The Coming Trial of Zhou Yongkang

The Coming Trial of Zhou Yongkang

As the Party winds down its investigation of Zhou Yongkang, get ready for another high-profile trial.

 

By Shannon Tiezzi for The Diplomat

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 The South China Morning Post reported today that Beijing has begun briefing high-ranking officials on the Party’s investigation into Zhou Yongkang, a former Politburo Standing Committee member and former Minister of Public Security. SCMP writes that briefings “are customary at the culmination of highly sensitive cases,” meaning that the Party might be wrapping up Zhou’s case. If the Party decides to officially charge Zhou with graft, he would be the highest ranking Party member ever prosecuted for corruption.

There have been rumors about a possible Zhou Yongkang investigation since 2012, ever since the scandal surrounding Bo Xilai erupted. Bo was a political ally of Zhou’s, and there were rumors that Zhou alienated himself from other leaders by trying to prevent any punishment of his acolyte. Ever since then, the Party’s nets have slowly tightened around Zhou. Investigators began probing current or former high-ranking officials at each of Zhou’s power centers. In Sichuan, where Zhou had served as party chief, former deputy governor Guo Yongxiang and former deputy party chiefs Li Chongxi and Li Chuncheng were targeted. Former vice-minister of public security Li Dongsheng is also under investigation, as are several high-ranking executives from the China National Petroleum Corporation, where Zhou used to be a senior manager.

When the South China Morning Post initially reported that Zhou was under investigation back in August 2013, its sources said that “President Xi Jinping and his administration are determined to use the case to galvanize the anti-graft campaign.” Targeting such a high-profile, high-ranking Party official would certainly lend a new aura of legitimacy to Xi’s year-long anti-corruption campaign. No previous leader has prosecuted a former Politburo Standing Committee member. By doing so, Xi’s campaign would set a historic precedent.

There have also been rumors that Zhou is being targeted out of political motives. Some of the more sensational rumors surrounding the case claim that Zhou opposed Xi Jinping’s rise to power — and that he even tried to have Xi assassinated [Chinese]. While that’s obviously a bit far-fetched, it’s not unrealistic to assume that there was at least some political rivalry between Zhou and Xi, particularly as the Bo case developed. Taking down Zhou might be intended to serve as a warning to potential rivals by showing Xi’s consolidation of power. “Xi can’t build his authority if he doesn’t fight a real big tiger during this anti-corruption campaign,” a source told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Whatever the motivation, it appears clear that Zhou is now firmly ensnared. Reuters reported back in December that Zhou was under house arrest, and noted that he had not been seen since October 1. In addition to his former aides, his son Zhou Bin is reportedly cooperating with authorities. With the investigation reportedly drawing to a close, the biggest remaining question is whether or not Zhou will be tried.

Such a trial would be a major publicity coup for Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, and would also lend an image boost to China’s court system. The trial of Bo Xilai was used to similar effect. A commentary published in Xinhua praised the “unprecedented openness and transparency in the trial of Bo Xilai.” The article added, “Such cases involving senior officials once again highlighted the application of the rule of law for every organization and individual in the country, including CPC members, no matter how high their posts.” It’s easy to imagine a similar narrative unfolding around a potential Zhou Yongkang trial.

However, there are risks as well. One interesting (but unsubstantiated) story from the overseas Chinese-language Epoch Times claimed that recent stories about the offshore financial accounts of Chinese leaders’ family members were the result of political leaks — a warning from Zhou’s supporters to Xi’s camp that “if you want to die, we’ll die together.” Zhou was influential and a public trial might cause divisions within top Party leadership. Of course, analysts made the same argument about Bo Xilai, yet the Party proceeded with his trial.

There are other risks. The Party might be reluctant to bring charges against Zhou in court precisely because he was so high-ranking — revealing the extent of his financial crimes could reflect poorly on the Party. Still, the SCMP article wrote that “the amount of money involved in the case would be far less than some reports have suggested.” That’s a possible indication that the Party will try Zhou with charges involving sums of money large enough to convict him, but not big enough to completely outrage the public.

