What is it going to take to wake people up?  Russia is deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, and there is lots of talk in the Russian media about using such weapons to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine.  The theory is that once the Russians show that they are willing to use tactical nukes, the U.S. and the other western powers will back off.  But that won’t be what happens.  Instead of backing off, the Biden administration will respond by using U.S. tactical nuclear weapons against Russian targets in Ukraine.  And once both sides have used tactical nukes, it is just a matter of time before the big nukes get used.

This war could have been avoided at the negotiating table long before it ever started, but that didn’t happen.

And we could still have a negotiated solution, but at this point both sides are not interested in peace talks at all.

So we will continue to steamroll down a road that leads to nuclear conflict.  Both sides just continue to escalate matters over and over again, and even Vladimir Putin is admitting that this could easily cause “a Third World War”…

Putin, speaking at a meeting with Russian war correspondents in Moscow yesterday, said: ‘The United States pretends not to be afraid of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, but sane people there clearly do not want to take this to a Third World War.

‘In the event of a Third World War, there will be no winners, including America.’

But even though Putin realizes where things could be heading, he insists that peace talks are not an option.

In fact, he just said that this war will only end by “freeing the entire territory of the former Ukraine from the United States and Ukrainian Nazis”…

“We were forced to try to end the war that the West started in 2014 by force of arms. And Russia will end this war by force of arms, freeing the entire territory of the former Ukraine from the United States and Ukrainian Nazis. There are no other options,” Putin said.

“The Ukrainian army of the US and NATO will be defeated, no matter what new types of weapons it receives from the West. The more weapons there are, the fewer Ukrainians and what used to be Ukraine will remain.”

And importantly, he emphasized that “Direct intervention by NATO’s European armies will not change the outcome. But in this case, the fire of war will engulf the whole of Europe. It looks like the US is ready for that too.”

Did you catch that last part?

Even if NATO forces directly intervene in Ukraine, Putin says that “will not change the outcome”.

He is not going to back down, and he is not bluffing.

Of course Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also completely ruling out peace talks…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the prospect of negotiations with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, which was broadcast on Thursday, Zelensky said that Putin “doesn’t want negotiations because he doesn’t want peace.”

The Ukrainian leader said he was “convinced” that Ukraine was “just the first step” for Putin, who has his eye on “other countries.”

U.S. leaders have been making similar statements.

They keep telling us that “we are in it to win it”, whatever that means.

Our politicians have become absolutely obsessed with “winning” in Ukraine, and they are not going to back down either.

But many inside Russia believe that western leaders are weak and that they can be forced to back down.

As I noted at the beginning of this article, the idea that using tactical nukes will force the U.S. and other western powers to back off is starting to gain a lot of traction in the Russian media.  For example, the following excerpt comes from an article in the Russian media entitled “By using its nuclear weapons, Russia could save humanity from a global catastrophe” that was authored by Professor Sergey Karaganov, the honorary chairman of Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy…

We cannot repeat the ‘Ukrainian scenario’. For a quarter of a century we were not listened to when we warned that NATO enlargement would lead to war; we tried to delay, to “negotiate”. As a result, we ended up in a serious armed conflict. Now the price of indecision is an order of magnitude higher than it would have been earlier.

But what if the present Western leaders refuse to back down? Perhaps they have lost all sense of self-preservation? Then we will have to hit a group of targets in a number of countries to bring those who have lost their senses back to their senses.

It’s a morally frightening choice – we would be using God’s weapon and condemning ourselves to great spiritual loss. But if this is not done, not only may Russia perish, but most likely the whole of human civilization will end.

The paragraphs above were not written by some random nutjob.

Professor Sergey Karaganov is considered to be one of Russia’s top foreign policy experts.

But he is dead wrong.

If Russia uses tactical nukes in Ukraine, western leaders will not lose their resolve.

Instead, they will use tactical nukes in return.

We must not go down this road.

Unfortunately, people like you and I don’t get to make these decisions.

The Russians just deployed tactical nukes to Belarus, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is warning some of these weapons are “three times more powerful than US atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945”…

His comments come as Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko revealed that his country had started to receive tactical nuclear weapons from its ally Russia.

Lukashenko told Russian state TV that his country was receiving weapons – some of which he said were three times more powerful than US atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus is Moscow’s first move of such warheads – shorter-range less powerful nuclear weapons that could potentially be used on the battlefield – outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

When people hear the term “tactical nukes”, they tend to think of them as relatively small weapons.

But that is not the case at all.

In fact, if one of those tactical nukes is launched it will be the largest nuclear weapon used in a war in all of recorded human history.

I just wish that both sides would stop escalating the conflict, because once nukes are used there will be no turning back.

Sadly, our leaders just can’t help themselves.

Just a few days ago, we learned that the Biden administration is actually planning to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine…

The Biden administration is set to transfer depleted uranium shells to Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion began The Wall Street Journal reports Tuesday.

Internal administration debate over the controversial munitions has been ongoing for several months, but an admin official quoted in WSJ says at this point there are “no major obstacles” to sending it, which will be used to equip M1 Abrams tanks provided by Washington.

This is a crime against humanity all by itself.

If you doubt this, go to Google Images and type in “depleted uranium Iraq” and look at the pictures that come up.

