Previously unknown to UrbanSurvivalSkills.com is the The National Inflation Association (NIA) which is an organization that states they are dedicated to preparing Americans for hyperinflation and helping Americans not only survive, but prosper in the upcoming hyper-inflationary crisis.
NIA believes the largest financial crisis in history is ahead of us as a direct result of the U.S. government unwilling to accept a much needed recession. We are now at a point where our national debt is impossible to pay off. Due to rising interest payments on our national debt, it is unlikely the U.S. will be able to balance its budget ever again. Foreigners will eventually stop lending the U.S. money and the Federal Reserve will most likely have to print the money to fund our deficit spending out of thin air.
Article and Movie Trailer from the National Inflation Association
Inflation to Make All Americans Billionaires By 2020
One of the Federal Reserve's original stated purposes was to manage the nation's money supply through monetary policy that provides for stable prices without inflation or deflation. Shocking just about the whole world except for NIA members, the Federal Reserve this past week shifted its purpose from being an inflation fighter to now being an inflation advocate. Charles Evans, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is now saying that inflation in the U.S. is too low and the Federal Reserve needs to publicly declare a new goal of having inflation that is much higher than its informal 2% target. William Dudley, President of the New York Federal Reserve, is calling current low levels of U.S. inflation "a problem" because "it means slower nominal income growth".
Dudley believes "slower nominal income growth" is unacceptable because it "means that less of the needed adjustment in household debt-to-income ratios will come from rising incomes. This puts more of the adjustment burden on paying down debt." In other words, he wants to monetize our debts by printing so much money that all Americans are earning enough income to pay back their debts. NIA fears that one of the unintended consequences of such a policy will be an insurmountable currency crisis; this will lead to a U.S. societal collapse with class warfare, millions of Americans starving to death, and a return to a barter based system that will last until we can come up with a new form of workable government based on sound money that is backed by gold and silver.
When our government creates inflation with the goal of generating higher incomes, the real incomes of Americans always decline dramatically. Inflation never creates wealth, but instead mis-allocates resources that would have went towards productive purposes if the free market was allowed to operate. During periods of high inflation, no matter how fast incomes rise nominally, they never keep pace with rising gold prices. (Try to picture Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe trying to keep pace in a race against Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.)
Back in 1970, the median family income in the U.S. was $9,870. During the next decade, the U.S. government created unprecedented amounts of inflation, which led to the median family income rising in 1980 to $21,020 for a gain of 113%. Gold was only $35 per ounce in 1970, but rose to a high in 1980 of $850 per ounce for a gain of 2,329%. One year of income in 1970 would have bought 282 ounces of gold, but one year of income in 1980 would have only bought 25 ounces of gold. Priced in gold, families saw their real incomes decline during the 1970s by 91%.
On July 19th of this year, with everybody in the mainstream media warning Americans about the threat of deflation, NIA predicted that the Federal Reserve was, "quietly getting ready to implement 'The Mother of All Quantitative Easing'". NIA said that, "come this October, Bernanke is likely to shoot up his largest ever dose of quantitative easing." Then on July 28th with gold down to $1,158 per ounce and silver down to $17.63 per ounce, NIA sent out an alert entitled, "Gold and Silver Capitulation is Near" in which we said, "The sentiment on gold and silver has abruptly changed to the negative like nothing we have ever seen before and to us this means the big move to the upside is right around the corner."
NIA called the bottom on gold and silver perfectly. Since July 28th, gold and silver have both risen 34 out of 49 days, with gold rising by 16% and silver rising by 30%. Many people are asking us when precious metals are going to dip. Although gold and silver will make many dips in the years to come, NIA is never going to make an attempt to predict these short-term, temporary dips. It is far too risky and dangerous to sell gold and silver with the hope of buying back on a dip. Those who actively trade gold and silver, usually go long the U.S. dollar while they are waiting for a dip. There will come a time when the U.S. dollar crashes, with gold rising hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a day, and silver potentially doubling or tripling in value in a day. Trust us, you do not want to be on the wrong side of the trade on that day. NIA is focused on the long-term risk of hyperinflation and is not concerned about short-term volatility.
NIA believes that if the Federal Reserve doesn't reverse course immediately, we are on a direct path to all Americans becoming billionaires by the year 2020, if not much sooner. Being a billionaire in dollars won't mean anything. The wealth of Americans later this decade will be calculated based on how much gold and silver they own. We are at the beginning stages of a massive worldwide rush out of the U.S. dollar and into gold and silver.
Gold, at a new all time high of $1,344 per ounce, is still very undervalued. If gold's total bull run from its 2001 low of $256 per ounce equals a percentage gain of 2,329% (just like the 1970s) we will see a gold price of $6,218 per ounce. Silver, at a new 30-year high of $23 per ounce, is still an absolute steal. Just like NIA predicted, the gold/silver ratio has declined in recent months from 70 down to 58, but is still well above the historical average of 16. In our opinion, because silver has been undervalued for so long with artificially high gold/silver ratios, once JP Morgan is forced to cover their naked short position in silver we could see the ratio decline to an artificially low level as low as 8. Therefore, if we see $6,218 per ounce gold, we wouldn't be surprised to also see $777.25 per ounce silver.
Dudley's solution to our current economic crisis is to "find ways to increase the amount of stimulus we currently provide via our balance sheet." This is pure insanity. Bush's $200 billion stimulus sent oil prices to $147 per barrel, Obama's $800 billion stimulus prevented massive price deflation (that would have made cost of living in America a lot more affordable) during a period of rapidly rising unemployment, and now the Federal Reserve believes even greater stimulus will fix our economy. Dudley is calling for the Federal Reserve to purchase $500 billion in bonds, but the Federal Reserve's real quantitative easing will be much greater. Dudley doesn't want to steal the show from Bernanke. He must allow Bernanke to be the one who first suggests the "genius" idea of having quantitative easing of $1 trillion or more.
The truth is, the exact amount of the Federal Reserve's short-term purchases is absolutely meaningless. Keep your eyes on the big picture and remember that if the Federal Reserve's treasury purchases aren't enough to create massive price inflation in the short-term, they will continue to unleash even larger doses of quantitative easing. Our gut feeling is that we are practically at the point where the U.S. economy is about to overdose on any further quantitative easing. A "Meltup" is currently taking place, exactly like NIA predicted in our documentary 'Meltup' that was released on May 13th (it has now been viewed by over 808,000 people).
We may be forced to soon change our hyperinflation forecast from the years 2014-2015 to as soon as the year 2012. NIA has long been predicting ever since its first documentary 'Hyperinflation Nation' that besides gold and silver, we would see inflation most in agricultural commodities. During the month of September alone we saw huge gains in agricultural commodities like soybeans +9.5%, rice +10%, corn +12%, orange juice +13%, cotton +17.5%, and sugar +19.3%.
All countries are now in a war with each other to have the weakest currency, with the false belief that having a strong currency destroys their export markets. When history looks back to the time period we are currently in, our world leaders (especially our elected representatives in Washington) will be considered the most incompetent and corrupt in world history. NIA's new documentary being released later this month will expose the U.S. societal collapse from a perspective that has never been addressed before by anybody in the media. NIA's co-founders are currently on their way to Kingston, NY, to interview Gerald Celente, the most accurate trends forecaster of all time. His interview in 'Meltup' was widely considered to be the most insightful and eye-opening economic interview to ever be a part of any documentary and his interview in our new documentary promises to be even better.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Urban Survival Firearms - Urban Handgun
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received the following question concerning Urban Firearms and handguns in particular: I am in a Survival Group of eleven people, 5 couples and one individual. We are all in white collar professions. Our group objective is to mutually support each other, either from different location if possible, or to band together at one of the group’s house. Four of us live in condos, three in apartments and two in stand alone houses. We have discussed how we can complement each other and have developed a “buy” list, limited to what each vehicle will hold.
We are concentrating on stocking food, mainly dry staples, mainly packaged dry meals and some canned goods. One of our couples does some shotgun shooting, but for the most part we don’t have any firearms. It is unrealistic to expect that each of us will buy a military rifle. We have talked about all of us buying handguns for protection, thinking that handguns for all and the couple shoguns we’ll have available should be good enough. Herein lies my questions: Should we try and standardize on one handgun? Or is it just sufficient for everyone to own a handgun regardless of being all the same. We are having a get together prior to Thanksgiving and I would like to broach this subject with the group. Thank you”.
UrbanMan’s response: It sounds like you are taking the lead to get a Survival Group organized. I commend you for that. This may become a dripping process, where you incrementally push the group towards prudent survival preparation.
I'll answer your question about standardizing your survival group’s handguns first. Yes, it would be prudent for all members of your survival group to possess the same handgun. Ammunition compatibility and the ability to interchange magazines (if it is a semi-automatic pistol as opposed to a revolver) is another advantage. The time needed to familiarize and train members on different handguns is also reduced. Having said that, the first rule of a gun fight is to have a gun. Therefore if survival group members already have a handgun, I would not think that buying new handguns to ensure standardization would not, repeat, would not be your first priority.