Ever since gaining power, Xi has continuously surprised foreign onlookers with his control of the Party. It’s best at this point not to underestimate him. A trial would be in keeping with the new, high-profile tack Xi is taking, both with his own personal leadership and with the anti-corruption probe. Xi seems to have realized that in the internet age, certain high-profile stories are guaranteed to leak. Rather than keeping events quiet and handling them under the table, Xi seems to prefer going public with a carefully controlled narrative.

To this point, state media have remained silent about Zhou Yongkang but have not shied away from covering the arrests of his former aides. His name is considered a sensitive word on the Chinese internet, but the Chinese social media specialists at Tea Leaf Nation wrote in December that enterprising netizens were still finding ways to speculate on Zhou’s fate. We saw the same mix of official silence and internet speculation during the early stages of the Bo Xilai affair.

But that state media silence was eventually broken. When the official announcement on Bo’s crimes came out it was a doozy — Bo was not only accused of embezzlement but of “seriously harming the interests of the state and people.”  That paved the way for a flood of Party-sanctioned articles on Bo, his crimes, and the triumph of anti-corruption forces and the rule of law. As the investigation into Zhou Yongkang winds down, look for a state media response that advances a similar narrative. As with Bo Xilai, the case of Zhou Yongkang is simply too big to brush under the rug. Xi will once again gamble by going public.

The original post can be found at:  http://thediplomat.com/2014/01/the-coming-trial-of-zhou-yongkang/

 

Government Role in Economics

Government Role in Economics

       From a friend of mine who wrote this as part of a college class he is taking.

               Since the inception of government, many have debated what its proper role and size in society is. Lockean liberals believed in laissez faire economics while T.H. Green, who many consider to be the father of social liberalism, believed that the government had a role in helping the poor. When the government takes on the complete role of the economy, it is called collective decision-making. Collective decision-making is, “the method of organization that relies on the public-sector decision-making (voting, political bargaining, lobbying, and so on) to resolve basic economic questions.” (Gwartney p. 35) Under this economic theory, the government owns and controls the means of production, leaving no room for complete property rights of the individual. Marxism-Leninism is a prime example of complete government ownership to the extreme level of a dictatorship.

            In The State by Franz Oppenheimer he tackles the idea of a strong central authority in the monetary system, “Here, as in the case of the maritime States, the consequences of the invading money system is that the central government becomes almost omnipotent, while the local powers are reduced to complete impotence.” (Oppenheimer p. 109) As we can see, Oppenheimer did not believe in a strong central government at the federal level invading the economics of a nation. Many problems can come from the government insisting its role in the economy of a nation. Centralized planning can take on the façade of a wonderful thing and help many at the beginning of its quest, but slowly the market will catch up and expose the miscalculations and imperfections of man.

            When we truthfully analyze an economy one must admit that market anarchism does not exist, and never has. All economies are mixed to a degree. Even an economy that is completely collective will have black markets on the side that take the place of the free market, though this would not be enough to change a dictatorship over an economy. In modern times, we see the example of socialism as collectivism in action. Though there are many different definitions of socialism, the one that has become most prominent is that of state socialism. The horrors of state communism under Lenin and Stalin can be attributed to state socialism along with Marx’s idea of “dictatorship of the proletariat.”

            How can the Christian find a balance between government control and the failures that capitalism has when concerning ones spirituality and emotional needs? I think that we must look at Romans 13 to help us understand authority, “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:2, NIV) Whenever we understand that God has ultimate control of this world, we will understand that it is His authority that comes first but that the men and women He places at the level of authority is His doing; thus, He is always in control.

 

Gwartney, J., Stroup, R., Sobel, R., Macpherson, D. (2013). 14 Edition. Economics:             Private and Public Choice. Mason, OH. South-Western, Cengage Learning

 

Oppenheimer, F. (1908). The State. San Francisco, CA. Fox & Wilkes

A political meal I can eat

A political meal I can eat

       Finally

It is presently below  freezing where I live, but the forecasters believe it will get above freezing later in the day. As to further than that, I'll deal with the cards as they unfold, though the best guess is that it will be chilly, but barely above freezing for a few days. Only time will tell. I live in east Tennessee, USA on the Cumberland Plateau just to locate where the area is.