On top of everything else, a former Secretary-General of NATO is warning that some European nations such as Poland are actually considering sending troops into Ukraine if the alliance as a whole doesn’t take stronger action soon…

The former civilian head of the NATO alliance is warning that some Eastern European states are prepared to send their soldiers to Ukraine if the bloc does not make significant pledges to Kiev during an upcoming summit.

Anders Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary-General and current adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is touring Europe and Washington to gauge the level of support Kiev should expect at the Vilnius Summit in July. “I think the Poles would seriously consider going in and assemble a coalition of the willing if Ukraine doesn’t get anything in Vilnius,” he said. “We shouldn’t underestimate the Polish feelings, the Poles feel that for too long western Europe did not listen to their warnings against the true Russian mentality.”

How does this end?

It has become clear that neither side is going to back down.

And if push comes to shove, the Russians will definitely use nukes.

I have been warning about this type of a scenario for a long time, but I feel like my warnings fall mostly on deaf ears.

This is not a game.

If the small nukes get used, the big nukes will get used.

And if the big nukes get used, millions of you are going to die.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of the latest updates.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post As Russia Prepares To Use Tactical Nukes, Millions Of You Don’t Even Realize You Are Going To Die In A Third World War appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

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The post No Shit There I Was: Crawling Through A Drug Tunnel Into Mexico appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

Should we just go ahead and give free needles and free crack pipes to everyone in America?  After all, if New York City and Los Angeles plan to solve their raging drug problems by handing out free drug paraphernalia to addicts, perhaps we can solve our nationwide drug crisis the same way.  Let’s make the entire country one big “harm reduction zone” and then everything will return to normal, right?  Unfortunately, that is not the way that the real world works.  If you give addicts what they need, they will thank you.  And then they will go ahead and do drugs right in front of you.

I don’t know why politicians can’t understand that this sort of approach is doing far more harm than good.  On Monday, New York City unveiled their new vending machines which will allow addicts to get drug paraphernalia for free…

Big Apple officials unveiled a street vending machine Monday that covers it all when it comes to catering to drug-users, offering free handy paraphernalia such as crack pipes and lip balm — and also Narcan for overdoses.

The vending machine, one of four set to be placed in some of the city’s most drug-infested neighborhoods, swaps out what would be more typical offerings such as candy bars and potato chips for the drug-related freebies to try to combat the surge in overdoses in the five boroughs, city Health Department bigs said.

The pipes that come with the “safer smoking” kits can be used to smoke both crack and crystal meth.

At least they are versatile.

Needless to say, addicts are quite enthusiastic about the new program.  In fact, the first vending machine was completely empty less than 24 hours after it was unveiled…

New York City’s first public health vending machine giving out free crack pipes, condoms and Narcan, an overdose-reversing drug, was already empty less than 24 hours after being unveiled by officials.

But eager city officials determined to keep residents in rich supply of clean drug apparatus were quick to revisit the site on Tuesday afternoon with more.

Elan Quashie, the Opioid Overdose Program Director at Services for the Under Served, said: ‘We’re going to restock every day. Probably multiple times a day.’

Are they really planning to restock the machine “multiple times a day”?

I find that hard to believe, because I have never seen such a high level of customer service from government bureaucrats anywhere that I have ever lived.

It turns out that Los Angeles County has a similar program.

But instead of vending machines, social workers actually go around and give “supply kits” to addicts that contain “glass pipes, needles, fentanyl test strips and naloxone”…

Los Angeles County’s Harm Reduction Program has drawn attention for its controversial approach to tackling the fentanyl epidemic.

As part of the program, outreach workers distribute harm reduction supply kits containing glass pipes, needles, fentanyl test strips and naloxone, a drug used to counteract an overdose.

The program comes at a significant cost to taxpayers, with the county spending over $31 million this year, a sharp increase from the previous year’s approximately $5 million expenditure.

That sounds like quite a good deal for the addicts.

But what about the rest of us?

In order to fund their addictions, the addicts have to steal stuff.  Retailers have become a primary target, and a new bill that has been going through the California legislature would actually “ban retail staff from stopping thieves stealing from their stores”…

Lawmakers in California are hoping to push through controversial legislation that would ban retail staff from stopping thieves stealing from their stores.

Senate Bill 553, which was submitted by State Senator Dave Cortese, has been passed by the State Senate and will now progress to policy committees in the State Assembly. Cortese hopes the proposed law will prevent workplace violence and protect staff from being forced by their employers to step-in during robberies. But some store bosses are furious about the plans, with the California Retailers Association mocking the move as an open invitation for thieves “to come in and steal.”

Seriously?

It is already ridiculously easy to shoplift in California, and the politicians want to make it even easier?

Are they insane?

The theory is that there will be fewer violent confrontations if the crooks are just allowed to do whatever they want.

Of course the overworked and overwhelmed police rarely get there in time either.

And the few thieves that are caught are let go with just a slap on the wrist as long as they keep their shoplifting under a certain dollar amount.

California is getting dangerously close to legalizing shoplifting, and I am sure that is what many of the politicians would like to see.

But if you use the wrong pronoun or make an “offensive” statement on social media, that could get you into really big trouble.

All over the western world, authorities are really cracking down on such “crimes”.  In fact, a new law in Australia would put people in prison for up to three years for making “offensive” statements on social media…

A sweeping law could see Australians jailed for three years for posting what’s deemed ‘offensive’ on Facebook in an attempt to protect minority groups.

