Showing posts with label TEOTWAWKI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TEOTWAWKI. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
TEOTWAWKI in the MSM? EMP story in USA Today
Interesting article in USA Today about the threat posed by Electromagnetic Pulse. Not what I would expect from the brain-dead establishment media, as it does not scream for government action. It is a bit sparse on real information. Read it here.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Calm Before the Storm?
Things seem to be too quiet out in the world right now, given what is going on. Could this period in time be the calm before the storm?
War between Israel and Iran/Syria/Hezbollah-Lebanon/Turkey has not erupted over the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, despite predictions that Israel's window of opportunity closed on August 21. The Obama administration has supposedly assured Israel that Iran would need 12 months to actually fuel and arm a nuke, but who actually believes anything that comes out of the Obama administration? All parties to this in the middle east are still preparing for the possibility of war. The only wild card in my mind is what our apostate president does or does not do. The announcement that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are imminent is nothing but a diversion.
The Fed has committed to another round of quantitative easing, or monetization of federal debt. That the Fed continues to play its last weapon against economic collapse tells me that they are only buying time until the collapse. They know it is coming, we know it is coming, they are only buying enough time for their friends on Wall Street to take their money and head for the exits.
The DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 have essentially been flat all summer long. The close today is right about where it was on June 10. Sure, there have been minor ups and downs, but there is not any real movement. Not that there would be "real" movement anyways, as I have read that the stock market is pretty much driven by high frequency trading at big investment banks and that individual investors and a lot of institutional investors have fled the market. And not that the stock market is a reliable indicator of the economy in general. It might be when it finally takes the big dump, but that will be when the big boys are taking their money and checking their passports, which will be too late for any preparedness measures.
Unemployment continues to be bad news. I read that big business is essentially refusing to add employees until consumers start spending again. In a nutshell, there is nothing left to spend. Small businesses are afraid to hire, even if they could, due to uncertainty over Obamacare provisions and uncertainty in the tax code. The "Bush tax cuts" are likely to expire and a tax-hungry collectivist/redistributionist central government is hungrily eyeing the only remaining productive consitituency without representation in the White House: small business owners. No small business owner in his right mind would add to the payroll now. Looks like 10%+ official unemployment may be with us for quite a while.
Food shortages are rumored to be on the horizon. The Russians will reportedly not have sufficient harvest to feed their people. The Ugandan wheat rust has not been reported on lately, but at last report there was no known immune wheat strain and the fungus was on the move. The U.S. has no strategic wheat reserve anymore. There have also been rumors of reduced wheat harvests in parts of the U.S. and South America, and of coming rice shortages in Asia. Add to this the unknown effects of the chemicals used in the GoM oil spill upon crops in the gulf states, and the natural and government-imposed droughts in California.
There are already reports of food inflation. Jim Rawles has added a new feature on SurvivalBlog to monitor inflation, and the anectdotal reports indicate a rise in food prices. Could be inflation, could be increasing scarcity, same effect to the consumer. GrandPappy, at grandpappy.info, has kept track of inflation on food preps since early 2008, based on WalMart prices. He reports on a month-to-month basis.
Diversions are everywhere. The Obamas are on vacation number six. There may still be oil in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Gay marriage will be legal again in California. Muslims plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero. Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters are crooks. Nancy Pelosi wants to investigate us. Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and any number of celebrities have diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain. Two of these are worth paying attention to, but should not distract us from our preparations.
I don't know if the end is near, a few months away, or years away. I don't even know if "the end" as in TEOTWAWKI will result in a Mad Max existence or just a permanently reduced standard of living. Will there be revolution or continued subservience to the central government? Don't know. M.D. Creekmore has a great debate going on regarding the meaning of TEOTWAWKI. The comments are closed, but run the gamut and are well worth reading for what others are thinking.
Despite all the signs of impending doom, there is a strange calm that pervades. If my father or grandfather were still alive, I would ask them how it felt in late summer 1939, or around Thanksgiving in 1941. Did they feel then as I do now? I wish I knew.
War between Israel and Iran/Syria/Hezbollah-Lebanon/Turkey has not erupted over the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, despite predictions that Israel's window of opportunity closed on August 21. The Obama administration has supposedly assured Israel that Iran would need 12 months to actually fuel and arm a nuke, but who actually believes anything that comes out of the Obama administration? All parties to this in the middle east are still preparing for the possibility of war. The only wild card in my mind is what our apostate president does or does not do. The announcement that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are imminent is nothing but a diversion.
The Fed has committed to another round of quantitative easing, or monetization of federal debt. That the Fed continues to play its last weapon against economic collapse tells me that they are only buying time until the collapse. They know it is coming, we know it is coming, they are only buying enough time for their friends on Wall Street to take their money and head for the exits.
The DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 have essentially been flat all summer long. The close today is right about where it was on June 10. Sure, there have been minor ups and downs, but there is not any real movement. Not that there would be "real" movement anyways, as I have read that the stock market is pretty much driven by high frequency trading at big investment banks and that individual investors and a lot of institutional investors have fled the market. And not that the stock market is a reliable indicator of the economy in general. It might be when it finally takes the big dump, but that will be when the big boys are taking their money and checking their passports, which will be too late for any preparedness measures.
Unemployment continues to be bad news. I read that big business is essentially refusing to add employees until consumers start spending again. In a nutshell, there is nothing left to spend. Small businesses are afraid to hire, even if they could, due to uncertainty over Obamacare provisions and uncertainty in the tax code. The "Bush tax cuts" are likely to expire and a tax-hungry collectivist/redistributionist central government is hungrily eyeing the only remaining productive consitituency without representation in the White House: small business owners. No small business owner in his right mind would add to the payroll now. Looks like 10%+ official unemployment may be with us for quite a while.
Food shortages are rumored to be on the horizon. The Russians will reportedly not have sufficient harvest to feed their people. The Ugandan wheat rust has not been reported on lately, but at last report there was no known immune wheat strain and the fungus was on the move. The U.S. has no strategic wheat reserve anymore. There have also been rumors of reduced wheat harvests in parts of the U.S. and South America, and of coming rice shortages in Asia. Add to this the unknown effects of the chemicals used in the GoM oil spill upon crops in the gulf states, and the natural and government-imposed droughts in California.
There are already reports of food inflation. Jim Rawles has added a new feature on SurvivalBlog to monitor inflation, and the anectdotal reports indicate a rise in food prices. Could be inflation, could be increasing scarcity, same effect to the consumer. GrandPappy, at grandpappy.info, has kept track of inflation on food preps since early 2008, based on WalMart prices. He reports on a month-to-month basis.
Diversions are everywhere. The Obamas are on vacation number six. There may still be oil in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Gay marriage will be legal again in California. Muslims plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero. Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters are crooks. Nancy Pelosi wants to investigate us. Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and any number of celebrities have diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain. Two of these are worth paying attention to, but should not distract us from our preparations.
I don't know if the end is near, a few months away, or years away. I don't even know if "the end" as in TEOTWAWKI will result in a Mad Max existence or just a permanently reduced standard of living. Will there be revolution or continued subservience to the central government? Don't know. M.D. Creekmore has a great debate going on regarding the meaning of TEOTWAWKI. The comments are closed, but run the gamut and are well worth reading for what others are thinking.
Despite all the signs of impending doom, there is a strange calm that pervades. If my father or grandfather were still alive, I would ask them how it felt in late summer 1939, or around Thanksgiving in 1941. Did they feel then as I do now? I wish I knew.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Prep Like It's 1973
Not too long ago I wrote a post about how war (a real war, not a "police action" like Iraq and Afghanistan) is imminent. The reasons keep growing as to why I believe this is going to happen by August at the latest. See this article, this article, this article, and this article. Note that three of these article are from DebkaFiles. I visit the Debka site about every day to see what is going on in the middle east. I recommend that all preppers add this site to their regular reading. Northeast Intelligence Network is another good site to follow regarding threats to the U.S.
If war does break out in the middle east, expect oil prices to go through the roof. Remember what happened to oil prices and supply in 1973 Israel was at war and we suffered through an oil embargo from the middle east because we supported Israel. While circumstances in 2010 are not likely to be the same, the effect on price and supply could be quite similar. Now would be the time to make sure that all available gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and propane containers/tanks are full. Of course, all of us should have some supply of fuel already treated and stashed away, right?
I think that the effect of a middle east war on oil prices will be the least of our worries. Look for higher prices on food and other necessities, if not outright shortages and government enforced rationing. Civil unrest, martial law, suspended elections, suspension of the Constitution, the whole shebang. My own source confirms that the federal government has plans for all of these in the works and has been conducting joint planning and exercises with state and county level law enforcement.
I believe that now is the time to put the preps in high gear. Food and fuel are both relatively cheap right now. Take advantage of it.