So today I made a "political meal" which has in it:

Alfredo sauce

Chicken broth

Ramen with chicken mix

Bacon bits

Chopped white onions

Minced garlic

Bacon bits

Dehydrated green and red peppers

Kombu (seaweed used as a thickener- though corn starch should work about as well)

All is cooked in a Japanese magnetic induction cooker which works quite well both at cooking and then maintaining the meal for serving at anytime. A traditional rice cooker or slow cooker should work about as well, too.

Morale is a fickle thing.  The expectation of a nifty  meal at anytime is good for my morale.

And what I don't eat, the yard dogs most assuredly will eat tomorrow.

Cold wave

Cold wave

       A wiki link on the subject can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_wave

            This post is prompted by three things that have happened in my lifetime (age 65):

            1)  We have had many previous cold spells that are seldom or poorly reported these days. Most seem to be forgotten by the people who never experienced such calamitous times.

            2) The freeze line where I live is 18". There are reports I have heard of the freeze line getting down to like 5' during a bitter cold time in the 1960's, with a lot of pipes bursting.

            3) The most recent cold weather adverse effects in the Atlanta area are a repeat of earlier events I have actually observed, though none of this is reported these days.

In the end, it is cold, and people and animals don't like being too cold. Being bitter cold can kill or maim us.

Last, if one thinks cold arctic winds out of Canada can be cold, try cold Siberian winds during the cold season, too.

 

 

GOES 13 weather satellite image captured on Jan. 28, 2014. (Source: NOAA/NASA GOES Project)

Noonan: Meanwhile, Back in America . . .

Noonan: Meanwhile, Back in America . . .

 

The growing distance between Washington and the public it dominates.

 

By Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal

The State of the Union was a spectacle of delusion and self-congratulation in which a Congress nobody likes rose to cheer a president nobody really likes. It marked the continued degeneration of a great and useful tradition. Viewership was down, to the lowest level since 2000. This year's innovation was the Parade of Hacks. It used to be the networks only showed the president walking down the aisle after his presence was dramatically announced. Now every cabinet-level officeholder marches in, shaking hands and high-fiving with breathless congressmen. And why not? No matter how bland and banal they may look, they do have the power to destroy your life—to declare the house you just built as in violation of EPA wetland regulations, to pull your kid's school placement, to define your medical coverage out of existence. So by all means attention must be paid and faces seen.

I watched at home and thought: They hate it. They being the people, whom we're now supposed to refer to as the folks. But you look at the polls at how people view Washington—one, in October, had almost 9 in 10 disapproving—and you watch a kabuki-like event like this and you know the distance, the psychic, emotional and experiential distance, between Washington and America, between the people and their federal government, is not only real but, actually, carries dangers. History will make more of the distance than we do. Someday in the future we will see it most vividly when a truly bad thing happens and the people suddenly need to trust what Washington says, and will not, to everyone's loss.

In the country, the president's popularity is underwater. In the District of Columbia itself, as Gallup notes, it's at 81%. The Washington area is now the wealthiest in the nation. No matter how bad the hinterlands do, it's good for government and those who live off it. The country is well aware. It is no accident that in the national imagination Washington is the shallow and corrupt capital in "The Hunger Games," the celebrity-clogged White House Correspondents' Dinner, "Scandal" and the green room at MSNBC. It is the chattering capital of a nation it less represents than dominates.

Supposedly people feel great rage about this, and I imagine many do. But the other night I wondered if what they're feeling isn't something else.

***

As the president made his jaunty claims and the senators and congressmen responded semirapturously I kept thinking of four words: Meanwhile, back in America . . .

Meanwhile, back in America, the Little Sisters of the Poor were preparing their legal briefs. The Roman Catholic order of nuns first came to America in 1868 and were welcomed in every city they entered. They now run about 30 homes for the needy across the country. They have, quite cruelly, been told they must comply with the ObamaCare mandate that all insurance coverage include contraceptives, sterilization procedures, morning-after pills. If they don't—and of course they can't, being Catholic, and nuns—they will face ruinous fines. The Supreme Court kindly granted them a temporary stay, but their case soon goes to court. The Justice Department brief, which reads like it was written by someone who just saw "Philomena," suggests the nuns are being ignorant and balky, all they have to do is sign a little, meaningless form and the problem will go away. The sisters don't see the form as meaningless; they know it's not. And so they fight, in a suit along with almost 500 Catholic nonprofit groups.