Queensland’s Labor government has introduced a bill that would dramatically increase the maximum prison sentence for racist, anti-gay, anti-trans or seriously bigoted statements.

Making such statements already carry a maximum six-month jail term, but that would be increased to three years under the new bill.

This is where the entire western world is going.

Drug addicts, thieves and violent criminals are now considered to be “victims” that must be treated with compassion, but those that express “offensive” views on social media are considered to be a massive threat to “democracy” and must be dealt with ruthlessly.

We live in a society that has been completely turned upside down, and it is only going to get worse in the years ahead.

Once upon a time we were the greatest society on the entire planet, but now we have become a bad joke to the rest of the world.

Is there still any hope that we could turn things around even at this late hour?

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of the latest updates.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Politicians In Our Major Cities Have Decided The Solution To The Crime Wave Is To Help Criminals Commit More Crimes appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

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The post Federal Premium Adds 10mm to Train + Protect Line of Ammo appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

Highly advanced aircraft of unknown origin have been flying around in our skies for a long time, and now a whistleblower has come forward with claims that the U.S. government has actually been able to retrieve “intact and partially intact vehicles”.  If what is he is alleging turns out to be accurate, it has the potential to change everything.  But this whistleblower is also warning that there has been a concerted effort by elements inside the intelligence community to keep this information away from Congress and away from the U.S. population as a whole.  They don’t want us to know the truth, and that should greatly alarm all of us.

This week, 36-year-old David Charles Grusch made headlines all over the world when he started telling news outlets what he learned as a member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office…

David Charles Grusch, a veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, has blown the whistle on this information, speaking with several news outlets about the crafts.

“These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed,” Mr Grusch told NewsNationNow.

If the U.S. government really has retrieved “non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed”, why can’t we see them?

What are they trying to hide?

According to Grusch, the recoveries that the U.S. government has made over the years include “intact and partially intact vehicles”…

“We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities,” Grusch said. “The material includes intact and partially intact vehicles.”

Grusch told the Debrief that analysis determined that this material is “of exotic origin” – meaning “non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin”.

“[This assessment is] based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures,” Grusch said.

If we have such vehicles, I would like to see them.

I am sure that you would too.

But these days just about everything is “classified”, and Grusch claims that even Congress is being kept in the dark…

An unclassified version of the complaint provided to us states that Grusch has direct knowledge that UAP-related classified information has been withheld and/or concealed from Congress by “elements” of the intelligence community “to purposely and intentionally thwart legitimate Congressional oversight of the UAP Program.” All testimony Grusch provided for the classified complaint was provided under oath.

If I was a member of Congress, hearing this would make me steaming mad.

Grusch also says that a “sophisticated disinformation campaign” has been targeting the general population for years, because they don’t want us to know the truth either…

Grusch told NewsNation the American public has been lied to for decades.

“There is a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populace which is extremely unethical and immoral,” Grusch said.

This confirms what many of us have suspected for a long time.

At times they will give us a little bit of the truth, but the intelligence community is purposely keeping most of what they have discovered away from us.

Grusch has submitted an official whistleblower complaint, and the Intelligence Community Inspector General has already determined that his whistleblower complaint is “credible”…

The Intelligence Community Inspector General found Mr Grusch’s complaint to be “credible” and “urgent” in July 2022 and a summary was given to the Director of National Intelligence, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, according to Mr Grusch.

And a colleague that worked very closely with Grusch says that his character is “beyond reproach”…

Karl E. Nell, a recently retired Army Colonel and current aerospace executive who was the Army’s liaison for the UAP Task Force from 2021 to 2022 and worked with Grusch there, characterizes Grusch as “beyond reproach.”

But that doesn’t mean that anything is actually going to happen.

Grusch could be the most credible witness in the history of the world, but that simply is not going to be enough to break the wall of secrecy.

Our officials will deny, deny and deny some more until they are blue in the face.

In fact, the Pentagon has already released a statement that is intended to get us to stop asking any more inconvenient questions…

In response to the recent claims, DOD spokesperson Sue Gough released a statement saying, “To date, AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office) has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of any extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently. AARO is committed to following the data and it’s investigation wherever it leads.”

Of course most of the large corporate news outlets here in the United States are either completely ignoring this story or are treating it as an oddity.

Fortunately, there are a few real journalists that are taking this story very seriously.  One of them is Tucker Carlson…

He continued: ‘In a normal country, this news would qualify as a bombshell: the news of the millennium. But in this country, it doesn’t count.’

Carlson accused The Washington Post and New York Times of ignoring the story.

‘There was nothing at all about how an alien species is flying hypersonic aircraft above our cities. Not one word.’

He said: ‘So if you are wondering why our country seems so dysfunctional, this is a big part of the reason. Nobody knows what’s happening.

He is right.

This story is a massive bombshell, and it should be front page news for both the Washington Post and the New York Times.

But there are certain things that they simply do not want to talk about, and that is because they are directed not to talk about them.

So it is left to independent journalists such as myself to write about these things, and that is one of the reasons why I devoted an entire chapter in my latest book to this topic.

Personally, I am entirely convinced that the stage is being set for a deception of epic proportions.