If war does break out in the middle east, expect oil prices to go through the roof. Remember what happened to oil prices and supply in 1973 Israel was at war and we suffered through an oil embargo from the middle east because we supported Israel. While circumstances in 2010 are not likely to be the same, the effect on price and supply could be quite similar. Now would be the time to make sure that all available gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and propane containers/tanks are full. Of course, all of us should have some supply of fuel already treated and stashed away, right?
I think that the effect of a middle east war on oil prices will be the least of our worries. Look for higher prices on food and other necessities, if not outright shortages and government enforced rationing. Civil unrest, martial law, suspended elections, suspension of the Constitution, the whole shebang. My own source confirms that the federal government has plans for all of these in the works and has been conducting joint planning and exercises with state and county level law enforcement.
I believe that now is the time to put the preps in high gear. Food and fuel are both relatively cheap right now. Take advantage of it.
Monday, June 7, 2010
PIGSHI*
Another European country, Hungary, is on the verge of collapse.
If only Turkey had been allowed to join the European Union. Now we will have to find a European country on the verge of collapse whose name begins with "T".
PIGSHIT: Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, ???
The collapse continues. Got preps?
If only Turkey had been allowed to join the European Union. Now we will have to find a European country on the verge of collapse whose name begins with "T".
PIGSHIT: Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, ???
The collapse continues. Got preps?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
War Is Imminent
Can't say it much plainer than that. My G-Man friend puts the timing at sometime in July, no later than August. I have to go meet up with him in person because he won't give me details otherwise. Anyone who reads the news knows that this is coming, the unknown is from what direction. That appears to have been settled.
The civilized-world motive for war is abundantly clear. A distraction is needed for the failing economy and failed leadership. In the U.S., that means that Obama is now widely known as a failure. He has been looking over BP's shoulder while they try to shut off the spill in the Gulf, much like six-year-old Johnny watches his dad replace a water pump on the old Chevy. Neither Johnny nor Obama has a clue to what is going on, but both feel free to irritate their superiors with ignorant commentary.
Obama has created few, if any, jobs outside of government and census work. Any liberty loving person with a brain knows it is not the government's job to create jobs, but since Obama has claimed it as his responsibility, he can own the failure, too. The stock markets are tanking, the banks own more homes than individual Americans, millions of homes are in foreclosure, commercial real estate is collapsing, high unemployment continues unabated, forty million Americans are on food stamps, tax revenue is down, state and local governments face record deficits and are near bankruptcy, bankruptcy filings are 1.4 million and increasing, new taxes are being added every time you turn around, and we have yet to add on the costs for Obamacare which does not even start for a couple of years.
Did I mention a $1,600,000,000,000.00 deficit for 2010, a current national debt of $13,000,000,000,000.00, and that it soon, very soon, will reach 100% of Gross Domestic Product (Whatever happened to Gross National Product, anyway?)? That the government has spent trillions of dollars on stimulus plans, which turned out to mainly be porkulus for the big banks and other special interests, little of which reached the average American, and which had little effect on the still-moribund economy? That we are guaranteeing part of the 750,000,000.00 Euro ($930,000,000,000.00) European bailout package and that we have guaranteed the ability of European banks to swap their currencies into dollars (at our loss) in order to be able to pay their debts in a "stable" currency?
Enough on the economy. Times are tough, Obama is weak, and the Democrats need a way out of the mess they may not have created, but have fumbled, bumbled, and worsened. The sure-fire way out of a bad economy and the embarrassment of nation-cripplingly weak foreign policy is to get into a war.
Currently, Obama has his pick of several hotspots on which to fan the flames. There is North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Taiwan/China, several African civil wars, and that perennial time-bomb of the Israel/"Arabs in Palestine" issue. Obama the internationalist apologist for American might (in order to prove his allegiance to the Ummah and whatever other anti-American ideals he has grown up with), will not start the fight. After so much bowing, kowtowing, and apologizing to all of America's enemies, Obama will not cede what he believes to be his moral high ground. He is The One, you know.
The war will be in the Middle East. Israel will be attacked by Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Turkey. Prior to this year, all of the former were predictable, even Egypt. Egypt will abandon its peace treaty with Israel to join its Muslim brothers. The new significant actor bringing this to war is Turkey, which has an Islamist party in power and at the head of government in the form of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. Turkey's Islamists have purged its military of officers who could stop the de-secularization of Turkey, have increased ties with Syria and Iran, and have chosen to jeopardize its ties to the West and to NATO. Turkey has now turned on its former friend, Israel, and joined the Arabs in the Palestine cause (the so-called "palestinians" are Arabs), and is getting very aggressive with Israel out of proportion to Israel's response to the increasing terrorist provocations originating from Turkey under Prime Minister Erdogan. Yes, Turkey's Prime Minister is sponsoring terrorism against Israel, then is threatening Israel for defending itself from the terrorism.
The provocations and threats from Turkey keep increasing. Israel continues to maintain its defenses, for which it should receive encouragement from the U.S. Obama, however, continues to fiddle while Turkey's Erdogan continues to strike matches and throw them at Gaza. Erdogan is reading this, perhaps correctly, as a sign that Obama will throw Israel under the bus just as he did his own grandmother and Reverend Wright when it suited him. I believe that Turkey will lead off in attacking Israel, to be followed in rapid succession by Hezbollah/Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Hamas, Egypt, and perhaps Libya and any other crackpot Muslim dictatorships. Support will come from Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, otherStans, and left-wing lunatics in Europe and the U.S. Israel's enemies certainly have the support of Obama's foreign policy predecessor/muse, James Earl Carter, Jr.
I don't think that this would happen this year except for the new involvment of Turkey. Whatever Turkey's motive, from its newfound Islamic solidarity to resurrection of the barbaric Ottoman Empire, it has established itself as the lead hyena opposing Israel. This radically changes the dynamic for Europe and the U.S. for war in the Middle East. Previously, Europe and the U.S. would have no conflict in providing aid to Israel, as Harry Truman did in the late 1940's and Richard Nixon did in 1973, if Israel were to be attacked by its foes.
Now we have NATO member Turkey threatening Israel and unresponsive to pleadings from Obama to calm down. Prime Minister Erdogan appears to be testing the waters with his sponsorship of Turkish terrorists against Israel, sponsorship of vessels to challenge Israel's justified blockade of Gaza, severing ties with Israel, and increasing threats against Israel. Erdogan wants to see where Obama stands when it is a contest between America's old friend Israel and NATO-alliance member Turkey.
Will Obama come to the defense of Israel? Will Obama reveal our commitments to defend Israel? Will he even condemn Turkey's actions? What will Obama do about America's commitments to NATO members when one member, Turkey, is clearly the malevolent aggressor against Israel? Will Obama help NATO member Turkey? These questions, and many more, apply to the European democracies as well.
Turkey can already count on the European powers to stay out of the conflict. Most of the European countries are useless militarily and will not fulfill obligations under NATO without strong urging from the U.S. That means that NATO members in Europe will probably not get involved either for or against Turkey without Obama taking a leadership role. Europe will make commercial sales of anything Turkey wants, as Europeans have a long history of making profits out of selling arms to their enemies. As far as militarily, Europe will not get involved under NATO because the spineless Obama will not demand it.
That leaves Turkey to worry about the Americans. Erdogan has noted that Obama and his administration are hostile to Israel and do not hold the so-called palestinians accountable for their violence. Erdogan has also noticed that Obama is decidedly friendly to Islamic interests out of proportion to, and often in opposition to, the American national interest. What Erdogan has to consider is whether Obama represents the political winds in America, or if he is an aberration which will disappear in the face of American support for Israel. The former would support war with Israel, the latter would not.
Turkey's increasingly hostile actions towards Israel indicates that Prime Minister Ergogan has made his call. I believe that Erdogan has chosen war. I also believe that Obama will initially do nothing but bow and talk, but that one way or another we will end up involved in this war. I don't know whether this will be a global conflagration, but it sure has the potential for it.
Time to prep, prep, and prep some more. Although I have high hopes for paring back the Democrats in November, that may be too late. Unless Turkey backs off from its agression towards Israel, war is imminent.
P.S. If I seem to be pro-Israel, that would be a correct reading. I believe Israel has the right to exist and to defend itself. No country should have to endure the assaults and terrorism that Israel endures on a daily basis. The idea that Israel has so-called palestinians under siege is ridiculous. If the so-called palestinians want peace, they should renounce violence, recognize Israel, and put word to deed by actually living in peace with Israel.
The civilized-world motive for war is abundantly clear. A distraction is needed for the failing economy and failed leadership. In the U.S., that means that Obama is now widely known as a failure. He has been looking over BP's shoulder while they try to shut off the spill in the Gulf, much like six-year-old Johnny watches his dad replace a water pump on the old Chevy. Neither Johnny nor Obama has a clue to what is going on, but both feel free to irritate their superiors with ignorant commentary.
