also, see the Democrats' deficit analogy:
Lol?
Showing posts with label financial collapse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label financial collapse. Show all posts
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Decay
Decay affects all things natural, from the physical realm to the psychological, from rust to relationships, from anthills to empires. It is the main catalyst in an inevitable cycle from birth to death. Without constant remedy, it will eventually destroy all that comes to fruition. Perhaps it is a 'necessary' evil; a part of nature which allows for rebirth and regrowth out of things decayed. In nature, at least, it seems an integral part of the process and cycles of regrowth. For example, the leaves fall from the trees, renewing the soil with nutrients, and feeding other organisms, in symbiotic fashion.
But in the realm of humanity, and all things human, decay seems to be a negative thing. We constantly battle and succumb to its effects; we try in vain to delay the inevitable losses--we grow old and perish. It may indeed be a curse upon humanity, something we are destined to battle, everlasting. Or a blessing? If we, and things we create did last in perpetuity, would they, and we, be judged to be 'good' things? Perhaps in our longevity, we would leave no room for the lives and accomplishments of our progeny? Does life indeed, require decay, change, and renewal, ever striving towards some undefined 'perfection'? It matters not, one must relent--it is inevitable for we mortal beings, and all things borne of us. Maybe it is simply a necessary 'evil'. For without evil, can there be good? There be no shadow, if light is absent.
Given its inevitable effects, then, is it foolish or vain to attempt to slow, negate, or 'reverse' the processes of decay? Surely not. We shall always be drones in an army pitting us against an indomitable, and often, unseen, force. Though the outcome of the war is inevitable, the battles can offer a timely reprieve; a brief relief from our constant struggle. To repaint one's house, or repair some leaky plumbing, or simply to change one's motor oil. Failure to maintain and redress decay may indeed be a sin of omission. To do so would facilitate decay and destruction--something we cannot desire.
Thus, one should strive to add light, and goodness, into the theatre of darkness and decay, whenever possible. To battle chaos, and instill order, wherever one detects the former. It can build upon simple beginnings, slowly but insidiously converting the light to the gray, then to blackness. It is not unlike an urban wall, gaining graffiti slowly over time, then exploding into excessive scrawling, engulfing all. An unkempt room filling with dirty laundry and haphazard deposits from daily living. At some point, it exceeds the threshold for just noticeable differences. It screams out for action, or reaction; it cries out for repair. To disregard would be like willful sinning.
But there are things that decay that are neither accessible to the senses, nor to awareness, without attending; the ethereal, and the intangible things that we often treasure most; love, relationships, and interconnections we strive to maintain, Freedom, security, and finance. The realm of thought, emotion, and psychological or spiritual processes. These, being unavailable to our limited input senses, become even more susceptible to decay, sans vigilance. Introspection and feedback from others is often required to even detect the inevitable decay. Thinking these aspects of our lives to be free of defect, or taking them for granted, can lead to sudden failures of catastrophic proportion. A failure to detect and redress decay in these realms can lead to the destruction of marriages, friendships and families, revolution, and even the collapse of civilizations. It's just that important to comprehend.
Beware; the signs are not salient, and we are often oblivious to the decay, until it reaches the point of landslide, or eruption. Tensions and emotions explode, leaving all destructions in their wake, leaving few survivors. Perhaps we are all fated to taste the decay. Periodical vigilance and introspection may aid in the detection of decrepitude, on many levels. Be wary and cognizant of issues and effectors which are of value to you. There will be tremors; signs and harbingers of things to come--attend!
GT
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Prepping to Fail (Part 3): Food Storage Basics
Thusfar, our 'fail' scenario has addressed a limited, short-term crisis; things to prepare for in months 1-3. One main assumption was that essential services like water, power, and gas would remain intact, short-term. However, an old military saying is "...ASSUME makes an ASS out of 'U' and 'ME'" (see also the hand-filling issue posted prior). Rather than making fatal errors via assumption[s], it is better to prepare for the worst, or at least, for less-than-optimal conditions. Therefore, one must be prepared to adapt to shortages or loss of one or more of these essential services.
Although a continuous outage of gas, and/or electricity will be daunting, there are offsets and behavioral adaptations which can be made to mitigate same. Adaptations to loss of potable water source[s] are more difficult, but I believe manageable, also with preparation. These adaptations will be discussed in later posts. However, without a long-term strategy for food storage, the aforementioned adapts simply fail; without food, fugetaboutit. So, this critical survival aspect will be focused upon now...
FOOD STORAGE: SHORT-MED-LONG TERM
We talked about stocking 3 months-worth of food as a minimum, previously, as short-term storage. However, given that most items ['non-perishables'] mentioned herein generally store ± 1 year, henceforth, for purposes of this blog, we will designate ± 1 yr as short-term (ST), 2-5 yrs as Med-term (MT), and 5 yr+ as long-term (LT)
A) Short-term:
We previously discussed many S-T food issues, and these included stocking up on food items which are 'non-perishable', bought in bags, boxes, jars and cans. Many of these items will last 1-5 years, if stored in a cool, dry place. Some items will range up to 5 years or more, as purchased.
