$5.00 Gas Just Another Reason to Leave California

We're starting to see record highs of $5.00 per gallon gas in California!  CNBC posted a video of a gas station in Burbank being the alleged highest in the state.  The average price for regular unleaded in the state is $4.10.  This is really scary news because, as most everyone knows, high gas prices drives up costs on everything.

California's really losing any appeal it once had as I uncover all these issues I've been posting about lately.  Within just a relatively short period of time things have shifted for the worst.  For instance, the golden state's property values are plummeting, its court system is overly politicized and largely corrupt, its taxes are too high, its public schools rate the worst in the nation, its prison system is too large, expensive and burdensome on tax payers, there are too many bad lawyers and regulations, its politicians are spend happy, illegal immigration is out of control and now this. Record high gasoline in the nation?

Story on new record of $5.00 gas in Burbank, California

Gas and me go way back.  I remember the late 1970's and early 80's era of long gas lines and people sleeping in their cars to get in front of the gas line the next day.  I later vowed never to allow myself in a precarious position regarding gasoline since way back in 1984 when I was a broke student I stole a few tanks of gas.  One could easily say I wasn't a very bright 24 year old.  Back then they didn't have ATM cards so you could filler up and drive off. I got away with it a few times with probably around $50 of free gas until they finally got my license plate number. 

Since 1986 I haven't owned a car having used motor scooters with high mileage per gallon ratios.  It wasn't self-inflicted punishment at all for me to ride scooters since it was a lot of fun.  I also saved tons of money not owning a car.  I was living in the beach areas of Southern California and the scooters had become more high powered and sophisticated so it was no problem at all.  I felt very fortunate with the 100,000 miles I eventually put on motor scooters from 1990-2003 never to have been in any accident or mishap though I had a few close calls like the time I put a karaoke machine on the back end and sang along to people on the road.  Like I said, I wasn't too bright back then.

Last year after doing the walking thing a while, I took the next step and completely got off the gas dependency with the purchase of an eBike.  An eBike is totally doable in San Francisco and more people with applicable biking communities should consider purchasing one.  You can now get a 10% Federal tax break of the total cost of a two or three wheeled plug-in electric vehicle unless you wrote off the purchase as an expense for business.

Zip Cars also make it easy to get your hands on a nice car within 1/2 hour of needing one.  Zip provides a slide card so you don't have to go through the red tape of renting a car. You don't pay for gas or insurance, only a small $50 fee per year and that's it. If you want insurance from potential liability it's up to you but you don't have to purchase it.  Zip Cars are available only in certain chosen cities however.  The costs last year were as low as $7.00/hr for a Toyota Prius but those vehicles were since removed from the Zip Car line due to the recall.  Cars now start at $10.75 per hour, a fairly large jump.  I anticipate more hikes as gas increases.

From my observation, it seems too many people are on the road doing a lot of unnecessary driving.   I anticipate seeing less vehicles on the road if the gas price hike trend continues which it's predicted to do thanks to Middle East unrest.  As I have, people with moderate incomes will be forced to change their lifestyles to accommodate these gas prices.

Why Safe Deposit Boxes Aren't Safe In These Times

Have you ever wondered why the IRS allows a tax deduction for using a bank's safe deposit box? In these hard economic times, there are multiple valid reasons not to trust your bank to keep your valuables in its safe deposit vault.  History tells the story time and time again of the state seizing safe deposit boxes without due process of law especially during hard economic times.

In 2008, 50 U.S. States were holding $32 billion worth of unclaimed property that was used to balance their budgets.  In some cases, "unclaimed" meant the owner simply hadn't contacted the bank in some time over the contents of their safe deposit box.

"As reported by ABC News in 2008, what started out as a program to hold unclaimed property, such as the contents of safety deposit boxes owned by people who have moved away without a forwarding address, has gone wildly out of control. The program is using the flimsiest of excuses to drill safe deposit boxes and sell the contents. 