This really is one of the biggest stories of this century so far, and I believe that this story is going to get a whole lot weirder in the months and years ahead.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of the latest updates.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post “There Is A Sophisticated Disinformation Campaign Targeting The U.S. Populace Which Is Extremely Unethical And Immoral” appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Years ago, I taught myself lock picking. This arose out of necessity rather than desire. I had lost the keys to a few different locks and after the first time calling a locksmith in, I wasn’t too keen on shelling out a bunch of money for something that took him a few minutes to undo….

The post How To Pick A Lock With A Paperclip appeared first on Survival Cache.

This article was originally published by Michael Snyder at The Economic Collapse Blog. 

Even though most Americans aren’t paying much attention at this point, the way that the war in Ukraine is evolving should greatly concern all of us.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his generals very clearly understand that they are in very big trouble unless they can draw the U.S. and other NATO powers directly into the conflict.

All of Bakhmut is now under Russian control, and the Ukrainians continue to lose troops at a staggering pace.  They are holding a losing hand, but if Ukrainian leaders can find a way to get the Russians to use tactical nukes or other weapons of mass destruction, that would change everything.  Western powers would feel compelled to respond in kind, and then we really would have a truly apocalyptic conflict on our hands.

In recent days, there has been a tremendous amount of hype about the coming “counter-offensive” that the Ukrainians have supposedly been planning…

Kyiv renewed its plea for operational silence around the long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian forces with a clip of heavily-armed soldiers pressing their fingers to their lips.

The sleekly-produced footage features masked front-line troops gesturing for silence amid the distant rumble of artillery and gunfire.

It ends with images of soaring F-16 fighter jets – long coveted by Kyiv as it seeks to boost its air defence against Russian missiles and drones.

But instead of trying to retake Bakhmut or any of the other areas of Ukraine that the Russians have captured, the Ukrainians have been focusing their attacks on Russia itself.

Long-range drones have been hitting targets very deep inside Russia, and on one occasion that even included the Kremlin.

And Ukrainian artillery has been relentlessly pounding Russian territory.  The shelling has been particularly brutal in the Belgorod region…

Ukrainian forces continued to shell Russia’s border region of Belgorod overnight into Sunday after two people were killed the previous night and hundreds of children were evacuated away from the border, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

“Overnight, it was quite restless,” Gladkov said on the Telegram channel, adding that the Shebekino and Volokonovsky districts had suffered “lots” of damage from the latest shelling.

Shelling civilian targets in Russian territory is going to do nothing to help the Ukrainians regain lost territory.

But it is putting enormous pressure on Russian leaders.

Just imagine how we would feel if U.S. territory was being shelled.  We would be calling on the White House to nuke the living daylights out of whoever was shelling us.

Well, that is exactly how millions upon millions of Russian citizens feel right now.

And what makes things even worse is that small “militia groups” have begun crossing the Russian border to conduct attacks on nearby cities…

The New York Times wrote on Saturday that “Shebekino, a town of 40,000 six miles from the border, has effectively become a new part of the front line as Ukraine has intensified attacks inside Russia, including on residential areas near its own borders.” This is all upending the lives of residents in the border region, akin to what already happened long ago on the Ukrainian side of the border. “The spate of assaults, most recently by militia groups aligned against Moscow, has sparked the largest military evacuation effort in Russia in decades,” the report underscored. The past days have witnessed area residents move into temporary shelters, including the large Belgorod arena in the oblast capital.

The “militia groups” that are performing these raids are actually using equipment that has been provided by the U.S. and Poland…

The Russian fighters aligned against Moscow who launched a cross-border raid from Ukraine into the Belgorod region of Russia last week used at least four tactical vehicles originally given to Ukraine by the United States and Poland, U.S. officials said, raising questions about the unintended use of NATO-provided equipment and Kyiv’s commitments to secure materiel supplied by its supporters.

Three of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, also known as MRAPs, taken into Russia by the fighters were provided by the United States and the fourth was from Poland, according to people familiar with the U.S. intelligence finding, which has not previously been reported. Those people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.

And it is being reported that Polish fighters are among those that have been going across the border during these raids…

The Polish Volunteer Corps has published pictures, confirming it participated in the first armed raid into the Belgorod region, Russia, together with the Russian Volunteer Corps

Russian soldiers claimed earlier they heard some of the enemies communicating in Polish

This war has reached such a dangerous stage.

The Russians aren’t stupid.  They know that foreign fighters now make up a very significant percentage of the forces that they are facing.

And if Russian cities continue to get shelled and raided, it is only a matter of time before Russian leaders lose their temper.

If the Russians decide to use tactical nukes, it really will be the beginning of the end.

So let us pray that cooler heads will prevail.

Meanwhile, things with China continue to get even more tense.

On Saturday, a Chinese warship and an American warship almost slammed directly into one another in the Taiwan Strait…

This is the astonishing moment a Chinese warship comes within 150 yards of an American destroyer in Taiwan Strait, just days after the Pentagon said it would not stand for ‘bullying’ by Beijing.

Footage obtained by Global News, shows a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship cut across the bow of a U.S. guided-missile destroyer on Saturday while it was transiting the Taiwan Strait.

USS Chung Hoon and HMCS Montreal had also been transiting the strait on a rare joint mission when a PLAN warhsip cut across the bow of Chung-Hoon.

We really are living during a time of “wars and rumors of wars”, but most of us in the Western world are focused on other things.

Even though our leaders have clearly demonstrated how incompetent they are over and over again, most of us just assume that they will be able to keep us out of a nuclear war.

