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I'm not running VPN at the moment on this computer. I can post here but, not in the Butterfly thread over there for some reason so, I'm assuming it isn't a cookie or basic connection issue.

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Trying to post in the "Flora and Fauna" forum but, all I get are "server errors". Is this an account privilege thing I overlooked? Tried using both Chrome and Firefox and I'm on a Windows machine. If I missed a forum problem area, please let me know! TIA, Sid

In Texas (USA) here and the "bee colony collapse disorder" is significant. Monarch Butterflies normally come up out of Mexico and fly North toward Canada but, I have seen NONE this year! I suspect the drug cartels and human trafficking killed off the Monarch's as they over-wintered in Mexico...

Yep, been here ~10 years and only had power out for a few hours, mainly during Winter when a frozen limb or tree took out a single line. Guess I got a little too complacent and let it bite me harder than it should have but, all in all, I came through in good shape with only some minor problems...

I live in rural East Texas and the high winds recently took down a huge number of trees and with it electricity. The town closest to me still doesn't have power a week later for all of its ~2K residents and the larger city I went to yesterday with ~82K residents is only partially powered...

First, for McAfee, don't use a live credit card. Get a virtual card when you sign-up and turn it off afterward. For VPN, NordVPN is a solid choice. Be careful with cheaper alternatives to make sure they aren't a front for government agencies or criminal networks. Proton is one I would look...

This was long ago in the past when our ancestors were hunter-gathers living in small communities without frequent contact with others. Small gene pools have allowed genetic markers and in some cases, genetic defects, to be passed on to large population groups. This isn't the dark ages where we...

I live in Texas close enough to the Border crisis to see some of this not as a fantasy but, as a reality. It is easy for people in positions of power to put forth a message about everything being blown out of perspective and being an agenda from uncaring mentally disturbed people on the far...

Great points about diversity and things left out of the history books. However, in "troubled times", migration is what we see in significant numbers today. Yes, there are many economic refugees but, there are also many fleeing for their lives either due to famine or oppressive governments...

In terms of "preparing for troubled times ahead", being able to keep your own stores is part of that so, I think that is where the talk about conflict and crimes comes into play. On the other hand, you need something worth protecting from theft too! For me, this means things like growing my...

:thumbsup: More equal UNIVERSAL access to effective education, trade schools, and medical care would be appreciated by many in the USA. The UK has a strong agriculture sector. If there weren't so many exports, I think the UK could be largely self-sustaining. My understanding is that the...

I had a personal case study in rural Alabama where I lived at the time. Tornadoes came through and wiped out everything for ~100-mile radius. With no electricity, the nuclear plant shut down and the lines were down, the water stopped flowing out of the taps or wells, gasoline ran out for home...

I would be happy if it was just a Hollywood thing. Unfortunately, it is much more than that. If you want to stick your head in the sand and ignore what is going on, I wish you all the best. In the USA, we have had large areas in major cities burned to the ground by BLM rioters in the past...

Ukrainians are a reasonable case study of what happens in "troubled times"! You are right though as there is a real difference between high fuel costs and inflation and a larger civil breakdown like we see with what is happening in Ukraine with the loss of its wheat crop to feed Africa and...

Fair statement. Today, IDEOLOGICAL differences and RELIGIOUS differences are a very large factor. In the past in the USA, generally, the worst was mainly due to RACIAL differences (KKK, Chinese, Irish, BLM, various Gangs, etc.) with other types being present but not as large as RACIAL...

Like-minded folks looking out for each other is what makes society work but, that is also the genesis of Gang Life in the USA today as I see it. It can also lead to vigilantism and "group think" leading to bad outcomes so, it can also be a slippery slope to civil order breakdown too. Success...

I realize this is mainly a UK-focused forum, but in my case I look at things like the Los Angeles riots after Rodney King and similar incidents for a glimpse into what would come in the future. The Korean store owners who were the focus of black mobs at the time that stood on their store...

Unfortunately, moving isn't an option for some people. If you decide to move, where are you going that will be safer and better? Also, being the "new guy", who do you think the baddies will rob or attack first? With online banking, my power (electricity), satellite TV, and Internet connection...

I am wondering about getting a percolator for use at home and camping. The cheap Chinese/Walmart versions I have seen haven't really inspired confidence so, I'm wondering about something a bit nice and 'upscale' without being overly expensive. Who uses a percolator? Is your coffee good for...