In a case reminiscent of the Monty Python organ donor skit (or perhaps the movie Repo Men), a San Francisco woman’s jewelry appraised at over $80,000 was sold even though she lived a few blocks from her bank, had not moved, and was current on all of her box rental feeds. In another case, a man’s retirement savings consisting of $4 million of stock certificates were sold; and “A Sacramento family lost out on railroad land rights their ancestors had owned for generations”. Ludwig von Mises Institute - Mises Economics Blog 

All this was happening around the economic upheaval in 2008.  According to the blog article, looting safe deposit boxes required less due process than asset forfeiture.  Attorney Bill Palmer, who represented countless citizens in a class action lawsuit against the state of California, explained:

 "They figured the safe deposit box was safer than keeping it under the mattress," Palmer said. "In the case of a lot of citizens, they were wrong, weren't they?" 

California law used to say property was unclaimed if the rightful owner had no contact with the business for 15 years. But during various state budget crises, the waiting period was reduced to seven years, and then five, and then three. Legislators even tried for one year. Why? Because the state wanted to use that free money. (Blogger note:  You mean wanted to steal their money!)

"That's absolutely correct," said California State Controller John Chiang, who inherited the situation when he came into office. "What we've done here over the last two decades has been dead wrong. We've kept the property and not provided owners with the opportunities -- the best opportunities -- to get their property back." - Not-So-Safe-Deposit Boxes: States Seize Citizen's Property to Balance their Budgets - ABCNews.com - 2008

In other words, Mr. Chiang admitted the State of California had been stealing money from its citizens. How can you trust the government after this kind of unjustified action?  How can you trust its courts?  I for one certainly can't trust the government any longer, clearly a criminal syndicate that thinks nothing of manipulating the law to steal from its citizens. 

San Francisco resident Carla Ruff's safe-deposit box was drilled, seized, and turned over to the state of California, marked "owner unknown."  The lady previously described as having her safe deposit contents stolen in San Francisco explained:

"I was appalled," Ruff said. "I felt violated."

Unknown? Carla's name was right on documents in the box at the Noe Valley Bank of America location. So was her address -- a house about six blocks from the bank. Carla had a checking account at the bank, too -- still does -- and receives regular statements. Plus, she has receipts showing she's the kind of person who paid her box rental fee. And yet, she says nobody ever notified her.

"They are zealously uncovering accounts that are not unclaimed," Ruff said.- Not-So-Safe-Deposit Boxes: States Seize Citizen's Property to Balance their Budgets - ABCNews.com - 2008

So if you think your valuables are safe in a deposit box, think again.  If you always worried about how safe your valuables were, you weren't being paranoid.  California had already spent $5.1 billion dollars of people's safe deposit boxes prior to the 2008 lawsuit and spent all the money like a crack whore.  Back during the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt stole gold out of people's safe deposit boxes, NAZI's seized money and gold from Jew's banks, etc.  If there's some national emergency imagine the state and banks would be drooling over keeping your items and locking you out of their bank should it become insolvent.

After the class action, California law has since changed but when times get tougher one may want to consider how despicable banks and the government can be.  Imagine the audacity a state government would have to have to steal money from safe deposit boxes?  Do they really think people would simply abandon their valuables?  They knew what they were doing!  The California state legislature had changed the laws to trick people into thinking they didn't have to contact their banks for years over their property since the old standard was 15 years to claim unclaimed property.  This was absolute criminal among these politician law makers! Did they get put in jail for it?  No, of course not.

Here's some tips on how to avoid the fiasco if at all possible:

• Make contact with your bank, your brokerage firm, etc. at least once a year, in a way that creates a paper trail. Make sure they have your current address.
  
• If you own stock, occasionally vote your proxies or take other steps to keep your stock ownership active. Stay in touch with your broker.
  
• Write a list of all your accounts and keep it with your will, so your heirs will know where to look.
  
• Consider insuring valuables even if you keep them in your safe-deposit box. That way, you're covered financially if the bank or state makes a mistake and empties your box. Plus, safe-deposit contents have been known to be destroyed by fire or flooding.
  