Unfortunately, both sides just continue to escalate matters, and it appears that it is just a matter of time before someone crosses a line that will never be able to be uncrossed.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to the new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of my articles.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream, and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial, or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and anyway that you can share these articles with others is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

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The post Lights, Camera, Uzis: The History of Hollywood’s Uzi Love Affair appeared first on Ballistic Magazine.

You’re probably spending way too much time on overhyped prepping topics.

AND way too little time in the underappreciated areas.

That’s not good!

Your time and energy are limited resources.

So using them wisely is critical to make meaningful progress.

And I truly believe after you hear all 14 of these, I’ll change your mind on what’s important and what’s NOT.

NOTE: You can either continue to read this article OR watch the following video (both cover the same content):

↓ 14 Overhyped & Under-Appreciated Prepping Topics ↓

Are You Ready For The Tough Times Ahead? Take My 60 Sec Quiz To See If You’re Part Of ‘The Fragile Masses’ Or Not… Start Quiz Now!

Let’s jump right into the first “Over-Hyped” prepper topic:

1. Wasting Time Trying to Predict The Next Disaster

This is one of the biggest wastes of time out there.

As humans, we have a terrible track record of predicting anything.

Sure, we can predict some minor things, like tomorrow’s weather or your dinner plans.

But not bigger, broader “societal level” predictions.

I’m talking about significant events related to financial markets or future disasters.

And the more specific the predictions, the bigger the waste of time they tend to be.

For example:

Here’s an excerpt from Howard Mark’s recent investing memo “Thinking About Macro”:

“In December of 2019, the median forecast on Wall Street held that the S&P500 would rise 2.7% in 2020. What was the actual return? 18.4%! It was too low by 16 percentage points. Worst yet, in April 2020, after the Pandemic had taken hold (and after the congress and the fed had taken action), the consensus forecast return was revised downward to a negative 11%. That’s nearly 30 percentage points below the eventual outcome.”

These “professional” forecasters are pretty much worthless.

We can’t predict the future when it comes to markets and disasters.

So, instead of predicting the next disaster, focus on being more resilient.

Spend time becoming less fragile to ALL future disasters!

You don’t need to predict a future disaster – assume there will be turmoil.

And then focus on taking action to be ready for it.

OK, here’s a quote from one of my favorite books on understanding risks in our lives, Antifragile:

“You can’t predict in general, but you can predict that those who rely on predictions are taking more risks, will have some trouble, perhaps even go bust. Why? Someone who predicts will be fragile to prediction errors….”

I think this is saying that those who spend time predicting and “believing” they can figure out BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE are fooling themselves.

They’re fragile because they assume their prediction powers will help them see the future.

Giving them time to “move out of the way” before disaster strikes.

But they rely on their “false sense of prediction accuracy” to protect themselves.

Instead, they should invest their time and energy in becoming resilient to ANY future mishaps.

One more quote from the book “The Black Swan” (by the same author) sums it all up by simply saying:

“Invest in preparedness, not in prediction.”

2. Mastering Wilderness Survival Skills

OK, before you get upset with me, let me say there is SOME value in learning Survival Skills.

It’s just not as much as you think.

Let me ask you a few questions:

What are the odds of spending a night in a debris shelter?

Extremely low. You’d need to be stranded in the woods without a vehicle or backpack.

And be more than a day’s hike from any town or village.

It’s just not likely to happen.

Or what about starting a fire with sticks?

Nearly zero if you always keep an electric lighter or Ferro rod with you.

How about making your own bow and arrows from scratch?

Perhaps this skill comes in handy in a worst-case mass human extinction situation.

But if that happens, you’ll find both by scavenging sporting stores or abandoned homes.

Now compare those bushcraft skills that you’ll likely never use to the following:

What are the odds of having to live without electricity for a week?

This happens to millions of people throughout the world ALL THE TIME.

What about a deadly pandemic where you don’t want to go into a grocery store without a gas mask?

Seems much more possible nowadays.

Or how about a wildfire tearing through your neighborhood?

Again, it happens every year, and it’s getting worse; that’s why you should have a bug-out plan…

So, unless you become unlucky and end up stranded on an island, most bushcraft skills are just a fun hobby AT BEST.

They’re mostly just for entertainment purposes (like the video below):

↓ Primitive Technology: Wattle And Daub Hut ↓

So, instead, focus more on your limited time, energy, and resources where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

Abilities that will significantly improve your overall resiliency to the most likely emergencies.

3. Buying All the Latest Survival Gadgets

I enjoy checking out all the latest survival gear and gadgets on the market.

It’s cool to analyze them and even test them out occasionally.

The latest tactical watches are chalked full of technology, but they have a high price tag to match.

But again, these fancy new gadgets are NOT likely to be the gear you need in most emergencies.

Most essential survival gear has already been invented.

And while this “old school gear” seems dull, they’re proven and work.

For example:

• Freeze-dried foods, mylar bags, and oxygen absorbers (or desiccants)
• Water containers and rainwater collection systems
• Water filtration devices
• Rocket stoves
• Tact Bivvy’s
• Bug Out Bags
• Respirator Masks
• Etc.

These are “older” but proven technologies that are much more important than the coolest survival gadgets you see coming on the market today.

Thus, making most of the latest survival gadgets an overhyped prepping topic.

