Welcome back to TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner. Most people have heard various statistics about people being killed with their own gun, of which I don’t really pay attention to, since the typical sources are coming from known anti-gunners. However, I won’t deny that people have been killed with their own firearms, which could stem from […]
The post Concealed Carry Corner: Questioning Whether You Could Take A Human Life appeared first on The Firearm Blog.
Photo Of The Day and time for another picture taken through the reticle. We’re looking into the Kahles K18i, with the 3GR reticle. There is also an IPSC reticle, but I would prefer the 3GR. The K18i has a slim and streamlined design with all but the necessary features removed. It’s a great optic! You […]
The post POTD: The Kahles 1-8×24 Riflescope (3GR) appeared first on The Firearm Blog.
![[IDEX 2021] Caracal from the United Arab Emirates](https://survivalmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CSA338_01_edited-180x180-c0Z4v7.jpeg "[IDEX 2021] Caracal from the United Arab Emirates")
The past year, and the beginning of the current one, has seen plenty of in-person events being canceled due to the pandemic. The organizers of IDEX and NAVDEX, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, decided instead to put in place rigorous health protocols and still welcome the biggest players of the defense industry. Here we’ll first see […]
The post [IDEX 2021] Caracal from the United Arab Emirates appeared first on The Firearm Blog.
Humans have been making clothing with built-in pockets since at least 1200 AD, when our ancestors started cutting slits in their tunics to access coin purses or keys stashed in their undergarments. However, the concept of storing tools on a belt is far older than that of carrying them in our clothes. The frozen body of Ötzi the iceman, who is believed to have died between 3400 and 3100 BC, was found clad in a leather belt. Pouches sewn onto his belt contained a scraper, drill, awl, and fire-starting kit with flint and tinder fungus. Ever since those ancient times, utility belts have seen continuous use, carrying everything from primitive survival supplies and farming implements to swords and six-shooters. They offer quicker access and more load-carrying capability than garment pockets, and can be configured in countless ways to meet the task at hand. With this in mind, let’s take a look at three common categories of belts related to emergency preparedness and self-defense. We’ve divided them into three categories: EDC Belt, Range Belt, and Battle Belt/War Belt, each for their own purpose.
First, everyday carry belts are designed to be slim and comfortable enough for daily wear. Most are intended to provide additional support for concealed carry of a gun, medical gear, and other items. EDC belts also offer higher load-bearing capacity for pants that are weighed down with anything beyond the normal phone, keys, and wallet.
Above: A good belt makes it easy to carry gear without constantly stopping to hike up your pants. The pictured Agis appendix holster from Tier 1 Concealed distributes weight well thanks to two clips and a flexible midsection.
Second is the category we refer to as range belts — the type you’d wear at a shooting class or competition. These tend to be more overt and sturdy; items that were stored inside the waistband (IWB) are now stored outside the waistband (OWB), and additional magazine and accessory pockets are added. Range belts sometimes feature a thin inner belt and detachable outer belt connected by hook and loop material, making it easy to tear off the entire loadout in seconds without dropping trou. Buckles and webbing tend to be larger and stronger, since concealment is no longer a priority.
Finally, battle belts or war belts are the most high-profile and full-featured category. Even if you’re not literally going into combat, these setups are made to handle that level of physical activity and abuse. This is where you’ll typically see more mission-driven gear loadouts, padded layers for comfort during extended wear, and in some cases, active retention holsters that restrict unauthorized access to a handgun. You might think every inch of these belts will be packed with gear, but that’s not necessarily true. A war belt or battle belt is often worn as one part of a larger load-bearing system, so some of the equipment may migrate off the waistline and onto a chest rig, vest, or plate carrier. Refer to our article “Front Toward Enemy” in Issue 36 for a thorough look at each of those systems.
Now that you understand the divisions between these three types of belts, buckle up and read on as we show some of the options and considerations for each. All of the following belts and accessories from Carbon Tactics, G-Code, and Snake Eater Tactical are made in the USA.
Whether you’re wearing a suit and tie or jeans and a T-shirt, there are EDC belt options that complement almost any type of attire. I tend to fall into the latter category most of the time, so my belt stays concealed beneath the hem of my T-shirt. Thankfully, this means I’m not restricted to styles that look like they belong on the shelf at Men’s Wearhouse.