The second rule is not to bring a handgun to a rifle fight. You mentioned a couple survival group members having shotguns. You did not mention having any rifles. Handguns are a poor substitute for long guns and designed primarily as a secondary or defensive weapon. Shorter barrels, shorter sight radius’ and smaller cartridges at less velocity all make them ineffective at longer ranges. If you think that handguns will be sufficient because of the shorter engagement ranges of your present and planned urban survival environment then you are missing several points on long guns.
Having a long gun, meaning a rifle or carbine, shooting more powerful cartridges than a handgun allows you not only longer engagement ranges, but the ability to punch through soft cover like wooden walls, car doors, etc. Magazine fed long guns such as AR type rifles,.e.g..M16, AR15, M4, etc. provide detachable magazines with high capacities which would serve you and your survival group well if attacked by larger groups of bandits or mobs.
Long guns would also you to hunt and procure larger game animals. Maybe even the presence of a larger survival group equipped with long guns would make you appear to be a harder target and therefore may be a deterrent to being attacked. So when you say “It is unrealistic to expect that each of us will buy a military rifle”, you may want to consider at least a couple military type long guns within your group.
I hope you are “cross loading” you supplies and material, so that if one couple in your group does not make it to one of the houses if/when you re-locate and consolidate, then you won’t be missing key components of your urban survival equipment.
I also hope you are planning a Bug Out to a safe location outside of the urban environment for if/when that situation comes about and the need to leave develops. I hope I answered your question well enough. I did not list or otherwise suggest a standard handgun, as I think long guns are more important.
We are concentrating on stocking food, mainly dry staples, mainly packaged dry meals and some canned goods. One of our couples does some shotgun shooting, but for the most part we don’t have any firearms. It is unrealistic to expect that each of us will buy a military rifle. We have talked about all of us buying handguns for protection, thinking that handguns for all and the couple shoguns we’ll have available should be good enough. Herein lies my questions: Should we try and standardize on one handgun? Or is it just sufficient for everyone to own a handgun regardless of being all the same. We are having a get together prior to Thanksgiving and I would like to broach this subject with the group. Thank you”.
UrbanMan’s response: It sounds like you are taking the lead to get a Survival Group organized. I commend you for that. This may become a dripping process, where you incrementally push the group towards prudent survival preparation.
I'll answer your question about standardizing your survival group’s handguns first. Yes, it would be prudent for all members of your survival group to possess the same handgun. Ammunition compatibility and the ability to interchange magazines (if it is a semi-automatic pistol as opposed to a revolver) is another advantage. The time needed to familiarize and train members on different handguns is also reduced. Having said that, the first rule of a gun fight is to have a gun. Therefore if survival group members already have a handgun, I would not think that buying new handguns to ensure standardization would not, repeat, would not be your first priority.
The second rule is not to bring a handgun to a rifle fight. You mentioned a couple survival group members having shotguns. You did not mention having any rifles. Handguns are a poor substitute for long guns and designed primarily as a secondary or defensive weapon. Shorter barrels, shorter sight radius’ and smaller cartridges at less velocity all make them ineffective at longer ranges. If you think that handguns will be sufficient because of the shorter engagement ranges of your present and planned urban survival environment then you are missing several points on long guns.
Having a long gun, meaning a rifle or carbine, shooting more powerful cartridges than a handgun allows you not only longer engagement ranges, but the ability to punch through soft cover like wooden walls, car doors, etc. Magazine fed long guns such as AR type rifles,.e.g..M16, AR15, M4, etc. provide detachable magazines with high capacities which would serve you and your survival group well if attacked by larger groups of bandits or mobs.
Long guns would also you to hunt and procure larger game animals. Maybe even the presence of a larger survival group equipped with long guns would make you appear to be a harder target and therefore may be a deterrent to being attacked. So when you say “It is unrealistic to expect that each of us will buy a military rifle”, you may want to consider at least a couple military type long guns within your group.
I hope you are “cross loading” you supplies and material, so that if one couple in your group does not make it to one of the houses if/when you re-locate and consolidate, then you won’t be missing key components of your urban survival equipment.
I also hope you are planning a Bug Out to a safe location outside of the urban environment for if/when that situation comes about and the need to leave develops. I hope I answered your question well enough. I did not list or otherwise suggest a standard handgun, as I think long guns are more important.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Urban Survival Equipment - Merrell Boots
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received a comment on the Reader's suggestions for Survival Equipment: "Anonymous said...The Merrell Boots are great! I own a pair of the Sawtooths for the woods and I wear the Merrell World Guides during the day when working. I also have a pair of Danners, but never wear them anymore because the Merrell's hold up very well and are comfortable."
UrbanMan replies: Roger on your like of Merrell Boots. The Sawtooths have been replaced, by some, with several waterproof versions, but are still excellent boots. I also find them more comfortable than my Danners and other military style boots plus they don't scream military or police. This makes wearing 5.11 tactical pants alittle less eye catching.
Merrell makes a slew of different styles, suitable for many different Survival applications,....cold environs and wetlands as well.
UrbanMan replies: Roger on your like of Merrell Boots. The Sawtooths have been replaced, by some, with several waterproof versions, but are still excellent boots. I also find them more comfortable than my Danners and other military style boots plus they don't scream military or police. This makes wearing 5.11 tactical pants alittle less eye catching.
Merrell makes a slew of different styles, suitable for many different Survival applications,....cold environs and wetlands as well.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Corruption as a Economic Collapse Precursor
A friend of mine sent me this Reuters article about Corruption getting worse and worse in the United States. We have all thought about this at one time or another,...hard not to when you read about Legislators voting things for themselves and at the same time burdening the People with tax increases or regulatory mandates. I submit to the readers that the last thing a government does before it collapses it to loot the treasury. Not only does this push us towards economic collapse with the waste and abuse, but could help set the stage for anarchy when the population gets mad enough.
U.S. Slips to Historic Low in Global Corruption Index
By Dave Graham
BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States has dropped out of the "top 20" in a global league table of least corrupt nations, tarnished by financial scandals and the influence of money in politics, Transparency International said on Tuesday.
Somalia was judged the most corrupt country, followed by Myanmar and Afghanistan at joint second-worst and then by Iraq , in the Berlin-based watchdog TI's annual corruption perceptions index (CPI).
The United States fell to 22nd from 19th last year, with its CPI score dropping to 7.1 from 7.5 in the 178-nation index, which is based on independent surveys on corruption.
This was the lowest score awarded to the United States in the index's 15-year history and also the first time it had fallen out of the top 20.
In the Americas , this put the United States behind Canada in sixth place, Barbados at 17th and Chile in 21st place.
Jointly heading the index -- in which a score of 10 indicates a country with the highest standards, and 0 as highly corrupt -- were Denmark , New Zealand and Singapore with 9.3. They were also at the top of the table last year.
Somalia scored 1.1. The watchdog group said its table was based on "different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions."
U.S. "INTEGRITY DEFICIT"
Nancy Boswell, president of TI in the United States , said lending practices in the subprime crisis, the disclosure of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and rows over political funding had all rattled public faith about prevailing ethics in America .
"We're not talking about corruption in the sense of breaking the law," she said. "We're talking about a sense that the system is corrupted by these practices. There's an integrity deficit."
Various financial scandals at state and city level had encouraged the impression that the regulatory oversight was weak and that influence could be bought, she added.
The index showed a number of countries -- including Iran -- climbing up the chart significantly from 2009, though TI said this could often be ascribed to the fact that different surveys were being used that offered no direct comparison to last year.
The fact that nearly three quarters of the countries scored 5.0 or less showed corruption was still a major global problem, said Robin Hodess, director of policy and research at TI.
However, the watchdog identified Bhutan , Chile , Ecuador , Macedonia , Gambia , Haiti , Jamaica , Kuwait , and Qatar as states where improvement had been made over the past year.
By contrast, it highlighted the Czech Republic , Greece , Hungary , Italy , Madagascar , Niger and the United States as nations where perceptions had deteriorated.
U.S. Slips to Historic Low in Global Corruption Index
By Dave Graham
BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States has dropped out of the "top 20" in a global league table of least corrupt nations, tarnished by financial scandals and the influence of money in politics, Transparency International said on Tuesday.
Somalia was judged the most corrupt country, followed by Myanmar and Afghanistan at joint second-worst and then by Iraq , in the Berlin-based watchdog TI's annual corruption perceptions index (CPI).
The United States fell to 22nd from 19th last year, with its CPI score dropping to 7.1 from 7.5 in the 178-nation index, which is based on independent surveys on corruption.
This was the lowest score awarded to the United States in the index's 15-year history and also the first time it had fallen out of the top 20.
In the Americas , this put the United States behind Canada in sixth place, Barbados at 17th and Chile in 21st place.
Jointly heading the index -- in which a score of 10 indicates a country with the highest standards, and 0 as highly corrupt -- were Denmark , New Zealand and Singapore with 9.3. They were also at the top of the table last year.
Somalia scored 1.1. The watchdog group said its table was based on "different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions."
