ALWAYS a possibility...

ON WISDOM:

a.. Be kinder than necessary – you’ll understand in the long run…

b.. Learn to recognize the inconsequential - then ignore it…

c.. Every person that you meet knows something you don't - learn from them ...

d.. Get involved with your government - politics is too important to be left to the politicians. PERIOD

e.. Watch the "Andy Griffith Show" to help keep things in perspective….

f.. Don't waste time responding to critics…

g.. Remember that the more you know, the less you fear….

h.. Don't expect money to bring you happiness – some of the MOST miserable people I know are rich…

i.. Never resist a generous impulse – intuition is generally correct…

j.. Keep it simple. DITTO

k.. Measure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their bank accounts….

l.. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality – what are you doing in your life that has relevance in 50,000 years?

m. Act with courtesy & fairness even if mistreated - don't let them determine your response…

n.. Trust in God but lock your car – and put instruments in the trunk… JUST DO IT.

o.. Don't major in minor things…

p.. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born – even more after you are gone, what
are you leaving?

q.. Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river…

r.. When declaring your rights, don't forget your responsibilities – Knowing and not doing are like not knowing at ALL…

s.. Loosen up. Except for rare life-and-death matters, little is as important as it first seems – and most will be forgotten in a week…

t.. No matter how dire the situation, keep your cool…

u.. Hear both sides before judging…

v.. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have – and by adding a little faith, you have love…

w.. Use your wit to amuse, not abuse…

x.. Never take action when you're angry…

y.. Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on purpose….

z.. Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures - have a toke now and then for perspective...

edited by mojo anonymous

[ On the Lighter Side: ]

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either.
Just leave me the hell alone.PLEASE!

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.

5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

6. No one is listening until you fart.

7. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

9. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

10. It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

11. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

12. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

13. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

14. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat & drink beer all day.

15. If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

16. Don't squat with your spurs on.

17. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

18. If you drink, don't park; accidents cause people.

19. Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield.

20. Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.

21. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

23. Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side & a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

24. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works…

25. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

26. No one gets off this planet alive… dance all you can…If you can’t dance just wiggle…
- anymouse -

Links to Preparedness info

Preparedness

"Be Prepared" The Boy Scout Motto

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail" Benjamin Franklin

http://www.bigsecrets.cc/gd8.gif

Depression: Breadlines: long line of people waiting to be fed: New York City: in the absence of substantial government relief programs during 1932, free food was distributed with private funds in some urban centers to large numbers of the unemployed. Source: People at a Breadline During the Great Depression

Did you catch the most important part of the above caption? It is "in the absence of substantial government relief". Does that sound familiar? Between the time of the Great Depression, and Hurricane Katrina, nothing has changed. If you still believe the government gives a flying flip about you, now is the time to flush that idea.

The above picture is worth studying. Look the clothing. Notice all the coats and ties and hats. Everybody has a haircut. The men could be business owners, accountants, lawyers, bankers or stock brokers. Not a one could be considered a bum or homeless or a welfare cheat.

It is a safe bet that every man pictured thought he was immune because of his education, degree, connections, income or status, yet there they are in a food line.



If you wonder why you should prepare, look at the graph at the top of http://www.dieoff.organd realize that the current population is off the chart. Then visit http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpopand watch the count rise each second and realize that every person born is a consumer of energy. Then read everything you can on http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net.

If that does not wake you up to the perfect trifecta of misery coming our way, then you are welcome to join the masses and suffer what they deserve. If your mind is your primary weapon, you are defenseless.

When it comes to a detailed description of what the future holds, I can do no better than what you will find at www.endtimesreport.com/OIL_SHOCKS.html and


Perhaps you are of the persuasion that believes the whole "Peak Oil" scenario is false. I sincerely hope you are right, but it really does not matter who is right and who is wrong. Whether by fact or by fraud, the end result is the same for all of us. We will face higher prices and shortages either way. You have a choice - waste energy defending your opinion, or invest in life. It is up to you.



There are many other threats facing us right now. We cannot ignore the fact that a death cult called islam has declared war on the entire world. Anyone who doubts this should take note that muslims are killing other muslims for not being muslim enough. Another religion of no better repute once terrorized the known world in a phase called The Inquisition.

I have been a student of preparedness since the 1950's. In all that time, with all the books I have read, and all the courses I have taken and all the videos and DVDs I have watched, no author has admitted that the greatest threat humanity faces is from religion. Those who doubt this eternal truth, need only examine the birthplace of religion, and try to name a single moment when that place has known peace.

