By the author of Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City and The Ultimate Survival The wealth gap is growing in the West. Objectively, it goes up and down following economic boom and bust cycles, so on the surface, that shouldn’t be worrying. However, a combination of alarming factors is compounding and making that a more serious issue this time around. The signs and consequences of that acceleration are everywhere: the explosion of homelessness, crime, and social unrest accompanied by the escalation of oppression, regulation, taxation, bureaucracy, and infrastructure decay. Not to mention mass illegal immigration, a threat that’s now coming to a head in the streets of the EU, the UK, and the USA. Not everyone is paying attention to the issue, mostly because it’s a slow process that happens in the background. But they also aren’t noticing because governments are actively trying to gaslight the population. And from those who are aware, only a few are concerned or know what this means for advanced societies, for their standard of living, and even for the relationship between nations.  Only a few leaders have the courage to address the matter openly, or do something about it.  Perhaps the best example is El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele, who delivered a great speech during the recent UN meeting. It was the event’s most honest and courageous presentation, typical of a true statesman. It doesn’t matter much what you or I think of him. The guy has turned one of the most violent and deadly countries in the world into one of the safest in just a couple of years. As he noted, after decades of conflicts, poverty, and violence, Salvadorans are now enjoying a much better standard of living and quality of life. Thousands got jailed for that to happen, but what matters is that now the majority – the honest part of the population – is free to work, advance, and enjoy their beautiful country. Not everyone sees it that way, and some say he’s a “threat to democracy.” That idea has been abused by both sides of the political spectrum, to the point of turning it empty and meaningless. But facts speak louder than words: his people love him, and that’s the true measure of a leader’s success. Argentina’s Javier Milei is another president who seized the opportunity to denounce the dangers of socialism, wokeism and corruption taking over the First World, and criticize governments turning the screws on liberty while printing money at large. The situation in Argentina is still bad, but it’s improving slowly and trending up thanks to Milei’s policies. Again, facts speak louder than words. I’m sure that has many of us wishing one of them was the president of our country.   I do, and speaking of the devil, Brazil’s leftist and ex-convict president went the opposite direction with his populist, retrograde, and worn-out discourse. Lula missed the opportunity to denounce the stolen elections and the atrocities being committed against the population and the opposition in Venezuela in his opening UN speech. Instead of addressing the political and humanitarian crisis taking place within his area of influence, the delusional leader ticked all the globalist agenda, from climate change to the conflict in Palestine, from internet regulation (i.e., censorship), world hunger, to the UN’s Security Council, among other crap completely out of his competence.  His discourse was mediocre, shameful, pathetic, and cynical, a direct contrast to his colleagues from El Salvador and Argentina. But that’s Lula,  and Bill Gates’ foundation awarding him a prize for “humanitarian achievements” only makes things worse and tells us the rest we need to know about this whole clown theater. Back to the topic, what stood out in Bukele’s speech is the part where he warns other leaders about the path much of the world is taking towards Thirdworldization. Those who follow my work in preparedness know it’s based on that idea, which is the declining standard of living going on in much of the Western World. It’s happening, and Bukele showed how El Salvador is making an effort in the opposite direction by fighting for freedom, a free market, and a safer society.  Bukele was very humble and down to earth, acknowledging El Salvador is small and doesn’t have much power to change things, but the results achieved can serve as an example. I must say it won’t happen, unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons with one being the level of corruption running deep into the system. So you better prepare for what’s coming.  A small wealth gap is a characteristic of a First World country, and vice-versa. Every country has the one percenters at the top, and also a minority of miserable and dispossessed. However, in an advanced and wealthy nation the majority of the population situated between these extremes enjoys a decent standard of living: decent, well-cared-for and safe neighborhoods, access to good education, basic healthcare, and material goods (such as a house and a car or two).  