Obama has created few, if any, jobs outside of government and census work. Any liberty loving person with a brain knows it is not the government's job to create jobs, but since Obama has claimed it as his responsibility, he can own the failure, too. The stock markets are tanking, the banks own more homes than individual Americans, millions of homes are in foreclosure, commercial real estate is collapsing, high unemployment continues unabated, forty million Americans are on food stamps, tax revenue is down, state and local governments face record deficits and are near bankruptcy, bankruptcy filings are 1.4 million and increasing, new taxes are being added every time you turn around, and we have yet to add on the costs for Obamacare which does not even start for a couple of years.
Did I mention a $1,600,000,000,000.00 deficit for 2010, a current national debt of $13,000,000,000,000.00, and that it soon, very soon, will reach 100% of Gross Domestic Product (Whatever happened to Gross National Product, anyway?)? That the government has spent trillions of dollars on stimulus plans, which turned out to mainly be porkulus for the big banks and other special interests, little of which reached the average American, and which had little effect on the still-moribund economy? That we are guaranteeing part of the 750,000,000.00 Euro ($930,000,000,000.00) European bailout package and that we have guaranteed the ability of European banks to swap their currencies into dollars (at our loss) in order to be able to pay their debts in a "stable" currency?
Enough on the economy. Times are tough, Obama is weak, and the Democrats need a way out of the mess they may not have created, but have fumbled, bumbled, and worsened. The sure-fire way out of a bad economy and the embarrassment of nation-cripplingly weak foreign policy is to get into a war.
Currently, Obama has his pick of several hotspots on which to fan the flames. There is North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Taiwan/China, several African civil wars, and that perennial time-bomb of the Israel/"Arabs in Palestine" issue. Obama the internationalist apologist for American might (in order to prove his allegiance to the Ummah and whatever other anti-American ideals he has grown up with), will not start the fight. After so much bowing, kowtowing, and apologizing to all of America's enemies, Obama will not cede what he believes to be his moral high ground. He is The One, you know.
The war will be in the Middle East. Israel will be attacked by Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Turkey. Prior to this year, all of the former were predictable, even Egypt. Egypt will abandon its peace treaty with Israel to join its Muslim brothers. The new significant actor bringing this to war is Turkey, which has an Islamist party in power and at the head of government in the form of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. Turkey's Islamists have purged its military of officers who could stop the de-secularization of Turkey, have increased ties with Syria and Iran, and have chosen to jeopardize its ties to the West and to NATO. Turkey has now turned on its former friend, Israel, and joined the Arabs in the Palestine cause (the so-called "palestinians" are Arabs), and is getting very aggressive with Israel out of proportion to Israel's response to the increasing terrorist provocations originating from Turkey under Prime Minister Erdogan. Yes, Turkey's Prime Minister is sponsoring terrorism against Israel, then is threatening Israel for defending itself from the terrorism.
The provocations and threats from Turkey keep increasing. Israel continues to maintain its defenses, for which it should receive encouragement from the U.S. Obama, however, continues to fiddle while Turkey's Erdogan continues to strike matches and throw them at Gaza. Erdogan is reading this, perhaps correctly, as a sign that Obama will throw Israel under the bus just as he did his own grandmother and Reverend Wright when it suited him. I believe that Turkey will lead off in attacking Israel, to be followed in rapid succession by Hezbollah/Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Hamas, Egypt, and perhaps Libya and any other crackpot Muslim dictatorships. Support will come from Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, otherStans, and left-wing lunatics in Europe and the U.S. Israel's enemies certainly have the support of Obama's foreign policy predecessor/muse, James Earl Carter, Jr.
I don't think that this would happen this year except for the new involvment of Turkey. Whatever Turkey's motive, from its newfound Islamic solidarity to resurrection of the barbaric Ottoman Empire, it has established itself as the lead hyena opposing Israel. This radically changes the dynamic for Europe and the U.S. for war in the Middle East. Previously, Europe and the U.S. would have no conflict in providing aid to Israel, as Harry Truman did in the late 1940's and Richard Nixon did in 1973, if Israel were to be attacked by its foes.
Now we have NATO member Turkey threatening Israel and unresponsive to pleadings from Obama to calm down. Prime Minister Erdogan appears to be testing the waters with his sponsorship of Turkish terrorists against Israel, sponsorship of vessels to challenge Israel's justified blockade of Gaza, severing ties with Israel, and increasing threats against Israel. Erdogan wants to see where Obama stands when it is a contest between America's old friend Israel and NATO-alliance member Turkey.
Will Obama come to the defense of Israel? Will Obama reveal our commitments to defend Israel? Will he even condemn Turkey's actions? What will Obama do about America's commitments to NATO members when one member, Turkey, is clearly the malevolent aggressor against Israel? Will Obama help NATO member Turkey? These questions, and many more, apply to the European democracies as well.
Turkey can already count on the European powers to stay out of the conflict. Most of the European countries are useless militarily and will not fulfill obligations under NATO without strong urging from the U.S. That means that NATO members in Europe will probably not get involved either for or against Turkey without Obama taking a leadership role. Europe will make commercial sales of anything Turkey wants, as Europeans have a long history of making profits out of selling arms to their enemies. As far as militarily, Europe will not get involved under NATO because the spineless Obama will not demand it.
That leaves Turkey to worry about the Americans. Erdogan has noted that Obama and his administration are hostile to Israel and do not hold the so-called palestinians accountable for their violence. Erdogan has also noticed that Obama is decidedly friendly to Islamic interests out of proportion to, and often in opposition to, the American national interest. What Erdogan has to consider is whether Obama represents the political winds in America, or if he is an aberration which will disappear in the face of American support for Israel. The former would support war with Israel, the latter would not.
Turkey's increasingly hostile actions towards Israel indicates that Prime Minister Ergogan has made his call. I believe that Erdogan has chosen war. I also believe that Obama will initially do nothing but bow and talk, but that one way or another we will end up involved in this war. I don't know whether this will be a global conflagration, but it sure has the potential for it.
Time to prep, prep, and prep some more. Although I have high hopes for paring back the Democrats in November, that may be too late. Unless Turkey backs off from its agression towards Israel, war is imminent.
P.S. If I seem to be pro-Israel, that would be a correct reading. I believe Israel has the right to exist and to defend itself. No country should have to endure the assaults and terrorism that Israel endures on a daily basis. The idea that Israel has so-called palestinians under siege is ridiculous. If the so-called palestinians want peace, they should renounce violence, recognize Israel, and put word to deed by actually living in peace with Israel.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
More Thoughts on Gold
Disclosure: I don't actually own any gold. Nothing to steal here. I'm a tangibles guy. Can't eat gold, but it is useful to gauge the extent and timing of the financial collapse, which looks to be worldwide in scope.
First up, read this article about gold ownership. Jeff Clark discusses why gold has not moved higher. Good arguments, but we preppers all know that the fat Greek lady hasn't sung, the Eurocommies are fleeing to the dollar, and that gold is underinvested. The interesting point is the degree of underinvestment: In one survey of money managers, 76% admitted owning no gold. Only 1% of global financial investment is in gold.
Next, read this article. If the implications of what Stewart Dougherty is saying does not make you put the Kitco Gold Chart on your reading list, I think you need to read the article again. Mr. Dougherty essentially discloses how to tell when Big Money is heading for the exits, and how and when it will happen. That is the panic, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI moment. When the Banksters take their ball and go home, it is over.
In reading the usual gold bug investment articles, it is easy to get caught up in the fervor that gold is going to soar to $2,000.00 or $3,000.00 or $5,000.00 per ounce. Some may think that investing in gold can increase one's wealth, because each ounce of gold is going to be worth so many more dollars as the fiat currency-denominated price keeps going up. It only holds true as long as the world believes that the dollar (or other fiat currency) represents a substantial store of value. When gold hits $5,000.00 per ounce, it will be clear that nobody believes that the dollar represents a substantial store of value, or any reasonable store of value. The question is whether the actual widespread realization will occur at $2,000.00 per ounce or $3,000.00 per ounce or maybe even at $1,300.00 per ounce.
Considering that gold went over $800 in 1980 during an inflationary crisis and that with seemingly "normal" inflation the price of goods seems to double about every ten years, I figure that gold is massively undervalued vis-a-vis the dollar and should actually be selling for at least $2,400.00 per ounce. I am not an economist (thank God) by any means; I am considering the price of goods in dollars, and gold is clearly a "good" in the marketplace.
