RISK ASSESSMENT
If you even noticed, the comments section is now closed for business. I ignored rude behavior, I got used to personal attacks. I didn't impose any restrictions, asking for cooperation rather than demanding anything. But evidently that was too much to ask and that one bad apple spoiled the bunch. Actually, I think I'm being played into closing it, but I didn't feel I had any choice. Posting copyrighted material is bad enough, but then putting my name on it was over the top. At the very least I get booted out of Google and at the worst I have to pay legal fees. Even if a case has no basis, the legal fees will ruin you. I'm close to the finish line in my financial servitude to wife #2. I don't feel like continuing being indentured to lawyers. So, thanks a lot you asshat monkey molester anal wart puke for ruining it for the rest. If you have something to say to me, e-mail me. The address is always on my web page, www.bisonpress.com . If you have something to say you want everyone to hear, such as refuting something I've said, submit a guest article. It doesn't have to be long, it only has to offer an explanation ( you can't just say I'm full of crap, you need to say why ). I have yet to turn down a guest article, as long as it is original material. And speaking of that, both days this weekend have guest articles.
*
I don't know about you, but my risk assessment skills are non existent. I've been paranoid about economic collapse for almost thirty years and it is just now started. Like all patriotic Americans I was told to fear the Soviet Union, and I did. I worried about Y2K and that wasn't anything other than propaganda to keep the Tech Bubble alive a little longer. I haven't been too worried about a terrorist attack since I believed early on that it was a false flag attack just like OKC. I was pretty confused about barnyard flu, and I alternate between fearing it and scoffing at it. At this moment I'm sceptical since it seems most of the reported cases are children, which goes against what we were warned about ( like the 1919 flu, this was supposed to attack mostly healthy adults ). The next time I go on the Internet I might get worried again that it is man made and we are all doomed.
*
It seems that the common thread to my risk assessment is I'm worried when the government tells me all is well half the time and I fall for the propaganda the other half. So it is impossible to know when I'm right to be paranoid and when I'm full of crap. This is what I mean about my risk assessment skills being worthless. I do seem to get the timing right, but for all the wrong reasons. I moved from Florida mainly because of rising sea levels. I avoided the real estate bubble instead. My Y2K arsenal was bought ten years too early, but I did get to avoid the current gun and ammo scarcities. I bought precious metals with hyperinflation in mind, and that hasn't happened. Of course, you can't find bullion coins for love or money now, so I did buy before shortages. I bought a van thinking I might be unemployed. Instead, it saved me from rising used vehicle prices. I didn't stock up on hand sanitizer because of bird flu but because I was worried all my water would freeze. But I now have it if needed. Everything turns out all right in the end, but it wasn't because I had fore site or premonition or even a correct educated guess. I ended up okay just because I have always been extra paranoid.
*
You can't see every possible threat. Something coming out of left field can always blindside you. So the way to avoid that is simply to be as paranoid as possible. I might worry over everything, but I don't think it is an unhealthy stress. I have all my hair, I sleep good at night. Why? Because I keep taking steps to avoid the most implausible scenarios. Who cares if sea levels never rise. Getting out of Florida I don't have to worry about too much population, or mosquito born diseases or whatever ( I'm not saying Elko is perfect, just that the risks are less ). Paranoia will not destroy you. It will save your butt. I think we just talked about this not too long ago. My point is that I have a terrible track record on deciding the severity of events. Such as Swine Flu. If you don't act as if it might hurt you, it could. If you act like it could, and it doesn't, you still benefit from preparations in other ways.
END
e-mail is jimd303@netzero.com
web site www.bisonpress.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
little brain dominence
LITTLE BRAIN DOMINANCE
Thank you "not-JWR" for voluntarily dropping the "tin foil hat JWR" spoof. I thought it was funny, but I didn't really think about it until yesterday that perhaps it went a little far. New guys might not realize it was a gag and get the wrong impression. So I can see Rawles POV. The rest of you, please refrain from illegal comments activities such as posting copyrighted material ( such as song lyrics or perhaps even photos ). Let's keep the comments section alive and well, not shut down from legal fears.
*
I happened across the Three Amigo's Survival Site www.tslrf.blogspot.com today ( love the site, can't always get there every day ) and they had a great article on the wife and finances, wife's and living in travel trailers. This got me to thinking. Just as being too frugal to drive every day has led to unexpected health benefits from biking, giving up a ten year relationship ( we weren't legally married but common law ) has given me additional benefits. Not just financial, although I did recognize a 15% pay raise after the separation. And not just my peace of mind ( I don't dread going home from work any more, and every evening is quiet and relaxing ). And not simply the fact I have a lot more free time to read. No, the most important aspect of all this was that I am freed from the tyranny of the little brain.
*
The Little Brain is a real prick ( pun ) about things. He doesn't care what you want, what you have to do, how badly you debase yourself. He only thinks about himself, he is really selfish. He doesn't care if the rest of the body kills itself early from over working itself to bring home a larger paycheck to satisfy the wife. He doesn't care that you have to go into perpetual debt to satisfy your wife and her need for financial security ( in today's upside down world, the show pieces of debt equate security ). The little brain even continues to pay for grown and gone children to satisfy the spouse. All so the little brain can have a thrilling few seconds on average of twice a month ( the average married couple in the US has sex twice a month which translates into a very expensive coupling, a Nevadan prostitute is much cheaper ).
*
If the wife had called me up in the first month and a half after our separation, I would gladly have given up all my gains and invited her back home to stay. The little brain was constantly making my life a living hell. All I was allowed to think about was not satisfying him. Suddenly, I was the selfish one. I didn't care about little brains feelings, I was depriving him of the only thing that was important to him. I was the one ruining his life. It all got turned around on me. Then, baby Jesus himself decided to cut me a little slack. A freekin miracle, my libido shrank down to a manageable size. For the first time in my life since adolescence I could over rule the little brains voice. I couldn't do it before. Before, a year went by, or even just three months and I'm letting another female drag me around on a leash. And to rub salt in the wound, the little brain is telling me how much I love that. I'm still on the right side of my forth decade on earth, I still have the little brain grumbling and making snide comments and being a real pain. But I can finally turn a deaf ear. I just had to go through the withdrawal period. Just like with giving up cigarettes, the tough part was right afterwards.
*
Now, I can enjoy being a bachelor. I'll just bide my time, wait for the collapse and pick up a hottie that will work for food. Just got to be patient. It's another strategy for living in a trailer. It won't work for a younger fellow, needing to sow his oats. But it is a fringe benefit from middle age. Power over the little brain!
END
This was ( mostly ) humor today, so please try not to take too much offense ladies. The rest of you horny buggers, buy my crap at www.bisonpress.com
Thank you "not-JWR" for voluntarily dropping the "tin foil hat JWR" spoof. I thought it was funny, but I didn't really think about it until yesterday that perhaps it went a little far. New guys might not realize it was a gag and get the wrong impression. So I can see Rawles POV. The rest of you, please refrain from illegal comments activities such as posting copyrighted material ( such as song lyrics or perhaps even photos ). Let's keep the comments section alive and well, not shut down from legal fears.
*
I happened across the Three Amigo's Survival Site www.tslrf.blogspot.com today ( love the site, can't always get there every day ) and they had a great article on the wife and finances, wife's and living in travel trailers. This got me to thinking. Just as being too frugal to drive every day has led to unexpected health benefits from biking, giving up a ten year relationship ( we weren't legally married but common law ) has given me additional benefits. Not just financial, although I did recognize a 15% pay raise after the separation. And not just my peace of mind ( I don't dread going home from work any more, and every evening is quiet and relaxing ). And not simply the fact I have a lot more free time to read. No, the most important aspect of all this was that I am freed from the tyranny of the little brain.
*
The Little Brain is a real prick ( pun ) about things. He doesn't care what you want, what you have to do, how badly you debase yourself. He only thinks about himself, he is really selfish. He doesn't care if the rest of the body kills itself early from over working itself to bring home a larger paycheck to satisfy the wife. He doesn't care that you have to go into perpetual debt to satisfy your wife and her need for financial security ( in today's upside down world, the show pieces of debt equate security ). The little brain even continues to pay for grown and gone children to satisfy the spouse. All so the little brain can have a thrilling few seconds on average of twice a month ( the average married couple in the US has sex twice a month which translates into a very expensive coupling, a Nevadan prostitute is much cheaper ).
*
If the wife had called me up in the first month and a half after our separation, I would gladly have given up all my gains and invited her back home to stay. The little brain was constantly making my life a living hell. All I was allowed to think about was not satisfying him. Suddenly, I was the selfish one. I didn't care about little brains feelings, I was depriving him of the only thing that was important to him. I was the one ruining his life. It all got turned around on me. Then, baby Jesus himself decided to cut me a little slack. A freekin miracle, my libido shrank down to a manageable size. For the first time in my life since adolescence I could over rule the little brains voice. I couldn't do it before. Before, a year went by, or even just three months and I'm letting another female drag me around on a leash. And to rub salt in the wound, the little brain is telling me how much I love that. I'm still on the right side of my forth decade on earth, I still have the little brain grumbling and making snide comments and being a real pain. But I can finally turn a deaf ear. I just had to go through the withdrawal period. Just like with giving up cigarettes, the tough part was right afterwards.
*
Now, I can enjoy being a bachelor. I'll just bide my time, wait for the collapse and pick up a hottie that will work for food. Just got to be patient. It's another strategy for living in a trailer. It won't work for a younger fellow, needing to sow his oats. But it is a fringe benefit from middle age. Power over the little brain!
END
This was ( mostly ) humor today, so please try not to take too much offense ladies. The rest of you horny buggers, buy my crap at www.bisonpress.com
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
past lessons
PAST LESSONS
A few quick points before we start today. First, the book "Emergency" that I took a few ideas from a week and a half ago. I finished reading it last night and while it is very interesting and well written it is not recommended. Besides the few "how to's" in comic form the entire 300 plus page book is inspirational rather than instructional. And geared toward Yuppie Survivalists. I enjoyed reading it and didn't feel I wasted my money, but it was the story of a guys journey from sheeple to survivalist. Starting at Gunsite, stopping at a few outdoor living courses, a side trip to the Caribbean to buy an apartment and citizenship- all very expensive ways to survive. And in the end he's a CERT and S&R and EMT staying in LA to help everyone rather than deserting that sinking ship. Also, my brilliant idea of setting up a solar panel in my van window ended up pretty retarded. It took five days to generate 75 watts I had used with a 15 watt panel. I put it outside the van and got the same results in one day.
*
Whether you are worried about barnyard flu or an economic collapse or whatever other calamity, let's review some past outrages by The Powers That Be. It never hurts to remind ourselves how willing others are to screw us over for fun or profit. To solve any crime, just follow the money. Who benefited? Usually it's the banks. The government acts as their attack dog and business their fall guy. Keep in mind for our discussion here that chain of control. I'll use all three interchangeably but sometimes one is using the other to benefit. Our founding fathers didn't mind collecting taxes. They just didn't like not being able to spend it. Plus there was the issue of a continent of unexploited riches, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was a surprise for later. After working everyone up into a lather, enough fools went off to the battlefield to get wounded or killed and the agitators were on the road to riches. As payment, the soldiers were denied their promised land and the citizens were robbed with hyperinflation with the Continental.
*
Fighting Mexico for Texas, fighting Texas for a strong federal government, fighting the weakest colonial power for overseas possessions. Bribing Congress for a central bank. Devaluing the gold by 40% and confiscating it all for worthless paper. Agitating for two world wars we had no need to be in other than profits to the wealthy. The military industrial complex getting rich as fifty thousand died in Asia. Civilians being used as guinea pigs in subway chemical attacks by the intelligence industry. Millions suffering in third world countries for our profits and access to cheap commodities. Tens of thousands of service members being poisoned with untested Anthrax shots. Starving Iraqi citizens with an embargo. Abandoning an entire city to flooding and leaving its residents to die and victimize each other. False flag attacks in OKC and NYC. How many thousands of others have I missed?
*
The PTB will think nothing of starving you, torturing you, killing you for an extra dollar of profit or more power. Do not trust the banks, the corporations or government. It doesn't matter which bank holds your account, who the CEO is or what party is in control this election. They will all screw you without thinking twice about it. You had better be extra paranoid.
*
Really short today. Pretty much feeling like crap, it must be the barnyard flu. And I ain't promising much tomorrow.
END
A few quick points before we start today. First, the book "Emergency" that I took a few ideas from a week and a half ago. I finished reading it last night and while it is very interesting and well written it is not recommended. Besides the few "how to's" in comic form the entire 300 plus page book is inspirational rather than instructional. And geared toward Yuppie Survivalists. I enjoyed reading it and didn't feel I wasted my money, but it was the story of a guys journey from sheeple to survivalist. Starting at Gunsite, stopping at a few outdoor living courses, a side trip to the Caribbean to buy an apartment and citizenship- all very expensive ways to survive. And in the end he's a CERT and S&R and EMT staying in LA to help everyone rather than deserting that sinking ship. Also, my brilliant idea of setting up a solar panel in my van window ended up pretty retarded. It took five days to generate 75 watts I had used with a 15 watt panel. I put it outside the van and got the same results in one day.
*
Whether you are worried about barnyard flu or an economic collapse or whatever other calamity, let's review some past outrages by The Powers That Be. It never hurts to remind ourselves how willing others are to screw us over for fun or profit. To solve any crime, just follow the money. Who benefited? Usually it's the banks. The government acts as their attack dog and business their fall guy. Keep in mind for our discussion here that chain of control. I'll use all three interchangeably but sometimes one is using the other to benefit. Our founding fathers didn't mind collecting taxes. They just didn't like not being able to spend it. Plus there was the issue of a continent of unexploited riches, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was a surprise for later. After working everyone up into a lather, enough fools went off to the battlefield to get wounded or killed and the agitators were on the road to riches. As payment, the soldiers were denied their promised land and the citizens were robbed with hyperinflation with the Continental.
*
Fighting Mexico for Texas, fighting Texas for a strong federal government, fighting the weakest colonial power for overseas possessions. Bribing Congress for a central bank. Devaluing the gold by 40% and confiscating it all for worthless paper. Agitating for two world wars we had no need to be in other than profits to the wealthy. The military industrial complex getting rich as fifty thousand died in Asia. Civilians being used as guinea pigs in subway chemical attacks by the intelligence industry. Millions suffering in third world countries for our profits and access to cheap commodities. Tens of thousands of service members being poisoned with untested Anthrax shots. Starving Iraqi citizens with an embargo. Abandoning an entire city to flooding and leaving its residents to die and victimize each other. False flag attacks in OKC and NYC. How many thousands of others have I missed?
*
The PTB will think nothing of starving you, torturing you, killing you for an extra dollar of profit or more power. Do not trust the banks, the corporations or government. It doesn't matter which bank holds your account, who the CEO is or what party is in control this election. They will all screw you without thinking twice about it. You had better be extra paranoid.
*
Really short today. Pretty much feeling like crap, it must be the barnyard flu. And I ain't promising much tomorrow.
END
Monday, April 27, 2009
barnyard flu
BARNYARD FLU
I want to thank everyone for a great month. My e-book sales were $60 and my Amazon commissions were $35 ( most months they are around $25 ). I was able to order four used books and still have ten bucks left over. I was notified that the back order for "Patriots" is June for me. I guess I ordered too late in the day. Okay, today we'll talk about the newest flu panic. I'm sure this is on everyone's mind. I won't say anything new or exciting however. Of course my trolls will fall all over themselves to tell you I do that everyday anyway. I can't add a whole lot that hasn't been covered by www.survivalblog.com or www.cryptogon.com .
*
Chatting away at work about the newest and greatest threat, I kept saying bird flu instead of swine flu, so I covered by tracks nicely by issuing a new and exciting title to label the old bird flu with the pig flu and any future flu as barnyard flu. Without doing any research at all I think I can say we've probably gotten more outbreaks from this new one than the old one already ( at least in the US ). The old chicken flu was kind of a joke, never really amounting to much of anything. The biggest news about it was that Rumsfeld made a killing on the Pharma stock he held when the feds stockpiled vaccines. It seems like the boys behind this new one got it right finally and manufactured a disease that works properly. I guess the economic contraction wasn't doing a proper job of getting enough mouths away from the feed trough. Let's just kill off a few hundred million or more with a new super flu. Am I being too paranoid? Maybe. But I can tell you I won't be taking any shot for this. They're either going to try to kill me off with the disease or with the cure. It could all be an excuse for declaring martial law. I have no idea of the coming details, but this does not smell right, not in the slightest.
*
For those asking what they can do if totally unprepared, go to Rawles site and follow the links and do a little research. I had covered this a long time ago, with my basic recommendation to start taking mega doses of vitamin C. You don't wait for a cold and take a few vitamin pills then, you build up your immunity beforehand. Looking back, I'm amused that as a child mom gave me glasses of orange juice and vitamin C while I was sick in bed. I don't think they did a damn thing. Part of prepping is building your immune system. I never worried overly much about chicken flu because I had been building up my immunity. Not for a pandemic but just for day to day survival surrounded by sickos. Whenever a bad contagion goes around that puts people in bed for three or five days, I pick up on it but merely feel poorly for a bit. Buying hand sanitizer and face masks is all well and good but a better strategy is to let your body fight off the infection naturally ( because if you are sickly, those items won't protect you a whole lot in the early stages of the spread of the disease when you are unaware ).
*
This should highlight another good reason why it is stupid to be in debt and waiting to bug out. If you are in debt like the average American, owing on the house and the car and the credit cards and the kids education and the wives boob job, you have little choice but to go into work every single day. No matter how bad you feel, you have no choice. 99% of potential victims will be doing this, ensuring the disease, if it gets serious, will spread very quickly. If you had been listening to me and gotten out of debt you will have a bit more flexibility in this matter. I don't know if this will get bad, I can't say if now is a great time to take vacation, but the option would be nice. As far as bugging out, if this does get bad you can be sure the government will clamp down on any kind of travel very quickly. I told you last year one of the reasons I wanted to move up here to Elko was in case travel restrictions were put in place. I could have waited, and then had to worry about something like this barnyard flu. Instead, I can point my finger at you and snicker. If this thing gets serious, I'm a prophet. If it doesn't then I'm just a rude cocky bastard.
*
I don't know what is going to happen. I'm merely saying that because I took precautions awhile ago I don't have to worry much about it. It's still a concern, just not a mind numbing terror. If you do want to think about profiting from the potential coming panic, buy up as many dust masks as you can ( the five in a package for a dollar and change ). They aren't effective if I read about it correctly but when the more effective masks are sold out and people have no choice but to buy "better than nothing" masks you can get a good profit ( kind of like folks are getting twice bullion price on E-Bay for silver because of the coin shortage ). For your personal use I would stock up now on vitamin C tabs. A slight increase in demand will wipe out the supply and remember that China has a global monopoly on the production. I don't know about bacon. Are the animals now not a concern? Is this strictly just person to person? Or will there be preventive killing of livestock? Something to check out.
*
I'm not trying to be unhelpful here. But preparation for pandemics is something you need a bit of a head start on. Otherwise, you hunker down and don't go out. I'm not saying pumping your body full of vitamins or being able to quit working for a few weeks is the perfect answer, it just puts you ahead of the herd in options. Again, nothing could happen. Or, this could be man made and we are screwed. But being extra super paranoid might pay off either way.