4. Paying Attention To Overly Fear-Based Survival Products

I hate hyper-fear-based marketing.

Perhaps you know what I’m talking about. It’s those 30-minute video sales pitches that tell a doomsday story.

Often these stories are about a 3rd world country OR the coming apocalypse.

Ancient biblical predictions are being proven today, and the end times are here.

The reason marketers do it is because IT WORKS.

But it’s not accurate.

It’s a fear-based story to get you to buy their product to reduce the discomfort they created.

In my opinion, it’s not ethical. It’s pure manipulation.

It works because it preys on humans’ attention filters.

We don’t have the mental capacity to consume even a fraction of all the available information.

So we use a simple filter to ignore the mundane, boring stuff.

And only allow the most dramatic and exciting stuff to get through.

That’s why most media stories are negative.

They focus on storms, shootings, diseases, floods, building collapses, plane crashes, etc.

The more dramatic the news, the more we listen and pay attention to it.

It’s hardwired into our brains for evolutionary reasons.

Because those who paid attention to a wild animal attack survived, and those who didn’t survive.

And the media and marketers know fear is the easiest way to grab and keep your attention—fear in the name of profits.

Instead, I use reason and logic to talk to you with respect.

I want to see EVERYONE work towards becoming more resilient over time.

Sure, some urgency is called for; you never know when the next big collapse or disaster will be.

And a bit of urgency can help create a healthy amount of motivation.

But you should ensure that the product being pitched has real value first.

They should be willing to EARN YOUR TRUST before you buy.

If everything you hear is the end of the world, scary and fear-based, AND their $37.95 product is the ONLY solution to this problem.

And everyone who doesn’t buy it will perish tomorrow.

Then shut it off immediately and look for a product that has more respect for you.

5. Continuous “News” Cycle Consumption

This prepping topic is somewhat related to the previous one.

What is objective truth nowadays?

Who the hell knows?

Seriously, it seems like TRUTH is a myth of yesteryears.

Or maybe the past truth was only an illusion held firm by a select number of media outlets…

But it’s seemingly harder to get to the heart of any issue without a political spin or a hidden agenda tied to it.

And the news media makes money off YOU PAYING ATTENTION.

They put those flashing red scrolling emergency banners at the top and bottom of your screens because they help increase your watch time.

↓ Breaking News Flash Banner ↓

The more people watch, the longer they watch, and the more they can charge advertisers during commercial breaks.

Most news outlets (cable, radio, newspapers, etc.) use “controversy” and “fear” to get you hooked.

For example:

When listener numbers on hardcore political talk radio show start to soften, the producers prod the on-air hosts to stir up the pot.

To create some anger to get their listeners hot and bothered.

It’s an outrage machine (see the video below for more details):

↓ Dan Carlin: Fake News, Misinformation, and Being And Informed Citizen ↓

And if you consider yourself to be “tuned in” and “in the know,” you’re probably paying a high price to be “informed.”

You’re paying for this “informed status” at the cost of your internal peace and happiness.

You’re handing over your calm for what?

Restless nights, arguments with family and neighbors, mistrust of anyone with a different political stance…

I think it’s a terrible trade-off.

Because I believe statistics and narratives can be spun in any way the media desires.

So what you hear is what you WANT to hear.

Instead of having a productive discussion about how best to live as a society – nowadays, it’s all about hate, blame assignment, and finger-pointing.

And it’s just not helpful.

Instead, I focus most of my time and energy on things I CAN CONTROL.

And for the most part, the 24-hour news has minimal impact on my life and resiliency.

It’s got an insanely high noise-to-signal ratio.

Most “news” you consume daily is noise.

Very little is essential a few months or even a year later (minimal signal).

It’s mostly just junk (or noise).

The more information you consume daily, the more noise gets in.

And if something is truly a signal, don’t worry; you’ll hear about it in other ways.

Your neighbors will mention it, or your emails will include a reference.

Here’s what the book Antifragile has to say about the “signal to noise” problem:

“Thanks to [constant news cycles], we are living more and more in virtual reality, separated from the real world, a little bit more every day, while realizing it less and less. Consider that every day, 6,200 persons die in the United States, many of preventable causes. But the media only reports the most anecdotal and sensational cases (hurricanes, freak incidents, small plane crashes) giving us a more and more distorted map of real risks. In an ancestral environment, the anecdote, the “interesting” is information; no longer today. Likewise, by presenting us with explanations and theories the media induces an illusion of understanding the world.”

Well said.

OK, let’s move on to the over-appreciated prepping topics to which you should pay more attention, but you probably are not.

6. Measuring How Resilient You Are (OR Not)

I want to start with a couple more prepping quotes from Antifragile (again, it’s one of my favorite books):

“It is far easier to figure out if something is fragile than to predict the occurrence of an event that may harm it.”

“Not seeing a tsunami or an economic event coming is excusable; building something fragile to them is not.”

So stop spending so much you’re your time-consuming news and trying to predict the next disaster.

Instead, reallocate that same time and energy into activities and self-improvement with a REAL IMPACT when a future disaster arrives.

Just assume the future holds several major disasters in your lifetime.

Then do something about it.

Go from being a part of “The Fragile Masses” into “The Resilient Few.”

That’s what my website community, “The Resilient Life,” is all about.

We challenge you to take care of the preparedness basics. And then, once those are covered, we give you the motivation to keep going.