I have been watching the price of gold for months, and I have noticed that sudden downward movement in the price seems to occur on a regular basis while the New York NYMEX market is open. Just like it did on Friday when it dropped about $30 in little over an hour. Not a huge drop, but a significant "correction" that occurs with regularity when NYMEX is open, interrupting upward trajectories in the price. Could this be the New York banksters subtly influencing the price of gold to keep confidence in the dollar and the dollar-denominated U.S. stock markets until the banksters milk them dry? I believe this is what is going on.
The stock markets are worthless as an indicator of our present status. The nervousness alternating with false confidence is enough to drive a person crazy. Its down today because Greece may default, then it's up tomorrow because the Fed will print money out of thin air to save the world. None of that market reaction is relevant because it is based on feelings. The feeling that Greece may affect other economies. The feeling of elation when the Fed pumps money from nowhere. The only exception to this will be when the panic goes full-tilt. When we see a day like Thursday, May 6, 2010, where the DJIA loses almost a thousand points in minutes, except that it keeps on falling, it is SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, or whatever you want to call it. That's when the banksters are taking their money and heading for the exits. That is when preppers head home to bar the door, fill up the bathtub, and oil the guns one more time while the rest of society makes suicidal treks to the Mega Mart to buy the stuff they should already have stored away.
When stocks are worthless, the dollar is worthless, and no fiat currency seems to be trusted, a huge rush will be made into physical gold. There is simply not enough to go around, and even the paper gold market has outsold the physical gold by at least 100 to 1. That is when gold will hit insane highs as the Big Money looks for a place to store it's pillaged fiat-money denominated worth before it becomes worthless. That will be my ROFLMAO moment. Gold is a relatively stable store of value when in competition with a fiat currency. The same is not true when gold is in competition with food, water, heat, fuel, clothing, shelter, and other necessities that cannot be obtained with a collapsed fiat currency.
The moral of this rambling story? Tangibles, tangibles, tangibles. Preferably things you can use, so that maybe someday you can trade your tangibles for gold from cold and hungry banksters after they realize they have not escaped the collapse they created.
First up, read this article about gold ownership. Jeff Clark discusses why gold has not moved higher. Good arguments, but we preppers all know that the fat Greek lady hasn't sung, the Eurocommies are fleeing to the dollar, and that gold is underinvested. The interesting point is the degree of underinvestment: In one survey of money managers, 76% admitted owning no gold. Only 1% of global financial investment is in gold.
Next, read this article. If the implications of what Stewart Dougherty is saying does not make you put the Kitco Gold Chart on your reading list, I think you need to read the article again. Mr. Dougherty essentially discloses how to tell when Big Money is heading for the exits, and how and when it will happen. That is the panic, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI moment. When the Banksters take their ball and go home, it is over.
In reading the usual gold bug investment articles, it is easy to get caught up in the fervor that gold is going to soar to $2,000.00 or $3,000.00 or $5,000.00 per ounce. Some may think that investing in gold can increase one's wealth, because each ounce of gold is going to be worth so many more dollars as the fiat currency-denominated price keeps going up. It only holds true as long as the world believes that the dollar (or other fiat currency) represents a substantial store of value. When gold hits $5,000.00 per ounce, it will be clear that nobody believes that the dollar represents a substantial store of value, or any reasonable store of value. The question is whether the actual widespread realization will occur at $2,000.00 per ounce or $3,000.00 per ounce or maybe even at $1,300.00 per ounce.
Considering that gold went over $800 in 1980 during an inflationary crisis and that with seemingly "normal" inflation the price of goods seems to double about every ten years, I figure that gold is massively undervalued vis-a-vis the dollar and should actually be selling for at least $2,400.00 per ounce. I am not an economist (thank God) by any means; I am considering the price of goods in dollars, and gold is clearly a "good" in the marketplace.
I have been watching the price of gold for months, and I have noticed that sudden downward movement in the price seems to occur on a regular basis while the New York NYMEX market is open. Just like it did on Friday when it dropped about $30 in little over an hour. Not a huge drop, but a significant "correction" that occurs with regularity when NYMEX is open, interrupting upward trajectories in the price. Could this be the New York banksters subtly influencing the price of gold to keep confidence in the dollar and the dollar-denominated U.S. stock markets until the banksters milk them dry? I believe this is what is going on.
The stock markets are worthless as an indicator of our present status. The nervousness alternating with false confidence is enough to drive a person crazy. Its down today because Greece may default, then it's up tomorrow because the Fed will print money out of thin air to save the world. None of that market reaction is relevant because it is based on feelings. The feeling that Greece may affect other economies. The feeling of elation when the Fed pumps money from nowhere. The only exception to this will be when the panic goes full-tilt. When we see a day like Thursday, May 6, 2010, where the DJIA loses almost a thousand points in minutes, except that it keeps on falling, it is SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, or whatever you want to call it. That's when the banksters are taking their money and heading for the exits. That is when preppers head home to bar the door, fill up the bathtub, and oil the guns one more time while the rest of society makes suicidal treks to the Mega Mart to buy the stuff they should already have stored away.
When stocks are worthless, the dollar is worthless, and no fiat currency seems to be trusted, a huge rush will be made into physical gold. There is simply not enough to go around, and even the paper gold market has outsold the physical gold by at least 100 to 1. That is when gold will hit insane highs as the Big Money looks for a place to store it's pillaged fiat-money denominated worth before it becomes worthless. That will be my ROFLMAO moment. Gold is a relatively stable store of value when in competition with a fiat currency. The same is not true when gold is in competition with food, water, heat, fuel, clothing, shelter, and other necessities that cannot be obtained with a collapsed fiat currency.
The moral of this rambling story? Tangibles, tangibles, tangibles. Preferably things you can use, so that maybe someday you can trade your tangibles for gold from cold and hungry banksters after they realize they have not escaped the collapse they created.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Volcanoes and Preparedness
I was listening to the radio on my way to work this morning when I heard a news item about the Iceland volcano eruption. By now it should be news to no one that air travel between most of Europe and the rest of the world has been nonexistent for five days now due to the ash cloud from the volcano. Jet airliners cannot fly through ash clouds. The abrasive ash ruins jet engines.
This in itself is not unusual. Some years ago I had to sit around the SeaTac airport because flights to Anchorage, Alaska were postponed due to ash clouds from one of the volcanoes around Anchorage. Nothing major, just a couple of days delay. I don't recall shipment of crucial supplies to Alaska being interrupted.
The news today, the airport at Madrid, Spain was mentioned as having become the major air hub for traffic into Europe. What caught my attention was that the inability to land airplanes in most of Europe was causing a shortage of medications and medical supplies. These medications and medical supplies were arriving in Madrid and being trucked into other parts of Europe.
This raises two questions in my mind. One, how dependent are we on foreign suppliers for vital items such as medications and medical supplies? Two, do we have sufficient domestic inventory of vital items to last more than five days?
I am astounded that Europe is facing a shortage of medical supplies after only five days without air transport. If the United States functions anything like Europe, what shape are we in to weather any kind of disaster, whether natural or man made?
This reminds me that prepping is not just for TEOTWAWKI.
This in itself is not unusual. Some years ago I had to sit around the SeaTac airport because flights to Anchorage, Alaska were postponed due to ash clouds from one of the volcanoes around Anchorage. Nothing major, just a couple of days delay. I don't recall shipment of crucial supplies to Alaska being interrupted.
The news today, the airport at Madrid, Spain was mentioned as having become the major air hub for traffic into Europe. What caught my attention was that the inability to land airplanes in most of Europe was causing a shortage of medications and medical supplies. These medications and medical supplies were arriving in Madrid and being trucked into other parts of Europe.
This raises two questions in my mind. One, how dependent are we on foreign suppliers for vital items such as medications and medical supplies? Two, do we have sufficient domestic inventory of vital items to last more than five days?
I am astounded that Europe is facing a shortage of medical supplies after only five days without air transport. If the United States functions anything like Europe, what shape are we in to weather any kind of disaster, whether natural or man made?
This reminds me that prepping is not just for TEOTWAWKI.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Preparing for Trouble in River City
Spokane Police held their riot training exercises today at Joe Albi Stadium. Spokane, which is a medium sized city considered to be a backwater by the elites who reside on the West side of the state, has the state's only police riot school. The Spokane police riot squad regularly attend large public events, although there has been no riot in the area since the Washington State University riots in 1998, and that happened in Whitman County, not in the River City or in Spokane County. What are they preparing for?
Read about it here. The story seems to imply that there have been no riots in Spokane since 1998 because of the riot squad (actually there haven't been any riots in Spokane in all of the years I have lived here). This makes as much sense as my claim that no elephants have invaded Spokane because I carry a lucky rabbit's foot.
Incidentally, Spokane has arguably the least corrupt police chief in the twenty years I have lived here. The Spokane Police Guild (the union) has recently voted "no confidence" in Chief Kirkpatrick, appearing to be largely based upon her discipline of misbehaving and rogue officers, who should be taken off the streets in the interest of public safety. Story here.
