Who does what the feds won’t:

Enforce the immigration laws.

He’s unpopular with the Latinos. Most of whom have more loyalty to their “people” than to their country.

And the Obama administration is losing ground in the Latino demographic.

So they sic the civil rights folks on him.You know that if it goes to court, Holder has the judge already picked out (and briefed).

Arizona sheriffs, doing the job the feds won’t Protecting our borders. And getting heat for it.

And it must be that a majority of the (legal) residents who vote in the county seem to like him enough to re-elect him.

Seriously, donate a few bucks to Soldiers Angels and get tickets to Linoge’s wonderful raffle.

Ya gotta be in it to win it, boyz and gurlz.

Donate. Register. Do god things for some deserving soldiers and maybe yourself.

For this to happen: Follow the link…Read the story

Look: I don’t know the veracity of this person. I have no way to verify her story. For all I know it is just that: a story.

But I do know that the Patriot Act has many flaws and now, hidden in the National Defense Authorization Act, are even greater dangers…dangers which can lead to (more) stories like Ms Lindauers. Read sections 1031 (especially paragraph (c)) and section1032. No trial. Held on an accusation. No proof required. Indefinite detention. Just on someones say so. No review.

Will the Military and Political folks actually use the openings provided for in the NDAA? Maybe, Maybe not. History says that they will…eventually.

The Constitution provided for protections to prevent such a shadow movement….protections against a hidden agenda or hidden punishments or detention for such individuals. Designed to prevent those in power from abusing their positions. Carefully crafted so long ago to keep the citizens safe from such behavior. That document is what has (so far) prevented this country from becoming, from devolving, into a Russia-like society or third world country like Iran in the ’70’s (or today), where secret police could pull someone off the street for interrogation or indefinite detention for the “Good of the State” as ordered by a nameless person placed into power and allowed to act with no review or fear of punishment.

Today we have allowed our politicians to strip us of that protection. To subvert the Constitution. To piss on the freedoms and the rules which make this country better (and different) than others.

And I find that frightening. If the implications of the NDAA (House Bill 1540) don’t frighten you and anger you, then you are a sheep….and a fool.

How many free peoples have destroyed themselves by proclaiming “It can never happen here!”, only to find out that indeed, it can.And when they find that out, it is (generally) too late.

Read the story. True or not, it should frighten you. And now we have opened the doors to even more abuse, with even less oversight.

I am angry. I am frightened. Not for myself, but for my country. That for which it once stood is being subverted….all in the name of the war on terrorism.  First it was the “War on Drugs”, then it became a “War on Terrorism”. But the erosion of our protection, the Constitution, is accelerating.. It may not affect me, but it will affect your children.

HT: Coyote Prime

as HR 1540.

Time to dust off the old dialing finger and let your “Representatives” know what you think about this abortion of a bill.

Then again, we could just revolt.

Or something.

Use the link at the top of the sidebar to find yer “reps” if you aren’t sure who to contact (or stronger methods if you think necessary).

Be nice though when you call, angry peasants revolting seem to make them not listen. Until, of course they have too, but by then it is to late.

ETA: They passed the bill.

Perhaps we should begin heating the Tar and unbagging the Feathers.

I’m sure they’d prefer it to my first choice…Rope. Drw your own conclusions as to what it could be used for.

If you read me often, you realize that I generally advise people to prepare. Plan for things that can happen, and stock accordingly. Stock material supplies, AND stock knowledge. Knowledge is worth it’s weight in gold for it’s own sake.

What does your library look like? Mine has a LOT of “How TO” books, and I have a lot of personal knowledge. I have the knowledge in my head and the books for reference.

I can blacksmith, I can garden (quite well too, I might add). I am a decent jackleg primitive paramedic. I can fabricate in wood, steel, aluminum and brass. I can smelt copper, cast and forge…iron or brass. I can make bows. I can live off the land with just a knife and enough clothing to keep me from dying of exposure (I was actually comfortable for about 2 weeks that way one summer, just to see if I could….). I can make fire about any way possible. I can fell a tree and move the logs…Then spit and stack them as building material or as firewood…all by hand. I can clean your wound and then stitch you up and dress it and care for it to keep it from being infected.

