Monday, February 24, 2014

The Paiute Indians - The Pyramid Lake Wars

Paiute High Chief Numaga
Dear Readers,

The West, including what the settlers called the "Far West" of California and Nevada, had many Indian wars. Most are unknown to many.

As for the Paiutes, it is said that early Euro-American settlers often referred to both the Northern Paiutes and the Southern Paiutes as "Diggers" because of their practice of digging for roots for food. As for Paiute Indians, they consider the term "Diggers" as derogatory and they discouraged its use.

The Southern Paiute traditionally lived in the Colorado River basin and Mojave Desert in northern Arizona and southeastern California including Owens Valley, Southern Nevada and southern Utah. The Northern Paiute have traditionally lived in the Great Basin in eastern California, western Nevada, and southeast Oregon.

Before the White man, the Northern Paiute's lifestyle was well adapted to the harsh desert environment in which they lived. Each tribe or band occupied a specific territory, generally centered on a lake or wetland that supplied fish and water-fowl. Communal drives, which often involved neighboring bands, would take rabbits and pronghorn from surrounding areas.

Individuals and families appear to have moved freely between bands. Pinyon nuts gathered in the mountains in the fall provided critical winter food. Grass seeds and roots were also important parts of their diet. The name of each band came from a characteristic food source.

For example, the people at Pyramid Lake were known as the Cui Ui Ticutta (meaning "Cui-ui eaters"), the people of the Lovelock area were known as the Koop Ticutta, meaning "ground-squirrel eaters", and the people of the Carson Sink were known as the Toi Ticutta, meaning "tule eaters". The Kucadikadi of Mono County, California are the "brine fly eaters".

Relations among the Northern Paiute bands and the Shoshone nation who were their neighbors were generally peaceful. The reason for the peace is that there is no sharp distinction between the Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone.

It's a shame the same can't be said for their relations with the Washoe people -- who in fact were culturally and linguistically very different. The relations between the Paiute and the Washoe were not so peaceful and wars were common.

Contact between the Southern Paiute and Europeans came in the late 1770's. First contact with the Northern Paiutes may have occurred in the 1820s with the Spanish. Contact with Americans came soon after in the 1840s.

Like other Native American nations, the Paiute had adopted the use of horses from other Great Plains tribes. But other than discovering horses, their culture was otherwise largely unaffected by European influences in the early 1800s.

It was only later as American settlements in the area grew that several violent incidents occurred.

The Pyramid Lake War

The Paiute War, also known as the Pyramid Lake War, Washoe Indian War and the Pah Ute War, was an armed conflict between Northern Paiutes allied with the Shoshone and the Bannock against the United States.

It took place in 1860 in the vicinity of Pyramid Lake in the Utah Territory, now within present day Nevada. The war was the result of a series of increasingly violent incidents, culminating in two pitched battles in which approximately 80 Americans were killed.

The number of Paiutes killed in action is unrecorded. Smaller raids and skirmishes continued until a cease-fire was agreed to in August 1860, there was no treaty.

Early settlement of what is now northwestern Nevada had a tremendous disruptive effect on the Northern Paiute people. The settlers in the Great Basin was a disruption to the Paiute food supply, including the felling of Single-leaf Pinyon groves which was a major food source for the Paiute. And yes, mining, an attempt to monopolize water sources, and settlers competing with the Paiutes for grazing lands all added to the tensions.
Several murders of settlers, including famed mountainman Peter Lassen, were widely attributed to Paiutes. But then again, crimes such as murder and even kidnappings of Paiute Indians by American settlers also took place.

The lack of Law and an effective territory government in the area meant that there was no formal judicial response to these incidents, leading to private retribution and a general atmosphere of fear and distrust.

The winter of 1859 and 1860 was particularly cold and snowy in the Great Basin, and was a great hardship to the Paiute. Chief Winnemucca died in the winter of 1859. He had been influential among the Paiute, and widely liked by the settlers. He served as a sort of ambassador and keeper of the peace - as uneasy a peace as it was.

Paiute bands from across the Great Basin gathered at Pyramid Lake for the spring fish run due to dwindling local food supplies.

The Williams Station Massacre

Williams Station was a combination saloon, general store, and stagecoach station was located along the Carson River at the modern-day Lahontan Reservoir.  On May 6th, 1860, Williams Station was raided by Paiutes. And yes, it was ugly.

Three Americans there were killed, mutilated, and the station was burned. Later on people found evidence that those killed were burned alive.

According to Paiute Sarah Winnemucca, the raid was in retaliation for the kidnapping and rape of two young Paiute girls by the proprietors of the station. It's true, this series of conflicts was actually caused, not for no reason by marauding Paiute braves, but instead in retaliation of the kidnapping of two young Paiute girls by three white men who were subsequently killed by a band of Paiute who were there to rescue the girls.
A survivor of the retaliation raid managed to escape and make it to Virginia City. It was his story that caused a general panic in the region among settlers.

No, it isn't believed that anyone stopped to ask why the Paiute attacked -- it didn't matter if the Paiute were doing the exact same thing that the settlers would have done in their shoes.

Out of this a militia was quickly formed from volunteers from Virginia City, Silver City, Carson City and Genoa, Nevada, with the supposed purpose of "apprehending the perpetrators." Others say it was an eye for an eye, and this force consisted of about 105 men under the overall command of Major William Ormsby.

The First Battle of Pyramid Lake

Major Ormsby's command assembled at the ruins of the Williams Station, and then proceeded north to the Truckee River, and then along that river towards Pyramid Lake.

On May 12th, it was ambushed and routed by Paiute forces under the command of Numaga approximately five miles south of the lake.

Seventy-six of the 105 militiamen were killed, including Major Ormsby. Many of the others were wounded. The number of Paiute killed is not recorded, but thought to be only a few in comparison. And yes, accounts indicate that the volunteer militia of 105 were poorly armed, badly mounted, and were almost completely unorganized.

Their fate started after they met at Williams Station and finding no natives, the militia headed towards Pyramid Lake -- a known settlement of the previously friendly Paiute Indians whose chief had recently died.

Along the way they encountered a small party of Paiutes occupying a strong position on a rocky hill. The whites didn't waste any time at all, especially not stopping to think, they simply attacked head long toward the Paiutes who fled after returning a few shots.

The Paiute braves would turn now and again to continue firing -- all fairly sporadically as they fled into a rocky ravine with the 105 militia pursing them.

Once in the ravine, it is believed that up to 500 Paiute warriors appeared seemingly out of no where and began raining fire upon the militia. Shooting from high ground, the militia found itself in a trap.

Yes, the Paiute sprung a trap on the foolish whites who ran headlong into it. And then, after the Paiute sprung the trap, they closed off the route of escape and fired on the militia from all sides.

With shots coming down on them from seemingly everywhere, the civilian militia headed for a patch of woods as their only escape. Some of the survivors of the battle were pursued twenty miles by the Paiute Indians. Many never made it back.

Of the up to 500 Paiutes who are thought to have participated in the battle, only a few were lost. The militia didn't fair as well, seventysix were killed and left behind.

The Washoe Regiment & U.S. Regulars

So the first major confrontation on May 12th, 1860 was undertaken by a poorly organized and badly armed group of Nevada Volunteers which consisted of 105 American miners, farmers. ranchers, and other settlers led by Major William Ormsby.

They were ambushed by Paiutes under Chief Numaga at Big Bend in the Truckee River Valley in Nevada - and the ambush resulted in an Indian victory in which 76 white men, including Major Ormsby, were killed.

