Now thru October 11 ... 25% OFF All Mountain House Canned Freeze-Dried Food!

PLUS New Member-Volume Incentives

It's the last Mountain House sale of the year.

We're marking down all Mountain House can listings the maximum allowable 25% off for members and non-members alike (not to mention FREE shipping to the lower 48)!

As if you need to be told--this food is widely regarded as the top-quality freeze dried, long-term storage food in the world. It is precooked and ready to eat--just add water. It stores on your shelf for 25+ years!!

Don't miss your best last chance of 2009 to get a great deal on your family's edible insurance policy!

NEW Easier Reward Incentives

Oh ... and we are introducing a brand new club-member Mountain House incentive program. Maybe we'll call it "Cache for Bunkers"?

No? Is that a clunker? OK.

Anyway--the MH volume gift-certificate incentives (used to be called vouchers in our old store) are quicker and easier to attain and take advantage of. The additional gifts are new as well--the GearPod Backcountry modular survival kit, the K8 personal radiation detector (with selectable audio or visual alarm modes), and the HAZARiD Decontamination kit.

For the whole scoop, have a look here.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

History Channel Premiere: "Day After Disaster"

Several months ago I was interviewed by the production people who were working on a History Channel documentary. My input was off-camera, for background research.

I was told the producers' goal was to produce a historically based, compelling documentary that seeks to demystify the nuclear issue. I provided insight into private bunkers and bomb shelters and how they protect inhabitants as part of a larger disaster-readiness scenario.

Anyway, that two-hour program is about to premiere, and it looks to be pretty interesting ...

Day After Disaster

Monday, September 28 08:00 PM

Tuesday, September 29 12:00 AM

Sunday, October 04 06:00 PM

Against a morning sky, a mushroom cloud spirals heavenward. A nuclear bomb has detonated in the heart of Washington D.C., incinerating 15,000 residents in just 15 seconds. More than 50% of the population living within a 1/2 mile radius of the explosion is either dead or severely injured. The next 24 hours will determine whether the rest of the city lives or dies. To survive this horrific ordeal they will need a plan. And lucky for us--there is one. But will it work? For the first time on television, the Department of Homeland Security reveals the most detailed and comprehensive plan to save America should terrorists go nuclear. This chilling two-hour special delves into the complex and highly secretive world of disaster planning.

Rating: TVPG

Running Time: 120 minutes

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

"The Truth About the Health Care Bills" -- M. Connelly, Ret. Constitutional Atty.

This gentleman--retired Constitutional attorney Michael Connelly--is deservedly getting a lot of attention for his warnings about the health care bills in Congress.

In summary--the Health Care bills are not as much about providing health care to the masses (which in fact, these bills WON'T do in practice) as they are about achieving the largest-ever transfer of power to the Executive branch. Major portions of the U.S. Constitution will be destroyed if a law like these being proposed are adopted.

The Truth About the Health Care Bills

Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.

To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.

The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled.

However, as scary as all of that it, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.

The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people and the businesses they own. The irony is that the Congress doesn’t have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with. I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.

This legislation also provides for access by the appointees of the Obama administration of all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4^th Amendment to the Constitution protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3^rd and 4^th Amendments may provide.

If you decide not to have healthcare insurance or if you have private insurance that is not deemed “acceptable” to the “Health Choices Administrator” appointed by Obama there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a “tax” instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5^th Amendment. However, that doesn’t work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the “due process of law.

So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much out the original ten in the Bill of Rights that are effectively nullified by this law. It doesn’t stop there though. The 9^th Amendment that provides: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;” The 10^th Amendment states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.

I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights. Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to “be bound by oath or affirmation” to support the Constitution. If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.

For those who might doubt the nature of this threat I suggest they consult the source. Here is a link to the Constitution: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

And another to the Bill of Rights: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.

Michael Connelly

Retired attorney,

Constitutional Law Instructor

Carrollton, Texas

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

I'm Guilty

It's 2009 and in this brave new world, I'm as guilty as they come. I'm confessing it to all the world in this blog post.

Crime number one is as plain as the nose on my face: I'm caucasian. Twice as criminal--I'm a caucasian male.

Crime number two: I'm a Bible-believing Christian. A Protestant, if that matters to some legal eagles.

Charge number three (and probably there are multiple other charges within): I'm plainly conservative in my political and cultural viewpoints. Read that to mean ... pro-life (anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia), pro Constitution (to include the Second Amendment as well as all the rest), I usually vote Republican, and I embrace the notions of individual liberty and traditional multi-culturalism.

Crime number four: I'm a small business-owner; I believe in free enterprise and thus the capitalist system (yes--opposed to socialism/Marxism/communism/progressivism and anything else you want to call systems based on welfare and wealth redistribution). I think folks are healthiest and happiest when they work for their own paychecks and spend their income as they see fit.