To understand the threat, you must understand what religion is. Religion is the belief in something which cannot be proven by facts. On the surface this seems harmless, but the people who suffer from religious dementia tend to use weapons to force their sickness on others. History proves my point. Religion has caused more death and suffering than any other cause.



In times of peace, economic threats are perhaps the most common problem that the average person has to face. Unemployment strikes almost everyone at one time or another. I live in Austin, which is half music town and half liberal bastion. Steady jobs are harder to come by, so having food stores means in hard times, we at least are fed and healthy. Having food stored is the best unemployment insurance you can have!

Let's not forget mother nature. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about major earthquakes, tsunamis, and a record breaking hurricane season. Global warming is not a theory anymore, it is here.

Are you one of those who whines that the government should "do something" ? The government "did something" after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and we all saw the results - Thoughts On Disasters (warning - not for the politically correct).

If you want to hide your head in the sand, just remember what part of your body is most vulnerable in that position, and know that screwing people is what government does best.

What are you going to do? You could laugh this off, grab another beer and the remote, and fade into a self-induced coma. Or you could invest a little of your time and some pocket change and live. If you are of the first group, I hope you enjoy hanging around thousands of your peers in a crowded, stinking terrordome, with addicts going through withdrawal, while the storm howls outside and you regret leaving your toilet paper behind.

If you are of the second group, welcome, and read on.



Perhaps now you are ready to take action to prepare yourself. The following links are the best of the best:

Lots of free info: www.beforethestormhits.com

Many hours of free training from a top notch CERT instructor:

Nuclear War Survival Skills book free! www.oism.org/nwss

For when the gas runs out: www.pedalrv.com

The best nutrition for the money spent in a portable system is sprouting. There is only one system I can recommend: http://www.sproutamo.com

When it comes to trapping, you can't go wrong with anything from: http://www.buckshotscamp.com is priceless.

If you want to grow your own food, no method produces more food in less space and uses less water than hydroponics. To save a lot of money and do it yourself, go to: www.howtohydroponics.com. To make your own greenhouse without going broke, use the system from www.lostcreek.net.

What do you do when you can't flush? If you don't know how to make a sawdust toilet, you don't know shit! Also take a tip from whitewater rafters and build a rocket box shitter that uses lime as the disinfectant.

The best survival blog I have found is www.SurvivalBlog.com. They have the best survival/military glossary on the net, a comprehensive list of links, and the bookshelf section lists most of the books that I recommend.

Have you noticed I did not say one word about firearms? There are two reasons for that. Number one is there are already at least a thousand websites and magazines covering the subject. Another is if your focus is on firearms, then your plan is unbalanced. There is a place for weaponry, but only as one part of an overall plan, not as the central focus. Protection is good... but IF you had TRULY though out your survival preps and location, firearms would only be necessary in an emergency.

There is an inaccurate public image of the survivalist as a gun nut wearing camouflage, hiding behind a tree while having a Rambo fantasy. A true survivor is more likely to have food stored, supplies in a vehicle, and a plan backed up by training.

Sections of this were gleaned from writing of others in boards I frequent... there is LOTS of info out there... if you would only move your feet and ask for help...

"Knowing and not doing are like NOT knowing at ALL"

Last but not least is emotional control. It is going to be TOUGH someday to look hundreds of hungry people, some friends and relatives in the eye and know because they DID NOT prepare, there is nothing you can really do for them...

ants and grasshopper thing?

mel

Value of being prepared

I read this the other day on a message board...

not sure of who wrote it, but it has been on my mind a few days...

gonna rotate my fuel stocks this weekend. think I will put all the gasoline in my boat and go to the lake...

Diesel will go in the truck and car mixed with BioDiesel...

YOU DO HAVE extra fuel at your house don't YOU?

he craziest thing about the whole Katrina fiasco was
my father in law (technically he's just my
girlfriend's dad, but we've been together long enough
that this is what we call him). I always make fun of
him because he keeps his garage stocked with something
like 100 gallons of water, a bunch of big jugs full of
treated gasoline, food, etc. He also owns quite a few
guns. So I pick on him a lot for being borderline nuts
even though he's fairly normal.

