Plastic is a crucial product in industrial production and it is pervasive in daily life. However, when plastic products break down, they turn into microplastics or nanoplastics, which are much smaller. Microplastics are plastic pieces smaller than five millimeters, while nanoplastics measure below one micron (1,000 nanometers).

According to Lin Xiaoxu, a virus specialist with a doctorate in microbiology, everyday plastic products “release” microplastics. Even synthetic textiles shed fiber fragments, and worn-out tires release plastic-containing dust.

Smooth plastic water bottles can also shed microplastics during washing. When these bottles are left out in nature, sunlight and ultraviolet radiation continuously break down the plastics into smaller particles, further contributing to microplastic pollution. (Related: STUDY: Microplastics in the body may aggravate cancer and spur metastasis.)

The following items also contribute to microplastic pollution:

• Bags
• Bottles
• Fishing nets
• Hygiene products
• Particles emitted from factories
• Textiles
• Tire dust

Unfortunately, humans and some animals often ingest some of these particles and other plastic particles accumulate and break down in oceans and soils. Marine organisms such as small fish, shellfish and shrimp, particularly those near coastlines, are more like to ingest harmful microplastics.

Lin explained that the main sources of microplastics are industrial waste and wastewater discharge, which can cause significant environmental damage if left untreated.

Before the wastewater is released from factories, it must undergo thorough processes like biological reactions, chlorination, membrane technology, sand removal, sedimentation, screening and ultraviolet treatment to remove more than 90 percent of microplastics. But complete elimination is not achievable even with modern technology and natural environments may take thousands to tens of thousands of years to fully degrade microplastics.

Health risks linked to microplastics

Microplastics usually enter the body through food and drink ingestion. On the other hand, nanoplastics can be inhaled.

Aside from directly irritating mucous membranes, microplastics can carry environmental microbes like bacteria and viruses into the body.

Lin said once people ingest something toxic, they will often say it can be washed out quickly. However, microplastics are very tiny particles that “adhere to the surface of the stomach.”

He warned that there is no guarantee that washing out microplastics will remove them. He added that the body needs to slowly eliminate them, but this increases “the burden on the body.”

Several studies have revealed that after exposure to ultraviolet light and microbial degradation in the natural environment, “microplastics become more adsorbent, forming complexes with various environmental pollutants on their surfaces, making them more toxic to organisms.”

Microplastics, which function as carriers for dangerous heavy metals and pathogens, exhibit various toxicities upon entering the body.

And while most microplastics ingested through food are excreted via feces, a small portion can remain in the intestines for several days. This can result in inflammation, intestinal damage and the disruption of gut microbiota.

Microplastics can eventually be absorbed into intestinal cells and enter the bloodstream, which can damage organs and systems throughout the body. Organs like the liver and kidneys and bodily systems such as the immune, nervous and reproductive systems are often affected.

The excessive inhalation of microplastics can also result in respiratory tissue damage and disease.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, most carotid artery plaques contain microplastics. While conducting the study, researchers worked with 257 patients aged 18 to 75 with asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Researchers detected polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in the removed carotid artery plaques of 150 patients (58.4 percent) and 31 patients (12.1 percent), respectively.

The research team reported that macrophages within the plaques contained visible foreign particles, some with jagged edges and chlorine content. They added that the patients with detected microplastics had over 4.5 times higher risk of heart attacks, strokes or death compared to the patients without microplastics.

Visit Microplastics.news for more stories about the dangers of exposure to microplastics and how to avoid them. Watch the video below for more information about the possible origins of microplastics.

This video is from the Finding Genius Podcast channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• STUDY: Researchers found microplastics in all human placenta they tested.
• Avoid toxic contaminants like microplastics in salt by switching to Pink Himalayan Salt.
• Study: Humans consume over 1,000 microplastics particles every year through TABLE SALT.
• Study finds MICROPLASTICS in almost 90% of protein sources, including plant-based ones.

Sources include:

• TheEpochTimes.com
• NEJM.org
• Brighteon.com

In a recent briefing, virus researchers warned that the H5N1 strain of bird flu or avian flu could be getting “dangerously close” to causing another pandemic. The briefing was attended by avian flu researchers, doctors and officials from government agencies who were worried about the bird flu case in a human patient.

Several reported cases of bird flu in a variety of mammals, including cows, cats, and, more recently, humans, are all increasing the risk of the virus mutating to become more transmissible, warned experts. However, others who also attended the briefing advised that it was too early to panic because there were still too many unknown factors about recent cases to warrant alarming the public.

On April 3, a White House representative announced that it was tracking bird flu in the country. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, also explained that President Joe Biden has been briefed on avian flu. Jean-Pierre added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies are investigating the matter.

The briefing was conducted after reports revealed that a dairy farm worker in Texas tested positive for bird flu, alongside 12 herds of cows in six states and three cats also in Texas that subsequently died.

Testing done on the worker has revealed that the virus had already mutated to spread more easily. However, the CDC claimed that this mutation had been recorded before, that the risk was low and that there was no sign of human-to-human transmission.

John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant for vaccines and founder of BioNiagara, a Canada-based pharmaceutical company, organized the briefing after receiving inquiries from the media.

Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi, a bird flu researcher in Pittsburgh and one of the speakers at the briefing, advised that avian flu “[has been] on the top of the pandemic list for many, many years and probably decades.” He also added that the virus could soon potentially cause a pandemic.