END
I want to thank everyone for a great month. My e-book sales were $60 and my Amazon commissions were $35 ( most months they are around $25 ). I was able to order four used books and still have ten bucks left over. I was notified that the back order for "Patriots" is June for me. I guess I ordered too late in the day. Okay, today we'll talk about the newest flu panic. I'm sure this is on everyone's mind. I won't say anything new or exciting however. Of course my trolls will fall all over themselves to tell you I do that everyday anyway. I can't add a whole lot that hasn't been covered by www.survivalblog.com or www.cryptogon.com .
*
Chatting away at work about the newest and greatest threat, I kept saying bird flu instead of swine flu, so I covered by tracks nicely by issuing a new and exciting title to label the old bird flu with the pig flu and any future flu as barnyard flu. Without doing any research at all I think I can say we've probably gotten more outbreaks from this new one than the old one already ( at least in the US ). The old chicken flu was kind of a joke, never really amounting to much of anything. The biggest news about it was that Rumsfeld made a killing on the Pharma stock he held when the feds stockpiled vaccines. It seems like the boys behind this new one got it right finally and manufactured a disease that works properly. I guess the economic contraction wasn't doing a proper job of getting enough mouths away from the feed trough. Let's just kill off a few hundred million or more with a new super flu. Am I being too paranoid? Maybe. But I can tell you I won't be taking any shot for this. They're either going to try to kill me off with the disease or with the cure. It could all be an excuse for declaring martial law. I have no idea of the coming details, but this does not smell right, not in the slightest.
*
For those asking what they can do if totally unprepared, go to Rawles site and follow the links and do a little research. I had covered this a long time ago, with my basic recommendation to start taking mega doses of vitamin C. You don't wait for a cold and take a few vitamin pills then, you build up your immunity beforehand. Looking back, I'm amused that as a child mom gave me glasses of orange juice and vitamin C while I was sick in bed. I don't think they did a damn thing. Part of prepping is building your immune system. I never worried overly much about chicken flu because I had been building up my immunity. Not for a pandemic but just for day to day survival surrounded by sickos. Whenever a bad contagion goes around that puts people in bed for three or five days, I pick up on it but merely feel poorly for a bit. Buying hand sanitizer and face masks is all well and good but a better strategy is to let your body fight off the infection naturally ( because if you are sickly, those items won't protect you a whole lot in the early stages of the spread of the disease when you are unaware ).
*
This should highlight another good reason why it is stupid to be in debt and waiting to bug out. If you are in debt like the average American, owing on the house and the car and the credit cards and the kids education and the wives boob job, you have little choice but to go into work every single day. No matter how bad you feel, you have no choice. 99% of potential victims will be doing this, ensuring the disease, if it gets serious, will spread very quickly. If you had been listening to me and gotten out of debt you will have a bit more flexibility in this matter. I don't know if this will get bad, I can't say if now is a great time to take vacation, but the option would be nice. As far as bugging out, if this does get bad you can be sure the government will clamp down on any kind of travel very quickly. I told you last year one of the reasons I wanted to move up here to Elko was in case travel restrictions were put in place. I could have waited, and then had to worry about something like this barnyard flu. Instead, I can point my finger at you and snicker. If this thing gets serious, I'm a prophet. If it doesn't then I'm just a rude cocky bastard.
*
I don't know what is going to happen. I'm merely saying that because I took precautions awhile ago I don't have to worry much about it. It's still a concern, just not a mind numbing terror. If you do want to think about profiting from the potential coming panic, buy up as many dust masks as you can ( the five in a package for a dollar and change ). They aren't effective if I read about it correctly but when the more effective masks are sold out and people have no choice but to buy "better than nothing" masks you can get a good profit ( kind of like folks are getting twice bullion price on E-Bay for silver because of the coin shortage ). For your personal use I would stock up now on vitamin C tabs. A slight increase in demand will wipe out the supply and remember that China has a global monopoly on the production. I don't know about bacon. Are the animals now not a concern? Is this strictly just person to person? Or will there be preventive killing of livestock? Something to check out.
*
I'm not trying to be unhelpful here. But preparation for pandemics is something you need a bit of a head start on. Otherwise, you hunker down and don't go out. I'm not saying pumping your body full of vitamins or being able to quit working for a few weeks is the perfect answer, it just puts you ahead of the herd in options. Again, nothing could happen. Or, this could be man made and we are screwed. But being extra super paranoid might pay off either way.
END
Friday, April 24, 2009
camping on the edge of the abyss
CAMPING ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS
One of the thoughtful, rational and unemotional loyal minions ( in other words, not a troll ) in the comments section has disagreed with my insistence that we are all going to die next week. To be honest, he is probably closer to the mark than I am although I think he isn't taking energy into account as much as economics. Which is fine, I'll let the trolls do the nit picking today. The question, which is valid, is why live like an animal if you don't have to. A fair question. Why engage in glorified camping if we won't see serious collapse for years?
*
We can set aside the out of the blue surprise attacks. The nuclear wars, the EMP attacks, asteroid impacts, Straight Of Hormuz shut downs, Super Flu outbreak, etc. While any are possible, few are very probable and you can't live in fear of such limited probability events. Black Swan events rarely call for escaping the rat race and living ten miles out of town on junk land. Which leaves entirely predictable events. Such as economic melt downs and running out of oil. Both of which are happening now. But the sixty four thousand dollar question is timing. Panic now or panic later. It is quite easy for me to preach to panic now, since I keep scaring off wives and my kids live with their mother. I'm only accountable to myself as far as lifestyle goes ( financial servitude is another matter ). So why should you listen to me? I'm not forced to worry about high salaries, demanding wives, child care services intervening if running water and electricity isn't provided.
*
The honest answer is, you shouldn't listen to me. You need to follow your own inner voice. I'm just here to make suggestions and try to offer affordable advise. Glorified camping is very affordable, but it is also pretty close to living Third World ( just without the hunger or disease ). I mean, most of the homeless guys coming in for services live better than I do in some aspects. They live in a tent and have no heat other than Maddog 20/20, but they also take long hot showers and get a great meal every day. They can hang out in our waiting room and watch movies. That translates into free winter heat most of the day. I have to come to work to get that. Of course, I can also buy a good book and they only get whatever romance novel they pick out of the trash. Not that I'm assuming many want to read, or can. As I've already shared with you, I'm living pretty much just one step above being homeless.
*
Crapping in a bucket of sawdust ( or chemical toilet ), cooking on a camp stove, doing without refrigeration, showering from a used bleach bottle, keeping warm overnight with a huge stack of blankets to save on propane and using a five watt LED lamp as all my light save flashlights are all pretty much roughing it at least compared to the average American lifestyle. And I don't really mind at all. The worst is trying to bath while it is so cold and trying to get to work through snow or mud or heavy winds. But all in all it is not that bad of an existence. It might take a bit of getting used to, but it certainly is not that bad. I have total peace and quiet. I'm living as cheap as it can possibly get. I don't have to sweat grid collapse as it effects me, other than the big picture problems it presents ( like the rest of you it will effect me crime wise and economically but not as far as keeping the lights on ). I don't have to worry about the coming collapse as much as if I was still living a conventional lifestyle. So it doesn't matter if we are all going to die next week or next year. I still get benefits now.
*
Which is what this all boils down to. How you want to live, the price you are willing to pay for the benefits you receive. If power at the flick of a switch, water to waste, cable TV and easy transportation are worth the stress of the rat race then for you it is all worth it. If you see collapse and chaos and calamity around every corner and you are tired of supporting all the parasites leeching off you then it is worth roughing it off grid. Hell, I truly hope we never see collapse and I'm living like this for no reason. I don't mind being wrong about something like that. But I'm still not suffering because to me, now, I still benefit from where I'm at. So, even if bugging out now to off-grid makes wonderful sense, you probably won't want to do it if you are giving up more than you are gaining. Why leave if you are just going to turn around and move back? Don't misunderstand me. I do think the sacrifice now is worth it and you are safer moving now. I really think we are all going to die. But I've been wrong before. I can see both sides of the issue. Just don't wait forever because you don't have that long. No one knows when it will be too late to move. Next week, next year, next decade. Don't let me get you too riled up, but don't become complacent either.
END
One of the thoughtful, rational and unemotional loyal minions ( in other words, not a troll ) in the comments section has disagreed with my insistence that we are all going to die next week. To be honest, he is probably closer to the mark than I am although I think he isn't taking energy into account as much as economics. Which is fine, I'll let the trolls do the nit picking today. The question, which is valid, is why live like an animal if you don't have to. A fair question. Why engage in glorified camping if we won't see serious collapse for years?
*
We can set aside the out of the blue surprise attacks. The nuclear wars, the EMP attacks, asteroid impacts, Straight Of Hormuz shut downs, Super Flu outbreak, etc. While any are possible, few are very probable and you can't live in fear of such limited probability events. Black Swan events rarely call for escaping the rat race and living ten miles out of town on junk land. Which leaves entirely predictable events. Such as economic melt downs and running out of oil. Both of which are happening now. But the sixty four thousand dollar question is timing. Panic now or panic later. It is quite easy for me to preach to panic now, since I keep scaring off wives and my kids live with their mother. I'm only accountable to myself as far as lifestyle goes ( financial servitude is another matter ). So why should you listen to me? I'm not forced to worry about high salaries, demanding wives, child care services intervening if running water and electricity isn't provided.
*
The honest answer is, you shouldn't listen to me. You need to follow your own inner voice. I'm just here to make suggestions and try to offer affordable advise. Glorified camping is very affordable, but it is also pretty close to living Third World ( just without the hunger or disease ). I mean, most of the homeless guys coming in for services live better than I do in some aspects. They live in a tent and have no heat other than Maddog 20/20, but they also take long hot showers and get a great meal every day. They can hang out in our waiting room and watch movies. That translates into free winter heat most of the day. I have to come to work to get that. Of course, I can also buy a good book and they only get whatever romance novel they pick out of the trash. Not that I'm assuming many want to read, or can. As I've already shared with you, I'm living pretty much just one step above being homeless.
*
Crapping in a bucket of sawdust ( or chemical toilet ), cooking on a camp stove, doing without refrigeration, showering from a used bleach bottle, keeping warm overnight with a huge stack of blankets to save on propane and using a five watt LED lamp as all my light save flashlights are all pretty much roughing it at least compared to the average American lifestyle. And I don't really mind at all. The worst is trying to bath while it is so cold and trying to get to work through snow or mud or heavy winds. But all in all it is not that bad of an existence. It might take a bit of getting used to, but it certainly is not that bad. I have total peace and quiet. I'm living as cheap as it can possibly get. I don't have to sweat grid collapse as it effects me, other than the big picture problems it presents ( like the rest of you it will effect me crime wise and economically but not as far as keeping the lights on ). I don't have to worry about the coming collapse as much as if I was still living a conventional lifestyle. So it doesn't matter if we are all going to die next week or next year. I still get benefits now.
*
Which is what this all boils down to. How you want to live, the price you are willing to pay for the benefits you receive. If power at the flick of a switch, water to waste, cable TV and easy transportation are worth the stress of the rat race then for you it is all worth it. If you see collapse and chaos and calamity around every corner and you are tired of supporting all the parasites leeching off you then it is worth roughing it off grid. Hell, I truly hope we never see collapse and I'm living like this for no reason. I don't mind being wrong about something like that. But I'm still not suffering because to me, now, I still benefit from where I'm at. So, even if bugging out now to off-grid makes wonderful sense, you probably won't want to do it if you are giving up more than you are gaining. Why leave if you are just going to turn around and move back? Don't misunderstand me. I do think the sacrifice now is worth it and you are safer moving now. I really think we are all going to die. But I've been wrong before. I can see both sides of the issue. Just don't wait forever because you don't have that long. No one knows when it will be too late to move. Next week, next year, next decade. Don't let me get you too riled up, but don't become complacent either.
END
Thursday, April 23, 2009
oil life and timing
OIL LIFE AND TIMING
Before we start, and before I forget, an update as requested on the Great Bison Compound Insulation Project. I finished up the weekend following my write up, thank goodness. It had started taking on Giant Pain In The Ass aspects. I'll still do a bit here and there such as stuffing more blankets in the underneath bins ( they're on notice to give me any ripped and soiled blankets otherwise thrown away ) but that is five minutes here and there, not like the sixteen hours it took for the main work. I did pretty good for back of a napkin guesstimating the needed materials. I used all the foam pads, all eight rolls of foil bubble wrap except about ten feet worth and all but six blankets. I only had three cold mornings to gauge the effective winterizing so that will have to wait until the end of the year ( I'm hoping for a repeat of tripling the old insulation's effectiveness but will still be happy with doubling ) to confirm, and I've only had one warm day. It got up to eighty and even without the foil in the south windows it stayed at seventy five. Not too shabby, I'm happy with the performance so far.
*
A loyal minion asked about picking a cooking oil. The best shelf life amongst lard, shortening or oil. I imagine they did just as I did and Googled it, and I can't say I've got a really good answer. Everyone seemed to be guessing at it. Even the folks at Crisco. Well, I'll tell you what I came up with and my own experiences. I hope it helps a little. You need cooking oil in your preps. Spoiled Yuppie swine living in the reclining bucket seat of an SUV, the reclining office chair in their cubical and the reclining chair in front of their fifty inch plasma TV have no idea of the need for fat in ones diet. They carry enough fat around their middle to do without fat for quite some time. But take away petroleum and suddenly they will need fat in their diets to keep them alive. My point is that central air and heat keep them separated from the realities of diet and climate, not that they don't eat enough fat. Of course, a lot of that extra weight might be from alcohol as they try in vain to short circuit their awareness that they live a hollow and worthless existence since they are silly enough to measure happiness with little slips of paper from the Federal Reserve. But I won't go there right now.
*
As far as anyone can guess, liquid vegetable oil has a shelf life of about a year. I'm sure I've used oil that is over a year old. We can probably safely say one to a maximum of three years. I'm sure three is pushing it, remember these are guesstimates. Also, come calamity time, you might do little more than give it a sniff test and feed some to the dog. If he hasn't erupted out of both ends in 24 hours it should be safe. You will be more worried about lack of oil than about official shelf lives. Next in longevity is lard. I couldn't find any estimates, but I have used lard I know was at least two years old and stored at room temperature ( that's in the trailer with large seasonal fluctuations ). I would feel comfortable using lard that is three to five years old. Crisco claims a shelf life of six to ten years. I might have believed that back when they used an honest to God metal sealed tin, but now in an effort to screw over the consumer and have the CEO retire to the Caribbean with a harem we get that crappy waxed cardboard container. Kind of like how potato flakes pre-Y2K were in a metal tin and now they are a simple cardboard box ( for a higher price ). Anyway, I'd give Crisco no more than five or six years personally. And I do not want to hear any troll spouting off about hydrogenated fats. It is going to be the end of civilization. You won't care about long term health problems when you could be starving, and you will be working off all the fat you consume.
*
Now to timing. This sort of ties in with yesterdays post. Back in the day when global nuclear war was on everyone's minds, back when communists were evil shifty guys you couldn't trust instead of our current economic butt buddies, back when the military had a real enemy instead of an invented one ( just referring to the false flag attack 9/11, not aimed at our boys overseas so relax ), we had a different level of anxiety. Or so it seems to me anyway. You always heard the phrase it was better to be a year too early than a minute too late. I guess back then it was patriotic to prep, since you were saving the tax payers money by paying for it, plus being part of the ( presumed ) surviving unorganized militia ( how times have changed ). Now that it would harm the account balance of the banks to be self sufficient rather than perpetually in debt preppers are scorned. Is that why no one is willing to appear to be the fool and prepare a year too early? Is it now uncool? Are you giving in to peer pressure? Be honest with yourself now. You can lie to your spouse and your friends and coworkers but at least try to be honest with yourself.
*
I'm aware one size doesn't fit all. We are all unique and have different circumstances. But try to honestly assert your situation. Don't fall for your own hype. It's called believing your own press releases and it usually comes before the fall. I'm not judging, just trying to guide.
END
Before we start, and before I forget, an update as requested on the Great Bison Compound Insulation Project. I finished up the weekend following my write up, thank goodness. It had started taking on Giant Pain In The Ass aspects. I'll still do a bit here and there such as stuffing more blankets in the underneath bins ( they're on notice to give me any ripped and soiled blankets otherwise thrown away ) but that is five minutes here and there, not like the sixteen hours it took for the main work. I did pretty good for back of a napkin guesstimating the needed materials. I used all the foam pads, all eight rolls of foil bubble wrap except about ten feet worth and all but six blankets. I only had three cold mornings to gauge the effective winterizing so that will have to wait until the end of the year ( I'm hoping for a repeat of tripling the old insulation's effectiveness but will still be happy with doubling ) to confirm, and I've only had one warm day. It got up to eighty and even without the foil in the south windows it stayed at seventy five. Not too shabby, I'm happy with the performance so far.
*
A loyal minion asked about picking a cooking oil. The best shelf life amongst lard, shortening or oil. I imagine they did just as I did and Googled it, and I can't say I've got a really good answer. Everyone seemed to be guessing at it. Even the folks at Crisco. Well, I'll tell you what I came up with and my own experiences. I hope it helps a little. You need cooking oil in your preps. Spoiled Yuppie swine living in the reclining bucket seat of an SUV, the reclining office chair in their cubical and the reclining chair in front of their fifty inch plasma TV have no idea of the need for fat in ones diet. They carry enough fat around their middle to do without fat for quite some time. But take away petroleum and suddenly they will need fat in their diets to keep them alive. My point is that central air and heat keep them separated from the realities of diet and climate, not that they don't eat enough fat. Of course, a lot of that extra weight might be from alcohol as they try in vain to short circuit their awareness that they live a hollow and worthless existence since they are silly enough to measure happiness with little slips of paper from the Federal Reserve. But I won't go there right now.
*
As far as anyone can guess, liquid vegetable oil has a shelf life of about a year. I'm sure I've used oil that is over a year old. We can probably safely say one to a maximum of three years. I'm sure three is pushing it, remember these are guesstimates. Also, come calamity time, you might do little more than give it a sniff test and feed some to the dog. If he hasn't erupted out of both ends in 24 hours it should be safe. You will be more worried about lack of oil than about official shelf lives. Next in longevity is lard. I couldn't find any estimates, but I have used lard I know was at least two years old and stored at room temperature ( that's in the trailer with large seasonal fluctuations ). I would feel comfortable using lard that is three to five years old. Crisco claims a shelf life of six to ten years. I might have believed that back when they used an honest to God metal sealed tin, but now in an effort to screw over the consumer and have the CEO retire to the Caribbean with a harem we get that crappy waxed cardboard container. Kind of like how potato flakes pre-Y2K were in a metal tin and now they are a simple cardboard box ( for a higher price ). Anyway, I'd give Crisco no more than five or six years personally. And I do not want to hear any troll spouting off about hydrogenated fats. It is going to be the end of civilization. You won't care about long term health problems when you could be starving, and you will be working off all the fat you consume.