U.S. "INTEGRITY DEFICIT"
Nancy Boswell, president of TI in the United States , said lending practices in the subprime crisis, the disclosure of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and rows over political funding had all rattled public faith about prevailing ethics in America .
"We're not talking about corruption in the sense of breaking the law," she said. "We're talking about a sense that the system is corrupted by these practices. There's an integrity deficit."
Various financial scandals at state and city level had encouraged the impression that the regulatory oversight was weak and that influence could be bought, she added.
The index showed a number of countries -- including Iran -- climbing up the chart significantly from 2009, though TI said this could often be ascribed to the fact that different surveys were being used that offered no direct comparison to last year.
The fact that nearly three quarters of the countries scored 5.0 or less showed corruption was still a major global problem, said Robin Hodess, director of policy and research at TI.
However, the watchdog identified Bhutan , Chile , Ecuador , Macedonia , Gambia , Haiti , Jamaica , Kuwait , and Qatar as states where improvement had been made over the past year.
By contrast, it highlighted the Czech Republic , Greece , Hungary , Italy , Madagascar , Niger and the United States as nations where perceptions had deteriorated.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Urban Survival Gear and Equipment - Reader's Suggestions
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received this PM on facebook: "Hey Urban Man, just wanted to drop you a note and tell you my latest acquisitions to augment my already well equipped Bug Out plan."
"I'm at the point right now that that I can slow down on my survival purchasing, so (as) I meander through the internet and Survival blogs, I pickup tips on new gear that people think they will find useful. I have over 12 months of stored long term food (long term) not counting a pantry which I could live probably two months on. I have all the guns and ammunition that I'll need. I have plenty of camping supplies such as sleeping bags, cooking equipment and things like that."
"I recently bought the following nice to have Survival items and thought you may want to comment on them:"
A Propane Tank Gauge. In case I come across abandoned propane tanks, so am offered some in barter, I can determine how much fuel is left in it. This gauge takes up a very small amount of room in a pack or my Bug Out Bag.
A Wireless Driveway Sensor. Uses a "C" battery for the sensor and 9 volt battery for the receiver and is good for 400 yards. Not only can I use this to cover an area to alert against intruders, it's portable so I can include this at my base I have.
A Truck Tent. My Bug Out Of Town Plan is shared by two of my friends. We all have pickup trucks available. I bought this truck tent, that fits into the bed of the truck, so we can set up sleeping accommodations at temporary sites and still be really mobile if we have to. I figure we'll never have more than a couple people sleeping due to having to post some guards, that's why I only bought one.
Merrel Moab Mids hiking boots. These are great boots! I traded my camouflaged uniform for some solid color pants upon your suggestions months ago. So these boots do not look like military or cop footwear and are really great hiking and climbing boots.
Portable Air Compressor. This uses a 12v battery like those cordless drills. I can recharge the battery through my vehicle or a wall socket. We'll also be taking pedal bicycles so we can use this to repair or air up bike tires.
Sheeps skin lined booties. It gets COLD where I am going. I wanted something that I can wear when sleeping but still able to get up and run or fight or whatever. Also I think they would come in handy for people sitting at a fixed site providing security for the rest of us.
When I first starting preparing. Some of my friends called me "Kanik the Wanderer" because I was buying all this camping and hiking stuff. Two of these friends are now in my survival planning group, but they still call me Kanik the Wanderer.
UrbanMan replies: Dear Kanik,....all great ideas. Never thought about a Propane Gauge, now I'm going to get one. I think any wireless, battery operated early warning devices are a good addition to your kit as well, especially if it is mobile enough to take with you during a hasty Bug Out. Thanks for the ideas.
"I'm at the point right now that that I can slow down on my survival purchasing, so (as) I meander through the internet and Survival blogs, I pickup tips on new gear that people think they will find useful. I have over 12 months of stored long term food (long term) not counting a pantry which I could live probably two months on. I have all the guns and ammunition that I'll need. I have plenty of camping supplies such as sleeping bags, cooking equipment and things like that."
"I recently bought the following nice to have Survival items and thought you may want to comment on them:"
A Propane Tank Gauge. In case I come across abandoned propane tanks, so am offered some in barter, I can determine how much fuel is left in it. This gauge takes up a very small amount of room in a pack or my Bug Out Bag.
A Wireless Driveway Sensor. Uses a "C" battery for the sensor and 9 volt battery for the receiver and is good for 400 yards. Not only can I use this to cover an area to alert against intruders, it's portable so I can include this at my base I have.
A Truck Tent. My Bug Out Of Town Plan is shared by two of my friends. We all have pickup trucks available. I bought this truck tent, that fits into the bed of the truck, so we can set up sleeping accommodations at temporary sites and still be really mobile if we have to. I figure we'll never have more than a couple people sleeping due to having to post some guards, that's why I only bought one.
Merrel Moab Mids hiking boots. These are great boots! I traded my camouflaged uniform for some solid color pants upon your suggestions months ago. So these boots do not look like military or cop footwear and are really great hiking and climbing boots.
Portable Air Compressor. This uses a 12v battery like those cordless drills. I can recharge the battery through my vehicle or a wall socket. We'll also be taking pedal bicycles so we can use this to repair or air up bike tires.
Sheeps skin lined booties. It gets COLD where I am going. I wanted something that I can wear when sleeping but still able to get up and run or fight or whatever. Also I think they would come in handy for people sitting at a fixed site providing security for the rest of us.
When I first starting preparing. Some of my friends called me "Kanik the Wanderer" because I was buying all this camping and hiking stuff. Two of these friends are now in my survival planning group, but they still call me Kanik the Wanderer.
UrbanMan replies: Dear Kanik,....all great ideas. Never thought about a Propane Gauge, now I'm going to get one. I think any wireless, battery operated early warning devices are a good addition to your kit as well, especially if it is mobile enough to take with you during a hasty Bug Out. Thanks for the ideas.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Urban Survival - New Information on the Mayan Calendar
This article was written by Stephanie Pappas, a LiveScience Senior Writer from LiveScience.com and it came out on the web 19 October 2012.
End of the Earth Postponed.
It's a good news/bad news situation for believers in the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. The good news is that the Mayan "Long Count" calendar may not end on Dec. 21, 2012 (and, by extension, the world may not end along with it). The bad news for prophecy believers? If the calendar doesn't end in December 2012, no one knows when it actually will - or if it has already.
A new critique, published as a chapter in the new textbook "Calendars and Years II: Astronomy and Time in the Ancient and Medieval World" (Oxbow Books, 2010), argues that the accepted conversions of dates from Mayan to the modern calendar may be off by as much as 50 or 100 years. That would throw the supposed and overhyped 2012 apocalypse off by decades and cast into doubt the dates of historical Mayan events. (The doomsday worries are based on the fact that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, much as our year ends on Dec. 31.)
The Mayan calendar was converted to today's Gregorian calendar using a calculation called the GMT constant, named for the last initials of three early Mayanist researchers. Much of the work emphasized dates recovered from colonial documents that were written in the Mayan language in the Latin alphabet, according to the chapter's author, Gerardo Aldana, University of California , Santa Barbara professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
Later, the GMT constant was bolstered by American linguist and anthropologist Floyd Lounsbury, who used data in the Dresden Codex Venus Table, a Mayan calendar and almanac that charts dates relative to the movements of Venus. "He took the position that his work removed the last obstacle to fully accepting the GMT constant," Aldana said in a statement. "Others took his work even further, suggesting that he had proven the GMT constant to be correct."
But according to Aldana, Lounsbury's evidence is far from irrefutable. "If the Venus Table cannot be used to prove the FMT as Lounsbury suggests, its acceptance depends on the reliability of the corroborating data," he said. That historical data, he said, is less reliable than the Table itself, causing the argument for the GMT constant to fall "like a stack of cards." Aldana doesn't have any answers as to what the correct calendar conversion might be, preferring to focus on why the current interpretation may be wrong. Looks like end-of-the-world theorists may need to find another ancient calendar on which to pin their apocalyptic hopes.
Now I just know some of you are saying “Darn!”. While others are saying “Now that I have don’t have that timeline, I have more time to prepare”,…….maybe,…maybe not.
It's a good news/bad news situation for believers in the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. The good news is that the Mayan "Long Count" calendar may not end on Dec. 21, 2012 (and, by extension, the world may not end along with it). The bad news for prophecy believers? If the calendar doesn't end in December 2012, no one knows when it actually will - or if it has already.
A new critique, published as a chapter in the new textbook "Calendars and Years II: Astronomy and Time in the Ancient and Medieval World" (Oxbow Books, 2010), argues that the accepted conversions of dates from Mayan to the modern calendar may be off by as much as 50 or 100 years. That would throw the supposed and overhyped 2012 apocalypse off by decades and cast into doubt the dates of historical Mayan events. (The doomsday worries are based on the fact that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, much as our year ends on Dec. 31.)