That was the standard of living of previous generations, but today, it’s getting harder for the majority to even pay the bills. The first-world middle class is getting crushed. Thanks to inflation (money printing) and the Cantillon effect, the concentration of wealth in the hands of those already well-positioned and close to the printing presses is happening at a dangerous pace.  Working, saving, and investing doesn’t cut it anymore, so too many resort to shortcuts – gambling in the stock market, bitcoins, betting sites, OF, etc. – ways to try and accumulate some wealth as quickly as possible. Everyone sees the writing on the wall and is trying to front-run the inevitable. A growing wealth gap also begets the loss of freedom: governments and authorities must keep the population under control. No one likes to feel they’re being scammed. That’s exactly what’s happening and what Bukele brought up and criticized in his speech. I’ll use my country as an example to illustrate how pernicious and damaging a large wealth gap can be.  Brazil is a big country blessed with fair weather, diverse territory, abundant natural resources, and mostly devoid of significant natural or geopolitical threats. However, much of those favorable conditions and potential get squandered by a mix of backward mentality, corruption, bureaucracy, poor education, low productivity, and more. That keeps the wealth and privileges concentrated in the hands of too few and too many trapped in poverty, ignorance, and a quotidian of instability, degradation, and violence. Admittedly, these deficiencies exist everywhere. But I’m talking about extreme concentration resulting in huge inequality, something damaging and hindering in ways that are hard to explain. It makes attaining sustainable progress or achieving a solid social contract next to impossible. At one point, this perverse contrast can push a society into what I call “soft survival mode,” a rat race. While not an out-and-out fight, everybody ends up doing what it takes instead of what is right, moral, or what contributes to the advancement and prosperity of the collective. Anger and resentment build between all classes, dividing and polarizing people even further. Final thoughts When the wealth gap grows too big, Thirdworldization tends to accelerate and aggravate. Everyone ends up getting touched one way or another. However, not everyone is impacted the same. The upper brackets of society are able to preserve their lifestyle. At the same time, the middle and lower classes get crushed and experience a big drop, with a large number being thrown into misery. Objectively, despite the growing wealth gap, I don’t foresee the US, Canada, or Western Europe becoming as dysfunctional as a Third-World country. I know both realities and their differences well enough to affirm that. It’s possible, however, and even though things are bad already, they will get worse in the near future. I should also add that it sounds darker in prospect than it is in reality. I’m not making light of it, but citizens of the First World may feel the fall from grace more than the actual consequences of it. We’ll see, but either way, life goes on, and a normal and fulfilling life is perfectly possible during crises, even through wars or other SHTF.  Finally, for long-lasting crises such as Thirdworldization, adaptation works better than preparation. So my advice is, prepare to adapt.  Have you seen evidence of this? Have you seen evidence of the wealth gap in your area? Are people struggling more than they used to? Is safety degrading?  What about the infrastructure? Let’s discuss it in the comments section. About Fabian Fabian Ommar is a 50-year-old middle-class worker living in São Paulo, Brazil. Far from being the super-tactical or highly trained military survivor type, he is the average joe who since his youth has been involved with self-reliance and outdoor activities and the practical side of balancing life between a big city and rural/wilderness settings. Since the 2008 world economic crisis, he has been training and helping others in his area to become better prepared for the “constant, slow-burning SHTF” of living in a 3rd world country. Fabian’s ebook, Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City , is a practical training method for common city dwellers based on the lifestyle of the homeless (real-life survivors) to be more psychologically, mentally, and physically prepared to deal with the harsh reality of the streets during normal or difficult times. He’s also the author of The Ultimate Survival Gear Handbook. You can follow Fabian on Instagram @stoicsurvivor The post The Dangers of the Growing Wealth Gap in the Western World appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

