If you have a good paying job, you should probably try to hold on to it as hard as you can, because those types of jobs are steadily becoming rarer.  Since 1990, the U.S. economy has produced millions of jobs, but as you will see below nearly two-thirds of them have been low wage jobs.  Of course this is one of the biggest factors causing the systematic erosion of the American middle class.  Today, half of all U.S. workers make less than $33,000 a year, but meanwhile the cost of living has been steadily increasing.  Housing costs, health insurance and other basic necessities have been rising much faster than our paychecks have, and this has put an enormous amount of financial stress on hard working American families.

A job making making chicken sandwiches at Popeye’s is not equivalent to a structural engineering job.  In other words, the quality of the jobs that we create is perhaps even more important than the number of jobs that we create.

Yes, the U.S. has been creating a lot of jobs in recent years, but meanwhile the overall quality of our jobs has degraded rapidly…

Although the U.S. is on a record streak for job creation, many Americans still feel like they can’t get ahead. It’s not their imagination. The past three decades have seen the economy churn out more and more jobs that offer inadequate pay, a group of researchers found.

“The history of private-sector employment in the U.S. over the past three decades is one of overall degradation in the ability of many American jobs to support households — even those with multiple jobholders,” they wrote.

In fact, if you go back to 1990 about half of all jobs in the U.S. were good jobs.

But since that time, a whopping 63 percent of the jobs that have been created have been “low-wage, low-hour jobs”…

“In 1990, the jobs were pretty much evenly divided,” said Daniel Alpert, a founder of Westwood Capital and one of the creators of the index. In the process of running the numbers, he said, “We discovered that 63% of all jobs that were created since 1990 were low-wage, low-hour jobs. That was a pretty stunning statistic.”

So what is the answer?

In the past, you could make good money in America even if you just had a high school education.  There were millions upon millions of high paying manufacturing jobs in this country, but at this point most of those high paying jobs have been shipped to other nations where wages are far, far lower.

Today, our young people are being greatly encouraged to get a college education so that they can compete for the dwindling number of good paying jobs.  Of course there aren’t enough good paying jobs for all of our college graduates, but at least with a college degree you have a better chance of landing one.

Unfortunately, getting a college education has become oppressively expensive, and our young people have been taking on enormous amounts of debt as a result.

In fact, Time Magazine says that the total amount of student loan debt in the United States is now over 1.5 trillion dollars…

Today more than 44 million Americans have outstanding student loan debt, which has become the one of the biggest consumer debt categories. All told, student debt in the U.S. now totals more than $1.5 trillion.

Sadly, that number has almost doubled over the past decade.  We have never seen a student loan debt bubble of this magnitude in the entire history of this country, and student loan debt delinquency rates are soaring.

And even though there has been a national uproar about this, the cost of a college education continues to rise much faster than the overall rate of inflation…

As the issue of college affordability continues to be a prominent talking point on the campaign trail ahead of the 2020 presidential election, a new study shows that the cost of a college education is still increasing at a rate that far outpaces inflation.

The study, put out by the financial technology company Self, found that on average, college costs have risen $2,835 since 2015, increasing 112 percent more than the rate of inflation during the same period.

At this point, you are probably asking one very important question.

Where in the world is all of that money going?

Well, one recent study discovered that “administrative bloat” is the biggest factor that is driving up costs…

“Administrative bloat contributes enormously to the high and rising cost of tuition. In recent years, non-teaching personnel in higher education have exploded,” Pulliam said. “At some colleges bureaucrats outnumber faculty. The ‘diversity bureaucracy’ has proliferated at many schools. UT employs nearly 100 people in its diversity department, some of whom are paid in the six figures. Unnecessary and overpaid administrators are responsible for much of the increased overhead borne by students in the form of tuition increases.”

So as you pay off your student loan debt for decades to come, you can be comforted by the fact that the associate provost for diversity and inclusion at your college is bringing home more than $100,000 a year.

And perhaps that is the solution for the U.S. economy as a whole.  If we just create enough “diversity” and “inclusion” administrative jobs, then we can all make six figures a year and the U.S. middle class will be restored.

Of course I am being facetious.  The truth is that if we ever want to restore the U.S. economy to greatness, we need to start making things in this country again.  We need jobs that add real value to our society, and we need an economic environment that respects and encourages innovation.

Unfortunately, what we have today is just the opposite.  We are consuming far more wealth than we are producing, many of our “good paying jobs” are administrative or government jobs that add very little value to our society, and our small businesses are being strangled to death by rules, regulations and oppressive levels of taxation.

The only way that we have been able to maintain our debt-fueled standard of living is by piling up the biggest mountain of debt in the history of the world, and if we continue on the path that we are on there is no way that our story is going to end well.

We desperately need a return to common sense economics, but unfortunately common sense appears to be in short supply in America today.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of 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 have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. 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. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. 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 a great help.

When it comes to emergency preparedness and everyday carry, there is one name that stands above them all…. Glock. Doc and Drew talk Glocks for survival and EDC. The reasons for their choices and the backstory of how they settled upon Glock as the one-stop sidearm solution. Listen as the guys take a deep dive into everything Glock and why you should give Glock a second look if you don’t already own one.

Want to comment about this podcast? Sound off below in the comments.