Above: A strong magnet embedded in the BadgerStrap causes the split buckle to snap together with a satisfying click.
The Foundation: I picked up two belts from Carbon Tactics, a company that designs and manufactures its products in my home state of Arizona. The first is called the BadgerStrap, and consists of a clever split buckle that’s held in place using a strong magnet and CNC-machined, interlocking latch. Although the BadgerStrap was recently discontinued, Carbon Tactics offers the Quicky with a similar magnetic mechanism, as well as the new Cipher, which augments the magnetic latch with a tensioner dial. All of the company’s belts are available with single-layer (more flexible) or double-layer (more rigid) nylon webbing in your choice of black, gray, or coyote brown. A hybrid Biothane option is also offered, integrating an outer layer of polyester webbing coated in tough thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). I chose this option since it prevents fraying or staining, and makes the belt slightly stiffer than a single-layer style.
The BadgerStrap’s magnetic buckle is rock solid — allegedly strong enough to lift a motorcycle — and I like the fact that its styling is relatively inconspicuous. The nylon and Biothane hybrid construction is supportive without being excessively stiff. I noticed the BadgerStrap has a tendency to loosen slightly throughout the day, especially when it’s loaded with a holster or other heavy items. The brass slider on the male side of the buckle doesn’t grip the webbing as securely as I’d like. That said, this belt is a great choice for those who prefer minimalist loadouts without too much weight on the waistband.
Carbon Tactics also provided a second belt, the Epoch, which demonstrates a heavier-duty EDC option. This belt’s CNC-machined buckle features a trigger-shaped release mechanism on the female side of the buckle. This looks cool, and allows for easy one-handed opening. Apparently, the filmmakers behind the 007 series also liked the design, since this belt is featured in the recent movie No Time to Die. Another benefit of the Epoch is its ability to fit through belt loops; unlike the split-buckle BadgerStrap and Quicky models, you won’t need to slide the Epoch’s buckle off the webbing to swap it between pairs of pants. As for the webbing, this belt features double-layer Coyote Brown nylon.
Carbon Tactics Epoch Coyote Double-Layer
Above: The Carbon Tactics Epoch features a unique trigger release mechanism, but our favorite part about this design was the fact that it’s slim enough to slide through belt loops without removing the buckle.
I found the Epoch buckle design to be more comfortable and convenient than the BadgerStrap; it’s slimmer and has built-in flexibility between the male and female halves of the buckle, allowing it to contour to my waist. I also didn’t have any issues with this belt loosening during the day, even with a holster, spare mag, and trauma kit inside my waistband. Some users may find the double-layer nylon to be too stiff — it holds a semi-rigid oval shape at all times. It can be ordered with single-layer or hybrid webbing, depending on the user’s preference and load-bearing needs.
I tried out two different holsters with these belts — one made specifically for appendix carry with a spare mag, and a more traditional stand-alone option with a separate mag carrier.
Notes: The Agis is designed for appendix carry, and includes a detachable magazine carrier. Many colors and configurations are available; shown is Storm Gray Kydex set up for a Glock 19 and Streamlight TLR-7A weapon light. With its canted spare magazine, adjustable clips, concealment claw, and flexible midsection, I found this holster to be extremely comfortable and easy to conceal under a T-shirt.
Tier 1 Concealed Agis Holster
Notes: Modular appendix holsters aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I also tried out a stand-alone holster and mag carrier from Veil Solutions. This holster is set up for my G19/TLR-7A, and it works well for either appendix or strong-side carry. The MOD Wing helps reduce printing, and the optional Discreet Carry Concepts clips make sure it doesn’t move around on my belt. The C2 mag carrier is the same durable Kydex design featured on the war belt/battle belt setup later in this article, but reversed for IWB wear.
Above: Veil Solutions’ Mantis light-bearing holster provides a minimalist way to carry my Glock 19 and Streamlight TLR-7A. Its metal DCC clips ensure it won’t budge or slide on my belt.
Veil Solutions Mantis Holster and Veil Solutions C2 Glock Mag Carrier
I believe every prepared individual should have basic medical gear and Stop the Bleed or equivalent training. I always carry a bigger kit in my backpack, but an IWB IFAK ensures I’m never without the most critical life-saving gear.