Kuchipudi said H5N1 virus has the potential to become a “pandemic virus” because it is being globally distributed and able to infect a range of mammalian hosts, including humans. He warned that the avian flu “has the greatest pandemic threat [that is] playing out in plain sight and is globally present.”

H5N1 influenza A strain could mutate and maintain a high case fatality rate, experts warn

Kuchipudi’s thoughts were echoed by Fulton, who said the H5N1 strain of influenza A could trigger a worse pandemic than the coronavirus. According to Fulton, bird flu could be “100 times worse than COVID,” or it could be if bird flu eventually mutates and maintains its high case fatality rate.

Fulton said once bird flu has mutated to infect humans, the world can only “hope that the [fatality rate] drops.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated fatality rate for H5N1 is 52 percent, based on the 462 deaths recorded among the 887 people diagnosed with the virus since 2003. Meanwhile, COVID-19 only kills less than 0.1 percent of infected patients. (Related: Largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. halts production because of claimed avian flu outbreaks in Texas and Michigan.)

Since 2020, when the new strain of bird flu emerged and began spreading across the globe, seven out of 26 people infected with H5N1 have died, or nearly 30 percent.

Some experts cautioned that in more serious but rare cases, H5N1 could infect the respiratory tract, which could cause pneumonia. Bird flu can also infect other areas, such as the eyes, where it causes inflammation.

Newer infectious diseases tend to have high fatality rates because people do not yet have a defense against them, which allows the virus to get past the immune system and cause a more severe infection.

Other experts advised that people shouldn’t panic. One of them was David Swayne, who has studied avian flu infections in animals for decades.

Swayne explained that for the cattle cases, there is not enough data and that it’s easy for the alarm to be raised. However, he cautioned that those monitoring the matter must first carefully fill in the “huge lack of knowledge” about the matter.

Some ongoing studies are examining infected cattle.

As of writing, 12 farms across six states in the U.S. have reported H5N1 infections in their cows. This included five in Texas, along with several farms in New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho and Kansas. Researchers are also conducting tests on cows in Iowa.

Scientists have reported that infected cattle are lethargic, eating less food and producing less milk. However, they are not dying from their infections.

There are also many unknown factors in the human, such as how the patient was infected. Experts believe that the patient could have been infected because of direct contact with cows or from touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching their face.

While many mammals are being infected with avian flu, experts have shared that there is one species they are focusing on: pigs.

Pigs have the same receptors in their lungs as humans, and this means an outbreak among the mammals could predict a similar episode in humans. However, infections are not currently being recorded in pigs.

Researchers have also warned that pigs could become infected with human and avian flu viruses at the same time. This could then swap genes through a process called reassortment, creating a new version of the virus.

The situation has a potentially wider impact than just causing panic because it could also increase milk and egg prices.

First, milk from infected cows cannot be sold. Additionally, egg farms are required to cull all their chickens when avian flu is detected. This could take farms months to recover from.

Avian flu was behind the surge in egg prices in 2020, when the price of a dozen large Grade A eggs increased from $1.72 to $3.59 over the year to November 2022. At their peak, prices reached $4.82 for a dozen eggs.

Watch the video for more information about the bird flu cases reported in dairy cows in Texas, New Mexico and Kansas. This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Hong Kong recently banned U.S. poultry amid bird flu outbreak in 5 states.
• NEW STUDY: H3N8 avian flu virus has strong transmission potential, with risk of causing an outbreak.
• USDA funding “dangerous bird flu experiments” with Chinese scientists that some fear could spark a whole new pandemic.

Sources include:

• DailyMail.co.uk
• Gazette.com
• Brighteon.com

An emergency prepping kit ensures that you have access to a variety of essential supplies, which can help your family stay safe during an emergency.

If you already have emergency prepping kits at home, you can create more kits for family and friends who aren’t preppers so they can get started on their journey to preparedness and self-sufficiency. (h/t to  FoodStorageMoms.com)

Food and water supplies

Food and water supplies will ensure that you have enough to eat and drink and give you the energy you need to accomplish various tasks that might need doing after a disaster, like repairing damage to your home.

Water

Get at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. You will need clean water for drinking and personal sanitation.

If you have extra space in your garage or stockroom, try to prepare extra water, allocating four gallons per person per day. This should be enough for your hydration, cooking, sanitation and limited laundry needs.

Non-perishable/shelf-stable food

If possible, prepare a three-day supply of non-perishable food, or close to it, such as:

• Canned beans
• Freeze-dried meats, particularly beef (which you can get with 25% off using promo code “veterans25” at our sponsor, Prepper All-Naturals)
• Canned soups
• Canned vegetables such as carrots, green beans or peas
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Dried fruits, apricots or raisins
• Dry pasta
• Granola bar
• Nuts or trail mix
• Pasta sauce
• Peanut butte
• Powdered mil
• Seasonings like sugar, salt and pepper

These non-perishable items will provide sustenance without requiring refrigeration.

Manual can opener

Electric can openers are convenient, but when preparing an emergency prepping kit it’s better to include a manual can opener so you can still eat canned food even during a power outage. (Related: Prepping tips: How to prepare a food storage starter kit.)

Water purification tablets or filters

Since clean water is key to your survival, you can benefit from having water purification tablets or filters in your kit.

If the water supply becomes contaminated, you can use items like purification tablets or a portable water filter to make water safe for consumption.

Medical and hygiene supplies

These items are essential for maintaining proper hygiene and for treating minor medical emergencies after SHTF.

Prescription medications

If someone in the family has asthma, diabetes, hypertension or other health conditions that require prescription medications, look into getting extra supplies of those. Our partners at Jase Medical offer survival antibiotics and daily meds – get $10 off with promo code “Rucker10“.