Everyone who says that would never have happened in the past is correct. It never, ever would have under normal American political leadership, Republican or Democratic. No one would've defied religious liberty like this.

The president has taken to saying he isn't ideological but this mandate—his mandate—is purely ideological.

It also is a violation of traditional civic courtesy, sympathy and spaciousness. The state doesn't tell serious religious groups to do it their way or they'll be ruined. You don't make the Little Sisters bow down to you.

This is the great political failure of progressivism: They always go too far. They always try to rub your face in it.

Meanwhile, back in America, disadvantaged parents in Louisiana—people who could never afford to live in places like McLean, Va., or Chevy Chase, Md.—continue to wait to see what will happen with the state's successful school voucher program. It lets poor kids get out of failed public schools and go to private schools on state scholarships. What a great thing. But the Obama Justice Department filed suit in August: The voucher system might violate civil rights law by worsening racial imbalance in the public schools. Gov. Bobby Jindal, and the parents, said nonsense, the scholarship students are predominately black, they have civil rights too. Is it possible the Justice Department has taken its action because a major benefactor of the president's party is the teachers unions, which do not like vouchers because their existence suggests real failures in the public schools they run?

Meanwhile, back in America, conservatives targeted and harassed by the Internal Revenue Service still await answers on their years-long requests for tax exempt status. When news of the IRS targeting broke last spring, agency officials lied about it, and one took the Fifth. The president said he was outraged, had no idea, read about it in the papers, boy was he going to get to the bottom of it. An investigation was announced but somehow never quite materialized. Victims of the targeting waited to be contacted by the FBI to be asked about their experience. Now the Justice Department has made clear its investigation won't be spearheaded by the FBI but by a department lawyer who is a campaign contributor to the president and the Democratic Party. Sometimes you feel they are just laughing at you, and going too far.

In the past five years many Americans have come to understand that an agency that maintained a pretty impressive record for a very long time has been turned, at least in part, into a political operation. Now the IRS has proposed new and tougher rules for grassroots groups. Cleta Mitchell, longtime attorney for many who've been targeted, says the IRS is no longer used in line with its mission: "They're supposed to be collecting revenues, not snooping and trampling on the First Amendment rights of the citizens. We are not subjects of a king, we are permitted to engage in First Amendment activities without reporting those activities to the IRS."

***

All these things—the pushing around of nuns, the limiting of freedoms that were helping kids get a start in life, the targeting of conservative groups—all these things have the effect of breaking bonds of trust between government and the people. They make citizens see Washington as an alien and hostile power.

Washington sees the disaffection. They read the polls, they know.

They call it rage. But it feels more like grief. Like the loss of something you never thought you'd lose, your sense of your country and your place in it, your rights in it.

 

A 13 year old Home School Project

A 13 year old Home School Project

       From the Survival Blog

Preparing My First Bug-out Bag, by TK4

HJL Adds: TK4, age 13, wrote this as a homeschool project.

In this article I am going to teach readers how to prepare a bug-out bag. This 13 year-old has had a bug-out bag for two years, and every year it grows better and better. I have put this article together with five main steps that are essential to any bug-out bag. I have listed the items that I have put into my bag and put them in order of necessity.

Survival Essentials

Here I am going to list the things that I deem are essential in my bag. However, I first want to talk about the bag. You, like many others may ask "Where do I start first?" Well, start with the bug-out bag. The bag really should be a quality backpack. You should pick which size bag you need according to what size you are, how much weight you can carry, and what you are going to include in it. I prefer the camouflage color over neon colors. Camouflage is good if you are bugging out because usually you don't want to be found; if you are wearing neon you will be found. In my experience military packs work well and so do hiking backpacks. It's really your choice because everybody is different and need different size backpacks. The price can range from twenty dollars to two hundred dollars. How much you spend really depends on what your budget is. Have fun picking out your bag; just make sure it is durable and fairly easy to carry. Essential items to go inside your bag include:

1.   Clothing. Everybody has to have clothes. Without proper clothing you will freeze in cold temperatures and over heat in hot temperatures. In my bag I have three day's worth of clothes, including one pair of pants, one pair of shorts, one jacket, one t-shirt, one long-sleeved shirt, and three pairs of undergarments. Tailor the clothes that you pack to what climate you live in.