A fun episode with lots of opinions (Glocks…enough said), click on one of the links below to listen now or download to your phone and listen later. Also, if you love the podcast, please leave us a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or Podbeam. It really helps!!!

 

The post Survival Cache Podcast Episode 13: Glocks & More Glocks appeared first on Survival Cache.

In 2011, John Paul Jackson warned that a “major storm is going to come to California” before the great earthquake that radically changes the geography of the state happens.  He said that it would be “a hurricane of incredible force, or it is a storm of incredible force”, and that the storm would represent “a sign that God will give” to let people know that “the Big One” is coming.  Up until now, we have not seen the sort of storm that John Paul Jackson warned about, and of course we have not seen “the Big One” yet either.  But now a “bomb cyclone” has just hit California, and it is being reported that it “could rival some of the most intense storms on record for that part of the country”.  And as you will see below, one meteorologist is even saying that California is “getting their version of a hurricane landfall” with this storm.  Yesterday, I suggested that this “bomb cyclone” could be meant as some sort of harbinger, and if this is actually the storm that John Paul Jackson warned us about then everyone on the west coast needs to know about this as soon as possible.

Just so there is no confusion, I would like to share with you exactly what John Paul Jackson said about these things during one of his broadcasts in 2011…

“There is a an earthquake that has been predicted to devastate California.  Meaning skyscrapers are going to fall that the shape of the United States will change after that earthquake. That won’t happen until after there’s a storm and major storm is going to come to California. It’s either a hurricane of incredible force, or it is a storm of incredible force. But a great, great hurricane, our incredible force is going to come to California, and the earthquake that destroys (California) will not happen until after that takes place. So there’s a way of saying, Okay, I have time, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be an earthquake tomorrow 7.5 you know, or next week or two weeks from now have some some magnitude.  I’m talking to one that changes the shape of California where you don’t want to live in California, anywhere in California, but that happens or perhaps even the most of the most of the West Coast.  Where an inland ocean is formed and and Baja becomes an island and the mouth of the inland ocean forms between between San Diego and Los Angeles.  That is not going happen before that that storm comes.  That is a sign that God will give this giving to the people- don’t worry about that big one. This sign will happen will happen first.”

If you would like to watch the video for yourself, you can find it right here.

So what we are watching for is a storm “of incredible force” that is either a hurricane or that has some of the characteristics of a hurricane.

Just like every hurricane that hits the United States, this “bomb cyclone” is spinning counterclockwise, and according to USA Today this absolutely immense storm will produce “100-mph wind gusts”…

A rare West Coast “bomb cyclone” is forecast to sweep into southern Oregon and northern California later Tuesday and into Wednesday, bringing 100-mph wind gusts to the coast and multiple feet of snow to the mountains.

“This is a unprecedented storm given the track and strength and will being very dangerous conditions to the area,” the National Weather Service in Medford, Oregon, said. “High winds and heavy snow is expected to impact the area.”

On the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, category 1 hurricanes produce sustained winds of between 74 and 95 miles per hour, and so this storm is definitely packing “hurricane-force wind speeds”.

In addition, the Washington Post is reporting that this “bomb cyclone” will produce waves up to 37 feet high, and up to four feet of snow will be dumped in the mountains…

Bearing witness to a storm that is forecast to come ashore at record strength and moving along an unprecedented track is about the only silver lining to be found in a powerful winter cyclone about to smash ashore near the California-Oregon border on Tuesday afternoon.

In the forecast stretching from Tuesday through Friday are plummeting temperatures, hurricane-force gusts that could reach or exceed 100 mph in some locations, giant waves of up to 37 feet, as much as four feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada and heavy rain in the lower elevations between San Diego and Salem.

Over and over again, the word “unprecedented” is being used in association with this storm, and the amount of precipitation that it is bringing ashore is definitely reminiscent of what one would expect from a hurricane.

Of course it is not officially a hurricane, but meteorologist Ryan Maue was not hesitant to publicly compare it to one…

While not a tropical system, Oregon and Northern California getting their version of a hurricane landfall today. Powerful “bomb cyclone” with wind gusting to 100 mph, heavy rain and mountain snows.

So is this the storm that John Paul Jackson saw?

I don’t know.  I can’t say for sure that it is, but I also can’t say for sure that it isn’t.

Up until now we could always be confident that “the Big One” was not coming quite yet because the storm that John Paul Jackson warned us about had to happen first.

Has that now changed?

Needless to say, John Paul Jackson is not the only one that has warned us about the historic earthquake that will dramatically alter the shape of California.  For much more on this, please see my previous article entitled “11 Prophecies Of The Giant Earthquake That Will Cause Large Parts Of California To Fall Into The Pacific Ocean”.

And what makes all of this even more alarming is that so many of the other elements of “the perfect storm” are coming together right in front of our eyes.  It appears that America is about to be greatly shaken in a number of different ways, and most of the population is completely oblivious to what is about to happen.

There are a few of us that are trying to sound the alarm, but I wish that there were thousands of others.

Please share this article with as many people as you can.  If this is the prophetic sign that John Paul Jackson told us to watch for, then time is rapidly running out for those that live along the west coast.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of 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 have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. 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. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. 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 a great help.

We all know about the joys of Black Friday and the inconvenience that comes with it as well, which give us more reasons to just stay at home. Check out the post below and find out why it’s best to just stay inside during Black Friday!