With the riot squad and a Region 10 FEMA camp at the old Farragut Naval Station at nearby Lake Pend Oreille, I wonder what the heck is going on here. I sense that we soon shall find out.
Read about it here. The story seems to imply that there have been no riots in Spokane since 1998 because of the riot squad (actually there haven't been any riots in Spokane in all of the years I have lived here). This makes as much sense as my claim that no elephants have invaded Spokane because I carry a lucky rabbit's foot.
Incidentally, Spokane has arguably the least corrupt police chief in the twenty years I have lived here. The Spokane Police Guild (the union) has recently voted "no confidence" in Chief Kirkpatrick, appearing to be largely based upon her discipline of misbehaving and rogue officers, who should be taken off the streets in the interest of public safety. Story here.
With the riot squad and a Region 10 FEMA camp at the old Farragut Naval Station at nearby Lake Pend Oreille, I wonder what the heck is going on here. I sense that we soon shall find out.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
I haven't posted in just over a month now. I've been watching the economy and politics, wondering when the crash is going to come. There are enough indicators that it is going to happen, what with the government spending like there is no tomorrow, China signalling that it will stop buying our debt, phantom buyers of treasury bills, and the price of gold persistently staying above $1,100.00 per ounce. I have been noticing something interesting about gold over the past few weeks: whenever the price gets over $1,140.00 and appears to be heading higher, there is a sudden drop off in the price, bringing it down near $1,100.00. I have noticed that this just about always happens only when the NYMEX market is open. Is someone manipulating the price of gold to keep the dollar afloat?
So, I firmly believe that an all out economic collapse is in the works. I don't know if it is a slow collapse over a period of weeks or a sudden collapse within the space of a day. But there is no way that the government can continue to spend the way it does without consequences.
Today I read some news that I believe is the other shoe, and that it has dropped. Get ready for the collapse to gain momentum.
According to this story on Newsmax, the social security trust fund is now running a deficit. It is paying out more to retirees and other claimants than it is taking in. What is even more alarming is the fact that the social security trust fund is now going to call in all of the IOU's from the federal government. That's right, the government is going to have to start paying back all of the money that it borrowed over the years to finance massive deficit spending.
The federal government borrowed from the social security trust fund so it would not have to borrow from foreign sources (read: China).
The solution seems simple. Either cut spending or replace the "domestic" borrowing from social security with foreign investors. If the recent news is any indication, cutting spending is out of the question. The Obamorons plan on running a deficit in 2010 of over $1,500,000,000,000.00. That's before we add in the costs of the Obamacare Obamination and other boondoggles.
That leaves foreign sources. The two biggest foreign purchasers of our debt, China and Japan, have been cutting back. China has been rumbling that it will not be purchasing more and will in fact sell off treasury bills if something doesn't change. So far the Obastard has thumbed his nose at the Chinese. Japan doesn't look much better after it has elected a less-than-pro-U.S. government.
With tax receipts in free-fall, the federal government has little choice but to crank up the printing presses and line up more phantom buyers at the treasury auctions.
I think this is the beginning of the end. Got preps?
So, I firmly believe that an all out economic collapse is in the works. I don't know if it is a slow collapse over a period of weeks or a sudden collapse within the space of a day. But there is no way that the government can continue to spend the way it does without consequences.
Today I read some news that I believe is the other shoe, and that it has dropped. Get ready for the collapse to gain momentum.
According to this story on Newsmax, the social security trust fund is now running a deficit. It is paying out more to retirees and other claimants than it is taking in. What is even more alarming is the fact that the social security trust fund is now going to call in all of the IOU's from the federal government. That's right, the government is going to have to start paying back all of the money that it borrowed over the years to finance massive deficit spending.
The federal government borrowed from the social security trust fund so it would not have to borrow from foreign sources (read: China).
The solution seems simple. Either cut spending or replace the "domestic" borrowing from social security with foreign investors. If the recent news is any indication, cutting spending is out of the question. The Obamorons plan on running a deficit in 2010 of over $1,500,000,000,000.00. That's before we add in the costs of the Obamacare Obamination and other boondoggles.
That leaves foreign sources. The two biggest foreign purchasers of our debt, China and Japan, have been cutting back. China has been rumbling that it will not be purchasing more and will in fact sell off treasury bills if something doesn't change. So far the Obastard has thumbed his nose at the Chinese. Japan doesn't look much better after it has elected a less-than-pro-U.S. government.
With tax receipts in free-fall, the federal government has little choice but to crank up the printing presses and line up more phantom buyers at the treasury auctions.
I think this is the beginning of the end. Got preps?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saw "The Book of Eli"
Went to see "The Book of Eli" Saturday night with my daughter. I read some reviews on a couple of "survivalist" forums and decided I had to see it. I took my eight-year-old with me, was a little concerned about the "R" rating due to violence, but not terribly bad for the amount of violence. A couple of attempted rapes, but no nudity or completion of the scene. She enjoyed the movie and it helped her to understand a bit more about why I store extra food and supplies.
The Christian theme in the movie is not overstated, but runs throughout. Non-Christians might not enjoy this movie because the main character, Eli, carries the word of God and is guided by Him throughout the movie.
I give this movie a thumbs-up. It is somewhat violent, escapist, and implausible at times. However, Eli is likeable and leads one to admire him for his quest to bring his book to "the West" where it is needed. Some elements of the plot are obvious from the beginning, such as who is good and who is evil. Other elements are revealed in good time. And the ending contains a couple of interesting twists and an appropriate comeuppance for the villain.
My favorite line: When the young woman who accompanies Eli on his quest asks about how the world was before the apocalypse, Eli says something to the effect, "They threw away things that people kill each other for now." An interesting epitaph for our times.
The Christian theme in the movie is not overstated, but runs throughout. Non-Christians might not enjoy this movie because the main character, Eli, carries the word of God and is guided by Him throughout the movie.
I give this movie a thumbs-up. It is somewhat violent, escapist, and implausible at times. However, Eli is likeable and leads one to admire him for his quest to bring his book to "the West" where it is needed. Some elements of the plot are obvious from the beginning, such as who is good and who is evil. Other elements are revealed in good time. And the ending contains a couple of interesting twists and an appropriate comeuppance for the villain.
My favorite line: When the young woman who accompanies Eli on his quest asks about how the world was before the apocalypse, Eli says something to the effect, "They threw away things that people kill each other for now." An interesting epitaph for our times.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
U.S. to Israel: Agree to Your Own Destruction or We Cut Aid
That's not exactly what was said, but that is what Komrade Obama's envoy for Mohammedan ass-kissing, George Mitchell, has effectively said to Israel.
The U.S. is threatening to cut aid to Israel if it does not advance the so-called "peace process". Story here. This "peace process" largely involves Israel surrendering territory to the so-called Palestinians (in reality just another group of Mohammedan Arabs), rendering Israel vulnerable to continuing attacks by these Arabs.
Take a look at the peace plans being put forward by the other Mohammedan Arab nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This is similar to the plan the Saudis came up with years ago, and previously rejected by Israel. To agree with such a plan, Israel would be agreeing to national suicide.
The history of this peace process, dating back to Mohammed "Yasser" Arafat's taqiyya of the mid-1970's, has been that the Israeli's make offers and concessions, then the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians concede nothing except empty promises, and then attack Israel again and again.
Notably, the U.S. has provided at least $600,000,000.00 in foreign aid to the Fatah-conrolled Palestinian Authority and $300,000.00 in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Story here. Gaza is of course controlled by Hamas, a U.S.-declared terrorist organization, so the aid cannot be given directly to Hamas. Hamas, of course, will get its hands on the money, no doubt about that. Neither Hamas nor Fatah have renounced their previous calls for the destruction of Israel.
Both Fatah and Hamas are engaged nearly continually in hostile actions towards Israel. Neither has contributed in any significant way to the "peace process". Neither has made any concessions. Both continue to stand around waiting for handouts from the Israelis and the U.S.
Komrade Obama's Second Carter Administration is just as anti-semitic as it's 1977-1981 predecessor. Komrade Obama demands that Israel make advances (read as "concessions") to the Mohammedan Arab Palestinian's or risk losing U.S. aid. After we have given $900,000,000.00 in aid to people sworn by their "religion" to destroy the Jews and, by extrapolation Israel, where is the similar demand on the Mohammedan Arab Palestinian to advance the "peace process"? Where are the Obamic demands for Mohammedan Arab Palestinian concessions? Where are the Obamic demands for the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians to renounce violence and disarm?
Komrade Obama claims that he wants lasting peace in the middle east. Either Obama is ignorant of the taqiyya being practiced by the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians, or is committing taqiyya himself. I believe it is the latter, as Obama's ass-kissing of every Mohammedan he can find tells me that the only "peace" Obama seeks is that of the Umma. In the Umma, you are either a Mohammedan, a Dhimmi, or dead.
