instinct. It cannot be erased from within, only oppressed from without. The tide has always been against tyranny, always, though we may find that hard to believe. If liberty was not ingrained into our very DNA, humanity would have succumbed to bondage and self destructed long ago. This is not the case. Stretching under the surface of our superficial force-fed mainstream culture are the roots of something real, and honest. Simmering beneath our so called “civilized” veneer, many Americans are finally rediscovering their wild and defiant origins. In the recent past we have been taught to feel ashamed of our rebelliousness. Now, we are learning to hold it quite dear.

For those of us who are awake, and for those who are on the verge of understanding, certain rules come into play that strengthen our stance and shield us from folly. Liberty is not a self perpetuating social condition. It requires guidelines, and effort, and sacrifice. Liberty will not survive without our willingness to maintain it. If you are not ready and willing to fight for your own independence, then you are not truly free.

Let’s examine some of the inherent laws and guidelines of free will and free action that will allow us to not only win back our self determination, but to keep it for generations to come. You want liberty? This is what it takes…

Rule #1: Never Take Anything For Granted

A lot of people today seem to have serious issues with expectation and assumption; what we in the alternative media often refer to as “normalcy bias”. We have grown used to the idea of abundance and relative safety. So much so, that we fail to notice when our abundance and safety begin to disappear. We assume that the condition of the world today will be the condition of the world tomorrow, and for all time. In the U.S., we have even come to expect not only that our prosperity and our freedom are inevitable, but that they will also increase exponentially with each passing generation. This is a relatively new and narrow cultural mindset likely caused by the explosion in industrial growth after WWII which seemed to erase all memory of the Great Depression in our society, leaving us with the belief that surely, our circumstances would never become so desperate again.

Those who are truly independent realize that nations, no matter how affluent, can self destruct at a moment’s notice, especially when they fail to recognize their own weaknesses and confront their own demons. Never suppose that that which is good and just will remain without your own initiative. Never wait for others to fix those problems which you could just as easily solve yourself. Never expect that freedoms won cannot also be easily lost. Always prepare for the worst outcome, and strive for the best outcome.

Rule #2: Educate Yourself

Never become a useful idiot, or a waste of oxygen. Being a part of the herd is nothing to be proud of. Strive for knowledge, and thirst for the truth every moment of every day. Many of the things we deem “important” in modern society are in the grand scheme hollow attempts to fill our lives with distraction, only wasting time until we finally bite the dust filled with regret. Pretending to further the depth of one’s life is not the same as actually doing so. I can’t think of anything more horrifying than becoming a man who rushes around frantically every waking moment, but ultimately accomplishes nothing.

Do not assume that you already have a tangible grasp of the truth, especially if all your knowledge has been handed to you. Instead, research that knowledge for yourself. Put that which you have been taught to the test. Only in this way will you finally learn. Expand your horizons. Learn something useful. Remove unnecessary distractions for at least part of your day and focus on increasing your awareness of the environment you live in. There are very few things in this world more important than this, and self education should take precedence over everything else except your family. “Lack of time” is no excuse for ignorance. Make time! The ignorant are led. The knowledgeable lead themselves.

Rule #3: Don’t Be A Pansy

Liberty is not for the faint of heart. Emotional courage is paramount to freedom, and it can be expressed to incredible effect by even the most unlikely heroes. I’ve seen children with more courage and tenacity than some full grown men.

If one recognizes the gravity of the situation we face as a people, if one understands the considerable danger involved in the fall of a Republic to the depths of fear and autocracy, but still does nothing, that person has not only failed the world, he has also failed himself. “Making waves”, or drawing the ire of “authority”, is the least of our worries. If you have utilized an objective eye, and know you are right in your position, then there is no reason to fear criticism from anyone.

Sociopolitical action, nonconformity, noncompliance, and self defense, are unavoidable aspects of a society that wishes to maintain its freedoms. There is no way around it. If you are not willing to stick your neck out and expose yourself to risk, you remove all chance of possible gain. If you are a self proclaimed activist that refuses to sacrifice, that refuses to struggle, then you have failed before you even began. Talk must lead to balanced action. Never thumb your nose at the devil without being ready to trade punches as well, or all is lost.

Rule #4: Stop Waiting For Others To Tell You What To Do

Independent people not only consider and implement the solutions of others, they also work on their own. Complaints abound lately in the Liberty Movement;

“When is someone going to do something!? What are YOU going to do about our predicament!?”

This is the question of a slave, not a free man. A free man asks, “What am I going to do about this predicament? What is MY solution to the problem?” Therein is the key to liberty; decentralized leadership and movements based on fluidity and spontaneity of action, instead of a great mass of people standing around stiffly waiting for orders on high, or a self styled messiah to engineer their world view. As soon as you place your very initiative under the control of others, you have lost the fight. Always consider the solid strategies of intelligent people, and adopt them if they are useful, but do not remain idle because you are too frightened to exert the effort to solve problems bigger than yourself. Spectators only witness history, they do not make history.

Rule #5: Cast Off What Is Unnecessary, Keep What Is Effective

Yes, I stole this rule from Bruce Lee, but it is just as applicable to social movements and economic stability as it is to the martial arts. Invasive debt creation, for instance, is a tool for subversion, and no people forced to bear the burden of liabilities they can never repay is free. Therefore, exorbitant debt must be avoided, or cast off completely.

In our personal lives, how many useless goods do we accumulate on a daily basis, instead of useful items that we may one day desperately need? How much of our life is spent accumulating garbage in order to keep up with “socially acceptable” levels of consumer behavior? How many of us cling to careers we hate in order to service our needless consumption? The ability to prioritize must become a virtue once again, and, we all need to shut off the cable television…

This rule also applies to governments. If a government no longer fulfills its sworn duties to the people, and no longer serves the purposes to which it was originally intended, then it too must be cast off and replaced with one that does serve the people, or, it must be forced to return to its inherent foundations. Today, this kind of talk is often referred to as “extremism”, or insurgency, no matter how correct it might be, which brings us to our next rule…

Rule #6: Ignore Establishment Labels

Tactical name calling is only effective if we actually care what other people think of us. Labels like “homegrown terrorist”, “extremist”, “doomer”, or “conspiracy theorist”, are designed to shame people into self censorship. That is to say, they pigeonhole movements and their participants into categories of public shame, causing said movements to fear social reprisal. They are also meant to forcefully assign “outsider” or “fringe” status to particular political positions in order to marginalize and weaken the resolve of those who hold them. Never mind that almost every powerful and honorable cultural movement in history once started out as “fringe”.