Black Friday: A Holiday Madness

It confounds me to no end that every Thanksgiving, a day in which we give thanks for all that we have, is immediately followed by a day created by retailers to prey on us by luring us in with the prospect of deep discounts on items on our wish lists. There are various reasons why it is better to just stay in the comfort of our home rather than head to the mall, which is like entering a mosh pit at a rock concert. If you don’t mind getting bumped, shoved, and people violating your personal space for a doorbuster item, then go ahead, it’s your choice. But for those people who are having second thoughts of going out this Black Friday, here are some of the best reasons why you should sit this one out.

1. It is better to sleep in

A 10% discount on a sweater is not reason enough to go out and cut the holiday short. Some people simply just want to stay home and sleep in. Waking up 4 A.M. or earlier just to get to the sales or wait in line for doorbusters is not worth it.

You probably still have a hangover from celebrating Thanksgiving and it is not the right time to drive or go shopping. It is better to spend more time with your family than to get trampled upon by the unruly mob. After all, there are some dinner leftovers and pumpkin pie in the fridge.

2. There’s always Cyber Monday

A lot of people look at Black Friday as an event, but that is not the only time where you can get huge discounts. Black Friday is just the start of the holiday sales. You can still purchase items at amazing prices in the succeeding days. Plus, you can get most of the in-store deals online too.

Ever heard of Cyber Monday? I bet you have. This is the time where you can get the best offers without leaving the comfort of your home and waiting in line. Almost everything you need is available online and you can have it just by clicking your mouse.

 

A post shared by Survival Life (@survivallife) on May 31, 2017 at 6:04am PDT

 

3. Good deals are year-round

Black Friday is not the only day to snag a sale. All you have to do is take time to research and you’ll find items way better than Black Friday deals. Who knows, you might get a 50-inch HDTV that comes with a great surround system at a very affordable price. Scouring the world wide web can be time-consuming, but it will be surely worth it when you find yourself deals to die for.

4. Not all deals are the best

More often than not, we fall prey to the attractive low prices of things we would not buy otherwise. There are items that may come extremely inexpensive, but the quality is questionable. Some of them have not been built to last. As a result, you have to buy another one and end up spending more money.

So don’t let the price fool you or else, you’ll have nothing but regrets. And with all the excitement and madness, you’ll suffer a drastic case of indecisiveness which can lead to buying things you don’t need.

5. Stories of Holiday Violence

During Black Friday, there’s a strong possibility you’ll encounter angry, rude people. They may be equally irate and frustrated as you. There were several reported incidents of violence in this time of the year and they are absolutely tragic.

People get injured or in some cases die when a large crowd burst through the store’s doors. You may even witness old women fighting over a turkey or parents screaming at each other over a video game. It is quite a sad scene or somewhat sickening, especially knowing it is just a day after giving thanks.

 

Want more reasons to stay at home on Black Friday? Watch this video from Joe Santagato and find out why you should just stay in!

Black Friday is a much-awaited event for deal hunters and a headache for ordinary shoppers. The long lines at a ravaged retail store and the traffic jams are just some of the reasons why it is starting to become pointless going out on Black Friday. Not to mention, the products and the deals you can get are also available online. But I won’t criticize anyone who would choose to head out into the cold this Friday morning. Just remember to stay alert and prioritize your safety because there’s no toy or gadget worth losing a life. Stay safe and happy hunting!

Do you know other reasons to stay at home this Black Friday? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

UP NEXT: Safe Shoppers | How to Avoid Holiday Violence on Black Friday

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The global economy is already in the worst distress that we have seen since 2008, and it appears that the global slowdown is actually picking up pace as we head into 2020.  And this is happening even though central banks around the world have been cutting interest rates and pumping massive amounts of money into their respective financial systems.  The central bankers appear to be losing control, and it certainly wouldn’t take much of a push for this new crisis to evolve into a complete and utter nightmare.  The U.S. economy hasn’t been hit quite as hard as economies in Asia and Europe have been, but without a doubt things are slowing down here too.  Corporate earnings have been falling quarter after quarter, auto loan delinquencies just hit a record high, the Cass Freight Index has declined for 11 consecutive months, and we just witnessed the largest drop for U.S. industrial production since 2009.  Everywhere around us there is bad economic news, but most Americans are still completely oblivious to what is happening.

In this article, I am going to share even more evidence that a global economic slowdown has already begun.  When you add these numbers to all of the other numbers that I have been sharing in recent weeks, it becomes impossible to deny that something major is taking place.

The following are 5 more signs that the global economy is careening toward a recession…

#1 It is being projected that global auto sales will be down approximately 4 percent this year.  According to CNN, this will be the second consecutive year that global auto sales have fallen…

With only a month left in the year, global auto sales are on track for a 3.1 million drop, about 4%, for the year, according to Fitch. That would be the biggest decline since 2008, when the financial crisis hit, and the second year in a row that sales have fallen. Fitch expects worldwide car sales to total 77.5 million in 2019.

#2 Global trade just keeps falling.  According to Zero Hedge, total global trade has now declined on a year over year basis for four months in a row…

Global trade on a YoY basis contracted by 1.1% in September, marking the fourth consecutive YoY declines and the most extended period of subdued trade since the financial crisis in 2009.

The CPB said supply chain disruptions between the US and China, due mostly to the trade war, were the most significant drag on international trade volumes. US volumes fell 2.1% in September MoM. Though in China, imports plunged 6.9% MoM.