One should try to get the freshest sources of such goods, as hinted by their 'best-by' dates (dates often printed or stamped on the bag/box/can). Note that in order to rotate stock, the older items will be on the shelves, and often arranged to be most accessible (outer areas of shelves, etc). One can often mitigate by looking to the back of a stack (etc.), and checking dates (do this for milk , dairy, etc., now, regardless of storing). Note that 'best by' and 'sell by' dates are often merely recommendations or 'guidelines', not strictly denoting an item is 'bad' or spoiled, or inedible after such dates; 'use by' dates may be more tenable or accurate.
Keep in mind that the gub'ment likely has rules re: the dating, so they may just be approximations or 'guesstimates', and therefore dubious (eg., Back in the early '80's during military 'wargames' we only had C-rations to eat, many dating to the mid-50s). However, Inspect cans and containers for signs of age, dents, etc., and don't purchase any showing age or damage-related breakdown!!
Oxidation is the enemy, in most cases. Acidic foods tend to store well, but also tend to eat away at can linings, etc., over extended periods. Given this, it might be better to purchase tomato products, etc, in bottles or plastic containers (glass bottles w/o metal tops,for med-LT storage). However, as alluded to earlier, assuming reliable 1 year+ dates, most bag, boxes, and cans will be sufficient for short-term storage, up to or greater than 1 year, if stored properly. However, for ST storage (1mo=>1yr+), a kitchen cabinet, pantry, or closet (etc) will suffice.
B) Med-Long-Term:
Storage is extended in cool, dry places in which light is minimized; keep in mind that many items may be photo-reactive as well. However, oxidation is the biggest enemy. For extended storage, one would be better off if one were to have a dedicated storage area, as well as a means to reduce oxidation and spoilage factors. A dry basement, storm shelter (Okies) or 'root' cellar might be a good place to set up storage racks. However, keep things off the floor, at minimum, and storing in sealable plastic containers/5 gal. buckets is a good plan. Freeze-dried, and/or dehydrated foods offer the most extensive storage capabilities (claims up to 20 years). However, in truth, who wants to be eating 'crisis' food for such an extended time? I recommend getting some heirloom seeds and getting ready to farm-up, if need be. Some might have diminished capacity to do this (limitations), so I leave this in for discussion.
Two of the best ways to limit oxidation, and hence, extend storage times, are to employ secondary packaging techniques, and/or to utilize freeze-dried/dehydrated stocks; let us address the former, first...
1. Secondary Packaging:
This can be accomplished in two basic ways; double-packing and repackaging, though not mutually exclusive. Double-packing involves adding an extra layer of protection from the elements and oxidation. Repackaging is meant to replace the current packing method, which may limit its storage parameters. In either case, the main methods are vacuum-sealing, and/or using additional layers of protection.
a) Additional Layers:
Additional layers would be purposed towards extending storability, and/or separation of stocks for particular terms/needs. For example, packing several bags of beans, pasta, or rice into vacuum bags, and/or then into buckets (eg., 5-gal), perhaps with applicable sauces/seasonings, and so on. If one has a good idea as to how much of particular foods will be required in particular increments of time, it can help organize stocks. However, the main goal is preserving and extending shelf-life. Beans, rice, and pastas come in bags for limited storage, and by double-bagging, etc., the shelf lives are extended. This is especially true if they are vacuum-sealed. Adding packets of oxygen absorbers inside the vac-packs, or outside them, when included in a bucket or other sealable container, ensures even greater extension of food usability.
Vacuum sealers are readily available locally and via internet sales, as are bags, buckets, etc. I would recommend getting a better vacuum unit which has greater bag-size capacity, and more features, like a capacity to use rolled bags, which are more economical, and/or ability to seal jars, via accessories. "Cheap" units may not prove to be cheap, in the long run. Decent units can be had for under $150.00, and better or more commercial capacity units hundreds or more.
Shop around on the internet to get an idea how much bags are, by size, or rolls, and get plenty to save $$. There are many grades of bags, and thicknesses/materials. Mylar bags can be used for extending storage, and they are tough, reusable, and provide light protection as well. They are not cheap, however. I will explore this in more depth later, after I have purchased a decent vacuum unit and have tried a few alternatives...