Early in our lives, we are taught that it is far better to be accepted, and to avoid standing out, even at the expense of our individualism. Unfortunately, many adults never outgrow this childish belief, and thus become vulnerable to tactics as absurd as simple ridicule. At bottom, being slandered by a thieving bureaucracy infested with soulless parasites bent on centralization at the expense of innocent human life is a bit laughable (this goes for you too, SPLC). Globalists, along with their media cronies and their think-tank sock puppets, will say ANYTHING to get what they want. Empty words and false labels cannot stop the truth, or a movement driven by the truth.

Rule #7: Cynicism Is The Path To Defeat

It is good to be critical, but not to the point of nihilism. America’s past is riddled with mistakes, bad judgments, horrible crimes, and downright stupidity; that doesn’t mean that the principles on which this country was founded are any less vital. We hear often from cynics that humanity has become too stupid and complacent to do what is right. However, stupidity and complacency are not inherent qualities. That’s an elitist fantasy with no basis in fact. Stupidity and complacency are learned behaviors, and they can be unlearned. What IS inherent is our ability to choose what path we will take. For adherents of liberty, we need only remind people that they have this choice. We can whine and cry all day long about how nobody pays attention and how there is no hope, or, we can exhaust all options before throwing in the proverbial towel. We don’t need to “like” society the way it is, but we do need to recognize the underlying potential of all people to become something much more than what they currently are (I can’t stand blind ignorance either, but I’m certainly not ready to accept it as a fact of American life). Remember, no fight is over until it is over.

Rule #8: True Authority Is Derived From Respect That Is Earned, Not Bought, Or Taken

A corrupt politician is just a criminal conman in a nice suit. A law enforcement officer who refuses to follow Constitutional Law is just a petty little tyrant in a black uniform. An economist who knowingly skews data to fit his own political bias or to serve the political biases of men above him is just a liar or an inept buffoon with an embossed piece of paper from an expensive university. A lab scientist or doctor who flubs experimentation to support the interests of the corporate world rather than the needs of the public is just a quack in a white coat. All too often, though, we find ourselves taking these cretins seriously all because they talk the talk and wear the costume. They are just people, and if they cannot do their jobs honestly, then they are useless people, who deserve our disdain, not our respect. We should never allow such men to wield positions of authority over us.

Rule #9: Take It Personally

When someone tries to steal from you, hurt you, or enslave you, unless you are some kind of nut, you take it pretty personally, right? Why should it be any different when a government commits the same grievances? Americans should be furious over the destruction of their economy, their currency, their infrastructure, and their Constitutional freedoms! They should be enraged over the endless wars overseas that are bankrupting the nation. They should be bellowing to the rooftops over the cooption of their political system by a slimy brood of corporate bankers. Is this “extremist” behavior? Who cares!? If your anger is not visible then it is not worth a damn. Don’t just get active, get emotional! This is about your life, and the lives of those you love. That’s not to say that we should take out our frustrations randomly and haphazardly, but if we can’t at least make known our anger over the misdeeds of government, then what the hell is the point of calling ourselves free?

Rule #10: You Are The First And Last Line Of Defense

Like it our not, this is our job. We have inherited a country on the verge of disaster, and we are tasked with cleaning it up, otherwise, there will be little left to pass on. We do not get to bask in illusory prosperity for the rest of our days. We do not get to feed off the entitlement program trough until we are fat and contented. We are not going to retain our rights without blood, sweat, and tears. We will not be building magical floating cities in the clouds or skyscrapers on Mars. We will NOT be remembered fondly as members of some fantastical “golden era”.

We have been thrust into the muck and the mire. We are being molded as the lost children of an age better forgotten. We have been slapped in the face with a dilemma so volatile and so incredible it may one day be called the greatest crisis of all time. We have drawn the short straw.

This could be viewed as some terrible doom. It could be held as a star crossed act of ferocious fate. We could fall to our knees and lament with despair, overcome with woe at our unbearable lot. But, this would be in violation of rule #3, and nobody wants to be a sobbing pansy. On the contrary, every “bad luck generation” is only so if they refuse to see the great fortune at their fingertips; if they refuse to seize the moment and conquer the giants of their day. The greater the hardship, the greater the enemy, the greater the heroes. We are faced with possibly the most unrelenting antagonists and the most treacherous obstacles in recent memory, or even distant memory. In the same spark of confrontation, we are also presented with unparalleled opportunity to change the course of the world forever. Whether or not we succeed, is entirely up to us.

You can contact Brandon Smith at: brandon@alt-market.com

Join Alt-Market today, find a barter network in your area, or start your own. Insulate yourself and your family from economic collapse before it is too late.

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All kinds of crap!

2011-07-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

I'm back from delivering sailboats from Hawaii to the west coast for awhile. Next up is one to Tahiti from Hawaii and then from there back to Hawaii. Busy year, put 7k miles under the keel in the past 12 months.
While at sea, I do not have internet, but via a SSB/Ham radio and a sat phone, I am able to recieve weather maps and e-mail plus update the blog at sailblogs.com. Imagine if you will, being cut off from all news and events for about 30 days, pretty freaky when you hit land and have access to all the news outlets and blogs! Two really BS news items that have me to the point of going bat s**t is this one, click on the link...
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/14/2011-14919/establishment-of-the-white-house-rural-council
As if we don't have enough of the .gov type breathing down our necks! Most importantly is check out all the twits that are part of this, c'on now! Defense dept., DHS,FCC WTF! is going on here?
Then, good old let's kill jobs and cash flow and nail on-line retailers. Is this state that stupid? Are all the PTB in the single digit range? or do they just want to make kissy face with unions and any other loud mouth group that comes along? Let's see how many more businesses they can drive from a once great state. If it weren't for the weather, I think most would be gone by now and just leave all the deadbeats and elites to further drive Cali into a 3rd world country/state. If you can, bail out, if not then hunker down and keep a low profile and do what you must to live. Me, 3 or 4 more deliveries,and I'm cutting the dock line and heading south. I'll be back to pitch in after all the high profile targets are gone so we can get down to some serious business of getting our country and stae back. Maybe a few years for the sheep to trash their blinders, but it will happen.
Next stop, the South Pacific.
P.S. Tom.......call me

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Flood Warning

2011-06-10T00:58:00.001-07:00

A flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for four rivers in the Southern Sierra Nevada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbW8fotujDs

Free Flood Predaredness PDF's

- ARC - Are You Ready - Flood

- Fact Sheet - Flood

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TSA Calendar

2011-06-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

For more fun and informative preppers info, come visit me at Prepare to Survive in California.

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Zero Water Filters - just got this email from the company

2011-04-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Does the ZeroWater Filter

Remove Nuclear Radiation?