2.   A first-aid kit. In every bug-out bag there must be a first-aid kit. First-aid kits are very useful when out in the field because when you get hurt, (and don't think you won't!) you are going to need antiseptics and bandages. My kit is simple and includes bandages of assorted sizes, alcohol prep pads, and Silver Solution by Curad. Silver Solution is a great thing to have in your bug-out bag because it is very effective against MRSA along with just plain old scratches and scrapes. It is light weight and fairly inexpensive to buy.

3.   A quality folding knife. In my pack I include a small folding knife. I recommend the Bear Grylls knives by Gerber. They are quality knives that are light weight and easy to handle. A knife is essential to your bug-out bag because a knife can be used for many things, such as cutting rope for snares and killing animals for food. Make sure you buy a knife according to your price range because the only purpose of the knife will be for bugging out. All optimistic people hope never to have to do that, so don't go off and buy the most expensive knife out there when there really is no need.

4.   A 100% water proof poncho. As the old saying goes "when it rains, it pours." When it pours people don't want to get soaked. A poncho is useful when it rains or when it doesn't rain. Ponchos can be used for purposes other than as a rain coat. A poncho can be used as a small tent, a rain water collection system, a sack to hold supplies, and more. Make sure you buy a quality poncho because a lot of ponchos on the market are cheap, plastic bags that do not keep water out. My poncho is by the Ozark Trail Company. You can find those at your local Walmart.

5.   An Emergency blanket. An emergency blanket is a great item to include in your bug-out bag. They are light weight and serve many purposes when in the wilderness. While they can obviously be used as a blanket, they can also serve as a make shift shelter or for a rescue signal. Whatever the case, I think an emergency blanket is essential to a successful bug-out bag.

6.   A Fishing Kit. When surviving in the wilderness, you need food. Why not find it the easy way? A fishing kit is an easy little addition to your bug-out bag that might make the difference between life and death. My fishing kit includes two different kinds of fishing line, assorted lures, assorted hooks, and a couple of weights. Small bobbers are a good thing to include too. I made my fishing kit out of an Altoid mint tin. Those are the perfect size and are easy to find when shopping at the store.

7.   A sewing kit. During your bugging out, your clothes are susceptible to rips, tears, and lost buttons. An acceptable place where sewing kits can usually be found is the Dollar Tree store. I bought a sewing kit from there that includes a set of assorted needles, five different threads, a thimble, a paper measuring tape, a needle threader, assorted safety pins, and a couple of buttons. I added a few extra buttons because it didn't come with many. I really recommend adding a sewing kit to your bug-out bag.

8.   An LED flashlight and glow stick. Let's face it, you need a flashlight in your bug-out bag. When it gets dark you need light to help you see your way and to possibly scare off predators. You can also use the batteries to start a fire. A glow stick can be used to signal rescue during the night. My glow stick has a small flashlight on it as well as a signal whistle. Those are valuable items when it comes to bugging out.

9.   One hundred feet of 550 paracord. Paracord is absolutely essential to a bug-out bag. It is light weight and can hold up to 550 pounds of weight. It can be used for shoe laces, animal snares, fishing line, a clothes lines, tooth floss, tying equipment to your pack, and much more.

10. A spare pair of eyeglasses. I wear prescription eyeglasses like a lot of people do. I keep an extra pair in my pack because if you fall and break your glasses you are going to be in a heap of trouble. Not being able to see is almost like not being able to walk; you can't go very far safely. Keeping an extra pair of glasses with you is always an important thing to do because without them you are venerable to falling, getting attacked by wild animals, and just plain not being able to see. Zenni Optical Eyeglass Company is an excellent source of quality eyeglasses for your bug-out bag.

11. An emergency whistle. An emergency whistle is essential to a bug-out bag because when you are trying to be found and your voice just isn't loud enough, an emergency whistle will work great. You just put the whistle in your mouth, plug your ears, and blow. Emergency whistles can be used as zipper pulls as well.

12. An all-weather notebook. I have an all-weather notebook along with a pen because when I bug-out I want to record what happens. It won't hurt to record what happens each day out in the wild. I encourage you to have one too.