There was no mail service for a few weeks after Major Ormsby was defeated in the Battle of Pyramid Lake. I'll talk more about the mail, and especially about the Pony Express, at the end of this article.

Now in response to what later became known as "The First Battle of Pyramid Lake," settlers called upon legendary Texas Ranger Colonel John C. Hays.

File:JCHays.jpgColonel John C. Hays responded to the call and traveled to Carson City to organize a regiment of 500 volunteers which he dubbed the “Washoe Regiment”.

Another 165 volunteers came from the nearby California communities of Placerville, Sacramento and Nevada City. Hays then marched his regiment to Virginia City.

The U.S. Army responded to the call as well. Captain Joseph Stewart left Fort Alcatraz, California, with 144 Regulars from the 3rd U.S. Artillery and 6th U.S. Infantry regiments. He arrived in Carson City to await further developments.

In the meantime, Hays had marched out of Virginia City to Williams Station where he skirmished with 150 Paiutes before the warriors pulled back to Pyramid Lake.

The Paiutes returned to their village at Pyramid Lake near the mouth of the Truckee River. They sent their women and children into the Black Rock Desert as a protective measure.

The Washoe Regiment of Volunteer was composed of 13 companies of men from the areas surrounding Carson City and Virginia City, Nevada, as well as from Sacramento and Placerville, California. In addition to the volunteers under Hays, the U.S. Army responded by sending a detachment of U.S. artillery and infantry from Fort Alcatraz, California. This contingent known as the "Carson River Expedition" was led by Captain Joseph Stewart.

Hays' volunteers went into action at the battle of Williams Station and were then joined by Stewart's Regulars.

The Washoe Regiment command was made up of a Colonel John C. Hays, Lt. Colonel Saunders, and Major Daniel E. Hingerford. Its companies were the Carson Rangers, Carson Rifles, Coloma Grays, Highland Rangers “Vaqueros”, Independent City Guards of Sacramento, Nevada Rifles under Captain Van Hagen, San Juan Rifles, Sierra Guards, Silver City Guards, Spy Company under Captain Fleeson, Sutter Rifles, Truckee Rangers under Captain Lance Nightingill, and the Virginia Rifles under Captain Edward Farris Storey.

As stated before, the Carson River Expedition commander from Fort Alcatraz was Captain Joseph Stewart -- and his 144 men came from Company H, 3rd U.S. Artillery, and a Detachment of the 6th U.S. Infantry.

The Second Battle of Pyramid Lake

In June of 1860, Col Hays and Capt Stewart retraced the steps of Ormsby's command and met Numaga's Paiutes at the same location as Ormsby's fight.

In the battle which took place on June 2nd, the Paiute were outnumbered by the now better organized settlers. The battle began when Hays sent out an advance party of two companies while the main force moved 8 miles downriver from their camp much more cautiously than Ormsby had before.

The advance party, moving toward the Paiute village, encountered the remains of Ormsby’s command on the field of the previous battle which remained unburied. But the Paiute then made a rapid advance upon the soldiers in the shape of a wedge, and Hays' advance party made a hasty retreat.

Colonel Hays was forced to make a stand and luckily he was in an ideal location to make such a stand. It was a narrow canyon, about a mile wide, anchored to the west by steep mountains of the Virginia Range - and to the east ran the Truckee River. Both geographical features prevented any flanking maneuver by the Paiute.

A rocky butte lay in the center of the field. To the west of this butte, rain had cut lateral gullies into the sandy ground providing natural breastworks which either side could have used to make successive stands in the case he was forced to retreat.

Numaga was the Paiute High Chief.

The Paiute charge had taken possession of the butte and now extended their own line from the river well into the rocks of the mountains to the West. The Paiutes had advanced so quickly that all geographical features advantageous to the fight were now in their hands.

Hays' soldiers were forced to deploy on level ground to the south. Captain Stewart deployed his Regulars in a skirmish line to the west of the butte along the base of the mountains while the volunteers formed to the east along the river.

Captain Edward Farris Storey and Captain J. B. Van Hagan, commanding two companies of volunteers, one from Nevada and one from California respectively, decided to make a charge against the butte even before Hays got the entire main force in place.

Storey and Van Hagan succeeded in seizing the butte and for a short time were subjected to flanking fire as the Natives began to surround them from the river bank and mountain slopes. This forward position was relieved as Hays advanced the main body forward. Stewart drove the warriors from the mountain slopes while Hays and the volunteers steadily advanced along the river.

Eventually the two sides maintained a continuous line of battle opposing each other roughly a mile long. The battle continued for some time with neither side gaining a clear advantage. After fighting for nearly three hours the Paiutes finally retreated up the canyon toward the lake.

On June 4th, Captain Stewart started his pursuit of the Paiute coming upon the abandoned village at the mouth of the Truckee River. Colonel Hays followed Stewart northward in pursuit.

On June 5th, Hays sent a group of scouts through a canyon northeast of Pyramid Lake. Those scouts were ambushed and Private William Allen was killed. He was to be the last casualty of the Pyramid War. And yes, Fort Churchill was built in the aftermath of the battle. 

Shortly after Allen’s death, Colonel Hays returned with the Washoe Regiment to Carson City where he disbanded the regiment. Major Ormsby’s body was temporarily interred where it lay near Pyramid Lake, but was later moved to a cemetery in Carson City. Captain Storey, who was mortally wounded in the battle, was buried in Virginia City. Both Ormsby and Storey would have Nevada counties named after them later.

Captain Stewart stayed in the Pyramid Lake area for a few more weeks but the Paiutes never returned. His soldiers eventually built several earthen forts around the lake. It's true, after what was considered "the inconclusive Second Battle of Pyramid Lake," the Federal forces built a small fort at the southern end of Pyramid Lake to deny that area's food resources to the Paiutes.

Capt Stewart abandoned these forts in favor of a larger fort along the Carson River. He began construction in 1861 and named the post Fort Churchill.

As far as wars go, the second round went much better for the settlers as they were proven victorious killing almost 160 Indians while suffering a loss of only 4 of their own number. In reality, the papers of the time were correct in deeming the Second Battle of Pyramid Lake "inconclusive" because it didn't really solve a thing.

Small skirmishes and raids continued until August, when finally an informal cease-fire between Chief Numaga and white surveyors working in the area north of Pyramid Lake was achieved. While the number of Paiutes killed in action during the Pyramid Lake War was probably pretty small. But the disruption to food gathering activities, and the fact that they were denied access to fishing in Pyramid Lake, all may have killed more Paiutes from starvation later.

The Pyramid Lake War was followed later by the Owens Valley Indian War 1861-1864, the Snake War 1864-1868, and the Bannock War of 1878. Some might find a great victory in starving out your enemy, personally I don't.

For me, I believe the Paiute Indians had proven themselves to be great warriors and outstanding tacticians.

As for those who tried to starve them into submission? Well, just as with those who were responsible for slaughtering the buffalo to cheat the Plains Indians out of a food source year later, those responsible for trying to starve the Paiute Indians should have been hung!

Actions like that will only make future generations wonder who really was the "civilized" race between the two, the Indians who were the victim of such efforts or those in command of the U.S. Army who were really responsible for such vindictive policies?

So now, what does the Pony Express have to do with this story?

Well, for those interested in the connections between events, the Pyramid Lake War might be of particular interest because of its effect on mail delivery and the Pony Express. As stated before, American settlements in the area grew. As they did, several violent incidents occurred, including the Pyramid Lake War of 1860.