• If you want to search for unclaimed property in your name, you do not need to pay other people to do it for you. Check out the following links for more information:

National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators

www.missingmoney.com

Google's Mobile Voice Recognition App for iPhone Listens

I just learned AT&T's offering a special $50 iPhone deal with a two year cell phone contract. I'm considering stepping up from my antiquated Motorola Razor and was looking into the advantages of having an iPhone.  Besides the hefty price and surcharges, what's kept me from the iPhone is I don't like getting or sending text messages.  I also think it's all hard on the eyes so when I heard Google has a Voice Recognition Mobile App for iPhone I became more interested then ever.

As a former legal word processor we often expressed our concerns this new voice technology would replace our jobs.  Now in 2011, the technology is becoming more advanced and far more useful then simply converting words to text. For instance, the voice activation is now tied into the Google search engine, much like to the computer Hal in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. All you have to do is speak into the phone and the search engine responds and even has intelligence because it knows where you're located at all times.  So if you want to see a local movie, all you have to do is ask for show times and locations and it will pop up in your area without further adieu.  This may be old news to some but I've never heard of this app until now and I'm sure there are plenty out there like me.

This video shows the many capabilities of the Google iPhone and Android App:

For iPhone

For Android

I'm hoping this is the next wave of new technology to develop because I think it's insane how much time people have to take to text on their iPhone.

This App also works with Android of course but under a different download title.

Now You're Talking - Google Has Developed Speech-Recognition That Actually Works - Slate.com

Big Yawn On U.S. Government Shutdown

In spite of my being extremely busy, I still managed to keep a promise I wouldn't miss a day's post this year.  I try to avoid being one of those bloggers who mostly reposts other's articles but I only have about 20 minutes because I have to get up early in the morning. If I don't get 8 hours of sleep, I become zombified.  In any event, this info needs to be circulated so people won't panic if the government's shut down.  As you can see the list below really isn't that big a deal. In other words, we're all going to survive this lame Federal government shutdown.  

So here goes, the "big no no" article repost for April 8, 2011 from End of American Dream Blog:

#1 Hundreds of thousands of "non-essential" federal workers will be told to stay home during a government shutdown.

#2 Those in the military will not receive paychecks during a government shutdown but they will be required to keep performing their duties.

#3 The Obama administration is anticipating "significantly lower staffing levels" at the White House if a shutdown happens.

#4 Barack Obama will continue to be paid during a government shutdown.

#5 Congress will also be paid and will continue to operate at close to normal levels during a government shutdown.

#6 The Federal Reserve will continue to operate normally during a government shutdown.  The Federal Reserve is not part of the U.S. government.

#7 In all probability, all government employees will eventually receive any pay that is missed during a government shutdown.  During the 5 day U.S. government shutdown back in 1995, approximately 800,000 "non-essential" government employees were told not to come in to work.  But eventually they all got paid retroactively anyway.

#8 During a government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security will suspend operation of its e-Verify system.  Employers will be unable to verify the immigration status of job applicants and that could have a substantial negative impact on hiring.

#9 The processing of small business loans and FHA mortgages will be delayed during a government shutdown.

#10 The U.S. Postal Service will not be affected by a government shutdown.  You will continue to get your mail.

#11 According to the Social Security Administration, everyone that is currently receiving Social Security benefits will continue to receive those benefits during a shutdown.  New applications will be delayed however.

#12 Medicare payments will continue during a government shutdown, but there will be a delay in processing new applications.

#13 During a government shutdown, the processing of paper tax returns by the IRS would be delayed.

#14 If there is a government shutdown, the processing of passport and visa applications could be seriously delayed.  This could have a negative impact on the tourism industry.

#15 National parks, museums and tourist attractions will be shut down.  According to the Washington Post, "about 500,000 visitors could be turned away this weekend alone from the National Zoo and the major Smithsonian museums on the Mall".

#16 The annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington D.C. that is scheduled for this weekend would be cancelled.

Big whoop de doo. . . yawn.  This gives me an idea for my next article; what makes yawning so contagious?  

The Sun is Good For Us - Vitamin D Key To Good Health

I remember when I was a kid once feeling a cold coming on during a long car trip to Lake Tahoe.  I napped with the sun on my face and was surprised when I woke up that the symptoms vanished. The status quo health industry doesn't want you to know that there's a simple free solution to many people's health problems.