Notes: When I first saw this elastic med kit, I wasn’t sure if it’d end up being too bulky to wear every day. I soon learned it’s surprisingly slim and comfortable, even while sitting in a car for extended periods. It curves to fit my waist and holds a C-A-T tourniquet, H&H mini compression dressing, Celox hemostatic gauze, and gloves. Two metal clips hold the kit securely in place. My only gripe is that the TQ’s hook material sometimes snags on the inner hem of my T-shirt, causing it to fray; switching the C-A-T for a SOFTT-W will alleviate this.
Although the rest of my EDC gear isn’t directly attached to the belt, it’s indirectly supported by it. The more you fill your pockets, the more support you’ll need.
There are many instances where the amount of gear you can carry, and your ease of access to it, is more important than how discreet it appears. You might be hiking, camping, or hunting in the backcountry, or you might be in a setting where overt carry is expected, such as a gun range. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll refer to this category as range belts. They typically include two or more magazine pouches for primary and secondary weapons, a larger med kit, and an OWB pistol holster, plus any other pouches or tools you may need. Competition-oriented belts, such as those used in USPSA or 3-Gun matches, would technically fall into this category, but they’re much more specialized than the multipurpose setup seen here.
Above: If you’re looking for your first range belt, G-Code offers the Scorpion Low Viz belt as a complete kit with almost everything you’ll need. They’ll even ship it to you fully assembled — just clip on the RTI holster of your choice, and you’re good to go.
The Foundation: Although it’s certainly possible to piece together a range belt setup from off-the-shelf components, there are also several companies that offer range belt starter kits. I selected this G-Code Scorpion Low Viz Belt system, which is based around a two-piece Contact Series Operator’s Belt. Its 1.5-inch-wide inner belt fits through normal belt loops, and is Velcro-lined to attach to the outer belt. A G-hook secures the belt once it’s tightened. The outer belt is made from dual-layer 1.75-inch nylon, with the exterior layer wrapped in wear-resistant Cordura. A sturdy Cobra buckle is standard. Belts are available in black, OD green, coyote tan, wolf gray, MultiCam, or MultiCam Black.
Each Low Viz Belt kit comes with three G-Code Scorpion rifle mags, three Scorpion pistol mags, an Optimal Drop RTI pistol holster platform with elastic leg strap, and an RTI Rotating Belt Mount for an accessory of your choice. The latter two items are compatible with detachable holsters, pouches, and accessories that feature G-Code’s RTI mounting system. I found the belt kit to be very versatile, and have used it at Steel Challenge and 2-Gun matches, as well as for some of the pistol and carbine classes featured in my Final Weapon column.
G-Code’s RTI mounting system features three posts that lock into holes on the belt-mounted RTI plate. This allows the wearer to easily swap between holsters for different guns without a need for special tools or removal of the belt. Many manufacturers offer RTI-compatible holsters, but I decided to get a holster straight from G-Code along with my belt.
Above: The included Optimal Drop RTI mount positions the pistol grip even with the belt line, making it easier to draw quickly. It’s not nearly as cumbersome as an old-school drop-leg holster.
Notes: The OSLr features a pre-installed RTI hanger and sturdy Kydex construction in your choice of black, OD green, coyote tan, gray, or MultiCam. A soft “fuzz” finish is optional if you prefer that over bare Kydex. This holster feels well-made, with a positive click as my G19 slides into place. G-Code doesn’t offer a version that’s compatible with my current Streamlight TLR-7A carry light, so I went with the SureFire X300-U. I also selected the RMR cut option ($5 extra) and black anodized hardware (another $5). Paired with the Optimal Drop platform that came with the belt, the OSLr sits comfortably near the natural resting point of my hand, making it easier to draw quickly. The elastic strap prevents the holster from shifting as I run, kneel, or go prone.
A total of six soft magazine pouches were included with the Scorpion Low Viz belt kit.