The Paiute uprising at the time lead to attacks that resulted in the loss of many Pony Express riders along with their horses. And yes, along with those riders and their horses, there was complete destruction of every rest station between California and Salt Lake during the Pyramid Lake War. Because of this, the Pony Express mail service experienced its first and only delays in delivery.

A few brave riders distinguished themselves during that time, especially Robert "Pony Bob" Haslam. On May 10th, 1860, Haslam was assigned the run from Friday's Station in Lake Tahoe to Buckland Station near Fort Churchill which was a distance of 75 miles to the East.

"Pony Bob" Haslam is credited with having made the longest round trip ride of the Pony Express. He had received the Eastbound mail from San Francisco at Friday's Station, but at Buckland's Station his relief rider was so badly frightened over the threat from the Paiutes that he actually refused to take the mail.

Pony Bob agreed to take the mail all the way to Smith's Creek for a total distance of 190 miles without a rest. After a rest of nine hours, he retraced his route with the Westbound mail.

At Cold Springs he found that Indians had raided the place, killing the station keeper and running off all of the stock. When he finally reached Buckland's Station, completing a 380-mile round trip, it became the longest on record for the Pony Express.

It is said that Pony Bob accomplished the amazing round trip without stopping purely out of necessity to save his scalp. And frankly, I can understand that sort of motivation!

Tom Correa


Sunday, February 23, 2014

FEMA Disaster Preparation Guide 2014

Dear Readers,

FEMA has put out a pretty basic disaster preparation guide for 2014, the link to the pdf.file for the guide is:
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/areyouready_full.pdf

Most of the article below is taken from the 2014 FEMA Preparation Guide, Are You Ready.

I hope you can use some of the information to make your decisions as to how to prepare for your family's needs during a disaster.

There are real benefits to being prepared:

• Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters.

Communities, families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter during a tornado.

They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

• People also can reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home or moving a home out of harm’s way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger completely.

The need to prepare is real.

• Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property.

• If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well.

Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

• You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area—hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism.

• You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation.

Using this guide makes preparation practical.

• This guide was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is the agency responsible for responding to national disasters and for helping state and local governments and individuals prepare for emergencies.

It contains step-by-step advice on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

• Used in conjunction with information and instructions from local emergency management offices and the American Red Cross, Are You Ready? will give you what you need to be prepared.

Are You Ready?

Basic Information

In Section 1, Citizens are advised of Basic Information.

"In this part of the guide, you will learn preparedness strategies that are common to all disasters. You plan only once,and are able to apply your plan to all types of hazards.
When you complete Part 1, you will be able to:

• Get informed about hazards and emergencies that may affect you and your family.

• Develop an emergency plan.

• Collect and assemble disaster supplies kit.

• Learn where to seek shelter from all types of hazards.

• Identify the community warning systems and evacuation routes.

• Include in your plan required information from community and school plans.

• Learn what to do for specific hazards.

• Practice and maintain your plan."  

Natural Hazards  

In Section 2, Citizens are advised about Natural Hazards such as Wild Fires, Floods, and so on.

"Part 2 includes information about many types of natural hazards. Natural hazards are natural events that threaten lives, property, and other assets.   Often, natural hazards can be predicted. They tend to occur repeatedly in the same geographical locations because they are related to weather patterns or physical characteristics of an area.

Natural hazards such as flood, fire, earthquake, tornado, and windstorms affect thousands of people every year. We need to know what our risks are from natural hazards and take sensible precautions to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Use Part 2 to learn about the hazards that pose a risk to you. Include the pertinent information in your family disaster plan.

Specific content on each hazard consists of the characteristics of that hazard, terms associated with the hazard, measures that can be taken beforehand to avoid or lessen the impact of these events, and what individuals need to do during and after the event to protect themselves.

When you complete Part 2, you will be able to:

• Know important terms.

• Take protective measures for natural hazards.

• Identify resources for more information about natural hazards."  

Technological Hazards  

In Section 3, Citizens are educated in what is being termed "Technological hazards" which include hazardous materials incidents and nuclear power plant failures.

"Usually, little or no warning precedes incidents involving technological hazards. In many cases, victims may not know they have been affected until many years later.  

For example, health problems caused by hidden toxic waste sites—like that at Love Canal, near Niagara Falls, New York—surfaced years after initial exposure.

The number of technological incidents is escalating, mainly as a result of the increased number of new substances and the opportunities for human error inherent in the use of these materials.

Use Part 3 to learn what actions to include in your family disaster plan to prepare for and respond to events involving technological hazards.

Learn how to use, store, and dispose of household chemicals in a manner that will reduce the potential for injury to people and the environment.

When you complete Part 3, you will be able to:

• Recognize important terms.

• Take protective measures for technological disasters.

• Know what actions to take if an event occurs.

• Identify resources for more information about technological hazards."

Terrorism  

Part 4 deals with preparations for a Terrorist Attack.  

"Throughout human history, there have been many threats to the security of nations. These threats have brought about large-scale losses of life, the destruction of property, widespread illness and injury, the displacement of large numbers of people, and devastating economic loss.

Recent technological advances and ongoing international political unrest are components of the increased risk to national security.

Use Part 4 to learn what actions to include in your family disaster plan to prepare for and respond to terrorist threats.

When you complete Part 4, you will be able to:

• Recognize important terms.

• Take protective measures for terrorist threats.

• Know what actions to take if an event occurs.

• Identify resources for more information about terrorist threats."  

Recovering from a Disaster

Part 5 has Health and Safety Guidelines

"Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical well-being.

If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful.

This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community, and your life back to normal.

Your first concern after a disaster is your family’s health and safety. You need to consider possible safety issues and monitor family health and well-being.

Aiding the Injured

Check for injuries.

Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of death or further injury. If you must move an unconscious person, first stabilize the neck and back, then call for help immediately.

• If the victim is not breathing, carefully position the victim for artificial respiration, clear the airway, and commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

• Maintain body temperature with blankets. Be sure the victim does not become overheated.

• Never try to feed liquids to an unconscious person.

Health

• Be aware of exhaustion. Don’t try to do too much at once. Set priorities and pace yourself. Get enough rest.

• Drink plenty of clean water.

• Eat well.

• Wear sturdy work boots and gloves.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water often when working in debris.

Safety Issues

• Be aware of new safety issues created by the disaster. Watch for washed out roads, contaminated buildings, contaminated water, gas leaks, broken glass, damaged electrical wiring, and slippery floors.

• Inform local authorities about health and safety issues, including chemical spills, downed power lines, washed out roads, smoldering insulation, and dead animals.

Returning Home

Returning home can be both physically and mentally challenging. Above all, use caution.

General tips:

• Keep a battery-powered radio with you so you can listen for emergency updates and news reports.

• Use a battery-powered fl ash light to inspect a damaged home.

Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering—the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.

• Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.

• Use the phone only to report life-threatening emergencies.

• Stay off the streets. If you must go out, watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.

Before You Enter Your Home

Walk carefully around the outside and check for loose power lines, gas leaks, and structural damage. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.

Do not enter if:

• You smell gas.

• Flood-waters remain around the building.

• Your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.

Going Inside Your Home

When you go inside your home, there are certain things you should and should not do.

Enter the home carefully and check for damage.

Be aware of loose boards and slippery floors.

The following items are other things to check inside your home:

• Natural gas. If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave immediately.

Turn off the main gas valve from the outside, if you can.

Call the gas company from a neighbor’s residence.

If you shut off the gas supply at the main valve, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

Do not smoke or use oil, gas lanterns, candles, or torches for lighting inside a damaged home until you are sure there is no leaking gas or other flammable materials present.