Simple exposure to the sun provides access to what many now consider a miracle, that of Vitamin D.  Many studies have been conducted over the past decade that prove deficiency of Vitamin D is now  linked to many diseases too numerous to mention.  (See Natural News Vitamin D Article Archive)

We've been taught the sun is bad for us by the industries that profit from people not getting enough sun and those that want to block us from it like the sun tan lotion companies.  Vitamin D is free of charge that our bodies naturally produce with sun exposure.  Other good news is that, if one can't get any sun during winter months, taking Vitamin D-3 gels up to 10,000 I.U. a day is the alternative solution.  I buy my Vitamin D-3's at Trader Joes for $4.99 a bottle that's pretty cheap. The front of the bottle says Vitamin D, but the back delineates it as D-3, which is important.

These Health Ranger's Natural News T.V. videos are outstanding.  If you don't believe what he's saying then do your own research.  When they say get sun every day if you can, it doesn't mean get sun burnt, it means just 15-30 minutes a day if you can. I learned a lot from these following videos and kept an open mind when watching them.  My own experience validated the information was true.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Natural News T.V.

Hundreds of Gulf Oil Spill Clean-up Crew Are Dying!

There's apparently a black out on the hundreds of crew personnel dying in the Gulf who helped BP with the oil disaster clean-up.  I'll start off here with a tremendously helpful informative video from the Truth Research Channel explaining why we simply can no longer trust the mainstream media as a valid source of news.  Then I'll follow with a video of a dying Gulf clean-up crew member begging for people to spread the news.

The Truth Research Channel put out this well done video about why we can't trust the mainstream media.

A former Gulf Oil clean-up crew member who is dying says what the government, BP (i.e., one in the same) and mainstream media doesn't want you to know.  I saw this video on the home page of YouTuber The Truther Girls.

Here is the information in the summary of the video:

You won't see this in national headlines! Jennifer Rexford, a BP-hired oil spill cleanup worker has been documenting her condition that is getting worse by the day. Filming herself and her coworkers, all American workers, all are DYING and BP is NOT taking responsibility!!!! Severe neurological damage, paralysis, internal bleeding, death! Check out Jennifer's Youtube page, there are more videos. Watch her story. Watch her talk to BP claims line. Tragic!

SPREAD THE WORD TO GET THIS ON NATIONAL NEWS!!!! BP IS NOT PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE!!!!!

In the meantime, Obama is starting his 2012 campaign?  The ole saying that people get the government they deserve still applies.

Gerald Celente Sounds Alarm Over First Great War of 21st Century

Trends Forecaster Gerald Celente's sounding the alarm with a passionate video message about what he believes is the first great war of the 21st Century beginning.  Celente opens with saying this is the most overwhelmed and concerned he's ever been in 30 years as a trends forecaster.  This guy is really angry and suggests people take drastic measures to deal with what's ahead.

Gerald Celente Unleashes a Passionate Call of Urgency For Americans to Grow Up.  Good luck with that Gerald!

As for Celente's call for Americans to grow up, that will be a tough call especially for baby boomers raised on Disneyland fairy tales, Looney Tunes cartoons, bubble gum pop music and television.  Decades of watching television, not to mention junk food diets, has turned much of the population into brain dead zombies.  I stopped watching the tube in 2007 and my life changed quickly thereafter.  Today I only listen to alternative radio where I've learned a tremendous amount of helpful information.

"Gerald, what can I do personally to help prevent what's going to happen?  I already cut back as much as I could paying taxes from working overtime. I set out to make a reasonable salary in my businesses so as not to work for the government.  I spread the news whenever I'm able over what's happening for those who don't seem that aware and put up your videos.  I don't really know what to do and have no ideas yet Gerald.  Sorry." - C.M.

In the meantime, on the radiation front a Berkeley study says San Francisco's tap water's 181 times above EPA standards for radioactive isotopes.  