If possible, try to get enough medication that will last them at least several days.

First aid kit

Find a sturdy container and turn it into your first aid kit.

Include the following first aid supplies:

• Adhesive bandages and tape
• Allergy medications
• Anti-diarrhea medications
• Antiseptic wipes
• Bandages
• Disinfectants
• Gauze pads
• Scissors
• Tweezers

Don’t forget other supplies for babies or older people.

Basic personal hygiene items

Prepare toiletries like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste so you can maintain proper hygiene even after SHTF.

You might also need items like dust masks, a solution for your contact lenses and hand sanitizer for disease control during emergencies.

Miscellaneous personal hygiene products

Women in the family will need various feminine hygiene products like pads or tampons. If you have a baby at home, stock up on diapers and baby wipes.

Even if you don’t have an infant at home, moist towelettes or baby wipes can be used to maintain cleanliness when water is scarce. You should also get extra toilet paper and paper towels.

Garbage bags

You will need garbage bags for proper waste disposal and sanitation purposes.

Tools and safety equipment

These items are important for keeping everyone at home safe.

Portable radio

Use a battery-operated or hand-crank radio to stay informed about all emergency updates and news broadcasts. If you have a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio, you can check the weather conditions at all times.

Flashlights

Prepare several flashlights and extra batteries for battery-powered devices. Use the flashlights to provide illumination during power outages.

You can also get solar flashlights that you can charge in window sills when the sun is up.

Whistle

Tiny but important, a whistle can be used as a signaling device when SHTF or to attract attention if you need rescue.

Multi-tool or Swiss army knife

A multi-tool has many uses, and you may need one for cutting, opening, or repair work.

Other useful tools for your tool kit include:

• Ax
• Hammer
• Pliers
• Screwdrivers
• Wrench
• Saw

Shelter and warmth

These items will help you stay warm and shelter you if you have to bug out after a disaster.

Warm clothing

When preparing kits for the family, include a spare change of clothes with items like hats, gloves, socks and additional layers so you can stay warm in inclement weather. If possible, the kits should have a complete change of clothing for each family member.

If your area has severe rain storms, you should also have rain gear in addition to a change of clothes.

A pair of sturdy shoes or boots

Shoes protect your feet, especially if you have to walk in an area with debris or if you need to walk long distances as you bug out.

Plastic sheeting and duct tape

If you need to evacuate, you can use these items for temporary shelter or to seal windows and doors in case of damage.

Tent or tarpaulin sheet

It’s ideal to have a portable shelter option for outdoor emergencies or evacuation scenarios.

Thermal blankets

Use thermal blankets to stay warm, especially in cold weather conditions. If you live in very cold climates, you may need a sleeping bag for all family members.

Communication and navigation

Maps and other tools in this section can help you navigate if you need to bug out.

Compass and local maps

These navigational tools will help you find your way if you can’t use your GPS or electronic devices.

Signal flares

Use signal flares if you need to signal for help or alert rescue teams to your current location.

Portable battery or hand-crank charger

With a portable battery, you can keep your electronic devices charged for communication and information access.

Emergency/survival whistle

An emergency or survival whistle can be used as an additional signaling device to attract attention after SHTF.

Fire and cooking supplies

These supplies are crucial if you have food in your kits that require cooking.

Matches or lighters

Store matches or lighters in a waterproof container so you can use them even in wet conditions.

Portable stove or camp stove

With a portable stove, you can cook and boil water when traditional methods are unavailable.

Cooking utensils

Your kits should include pots, pans, utensils and other cooking tools for meal preparation. To conserve water, include paper cups and plates along with plastic utensils for multiple meals.

Fire extinguisher

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher to put out small fires and prevent them from spreading.

Pet supplies

If you have pets, they’ll also need food, water and supplies. Their kits should include pet food, a leash, a collar with an ID tag, a pet carrier and additional items specific to your pet like treats and toys.

Stay one step ahead of emergencies and survival scenarios by building your emergency prepping kits today.

Visit Health Ranger Store to learn about a variety of useful prepping products. Watch this video to learn about the benefits of including nascent iodine in your emergency prepping kits. This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Unlocking the mastery of bucket food storage: Essential for complete preparedness.
• Health Ranger Report: High-grade corrosion-resistant knives co-designed with Dawson Knives a popular choice among backpackers and preppers.
• Sensible prepper rules to follow when building your emergency stockpile.

Sources include:

• FoodStorageMoms.com
• RealSimple.com
• MedicalNewsToday.com
• Brighteon.com

Sometimes, a financial crash can cause short-term suffering. However, there have also been times throughout history when financial collapse had worse outcomes. (h/t to AskAPrepper.com)

While humanity has yet to witness a crash that was serious enough to destabilize the government and society in North America, with the fragile nature of financial systems, it is something that may happen soon.

If you ever experience a financial crash that is severe enough to cause country-wide hyperinflation, unemployment and the collapse of the banking sector, you may have to resort to the barter system to acquire the goods and services that your family needs to survive.

If you’re worried about a scenario like this, start preparing and stock up on items that you can use for bartering after a financial crash.

Alcohol

There are almost 15 million people who suffer from alcohol use disorder in the United States. And even those who do not have a compulsion to drink alcohol will be likely to trade goods for a bottle of spirits to calm their nerves in times of hardship.

If you don’t drink alcohol, having a few bottles of liquor and wine for bartering may still offer some benefits after SHTF.