C.A.B. alert: Some storage items may even be 'scrounged' locally from grocers, bakeries, restaurants, etc., by asking for discarded buckets or 'dumpster-diving' for them--both at considerable savings. Food-grade buckets are optimal (identified by a "2" in a triangle on the bottom), and colored/dark ones of this grade even better. You will likely have to sanitize them yourself (bleach 1:10, vinegar, or disinfectant soap).
b. Repackaging:
One may wish to repack large or bulk-bought items into smaller or more discrete units, and/or to facilitate LT storage. This often includes adding additional layers, or simply replacing larger (bulk) packaging with smaller, more storable vacuum packs and bags. For example, bulk purchased beans, pastas and rice can be broken down into more manageable quantities; eg., into meal/day/week/monthly portions. Such smaller portions can then be vac-packed and/or mylar-packed/sealed, and then placed into 5 gal. buckets, for LT storage. Another example involves eliminating store-bought packaging, which can save storage space; eg., boxed goods like mac-n-cheese, oatmeal, dried mashed potatoes, etc. Often there is a lot of wasted airspace in these, adding oxidative potential, and limiting storage capacity (easier to pack vac-packs into a bucket than boxes).
The foregoing are simplified storage strategies for med-LT storage. As mentioned, they are not mutually exclusive, but both should utilize vacuum packing AND oxygen absorber packets in most cases, either in-bag, or in-bucket (or other sealed alternative[s] storage), to promote extended shelf-life. Keep in mind that your shelf-life corresponds to your food shelf-life, and so, don't cheap-out here.
2. Freeze-dried/Dehydrated Stocks:
These food stocks tend to be more expensive, and less-available, locally. They add variety and extend nutritive complexity to your diet, as well as adding flavor and viability. Claims of 20-year storage are fairly common, but may not be realistic.
However, they have a real place in any storage plan; many items that one needs to prepare other foods will come in such forms, and are readily stored for LT/MT/ST uses.
Although some of these are offered as 'meals', I personally would skip this concept, and simply order up a quantity of necessities (keep-it-simple-stupid). Such items include:
Powdered/freeze-dried/dehydrated milk, eggs (whole egg = optimal), butter, 'TVP' (textured &/or flavored vegetable protein--bacon, pork, beef, etc), cheese, coffee, creamer, and fruits (bananas/berries/etc.)
These are often needed for extending and flavoring other foods, and/or in preparing other dried- or powdered-form foods like biscuit, bread, and pancake mixes, and so on (with water). Powdered or freeze-dried eggs can be flavored with both cheese and milk and bacon bits (or flavored TVP) for increased palatability, for example. These items will store LT, and without refrigeration, in more compact form. I believe there is a wide variety of such foods available, so shop around, but don't get carried away (remember limited storage space!).
Such foods are often available in mylar/bags/cans; getting this stuff in bulk or in #10 cans might save some serious green, and can always be repacked into more realistic/discrete quantities, using your vacuum packer, etc (see above). I plan on getting a quantity of whole eggs, milk, butter, and ham/bacon-flavored TVP, at minimum. Given I am a 'coffee' nut, and that coffee takes up a LOT of space, I will likely invest some time into getting some freeze-dried stocks as well...
Right now, my goal is to get a 1 year supply of decent food stored up, and to get a vacuum sealer/supplies to get some of that into extended storage, as well as putting up some meats for ST freezing. I realize now that stocking up and freezing is really fail, without vac-packing, and even storing a lot of dry goods. Rotation of stock is essential, and storing foods that one actually eats is optimal. Might be doing some video blogging on this soon, though likely post Xmas...
GL and happy prepping! ;) Doit!
GT
Although a continuous outage of gas, and/or electricity will be daunting, there are offsets and behavioral adaptations which can be made to mitigate same. Adaptations to loss of potable water source[s] are more difficult, but I believe manageable, also with preparation. These adaptations will be discussed in later posts. However, without a long-term strategy for food storage, the aforementioned adapts simply fail; without food, fugetaboutit. So, this critical survival aspect will be focused upon now...
FOOD STORAGE: SHORT-MED-LONG TERM
We talked about stocking 3 months-worth of food as a minimum, previously, as short-term storage. However, given that most items ['non-perishables'] mentioned herein generally store ± 1 year, henceforth, for purposes of this blog, we will designate ± 1 yr as short-term (ST), 2-5 yrs as Med-term (MT), and 5 yr+ as long-term (LT)
A) Short-term:
We previously discussed many S-T food issues, and these included stocking up on food items which are 'non-perishable', bought in bags, boxes, jars and cans. Many of these items will last 1-5 years, if stored in a cool, dry place. Some items will range up to 5 years or more, as purchased.
One should try to get the freshest sources of such goods, as hinted by their 'best-by' dates (dates often printed or stamped on the bag/box/can). Note that in order to rotate stock, the older items will be on the shelves, and often arranged to be most accessible (outer areas of shelves, etc). One can often mitigate by looking to the back of a stack (etc.), and checking dates (do this for milk , dairy, etc., now, regardless of storing). Note that 'best by' and 'sell by' dates are often merely recommendations or 'guidelines', not strictly denoting an item is 'bad' or spoiled, or inedible after such dates; 'use by' dates may be more tenable or accurate.
