SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. The Internet of Things continues encroaching on your privacy.
Jury Nullification
Jury nullification is a constitutional right that the citizens have against bad laws. It is basically the last line of defense when a police state has passed bad laws and is charging citizens under them. However, in Michigan, Keith Wood was passing out pamphlets on a public sidewalk explaining this little known and little used concept to potential jurors when he was arrested and charged with “attempting to influence a jury”. Disturbingly, not only prosecutors and judges perceived guilt on his part, but the very people he was trying to educate as a jury found him guilty.
The Internet of Things
The scourge of “intelligent” home appliances spying on you continues. Roomba, the autonomous, robotic vacuum cleaner maps your house as it goes about its daily chores. Now IRobot wants to sell that data to third parties. Roomba knows your room layout, dimensions, furnishings and already transmits it back to the mother ship. Interestingly enough, the fine print in the usage agreement basically says that you have no right to privacy and that the company can do what it wants with that data. Thanks to G.G. for the link.
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Remember that movie Conspiracy Theory (with Mel Gibson)? Everyone thought he was a lunatic, yet as the movie progressed, it was revealed that he wasn’t crazy and being paranoid didn’t mean that no one was out to get you. Fast forward to today… nearly every smart device spies on you or enables someone to spy on you. They do this under the guise of making your life easier, yet you have no control over that data. SurvivalBlog reader Gary sent in this article showing seven major ways you are spied on and how that data is used against you.
Definition of “Antique” Firearms
Reader J.T. informed us of a Senate measure that would change the Federal definition of an antique firearm from one made before 1899 to one that is 100 years old. If passed, this would mean that WWI weapons (not covered under the NFA) would be able to be shipped and transferred across state lines without an FFL. This bill has no co-sponsors at this point and has not made it out of committee yet. You should be calling your senators on this one.
Recipes
Reader M.R. sent in this website that is a database of depression-era cookbooks and recipes. It is divided up by region as well as format and year. It can be informative and at times, entertaining to find out what people ate years ago.
North Korea
North Korea has launched another missile in which the numbers can be extrapolated to give it a 6,500 mile range (not including the earths rotation). This puts Chicago, Boston, New York and even Washington DC within ICBM range of North Korea. It is unlikely that North Korea has a warhead that can be launched these distances right now. But it is only a matter of time before they solve that piece of the puzzle. Thanks to reader C.F. for the link.
Disarming Police
Minneapolis mayoral candidate Raymond Dehn (D) has proposed changes to the police department that disarms them and encourages them to use non-lethal force. He’s okay with the police keeping their weapons in their cars. (We all know that police cars are never broken into or stolen.) He also doesn’t have a problem with police carrying a weapon when faced with another deadly weapon. (Excuse me Mr. Bad Guy. Can you hold that thought while I go retrieve my weapon from my car?). No word yet on whether he also expects the criminals to abide by the same rules either. Thanks to J.C. for the link.
Disarm the cops. Right. Or maybe you could, ya know, not fast track Somali immigrants in to the uniform without proper training just to be politically correct. But what do I know.
I’ve always thought the ideal of the police officer should be Andy Griffith. He carried a gun, but always tried to figure out a way not to have to use it. I fear the police state we have, and I believe it will only get worse. Increasing the militancy of the police isn’t an answer, it’s a reaction to the symptom of a broken criminal justice symptom. As much as I hate to say it, that democrat might actually have the start of a good idea (though I’d be willing to bet not for the right reasons).
Bring back capital punishment nationwide, elect judges that hold people accountable, limit appeals for capital crimes and make paroles only available after a criminal has done at least 50% of their sentence, then maybe we can have police that don’t carry heavier than combat troops.
With regards to the many ways we are being spied on. We too have been receiving scam calls from our local area code during the past few weeks. Just this week we received a call that the caller ID indicated was from our medical clinic, it was not but from some scammer. On another note, I have noticed more and more signs in places of business saying they will not accept cash. The younger generations (I’m in my 50’s) want it this way. They use debit or credit cards for the even the smallest priced items.
Any business that refuses cash is in violation of the law.
“this note is legal tender for all debts public and private”
I’m wondering when the lawsuits will begin against these anti cash businesses.
If you refuse to pay by non-cash can you be charged with “retail theft” if you have already eaten,drank or used a product and the establishment refuses payment?
I came across a service out in Kalyofoarneya a couple years back that tried to tell me they preferred I conduct business with them on a modern basis and “You need to use your credit or debit card.”
I told her I didn’t “need” any such thing and pointed out to the snowflake that little proviso on every bill that states its legal tender for all debts public and private. Vacant stare. Processing…Processing. Landru, guide us.
She had never observed it or considered what it meant.
So, being in a politicocorectovoinclusivaunicornian nanny state and all, I thought I try speaking her language.
I told her my feelings were hurting and I didn’t feel safe in her store anymore.
Worked like a charm.
She took the bill, pulled out her smart phone and used the calculator to figure out my change ($2.78 from a $5.00).
As I left I wished I’d given her the 22 cents, just to watch the sparks fly.
Just a thought: tell those businesses that refuse to accept cash that they just lost your business. Tell your friends to do the same thing. No cash, no business. Will it work? Who knows. It’s a start.
Frankly I see no Constitutional authority for doing away with cash. It requires an amendment to the Constitution to make that happen. On the other hand, there was no authority to do away with gold and silver as money either. They did it anyway. Scumbag politicians!!
Officer Noor’s gun was in the car.
Officer Noor was a complete and utter moron, to shoot across your partner ? gun blast ? no ?, what safety is that ? what does the Academy teach these idiots about firearm safety ? someone does this across me, they will be wearing my large fist down their throat for starters, then when my hearing recovers, beaten soundly with my baton within a inch of their miserable life, but then what would I know ?, being in late 50s I was just taught by better men.