So when Katrina rolled around I ended up evacuating
with them since the woman wanted to be with her
parents. It took us 35 hours of nonstop driving to
drive to Dallas. It's usually a four hour drive or so.
About twelve hours or so in you had to drive around a
car that had run out of fuel every fifty feet or less.
They were everywhere. It was hot, too, and we saw
hundreds of families standing on the side of the road
sweating. A lot had infants and little kids. Even if
you somehow did find a gas station thad wasn't sold
out of gasoline (probably 9/10 were sold out) the line
was literally miles long. About 20 hours in, or a
little over halfway to Dallas, we noticed the
convenient stores were being looted. The people busted
out the windows (we didn't see who, but they were
busted out) and we saw people coming out with any
drink they could find. It was pretty much chaos. There
was one cop on the scene and he wouldn't get out of
his car. He just sat across his street with his lights
swirling and people ignored him.

By this time there were so many cars broken down that
we spent a lot of our time driving off road. We had a
big tarp on the back of the truck with all the
gasoline but we were forced to fuel up in front of
people. We had enough fuel to fill up our two vehicles
three times which turned out to be just enough to get
us to Dallas. As we were fueling up crowds of
not-so-nice looking folks with empty gas tanks were
staring us down. We gave one guy five gallons of fuel
because he had two little kids. We were approached the
second time we fueled up on the side of the road by a
pissed-off bunch of people asking for gas. We told
them we needed it. They didn't care obviously. One
younger guy went towards the back of the truck and
said something like "I'm taking one, call the fucking
police if you want." and my father in law had to use
his pistol to convince the guy otherwise. We were then
standing there, funnel in the truck, me trying to pour
gas in, him with a pistol in his hand, my girlfriend
and her mom crying, and all of the gas-thief's buddies
looking real tough. He just stood there like some sort
of tough-guy asshole. I got the cap back on the jug
and we got out of there with our nerves really
frazzled. I kept my pistol loaded after that.

We went through a LOT of water. It was really pretty
fucking hot out there. I slept in little two or three
minute bursts when traffic was stopped which it almost
always was. Sit for a few minutes, move ten feet.
Repeat a thousand fucking times. My leg actually
cramped up from break/accelerate/breaking so many
times and I had to pull over. This happened to pretty
much all of us. It sounds melodramatic but driving
actually fucking hurt at that point. To save on fuel I
didn't run my air conditioner so I was also sweating
the whole time but we thankfully had a lot of water.

At close to 30 hours people got fed up with the
traffic and we started seeing cars zipping past us on
the southbound side of the freeway, heading north the
wrong way. There were still quite a few emergency
vehicles heading south so this was a dangerous idea.
It didn't take long until hundreds of people switched
to the other lane and headed northbound on it. A half
mile or so up we saw the first head on collision. A
family headed north had struck a police cruiser
heading south at the crest of a hill. They'd never
seen each other until the last second, I guess. We saw
a lot of these accidents. The swarm beat the police,
though, and we were out in nowhere, Texas anyway so
there probably weren't that many police to respond.
Eventually the entire southbound lane was just as
clogged as the northbound. Moreso, really, because
there were the head-on accidents. The police couldn't
go south or north now so it was a kind of weird
feeling of being on your own. So many people were
broken down now that you had to swerve not to just hit
the people who were out lingering. They had nowhere to
go. Our big tarp-covered pickup drew a lot of eyes,
too. We again had to fill up in front of hundreds of
people. He again had to use his pistol as a friendly
reminder that we didn't wish to be robbed. He never
actually pointed it at anybody, he just took it out
and held it as a reminder. People just stared at us
with hate. I can't blame them, I guess. But he was
watching out for his wife and daughter and I was
watching out for her as well. Most people would do the
same.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 cups of coffee

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 cups of coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's alwaysroom for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Blog from a tourist in India

This is from a friend who is working in New Delhi for a few weeks. This is from his viewpoint.