Keep in mind that the gub'ment likely has rules re: the dating, so they may just be approximations or 'guesstimates', and therefore dubious (eg., Back in the early '80's during military 'wargames' we only had C-rations to eat, many dating to the mid-50s). However, Inspect cans and containers for signs of age, dents, etc., and don't purchase any showing age or damage-related breakdown!!
Oxidation is the enemy, in most cases. Acidic foods tend to store well, but also tend to eat away at can linings, etc., over extended periods. Given this, it might be better to purchase tomato products, etc, in bottles or plastic containers (glass bottles w/o metal tops,for med-LT storage). However, as alluded to earlier, assuming reliable 1 year+ dates, most bag, boxes, and cans will be sufficient for short-term storage, up to or greater than 1 year, if stored properly. However, for ST storage (1mo=>1yr+), a kitchen cabinet, pantry, or closet (etc) will suffice.
B) Med-Long-Term:
Storage is extended in cool, dry places in which light is minimized; keep in mind that many items may be photo-reactive as well. However, oxidation is the biggest enemy. For extended storage, one would be better off if one were to have a dedicated storage area, as well as a means to reduce oxidation and spoilage factors. A dry basement, storm shelter (Okies) or 'root' cellar might be a good place to set up storage racks. However, keep things off the floor, at minimum, and storing in sealable plastic containers/5 gal. buckets is a good plan. Freeze-dried, and/or dehydrated foods offer the most extensive storage capabilities (claims up to 20 years). However, in truth, who wants to be eating 'crisis' food for such an extended time? I recommend getting some heirloom seeds and getting ready to farm-up, if need be. Some might have diminished capacity to do this (limitations), so I leave this in for discussion.
Two of the best ways to limit oxidation, and hence, extend storage times, are to employ secondary packaging techniques, and/or to utilize freeze-dried/dehydrated stocks; let us address the former, first...
1. Secondary Packaging:
This can be accomplished in two basic ways; double-packing and repackaging, though not mutually exclusive. Double-packing involves adding an extra layer of protection from the elements and oxidation. Repackaging is meant to replace the current packing method, which may limit its storage parameters. In either case, the main methods are vacuum-sealing, and/or using additional layers of protection.
a) Additional Layers:
Additional layers would be purposed towards extending storability, and/or separation of stocks for particular terms/needs. For example, packing several bags of beans, pasta, or rice into vacuum bags, and/or then into buckets (eg., 5-gal), perhaps with applicable sauces/seasonings, and so on. If one has a good idea as to how much of particular foods will be required in particular increments of time, it can help organize stocks. However, the main goal is preserving and extending shelf-life. Beans, rice, and pastas come in bags for limited storage, and by double-bagging, etc., the shelf lives are extended. This is especially true if they are vacuum-sealed. Adding packets of oxygen absorbers inside the vac-packs, or outside them, when included in a bucket or other sealable container, ensures even greater extension of food usability.
Vacuum sealers are readily available locally and via internet sales, as are bags, buckets, etc. I would recommend getting a better vacuum unit which has greater bag-size capacity, and more features, like a capacity to use rolled bags, which are more economical, and/or ability to seal jars, via accessories. "Cheap" units may not prove to be cheap, in the long run. Decent units can be had for under $150.00, and better or more commercial capacity units hundreds or more.
Shop around on the internet to get an idea how much bags are, by size, or rolls, and get plenty to save $$. There are many grades of bags, and thicknesses/materials. Mylar bags can be used for extending storage, and they are tough, reusable, and provide light protection as well. They are not cheap, however. I will explore this in more depth later, after I have purchased a decent vacuum unit and have tried a few alternatives...
C.A.B. alert: Some storage items may even be 'scrounged' locally from grocers, bakeries, restaurants, etc., by asking for discarded buckets or 'dumpster-diving' for them--both at considerable savings. Food-grade buckets are optimal (identified by a "2" in a triangle on the bottom), and colored/dark ones of this grade even better. You will likely have to sanitize them yourself (bleach 1:10, vinegar, or disinfectant soap).
b. Repackaging:
One may wish to repack large or bulk-bought items into smaller or more discrete units, and/or to facilitate LT storage. This often includes adding additional layers, or simply replacing larger (bulk) packaging with smaller, more storable vacuum packs and bags. For example, bulk purchased beans, pastas and rice can be broken down into more manageable quantities; eg., into meal/day/week/monthly portions. Such smaller portions can then be vac-packed and/or mylar-packed/sealed, and then placed into 5 gal. buckets, for LT storage. Another example involves eliminating store-bought packaging, which can save storage space; eg., boxed goods like mac-n-cheese, oatmeal, dried mashed potatoes, etc. Often there is a lot of wasted airspace in these, adding oxidative potential, and limiting storage capacity (easier to pack vac-packs into a bucket than boxes).