The Mayan calendar was converted to today's Gregorian calendar using a calculation called the GMT constant, named for the last initials of three early Mayanist researchers. Much of the work emphasized dates recovered from colonial documents that were written in the Mayan language in the Latin alphabet, according to the chapter's author, Gerardo Aldana, University of California , Santa Barbara professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
Later, the GMT constant was bolstered by American linguist and anthropologist Floyd Lounsbury, who used data in the Dresden Codex Venus Table, a Mayan calendar and almanac that charts dates relative to the movements of Venus. "He took the position that his work removed the last obstacle to fully accepting the GMT constant," Aldana said in a statement. "Others took his work even further, suggesting that he had proven the GMT constant to be correct."
But according to Aldana, Lounsbury's evidence is far from irrefutable. "If the Venus Table cannot be used to prove the FMT as Lounsbury suggests, its acceptance depends on the reliability of the corroborating data," he said. That historical data, he said, is less reliable than the Table itself, causing the argument for the GMT constant to fall "like a stack of cards." Aldana doesn't have any answers as to what the correct calendar conversion might be, preferring to focus on why the current interpretation may be wrong. Looks like end-of-the-world theorists may need to find another ancient calendar on which to pin their apocalyptic hopes.
Now I just know some of you are saying “Darn!”. While others are saying “Now that I have don’t have that timeline, I have more time to prepare”,…….maybe,…maybe not.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
More Back and Forth on Societal - Economic Collapse
We continue the back and forth with the Anonymous Reader who commented again on the Societal Collapse post:
I mostly agree with you about cities (big cities), but I do think if the crisis is "only" an economic collapse that we won't lose fire & law enforcement, hospitals, grocery stores, etc. So while Los Angeles or NY City might be dramatically more dangerous I do not think most cities, especially the smaller ones will be. However if we are talking about something far worse then all bets are off.
UrbanMan: I think an economic collapse can be gradual, like a slow sink into an economic depression with an alike gradual scarcity of foodstuffs and other commodities – and this would be the best case for survival, especially for people unprepared as the gradual slope from bad to worse would allow them some time to prepare….not the best case scenario, but one that would give the unprepared the best chance. I also think there is the chance of a dynamic economic collapse that would be devastating for the people caught unprepared. Be it from an dedicated EMP attack or EMP after effects from a nuclear attack; or a computer generated attack against cyber banking and financial systems. The threat to urban dwellers survival and security is linked to how quick the food supply dwindles and how long utilities stay on. Once water and electric are compromised, life in the urban areas will be as well, and an exodus to places perceived to be better off will transpire. I have seen some of these mass migration models and they are not pretty. I would suggest the Urban Survivalist as well as the rural based Survivalist conduct their own mass migration studies based on avenues of approach and likely destinations out of major population centers in order to better situate themselves at their safe locations.
I totally agree that another great depression will have worse consequences with our larger mostly urban population. I think it will be especially difficult for those on welfare because we would have to assume that a lot of these benefits would be slashed. Where I disagree is the who "have's" vs "have nots". Most of us here in the U.S. are middle class. Even poor people on welfare have more money, benefits and goods then the middle class in Europe does. Most of the poor people I know have two cars, three color TV's, air conditioners and eat steak a couple times a week. The few who are rich don't mingle with you and I and while it may irritate you that they are rich it makes ZERO difference in your life or how you live today or even after a depression. If they were poor tomorrow it wouldn't help you or me or the situation. So people will indeed be angry that their cushy lives have changed for the worse but there won't be any "have's" around to take it out on.
UrbanMan replies: I agree that a lot if not most people in the U.S. are “middle class”,….right now. I am really scared for my children’s future in a growing government juggernaut that just sucks up resources without providing product. Going the way we are heading now, most of the tax payments will go for government salaries,…I’m only half joking. The economically disadvantaged are increasing; the amount of people on welfare are increasing and the government, at some point, is not going to be able to pay for it. Combined with the people just above the poverty line and those that will be dragged down into this level, I see a large percentage of the population as becoming “have nots”. If and when the food and utilities run out or become so sporadic as to be ineffective, I would think anarchy will result. Nobody hopes this will not be the case more than me, so my pattern has been to prepare for the worse, hope for the best.
I do think we are today looking at the best last chance any people or any country has ever had. That is we can see this coming and we more or less know what to expect. But we could go to the store today and buy all of the necessities and it is relatively inexpensive. You can go out today and buy a years supply of canned, dried and fresh food and you could even use a credit card. Everyone should at least buy a years supply of food and necessities and store them in a closet, basement or garage. We don't have to go into this crisis like the people in New Orleans did.
UrbanMan replies: I agree with everything in your last paragraph. So do most of the people reading this site, or the host of other Survival Preparation sites on the web.
I mostly agree with you about cities (big cities), but I do think if the crisis is "only" an economic collapse that we won't lose fire & law enforcement, hospitals, grocery stores, etc. So while Los Angeles or NY City might be dramatically more dangerous I do not think most cities, especially the smaller ones will be. However if we are talking about something far worse then all bets are off.
UrbanMan: I think an economic collapse can be gradual, like a slow sink into an economic depression with an alike gradual scarcity of foodstuffs and other commodities – and this would be the best case for survival, especially for people unprepared as the gradual slope from bad to worse would allow them some time to prepare….not the best case scenario, but one that would give the unprepared the best chance. I also think there is the chance of a dynamic economic collapse that would be devastating for the people caught unprepared. Be it from an dedicated EMP attack or EMP after effects from a nuclear attack; or a computer generated attack against cyber banking and financial systems. The threat to urban dwellers survival and security is linked to how quick the food supply dwindles and how long utilities stay on. Once water and electric are compromised, life in the urban areas will be as well, and an exodus to places perceived to be better off will transpire. I have seen some of these mass migration models and they are not pretty. I would suggest the Urban Survivalist as well as the rural based Survivalist conduct their own mass migration studies based on avenues of approach and likely destinations out of major population centers in order to better situate themselves at their safe locations.
I totally agree that another great depression will have worse consequences with our larger mostly urban population. I think it will be especially difficult for those on welfare because we would have to assume that a lot of these benefits would be slashed. Where I disagree is the who "have's" vs "have nots". Most of us here in the U.S. are middle class. Even poor people on welfare have more money, benefits and goods then the middle class in Europe does. Most of the poor people I know have two cars, three color TV's, air conditioners and eat steak a couple times a week. The few who are rich don't mingle with you and I and while it may irritate you that they are rich it makes ZERO difference in your life or how you live today or even after a depression. If they were poor tomorrow it wouldn't help you or me or the situation. So people will indeed be angry that their cushy lives have changed for the worse but there won't be any "have's" around to take it out on.
UrbanMan replies: I agree that a lot if not most people in the U.S. are “middle class”,….right now. I am really scared for my children’s future in a growing government juggernaut that just sucks up resources without providing product. Going the way we are heading now, most of the tax payments will go for government salaries,…I’m only half joking. The economically disadvantaged are increasing; the amount of people on welfare are increasing and the government, at some point, is not going to be able to pay for it. Combined with the people just above the poverty line and those that will be dragged down into this level, I see a large percentage of the population as becoming “have nots”. If and when the food and utilities run out or become so sporadic as to be ineffective, I would think anarchy will result. Nobody hopes this will not be the case more than me, so my pattern has been to prepare for the worse, hope for the best.
I do think we are today looking at the best last chance any people or any country has ever had. That is we can see this coming and we more or less know what to expect. But we could go to the store today and buy all of the necessities and it is relatively inexpensive. You can go out today and buy a years supply of canned, dried and fresh food and you could even use a credit card. Everyone should at least buy a years supply of food and necessities and store them in a closet, basement or garage. We don't have to go into this crisis like the people in New Orleans did.
UrbanMan replies: I agree with everything in your last paragraph. So do most of the people reading this site, or the host of other Survival Preparation sites on the web.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Urban Survival and Societal Collapse - Reader Comments
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received a long comment from Anonymous regarding the post "Societal Collapse - Part 2: Poverty, Chronically Ill....":
Good comments from a thinking person and they deserve return comments from me not only from what I disagree with but what I agree on. Anonymous' comments are in Italics.
He's guessing based on worse case. Argentina is a reasonable model of a economic collapse and virtually everything he talks about simply did not happen. Some cities will be problematic or more correctly have pockets of problem areas but most cities will ba as safe as the countryside is. I'm not saying it will be just as safe as today but that it won't be an huge difference and leaving the city won't make you safe. In fact the only real difference is if the bad guy gets you in the country he has more time to do bad things because there is no one around to catch him or stop him.
UrbanMan replies: I have to disagree somewhat here. The cities may be as safe as rural areas but only for so long. After a undetermined time period food is going to scare. Some people may have to move to the Government run FEMA type camps in order to survive - these will be the unprepared people. I have also said that Survival is a Team Sport and you have to have a prepared plan. Having a rural location to move to and meet with other alike minded people is going to much safer. I would agree that moving to the country won't make you safer unless you have a Survival Group to rely on and have a plan and are prepared to survive there, food, water and security wise.
