Quotients, Quotients & More Quotients

Just what is a quotient anyway?

According to several dictionaries a Quotient is:

• A degree or amount of a specified quality or characteristic
• A device used to determine the winner in team competition if a Round-Robin ends in a tie either in won and lost matches, or in Victory Points won and lost. The total number of IMPs won by a team against all Round-Robin opponents is divided by the number lost to determine the quotient.
• A result obtained by dividing one quantity by another
• The number resulting from the division of one number by another; By analogy, the result of any process that is the inverse of multiplication as defined for any mathematical entities other than numbers; A quotum or quota.
• the ratio of two quantities to be divided
• the number obtained by division
• In mathematics, a quotient is the result of a division. For example, when dividing 6 by 3, the quotient is 2, while 6 is called the dividend, and 3 the divisor. The quotient can also be expressed as the number of times the divisor divides into the dividend.
• In mathematics, specifically group theory, a quotient group (or factor group) is a group obtained by identifying together elements of a larger group using an equivalence relation. ...
• In topology and related areas of mathematics, a quotient space (also called an identification space) is, intuitively speaking, the result of identifying or "gluing together" certain points of a given space. The points to be identified are specified by an equivalence relation. ...
• When performing division, the number of times one value can be multiplied to reach the other value represents the quotient. For example, when dividing 6 by 3, 3 can be multiplied twice, making 6, so the quotient is 2.
• The result of mathematical division. The IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is arrived at by dividing the person's mental age (as determined on the Binet test) by the person's chronologic age and multiplying by 100. So if a child scores at the 8-year old level but is only 6, the IQ is 8/6 X 100=125.
• The result of dividing two numbers or expressions. For example, the 40 divided by 5 has a quotient of 8. Note: 43 divided by 5 has a quotient of 8 and a remainder of 3.
• The answer or number that results when numbers are divided.
• The result of mathematical division. The IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is arrived at by dividing the person's mental age (as determined on the Binet test) by the person's chronologic age and multiplying by 100. So if a child scores at the 8-year old level but is only 6, the IQ is 8/6 X 100=125.

When talking about survival, (to me) a Survivability Quotient is:

An elusive figure, containing a multitude of factors or variables, both tangible and not so tangible (including luck), that determines who survives what, why and how. AND most of those variables are OUT of human-kinds realm of control.

As a result, I do not think that there are any really scientific, quantifiable or measurable figures that can be applied to a survival quotient; resulting in nothing but a lot “educated guesses”. So if you are looking for some kind of hard core, error proof formula to determine if you will survive any specific crisis – you are SOL.

This does not mean that we can ignore our Survivability Quotient, nor does it mean that it is totally useless.

When you read “I survived” stories you will soon gather that there a few places where we humans CAN control, or at minimal affect the outcome, of some of those variables that contributed to their survival success. In fact upon studying these stories the few places the survivors did take control turned out to be major factors in their ultimate survival.

With that said let’s look at some of the “quotients” that are often referred to in our lives today.

AQ Adversity Quotient The capacity to respond constructively to difficulties in a broad range of adverse events.
CQ Communication quotient How effective you can communicate with other people.
CQ Courage Quotient How much courage you have before you panic, breakdown, flip out or fall apart.
EQ Experience quotient How much “life experience” (traumatic or otherwise) you have accumulated and been through in comparison with your peers and others around you.
FQ Failure Quotient How much failure you can endure and take before you breakdown and fall apart.
IQ Intelligence Quotient How smart you are.
IQ Intuition Quotient Your gut instincts and 6th senses, how often they are ‘on track’ or not.
LQ Lifestyle Quotient How much time you spend in leisure pursuits vs. work and chores. (Think Type A Personalities vs. the others.)
PQ Persistence Quotient How persistent or over persistent you are. Your tenacity at a task.
PQ Preparedness Quotient How ready and prepared are you for any crisis, disaster or emergency.
PTQ Pain Tolerance Quotient How much pain you can take before you fall apart or pass out. (dah)
RQ Readiness Quotient How prepared are you for any crisis, disaster or emergency.
SQ Survival/Survivability Quotient How strong your survivability is when faced with a crisis (disaster or emergency).
SQ or SSQ Stress Quotient/Stress Survival Quotient How much stress you can take before you collapse, have a heart attack, flip out or shutdown.

As you can see some of these ARE measurable, scientifically and reliably, as well as some abbreviations represent different things and meanings.

Now that we have defined what all these quotients are, it is time to look at what areas of our Survivability Quotient we can favorably influence or take control of.

First and foremost we have to balance some basic human characteristics that will often degrade our Survivability Quotient.

• Human Irrational Fears and Sixth Senses VS Science and Educations Truths and Fallacies
• Too Detailed VS Too General
• Best Case Scenario VS Worst Case Scenario
• We can’t help everyone or everything VS We Want To

In today’s world I have to add:

• Money will not buy preparedness or survival
• Preparedness and Survival are NOT convenient - There is no short-cut, even though we will undoubtedly look for one
• Technology does not equal Preparedness, nor guarantee survival

Human Irrational Fears and Sixth Senses VS Science and Educations Truths and Fallacies

We humans are so full of contradictions that we often fail to recognize, yet alone take control of them and we are so bombarded with the wildly metaphysical that we often discredit it without thinking. On top of this we humans often forget that our sciences and therefore education are still in their infant stages in regards to how long they have been in existence. They have been known to be wrong many times in the past and in some cases mega wrong. We humans are error prone and therefore our sciences and education is error prone.

• How many law officers and soldiers say they are alive because of some gut instinct or “the hairs on my neck warned me”?
• How many mothers claim “women’s intuition” as the reason they went to check on a child or walked away from their car?
• How many years did it take for science to figure out that a dinosaur in a major museum was made up of bones from multiple dinosaurs and multiple species of dinosaur?
• How long did scholars teach that the world was flat, or that yes earth is round but the universe revolves around planet earth?
• How long did we “blood let” instead of utilize blood transfusion?