*
Now to timing. This sort of ties in with yesterdays post. Back in the day when global nuclear war was on everyone's minds, back when communists were evil shifty guys you couldn't trust instead of our current economic butt buddies, back when the military had a real enemy instead of an invented one ( just referring to the false flag attack 9/11, not aimed at our boys overseas so relax ), we had a different level of anxiety. Or so it seems to me anyway. You always heard the phrase it was better to be a year too early than a minute too late. I guess back then it was patriotic to prep, since you were saving the tax payers money by paying for it, plus being part of the ( presumed ) surviving unorganized militia ( how times have changed ). Now that it would harm the account balance of the banks to be self sufficient rather than perpetually in debt preppers are scorned. Is that why no one is willing to appear to be the fool and prepare a year too early? Is it now uncool? Are you giving in to peer pressure? Be honest with yourself now. You can lie to your spouse and your friends and coworkers but at least try to be honest with yourself.
*
I'm aware one size doesn't fit all. We are all unique and have different circumstances. But try to honestly assert your situation. Don't fall for your own hype. It's called believing your own press releases and it usually comes before the fall. I'm not judging, just trying to guide.
END
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
bugging out about bugging out
BUGGING OUT ABOUT BUGGING OUT
First, a word to our sponsor. Thanks, Russell in Udaho ( get it? who da yo?-sorry, easily amusing myself today ) for the way cool care package. Fleece bibs,which are pretty helpful since I have plenty of layers for the torso but not the legs. These are going to be just the thing for pulling an overnighter at the guard detail in December, waiting for the last of the California refugees to come limping along despite our obvious warning signs of impaled skulls. Hopefully by that time we'll have black powder mortars with fuses so we don't waste precious pre-collapse primers or smokeless powder harvesting them for the stew pot ( I hope I'm kidding about that last part ).
*
Normally I scream like a little girl at the Hanna Montana movie about the economy, pointing out with trembling finger, pupils dilated, short of breath, some new detail that surely foretells the impending doom we are all about to face. But today, some good news about the economy. The economy is performing so poorly ( all is well, the economy falling at an annualized 6% last quarter and manufacturing slipping 20% is nothing but a blip on our way to rescue by our new hero Uncle Obammy ) that to any thinking person there is no longer a dilemma on how to bug out. It should no longer make any sense to stay with a good paying job and have a retreat in the country. Now, I realize that most if not all of my loyal minions are not really in any position to have a retreat that they must bug out to. However, retreats are not simply a concrete fortress holding an arsenal of semi-automatic poodle shooters. They can be any destination that offers you better surroundings than what you have now. It can be a farm belonging to relatives, a national park the next state over, junk land a few hundred miles away. Even though we envision Yuppie Survivalists when we speak of retreats, all of us can have one even if it is nothing more than a strip of land for a tent.
*
Since most of us are forced to work in the city ( including myself- Elko is preferable to most other places I could be, but given my druthers I would love to be a lot farther away from everybody ) for the simple fact that there ceased to be jobs in most rural areas long ago ( for an outsider moving in, anyway ), we don't plan on staying were we are in an emergency. The death of mom and pop stores and the birth of the Big Box Store forced most of us non-college laborers to move to larger urban areas but it isn't the best place to be in the near future. Yes, it's all relative. We want to live in a 10k town instead of a 100k city. Still too many people, but you compromise as few of us can live in isolation ( whether it is even a good idea is another matter ). My point I want to make today is, what are you waiting for to make your move? If the writing is on the wall, why wait to move? Look, we know it s going to get worse. You will eventually lose your job, so why wait around because of your better income? If family keeps you were you are, don't worry. They will eventually lose their job and/or house and they can move in with you at the new location. Staying for medical care or insurance? How long do you honestly think that is going to last ( although to be fair, it does put you in a no win situation )?
*
I don't think most of us will dispute the direction the economy is going. It most likely is past the point where it might improve. In the very near future, whatever benefits are keeping you in place will disappear. So why not just bite the bullet and take your loses and move now. We have oil shortages, perhaps martial law in store for us. Why wait until then to try to move? Why wait until you have no cash flow to try to move? Jingle mail your crap, take a lower paying job, get out of the future war zone. Yes, I know, easier said than done. I had a hard time financially moving and that was before the unemployment rate doubled. But, really, if it is just going to get worse, you don't want to wait no matter how bad your prospects look. I'm not saying anything new here. Rawles advises to live at your retreat if possible. All I'm saying now is the economy steadily rushing downhill should make this decision a lot easier than it was. Instead of debating ideal post collapse bug out vehicles we should just get a U-Haul now.
END
You know you love me so buy my crap http://www.bisonpress.com/
First, a word to our sponsor. Thanks, Russell in Udaho ( get it? who da yo?-sorry, easily amusing myself today ) for the way cool care package. Fleece bibs,which are pretty helpful since I have plenty of layers for the torso but not the legs. These are going to be just the thing for pulling an overnighter at the guard detail in December, waiting for the last of the California refugees to come limping along despite our obvious warning signs of impaled skulls. Hopefully by that time we'll have black powder mortars with fuses so we don't waste precious pre-collapse primers or smokeless powder harvesting them for the stew pot ( I hope I'm kidding about that last part ).
*
Normally I scream like a little girl at the Hanna Montana movie about the economy, pointing out with trembling finger, pupils dilated, short of breath, some new detail that surely foretells the impending doom we are all about to face. But today, some good news about the economy. The economy is performing so poorly ( all is well, the economy falling at an annualized 6% last quarter and manufacturing slipping 20% is nothing but a blip on our way to rescue by our new hero Uncle Obammy ) that to any thinking person there is no longer a dilemma on how to bug out. It should no longer make any sense to stay with a good paying job and have a retreat in the country. Now, I realize that most if not all of my loyal minions are not really in any position to have a retreat that they must bug out to. However, retreats are not simply a concrete fortress holding an arsenal of semi-automatic poodle shooters. They can be any destination that offers you better surroundings than what you have now. It can be a farm belonging to relatives, a national park the next state over, junk land a few hundred miles away. Even though we envision Yuppie Survivalists when we speak of retreats, all of us can have one even if it is nothing more than a strip of land for a tent.
*
Since most of us are forced to work in the city ( including myself- Elko is preferable to most other places I could be, but given my druthers I would love to be a lot farther away from everybody ) for the simple fact that there ceased to be jobs in most rural areas long ago ( for an outsider moving in, anyway ), we don't plan on staying were we are in an emergency. The death of mom and pop stores and the birth of the Big Box Store forced most of us non-college laborers to move to larger urban areas but it isn't the best place to be in the near future. Yes, it's all relative. We want to live in a 10k town instead of a 100k city. Still too many people, but you compromise as few of us can live in isolation ( whether it is even a good idea is another matter ). My point I want to make today is, what are you waiting for to make your move? If the writing is on the wall, why wait to move? Look, we know it s going to get worse. You will eventually lose your job, so why wait around because of your better income? If family keeps you were you are, don't worry. They will eventually lose their job and/or house and they can move in with you at the new location. Staying for medical care or insurance? How long do you honestly think that is going to last ( although to be fair, it does put you in a no win situation )?
*
I don't think most of us will dispute the direction the economy is going. It most likely is past the point where it might improve. In the very near future, whatever benefits are keeping you in place will disappear. So why not just bite the bullet and take your loses and move now. We have oil shortages, perhaps martial law in store for us. Why wait until then to try to move? Why wait until you have no cash flow to try to move? Jingle mail your crap, take a lower paying job, get out of the future war zone. Yes, I know, easier said than done. I had a hard time financially moving and that was before the unemployment rate doubled. But, really, if it is just going to get worse, you don't want to wait no matter how bad your prospects look. I'm not saying anything new here. Rawles advises to live at your retreat if possible. All I'm saying now is the economy steadily rushing downhill should make this decision a lot easier than it was. Instead of debating ideal post collapse bug out vehicles we should just get a U-Haul now.
END
You know you love me so buy my crap http://www.bisonpress.com/
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
death spiral priority
DEATH SPIRAL PRIORITY
Proving once again that some people simply aren't happy unless they have something to worry about, I started wondering if perhaps I should include something a bit more basic for those overwhelmed and confused souls that just woke up to the fact that when Uncle Obammy proposes to cut spending a hundred million bucks ( which each and every Congress Critter is sure to fight tooth and nail ) from the budget and them sends another seven hundred billion dollars to the banks so they can post a quarterly profit so the stock market goes up five points and everyone's 401(k) only loses ten percent value that week instead of ten and one eighth percent, and are just now starting to realize we are in a death spiral. Am I not providing enough of the elementary stuff for them? Am I going to hack off the regular readers that have stuck by me through the years, earning their Loyal Minion merit badges? Then I figured, hey, I put out some good stuff yesterday and no one was impressed, just making Ho Ho comments ( although it is good to see the Ho Ho man is still with us ) so they can just suck it up and deal with this today.
*
New to prepping? Overwhelmed by the sheer impossibility of it all? Not sure where to start? I'm here to help, always full of advice you can't use or lessons that don't apply to you. Don't worry, it's a lot simpler than you have been led to believe. Instead of looking at the impossible ideal of a twenty acre farm with garden and orchard and stream ( too expensive, you can't get a mortgage, even if you could you'll lose your job anyway ) and an escape SUV ( your payments will last longer than the oil supply ) to get to your retreat you can't afford ( see homestead example above ) which has a concrete bunker with fallout shelter and an arsenal of semi-automatic carbines ( good luck getting all the ammo you need for them ), just start out very primitive, very small and very affordable and then move up from there.
*
First, buy everyone in the family a bag of flour or rice. That's it. Just a $9 bag of flour or a $15 bag of rice ( what the heck is rice going for now? no matter, I'm sure I'm close ). You now have almost a months supply of food for everyone. Yes, it's reduced calories, but not enough to kill you immediately ( 1500 a day ). Even if you hardly have anything else in the cupboard this will give you a months supply of calories which is better than the vast majority of the population. Make sure to have a way of getting your water purified, even if it is something as simple as an outdoor fire between a few bricks to boil the water or a jug of bleach. And some kind of fuel to cook with. A few propane canisters, a few pallets for firewood. You won't stop here, not by a long shot, but it will immediately give you a bit of breathing room to step back from the brink of panic. I would recommend an initial three month supply which surely won't break anyone's bank, but just that one month is certainly better than nothing. Why this first? You can improvise weapons and shelter and light and transportation, but you can't improvise food. Within twenty four hours of Wal-Mart emptying its shelves every deer, possum , rat and cat and every edible berry and root in the forest will be gone. And there might be some casualties getting those. Far better to stay at home with your already procured food.
*
Next, get a weapon. Yes, food is more important but you still need to protect your food. Buy the cheapest weapon you can get. If you are a novice I would go with a single shot break open shotgun. Used, about seventy five and new about a hundred. If you are comfortable with more weapon, get a surplus bolt action rifle. They are one third the cost of even an SKS and the ammo is easier to find ( and it's a real rifle compared to the poodle shooters ). Leave aside the "best" weapon for right now. You need to be armed cheaply. You probably won't be able to afford too many boxes of ammo, so it's a good thing this is not a semi-auto and won't eat up all your rounds in one round of panic. Yes, a pistol will be nice to have for increased crime to come, but we are at a bare minimum stage here.
*
Next, buy more food. Grains, either/or wheat and corn and a grain mill. It will expand your food supply rapidly, calorie wise. And provide vegetables through sprouting ( the wheat anyway ). Still not complete, needing proteins and fats but now you have a year supply of food per person for as little as $60 each. The storage containers will add to that figure, but once again, we are cheap enough for everyone. Remember, throw me a bone here and buy the grinder through my Amazon links at www.bisonpress.com .
*
Now you need a bit more ammo, and start to give thought to shelter improvements ( to start, multiple supplies of warm weather gear, cheap through thrift stores and online surplus outfits ). Still nothing fancy or expensive. Go bare bones all the way. This is life and death, not time for luxury. That can come later. You are in a race with the banks and the oil exporting countries, the weather and the global food supply chain. If you fart around you could lose. If nothing falls apart you gained by buying cheaper food and weapons ( both will only go up ).
*
Next, food. Legumes and lard. Protein and fat. Notice a pattern? Food first, then another necessity, then food again. Food is going to be a huge deal soon. I'm banking on it. Okay, that's about all the time we have today boy's and girl's. Tune in tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.
END
Proving once again that some people simply aren't happy unless they have something to worry about, I started wondering if perhaps I should include something a bit more basic for those overwhelmed and confused souls that just woke up to the fact that when Uncle Obammy proposes to cut spending a hundred million bucks ( which each and every Congress Critter is sure to fight tooth and nail ) from the budget and them sends another seven hundred billion dollars to the banks so they can post a quarterly profit so the stock market goes up five points and everyone's 401(k) only loses ten percent value that week instead of ten and one eighth percent, and are just now starting to realize we are in a death spiral. Am I not providing enough of the elementary stuff for them? Am I going to hack off the regular readers that have stuck by me through the years, earning their Loyal Minion merit badges? Then I figured, hey, I put out some good stuff yesterday and no one was impressed, just making Ho Ho comments ( although it is good to see the Ho Ho man is still with us ) so they can just suck it up and deal with this today.
*
New to prepping? Overwhelmed by the sheer impossibility of it all? Not sure where to start? I'm here to help, always full of advice you can't use or lessons that don't apply to you. Don't worry, it's a lot simpler than you have been led to believe. Instead of looking at the impossible ideal of a twenty acre farm with garden and orchard and stream ( too expensive, you can't get a mortgage, even if you could you'll lose your job anyway ) and an escape SUV ( your payments will last longer than the oil supply ) to get to your retreat you can't afford ( see homestead example above ) which has a concrete bunker with fallout shelter and an arsenal of semi-automatic carbines ( good luck getting all the ammo you need for them ), just start out very primitive, very small and very affordable and then move up from there.
*
First, buy everyone in the family a bag of flour or rice. That's it. Just a $9 bag of flour or a $15 bag of rice ( what the heck is rice going for now? no matter, I'm sure I'm close ). You now have almost a months supply of food for everyone. Yes, it's reduced calories, but not enough to kill you immediately ( 1500 a day ). Even if you hardly have anything else in the cupboard this will give you a months supply of calories which is better than the vast majority of the population. Make sure to have a way of getting your water purified, even if it is something as simple as an outdoor fire between a few bricks to boil the water or a jug of bleach. And some kind of fuel to cook with. A few propane canisters, a few pallets for firewood. You won't stop here, not by a long shot, but it will immediately give you a bit of breathing room to step back from the brink of panic. I would recommend an initial three month supply which surely won't break anyone's bank, but just that one month is certainly better than nothing. Why this first? You can improvise weapons and shelter and light and transportation, but you can't improvise food. Within twenty four hours of Wal-Mart emptying its shelves every deer, possum , rat and cat and every edible berry and root in the forest will be gone. And there might be some casualties getting those. Far better to stay at home with your already procured food.
*
Next, get a weapon. Yes, food is more important but you still need to protect your food. Buy the cheapest weapon you can get. If you are a novice I would go with a single shot break open shotgun. Used, about seventy five and new about a hundred. If you are comfortable with more weapon, get a surplus bolt action rifle. They are one third the cost of even an SKS and the ammo is easier to find ( and it's a real rifle compared to the poodle shooters ). Leave aside the "best" weapon for right now. You need to be armed cheaply. You probably won't be able to afford too many boxes of ammo, so it's a good thing this is not a semi-auto and won't eat up all your rounds in one round of panic. Yes, a pistol will be nice to have for increased crime to come, but we are at a bare minimum stage here.
*
Next, buy more food. Grains, either/or wheat and corn and a grain mill. It will expand your food supply rapidly, calorie wise. And provide vegetables through sprouting ( the wheat anyway ). Still not complete, needing proteins and fats but now you have a year supply of food per person for as little as $60 each. The storage containers will add to that figure, but once again, we are cheap enough for everyone. Remember, throw me a bone here and buy the grinder through my Amazon links at www.bisonpress.com .
*
Now you need a bit more ammo, and start to give thought to shelter improvements ( to start, multiple supplies of warm weather gear, cheap through thrift stores and online surplus outfits ). Still nothing fancy or expensive. Go bare bones all the way. This is life and death, not time for luxury. That can come later. You are in a race with the banks and the oil exporting countries, the weather and the global food supply chain. If you fart around you could lose. If nothing falls apart you gained by buying cheaper food and weapons ( both will only go up ).
*
Next, food. Legumes and lard. Protein and fat. Notice a pattern? Food first, then another necessity, then food again. Food is going to be a huge deal soon. I'm banking on it. Okay, that's about all the time we have today boy's and girl's. Tune in tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.
END
Monday, April 20, 2009
oil out & bison bank bust
OIL OUT & BISON BANK BUST
Attention, trolls! Please stop picking each others nits and listen up. If you were to stroll on over to http://americanenergycrisis.blogspot.com/ you will discover a highly paid professional in the finance industry that factors energy into his economic forecasts. I point this out so I hear absolutely no grumbling about how I don't know what I'm talking about. I might not know what I'm talking about, which I'm sure you can prove since I don't drive my SUV to the shrine of semi-automatics before I go to the bank and pay my McMansion mortgage, but at least in this one case I can point out that professionals agree with my intensely paranoid viewpoint. Namely, we are all going to freeze in the dark as we starve to death. Okay, I don't think the author over there is going to go that far, but he should. In any case, he has pointed out we are headed down economically and won't recover, namely because of decreasing oil supplies. This is a great site, and I've swiped many an idea from it.
*
His last article talks about the chicken and egg question of what came first, oil problems or the economic crash. His conclusion is that the decline in oil came first, since our imports starting going downhill before the housing bubble burst. In two years we've gone from 14 million barrels a day to 12 of imports. Even during the huge price increases. Which we will see again, by the way. Obviously. Or is it obvious, as no one seems to be factoring in the inevitable soon to come oil supply disruption. The Oil Age is over and you had better start thinking as petroleum as a soon to disappear commodity. Not that we will run out, but tar sands and miles deep wells are not economic to exploit ( nor are they a satisfactory return of energy ). The Age Of Cheap And Abundant Oil is definitely over. And our economy is 100% dependant on cheap and abundant energy and continual growth. We now have neither. Even if we don't enter a Post Oil Dark Ages, which I'm going to assume as a matter of course, our economy is guaranteed to continually contract. You might think a fifteen percent decline in imports is not a major deal, but to me it screams out the American Death March.
*
If your economy is all about cheap oil and you need continued growth to pay for the debt that we have piled on to make up for the last thirty years of decreasing real wages and decrease in taxes, how can you assume we will recover without more oil and more growth? There are no more rabbits to pull out of a hat to save us. Perhaps to keep the Titanic afloat for a little while longer, but not to turn things around. Don't make me keep harping on this, because you know I will. Everyone, sell your extra cars, drive the car you are making payments on down to the bank and hand them the keys, buy a bicycle and after buying a bunch of grain send me the difference. Trust me, I'll put it to better use than the bank or Detroit.