mel

This city is really 4 cities across a border of 2 'states' (sort of like Kansas city) - New Delhi, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, which together compromise something called NRC - for National Region of something or other - with 25 - 30 million people in the entire 'city' - it is truly an ocean of flesh, cement, various vehicles mixed with cows and camels, and much squalor, that goes on and on and on - about 200 kilometers wide. More than 40% are considered 'poor' - this means no house , no water, no food, no job, no nothing. The contrast of the poverty sitting at the steps of a relatively high tech industrial machine, with its exotic skyscrapers, etc - is extreme and chilling.
This is not a touristed city and so foreigners are quite rare - in fact I have seen about 2 Caucasians besides ourselves (4 of us) since we got here. So as can be imaged - even though they have western TV and movies - to see 'us' white folks in the actual flesh is unusual - we are stared at heavily and are of 'jaw dropping' material...even at this day in India's capital. Fortunately - I am a giant here - of the millions I have already passed, I have yet to see anyone taller than I....I feel safe - the people are very nice - I believe this is because Hindu's (80% of the population) are just plain mellow people - it's seems part of their religion...also - even though there seems to be a huge lack of authority - no police to speak of or military that one can see - strong family values keep people 'in line' via their morals and conscience.
With a population so large in a city with zero zoning laws - or respect for any laws or rules in general - one can only imagine what traffic is like. To truly experience it is pretty unfathomable from a US perspective - since I spend 3to 4 hours per day in it (traffic) I will start with describing this aspect of Delhi life.

We daily drive the 'inner loop' - this is a 4 lane road with a heavy median of stone and rubble down the center so that the 2 lanes of opposing traffic rarely can collide. These 2 'lanes' per side are treated as 5 - 7 lanes of actual traffic as the there is absolutely no respect for any lane division lines, nor for any traffic signals or lights. There exists no real 'police' that I have seen. It is the most insane traffic I have witnessed anywhere on the earth and I thought Bangkok was crazy. The aggressiveness of the drivers is unimaginable until you see it - only surpassed by their mellowness with collisions and lack of reaction to what would seem to us to be the most extreme driving rudeness - fortunately - with so many people - speeds never get much above 30 MPH - the fastest we have yet to go is 80 KPH (48 MPH) - and that is exceedingly dangerous as one cannot predict what will jump out in front at those speeds....there is just so much flesh everywhere. We have already been in 2 significant 'hits' - no one stop for wrecks - you simply drive on faster and do not look back. Wrecks that incapacitate vehicles do not generate too much of a jam as there is no rubbernecking - rather it just another opportunity to take advantage of an opening once past the wreck. The space allowed between vehicles - of which there is every type and variety - is literally inside of an inch constantly - it has to seen to be believed. The skill required to drive on the main drags is considerable to handle these close proximity high precision driving stunts - intersections are no different than the 'crazy 8' races - with cars shooting the gaps at 90 degrees to each other - often accerlating into the intersection rather than slowing - I suppose to reduce your time in the intersection that may be exposed to oncoming traffic. A horn is one of the most important pieces of standard equipment - taking the place of turn signals, brake lights, and more - in fact it is a courtesy to blow your horn when passing - not rudeness - hence everyone is blowing their horns all the time - pure cacophony on the roads.

There are many scammers, and pickpockets, etc...I was 'victimized' by a scam I had to see as I was 'scammed' by a shoe repair man (I think) as my shoes where cut with scalpel precision on the street - both of them cut a few inches across completely through the leather - although my foot was never touched or cut - I did not feel it - but as I passed the shoe repairman on the street he said 'Oh sir, look at your shoes' - and to my amazement my perfectly good shoes were now trash with my socks showing out the side of each - and I had only brought one pair with me - so I had no choice but to get the repair being offered and with little bargaining power - in the end it was only 4 bucks and included new shoelaces and a cleaning - and the sewing job was amazing to watch as he resewed my cut up shoes by hand - very quickly - with great skill. Never-the-less - the bast&rd shouldn't have cut my shoes - probably a small kid did it - one in cahoots with the repairman.

That said - there is also much good - the hotel is one of the most plush I have ever stayed in. The service is incredible everywhere. The food is great - the worst food I've had here -is better than best Indian food I have had in the States - I will be gaining not losing pounds (as expected) before my return for our own fattening holidays. The women are exotic and beautiful - at least to me from the 'other side of the fence'.

A visit to the Taj Mahal on Sunday convinced me that it does deserve to be called a "wonder of the world" - that is a letter in it's own.

Time is short - so I will wend this so that it doesn't sit as a draft for another 2-3 days

Take Care
Still Alive

Hill country Rescue Rangers and VFD Location

We now have an HQ in Spring Branch, Texas. 1335 Covered Wagon is the address, and it's in the Rebecca Creek Subdivision.

I'll be back there in a few weeks to take some pictures, put up a mailbox, and get the dues square with the HOA. Once that's done, we can use the HOA park for camping and training.

Web address is registered, and will be live this week.

www.hcrrvfd.com is one address

Ranger Melvis