To become as resilient to the unknown future as you’re comfortable with.

Go here if you’re interested in learning more about TheResilientLife

7. Don’t Ignore The Prepping Basics

Prepping basics may seem boring to some:

Two weeks of food, 2 weeks of water, medical supplies, yawn…

But the problem is, those “basics” are the building blocks of becoming resilient.

If only everyone in the world had the prepping basics in place. As a human species, we would be much more resilient to all future tragedies (global or local).

But unfortunately, it’s more fun to focus on more interesting topics.

So, if you’re reading this right now and don’t have your prepping basics in place (or you’re wondering what basics I’m talking about), go here now.

8. Honing Your Situational Awareness

Here’s the deal.

Some folks have good situational awareness, while others don’t.

I don’t know if some folks are just blessed by their DNA and brain makeup, or perhaps it’s the way their parents raised them.

It’s probably some combination of both.

But man, if you don’t have good situational awareness, you’re in real trouble when things get chaotic.

It’s hard to think straight when you’re afraid.

And situational awareness is not just during times of chaos – it’s anytime you’re in new or public spaces.

When I go somewhere new, I take stock of the “situation,” like the place’s layout, before relaxing and enjoying myself.

I want to know where the exits are (in case of a fire OR a mass shooting).

I want to take stock of the folks I’m with and watch for anyone who doesn’t quite belong.

Since I have little kids, when I go to the grocery store, I strategically park where they don’t have to walk behind any cars or cross streets.

Sure, it’s a further distance to walk, but it removes the risk of my kids getting run over on accident.

You should learn to stop and think more about the world around you.

To work on improving your sense of situational awareness.

That way, this prepping topic can reduce many unnecessary risks in your life.

9. Plenty Of Water Filtration

AlexaPure Large Water Filter

“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water” – Benjamin Franklin

This is so true.

That’s why you should stockpile water today.

But what if you have some water that becomes contaminated or compromised?

If you’re ever forced to drink contaminated water, you’re putting yourself at extreme risk – especially during an emergency.

Severe uncontrollable diarrhea is deadly during an emergency – especially if you can’t get medical assistance.

Water filtration is one of those “boring, forgotten about” topics in preparedness.

It’s one of those “yeah yeah, I get it” topics.

And that’s fine IF you have your water filtration plan.

Suppose you have a LifeStraw, a few sawyer minis, an AlexaPure Gravity Filter, or a Big Berkey; great.

Just make sure you have plenty of water filtration at your disposal NOW.

If not, then please heed this warning and make this happen TODAY.

Other prepping topics can wait a few days but not water filtration – it’s THAT important.

10. Not Having Any “Plan B” Extreme Weather Strategies

Most of the time, having an abundant supply of clean water is the number 1 survival priority.

However, occasionally, this priority can get trumped by extreme weather conditions.

In general, you can survive about 3 days without water.

But you can perish in 3 hours (or less) due to severe heat exhaustion or hypothermia.

So, what are your plans should the power go out and force you to live in below-freezing conditions for a week?

Or perhaps it’s the opposite – what about 110-degree weather with no AC?

You must plan for these potential extremes to protect yourself and your family.

Maybe you have a wood stove in your home and a nice pile of firewood.

Perfect, you’re good to go.

Or maybe you have a backup generator and a bunch of gasoline to keep it running in the middle of the summer. Great.

But what if these options are outside of what you can afford…

I recommend you get some mylar space blankets for the cold.

OR you could also check out building a makeshift heater with small candles and some clay pots.

And for the summer heat, basements are the easiest way to “beat the heat” if you have one.

Otherwise, shade, a breeze, and a spray bottle with water are the next best options.

Extreme temps are dangerous.

So please, figure out your backup plans before cooking or freezing to death.

11.  Ignoring A Gas Mask & Filters

OK, we went from 3 days with dehydration to 3 hours with hypothermia, and now we’re going to go down to 3 minutes.

If you can’t breathe, you can survive for about 3 minutes before you pass out.

And then, over the next 10 mins or so, your body and brain will go into permanent shutdown mode.

Smoke from a fire can significantly impair your ability to breathe.

So, a gas mask can be a lifesaver in such an emergency.

But it has so many more uses than just for traditional smoke.

It can prevent you from breathing in potentially deadly toxins or pathogens.

I’m talking nuclear fallout, chemical agents, never gases, debris dust, or harmful viruses.

In a worst-case scenario, anyone breathing in deadly air without protection could be a part of the “real walking dead.”

Those folks whose time on earth is severely limited but just don’t know it yet.

The bottom line is:

Gas masks are a critical part of a basic preparedness plan.

Unfortunately, many folks feel they are too advanced or doomsday-like to own.

But that’s just wrong.

They are critical Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and should be a part of your preps.

It’s something you get early in your preparedness journey.

12. Physical Fitness

The truth is:

Being overweight or living with a chronic illness is a significant survival disadvantage.

Now, for many folks, there’s not a lot of choice in the matter.

Sometimes, the hand of cards you’re dealt is not ideal, and you’ll have to make do the best you can.

But for everyone else, you shouldn’t ignore your physical fitness.

You want to be strong and healthy, with plenty of endurance, should a widespread disaster hit.

You want to be the one helping your family and not becoming a burden to them.

At the very least, be someone who pulls your own weight from both a physical and a mental standpoint.