"We've been getting this question from a lot of people lately, and want to make sure you have the best information available. While the ZeroWater filter was never designed to remove radiation, it uses the same basic ion-exchange technology that is recommended by the EPA and commonly used in the nuclear power industry, and our own testing has indicated reduction of certain radioactive contaminants. Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive protocols available in the US to gain third-party certification of radiation reduction, so it is impossible to positively state what level of reduction is safe for drinking water."

EPA report - basic ion exchange technology

As many of you know, I did my own research to see if I could filter pool water as a means of a backup water supply using Zero Water filters....the result can be read here...Testing the water...so to speak.

No, I don't own stock in this company. I only give reviews on products I use and post on my blog Prepare to Survive in California.

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Ask permission first before copying and reposting from this site

2011-04-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

A blog post of mine was referenced on http://www.survivalblog.com/. What a surprise it was. Yes, you can copy any of my posts from http://preparetosurviveincalifornia.blogspot.com/ and post them to your blog without permission.

Please do not copy any information from this site California Preppers Network unless you contact California Preppers Network webmaster for permission. I do not run this site, I am only a guest writer.

Thank you,

William

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If Icould only have one firearm...what would I choose?

2011-04-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

If you could only have one gun what would it be?………………….Ask this question of any gun owner and you will get a keen insight into that persons priority and logistical system. My SKS, I already have a complete set of spare parts and it's ready to go in the trunk with eight 30 round clips. Some people will list their handgun of choice, others strain over which military rifle would best suit a given scenario. Some would just grin as if they had an advance copy of next weeks quiz and reply….."shotgun….. twelve gauge pump with plenty o’ shells". The fact is that, for the money, it's hard to find a more versatile tool than the old simple to operate, easy to maintain, humble shotgun. You can hunt virtually everything from squirrel to bear to low flying helicopters (check with your local game warden for season and limits on black helicopters).

Alright- on second thought you probably won't need that last one but seriously the proper type of slug will go through car doors to 75 yards! Yeah, I know so will .308 FMJ, 7.62x39 ect. no argument from me on that but how many ducks or rabbits are you gonna get with it (we're talking consistent performance on moving targets). There is also the much touted psychological factor that I have heard bridges all language barriers upon the racking of the slide, all criminals seem to know the immediate choice at hand (surrender or die) of course this won't stop a nut job of a psycho but “00” will every time.

One more thing to consider is image, yes I said it!! -if you are forced to defend your home and family with fatal results which would you rather see as exhibit A: in court a

A. SKS (that guy was looking for trouble)
B. AR-15 (probably one of those militant militia nuts)
C. Old, cheap looking, shot gun. "your honor I was left no choice but to grab my old shotgun, I was lucky I could remember where the shells where!”

It's sad I know but in present day America these are things you need to consider and no matter how obvious it was that the crack head broke in to rob and beat you. Don't forget civil court where his family will accuse you of being everything from a racist to a cold blooded crazy man bent on murdering their sweet boy who was just in the neighborhood delivering bibles to shut ins. This is why you don't buy the tactical model with the eight round mag, you get the ranger field model order a shorty barrel with rifle sights and a mag extension tube kit if you need to (I don't see why more than 5 rounds would be needed but a shell holder on the but stock could be removed and tossed to clean up the image before the boys in blue arrive a lot more quickly than you can put your old spring and cap back on). I also have a bandolier with various loads including flares and bird bombs (bird bombs are basically projectile fire crackers for the purpose of disorienting a target long enough to gain the edge or just plain scaring a bear away!!) there are other special loads that claim everything from Tuaregs to turning your 12 gauge into a flame thrower.

I have not used any of these out of safety concerns for myself and my gun. Further more you can get “beanbag” loads that are a non-lethal sledgehammer like blow to a perps intentions to about 15 yards or so and are much safer than plastic or rubber bullets. Consider also that if you do get into hunting or maybe just get invited out for a weekend you will have a respectable tool for the job. The 28” barrel that came with your shotgun is fine for any type of game bird, take it out to the range with a box of clay targets and a $35 launcher and you will quickly get the hang of things.

The shorty barrel (18” to 22”) with rifle sights or a true-glo tactical type sight is great for small fast flushing game and deer (with “00” buckshot or slugs) Consider a 24” or 26” smoothbore with choke tubes it can be used for any given situation with the correct load and choke combination ,but don't loose that 28” vent ribbed barrel (ducks and Doves live in fear)…..

The key to success is to set your sights up for your intended load and range, by doing so several times you will get a feel for the trajectory and range of each load and get to where you find a happy medium setting that you can use with all loads and when it comes to slugs or rifles remember that just because you sighted in at a hundred yards and it seems right don't forget to go back and recheck the zero at 25, 50, and 75 yards, what distance are you really going to be shooting at? Don't sight in for 100 yrds if you are most comfortable and accurate hunting only out to 75 yards with slugs.

You need to develop a real understanding of how each of your firearms shoots with various loads at various ranges, this is even more important with a shotgun due to its limited range. Remember- “shooter know thy weapon” You should know how every part of your weapon functions as well as how to replace or repair it and most importantly how to maintain it. Know how your weapon reacts to different temp. ranges brands of ammo ect. These are all important factors to being a competent marksman as well as why a shotgun is often easier for a new shooter to master. The limited range and less complex dynamics of its use in a tactical role(s) let the shooter concentrate more on his tactics than his weapon system. I am an avid shooter and love my rifles and handguns but if someone broke into the window right now I would grab the 12 gauge first without further consideration……

Whatever you buy remember that you have to live with it. Twelve gauge is the last word but not the only gauge out there. If you are of a small stature the 20 gauge is still a good choice, if you just can't live with the recoil, 16 gauge still holds a lethal potency with #4 buckshot but is getting a little rare as far as ammo choices go. The semi auto shotgun will help ease some of the recoil but to me the cost of one I would trust is too high compared to the simple reliable pump twelve.

