Thursday, May 5, 2016

Venezuela Is Out Of Food: Here’s What An Economic Collapse Really Looks Like

Venezuela food

Venezuela is out of food.
After several years of long lines, rationing, and shortages, the socialist country does not have enough food to feed its population, and the opposition government has declared a “nutritional emergency.” This is just the most recent nail in the beleaguered country’s slow, painful economic collapse.
Many people expect an economic collapse to be shocking, instant, and dramatic but, really, it’s far more gradual than that. It looks like empty shelves, long lines, desperate government officials trying to cover their tushes, and hungry people. For the past two years, I’ve been following the situation in Venezuela as each shocking event has unfolded. Americans who feel that our country would be better served by a socialist government would be wise to take note of this timeline of the collapse.

A quick review: Why Venezuela Is Out of Food

In 2013, many began to suspect that the outlook for Venezuela was grim when prepping became illegal.  The Attorney General of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Díaz, called on prosecutors to target people who are “hoarding” basic staples with serious sanctions.
Shortly thereafter, grocery stores instituted a fingerprint registry to purchase food and supplies. Families had to register and were allotted a certain amount of supplies to prevent “hoarding.”
Then, just over a year ago, it became even more apparent that the country was falling when long lines for basic necessities such as laundry soap, diapers, and food became the norm rather than the exception. Thousands of people were standing in line for 5-6 hours in the hopes that they would be able to purchase a few much-needed items.
Shortly after the story broke to the rest of the world, the propaganda machine shifted into high gear.  As the government began to ration electricity, it was announced that this was not due to economic reasons at all, but instead was a measure of their great concern for the environment.
As the situation continued to devolve, farmers in Venezuela were forced to hand over their crops last summer. They assumed control of essential goods like food, and began putting retail outlets out of business. Then, once they had control of the sales outlets, they began forcing farmers and food manufacturers to sell anywhere from 30-100% of their products to the state at the price the state opted to pay, as opposed to stores and supermarkets.
But that wasn’t enough to keep the population fed. (Isn’t it astonishing how much less motivated people are to produce food and supplies when they are no longer allowed to benefit from their hard work? Historically, collectivism and farming have never gone successfully hand in hand.) This January, the government told citizens that they would need to produce their own food. The Ministry of Urban Farming was created to oversee this. While self-reliance sounds great, it isn’t so great in Venezuela. Just so the urban farmers don’t get too self-reliant, a registry of the crops and livestock will be required. (And obviously, they’ve already proven that they have no issue forcing farmers to hand over what they’ve produced.)
Now, it looks like all of the socialist measures and forced food production haven’t been enough to keep the people of Venezuela fed. The country is in so much trouble now that it isn’t possible to cover it up with propaganda.
According to Breitbart.com, lawmakers have learned nothing.
Socialist legislators are hoping to manipulate the initiative in the other direction, and use it to expand government control of private food enterprises. Legislator Héctor Rodríguez has insisted that the economic emergency “does absolutely nothing,” and the government should impose itself on private enterprises. Another socialist legislator, Ricardo Molina, is calling for the government to expropriate Polar, Venezuela’s largest private food corporation: “we have to intervene on private sector enterprises.”
Venezuela previously forced a Polar food distribution center in Caracas to shut down in July, putting 12,000 tons of food, six million liters of soft drinks, and 2,000 jobs at risk.
And now, the announcement of the “nutritional emergency” makes it official. Venezuela is out of food, and it’s only a matter of time before Venezuelans are quite literally starving due to a long series of terrible decisions by their leaders.

