Wisconsin
Project Prepper: On The Move
Those who’ve been following my “Project Prepper” series of posts know that I’ve been planning a move out of the city of Chicago to the northwest suburbs by late spring (eventual destination, Wisconsin).
Well, it’s late spring, and I’m moving.
The closing is scheduled for next week. It’s the same house I blogged about in an April 16 “Project Prepper” post.
I also mentioned then:
Some time ago I put together a “wish list” for what I’d like a Chicago-area property to have. This includes the potential for:
• An emergency water supply
• A food garden
• Effective layers of security
• Going “off the grid”Oh, I almost forgot to mention a fenced-in yard for a guard or watch dog.
This suburban property definitely has the potential for all these things. Partial brick construction, spacious backyard, an area all ready set aside for gardening, and more.
By this time next week, my girlfriend and I should have closed on the new place. Can’t wait to get in there, get settled-in, and get to work on a number of different preparedness projects which I plan on discussing in upcoming “Project Prepper” posts.
In the meantime, I’m awaiting a couple of new products that are related to my emergency water supply. First, there’s the LifeStraw Portable Water Filter, a personal water filter that removes dangerous bacteria and protozoa. I ordered the LifeStraw- which filters over 264 gallons- from CampingSurvival.com for only $19.95, which includes shipping (ordering info here on CampingSurvival.com). Also, I’m waiting on a WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage device- a water containment system that holds up to 100 gallons of fresh drinking water in any standard bathtub in the event of an emergency or survival situation- from CampingSurvival.com as well (ordering info here on CampingSurvival.com- at present, they’re out of stock). I look forward to checking out these two devices and talking about them in a future “Project Prepper” post.
More soon…
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
CEO Survey: Illinois 3rd Worst State In Which To Do Business
Last week, Chief Executive magazine announced the results of its 9th annual survey regarding the best and worst states in which to do business. From their website:
In its ninth annual survey of CEO opinion about the best and worst states in which to do business, 736 CEOs—the highest response on record—rendered their verdict. Business leaders were asked to grade states with which they are familiar on a variety of competitive metrics that CEOs themselves regard as critical. These include: 1) taxation and regulation; 2) quality of workforce; and 3) living environment. The tax and regulatory grade includes a measure of how CEOs grade a state’s attitude toward business, a key indicator.
The best states in which to do business?
1. Texas (9 consecutive years now)
2. Florida
3. North Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Indiana
Nice job Indiana!
The “Top 5” were unchanged from last year.
And the worst states in which to do business?
1. California
2. New York
3. Illinois
4. Massachusetts
5. New Jersey
Nice going Illinois. Second year in a row in that position.
The faster Illinois residents dump incompetent and ill-intentioned lawmakers, the sooner the state will be able to make headway on a number of real issues. Avoiding insolvency (somewhat of a stretch at this point) and job retention/attraction readily come to mind here.
By the way, our neighbors to the north- Wisconsin- climbed three spots in this latest survey to number 17. JP Donlon wrote on May 6:
More and more states are getting the pro-growth message. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s position is typical of this new thinking. “I’ve never seen a store get more customers by raising its prices, but I’ve seen customers knock down doors when they cut prices,” he says.
You can view the rankings of all 50 U.S. states on the Chief Executive website here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Source:
Donlon, JP. “States More Aggressive in Competing With One Another.” Chief Executive. 6 May 2013. (http://chiefexecutive.net/states-more-aggressive-in-competing-with-one-another-2013). 13 May 2013.
AAA Predicts Falling Gas Prices, Except In Great Lakes Region
Usually around this time of year, I commute more often between my pad in Chicago and my family’s place in southeastern Wisconsin. While that won’t be happening as much in 2013 due to everything that’s going on around here, I still like to keep on top of gas prices to get an idea of how much I’ll be shelling out to enjoy the open road.
(Editor’s note: Open road my butt. This is the Chicago metropolitan area, where if bumper-to-bumper gridlock isn’t taking place, you’re dealing with drivers who are distracted, in a hurry to go nowhere, or who really just don’t care about the rules of the road. And a “good drive” is one where you don’t lose a hubcap/wheel cover from a pothole that goes all the way to China.)
Venting process complete.