G-Code Scorpion Low Vis Belt Kit
G-Code OSL RTI Kydex Holster
G-Code 6-Pack Scorpion Softshell Kit
Notes: These mag carriers are made from rubberized polymer woven together with elastic shock cord, which can be loosened or tightened to adjust retention. The rifle carriers can accommodate AR-15, AR-10, and AK magazines; the pistol carriers fit single- or double-stack mags and are available in Tall or Short (we chose Short for Glock 19 mags). This is a notable advantage over hard Kydex mag carriers if you plan to use your belt with a variety of weapon types. The elastic design does a good job holding mags in place, and allows them to be removed by pulling straight up or levering outward to break retention. R2 and P2 Operator mounts can be attached directly to the belt, or they can be stacked atop each other to conserve belt space.
Above: Removal of the G-Code belt is simple: Disconnect the Cobra buckles on the belt and leg strap, then pull the hook-and-loop material apart. The inner belt will keep your pants where they belong.
To make use of the RTI Rotating Belt Mount, I picked up an RTI-compatible med pouch from G-Code. Alternatively, a standard med pouch could be attached directly to the belt using clips or MOLLE-compatible soft loops.
Notes: Measuring 6 by 5 by 2 inches, this zippered clamshell pouch is lined with an array of elastic loops for medical supplies. I filled it with supplies for major trauma and range-day cuts/scrapes: C-A-T tourniquet, Rescue Essentials pressure dressing, QuikClot hemostatic gauze, NAR S-rolled gauze, HyFin Vent chest seals, shears, medical tape, assorted Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, gloves, and a mini Sharpie marker. The pouch itself is great, but I’m not sold on the RTI mounting system for this application — it causes the med kit to stick out further off the belt, making it feel a little cumbersome. A direct-mount kit would work better, unless you need to swap pouches frequently.
G-Code Contact Med Pouch
I finished off the range belt setup with the following items:
A war belt or battle belt takes the concept of a range belt to the next level, offering a platform that can be worn in a professional context along with other load-bearing gear. You might wear a range belt a few weekends each month, but duty belts for law enforcement and military personnel need to withstand continuous daily wear. That includes high-intensity activities like running, climbing, and hand-to-hand fighting, as well as long periods of walking, standing, or sitting. Durability and comfort are paramount, as is retention of all equipment — I shouldn’t have to explain why losing control of your weapon or other gear in a real fight would be disastrous.
Above: We combined the Snake Eater Tactical three-piece War Belt with a Level 2 retention holster and Kydex mag carriers from Veil Solutions. This setup is maneuverable and comfortable enough to wear while running, jumping, climbing, or crawling.
Wide, padded belts are standard in this category, since they provide the most comfort and support for heavier loadouts. The most traditional approach is to slide a belt through a padded sleeve that’s covered in MOLLE webbing. These sleeved systems can be worn over untucked shirts or jackets since they aren’t attached to the user’s pants. However, they’re bulky and may shift or rotate during physical activity — that’s not ideal if you expect to find your gear in the same place every time.
Suspenders (as seen on old U.S. military ALICE systems) and belt keeper loops (as seen on many LE duty belts) have been used to prevent movement, but Velcro hook-and-loop layers are a more modern solution. The belt I selected comes from Snake Eater Tactical, and features three layers connected in this manner.
Snake Eater Tactical War Belt System
The Foundation: The SET War Belt Three-Part System starts with a thin and light piece of 1.5-inch Hypalon fabric, with a simple pass-through loop on one end for tensioning. This is the absolute minimum needed to hold up a pair of pants, but it’s effective. Next, a 4mm-thick layer of closed-cell foam is wrapped in breathable nylon mesh, with hook material sewn to one side and loop material sewn to the other. This creates a thin yet breathable padded layer between the inner and outer belts. It’s wider than the other belt layers in order to provide cushioning for holster mounts and other hard accessories. Finally, the 1.75-inch outer belt is constructed from a double layer of Type 13 nylon parachute webbing, with an inner layer of hook material and a black Cobra buckle. Heavily reinforced stitching throughout this belt shows that it was built with longevity in mind. The SET War Belt is made to order; at time of publication, with a lead time of four to eight weeks.
This three-part system can be used as a two-part system. For example, the middle and outer layers can be worn over a jacket or untucked shirt, much like a traditional padded belt (with the aforementioned drawbacks). The middle layer can be removed for a slightly slimmer waist profile, but after wearing the full system, I can’t imagine wearing it without the padding — it makes a huge difference. The SET War Belt is head and shoulders above a regular range belt for long-term daily wear.