Heat

In this category I am going to explain what I include in my pack that will be useful to create heat.

1.   Trioxane solid fuel tablets. Trioxane is a military type fire starter that is a quick, reliable fire starter. You can usually find it at military surplus stores or on the Internet.

2.   Strike on box matches. I have matches in my kit because you always need matches to start a fire. Without matches you can start fire but not very easily. Having a good size supply is recommended because you do not want to run out. I have one of the little 32 match packs in my bug-out bag.

Shelter

Bringing a sleeping bag in your bug-out bag will keep your body warm when the temperature drops and ensure you a good night's sleep. You should buy your sleeping bag according to the climate that you live in. If you live in Florida then you won't need a heavy sleeping bag, However, if you live in Wisconsin, then you would need to buy a heavy sleeping bag with a certain temperature protection barrier so as not to get frostbite. You can take your poncho and use 550 paracord to make a tent when you need shelter. A Sleeping bag is an excellent thing to put in your bug-out bag so make sure you include that valuable part of your preps.

Food and Water

Here is what I carry in my bug-out bag to ensure I have security with food and water:

1.   Food rations. I have three days worth of food in my bug-out bag. Each day's worth includes: one pack of chicken Ramen, one small chicken salad and crackers, one packet of instant oatmeal, two energy bars, a couple of peppermints, a few packets of sugar, and a few assorted drink mix packets. Packing enough food to feed yourself for how many days you choose your pack to sustain you for is very important. If you do not pack enough food you will struggle and not be as healthy and alert as you would if you had the proper amount of food. You should inspect your food supply about every four months because you want food that is not expired in your bug-out bag. You should tailor the amount of food that you bring to how much food you need a day. Since I am 13 years old, I do not need to bring as much as my dad brings. Food is essential to survival!

2.   A spork. I bring a spork in my bug-out bag because everybody uses utensils while eating. Without the right utensils you will may resort to using your hands, which could result in you digesting harmful bacteria and getting sick. Pack a spork!

3.   A canteen and canteen cup. I include a canteen and cup in my pack because a canteen is a great resource for carrying water. The canteen cup is a metal cup or pot that fits snugly around the canteen. The cup may be used for boiling water to purify it of any harmful bacteria, cooking your Ramen rations, and other things. You can find canteens and canteen cups at military surplus stores.

4.   Water bottle. I have a water bottle in my kit along with the canteen because bringing enough water can be the difference between life and death. I bought my water bottle at Walmart and it is a pretty high quality for what I paid for it. Bringing a water bottle is also useful if you have another person with you who does not have proper water carrying supplies.

5.   A Camelback water bladder. I have a Camelback water bladder along with my canteen and water bottle in my bug-out bag because, again, you should have a large supply of water for survival. Hydration is everything when it comes to survival.

6.   Water Purification tablets. I possess water purification tablets in my bug-out bag because, when searching for water in the wild, it is almost impossible to find clean, parasite-free water. They are effective in eliminating Giardia and Lamblia when used properly. So, when you find water that is rather clean looking you can pop one of the tablets in and your water is germ and parasite free. It's an awesome thing to have in your bug-out bag because it insures you won't become sick with parasites from unpurified water.

Sanitation

In this category I am going to relay what I keep in my bug-out bag that is necessary for proper hygiene.

1.   Hygiene items. May kit includes soap, shampoo, deodorant, and hand sanitizer. Those are important things in your bug-out bag if you want to stay healthy. Not having the proper hygiene items can lead to sickness and disease. Nobody wants that. The hand sanitizer can be used as a fire starter as well. Just add some to your wood shavings or kindling, and it helps the fire start.

2.   Travel size tooth brush kit. I have a tooth brush kit it my pack because I believe in brushing my teeth regularly. The kit I have includes a tooth brush, toothpaste, and a tooth brush cover. A tooth brush kit has an important role in a bug-out bag because if you don't brush your teeth you will develop cavities, and nobody wants those! Brushing your teeth also boosts your moral because it makes you feel a lot better than if you had not packed the kit.

3.   Paper tissue. I bring two little packs of tissues in my bug-out bag because I, like most people, prefer not to use leaves when using the facilities. So bringing some tissues is never a bad thing in a bug-out bag.