Anyway, here’s some highlights from the “AAA Monthly Gas Price Report: April 2013 Trends and Summer Outlook” that’s just been released on the “NewsRoom” section of the AAA website:
• Gas prices nationally averaged $3.55 per gallon in April, which was the least expensive average for the month since 2010. Gas prices dropped about 13 cents per gallon in April (3.5 percent), which was the largest percentage decline for the month in ten years. In comparison, gas prices in 2012 averaged $3.89 for the month, while the average price in April 2011 was $3.79 per gallon.
• Gas prices should drop to $3.20 to $3.40 per gallon by mid-summer if current trends continue in regards to oil prices, motorist demand and refinery production. Gas prices in recent years have declined in early summer after reaching a springtime peak as refineries ramp up gasoline production in anticipation of the summer driving season.
• The cheapest gas prices are predominately in the Southeast where extensive refinery production and lower-than-average taxes have helped keep prices low in comparison to the rest of the country. Gas prices in the Great Lakes region have increased in recent weeks because of planned refinery maintenance and unscheduled outages following recent heavy storms.
• The five states with the highest averages today include: Hawaii ($4.34), Alaska ($3.97), Ill. ($3.91), Calif. ($3.90) and Mich. ($3.79). The five states with the cheapest gas price averages today include: S.C. ($3.23), Tenn. ($3.26), Ala. ($3.27), Ark. ($3.27) and Miss. ($3.28).
As for me in Chicago? Prices at the pump have not only been brutal this spring, but are expected to go higher. Samantha Bomkamp reported on the Chicago Tribune website last night:
AAA said Tuesday that motorists nationwide are paying the lowest springtime gas prices in three years, but don’t tell that to drivers in Illinois.
Despite a recent dip, drivers here are paying the highest average price in the lower 48 states. With a statewide average on Tuesday of $3.91 a gallon, Illinois drivers are paying more than every state except Alaska at $3.97 and Hawaii and $4.34.
Costs are even higher in Chicago where the average price was $4.32 per gallon Tuesday, according to AAA. Prices averaged $4.14 in the suburbs…
While AAA predicts that drivers nationally should see gas prices fall even lower, motorists in Illinois and other Great Lakes states should see even higher prices as maintenance continues on refineries that provide most of the region’s gas supplies.
It’s a good thing I fill up in Wisconsin, where the price of gas is routinely cheaper.
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’…
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
“AAA Monthly Gas Price Report: April 2013 Trends and Summer Outlook.” AAA. 29 Apr. 2013. (http://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/04/aaa-monthly-gas-price-report-april-2013-trends-and-summer-outlook/). 1 May 2013.
Bomkamp, Samantha. “Gas prices ease nationwide while Ill. marches higher.” Chicago Tribune. 30 Apr. 2013. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-gas-prices-ease-nationwide-while-ill-marches-higher-20130430,0,3861102.story). 1 May 2013.
Project Prepper: House Hunting In The Chicago Suburbs
It’s been years since I’ve been this busy. As I mentioned the other week, in addition to having a family member in the hospital, house hunting is taking up a lot of my time these days. You may recall from a number of earlier “Project Prepper” posts that my girlfriend and I planned some time ago to move out of Chicago to the northwest suburbs by late spring.
The big picture looks to be “purgatory” in Illinois for a couple of more years before eventual “sanctuary” in southeastern Wisconsin.
(Editor’s note: Related posts here, here, and here)
Well, it’s spring now, and not only have we looked at a number of single-family residences out in the ‘burbs, but we’re now “under contract” to purchase one of these homes.
Ironically, the very first one we looked at.
After crunching the numbers, it made more sense for us to buy rather than rent. And while we would have liked to live as close to my girlfriend’s place of employment as possible, the situation is a lot like what I blogged about back in November:
Unfortunately, the prices of many homes within walking distance of my girlfriend’s place of employment are extremely high, and considering that this suburban residence may only be temporary for us, I’m not sure buying makes a whole lot of sense here. Because my girlfriend is open to incurring a small commute time, the purchase of a house in an adjoining suburb that has more affordable housing and lower property taxes might be a better option. Plus, should we move into the subdivision of that neighboring suburb that we’ve been looking at for some time now, my girlfriend would be very close by to several members of her immediate family. Renting hasn’t been ruled out either.
In a nutshell, the single-family residence we hope to close on in a month or so is in that neighboring suburb with the more affordable housing and lower property taxes. While not in the same subdivision as her family, we’re right next door.