Ammo

After a severe financial crisis, law enforcement could be overwhelmed and even ineffective. This would cause a true survival situation where crime becomes rampant.

In a wide-scale disaster scenario where the rule of law becomes non-existent, ammo will be as good as, or even more valuable, than money.

Stock up on a surplus of common calibers specifically for bartering. If you’re not sure what to get, stock up on ammo for handguns and small game calibers. You might also want to stockpile air gun ammo.

Antibiotics

When you’re trying to resume normal life after a severe economic downturn, access to medical care will become limited. Unfortunately, common infections could also pose serious threats.

Having a supply of antibiotics can be a lifesaver for those facing bacterial illnesses and are without access to healthcare services.

Try to stockpile commonly used antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or ciprofloxacin, to meet the needs of your neighbors after SHTF.

Batteries

Once the supply of batteries on store shelves is depleted, non-preppers will be desperate to acquire all the standard sizes of alkaline batteries and power banks to charge their smartphones and other small devices that charge via USB.

If you have a reliable source of off-grid power on your homestead, you can offer to charge devices and battery banks in exchange for other items that you need.

Bottled water

All humans need clean drinking water to survive, but you don’t want to risk your safety and stockpile by giving other people access to your stored water supply after a disaster.

Get two or three cases of bottled water so you have items specifically for bartering purposes.

Chocolate and candy

Many people have a sweet tooth. And while sweets aren’t an immediate need during an emergency, once the financial system has collapsed, there will still be many people who crave chocolate and candy.

Feminine hygiene products

Women will still need feminine hygiene products after a financial crash.

And even if there is no serious grid-down situation, the cost of feminine hygiene products may still increase, so people will be willing to barter with you.

Flashlights

If a financial crisis is severe enough that people need to resort to the barter system, there’s a chance that people will not be able to pay the electric bill or that power will be shut off.

When this happens, people will want to trade with you if you have flashlights.

Try buying packages of several flashlights for less than the price of the included batteries. Products like these are great for bartering because they are cheap and disposable.

Over-the-counter medication

If manufacturing issues can cause supply issues for several months, things might be worse after a financial crisis.

Like antibiotics, many people will need over-the-counter (OTC) medication after a financial crisis or collapse after supply chain disruptions and price increases affect the local supply.

Stock up on these OTC meds so you have a variety of items to trade with:

• Cold and flu medicines
• Diarrhea and constipation medicines and laxatives
• Headache and nausea medicines
• Pain and fever medicines
• Saline solutions
• Skin and allergy medicines
• Sleeping pills
• Wound care medications, like burn cream or antibacterial ointments

Protein bars

Rising food costs may leave non-preppers scrambling for calorie-dense food sources.

Stock up on several cases of protein bars, cereal bars and fruit bars for bartering during a financial crisis. (Related: Emergency food prep: Stock up on manuka honey, a must-have survival food and barter item.)

Radios

After a large-scale financial crash threatens to destabilize the communications grid or forces people to scale back their spending on phone and internet services, you still need to stay in touch with friends and family.

Stock up on radios that operate on the two-meter and 70-centimeter amateur bands. You can also get cheaper shortwave receivers for use as barter items. These items will be popular among those who are desperate for reliable comms.

Tobacco/vape

Like alcohol, there are a lot of people who smoke or vape. After the SHTF and the country dealing with a financial crash, these people will eagerly be trading to get cigarettes or e-cigs.

Stock up on cigarettes and some vape juice so you can trade with them.

Toilet paper and paper towels

During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the country witnessed demand for one surprising product: Toilet paper.

At the height of the pandemic, toilet paper and other paper products flew off of store shelves. Even if you don’t experience a financial crash, you should always have a good supply of these products, with an additional supply for bartering.

The current monetary system started as the barter systems that humans used for the years that pre-dated the invention of the modern currency that humans use today.

And while humans have been trading goods and services for money, if the currency collapses, society will go back to bartering. As a prepper, it’s best to stock up on bartering supplies like food, medication and ammo so you can trade for supplies after SHTF.

Go to Health Ranger Store to find more prepping products that can be used for bartering. Watch this video to learn more about organic black beans, and why you should have them in your prepper stockpile.

Read more tips and sound off with your own at the Late Prepper Substack.

More related stories:

• HRS SOLUTIONS: Stock up on organic non-fat milk powder, a long-lasting source of essential nutrients.
• SHTF bartering must-haves: 13 Things that will be in demand after an EMP attack.
• Sensible prepper rules to follow when building your emergency stockpile.
• Survival beverages that are a must for your pantry.

Sources include:

• AskAPrepper.com
• PrimalSurvivor.net
• Brighteon.com

On Jan. 2, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has nearly 14 million records of firearms applications that failed a national background check because of “unique prohibiting events.”

According to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), out of those recorded cases, 47,930 denials were issued to illegal immigrants between Nov. 1998 and Nov. 2023.

FAIR explained that even though the 13.9 million unique prohibiting events cataloged in the FBI database represent events and not individual illegal aliens, the data still points to “large numbers of migrants in the market for firearms.”

The group warned that “the dangers posed by largely unvetted illegal aliens possessing firearms” have significantly worsened over the past three years because the administration of President Joe Biden has “presided over record numbers of new illegal aliens entering” the United States.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported the seizure of 547,610 illegal weapons in 2023 alone, including ammunition, gun parts, silencers, scopes and even body armor. Additionally, there were 1,147,497 recorded weapons seizures in 2022. It is unclear how many of those illegal firearms were taken from the ownership of migrants.