Prep before it happens

It’s essential to note as this all plays out that there is little people can do now to rectify their situations. If they aren’t already quietly prepared, they are completely at the mercy of their socialist government.  It is absolutely vital to put back supplies well before the general public is aware that a crisis is pending.
As well, consider the fact that many folks here believe that a socialist government is exactly what our country needs. They eagerly lap up the promises of “free education” and “free healthcare.” They warmly embrace a presidential candidate who is an unabashed socialist. It absolutely astonishes me. They’d be well-advised to pay attention to how well the freebies have worked out in Venezuela. Socialism is not a sustainable economic model, something that has been proven time and time again, much to the detriment of the victims of the misguided notions.
The game pieces here are already lined up to control the American people should our economic situation continue to worsen. For example, there are already laws in place to “prevent hoarding.” Remember a few years ago when President Obama signed an executive order that gives the federal government authority over every resource and infrastructure element in the United States?
There are a lot of uncomfortable parallels that can be drawn between America’s financial situation and the disaster in Venezuela, and one thing is clear: self-sufficiency is the only way to protect your family. Even if you haven’t really begun to prepare, there’s still time to become more self-reliant. Here are some steps you should consider:
It is vital to practice OPSEC (Operational Security) by keeping your preparedness-related activities on the down low.  Preparedness and self-sufficiency author Tess Pennington warns that in a crisis situation, things you said months or years ago could come back to haunt you.
A person should think twice about telling others about any prepping investments they have made.  If a SHTF scenario occurred, anything said previously can be used against that prepper.  For example, if you tell your neighbor you have silver coins stashed away, if times were desperate enough, that neighbor could turn on you.  Keeping quiet about what one does is second nature to some.  But for others that are new to the idea of prepping, they do not see the whole SHTF picture.  If one person tells another about their preps, one person could tell another person about what preps their neighbor has.  Then, the word spreads throughout; especially when a severe situation occurs.  People will remember what you have told them, and come to you for help (if they are unprepared).  Helping a neighbor or family member in need is a noble deed.  However, those preparedness items are an investment for you and your family; and therefore, no one outside of the family should know what you have (unless you want that person to know). (source)
As people become more desperate, they behave far differently than they would in normal circumstances. You have to be prepared for the day when you might have to defend your home, family and supplies. When an economic disaster strikes, the one thing you can count on from the government is that they will not be prioritizing you and your family. In a situation like the one in Venezuela, you will be completely on your own at best. At worst, your supplies will be targeted “for the greater good.”   Maintain your freedom by becoming quietly self-sufficient.
Please feel free to share any information from this site in part or in full, leaving all links intact, giving credit to the author and including a link to this website and the following bio. Daisy Luther lives on a small organic homestead in Northern California.  She is the author of The Organic Canner,  The Pantry Primer: A Prepper’s Guide to Whole Food on a Half-Price Budget, and The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide: Harvest, Treat, and Store Your Most Vital Resource. On her website, The Organic Prepper, Daisy uses her background in alternative journalism to provide a unique perspective on health and preparedness, and offers a path of rational anarchy against a system that will leave us broke, unhealthy, and enslaved if we comply.  Daisy’s articles are widely republished throughout alternative media. You can follow her onFacebookPinterest,  and Twitter.

Also Read
10 Best Survival Foods At Your Local Supermarket

Report for using plugs from United States of America in Cambodia

WhatPlug.info

Plugs, sockets, adapters and other information needed for travelling from United States of America to Cambodia in this page. You can re-start the wizard to change countries.

Quick Chart at-a-glance

 United States of AmericaCambodia 
Voltage:120V.230V.icons/exclamation2.gif  
Plugs Type:A, B.A, C, G.icons/teeth.gif icons/question.gif  
Hertz:60Hz.50Hz.icons/note.gif  

The Chart Explained

If you are an electrical savvy, perhaps the previous chart is all you need. If this is not the case, you can continue reading and discover what the chart is saying!

Plugs and Sockets at each country

In United States of America the following plugs are used:
Plugs Type APlugs Type B
Plug Type APlug Type B
Plugs Type APlugs Type B
Outlet Type AOutlet Type B
... and in Cambodia you will use:
Plugs Type APlugs Type CPlugs Type G
Plug Type APlug Type CPlug Type G
Plugs Type APlugs Type CPlugs Type G
Outlet Type AOutlet Type COutlet Type G

Details

Voltage

Different Voltages

You will not be able to use your electrical aparatus using a simple plug adapter. You will need either an transformer (to reduce voltage) or an elevator. Some electronic devices are able to work in a wide range of votages, i.e. from 100v to 250v, but please check its labels before pluging; you can destroy the device if you are lucky, but you can generate a fire in the worst case.

Plugs Type

Some connectors are used in both countries

You will be able to plug the devices directly in Cambodia (please read other sections of this reports in regards to voltage, etc.). Perhaps you will need adapters for some sockets, but it is usually easier to find adapters at destination if your plug is already being used in the country. Sometimes different cities uses different systems, you might need to do a bit more of research. If you find more information please let us know.

Adapters

Lists of adapters you can use in your travel:

Adapter: generic1

This adapter allows you to use plugs type: A, B, C, D, E, F, M into outlets type: G.
generic1generic1
FrontBack

Adapter: generic1

This adapter allows you to use plugs type: A, B into outlets type: C, E, F, L.
generic1generic1
FrontBack

Adapter: generic1

This adapter allows you to use plugs type: A, B, D, G, M into outlets type: C, E, F, L.
generic1generic1
FrontBack

Adapters you can buy

You can buy the following multi-purpose adapters from Amazon. Please also take a look at the recommended gadgets for your trip.
   