According to Paul T. P. Wong in his article Intuition: The best kept secret for survival and success; there are different types of intuition and the most successful people in the world are these "intuitives"; from Warren Buffet, Gary Kasparov and Wayne Gretzky to Richard Feynman. Some of the types of intuition are:

1. Primitive instincts of self-preservation, such as the flight-or-fight syndrome, avoidance responses, pleasure-seeking and instinctive responses to reduce primary needs, such as food, water and safety.
2. Conditioned emotional responses, which range from fear, aversion, suspicion, attraction, and attachment.
3. Bodily intuition includes messages about bodily needs and conditions. Medical intuitives such as Schulz and Northrup (1999) emphasize the need to use intuition to decode these somatic messages in order to maintain and enhance our health and well-being.
4. Mystical intuition encompasses a wide variety of subjective experiences, such as spiritual guidance, inner light, psychic intuition, fortune telling, prophetic insight, detecting energy fields, and ESP. Is this related to spiritual intelligence?
5. Interpersonal intuition refers to the ability to pick up clues about relationships. It also includes the capacity for empathy and character judgment. It is clearly related to emotional intelligence (Goleman, 1995). The proverbial women’s intuition is mainly confined to this area.
6. Practical intuition – in solving everyday problems, the capacity of anticipating the problem and finding the best solution, quickly and effortlessly. This type of intuition may be related to practical intelligence (Sternberg, 1997) and fluid intelligence (Cattell, 1987).
7. Expertise intuition is domain-specific and it is closely related to expert knowledge and critical insight. This ability of “thinking without thinking” (Gladwell, 2005) cannot be easily disentangled from special talents in any given field.

In preparedness we cannot afford to ignore our irrational fears, our gut instincts or just accept what the sciences and educators say. We have to balance all of these factors when determining just what crises we want to prepare for.

Too Detailed VS Too General

We humans have a tendency to look for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to do just about anything. Yes we are all basically lazy. If a subject or project interests us we are so enthused that we often put too much detail into it. We overburden those around us with the details. Yet if it is something we are concerned, or dare I say afraid of, we will often avoid it or at best put too little detail into that subject.

In preparedness we need to put the detail into what concerns us the most and what we know the least about to facilitate surviving the crisis at hand.

Best Case Scenario VS Worst Case Scenario

If we humans don’t like an option or possible scenario we tend to ignore and focus on the best possible outcome. On top of this we often overestimate what we can and cannot do.

We don’t want to have to vacate our homes or consider that we may have to be mobile just to get home and we most certainly don’t want to consider that we may have to be on foot without our precious vehicles to do so.

Where preparedness is concerned we can have a higher survivability quotient if we plan for the worst and hope for the best and underestimate our capabilities and competencies.

It is far easier and quicker to adjust a plan or action that is for a worst case scenario to a best case scenario or to realize that we are way more capable and competent than it is to count on the best possibilities and find out we are in the worst of scenarios.

We can’t help everyone or everything VS We Want To

We humans just love helping people; we don’t like to think about all those “walking the line” situations where we may have to consider refusing to help someone or some animal. The reality of this is that I have yet to find a single instance where any entity (with singular or plural humans) was able to help everyone, under every circumstance – ALL the time.

• Are you truly willing to risk your life to run back into a burning building to attempt to rescue an animal?
• Will you accept the danger of running out of food for your family to feed additional people or stray pets that may stumble upon you?
• Just how willing are you to put your life on the line for a stranger or unknown pet?

Since Reaction Time can make or break our Survivability Quotient, it is imperative that we address these kinds of questions before a crisis hits. There will be no time during or immediately after a crisis situation to do this and keep our Survivability Quotient high.

Money will not buy preparedness or survival

When we humans take on preparedness, one of our first inclinations is to run out and buy everything on some list. Once we obtain all this stuff we almost immediately store it someplace and then forget about it.

• If you have a compass and don’t know how to use it – what good is it?
• You may own a rifle and may even be accurate with it on the range, but if you have never hunted, dressed and preserved your kill – what good is it?
• If you have 2 years worth of preparedness supplies (food, water, medications, etc.) but never touch them for 15 years and then there is a crisis – how nutritional and viable are they?
• If you have some kind of two-way radio but never use, don’t even know what kind it is or whom you will contact with it – how good is it?

“Stuff” alone will not make us prepared nor can it save us. We have to not only know how to use it, we have to practice using it.

Preparedness and Survival are NOT Convenient - There is no short-cut, even though we will undoubtedly look for one

In today’s world we humans are addicted to convenience; it feeds our lazy streak and the vision of our self-importance, as well as our lust for self-indulgence.

• Look at all the “use and toss” stuff we have around us and all the “instant on” devices and remote controls we surround ourselves with.
• How often do we purchase something that we know we already possess but don’t want to take the time to find, cause it is far quicker to just drive to Wal-Mart and get another one?
• All the while we will be complaining that we don’t have enough time or money to get or do this or that.

To be truly prepared and to have the highest survivability quotient, it will NOT be convenient. It will require time, effort, soul searching, money and effort or should I say WORK.

Technology does NOT equal Preparedness, nor guarantee Survival

Most of the technology in today’s world is electrical. It needs electricity in order to work. Yet there a ton of crises out there, both natural and human-made, that can take out electricity and for an extended period of time. On top of this our electrical GRID is so old (physically) that it doesn’t take much as it is to short the dang thing out.