But more about the house. At least as it relates to “Project Prepper.” Some time ago I put together a “wish list” for what I’d like a Chicago-area property to have. This includes the potential for:
• An emergency water supply
• A food garden
• Effective layers of security
• Going “off the grid”
Oh, I almost forgot to mention a fenced-in yard for a guard or watch dog.
This suburban property definitely has the potential for all these things. Partial brick construction, spacious backyard, an area all ready set aside for gardening, and more.
As such, I sure hope everything works out and I’ll be able to move into the official “Project Prepper” lab later this spring.
More soon.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Survey: Illinois Ranked 5th Least Friendly State For Small Business
According to the second annual Small Business Friendliness Survey by Thumbtack and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Illinois was ranked the fifth least friendly state for small business.
Why am I not surprised to hear that?
From the 2013 Thumbtack.com Small Business Survey, which drew upon data from over 7,000 small business owners:
Illinois slipped slightly, dropping from a ‘D+’ overall grade in 2012 to a ‘D’ this year.
Some of the key findings for Illinois include:
• Small businesses gave Illinois a ‘C’ for its regulatory systems and a ‘C-’ for its small business training and networking programs.
• Among major cities nationwide, Chicago improved its overall performance from 2012, rising to a ‘C-’ from a ‘D’. Additionally, the city’s regulatory systems rose from a ‘D+’ to a ‘B-’ this year.
Good job Chicago. Never let it be said I didn’t give credit where credit was due.
According to the survey, the “Top 5” least friendly states for small businesses were:
5. Illinois
4. California
3. Hawaii
2. Maine
1. Rhode Island
And the “Top 5” friendliest states were:
5. Texas
4. Idaho
3. New Hampshire
2. Alabama
1. Utah
As for Wisconsin, where I spend a good deal of my time, the state improved from a ‘C+’ overall grade in last year’s ranking to a ‘B’ in 2013. Also, it’s ranked among the 10 easiest states for establishing a new business.
Sounds like they’re headed in the right direction as it concerns small business.
Wish I could say the same thing about the “Land of Lincoln.” I really do.
You can access the survey on Thumbtack.com here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Illinois 45th In Comprehensive State Freedom Rankings
From the George Mason University Mercatus Center website “Newsroom” last week:
Today the Mercatus Center released the third edition of Freedom in the 50 States by Will Ruger and Jason Sorens. In this new edition, the authors score states on over 200 policy variables. Additionally, they have collected data from 2001 to measure how states’ freedom rankings have changed over the past decade. While several organizations publish state freedom rankings, Freedom in the 50 States is the only one that measures both economic and personal freedoms.
While the “Land of Lincoln” is ranked 45th this year (down 2 spots from 2012), our neighbors to the north and east, Wisconsin and Indiana, fared better at 38th and 16th, respectively.
North Dakota has the highest freedom ranking among states in 2013, while New York, followed by California and New Jersey, has the lowest.
Surprise, surprise.
You can read the entire Mercatus Center “Newsroom” piece here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Washington County, WI, Sheriff Blasts Milwaukee Police Chief, Feinstein, And Obama On Gun ‘Control’
While my family’s Wisconsin residence is not in Washington County, I thought I’d share with you this morning something residents of the nearby county received from Sheriff Dale Schmidt last week:
To Washington County Residents, 03-08-2013
Recent comments on gun control by Milwaukee Police Chief Flynn highlight, for me, a problem with law enforcement in this country. Too often, law enforcement leaders confuse all citizens with criminals, and see themselves as “kings” of their jurisdiction instead of employees of the people.
In 2009, when Wisconsin’s Attorney General issued his advisory memo on open carry, it created little discussion within my department. That is because we already knew it was legal and protected by the Constitution. Chief Flynn’s position quoted from JSOnline was, “my message to my troops is if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we’ll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it.” Sounds like a man who makes no distinction between law-abiding citizens and criminals. That is one example, but I believe other law enforcement leaders operate under the “end justifies the means” policing model, Constitution be damned.
Law enforcement in America was never supposed to be about “ruling the people.” We are hired by “the people” to do that part of crime fighting they cannot do themselves. The citizens never gave up their protection against unlawful search of their persons, or seizure of their property, or the right to own guns and defend themselves, in that process. Does that make it harder to ferret out the criminals amongst us and arrest them? Yes it does, but it is how we protect our free society from a tyrannical government. I believe Chief Flynn is truly concerned about the safety of his officers, but law-abiding citizens are not the threat, and any law to improve officer safety must first be Constitutional.