*
As some of you have already heard, Great Basin Bank was one of the two that got closed down Friday night. This was a local bank, having two branches in Elko, two in Spring Creek ( ten miles away ) and one ( I think ) in Fallon a few hundred miles south. And as you may have also heard, Elko is doing much better than the rest of Nevada and most other parts of the country. It's probably one of the last non rich enclaves to hold out in its real estate values. I knew it would do well because of the gold mines ( third largest producer globally, I believe ) but I had no idea it would hold out so well. Just don't think you can move here and get a good paying job without prior mine experience. With all the other mines around closing, they can pick and choose and won't hire a novice. And when you do move here, if you move into town, the cost of living has not gone down. Anyway, it came as a bit of a surprise when I found out they got closed down. This is the bank my work uses, thus where I go to cash my check. I don't keep my money there other than about ten bucks. I use B of A for that ( not that they are much safer, but at least they will fail last- I hope ). Not to worry, another Nevada bank is taking over the accounts so my ten bucks is safe, which is a good thing since I'm not getting that twenty bucks I was promised for the African Trailer Park pictures, you tight lying bastards! Haven't got my Ho money either. Not that I'm too concerned with that, I would never pay those kinds of prices so if you did send it I would just buy books or corn.
*
Any bank can fail anywhere. That's the magic of derivatives gambling. But it does sort of underline how we are all going to die a horrible and elongated death. Until then, buy my crap at www.bisonpress.com .
END
Attention, trolls! Please stop picking each others nits and listen up. If you were to stroll on over to http://americanenergycrisis.blogspot.com/ you will discover a highly paid professional in the finance industry that factors energy into his economic forecasts. I point this out so I hear absolutely no grumbling about how I don't know what I'm talking about. I might not know what I'm talking about, which I'm sure you can prove since I don't drive my SUV to the shrine of semi-automatics before I go to the bank and pay my McMansion mortgage, but at least in this one case I can point out that professionals agree with my intensely paranoid viewpoint. Namely, we are all going to freeze in the dark as we starve to death. Okay, I don't think the author over there is going to go that far, but he should. In any case, he has pointed out we are headed down economically and won't recover, namely because of decreasing oil supplies. This is a great site, and I've swiped many an idea from it.
*
His last article talks about the chicken and egg question of what came first, oil problems or the economic crash. His conclusion is that the decline in oil came first, since our imports starting going downhill before the housing bubble burst. In two years we've gone from 14 million barrels a day to 12 of imports. Even during the huge price increases. Which we will see again, by the way. Obviously. Or is it obvious, as no one seems to be factoring in the inevitable soon to come oil supply disruption. The Oil Age is over and you had better start thinking as petroleum as a soon to disappear commodity. Not that we will run out, but tar sands and miles deep wells are not economic to exploit ( nor are they a satisfactory return of energy ). The Age Of Cheap And Abundant Oil is definitely over. And our economy is 100% dependant on cheap and abundant energy and continual growth. We now have neither. Even if we don't enter a Post Oil Dark Ages, which I'm going to assume as a matter of course, our economy is guaranteed to continually contract. You might think a fifteen percent decline in imports is not a major deal, but to me it screams out the American Death March.
*
If your economy is all about cheap oil and you need continued growth to pay for the debt that we have piled on to make up for the last thirty years of decreasing real wages and decrease in taxes, how can you assume we will recover without more oil and more growth? There are no more rabbits to pull out of a hat to save us. Perhaps to keep the Titanic afloat for a little while longer, but not to turn things around. Don't make me keep harping on this, because you know I will. Everyone, sell your extra cars, drive the car you are making payments on down to the bank and hand them the keys, buy a bicycle and after buying a bunch of grain send me the difference. Trust me, I'll put it to better use than the bank or Detroit.
*
As some of you have already heard, Great Basin Bank was one of the two that got closed down Friday night. This was a local bank, having two branches in Elko, two in Spring Creek ( ten miles away ) and one ( I think ) in Fallon a few hundred miles south. And as you may have also heard, Elko is doing much better than the rest of Nevada and most other parts of the country. It's probably one of the last non rich enclaves to hold out in its real estate values. I knew it would do well because of the gold mines ( third largest producer globally, I believe ) but I had no idea it would hold out so well. Just don't think you can move here and get a good paying job without prior mine experience. With all the other mines around closing, they can pick and choose and won't hire a novice. And when you do move here, if you move into town, the cost of living has not gone down. Anyway, it came as a bit of a surprise when I found out they got closed down. This is the bank my work uses, thus where I go to cash my check. I don't keep my money there other than about ten bucks. I use B of A for that ( not that they are much safer, but at least they will fail last- I hope ). Not to worry, another Nevada bank is taking over the accounts so my ten bucks is safe, which is a good thing since I'm not getting that twenty bucks I was promised for the African Trailer Park pictures, you tight lying bastards! Haven't got my Ho money either. Not that I'm too concerned with that, I would never pay those kinds of prices so if you did send it I would just buy books or corn.
*
Any bank can fail anywhere. That's the magic of derivatives gambling. But it does sort of underline how we are all going to die a horrible and elongated death. Until then, buy my crap at www.bisonpress.com .
END
Saturday, April 18, 2009
guest article
GUEST ARTICLE
POST-PEAK VACATIONS
I like to read first person accounts of life during the Depression. In all the books I've read, I can only remember two examples of vacations. From "Hanging On, or, How to Get Through A Depression And Enjoy Life" by Edmund G. Love, when times start to get tough he goes to the waterfront as a houseguest of rich folk. As times get more difficult, he spends his vacations shoveling coal for the family business; play is extremely limited. In another book I've read (but can't recall the title of), the mom and kids have a sort of busman's holiday, travel to stay with friends/family, and they pick berries. Several families get together and stay in one house, harvest blackberries by day, make jam in the afternoons. In the evenings, the kids run around, the adults play cards and drink. Good times. It is a lot easier to find Depression stories about not having shoes to walk to school in than it is find a vacation story. Maybe that's partly due to more people living on farms, having to tend to their animals and crops, or maybe fewer cars were available. Or perhaps, just plain fewer vacations were taken.
To find out what people are doing for their vacations in these getting-more-grim-all-the-time-times, I took a non-scientific poll of my friends. These are middle class people (if they are rich, they are hiding it well), lower to upper. Three are unemployed, nine are employed. I asked them what they were doing for vacations, and for most of them, they are finagling like crazy to make it happen. Investors, take note: the hospitality industry is doomed, according to this poll -- hardly anybody is buying a motel room. Strategies include shortening vacations, downgrading accommodations, staying with friends, camping, day trips, going as a guest, eating cheap, no souvenir purchases, combining tasks into one trip. Desstinations include Washington DC, Hawaii, San Francisco, distant family & friends, and the great outdoors. Also mentioned were staycations and doing home repair.
One thing that struck me was the meaning that was attached to the trips -- building memories with a new spouse, visiting an elderly relative, keeping in touch with loved ones, family vacations. I didn't hear one frivolous thing. Everybody has shoes, so according to our vacations and wardrobes we're not deep in the grips of a Depression. (But give it time.) In the classic post-apocalyptic novel "Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart, it is suggested that the group form an exploratory party. "Another curious feature was that nearly everyone wanted to go! It was the best evidence you could want as to the way in which people generally -- males, at least -- were born with itchy feet, always ready to go somewhere else and see new things." I have a spouse with itchy feet. What's he going to do when fuel prices skyrocket and a trip to the beach becomes an unthinkable extravagance, let alone the purchase of a plane ticket? Here's my vacation recommendation for you (and the spouse): Go. Go soon, while fuel is still cheap. Make your memories now. Don't load up your credit card, of course. But do find something that has meaning for you -- go to places you've always wanted see, visit people you love, do the things that are important, get a change of scenery, relax, enjoy. Keep it simple if that's what your budget allows. Help somebody peel apples or pick berries and make jam for winter. Play cards and drink wine by candlelight. Take in the sights. Make it happen. Get out there and have a GREAT time.
POST-PEAK VACATIONS
I like to read first person accounts of life during the Depression. In all the books I've read, I can only remember two examples of vacations. From "Hanging On, or, How to Get Through A Depression And Enjoy Life" by Edmund G. Love, when times start to get tough he goes to the waterfront as a houseguest of rich folk. As times get more difficult, he spends his vacations shoveling coal for the family business; play is extremely limited. In another book I've read (but can't recall the title of), the mom and kids have a sort of busman's holiday, travel to stay with friends/family, and they pick berries. Several families get together and stay in one house, harvest blackberries by day, make jam in the afternoons. In the evenings, the kids run around, the adults play cards and drink. Good times. It is a lot easier to find Depression stories about not having shoes to walk to school in than it is find a vacation story. Maybe that's partly due to more people living on farms, having to tend to their animals and crops, or maybe fewer cars were available. Or perhaps, just plain fewer vacations were taken.
To find out what people are doing for their vacations in these getting-more-grim-all-the-time-times, I took a non-scientific poll of my friends. These are middle class people (if they are rich, they are hiding it well), lower to upper. Three are unemployed, nine are employed. I asked them what they were doing for vacations, and for most of them, they are finagling like crazy to make it happen. Investors, take note: the hospitality industry is doomed, according to this poll -- hardly anybody is buying a motel room. Strategies include shortening vacations, downgrading accommodations, staying with friends, camping, day trips, going as a guest, eating cheap, no souvenir purchases, combining tasks into one trip. Desstinations include Washington DC, Hawaii, San Francisco, distant family & friends, and the great outdoors. Also mentioned were staycations and doing home repair.
One thing that struck me was the meaning that was attached to the trips -- building memories with a new spouse, visiting an elderly relative, keeping in touch with loved ones, family vacations. I didn't hear one frivolous thing. Everybody has shoes, so according to our vacations and wardrobes we're not deep in the grips of a Depression. (But give it time.) In the classic post-apocalyptic novel "Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart, it is suggested that the group form an exploratory party. "Another curious feature was that nearly everyone wanted to go! It was the best evidence you could want as to the way in which people generally -- males, at least -- were born with itchy feet, always ready to go somewhere else and see new things." I have a spouse with itchy feet. What's he going to do when fuel prices skyrocket and a trip to the beach becomes an unthinkable extravagance, let alone the purchase of a plane ticket? Here's my vacation recommendation for you (and the spouse): Go. Go soon, while fuel is still cheap. Make your memories now. Don't load up your credit card, of course. But do find something that has meaning for you -- go to places you've always wanted see, visit people you love, do the things that are important, get a change of scenery, relax, enjoy. Keep it simple if that's what your budget allows. Help somebody peel apples or pick berries and make jam for winter. Play cards and drink wine by candlelight. Take in the sights. Make it happen. Get out there and have a GREAT time.
Friday, April 17, 2009
the third way post collapse
THE THIRD WAY POST COLLAPSE
Everyone wants to be a farmer after the collapse. First off, most of us are familiar with gardening. There is no mystery, even if there is some mastery to go. We can practice ahead of time. Secondly, I think it holds a great appeal in that it has deep, primal meaning. You are filling your days trying to fill your belly. This is no abstract job or career, looking back at middle age wondering if you've done something with your life. You are directly providing for your family with no middleman. Alas, even though I have been trying to point out that farming isn't some fantasy where everything turns out all ducky, that it is full of danger and pitfalls, everyone is still looking at me like I'm a flaming idiot. How could he not want to be a farmer? How dare he point out that a local strongman will prey on you since you are immobile! Wanting to be a nomad/herder is so impractical! You're going to die! It's nice that you care enough about me that you are worried. Look, I've pointed out the good and bad points of both farmer and a nomad existence before. One is easy to prepare for but presents problems later, the other is hard to convert to but makes things easier in the long run. Neither is perfect, except for you specifically.
*
Now, how about the third way that doesn't get a lot of press? We rarely talk about it, mainly since it is so unrealistic with our population levels. Hunter/gatherer. I'm not talking about something new here, the Stone Age guys have had a handle on this for years. Would it be once again be feasible after the die off? We are talking about a huge die off, by the way. As in Mayan civilization die off rather than Black Plague die off. Despite how panicked I've been about Peak Oil, and despite how massive I think the population decrease will be ( although to be fair my thinking is always colored by extreme paranoia ), will it be enough to allow a true hunter/gatherer existence to once again flourish? Somehow, I have my doubts. Look, since the Agricultural Revolution has there been anything other than the steady encroachment of land from farmers? Even after the fall of Rome. Entire areas went fallow after overproduction, but did anyone live in those areas other than hunter/farmers? Small scale farming ( since the soil now supported far less ) subsidised by hunting. You needed both since the area still wasn't depopulated enough. Outside of the plains Indians with their buffalo, you mostly had farmer/gatherers, farmer/hunters. I'm sure even the wild orchards were domesticated over time, as in almonds/walnuts. Yes, a bit rusty on tribal food logistics. But I think it's safe to say that even if there were a few exceptions, once farming was introduced it crowded out pure foraging.
*
So if the predominate mode of food production, even with the Indians before Whitey showed up, was farming, how can we ever think we'll go back to a pure hunting and gathering existence? At best we can emulate the Indians and adopt the best features of both farming and wild livestock. Raising livestock depends on lots of fertile land for growing fodder. In effect, it is surplus land left over from feeding humans. Nomads are able to utilize waste land to feed livestock. Hunter/gathers are so disbursed that nature can feed them both wild meat and plants at a replenishment level. The Indians had the middle ground. Fertile farms surrounded by enough wilderness for game. Could that happen again after die off? It would somewhat alleviate the negative aspects of farming, the vulnerability of staying in one spot. With enough of a buffer between neighbors, attacks could be forewarned against by your mobile hunters. And it would provide another means of food besides just meat ( nomads must contact the farmers for trade, becoming somewhat vulnerable ).
*
I can't say for sure we'll devolve back into Dancing With Wolves. The past is a fuzzy Xerox copy of the future, not a crisp digital copy. Perhaps in some areas such as the Rockies you might see a true hunting/gatherer lifestyle. Perhaps the Great Basin might have the few fertile valleys farmed with the mountains surrounding them providing game. Perhaps the swamps down South will keep a few tribes of primitives alive off the land. I still think the symbiosis of outer protection from nomads surrounding a friendly farming community holds a lot of promise, but I'm also sure there will be some areas that support other types of survival.
END
Everyone wants to be a farmer after the collapse. First off, most of us are familiar with gardening. There is no mystery, even if there is some mastery to go. We can practice ahead of time. Secondly, I think it holds a great appeal in that it has deep, primal meaning. You are filling your days trying to fill your belly. This is no abstract job or career, looking back at middle age wondering if you've done something with your life. You are directly providing for your family with no middleman. Alas, even though I have been trying to point out that farming isn't some fantasy where everything turns out all ducky, that it is full of danger and pitfalls, everyone is still looking at me like I'm a flaming idiot. How could he not want to be a farmer? How dare he point out that a local strongman will prey on you since you are immobile! Wanting to be a nomad/herder is so impractical! You're going to die! It's nice that you care enough about me that you are worried. Look, I've pointed out the good and bad points of both farmer and a nomad existence before. One is easy to prepare for but presents problems later, the other is hard to convert to but makes things easier in the long run. Neither is perfect, except for you specifically.
*
Now, how about the third way that doesn't get a lot of press? We rarely talk about it, mainly since it is so unrealistic with our population levels. Hunter/gatherer. I'm not talking about something new here, the Stone Age guys have had a handle on this for years. Would it be once again be feasible after the die off? We are talking about a huge die off, by the way. As in Mayan civilization die off rather than Black Plague die off. Despite how panicked I've been about Peak Oil, and despite how massive I think the population decrease will be ( although to be fair my thinking is always colored by extreme paranoia ), will it be enough to allow a true hunter/gatherer existence to once again flourish? Somehow, I have my doubts. Look, since the Agricultural Revolution has there been anything other than the steady encroachment of land from farmers? Even after the fall of Rome. Entire areas went fallow after overproduction, but did anyone live in those areas other than hunter/farmers? Small scale farming ( since the soil now supported far less ) subsidised by hunting. You needed both since the area still wasn't depopulated enough. Outside of the plains Indians with their buffalo, you mostly had farmer/gatherers, farmer/hunters. I'm sure even the wild orchards were domesticated over time, as in almonds/walnuts. Yes, a bit rusty on tribal food logistics. But I think it's safe to say that even if there were a few exceptions, once farming was introduced it crowded out pure foraging.
*
So if the predominate mode of food production, even with the Indians before Whitey showed up, was farming, how can we ever think we'll go back to a pure hunting and gathering existence? At best we can emulate the Indians and adopt the best features of both farming and wild livestock. Raising livestock depends on lots of fertile land for growing fodder. In effect, it is surplus land left over from feeding humans. Nomads are able to utilize waste land to feed livestock. Hunter/gathers are so disbursed that nature can feed them both wild meat and plants at a replenishment level. The Indians had the middle ground. Fertile farms surrounded by enough wilderness for game. Could that happen again after die off? It would somewhat alleviate the negative aspects of farming, the vulnerability of staying in one spot. With enough of a buffer between neighbors, attacks could be forewarned against by your mobile hunters. And it would provide another means of food besides just meat ( nomads must contact the farmers for trade, becoming somewhat vulnerable ).
*
I can't say for sure we'll devolve back into Dancing With Wolves. The past is a fuzzy Xerox copy of the future, not a crisp digital copy. Perhaps in some areas such as the Rockies you might see a true hunting/gatherer lifestyle. Perhaps the Great Basin might have the few fertile valleys farmed with the mountains surrounding them providing game. Perhaps the swamps down South will keep a few tribes of primitives alive off the land. I still think the symbiosis of outer protection from nomads surrounding a friendly farming community holds a lot of promise, but I'm also sure there will be some areas that support other types of survival.
END
Thursday, April 16, 2009
damn exercise
DAMN EXERCISE
Okay, it's going to be a bit short today. I had to go to the bank to cash my check today. With traffic and lines it took up half my lunch hour. And it's always a trip to two banks, not one. I have an account to cash my paycheck at the same bank work uses ( evidently, gone are the days that it was easy and/or free to cash a check at the issuers bank ), then I go to my bank to deposit some cash. If I just deposited the check with my bank I would have to worry about how long it took to clear. And I just know the bank is salivating at the thought of charging me fees.
*
I hate exercise. There was a very short window there that I loved it. Going into the military I was skinny with no muscle. And it wasn't very fun getting enough muscle to satisfy those that envisioned me needing to carry half my body weight in a backpack. Except for running, which while I have no upper body strength I at least have good leg muscles and running was a pleasure once I trained for endurance. After a time I got to the point where I could run for an hour and really enjoy the free legal drugs my brain was pumping out. But that didn't last very long. Since there was a mandatory physical testing on a regular basis I got to hate and loath exercise. Here I was drinking myself into a stupor every night and suddenly you had to wake up and go exercise after abusing your body and you felt you could die. That feeling trumped the endorphin high. So as soon as I got out of the military I stoped exercising. Never went back to it. I did eventually build upper body mass through a lot of heavy lifting at a few jobs, but I'm not buff. Just no longer as skinny.
*
Well, no matter how many times you read what a good idea it is to get in shape for the coming collapse of civilization, if you hate exercise it most likely isn't going to happen. Unless you force yourself into it by other means. If you have a crappy job, such as at a warehouse, you can get in shape. I got into shape by riding my bike to work. The only thing I had in mind was saving a hundred bucks a month in gasoline and whatever repairs occurred by the wear and tear on my vehicle. I didn't want to get in shape. In fact, I didn't think it really had any exercise benefits. I mean, you're on a bicycle. The most efficient form of transportation known to man for the amount of calories burned ( if you convert gasoline's BTU's into calories it is still not as efficient in its energy use ). I figured the bike was going to do the work, despite the several hills I have to force my way up in a single speed bike.
