• Did you know there’s an organization called Dogs Against Romney? And that one of its members just got stopped by a cop for doing (in effigy) what Romney once did to his family dog?
• A courageous colonel busts hierarchy to tell truths about Afghanistan. (Tip o’ hat to M.)
• “Take that, Hobbes!”
• “Less lethal.” Yeah. In other words — more likely to be casually fired at people who irritate the cops.
• Help wanted at the TSA. :-)
• Oh, what to think? It’s a crime and a shame when innocent owners have their assets seized. But can they be called “innocent” when they’ve helped the fedgov seize others’ assets in the past?
• Tell me, please, are you even the teeny-tiniest bit surprised at this so-called news?
• Introducing the government’s latest unpaid spy. (Tip o’ hat to D.)
• Not sure what this implies about the U.S. electorate. But DA, who found the link, thinks it has more to do with feeling disenfranchised than with lack of interest. Might also speculate that in 2008 young people were excited by Obama, while these days the only person who could possibly be excited by him might be Michelle, in bed. And even that’s dubious.

Finally, last week I linked to a new National Geographic series that looked as if it might be about to profile all “doomsday preppers” as laughable loons. H, who first called my attention to it, has watched the first episodes and says it’s nowhere near as supercilious as it might have been.

He does wonder, though, about the wisdom of some of these folks, outing themselves …

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• Good for people who’ve suffered brain injuries that affect speech. Bad in the long run for privacy.
• National Geographic is usually pretty good. But it appears their new series, which starts next week, sets out only to portray us all as loons. So much for progress. (Tip o’ hat to H.)
• Here’s a perfect example of the long arm of the U.S. government.
• Might not agree with this guy 100%. But bless his noble heart. (Nice backgrounder on him, too.) I’ll soon be reading his book.
• And here’s another doctor with courage — though it may be too little, too late for millions of children: “Ritalin Gone Wrong.”
• Thugette. Every time I see stuff like this, I recall how, just five or six years ago, we were constantly assured that Tasers would be solely used in encounters that would otherwise call for deadly force. The term “compliance tool” was never uttered. Now it appears they’re merely “educational devices.”
• Of course the lie about inflation is even bigger than this says.
  
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• “Why can’t they just hire a lobbyist like everyone else?” That should go down in history along with “Let them eat cake.”
• Anybody familiar with this? Useful or not?
• Libertarianism and science fiction. Yeah.
• Just gets creepier.
• And creepier.
• And creepier. (But remember, not inevitable and potentially monkeywrenchable.)
• This looks interesting. (Tip o’ hat to C^2.)
• Bastards.
• But as always, always, always — ya gotta laugh at ‘em. (Tip o’ hat to Kevin in comments.)

(Kudos to The Usual Suspect.)

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Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

• Here’s one brief example of what SOPA could (and eventually would) do to ordinary Internet users.
• I think I’d like this poor old fella.
• For you analytical types: Here’s a survival planning guide that’s based on understanding different types of emergencies. (Tip o’ hat to D.)
• Claire: a foster Great Dane, then and now.* Some pix are hard to look at, but they get better. (Tip o’ hat to SR.)

Today’s hot rumor: Jake MacGregor (The Advisor) may return soon after a too-long hiatus for family and health problems. Hope to have word shortly.

—–

* Not my foster dog or even one I personally know — though my dog Suki (the red one in this old picture), now at the Bridge, came to me in similar condition.

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• What happens when a corporation gets just a bit too uppity in its definition of IP.
• I suppose as times get harder, we can expect more of this sort of thing. Shudder.
• But if it can be made harder on the forces of tyranny … (Some notes on guerrilla warfare)
• “Complex Systems, Dysfunctional Industries, and Catastrophic Collapse.”
• Preparedness. Basic.
• Fascinating. They haven’t found the suspect, two decades later. But they’ve found his seventeenth century ancestor.
• Yeah. Right. According to this I’m supposed to go to either Switzerland … or the U.S. How about you?
• Good going. Excellent calm way to challenge a cop who thinks the law doesn’t apply to him.
• Have you ever seen — even once in your life — anybody in the media ask ask a question like this about any candidate other than Ron Paul? After spending months reporting around Paul (“Candidate Fatass came in first in the poll, while Candidate Bigmouth was third …”) it’s about time he’s getting “too much attention.”
• Just so you’ll know what your masters have in store for you. And how judiciously they’ll use it, of course.
• Snort. Chortle.
• Inhale.