Iodine-131 was measured in a rainwater sample taken on the roof of Etcheverry Hall on UC Berkeley campus, March 23, 2011 from 9:06-18:00 PDT. The 3 Liters of rainwater collected contained 134 Becquerels of Iodine for an average of 20.1 Becquerel per liter, which equates to 543 Picocuries per liter. 

The federal drinking water limit for Iodine-131 is 3 Picocuries per liter, putting the rainwater sample at 18,100% above the federal drinking water limit.

See Radioactive Iodine-131 in Rainwater sample Near San Francisco 18,100% Above Federal Drinking Limit.  -Energy News

I knew I was right staying out of the rain, not!  I got soaked the other day on my bicycle, it was raining down like cats and dogs.  I think what I'll do next is update my Last Will & Testament.

www.TrendsResearch.com

Owner Shocked Over Her Sex Change Chicken & More

If you really think about it, chickens are hilarious birds, comical in every way. That's why when I heard this story I just had to laugh about how Gertie the hen turned into Bertie the rooster. Last winter Gertie stopped laying eggs and developed male rooster characteristics.  Imagine the shock of the owner who had never heard of anything like it before.

"Mrs Howard said Gertie developed wattles and her comb became much larger and more distinctive than it used to be.  Gertie also began strutting around the coop and 'frog-marching' around the garden.

"Then a few days later I heard her try to crow. She wasn't very good at it at first, but she's progressed nicely and now she really goes for it," Mrs Howard said." - Sex-Change Chicken Shocks Cambridigeshire UK Owner - BBC

Apparently the bird feed was the culprit according to the local veterinarian.  Gertie's lucky to have such an understanding owner who offered unconditional love saving the former hen from the pot.

In another related story reminiscent of The Onion, a recent study at Bristol University has found evidence of empathy in the emotional reactions of chickens.  You can listen to the two minute audio interview of Joanne Edgar, Bristol University researcher, it's quite interesting and weird.  Chickens have emotions?  Feelings?  What?  I was going to have chicken for dinner tonight but suddenly lost my appetite.

Speaking of feelings, this next video is worth watching about doggie guilt.  This video was put up a couple weeks ago and already has 6.6 million views.

"Someone helped themselves to the kitty cat treats while I was out.  Let's see who's guilty!"

These dogs are hilarious!

All this just proves that animals have feelings too.

Gang Stalking & Electronic Harassment A Growing Trend

I think this would be a great idea for a screenplay if it hasn't already been done.  John Hall, MD is the author of A New Breed: Satellite Terrorism in America (2009) about how the government's got a band of thugs using its satellite technology to victimize people, especially women.

Dr. Hall says, “Criminals are accessing the government’s most powerful surveillance tool to commit near perfect crimes. In the book I cover the basics of satellite imaging and weaponry and the affects it has had on its innocent victims.” Press Release

People need to be aware of this stuff, it's not science fiction.  I'd highly recommend seeing the video below in its entirety of a victim of gang stalking as well as read through the on-line book. Everyone should be aware there are criminals with powerful high tech devices accessible to them.

A woman discovers what she's been experiencing comes from the pages of Dr. Hall's book.

Since I haven't yet read the book I thought I'd list a few comments of what's on Amazon:

Dr. John Hall details the reality of the unthinkable: what happens when you are "tagged" by a syndicate of degenerate high tech stalkers, bent on sexual assault, mind invasions, and murder? What would it be like to be, not only viewed and heard ANYWHERE, but also have these predators inside your thoughts?

I might have considered "A New Breed Satellite Terrorism" to be a compelling work of fiction had I not previously known about this technology and the dynamics of gang-stalking. A less informed, more skeptical reader may even reject this book as the work of a deranged, deluded mad man. However,once one reads this account, and does some cursory research on the subject, the tide turns in favor of belief. The details in the book are technically verifiable, the events plausibly framed. The passion of Dr. Hall's relentless pursuit of these techno-terrorists come through in between the lines of the text.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone ever victimized by stalkers of any ilk. It is a sobering warning to all that this CAN happen here---and does, globally, every day. Place yourself in the shoes of the innocent victims detailed in this book and ask yourself: "what prevent this from happening to me, or my loved ones?" You be better equipped to recognize the signs, deal with the onslaught, and aid the un-numbered victims of this monumentally evil technological warfare on innocent people. 