Crime number five: I'm a US military veteran--apparently a dangerous thing for some, as it shows commitment to an ideal (I guess).

Crime number six: I believe in America, its way of life, its history, its strengths (and weaknesses too), and I am proud of the decisive role it has played in world events over the last 200+ years. I know our forebears do not meet today's "standards" for behavior and tolerance but they did the best they knew how and they did it well. We should admire their achievements, not apologize for them.

Crime number seven: I do not bow or grovel before any man or government and I certainly do not worship media talking heads. I happen to find most of the content that is churned out by the government and large corporate interests through today's networks and news organizations to be indigestible and dishonest. Yes, I am, GASP ... disagreeable.

In My Defense

Oddly enough, I was not always this way. In my youth, I was what you would have to call a liberal. An outlaw, in fact, in some ways. Stupid is how I see it now in many ways. I made a lot of mistakes, learned some hard lessons, lived to experience life and even gained some wisdom along the way.

Odder still, back then, TODAY's crimes I am guilty of now were the foundation of America and were seen as traits that were to be admired and emulated. Weird--I didn't always see it that way and I didn't think I'd grow up to become like my old man.

Whoa, dude -- looking back, it's almost like the fabric of time is oscillating and throwing reality a violent whiplash.

I don't really know where it happened for me--the transformation, that is. I know this much ... in my first Presidential election, I voted for Jimmy Carter. I grit my teeth as I admit that today. I never voted for Reagan (hitting myself in the head). But I became a father. I got some education. I took on responsibility and accepted obligations. One day I woke up, brushed my teeth and suddenly looked and sounded like my dad.

Just in time, apparently, to don the desperado cloak once again. Today--the sensible is criminal ... extremism even. Whatever, as my oldest daughter is fond of saying.

I'm all of the above. My journey has led me here. Bring me the typed confession--I will sign that paper.

One thing I will dispute though--the absurd charge of racism. It's a label that is so utterly prominent today in catty public discourse that it's lost all meaning. The twisting fibers of our distorted reality leaves a chaotic print that is pointless.

"Racist!"

Criminy! The whole thing is part of a ridiculous onslaught that is weak at best, and is fiendish at worst on the part of the liberal socialists who are aiming to cause a violent upheaval in America today.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

Get In On Our "Pillage the Castle" Sale

How often do you get to pillage a castle, anyway?

Once at least, if you take advantage of this opportunity ... through September 24 only.

I promised you a chance to help us clear out the old castle after moving into our new digs, so here you go.

Our "Pillage the Castle" Sale! ...

Some great sale prices on Yoders food, the Montague Paratrooper folding bike, and the Viking self-contained solar back-up rigs. These sale prices are applied BEFORE you subtract your member discounts, if you are a buyers club member (not to mention the free shipping that is always in place).

And we're offering up lots of freebies too for our members as well.

Read all about it.

Stay safe!
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

The New Castle is Open for Business!

At last! ... It has been a labor of love for us, but we are finally launching our new Safecastle Royal buyers club store.

For the time being, the old store is still active and will still be out there for a few more days as we make sure all is well with the new site.

The new store can be found here: www.prepared.pro
When the old store is deactivated, www.safecastleroyal.com will also point you to the new store.

Please Note ... A quick wrap-up of the chief benefits at the new store include the facts that:

• when you log-in as a buyers club member, you automatically see your member pricing (remember--shipping is still always free to the lower 48; and nope--we haven't raised any prices except the new membership fee which has no effect on existing members);
• your cart contents and prices are always visible in the right column;
• and you can manage your personal account info more easily and completely now.

Requests for you, if you are a club member ...

1. We had to manually enter all of the thousands of member records into the new store's admin function. The new store requires that passwords have a minimum of 7 characters, so some folks' passwords were changed as a result.

So we ask that you please try to log-in to your account as soon as possible. First, enter your email address in the right column in the LOGIN field, then click "GO." On that next page enter your password and click "SIGN IN." Or, click on "Forgot Password?" if you have forgotten your password, or your old password isn't working. Your password will be emailed to you.

Also noteworthy--Go to "My Account" at the top of any page and you can easily change your password to something you will remember.

2. Building a mighty "castle" like this is not easy. We expect there may be little chinks in the armor and/or omissions here and there. If you come across an error and are the first to advise us of it (email me at vrantala@safecastle.net), I will send you a great camo "Safecastle militia" cap.

Last word ...

I promised a "Pillage the Castle Sale" in which we will clear out products that have been overflowing into the livery and dungeons of the old castle digs. That is still in the works. Expect news on that in about a week. . .
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

I'm Attacked as a Racist

Well ... I did indeed expect attacks as the result of making this post about the anti-American communist Richard Wright--only because I am well aware of the rabid reactionaries that have been empowered of late to lash out at folks with conservative values.