Charlie Bollenbaugh, a gun shop owner in Arizona, said that even though there are many laws about firearms, “criminals are criminals” and that they can find ways to circumvent said laws. He added that it can also be difficult to confirm who is a U.S. citizen when they enter gun shops to purchase firearms.

However, Bollenbaugh said there is a legal process that can help shop owners filter out the ineligible buyers.

In Arizona and other states, a gun buyer must first show a valid state driver’s license or government-issued photo ID along with proof of their age and residency. The buyer must also have no felony convictions.

Bollenbaugh said if a buyer is legally allowed to purchase a firearm and they have followed all the necessary procedures, the government tells shop owners like him that it is safe to proceed with a sale.

He added that customers are unable to purchase guns if they don’t go through a valid background check and present a government-issued ID. (Related: ICE data: Illegal immigrants have less than 5% chance of getting deported under current Biden administration policies.)

Illegal gun purchases by criminals still happen despite efforts to track gun transactions

In 2019, the then-Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill that required federal background checks for all legal firearms sales and transfers.

A Republican-sponsored amendment that would have required gun dealers to report to federal immigration when an illegal immigrant tried to buy a gun was also included in the bill. However, the provision failed passage in the Senate in a heavily partisan vote.

In a written statement released after the vote, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), sponsor of the amendment, criticized Democrats who showed “their true colors” after they rejected the amendment.

The congressman added that they are  not interested in “preventing gun violence or stopping the illegal purchase of firearms,” only in limiting the rights of law-abiding U.S. citizens “to advance their political agenda.”

In some southern border states like Texas, crime involving illegal immigrants is a serious problem.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that more than 422,000 criminal aliens were booked into Texas jails between June 1, 2011, and December 31, 2023. Out of those cases, at least 300,000 were categorized as illegal aliens by the DHS.

The TDPS also reported that illegal aliens committed more than 509,000 criminal offenses, including burglary, drug offenses, theft, sex crimes, kidnapping and homicide.

According to CBP data, there were 15,267 arrests, with 307 for weapons offenses, last 2023. Early in 2024, there were 3,104 noncitizen arrests by CBP, with 48 cases involving weapons violations.

Bollenbaugh said illegal gun purchases by criminals are common despite serious efforts by law enforcement to track all firearm transactions and serial numbers in the U.S. He added that it is also illegal for a U.S. citizen to buy a gun for someone else if they are not authorized to own a firearm, which includes illegal aliens.

A gun purchase by proxy is called a “straw purchase,” and Bollenbaugh explained that such a purchase occurs if someone knowingly fills out the 4473 and background check because they are aware that the other person who wants the gun is unable to acquire it legally.

At MPP Guns, a store in Phoenix, gun manager Henry Escobar shared that their rules are very clear when purchasing a firearm. He said that if there are customers who visit them in groups of two or more, it is their policy to have everyone in the group present a valid ID.

If a customer presents an ID from another state, they will be turned down at his shop. Escobar added that they always ask potential buyers if they are “a citizen, from out of state, or a permanent resident.”

Visit Guns.news for more stories about gun rights and ownership in America. Watch the video below for more stories about gun rights in America.

This video is from The Rogue Banshee channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Report: Majority of illegals benefit from welfare programs in the U.S. – many of them have “anchor babies.”
• GUN GRAB: Firearms owners protest New Mexico governor’s ban on carrying guns following absurd “public health emergency” declaration by Gov. Grisham.
• Gun owners oppose new ATF regulation that prohibits private firearm transfers: REGISTRATION paves the way for CONFISCATION.

Sources include:

• ZeroHedge.com
• TheEpochTimes.com
• Brighteon.com

This means extra virgin coconut oil contains more nutrients and beneficial compounds than refined coconut oil.

As a prepper, you should consider stocking up on coconut oil because it has several survival uses. As a bonus, coconut oil does not need refrigeration, so it’s the perfect addition to your survival stockpile or bug-out bag. (h/t to Homesteading.com)

Helps with cracked skin and chapped lips

If you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration like cracked skin and chapped lips, coconut oil can help.

Apply a bit of melted coconut oil to cracked skin or chapped lips to keep them moisturized. The coconut oil can also help relieve any pain or discomfort.

Moisturizes your hair

Coconut oil can be used as a hair mask. Melt some coconut oil in a small bowl, but check the temperature. If it gets too hot, you can burn your scalp.

Slowly massage the warm, melted coconut oil into your scalp and roots. Leave the oil on for an hour and then wash it out.

Coconut oil can support healthy hair because it is a natural conditioner and is great for hair growth and split ends. For a scented conditioner, add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil before applying it to your hair.

Helps with deep bruising

If you or someone at home is suffering from deep bruising, apply coconut oil directly to the bruise.

Massage the oil into your skin using small circular motions for about three to four minutes. This can help soothe damaged tissue associated with deep bruising.

Treats minor cuts and scrapes

Coconut oil has natural cleansing properties that can help with minor cuts and scrapes. To use, simply apply a thin layer of coconut oil directly to the open wound.

Cover the wound with an adhesive bandage to keep it clean. (Related: Natural healing: Survival uses for coconut oil.)

Naturally soothes rashes

A coconut oil-based salve can help relieve the itchiness and redness of a rash.

A coconut oil salve can also support your body’s natural healing process, thanks to its beneficial properties.

Excellent for salves and balms

Homemade salves and balms are usually made with essential oils and a carrier oil like coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a great carrier oil and can be used to make healing salves and balms after SHTF.