The foregoing are simplified storage strategies for med-LT storage. As mentioned, they are not mutually exclusive, but both should utilize vacuum packing AND oxygen absorber packets in most cases, either in-bag, or in-bucket (or other sealed alternative[s] storage), to promote extended shelf-life. Keep in mind that your shelf-life corresponds to your food shelf-life, and so, don't cheap-out here.
2. Freeze-dried/Dehydrated Stocks:
These food stocks tend to be more expensive, and less-available, locally. They add variety and extend nutritive complexity to your diet, as well as adding flavor and viability. Claims of 20-year storage are fairly common, but may not be realistic.
However, they have a real place in any storage plan; many items that one needs to prepare other foods will come in such forms, and are readily stored for LT/MT/ST uses.
Although some of these are offered as 'meals', I personally would skip this concept, and simply order up a quantity of necessities (keep-it-simple-stupid). Such items include:
Powdered/freeze-dried/dehydrated milk, eggs (whole egg = optimal), butter, 'TVP' (textured &/or flavored vegetable protein--bacon, pork, beef, etc), cheese, coffee, creamer, and fruits (bananas/berries/etc.)
These are often needed for extending and flavoring other foods, and/or in preparing other dried- or powdered-form foods like biscuit, bread, and pancake mixes, and so on (with water). Powdered or freeze-dried eggs can be flavored with both cheese and milk and bacon bits (or flavored TVP) for increased palatability, for example. These items will store LT, and without refrigeration, in more compact form. I believe there is a wide variety of such foods available, so shop around, but don't get carried away (remember limited storage space!).
Such foods are often available in mylar/bags/cans; getting this stuff in bulk or in #10 cans might save some serious green, and can always be repacked into more realistic/discrete quantities, using your vacuum packer, etc (see above). I plan on getting a quantity of whole eggs, milk, butter, and ham/bacon-flavored TVP, at minimum. Given I am a 'coffee' nut, and that coffee takes up a LOT of space, I will likely invest some time into getting some freeze-dried stocks as well...
Right now, my goal is to get a 1 year supply of decent food stored up, and to get a vacuum sealer/supplies to get some of that into extended storage, as well as putting up some meats for ST freezing. I realize now that stocking up and freezing is really fail, without vac-packing, and even storing a lot of dry goods. Rotation of stock is essential, and storing foods that one actually eats is optimal. Might be doing some video blogging on this soon, though likely post Xmas...
GL and happy prepping! ;) Doit!
GT
Monday, October 24, 2011
Prepping to Fail (Part 1)
The tyme has come to start preparations for the upcoming (major) fail. I'm talking serious beer here; the doom and gloom and the feces-fan convergence. Whereas some might conclude that there is the [slight] chance that a total failure in world and US economies can be averted, or even stalled, I resign to inevitable defeat, preemptively and unilaterally. we FAIL. Let's just admit it and get prepped for the inevitable (get real, mon).
So, (A) what does one need to get prepped for, and (B) how does one go about said preparations?
(A) The feces-fan convergence (FFC, or shit-hits-the-fan [SHTF]): entails a global economic failure and likely, a world-wide depression, along with severe hyperinflation in traditional fiat currencies. This means, simply, 'money' aint gonna be worth doodly-squat. Given that everyone of modest or minimal means (90% of the pop+) will rapidly run out of funds to buy necessities, there will be civil unrest, rioting, and probably looting in nearly all population centers. I'm not talking about a mass of idiots camping in parks with no real agenda, or some nebulous socialist crap--I'm talking about people who are actually hungry and can no longer afford to meet the most minimal of needs (eg., food)--Riots that make those in Greece and London look like a slumber party pillow fight between sorority girls. It won't be pretty.
Considering many folks out there are living hand-to-mouth already, the urban poor are likely the first to begin the spree, looting, trashing and burning their own neighborhoods first. But it will spread. Thus, it will likely be low-class area shops and supermarkets that get cleaned out first, leaving one with limited options to provide for oneself and one's family (hence, spreading). Hoarding of essentials will quickly clean out current stocks of bare necessities, in other areas. Martial law will become prevalent. However, soon enough there will be no more food available, and no shops open. Meanwhile, prices will ceiling for whatever is available, making things unattainable even for those of modest or greater means. Government foodstuffs passed out by troops, and soup lines, may soon become the only real sources of food. Access to such services and supplies will be restricted.
Given 'money' worth squat, and urban riots cleaning out stocks, the search for food and supplies will progress to groups of looters beginning house-to-house searches for their needs. Public servants will already be exhausted, and the public will be left to fend for themselves, for the most part (martial law, curfews, and National Guard troops notwithstanding). Medicines and healthcare provisions will start to run out, or become unavailable. Gub'ment will take over essential services and communication, likely with cell phone and internet disruptions for the general public. However, at first, I do not see losing utilities such as electricity and natural gas, and probably landline telephone, as a consequence. These may persist for quite some time.