(More thanks to The Usual Suspect(s). :-) )

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… in an emergency?

And how helpful are you?

Yesterday’s emergency drill by Jake MacGregor got me pondering that old question.

In an emergency, or just generally in hard times, who helps you out and how helpful are you in turn?

If you’ve lived in the same neighborhood for a long time or if you have family in your vicinity, then you’ve probably got a pretty good start on answering this question. You know from long experience who’s reliable and who’s not, who’s trustworthy and who’s not. You know who’s got certain skills or tools. You know who can keep a steady head and who panics. And you know that, no matter how well prepared you are, those other people are going to matter to you, one way or another.

We who have no family … or who tend not to stay put … or who keep to ourselves … or who’ve just moved into a new area have a thornier problem.

Now, I personally, am blessed with wonderfully wide support group (you know who you are, guys). And “blessed” is the right word. But “wide” is the operative word; people I can rely on range from Massachusetts to South America. In any immediate, physical emergency, they and I aren’t going to be there for each other.

So just looking in the vicinity …

In Jake’s scenario, I wouldn’t be likely to turn to my immediate neighbors, nor (with a few exceptions) would I want them to turn to me.

I do have four people within 10 miles that I’d consider solid friends. In any emergency, they would reach out to me or I to them. That’s for sure. But beyond a “check-in” — “Are you okay?” “Have you got everything you need?” “If you need a place to stay …” — I’m not sure what would happen.

All four are aware people who have made at least some emergency preps. Three are far better off than me, financially (but would they be, if the banks closed and the ATMs went down?). That same three or their family members are DIYish enough to handle anything.

OTOH, only two of those three are seriously into preparedness. And only two (not the same two) live in what I would call secure locations.

In Jake’s scenario, one friend in particular (who is probably reading this blog right now) would be the likely survivor champ. She herself has outstanding skills and level-headedness that would make her among the most valuable members of any community in any emergency — and on top of that her family consists of three almost frighteningly bright, strong, and resourceful males.

In a Jake scenario, that family will be well able to take care of its own. But they’ll probably be called on to help out a lot of other people, too.

Yet, in a different sort of emergency — say an earthquake and tsunami — I would worry more about her and her family than any of my other friends because the place they live is just short of insanely dangerous, to my mind.

Another of the four has a heart of gold and would give her all to help others. But she’s physically the least well-prepared — and emotionally I’m not sure what she could handle. OTOH, because she’s such a loving, giving person, she has a huge potential support network — way beyond anything I’ll ever have (at least locally).

So who knows? All I know is something I’ve been saying all along; other people, including strangers, are more likely to be helpers than looters or hindrances.

I say I probably wouldn’t reach out to my immediate neighbors in an emergency or want them to reach out to me. But in reality it may turn out that even the &^%$#@! who blasts his &^%$#@! karaoke system all over the neighborhood or the people whose slaps and screams at their children can be heard by anyone passing under their windows might turn out to be good neighbors when push comes to shove.

But for them … I’ll carry openly so they’ll know there are limits.

And how about me? What sort of friend would I be to everybody else? Good question. Based on skills alone, I’d hardly be the person my friends would call first. I mean, seriously: writers and artists are strictly optional. But would I be valuable for keeping my head? For knowing something about preparedness? For extending a helping hand? For having tools or supplies others could use? For being watchful or properly suspicious when suspicion could be an asset?

This isn’t really about me, though. Or about my friends. I’m just using me and my circumstances as an example. When thinking of preparedness, we always tend to think of food, water, fuel, weapons, ammo — and forget that people are right up there in importance where our plans are concerned.