The way it is supposed to work, is that the citizens elect people to run the government. Those elected people then hire police chiefs and officers to enforce society’s laws within the confines of the Constitution. In the case of Sheriffs, the people elect them directly. Either way, we are all accountable to the people, we are not their rulers. The law-abiding people are on our side and we should be focused on protecting their Constitutional rights, not limiting them! How did this get so backward?
The assertion, by President Obama, Senator Feinstein and Chief Flynn, that if certain types of guns or features of guns are banned, then violent crime will go away, is a fantasy. More importantly, they should not even be talking about it because the people hired them to protect that right. We should be talking about how to identify and stop people before they commit mass murders. We should be talking about why criminals remain on the street after multiple convictions for violent crimes. And we should be talking about how to change the sub-culture in this country that places no value on human life or personal responsibility.
Every American was appalled when they learned Adam Lanza inexplicably killed 20 children in their own classroom. But President Obama showed no leadership when he immediately took the focus to banning guns. That “kingly” position, shared by Senator Feinstein and Chief Flynn, essentially blames any American who supports the 2nd Amendment for those deaths, and excuses the perpetrator.
What if after Sandy Hook, President Obama had said, “this is bad; dangerous people are committing mass killings in public places, drug addicts are robbing banks, pharmacies and gas stations, and the Drug Cartels are operating in our central city neighborhoods. The violence in this country is more than our law enforcement people can handle right now. We work for you, and we need your help.” Might that have produced something more positive for this country than a threat to turn half its citizens into criminals for owning guns?
Rotten and disturbed individuals commit violent crimes, and that is where law enforcement leaders need to focus their energies. We were elected and hired by the people, and then took an oath to protect their Constitutional rights. I suggest we try a fresh angle on violent crime by inviting the law-abiding public to be a part of the solution instead of carpet bombing their individual rights. It would do Sheriffs, Chiefs and the President well to remember Sir Robert Peel’s 7th Principle of Policing:
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
Mr. President, Chief, it’s time to trust the People, not rule them.
Dale K. Schmidt, Sheriff
Washington County, WI
All I can say is, thank God for Wisconsin county sheriffs like Milwaukee County’s David Clarke Jr. and Washington County’s Dale Schmidt.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Milwaukee County Sheriff: If Feds Try To Disarm Country ‘You Would See An Uprising And Maybe A Version Of The Second American Revolution’
Speaking of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr.- who recently made headlines when he told Milwaukee County residents in a PSA to use a firearm to defend themselves until police arrived- appeared on FOX News’ Justice with Judge Jeanine this past weekend and talked about gun rights. From their exchange:
JUDGE JEANINE: I’m back with… Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke, who this week warned that enforcing any gun laws to deprive Americans of the right to bear arms could lead to a Second American Revolution. Sheriff, you’ve been very vocal, and, by the way, I absolutely agree with you- if you wait for 911, then shame on you. You’ve got to arm yourself and defend yourself once you educate yourself. Well, what’s this whole idea of a Second Revolution? Where is that coming from?
SHERIFF CLARKE: Well, the question was, “Would I participate in assisting the Feds coming into states and going into homes and taking everybody’s gun away?” And I said, I would not be a part of something like that. And I said one of the reasons is that I didn’t want to get shot. Because the American people are only going to put up with so much before they push back. And I said, if the Feds tried to do that- disarm this country- I said you would see an uprising and maybe a version of the Second American Revolution because of that. Just read the Declaration of Independence. It’s right in there. It was talking about the Feds coming in and going into homes, forcing their way into homes and removing firearms. I mean, the thought is preposterous.
“Second American Revolution on the horizon?”
FOX News Video
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Illinois Vs. Wisconsin On Gun ‘Control’
Gun “control” supporters in Illinois are giddy this week. In preliminary voting Tuesday, Illinois House members approved limitations on the right to carry a concealed weapon, barring guns from schools, public transit, and amusement parks, among other locations in the state. And then there’s the victory of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg-supported Robin Kelly also on Tuesday in the special Democratic primary for the U.S. Congressional 2nd District. In Kelly’s victory speech, she told supporters:
You’ve sent a message that was heard around our state and across the nation. A message that tells the NRA that their days of holding the country hostage are coming to an end. And their days of scaring Congress into submission on gun “control” are coming to a close. You came together, you gave us your time, you knocked on doors, you made calls, you shared with us your heart-wrenching stories of love and loss, of broken dreams, and unfulfilled potential. You cried with us, you fought for us, and you told the NRA and their allies in Congress and around the country that we, we the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandchildren, friends and neighbors, the families of the fallen, the neighbors living in fear, we are united in our mission to end the killing in our streets.