• Sparks, broken or frayed wires.

Check the electrical system unless you are wet, standing in water, or unsure of your safety.

If possible, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker.

If the situation is unsafe, leave the building and call for help. Do not turn on the lights until you are sure they’re safe to use.

You may want to have an electrician inspect your wiring.

• Roof, foundation, and chimney cracks. If it looks like the building may collapse, leave immediately.

• Appliances. If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then, unplug appliances and let them dry out.

Have appliances checked by a professional before using them again. Also, have the electrical system checked by an electrician before turning the power back on.

• Water and sewage systems. If pipes are damaged, turn off the main water valve.

Check with local authorities before using any water; the water could be contaminated.

Pump out wells and have the water tested by authorities before drinking.

Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact.

• Food and other supplies. Throw out all food and other supplies that you suspect may have become contaminated or come in to contact with flood-water.

• Your basement. If your basement has flooded, pump it out gradually (about one third of the water per day) to avoid damage.

The walls may collapse and the floor may buckle if the basement is pumped out while the surrounding ground is still waterlogged.

• Open cabinets. Be alert for objects that may fall.

• Clean up household chemical spills. Disinfect items that may have been contaminated by raw sewage, bacteria, or chemicals. Also clean salvageable items.

• Call your insurance agent. Take pictures of damages. Keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.

Being Wary of Wildlife

Disaster and life threatening situations will exacerbate the unpredictable nature of wild animals. To protect yourself and your family, learn how to deal with wildlife:

• Do not approach or attempt to help an injured or stranded animal. Call your local animal control office or wildlife resource office.

• Do not corner wild animals or try to rescue them. Wild animals will likely feel threatened and may endanger themselves by dashing off into flood-waters, fire, and so forth.

• Do not approach wild animals that have taken refuge in your home. Wild animals such as snakes, opossums, and raccoons often seek refuge from flood-waters on upper levels of homes and have been known to remain after water recedes.

If you encounter animals in this situation, open a window or provide another escape route and the animal will likely leave on its own.

Do not attempt to capture or handle the animal. Should the animal stay, call your local animal control office or wildlife resource office.

• Do not attempt to move a dead animal. Animal carcasses can present serious health risks. Contact your local emergency management office or health department for help and instructions.

• If bitten by an animal, seek immediate medical attention.

Seeking Disaster Assistance

Throughout the recovery period, it is important to monitor local radio or television reports and other media sources for information about where to get emergency housing, food, first aid, clothing, and financial assistance.

The following section provides general information about the kinds of assistance that may be available.

Direct Assistance Direct assistance to individuals and families may come from any number of organizations, including:

• American Red Cross.

• Salvation Army.

• Other volunteer organization.

These organizations provide food, shelter, supplies and assist in clean-up efforts.

The Federal Role

In the most severe disasters, the federal government is also called in to help individuals and families with temporary housing, counseling (for post-disaster trauma), low-interest loans and grants, and other assistance.

The federal government also has programs that help small businesses and farmers.

Most federal assistance becomes available when the President of the United States declares a “Major Disaster” for the affected area at the request of a state governor.

FEMA will provide information through the media and community outreach about federal assistance and how to apply.

Coping with Disaster

The emotional toll that disaster brings can sometimes be even more devastating than the financial strains of damage and loss of home, business, or personal property.

Understand Disaster Events

• Everyone who sees or experiences a disaster is affected by it in some way.

• It is normal to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your family and close friends.

• Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event.

• Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover.

• Focusing on your strengths and abilities helps you heal.

• Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.

• Everyone has different needs and different ways of coping.

• It is common to want to strike back at people who have caused great pain.

Children and older adults are of special concern in the aftermath of disasters. Even individuals who experience a disaster “second hand” through exposure to extensive media coverage can be affected.

Contact local faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, or professional counselors for counseling. Additionally, FEMA and state and local governments of the affected area may provide crisis counseling assistance.

Helping Others

The compassion and generosity of the American people is never more evident than after a disaster. People want to help. Here are some general guidelines on helping others after a disaster:

• Volunteer! Check with local organizations or listen to local news reports for information about where volunteers are needed.

Note: Until volunteers are specifically requested, stay away from disaster areas.

• Bring your own food, water, and emergency supplies to a disaster area if you are needed there.

This is especially important in cases where a large area has been affected and emergency items are in short supply.

• Give a check or money order to a recognized disaster relief organization.

These groups are organized to process checks, purchase what is needed, and get it to the people who need it most.

• Do not drop off food, clothing, or any other item to a government agency or disaster relief organization unless a particular item has been requested.

Normally, these organizations do not have the resources to sort through the donated items.

• Donate a quantity of a given item or class of items (such as nonperishable food) rather than a mix of different items.

Determine where your donation is going, how it’s going to get there, who is going to unload it, and how it is going to be distributed. Without sufficient planning, much needed supplies will be left unused.

General Water Conservation Tips

• Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water your indoor plants or garden.

• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year!

• Check all plumbing for leaks. Have leaks repaired by a plumber.

• Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow-restrictors.

• Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.

• Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.

• Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.

• Choose appliances that are more energy and water efficient.

Bathroom

• Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models.

Note: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.

• Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush.

Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow (do not use a brick, it may dissolve and loose pieces may cause damage to the internal parts).

Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.

• Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.

• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

• Avoid taking baths—take short showers—turn on water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off.

• Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.

Kitchen

• Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded. Use the “light wash” feature, if available, to use less water.

• Hand wash dishes by filling two containers—one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.

• Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.

• Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage. (Kitchen sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly).

• Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.

• Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.

• Avoid rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher; just remove large particles of food. (Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing)

• Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave oven.

Laundry

• Operate automatic clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of your load.

Outdoor Water

• Check your well pump periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak.

• Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs, and trees.

Once established, they do not need water as frequently and usually will survive a dry period without watering. Small plants require less water to become established. Group plants together based on similar water needs.

• Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices.

• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.

• Avoid purchasing recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.

• Avoid installing ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless they use recycled water.

Pools

• Install a new water-saving pool filter. A single back flushing with a traditional filter uses 180 to 250 gallons of water.

• Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation of water.

Editor's Note:

While all of the above is from FEMA, and I have no idea why they feel it necessary to include Car Washing, Lawn Care, or Pools, I do have to admit that a pool would be one way to store water.  

Typical of a government brochure, the FEMA indepth preparation guide is over 200 pages long with all sorts of pictures - and a lot more information.

The link to the pdf.file for the 2014 disaster preparation guide, Are You Ready is:

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/areyouready_full.pdf

The guide is very long. But, after reading the entire pdf file, I believe that some of the information is very helpful.

Of course other information such as Car Washing and Lawn Care during a disaster are completely unnecessary.

I mean, let's be honest, the last thing on my list of concerns is whether my car needs to be washed during a disaster - I'm sure I'll have bigger things to worry about.

And while FEMA listed information regarding Being Wary of Wildlife, unless I missed it, I did not see where they covered the issue of personal security during a disaster. 

For that, I'm trying to put something together to address that issue.

Until then, just as with everything else, my advice is to let common sense and your good judgement be your guide at to what you need.

Good luck, and remember preparation is not a bad thing - especially when living in areas prone to natural disasters and such.

Tom Correa

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

VFW Finds Consequences To Its Actions

Yes indeed, contrary to what some folks say, life really does have consequences.

Most of us are very aware that we'll certainly reap what we sow. Whether it's breaking the law of doing things that might not be illegal but just aren't right, most of us will not escape the consequences of our actions.