For more fun and intersting prepping info, come visit me at Prepare to Survive in California.
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Survivalnomics 101

2011-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

From John Galt at
http://johngaltfla.com/blog3/

23
03/11

Survivalnomics 101

19:17 by John Galt. Filed under: Whatever

By John Galt
March 23, 2011
Good afternoon class.
This course offers no refunds, there are no grades but failure is an option. As I discussed on the radio program the initial ideas behind surviving and economic or currency collapse are simplistic to most but require quite a few to swallow their pride, eliminate the malady of being finicky, and understand that value reigns supreme from this day forward. To start with, I shall repeat the story from the radio program last night which highlighted the daunting future America may be indeed facing shortly.
While I was in a small central Florida town I stopped at a Walgreen’s to pick up some tea and I noticed a clearance sale for the seventy foot rolls of aluminum foil. Knowing full well that aluminum prices were skyrocketing and that the clearance for this size was the same reason they cleared the 75 foot rolls a year ago, because they were about to make them smaller (probably 65 ft. now) I purchased four rolls at $0.62 each just to store away for future use. As I was engaging the young lady who was the cashier the discussion came up about the great price of this item on clearance to which I said to her, “yup, this is a great deal because inflation is getting ready to hit us hard.” The comment she made back stopped the buzz in the line behind me of mostly elderly ladies.
“What’s inflation?” the approximately nineteen or twenty year old woman asked.
At this point in time I was debating a treatise from Von Mises or just telling her to read everything ever written by the Mogambo Guru when another flash hit me that perhaps I should recount my collegiate education of Keynesian garbage. I elected to simplify this as much as I could so the rest of the customers would not have to listen to a twenty minute dissertation and they could purchase their goods and carry on with their lives. “You know the price of gas how it has moved up so rapidly the last few months,” I began, “well imagine prices for food, medicine, everything moving at the same pace month after month but your pay remains the same . It’s what we lived through with Jimmy Carter.” The elderly woman behind me snickered at that and the young cashier had a light bulb go off and that was that.
The question now becomes, how many tens of millions of people are under that same mindset? And what would will you do to prepare your household for the changing economic landscape?
The first item the reader must accept is that everything you have learned about shopping, consuming as it were, must be erased out of your mind. The questions must be asked if you anticipate a sustained economic downturn where your income will remain stagnant but inflation ravages the land.
Do you buy the name brands still as habit dictates?
Do you buy in bulk?
Do you buy quantity now in anticipation of price increases or package size reduction?
Do you acquire barter goods or just stock up for personal usage?
Do you make large capital purchases (Cars, homes, vacations) before the onset of relentless inflation then hyperinflation?
Each of those questions deserve their own personalized answer based on the individual’s earnings, ability, and plan. If you think the government will always save the system and it is unnecessary to prepare for the onset of any type of inflation you can cease reading any further and pursue whatever it is one does outside of reality.
Meanwhile for the rest of us, prepare for the worst by preparing your family first. The first question was key because it is a chance in shopping habits. There are store brands which are just as good as the manufacturers name brands, sometimes in larger packaging, and usually substantially cheaper. Some easy examples are canned vegetables, dairy products, and frozen foods. Shockingly a lot of the generic or store brand vegetables in the canned and frozen food section are actually of American origin, which is important to my shopping habits after visiting Mexico and witnessing their agricultural sector first hand. Another key thing to consider is the step down in shopping locations. Too many people are fixated on the “WalMart has the best deals” mentality and refuse to visit the Aldi’s or other grocers like Save-A-Lot, Dollar General (where available), and other budget grocers. Typically it is because people look down their noses as they are located in “that part of town” but I tend to use my street smarts and find those locations that are not going to provide an opportunity for me to test my conflict resolution skills. Save a buck, buy the lower grade products, lower grade fresh produce, and pick and choose the bargains without exhausting your wallet!
Next the question is buying in bulk, as at the warehouse clubs. This is another test for the smart shopper. Often they tease you with several truly outstanding bargains be it on meats, produce, etc. at the warehouse clubs but often when compared to purchases as the lower grade grocery stores or bargains at mainstream stores, the deals are misleading. Once again it is a matter of picking and choosing where and what you purchase. The bigger determination is buying only those items in bulk which are used frequently enough for a constant rotation to insure spoilage or rot does not occur. Lastly if you do not have room for it, do not store it. My wife gets somewhat angry with me when I elect to store items at times because if there is a crevice, there is usually canned foodstuffs tucked away somewhere in the house; or ammunition; or paper goods; or etc….
The next question is does one buy everything in sight because of anticipated price surges. If you can afford to buy it, store it, and use it the answer is a resounding yes. Price increases of anywhere from 7 to 35% have been seen in my grocery stores, even higher when you take new package sizes into account.
If you are going to follow this series to the end, then yes, obtaining barter goods is a prudent and wise move. Toilet paper will make you a king, ammunition a well fed individual, and a boatload of tobacco and alcohol for barter a potential regional dictator before all is said and done. Ignore the Mad Max scenarios, people will want lung cancer and hangovers before they worry about food and gasoline. The rest of might consider those latter items crucial but having leverage in the barter community are key to obtaining good and services desired by your family.
The last item is purely a personal decision. Should I buy a home? Totally up to your ability to afford one but if you are in a profession which requires constant relocation, I would suggest reading this article:
Why I’m Never Going to Own a Home Again
As far as vehicles are concerned, I have a strong rule of thumb to use: Ease of repair, fuel economy, and durability. New cars generally will fail in two out of three of those items because the situation in Japan with the shattering of the Just-in-Time inventory system should tell you what would happen during a systemic economic failure. Stick with simple, smart, and stealthy and the vehicle could well be a smart long term purchase that saves you heartache as society goes nuts.
Lastly other large capital purchases are up to you and your family. Many need vacations to survive this and I understand this fact completely. Do not take my advice on this, pray on it. Think to yourself “can I afford this” or “will it destroy our emergency savings?” Those types of purchases are up to each family’s ability to project future savings and need and you are going to have to reflect on this personally, I can only steer you in that direction.
This is going to be a weekly series on the radio program and I look to expand the concept from 101 to a final class at the 403 level. In future editions I hope to cover basic manufacturing, inventory maintenance, precious metals, barter, alternative markets, dealing with the government in a new system, and more. Stay tuned…..

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A part of California Highway 1 slips into the Pacific

2011-03-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

From CajunDaddys_girl

CNN is talking about a large area of US Highway 1 / The Pacific Highway in Big Sur California has slipped into the Pacific Ocean..
Currently the CHiP is speculating erosion.. They do not believe it is seismic activity. The highway will be closed for quiet a while for repairs..

To respond to this post please go here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=106&t=9663

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Tsunami Safety Tips

2011-03-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Tsunami Safety Tips
From Janet Liebsch
Website: "It's a Disaster and What are You Gonna Do about it?"

A tsunami [soo-nah´-mee] is a series of huge, destructive waves caused by an undersea disturbance from an earthquake, volcano, landslide, or even a meteorite. As the waves approach the shallow coastal waters, they appear normal and the speed decreases. Then, as the tsunami nears the coastline, it turns into a gigantic, forceful wall of water that smashes into the shore with speeds exceeding 600 miles per hour (965 km/h)! Usually tsunamis are about 20 feet (6 m) high, but extreme ones can get as high as 100 feet (30 m) or more!