I can, given a bit of time (and suitable material), produce adobe, clay bricks, tan leather, preserve food…and make containers to protect it.  Given flint, I can make all sorts of useful things. I can make black powder given the materials…and I can find or make those, given time. I can identify and locate and use most herbs available in the midwestern United States (my AO).

I learned to do these things for fun…and I occasionally do them outside of a classroom…for real (except the wounds).

I can engineer and build structures, including bridges and such. I can do basic (and not so basic) plumbing. I can work with nearly any home or light industrial wiring. I can make and use simple machines in innovative ways…Levers, pulleys, inclined planes, rollers, etc (and I occasionally still do, even when there is power equipment that can do it easier…Just for practice).

I can repair almost anything, except bad bearings and vehicle electronics (and I can likely cobble up or substitute temporary replacements for those in a pinch).

As importantly, I have close friends who are dependable who can do the same. The pool of knowledge available is deep and broad. I was lucky. I had a great set of teachers to start me out in my father and his father. I took it from there. And I have good people around me who can do the same.

I need more chemistry and medical knowledge…but I am working on that.

How about you? If you need help moving a washing machine, sharpening that knife, or changing your oil, you are a risk rather than an asset if and when. If you can’t fix anything in your house, can’t change the brakes on your car, can’t build a wall or roof a home, glaze a window, swing an axe, change your own sparkplugs, fell a tree,  pull a splinter or dress the wound, or things like that, then you need to learn, or at least have that knowledge on your bookshelf.

Otherwise, you are a liability. Or will be.

“Man is free the moment he wants to be.”

Voltaire

But I had a great time at the Indy Blogmeet.

Old NFO and The Big Guy traveled far to meet with us, so Midwest Chick and I  drove the two hours to meet with them and the rest: Roberta (of course), Tam, Joanna, Brigid, Don, Jack, Old Grouch, Kerry, Karl (with his famous hats as prizes), and a cast of thousands….I was lucky enough to get to sit next to Tam for some great conversation.

We had excellent service, and an unflappable waitress, who kept us full of assorted beverages and made sure that there was room for the many and assorted appetizers and (somehow) kept our food orders straight, even while ignoring the display of lethal hardware.

The portions of conversations I could follow included the color of electrical arcs, the destructive mechanism of of overloaded and overrun turbines, the incredible awesomeness of the Navy’s railguns, the damage electrical current does to cutters (and other metal implements) when the power is (of course) “off” (you checked it yourself didn’t you?), and the relative merits of assorted knives and multitools (there were enough of the former for about 2.8 per person, and at least one of the latter to equip each attendee….we could have disassembled a car with all of them).

As we arrived early for the meet (we left early in case there were issues with the 130 mile trip) we met up with Brigid and OldNFO for a bit of impromptu shopping for spices and such, and I had the fun of chasing Brigid’s truck through the northeast side of Indy’s traffic…..A challenge, I assure you, to keep her (and Midwest Chick) in sight as they wove in and out of traffic (likely Brigid was urged to challenge me by Midwest Chick?). It was fun as I had time to chat with OldNFO during the chase trip. We spent way too much money at Penzy’s and Artisanos for specialized spices and oils and vinegars and salts and such….But they will be put to good use in my kitchen, I assure you.

It was a good relaxing day. I was tired early though, due to my (apparently not yet fully) recovery from a bad case of flu earlier in the week…We’d have liked to stay and have dinner with Jay and OldNFO, but the 2 hour trip home was looming, so we left about 4.

If you weren’t there, you missed it. Sad you.

Was talking to a man the other day….He knows me, and knows I am a prepper.(I sometimes preach…what can I say?)…He isn’t, but he has all the toys…boat, cars, jet skis, motorcycles, etc…. During the conversation he asked if I am still prepping? “every day” I replied…”You?”

“Nah” he said. “I’ll just come to your place”.

“Don’t even think about it, brother…”I replied. “Not unless you show up with 6 months worth of food for every person you bring, along with a rifle and pistol for each person and 500 rounds of ammo for each weapon…Else I’ll give you one meal and show you to the gate and wish you luck. No tickee-no washee.”

“But if I have all that I won’t need to come to your place!”

Exactly.

Hope I never see him, if and when.

But he’ll make his choices, just as I make mine. 

 Might be worth getting up early, especially you deer hunters.

Supposed to be something special.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/02dec_lunareclipse/

Think quick….Be ready

React.

Or be dead.