An economic collapse will be very much like the great depression. Lots of problems and not enough food and necessities but people will still continue to live their lives and take care of their needs as best they can. As far as disease is concerned unless you are talking about a pandemic and not an economic collapse disease is unlikely to be a major factor. Yes, people who are already seriously ill will be at risk, but healthy people won't just get sick and die.
UrbanMan replies: I'm thinking that another great depression will be much worse than the 1930's, since we have a much more highly mobile population; the population is much greater in density; instant communications via cell phones and the internet will influence the population; and, the United States is much less capable to feed our own population than we were in the 1930's. I think that with a 27% increase in people on food stamps and a 34% increase in people on unemployment benefits, we now have the largest gap in the "have's" and the "have nots", and that combined with the cultural shift over the past several decades into an entitliest society creates a giant potential for anarchy upon a economic collapse.
One of the problems is knowing what is going to happen. No one knows. We can guess and then guess what the result might be but no one knows.
UrbanMan replies: Roger on the know one knows. I think you have to wargame against the possible and probable threats to your survival which boil down to two things: Subsistence (water and food) and Security.
One thing this guys forgets as he tries to conflate the New Orleans experience with an economic collapse: Most people did in fact get the hell out of New Orleans and took care of themselves. Most of those who stayed were already on some form of welfare and had never in their lives "taken care of themselves". If you are expecting the government to provide then you will be very disappointed. But the government will most likely do what it can considering the scope of the problem another great depression would cause.
UrbanMan replies: You are right on New Orleans and the people waiting for the government to take care of them - should be a lesson to us all. I have worked for the government for over three decades. I have little faith in the government's ability to take care of the population and in fact I think the government will likely be the cause of the economic collapse.
Good comments from a thinking person and they deserve return comments from me not only from what I disagree with but what I agree on. Anonymous' comments are in Italics.
He's guessing based on worse case. Argentina is a reasonable model of a economic collapse and virtually everything he talks about simply did not happen. Some cities will be problematic or more correctly have pockets of problem areas but most cities will ba as safe as the countryside is. I'm not saying it will be just as safe as today but that it won't be an huge difference and leaving the city won't make you safe. In fact the only real difference is if the bad guy gets you in the country he has more time to do bad things because there is no one around to catch him or stop him.
UrbanMan replies: I have to disagree somewhat here. The cities may be as safe as rural areas but only for so long. After a undetermined time period food is going to scare. Some people may have to move to the Government run FEMA type camps in order to survive - these will be the unprepared people. I have also said that Survival is a Team Sport and you have to have a prepared plan. Having a rural location to move to and meet with other alike minded people is going to much safer. I would agree that moving to the country won't make you safer unless you have a Survival Group to rely on and have a plan and are prepared to survive there, food, water and security wise.
An economic collapse will be very much like the great depression. Lots of problems and not enough food and necessities but people will still continue to live their lives and take care of their needs as best they can. As far as disease is concerned unless you are talking about a pandemic and not an economic collapse disease is unlikely to be a major factor. Yes, people who are already seriously ill will be at risk, but healthy people won't just get sick and die.
UrbanMan replies: I'm thinking that another great depression will be much worse than the 1930's, since we have a much more highly mobile population; the population is much greater in density; instant communications via cell phones and the internet will influence the population; and, the United States is much less capable to feed our own population than we were in the 1930's. I think that with a 27% increase in people on food stamps and a 34% increase in people on unemployment benefits, we now have the largest gap in the "have's" and the "have nots", and that combined with the cultural shift over the past several decades into an entitliest society creates a giant potential for anarchy upon a economic collapse.
One of the problems is knowing what is going to happen. No one knows. We can guess and then guess what the result might be but no one knows.
UrbanMan replies: Roger on the know one knows. I think you have to wargame against the possible and probable threats to your survival which boil down to two things: Subsistence (water and food) and Security.
One thing this guys forgets as he tries to conflate the New Orleans experience with an economic collapse: Most people did in fact get the hell out of New Orleans and took care of themselves. Most of those who stayed were already on some form of welfare and had never in their lives "taken care of themselves". If you are expecting the government to provide then you will be very disappointed. But the government will most likely do what it can considering the scope of the problem another great depression would cause.
UrbanMan replies: You are right on New Orleans and the people waiting for the government to take care of them - should be a lesson to us all. I have worked for the government for over three decades. I have little faith in the government's ability to take care of the population and in fact I think the government will likely be the cause of the economic collapse.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Urban Survival Firearms - M1 Garands from the Civilian Marksmanship Program
This may not be common knowledge to all people, but the Civilian Marksmanship Program still exists. And it is still possible to obtain a service rifle such as an M1 Garand and sometimes even M1 Carbines become available. At times, ammunition at great prices are available.
CMP RIFLE SALES. The federal law that established the CMP authorizes it to sell surplus military .22 rimfire and .30 cal. rifles and ammunition to qualified U. S. citizens who are members of gun clubs affiliated with the CMP. All purchasers must provide proof of having received gun safety or marksmanship training and pass an FBI NICS check. The principal rifles sold through this program have been WWII era M1 Garand rifles and WWI era M1903 rifles. The law mandates that proceeds from these sales may be used only to support the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Each year since its establishment in 1996, the CMP has produced an excess of revenues over expenses to fund its firearm safety, marksmanship training and competition programs and an endowment that will support future programs.
For information rifle sales go to: http://www.thecmp.org/
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a national organization dedicated to training and educating U. S. citizens in responsible uses of firearms and airguns through gun safety training, marksmanship training and competitions. The CMP is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) corporation that places its highest priority on serving youth through gun safety and marksmanship activities that encourage personal growth and build life skills. Links on this page will lead you to more detailed information about the CMP and its programs.
STATUTORY MISSION. The federal law enacted in 1996 (Title 36 U. S. Code, 0701-40733) that created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS, the formal legal name of the CMP) mandates these key “functions for the corporation:
(1) To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship;
(2) To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms;
(3) To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.
The law specifically states: In carrying out the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the corporation shall give priority to activities that benefit firearms safety, training, and competition for youth and that reach as many youth participants as possible.
Some of the latest news from CMP:
WINCHESTER SERVICE GRADE M1 GARAND. The CMP now has several hundred Winchester M1 Garand rifles for sale. Please visit http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm . Item number is RM1WRAS. Price is $795 plus $22.95 S&H.
CMP SALES AT THE 2010 WESTERN CMP GAMES. The Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Match combine to offer an unprecedented nine-day series of clinics, recreation-oriented "as-issued" military rifle matches and national-class service and match rifle competitions with the best highpower rifle shooters in the country. The event will take place 16-24 October at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix , AZ. The Official Program and on-line registration are posted at http://www.odcmp.com/competitions/westerngames.htm. M1 Garand rifles will be available for selection and subsequent purchase. Memorabilia, new rifle barrels, gun cases, bayonets, rifle stocks, and ammunition will be available for immediate purchase.
M1 CARBINES SOLD OUT. The CMP is now sold out of M1 carbines except for the few we will still be selling on our auction program. http://auction.odcmp.com/auctions/index.asp. At this time, we have no reason to expect to receive any additional quantities of carbines.
The Urban Survivor could do alot worse than an old service grade M1 Garand Rifle as his primary survival firearm.
CMP RIFLE SALES. The federal law that established the CMP authorizes it to sell surplus military .22 rimfire and .30 cal. rifles and ammunition to qualified U. S. citizens who are members of gun clubs affiliated with the CMP. All purchasers must provide proof of having received gun safety or marksmanship training and pass an FBI NICS check. The principal rifles sold through this program have been WWII era M1 Garand rifles and WWI era M1903 rifles. The law mandates that proceeds from these sales may be used only to support the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Each year since its establishment in 1996, the CMP has produced an excess of revenues over expenses to fund its firearm safety, marksmanship training and competition programs and an endowment that will support future programs.
For information rifle sales go to: http://www.thecmp.org/
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a national organization dedicated to training and educating U. S. citizens in responsible uses of firearms and airguns through gun safety training, marksmanship training and competitions. The CMP is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) corporation that places its highest priority on serving youth through gun safety and marksmanship activities that encourage personal growth and build life skills. Links on this page will lead you to more detailed information about the CMP and its programs.
STATUTORY MISSION. The federal law enacted in 1996 (Title 36 U. S. Code, 0701-40733) that created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS, the formal legal name of the CMP) mandates these key “functions for the corporation:
(1) To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship;
(2) To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms;
(3) To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.
The law specifically states: In carrying out the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the corporation shall give priority to activities that benefit firearms safety, training, and competition for youth and that reach as many youth participants as possible.
Some of the latest news from CMP:
WINCHESTER SERVICE GRADE M1 GARAND. The CMP now has several hundred Winchester M1 Garand rifles for sale. Please visit http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm . Item number is RM1WRAS. Price is $795 plus $22.95 S&H.
CMP SALES AT THE 2010 WESTERN CMP GAMES. The Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Match combine to offer an unprecedented nine-day series of clinics, recreation-oriented "as-issued" military rifle matches and national-class service and match rifle competitions with the best highpower rifle shooters in the country. The event will take place 16-24 October at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix , AZ. The Official Program and on-line registration are posted at http://www.odcmp.com/competitions/westerngames.htm. M1 Garand rifles will be available for selection and subsequent purchase. Memorabilia, new rifle barrels, gun cases, bayonets, rifle stocks, and ammunition will be available for immediate purchase.