A tsunami is a series of waves and the first wave may not be the largest one, plus the danger can last for many hours after the first wave hits. During the past 100 years, more than 200 tsunamis have been recorded in the Pacific Ocean due to earthquakes and Japan has suffered a majority of them.

The Pacific Ocean tsunami warning system was put in place back in 1949. As of June 2006, the Indian Ocean has a tsunami warning system, and NOAA expanded the Pacific system to include the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and areas of the Atlantic around the U.S. coast as of mid-2007.

Did you know...

...a tsunami is not a tidal wave - it has nothing to do with the tide?!

...another name used to describe a tsunami is “harbor wave”

...“tsu” means harbor and “nami” means wave in Japanese?!

...sometimes the ocean floor is exposed near the shore since a tsunami can cause the water to recede or move back before slamming in to shore?!

...tsunamis can travel up streams and rivers that lead to the ocean?!

BEFORE A TSUNAMI:

Learn the buzzwords - Learn words used by both the West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC - for AK, BC, CA, OR, and WA) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC - for international authorities, HI and all U.S. territories within Pacific basin) for tsunami threats...
• Advisory - an earthquake has occurred in the Pacific basin which might generate a tsunami
• Watch - a tsunami was or may have been generated, but is at least 2 hours travel time from Watch area
• Warning - a tsunami was / may have been generated and could cause damage to Warning area - should evacuate

Learn risks - If new to area, call local emergency management office and ask what the warning signals are and what to do when you hear them. Coastal areas less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of shoreline along coasts are at greatest risk. Or visit http://www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov

Make a plan - Develop a Family Emergency Plan (e.g. establish meeting places, list of emergency contact #s, out of state contact person, etc) and Disaster Supplies Kits/BOBs.

Listen - Make sure you have a battery-operated radio (with spare batteries) for weather forecasts and updates. (Radios like Environment Canada’s Weatheradio and NOAA’s Weather Radio have a tone-alert feature that automatically alerts you when a Watch or Warning has been issued.)

Water signs - If near water or shore, watch for a noticeable rise or fall in the normal depth of coastal water - that’s advance warning of a tsunami so get to high ground. Also - if water pulls away from shoreline and exposes sea floor - run to higher ground ASAP!!

Feeling shaky...? - If you feel an earthquake in the Pacific Coast area (from Alaska down to Baja), listen to the radio for tsunami warnings.

Is that it...? - Don’t be fooled by the size of one wave - more will follow and they could get bigger … and a small tsunami at one beach can be a giant wave a few miles away!

Be ready to evacuate - Listen to local authorities and leave if you are told to evacuate.

DURING A TSUNAMI:

Leave - If you are told to evacuate, DO IT! Remember - a tsunami is a series of waves - the first one may be small but who knows what the rest will bring. Grab your BOB/Disaster Supplies Kit and GO!

IF ON OR NEAR SHORE - Get off the shore and get to higher ground quickly! Stay away from rivers and streams that lead to the ocean since tsunamis can travel up them too. You cannot outrun a tsunami ... if you see the wave it’s too late!

IF ON A BOAT - It depends where you are -- either get to land or go
further out to sea ...

• In port - May not have time to get out of port or harbor and out to sea - check with authorities to see what you should do. Smaller boats may want to dock and get passengers and crew to land quickly.

• In open ocean - DO NOT return to port if a tsunami warning has been issued since wave action is barely noticeable in the open ocean! Stay out in open sea or ocean until authorities advise danger has passed.

Don’t go there - Do NOT try to go down to the shoreline to watch and don’t be fooled by size of one wave - more will follow and they could get bigger so continue listening to radio and TV.

AFTER A TSUNAMI:

Listen - Whether on land or at sea, local authorities will advise when it is safe to return to the area -- keep listening to radio and TV updates.

Watch out - Look for downed power lines, flooded areas and other damage caused by the waves.

Don’t go in there - Try to stay out of buildings or homes that are damaged until it is safe to enter and wear sturdy work boots and gloves when working in the rubble.

Strange critters – Be aware that the waves may bring in many critters from the ocean (marine life) so watch out for pinchers and stingers!

RED or GREEN sign in window – After a disaster, Volunteers and Emergency Service personnel may go door-to-door to check on people. By placing a sign in your window that faces the street near the door, you can let them know if you need them to STOP HERE or MOVE ON.
Either use a piece of RED or GREEN construction paper or draw a big RED or GREEN “X” (using a crayon or marker) on a piece of paper and tape it in the window.
-- RED means STOP HERE!
-- GREEN means EVERYTHING IS OKAY…MOVE ON!
-- Nothing in the window would also mean STOP HERE!

Insurance - If your home suffers any damage, contact your insurance agent and keep all receipts for clean-up and repairs.

Mold - Consider asking a restoration professional to inspect your house for mold. Also check out http://www.epa.gov/mold

Some additional things to check and do...
- Check electrical system (watch for sparks, broken wires or the smell of hot insulation)
- Check appliances after turning off electricity at main fuse and, if wet, unplug and let them dry out. Call a professional to check them before using.
- Check water and sewage system and, if pipes are damaged, turn off main water valve.
- Throw out food, makeup and medicines that may have been exposed to flood waters and check refrigerated foods to see if they are spoiled. If frozen foods have ice crystals in them then okay to refreeze.
- Throw out moldy items that are porous (like rotten wood, carpet padding, furniture, etc.) if they’re too difficult to clean and remove mold. Remove standing water and scrub moldy surfaces with non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, rinse with clean water and dry completely. Then use a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts clean water to wipe down surfaces or items, rinse and dry.
- Secure valuable items or move them to another location, if possible

Above extracted from IT'S A DISASTER! book (proceeds benefit APN)

Additional resources...

West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC - for AK, BC, CA, OR, and WA) http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC - for international authorities, HI and all U.S. territories within Pacific basin) http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/

TsunamiReady:
http://www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov/

CDC's Tsunami page:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tsunamis/

Flood safety tips thread on APN:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=634&t=824

Earthquakes mitigation & safety tips discussion on APN:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=634&t=7288

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Tsunami Warning

2011-03-11T07:54:00.001-08:00

From: the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center:

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Warning and Advisory #10 issued 03/11/2011 at 6:47AM PST

The advisory and warning regions remain the same. New observations are listed below.

The Tsunami Warning continues in effect for the coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Concepcion, California to the Oregon-Washington border.

The Tsunami Warning continues in effect for the coastal areas of Alaska from Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak) to Attu, Alaska.