In many ways, that's what I see happening with the VFW.

A report out of Washington state about a VFW post up there talks about how its membership is in decline.
 
The report about the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Washington state talked about how they dutifully go about the business of doing things for its community such as marching in the local annual Veterans Day Parade, providing color guards for local schools, as well as providing  military honors for veterans' funerals.

But, the Yakima Herald also reported the hard truth about VFW Post 379, or rather its membership, in that their post is in decline and losing more members than bringing in.

According to the report, its rolls, like those of the national organization to which it belongs, are slowly dwindling. The loss of their membership is specifically tied to the fact that their World War II members are dying of old age.

Fourteen members of the post have died so far this year and, as the paper wrote, “it’s only February.”

While the Washington post is far from dead with just under 1,000 members, the report stated they've had 118 deaths last year and 134 in 2012.

Total membership in Post 379, according to the Yakima Herald, is down to 937, from nearly 1,400 as of just five years ago.

“That’s probably the trend all across America,” Bob Hearing, the post’s 68-year-old historian, told The Herald. “We’re just losing membership.”

Randi Law, a spokeswoman for VFW Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, confirmed to The Herald what Bob Hearing suspects -- the VFW's National membership has fallen from 1.8 million to 1.4 million, since 2004.

Yes, that's a loss of 400 thousand members in just 10 years.

So why the VFW Membership decline?

Well, obviously, one reason for the membership decline is that the World War II, Korean War, and even Vietnam veterans are dying off at a rate faster than they can get in new members.

Knowing that, the question becomes why can't they get in younger members?

Now to be real frank about the answer to what I think is going on, I have to first state a disclaimer.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, than you probably know that I'm a former U.S. Marine and a member of the American Legion post here in small Glencoe, California.

You may also know that after many years of not being a member of the VFW, that I did become a member of the VFW back in 2002 -- for only that year.

A friend who is a member to a local VFW post in a neighboring town reminded me that the VFW does a lot of good things locally for the community. And yes, he is right.

Another friend contends that what the VFW does at the National level doesn't impact veterans at the local level.  But, that's where I see a problem.

Like the American Legion, the bulk of the yearly membership dues goes to the VFW National organization to do with as they see fit. In reality the post only sees a couple of dollars from every member when they renew their membership. It is a small percentage of what the yearly dues are.

And yes, there is the problem with the VFW.

When my membership ended back in 2002, I simply did not renew it.

Frankly, like many other vets, I have political differences with the VFW National organization who veterans are financially supporting.

Now chickens are coming home to roost and the VFW is having to face the consequences of its mistakes and bad deeds.

So yes, I think the VFW is now finding out that there is consequences to its actions.  Like many veterans, I don't like who the VFW has endorsed politically in the past.

In 1992, believe it or not, the VFW endorsed draft-dodger Bill Clinton over World War II decorated Navy pilot George H.W. Bush.

And don't be fooled into thinking it's only one or two endorsements over the years, the VFW has made hundreds of endorsements for politicians who were blatantly anti-military and anti-veteran.

Yes, that's why the VFW is in trouble.

For example, on November 10th, 2009, former U.S. Marine Nick Popaditch announced his campaign for California's 51st congressional district as a Republican.

The incumbent was anti-military liberal Democrat Bob Filner who had held the seat since 1992.

Nick Popaditch was a U.S. Marine on his second deployment commanding tanks in the First Battle of Fallujah in April 2004.

During the battle on April 7th, supporting infantry with a pair of M1 Abrams tanks, and turning onto a narrow street, Gunnery Sgt Popsditch opened his hatch for better visibility despite the constant RPG-7 attacks.

He was wounded in action in an ambush when a rocket propelled grenade struck him in the head.

It both blinded and deafened him, yet he struggled to maintain consciousness until his tank was moved out of danger - he was then evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
After a prolonged stay, he was sent back to the United States, ultimately losing his right eye due to damage to the optic nerve and hearing in his right ear.

At Naval Medical Center San Diego, some of the vision in his remaining left eye was restored by the hospital’s medical professionals, while his ocular prosthesis features the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor instead of a pupil.

Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star for actions in combat on November 10th, 2005, and medically retired on April 22 of that year.

Though he was endorsed by former presidential candidate and Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee and former Congressman Duncan Hunter, and though Popaditch cited his "love of country" for why he was running for political office., the Veterans of Foreign Wars endorsed his liberal anti-military anti-veteran opponent Democrat Bob Filner.

Yes, it's true, the VFW supported Bob Filner over decorated veteran former Marine Gunnery Sgt Nick Popaditch, a Marine combat veteran who lost an eye in Iraq.

Another example is the VFW's decision to endorse Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California liberal who has voted to cut military spending, including cuts to spending for VA Hospitals, and once admonished a one-star general to call her "Senator" instead of "Ma'am."

And no, the VFW has not stopped with just Boxer and Filner. 

Withing the last ten years, the VFW, the nation's oldest major veterans group had the nerve to endorse Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Shummer, Alan Grayson, and nearly 200 other liberal anti-military anti-veteran Democrats running for Congress.

No matter what their anti-military, anti-veteran, no matter how far left wing they were, the VFW endorsed them.

Many of these Democrats fought against funds, material, new equipment including body armour for troops in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Many of these Democrats supported anti-military groups like Code Pink who was the liberal anti-war group who met our wounded troops at VA Hospitals with signs calling them "murderers" and such.

And yes, many of those Democrats proudly took pictures with Code Pink and others - all the while taking campaign dollars from them while being endorsed by the VFW.

One of the most mind-boggling VFW endorsements was of Democrat Ron Klein over Republican Allen West in the race for Florida's 22nd District.

Not only is retired U.S. Army Lt Col West a decorated hero of Iraq, but he was a member of a local VFW post in Florida.

Believe it or not, as shocking as it is, the VFW threw their support behind Ron Klein who has never served in uniform and who had voted against military needs in the past.

Now, for you folks who are going to write to tell me that I just want to see Republicans endorsed, allow me the chance to make my point a little easier for you to understand.

I'm against liberal anti-military anti-veteran Republicans just as much as I am against liberal Socialist Democrats who hate the military or anyone who has served.

America does not need so-called liberal Republicans like John McCain who himself has voted against what benefits veterans and our military.

Folks, the criteria for a veterans group's endorsement should be easy to follow: 1) the candidate should be pro-military; 2) the candidate should be pro-veterans; 3) the candidate should be a veteran.

If the candidate is a veteran and anti-military than the endorsement should go to the person who will be a benefit to the military and veterans isssues - it's not real hard to understand.

What veterans should not put up with is a situation such as what took place in Illinois in 2006.

In 2006, the Veterans of Foreign Wars endorsed an Illinois liberal Republican congressional candidate with no military experience over a Democrat who was not only a veteran -- but is in fact a disabled veteran who lost her legs in combat in Iraq.

The endorsement of Republican state Sen. Peter Roskam over Tammy Duckworth angered a lot of people including former Sen. Bob Kerrey who is a veteran who lost a leg in Vietnam.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," Bob Kerrey said at the time. "They have some explaining to do to their members."

Tammy Duckworth is a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the Army who lost her legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The VFW should be ashamed of themselves for doing what they have done politically for years now.

So yes, while many veteran organizations including the American Legion are sadly losing World War II and Korean War veterans simply because of their age, the VFW is finding out that there are consequences to the things they do.

In their case, their support for liberal candidates who are anti-military and anti-veterans are good enough reasons for most veterans to simply stay away.