M1 CARBINES SOLD OUT. The CMP is now sold out of M1 carbines except for the few we will still be selling on our auction program. http://auction.odcmp.com/auctions/index.asp. At this time, we have no reason to expect to receive any additional quantities of carbines.
The Urban Survivor could do alot worse than an old service grade M1 Garand Rifle as his primary survival firearm.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Societal Collapse - Part 2: Poverty, Chronically Ill and Death
Already got a PM on why I decided to post this DEMCAD fella videoing his thoughts on Societal Collapse. One of my reader's sent me the link and asked me to comment on this guy. So I decided to give this guy (DEMCAD) another audience and evaluate his comments.
DEMCAD continues on with Part II of the Collapse of Society. His posting on You Tube created alot of comments concerning the validity of the Government to control disaffected areas. Basically the only way to control a population, other than brute force - which would backfire, would be with incentives such as security, food and water.
His valid points this time are the cities will be a bad place to live - survive. That you would have to get out of the urban areas or other with hihg population densities and this requires a vehicle. This Bug Out would of course require a plan and the timing to execute that plan.
The topic of the spread of diseases is valid. This brings up the long discussed point of being able to deal with refugees in a safe and secure manner. Think about how you are going to handle groups, even large groups of people, who need help and may be sick. Children are going to be, in particular, hard to turn down.
He talks about walking out of a city. Possible,..... but not without planning and preparation,...and don't forget the timing, made possible by tracking your indicators.
Again he talks about people leaving the cities looking for resources and the necessity of having the ability to protect the resources you have.
DEMCAD continues on with Part II of the Collapse of Society. His posting on You Tube created alot of comments concerning the validity of the Government to control disaffected areas. Basically the only way to control a population, other than brute force - which would backfire, would be with incentives such as security, food and water.
His valid points this time are the cities will be a bad place to live - survive. That you would have to get out of the urban areas or other with hihg population densities and this requires a vehicle. This Bug Out would of course require a plan and the timing to execute that plan.
The topic of the spread of diseases is valid. This brings up the long discussed point of being able to deal with refugees in a safe and secure manner. Think about how you are going to handle groups, even large groups of people, who need help and may be sick. Children are going to be, in particular, hard to turn down.
He talks about walking out of a city. Possible,..... but not without planning and preparation,...and don't forget the timing, made possible by tracking your indicators.
Again he talks about people leaving the cities looking for resources and the necessity of having the ability to protect the resources you have.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Societal Collapse - Part I: Plagues and Diseases
Ran across this video and will post them to let the readers decide what validity it has. You have to listen to the end. This gent brings up some valid points,.... ....first about municipalities going broke and not being to pay for services such as law enforcement, emergency response, then probably utilities such as electricity, water and the all important garbage removal.
His second valid point is the the cities will become smaller,..hell, they may even empty out as there is no way to sustain life with any type of society as we know it. Food will be scare and that will force people to the rural areas.
His third point is that the general health will deteriorate and bring on diseases and sickness from the uncontrolled spread of illnesses and lack of sanitation.
His final point is that the collapse is not the end but a transition and says the future will belong to those who prepare.
I think this guy gets it and wish I could get more people, such as my relatives, on board with this pattern of thought.
His second valid point is the the cities will become smaller,..hell, they may even empty out as there is no way to sustain life with any type of society as we know it. Food will be scare and that will force people to the rural areas.
His third point is that the general health will deteriorate and bring on diseases and sickness from the uncontrolled spread of illnesses and lack of sanitation.
His final point is that the collapse is not the end but a transition and says the future will belong to those who prepare.
I think this guy gets it and wish I could get more people, such as my relatives, on board with this pattern of thought.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Survival Chronicles of Jim - Chapter 19
Just wanted to drop a note and tell all of my latest purchase, a Eton FR600B Survival Radio. I long wanted to buy a self powered radio for when the collapse hits in case there are operational radio stations or short wave transmitters still going strong.
Eton makes several good multi-powered radios, using a hand crank, rechargeable battery or a built in solar panel. I'm kinda a gadget man, so I bought the FR600B model is one of the more expensive radios (at $80), but it also gives shortwave frequencies in the 5800 to 12200 Khz band as well as the standard AM 520-1700 Khz and FM 88-108 Mhz and all 7 NOAA Weather Alert Channels.
This model also has the a four white LED internal flashlight. At less than 8x9x3 inches, it is fairly compact and weighs less than 2 lbs.
The Solar/Hand Crank power feature generates enough energy to power this radio by simply setting it under the sun or with a few turns of the hand crank.
You can also plug in a iPOD or MP3 player and listen to your music if that's a priority to you when you may be scrambling to stay alive, post collapse.
There are cheaper Eton models, and I looked at the FR360R and the FR160B but settled on the FR600B because of the shortwave channels.
Eton makes several good multi-powered radios, using a hand crank, rechargeable battery or a built in solar panel. I'm kinda a gadget man, so I bought the FR600B model is one of the more expensive radios (at $80), but it also gives shortwave frequencies in the 5800 to 12200 Khz band as well as the standard AM 520-1700 Khz and FM 88-108 Mhz and all 7 NOAA Weather Alert Channels.
This model also has the a four white LED internal flashlight. At less than 8x9x3 inches, it is fairly compact and weighs less than 2 lbs.
The Solar/Hand Crank power feature generates enough energy to power this radio by simply setting it under the sun or with a few turns of the hand crank.
You can also plug in a iPOD or MP3 player and listen to your music if that's a priority to you when you may be scrambling to stay alive, post collapse.
There are cheaper Eton models, and I looked at the FR360R and the FR160B but settled on the FR600B because of the shortwave channels.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Urban Survival Planning - Gold and Silver versus Other Priorities
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received this comment/question from the last post on Gold and Silver Confiscation: Anonymous said...Good article and thanks for the link to Silver Monthly as they have good information on that site. I see that the Survival Movement is really common sense and not the radical militia thinking that some news organizations make it out to be. I am convinced that I need to better prepared and want to buy some Gold and Silver before it is no longer on option. Would you say that Gold and Silver are more important than some guns for self protection?
UrbanMan replies: Yes Sir, Silver Monthly, that is http://www.silvermonthly.com, is a very good site for information. It, as well as others, should be routinely visited by you in order to put together your "pending collapse indicators" and hence be more prepared to events to rapidly unfold.
The Survival Prepping movement is main stream and hinges on common sense. The same idea in other "cultures" such as the Church of Latter Day Saints" and even government websites such as the Homeland Security Federal Web site and State web sites such as Texas Prepares which have taken away much of the camo clad, gun toting, far right wing stereotype on Survivalists.
To meet your question, I would not say that Gold and Silver is more important than firearms. My first priorities would be to have a Bug Out Plan - where am I going to go when I need to and how am I going to get there, planning Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency routes and modes of travel; to have a Bug Out Bag to support this travel and survival; to have adequate firearms for protection.
Once I have met this immediate need, I would then start procuring survival gear, material and equipment to support long term survival. This would include clothing, long term food, field gear, and Gold and/or Silver. At this stage I would procure equally across the board rather than work off a list, as this would be like procuring a firearm piece by piece only to have the collapse hit when you were still a few pieces short of a full gun.
If you have, say a bunch of wool blankets and tarps, then maybe a good sleeping bag could be prioritized further down your list, because the wool blankets and tarps will work for now - not the best arrangement, but will work in a pinch. So prioritize based on your needs. Long term food, such as dehydrated food, is a priority for me, but I didn't buy a one year supply first before I solved other critical Survival Gear and Equipment needs. I bought a case here and there. See EarthWaveLiving for good deals on dehydrated foods, heirloom seeds and other survival items.
If I had a decent handgun and shotgun, I would probably start procuring other Survival items, including Gold and Silver purchasing, before I re-visited getting better guns. I think you see my message. Be safe and be ready my friend.
UrbanMan replies: Yes Sir, Silver Monthly, that is http://www.silvermonthly.com, is a very good site for information. It, as well as others, should be routinely visited by you in order to put together your "pending collapse indicators" and hence be more prepared to events to rapidly unfold.
The Survival Prepping movement is main stream and hinges on common sense. The same idea in other "cultures" such as the Church of Latter Day Saints" and even government websites such as the Homeland Security Federal Web site and State web sites such as Texas Prepares which have taken away much of the camo clad, gun toting, far right wing stereotype on Survivalists.
To meet your question, I would not say that Gold and Silver is more important than firearms. My first priorities would be to have a Bug Out Plan - where am I going to go when I need to and how am I going to get there, planning Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency routes and modes of travel; to have a Bug Out Bag to support this travel and survival; to have adequate firearms for protection.
Once I have met this immediate need, I would then start procuring survival gear, material and equipment to support long term survival. This would include clothing, long term food, field gear, and Gold and/or Silver. At this stage I would procure equally across the board rather than work off a list, as this would be like procuring a firearm piece by piece only to have the collapse hit when you were still a few pieces short of a full gun.