Removes rust from knife blades

You can restore knives with rusty blades with a bit of coconut oil.

Apply a thick layer of coconut oil to your knife blade. Let it sit for one to two hours then wipe it off. Repeat if necessary.

Useful for making candles

Before SHTF, you can make DIY candles if you have coconut oil.

Melt the coconut oil until it is liquid. Next, secure a wick into a heat-resistant glass container.

Carefully pour the melted coconut oil into the glass container and make sure the wick stays in place while pouring. Let the coconut oil dry completely until it is solid again, then light the wick as needed.

Where to get Health Ranger Select Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for your stockpile

If you need coconut oil for your stockpile, try Health Ranger Select Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. This product is a pure coconut oil that is laboratory verified for cleanliness and purity.

It is a great source of healthy medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which can support healthy energy levels and optimal health.

A highly versatile ingredient, you can use our premium organic coconut oil as a delicious and nutritious replacement for cooking and baking oil. It can also be added to drinks like coffee, tea and smoothies.

Health Ranger Select Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is carefully extracted from high-quality coconuts sourced from our trusted growers in the pristine islands of the Philippines. This product is vegan, non-GMO, non-China and certified Kosher and organic.

Health Ranger Select Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is also lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology. If you want to try our premium organic coconut oil, buy handy 14-ounce containers or get the long-term storable one-gallon buckets.

Sound off about this advice on the Late Prepper Substack.

Visit Gear.news for more on useful items you need to include in your emergency stockpile. For your storable food supply needs, check out Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store.

Watch this video to learn how coconut oil can boost your oral health.

More related stories:

• Food supply 101: Energizing foods to stock up before disaster strikes.
• Organic coconut oil: One of the best survival and preparedness items to stock up on.
• Survival medicine: 10 Medicinal uses of coconut oil.

Sources include:

• Homesteading.com
• HealthRangerStore.com 1
• HealthRangerStore.com 2
• Brighteon.com

The Republican-controlled House voted 86-27 to approve SB 1084, with the bill finally ready to go to Governor Ron DeSantis. SB 1084 would make several modifications related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Democrats fixated on parts of SB 1084 that would ban the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat, which DeSantis has condemned as “fake meat,” and prevent local governments from regulating EV vehicle charging stations.

Rep. Lindsay Cross (D-St. Petersburg) claimed that both bans were meant to “stop innovation, put barriers on the free market and to lock [Florida] into existing frameworks.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland) insisted that the “food fight” section of SB 1084 “sends a bad message” to researchers and investors about lab-grown meat.

Hunschofsky added that the move could discourage manufacturers from working in Florida because “they don’t know what day of the week that the Legislature will be OK with them being in the state of Florida.”

“Moon meat” is fine if developed for astronauts

House bill sponsor Danny Alvarez (R-Hillsborough County) said that there are still questions about the safety of lab-grown meat. He explained that selling cultivated meat needs to wait, adding that research over time could help confirm that “it is viable for consumption.”

He noted that the bill is being passed because they “know that Florida agriculture can hold us down and provide plenty of safe, quality beef and agricultural products.” Alvarez also said lab-grown meat is being banned in Florida to help protect consumers.

The measure, which passed the Senate early in March, would allow research into cultivated meat. Production involves a process of taking cultured cells from animals and growing them in controlled settings to produce food.

A potential research ban was removed from earlier versions of the bill due to worries that such a ban could affect the space industry, which is also considering the development of lab-grown meats for long-term space journeys.

Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville) clarified that while it’s fine to develop “Moon meat” for astronauts, cattlemen like himself won’t support it. (Related: FDA approves lab-grown meat produced by Chinese firm linked to biowarfare program.)

“They can make it on the Moon and export it to Mars, and it’s fine to have Martian meat as well,” Black said, adding that he supported SB 1084 because you shouldn’t be able to buy lab-grown meat in Florida, or anywhere in the United States.

Under SB 1084, selling or manufacturing lab-grown meat will be considered a second-degree misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill would put oversight of EV charging stations under the FDACS, which regulates pumps at gas stations. Florida has at least 3,230 public charging stations in 44 of the 67 counties.

According to a staff analysis of the bill, electric cars made up at least three percent of cars sold in Florida from July 2020 to July 2021.

A 2021 state law already prohibits local governments from mandating such things as EV charging stations on gas retailers. That law was enforced after a move by Petaluma, California, to ban new gas stations with the intention of fast-tracking the shift to electric cars.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Support us at HealthRangerStore.com and read about our “human freedom infrastructure” mission at this article link.

Watch the video below of “The Dr. Jane Ruby” show to learn more about lab-culture meat and the potential cancer risks of consuming it.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Florida lawmakers advancing bills to block the sale of LAB-GROWN MEAT in the Sunshine State.
• Biden admin backs LAB-GROWN MEAT made of CANCER cells as the “food of the future.”
• CLIMATE FAIL: Study finds lab-grown meat generates up to 25 TIMES MORE CO2 than conventional beef production.
• TRUTH: Lab-grown “meat” produces 25x more carbon dioxide “pollution” than traditional animal husbandry.

Sources include:

• Twitter.com
• NBCMiami.com
• Brighteon.com

After years of testing, Aurora Innovation Inc., Kodiak Robotics Inc. and Gatik AI Inc. claim that they are ready to get rid of safety drivers of trucks being guided by software and different sensors including cameras, radar and lidar, which send pulses of light that bounce off objects.

The three startups have already hauled cargo for big companies such as FedEx, Kroger, Tyson Foods and Walmart.