• You can have battery operated PC’s, radios, lights, heat and the like but without a way to maintain the battery charge what good are they?
• How will you pump gas to keep your vehicle running?
• Banks won’t be able to get into their vaults, ATMs won’t work.
• Refrigerators and freezers will heat up and thaw.
• Phones both cell and landline will not work – 911 will be inaccessible.
• GPS and most two-way radios only work if they are in the “line of sight” of a repeater tower or satellite. Without electricity the repeater and microwave towers will be silent. At least one potential global electrical event can take out the satellites.
• TV, AM/FM stations will go off the air. How will you get news?
• Newspapers and magazines won’t be able to print and distribute their issues/editions.
• You won’t be able to refill your propane tank.
• You can have all the precious metal, stock and commodity certificates in the world and you won’t be able to get to them without electricity.
• A way too large number of medical devices are useless without electricity.

Since just about ALL of our technological inventions require electricity we can basically count them out. Even those of us with alternative power sources will be hard pressed – as just how many of us have sufficient alternative power?

Second - If you wish to keep your Survivability Quotient high then you will need to balance and take control of these very human traits when you make your Preparedness Plans.

There are tricks to balancing all this stuff and still not feel like you are spinning your wheels:

• When it comes to what you can and cannot do and how well you can do it – underestimate
• Moderate your irrational fears and 6th sense against science and educations odds. So if something is really scaring you spitless and is sitting in a number one slot of concerns, yet science says the odds are slim, put it no higher than your number 2 slot. Conversely if there is something that scientific odds say are really high but your intuition is saying “not hardly”, bump the scientific odds down a notch. Notice this is not ignoring or blindly following any viewpoint here. Hiding our heads in the sand will only leave the rest of our bod exposed to who knows what unpleasantness.
• Put your detail into things you don’t want to address or don’t have much knowledge and skill of.
• Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Make sure your preparedness plans and practice drills are for the worst case scenario.
• Discuss and soul search all the “unplesantries” first and in depth. Be sure to cover a wide range of scenarios then write this into your plan.
• Patience and tenacity will are important partners to accomplishing where you want to be in terms of preparedness. Just because stockpiling is fast and easy, it will do you no good.
• Practice makes perfect and repetition is the foundation to learning.
• Keep aware of what is going on around you in your neighborhood, town, county, state, country, world and in the universe. Having awareness means that you will “see the writing on the wall” and will take action before others in a pre-crisis environment.
• Learn something new as often as possible. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is true wealth.

Here are some additional resources to assist in keeping your Survivability Quotient high:

To help you along with a Household/Individual Preparedness Plan and balancing all those human characteristics see: How to Make a Preparedness Plan That Works & Not Go Broke http://www.scribd.com/doc/50950827/How-to-Make-a-Preparedness-Plan-That-Works-Not-Go-Broke-Ver-6

To test your Readiness Quotient see: What's Your Readiness Quotient? http://www.whatsyourrq.org/ Then download the report of the nationwide survey taken in December of 2006 called Are We Ready? at http://www.whatsyourrq.org/docs/PRI_report.pdf

For a hint to your Survivability Quotient you can take quizzes on specific preparedness/survival topics at: Survival Quiz – A Survival Manual in Disguise http://www.survival-quiz.com

Find out your Lifestyle Quotient at: http://www.ldsemergencyresources.com/lifestyle-quotient/

To keep abreast of the worlds Survival Risk Quotient check out Captain Dave's Survival Risk Quotient at http://www.captaindaves.com/

To keep an eye out on specific types of natural and human-made crises see U.S. Hazard Risk Map Links http://www.scribd.com/doc/50951194/U-S-Hazard-Risk-Map-Links

PS – September is National Preparedness – Are you ready?


TNT

Flag Day - I Pledge Allegiance – American's Creed

We celebrate the birth of our country on July 4th and our Flag on June 14th. Ever wonder where this annual national holiday came from?

Where did the Pledge of Allegiance come from? What does it mean?

Did you know we have The America's Creed?

Follow the link to learn more and Wear Your Colors Proudly today!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/57846613/Flag-Day-I-Pledge-Allegiance-%E2%80%93-Americans-Creed

TNT

Crisis Communications

I have missed a few weeks recently as I was away on a land scouting expidetion. So to get back into the swing of things here is some important information on Crisis Communications ;-}

Crisis Communications

Just about any self-reliant, outdoors/wilderness, homesteading, Prepper or survivalist person should have emergency communications on their list of things to gain knowledge, goods and skills on. This is a very important aspect of preparedness and one well worth discussing.

Selecting the kind of crisis communications you need appears to be an easy task at first glance. However if your crisis plan is complete, you will quickly realize that there are many factors that are involved in determining your communication needs.

On top of this one must remember that when selecting electronic equipment for use during emergencies that can last several weeks without electrical power, there are features an emergency radio should have that may not be realized when electrical power is available from the nearest wall outlet – AND - Nothing is 100% reliable ALL of the time!

“Bad human communication leaves us less room to grow.”
Rowan D. Williams

Another important thing to remember is that radio communication is way different than your landline or cell phone; not only in the technology used, but in the general communication indulged. IE: Radio communications are not for just saying hello and discussing your new toy, gadget, recipe or latest gossip. They are for minimal communications, usually to inform another of location and or needed directions/instructions concerning the issue/crisis at hand.

As part of your preparedness plan determine what your crisis communication needs are by evaluating the questions below and then the pro’s and con’s of the various crisis communication methods discussed in this document.

• Will you need 2-way communications or just listening for information? If you need 2-way communications ask yourself the following:

- What is your commitment in time and money to not only acquire the communication system you need, but also the tenacity to learn any new knowledge, skills or licensing necessary to utilize the equipment?
- What type of environment will you be communicating in?
Urban, rural, hilly, mountainous, flat, open water, local, cross country, etc?

• Most radios are “line of sight” meaning that the single needs clear passage between the transmitter and the receiver. Concrete buildings or bridges, metal structures, hills, mountains, tunnels, caves and the like will absorb the transmission signal reducing the distance the signal travels.

• The antenna will be the most important ‘distance’ factor after terrain; for BOTH transmitting and receiving.