If you have, say a bunch of wool blankets and tarps, then maybe a good sleeping bag could be prioritized further down your list, because the wool blankets and tarps will work for now - not the best arrangement, but will work in a pinch. So prioritize based on your needs. Long term food, such as dehydrated food, is a priority for me, but I didn't buy a one year supply first before I solved other critical Survival Gear and Equipment needs. I bought a case here and there. See EarthWaveLiving for good deals on dehydrated foods, heirloom seeds and other survival items.
If I had a decent handgun and shotgun, I would probably start procuring other Survival items, including Gold and Silver purchasing, before I re-visited getting better guns. I think you see my message. Be safe and be ready my friend.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Urban Survival Planning - Gold and Silver Buying and the Confiscation Debate
An Anonymous Reader has left a comment on a previous post concerning the how the Government's new requirement on sellers issuing 1099's for commodities purchases over $600 can be used basically to "register" Gold and Silver for future easy confisciation by the Government. Anonymous said....."I'm sure this was accidental and they have no intention on confiscating your gold after TSHTF. As a famous person once said "We have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in the bill"! LOL"
Another Anonymous Reader, not realizing the LOL (Laugh Out Load) sign off, said........"I disagree with the above statement. Just remember Argentina. They confiscated gold, silver, savings accounts, retirement accounts. They stated that they would then redistribute the total funds in a monthly payment equal to everyone. Even those that had nothing to begin with. If you didnt take the offer you would not get anything. Hmmm,... wonder why Our government has been studying Argentina's actions. In todays state of policies and affairs you can not ever trust the Government to do whats Right, they do whats best for them and the government."
You have to understand how and why Gold was confiscated in the past in order to make a determination if it is possible in the future. My point is if you don't want anyone to take it away, then don't let them know about it in the first place...hence the purchasing of Gold and Silver in small amounts from multiple sources.
The shortest route to understanding possible Government Confiscation of Gold and Silver is through an excellent short article published on http://www.silvermonthly.com/ entitled: "Government Confiscation of Gold: It Happened Before — Could It Happen Again?" Some of that article is posted below:
Confiscation all dates back to the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) of 1917. That year, President Woodrow Wilson signed the “TWEA” into law, forbidding American individuals and businesses from engaging in trade with “enemy nations.” The world’s functional gold standard, which had overseen tremendous global economic growth in the early years of the twentieth century, was effectively halted by the outbreak of World War I, and the stage was thus set for the Great Depression and World War II.
Shortly after taking office sixteen years later, Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 into law, prohibiting the “hoarding” of gold. Under this executive order, Americans were prohibited from owning more than $100 worth of gold coins, and all “hoarders” (i.e. people who owned more than $100 worth of gold) were forced, by law, to sell their “excess” gold to the government at the prevailing price of $20.67 per ounce.
Then, once the government had all the gold, FDR revalued the dollar relative to gold so that gold was now worth $35 an ounce. By simple decree, the government had thereby robbed millions of American citizens at a rate of $14.33 per ounce of confiscated gold, which is why most historians agree that the Gold Confiscation of 1933 is the single most draconian economic act in the history of the United States.
Like inflation, deflation also begets (perpetuates) more of itself, and as prices dropped, it became wiser for the possessors of money to hold it rather than spend it, since prices would be lower the next day — and even lower the day after that — ad infinitum.
Since no one was spending money, businesses went under and people were out of the work, thus making the situation worse. In response, FDR knew what needed to be done — prices needed to be stabilized. On this, few would disagree. The exception economists take is with the implementation the president chose to pursue.
UrbanMan's comment: See any similarity to today's economy?
Under FDR, private ownership of gold was effectively barred. The only exceptions were coinage worth $100 or less, or collectible coins, industrial uses, and jewelry. Gold could not be “hoarded” as a significant investment, and all “hoarders” were made to sell their gold to the government.
The Federal Reserve itself — a private banking cartel more so than an arm of government — was not excluded from this requirement either, as made clear by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. That legislation required the Fed to surrender all gold and gold certificates held, to the United States Treasury.
Finally, the dollar was revalued, and U.S. Dollars was then redeemable at a rate of $35 an ounce, as opposed to the old gold standard of $20.67. However, it’s important to note that only foreign bankers and international governments could redeem their dollars for gold — private gold ownership was still illegal in the U.S. until the end of 1974.
The effect revaluation had on the U.S. dollar was an instant depreciation of 41%. Thus, prices were pushed back up again, in nominal terms, at least. What the long-term effects of this action would have been in the absence of World War II will never be known, but within a few years, the U.S. war economy was humming.
Following the end of the second great war, the U.S. stood alone as an economic super power, virtually untouched by the Axis or Allies, while most of Europe lay in ruins. It all made Roosevelt’s coercive and unconstitutional acts look ingenious, but scholars from the left and right continue to debate whether they were truly wise or if the New Deal was bailed out by global externalities.
Gold Confiscation: Could it Happen Again?
Although the U.S. dollar is constantly under pressure, the U.S. government continues to stockpile debt, and impossible-to-fulfill entitlement commitments loom on the horizon, the idea that the U.S. government would try to confiscate citizens’ gold today or anytime in the foreseeable future certainly seems spurious at best. After all, the government did so in the past in order to recalibrate the gold standard, which we have not been on since 1972.
However, our government has become increasingly bold in its refusal to be restrained by the Constitution, and following the return to limited government (at least in rhetoric) by the Reagan administration in the eighties, the Constitution has been all but ignored by subsequent administrations and congresses.
The government might want to reenact gold confiscation, and most congressmen would feel no moral compunction about doing so, but logistically, it would seem virtually impossible in today’s globally interdependent and well-connected economy.
Investors might need to beware, however, if certain interest groups on the left and right get their way and begin building walls, both literally and figuratively, around the country in an effort to block that global interdependence. Protectionism and higher taxes led to the greatest depression in U.S. history, and along with it came gold confiscation. It would probably take a similar impetus for such a sequence of events to happen again.
Another Anonymous Reader, not realizing the LOL (Laugh Out Load) sign off, said........"I disagree with the above statement. Just remember Argentina. They confiscated gold, silver, savings accounts, retirement accounts. They stated that they would then redistribute the total funds in a monthly payment equal to everyone. Even those that had nothing to begin with. If you didnt take the offer you would not get anything. Hmmm,... wonder why Our government has been studying Argentina's actions. In todays state of policies and affairs you can not ever trust the Government to do whats Right, they do whats best for them and the government."
You have to understand how and why Gold was confiscated in the past in order to make a determination if it is possible in the future. My point is if you don't want anyone to take it away, then don't let them know about it in the first place...hence the purchasing of Gold and Silver in small amounts from multiple sources.
The shortest route to understanding possible Government Confiscation of Gold and Silver is through an excellent short article published on http://www.silvermonthly.com/ entitled: "Government Confiscation of Gold: It Happened Before — Could It Happen Again?" Some of that article is posted below:
Confiscation all dates back to the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) of 1917. That year, President Woodrow Wilson signed the “TWEA” into law, forbidding American individuals and businesses from engaging in trade with “enemy nations.” The world’s functional gold standard, which had overseen tremendous global economic growth in the early years of the twentieth century, was effectively halted by the outbreak of World War I, and the stage was thus set for the Great Depression and World War II.
Shortly after taking office sixteen years later, Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 into law, prohibiting the “hoarding” of gold. Under this executive order, Americans were prohibited from owning more than $100 worth of gold coins, and all “hoarders” (i.e. people who owned more than $100 worth of gold) were forced, by law, to sell their “excess” gold to the government at the prevailing price of $20.67 per ounce.
Then, once the government had all the gold, FDR revalued the dollar relative to gold so that gold was now worth $35 an ounce. By simple decree, the government had thereby robbed millions of American citizens at a rate of $14.33 per ounce of confiscated gold, which is why most historians agree that the Gold Confiscation of 1933 is the single most draconian economic act in the history of the United States.
Like inflation, deflation also begets (perpetuates) more of itself, and as prices dropped, it became wiser for the possessors of money to hold it rather than spend it, since prices would be lower the next day — and even lower the day after that — ad infinitum.
Since no one was spending money, businesses went under and people were out of the work, thus making the situation worse. In response, FDR knew what needed to be done — prices needed to be stabilized. On this, few would disagree. The exception economists take is with the implementation the president chose to pursue.
UrbanMan's comment: See any similarity to today's economy?
Under FDR, private ownership of gold was effectively barred. The only exceptions were coinage worth $100 or less, or collectible coins, industrial uses, and jewelry. Gold could not be “hoarded” as a significant investment, and all “hoarders” were made to sell their gold to the government.
The Federal Reserve itself — a private banking cartel more so than an arm of government — was not excluded from this requirement either, as made clear by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. That legislation required the Fed to surrender all gold and gold certificates held, to the United States Treasury.