*
Now, I had noticed that I was no longer getting flabby with age. My gut is almost gone and I look a lot more firm and trim. I'm not bragging. I bitch and moan like a little girl almost every day having to slog through mud or freezing weather or into a strong wind. I'm merely accidentally in shape, despite my best intentions. What brought this up now? I don't own a scale and I haven't weighed myself for about a year. At work the other day they had a scale on sale at the thrift store so I jumped on. With boots and clothes I weighed 175. That's a decrease from 195 naked. I'm not a girl that obsesses with how much I weigh, but it did reinforce how much fat I've lost. So I've forced myself to get into shape, saved myself money and feel a lot better than I have for about a decade. And, I can eat the fat and sugar my body craves without sweating it ( well, calorie wise anyway ). Enjoy your SUV, fat boy.
END
Buy my crap so you feel better about yourself www.bisonpress.com
Okay, it's going to be a bit short today. I had to go to the bank to cash my check today. With traffic and lines it took up half my lunch hour. And it's always a trip to two banks, not one. I have an account to cash my paycheck at the same bank work uses ( evidently, gone are the days that it was easy and/or free to cash a check at the issuers bank ), then I go to my bank to deposit some cash. If I just deposited the check with my bank I would have to worry about how long it took to clear. And I just know the bank is salivating at the thought of charging me fees.
*
I hate exercise. There was a very short window there that I loved it. Going into the military I was skinny with no muscle. And it wasn't very fun getting enough muscle to satisfy those that envisioned me needing to carry half my body weight in a backpack. Except for running, which while I have no upper body strength I at least have good leg muscles and running was a pleasure once I trained for endurance. After a time I got to the point where I could run for an hour and really enjoy the free legal drugs my brain was pumping out. But that didn't last very long. Since there was a mandatory physical testing on a regular basis I got to hate and loath exercise. Here I was drinking myself into a stupor every night and suddenly you had to wake up and go exercise after abusing your body and you felt you could die. That feeling trumped the endorphin high. So as soon as I got out of the military I stoped exercising. Never went back to it. I did eventually build upper body mass through a lot of heavy lifting at a few jobs, but I'm not buff. Just no longer as skinny.
*
Well, no matter how many times you read what a good idea it is to get in shape for the coming collapse of civilization, if you hate exercise it most likely isn't going to happen. Unless you force yourself into it by other means. If you have a crappy job, such as at a warehouse, you can get in shape. I got into shape by riding my bike to work. The only thing I had in mind was saving a hundred bucks a month in gasoline and whatever repairs occurred by the wear and tear on my vehicle. I didn't want to get in shape. In fact, I didn't think it really had any exercise benefits. I mean, you're on a bicycle. The most efficient form of transportation known to man for the amount of calories burned ( if you convert gasoline's BTU's into calories it is still not as efficient in its energy use ). I figured the bike was going to do the work, despite the several hills I have to force my way up in a single speed bike.
*
Now, I had noticed that I was no longer getting flabby with age. My gut is almost gone and I look a lot more firm and trim. I'm not bragging. I bitch and moan like a little girl almost every day having to slog through mud or freezing weather or into a strong wind. I'm merely accidentally in shape, despite my best intentions. What brought this up now? I don't own a scale and I haven't weighed myself for about a year. At work the other day they had a scale on sale at the thrift store so I jumped on. With boots and clothes I weighed 175. That's a decrease from 195 naked. I'm not a girl that obsesses with how much I weigh, but it did reinforce how much fat I've lost. So I've forced myself to get into shape, saved myself money and feel a lot better than I have for about a decade. And, I can eat the fat and sugar my body craves without sweating it ( well, calorie wise anyway ). Enjoy your SUV, fat boy.
END
Buy my crap so you feel better about yourself www.bisonpress.com
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
economic babble
ECONOMIC BABBLE
I want to thank everybody in the comments section for trash talking Rawles for me. It saves me time and makes me look caring and compassionate that I'm not the one saying it. But seriously, let's not forget a few things. He may not be much of a writer, but he is a heck of an editor. Unlike my site, random splatterings of drivel you can't find, you can find information over at www.survivalblog.com with a simple search. I don't remember what I wrote about or when. Also, I am pretty much a one trick pony, subject wise. Over there you get a variety of experts on different subjects. I disagree with Rawles over his philosophy, I don't dislike him as a person. I just like to keep the record straight. I think I'm a better writer, and I think I show The One True Way, but you must out of fairness acknowledge the good points of others.
*
Now that I've proven what a swell guy I am, I can disappoint you with random ramblings of nothing very new or original. If you had tuned in for the last article at http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html you could have read a great analogy on the economy and the Titanic sinking. He pointed out the four engines of our economy that are shutting down as the sea water level rises to extinguish them. They are debt, rising assets, government borrowing and rising employment. Obviously all are in big trouble. Debt worked wonders in the economy, from corporations borrowing to buy their competitors consumers at the cost of interest payments to home owners paying mortgage rates on credit card and auto loans. That was possible through rising assets. If the stock price of a company goes up, if the equity of a home rises, the collateral for cheap loans magically appears, no actual effort or value added needed. Government borrowing substituted for taxes, freeing up capital for businesses and consumer spending on consumption. And all of that was possible, more debt and more consumption, through rising employment. Who couldn't afford a NINJA home loan when both spouses worked?
*
Well, as Zimbabwe would have been happy to tell us if we had just asked, you can have a great party off of the historical economic capital you pillage but sooner or later that runs out and you need to start printing worthless money to keep things going. You would have thought that after almost a hundred years of pillaging the once gold backed dollar and collecting hundreds of billions of dollars a year in interest just from the Federal government alone, the bankers would have been content with their golden goose. But, no. They didn't want to wait for the next egg, they started thinking about the whole animal baked with a honey glaze. Okay, I can sort of understand. Honey glaze really does spruce up a meal. But eggs are for months and goose is for one meal. Any five year old listening to Aesop's fables can tell you not to eat the damn thing, honey glaze or not. Of course, to be fair, perhaps generations of blue blood inbreeding didn't make them all stupid and enough realize that with the global decrease in affordable oil the game was over and done anyway and they might as well be the last generation to live in splendor and style.
*
The debt engine is sort of hard to run during a global credit contraction. Banks are forced to restrict lending, so that ends company acquisitions and buying a way overpriced home. Or, I should say house. Home is were you live, a house is an instrument of debt. This means that suddenly, assets start to fall rather than rise. Stocks take a battering and homes turn upside down in value. As the economy starts contracting, there is no more money to park in government treasuries. As I write this I am filled with a perverted and twisted glee, recalling that the Chinese have pulled back their purchases of US government debt 95%!! I guess we did need them more than they needed us. With governments in trouble, all the tax money they threw into the economy starts to shrink, which stalls the other engines even more. And of course, unemployment is rising. Not only does this translate into less consumption, it also means less debt is complied or even paid back. Going from a two income household to one means, first, no more Starbucks, then no more second SUV at $600 a month payments, then no garage to park the remaining vehicle. All of these working together, fueled by debt which was fueled by cheap energy, grew our economy even though we produced nothing anyone wanted. Now, all those factors are working together against us. The perfect storm. It sure looks pretty, like a meteor storm right before a rock lands on your head at high velocity.
END
Buy My Crap, www.bisonpress.com
I want to thank everybody in the comments section for trash talking Rawles for me. It saves me time and makes me look caring and compassionate that I'm not the one saying it. But seriously, let's not forget a few things. He may not be much of a writer, but he is a heck of an editor. Unlike my site, random splatterings of drivel you can't find, you can find information over at www.survivalblog.com with a simple search. I don't remember what I wrote about or when. Also, I am pretty much a one trick pony, subject wise. Over there you get a variety of experts on different subjects. I disagree with Rawles over his philosophy, I don't dislike him as a person. I just like to keep the record straight. I think I'm a better writer, and I think I show The One True Way, but you must out of fairness acknowledge the good points of others.
*
Now that I've proven what a swell guy I am, I can disappoint you with random ramblings of nothing very new or original. If you had tuned in for the last article at http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html you could have read a great analogy on the economy and the Titanic sinking. He pointed out the four engines of our economy that are shutting down as the sea water level rises to extinguish them. They are debt, rising assets, government borrowing and rising employment. Obviously all are in big trouble. Debt worked wonders in the economy, from corporations borrowing to buy their competitors consumers at the cost of interest payments to home owners paying mortgage rates on credit card and auto loans. That was possible through rising assets. If the stock price of a company goes up, if the equity of a home rises, the collateral for cheap loans magically appears, no actual effort or value added needed. Government borrowing substituted for taxes, freeing up capital for businesses and consumer spending on consumption. And all of that was possible, more debt and more consumption, through rising employment. Who couldn't afford a NINJA home loan when both spouses worked?
*
Well, as Zimbabwe would have been happy to tell us if we had just asked, you can have a great party off of the historical economic capital you pillage but sooner or later that runs out and you need to start printing worthless money to keep things going. You would have thought that after almost a hundred years of pillaging the once gold backed dollar and collecting hundreds of billions of dollars a year in interest just from the Federal government alone, the bankers would have been content with their golden goose. But, no. They didn't want to wait for the next egg, they started thinking about the whole animal baked with a honey glaze. Okay, I can sort of understand. Honey glaze really does spruce up a meal. But eggs are for months and goose is for one meal. Any five year old listening to Aesop's fables can tell you not to eat the damn thing, honey glaze or not. Of course, to be fair, perhaps generations of blue blood inbreeding didn't make them all stupid and enough realize that with the global decrease in affordable oil the game was over and done anyway and they might as well be the last generation to live in splendor and style.
*
The debt engine is sort of hard to run during a global credit contraction. Banks are forced to restrict lending, so that ends company acquisitions and buying a way overpriced home. Or, I should say house. Home is were you live, a house is an instrument of debt. This means that suddenly, assets start to fall rather than rise. Stocks take a battering and homes turn upside down in value. As the economy starts contracting, there is no more money to park in government treasuries. As I write this I am filled with a perverted and twisted glee, recalling that the Chinese have pulled back their purchases of US government debt 95%!! I guess we did need them more than they needed us. With governments in trouble, all the tax money they threw into the economy starts to shrink, which stalls the other engines even more. And of course, unemployment is rising. Not only does this translate into less consumption, it also means less debt is complied or even paid back. Going from a two income household to one means, first, no more Starbucks, then no more second SUV at $600 a month payments, then no garage to park the remaining vehicle. All of these working together, fueled by debt which was fueled by cheap energy, grew our economy even though we produced nothing anyone wanted. Now, all those factors are working together against us. The perfect storm. It sure looks pretty, like a meteor storm right before a rock lands on your head at high velocity.
END
Buy My Crap, www.bisonpress.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
yankee go home
YANKEE GO HOME
Before we start today, make note of two anniversaries. The first is that of the Titanic, which should have been a warning that the best man made structures are no match for Mother Nature. Look at your pathetic stick built suburban banker death march dwelling. It isn't even made well, and it definitely is no match for Mother Nature. The other anniversary is that of the assassination of Lincoln. The first President to be gunned down, and few were as deserving as that disciple of Satan, that worshiper of the collective, that rectal wart. I can only hope that the son of a whore is eternally burning in the deepest pit of Hell. Take a moment to bow your head in fond remembrance of a true American hero, John W. Booth.
*
Over at the Rawles page today was an article on how everyone should have a passport in case they need to bug out ahead of the Obammy Reeducation Camps being built by Halliburtin. Okay, they didn't say anything bad about Obammy. Most Yuppie Survivalists only have wealth thanks to some form of income redistribution so while they might play along and make noises about wanting freedom, what they mean is they don't want any more erosion of their Constitutional rights now that they've gotten on board the gravy train. So deep down any fascist puke like Lincoln or Obammy is all right in their book. I'm sorry, where was I? Okay, let's explore this issue. I already wrote about how immigrating wasn't very feasible. Since any move puts you at a gross disadvantage culturally ( a lifetime growing up in a culture conditions you to thousands of do's and don'ts new arrivals can't grasp for some time ), since almost no other country is as liberal with its gun laws as the US, and since most of us are not professionals with needed overseas skills, there is little point in thinking about moving out of the US.
*
Most folks living overseas are on the US dole or are professionals. A lot of those working overseas are only needed there right now, while global trade is the norm ( language teachers come to mind ). When trade once again localizes, these people will be without work. When the US goes bankrupt ( remember, this is not a normal Depression, since our energy supplies are contracting- there will be no full recovery, ever ) all those on pensions or Social Security will have no means of support and be too old to go back to work. Now, given all that, what makes you think Joe Blow heading overseas after DC is nuked ( we should be so lucky ) and the Mayor of Houston declares himself King and starts to liquidate whole neighborhoods of whites can even hope of being welcomed in any other country? What does he offer anyone? He is overweight and will be a burden on their medical welfare system, he has sub par skills compared to the millions of over trained and underpaid local workers and he can't hope to compete with the local poor for the crap jobs available.
*
The plain fact is that in general, Americans value themselves a lot higher than most other folks do. If you have a skill that makes you invaluable, fine. Although I would not wait to move if that is your wish. Wait too long and you have a lot more competition which means no position or a less lucrative one. And if you move to another country and open a business that employs locals thus making you welcome there ( as Rawles suggested ), by all means do not think that the US is going to remain a viable market for your business. If you rely on the surplus wealth of US consumers to keep you fat and happy in some tropical paradise, you are setting yourself up for failure. You are in the same position as the guy on Social Security. For the love of all that's good and holy and just, do you really think our economy is in good shape after we added more debt in the last six months than had been accumulated over our entire existence as a country? We are a zombie economy, dead man walking. Every government promise is an empty pathetic worthless promise. And you are, quite frankly, a fool to believe them. Most of our economy is based on these empty promises. Don't stake your future on them.
*
So, be honest with yourself. Are you really skilled enough to earn a living elsewhere? Is your business good enough to survive the economic implosion of the US ( and maybe, maybe not, that of the rest of the globe )? The US is destined to turn into a craphole, true. But it's OUR craphole, we know how to live in this culture. We can, at least for now, defend ourselves. There is plenty of countryside to disappear into. I for one would rather take my chances freezing in the Rockies than trying to survive the millions of nasty lifeforms seething in a tropical jungle. We know the strengths and weaknesses of the government here, at least. We are already natives that others will deal with in barter and other transactions. If you take off to another country you still might turn into a persecuted minority, so why not just stay put? Before WWII, Jews could immigrate and find work. They had self supporting communities they could join overseas. Today, what communities are there? Few that aren't dependant on normal global business or welfare checks being mailed in. And you won't be welcomed as cheap labor, that is already there. It is like moving to another state, where you are not welcomed. You are an outsider, you won't get first pick of jobs and you won't know where the good deals are for rent or services. But many times worse.
*
Moving overseas during an economic downturn is stupid. Moving there during a collapse is worse. You are too vulnerable. I don't want no stinking passport.
END
Before we start today, make note of two anniversaries. The first is that of the Titanic, which should have been a warning that the best man made structures are no match for Mother Nature. Look at your pathetic stick built suburban banker death march dwelling. It isn't even made well, and it definitely is no match for Mother Nature. The other anniversary is that of the assassination of Lincoln. The first President to be gunned down, and few were as deserving as that disciple of Satan, that worshiper of the collective, that rectal wart. I can only hope that the son of a whore is eternally burning in the deepest pit of Hell. Take a moment to bow your head in fond remembrance of a true American hero, John W. Booth.
*
Over at the Rawles page today was an article on how everyone should have a passport in case they need to bug out ahead of the Obammy Reeducation Camps being built by Halliburtin. Okay, they didn't say anything bad about Obammy. Most Yuppie Survivalists only have wealth thanks to some form of income redistribution so while they might play along and make noises about wanting freedom, what they mean is they don't want any more erosion of their Constitutional rights now that they've gotten on board the gravy train. So deep down any fascist puke like Lincoln or Obammy is all right in their book. I'm sorry, where was I? Okay, let's explore this issue. I already wrote about how immigrating wasn't very feasible. Since any move puts you at a gross disadvantage culturally ( a lifetime growing up in a culture conditions you to thousands of do's and don'ts new arrivals can't grasp for some time ), since almost no other country is as liberal with its gun laws as the US, and since most of us are not professionals with needed overseas skills, there is little point in thinking about moving out of the US.
*
Most folks living overseas are on the US dole or are professionals. A lot of those working overseas are only needed there right now, while global trade is the norm ( language teachers come to mind ). When trade once again localizes, these people will be without work. When the US goes bankrupt ( remember, this is not a normal Depression, since our energy supplies are contracting- there will be no full recovery, ever ) all those on pensions or Social Security will have no means of support and be too old to go back to work. Now, given all that, what makes you think Joe Blow heading overseas after DC is nuked ( we should be so lucky ) and the Mayor of Houston declares himself King and starts to liquidate whole neighborhoods of whites can even hope of being welcomed in any other country? What does he offer anyone? He is overweight and will be a burden on their medical welfare system, he has sub par skills compared to the millions of over trained and underpaid local workers and he can't hope to compete with the local poor for the crap jobs available.
*
The plain fact is that in general, Americans value themselves a lot higher than most other folks do. If you have a skill that makes you invaluable, fine. Although I would not wait to move if that is your wish. Wait too long and you have a lot more competition which means no position or a less lucrative one. And if you move to another country and open a business that employs locals thus making you welcome there ( as Rawles suggested ), by all means do not think that the US is going to remain a viable market for your business. If you rely on the surplus wealth of US consumers to keep you fat and happy in some tropical paradise, you are setting yourself up for failure. You are in the same position as the guy on Social Security. For the love of all that's good and holy and just, do you really think our economy is in good shape after we added more debt in the last six months than had been accumulated over our entire existence as a country? We are a zombie economy, dead man walking. Every government promise is an empty pathetic worthless promise. And you are, quite frankly, a fool to believe them. Most of our economy is based on these empty promises. Don't stake your future on them.
*
So, be honest with yourself. Are you really skilled enough to earn a living elsewhere? Is your business good enough to survive the economic implosion of the US ( and maybe, maybe not, that of the rest of the globe )? The US is destined to turn into a craphole, true. But it's OUR craphole, we know how to live in this culture. We can, at least for now, defend ourselves. There is plenty of countryside to disappear into. I for one would rather take my chances freezing in the Rockies than trying to survive the millions of nasty lifeforms seething in a tropical jungle. We know the strengths and weaknesses of the government here, at least. We are already natives that others will deal with in barter and other transactions. If you take off to another country you still might turn into a persecuted minority, so why not just stay put? Before WWII, Jews could immigrate and find work. They had self supporting communities they could join overseas. Today, what communities are there? Few that aren't dependant on normal global business or welfare checks being mailed in. And you won't be welcomed as cheap labor, that is already there. It is like moving to another state, where you are not welcomed. You are an outsider, you won't get first pick of jobs and you won't know where the good deals are for rent or services. But many times worse.
*
Moving overseas during an economic downturn is stupid. Moving there during a collapse is worse. You are too vulnerable. I don't want no stinking passport.
