Things
Sometime today, after all of my Dr.'s visits, I am going to do something on the State of the Union speech last night. It will be later, so in the meantime I am going to post an email that was sent to me by an overseas reader who wishes to remain anonymous. He has done some homework in 3 different countries, and I think it is worth reading. I'll get to the SOTU later today, I promise. In the meantime, look this over and see what we could be facing in the food department.
Cyclone
The Email
Estimate of the amount of food the largest distributor/supplier/reseller can provide in a crisis
Let's assume that the largest distributor/supplier/reseller has 60 days stock at hand and delivery to all customers is not a problem.
For food that is consumed by 100% of population, 1 meal per day, e.g. peanut butter, cheese, milk, eggs when it becomes 3 meals a day, the food can last = 60 days / 3 meals = 20 days of 3 meals each for 100% of population.
A more likely scenario is the stock at hand is 30 days as it is produced daily due to high demand, thus the peanut butter, cheese, milk, eggs can only last 10 days of 3 meals each for 100% of population
For food that is consumed by 10% of population, 1 meal per day, e.g. canned food
when it becomes 3 meals a day for 100% of population, the food can last = 60 days / 10 x the people / 3 meals = 2 days
For food that is consumed by 20% of population, 1 meal per day
when it becomes 3 meals a day for 100% of population, the food can last = 60 days / 5 x the people / 3 meals = 4 days
Thus, even the largest distributor/supplier has maximum of about 20 days at hand for 3 meals a day and so a minimum of 30 days/1 month stock of food at home is necessary at all times, in addition to what you can buy from local supermarket in a crisis.
During the lunar new year, some supermarkets are closed for almost 4 days and when it opened, I notice that the canned food is one third empty, thus estimated canned food available for supermarket is 12 days stock and estimated stock at 60 days supplier stock is 5 times that of supermarket. For popular items such as fish and butter, it is half empty and estimated butter for supermarket is 8 days stock and estimated stock at 60 days supplier stock is 7.5 times that of supermarket. If the item is really popular, it should be on 30 days instead of 60 days cycle and the estimated stock at the supplier is 4x that of supermarket.
Thanks for allowing me to print this!
25 Comments:
Interesting way to analyze this problem. Hadn't thought of looking at it quite that way. I guess we are a bit more conservative. We would like 2 or more months on hand because anything big enough in the U.S. to close down any store for over 3 days will be a mother of a problem. My parents back in the 80's did a store up for 1 year. I did a store up for 10 ppeople for a year.
Cyclone,
Here is Cindy Sheehan's version of why she was arrested: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0201-01.htm
Published on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
What Really Happened
by Cindy Sheehan
Dear Friends,
As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of the Union Address tonight.
I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we have lost in our country.
Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan is escorted out of the House chamber by security personnel, January 31, 2006. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press. (Shocker) So this is what really happened:
This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC where I was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh, Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of the Union Address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2245 Dead. How many more?
After the PSOTU press conference, I was having second thoughts about going to the SOTU at the Capitol. I didn't feel comfortable going. I knew George Bush would say things that would hurt me and anger me and I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her. I, in fact, had given the ticket to John Bruhns who is in Iraq Veterans Against the War. However, Lynn's office had already called the media and everyone knew I was going to be there so I sucked it up and went.
I got the ticket back from John, and I met one of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's staffers in the Longworth Congressional Office building and we went to the Capitol via the undergroud tunnel. I went through security once, then had to use the rest room and went through security again.
My ticket was in the 5th gallery, front row, fourth seat in. The person who in a few minutes was to arrest me, helped me to my seat.
I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled; "Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat and roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said something like "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his name is Mike Weight.
The officer ran with me to the elevators yelling at everyone to move out of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said, "That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said: "Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because you were protesting." Wow, I get hauled out of the People's House because I was, "Protesting."
I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked to do any of those things...I would have, and written about the suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately, and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct."