Given the nature of this belt setup, an active retention holster is a logical choice. Passive retention, as seen on the other holsters in this article, relies on friction induced by the shape of the holster to keep the weapon in place. Pull hard enough, and it’ll pop out. Active retention adds at least one device that must be released before drawing the gun. It ensures the gun won’t get knocked loose while you’re running around, or more importantly, won’t be easily accessible to any bad guy who tries to take it.
Above: Pressing the thumb break lever causes the retention hood to snap forward, allowing the gun to be drawn normally. This takes some getting used to, but it beats losing your gun.
Notes: The Fett features a thumb break — essentially a small lever on the inside edge of the holster — that must be pressed firmly to release a spring-loaded hood. When the hood flips forward, the gun can be drawn normally from passive retention. Each holster is drilled for various mounting patterns including Safariland, G-Code RTI, and Tek-Lok; I picked the ubiquitous Safariland Mid-Ride hanger ($20 extra). It’d be easy to add a thigh strap to this setup if desired, but I felt it was stable enough without one. Even though I’m not working at an LE agency or other job that requires a retention holster, I appreciate the peace of mind it provides. You never know when you might want to do some tactical cartwheels. When the hood isn’t activated, the Fett works great for range practice or competition.
Veil Solutions Fett Duty Holster
While my range belt came with three rifle mags and three pistol mags, I picked up two and two for the war belt. This is because I’d typically wear it with other load-bearing gear that contains more magazines, such as a chest rig or plate carrier.
Notes: Universal mag pouches have pros and cons, but application-specific, molded Kydex carriers provide the most secure fit and retention. They’re also durable and easy to clean. Veil Solutions’ C2 series, which stands for Competition & Carry, is available with a reversible polymer belt clip or an optional Tek-Lok clip ($8 extra per carrier). The pistol carriers are available for Glock, SIG, HK, CZ, 2011, and B&T applications; the rifle carriers are available for AR-15, AR-10, and AK mags. Numerous finishes and colors are offered, from plain black to Rhodesian Brushstroke. I’m a fan of the slim profile and strong retention provided by these C2 carriers.
Veil Solutions V2 Pistol Mag Carriers/Rifle Mag Carriers
Much like the magazines, this medical gear is supplemented by gear in my chest rig or plate carrier. This belt IFAK serves as my first-line trauma gear. Second-line trauma gear and “boo-boo” kit items are stored elsewhere.
Notes: The Micro TKN consists of an elastic sleeve and a tear-away insert that can be pulled out using the tabs on either end. It can be purchased fully loaded or empty; I packed mine with an H&H mini compression bandage, QuikClot hemostatic gauze, HyFin Vent Compact chest seals, medical tape, and gloves.
North American Rescue C-A-T Holder
Since my micro trauma kit doesn’t have room for a standard TQ, I picked up this carrier from NAR. It attaches securely to the belt with snap straps, and has an elastic cover that protects the Velcro on the C-A-T tourniquet from dirt or abrasions. The straps on the back offer a convenient place to store a set of shears.
Just because you can load down your war belt with six AR mags, four pistol mags, throwing knives, and shark-repellent spray doesn’t mean you should. The only item I’d consider adding is a dump pouch if the situation called for it. It can be used for cycling through a large number of partial mags during reload drills, picking up brass at the end of a range session, or carrying loose ammo for specific weapons (e.g. shotguns).
Above: A war belt will often serve as one piece of a larger load-bearing gear system, such as this Tyr Tactical PICO-DS plate carrier. See our article Here for a detailed look at all of its components.
Much like the emergency preparedness “line gear” Tom Marshall wrote about in Issue 38, it’s not unreasonable to have a few belt setups for different purposes. Many of you reading this article won’t need to spend a big chunk of change on a full-blown war belt. Virtually everyone needs a good everyday belt, unless you wear a bikini or silkies 24/7, in which case we hope you’re good at hand-to-hand combat and MacGyvering your way out of danger. Instead of building a jam-packed belt that would make Batman jealous, consider the situations you face most often, and focus on finding the most efficient way to carry what you truly need.
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The mainstream media is using every scare tactic possible when it comes to getting as many people panicked into getting the vaccine as they can. Now they are claiming “the devil is already here” when it comes to the California mutant strain of COVID-19.