When asked to join, more and more vets are telling the VFW, "No thanks, I'll go join a Vets organization that's for the vets!"

After all, veterans don't need to be members of a VFW which ignores its members to suck up to anti-military Washington politicians.

That's how I see it.

Tom Correa







Monday, February 17, 2014

RANDOM SHOTS - Obama Screws Us Again; Brother Suspended for Defending His Sister; More Queer Hollywood; and much more!


FIRST SHOT!

Obama’s War On Coal Will Increase Energy Our Costs By 70%-80%

It was reported on February 14, 2014, Dr. Julio Friedmann, the deputy assistant secretary for clean coal at the Department of Energy, told House lawmakers that the first generation of carbon capture and storage technology would increase wholesale electricity prices by "70 or 80 percent."

This is just more proof Obama wants to cripple America and wipe out the Middle Class by making energy only affordable to those as wealthy as himself and his rich liberal donors.
SECOND SHOT!

Brother Suspended for Defending His Sister Against Possible Sexual Predator At High School

A student was suspended for defending his sister after the school refused to intervene in what the school is calling "bullying" complaints.

To me, as I read about what took place, reports make the football player sound less like a "bully" and more like a sexual predator.

Dominic Conti, age 17, was Senior Class President at Westlake High School in California.

His younger sister, age 14, is the victim of repeated verbal sexual harassment by a freshman football player at the school.

It appears that Dominic was not going to take the chance of the football player being a sexual predator or not, as he, his dad, and a school security guard confronted the freshman player about the harassment at a football game.

During the questioning was when the player lunged at Dominic starting a fight between the two.

Westlake High School suspended Dominic Conti for five days, while the football player was given a two-day suspension.

Dominic Conti has a 4.4 GPA, but was stripped of his Senior Class President title and banned from extracurricular activities.

The family is now threatening to file a lawsuit against the school. They claim that several complaints to school administrators, prior to the confrontation, went unanswered.

The Conti family has filed restraining orders against the football player who has verbally sexually harassed Dominic's sister. 

It is important to note that a concern over a possible juvenile sex offender, a possible sexual predator, is justified since juvenile sex offenders are on the rise across the country.

In fact, statistics show most cases of sexual assault started as sexual harassment in our schools. And yes, today there are more sexual assaults of teenage girls in our schools than ever before.
Since it appears Westlake High School has done nothing to protect Dominic's younger sister, there is no word if she has been assaulted or worse as of yet.

And yes, since my youngest sister was threatened in the same way while in High School, I can relate to the Conti family as I'm sure the Conti family are worried.

They probably believe, as I did back so many years ago, that since it's just a matter of time before Dominic's sister may be assaulted -- they must protect her.

THIRD SHOT!

Muslim Clerks Won’t Touch “Dirty” Pork or Alcohol in Great Britain

In London, England, they have a unique problem dealing with their Muslim population.

It has been reported that Political Correctness has gone wild there, especially at one London retail outlet.

Marks & Spencer is a retail chain of over 700 stores located throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as another 300 stores globally.

Their customers are more than a little pissed-off by the way which the store has implemented what they describe as their “policy of tolerance” - which acknowledges the religious beliefs of other workers.

What they described as a mere acknowledgment seemed in practice to be more along the lines of preferential treatment.

The problem is centered around Muslim employees who do not want to touch or sell alcohol or pork while working as Cashiers.

The Muslims who are objecting to doing the job specifications are refusing to do so on "religious" grounds.

So instead of simply replacing the Muslims with qualified people, the retailer is permitting them to decline performing their job function of ringing up the sale and placing the purchased items in the bags for customers.

The customers, upon arriving at a dysfunctional check-out manned by a Muslim, have to wait for a relief person to bag their items because the Muslims refuse to touch the “dirty” items being purchased.

The British are great for under-stating the obvious and say that it is no surprise that a shopper having to wait for "an extra layer of time-consuming internal theatrics is going to get upset."

According to a London news agency, many upset and indignant shoppers have threatened to boycott Marks & Spencer.

Honestly, I don't blame them!  I'd be pissed and would find another place to shop, but than again that's me. I believe in the power of the purse!

The perception in England is that this is just another example of accommodations to a demanding minority who objects to much of the Western Society to which they were welcomed as immigrants.

It is perceived as adding a thankless insult to the in-store injury.

It is also recognized by shoppers as an ineffective way to manage the store and the issue.

If the store has employees which refuse to handle their products, they can either terminate the employees or accommodate the employees.

If they choose to accommodate the employees, a wiser choice would have been to do so in a manner which does not adversely impact their customers.

In other words, use the Muslim asses somewhere other than dealing with the public or as checkers and cashiers.

Placing Muslim employees into areas in which they don’t come in contact with the objectionable items would be less disruptive from a customer service standpoint.

Inconveniencing customers by sending them to a second register to is surely going to infuriate them, and they will feel discriminated against by both the store and the employee causing their delay, as has been the result of the mismanagement at the London store.

Smart competitors of the Marks & Spencer stores were quick to make it clear that their policies are structured so as to not create this type of situation and their customers will not be adversely affected.

In checking to see if the policy was still in effect, it turns out that the people’s message got through.

In response to the outcry and threatened boycotts, Mark and Spencer issued the following statement days later saying, “Customer service is our number-one priority. We regret that in the highlighted case this was not delivered to our usual standards,” a statement released by the company read.

“We would like to apologize for any resulting confusion and reassure our customers that this was an isolated incident.”

The reporter of this story made a point to say, "It seems that when enough people raise their voice and demand common sense, those demands are heard."

He went on to say, "The problem is that most of us are busy tending to the daily issues in our lives and are not interested or involved in agenda promotion. That is where the opposition gains an advantage."

And yes, he is absolutely right!

FOURTH SHOT!

Utah lawmaker to NSA: Spy on US and we’ll turn your water off!

Yes, the NSA, the National Security Agency, is building a huge multi-level facility in Utah to house all of your phone calls, e-mails, you name it, that they can get a hold of!

Well, that NSA facility in the State of Utah will need approximately 1.7 million gallons of water to cool the computers the NSA used to collect data about us, the people.

But what if the facility doesn’t get that needed water? The idea is that those computers burn up.

That's the position that one Utah lawmaker is taking: Quit spying on us or Utah will shut down your water supply.

In response to critics of his suggested strategy to make the NSA obey the law, State Rep. Marc Roberts says "So what, the facility is unconstitutional anyway!"

He is proposing a bill that will keep the State of Utah from supplying the water. The bill will allow Utah from supplying anything the facility needs to run.

So, will state lawmakers and the governor of Utah pass a law that shuts down the water supply for a new National Security Agency facility in their state?

Well, new legislation introduced this last week by State Rep. Marc Roberts seeks to do just that, according to a non-partisan think-tank.

The Salt Lake Tribune confirms the report saying:

A bill (that has yet to be numbered) has been introduced that would prevent any state entity or any entity that contracts with the state from providing water and other support to agencies that collect massive amounts of data.

Bill sponsor Rep. Marc Roberts, R-Santaquin, says the measure is directed at the NSA Data Center in Bluffdale, adding that the state needs to intervene in what he sees as unreasonable search and seizure of personal information by the federal government.

And that is the point isn't it? Americans are fed up and frustrated by the Federal Government's refusal to abide by the law and adhere to the Constitution which protects all of us from unreasonable search and seizure without a warrant.

I salute Rep Marc Roberts for doing something while Washington DC permits this to take place.

FIFTH SHOT!