END
Monday, April 13, 2009
one second after & acreage down
ONE SECOND AFTER & ACREAGE DOWN
I could have spent Sunday going to church but I'm not the religious type ( although me and Baby Jesus have an understanding ). I could have helped others throw a egg and basket type event for kids, but I have little appreciation for any children other than my own. I could have gone out to eat at a cheap buffet at one of the casinos, but I'm too cheap for that and was content eating a can of sardines on crackers and a half loaf of bread with butter. I couldn't take time out for cooking or anything else since I was busy reading One Second After by William R Forstchen. This was the main event of the day and I was quite happy with it. This was seriously one great read. A bit expensive at about $2.50 an hour, but this was one of life's treats.
*
I'm not going to tell you a whole lot about the story. I don't think it would detract much from it, but since you are paying for a hardback you need all the enjoyment you can get from your purchase. Before Amazon.com came along ( and honest, I'm not getting paid to plug them ) I never bought a hard back fiction book. $25? No friggin way. For non-fiction, okay, no problem. But for a story? Very rare I would even buy a new paperback, let alone a hard back. But at almost half the previous price I can indulge every once in awhile. Still, $15-$18 is nothing to sneeze at for fiction. But I will tell you this. You are not buying an education, only entertainment. You won't learn anything survival preparation wise from reading this. However, this is one of the best stories I can remember reading describing the whole process of a community going through a disaster. The process of die-off. The main story line involves medical problems from the grid being down, lack of machines for the sick as well as the just in time drug supply inventory system causing instant shortages. Luckily, the medical aspect of it is not the only thing, plenty of other problems and processes are discussed. You don't feel like this is a Robin Cook book. Very well written, very believable. I would highly recommend this as a recruiting tool for non believers.
*
On to more happy food supply news. The USDA has reported a decrease of seven million acres planted. They didn't give a percentage amount, other than winter wheat being down seven percent. But even if a small percentage, seven million acres is nothing to sneeze at. I've already shouted from the rooftops about the global drought and the credit contraction sure to put a squeeze on farmers, but you just ignore me and buy another case of MRE's. It doesn't matter if this latest news item has serious consequences or not. It most likely will jack up retail food prices if nothing else. But the more important point is that we are headed for a collision course with dwindling energy supplies. Over at Rawles one of the articles stated that our fertilizer supplies were in jeopardy because of our 60% dependence on imported oil. Another letter said it was no problem since we import almost no natural gas ( the original article implied the oil was the source ). Both were wrong, since we have seen over fifty percent of the plants that turn out the nitrogen fertilizer go overseas for lower costs. Now, of course that figure is not current. This was after Katrina. I don't know if any have moved the processing back here. But enough of our fertilizer is manufactured overseas that it does present a vulnerability ( unless my figures are hopelessly outdated ).
*
Again, I'm going to throw my situation in your face. Since wife #4 has left, I've accumulated five hundred pounds of corn, among other foods. Most weeks I only spent $11. I'm not saying one grain is sufficient for a diet. But it is a cheap backbone to an emergency diet. Don't dwaddle on buying your bulk grains. Even if the current "crisis" comes to nothing, others are waiting to take its place. Hyperinflation for one. Damn Pringles just went up fifty percent at Wally World. Damn thieving bastards. I won't be eating any more of those. Okay, that's not exactly hyperinflation, but it does seem food just keeps increasing. Don't wait for food to become the new ammo and be priced out of your budget.
END
Buy my crap http://www.bisonpress.com/
Thanks for the heads up on Friday's article. I changed the bow diameter to length. My bad.
I could have spent Sunday going to church but I'm not the religious type ( although me and Baby Jesus have an understanding ). I could have helped others throw a egg and basket type event for kids, but I have little appreciation for any children other than my own. I could have gone out to eat at a cheap buffet at one of the casinos, but I'm too cheap for that and was content eating a can of sardines on crackers and a half loaf of bread with butter. I couldn't take time out for cooking or anything else since I was busy reading One Second After by William R Forstchen. This was the main event of the day and I was quite happy with it. This was seriously one great read. A bit expensive at about $2.50 an hour, but this was one of life's treats.
*
I'm not going to tell you a whole lot about the story. I don't think it would detract much from it, but since you are paying for a hardback you need all the enjoyment you can get from your purchase. Before Amazon.com came along ( and honest, I'm not getting paid to plug them ) I never bought a hard back fiction book. $25? No friggin way. For non-fiction, okay, no problem. But for a story? Very rare I would even buy a new paperback, let alone a hard back. But at almost half the previous price I can indulge every once in awhile. Still, $15-$18 is nothing to sneeze at for fiction. But I will tell you this. You are not buying an education, only entertainment. You won't learn anything survival preparation wise from reading this. However, this is one of the best stories I can remember reading describing the whole process of a community going through a disaster. The process of die-off. The main story line involves medical problems from the grid being down, lack of machines for the sick as well as the just in time drug supply inventory system causing instant shortages. Luckily, the medical aspect of it is not the only thing, plenty of other problems and processes are discussed. You don't feel like this is a Robin Cook book. Very well written, very believable. I would highly recommend this as a recruiting tool for non believers.
*
On to more happy food supply news. The USDA has reported a decrease of seven million acres planted. They didn't give a percentage amount, other than winter wheat being down seven percent. But even if a small percentage, seven million acres is nothing to sneeze at. I've already shouted from the rooftops about the global drought and the credit contraction sure to put a squeeze on farmers, but you just ignore me and buy another case of MRE's. It doesn't matter if this latest news item has serious consequences or not. It most likely will jack up retail food prices if nothing else. But the more important point is that we are headed for a collision course with dwindling energy supplies. Over at Rawles one of the articles stated that our fertilizer supplies were in jeopardy because of our 60% dependence on imported oil. Another letter said it was no problem since we import almost no natural gas ( the original article implied the oil was the source ). Both were wrong, since we have seen over fifty percent of the plants that turn out the nitrogen fertilizer go overseas for lower costs. Now, of course that figure is not current. This was after Katrina. I don't know if any have moved the processing back here. But enough of our fertilizer is manufactured overseas that it does present a vulnerability ( unless my figures are hopelessly outdated ).
*
Again, I'm going to throw my situation in your face. Since wife #4 has left, I've accumulated five hundred pounds of corn, among other foods. Most weeks I only spent $11. I'm not saying one grain is sufficient for a diet. But it is a cheap backbone to an emergency diet. Don't dwaddle on buying your bulk grains. Even if the current "crisis" comes to nothing, others are waiting to take its place. Hyperinflation for one. Damn Pringles just went up fifty percent at Wally World. Damn thieving bastards. I won't be eating any more of those. Okay, that's not exactly hyperinflation, but it does seem food just keeps increasing. Don't wait for food to become the new ammo and be priced out of your budget.
END
Buy my crap http://www.bisonpress.com/
Thanks for the heads up on Friday's article. I changed the bow diameter to length. My bad.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
selling my land
SELLING MY LAND
I am selling my two lots, one in east Arizona and one in east Texas. They are both very small, suitable for a cabin or trailer. I am selling below my cost. Factoring in inflation alone I should be selling them for twice what I paid. However, as I can never realistically expect to see them it seems foolish to keep them. Plus, I bought them sight unseen. I have no way of knowing how good or bad they are. I don’t know if the claims made about them are true. So, by selling them cheaply I am pricing in the possibility of misrepresentation from those I bought from. My descriptions below are as I was told, not as I have seen or can guarantee. Also, part of the price is you are required to do all paperwork. You must figure out how to get a deed filled out. You do the paperwork, send it to me to sign, I send it back to you. You file it, you pay all fees. If I wanted to be bothered figuring out how to do the paperwork I would have listed these on E-Bay for a lot more money. The last time I checked both areas had lots in excess of a thousand dollars, at a minimum. So don’t ask me to lower the price. I’ll sit on them before I do that. I paid $450 for the Arizona lot, I’ll sell it for an even $400. I paid the same for the Texas lot, but I bought title insurance for it ( which I got ripped off on from First American ) so I have a total of $700 into it. I’ll sell it for $600. Go on E-Bay, I don’t think you’ll find land anywhere as cheap.
The Texas lot is in Henderson County, about sixty miles east of Dallas/Fort Worth. It is next to Cedar Creek Lake, just off the junction of roads 334 and 274. Gun Barrel City is five miles away ( has a Super Wal-Mart there ). It is two trailer lots, end to end long ways. I don’t have the measurements anymore, just imagine a mobile home lot in a park for the dimensions. I have been taxed both by Henderson County and Kaufmann County. I don’t know if Kaufmann is a scam or if there is a weird duel county property tax for schools of something. I paid it since it’s under $5 a year. Just something to be aware of. The lot is supposed to be zoned for trailers, with the utilities available for hook up on a dirt road alongside the lot. Beware that the area has double the national unemployment rate, and that was years ago before the current Troubles. Tax # 3715-0000-3410-500. Lot 341 and 341A, Oak Tree Estates.
The Arizona lot is in Apache County. It is thirty miles from St. John’s and Show Low. At the intersection of Hwy 60 and 61. From Hwy 61, turn off at Little Ortega Lake and drive ten miles over dirt roads to the subdivision. From Hwy 60, it is five miles from Vernon ( one assumes a VERY small “town” ). I can’t imagine the roads are still in good repair. Perhaps the county roads, but certainly not the subdivision roads. But I don’t know. If I were you I would assume you need to hire someone to find the lot. Lot is eighty feet by 145. It claims to be zoned for travel trailers but I have my doubts as no other land in the county was. They all wanted mobiles or stick built. But perhaps since it’s not been invaded by Yuppies yet…Tax # 107-35-477. Concho Lakeland #6, Lot 2, Blk 18.
I have maps, but they are fuzzy Xerox copies. I’ll send them with purchase if needed. Let me know if you have questions, but I think I’ve given you as much as I know. Jim
My e-mail address is jimd303@netzero.com
I am selling my two lots, one in east Arizona and one in east Texas. They are both very small, suitable for a cabin or trailer. I am selling below my cost. Factoring in inflation alone I should be selling them for twice what I paid. However, as I can never realistically expect to see them it seems foolish to keep them. Plus, I bought them sight unseen. I have no way of knowing how good or bad they are. I don’t know if the claims made about them are true. So, by selling them cheaply I am pricing in the possibility of misrepresentation from those I bought from. My descriptions below are as I was told, not as I have seen or can guarantee. Also, part of the price is you are required to do all paperwork. You must figure out how to get a deed filled out. You do the paperwork, send it to me to sign, I send it back to you. You file it, you pay all fees. If I wanted to be bothered figuring out how to do the paperwork I would have listed these on E-Bay for a lot more money. The last time I checked both areas had lots in excess of a thousand dollars, at a minimum. So don’t ask me to lower the price. I’ll sit on them before I do that. I paid $450 for the Arizona lot, I’ll sell it for an even $400. I paid the same for the Texas lot, but I bought title insurance for it ( which I got ripped off on from First American ) so I have a total of $700 into it. I’ll sell it for $600. Go on E-Bay, I don’t think you’ll find land anywhere as cheap.
The Texas lot is in Henderson County, about sixty miles east of Dallas/Fort Worth. It is next to Cedar Creek Lake, just off the junction of roads 334 and 274. Gun Barrel City is five miles away ( has a Super Wal-Mart there ). It is two trailer lots, end to end long ways. I don’t have the measurements anymore, just imagine a mobile home lot in a park for the dimensions. I have been taxed both by Henderson County and Kaufmann County. I don’t know if Kaufmann is a scam or if there is a weird duel county property tax for schools of something. I paid it since it’s under $5 a year. Just something to be aware of. The lot is supposed to be zoned for trailers, with the utilities available for hook up on a dirt road alongside the lot. Beware that the area has double the national unemployment rate, and that was years ago before the current Troubles. Tax # 3715-0000-3410-500. Lot 341 and 341A, Oak Tree Estates.
The Arizona lot is in Apache County. It is thirty miles from St. John’s and Show Low. At the intersection of Hwy 60 and 61. From Hwy 61, turn off at Little Ortega Lake and drive ten miles over dirt roads to the subdivision. From Hwy 60, it is five miles from Vernon ( one assumes a VERY small “town” ). I can’t imagine the roads are still in good repair. Perhaps the county roads, but certainly not the subdivision roads. But I don’t know. If I were you I would assume you need to hire someone to find the lot. Lot is eighty feet by 145. It claims to be zoned for travel trailers but I have my doubts as no other land in the county was. They all wanted mobiles or stick built. But perhaps since it’s not been invaded by Yuppies yet…Tax # 107-35-477. Concho Lakeland #6, Lot 2, Blk 18.
I have maps, but they are fuzzy Xerox copies. I’ll send them with purchase if needed. Let me know if you have questions, but I think I’ve given you as much as I know. Jim
My e-mail address is jimd303@netzero.com
Friday, April 10, 2009
"emergency" tips
"EMERGENCY" TIPS
I love Amazon.com. One of the few companies that has a CEO with an intelligence above room temperature. Gee, imagine, the concept of pleasing your customers instead of cheating them. I know you don't care about that overly much but I felt the need to remind you of their existence. So anyway, sometimes you get books in two days and sometimes it's over two weeks. I don't mind, that's the price you pay for free shipping. But this last time I really had a hard time waiting for my books. I had cashed in my free book coupon from my sales commission ( thanks loyal minions!! ) and also started spending Uncle Obammies "stimulus check" which was merely giving me my own money back by withholding less from federal taxes from each paycheck. A quick back of the napkin calculation told me if I didn't change my withholding amount I would get $25 more every other week and $600 less next February's tax return ( $1400 instead of $2k ). What the heck, I'll either buy the books now or next March after my return.
*
I had ordered One Second After ( Rawles made me aware of it, to give my nemesis his due ), the life-after-EMP novel, Emergency, Killing Hope ( CIA and military interventions since WWII ) and two of Michael Z Williamson's paperpacks ( also the result of Rawles reviews as I had no idea this author existed prior to that ). They finally arrived today after around a week. Just in time for the weekend. Also today, I was having a second day of no brilliant idea on what to write about so I picked up "Emergency" by Neil Strauss and started thumbing through it. I usually read a book before letting you know about it but I was hoping for a quick idea I could steal from it. Was I ever in luck! Throughout the book there are one and two page "how to's" in comic form. Comics are right up my alley. So I'm going to share a few with you. If you don't like them, blame it on the author of the book. If you do like them, give me credit for telling you about it. I'll eventually get around to reading the actual book and ripping off more ideas. Before I start that, I am reminded of reading about another tip from another survival book. The name of the book escapes me right now. But it is a pretty nifty tip. It seems that canned goods are a lot easier to open than with a knife if you are stranded without a can opener ( I always carry a P38 in my wallet-it's lumpy at first but then you don't notice it much ). Take the end that sticks straight up. Some cans are that way on both ends, some have rounded curves on the bottom. Place it against a hard abrasive surface like a rock or cement surface. Rub it back and forth until you see some moisture. The steel end has been worn away and you can now pry off the top. It is a thin amount to wear away, not like the wall thickness.
*
The first comic in Emergency is on how to make a credit card knife. Take a credit, debit or room key plastic card. Get a single edge safety razor and break apart the plastic head and get the razor blade. Glue it near one corner of the card at the bottom. Place it at an angle, making a triangle at the corner of the card. You only want about 1/16th of an inch of razor protruding out at one end ( the bulk of the blade is behind the card ). Put scotch tape over the part behind the card so no edge snags on the wallet pocket. When you use this to slice someone, the razor breaks the skin allowing the card to penetrate to make a large cut. In theory the metal is small enough to go through airport detectors. I don't know how effective this would be, but it's pretty cool.
*
Making a bow and arrow. Because bow making wood might be scarce in your urban environment, try this trick. Take a PVC pipe, about four feet in length. Cut notches in each end, two inches from the ends. Cut half way through the pipe. Take a length of string four inches shorter than the bow and tie a loop in each end, then string the bow by bending, then looping each end one at a time. A wooden dowel with one end notched and the other sharpened will provide an arrow. I don't know the range or power of this, but again, a cool toy if nothing else.
*
Getting out of flex cuffs ( if your hands are if front of you ). If you are wearing boots, and you use paracord for laces, you can get out of plastic tie cuffs. Take one lace, loop it over the cuffs. Tie a loop in each end. Put your feet through the loops. Now move your legs as if riding a bike, up and down. The friction should wear through the plastic. If the lace breaks, use the other one. If both break, hopefully by then there will be enough weakening of the plastic you could rotate your wrists to break them. Again, who knows if you will ever be held captive with your arms bound in front of you, but who knows? There were other tips of course, I just picked the cool ones that jumped out at me. Maybe you'll have a few weekend projects here.
END
Tomorrow I'm going to publish my "land for sale" details. Tune in if that interests you. Also, way to go on the comments. 20% trolls, but the other 80% was pretty darn funny. As to the "I like Ho-Ho's" and "I like my penis" silliness, try saying it like it was done in the movie Rainman. It is a lot funnier that way, believe me ( even if the author didn't mean it in that context ). Buy my crap at http://www.bisonpress.com/
I love Amazon.com. One of the few companies that has a CEO with an intelligence above room temperature. Gee, imagine, the concept of pleasing your customers instead of cheating them. I know you don't care about that overly much but I felt the need to remind you of their existence. So anyway, sometimes you get books in two days and sometimes it's over two weeks. I don't mind, that's the price you pay for free shipping. But this last time I really had a hard time waiting for my books. I had cashed in my free book coupon from my sales commission ( thanks loyal minions!! ) and also started spending Uncle Obammies "stimulus check" which was merely giving me my own money back by withholding less from federal taxes from each paycheck. A quick back of the napkin calculation told me if I didn't change my withholding amount I would get $25 more every other week and $600 less next February's tax return ( $1400 instead of $2k ). What the heck, I'll either buy the books now or next March after my return.
*
I had ordered One Second After ( Rawles made me aware of it, to give my nemesis his due ), the life-after-EMP novel, Emergency, Killing Hope ( CIA and military interventions since WWII ) and two of Michael Z Williamson's paperpacks ( also the result of Rawles reviews as I had no idea this author existed prior to that ). They finally arrived today after around a week. Just in time for the weekend. Also today, I was having a second day of no brilliant idea on what to write about so I picked up "Emergency" by Neil Strauss and started thumbing through it. I usually read a book before letting you know about it but I was hoping for a quick idea I could steal from it. Was I ever in luck! Throughout the book there are one and two page "how to's" in comic form. Comics are right up my alley. So I'm going to share a few with you. If you don't like them, blame it on the author of the book. If you do like them, give me credit for telling you about it. I'll eventually get around to reading the actual book and ripping off more ideas. Before I start that, I am reminded of reading about another tip from another survival book. The name of the book escapes me right now. But it is a pretty nifty tip. It seems that canned goods are a lot easier to open than with a knife if you are stranded without a can opener ( I always carry a P38 in my wallet-it's lumpy at first but then you don't notice it much ). Take the end that sticks straight up. Some cans are that way on both ends, some have rounded curves on the bottom. Place it against a hard abrasive surface like a rock or cement surface. Rub it back and forth until you see some moisture. The steel end has been worn away and you can now pry off the top. It is a thin amount to wear away, not like the wall thickness.