- Make a list of the people you want to stay in touch with during an emergency. This will undoubtedly include family members, business associates, church friends and neighbors.
- Where are these people located in relation to where you are located? Same town, different state, etc?
- What is the terrain where they are located? (Urban, rural, hilly, mountainous, flat, open water, local, cross country, etc? )
- What crisis communication equipment and knowledge do they have?
- What repeaters or relays are between you and who you want to communicate with?
- Determine what it would take to stay in touch with each person (this includes their environment too).

For example, to stay in touch with my relatives who live in another part of the country will require an Amateur Radio, along with relay or repeater stations. To communicate with my fellow self-reliant homesteading friends, who are scattered over a wide geographic area, will also require the same. However, I can use either CB, FRS or GMRS radio to talk to the neighbors and friends who live in my subdivision and city.

• Consider your resources. Make sure that you attend to first things first. As important as staying in touch may be, it’s not as important as food, water, and shelter. Make sure you take care of those things first, before you blow a bunch of money on high-tech communication gadgets.

- If you have less that $100 to spend and need one-way communication, get a simple AM/FM/NOAA radio that will run on solar power or via a hand-crank mechanism to keep you “in the know” of what is going on around you.
- If you need two-way communications and have a couple of hundred dollars, you can add a CB or FRS radio.
- If you have a bit more to spend on 2-way communications you can go Amateur (HAM), GMRS or MURS. Remember licenses are required for some forms of two-way communication.

• Get a commitment from the people you want to talk to. It won’t do you any good to buy a radio if the people you want to talk to don’t have one. Go figure.

- This is why buying a radio is often a group decision. It’s also helps if you are using similar equipment so you can help one another when there are problems.

• Develop a communications plan as part of your preparedness plan.

• How often do you want to talk to the people in your network?

• What are your procedures and protocols? Any “codes” that mean important things particular to your group?

• These are things you need to figure out together, long before you are in the middle of a crisis.

• When you first start out Keep It Simple – get a good set-up that is upgradable and expandable. You can always add to it as monies, time and experience call for it.

• Run periodic test drills. Take a page from the military: practice, practice, practice.

You want a system you can depend on in an emergency. The only way to do this is by getting comfortable with it before you need it. Just purchasing a radio and then storing it in your closet to pull out and unpack during a crisis will NOT cut the cake!

If you are new to preparedness communications and need 2-way communication abilities these three rules are first and foremost, when considering preparedness communications. DO NOT put this off for later.

1. It takes someone listening for communications to work and the best radios in the world are useless if no one hears you call for help.
2. Establishing or connecting to a radio net of listeners, making sure that someone is out there listening for you, is VITAL and cannot be bypassed.
3. It's impractical for most people to listen to radios continuously, so having a schedule for stations on your “net” to listen makes radio communication practical. Either use a published schedule, or a regular interval (every day at 7pm, for example) for the net to come on-line.

Bottom Line: Form this “radio net” NOW; set a non-SHTF schedule for regular practice. If you live rural you may want some kind of weekly or monthly “check in” communication scheduled.

When I evaluated all these questions I discovered that:

• I have family and friends scattered not only locally, but nationally too.
• There are various buildings, mountains and other obsticales to overcome between me and the people I will want to communicate with - both locally and nationaly.
• I have minimum to average funds and time to devote to equipment, training and licensing.
• I have some previous “radio” experience through C.E.R.T., the Red Cross and CB REACT.; yet I know relatively little about the current technology for civilian 2-way radio communications.
• I need a system that will not only work for me in my current urban environment; I need it to work in my near future rural environment too.
• My family and friends currently have several existing radio services. Some are HAM, some GMRS and a few are CB.
• Whatever system I choose it has to be compatible with my existing group/network of “radio listeners”; whom I currently keep in touch with via a neighbor or my existing CB.

This means that for my specific situation I need an Amateur Radio System and if I can afford it, for the rest of my in town friends, some kind of shorter range FRS, GMRS, CB or more learning to modify the HAM to receive and transmit on these other frequencies – which by the way is currently illegal in the U.S.A. due to FCC regulations.

“We have two ears and one mouth
so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Epictetus
(Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, AD 55-c.135)

The range or distance a transmission travels between the sender (transmitter) to the Receiver will vary considerably between radio types, antenna types, terrain, obstacles and atmospheric conditions. Follow those criteria with the power of each individual piece of equipment. Note: More power does NOT translate to more range.

Because of all these variables it was very difficult to find specific range information on the various types of radio communication available to the public. There was one common thread from all the sources read and queried: If you're relying on the claims of the manufacturers, you'll probably be very disappointed.

One of the best articles where extensive “real world” testing took place was on CB, FRS, GMRS and MURS can be read in its entirety at http://www.thetravelinsider.com/2003/0815.htm.

“True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary,
and nothing but what is necessary.”
Heinrich Heine

Relay Communication - This has been done for as long as radio has existed. One station (person) receives a message and passes it along to another station (person), that passes it to another station (person); until it finally reaches the destination. Hopefully the message won't be distorted by the time it reaches the intended receiver.

Repeater Communication - Allows two or more radio stations to communicate with each other through a third system, which relays transmissions over a single frequency pair. A repeater station is really just a special kind of base station which employs a very tall antenna. The repeater usually receives on a particular frequency for each communication method. For instance 467 MHz for GMRS. When it receives a signal (usually accompanied by a special code which this repeater listens for especially), the repeater then automatically (i.e., without further operator action or control) retransmits that same signal on the comparable frequency. You must know the repeater’s frequency and “call sign” or code in order to use it.

A typical low-power handheld radio might be able to communicate with a base station on top of a mountain or a tall building 15 miles to even 30 or more miles distant.

Another kind of repeater, only recently introduced to GMRS, receives a signal on a 462 MHz frequency, and retransmits that same signal after a slight time delay on that same frequency. This kind of repeater can be much less expensive to purchase and operate, since it doesn't require a "duplexer" or a second antenna for receiving purposes. However, like a conventional repeater, this "store-and-forward"-type repeater still requires a control method to shut it down, if it is operated from a remote location.