The University of Kansas confirmed the authenticity of footage showing an instructor stating that men who refuse to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris should be lined up and shot. The statement, a clear expression of political violence, seems to echo the Left’s trend of imputing ill motives to Americans who disagree with its ideology. “[If you think] guys are smarter than girls, you’ve got some serious problems,” an instructor says in the video, which has gone viral on social media. (While some online claim to have identified the professor, the school has not confirmed the identity.) “That’s what frustrates me. There are going to be some males in our society that will refuse to vote for a potential female president because they don’t think females are smart enough to be president. We could line all those guys up and shoot them. They clearly don’t understand the way the world works. “Did I say that?” the instructor asks. “Scratch that from the recording. I don’t want the deans hearing that I said that.” INSANE: Professor at ?@UnivOfKansas says that men who don't vote for Kamala should be lined up and shot.He then asks that line to be cut from the recording so the dean doesn't find out.Any comment @UnivOfKansas?pic.twitter.com/3TotbHSqLa— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 9, 2024 The University of Kansas announced Wednesday that it had placed the instructor on administrative leave. “The university is aware of a classroom video in which an instructor made an inappropriate reference to violence,” the school announced. “The instructor is being placed on administrative leave, pending further investigation. The instructor offers his sincerest apologies and deeply regrets the situation.” “His intent was to emphasize his advocacy for women’s rights and equality, and he recognizes he did a very poor job of doing so,” the university added. A statement from the university regarding a classroom video. pic.twitter.com/SWnmhsNuPa— University of Kansas (@UnivOfKansas) October 9, 2024 The instructor’s remarks seem to echo the leftist elites’ exasperation with the American people’s inability to just fall in line. Will some Americans vote against Kamala Harris because she is a woman? Perhaps. Honestly, I think Americans care more about inflation, the economy, the border, abortion, and other issues than they do about whether the next president is male or female. Many Americans want a female president, and it seems plausible that this preference may balance out any genuinely misogynistic voters. It remains unclear whether the instructor knows many men who say they will vote against Harris because they think “females” aren’t “smart enough to be president.” However, many surveys have revealed that the 2024 election represents something of a battle of the sexes: Young men are trending toward former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, while many young women trend toward Harris. The instructor suggests that animus and hate on the part of men—rather than concerns about the economy, foreign wars, and other pertinent issues—drives this gender gap, and he seems to have worked himself into a frenzy about just how malignant these supposedly misogynistic men are. The instructor’s decision to impute bad motives to a voting pattern he appears not to like strikes a bell for me. It reminds me of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton’s line that many Trump supporters fit in a “basket of deplorables.” It echoes Barack Obama’s April 2008 line that conservatives are “bitter clingers,” rather than people who just disagree with his policies. “They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,” Obama said. More than anything else, it reminds me of the Southern Poverty Law Center. For those who aren’t familiar, the SPLC puts mainstream conservative and Christian groups on a “hate map” alongside chapters of the Ku Klux Klan in what a former employee called a “highly profitable scam.” The SPLC uses the “hate map” to scare donors into ponying up cash, and to smear those who disagree with its leftist agenda. According to the SPLC, if you don’t want pornographic materials in school libraries, you’re an “Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group.” If you want to enforce immigration law and deport illegal aliens, you’re an “Anti-Immigrant Hate Group.” If you support parental rights, well, you guessed it, onto the hate list with you! These accusations of “hate” can trigger real-world violence. In 2012, a gunman targeted the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian nonprofit in Washington, D.C., for a mass shooting because it was on the SPLC “hate map.” The SPLC condemned the shooter, but kept the Family Research Council on its map. In 2017, a shooter opened fire at a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, nearly killing Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. That shooter had “liked” the SPLC on Facebook, and the SPLC had repeatedly attacked Scalise. Trump has faced two assassination attempts, and at least five threats that resulted in criminal charges. Many of those threatening Trump’s life repeated the heated rhetoric accusing Trump of “fascism.” Americans have every right to criticize political candidates like Trump and Harris, and they have many reasons to support or oppose those candidates. The danger comes when Americans impute ill motives to their political opponents, and then work themselves into a rage about just how evil their opponents must be. This University of Kansas instructor has reportedly apologized, but his remarks reveal the danger of political hatred in America’s universities—which have grown increasingly liberal to the point of ostracizing and demonizing conservatives. It’s high time for America’s left-leaning elites to stop assuming the worst about the people who disagree with them. The post What’s Behind Professor’s Claim That Men Who Won’t Vote for Harris Should Be Lined Up and Shot? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