Hertz

No equal Hertz

This is not a big issue. Unless you are using an electric alarm clock or some motors when speed is an issue. Explanation: Some alarm clocks uses the frequency of electricity network to measure time. So, time shifts could be experimented. Almost every home electronic device works perfectly with different Hertz.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of life.  It can be studied on many levels.  At the highest level, you can look at all the different species on the entire Earth.  On a much smaller scale, you can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or a neighborhood park. Identifying and understanding the relationships between all the life on Earth are some of the greatest challenges in science. 

Rough skinned newt

Most people recognize biodiversity by species.  A species is a group of living organisms that can interbreed.  Examples of species include, blue whales, white-tailed deer, white pine trees, sunflowers and microscopic bacteria that you cannot even see with your eye.  Biodiversity includes the full range of species that live in an area. 
Biodiversity at a Glance

Let’s look at the species biodiversity within a local pond.  At first glance, we can identify different plants, including cattails and water lilies.  If we wait a while, we might be able to spot a garter snake, a bullfrog or maybe a red-winged blackbird.  With a closer look, you can see invertebrates and worms under leaves, on grasses and in the pond water. 
Think you’re done? - You have not even scratched the surface of the biodiversity within the pond!  Using a microscope, you would be able to see hundreds or even thousands of different bacteria that inhabit the pond water.  They are all part of the species biodiversity of this small ecosystem!

Biodiversity is More than Just Species

Species diversity is only one part of biodiversity. To properly catalogue all the life on Earth, we also have to recognize the genetic diversity that exists within species as well as the diversity of entire habitats and ecosystems.
Genetic Biodiversity is the variation in genes that exists within a species.  A helpful way to understand genetic diversity is to think about dogs.  All dogs are part of the same species, but their genes can dictate whether they are Chihuahua or a Great Dane.   There can be a lot of variation in genes – just think about all the colors, sizes, and shapes that make up the genetic diversity of dogs. 
Ecological Biodiversity is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities and habitats.  In essence, it’s the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment.   The forests of Maine differ from the forests of Colorado by the types of species found in both ecosystems, as well as the temperature and rainfall.  These two seemingly similar ecosystems have a lot of differences that make them both special. 
Photo of trees in Tongass National Forest in Southeastern Alaska 

Some Biodiversity Facts

Researchers have estimated that there are between 3 - 30 million species on Earth, with a few studies predicting that there may be over 100 million species on Earth!  Currently, we have identified only 1.7 million species, so we have a long way to go before we can come close to figuring out how many species are on Earth!
  • There is more biodiversity within tropical ecosystems than temperate or boreal ecosystems.  Tropical rainforests have the most diversity.
  • The most diverse group of animals are invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including insects, crustaceans, sponges, scorpions and many other kinds of organisms. Over half of all the animals already identified are invertebrates. Beetles are some of the most numerous species.
  • Science has so much more to learn about the biodiversity of microscopic organisms like bacteria and protozoa. 

The Importance of Biodiversity


Biodiversity is extremely important to people and the health of ecosystems.  A few of the reasons are:
  • Biodiversity allows us to live healthy and happy lives.  It provides us with an array of foods and materials and it contributes to the economy.  Without a diversity of pollinators, plants, and soils, our supermarkets would have a lot less produce. 
  • Most medical discoveries to cure diseases and lengthen life spans were made because of research into plant and animal biology and genetics.  Every time a species goes extinct or genetic diversity is lost, we will never know whether research would have given us a new vaccine or drug.
  • Biodiversity is an important part of ecological services that make life livable on Earth. They include everything from cleaning water and absorbing chemicals, which wetlands do, to providing oxygen for us to breathe—one of the many things that plants do for people. 
  • Biodiversity allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances like extreme fires and floods.  If a reptile species goes extinct, a forest with 20 other reptiles is likely to adapt better than another forest with only one reptile. 
  • Genetic diversity prevents diseases and helps species adjust to changes in their environment. 
  • Simply for the wonder of it all. There are few things as beautiful and inspiring as the diversity of life that exists on Earth. 

Threats to Biodiversity


Extinction is a natural part of life on Earth.  Over the history of the planet most of the species that ever existed, evolved and then gradually went extinct.  Species go extinct because of natural shifts in the environment that take place over long periods of time, such as ice ages. 
Today, species are going extinct at an accelerated and dangerous rate, because of non-natural environmental changes caused by human activities. Some of the activities have direct effects on species and ecosystems, such as:
Some human activities have indirect but wide-reaching effects on biodiversity, including:
All of these threats have put a serious strain on the diversity of species on Earth.  According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), globally about one third of all known species are threatened with extinction. That includes 29% of all amphibians, 21% of all mammals and 12% of all birds.  If we do not stop the threats to biodiversity, we could be facing another mass extinction with dire consequences to the environment and human health and livelihood. 