The advantage of the repeater is in its capability to receive a signal from a distant transmitter, and to retransmit a signal which can be heard by a distant receiver, because of the station's greater antenna height.

If a repeater with a tall antenna can hear a mobile signal 20 miles away (a typical distance for a well-sited repeater), then it can usually transmit to another mobile unit anywhere within that same 20-mile radius. The two mobile units themselves do not need to be near each other. They could be at opposite sides of the 20-mile radius of coverage of the repeater, or 40 miles apart from each other, and still be able to communicate through the repeater.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
George Bernard Shaw

Normal speech - When using a radio that uses voice communication it is necessary for the person receiving the transmission to understand what you are saying. You must therefore speak as clearly as possible. Hold the microphone away from your mouth at a constant distance (a thumb's length at minimum) and speak clearly with a steady volume. Don't scream into the mic or move it close to your mouth because it makes the received transmission sound garbled and distorted. If certain words are not understood despite good speech practices it may be necessary to spell the word. This is done using a 'phonetic alphabet'. There are two common variations of this one for military and one for civilian use. Use whichever is understood best by the receiver.

Coded or encrypted information - By law it is illegal to convey a message using code or encryption. This takes valuable time away from the NSA which is already too busy eavesdropping on the rest of US communications. Instead they may hand the message over to Homeland Security and lock you up as a terrorist - no trial, no lawyer, no right to habeus corpus and no protection from self-incrimination. I don't know if this has happened yet but I don't want to be the first. Until all the domestic US spy programs are dismantled it would be best to avoid encryption and codes.

Secrecy - In general DO NOT convey important information over the radio. Not even bits and pieces of information that can be reassembled by those that may be eavesdropping. Use just enough range to make contact with the other station and no more. This can be done using radios with less power, smaller antennas, directional antennas and even using geographical features to your advantage. If you do not want the signal to travel several hundred miles use the higher frequencies that will not skip. If you do not want to be heard by spy satellites use lower frequencies that will not penetrate the ionosphere.

Limit transmissions as much as possible to avoid detection. To avoid the transmitter being located by direction finders do not transmit for more than a few seconds at a time waiting a few seconds between each transmission. Do this even if it means breaking up a complete message into several separate transmissions. This is common practice for the military.

“The biggest mistake is believing there is one right way to listen, to talk, to have a conversation -- or a relationship.”
Deborah Tannen

Antennas are the single most important factor in the range or distance a signal can be transmitted and received clearly. Here height and power play their biggest roles. This next site is especially good for information on HAM antennas … http://www.hamradiosecrets.com/ and there article on Ham Radio Antenna Selection Tips http://www.hamradiosecrets.com/ham-radio-antenna.html it second to none. Here is an excerpt:

“When choosing or building a ham antenna (amateur radio antenna), the most common compromises you have to make will fall in the following categories:

• Cost (for a commercially made antenna or cost of parts if homemade).
• Available space (both horizontal and vertical).
• Durability.
• Performance (of course!).
• City bylaws (increasingly ... sigh!).

If perfect antennas were possible the person who made them would become a millionaire!

The bad news is that the perfect antenna does not exist, even in theory! The theoretically perfect antenna can never be built ... because theory itself is not perfect!

However, the good news is that experimenting with homemade antennas is one of the most accessible and enjoyable aspects of amateur radio.”

“When people talk, listen completely.
Most people never listen.”
Ernest Hemingway

A general note on radio communications: Although a license is required for normal use with some methods, anybody who knows how to operate one may do so in an emergency, at least in the U.S. and Canada. This is allowed only for the communications necessary to deal with the emergency.

For example in the very rural and wilderness areas of Alaska there are more unlicensed HAM and Shortwave radio operators than licensed. Since they only go on the air once a week or so for “check ins”, the FCC currently leaves them alone.

Recap

• Select the type of communications needed: One-way or Two-way
• Select the conditions which you will be transmitting and receiving in. (Terrain, distance, mobile, base, hand-held)
• Determine who you wish to talk with and where they are and what equipment they have.
• For two-way communications form a “listener network” of people and set a schedule to practice via pre-scheduled check-in exercises.
• Review your budget to determine the funds needed to obtain the knowledge, training, licensing (if necessary) and equipment to meet your crisis communication needs.

Remember no communication method is 100% perfect for 100% of the situations you may find yourself in. You may need more than one method.


There is no getting around the fact that during a crisis you need some way to stay in touch with the world around you. Whether it’s a $25.00 solar-powered radio or a $1,000-plus Amateur Radio system, you need a means of receiving information and if possible, a way of transmitting it (2-way communication). This is important not only for you and your family’s personal safety, but also for your psychological well-being too.

For more detailed and specific information (both layman and technical) see: Crisis Communications @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/57563830/Crisis-Communications

Some other good reads:

1931-The Amateur Radio ARRL Handbook http://www.scribd.com/doc/29177270/ARRL-Handbook-1931
All About Antennas http://www.ac6v.com/cb.htm
Allocation of Radio Spectrum in the United States http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/spectrum.html
Antenna Selection and Installation Primer http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/antenna_guide.htm
Band Plan http://www.arrl.org/band-plan-1
Basic Comms: Level 1 “Portable” http://www.survivalmonkey.com/Basic%20Comms-Level%201-%20Portable.htm
Batteries for Emergency Communications http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/batteries_for_emergency_communication.htm & http://www.k3emd.com/Technical%20References.htm
Broadcast Radio Bands http://www.smeter.net/spectrum/broadcast.php
Building the Highly-Versatile-Orange-Box HVOB Communications go-kit http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/How_to_build_HVOB.pdf
Communication for Survival http://www.rogueturtle.com/articles/survcomm.php
Difference between Satellite Radio, Ham Radio and Short Wave Radio http://recomparison.com/comparisons/100279/satellite-radio-vs-ham-radio-vs-short-wave-radio/
Electromagnetic Spectrum http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html
Elements and Considerations of a Successful Disaster Preparedness Supplemental Communications Plan using the Personal Radio Services http://modernsurvivalonline.com/Files/communication/disaster%20communications.pdf
Emergency Communications (an intro to CB, GMRS, and Ham radio) http://theepicenter.com/tow08147.html
FCC ONLINE TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS http://www.fcc.gov/oet/spectrum/table/fcctable.pdf
FCC Wireless Services at a Glance May 2011 (HAM, Shortwave, FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB, etc) http://www.scribd.com/doc/56495877/FCC-Wireless-Services-at-a-Glance-May-2011
Glossary - Abbreviations http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm#CW
Glossary of Jargon, Abbreviations and Terminology for: Amateur Radio (HAM), Short Wave http://www.ac6v.com/jargon.htm
Ham Radio Antenna Selection Tips http://www.hamradiosecrets.com/ham-radio-antenna.html
HAM Small Hand-Held - How much range can you get? http://neufam.com/politics/whatsham.html
How to Get More Performance From Your Hand Held Radio Modernsurvivalonline.COM
John Wagner's Shortwave Tips & Tricks http://www.dxing.com/tips.htm
List of HAM Repeaters Across the US http://www.artscipub.com/repeaters/
NOAA Nationwide Station Listing Using Broadcast Frequencies http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm
NOAA Station Listing and Coverage http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/listcov.htm
Quick Guide to the Shortwave Spectrum http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtSW.html
Real World Ranges for CB, FRS, GMRS and MURS Radios http://www.thetravelinsider.com/2003/0815.htm
Shortwave Frequency List http://www.ccrane.com/shortwave-frequency-list.aspx
Sign Language-The Universal Language of the Plains http://www.ssrsi.org/Onsite/PDFbin/The%20Universal%20Language.pdf
Spectrum Chart Radio Frequency Bandwidth http://www.adec.edu/tag/spectrum.html
Tactical Radio http://www.ssrsi.org/Onsite/tacradio.htm
The Considerate Operators Frequency Guide http://www.arrl.org/files/file/conop.pdf
The Radio Spectrum http://www.smeter.net/spectrum/spectrum.php
Types of Radio Bands http://www.parxy.com/types-radio-bands.html
Typical Antenna Selection Tips http://www.locusinc.com/pdf/Antenna%20Selection%20Tips.pdf US Amateur HAM Radio Bands http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdf
US HF Amateur Bands http://www.ke7hlr.com/hfbands/hfbandplan.pdf
US Radio Frequency Allocation Chart as of October 2003 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf (in order for me to actually read the thing I view it at 100%)
Which Radio Is Best for Emergency Comms By Virginia RACES http://www.pcecg.org/BestEmergencyRadio.pdf
Which Radio Services Require a License? http://www.tech-faq.com/do-i-need-a-license-to-use-one-of-these-radios.html

Prep On

TNT

Memorial Day Thoughts & Prayers

Memorial Day Thoughts & Prayers

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day.

There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).

While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868.

It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium.

The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day.

More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program).

And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years and on Memorial Day, The Rolling Thunder motorcycle club ride through Washington D.C. to honor veterans, POWs, and MIAs.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day.

Yet it seems most Americans are too “engrossed” and “busy” with today’s day to day trials and tribulations to think of Memorial Day as anything but a 3-day weekend. This is very sad for we seem to have forgotten that in order for us to have this 3-day weekend to indulge in bliss and (dare I say) Freedom - is because others paid and are paying, the ultimate price!

We should be humble and honored enough to set aside one day out of the entire year for our nation to get together to remember; to reflect and honor those who have given and are currently giving their all in service to our country – just so we can remain free!

Did You Know?

On January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced the bill to the House (H.R. 1474). The bills were referred the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform.

To date, there has been no further developments on the bill. Please write your Representative and your Senators, urging them to support these bills.

In a 2002 Memorial Day address the VFW stated: “Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”

"...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." --General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868

Celebrate Memorial Day by:

• visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
• visiting memorials.
• flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
• flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
• participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
• by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

"... there are some who keep up a tradition of pride in service to the United States of America and remember all those who had fallen .... Let none of us ever forget what Memorial Day really is." --Kathlena Peebles, May 1996


What is Memorial Day?

by Jim Hutchinson
Mays Landing,NJ

Is Memorial Day a Hardware sale?
A good price on a garden pail ?
Did my buddies give their limbs, lives, and sinew
For chicken, stakes, and barbecue ?
For The Coward to place a wreath on sacred ground,
While my comrades are crippled and wheelchair bound
Did my buddies die in that living green hell.
For endless rows of cars to sell ?
For drunks, accidents and long traffic jams,
Did my buddies perish in Vietnam .
So while young men drool over the Memorial Day Queen
I’ll remember my buddies -The Living, The Dead and The In - Between.

Whenever I See A Soldier Boy...

by Sam Miller

Whenever I see a soldier boy
No matter where it be
I give him salutation
for he means so much to me

He's not the boy we used to know
In store, at desk or plow
He's a defender of our faith
He's in the service now

He keeps Old Glory flying
on land and air and sea
He lives to make our homes secure
He dies to keep us free.

The Price

By Roger W Hancock (www.PoetPatriot.com)

There is a price for everything, nothing is easy, nothing free.
To be left without wanting, then you must pay the cost.

With little price paid and your appreciation lean, value slips away to fade.
The desired becomes ignored.

If you yearn, if necessity be, work for it to earn the worth.
Then care for it that you shall see, the appraisal shall not deflate.

Freedom comes to everyone, if the price be paid, with blood.
Sacrifice for sake of freedom, it is not easy and it is not free and remember all those who had fallen ....