As we have said time and time again, this is not going to end. As long as people continue to fall for this charade and further chain themselves to the ruling class, we will all be dragged along with them.
KTLA5 even has an article out in which they quote a doctor who claims this new variant is “the devil.” Predictive programming? “The devil is already here,” said Dr. Charles Chiu, who led the UCSF team of geneticists, epidemiologists, statisticians, and other scientists in a wide-ranging analysis of the new variant, which they call B.1.427/B.1.429. “I wish it were different. But the science is the science.”
“The science is the science,” especially when one is being paid by the ruling class to make sure the science keeps the slaves in line. In a study that helps explain the state’s dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths — and portends further trouble ahead — scientists at UC San Francisco said the cluster of mutations that characterizes the homegrown strain should mark it as a “variant of concern” on par with those from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.
Californians, along with the rest of the country, have been bracing for an onslaught of the more transmissible strain from the U.K. known as B.1.1.7. But they should know that a rival strain that is probably just as worrisome has already settled in, and will probably account for 90% of the state’s infections by the end of next month, said Dr. Charles Chiu, an infectious diseases researcher, and physician at UCSF. -LA Times
The solution will be more lockdowns, fewer links in your already short chain, and increased tyranny all over. This is literally what the rulers want.
The new evidence that the California variant could make people sicker, and vaccines less effective, should spur more intensive efforts to drive down infections, Chiu said. Those should include both public health measures, such as masking and limits on public activities, and a campaign of rapid vaccinations, he added. -LA Times
As we previously mentioned, now that the vaccines are out and already doing untold and underreported damage to many who take them, there could be a “push” of some kind to propagate those “hesitant” about taking the vaccine into doing so. What better way than to make COVID-19 into COVID-21?
More COIVD-19 Vax Deaths: Think They’ll Blame This On COVID-21?
Remain alert and prepared. One of the most valuable skills right now will be discernment. Do not turn off your critical thinking and willingly submit to anyone. Keep your mind sharp, and your gear ready.
The post MSM: Coronavirus Variant in California Looks “Increasingly Dangerous” first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You.
This article was originally published by Charles Hugh Smith at Of Two Minds Blog.
Needless to say, few are expecting bubble symmetry to manifest now, because, well, of course, “this time it’s different.” Indeed. It’s always different and yet always the same, too.
Let’s indulge in some basic logic:
1. All speculative bubbles pop, regardless of source, time, or place. (100% of all historical evidence supports this.)
2. The current “Everything Bubble” is a speculative bubble.
3. Therefore the current speculative bubble will pop.
Now that we got that out of the way, the question becomes: how will the crash play out? There is no way to forecast precisely when or how the current speculative bubble will crash, but history offers a few potential templates.
The dot-com bubble offers a classic example of bubble symmetry and scale invariance. (See chart below.) Note how the bubble arose in two legs of X duration and it crashed in two symmetrical legs of X duration. In both legs, the crash returned to the same levels from which the bubble took off.
Scale invariance: this same symmetry is visible in bubbles that soar and crash in 6 days, 6 months, or 6 years. The symmetry also holds whether the instrument soars from $1 to $5 or $100 to $500, or whether it is in index, commodity, or equity. (See charts of Cisco Systems (CSCO) in 2000 and Tesla (TSLA) in 2020 below.)
If bubble symmetry holds this time around, the explosive rallies visible in the charts of the Russell 2000 (IWM) and Global Nasdaq (NOGM) will crash back to their lift-off levels in an equally explosive collapse of similar duration to the explosive rise.
Needless to say, few are expecting bubble symmetry to manifest now, because, well, of course, this time it’s different. Indeed. It’s always different and yet always the same, too.
This article was originally published by B.N. Frank at Activist Post.
Last I heard, COVID-19 vaccines are still considered to be experimental, some recipients have experienced side effects – even death – after taking it, and many people still don’t want to take it, including some health care workers.
Last month, Kroger announced that they wouldn’t require employees to be vaccinated. This month, they’re offering them money to take it.
From NPR:
Kroger Offers $100 Bonus To Employees Who Get Vaccinated
The supermarket giant Kroger Co. announced Friday that employees who receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be rewarded with a $100 bonus.