After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2245, huh? I just got back from there."
I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started crying in pain.
What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for still? For this? I can't even wear a shrit that has the number of troops on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing.
I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.
There have already been many wild stories out there.
I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the government for what happened tonight. I will file it. It is time to take our freedoms and our country back.
I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person, whether he/she has paid the ulitmate price for that country, from wearing, saying, writing, or telephoning any negative statements about the government. That's why I am going to take my freedoms and liberties back. That's why I am not going to let Bushco take anything else away from me...or you.
I am so appreciative of the couple of hundred of protesters who came to the jail while I was locked up to show their support....we have so much potential for good...there is so much good in so many people.
Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, I was let out. Again, I am so upset and sore it is hard to think straight.
Keep up the struggle...I promise you I will too.
Love and peace soon,
Cindy
Arresting her for that is just taking it to far. And what if she is a protester? I thought that is what freedom speech was all about. I am horrified at what is happening in this country that I grew up proud to be in. I am horrified! It can only get worse. Everyday a new atrocity by this gov't is revealed. When will it stop?
I'm surprised that she is not on the no fly list.
I had no interest in what Georgie porgie had to say last night. Before I left work here on the west coast the reports of his written release of his speech were out. To think now he will admit, "addicted to oil" Then why the hell are we in Kyoto? Why aren't car manufacturers required to have higher fuel standards? This guy is 1984. One day he/they say one thing; the next something different.
We do not torture. Only a court can issue wiretaps. Our troops are suceeding perfectly even though our reports say they are understaffed, and have no armor.
We have got to take this country back! And when the dollar crashes, will that be enough. I fear that we will just repeat with the same gov't and same corporate greed.
I respect Cindy Sheehan so much for what she has done. Her whole world has changed since she lost her son.
Interesting that Bushy spent all that time telling the middle east about the importance of freedom to speak about differences, when Cindy had just been shown that it's apparently no longer allowed in this country.
This must have gone completely over his head, that or he doesn't think that anyone else on the world notices...
It seems like wearing anti-war tee shirt has become a crime. What kind of BS is that? What would our founding fathers say about this mess? Boosch needs to be removed from power we all know that, but our dilemma is the fact the he controls the Senate, House of Representatives and now thanks to Alito and Roberts the Supreme Court.
We are royally screwed folks. Civil war is the ONLY thing that will free us from the current corrupt government. Where to start if we do win that war? Is another big questions for me. All forms of government eventually become corrupt, so eventually we would trade one evil for another. One of the things that needs to be established is that the future government shown not be allowed to take contributions from corporations, there should be no ties between corporations and government or religion and government what so ever. And if there is, than the guilty party should be sentence to lengthy jail sentences. No more special rights for the rich, as we are ALL equal. No more layers controlling the government, as they are mostly greedy scum trying to make themselves richer. But all this is much easier said, than done.
It will be truly interesting to see how the popular media treats this deal with the arrest of Cindy Sheehan. Wonder what spin they will put on it. Or maybe just a brief mention. What shit!!
Anonymous,
Isn’t it a shame that we have to think of revolution as the only means to make the government responsible to the people as was intended, at least to some degree? I have stated before, I state again, we got exactly what the majority of people wanted, what they agitated for. It has been a long time coming but we got it now.
You are right, what to do about the government. That is why I have been calling for ideas about how to make a new social organization. Putting in place another group that in 50-100 years does a similar take over is unacceptable. The formation of our present government was flawed. It was formed by elites, for the advantage of the elites for the long term. The safety inclusions for checks and balances to keep society going on somewhat of a level field were inadequate. Are we simply incapable of devising a way to organize a society where that cannot happen, where society is always doomed?
A description of exactly what (and only what) the government is responsible for must be made and make it impossible for it to expand. I doubt that even that can be accomplished. We simply cannot get a unanimous decision on anything. It would have been interesting if Madison’s insistence on ‘majority consent” had been “Unanimous consent” instead, as some wanted. An interesting novel was written around this change, called “The Probability Broach”, might want to take a look at it.