Freedom's Colors

Roger W Hancock (www.PoetPatriot.com)

Red is for Bravery;
blood shed in sacrifice.
Freedom came with lives the price.

White is for Liberty;
freedom's purity.
Life be free from God's decree.

Blue is for Justice;
as vast as the sky.
Over freedom's land to occupy.


The Oath of the Soldier

A Memorial Day Observance Speech

by Johnny Q. Gogue III

Memorial Day – For most it is a three-day weekend, filled with bar-b-que’s and picnics . . . A time to get away from the normal humdrum of the week. For other’s it’s the beginning of summer, a time to look towards the long lazy days and a time to plan your summer get-a-ways. Though for some, Memorial Day holds a special significance.

On May 5, 1868, an order issued by General John Logan established a day of remembrance for those soldiers who died during the Civil War. May 30, 1868, was the day designated for this observance and flowers were placed on the graves of the fallen soldiers of both the Union and Confederate Armies. New York was the first state to officially recognize this observance in 1873 and in 1971 with the passage of the National Holiday Act; Memorial Day was designated as the last Monday of May.

Now for many of us, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War are ancient history. The Vietnam War a fading memory. But with the recent Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom we, the American people have once again been thrust into a position of remembering those who are fighting and dying today.

I, like my grandfathers, father, uncles and aunt before me, am a veteran. I am and was proud of serving in the Armed Forces. I served in the Army from 1985 to 1994. I was in Operation Desert Storm/Shield. I know what Memorial Day is about.

I have two brothers who are currently serving. One brother is serving in the Navy in Italy. My youngest brother, who is currently serving in the Army, is right now in Iraq supporting and defending his fellow soldiers. I know what Memorial Day is about.

Memorial Day for all soldiers is embodied in the words of the oath that you first take when you enlist into the service of the country:

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD.

This oath taken by each and every soldier exemplifies the reason why soldiers do what they do each and every day. Soldiers are defenders of the same principles that made this country great.
They stand as Patriots to defend and protect the ideals and sentiments espoused in the Constitution of the United States. Soldiers bear true faith and allegiance to that document and they work, and live, within the Codes of Military Justice. Soldiers also obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Officers appointed over them. These truths are self evident in the everyday lives of soldiers.

Now, as we see our fellow citizens arrive back from a foreign land, we should not forget those words that each and every soldier spoke upon enlistment. Because when we look upon a returning soldier from conflict, a disabled veteran, or a grave marker – those words should ring in your conscience.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . . streaming from the eyes of the returning soldier. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the Officers appointed over me . . . sounding from the stumbling gait of the disabled veteran. According to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God . . . blasting from the cold stone face of a grave marker.

Remember those that gave their lives, so that we may continue to live in freedom as spelled out in the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence . . . Lest we forget.

Prayers

Oh Creator, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
I humbly ask this in Your name.
Amen.

May the truth that makes us free,
the hope that never dies,
and the love that casts out fear,
lead us forward together, till the dayspring breaks and the shadows flee away.
Amen.

To all who have fought or lost; Thank You- and May the Creator bless you and yours always.

TNT

Read more about Memorial Day @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/56559138/Memorial-Day-Thoughts-Prayers

Albuquerque Old School

If you live in the Albuquerque area Check This Place Out!!!

Albuquerque Old School

Old School is a hub of experts happily sharing their user-friendly skills to further the revolution of sustainable and frugal living. Until now, these awesome resources in Albuquerque have had a loose network of independent workshops and classes. Now, these experts and offerings are under one roof, making Old School the place to find the skills you want to learn.

Their classes are intentionally priced to make them affordable for families in need of these skills. Free or low-cost SAFE childcare is available in order to open opportunities for folks otherwise unable to attend classes.

Their financial model is simple. If there are funds left over after paying for rent and supplies, teachers get half of it. At least 10 percent of any leftover funds is donated to a charity. The remainder is returned to the school to compensate administrators and keep the school running (website and advertising).

If you don’t see a topic on their list, let them know. They’ll use their network to find a teacher for you, and then they’ll host a class. If you want to take a class but it doesn’t work with your schedule, talk to them. That teacher might offer a class to meet your schedule.

Or if you have a skill you think fits their mission, let them know. Maybe you can join their experts in spreading the traditional, frugal and sustainable living skills that make Old School so neat.

Sample of Classes offered:

• Oh Honey, Please
• Culturing Milk (yogurt, kefir and cheese)
• Quilting You Can Handle
• Backyard Chickens
• Easy Cheese
• Lacto-fermentation
• Backyard Beer
• Solar Cooking
• Intro to Traditional Food
• Homebirth Survey
• Knitting & Crochet
• Composting
• Women only
• Greywater Recapture
• Safe and Simple Canning
• Kombucha
• Homemade Beauty Products
• Composting
• Buttermilk Extravaganza
• Composting Toilet Workshop
• Sock Darning
• Container Gardening
• Hummus, Dolmas, and More

Sign Up for their mailing list @ http://abqoldschool.com/newsletter/

Contact Old School via http://abqoldschool.com/contact/

For more information see: http://abqoldschool.com/ or Albuquerque Old School @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/56118900/Albuquerque-Old-School

“Without self-reliance, there is no independence. Without independence there is no freedom. Without freedom, there is no self.”

TNT a 50 Something, urban homesteading, Prepper ;-}

May 28-30 The 2011 Survival & Preparedness Conference

The 2011 Survival & Preparedness Conference kicks off on Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) at the DFW Marriott in Dallas Texas.

Event Registration Now Open!!! http://www.survivalist.com

This eagerly anticipated conference features the world’s leading experts in survival tactics and preparedness instruction.