Why be concerned? Israel has been squeezed by The Second Carter Administration since its inception last year. A friend of mine with intelligence connections is certain that Israel is feeling very insecure, and is very impatient with the Obama administration. He says that the Israeli kowtowing to Obama is to show that Israel made every reasonable concession prior to taking military action against Iran and perhaps any of it new allies. Expect Israel to take action within the next month or so.
This could be the flashpoint for the beginning of the end.
The U.S. is threatening to cut aid to Israel if it does not advance the so-called "peace process". Story here. This "peace process" largely involves Israel surrendering territory to the so-called Palestinians (in reality just another group of Mohammedan Arabs), rendering Israel vulnerable to continuing attacks by these Arabs.
Take a look at the peace plans being put forward by the other Mohammedan Arab nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This is similar to the plan the Saudis came up with years ago, and previously rejected by Israel. To agree with such a plan, Israel would be agreeing to national suicide.
The history of this peace process, dating back to Mohammed "Yasser" Arafat's taqiyya of the mid-1970's, has been that the Israeli's make offers and concessions, then the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians concede nothing except empty promises, and then attack Israel again and again.
Notably, the U.S. has provided at least $600,000,000.00 in foreign aid to the Fatah-conrolled Palestinian Authority and $300,000.00 in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Story here. Gaza is of course controlled by Hamas, a U.S.-declared terrorist organization, so the aid cannot be given directly to Hamas. Hamas, of course, will get its hands on the money, no doubt about that. Neither Hamas nor Fatah have renounced their previous calls for the destruction of Israel.
Both Fatah and Hamas are engaged nearly continually in hostile actions towards Israel. Neither has contributed in any significant way to the "peace process". Neither has made any concessions. Both continue to stand around waiting for handouts from the Israelis and the U.S.
Komrade Obama's Second Carter Administration is just as anti-semitic as it's 1977-1981 predecessor. Komrade Obama demands that Israel make advances (read as "concessions") to the Mohammedan Arab Palestinian's or risk losing U.S. aid. After we have given $900,000,000.00 in aid to people sworn by their "religion" to destroy the Jews and, by extrapolation Israel, where is the similar demand on the Mohammedan Arab Palestinian to advance the "peace process"? Where are the Obamic demands for Mohammedan Arab Palestinian concessions? Where are the Obamic demands for the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians to renounce violence and disarm?
Komrade Obama claims that he wants lasting peace in the middle east. Either Obama is ignorant of the taqiyya being practiced by the Mohammedan Arab Palestinians, or is committing taqiyya himself. I believe it is the latter, as Obama's ass-kissing of every Mohammedan he can find tells me that the only "peace" Obama seeks is that of the Umma. In the Umma, you are either a Mohammedan, a Dhimmi, or dead.
Why be concerned? Israel has been squeezed by The Second Carter Administration since its inception last year. A friend of mine with intelligence connections is certain that Israel is feeling very insecure, and is very impatient with the Obama administration. He says that the Israeli kowtowing to Obama is to show that Israel made every reasonable concession prior to taking military action against Iran and perhaps any of it new allies. Expect Israel to take action within the next month or so.
This could be the flashpoint for the beginning of the end.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Knowing the Unprepared
Sometimes I wonder whether all the efforts I put into preparedness really have any purpose. I haven't gone whole-hog into this venture, as I do not have an underground bunker in my backyard, nor do I have a retreat in the woods complete with solar panels, rain catchment system, and a moat. I have, however, started changing the way I live to be better prepared for eventualities.
I have been slowly changing my vehicles to emphasize four-wheel-drives that can carry some cargo and tow a trailer. I have some use for these in my ordinary life as there are materials to haul and camping trips to be made.
I have also been upgrading my camping equipment, as much of this equipment is useful for bugging in as well as bugging out. If the power goes out for a week like it did in the winter of 1996, I can see my way around the kitchen with oil lamps while I heat up my canned chili on the campstove. Other camping equipment would be similarly useful, whether it be water filters or portable propane hot water heaters.
I have also been putting away food that stores for long periods, and increasing the amount of convenience foods I keep on hand. For example, we like canned ravioli, so I keep more on hand and rotate through it.
I don't know whether my preps will enable my family and I to survive an economic collapse, natural disaster, or TEOTWAWKI, but I would like to think we have a fighting chance. Provided we don't get overrun or have to flee without any of our preps, I figure that we could survive nearly a year on what I have put away.
The problem I see in preparing for an uncertain future is that we are the only ones in the family that are doing it. My brother visited me recently from Alaska (we both grew up there) and stayed a few days at my home. When he saw my rows of buckets along the back wall of the kitchen, he started looking into them. I told him that it was long-term food storage. His reaction? "Oh, you're one of those." Meaning "survivalist" types. He just doesn't get it, although I thought that he would have been a little more in tune considering that almost all food in Alaska has been trucked in.
Incidentally, prepping is not new to me. I have been putting away preps on and off since 1994. I have been taking it more seriously for about the past year.
I took my brother with me to the gun show that was in town for the weekend. One of the tables was occupied by a pro-militia group. My brother had a negative reaction and remarked about the anti-government, "redneck" types. He is usually reliably conservative and despises Comrade Obama as much as I do, but I do not think that he understands what ordinary people are feeling about the Obama administration and the economy.
I sense that my brother thinks I am a paranoid, survivalist, gun-nut. That is probably true, and I take no offense. However, I worry about him because he acts like all of the other sheeple that I know. Content that his paycheck keeps clearing and that his current lifestyle continues uninterrupted. Meanwhile the winds of change are swirling around. What will happen to him if the economy does collapse or if hyperinflation turns our country into a post-modern Weimar republic? How will he provide for his own children? He does not see what is coming, scoffs at being prepared, and is unconcerned.
I have put emphasis on prepping for those I have a direct responsibility to save, namely myself, my significant other, and my child. I not only worry about how my brother and other relatives are going to make it when the SHTF, but I worry about my own family. We have preps to get through any number of scenarios, but our survival would be seriously impaired if we had to provide for twelve on preps meant for three. Most of our relatives do not know about my preparedness "hobby", but we are the ones who are always prepared and that everyone else comes to. I have no doubt it will be the same when SHTF.
None of this had really bothered me until my brother came to visit. Now I have something to think about....
I have been slowly changing my vehicles to emphasize four-wheel-drives that can carry some cargo and tow a trailer. I have some use for these in my ordinary life as there are materials to haul and camping trips to be made.
I have also been upgrading my camping equipment, as much of this equipment is useful for bugging in as well as bugging out. If the power goes out for a week like it did in the winter of 1996, I can see my way around the kitchen with oil lamps while I heat up my canned chili on the campstove. Other camping equipment would be similarly useful, whether it be water filters or portable propane hot water heaters.
I have also been putting away food that stores for long periods, and increasing the amount of convenience foods I keep on hand. For example, we like canned ravioli, so I keep more on hand and rotate through it.
I don't know whether my preps will enable my family and I to survive an economic collapse, natural disaster, or TEOTWAWKI, but I would like to think we have a fighting chance. Provided we don't get overrun or have to flee without any of our preps, I figure that we could survive nearly a year on what I have put away.
The problem I see in preparing for an uncertain future is that we are the only ones in the family that are doing it. My brother visited me recently from Alaska (we both grew up there) and stayed a few days at my home. When he saw my rows of buckets along the back wall of the kitchen, he started looking into them. I told him that it was long-term food storage. His reaction? "Oh, you're one of those." Meaning "survivalist" types. He just doesn't get it, although I thought that he would have been a little more in tune considering that almost all food in Alaska has been trucked in.
Incidentally, prepping is not new to me. I have been putting away preps on and off since 1994. I have been taking it more seriously for about the past year.
I took my brother with me to the gun show that was in town for the weekend. One of the tables was occupied by a pro-militia group. My brother had a negative reaction and remarked about the anti-government, "redneck" types. He is usually reliably conservative and despises Comrade Obama as much as I do, but I do not think that he understands what ordinary people are feeling about the Obama administration and the economy.
I sense that my brother thinks I am a paranoid, survivalist, gun-nut. That is probably true, and I take no offense. However, I worry about him because he acts like all of the other sheeple that I know. Content that his paycheck keeps clearing and that his current lifestyle continues uninterrupted. Meanwhile the winds of change are swirling around. What will happen to him if the economy does collapse or if hyperinflation turns our country into a post-modern Weimar republic? How will he provide for his own children? He does not see what is coming, scoffs at being prepared, and is unconcerned.