A few years ago, a friend was telling me about hosting some international people in his community. At one point, firearms came up. One of the internationals was a law enforcement officer in Japan (I believe). He didn’t carry any firearms in the line of duty. He had shot a pistol at a range. But he’d never seen or touched a rifle. My friend took him to a range & let him fire a couple of his rifles. Hard to imagine.
Re North Korea, it is a sovereign nation and none of our business. At least 9 nations have nuclear weapons.
The US government should be focused on DEFENSE, not provoking NK and Russia. We blindly focus on NK missile delivery systems while America’s ports are wide open!
Roger D, North Korea has been ratchet-jawing hostility and threats against South Korea (which they gratuitously invaded, you’ll recall) and the US since the truce was signed in 1953.
Our great sin has been that of being friendly toward South Korea–but that’s been sufficient for the deranged leadership of North Korea.
Seems to me we rather provoked the North. Our support for the brutal fascist dictator Syngman Rhee was the real problem. Mind I’m not defending the brutal communist dictator in the North, but we had already been ensconced there since early in WW2.
Just another brutal fascist dictator backed by by the denizens of your Ten Miles Square. The list is very long and ongoing.
Re: Antique firearms.
This ruling would be great, but those out there with a gun “habit” should consider a Federal Firearms 03 designation, “collectors” license.
No fingerprinting, $10 a year fee, access to almost all firearms at least 50 years old.
Only downside is the record keeping, although you do not have to provide your inventory record to the Feds unless requested, or if you don’t renew your license, which has to be done every 3 years.
You’ll be amazed at the amount of firearms out there, in new or very serviceable condition, you can get shipped UPS right to your door.
Despite the normal anti law enforcement sentiment normally seen it seems some realize that they are truly needed because once you disarm them those who seek to take power, stuff or lives can with that layer removed.
Does that mean LEOs are perfect? No. There are improvements to be made but disarmament isn’t one of them.
The list of reasons I want to get out of Minnesota soon as I graduate college is growing by the day. I’ll miss rural MN and its people but the Twin Cities are sucking us all down with them.
About jury nullification, what was the racial makeup of Bill Cosby’s jury? I have not seen it anyplace, and it is not “racist” to wonder. The days of Perry Mason trials are over with in the USA!
Commenting on Ned2 comment
Ned2, having any FFL offers your home or place of business up for federal inspection at any time IIRC. However the collectors license is a great value.
commenting on Ned2 comment
Ned2, having any FFL offers yur home or place of business up for federal inspection at any time IIRC.
The collectors license is a great value.
My rules for security:
1: Don’t answer the phone unless you know who is calling. If I don’t recognize the number or Caller I don’t answer. If it’s important, they will leave a message. It’s amazing how few important calls I get.
2: If possible, don’t own a computer with a built in camera or microphone. Mine is 12 years old. It’s old, it’s a little slow, but it works. It’s the next one that’s going to be a big problem.
3: Use credit and debit cards as little as possible. In my case, I only use debit card at my bank branch ATM, and credit cards only on large purchases. Otherwise I only use cash.
4: I limit my online purchases to Amazon and on rare occasion Walmart.
5: Disable Bluetooth and WiFi in your car. Then disable Bluetooth and WiFi on your phone. I don’t like that there is a built in microphone in the car, but without Bluetooth and WiFi, should not be a problem. I don’t want to talk to my car and I don’t want my car talking to me.
6: I usually do not answer my front door, depending on who is there. The peep hole is a wonderful invention.
7: Finally, know who you are talking to. Know them well. In my case I don’t talk to my nephews about my prepping. I love them dearly, like my own kids, (I don’t have any of my own) but they have really big mouths and couldn’t keep a secret if their lives depended on it, and it might.
If I sound a little paranoid, you’re right. Maybe not now, but later someone will be out to get me. I think it’s best to get in practice sooner rather than later.
Also, with an 03 FFL, I do not believe you have to send in your log book if you do not renew. All is then forgotten.
Unless the rules have changed, any FFL that quits their business–including non-renewal–must send their bound book (or digital equivalent) and all completed 4473s to the Out Of Business Records Center, for permanent storage.
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/are-licensed-collectors-required-turn-their-acquisition-and-disposition-records-atf-if
Thanks,
In Fulton County, Ohio, they send you a form to fill out when you are summoned for jury duty. One of the questions is “if you disagreed with a law and a defendant was found guilty, would you convict”. I responded no, actually was one of the last to be considered for jury duty until they questioned another juror about this. He answered yes, they asked if anyone would not convict, I raised my hand and told them no and referred to runaway slave laws that were nullified by this action as I was taught in high school in the late 80’s (referencing the fact that a jury trial puts not only the defendant on trial but the law as well). Judge looked at me very hard, and prosecuting attorney looked exasperated. Needless to say, I didn’t serve on the jury and have not been summoned since.
I’ve actually had judges lecture me on the illegality of “jury nullification” (in TX). I’ve learned. I’ll answer however I need to to get on the jury. It’s the only way to introduce jury nullification to the people who count – the jury.
These are great stories. I will keep it in mind if I ever get called for a jury, but I have yet to serve on any jury in 20 years. I never get called.
In regards to Conspiracy Theory it brings to mind something that happened to me a few years back. I was putting up new fence on my property and I went to Lowes store and purchased a roll of barbed wire sold by brand “X.” I payed with my debit card. When I got back home I had a need to get on the internet and when it powered up there was an add from brand “X” advertising their barbed wire. I had never researched barbed wire or any fencing information on the internet prior to that time. So I came to the conclusion that whatever sources are involved with debit cards supplied that purchase history to brand “X” and they were there waiting on my computer wanting to sell me more.