***

Dr. John Hall keeps you on the edge of your seat after explaining the technology. America (the global world) needs to know what hard criminals look like now. Doctors, Private Investigators, Business men ect...no more ski masks and gun point. Nothing is sacred. We can be watched, raped, or stolen from and never really even know what is happening to us! This has to stop and God bless Dr. Hall for trying to bring this to an end. Many, many victims are thankful. A MUST READ.

***

Dr. John Hall, MD establishes credibility for victims of psychological terror via electronic, or other advanced methods. It's a good book for many people who might have encountered strange events that they instinctively know are not attributable to neither paranormal events nor psychological malfunction. Moreover, as we grow, scientifically, we must increase awareness that wars beyond this planet might occur. Many companies, churches, political organizations and countries (perhaps even those unamicable to the USA) might have access to this Satellite surveillance technology and certainly electronic control of homo sapiens. Space Wars. It's real. Great Book. Thanks.  

Here's sections of the book on Google Books

RED ALERT: Food Inflation's Coming - Time To Buy What You Need Now

This week I noticed a dramatic difference in a local chain store not offering the sales they usually offer.  This Kroger store usually marks up items so high in San Francisco that a "sale" is still above the item's true value.  For instance, a gallon of ice tea at $4.50 is most always on sale at half value at $2.25.  When I went to buy my favorite tea I refused to pay nearly $5.00 for it. Later that day I learned that ole staple Hershey's is increasing their prices by a whopping 10%.  Then came another story that Wal-Mart is said to be sounding an alarm inflation is coming.  See Wal-Mart Says "Serious" Inflation Is Coming. The Economic Collapse Blog.

"Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon said that rising inflation in the United States is "going to be serious" and that Wal-Mart is "seeing cost increases starting to come through at a pretty rapid rate."  For many years Wal-Mart has been famous for their "low prices", so for the head of Wal-Mart to publicly warn that much higher prices are coming is more than a little alarming."  Article Link

Thus far, companies have successfully been camouflaging inflation by selling food in tinier packages for the same price.

Trying to keep customers from feeling cheated, some companies are introducing new containers that, they say, have terrific advantages — and just happen to contain less product. A Stealth Downsizing, As Shoppers Pay More For Less Food, NYTimes.com

I've gradually been accumulating emergency supplies and storing food ever since the collapse of 2008.  I've also been selling stuff I don't use or need on Amazon and Craigslist to convert to cash to pay for things like Aerogardens to grow my own herbs and veggies indoors all year round. I've also used the FoodSaver vacuum sealer products for long term food storage and bought necessary staple foods in bulk from www.BulkFoods.com.

Learning how to bake one's own bread comes in handy in inflationary times since a loaf is already around $4.00.  YouTube has several helpful videos on how to make your own bread for cheap.  I recently bought yeast in bulk that's the most expensive part of bread making.  Some recipes don't even require any eggs.  Here's one blogger's comment from The Simple Dollar:

Over the last year, I’ve gradually moved more and more towards making my own food at home. There are several reasons for this: it tastes better, it reduces preservative intake, it’s more nutritious, and it’s often substantially cheaper than what you find in the store. It does take time, but once you get used to it, most food preparation doesn’t take much more time than going to the store, buying it, taking it home, popping it out of the package, and following the directions. - Homemade Bread: Cheap, Delicious, Healthy, and Easier Than You Think - The Simple Dollar

 I highly recommend people buy in bulk such as at Costco, make their own staple foods and grow produce in their gardens or indoor Aerogardens.  I also recommend selling all unnecessary items on Craigslist or Amazon for cash to convert to emergency supply purchases.  I use www.Nitro-Pak.com for such emergency items, including dehydrated long term food storage items.  Another good source of long-term storage foods is www.eFoodsDirect.com. 

I feel as if we're right on the tipping point of a huge change in food prices.  The time to get cheap supplies while you can is now.  For more tips on how to save in the long term, visit The Simple Dollar.com.