The one-time offer is available to all company associates, nearly 500,000 individuals in 35 states, who provide proof of their vaccination to human resources, Kroger said. Workers must have received the full manufacturer-recommended dose. As for those unable to receive the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons, completing an education and safety course will be enough for payment.
“As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, we’re increasing our investment to not only recognize our associates’ contributions but also encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available to them to optimize their well-being, as well as the community’s,” Kroger Chief People Officer Tim Massa, said.
Kroger isn’t the first company to do this. The grocery chain Aldi offered employees two hours of pay per dose received. Dollar General also offered employees four hours of paid time. “We do not want our employees to have to choose between receiving a vaccine or coming to work,” the company said last month.
Just over 58 million doses of vaccines have been delivered throughout the country. However, only approximately 36.8 million of those doses have been administered, the CDC reported. And only 7.5 million people have received their full inoculation.
In an effort to get as many shots into arms as possible, a push was made in mid-January to allow anyone over the age of 65 to receive a vaccine. As a result, many frontline workers feel left behind. The virus doesn’t grow tired or weary, but grocery store associates do.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes grocery workers as frontline essential workers, the same group as firefighters and police officers, public transportation workers, and manufacturers. These individuals are part of the CDC’s phase 1B of its recommended distribution plan, making them eligible for inoculation after health care professionals and long-term care facility residents. But individual states draw up their own vaccine distribution plans.
Dr. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting commissioner of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told member station WBUR that states need to focus on vaccinating those that put themselves in harm’s way.
“I think that it’s critically important that we recognize that while every community is being hit hard by this pandemic, the burden of this disease is not being felt equally,” Besser said. “And those people who need to leave their homes every day to earn money, to pay the rent, to make sure that everyone else has food on their table, we need to do all we can to protect them.”
Kroger announced earlier this week the company plans to close two of its stores in Long Beach, California after the city mandated a $4 raise for grocery workers at large supermarkets. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food workers including Kroger union members, said the company needs to do more.
“Kroger workers deserve free vaccinations for the risks they have faced and continue to face as COVID cases increase,” UFCW President Marc Perrone said in a statement obtained by NPR. “This one-time payment from Kroger is appreciated, but given the way the company has treated its workers during the pandemic, it does not recognize the contribution of these essential workers to our nation or the risks they face daily.”
Kristal Howard, Kroger’s head of corporate communications, said Perrone’s statement “inaccurately suggests vaccines are not being provided for free to all employees … all U.S. citizens for that matter. The $100 one-time vaccine payment is not a subsidy. It’s another way Kroger is motivating its workforce to optimize their health.”
Skeptics don’t have to look far to find examples of vaccine recipients experiencing permanent illnesses injuries (see 1, 2). Kroger may have to pony up more than $100 for employees who continue resisting the shot.
The post Kroger Not Requiring Employees to Get COVID Vaccine but Will Give Them $100 to Take It first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You. 
The mainstream media is admitting that the flu has disappeared during the COVID-19 scamdemic. As we know, the government’s tyrannical and heavy-handed response has not rid the world of COVID-19, but it has gotten rid of the flu – something their glorious vaccine can’t even do.
Honestly, it feels like they are just laughing at our stupidity and ignorance at this point. Just where did all those flu cases end up? Maybe in the fabricated COVID column. But that’s not what they are telling us. The ruling class’s hired experts say that it’s all because we practiced social distancing and wore masks.
Experts say that measures put in place to fend off the coronavirus — mask-wearing, social distancing, and virtual schooling — were a big factor in preventing a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19. A push to get more people vaccinated against flu probably helped, too, as did fewer people traveling, they say. –APNews
The flu vaccine, which has been around and widely available since 1945, and yet, in the year after COVID, that’s when it suddenly became effective and began to eradicate the flu. Maybe this is why the mainstream media and the masters don’t want us to use “critical thinking” and actually comprehend what we hear. Because if we all did, their narrative would fall apart and they would cease to exist.
Nationally, “this is the lowest flu season we’ve had on record,” according to a surveillance system that is about 25 years old, said Lynnette Brammer of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hospitals say the usual steady stream of flu-stricken patients never materialized.