I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t make much sense to me to blame a group of civic-minded, law-abiding gun owners for the actions of criminals.
“But Chris, the NRA is allowing gun violence to continue by not allowing more laws to be implemented.”
Gun “control” doesn’t work, if only because criminals don’t give a rat’s butt about the law. Not to mention there are reportedly 22,000 gun laws on the books now in America, yet the “killing in our streets” continues. And if such laws are so effective, then why is the poster-child for strict gun “control” in the country- my hometown of Chicago- also the “Deadliest Global City” among the world’s Alpha cities?
Anyway, that’s what’s going on in the “Land of Lincoln” today as it concerns gun “control.”
On the flipside, there’s our neighbors to the north- Wisconsin. Kevin Wang of the Associated Press reported this past weekend:
Amid continuing debate over cutting gun violence, Republicans in control of the Wisconsin Legislature say it’s unlikely the state will pass any gun-control legislation this session.
While some other states and Congress mull bans on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, or tighter background checks on buyers, Wisconsin Republicans say they will focus instead on potential gaps in the state’s mental health system.
“I’d be really surprised if anything passes here in Wisconsin that would restrict gun access,” said state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend. “We haven’t talked about it because we’re not going to do it.”
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
You mean, Wisconsin is looking into its mental health system after recent mass shootings committed by possibly mentally-ill individuals rather than blaming and pushing more restrictions on law-abiding gun owners for the actions of criminals?
Outrageous, I tell you!
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
Pearson, Rick and Ruthhart, Bill. “Kelly easily wins Democratic race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress.” Chicago Tribune. 27 Feb. 2013. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-2nd-congressional-district-jackson-20130226,0,4718425.story). 27 Feb. 2013.
Wang, Kevin. “Wisconsin GOP: Don’t look for new gun restrictions in state.” Associated Press. 24 Feb. 2013. (http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_22660434/wisconsin-gop-dont-look-new-gun-restrictions-state). 27 Feb. 2013.
Project Prepper: Prioritizing And Balancing My Preparedness Activity Going Forward
Back on February 7, I blogged about Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast-fame and his insistence on preparedness focusing on 6 “innate survival needs:”
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Energy
• Security
• Sanitation and Health
I declared:
I’ve come across similar lists in the preparedness material I’ve studied. But now I’m inspired to make these “needs” the focus of my “Project Prepper” series of posts going forward.
Where to begin, where to begin? Well, time to hit the prepping/survivalism-related books and material cluttering my home office and elsewhere around my pad for ideas.
Which is what I did. And according to SurvivalBlog.com editor James Wesley, Rawles, where to begin doesn’t seem to be as important as balancing the preparedness activity. He wrote in his book How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times:
Don’t go overboard in one area at the expense of another. Preparedness takes balance… Maintaining that balance takes both focused planning and self-control.
Still, my gut feeling tells me right now I should be focusing on “Security” before other needs. Why’s that? Because this latest push for more gun “control” that’s going on in America right now could end up limiting my access to a number of tools and other accessories that I could use to construct an effective security setup.
Also, I’d feel more comfortable getting a jump on Water and Food (with water being more of a priority as a person can only last around three days without it, as opposed to around three weeks without food).
As for Shelter? Well, I’ve already done some work in this area as a number of readers already know, making plans to move out of the City of Chicago to the Northwest suburbs in late spring, with hopes of eventually acquiring a homestead in Southeast Wisconsin in a few years.
Finally, not much will probably be done regarding Energy and Sanitation/Health until after the move to the suburbs. But I do plan on getting some American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instruction as soon as I can.
As a result, that list of 6 “innate survival needs” that my preparedness efforts will focus on has now been reordered to look like this:
• Security
• Water
• Food
• Shelter
• Sanitation and Health
• Energy
Still, I will strive to keep these efforts balanced, as Rawles suggests.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
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