As you can see from those first two examples, we keep witnessing things happen that we haven’t seen since the last financial crisis.  Over the past few months, I have used phrases such as “since 2008” and “since 2009” over and over again.  We literally have not seen economic numbers this bad since the last recession, and we are still in the very early phases of this new downturn.

And in some cases, the numbers are actually even worse than anything that we saw during the last recession, and that brings us to our next sign…

#3 Chinese industrial profits just fell by the largest percentage ever recorded…

China Industrial Enterprises total profits collapsed in October to CNY427.5bn from CNY575.6bn in September – a 9.9% YoY plunge, the biggest drop on record.

In fact, China’s Industrial sector has seen annual declines in its profits for 4 of the last 6 months.

The trade war has hit the Chinese economy really hard, but it doesn’t look like a trade deal will happen any time soon.

#4 U.S. consumer confidence has now fallen for four months in a row…

Consumer confidence dipped for a fourth straight month in November as economic conditions weaken toward the end of 2019, data released Tuesday by The Conference Board shows.

The board’s consumer confidence index dipped to 125.5 this month. That’s down from 126.1 in October. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected the index to rise to 126.6.

This wasn’t supposed to happen, and if it keeps happening that is going to have important implications for the 2020 election.

#5 Even the wealthy are cutting back on their spending.  According to Yahoo Finance, this is a continuation of a trend that we have been seeing for the past three quarters…

Spending by the top 10% fell 1% in the second quarter from the same period last year, according to an analysis of Federal Reserve data by Moody’s Analytics. And a four-quarter average of outlays by the high earners has slipped on an annual basis the past three quarters, marking the first such declines since the Great Recession of 2007-09.

In recent years, global central banks have engaged in unprecedented intervention in an attempt to stave off another crisis, and for a while their efforts appeared to be successful.

But just because the coming crisis was delayed does not mean that it was canceled.

In fact, over the past few years our long-term financial problems have actually gotten a lot worse.  We are facing the biggest debt bubble in the history of the planet, global financial markets are more primed for a crash than they have ever been before, and civil unrest is breaking out all over the world.  The stage is certainly set for “the perfect storm” that I keep talking about, and most Americans have absolutely no idea what is coming.

In all the time that I have been writing about the global economy, things have never looked more ominous then they do right now.

So buckle up and hold on tight, because it certainly looks like we are in for a very bumpy ride in the months ahead.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of 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 have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. 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. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. 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 a great help.

The post 5 More Signs That The Global Economy Is Careening Toward A Recession appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

A lot of people spend thousands of dollars on firearms and accessories, but when it comes to training or protecting their investments, they tighten up. A good hard case may cost a couple hundred dollars but will probably save you money and heartbreak in the long run. Think of it as insurance; if you take your rifle to the range, travel, or fly, a good case is a must have.

By J. Bridger, contributing author to Survival Cache and SHTFblog

Enter the 5.11 Tactical Hard Case. Taking this case out of the box, it was obvious right away that it is very well-made. It looks great. It has four beefy hinges and four latches. The outside dimensions are approximately 38.5”x 17”x 7″, and it weighs a hair over 17 pounds when empty (this differs slightly from the website specs). The case is injection molded from high strength polypropylene co-polymer resins. It is dust proof, crush proof, and watertight. The lid has foam glued inside. There are two removable foam inserts – one 1.75” thick, and one foam pad 0.5” thick. With inside dimensions of 36.5”x 14.5”, The 5.11 Tactical Hard Case can easily accommodate a 16” AR style rifle with the stock retracted, and its associated goodies.

Also Read: The Katrina Pistol Part I

The 5.11 Tactical Hard Case has two wheels on one end. I’ve never used a roller bag, but I could get used to this! It’s much easier to roll than carry, especially if you’re walking a long way in an airport. There are 4 metal reinforced padlock holes, and a pressure valve to regulate pressure inside the case. This is for pressure changes due to elevation and temperature fluctuation, to prevent damage to the case. The case surpasses current applicable Military Standards MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-648C.

The 5.11 website says this Tactical Hard Case is waterproof (to MIL-C-4150 Standards), even if fully submersed. As soon as I read that, I knew I’d have to test it out! Here’s some knowledge for you: Archimedes’ principle says the buoyant force exerted on a body in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Water weighs 62.4 pounds per cubic foot. If you have a box that displaces 1 cubic foot of water, you would have to put 62.4 pounds of force on that box to submerge it. That means, since this case is 38.5”x 17”x 7”, or 2.65 cubic feet, it would take 165 lbs to fully submerge it. Because the case weighs 17 pounds, assuming the case was a perfect rectangle, and with my weight being a lean 160 pounds, well, the case should sink if I stood on it. So, in theory, you can load this 5.11 case down with as much gear as you want (short of lead ingots) and it will still float. (And you probably didn’t think you’d learn anything here today). I filled the tub and tossed the case in. It floated without any problem. I stood on the 5.11 rifle case to submerge it, and waited until I got bored, which honestly didn’t take long. I took the case out of the bath, and upon opening, found that everything inside had remained bone dry. From what I’ve tested, you can rest assured this case is waterproof.  However, it did sink under my weight, so you will need to buy a separate stand-up paddle board.