The Tsunami Advisory continues in effect for the coastal areas of California from the California-Mexico border to Point Concepcion, California.

The Tsunami Advisory continues in effect for the coastal areas of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the Oregon-Washington border to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak).

A Tsunami Warning means that all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately inland to higher ground and away from all harbors and inlets including those sheltered directly from the sea. Those feeling the earth shake, seeing unusual wave action, or the water level rising or receding may have only a few minutes before the tsunami arrival and should move immediately. Homes and small buildings are not designed to withstand tsunami impacts. Do not stay in these structures.

All residents within the warned area should be alert for instructions broadcast from their local civil authorities. A tsunami has been recorded.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

At 9:46 PM Pacific Standard Time on March 10, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.9 occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.) This earthquake has generated a tsunami which could cause damage to coastal regions in a warning or advisory. Estimated tsunami arrival times and maps along with safety rules and other information can be found on the WCATWC web site.

Measurements or reports of tsunami activity:

 Location                   Lat.   Lon.    Time        Amplitude
 ------------------------  -----  ------  -------     ----------- Shemya  AK                52.7N  174.1E  1130UTC   05.1FT/01.56M
 Adak  AK                  51.9N  176.6W  1223UTC   01.8FT/00.56M
 Midway Is.  USA           28.2N  177.4W  1044UTC   05.1FT/01.55M
 Wake Is.  USA             19.3N  166.6E  0918UTC   01.7FT/00.52M
 Dutch Harbor  AK          53.9N  166.5W  1134UTC   01.6FT/00.48M
 Naha  Japan               26.2N  127.7E  1022UTC   01.6FT/00.49M
 Nikolski  AK              52.9N  168.9W  1342UTC   01.9FT/00.59M
 French Frigate Shoals     23.5N  166.2W  1334UTC   01.8FT/00.56M
 St Paul Is.  AK           57.1N  170.3W  1225UTC   02.0FT/00.61M
 Sand Point  AK            55.3N  160.5W  1347UTC   01.1FT/00.35M
 Nawiliwili Kauai  HI      22.0N  159.4W  1344UTC   02.5FT/00.76M
 Barbers Point  HI         21.5N  158.0W  1312UTC   02.3FT/00.70M
 Honolulu Oahu  HI         21.3N  157.9W  1316UTC   02.2FT/00.66M
 Kahului Maui  HI          20.9N  156.5W  1331UTC   05.7FT/01.74M
 Hilo  HI                  19.7N  155.1W  1343UTC   03.4FT/01.04M

Time - Time of measurement.
Amp. - Tsunami amplitudes are measured relative to normal sea level. It is NOT crest-to-trough wave height. Values are given in both meters (M) and feet (FT).

TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ARE EXPECTED TO PEAK TWO TO THREE HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL ALONG THE NORTH AMERICAN COAST. FORECAST TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WCATWC WEB SITE WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV. THE TSUNAMI CCONTINUES TO IMPACT THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. THE OBSERVATIONS FROM THESE INITIAL WAVES MAY NOT REPRESENT THE HIGHEST IMPACT.
Tsunamis can be dangerous waves that are not survivable. Wave heights are amplified by irregular shoreline and are difficult to forecast. Tsunamis often appear as a strong surge and may be preceded by a receding water level. Mariners in water deeper than 600 feet should not be affected by a tsunami. Wave heights will increase rapidly as water shallows. Tsunamis are a series of ocean waves which can be dangerous for several hours after the initial wave arrival. DO NOT return to evacuated areas until an all clear is given by local civil authorities.

Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.

This message will be updated in 60 minutes or sooner if the situation warrants. (For updates please go to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center:) The tsunami message will remain in effect until further notice. For further information stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, your local TV or radio stations, or see the WCATWC web site.

Link to Standard Warning Message
Link to Public Warning Message
Link to XML/CAP Message
Link to Printable Message

Download these free Tsunami Survival and Preparedness manuals from www.FreeSurvivalDisk.com

- Fact Sheet - Tsunami

- Tsunami

California Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

2011-03-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call. Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.

This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.

California Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=246&t=9248

Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.

If you are not yet a member of the forum you can register here for free:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

Preparing & Cooking Garden Snails

2011-02-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

If the SHTF and food sources become over hunted...and they will. You must consider other means of feeding your family. The garden snail, Helix aspersa, came to Britain with the Romans, who loved to eat them, they may have come earlier, in the Bronze age, but didn’t spread much. It’s the snail most cultivated for gourmet food and is known as petit gris.

FINDING YOUR SNAILS

Snails are nocturnal, and like places which are dark and damp. So in spring and autumn they are most active, destructive and edible. When it’s dry or cold they seal themselves up, to hibernate in winter, and aestivate in summer. After being closed up for long they have less fat, but are still edible.

The French used to collect them in autumn, when dormant and already naturally purged and safe inside their shells, in the autumn. This is a good shortcut, avoiding the need to fatten up and dry out by purging.

To see check if a snail is mature, not growing any more, feel the outer, front edge of the of the shell opening. If it has a hard lip it has finished growing, if it's a bit soft, and less prominent, it is an immature one, leave it to grow up!

If you want to eat garden snails regularly, then you should breed them.

A vivarium, a wooden box, bucket or washing bowl are suitable for snails to breed in, if outside, should be placed in full shade. Ideally they are kept at 20o C in damp air to breed, so in a greenhouse or coldframe is better. Spray water in the house to keep it damp. They need good moist soil is a flowerpot or box to lay the eggs in. Rodents and birds must be kept out.

They are hermaphrodites, but two must mate to breed. You can keep just two fine large specimens together in quite a small container. The eggs take three weeks to hatch if they’re kept at 20o C. In good conditions they are mature and ready to eat after 3 months of growing.

To grow they need lime to make their shells, so for keeping snails long term, it is important to provide lime. Crushed oyster shell is suitable, but I think powdered lime is best, available from garden centres, or cheaper is a sack from a builders merchant. It's good for the soil when growing vegetables too.

They can produce 100s of young, so a bigger house is necessary for them to grow up in. I have an old cracked aquarium, but an enclosed space can be made with special snail netting. I could only find it in rolls. I will buy a roll, and sell shorter lengths to any of you who would like some.

In theory ( I haven't personally done this yet) it is possible to produce edible mature snails by autumn or late summer from a pair put together in the spring. I have paired two up, and wait in hope!

BEFORE COOKING THEM

Provide them with a home for about a week, where you can give them food and water, exclude soil and grit, and crucially, keep them in. They are good escapologists! An old pair of tights makes a good cover for a bucket. A softwood box is good too. It is important to provide plenty of ventilation.