*
The first comic in Emergency is on how to make a credit card knife. Take a credit, debit or room key plastic card. Get a single edge safety razor and break apart the plastic head and get the razor blade. Glue it near one corner of the card at the bottom. Place it at an angle, making a triangle at the corner of the card. You only want about 1/16th of an inch of razor protruding out at one end ( the bulk of the blade is behind the card ). Put scotch tape over the part behind the card so no edge snags on the wallet pocket. When you use this to slice someone, the razor breaks the skin allowing the card to penetrate to make a large cut. In theory the metal is small enough to go through airport detectors. I don't know how effective this would be, but it's pretty cool.
*
Making a bow and arrow. Because bow making wood might be scarce in your urban environment, try this trick. Take a PVC pipe, about four feet in length. Cut notches in each end, two inches from the ends. Cut half way through the pipe. Take a length of string four inches shorter than the bow and tie a loop in each end, then string the bow by bending, then looping each end one at a time. A wooden dowel with one end notched and the other sharpened will provide an arrow. I don't know the range or power of this, but again, a cool toy if nothing else.
*
Getting out of flex cuffs ( if your hands are if front of you ). If you are wearing boots, and you use paracord for laces, you can get out of plastic tie cuffs. Take one lace, loop it over the cuffs. Tie a loop in each end. Put your feet through the loops. Now move your legs as if riding a bike, up and down. The friction should wear through the plastic. If the lace breaks, use the other one. If both break, hopefully by then there will be enough weakening of the plastic you could rotate your wrists to break them. Again, who knows if you will ever be held captive with your arms bound in front of you, but who knows? There were other tips of course, I just picked the cool ones that jumped out at me. Maybe you'll have a few weekend projects here.
END
Tomorrow I'm going to publish my "land for sale" details. Tune in if that interests you. Also, way to go on the comments. 20% trolls, but the other 80% was pretty darn funny. As to the "I like Ho-Ho's" and "I like my penis" silliness, try saying it like it was done in the movie Rainman. It is a lot funnier that way, believe me ( even if the author didn't mean it in that context ). Buy my crap at http://www.bisonpress.com/
Thursday, April 09, 2009
grid paranoia
GRID PARANOIA
Sort of a slow news day here at the Bison Global Information Conglomerate. So, what better way to pass the time than to delve into the lowest depths of delusional paranoia? I hope you have all figured out that I'm a bit paranoid. I think it is a healthy state of preparedness. But, I should also point out that I can clearly see the danger of reading far too much into everything and descending into madness because of it. Sometimes I clearly see that they are out to get me and other times I'm just having fun with the whole thing. Here is how you can tell the difference- If I'm right in my paranoia than I was serious and if I'm wrong than I was merely enjoying a romp. Got it? Today I'm stretching credibility and just having fun with possibilities. Don't take it too serious. If you work for the government, I'm always kidding about those actual black projects. Don't arrange for an "accidental" traffic incident involving several tons of motor vehicle and my bicycle, please.
*
Don't you think there's been a bit much lately about the electrical grid in the news? I mean, is it really a coincidence that suddenly you have NASA reporting on the possibility of disabling solar flares, a best selling book coming out about grid crash, reports of software being attached to computers controlling the grid? And maybe even that April Fool's computer virus thrown in for good measure. It can't be that little to report in the news since American Idol always gives the "news"men plenty to write about. Whenever there is a rash of reports on one possible calamity, I start to worry. Are they trying to soften us up? Plant the seed of nagging worry? Ooooh! Militia members are a threat to the American Way Of Life. Bam! There you have Oklahoma City. We need gun control, after all those reports of Ritalin Kids going Postal. Islamic fundamentalists are out to Destroy The American Way Of Life By Denying Us Their Oil. 9/11 gives us a perfectly good reason to take the oil. Now, granted, there has been no more terrorist attacks since then despite all the color coded placards, pleas to seal yourself up in a room with plastic sheets ( presumably the American Way Of Life doesn't require oxygen ) and bi-monthly warning that We Were All Going To Die. Either they are planting deniability in case the economy required another attack or they were adding static to confuse or they just let a bunch of idiots sit in front of a unfamiliar control board and push buttons at random.
*
But why take down the grid? What does that accomplish? I don't think that terrorist attacks are quite working for them. First off, China isn't buying our debt anymore. Hard to wage war that way. Of course, it is merely a coincidence that troop draw downs start after our money supply dries up ( even transferring troops to Afghanistan and leaving fifty thousand in Iraq still means you can halve your commitment ). And war isn't the economic stimulus it used to be when we had an industrial economy. So if you have maxed out your credit card punishing evil Muslim dudes, they won't work as patsies anymore. So, how to suddenly and drastically curtail domestic energy use if needed? Power grid down. It makes for a wonderful excuse to declare martial law. Then, you divert all oil to the military and LEO's and essential government functions. You can nationalize anything that was in danger of taking down the economy. You can impose wage and price controls. You can start gun confiscations secretly since communications are down. You can ration food or anything else. Without the Internet you can curtail any alternate currency cropping up so hyper-inflated dollars are the only option ( no e-gold or e-silver in micro units ). There are so many fun things you can do, crown yourself Supreme Dictator For Life ( just watch out for Hillary-don't let her near the rat poison or drawer of knives ).
*
Frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't already happened. It must really look like a win/win for the Feds. States running out of money? Nationalize under this emergency. Too many mouths to feed as nitrogen fertilizers and water is in short supply? Grid down will kill a lot of them off. Haliburtan needs a new cash infusion? Ramp up private mercenary activity to guard all your new federal installations and personnel. Post Office going broke? Eliminate e-mail and starve FedEx and UPS of oil. FBI starting to investigate your campaign contributions? Keep them busy knocking down doors at 3am arresting enemies of the state ( that's anyone amongst the survivors of grid down that complains or doesn't turn in his neighbors ). I could go on forever here. My God! What a perfect solution to all our problems. Let's just wait until our masters the banks can't wring any more profit out of the economy.
END
Sort of a slow news day here at the Bison Global Information Conglomerate. So, what better way to pass the time than to delve into the lowest depths of delusional paranoia? I hope you have all figured out that I'm a bit paranoid. I think it is a healthy state of preparedness. But, I should also point out that I can clearly see the danger of reading far too much into everything and descending into madness because of it. Sometimes I clearly see that they are out to get me and other times I'm just having fun with the whole thing. Here is how you can tell the difference- If I'm right in my paranoia than I was serious and if I'm wrong than I was merely enjoying a romp. Got it? Today I'm stretching credibility and just having fun with possibilities. Don't take it too serious. If you work for the government, I'm always kidding about those actual black projects. Don't arrange for an "accidental" traffic incident involving several tons of motor vehicle and my bicycle, please.
*
Don't you think there's been a bit much lately about the electrical grid in the news? I mean, is it really a coincidence that suddenly you have NASA reporting on the possibility of disabling solar flares, a best selling book coming out about grid crash, reports of software being attached to computers controlling the grid? And maybe even that April Fool's computer virus thrown in for good measure. It can't be that little to report in the news since American Idol always gives the "news"men plenty to write about. Whenever there is a rash of reports on one possible calamity, I start to worry. Are they trying to soften us up? Plant the seed of nagging worry? Ooooh! Militia members are a threat to the American Way Of Life. Bam! There you have Oklahoma City. We need gun control, after all those reports of Ritalin Kids going Postal. Islamic fundamentalists are out to Destroy The American Way Of Life By Denying Us Their Oil. 9/11 gives us a perfectly good reason to take the oil. Now, granted, there has been no more terrorist attacks since then despite all the color coded placards, pleas to seal yourself up in a room with plastic sheets ( presumably the American Way Of Life doesn't require oxygen ) and bi-monthly warning that We Were All Going To Die. Either they are planting deniability in case the economy required another attack or they were adding static to confuse or they just let a bunch of idiots sit in front of a unfamiliar control board and push buttons at random.
*
But why take down the grid? What does that accomplish? I don't think that terrorist attacks are quite working for them. First off, China isn't buying our debt anymore. Hard to wage war that way. Of course, it is merely a coincidence that troop draw downs start after our money supply dries up ( even transferring troops to Afghanistan and leaving fifty thousand in Iraq still means you can halve your commitment ). And war isn't the economic stimulus it used to be when we had an industrial economy. So if you have maxed out your credit card punishing evil Muslim dudes, they won't work as patsies anymore. So, how to suddenly and drastically curtail domestic energy use if needed? Power grid down. It makes for a wonderful excuse to declare martial law. Then, you divert all oil to the military and LEO's and essential government functions. You can nationalize anything that was in danger of taking down the economy. You can impose wage and price controls. You can start gun confiscations secretly since communications are down. You can ration food or anything else. Without the Internet you can curtail any alternate currency cropping up so hyper-inflated dollars are the only option ( no e-gold or e-silver in micro units ). There are so many fun things you can do, crown yourself Supreme Dictator For Life ( just watch out for Hillary-don't let her near the rat poison or drawer of knives ).
*
Frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't already happened. It must really look like a win/win for the Feds. States running out of money? Nationalize under this emergency. Too many mouths to feed as nitrogen fertilizers and water is in short supply? Grid down will kill a lot of them off. Haliburtan needs a new cash infusion? Ramp up private mercenary activity to guard all your new federal installations and personnel. Post Office going broke? Eliminate e-mail and starve FedEx and UPS of oil. FBI starting to investigate your campaign contributions? Keep them busy knocking down doors at 3am arresting enemies of the state ( that's anyone amongst the survivors of grid down that complains or doesn't turn in his neighbors ). I could go on forever here. My God! What a perfect solution to all our problems. Let's just wait until our masters the banks can't wring any more profit out of the economy.
END
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
crap the credit contraction continues
CRAP THE CREDIT CONTRACTION CONTINUES
Let me start right off by sourcing this idea so that the trolls don't wake up from their slumber they fell into after violating their blow up dolls and start making asinine comments about how I don't know anything about economics. As if economics was all that difficult, essentially being distilled into not much more than supply and demand. George Ure over at www.urbansurvival.com led off this mornings writing with the comment that the latest news was a huge deal, indeed. February's credit use fell at an annualized rate of 9%. Now,whether this was the banks shrinking cardholders debt limits or consumers deciding that with pink slips liable to pop out of a pay envelope at any time it just might seem like a groovy idea to stop visiting the strip clubs where they have been buying the girls thirty dollar "super pink lady" drinks and paying four hundred dollars for a private lap dance, or both, it doesn't really matter. The point is that in our economy, a shrinking credit market spells death. Not, oh how I wish I was dead. Not, I feel like death warmed over. Death, as in a putrid corpse sitting in an E-Z Boy recliner and making all the cocktail party guests slightly uncomfortable ( should we say something about the smell, Fred? ).
*
Credit contraction isn't the worst of our problems. Peak Oil is. But one feeds on another. Without cheap oil the economy loses its base. Without cheap credit, firms don't continue to explore for oil. As the global economy drops into the toilet, less oil use results, which added to lack of cheap money to explore shuts down potential future supply. Oh, don't think there is any cheap abundant oil left. There isn't. The last super field was discovered over forty years ago. And those are all starting to decline in production ( even, especially, Saudi Arabia ). But the present lack of new wells being put into production will just worsen our future oil problems. I've said before that it is a bit of a coincidence that our economic troubles started about the time global oil hit its bell curve plateau. I can't say for sure if the contracting oil supply killed the economy but it sure seems plausible. But at the very least it will keep the economy from recovering.
*
So, less credit means less oil supply. Less credit means less consumption. Which means retail jobs start disappearing. Remember, every other recession saw the retail sector absorbing lost manufacturing jobs. In more than one casino I've met advanced degree college graduates working alongside me for gratuities ( which always made me feel pretty happy I didn't waste time or resources continuing school, the same happiness I now feel for never having taken a mortgage ). You had to downsize and see your dreams crushed and have the spouse leave you when she discovered her gold covered loins had opened for a commoner, a POOR person. But at least you could still continue working. Today, all jobs are shedding workers, especially the retail sector. Without cheap credit their business plans ( continued growth ) are hobbled. Without cheap credit their customers were spending less. It doesn't take a huge drop off in business to put them out of business. Especially since they had already laid off past the point where it was healthy for business, all in the name of increased profits and CEO bonuses. When a real emergency started there was no one left to lay off ( at least not enough to stay open ).
*
Commercial real estate is projected to be the next huge domino to fall. With retailers closing down, less and less stores get rented. And while a few giant corporations that own millions of square feet of retail space going out of business won't effect the unemployment picture much, it will send ripples through the economy. Joy, another bail out target. And speaking of which, Prudential and another insurance giant are asking for bail outs. I won't say anything about my article a few weeks ago on insurance companies going out of business and stiffing you. And, speaking of predictions, Rawles is still warning of state pension bail outs. Seems reasonable. California's system had heavily invested in toxic real estate. And speaking of Rawles, today is his Book Buying Bomb. We are all supposed to buy his book today to jack it up in Amazon's ratings. I'm going to do it myself. The least we can give back after years of his daily blog. I wouldn't do it if it was still $25, but $11 is more than reasonable. Okay, this paragraph went to pot quickly.
*
There is a lot to worry about. Peak Oil. Potential global famines. Changing weather ( ice age or global warming doesn't matter, both will wipe out six billions food supply ). Today's point is that the immediate problem is the economy is going down hill fast and it would be silly to expect job security much longer. Don't plan around continuing employment. I know you will anyway. Most are addicted to luxury and convenience. If not you, your spouse who pulls your puppet strings. I can't say I blame you overly much. Living this kind of way pretty much sucks. But, hey, look at it like exercise. It hurts at first so it doesn't hurt much later. You've been warned. Don't come crying to me when you and your trophy wife are living out of your SUV trying to stay ahead of the repo man.
END
Buy my crap, buy my lots, send me money. Whatever, how proud can I be, begging like this? www.bisonpress.com
Let me start right off by sourcing this idea so that the trolls don't wake up from their slumber they fell into after violating their blow up dolls and start making asinine comments about how I don't know anything about economics. As if economics was all that difficult, essentially being distilled into not much more than supply and demand. George Ure over at www.urbansurvival.com led off this mornings writing with the comment that the latest news was a huge deal, indeed. February's credit use fell at an annualized rate of 9%. Now,whether this was the banks shrinking cardholders debt limits or consumers deciding that with pink slips liable to pop out of a pay envelope at any time it just might seem like a groovy idea to stop visiting the strip clubs where they have been buying the girls thirty dollar "super pink lady" drinks and paying four hundred dollars for a private lap dance, or both, it doesn't really matter. The point is that in our economy, a shrinking credit market spells death. Not, oh how I wish I was dead. Not, I feel like death warmed over. Death, as in a putrid corpse sitting in an E-Z Boy recliner and making all the cocktail party guests slightly uncomfortable ( should we say something about the smell, Fred? ).
*
Credit contraction isn't the worst of our problems. Peak Oil is. But one feeds on another. Without cheap oil the economy loses its base. Without cheap credit, firms don't continue to explore for oil. As the global economy drops into the toilet, less oil use results, which added to lack of cheap money to explore shuts down potential future supply. Oh, don't think there is any cheap abundant oil left. There isn't. The last super field was discovered over forty years ago. And those are all starting to decline in production ( even, especially, Saudi Arabia ). But the present lack of new wells being put into production will just worsen our future oil problems. I've said before that it is a bit of a coincidence that our economic troubles started about the time global oil hit its bell curve plateau. I can't say for sure if the contracting oil supply killed the economy but it sure seems plausible. But at the very least it will keep the economy from recovering.
*
So, less credit means less oil supply. Less credit means less consumption. Which means retail jobs start disappearing. Remember, every other recession saw the retail sector absorbing lost manufacturing jobs. In more than one casino I've met advanced degree college graduates working alongside me for gratuities ( which always made me feel pretty happy I didn't waste time or resources continuing school, the same happiness I now feel for never having taken a mortgage ). You had to downsize and see your dreams crushed and have the spouse leave you when she discovered her gold covered loins had opened for a commoner, a POOR person. But at least you could still continue working. Today, all jobs are shedding workers, especially the retail sector. Without cheap credit their business plans ( continued growth ) are hobbled. Without cheap credit their customers were spending less. It doesn't take a huge drop off in business to put them out of business. Especially since they had already laid off past the point where it was healthy for business, all in the name of increased profits and CEO bonuses. When a real emergency started there was no one left to lay off ( at least not enough to stay open ).
*
Commercial real estate is projected to be the next huge domino to fall. With retailers closing down, less and less stores get rented. And while a few giant corporations that own millions of square feet of retail space going out of business won't effect the unemployment picture much, it will send ripples through the economy. Joy, another bail out target. And speaking of which, Prudential and another insurance giant are asking for bail outs. I won't say anything about my article a few weeks ago on insurance companies going out of business and stiffing you. And, speaking of predictions, Rawles is still warning of state pension bail outs. Seems reasonable. California's system had heavily invested in toxic real estate. And speaking of Rawles, today is his Book Buying Bomb. We are all supposed to buy his book today to jack it up in Amazon's ratings. I'm going to do it myself. The least we can give back after years of his daily blog. I wouldn't do it if it was still $25, but $11 is more than reasonable. Okay, this paragraph went to pot quickly.
*
There is a lot to worry about. Peak Oil. Potential global famines. Changing weather ( ice age or global warming doesn't matter, both will wipe out six billions food supply ). Today's point is that the immediate problem is the economy is going down hill fast and it would be silly to expect job security much longer. Don't plan around continuing employment. I know you will anyway. Most are addicted to luxury and convenience. If not you, your spouse who pulls your puppet strings. I can't say I blame you overly much. Living this kind of way pretty much sucks. But, hey, look at it like exercise. It hurts at first so it doesn't hurt much later. You've been warned. Don't come crying to me when you and your trophy wife are living out of your SUV trying to stay ahead of the repo man.
END
Buy my crap, buy my lots, send me money. Whatever, how proud can I be, begging like this? www.bisonpress.com
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
pre-collapse business
PRE-COLLAPSE BUSINESS
Yesterday's lack of enthusiasm was a bit of a disappointment. Instead of, WOW, you tripled your insulating efficiency and retained your mobility for only $400 I get admonished for failing to spend fifty percent more. Dammit people, stop eating your Ho Ho's while watching American Idol and love me. Do you hear that, trolls? My loyal minions are not genuflecting before my every idea. And, speaking of trolls, where's my damn twenty dollars? You promised compensation for the African trailer lot pictures and none was forthcoming. Curse you all- a pox on your hide!
*
It's not enough that I guide you through frugal preparations. Nor that I present wonderful ideas for post-Apocalypse business' or trades. Now, out of the goodness of my heart and the fact that this is what gelled into an idea today, I offer for your amazement and titillation a business that you can enter now with almost no investment and fringe benefits such as tax write offs and subsidized personal consumption. Can I get an Amen, Brother? Of course, there is a down side. Isn't there always? Dammit, why can't there be a free lunch? Well, living in your parents basement eating Ho Ho's and cheese doodles and not working when you are thirty five is kind of a free lunch, but the rest of us have no such luck. The down side is this is really nothing more than a micro-business where the profits are equally small. But at least this is a projected growth business.