In an interview, Chris Urmson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Aurora, said by the end of 2024, the company is slated to reach the point where it starts “operating those trucks without drivers on board.”

Mountain View, California-based startup Gatik AI has already driven trucks without a human driver in Arkansas and Canada. In an interview, Gautam Narang, Gatik’s co-founder and CEO, explained that the company uses smaller, box trucks and plans to deliver from distribution centers to stores. In 2024, the startup expects to deploy driverless trucks in the Dallas area “at scale,” added Narang.

Meanwhile, Kodiak CEO Don Burnette, said the company plans to “start small in 2024 and gradually ramp it up as we build confidence in the system that we didn’t miss anything.” Burnette added that Kodiak is aware of “the damage that can be done,” like the case of robotaxis in San Francisco.

Kodiak’s first operations without a human driver include short runs near the company’s truck terminal near Dallas and extend from there, added Burnette.

The three startups will be supported by truckport partners who will help with refueling their diesel-powered fleets and will offer roadside assistance in case of a flat tire.

Amid the various accidents linked to autonomous vehicles, the startups said the risk is worth it since the technology can allegedly help “improve highway safety and lower transportation costs.” (Related: California DMV SUSPENDS Cruise’s driverless car permits for misrepresenting information on safety.)

However, critics said these companies have an incentive to reduce the losses that investors have been financing during the delicate development and testing phase.

Driverless trucks lack regulation, transparency and comprehensive data collection

Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, explained that they are worried about the lack of regulation, transparency and comprehensive data collection.

Critics have also warned that trucks pose severe dangers because they often travel at highway speeds and weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. This is more than 15 times as much as General Motors’ controversial Cruise driverless robotaxi.

For now, the federal government has left regulation of driverless large trucks mostly up to states, which resulted in a confusing patchwork of rules. California suspended Cruise operations in October after several reported incidents in San Francisco.

California’s absence of rules for allowing trucks to be tested on public roads encouraged the three driverless truck startups and others to target Texas for testing and deployment.

The problems that Cruise’s robotaxis faced on the streets of San Francisco, such as unpredictable pedestrians and sudden road closures, aren’t a major hurdle for driverless trucks, claimed the three companies.

Trucks usually transport cargo on fixed routes, usually on highways that require much less interaction with passenger vehicles and pedestrians.

Aside from saving money on trucker salaries, autonomous trucks can travel longer than the 11-hour limit enforced on human drivers.

Autonomous trucks also have sensors that scan in all directions several times a second to identify objects, which allegedly speeds up reaction time. The companies also said there are estimated savings on emissions of 10 percent or more because the vehicles will “stay just below the speed limit and travel at a steady cadence.”

According to statistics compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,700 large trucks weighing 10,001 pounds or more were involved in fatal crashes in 2021. The majority of those incidents were from trucks with a gross weight of 33,001 pounds or more. These Class 8 trucks are almost as big as those used in Aurora and Kodiak’s fleets.

Driverless trucks are not immune to road accidents

While driverless trucks haven’t had any at-fault incidents with other vehicles in testing with safety drivers, the FMCSA report suggests that they’re not completely accident-proof.

At least two-thirds of fatal accidents occur when a person, object, animal or other vehicle veers into a truck’s lane. Data collected by a self-driving truck’s computer system is essential to determining what caused an accident.

Brian Ossenbeck, a transportation industry analyst with JPMorgan Chase, warned that the companies planning to go driverless in 2024 can’t just claim that they are “better than humans.” He added that they must first “reach that superhuman level, at least initially, until there’s broader acceptance. And who knows how long that would take.”

If things go as planned, safety drivers, whose hands usually hover above the wheel without touching it while the truck is in transit, will no longer be needed by 2024.

Urmson said the company plans for things to feel like a normal day, but with their trucks transporting cargo without human drivers. Watch the video below as driverless trucks are being tested on public roads.

This video is from the ZGoldenReport channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Amazon prepares army of 750,000 ROBOTS to eliminate HUMAN workers.
• “Confused” industrial robot crushed a worker to death at a vegetable packing plant in South Korea.
• Uber Eats to deploy an additional 2,000 delivery robots, putting more jobs in peril.

Sources include:

• Bloomberg.com
• CNBC.com
• Brighteon.com

In recent weeks, Conde Nast, the Washington Post, Yahoo News, Vox Media and other news outlets have made significant reductions in their workforces. Popular Science, a storied science and technology magazine that has won many awards, has ceased its print edition.

To ensure continued printing, other publications such as BusinessWeek and The Nation reduced production and have become monthly magazines.

Overall, many media companies have shed thousands of employees in recent weeks amid what many used to consider “the most wonderful time of the year.”

The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas has reported that many news outlets have cut nearly 2,700 jobs this year, the highest number of job cuts in the industry since 2020, the turbulent year that saw the whole world thrown into chaos by the global Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Related: Recession fears surge as new job creation slows down, jobless claims rise.)

Challenger, Gray & Christmas data also revealed in the “news” subcategory the firm tracks, at least 2,681 jobs have been cut, including those in broadcast, digital and print. That total exceeded the 1,808 cuts announced during 2022 and 1,511 announced the year before.

Many major media companies have announced efforts to trim staff and reduce costs to survive a tough advertising market and general news fatigue by consumers.

For example, the Washington Post aims to cut at least 240 jobs from its newsroom before the end of the year. Companies like Conde Nast and Vox have also implemented or announced major staff reductions.