The foregoing will occur very quickly. This means that one must have a plan and preparations ongoing, to satisfy the most basic of needs: food. Given that most households probably have a week or more of edibles on hand, food riots and looting will probably be unlikely for a couple weeks, but hoarding will begin immediately following whatever crisis begets the scenario described. Either way, if one hasn't prepped by stocking up a generous supply of foodstuffs and especially non-perishables, one is going to be 'up-the-creek'. Also, given that 'money' will not be used, one thing that is sure to have value is food, and it might surprise you what people will exchange for it, if they have failed to prepare. Hence, before any other mode of barter or exchange is adopted, anywhere, food will be the most valued commodity, at least in population centers, and in 'developed' countries where we are all dependent upon our "fat" way of life (consumers in non-agricultural, urban environs).
This may differ considerably in undeveloped or developing economies, and/or rural areas, who may escape, avoid, or delay some of the worst of these consequences. Yes, the last will be first, and vice-versa, go figure (only prophesied for a couple millennia+).
(B) Stock up on the necessities; being prepared for the fail:
1) Food <to be continued...see Parts 2-3>
Personal recommendation: Three (3) months supply of staples, per person, minimum.
a) canned goods
b) Mylar-packed goods
c) boxed goods and other non-perishables, or extended shelf-life items
d) frozen foods
2) Essential supplies <to be continued--see Parts 4-5>
3) Shelter & Security <to be continued--see Parts 6-7>
a) Housing-Urban vs Rural-fencing-strength in numbers
b) defense [gun]
c) dog[s]
4) Power and utility alternatives (post-utilities) <to be continued...>
a) solar lights+
b) hot water?
c) Heating/cooking
So, (A) what does one need to get prepped for, and (B) how does one go about said preparations?
(A) The feces-fan convergence (FFC, or shit-hits-the-fan [SHTF]): entails a global economic failure and likely, a world-wide depression, along with severe hyperinflation in traditional fiat currencies. This means, simply, 'money' aint gonna be worth doodly-squat. Given that everyone of modest or minimal means (90% of the pop+) will rapidly run out of funds to buy necessities, there will be civil unrest, rioting, and probably looting in nearly all population centers. I'm not talking about a mass of idiots camping in parks with no real agenda, or some nebulous socialist crap--I'm talking about people who are actually hungry and can no longer afford to meet the most minimal of needs (eg., food)--Riots that make those in Greece and London look like a slumber party pillow fight between sorority girls. It won't be pretty.
Considering many folks out there are living hand-to-mouth already, the urban poor are likely the first to begin the spree, looting, trashing and burning their own neighborhoods first. But it will spread. Thus, it will likely be low-class area shops and supermarkets that get cleaned out first, leaving one with limited options to provide for oneself and one's family (hence, spreading). Hoarding of essentials will quickly clean out current stocks of bare necessities, in other areas. Martial law will become prevalent. However, soon enough there will be no more food available, and no shops open. Meanwhile, prices will ceiling for whatever is available, making things unattainable even for those of modest or greater means. Government foodstuffs passed out by troops, and soup lines, may soon become the only real sources of food. Access to such services and supplies will be restricted.
Given 'money' worth squat, and urban riots cleaning out stocks, the search for food and supplies will progress to groups of looters beginning house-to-house searches for their needs. Public servants will already be exhausted, and the public will be left to fend for themselves, for the most part (martial law, curfews, and National Guard troops notwithstanding). Medicines and healthcare provisions will start to run out, or become unavailable. Gub'ment will take over essential services and communication, likely with cell phone and internet disruptions for the general public. However, at first, I do not see losing utilities such as electricity and natural gas, and probably landline telephone, as a consequence. These may persist for quite some time.
The foregoing will occur very quickly. This means that one must have a plan and preparations ongoing, to satisfy the most basic of needs: food. Given that most households probably have a week or more of edibles on hand, food riots and looting will probably be unlikely for a couple weeks, but hoarding will begin immediately following whatever crisis begets the scenario described. Either way, if one hasn't prepped by stocking up a generous supply of foodstuffs and especially non-perishables, one is going to be 'up-the-creek'. Also, given that 'money' will not be used, one thing that is sure to have value is food, and it might surprise you what people will exchange for it, if they have failed to prepare. Hence, before any other mode of barter or exchange is adopted, anywhere, food will be the most valued commodity, at least in population centers, and in 'developed' countries where we are all dependent upon our "fat" way of life (consumers in non-agricultural, urban environs).
This may differ considerably in undeveloped or developing economies, and/or rural areas, who may escape, avoid, or delay some of the worst of these consequences. Yes, the last will be first, and vice-versa, go figure (only prophesied for a couple millennia+).