Yes, it certainly appears that as a society we are screwed, up one side and down the other, with a barb wire dildo, (thanks Stoney).
I watched the SOUA. Did anyone else keep a Talley of the number of sneers that appeared on his face, as if he were saying “guys, I got you by the short hairs now and there ain’t a damned thing your going to do about it”. What a disgusting circus that was. Standing and applauding for each point made. Bunch of little kids holding forth at a club meeting. My wife and I had problems with keeping a perfectly good supper down.
It's "taxation without representation" all over again.
Murph,
Watching Boosch talk all the crap nearly made me puke my dinner as well, yet there are idiots out there that are still buying the crap coming out of his month. It’s sad, very sad. Cindy Sheehan getting arrested for wearing an anti-war shirt. What’s next, nigh curfews? What’s next in Boosch’s twisted agenda? How long will it be before we can’t bear arms anymore now that Elito is in the Supreme Court?
He’s government is trying to make being an illegal alien a crime. These people come hear to work their asses off, because the level of poverty and corruption in much worse in their countries. Even our founding fathers where immigrants. The only TRUE Americans are the American Indians. We all know that, but NO. Now we believe that this country is too good for immigrants, when it’s the immigrants that populated this country and made it what it is. A country that believes every immigrant is a possible terrorist, that’s just insane! Fascism at its worst folks, that’s the current United Stated of America.
Anonymous,
I’m afraid that there is a very nearly 100% certainty that if the state makes a concerted effort to have arms confiscated I will be dead. I rather suspect that is pretty common attitude around where I live. Besides, it’s been tried before and failed, for a variety of reasons. (not that it won’t be tried again or maybe even be successful). Can you imagine the manpower it would take to do that? The general consensus around here is that they sure wouldn’t want to be an official that tried it in this area. The cops around here are not antagonistic to concealed weapons carry, and a large percentage of the citizens do carry, including yours truly and my wife. She actually carries more than I do. I encourage it and encourage women to do so. Needless to say, violent crime in the area barely reaches the radar.
About immigration. I think you are being a bit unobservant on that issue. I used to live in an area where nearly 30% of the population is low paid Spanish speaking immigrants (legal and illegal). They put such a huge strain on the school system, (didn’t pay any taxes), that most of the long term residents moved out. To top it off, if you aren’t bilingual, (English and Spanish minimum) you can’t get work, in almost all of the service sectors, and that is pretty close to 80% of the jobs available. Many times in making calls to businesses, you literally cannot understand who is answering the phone. Seventy five percent of all the homes in the area are now second homes. The once really neat place to live has become a two tier society. The very rich and the very poor service workers, who are paid next to nothing to wipe the asses of the wealthy. From conversations with other people, this community is not the only place this has happened.
Immigration was once a boon to the country. It brought people from Europe who worked hard and settled open land, which of course benefited the elite in the end. Keep in mind we had to commit genocide to do it. Now, with a population around 300 million, we barely have enough productive farmland left to feed this population. We are now a net importer of food. The insanity has to stop. Nearly every other industrial country has shut down unlimited immigration for these same types of reasons, except us. The reason we haven’t has nothing to do with the original immigration concept, it is not altruistic. It is the money. Capitalism depends on cheap labor and cheap raw materials to flourish. Unless you are willing to live with a dozen people to a household where all the adults work, you are going to have a hard time of it. Many of the immigrants are willing to do this. Are you?
I agree the many of the immigrants do work their asses off. No argument. Some, by denial of any gratification, live to see their kids make something of themselves. But, look at the cost to the American population. Constantly decreasing living standard for most, every increasing downward pressure on wages, overburdened social services, and in the larger metropolitan areas, crime, and the disappearing middle class and every increasing concentration of the nation’s wealth into fewer and fewer hands.
