More food for thought

We were asked to pass this along - and we highly recommend that you do so too.

"I've driven the almost 400 mile stretch of Interstate 5 from L.A. to Sacramento

dozens of times.

Quite honestly, it's as boring as it gets. with only the usual gas stations, mini-marts, fast-food, home-cookin' restaurants, and strangely a

newer batch of Starbuck's Coffee shops sprouting up everywhere.

In between... farms, orchards, cattle, and dirt. On July 15th, as I began my trip to Utah, I came off the Grapevine decline and hit the flat 250 or so mile stretch of interstate which begins the farming belt

in the valley.

Almost immediately I noticed what I had only heard about on the

radio and in the papers.

Where once there were vast fields of green, now there where empty, barely recognizable rows of unplanted dirt and growing weeds. Only sporadically at first, but once I passed Bakersfield and for about a 200 mile

stretch, I could not believe my eyes.

Field after field laid fallow. And not really fallow, but unattended... as if it was not going to be planted in the near future either.

Signs were staked in the ground on almost every patch of barren farmland.

The most common one, which was yellow and obviously a group effort to wake up the sleeping travelers of thier future plight, read: "CONGRESS CREATED DUST BOWL"

Others, which looked more homemade were posted on non-operational farm equipment parked as close to the freeway as possible, stated things like: "FOOD ONLY GROWS WHERE WATER FLOWS" -and- "NO WATER = NO JOBS = NO FUTURE"

At one point, after 150 miles or so of seeing this horror, I broke down in

tears and had to pull over to the side of the road.

I saw the aqueduct, which followed Interstate 5 most of the way, and large fields of dead trees which were planted just a few feet from the flowing cement river. I imagined how those trees would feel, imprisoned in the dying dirt by their own roots, if they could indeed comprehend that their source of life was just a stones throw

away.

It was like some horrific story-book come to life; science fiction in

real time.

I was thinking of the farmers and their families and wondering what would become of them and their land. I was thinking about the consequences of hundreds of miles of food no longer being grown, and adding together the other states like Campo, Colorado which have the same situation... only planting 60% of their crops this year.

This deadness went on untill the brink of civilization once again began to

show.

When I approached the Stockton/Modesto highway interchange area the

carnage seemed to stop, and the fields appearded to be healthy an bountiful.

I can only guess that this is because more people drive on that stretch of the

freeway, and so the powers that be are trying to keep up appearances.

No other explanation came to mind.

To the readers of this, I can only say that living in the city has literally

blinded me to the truth, even though I knew it was happening.

I wonder how many other things I ignore?

Many economists and trends predictors have called for food shortages and food riots in the fall, and with what I saw last week, I have new reason to believe them.

But then, that's the real problem isn't it? Belief... If you believe that the food will continue to flow (magically appearing on store shelves in a grocery store near you) and just dismiss the very real claims of shortages worldwide, including a severe wheat shortage in this country due to a harmful fungus, then I might boldly say that you deserve whatever fate befalls you.

I challenge you all to take a drive up the 5 and see this for yourself.

Please!

Don't let this go unseen.

If you are camera or video savy, I think it would be a really great photo exibit or website showing the true nature of our common

problem.

And you better believe, as you take your daily shower, flush your toilet, and water your fertilized-non-edible grassy yards, that this is indeed

a Congress created crisis.

So please tell as many people about it as possible.

Lastly, if you haven't already... buy storable food!

Go to the dollar store and buy rice and beans. Buy pasta, caned and jarred foods, or anything with a shelf-life of more than 6 months. What's the worse that can happen? You'll have food in 6 months. What's the best that can happen? You'll have food in 6 months.

Take care. Spread this information.

Get mad.

Fight tyranny.

And... Don't be a sheep.

Clint Richardson

introspector48@yahoo.com

Monday, July 20, 2009

The above was sent to me as an email and I think its important the whole country is aware of what the idiots in Washington DC are up to. "He who controls the food controls the people". Scary words? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!!

My favorite knives

I have had a lot of knives over the years and have decided that high carbon steel blades work the best for me. I like stainless but there are so few alloys that hold a good edge for a reasonable time and they are very expensive. Maybe I’m just better at sharpening carbon steel, but these type blades stay sharp and last me for a very long time.

I do own a few stainless blades and they are made by Victorinox (my SAK & GAK) and an S30V Buck Hartsook. These blades are incredible! I touch up my Victorinox steel very lightly with my fine grade ceramic rods on my Lansky and they are razor sharp. A final stropping with my chrome oxide loaded strop puts a final finish on them.