ObamaCare patients with serious pre-existing diseases could face expensive drug costs

People with serious pre-existing diseases, precisely those the president aimed to help with ObamaCare, could find themselves paying for expensive drug treatments with no help from the health care exchanges.

Those with expensive diseases such as lupus or multiple sclerosis face something called a "closed drug formulary."

Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the American Enterprise Institute explains,"if the medicine that you need isn't on that list, it's not covered at all. You have to pay completely out of pocket to get that medicine, and the money you spend doesn't count against your deductible, and it doesn't count against your out of pocket limits, so you're basically on your own."

Obama had claimed it would rescue those with serious pre-existing conditions, but he lied!

"So it could be that a MS patient could be expected to pay $62,000 just for one medication," says Dr. Daniel Kantor, who treats MS patients and others with neurological conditions near Jacksonville, Florida.

"That’s a possiblity under the new ObamaCare going on right now."

To spread the word on the newest Obama lie, Americans for Prosperity is running an ad on exactly this subject, featuring a woman by the name of Emilie Lamb who suffers from Lupus -- an auto-immune disease.

Emilie starts by saying, "I voted for Barack Obama for president. I thought ObamaCare was going to be a good thing."

But then Emilie says she later got a letter saying her insurance was canceled because of ObamaCare, pushing her premiums from $52 to $373 a month.

"I'm having to work a second job, to pay for ObamaCare,” she adds.

“For somebody with lupus, that's not an easy thing. If I can't afford to continue to pay for ObamaCare, I don't get my medicine. I don't get to see my doctors."

One of the problems is that drugs for some diseases such as MS do not have generic versions.

So without cheaper alternatives and no help from ObamaCare, patients could face huge personal out-of-pocket bills, forcing some to skimp on their medications.

The worse thing that could happen - will probably happen!

Dr Kantor worries that "this may drive more patients" to not buy their medicines, "which we know is dangerous."

He says, "We know MS can be a bad disease when you’re not treating it. When you’re treating it, for most people they handle it pretty well, but we know when you don’t treat (it), it’s the kind of disease where people end up in wheel chairs potentially."

Of course, in the commercial market medications not on a preferred list would also be more expensive -  but with a major difference, according to Dr Gottlieb.

"You go outside that list, you have to pay out of pocket for it, but you do get some co-insurance, meaning the plans will pay some of the cost of that."

More benefits mean more money!

And yes, ObamaCare premiums would have to rise if someone wants the coverage that was supposed to be cheaper -- nothing new about that!

SIXTH SHOT

Another Actress Says She's Gay

Hollywood celebrates another queer individual for "coming out of the closet."

OK, let's get something "straight" here ... I mean let's correct what's going on!

Folks, there is no "closet" in Hollywood unless we're talking about the closet filled with Conservative, Christian, and Straight actors. Let's be honest here, Hollywood is full of queers, pedophiles, and oddities and freaks who for some reason or another think they are somehow "special people" because of the sexual preferences of preferring men over women, women over men, animals over people, and children over adults.

What they are trying to depict as normal is not. They are just strange, queer, freaks, who are trying to justify their weirdness. In many cases, they are sick and mentally ill. Another actor or actress stepping forward to try to get publicity by saying he or she is gay is not a shocker. Frankly, the surprise these days is to find out who is straight in Hollywood.   

In fact, I'd say finding out that some actress who no one ever heard of is gay -- is about as shocking as finding out that the Obama administration is filled with Communists and Socialists. It's just no surprise!

MY LAST SHOT!

Pieces of Wisdom Found On Facebook! 






The Dumbest Administration
in the entire History of the United States




Likes!

Tom Correa

Saturday, February 15, 2014

EPA "Abuse of Authority" challenged by State of Wyoming


EPA seizes Wyoming town under Clean Air Act, but the State of Wyoming wants it back!

Please allow me to preface what's taking place in Wyoming with something that took place about 35 years ago when I was working as a supervisor for a security company. 

There was a situation that took place regarding a security guard who would use what he thought was "his authority" to do things that had nothing to do with security.

And yes, because of what he thought he could get away with, he subsequently created a lot more problems than he was actually worth.
There were all sorts of problems which were usually small in nature and were usually be brushed aside by giving him a good talking to.

Of course all of the reprimands in the world didn't stop him.

Being his own worse enemy, he stepped over the line one night and actually attempted to sexually assault an employee of the company who worked for our client.
 
One of the interesting parts of this little story is that among those who were paying for our security services -- they were surprisingly split over what to do about the guard.

While both sides saw the conduct as being over the line and possibly even criminal, believe it or not, one group didn't want to get rid of that particular guard.

Their reason? Well, it was because the guard also made coffee for the office staff and did some other things that endeared himself to the client higher-ups.

So yes, while everyone knew the need for a guard to serve a basic security function, as surprising as it was, as hard to believe as it was, even though the guard had sexually assaulted one of their employees -- there were those in charge who wanted to keep that particular guard on board no matter what.

Of course, there were those, including the gal who was assaulted, who wanted the guard gone immediately!

The security company, who I worked for, was being hired "to provide a security guard" -- and so finally my company recommended that we simply replace the guard with another since the basic problem of security was still a concern.

After a great deal of kicking and screaming, the client's management wisely decided that a new guard would be better in the long run.

And yes, surprising as it may seem to some who know how businesses work, the security company wisely replaced that guard with one who was not abusive of his authority.

I will forever find it interesting how the split among that client's employees never healed.

You see, while the new guard did his job extremely well while strictly adhering to security problems, there were those who really wanted that old guard back -- all because he did special things for them above and beyond his duties.

Yes, no matter how much that guard abused his authority, no matter how he had assaulted that female employee -- some in her company actually defended him as being a "good guard."

This is the situation that we have with the EPA. The EPA is not a "good guard." And yes, the agency is its own worse enemy.

As I've stated in other articles, the reason is that the EPA has grown too large and powerful and is abusing its perceived authority in too many ways.

And like that no good guard, the EPA too is being protected by people who like what it does outside of its authority -- it fits their agenda even if what it does creates more problems and skirts legalities.
Among it's many crimes in years, last year the EPA illegally gave an entire town to an Indian reservation!

They have gone pass concerns over clean water and air, and have now abused their authority -- in fact, in many cases giving themselves authority they were never meant to have.

There are those like me who want to see the EPA gone, and maybe replaced with another entity that would strictly adhere to its true concerns.

The story below is another example of why the EPA is so dangerous and needs to go. It is another great example of the EPA operating unchecked -- and why they need to be dissolved and replaced immediately.

While the issue of reparations paid to Native American tribes is ongoing, many white citizens agree that the U.S. should offer concessions to the ancestors of those removed from their land by early settlers.

As with other tribes, the local tribe near Riverton have already been given the right to largely police and govern themselves on reservations.

And yes, believe it or not, some state and federal officials apparently believe they should also get land back which is already owned by American citizens -- some who have owned their property for 100 years or more.

Now in this outrageous decision, the Environmental Protection Agency took it upon themselves to decree that the West River Indian Reservation now has ownership of an entire Wyoming town of Riverton.

Along with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice, the EPA decided scrap the 1905 law and "give" the town of Riverton to the tribe.

Riverton is a city in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States, and should remain that way.

The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior and Department of Justice in early December 2013 declared Riverton to be under the jurisdiction of the Wind River Indian Reservation.

As crazy as that sounds, those agencies believe they have the "delegated authority" to do such a thing under some clause that authorizes this sort of craziness in The Clean Air Act.

In 2010, the city's population was 10,615.