The really sad thing about this is that the immigrants are indeed trying to escape really bad situations brought on by their government, and often created by ours. You might want to investigate what the American role in Mexico and Central America and South America is in creating these rather dreadful conditions. So they think things will be better here and sneak in. Boy are they going to be surprised when it gets as bad or worse here.
I would encourage you to take a look at the definition of Fascism. Spain, Italy, and Germany are modern examples. It is a state where the government is run virtually or clandestinely by the business community. It is what we have, and they welcome illegal immigrants. That cheap labor thing again.
I could have sworn it was the Guardian that reported that Cindy
Sheehan was asked to cover her shirt, but as I search to find the link I can not find it there.
Cyclone
I think we need some tee shirts that have some sort of anti dipshit slogan on them and tell people where they can get the truth. Even as strapped as I am I would buy one or two. You know the main stream isn’t going to tell the truth.
The next thing is to keep saying key words in your phone conversations and emails. Lets see how well this machine of theirs will take the added volume.
Anonymous
I would like to see them take my guns. I don't know where Stony is and I am surprised that I beat him to this. They will have a serious problem taking my weapons.
My fear is if any group of people tries to start demonstrating in mass for a change in this administration, They/we will be labeled as terrorists and they will arrest us. History has shown that to change something you have to fight for it and you have to fight hard. The only other thing that we have a chance of making change is the next congressional elections. I don't know if they will actually make any difference though. This two party system is just plain corrupted and has no regard for the middle class. They constantly lie to us and promise us things that they no have intention of doing. They tell us that we are fighting for others freedom and we don't have freedom here.
Sean
EXACTLY Murph!
The picture you decribe looks very similar here in Phoenix. Also, I read an article stating that there were jobs to be had in Mexico, but those jobs paid less than the low wages that can be had here in the US. And, billions of dollars are sent back to families in Mexico - a favorable situation for Pres. Fox and his corrupt government.
The price of everything goes up, but my paycheck seems to stay the same or goes down. Maybe pretty soon we will ALL be living 12 to a house.
Hey Sean,
I'm right here! I had to go do the taxes thing, and just got back!
Oh how I'ld LOVE to see the repigs come for my guns! They'ld see the Civil War all over again! Here in Saluda, North Carolina, I don't know one houshold that doesn't have at least one gun in it! I've got 4. Each of them serves a different use in a different situation. I guess everybody knows my opinion of the second ammendment. No use rehashing old hash. Don't like guns? Fine! Don't want one in your home? Great! I can respect that! Take mine away? I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO, SCOOTER!!!
Now for Cindy! Just who the FUCK do these crack-brained faccists think they are fucking with here! Cindy Sheehan speaks for a lot of us here and it's way past time we started speaking for her! I just got through firing off a load of emails to my elected representatives that will probably have the Secret Service camped out on the hill above my house for a month! Fuck 'em!! I'm getting bored any way! Time to raise one hell of a stink and I believe I found a target!
Cindy, if you're out ther sister? We hear ya, and we feel ya! And if George W. thought a T shirt got his liver in a twist! Wait till he gets a load of "step 2"
I'm sick of every neocon with an axe to grind using Cindy Sheehan as a whet-stone!
This was the first SOTU speech I've ever watched. To be honest, it was probably the most nauseating display I've seen in quite some time.
Surely this is the reason these neocons are drunk on power – they are elvated to some sort of emperor's status with all the pomp, applause and fervor.
Aside from the fact that he distorted, manipulated and lied through the entire speech, you could see that he was blatantly trying to perpetuate fear in people.
Radical Islam? What about radical Christianity?
I watched War of the Worlds (the remake) for the first time the other day and something struck a chord. When Dakota Fanning realises the shit's going down she asks "is it the terrorists?"