Using this case is absolutely a delight! I use it to carry my guns to and from the truck when I go shooting in the desert. It fits behind the seats perfectly. I don’t have to worry about my optic going out of zero while it’s getting banged around on dirt roads. It keeps the harsh Vegas sun off my fine Rust-Oleum finish and the dust out of my Glock magazines. The handles are decently sized, well placed, and comfortable. People think the custom looking foam cutouts are right out of a John Wick movie (excellent Instagram material, btw). This 5.11 hard-sided case is light years ahead of my soft case. If you have the means, you absolutely should treat yourself.

 Cutting the Foam

To cut a silhouette of your firearm and accessories, you should start by placing them on the foam to get an idea of how much room you have and how you will arrange them. I tried to keep at least two inches of foam between items, but it didn’t always work out. That’s okay. I arranged my goodies on the foam mirrored from how I wanted them; that way the sharpie lines wouldn’t be facing up. There are several ways you can cut the foam. You can try a long-bladed utility knife, filet knife, electric knife, or a hot wire. I decided to use an electric knife from Walmart, just to make my life easier. It was only $15, and it gave me an excuse to look at gun magazines and buy a corndog. The electric knife made cutting the foam a breeze. Don’t force the blade through the foam, just let it do its thing and trace slowly around the inside of your lines. If you cut exactly on your lines, the cutout will be too big. I recommend cutting at least ¼” inside your tracing. When you pull your firearm from the case, the top layer of foam may come out with it. You can glue the top layer to the layer underneath, if you wish. Spray glue or Gorilla Glue are two options I am considering.

 Flying with a Firearm

There are a lot of reasons to fly with a firearm. A hunting trip, a training course, so you can carry your CCW at your destination, or just for the hell of it. It still is America, after all (in most places). Because the 5.11 Tactical Hard Case is a lockable rigid case with wheels, it is perfect for transporting via aircraft. Flying with a firearm is still easier than you might think.

First, check your local laws. Some places are not as gun friendly as others (we all know where I mean). Just to be clear, you cannot bring a firearm in your carry-on bag…even if you have a CCW, and even if the firearm is locked up. You cannot take magazines, gun parts, or ammo in your carry-on bag. However, per the TSA website, you CAN take rifle scopes in your carry-on bag.

Secondly, I would definitely check your airline’s website. They may have specific information on how much ammunition you can bring with you, and where and how to declare your firearm.

Also read: Building a TSA- Approved Bug Out Bag

Lastly, you need to check your firearm when you get to the terminal. I strongly dislike checking bags, but in this case, you will have to. This is a pretty easy process. All you must do is declare the case and firearms at the ticket counter. The idea of carrying my firearm into an airport made me pretty uneasy the first time; these days, people lose their minds over gun shaped Pop Tarts (I’m not kidding). Just be sure to keep the firearm locked up. You can call ahead at the airport if you gives you a warm and fuzzy.

When you arrive at your destination, all that’s left is to pick your firearms case up at the baggage claim at your destination. Just to be on the safe side, I take a picture of everything in the case and make sure I have the serial numbers written down. If you have a personal article policy through your insurance provider, they may cover your goods in the event something happens. Regarding locks, per the TSA website, “Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations.” The TSA also states: “You may use any brand of or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.”

As far as ammunition goes, the amount you can fly with varies by airline. 11 pounds seems to be pretty standard. That’s about 350-400 rounds of 5.56 NATO or 9×19, give or take (despite their size differences, the two cartridges are pretty close in weight). The ammunition must be completely enclosed in a box (cardboard, plastic, etc.) or magazine. I take that to mean Magpul P-mags with the dust cover in place are OKAY, but aluminum GI mags that are open at the top are NOT okay. The TSA agent of the day will have the final judgement call on that. The ammunition can be transported in the same case as your firearm, and the firearm must be unloaded (no magazine inserted).

Back To Your Regularly Scheduled 5.11 Tactical Hard Case Review

If you can afford a good rigid case, I highly recommend it! A hard case will make your life easier and will help you exercise your second amendment rights away from home. 5.11 also carries 42” and  50” rigid cases for your longer hunting rifles or shotguns; they even offer handgun and camera sized rigid cases. If you’d like something soft with more storage, 5.11 offers options for you as well. And here’s my favorite detail: they’re made in the USA!

What do you think? Does a hard sided case make your SHTF plan or get daily use? Sound off in the comments below!

 

References:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

MIL-C-4150J, MILITARY SPECIFICATION: CASES, TRANSIT AND STORAGE, WATERPROOF AND WATER-VAPORPROOF (29 NOV 1989). Scope: This specification establishes the requirements for rigid, reusable, fire retardant, waterproof and water-vapor proof, rectangular cases manufactured from ferrous or non-ferrous metals or non-metallic materials.

MIL-STD-648C, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DESIGN CRITERIA STANDARD: SPECIALIZED SHIPPING CONTAINERS (11 FEB 1999). Scope: This standard establishes general design guidelines and associated tests for specialized shipping containers used by the Department of Defense. Definitive requirements for specific containers will be defined by the individual specification, acquisition, or task order. This standard is intended to be used as the basic reference document in all specifications and standards prescribing performance requirements to be applied to a shipping container.