Feed them with human-friendly food for a week or more, to clear out any grit in their guts and fattens them up a bit. Lettuce, onion greens, apples are things they love, stale bread, bran and sunflower seeds are good. If you keep them for more than a week you must give them powdered lime, from a garden centre or builders merchant if you want a sack!

PURGING

Before cooking they are purged, that means no food or water for 48 hours, so their guts empty and their close up in thei shells with a membrane protecting them. They are washed thoroughly before this stage, and after. Commercially they just hang them in nets for up to a fortnight.

At home you can use a dry bucket without food, but with some wood or stones, an earthenware flower pot, for shelter. Make sure they are well secured with the tights!

Take the snails out carefully from the home they were feeding in to another container like a colander, wash them well, two or three times. Then put them in the purging bucket for 48 hours. you can use the same bucket, but might need help to prevent escapes while you take everything out of the bucket, wash it, and just return what you used for their shelter, but no food or water.

COOKING is in 3 stages:

1 Killing: they must be right inside their shells, if not, disturb them by gently shaking the container. Plunge them into boiling water for two - five mins.

2 Then cool them in cold water, and extract them carefully from their shells with a toothpick or pin.

3 Then they are cooked for an hour or so in good tasty stock. The French always include wine. See below

4 Then they are baked with butter and flavourings. This is because they are quite low in fat, and flavour.

5 Serve with bread.

Serving them in their shells requires two extra stages:--

6 Cleaning and drying the shells, see below

7 Putting the snail into the shells with butter sauce, then baking.

THE STOCK cook up for ½ hour or so. This was used on the One Show, a court bouillon or your own stock recipe is fine.

Then add the snails, after removal from shells.

1 lt water

generous handfuls of fresh:

water parsnip leaves

wild sorrel

nettle tips

Some welsh onion/garlic

Carrot

Ramsons (wild garlic)

Thyme, basil,

Peppercorns

Bay leaf

salt

½ bottle of Chardonnay.

SNAILS IN ALMONDS

To melted butter, add garlic cloves

Then ground almonds to make a soft paste.

Put a snail in each hollow of a snail plate and add as much paste as possible.

Bake for 20 mins.

Serve with cubes of bread and salad.

SNAILS IN WILD HERBS

Using a good book, collect seasonal weeds. For the One Show in April, I used those below.

Wash and chop finely, then

Blanch for 5 mins the wild herbs you can lay your hands on.

I used the following:

Water parsnip

Wild sorrel

Water cress

Nettle tips

A little ribwort plantain.

Sieve , pressing out the water.

Finely chopped ramsons

(if in season, otherwise use onion or garlic with the blanched herbs)

Add all these to melted butter.

Put a snail in each hollow of a snail plate and add as much paste as possible.

Bake for 20 mins.

Serve with cubes of bread and salad.

An old French recipe:

“To dress snails:

Put some water into a saucepan, and when it begins to boil throw in the snails, and let them boild a quarter of an hour; then take them out of their shells; wash them several times, taking great pains to cleanse them thoroughly, place them in clean water and boil them again for a quarter of an hour; then take them out, rinse them, dry them, and place them with a little butter in a frying pan, fry them gently for a few minutes, sufficient to brown them, then serve them with some piquant sauce.”

From “Edible Molluscs from great Britain and Ireland” by M S Lovell, a, PDF book that I downloaded from www.EatWeeds.co.uk pages 23 – 27

For other fun and exciting prepping info, come visit me at http://www.preparetosurviveincalifornia.blogspot.com/

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Chinese Free Trade Zones in the United States?????? WTF?????

2011-02-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

This was sent to me by one of my readers at http://www.preparetosurviveincalifornia.blogspot.com/

Sender: Doug B.

Received On: 1/24/11

Subject: URGENT! READ IMMEDIATELY! URGENT!

This is an urgent message! Read this and spread the word! Subject: Foreign Trade Zones. This is unbelievable at first, but you will soon realize that there are several motives for the global communists to physically weave our United States territory together with communist China. Read On! Here's what is going on!

Each and every one of our state governors has approved and allocated a certain amount of acres of their U.S. state land to be inhabited by Chinese communists --communists straight from China! They are to set up little towns and live here, supposedly for the purpose of producing Chinese products for sale in the U.S.A. The land the states are giving them for their little towns will be considered "foreign territory"!!! We are told that the laws of the state (in which these Chinese communists dwell) will apply to the communist Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). Comment: If so, why are they allowed in here!??! Isn't the whole set up unlawful??? There are 257 of these little communist towns to be built all over the United States. Go to this website and see the list of the states, and how many FTZ's are to be erected in each and every state! Our nation is being peppered all over with these communist closed towns called "zones"! This insane brainstorm by Washington, D.C. officials was just recently discovered by alert citizens in the State of Idaho, where an FTZ is being built there, just south of Boise, Idaho, possibly 30,000 acres of Idaho is going to be used for that FTZ. Check this site quickly before it is removed:

http://ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage/letters/ftzlist-map.html

When you get to this website, be prepared by having enough paper to print 40 pages, listing all the FTZ's to be built over the whole United States! 257 of these FTZ's! It is absolute insanity!! How gullible are we??? The excuse given for creating communist towns all over our nation is that these Chinese people will produce products for sale in the United States, and the FTZ will eliminate overseas shipping costs of the products they create! A bizarre excuse!!! Can't we manufacture our own products anymore with American workers? How foolish are we to allow this??? Remember the hard-learned lesson taught to gullible people back in ancient times, when the Trojan Horse was built and they pulled it past their protective gates??? Do we Americans look THAT STUPID to the Chinese and to our Washington,D.C. leaders???

It will not mean jobs for Americans. All the help will be Chinese! Besides, it is to be classed as "foreign territory", remember! You won't know what is really going on inside the enclave. Is there any danger for Americans to allow this? What do you think?!!!

It is a known fact that China has been preparing for war against the United States! Many guns are pointed at us. Why should these FTZ's be allowed??? What is the real reason?? Is it that Washington, D.C. needs foreign help to disarm American citizens (who have privately-owned firearms) so that the federal administration can comply with Public Law 87-297, signed into law by J.F. Kennedy for "general and complete disarmament of the United States"? It is a law continually financed by Washington, D.C. That's the law that calls for us to have no more army, no more navy, and no more air force, all of which is to be transferred over on a permanent basis to the communist-dominated United Nations! That law also prohibits all firearms from being owned by American citizens!

Without firearms, there will be no more liberty, freedom, or justice in government. Guns are the main core of the check and balance system. Our nation's founders realized that firearms in the possession of the people are the indispensible safeguard upon which all of the other rights in the "Bill of Rights" depend! That's why the Second Amendment was meant to be honored, treasured, and preserved!