Is this what it has come to? Kids in constant fear of an anonymous enemy, ingrained from a very young age. It's sickening and disgusting.
the drummer
Cyclone
On a lighter side
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/44892
Sean
the drummer,
Yea it's sick and disgusting! You ought to try living in the middle of it! I've neber heared such a pack of lies in all my life! I laughed so hard I damn near choked to death! it's the only way to survive the shit! If you laugh hard enough you don't have time to cry!
Hell send me an email! I got yours and finaly replied to them. My inbox weent snakeshit and covered me up with spam for viagra and sent half of my contacts list into the "junk" folder! I'm so VERY lucky to live in a country where the greatest medical miracles in the last twenty years is pills to help rich old farts grow hair and get a boner!
Sean,
I love that site you posted. That is a really great piece of satire.
You know, I am starting to think of Cindy Sheehan as a sort of new Rosa Parks. She is genuine and courageous and I think worth following and standing up for. We have had so little leadership from where we have expected to find it. Maybe we need to recognize a good thing when we see it (her) and really rally around her.
Yet another look at the entrails of the ramblings from last night--if your entrails can take it, that is.
link
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Another talking head
link
January 31, 2006
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
Stop him? there is no stopping him now that the SC is in his hip pocket--he has complete/total control.
The only change that might occur is bush may find his ass out in the street but she's a ditatorship now, with or without him.
RP:
Yep--worthless or worth less US dollars would not be something China would be keen to have happen, not just now anyway--but most likely something of that sort would be in the cards that China holds and intends to play--one day.
Did ya ever watch the movie "Riley-Ace of Spies?" Some pretty heavy duty intrigue going on now, as well, I should think. And the US with a mental midget (with a first instinct for smashing) at the helm--course who's to tell just how much of the course he is plotting, let alone steering.
Rockpicker,
Glad to hear your thinking about and making preparations as best you can.
We began preparing a couple years ago, after we moved to Oregon in preparation for the shit coming down. We now have a fairly hefty stash of food, we got a greenhouse, have a working garden. Next summer we get laying chickens, put in some rabbit hutches. This summer we may put up a Yurt to help out friends and/or relates that have no place else to go. I'm stocked up on defense means with quite a bit of over stock and a complete reloading bench. I've been shooting and reloading for a lot of years now. I've put some money into gunsmithing tools. I figure on insulating and putting wood heat in the garage this summer too. Going to find some kind of wood heater for the trailer, and stock up on stove piping etc. I also plan to put in a stove pipe heating coil for hot water.
Unfortunately there simply may not be enough time and/or money to do it all. Just start on what we consider first level prepartions and see how far we get.
Yes, I did a little research on brick ovens. I like the idea. If we have another year to get ready, (another summer after this one) I may get that built too.
I have started writing articles for the local paper on peak oil and how the community can prepare for it. If we get any interest in it, my wife and I will hold seminars with piles of information that we have collected. I talk to as many people about it in as non intrusive way as I can. I don't know how much interest we can generate. In reality all we can do is prepare ourselves and talk about it with people and get them to examine the evidence.
Of course, if Bush and cronies decide to push the war with Iran, it may get really nasty too fast to get much more done. Hard to say what's comming and how fast. I think that is the worst part, not being able to see clearly a time line and accurately what is going to come at us how fast.
In all, all we can do is the best we can and hope some of us are around to start over with some better ideas of how to begin.
Not that I really know much. But if there was some way to convince the masses that our gov't was involved in 9/11 and the coverup. I don't really think the browser hijacking would work, but some would read the info. Most would not.
However it may just cause chaos.
Even the conservative articles that I find on the dollar's decline estimate 30% decline which I'm sure if plenty to also cause chaos.
So if China has given Booshco a free ticket on Iran, what about the more funds we will need to continue a new war? Is the anon poster of a few days right that eventually no country will be buying our bonds?
At any event, doesn't China see they are only postponing the inevitable?
Morpheus,
Awesome film links. I've only watched Part I.
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