I won't even give a particular attacker the satisfaction of mentioning who they are. In fact, near as I can tell, they are pretty much nobody of note--unless perhaps Ward Churchill is in the Fort Collins, CO area now. (The vitriole and slander I am seeing is reminiscent of that anti-American professor who gained a place in infamy by blaming 9/11 victims for their fate.)

This individual who is attempting to paint us (Safecastle) as racists is claiming that we approve of lynching (going so far as to include grotesque images of lynchings that they say I would approve of), that we hate blacks, etc. (My attorney is looking at that post now as being an open and shut defamation lawsuit.)

Anyway, the particular fool who is attacking me and our company as ignorant racists seems to be oblivious to the fact that my own beloved grandson is black. Also to be clear--I have in fact had great roommates, friends, and business partners from various cultures, nations, religions, and ethnic backgrounds, not to mention a broad array of customers in our buyers club as well who make our membership as diverse as America itself.

My objections to the USPS stamp remain stated as they are in that posting linked above. I am a Cold Warrior from way back. Communism will never be my friend. Communism will never favor the America that I know and have served and continue to fight for. And anyone who renounces their American citizenship is never worthy of an American postage stamp, period.

The person in question sees himself/herself as a person enlightened to the benefits of communism. And the person is extremely focused on finding racial injustices and offenses where there are none, judging by most of the posts on this person's blog.

He/she blows smoke to the effect that times have changed. Well--I can agree with that much. Change is here, for better or for worse.
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Swine Flu: 10 Things You Need to Know

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe, Ap Medical Writer

ATLANTA – Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.

This summer, the virus has been surprisingly tenacious in the U.S., refusing to fade away as flu viruses usually do. And health officials predict a surge of cases this fall, perhaps very soon as schools reopen.

A White House report from an expert panel suggests that from 30 percent to half the population could catch swine flu during the course of this pandemic and that from 30,000 to 90,000 could die.

So how worried should you be and how do you prepare? The Associated Press has tried to boil down the mass of information into 10 things you should know to be flu-savvy.

1. No cause for panic.

So far, swine flu isn't much more threatening than regular seasonal flu.

During the few months of this new flu's existence, hospitalizations and deaths from it seem to be lower than the average seen for seasonal flu, and the virus hasn't dramatically mutated. That's what health officials have observed in the Southern Hemisphere where flu season is now winding down.

Still, more people are susceptible to swine flu and U.S. health officials are worried because it hung in so firmly here during the summer — a time of year the flu usually goes away.

2. Virus tougher on some.

Swine flu is more of a threat to certain groups — children under 2, pregnant women, people with health problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Teens and young adults are also more vulnerable to swine flu.

Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older people the hardest, but not swine flu. Scientists think older people may have some immunity from exposure years earlier to viruses similar to swine flu.

3. Wash your hands often and long.

Like seasonal flu, swine flu spreads through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick. Emphasize to children that they should wash with soap and water long enough to finish singing the alphabet song, "Now I know my ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

4. Get the kids vaccinated.

These groups should be first in line for swine flu shots, especially if vaccine supplies are limited — people 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers.

Also a priority: Parents and caregivers of infants, people with those high-risk medical conditions previously noted.

5. Get your shots early.

Millions of swine flu shots should be available by October. If you are in one of the priority groups, try to get your shot as early as possible.

Check with your doctor or local or state health department about where to do this. Many children should be able to get vaccinated at school. Permission forms will be sent home in advance.

6. Immunity takes awhile.

Even those first in line for shots won't have immunity until around Thanksgiving.

That's because it's likely to take two shots, given three weeks apart, to provide protection. And it takes a week or two after the last shot for the vaccine to take full effect.

The regular seasonal flu shot should be widely available in September. People over 50 are urged to be among the first to get that shot.

7. Vaccines are being tested.

Health officials presume the swine flu vaccine is safe and effective, but they're testing it to make sure.

The federal government has begun studies in eight cities across the country to assess its effectiveness and figure out the best dose. Vaccine makers are doing their own tests as well.

8. Help! Surrounded by swine flu.

If an outbreak of swine flu hits your area before you're vaccinated, be extra cautious.

Stay away from public gathering places like malls, sports events and churches. Try to keep your distance from people in general. Keep washing those hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

9. What if you get sick?

If you have other health problems or are pregnant and develop flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away. You may be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza. These drugs can reduce the severity of swine flu if taken right after symptoms start.

If you develop breathing problems (rapid breathing for kids), pain in your chest, constant vomiting or a fever that keeps rising, go to an emergency room.

Most people, though, should just stay home and rest. Cough into your elbow or shoulder. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. Fluids and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with achiness and fever. Always check with a doctor before giving children any medicines. Adult cold and flu remedies are not for them.

10. No swine flu from barbecue.

You can't catch swine flu from pork — or poultry either (even though it recently turned up in turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not spread by handling meat, whether it's raw or cooked.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu10_things_4

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com