MIL-STD-810G, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TEST METHOD STANDARD: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS AND LABORATORY TESTS (31 OCT 2008) (24 MB)., Scope: This standard contains material acquisition program planning and engineering direction for considering the influences that environmental stresses have on materiel throughout all phases of its service life.

The post Survival Gear Review: 5.11 Tactical Hard Case appeared first on Survival Cache.

Man is a social being, no man is an island… we hear these phrases so often in this life. There is no society more complex than that of humans because surviving is not only about preserving one’s own life, but protecting those around us. Of course, there are those extremists who tend to be antisocial loners, but for the most part we have a desire and need to surround ourselves with other people, even in survival situations. Our chances for surviving increase when we are part of a group. Being part of a group means that that we can give and receive protection and help in the most desperate of times.

Surviving Alone: Is It Possible?

Being part of a group enhances the chances of survival for each member. The group supports the individual and the individual supports the group. As individuals work together to gather food and other resources, hunt or build shelter, each member benefits from the combined manpower. Defending a home or bug out location becomes easier. Life outside the comforts of the home would definitely demand a lot of work every day, and a group can help everyone reach their survival goals.

When it comes to surviving in a SHTF situation, it can be tempting to break off from the pack and fend for yourself. But is this your best bet for survival?

Click here for the full post.

The “Lone Wolf” mentality will get you killed

Arm chair warriors are a dime-a-dozen.  For many years I have seen this in martial arts discussions, tactical shooting discussions and now in survival discussions.  It seems that there is a relatively low percentage of the population that thinks that if the ship-hits-the-sand so to speak, that they are going to go-it alone and survive off the land.

Forgive me for being blunt here.  If you are one of those people I want to thank you right now.  When you die after a couple of months (probably less) of that lone wolf mentality there will be more resources for me and mine.  Seriously, thank you.

There is a fringe group of people out there who think they will just up and leave and make it on their own.  Some of the obvious points that are not considered when thinking you will be able to accomplish this are:

1.  Have you ever done this before and for how long?  If you have never engaged in long term (months long) trips into the wild subsisting on what you gather, forage, trap and hunt.  Then you are not going to make it unless there is a huge amount of luck on your side.  For me personally, I do not believe in luck, blessings yes, but luck, no.

2. What happened to the people you left behind?  So lets say you are the average family man, who has a job, its labor intensive, you work hard, real hard.  You spend a great deal of time each day working in all sorts of weather, etc.  You are tough, there is no doubt about it.  For some reason you think that translates into you being able to hack your way into the wilderness.  Whether that wilderness is trees or buildings is inconsequential here.  In your mind, you can make it.  But what about your family, friends, etc.  Are you simply going to walk away from them.  Do you for some reason think you are going to kill big game and drag it back to the house for them?  When was the last time you drug a deer that far?

via The “Lone Wolf” mentality will get you killed – Dan’s Survival Depot.

Of course there is always a chance that you will end up when SHTF. But you should still plan and strive for survival in a group. Having other people around will greatly increase your chances of surviving, for so many reasons.

Reality can be cruel, but you can at least hope to still have your family with you when it goes down. Having a group around to help and support you can be a source of strength in a survival situation. All of the difficulties are easier to deal with when you have other people to rely on. Living alone can elicit feelings of isolation and can lead to depression. Surviving together with those you love is not an added complication, but a blessing.

Check out related articles from our site:

How To Test Your Family’s Survival Skills

The Psychology of Survival – Why Your Mind Matters Most

16 Creature Comforts For When You Need To Hunker Down

Infamous CNN propagandist Chris Cuomo attempted to prove President Donald Trump wrong live on-air. Instead, a cringe-worthy moment earned Cuomo nationwide facepalms.

CNN’s Chris Cuomo attempted to prove President Donald Trump wrong about whether a non-speakerphone call could be overheard by a bystander. He did this by calling his mother, live on air. Cuomo called up his mom to disprove Trump’s claim that “he’s never been able to hear a phone call when it wasn’t on speakerphone from anybody.” Cuomo then asked his mom to say hello to his co-host, Dana Bash. If Cuomo was right, and Trump was wrong, Bash should have been able to hear Mom’s voice. It didn’t quite go that way.

Chris Cuomo calls his mom to prove you can hear someone talking on the phone without speakerphone and it was… something.

"Can you just say hello? Mom? She probably can't hear me. Mom, can you hear me? Mom? Say hello to Dana Bash." pic.twitter.com/KImamgOCxf

— Danielle Misiak (@DanielleMisiak) November 21, 2019

Nothing is more satisfying than these propaganda peddling nut jobs proving themselves wrong. The manipulative stunt fell flat, leaving Bash expectantly staring at the phone. Cuomo quickly pressed speakerphone, allowing everyone in the room to hear his mother’s voice briefly, then switched it off and again asked her to talk. After a few awkward seconds of silence, he nevertheless declared victory even as a co-host protested he’d heard nothing.

Cuomo has been mocked on Twitter since, with some using his much-hated nickname “Freddo.”

Propagandist UNHINGED: Anchor Loses It Over Nickname

OMG – this is rich. I guess Fredo didn't take notes during the OJ trial.

"Can you just say hello? Mom? She probably can't hear me. Mom, can you hear me? Mom? Say hello to Dana Bash."https://t.co/KHHUEpjcSo

— Dave Hidding (@thinkofdave) November 21, 2019

Transcript from convo:

Chris : Mom? Can you hear me?