(B) Stock up on the necessities; being prepared for the fail:
1) Food <to be continued...see Parts 2-3>
a) canned goods
b) Mylar-packed goods
c) boxed goods and other non-perishables, or extended shelf-life items
d) frozen foods
2) Essential supplies <to be continued--see Parts 4-5>
a) Water
b) medicines
c) First-aid
d) Cleaning supplies
3) Shelter & Security <to be continued--see Parts 6-7>
a) Housing-Urban vs Rural-fencing-strength in numbers
b) defense [gun]
c) dog[s]
4) Power and utility alternatives (post-utilities) <to be continued...>
a) solar lights+
b) hot water?
c) Heating/cooking
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Rich Man, Poor Man...
Yeah, if I were a rich man, DoDoDoDeDoDeDumm! WTF? I am not, and frankly, haven't ever wanted to be, a rich man. The truth is, I never cared for the concept; fretting about finances and such--too much w-o-r-k. Being a C.A.B. (see elsewhere on blog) has sufficed, and I never went hungry, just making do. That said, however, I do respect those who work hard to attain financial enlightenment and independence--I really do. Usually it takes years of work and planning, compounding interest, etc...
What pisses me off is the inevitable rich man-poor man BULLSHIT that keeps surfacing whenever there's a Dumocrat commenting about gub'ment financing the debt, etc. Man, if it's not race, it's class warfare for those idiots. Why do they have to always pit Americans against one another, and play that divisive shit? Truth is, those Ds have virtually enslaved the whole population of America with that crap; one group dependent on entitlements and gub'ment giveaways, and the other made guilty for not needing it, and slooowly bled. It's inevitable that Ds will totally crash the economy into the toilet if they start amping up the tax code to squeeze [even] more from the 'haves', so they can redistribute to the 'have-nots'. Yes, it seems that the Ds are really socialist/Marxists--who the fuck doesn't know that that system JUST DOESN'T WORK, HAS NEVER WORKED, AND WILL NEVER WORK? It's a system that defies the human need for freedom, independence, and continual striving for improvement. Some are guilt-ridden liberals who are indeed well-to-do, or comfortable, and perhaps have a masochistic need to punish themselves for not being unfortunate--poor--themselves. I dunno; maybe some are just plain stoopid. It takes all kinds...
Ill-educated, and/or simply naive, people who get suckered into the class-war BS may think that people are somehow entitled to a free [eg.,] lunch and such, perhaps because they might think the 'rich man' is somehow keeping them down. Maybe it's just human nature to want shit for "free", but, one must realize that it's not the 'gub-ment' that's footing the bill, it's from somebody else's pocket! Politicians have suckered people into little dependencies and programs voters think are "free", only to stay in power and maintain control over these weak-minded fools. The worst part of it all is that many, if not most, people feeding at the trough really don't actually need many of these freebees! But they DO add up--think 43 MILLION+ on food stamps alone! Medicare/-caid is likely the biggest cash-burner, though. Once secured into the system, it's a free-for-all for the Med-Pharma-Insurance Complex to greedily suck off the tit (In reality, sucking off wealth from nearly all Americans)--and the costs NEVER go down--only up-up-up! These are HUGE sums, on a per capita basis, given the sheer numbers who qualify. Few people had put in as much as they're getting out, especially given their longevity, the high costs of meds/testing/treatment, and the burgeoning 'baby boomer' population that is sure to overcome the system--soon! However, once on a program, it's hard to get off--to push away from the table--kind of like addiction[s]. Meanwhile, the gub-ment goes on spending, borrowing and spending, till the day of reckoning...
If the giveaways were cut, terminated, or managed efficiently, maybe the wealth redistribution might be allayed, and those poor devils [us] footing the bill might even have enough capital left to invest in American businesses/manufacturing/jobs! ('course, right now, with the volatility, they might just hang on to any surpluses. Good--people need to save more...) Who is on the govern-tit? Damned near everybody--low-to-middle classes. Even some rich and powerful people and corporations are feeding, via subsidies and tax-breaks. Some are lazy people, the ones who might think hard work simply means getting paid less for doing more. Some were borne into poverty, but had neither the smarts nor the gumption to improve on their situation. Some don't deserve shit--but get it anyways.
Given, it's not just the Ds who got us here; Rs sheep along too, for whatever reason[s]. The simple fact is that we are not getting out of the abyss by taxing anyone more, especially those in a position to expand the economy and employ more people [OMG, who would even THINK of doing that?].
The truth is that the gub'ment needs to balance the budget, make it mandatory to do so, and cap spending across the board. Weed out stoopid programs that don't show measurable results. Start operating like a business, per se. Means testing should be implemented as well; we don't need to give Food Stamps to 43+Million people, now, do we, REALLY? Or free lunches and after-school programs to damned near anyone? No more spending $$ we don't have! I'm not suggesting we stop helping one another, but let's get real. We broke-ass bitches, as a nation. Simply STOP spending $$ we don't have. Simple as that. Problem solved.