Fitness can help with both of those goals.

13. Personal / Local Emergency Prep

What is more likely in the next 10 years?

A worldwide EMP disaster, a supervolcano explosion, a nuclear holocaust?

OR

You get in a car wreck, lose your job, and deal with a flood, tornado, earthquake, hurricane, etc.

Yes, local/personal emergencies are WAY MORE likely to occur any given year.

But again, planning for those events is not as “interesting” and not as “entertaining” as trying to guess the cause of “the end of the world as we know it.”

But that’s a mistake.

You should focus on becoming more resilient for everyday emergencies first and foremost.

When prepping topics, spend time where the likely payoff is best.

14. Not Performing Simulated Practices

You’ll never know if your survival and preparedness plans have holes in them unless you practice.

We had a Resilient Life member who simulated a weeklong power outage.

They reported several things they were mistaken about.

For example:

They were surprised by how much water they went through.

And underestimated their water needs due to using water for cleanup, cooking, and pets.

They also discovered the value of having many non-electronic entertainment options, such as board games, puzzles, and books.

I’ve also heard many stories from folks who saw a “perfect” bug-out route on a map.

Only to discover the trail was impassable once they tried it.

The bottom line is:

If you haven’t practiced, you’re not prepared.

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

Cofounder Of Skilledsurvival.com & TheResilientLife.com

Born & Raised On A Rural Farm In The Midwest

Mechanical Engineering Grad From A Major University

Engineer With A Major Food Manufacturing Company

10+ Years Researching, Writing, & Teaching Preparedness

Mission: Help Folks Stop Living A Life Fragile To The Future

P.s. Are you ready for the tough times ahead?

Find out now by taking my short Readiness Score Quiz – it’s absolutely free.
Once complete, you’ll know exactly where you stand on the “fragile” vs.” resilient” spectrum.

So click here to start the Quiz….And don’t worry; the questions are so easy a 3rd grader could answer them.

Click on the image to begin the Quiz and find out once and for all if you’re part of “The Fragile Masses” or “The Resilient Few.”

The post 14 Over-Hyped & Under-Appreciated Prepping Topics appeared first on Skilled Survival.

This article was originally published by Lipton Matthews at The Mises Institute. 

The Economist magazine in a recent editorial painted a rather positive image of the American economy. After encountering setbacks, the American economy often registers a buoyant recovery. Despite competition from rivals, America has retained her position as the world’s top economy. Some are bewildered by America’s enduring prosperity, but is it reasonable to expect less from a country designed to do business?

The American Constitution is a fierce protector of property rights and economic freedom. Respect for property rights is so ingrained in the American legal system that for legal purposes corporations are considered as people. Because of this special status, American corporations are poised to defend themselves from government encroachment. A consequence of this is that American companies can be more flexible and responsive to market changes since they are less constrained by the whims of the government.

For example, the principle of at-will employment makes it easy for American companies to hire and fire workers thereby ensuring the efficient allocation of labor and capital. It also frees companies of the burden of preserving jobs that no longer add value. Instead, they can prioritize attracting new talent to boost productivity. As such, America remains attractive to investors due to less burdensome regulations.

Further, unlike in other countries, in the United States individuals own the minerals discovered beneath the surface of their homes. Therefore, it is easier for homeowners and entrepreneurs to commercialize discoveries without government intervention. In fact, political involvement slows development because the expertise to capitalize on discoveries is usually lacking in government. Entrepreneurs toiling in the marketplace are more equipped to expedite the business process than bureaucrats who are primarily concerned with using regulations to increase political power.

America’s innovative approach to mineral development has helped to accelerate the fracking revolution by incentivizing entrepreneurs and homeowners to pursue explorations for minerals. This has created wealth for ordinary people and businesses. Another advantage of America’s light regulatory approach is that it leads to more experimenting. If America had been like other places, then businesses would have to wait a long time for approval, and this would limit the scope for experiments to unlock innovation.

America’s rich free-market tradition has made her an economic superpower. So, why are policy makers employing taxation to derail progress? The obvious answer is that the state relies on taxation to bolster its coffers. As a predatory institution, the state is motivated to extract resources from private actors and augment its power. However, doing so is to the detriment of societal progress.

Economic estimates show a positive relationship between low taxes and entrepreneurship. Lower taxes also promote economic growth. Yet, the nascent marijuana industry is being taxed to the point where it is becoming an impediment to growth. Some policymakers are laboring under the impression that citizens have an obligation to enrich the state.

The thinking is that all activities must be captured by the tax net. New rules will even make PayPal transactions over $600 liable to taxation. Such policies are depriving citizens of investment capital and disposable income. Nevertheless, they are portrayed as the noble goals of a benevolent government.

Indeed, the state requires money to function, but debates still loom about its legitimacy and that of the income tax. Hence, politicians ought to curb their appetite for spending, promise less, and desist from pursuing useless military excursions. The state should be satisfied with what it collects from citizens because it is not owed anything.

People are already compelled to pay the income tax. Therefore, if they choose to earn extra income and use PayPal or other platforms to conduct transactions, that’s their business. The government is not entitled to any of what they earn. Few share this view, but the IRS is an intrusive agency whose influence should be curtailed.

The ingenuity of the American people made this country great rather than rapacious government institutions. Americans must defend themselves against government encroachment instead of passively watching the state taxing them into penury.