Chris’ Mom: Fredo? Is that you ? Fredo I’m here. How are you? Fredo?

Chris: She probably can’t hear me.

— Jade Lupinacci (@LupyMagic) November 21, 2019

Cuomo’s stunt was a response to Trump’s insistence that Holmes could not possibly have overheard Trump’s side of the conversation in which Trump supposedly asked Sondland whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would “do the investigations” and Sondland replied that the leader would “do anything you ask him to.” By “the investigations,” Trump was presumably referring to the corruption probe of natural gas company Burisma that allegedly formed part of a quid pro quo between Trump and Zelensky, along with an inquiry into Ukrainian meddling in the 2016 election.

Holmes called his eavesdropping “an extremely distinctive experience in my Foreign Service career,” shocked that “a conversation of this level of candor, colorful language” could unfold between the president and a diplomat while he, Holmes, was seated at dinner with him. –RT

Trump called the aide out on Twitter, noting that while he’d “been watching people making phone calls my entire life…never have I been watching a person making a call, which was not on speakerphone, and been able to hear or understand a conversation” – even when straining to listen.

I have been watching people making phone calls my entire life. My hearing is, and has been, great. Never have I been watching a person making a call, which was not on speakerphone, and been able to hear or understand a conversation. I’ve even tried, but to no avail. Try it live!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2019

If you ever have carried a handgun bigger than an LCP, you know that concealing is its own challenge.

A small handgun like the LCP or Diamond Back DB9 is a compromise, often sacrificing power, accuracy, controllability and capacity for carry comfort. While a mouse gun may be better than nothing, it’s still only just a little better than a sharp stick.

Proper holsters, belts and clothing can make carrying a large weapon easier, and even more comfortable. Accessing the weapon, though, isn’t always optimum, but that’s where the style of clothes come into play. They enhance not only accessibility, but also comfort.

With the rise in popularity of concealed carry it only makes sense that more companies would come forward to fill a niche with holsters, guns and now clothes. These clothes are designed especially for concealed carriers. This is a welcome change from buying a gun to fit around your clothing; now you can fit your gun around your clothing.

Winter Wear

Winter has always been the time to carry a big gun. The jackets and sweatshirts have always made it just a little easier to conceal a weapon. Concealing is easy, but as soon as you start adding layers of thick clothing, your draw quickly becomes slow and difficult. So the fact is, baggy clothes mean easy concealment, but difficult draw. Hoodies tend to snag and catch, and jackets can do the same.

1. Under Armour Soas Storm Hoodie

The biggest issue with concealing a weapon is the concealed part. Sure, no one can see the gun, but do you look like you are carrying? The biggest assumption about concealed carry clothes is their tactical appearance. Under Armour is an extremely popular brand.

They started in the sport clothing business and have slowly expanded into the tactical market. This was spurred because of the number of military personnel who loved their clothing. This hoodie is a combination of both the sports and tactical sides of the company.

This hoodie looks like the average Under Armour hoodie, and sports its well-known wicking ability as well as its water resistance. The hoodie is, of course, both warm and comfortable, and very high quality. The tactical part is the opening in the kangaroo pouch that allows easy and quick access to an appendix-style holster.

Deception is the rule of thumb, and no one suspects anything when a guy has his hands in his hoodie pocket. The opening inside the pocket is wide and easy to access, and it is very easy to pull a gun through it. From the kangaroo pouch to the draw is smooth and easy.

2. Scott Alpha Jacket

The Scott Alpha Jacket is in its own category of awesome. It is chock full of pockets to conceal any and everything. The Scott Alpha Jacket features 35 pockets to carry a cell phone, a tablet, a pen, extra ammo, and of course a gun. The Alpha Jacket is a stylish design that stays away from the operator look as well.

The Alpha Jacket allows a quick access universal holster for up to a Glock 19-sized gun. The not-so-compact gun fits in very nicely. The extra pockets could be used to store as much ammunition as you could possibly desire, or simply fill them with everyday needs. The jacket even has pockets in the sleeves to hide a knife or flashlight.

3. CCW Breakaways

One of the best ways to conceal carry a weapon has to be these pants. Available as khakis, cargo pants and jeans, these concealed carry pants are designed to carry a weapon at the front part of the thigh for maximum comfort when sitting and flexibility when moving.

Like the name suggests, the pocket breaks away to reveal the weapon for quick and easy access. This type of carry is for those who wear a tucked-in shirt and despise the uncomfortable and slow draw tucked-in holsters. The khakis are great for the office and the jeans for off-work wear. The pants are tough and dependable, and are definitely premium in quality.

How to hide your guns, and other off grid caches…

The breakaway pockets are on both sides and are accessible for left or right handers. The pockets are capable of concealing large pistols and the material resists printing. The size of the person wearing the pants will determine the size of the gun capable of carrying.

4. 5.11 Tactical Holster Shirt

This undershirt style of carry has become more and more popular. The 5.11 Undershirts are remarkably tough and a very concealed and comfortable way to carry. The 5.11 shirts do require a cover garment such as a button down shirt. This does form a deep concealment holster and can be worn under a suit with or without a suit jacket.