I have put emphasis on prepping for those I have a direct responsibility to save, namely myself, my significant other, and my child. I not only worry about how my brother and other relatives are going to make it when the SHTF, but I worry about my own family. We have preps to get through any number of scenarios, but our survival would be seriously impaired if we had to provide for twelve on preps meant for three. Most of our relatives do not know about my preparedness "hobby", but we are the ones who are always prepared and that everyone else comes to. I have no doubt it will be the same when SHTF.
None of this had really bothered me until my brother came to visit. Now I have something to think about....
Sunday, November 15, 2009
EyeWitless News
Is cannibalism in our future?
I read a news article yesterday in which three homeless men in Russia have been arrested for murdering, butchering, eating, and selling the flesh of another man. Ordinarily, I would think that this is only a few wackos with LSD in their bong water. Put it in the perspective of current economic conditions, and it is food for thought. We have anxiety over food shortages, job losses and inability to buy food when it is available, potential and actual homelessness, and the breakdown of both morality and willingness to obey the law.
When the Schumer does hit the fan, just how far will desperate people go to survive? Just how depraved will people be? Read this news article yourself and consider the future:
Body Parts Sold to Kebab Stand, Police Say: Three Russians also suspected of killing man, eating parts themselves.
I read a news article yesterday in which three homeless men in Russia have been arrested for murdering, butchering, eating, and selling the flesh of another man. Ordinarily, I would think that this is only a few wackos with LSD in their bong water. Put it in the perspective of current economic conditions, and it is food for thought. We have anxiety over food shortages, job losses and inability to buy food when it is available, potential and actual homelessness, and the breakdown of both morality and willingness to obey the law.
When the Schumer does hit the fan, just how far will desperate people go to survive? Just how depraved will people be? Read this news article yourself and consider the future:
Body Parts Sold to Kebab Stand, Police Say: Three Russians also suspected of killing man, eating parts themselves.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Skills, skills, skills
This weekend I helped out a couple of buddies with car problems. One had a clutch linkage that had stretched out a bit after forty-something years of existence and the other had an intermittent stalling out problem. This summer I had to put a new water pump and new axle bearings, seals, and rear brakes on my daily driver. I am not a mechanic by trade, but ever since my youth I have loved to work with my hands on all things mechanical. My dear, departed father was a jack-of-all-trades and my inspiration for learning as many skills as I could.
I learned how to drywall, plumb, wire, and roof before I was in high school. From high school onward I have learned how to do a fair amount of the repairs for the cars I have owned. Whenever something needs fixin' around the house, chances are I can fix it. I'm not as fast as the pros, but I don't have to pay them, either.
After spending my weekend helping my friends, it occurred to me that these everyday skills are some that I will need if there is some sort of societal collapse. Societal collapse might mean that ninety percent of the population is wiped out in a nuclear or biological attack, or it might be the result of a slow economic decline where we have to rely upon ourselves and make do with a lot less. Or anywhere in between.
Whatever does happen, having a broad range of skills enhances one's chances of survival. I know that I can't know everything, but the skills I have gained over the years will have some value, for myself and possible in trade with others who have skills I don't have. I don't think that I have the time to become skilled in farming or machining or cabinet-making, but I am getting to where I can take care of most of my own problems. And that is the key to a successful life, I think. Being able to take care of one's own problems, and/or having sufficient skills to trade with others for what one cannot do alone.
Skills like basic auto repair, electrical, plumbing, and roofing may not seem like survival skills now, but that is only a matter of perspective. Suppose your water pump starts pouring out antifreeze one day and you need your vehicle to drive twenty miles to work. If a water pump, sealant, and antifreeze run you $50.00, but a shop wants $400.00 to do the work, and you have $100.00 to get you through the week, basic auto repair could be a survival skill.
Now is the time to develop those skills, and there are lots of resources to take advantage of. For example, start changing your own oil, flushing your radiator, replacing your own brake pads. There are any number of vehicle repair guides and old automotive trade school textbooks out there. Replace that broken down water heater or replace that faucet yourself with advice from the hardware store. Confidence gained from doing the simple things can help develop the confidence to tackle more challenging projects and gain more valuable skills, both for now and for TEOTWAWKI.
I learned how to drywall, plumb, wire, and roof before I was in high school. From high school onward I have learned how to do a fair amount of the repairs for the cars I have owned. Whenever something needs fixin' around the house, chances are I can fix it. I'm not as fast as the pros, but I don't have to pay them, either.
After spending my weekend helping my friends, it occurred to me that these everyday skills are some that I will need if there is some sort of societal collapse. Societal collapse might mean that ninety percent of the population is wiped out in a nuclear or biological attack, or it might be the result of a slow economic decline where we have to rely upon ourselves and make do with a lot less. Or anywhere in between.
Whatever does happen, having a broad range of skills enhances one's chances of survival. I know that I can't know everything, but the skills I have gained over the years will have some value, for myself and possible in trade with others who have skills I don't have. I don't think that I have the time to become skilled in farming or machining or cabinet-making, but I am getting to where I can take care of most of my own problems. And that is the key to a successful life, I think. Being able to take care of one's own problems, and/or having sufficient skills to trade with others for what one cannot do alone.
Skills like basic auto repair, electrical, plumbing, and roofing may not seem like survival skills now, but that is only a matter of perspective. Suppose your water pump starts pouring out antifreeze one day and you need your vehicle to drive twenty miles to work. If a water pump, sealant, and antifreeze run you $50.00, but a shop wants $400.00 to do the work, and you have $100.00 to get you through the week, basic auto repair could be a survival skill.
Now is the time to develop those skills, and there are lots of resources to take advantage of. For example, start changing your own oil, flushing your radiator, replacing your own brake pads. There are any number of vehicle repair guides and old automotive trade school textbooks out there. Replace that broken down water heater or replace that faucet yourself with advice from the hardware store. Confidence gained from doing the simple things can help develop the confidence to tackle more challenging projects and gain more valuable skills, both for now and for TEOTWAWKI.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Lest We Forget
Today is a day of remembrance for that day, eight years ago, when some three thousand of our citizens died at the hands of barbaric men acting in the name of their religion. A religion that in its sacred texts not only condones, but advocates, barbaric acts against innocents. Today is a day that American history should mark as a day of infamy on par, at the least, with the invasion of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941. 9/11, however, is far more indicative of a civilizational struggle than was Pearl Harbor. We should remember the innocents who lost their lives to a barbaric culture on 9/11, but we should never forget that this was one of the opening salvos in an attack on our western civilization and all of the freedoms we hold dear.
It is also a time to remember all of the heroes who gave selflessly on that day and in the following days to help their fellow Americans.
Today I am visiting the following sites to remind myself of the dangers of complacency following the attacks against our country on September 11, 2001:
http://www.gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
http://www.jihadwatch.com/
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
It is also a time to remember all of the heroes who gave selflessly on that day and in the following days to help their fellow Americans.
Today I am visiting the following sites to remind myself of the dangers of complacency following the attacks against our country on September 11, 2001:
http://www.gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
http://www.jihadwatch.com/
http://www.frontpagemag.com/
Friday, August 21, 2009
Where I Buy Supplies
I just received another shipment from Sportsman's Guide. To me, that place is like an online candy store. Seems I get an email from them about every other day full of interesting deals. I have bought a lot of stuff from them over the years, from ammunition to camping equipment.
I have noticed a number of blogs that have advertising. Nothing wrong with that, but I have regularly clicked on advertisers and then Google searched for the same merchandise. It is surprising how much of a difference in price exists for pretty much the same items.
After doing a lot of online searching, I have narrowed my list down to a few places that I regularly buy from. Sometimes, local stores have the best deals. Just have to pay attention.
Online, I buy from:
--Sportsman's Guide (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/) for ammunition, boots, military surplus gear, gun magazines, and camping gear/supplies. Selection of most items comes and goes, but the prices are usually pretty good. Shipping rates for ammunition orders are very reasonable, as shipping is based on the dollar amount of the order, not the weight. Additionally, if you order a lot of stuff, the buyer's club is worth the $30.00 per year for additional 10% off (5% for ammo). If you get their no-annual-fee Visa, its good for an additional 2.5% off. If you get on their email list, you get regular coupons for $10 off a $99 order.
--Honeyville Grain (http://www.honeyvillegrain.com/) for freeze dried and dehydrated food. Their freeze dried vegetable combo, freeze dried fruit combo, and powdered dried eggs in a can can't be beat. Fantastic prices and $4.49 U.S. shipping no matter how large or small the order.
--Emergency Essentials (http://www.beprepared.com/) Great prices on freeze dried and dehydrated food. And a huge selection. They also have five-gallon mylar water storage bags, and great prices on trioxane fuel bars. Some prices seem high, such as on SuperPails of beans, etc. For the freeze dried and dehydrated food, their prices are quite reasonable, as it the cost of shipping.