4.   Lip balm. Inside my pack I include lip balm because when out in the wild your lips are likely to get chapped. If you do not have anything to soothe them they will grow uncomfortable, soon crack, and possibly contract an infection, which is not a good thing at all. I bring the Carmex brand lip balm in my pack because that is the brand I prefer. Lip balm can also be used as a fire starter by rubbing it on a paper product and lighting it. Lip balm is light weight and easy to slip into your bug-out bag without a problem.

I hope this list of supplies has helped you prepare to make your bug-out bag without a problem. Remember, tailor your pack to your needs and do not pack more than you need. Hopefully, you will never have to bug-out, but if you do at least you will have the peace of mind that you are prepared. Being prepared is what matters in the case of life or death. Enjoy putting your bug-out bag together. I enjoyed it and I am very proud of the finished product,. I am sure you will be as well. Have fun!!!

I would like to thank my parents for the help they gave me in the making of this article. It is because of my parents that this article was made possible, because all of the knowledge that I possess, I learned from them. I am very grateful to have parents who care for me and want me to know how to be prepared.

 

Space Shuttle Challenger

Space Shuttle Challenger

       A wiki link on the subject can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger

            A wiki article that focuses more on the disaster can be found at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

 

A picture from the disaster

Firefighting 101

Firefighting 101

 

By FireRescue 1 Staff

In learning how to fight fires, it’s important to be able to differentiate between different types of fire situations. Being able to do this requires a ‘reading’ of the fire, which is the method by which a firefighter determines the best way to approach it and the safest way to extinguish it.

Firefighters face considerable danger in their work, especially if they have to enter a burning building. Reading the fire to see if there are indications of a potential explosion or back draft is an important part of maintaining firefighting safety when learning how to fight fires. They also must determine if there are chemicals that may pose additional hazards to bystanders as well as firefighters. The things that firefighters look for when reading a fire are:

• Detection of hot zones. Checking a door temperature before opening it to prevent a flash. Detecting window soot to see if combustion is incomplete.
• Smoke movement out of a window or door frame.
• Spraying water on a surface to see if it hisses indicating extreme heat or if it drips off of the surface, which indicates less intense heat.

Learning how to fight fires also involves learning the elements that are involved in creating and sustaining a fire. These are fuel, heat, an oxidizing agent and a self-sustained chemical reaction.

The fuel in building fires is the materials used to construct it such as wood, sheetrock, paint. Another fuel component of these types of fires is the building contents, such as the furniture, carpeting and drapes. Heat comes from the fire itself. The self-sustained chemical chain reaction is the way the fire’s components react to each other. The oxidizing agent is a material or substance that when the proper conditions exist will release gases, including oxygen. These are all things that a firefighter studies when learning how to fight fires.

In order to fight a fire, you must take out any one of the fire elements. The most common method is to use water to put out the fire. The water takes away heat by cooling the fire. Water also smothers the fire, taking away oxygen. Some firefighters use foam as an alternative to water. Fire extinguishers also use foam to fight fires. Removing the fuel is another fire fighting method. In learning to fight a fire, you often have to let the fuel burn until the fire goes out. Another method of extinguishing fires is chemical flame inhibition. These fire retardant agents interrupt the combustion reaction put out the fire. This is especially effective on gas and liquid fuels, which are extremely difficult and dangerous to extinguish.

For professional firefighters, learning how to fight fires requires both education and experience. In firefighting training, they learn the science of fire, which tells them the causes and components of the fire, as well as the methods of extinguishing it. They also learn how to use the tools necessary for firefighting, such as hoses, chemicals, shovels and axes. By combining classroom instruction with hands-on firefighting exercises, firefighters become valuable safety and rescue officers of our communities.

The link to this article can be found at:  http://www.firerecruit.com/articles/1063921-How-to-fight-fires

Suggested other links to read are: 

            http://www.wikihow.com/Fight-a-Forest-Fire

            http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/07/14/hotter-and-faster-how-to-fight-a-modern-fire/

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefighting

            http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-put-out-kitchen-fires.html

            http://www.ehow.com/how_114403_kitchen-fire.html

There are many other links on this subject, too.