To those that are inclined to redistribute their wealth, and, to help free them from guilt, I say set up a donation program [hey, even online, through PayPal?]. You folks who feel you must give away your monies simply give till it hurts, if need be. Go right ahead--but leave the rest of us out of your giveaways! We need freedom and independence from big gub'ment, and their foolish spending ways! It's not about being rich vs poor, or a race thing, or a guilt thing; just common sense. Cut that spending and get gub'ment off the backs of Americans, and we will get by, even improve......nuff said...
Simple.
GT.
What pisses me off is the inevitable rich man-poor man BULLSHIT that keeps surfacing whenever there's a Dumocrat commenting about gub'ment financing the debt, etc. Man, if it's not race, it's class warfare for those idiots. Why do they have to always pit Americans against one another, and play that divisive shit? Truth is, those Ds have virtually enslaved the whole population of America with that crap; one group dependent on entitlements and gub'ment giveaways, and the other made guilty for not needing it, and slooowly bled. It's inevitable that Ds will totally crash the economy into the toilet if they start amping up the tax code to squeeze [even] more from the 'haves', so they can redistribute to the 'have-nots'. Yes, it seems that the Ds are really socialist/Marxists--who the fuck doesn't know that that system JUST DOESN'T WORK, HAS NEVER WORKED, AND WILL NEVER WORK? It's a system that defies the human need for freedom, independence, and continual striving for improvement. Some are guilt-ridden liberals who are indeed well-to-do, or comfortable, and perhaps have a masochistic need to punish themselves for not being unfortunate--poor--themselves. I dunno; maybe some are just plain stoopid. It takes all kinds...
Ill-educated, and/or simply naive, people who get suckered into the class-war BS may think that people are somehow entitled to a free [eg.,] lunch and such, perhaps because they might think the 'rich man' is somehow keeping them down. Maybe it's just human nature to want shit for "free", but, one must realize that it's not the 'gub-ment' that's footing the bill, it's from somebody else's pocket! Politicians have suckered people into little dependencies and programs voters think are "free", only to stay in power and maintain control over these weak-minded fools. The worst part of it all is that many, if not most, people feeding at the trough really don't actually need many of these freebees! But they DO add up--think 43 MILLION+ on food stamps alone! Medicare/-caid is likely the biggest cash-burner, though. Once secured into the system, it's a free-for-all for the Med-Pharma-Insurance Complex to greedily suck off the tit (In reality, sucking off wealth from nearly all Americans)--and the costs NEVER go down--only up-up-up! These are HUGE sums, on a per capita basis, given the sheer numbers who qualify. Few people had put in as much as they're getting out, especially given their longevity, the high costs of meds/testing/treatment, and the burgeoning 'baby boomer' population that is sure to overcome the system--soon! However, once on a program, it's hard to get off--to push away from the table--kind of like addiction[s]. Meanwhile, the gub-ment goes on spending, borrowing and spending, till the day of reckoning...
If the giveaways were cut, terminated, or managed efficiently, maybe the wealth redistribution might be allayed, and those poor devils [us] footing the bill might even have enough capital left to invest in American businesses/manufacturing/jobs! ('course, right now, with the volatility, they might just hang on to any surpluses. Good--people need to save more...) Who is on the govern-tit? Damned near everybody--low-to-middle classes. Even some rich and powerful people and corporations are feeding, via subsidies and tax-breaks. Some are lazy people, the ones who might think hard work simply means getting paid less for doing more. Some were borne into poverty, but had neither the smarts nor the gumption to improve on their situation. Some don't deserve shit--but get it anyways.
Given, it's not just the Ds who got us here; Rs sheep along too, for whatever reason[s]. The simple fact is that we are not getting out of the abyss by taxing anyone more, especially those in a position to expand the economy and employ more people [OMG, who would even THINK of doing that?].
The truth is that the gub'ment needs to balance the budget, make it mandatory to do so, and cap spending across the board. Weed out stoopid programs that don't show measurable results. Start operating like a business, per se. Means testing should be implemented as well; we don't need to give Food Stamps to 43+Million people, now, do we, REALLY? Or free lunches and after-school programs to damned near anyone? No more spending $$ we don't have! I'm not suggesting we stop helping one another, but let's get real. We broke-ass bitches, as a nation. Simply STOP spending $$ we don't have. Simple as that. Problem solved.
To those that are inclined to redistribute their wealth, and, to help free them from guilt, I say set up a donation program [hey, even online, through PayPal?]. You folks who feel you must give away your monies simply give till it hurts, if need be. Go right ahead--but leave the rest of us out of your giveaways! We need freedom and independence from big gub'ment, and their foolish spending ways! It's not about being rich vs poor, or a race thing, or a guilt thing; just common sense. Cut that spending and get gub'ment off the backs of Americans, and we will get by, even improve......nuff said...
Simple.
GT.
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