For normal quick access carry, the button down garment can be left open and the holster carries like a shoulder rig without the bulky straps. The Undershirt comes with a left- and right-handed pocket holster. The extra pocket can conceal another firearm or extra ammo. The 5.11 holster is capable of carrying a full-sized weapon, which is a major advantage over a mouse gun. A full size Sig with 15 to 17 rounds of fire power beats six rounds of .380 from a Glock 42 any day.

5.11 isn’t the only brand or option for concealed carry shirts, either. Undertech produces a lightweight mesh sleeveless shirt and a long sleeve concealed carry shirt for winter wear. Speaking of Undertech …

5. Undertech Concealment Shorts

“Shorts” is a bit deceiving when describing these, as they actually are tight compression shorts that in reality are underwear. The Undertech Concealment Shorts pack a universal holster held in place with tight elastic. This holster places the weapon in the small of the back and can be worn left or right handed. The shorts are available for both men and women. The shorts are completely tuckable if necessary and act as a simple IWB holster, without the need for a belt. They could easily be worn with gym shorts or sweat pants. The Undertech Shorts are available as singles or in packs of three.

As you can see, this industry is growing on an almost daily basis. With concealed carry on the rise, companies are gleefully stepping up to fill the void of comfortable and functional ways to carry a weapon. This goes for holsters, clothes and even for guns themselves. The advent of these clothes by major brands like 5.11 and Under Armour are only a preview of what is to come if concealed carry keeps growing in popularity. With recent law changes in Washington D.C., California and Illinois, it’s easy to see that concealed carry is going nowhere anytime soon.

What types of clothes do you wear when concealing? Share your thoughts in the section below: 

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The post How To Pack Heat With Absolutely No One Knowing appeared first on Off The Grid News.

A shocking new study that was just released has discovered that an epidemic of anal cancer is sweeping across America.  At one time this sort of cancer was very rare in the United States, but experts are telling us that a shift in sexual behavior has caused “a dramatic rise” in the disease in this country.  Of course this is not the only type of cancer that has been exploding in recent years.  These days, just about everyone knows somebody with cancer, and it is truly a major national crisis.  In fact, scientists tell us that about a third of all women and about half of all men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives…

Cancer will affect 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the United States, and the number of new cases of cancer is set to nearly double by the year 2050. Both predictions are based on statistics collected by the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Today, Americans spend more than 140 billion dollars a year treating cancer.

That is “billion” with a “b”.

I am looking at that number right now and I am still having a difficult time believing that it is true, but it comes straight from the federal government.

Anal cancer certainly isn’t as prominent as breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer, but this new study that just came out found that the number of cases has “increased dramatically over the last 15 years”…

Rates of new anal cancer diagnoses and deaths related to human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection, have increased dramatically over the last 15 years, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). The results of their study were published in the November issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

And according to CNN, the increase has been particularly dramatic among a couple of key demographic groups…

“Our findings of the dramatic rise in incidence among black millennials and white women, rising rates of distant-stage disease, and increases in anal cancer mortality rates are very concerning,” the study’s lead author, Ashish A. Deshmukh, an assistant professor at UTHealth School of Public Health, said in a statement. “Given the historical perception that anal cancer is rare, it is often neglected.”

So why is this happening?

There are certainly a lot of reasons, but the study did specifically identify a major change in sexual behavior as one of the key driving factors.  The following comes from CNN…

Since the 1950s, there have been substantial changes in risk factors for anal cancer, including shifts in sexual behaviors and an increased number of sexual partners, according to the study, both of which increase the likelihood of contracting HPV.

According to the study, the vast majority of anal cancer cases are caused by the HPV virus.  In fact, it actually tops the list of the National Cancer Institute’s list of risk factors…

The good news is that you can dramatically reduce your chance of getting the disease by avoiding high risk behaviors.

Today, it is way too easy to catch the HPV virus.  According to the New York Post, approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected…

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, infecting some 79 million Americans. In its benign form, it goes undetected, often subdued by our body’s immune system. In some cases, though, it produces warts. And, if left untreated, more extreme strains of the virus could cause cancer.

That means that nearly one out of every four Americans has the virus.

Do you really want to gamble with your health?  You may beat the odds a few times, but eventually your luck is going to run out.

If you think that you may have this sort of cancer, there are certain symptoms that you should look for.  The following list comes from the National Cancer Institute…

Sadly, other unusual forms of cancer are also escalating rapidly.  In fact, it was recently reported that oral cancer has risen to record high levels.

If you have ever known someone that has died from cancer, then you already know how horrible such a death can be.  Anyone that is suffering through such a fate needs our love, our compassion, and our prayers.

As our culture has steadily deteriorated, we have opened the door for so much unnecessary pain and suffering.  Every choice that we make has consequences, and as a society we just keep making disastrous choices.

Let me give you a very basic example.  At one time millions upon millions of Americans were heavy smokers, and those that smoked got a lot of enjoyment out of it.  Unfortunately, many of those same individuals eventually developed lung cancer, and many of them died way before they should have.

Smoking is not nearly as prevalent today, but other high risk behaviors have exploded in popularity.  When we engage in those high risk behaviors, we shouldn’t be surprised when there are consequences later on.

And just as there are consequences for individual behavior, so there are also consequences for societal behavior as a whole.

Every year, the extreme social decay that is eating away at our society seems to get even worse.  We need to alter our course and change our behavior while we still can, because the road that are are currently on doesn’t lead anywhere good.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of 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 have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. 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. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. 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 a great help.