Keep On Preppin ;-}

TNT

Shopping for Fresh & Seasonal Foods

In order to have the best foods on our tables, in our refrigerators and for home food preservation we need the freshest food possible. This may seem like a simple task when we use terms like:

• In Season
• Fresh
• Local
• Organic
• Natural

Now define and more importantly, quantify these terms. Oh-oh! Seems like we need a degree program to do this! So this little ‘note’ contains what I found out about these terms and how I go about trying to insure the best of the best for me and mine.

Follow the link below to find out:

• What does “in season” mean?
• Primary Cause of the Seasons
• What are the seasons for North America?
• Seasons of the United States
• What is Fresh or Local Food?
• What are Natural Foods?
• What is Organic Food?
• What are GMO foods?
• How common are GMO foods?
• The Non-GMO Project, Pledge and symbol

** Note that natural food and organic food are NOT interchangeable terms **

See Shopping for Fresh & Seasonal Foods http://www.scribd.com/doc/55585307/Shopping-for-Fresh-Seasonal-Foods for more details to the above questions.

What should we look for in terms of using the freshest food for our home food preservation?

Ok so “in season” depends not only on where you are on the North American continent and U.S. it also depends on where you are in just about each state. Use your farmer’s markets as guide of what is “in season” in your local.

Since “local food” can have just about any meaning one wants to put to it I often shop at Farmer’s Markets. These usually have only produce that was harvested in my state, and in many cases, just my region of my state.

When it comes to "organic food", well the U.S.D.A did come up with a half decent definition by law of organic. However it does contain some loop holes that have to date, NOT been closed by any Supreme Court cases. Yet it still pays to look for the “Certified Organic” stamp.

As for "Natural Foods", we are in even deeper doo-doo since the U.S. does NOT have any legal definition of this term although they do discourage companies from using the word in advertising. Of course we all know how well that is working!

Considering these factors I make a habit of asking what farm supplied what produce at the Farmer’s Market. Then I research that farm. I have even been known to call or visit the farm to get an idea of how they produce and process their products.

I also look for the “No GMO” pledge stamp which is a voluntary, non-governmental pledge that farmers can join to guarantee that the produce was not started from GMO seeds (I look for this when purchasing open pollinated seeds too). This pledge was started by the Organic Consumer Association (a nonprofit consumer group) as a result of those loop holes in the ‘organic’ law and the lack of legal definition of ‘natural’.

Here are some other tips to help you out:

Tip #1: Buy Organic

Certified organic products cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients. Buy products labeled “100% organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic ingredients.” You can be doubly sure if the product also has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.

Tip #2: Look for Non-GMO Project Seals

Products that carry the Non-GMO Project Seal are independently verified to be in compliance with North America’s only third party standard for GMO avoidance, including testing of at-risk ingredients.

The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to providing consumers with clearly labeled and independently verified non-GMO choices. Look for dairy products labeled "No rBGH or rBST,” or “artificial hormone-free.”

Tip #3: Avoid at-risk ingredients

If it’s not labeled organic or verified non-GMO: Avoid products made with ingredients that might be derived from GMOs. The eight GM food crops are Corn, Soybeans, Canola, Cottonseed, Sugar Beets, Hawaiian Papaya (most) and a small amount of Zucchini and Yellow Squash.

Sugar If a non-organic product made in North American lists “sugar” as an ingredient (and NOT pure cane sugar), then it is almost certainly a combination of sugar from both sugar cane and GM sugar beets.

Dairy Products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone. Look for labels stating No rBGH, rBST, or artificial hormones (Bovine Growth Hormone-rBGH/rBST).

Tip #4: Download a Shopping Guide

There is an entire page in the following guide to help you uncover hidden GM ingredients on food labels that often read more like a chemical periodic table. Non GMO Shopping Guide http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/Non-GMO-Shopping-Guide.pdf

Or go for the pocket guide: Non GMO Pocket Shopping Guide http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/144.pdf

How to find “In Season” foods in your area

Over the past year I have been researching this by state. I searched all the Farmer’s Markets, Local Foods and Pick Your Own sites I could find; even called a few to get specific answers. Once I had this cataloged in a spreadsheet I then went to the USDA site and researched “in season” as well as imports and exports on these same food items. Then I searched the U.S. Census site so I could how theses farms were cataloged in terms of “family owned”, “LLC Family Owned”, “Corporate” or “Conglomerate” and removed any that I found. Now Family Owned and LLC Family Owned are OK; however I found one corporate owned, but run by a family (probably the former owners), farm that was removed from database.

Keep in mind that the dates listed could be for a specific region of a state and or the best Pick Your Own dates. Most of the “shorter” timeframe dates are the Pick Your Own dates.

The Farmer's Markets and Local Food sites only list what these entities have reported as being crops they usually provide and when. The Pick You Own sites only list those states and crops that registered with said sites.

There are many more fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. via green houses or by big corporate farms that I tried my best NOT to include, however the farthest right column has the "general U.S. availability" information. Just remember that this column includes corporate farms and a few out of country imports may have slipped through.

I learned one interesting tidbit – the USDA will consider a food “in season” if it was harvested and shipped to point of sale while it was still “in season” in its place of origin. Humm, isn’t that splitting hairs?

The resulting database called U.S. Fruit & Vegetable In Season & Harvest Dates State by State can be found at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/55585033/U-S-Fruit-Vegetable-in-Season-Harvest-Dates-State-by-State

This workbook will give you a sense of what to expect at farmers markets and grocery stores.

As well as what produce at grocery stores is more likely to be imported.

How to use the workbook

1. Check your grocery items against your states availability in the workbook.
2. If it is not in season for your state, then check your neighboring states for that item.
3. If it is not in season for your neighboring states, then check the rest of the United States.
4. If it is not in season for the United States then this item is either greenhouse grown or imported from out of country.

PS: Use the example tab to copy and paste your state and surrounding states column to make checking availability easier.

Today is the Tomorrow that we worried about Yesterday ;-}

TNT, a fifty something, ‘Homesteading’ Prepper