I love making homemade bread. Especially when it is right out of the oven, piping hot (yes…I know bread should be allowed to cool before cutting but…) with homemade butter piled on! However, I don't always have the time to make bread, especially the odd times when those cravings hit. Then, while sorting through some of grandma's recipes, I came across a French bread recipe that looked incredibly, and almost unbelievably, simple and quick! Only 5 ingredients and done in about 80 minutes (give or take, depending on the oven), from activating the yeast to removing the finished loaves from the oven. This bread is so easy and basic in prep, that it is a great recipe for the first time bread maker and the homesteader with a busy schedule! 5 Ingredient French Homemade Bread – This was originally published on Homemade Recipes and is shared with permission – Ingredients: 1 ½  Cups Warm Water 1 Tablespoon Honey 3 ½ -4 ½ Cups Flour (Unbleached A.P. Is fine) 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt 1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast Step One: Activate the yeast by mixing it with the water, honey and salt. I prefer a glass bowl. Let the mixture set until yeast activation begins- usually 5-10 minutes. You can tell activation has begun when the mixture begins to bubble and foam. Step Two: Add 2 cups of flour to mixture, blend and knead. Continue adding flour and kneading until the dough is no longer sticking to your fingers or your kneading surface. Step 3: Form the dough into a loaf shape onto baking pan or cookie sheet. (I like to lightly butter the pan surface first.) Cover the dough with a clean towel, and let it rise for 20 minutes. This is also a good time to begin preheating the over to 400*. Step 4: When the 20 minutes is up and dough has risen, cut slits into the top of the loaf and bake for 16-20 minutes. Crust should be golden brown in color. Step 5: Let cool slightly, cut or tear a slice, pile on the homemade butter and take a big bite!!!! In Addition… The original recipe calls for the dough just to be shaped, let rise and bake. I have made a few adaptations for this point in the recipe, however, which includes: Cut dough in half, shape and bake in baguette pans (will make great sub loaves or companion with a good wine!) or Shape dough and let rise on flour dusted pizza peel (to prevent sticking), then transfer to cornmeal covered pizza stone (which should be preheating in oven) For crisp crust, brush with olive oil before baking or For crispier crust, place pan of water in the bottom of the oven while baking. And Finally… For extra flavor, sprinkle the seasoning of your choice onto top of loaf before baking. Up Next: Off-Grid Solar Survival: Top 5 Things to Consider Before Diving In Did you give this 5 ingredient French homemade bread recipe a try? Let us know how it went in the comment section below! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook! LIKE this? I'm sure you'll LOVE:   Healthy Banana Bread Recipe (Easy To Make From Scratch) If you're looking for some helpful products to assist in your homemade bread making, check out these choices! In need of a baguette loaf pan? Give this Chicago Metallic Commercial II Non-Stick Perforated Baguette Pan a try! If you're health conscious, this King Arthur Flour 100% Organic Unbleached All-Purpose Flour may be for you!  