--U.S. Plastic (http://www.usplastic.com/) As I had mentioned in another post, I have purchased buckets and lids from U.S. Plastic. I have been very satisfied with the quality for the price I paid. I will soon be ordering some more along with water storage containers. After I placed my first order they sent me an email with a 10% discount for my next purchase. I also received their printed catalog, which is just amazing. It has all kinds of plastic items from labware to buckets and barrels, tanks, crates, totes, tubing and fittings.
--Natchez Shooters Supply (http://www.natchezss.com/) They have a huge selection of gun accessories of every kind. I mainly buy magazines and ammo from them. Great prices on those items, and the shipping prices aren't too bad. Shipping is based on weight, so heavy items like cases of .45 acp can incur some pricey shipping charges.
--USA Emergency Supply (ww.usaemergencysupply.com) A good selection of disaster preparedness supplies. They have good prices on mylar bucket liner bags and oxygen absorbers. Shipping prices are reasonable, too.
--MRE Depot (http://www.mredepot.com/) A good, and sometimes unique, supply of storable food items. I have bought canned butter, canned cheese, and dehydrated pork chops from them. Haven't tried the pork chops yet, but I have been very happy with their prices, shipping rates, and fast service. Sometimes one can find their best deals on eBay.
There are other places I buy other things from, usually specialized items. I will have to think about the other places I have found some good deals on prep items. Fodder for another post.
I have noticed a number of blogs that have advertising. Nothing wrong with that, but I have regularly clicked on advertisers and then Google searched for the same merchandise. It is surprising how much of a difference in price exists for pretty much the same items.
After doing a lot of online searching, I have narrowed my list down to a few places that I regularly buy from. Sometimes, local stores have the best deals. Just have to pay attention.
Online, I buy from:
--Sportsman's Guide (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/) for ammunition, boots, military surplus gear, gun magazines, and camping gear/supplies. Selection of most items comes and goes, but the prices are usually pretty good. Shipping rates for ammunition orders are very reasonable, as shipping is based on the dollar amount of the order, not the weight. Additionally, if you order a lot of stuff, the buyer's club is worth the $30.00 per year for additional 10% off (5% for ammo). If you get their no-annual-fee Visa, its good for an additional 2.5% off. If you get on their email list, you get regular coupons for $10 off a $99 order.
--Honeyville Grain (http://www.honeyvillegrain.com/) for freeze dried and dehydrated food. Their freeze dried vegetable combo, freeze dried fruit combo, and powdered dried eggs in a can can't be beat. Fantastic prices and $4.49 U.S. shipping no matter how large or small the order.
--Emergency Essentials (http://www.beprepared.com/) Great prices on freeze dried and dehydrated food. And a huge selection. They also have five-gallon mylar water storage bags, and great prices on trioxane fuel bars. Some prices seem high, such as on SuperPails of beans, etc. For the freeze dried and dehydrated food, their prices are quite reasonable, as it the cost of shipping.
--U.S. Plastic (http://www.usplastic.com/) As I had mentioned in another post, I have purchased buckets and lids from U.S. Plastic. I have been very satisfied with the quality for the price I paid. I will soon be ordering some more along with water storage containers. After I placed my first order they sent me an email with a 10% discount for my next purchase. I also received their printed catalog, which is just amazing. It has all kinds of plastic items from labware to buckets and barrels, tanks, crates, totes, tubing and fittings.
--Natchez Shooters Supply (http://www.natchezss.com/) They have a huge selection of gun accessories of every kind. I mainly buy magazines and ammo from them. Great prices on those items, and the shipping prices aren't too bad. Shipping is based on weight, so heavy items like cases of .45 acp can incur some pricey shipping charges.
--USA Emergency Supply (ww.usaemergencysupply.com) A good selection of disaster preparedness supplies. They have good prices on mylar bucket liner bags and oxygen absorbers. Shipping prices are reasonable, too.
--MRE Depot (http://www.mredepot.com/) A good, and sometimes unique, supply of storable food items. I have bought canned butter, canned cheese, and dehydrated pork chops from them. Haven't tried the pork chops yet, but I have been very happy with their prices, shipping rates, and fast service. Sometimes one can find their best deals on eBay.
There are other places I buy other things from, usually specialized items. I will have to think about the other places I have found some good deals on prep items. Fodder for another post.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Forget About Swine Flu for a Moment
It seems that the Swine Flu is not being all it was hyped to be. The spread does not seem to be exponential and the only significant effects appear to have been in Mexico. While I am keeping a wary eye on the news about Swine Flu, I cannot help but begin to wonder if this is a diversion to keep our minds off of more important matters.
A topic which scares me, and should scare anyone who has been conscious since September 11, 2001, is the issue of Pakistan. The Taliban have been doing quite well in their efforts to topple the government of Pakistan, a member of the nuclear club and the home of A.Q. Khan's laboratory. This subject has not been receiving the news coverage it deserves, but the news I have read foretells some interesting times ahead:
Petraeus: Next Two Weeks Critical to Pakistan's Survival
Essentially, the government of Pakistan could fall to the radical Islamist Taliban in the next two weeks. What then happens to the nukes? What will Pakistan's mortal enemy, India, do? Will conflagration erupt over Kashmir?
Does U.S. have 'Plan B' for Pak Nukes?
Obama supposedly has a Plan B. So, what exactly is Plan B? Supposedly the U.S. may be able to thwart the use of access codes for Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, something that Pakistan supposedly agreed to in February 2009. Story here. Hopefully this is true. Unfortunately, I don't believe it given the tensions between Pakistan and the U.S. over the past year over allegations of the U.S. violating Pakistani sovereignty.
Israel: Pakistan's Nukes Could Fall to Taliban.
Even the Secretary of State for the Second Carter Administration, Hillary Rodham Clinton, commented on the danger: ""I think we cannot underscore [enough] the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing [Islamist] advances," Clinton said, adding that an unstable and nuclear-armed Pakistan would pose a "mortal threat" to the United States and other countries. If she said that, she must believe that the U.S. does not have a handle on the Pakistani nukes. Note that this article was from the Jerusalem Post, not the MSM in the U.S.
If there is danger ahead, I think it is more likely to be from the destabilization of Pakistan than from the Swine Flu. I could be wrong, which is why I have more than N95 masks and rubber gloves in my basement.
A topic which scares me, and should scare anyone who has been conscious since September 11, 2001, is the issue of Pakistan. The Taliban have been doing quite well in their efforts to topple the government of Pakistan, a member of the nuclear club and the home of A.Q. Khan's laboratory. This subject has not been receiving the news coverage it deserves, but the news I have read foretells some interesting times ahead:
Petraeus: Next Two Weeks Critical to Pakistan's Survival
Essentially, the government of Pakistan could fall to the radical Islamist Taliban in the next two weeks. What then happens to the nukes? What will Pakistan's mortal enemy, India, do? Will conflagration erupt over Kashmir?
Does U.S. have 'Plan B' for Pak Nukes?
Obama supposedly has a Plan B. So, what exactly is Plan B? Supposedly the U.S. may be able to thwart the use of access codes for Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, something that Pakistan supposedly agreed to in February 2009. Story here. Hopefully this is true. Unfortunately, I don't believe it given the tensions between Pakistan and the U.S. over the past year over allegations of the U.S. violating Pakistani sovereignty.
Israel: Pakistan's Nukes Could Fall to Taliban.
Even the Secretary of State for the Second Carter Administration, Hillary Rodham Clinton, commented on the danger: ""I think we cannot underscore [enough] the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing [Islamist] advances," Clinton said, adding that an unstable and nuclear-armed Pakistan would pose a "mortal threat" to the United States and other countries. If she said that, she must believe that the U.S. does not have a handle on the Pakistani nukes. Note that this article was from the Jerusalem Post, not the MSM in the U.S.
If there is danger ahead, I think it is more likely to be from the destabilization of Pakistan than from the Swine Flu. I could be wrong, which is why I have more than N95 masks and rubber gloves in my basement.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Singing Kumbaya Doesn't Work
In the news today:
President Barack Obama's vision of a world without nuclear arms is an achievable goal and the president will pursue it with an eye on the lessons learned from four decades of difficult diplomacy, the White House said Saturday.
To which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (funny how often despotic regimes are democratic republics) promptly responded by firing off a missile potentially capable of reaching Alaska with a nuclear warhead.
You can draw your own conclusions about the effectiveness of Obummer's foreign policy.
President Barack Obama's vision of a world without nuclear arms is an achievable goal and the president will pursue it with an eye on the lessons learned from four decades of difficult diplomacy, the White House said Saturday.
To which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (funny how often despotic regimes are democratic republics) promptly responded by firing off a missile potentially capable of reaching Alaska with a nuclear warhead.
You can draw your own conclusions about the effectiveness of Obummer's foreign policy.
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