Economy is resilient, but terminations are the norm for publishers

Even though the U.S. economy has been resilient, the unwelcome job cuts come during a rather challenging business climate for publishers, which have continued to see significant declines in social media traffic, which used to be the lifeblood of digital media publications, along with a very demanding advertising market and changing audience habits.

The cuts also come at an unfortunate period, especially given the state of the information environment and alleged threats to U.S. democracy.

The Left claims that at a time when anti-democratic candidates are trying to seize power in election contests throughout the country, newsrooms are seeing their reach and staffing shrink, if not go belly up entirely. According to Left, this lack of accountability implies that the dishonest figures seeking higher office will face less scrutiny and leave the electorate less informed.

Margaret Sullivan, a columnist at the Guardian who previously wrote about media for the Washington Post and the New York Times, said she was concerned about the bigger consequences the job losses in the news business will have on the country.

Sullivan said the loss of journalists “contributes to the exponential growth of news deserts in large swaths of the nation — and that’s disastrous when misinformation is rampant.” She concluded that democracy requires “an informed electorate in order to function and that is tragically dwindling in many regions.”

Visit MarketCrash.news for similar stories about job losses in other industries. Watch the video below to learn about job loss due to automation.

This video is from the AMPNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• ESPN to commence LAYOFFS as part of larger Disney job cuts.
• UK’s Guardian newspaper apologizes for its links to SLAVERY.
• SupPRESSed: Kansas cops raid newspaper office and publisher’s home, seize gadgets and records.

Sources include:

• TheHill.com
• ChallengerGray.com
• Brighteon.com

Image by Esther Vargas via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.

Now, there are DNA sequencing devices that can quickly generate DNA profiles (DNA IDs) anywhere using mobile devices and fully automated processes, and those in power are eyeing DNA as a potential global ID.

Your DNA is more precious than gold for technocrats because it is the irreducible structure of all life on the planet.

DNA can be abused and used against you

Always be skeptical regardless of the hype for DNA as a global ID. Be wary of allegedly beneficial outcomes of a global DNA ID.

Biometric identification solutions have become firmly established in your daily life, whether at security checks at airports or through facial recognition on smartphones. However, the next generation is already waiting.

New DNA-based processes can allegedly ensure precise identification of individuals and raise data protection to a completely new level.

For the longest time, DNA-based methods were reserved for forensic work, such as the definitive identification of disaster victims or the determination of degrees of relationship.

But as technology advances, the latest generation of solutions for confirming identity will be hyped as suitable for use in public service. This is a development with major advantages because for citizens, proof of your own identity is the key to state benefits, education and mobility – at least in theory.

But in reality, many people around the world still do not have a legal identity that can be verified by documents like a birth certificate or passport. Many will claim that this is where the potential of unalterable and unique DNA comes into play, which can sometimes unambiguously identify people if there is doubt.

As DNA is hyped as a global ID, there will be those who claim that the new generation of DNA-based methods offers several far-reaching advances in this area.

Despite the novelty of the idea, DNA-based personal identification is not a new invention. But while forensics practitioners have used this method since the 1980s, highly automated processes have only been available within recent years.

Using the latest technology, certified “Rapid DNA Technology” solutions can generate DNA profiles (DNA IDs) anywhere and within a very short time using only mobile devices and fully automated processes. These processes do not require any special technical or scientific knowledge and allegedly guarantee lossless data generation.

If global DNA IDs are rolled out, they will be marketed as offering many benefits compared to conventional biometric identification methods such as your fingerprints or iris recognition. And since the stored information is enclosed and protected directly in the nucleus of the human cell, the DNA-based solution ensures lifelong immutability and protects against tampering. (Related: Destination, biometrics and more: New cars can track and collect driver data, warn experts.)

If you are concerned about data protection, you may be told that a DNA ID offers an unrivaled level of anonymity. The information stored in forensic or civil databases is purely numerical and does not reveal any information about your ethnic origin, appearance or health status. But if people have access to the right tools, there is a chance that your data can be used against you.

Once created, DNA IDs can be registered and stored in government-controlled databases. The small data size of a DNA ID, measuring only 200 bits, ensures easy storage on conventional chips for smart biometric identification documents such as passports.

DNA identification being hyped as ID technology of the future

Despite these proposed benefits, the general public continues to associate the collection of DNA samples mainly with their use in the field of criminal law.

The resulting skepticism toward DNA-based methods is understandable, but a new classification and assessment is necessary and must take place with education and transparency.

Those who push DNA as a global ID argue that DNA identification is more anonymous and precise than other biometric methods, which can result in a “completely new level of data protection.”

In the past, there were similar reservations about fingerprint matching or iris scans, but public opinion has changed through the years. While some remain skeptical, others trust biometric procedures to unlock their smartphones and feel secure with them.

Those in power tell the public that the same will happen for DNA IDs, especially if they insist on hyping its alleged benefits and the high level of security offered by the technology.

But despite claims that DNA IDs are secure and convenient, wary citizens must keep in mind that even what appears to be a secure way of storing data and maintaining user anonymity can be abused by an individual or a group with the right tools.

Will you risk your safety and privacy for convenience?

Visit PrivacyWatch.news to read more articles about the dangers of biometric data abuse. Watch the video below to learn if hospitals are stealing the DNA of babies.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• 12 US states now using mobile device driver’s licenses that require face scans to prove your identity.
• Millions of UK students are using BIOMETRICS for school-related activities without parental consent.
• New crypto linked to digital ID forces all users to scan their EYEBALLS using iris-scanning technology.

Sources include:

• Technocracy.news
• BiometricUpdate.com
• Brighteon.com