The city is an incorporated entity of the state of Wyoming, on land ceded from the reservation in 1906, a situation that often makes it subject to jurisdictional claims by the nearby Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.
Imagine the craziness!

The EPA, yes the people who are supposed to be concerned with how clean the air and water is, just gave the town of Riverton, Wyoming, to a local Indian tribe.

In the petition, Attorney General Peter Michael said the EPA wrongfully concluded Riverton was on the reservation.

The regulating agency “employed a fundamentally unfair and skewed process, to the detriment of the state and its citizens, in pursuit of its predetermined objective,” he wrote.

Legal precedents in both state and federal court have concluded that Riverton is both on and off the reservation, making it likely that the case will wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

State officials have warned there would be severe consequences if Riverton became part of the reservation. Tribal officials claim the state’s warnings are nothing more than political pandering.

The petition is accompanied by 27 affidavits from state agency heads. Some of the testimony supposes drastic changes if the ruling stands. Agencies such as the Wyoming Highway Patrol would see little difference, according to the affidavits.

Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, said the state would no longer have jurisdiction to conduct audits to assure Riverton businesses comply with worker compensation and unemployment laws.

Guy Cameron, director of the Office of Homeland Security, said tribes would be responsible for providing emergency services in the city of Riverton.

Dean Finkenbinder, consumer health services division manager in the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, said his agency would no longer be able to inspect restaurants and other establishments that handle food.

Establishments that need inspections “may have to go out of business,” he said.

Much of the testimony signals the state’s inability to understand the difference between land ownership and authority over a particular land mass or territory, Howell said.

If the EPA ruling is upheld in court, the state will have authority over non-Indians in criminal and non-criminal offenses in most cases, Howell said.

Indians would no longer be tried in state or local courts, he said.

Members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe tribes have championed the decision while residents of the City of Riverton have rebuked the EPA’s findings.

Since the EPA announced the decision in December, tensions have heightened between tribal and non-tribal members in Riverton and on the reservation.

Both disparaging comments and constructive dialogues have emerged on social media websites and comment forums of Fremont County news organizations.

When it took place, the State of Wyoming immediately decided to fight the EPA’s decision to give the town to the Indian reservation without the authority to do so.

Wyoming officials are now taking the EPA to court after ruling gives land to tribes.

On February 14th, 2014, it was reported that Wyoming is taking to EPA to court over land some are now saying is at the center of a dispute between Native American tribes and state officials.

Fact is, there would be no dispute if the EPA had not acted illegally in the first place.

Now Wyoming officials are taking the Environmental Protection Agency to court in a bid to reverse a sweeping agency ruling that transferred more than 1 million acres of land -- including the entire city of Riverton, Wyoming, -- to Native American tribes.

Wyoming Attorney General Peter K. Michael filed his state's appeal Friday morning before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

The state wants either the EPA to reverse, or the courts to overturn the EPA's December ruling on a request from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes.

The tribes had sought "state status" in order to administer air quality monitoring.

The EPA, in the course of reviewing the request, determined the land in question actually belongs to the Wind River Indian Reservation and has for more than a century -- all despite a 1905 law opening it to non-tribal members.

Yes, the Feds ignored the law!

The decision, which encompassed the city of Riverton, caused intense controversy as officials warned about a range of disruptive consequences, including the possibility that jailed tribal members could now challenge their convictions.

Offering some relief, the EPA earlier this week agreed to put its own decision on hold at the request of the state and the tribes themselves.

The state was the first to ask for a stay, calling the decision "arbitrary" and "wrong." But the tribes followed suit, in the interest of soothing tensions.

In a Thursday letter to Gov. Matt Mead and tribal representatives, an EPA official confirmed the agency would put the decision on hold pending review, "due to the unique circumstances of this case."

The official said the agency "remains committed" to working with all sides in the dispute but noted that "in granting this stay, the EPA is not agreeing with or adopting the State's legal or factual arguments" over the boundaries.

The state made several arguments against the ruling, in a petition filed last month with the EPA.

"EPA's decision casts a shadow of uncertainty over the transactions and day-to-day operations of state agencies, courts, businesses and individuals within the disputed territory," Michael wrote.

He argued that the ruling could impact the area in several ways, including:

- Dozens of tribal members jailed for crimes committed "in the disputed area" potentially could challenge their convictions.
- Previously issued environmental permits could be invalid.
- Food processing facilities could be able to operate without regulation.
- The Wyoming Highway Patrol would be unable to enforce criminal laws in the area.

The EPA is still weighing the state's request to reconsider its decision. In the meantime, officials will press their case before the courts.

Northern Arapaho Tribe spokesman Mark Howell told Fox News earlier this week that while the tribe agrees with the EPA decision, it joined Wyoming officials in seeking a stay "in an effort to kind of quell some of the racial tensions that have been frankly generated by the state of Wyoming."

The EPA said that the stay will help ensure the case is "decided in an orderly fashion by the courts."

"We are encouraged that this approach will help alleviate tensions and areas of disagreement while providing all parties an opportunity to work together to implement EPA's decision and ensure environmental protection," Shaun McGrath, EPA's regional administrator, said.

The EPA's original announcement in December said the agency was required to rule on the reservation's boundaries under Clean Air Act and EPA regulations.

The statement said the agency did so "after carefully evaluating relevant statutes and case law, historical documents, the Tribes' application materials, all public comments, and input from other federal agencies."

The agency said the ruling was "consistent" with a recent opinion from the Department of the Interior, and it would "work closely" with the tribes and state to resolve any issues.

So in other words:

-- in the course of a request from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes who were seeking "state status" in order to administer air quality monitoring per the Clean Air Act
-- the EPA in the course of reviewing the request determined that other lands outside of the area in question "belonged" to the tribes
-- and subsequently the EPA decided upon its own authority to give the land and city to the Indians
-- even though the EPA was in violation of the law when they did so.

Now the EPA is acting magnanimous and saying that they were just doing what is done on a constant basis while creating problems where there were none.

In December, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead responded to the brewing controversy with a resolute stance against the government intrusion.

“My deep concern in about an administrative agency of the federal government altering a state’s boundary and going against over 100 years of history and law,” he said.

The ruling was made in direct opposition of the 1905 Congressional Act, which established existing reservation boundaries.

“This should be a concern to all citizens,” Mead continued, “because, if the EPA can unilaterally take land away from a state, where will it stop?”

Yes, where will it stop?

To say this is obviously upsetting those who call the community home is an understatement.


How can any state or federal government agency come in and simply give your city to another group of people who may now want to confiscate your home?

And what about those homes which may have been in your family for more than 100 years?

I cannot imagine how angry and worried I would be if one morning I woke to find out that my home is no longer a part of the city and county where I pay taxes and receive my city and county services - such as police and fire protection.

I can't imagine waking up one day and finding out that your town, your home, and your neighbors have all been given to others simply because the Federal Government felt like it.

That's the situation for the almost 11,000 residents of Riverton, Wyoming, since their town of Riverton was just given to a local Indian Reservation by the EPA.

Next it may be lands in Hawaii or California or Texas whenever and wherever the Federal Government thinks it has the power that it does not.

Can you imagine U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and Homeland Security showing up where you live and just evicting you off your property?

This act by the EPA sets a precedence that we should overturn and resolve as quick as possible.

If we don't fight this, well them let's just give the Federal Government blanket authority over every aspect of our lives - over our families, over our health care, our money, our property, our ability to defend ourselves, and even our ability to pray where and when we want to.

That's just how I see it.

Tom Correa