Helping Biodiversity in your Own Backyard

You can play a part in protecting the biodiversity of your local community by creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is habitat loss. A Certified Wildlife Habitat® provides food, shelter, water and a place to raise young for native wildlife—the essential elements of habitat that wildlife need to survive. A Certified Wildlife Habitat® can provide food and homes for a range of local species that need your help.  
National Wildlife Magazine Articles:

Resources:

Sources:
World of Biology.  McGrath, Kimberley A., ed.  The Gale Group, Farmington Hills, MI: 1999.
Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States. Stein, Bruce A., Lynn S. Kutner and Jonathan S. Adams. Oxford University Press, New York: 2000.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Custom RC's built to your specs and specific needs.


*None of my RC's are flown or bartered with the ability to fire a weapon or launch any type of projectile.
 These units are bartered away as a 2 part kit: You will receive a fully functional RC "quad", (Discontinuing helos for the more flight stable quads) unless otherwise specified, with the ability to carry 1.8 pounds. In the second shipment that may arrive the same day you will receive the fitting of your choice with separate servo and RC control unit.
 The second package will also contain a detailed manual on how to assemble the kit. It may take a 10 year old roughly 5 minutes - 4 screws and 1 plug in.
 From there it's simply plug and play.

 These pics require no words.














*This is just one component of a complete semi autonomous home defense system.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Most Important Travel Tip


*Nothing could be worse than arriving at your travel destination with no money. Skimmers and scammers are a reality folks. Protect yourself with RFID blocking technology, it can literally make or break your trip.

Possible reasons why you can't find a mate

How is Critical Thinking Different from Analytical or Lateral Thinking?

Critical thinking as a term is often mentioned as a key skill for employees to have at all levels of the organization but many people do not fully understand it or confuse it with the related but different terms of analytical and lateral thinking. In this brief article let’s therefore look at what these latter two terms mean and then end on why critical thinking takes us further.
How is Critical Thinking Different from Analytical or Lateral Thinking?

So what is analytical thinking?

Analytical thinking is a thinking process or skill in which an individual has the ability to scrutinize and break down facts and thoughts into their strengths and weaknesses. It involves thinking in thoughtful, discerning ways, in order to solve problems, analyze data, and recall and use information. It involves the following main activities:
  • Focusing on facts and evidence
  • Analyzing data or information or systems
  • Dissecting data/information and the analysis of complex things into simpler constituents
  • Reasoning – thinking that is coherent and logical
  • Partitioning, breakdown – an analysis into mutually exclusive categories
  • Eliminating extraneous data or  analysis of a problem into alternative possibilities followed by the systematic rejection of unacceptable alternatives
  • Analyzing trends or the analysis of changes over time 

Lateral thinking involves:

Lateral thinking involves solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic or simple analysis. It involves the following main activities:
  • Reviewing issues and problems in terms of what might be missing or absent
  • Looking at an issue or problem from a variety of different or unusual angles
  • Reversing an issue or problem/challenge to look for a new solution
  • Finding and evaluating more than one potential solution to an issue or challenge
  • Rearranging a problem to see if new angles may be discovered
  • Delaying judgment and maintaining an open mind
  • Removing any stereotypical or cliché patterns of thought or knowledge

Critical thinking involves:

Critical Thinking consists of mental processes of discernment, analysis and evaluation, especially as it relates to what we hear by way of points that are raised or issues which are put forward for discussion. It includes the process of reflecting upon a tangible or intangible item in order to form a sound judgment that reconciles scientific evidence with common sense. Hence, Critical Thinking is most successful when it effectively blends our natural senses or feelings with our logic and intuition, all applied in a systematic manner. It involves the following main activities:
  • Deeply evaluating how far information we are given is current, up-to-date and accurate.
  • Checking for bias or unsubstantiated assumptions.
  • Evaluating how far the evidence or opinions presented genuinely proves the point(s) claimed.
  • Weighing up opinions, arguments or solutions against appropriate (usually logical) criteria.
  • Making inferences from the data/information and filling in “gaps”.
  • Taking a clear line of reasoning through to its logical conclusion.
  • Checking whether the evidence/argument really support the conclusions.
So, in summary we might say that analytical thinking mainly aims to review the data/information we are presented with (for relevance, patterns, trends etc.), Lateral thinking aims to put data/information into a new or different context (in order to generate alternative answers or solutions) and Critical thinking aims to make an overall or holistic judgment about the data/information which is as free from false premises or bias as much as possible. Although there is clearly therefore much overlap between all three activities (and they certainly complement one another), each one as a unique focus and where there is time and the needs are significant enough should be deployed in the above order.
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