Here’s a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper. The socialist utopia of Venezuela makes the news again over the black market from prescription drugs due to shortages.
California Fires
Wildfires raging across Southern California have shut down major commuter arteries, suspended movie filming, wiped out more than $3 billion of market value and are threatening some of the sates lucrative crops in addition to destroying homes. Ventura County, home to a third of California’s Avocado has seen tens of thousands of acres burned and the states citrus growers have been affected as well. Apparently the reason Edison’s stock has taken a hit is the suspicion that its power lines may be to blame for some of the blazes and it will bear the cost of the fires.
North Korea
North Korea is making rumblings that the U.S. B-1B heavy bombers that the U.S. deployed in exercises with South Korea have made the outbreak of war “an established fact”. This was an annual exercise that South Korea and the U.S. participate in and it draws condemnation from North Korea every year, but the B1-Bs were new this year. China is officially urging calm and Russia has said it will facilitate peace talks between North Korea and the U.S. though I’m not sure either country wants peace at this time. North Korea is like a spoiled child in that it keeps throwing temper-tantrums to gain concessions like it normally does and the U.S. keeps provoking instead of giving in.
How Many Wars?
Reader H.L. sent in this article on how many wars the U.S. is currently involved in world wide. More than you think. U.S. Special Operations have deployed to 135 countries in 2017. That is roughly 70 percent of all the recognized countries on earth. Every day, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is carrying out missions in 80 to 90 countries. Sometimes they are practicing raids, sometimes they are conducting them for real. Sometimes they are training the locals and sometimes they are leading the locals. We have now eclipsed the number and range of missions undertaken at the height of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Venezuela
The socialist utopia of Venezuela has so many chronic shortages that black market medical flea marketsare starting to spring up. Peddlers offer everything from antibiotics to contraceptives right along side the traditional fruits and vegetables. The local pharmaceutical association estimates that there is a shortage of around 85 percent of critical drugs due to tanking national production and strict currency controls that crimp imports. Thanks to S.R. for the link.
#LeavePublicSchool
Reader D.S. sent in this article on a law suit from conservative students against a Minnesota high school. The school allegedly violated the students rights to free expression by requiring them to respect peers who chose to dishonor the American flag on Veteran’s Day. The Young Conservatives Club (YCC) posted a video online showing students who refused to stand for the national anthem and “Taps” to honor fallen soldiers with critical comments resulting in a slew of threats labeling the group as racists and bigots. A masked student also threatened members of the club online for their “alt-right agenda”. The school is more concerned about protecting the feelings of the little snowflakes than it is about protecting the members of the YCC from the threats of other students.
Planned Parenthood
Reader D.B. informs us that the Department of Justice has finally launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood over the selling of body parts of aborted babies. This is good news, though there is question as to the effectiveness. The SurvivalBlog reader notes that Congressman Gowdy has consumed tax dollars for over eight years in his investigations and has literally produced nothing except for some amusing verbal chastising of witnesses who have been caught lying.
National Reciprocity
The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 38 which is the national reciprocity bill. The bill passed along partisan lines with the Democrats voting against for ideological reasons. That’s apparently just what the Democratic Party stands for – gun control. With the upcoming elections next year, this is obviously a political ploy. Democrat representatives from states that have “shall issue” concealed carry laws will now be in the position of having to explain to their constituents why they voted against the bill. Sadly, the House also passed it with the “Fix NICS” amended to it.