Top: Buck Hartsook

Bottom: new style sheath

The S30V Buck is quite a blade, too. I do the same routine with it and it is good for a long time. S30V is made by Crucible Steel in New York state. S30V is a powdered metal and this makes it very expensive. The MSRP for a Hartsook is around $40. I noticed that Buck has another knife, the Buck/Mayo Kaala, made from S30V and it is around $120. Its not much bigger than a Mora. I carry the Hartsook in my front shirt or pants pocket and I hardly know its there. Its such a handy little knife and I use it every day around the house and at work. Mine has the old style sheath and I have been eyeing a new style sheath but the cost is a bit too high ($10.). I use a ranger band to keep my sheath tight enough that there are no looseness problems with it.

Top: R Murphy

Bottom: Lauri

Speaking of Mora’s, I love them. But I have a problem with the short, under strength tang on most of them. I got a Lauri of Finland blade from Bens Backwoods and I mounted it in a cedar handle. This knife has a nice long tang and its very sturdy. Its also progressive tempered high carbon and holds an incredible edge. The Mora #1 & 2 have a good tang but I don’t care for the handle that much. They are excellent knives, though. Take a look at this xray photo of Mora knife tangs. It will explain the tang problem better.

Top to bottom: Craftsman, Clipper, 711, 2000, 510

Three Kellams and a Mora at the bottom.

Another knife I’ve grown fond of is the R. Murphy knife sold by Bens Backwoods for all of $17. The Murphy knives are made in Ayer, Massachusetts. I remember seeing this factory when I was stationed at Fort Devens which is just outside of Ayer city limits. This is a very nice carbon steel knife and I use it for food prep. It’s the thinnest blade I have and I bought it for this purpose. I like the hump with the gimping on it. It gives it excellent control when cutting and peeling. These were sold years ago by Herters. Mine is the smaller Sportman knife with 4” blade. It comes with a very nice leather sheath which can be worn on the belt or as a neck knife.

Ontario Spec Plus survival

The good old Ontario Pilots & Air Crew survival knife has been a favorite for many years. I was issued o

ne with the leather handle when I was in the Army in 1971. The date on the butt was 1-71. I had that knife for about 30 years until some low life lifted it from my truck. I went out looking for another one and bought a new Ontario Spec Plus version. It is the same blade style but the handle and sheath are all new. The handle is Kraton non-slip and the sheath Cordura and leather. I actually like the handle on the Spec Plus version a lot better. Its bigger and fits my huge old hands just right.

KA-BAR Kukri

I recently did an article on the KA-BAR Kukri so I won’t get too much into it. It’s a great blade and the more I use it the more I like it. I’m amazed how long it stays sharp and the capabilities it possesses. I’ve done everything from major firewood chopping to fine draw knifeing with it. What a blade!

Top three: Schrade, Schmidt & Zeigler,Victorinox SAK

Bottom: Victorinox GAK

I have a selection of pocket knives I consider keepers. These are my Victorinox Swiss Army Knife ( also known as SAK) and my Victorinox German Army Knife (aka GAK). There’s something about Victorinox stainless steel that makes it hold a razor sharp edge and keep it. My other pocket folders are the made in USA Old Timer “peanut” twin blade by Schrade (before they sold out the factory to Taylor Brands in China!) and an old Solingen, Germany Schmidt & Zeigler 3 blade. Both of these are carbon steel.

I carry my SAK & GAK pocket knives in leather bags made to fit them. This keeps all the junk that is bound to collect in your pockets from gunking up the joints. I make the bags big enough to hold an accompanying diamond hone. The Old Timer and Solingen are kept in small survival kit.

As you can see, none of my knives are high dollar blades yet they perform just as good as a knife costing many times their price. The most expensive knife is the KA-BAR at $50.00.

Turn on the water!!!!!!!

Yesterday we had a rally in Fresno and 15,000 people showed up for it! Did you hear about it on your news station? Probably not. The rally was about water. Specifically the Fed has turned off the pumps in the Sacramento/San Joaquin river delta to protect a smelt. A small fish that is caught by the millions in Lake Superior alone. Oh, and now they found a never before seen sturgeon and to top everything off they spotted a killer whale. In a fresh water delta far from the sea. Yea.......right. This water they have turned off is what supported hundreds of farms and over 180,000 jobs in the San Joaquin valley, also called the Central Valley. Now these farms and people are destitute with no water to grow crops and those jobs taking care of and harvesting them are gone. These farms are on the west side of the valley. I live on the east side. So far we don't have a water problem here. Yet......... Did you know that most of the vegetables, fruit and nuts grown in the US are grown here? Is this a way of forcing our farms to shut down and force Americans to buy food from other countries? A way for "The Annointed One" to force more global BS down our throats? An awful lot of folks think so. A lot of the signs at the rally read "If you like foreign oil, you're gonna love foreign food!". Do you trust other countries to practice safe methods of agriculture so that the food you buy from them is safe for you and your family? I didn't think so. Please, what ever you do, just take a few minutes and write your congressman and ask them to turn on the pumps NOW!!! Our future is at stake and the safety of your family and your selves.