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The tyrants now taking over the U.S. may have a hard time getting around all these lovely new guns.

Yes, people often seem spineless and oblivious. Millions actually seem to welcome the police state (including, alas, millions who claim to be for limited government).

But deep down, people know. People know.

(Tip o’ hat to MTK for the link.)

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(By Jake MacGregor with a few small edits/clarifications by me.)

THIS IS A DRILL

The following is ONLY a drill.

THIS IS TO BE TREATED AS REAL BUT IS ONLY A DRILL.

Situation: Last Night the European Union currency (Euro) collapsed. Overnight, markets crashed as uncertainty roiled the world. The President is set to make a closed-door address to a joint session of Congress at 11 AM Eastern. The Stock Market is closed until further notice. Banks have closed their doors with a taped-up sign reading, “Due to an Executive Order 19-173A all Banks, Credit Unions and Savings & Loans are ordered to close pending further notice.“

What is happening in our community(s):

· ATMs are out of money – fist fights break out as people struggle to try getting their money out of them

· Gas stations report that credit & debit cards are not working. Tempers flare as people report some stations ‘gouging’ customers charging over $10/gallon. Even so, many stations are out of gas.

· Grocery store shelves empty within hours. The radio replays sounds of gunshots at a Walmart in Falcon, CO. Those broadcasts are replaced with the “Boston Pops.”

· Despite the turmoil, college kids around the country rally in their courtyards and start bonfires and celebrate the “downfall of the 1%!”

· TV news shows the outbreak of mayhem and violence for about an hour THEN is replaced with PBS programming on every station. Every channel plays Ken Burns “Jazz” with a rolling banner assuring the public that programming will resume after the joint session of Congress.

· Telephone lines are jammed. All most people can get on land or cell phones are rapid busy signals.

. The Internet redirects people to a Department of Homeland Security Page with generic messages meant to calm us down.

· Neighbors stop by and rumors become rife: “China nuked Israel!” “President Obama is going to cancel everybody’s mortgage and credit cards – ain’t it great!” “I heard Cuban mercenaries are invading Texas from Mexico.”

· People flock to their local churches. Impromptu services are held around the clock.

· Hospital emergency rooms fill with robbery victims, heart attacks and fights.

· Some towns call in all their deputies or cops; some towns find that about half won’t come in as they are hunkered home to care for their families.

· Some “Rambo” types dress up in camo and patrol their streets. Some neighborhoods block their entrance with cars or burning tires.

KEY QUESTIONS:

1. What do you do?

2. Do you have cash on hand to “last-minute shop?” If so, what do you buy?

3. How much gas or diesel do you have on hand? (measure it & calculate how far you can get)

4. How do you communicate with family or friends?

5. What do you do for security?

6. How do you get news?

7. When you get this drill, where is everyone in your immediate family and how do they get home?

8. When you get this do you have your personal defense firearm with you? Do you have extra ammo?

9. How much (in days) do you have:

i. Food (for immediate use)

ii. Water

iii. Power (and if on grid power what is your plan b?)

iv. Heat

v. Emergency food storage for freezer/fridge or other long-term use

10. What are your actions, plans & measures you take in your:

i. 1-hour plan

ii. 8-hour plan (until nightfall)

iii. 24-hour plan

iv. 3-day plan

v. 1-week plan

vi. 3-week plan

vii. longer-than-a-month plan

11. What specific measures, actions and plans do you take for your family security starting now?

12. What key things to this drill catch you unawares? (ex: not enough gas? No means of communicating with family not reliant on phones?)

—–

NOTE from me: You probably won’t agree with the whole scenario or you’ll see alternatives. (e.g. The fedgov has the capacity to force all ‘Net users to a DHS page, though it will try and will no doubt be able to manipulate those who aren’t tech savvy or politically savvy. But should grid power go down, it doesn’t matter; no ‘Net, anyhow. I also think everybody’s long-term plans in any SHTF situation are going to be turned topsy-turvy by the reality of unfolding events.)

But Jake’s come up with good food for thought. Worth constructing your own scenario from this and addressing a lot of the same questions.

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