*
Start a storage food business. Not the canned, freeze dried foods. Dry bulk in Mylar bags and plastic buckets. You can buy at Wal-Mart, Costco or the feed store. And you don't need a huge investment. You can buy everything one at a time if need be ( to get a starting inventory ). Get the Mylar bags online and the buckets and food locally. And you don't even need an expensive sealing unit for the bags, a clothes iron works just as good. Use that to start and if business really picks up you can invest the couple hundred needed for the sealer. Now, you might think that this is a retarded business plan since very few people want to buy buckets of food. And normally you would be correct. Except that you are already storing your own food. Which can be a business expense. You count it as inventory and equipment cost. Anything you sell, the profit you make, has that tax write off. Unless you really start doing well, which makes paying the taxes less painful. Don't get me wrong, I can't guarantee you what the IRS is going to do. This is not accounting advice. Just speaking in generalities here. Lawyer weasel words, bah, blah.
*
Security is going to be your main concern. I can already hear your brain churning. Why make a ten dollar profit and compromise my security by letting everyone know where I live and store my food? Which is what the Internet is for. You don't even need to list a phone number, let alone an address. Just give a web site or an e-mail address. Don't call back on your home phone if you are really paranoid. Let all the transactions take place online. Which also makes advertising easy. You bypass the traditional costs of doing business. It is all profit with almost no investment and any inventory can be used by you in an emergency which was tax deductible. You need to deliver, but you already have a car which can now be partially used as a business expense.
*
You could also try selling on commission. One potential retail location is a gun store. Crazy gun owners can also be crazy survivalists squirrelling away for Armageddon. You would have to cut them in on the profits, plus they wouldn't stock a lot of your product ( just enough for an advertising display ). But as long as you can sell to people locally cheaper than they can buy online you should have a profitable little niche business. Which, as I said, is sure to continue growing. And imagine the huge profits when famine hits! Also, more lawyer weasel words, keep all the problems in mind like a health inspection, needed licences, inventory taxes and all the rest. I would try to fly under the radar or the local tax authorities will nickel and dime you to death. But that is your call.
*
Just something to think about. It might actually pay you to increase your food storage.
END
Yesterday's lack of enthusiasm was a bit of a disappointment. Instead of, WOW, you tripled your insulating efficiency and retained your mobility for only $400 I get admonished for failing to spend fifty percent more. Dammit people, stop eating your Ho Ho's while watching American Idol and love me. Do you hear that, trolls? My loyal minions are not genuflecting before my every idea. And, speaking of trolls, where's my damn twenty dollars? You promised compensation for the African trailer lot pictures and none was forthcoming. Curse you all- a pox on your hide!
*
It's not enough that I guide you through frugal preparations. Nor that I present wonderful ideas for post-Apocalypse business' or trades. Now, out of the goodness of my heart and the fact that this is what gelled into an idea today, I offer for your amazement and titillation a business that you can enter now with almost no investment and fringe benefits such as tax write offs and subsidized personal consumption. Can I get an Amen, Brother? Of course, there is a down side. Isn't there always? Dammit, why can't there be a free lunch? Well, living in your parents basement eating Ho Ho's and cheese doodles and not working when you are thirty five is kind of a free lunch, but the rest of us have no such luck. The down side is this is really nothing more than a micro-business where the profits are equally small. But at least this is a projected growth business.
*
Start a storage food business. Not the canned, freeze dried foods. Dry bulk in Mylar bags and plastic buckets. You can buy at Wal-Mart, Costco or the feed store. And you don't need a huge investment. You can buy everything one at a time if need be ( to get a starting inventory ). Get the Mylar bags online and the buckets and food locally. And you don't even need an expensive sealing unit for the bags, a clothes iron works just as good. Use that to start and if business really picks up you can invest the couple hundred needed for the sealer. Now, you might think that this is a retarded business plan since very few people want to buy buckets of food. And normally you would be correct. Except that you are already storing your own food. Which can be a business expense. You count it as inventory and equipment cost. Anything you sell, the profit you make, has that tax write off. Unless you really start doing well, which makes paying the taxes less painful. Don't get me wrong, I can't guarantee you what the IRS is going to do. This is not accounting advice. Just speaking in generalities here. Lawyer weasel words, bah, blah.
*
Security is going to be your main concern. I can already hear your brain churning. Why make a ten dollar profit and compromise my security by letting everyone know where I live and store my food? Which is what the Internet is for. You don't even need to list a phone number, let alone an address. Just give a web site or an e-mail address. Don't call back on your home phone if you are really paranoid. Let all the transactions take place online. Which also makes advertising easy. You bypass the traditional costs of doing business. It is all profit with almost no investment and any inventory can be used by you in an emergency which was tax deductible. You need to deliver, but you already have a car which can now be partially used as a business expense.
*
You could also try selling on commission. One potential retail location is a gun store. Crazy gun owners can also be crazy survivalists squirrelling away for Armageddon. You would have to cut them in on the profits, plus they wouldn't stock a lot of your product ( just enough for an advertising display ). But as long as you can sell to people locally cheaper than they can buy online you should have a profitable little niche business. Which, as I said, is sure to continue growing. And imagine the huge profits when famine hits! Also, more lawyer weasel words, keep all the problems in mind like a health inspection, needed licences, inventory taxes and all the rest. I would try to fly under the radar or the local tax authorities will nickel and dime you to death. But that is your call.
*
Just something to think about. It might actually pay you to increase your food storage.
END
Friday, April 03, 2009
ghetto insulation
GHETTO INSULATION
Let's talk about the Italian earthquake briefly before starting today. Don't pass on this opportunity to go on and on about how those eighty thousand homeless people have no where to go. This will hopefully sway your significant other. Gee, I wonder if something could happen to us like that. Perhaps we should buy that trailer or junk land. Perhaps stocking up at the case sale isn't such a bad idea. Personally, I can't see how anyone can ignore the warning of Katrina where piles of wreckage still squat. You're homeless? Don't bother us, just move to another public housing project in another city. The lesson should be that the government is not here to help ( I also take it as a lesson that we are a nation in decline, but no need to fill their head with too much detail ). Reinforce the message with this disaster.
*
While it is all well and good to have cords and cords of wood and three chainsaws and extra parts ( parts is parts! ) for them, an underground tank of gasoline to run them, etcetera, as important or more so is insulation. It is generally a one time expense. It usually never gets cheaper to wait to buy it ( other than seasonal fluctuations ). You bite the bullet, pay the mind numbing expense and have a lifetime investment. Forever after you need to buy less energy to stay warm, a legitimate worry if you care to worry about Peak Oil ( not running out, just running out of cheap and abundant ). Not only do you save money buying the heat, you can perhaps survive if you can't get any heat at all. I've wanted to increase my trailer insulation since it isn't generally much warmer than a tent ( although much more secure ). The half inch of insulation that was originally installed only kept the interior ten degrees warmer than the outside, and that was if you had solar or propane heat the day before. A few cloudy days and it could get as cold as the outside in the mornings.
*
The problem with insulating a trailer is that you basically have two choices. Build a enclosure around the outside or gut the inside to beef up the insulation with studs and fiberglass batts. The first choice means you are no longer mobile. As you might remember, I have three lots of land in Elko. One is paid for, but so far out of town I can't commute daily to work. The one I'm living on is "only" four miles from town, six miles to work. The problem with that one is it's way overpriced at six grand, although the monthly payment is only a hundred bucks. I can't really say why I'm paying on a third lot, other than it's half the distance to town as the paid for lot, on a county road, and I only owe a bit over two grand on it. It seems a small price to pay to combine the benefits of the other two lots. But I'm looking at moving the trailer one of these days, more than likely. I can't see the economy still being viable in the six more years I'm paying on the present lot. And if I must move if I become unemployed and can't afford rent, I can't have any permanent structures ( not to mention it gives me a small thrill not to pay the extra taxes ).
*
The problem with gutting the insides is that while you remain mobile you are going to be faced with quite an expense ( not as much as the outside structure but nothing to sneeze at ). If you replace the cabinets you've removed it really adds up. And with my minimal skills at carpentry ( I've finally gotten to the point I don't bend every single nail I hammer in ) it would take a long time. As I'm living in wreckage. Another option I considered was my Hippie Bread Van. I could frame the interior and insulate it a lot easier. And while I don't mind living in a eighty square foot box as long as I have someplace else to store all my crap, I don't think the cats would have liked being so confined. I already feel bad for keeping them indoors, but at least they have thirty feet to run back and forth in. You think that's bad, I bought a van to move from Florida to Nevada just for the cats. Sure, we planned on living in it if needed and it was transportation but we could have taken an airplane and replaced what had been left behind for about twenty percent of the cost. And that wasn't even the cats I have now, it was a different pair. Spoiled little bastards, I hope they love me. What can I say? A pet gives you companionship with few demands, unlike certain other types like spouses.
*
So, not being confined in my thinking like others who insist things have to look nice and be perfect, I decided to install ghetto insulation. I spent one half of Saturday trying to find an upholstery store, stoped at the carpet place, went to Home Depot. I pretty much knew what I wanted so I checked prices. Carpet padding or foam pads. The carpet padding was too expensive and too flimsy for wall or ceiling mounting. It would have fallen to pieces. I couldn't find an open upholstery place. So I winged it and bought rolls of the foil faced bubble wrap at Home Depot. Twenty bucks for two by twenty five. I also picked up a heavy duty stapler and a few thousand staples. I could have glued, but like I said, this was a ghetto based operation and looks were far less important than function. I went to Wal-Mart and bought out all their bed foam mattresses. I'm sure it is less effective than the real stuff I could have got at an upholstery place but I was on a mission from God and I couldn't fail.
*
Last I went to my workplace on the thrift store side and bought thirty used blankets and a spare foam pad they had. I was now in the hole for four hundred bucks. I had just sold my lot in Arkansas for five hundred, half what the other lots nearby were going for but a little over what I bought it for. It was a win/win. A give a loyal minion a deal and I can easily afford to insulate my trailer. I might never see the land but I would be in this trailer come next winter. By the way, if anyone is interested, I will sell the other two lots for at or below cost ( the decision to sell the first one kind of broke the dam and ruined the magic of my real estate empire ). Northeast middle Arizona, thirty minutes to St. Johns or Show Low. Absolutely in the middle of no where. A "town" is five miles away although I imagine it is only a gas station. Surface water is fifteen miles away. The East Texas lot is five miles from Gun Barrel City. Dirt road alongside with utilities, just down the road from a lake. The main problem there is the local unemployment rate is twice the national average. Both claim to be trailer lots. I can't guarantee anything, it was site unseen. Part of the price is you figure out how to do the paperwork transferring the deed from me to you. You send papers, I sign, you own it. Don't ask me how it is done, I have no idea. I think they sell real estate paperwork bundles at office supply places, or look up in a book in the library. I think the deed papers are simple blanks you fill in the names and amounts, county, state and parcel numbers. But, if you want them cheap, you do the homework. I'll supply county and parcel numbers on request.
*
I worked all weekend and I'm about half way done. It takes a lot of time to empty out every nook and cranny, insulate and fill back in. I can't believe the amount of junk I have piled into the trailer. The north side wall got most of the foam pads. On the two windows I won't need to open I stapled up the foam and then blankets over them. Hopefully it will be enough to keep the windows from dripping condensation. The living room I took up the wool carpet with foam pad underneath and added a half roll of fiberglass pink insulation ( it was lying around, got it free ). You can imagine how bulky and lumpy it now is, but I'm tired of cold feet. The last of the foam went into my cabinets where I keep books. The rest is blankets and bubble wrap foil. The first day I got the living room done and most of the windows ( windows get foil ). Just that alone gave me an extra ten degrees, doubling the old insulation's value ( if it is thirty outside in the morning, it used to be forty inside. Now it is fifty- that's how I rate my insulation [ and recall I don't run the heat at night so its trapped solar and propane heat ] ). Sunday I added blankets to all my outside storage compartments, finished the interiors on the north side and finished the last window covering as well as under the tub and half the hallway. That added another five degrees. I still have the south facing walls and interiors of cabinets to do as well as all the ceilings outside of the living room. Even if I only get another five degrees, I'll be happy. From ten degrees above outside temps to thirty. That is a vast improvement.
*
Yes, it looks ghetto. Foam pads, different colored blankets, lumpy floors, no uniform material ( it flows from blanket to foam to foil and back again ). Random staples. But, I'm building a cocoon. Cheaply. Remember that 80/20 rule. Pause to be jealous.
END
Let's talk about the Italian earthquake briefly before starting today. Don't pass on this opportunity to go on and on about how those eighty thousand homeless people have no where to go. This will hopefully sway your significant other. Gee, I wonder if something could happen to us like that. Perhaps we should buy that trailer or junk land. Perhaps stocking up at the case sale isn't such a bad idea. Personally, I can't see how anyone can ignore the warning of Katrina where piles of wreckage still squat. You're homeless? Don't bother us, just move to another public housing project in another city. The lesson should be that the government is not here to help ( I also take it as a lesson that we are a nation in decline, but no need to fill their head with too much detail ). Reinforce the message with this disaster.
*
While it is all well and good to have cords and cords of wood and three chainsaws and extra parts ( parts is parts! ) for them, an underground tank of gasoline to run them, etcetera, as important or more so is insulation. It is generally a one time expense. It usually never gets cheaper to wait to buy it ( other than seasonal fluctuations ). You bite the bullet, pay the mind numbing expense and have a lifetime investment. Forever after you need to buy less energy to stay warm, a legitimate worry if you care to worry about Peak Oil ( not running out, just running out of cheap and abundant ). Not only do you save money buying the heat, you can perhaps survive if you can't get any heat at all. I've wanted to increase my trailer insulation since it isn't generally much warmer than a tent ( although much more secure ). The half inch of insulation that was originally installed only kept the interior ten degrees warmer than the outside, and that was if you had solar or propane heat the day before. A few cloudy days and it could get as cold as the outside in the mornings.
*
The problem with insulating a trailer is that you basically have two choices. Build a enclosure around the outside or gut the inside to beef up the insulation with studs and fiberglass batts. The first choice means you are no longer mobile. As you might remember, I have three lots of land in Elko. One is paid for, but so far out of town I can't commute daily to work. The one I'm living on is "only" four miles from town, six miles to work. The problem with that one is it's way overpriced at six grand, although the monthly payment is only a hundred bucks. I can't really say why I'm paying on a third lot, other than it's half the distance to town as the paid for lot, on a county road, and I only owe a bit over two grand on it. It seems a small price to pay to combine the benefits of the other two lots. But I'm looking at moving the trailer one of these days, more than likely. I can't see the economy still being viable in the six more years I'm paying on the present lot. And if I must move if I become unemployed and can't afford rent, I can't have any permanent structures ( not to mention it gives me a small thrill not to pay the extra taxes ).
*
The problem with gutting the insides is that while you remain mobile you are going to be faced with quite an expense ( not as much as the outside structure but nothing to sneeze at ). If you replace the cabinets you've removed it really adds up. And with my minimal skills at carpentry ( I've finally gotten to the point I don't bend every single nail I hammer in ) it would take a long time. As I'm living in wreckage. Another option I considered was my Hippie Bread Van. I could frame the interior and insulate it a lot easier. And while I don't mind living in a eighty square foot box as long as I have someplace else to store all my crap, I don't think the cats would have liked being so confined. I already feel bad for keeping them indoors, but at least they have thirty feet to run back and forth in. You think that's bad, I bought a van to move from Florida to Nevada just for the cats. Sure, we planned on living in it if needed and it was transportation but we could have taken an airplane and replaced what had been left behind for about twenty percent of the cost. And that wasn't even the cats I have now, it was a different pair. Spoiled little bastards, I hope they love me. What can I say? A pet gives you companionship with few demands, unlike certain other types like spouses.
*
So, not being confined in my thinking like others who insist things have to look nice and be perfect, I decided to install ghetto insulation. I spent one half of Saturday trying to find an upholstery store, stoped at the carpet place, went to Home Depot. I pretty much knew what I wanted so I checked prices. Carpet padding or foam pads. The carpet padding was too expensive and too flimsy for wall or ceiling mounting. It would have fallen to pieces. I couldn't find an open upholstery place. So I winged it and bought rolls of the foil faced bubble wrap at Home Depot. Twenty bucks for two by twenty five. I also picked up a heavy duty stapler and a few thousand staples. I could have glued, but like I said, this was a ghetto based operation and looks were far less important than function. I went to Wal-Mart and bought out all their bed foam mattresses. I'm sure it is less effective than the real stuff I could have got at an upholstery place but I was on a mission from God and I couldn't fail.
*
Last I went to my workplace on the thrift store side and bought thirty used blankets and a spare foam pad they had. I was now in the hole for four hundred bucks. I had just sold my lot in Arkansas for five hundred, half what the other lots nearby were going for but a little over what I bought it for. It was a win/win. A give a loyal minion a deal and I can easily afford to insulate my trailer. I might never see the land but I would be in this trailer come next winter. By the way, if anyone is interested, I will sell the other two lots for at or below cost ( the decision to sell the first one kind of broke the dam and ruined the magic of my real estate empire ). Northeast middle Arizona, thirty minutes to St. Johns or Show Low. Absolutely in the middle of no where. A "town" is five miles away although I imagine it is only a gas station. Surface water is fifteen miles away. The East Texas lot is five miles from Gun Barrel City. Dirt road alongside with utilities, just down the road from a lake. The main problem there is the local unemployment rate is twice the national average. Both claim to be trailer lots. I can't guarantee anything, it was site unseen. Part of the price is you figure out how to do the paperwork transferring the deed from me to you. You send papers, I sign, you own it. Don't ask me how it is done, I have no idea. I think they sell real estate paperwork bundles at office supply places, or look up in a book in the library. I think the deed papers are simple blanks you fill in the names and amounts, county, state and parcel numbers. But, if you want them cheap, you do the homework. I'll supply county and parcel numbers on request.
*
I worked all weekend and I'm about half way done. It takes a lot of time to empty out every nook and cranny, insulate and fill back in. I can't believe the amount of junk I have piled into the trailer. The north side wall got most of the foam pads. On the two windows I won't need to open I stapled up the foam and then blankets over them. Hopefully it will be enough to keep the windows from dripping condensation. The living room I took up the wool carpet with foam pad underneath and added a half roll of fiberglass pink insulation ( it was lying around, got it free ). You can imagine how bulky and lumpy it now is, but I'm tired of cold feet. The last of the foam went into my cabinets where I keep books. The rest is blankets and bubble wrap foil. The first day I got the living room done and most of the windows ( windows get foil ). Just that alone gave me an extra ten degrees, doubling the old insulation's value ( if it is thirty outside in the morning, it used to be forty inside. Now it is fifty- that's how I rate my insulation [ and recall I don't run the heat at night so its trapped solar and propane heat ] ). Sunday I added blankets to all my outside storage compartments, finished the interiors on the north side and finished the last window covering as well as under the tub and half the hallway. That added another five degrees. I still have the south facing walls and interiors of cabinets to do as well as all the ceilings outside of the living room. Even if I only get another five degrees, I'll be happy. From ten degrees above outside temps to thirty. That is a vast improvement.
*
Yes, it looks ghetto. Foam pads, different colored blankets, lumpy floors, no uniform material ( it flows from blanket to foam to foil and back again ). Random staples. But, I'm building a cocoon. Cheaply. Remember that 80/20 rule. Pause to be jealous.
END
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