It's been a mystery since 1854.

Click to Skip Ahead Breed Overview Size and Growth Chart When Do They Stop Growing? Factors Affecting Size Ideal Diet Measuring Your Great Pyrenees The Great Pyrenees is a giant dog breed that hails from the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. They were bred to protect livestock against wild predators, but while their giant size and their history might be intimidating, the breed is known as a gentle giant and has become very popular as a companion pet. However, potential owners need to be aware of the massive size, weighing 120 pounds or more, and make preparations to welcome one of these dogs into their homes. Great Pyrenees Breed Overview The history of the Great Pyrenees starts in Turkey where giant dog breeds were used to protect sheep and other livestock from wild predators. Along with their owners, these breeds moved westwards eventually reaching the Pyrenean Mountains of France and Spain. The area is known for its rough and rugged terrain, as well as its temperatures and weather conditions that vary according to season. The Great Pyrenees were favored for their ability to work independently as well as their capability to stay with the flock when they trekked up the mountainsides. They would stay with the flock, which meant they needed to be calm and unaggressive. Their white fluffy coat, which has also helped their popularity as pets, ensured they blended in with the flock of sheep, making it easier for them to protect against wild animals. Today, the breed is a popular although somewhat uncommon breed of companion dog. It is gentle and loving, but it still retains the independent nature that helped make it such a good livestock guardian. The coat does need a lot of grooming but while the Pyr does enjoy time outdoors, it doesn’t need too much exercise, certainly when compared to herding breeds. Image Credit: Mikhail Farina, Shutterstock Great Pyrenees Size and Growth Chart The Great Pyrenees is classed as a giant breed that has a lifespan of around 10–12 years. Like most giant breeds, the Great Pyrenees take longer to fully mature, and yours might not reach their full size and weight until they are about 2 years old. The male is bigger and heavier than the female and the actual size varies from one dog to the next, but below are the kinds of size you can expect from your big pup. Age Weight Range Length Range 1 Month 5–10 Pounds 12 Inches 2 Months 10–30 Pounds 18 Inches 3 Months 25–40 Pounds 24 Inches 6 Months 50–80 Pounds 36 Inches 9 months 65–95 Pounds 42 Inches 12 Months 80–120 Pounds 48 Inches 2 Years+ 85–125 Pounds 50 Inches When Does a Great Pyrenees Stop Growing? Like a lot of giant dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees breed is slow to mature, which means it can take a long time before your pup stops growing. While most breeds will have stopped growing by the time they reach 12 months, the Great Pyrenees can continue to grow until they reach two years of age. Image Credit: Danita Delimont, Shutterstock Factors Affecting the Size of the Great Pyrenees Different dogs grow and develop at different rates, and while some of it does come down to genetics, some factors can influence how big your dog will grow: Diet – Always ensure that you are feeding an appropriate diet, especially for a dog of this size. Choose a food that is formulated to match the age and activity levels of your dog, as well as being a complete meal. Feed according to target size, if your dog needs to lose or gain weight, and always follow veterinary guidelines above any others. Health – Some illnesses and conditions can cause slow growth, while others might cause additional weight gain. If you notice your Pyr has put on or lost a lot of weight in a short time, consult a vet and have them check for any potential illnesses that might have caused this change. Exercise – Exercise helps dogs develop properly. It also enables them to maintain a healthy weight and prevents some musculoskeletal problems. The Great Pyrenees need around an hour of exercise per day. Although it doesn’t need overly strenuous exercise, it will benefit from getting out on long hikes and can handle rough terrain. Ideal Diet for Maintaining a Healthy Weight The Great Pyrenees need a healthy diet that includes high-quality protein as well as a good selection of vitamins and minerals. Meat protein is a common choice for dogs, easy to digest and has a good range of amino acids and other nutrients. They also get a lot of nutrients from vegetables and fruits. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet by calorie intake. So, if you’re using healthy treats for training, keep track of how many you feed and adjust your dog’s dietary intake accordingly. Alternatively, you can use kibble and other foods as training treats and reduce daily intake by how much you feed. As long as you feed a nutritionally complete diet, and they are healthy, your Pyrenees shouldn’t need supplements. Whether you feed dry kibble or canned food, follow the feeding guidelines to ensure you don’t overfeed. Overfeeding will mean your dog puts on extra weight, and once it is on, it is very difficult to shed. Image Credit: Black.Horse, Shutterstock How to Measure Your Great Pyrenees One of the most common ways to weigh a dog is to weigh yourself on bathroom scales with and without the dog. The difference between the two weights is your dog’s weight. However, this isn’t feasible with a 120-pound adult Great Pyrenees. The vet will likely weigh your dog when you visit, and if they don’t, you can ask to have them weighed. The groomer you use might also offer access to a weighing scale that can be used for this purpose. To measure the length of your dog, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Try to keep the measure as straight as possible and ensure your dog is stood upright in a natural position to get a true reading. The height of a dog is measured from the floor to the withers or the shoulder blades, and your dog should stand naturally when taking this measurement, too. Conclusion The Great Pyrenees is a massive dog breed that can weigh 120 pounds or more. It is a kind, affectionate, gentle breed, but prospective owners will need to make allowances for the size of the dog. It will take up a lot of room on the couch and can fill a lot of your bed, and the independent nature of this guarding dog breed means that it can be somewhat challenging to train, so start training early and speak to a vet if you’re concerned with your dog’s size either because it is too small or it has put on a lot of weight in a short time. Sources https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees-history/ https://www.pawlicy.com/blog/great-pyrenees-growth-and-weight-chart/ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees/ https://www.hillspet.co.uk/dog-care/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees https://iheartdogs.com/male-female-great-pyrenee-weights-heights-by-age/ https://www.prodograw.com/raw-feeding-guide/great-pyrenees-feeding-guide Featured Image Credit: Paolo Seimandi, Shutterstock The post How Big Are Great Pyrenees? Average Size & Growth Chart (Vet-Verified) appeared first on PangoVet.

There's nothing I love more than a good ol' fashioned dark fantasy RPG. I grew up playing games like Dragon Age: Origins and Diablo, immersing myself in dreary, bloodied worlds where hope seems like a thing of the past. Gorgeous new fantasy RPG Bylina immediately intrigued me, channeling The Witcher while simultaneously adding the grit and grime of Diablo's Sanctuary. Plus, there are weird hand enemies like the ones in Elden Ring - what's not to love? Continue reading Bylina is a new, deliciously dark Diablo style ARPG

Honey ... You SUCK at This: Kamala Feigns Sincerity, Importance in Staged Call to Florida Mayor

Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong is chock-full of challenging bosses, totaling a staggering 113, including the optional minibosses.

Space Marine 2 has a wide arsenal of weapons for the Emperor's faithful to use in their crusade against xenos and heretics. Each weapon is crafted to deliver the Imperium's wrath and is designed to smite your foes in ways that suit your playstyle and class.

Indie studio Far Far Games has announced Bylina, an ARPG in which players venture into a Slavic folktale to restore their souls and save the world.