At Maine Medical Center in Portland, the state’s largest hospital, “I have seen zero documented flu cases this winter,” said Dr. Nate Mick, the head of the emergency department. –APNews
“Many parents will tell you that this year their kids have been as healthy as they’ve ever been because they’re not swimming in the germ pool at school or daycare the same way they were in prior years,” Mick said.
Of course, this will make things hard for the poor pharmaceutical companies to design next year’s flu vaccine. Another inoculation for something the mainstream media is even admitting now doesn’t even exist anymore. But get the shot for it.
We have to start reading between the lines and waking up. Critical thinking and discernment will be necessary in the coming year as they attempt to gin up the fear over these mutations. Speculations are that the vaccines will begin to start “working” and when that happens, those deaths and injuries will be blamed on COVID-21, the new mutant hybrid strain.
More COIVD-19 Vax Deaths: Think They’ll Blame This On COVID-21?
The post MSM Admits: Flu Has Disappeared! first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You. 
The mainstream media will find fear wherever it can, and if it cannot find any, it’ll gin some up. We know the ultimate goal is a total panicked state of fear in the masses, as fearful people make much better slaves.
A COVID-19 variant discovered in California has been dubbed “the devil” by one of the scientists studying it. “This variant is concerning because our data shows that it is more contagious, more likely to be associated with severe illness, and at least partially resistant to neutralizing antibodies,” said senior author Charles Chiu, an infectious diseases physician at the University of California, San Francisco.
This puppet of the ruling class, Dr. Chiu, said that he “fears if its spread isn’t stopped,” it could one day meet the highly infectious United Kingdom variant and swap genes, creating a “nightmare scenario.” Anyone with half a brain knows that this means they are ginning up the fear in order to get more to comply with the vaccine and more financial devastation in the form of lockdowns and totalitarian control over human behavior.
We had better wake up, and quick.
The Californian mutant strain of the virus, formally known as B.1.427/B.1.42, was first detected in the state last year ahead of a massive surge in infections over the northern hemisphere winter, according to NewsHub.
According to “new research” on B.1.427/B.1.42 (which oddly enough fits the official narrative like a glove) the variant:
More COIVD-19 Vax Deaths: Think They’ll Blame This On COVID-21?
Critical thinking will be critical in the coming year. Brace yourself, and stay alert.
The post MSM Finds More Fear: CA COVID Mutant “The Devil” Is A Cause For Concern first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You. 
About 3 million Texans are still currently on a “boil water advisory” amid food shortages. The problems keep mounting for the state after a brutal winter storm devastated areas not used to such cold temperatures.
The number of people boiling their water out of safety has dropped to 3 million Wednesday from 8 million the day before. Plumbers and engineers have worked around the clock to repair the countless homes and businesses damaged by a brutal winter storm, according to a report by NBC News. Some 13,000 people were still without any running water Wednesday after the public water systems they rely on were rendered “nonoperational” by the unseasonably cold winter blast, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reported.
Those who do have water report that it doesn’t look clear. “The water itself, it’s really coming out all yellow,” San Antonio mom Evelyn Esquivel said Tuesday.
This problem is coupled with a food shortage in the state. Many Texans are still seeing empty shelves at the grocery stores, which struggled to stay stocked. Large crowds descended on food pantries, in the wake of the government’s response to the COVID-19 hoax scamdemic, that forced people to believe they had to shut down their businesses and impoverish themselves. That means little food is left to go around now the stores have sold out.
State Representative Rafael Anchía, a Democrat from Dallas, said Tuesday that “this situation isn’t over by a long shot. We had millions of Texans already suffering from a pretty deep recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Anchía said. “We had people already in a fragile state, and when you compound that with the worst statewide winter storm and disaster … people who were barely holding on are completely wiped out.” Imagine that. People obeyed the orders of the government to panic and shut down their businesses to their detriment, and it’s all the “scamdemic’s fault.”
Let’s wake up to the reality of the situation:
Government, Not Coronavirus, Is Killing Small Businesses
Hopefully, this is a lesson in preparedness for not just Texans, but everyone. It never hurts to have some food and water stocked and stored up and it won’t hurt to have a backup source of heat for your home, such as a woodburning stove.
The post 3 Million Texans on “Boil Water Advisory” Amid Food Shortages first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You. 
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