Some people are wondering if the American land in these FTZ's is being given as collateral for the huge debt we owe to China? Some people are asking: "Does China own us and is our land collateral in case we don't pay the debt?" China is allowing American businesses to get established in China as FTZ's. Americans must build the structures in China, and they must employ all Chinese people to do the work in what is built there. After a short amount of years, the Americans must vacate, leave the buildings and let the Chinese keep the technology and the active operation as on-going. What this amounts to is transferring American technology and management to communist China.

FTZ's are also known as SEZ's (Special Economic Zones) Please relay this information to all your friends. Someone has to answer for this on state and federal levels! What a set-up for sabotage, espionage, and a study on how to take over the whole United States in a war! Because the newspapers and other media are controlled, they will not be reporting on this unless there is a great public outcry. Remember when being a communist was a punishable crime in the U.S.A. My, how we have changed! Complete reversal. Best to take this information to local public officials as well as all your contacts. Please do not delay spreading this information. Check with Idaho Eagle Forum also for updates http://www.eagleforum.org/

For more unique information, come visit me at Prepare to Survive in California.

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U.S. government commits avian holocaust

2011-01-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

U.S. government commits avian holocaust with mass poisoning of millions of birds

(NaturalNews) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is engaged in what can only be called an avian holocaust through its Bye Bye Blackbird program that has poisoned tens of millions of birds over the last decade. The USDA even reports the number of birds it has poisoned to death in a PDF document posted on the USDA website.

Anticipating the USDA possibly removing that document, we have posted a copy on NaturalNews servers at:

http://www.naturalnews.com/files/US...

The original source URL of this file was:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_...

This document shows that, just in 2009, the following bird populations were poisoned and killed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, using taxpayer dollars: To read more follow this link:

http://www.naturalnews.com/031084_bird_deaths_holocaust.html

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Prepping the wife and/or girlfriend

2011-01-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

In today's weird world, you may think that you need to get something to help your wife and/or girlfriend to protect themselves. Just don't do what this guy did!

A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Tazer.

The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety...??

WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home... I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that
it would work as advertised.

Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and Tazer in another.

The directions said that: a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and
a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, 'Don't do it stupid,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it.

I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and...

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WHAT THE... !!!

I'm pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs! The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note:
If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a Tazer, one note of caution:

There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor! A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.

My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the
fireplace.

· The recliner was upside down and about

   8 feet or so from where it originally was.

· My triceps, right thigh and both
  nipples were still twitching.

· My face felt like it had been shot up
  with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.

· I had no control over the drooling.

· Apparently I had crapped in my shorts,
  but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of
  smell was gone.

· I saw a faint smoke cloud above my
  head, which I believe came from my hair.

I'm still looking for my testicles and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe
return!

PS: My wife can't stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it!

If you think education is difficult, try being stupid!!!!

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Things To Think About

2011-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Our "leaders" here in California passed 725 new laws that went into effect the first of the year.

One of them was AB 97 that was actually passed in 2006 and parts went into effect in 2008. At that time, a food facility would have to have some sort of notice or labeling that the food they were serving contained artificial trans-fats.

Then, starting in 2010, the use of trans fats in food facilities was banned with a few exceptions (like bakeries). Finally, this year, the ban was completed, and all food facilities had to discontinue the use of trans fats.

All except one type of facility.

It would also, commencing January 1, 2011, prohibit any food containing artificial trans fat, from being stored, distributed, or served by, or used in the preparation of any food within, a food facility. The bill would exempt from these prohibitions, specified public school cafeterias and food sold or served in a manufacturer's original, sealed package.

Yeah. Our exhalted leaders have prohibited private businesses from using trans fats, but have exempted facilities over which they should actually have control.

Is anyone surprised? Legislators throughout our state ban Happy Meals and prohibit private fast food businesses from opening. In the schools, they prohibit cupcakes from being distributed during birthday celebrations, and soda and candy is verboten in vending machines.

But to get their trans fat fix, the only place the kids can get it is by going to the school cafeteria.
---

Hey, Sacramento! How about you pass a few less bills, and focus on that $20+ billion deficit? Stop with the "busy work", OK?
---

How come this hasn't been reported in a single newspaper or MSM website? Seriously - why would they have exempted public school cafeterias? Is the "Public School Trans Fat Lobby" really that strong?
---

Are those of you who own firearms ready to be thumb printed whenever you buy ammo? Yep, AB 962 goes into effect on February 1. No more online ammo sales - they all must be done in face-to-face transactions.

I, for one, will in fact be buying all of my ammo in fact-to-face transactions, but the cashier on the other side of the counter will be a resident of either Oregon (no sales tax) or Nevada (tons of selection and great pricing).

Great plan, California. Drive more sales revenues to other states. Do you think that the criminals who we're supposedly being protected from by this bill will do the same thing?
---

It's not your property any more.

[Donning flame resistant jump suit]

I don't know of anyone who is a proponent of any form of Domestic Violence. But when did the violence in your life become my financial responsibility?

January 1, 2011 is when.

That's when SB 782 went into effect. In short, if you are the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, you cannot be evicted from your rental unit if you're not paying your rent.

So, let's say I own a home that I rent out. I rent it to a nice family. Dad wigs out, hits mom and mom gets a restraining order.

Time passes and the rent isn't paid.

The law doesn't specify any time frames for not making the payments, say a 2 or 3 month grace period. All you need is a restraining order or a police report, and you can live rent free, apparently forever.

There's no provision that mom has to look for other housing. There's no provision for anything other than mom can't get evicted.

The landlord - a disinterested third-party - has to shoulder the financial burden of mom's violent relationship. I'm sure the mortgage lender will be understanding...

Hmmm. What might be the result of this law? Do you think landlords might start doing a background check on all applicants - men and women - to see if they have any history of filing restraining orders? How might that play out in determining who will get the rental?
---

What am I getting at with all of this?

How long will Californians put up with the erosion of basic rights? We allow our legislators to tell us what kind of fat we can eat. Really?

We allow them to treat law-abiding gun owners like criminals. We allow them to absolutely destroy contract law and property rights.

If/when California has to accept the "A" word - austerity - and cut back on government services, the folks that are no longer getting their food, schooling and housing paid for, are going to be joined by the working class folks that are tired of being abused by Sacramento politicians.

It will be ugly.

And the state leaders scratch their heads when individuals and businesses leave the state. Who'd a-thunk it?

Plan accordingly.
---

You can follow Chief Instructor at Accept The Challenge.

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