Finally, the dollar was revalued, and U.S. Dollars was then redeemable at a rate of $35 an ounce, as opposed to the old gold standard of $20.67. However, it’s important to note that only foreign bankers and international governments could redeem their dollars for gold — private gold ownership was still illegal in the U.S. until the end of 1974.
The effect revaluation had on the U.S. dollar was an instant depreciation of 41%. Thus, prices were pushed back up again, in nominal terms, at least. What the long-term effects of this action would have been in the absence of World War II will never be known, but within a few years, the U.S. war economy was humming.
Following the end of the second great war, the U.S. stood alone as an economic super power, virtually untouched by the Axis or Allies, while most of Europe lay in ruins. It all made Roosevelt’s coercive and unconstitutional acts look ingenious, but scholars from the left and right continue to debate whether they were truly wise or if the New Deal was bailed out by global externalities.
Gold Confiscation: Could it Happen Again?
Although the U.S. dollar is constantly under pressure, the U.S. government continues to stockpile debt, and impossible-to-fulfill entitlement commitments loom on the horizon, the idea that the U.S. government would try to confiscate citizens’ gold today or anytime in the foreseeable future certainly seems spurious at best. After all, the government did so in the past in order to recalibrate the gold standard, which we have not been on since 1972.
However, our government has become increasingly bold in its refusal to be restrained by the Constitution, and following the return to limited government (at least in rhetoric) by the Reagan administration in the eighties, the Constitution has been all but ignored by subsequent administrations and congresses.
The government might want to reenact gold confiscation, and most congressmen would feel no moral compunction about doing so, but logistically, it would seem virtually impossible in today’s globally interdependent and well-connected economy.
Investors might need to beware, however, if certain interest groups on the left and right get their way and begin building walls, both literally and figuratively, around the country in an effort to block that global interdependence. Protectionism and higher taxes led to the greatest depression in U.S. history, and along with it came gold confiscation. It would probably take a similar impetus for such a sequence of events to happen again.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Urban Survival Equipment - Reader Comment on 5.11 Tactical Pants
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received this comment from Outlander777 on the recent post concerning 5.11 Tactical Pants,...."I have not worn the 5.11 tactical pants. I have though worn their class (a) police office uniform pants. I have recently purchased several pairs of their class (B) officer duty pants for winter wear (camping/hiking/fishing/treking and for my Bug Out Bag). They are 60 poly and 40 wool. Great weight for winter and when colder just add long johns under them. They have taken a lot of abuse and just wash them and wear/dry them. The crease stays in they don't scream military or cop just look good. So with you review I will purchase a pair of the tactical pants and give them a try. Thanks for the review. (side note 5.11 is having a clearance on many items. I got my pants for 5.99 each)."
UrbanMan replies: Outlander 777 I hope you think the 5.11 Tactical pants or the TDU pants are worth it,...I think at $5.99 you got a deal. I get mine free as an issued item, but don't wear them too much. I like your comment "they don't scream military or cop", as I think this would be an issue during a collapse with various agencies and organization running around; groups or mobs maybe looking for government targets, etc. Just doesn't pay to draw attention to yourself.
I also think plain old Wrangler or Levi pants in tan, brown or green are good choices for durable wear as well. Just not a whole lot of big pockets!
A little know fact is that recon teams in Vietnam used to wear blue jeans dyed black due to their durability in heavy brush as well as the black color maybe giving them a second or two of cover when they ran into their black pajama clad enemy counterparts on a remote trail.
I have a set of green 5.11 TDU pants vacuum packed and in my BOB. I rolled up a set of good socks and a t-shirt inside the pair of pants then used a food saver to vacuum pack them to reduce the size. This works well. Be safe.
UrbanMan replies: Outlander 777 I hope you think the 5.11 Tactical pants or the TDU pants are worth it,...I think at $5.99 you got a deal. I get mine free as an issued item, but don't wear them too much. I like your comment "they don't scream military or cop", as I think this would be an issue during a collapse with various agencies and organization running around; groups or mobs maybe looking for government targets, etc. Just doesn't pay to draw attention to yourself.
I also think plain old Wrangler or Levi pants in tan, brown or green are good choices for durable wear as well. Just not a whole lot of big pockets!
A little know fact is that recon teams in Vietnam used to wear blue jeans dyed black due to their durability in heavy brush as well as the black color maybe giving them a second or two of cover when they ran into their black pajama clad enemy counterparts on a remote trail.
I have a set of green 5.11 TDU pants vacuum packed and in my BOB. I rolled up a set of good socks and a t-shirt inside the pair of pants then used a food saver to vacuum pack them to reduce the size. This works well. Be safe.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Question on Survival Techinques, Tactics and Procedures for Drone Attacks
I have had very little to do with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's or drones), and absolutely nothing to do with the type of armed drones that wreck the occasional havoc on Islamic Fundamentalists in Waziristan that we read about from time to time.
But, okay, I'll bite on this hypothetical question on what would I do to combat drones if used against me by a rogue government or if this country was taken over by foreign forces.
I believe it was in the excellent Survival series "Enemies: Foreign and Domestic", drones were used by an oppressive government, and then sometimes in support of foreign troops on U.S. soil to combat "rebels", who were of course U.S. Citizens desiring a measure of peace and the opportunity to live with unalienable freedoms that Americans have came to know, and in some cases, take for granted.
If I remember correctly, the "rebels" in this series used a combination of Techniques, Tactics and Procedures (TTP's) to lessen the effectiveness of the drone attacks. Some of those TTP's included: having informants in the ranks of the rogue government to pass information on drone capabilities and current focus on aerial patrols and targets; using covert and clandestine surveillance on drone launch sites to alert when drones were becoming airborne and when they have landed; and, target (direct action against) drone operators or the drone operations centers/launch airfields.
Using the best covered and or concealed routes for movement and locations for base camps; using heavy duty vinyl ponchos and rain suits to minimize thermal signature to neutralize the drone's thermal cameras; get real good at traveling undercover of a legitimate activity.
Other than that my friend, what can you do? If anybody has some TTP's on drone defense that is applicable to an open and unclassified forum like this, then there are probably many of us who would like to hear from you.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Urban Survival Planning - Econmic Collapse Accelerates in Fall
Wow! Do not know how this got by me until today, as this article was published on 29 September, a week ago.. I was in a debate with a couple people about, in their perception,....that the economy was back on track,.....and the flowers are blooming,.......the birds are singing, etc. They basically had their heads in the sand. The following is part of a much longer article that Giordano Bruno wrote for Neithercorp Press, which can be found in it's entirety at
http://neithercorp.us/npress/?p=812
Combined with recent skyrocketing Gold and Silver prices, Mr Bruno makes good sense. I know what is possible and I hope a collapse is averted, but there just too many indicators otherwise. Take heed my friends.
Economic Collapse Update: Acceleration in Autumn
Our current economy is a shell game. A grand fraud designed to siphon more and more tangible wealth (not fiat wealth) from the average person and transport it post-haste into the silk lined pockets of a corporate banking minority. The goal? To reduce the self sufficiency of American citizens to the point of total fiscal and social dependence on the top 1% richest men in the world. Conspiracy theory? Not in the slightest. Just a cold hard fact of history. “Feudalism” is, sadly, rampant in the annals of human culture. Anyone who believes that our modern era is somehow different is simply fooling themselves. Elitists seek power over others, they always have and they always will, and, the most efficient way to gain control over the lives of the masses is through engineered imbalances in economy.
Every time you hear the term “bailout”, or “quantitative easing”, just think “wealth transference”. Every dollar that is printed from thin air by the private Federal Reserve and handed to a globalist entity like Goldman Sachs or AIG through our Treasury represents yet another dollar of debt (and another percentage of interest) that you, the U.S. taxpayer, and your children, are expected to eventually pay for without ever seeing any benefits. Right now, at this very moment, you and your descendants for generations to come are being enslaved by forcefully imposed usury. Our country has been “volunteered” for a financial debasement on a scale that dwarfs the Great Depression or even the Weimar catastrophe. We ignore this reality at our peril.
Since the initial meltdown began in 2008, we have seen two and a half years of stall tactics and skewed statistics designed to prolong total collapse while central banks position themselves for optimal gain. Simultaneously, the concrete underlying factors of our economy, including employment and purchasing power, have gone down the tubes. True, the system was an illusion long before its many flaws were openly revealed, and it needs to be dissolved, but should it be dissolved to the advantage of the elites who designed its flaws in the first place, and to the detriment of the rest of us? I think not…
Today, as Autumn 2010 begins to settle upon us, many notable and even dire trends are beginning to break the surface of the water and circle the sinking wreckage of our financial system. I believe these factors signal an extreme acceleration in the possibility of “trigger events”, which we have discussed in previous articles, and herald a new dynamic, a process that will directly contribute to a final breakdown of the present system. Let’s examine these trends now…
Dow Bubble Until November Elections?
If you look back at the history of economic collapses across the world, you’ll find a strange and ironic constant preceding most breakdowns; the disproportionate values of stocks and securities when compared to actual profits and consumer activity. The Great Depression saw record breaking rallies in the Dow and relentless financial propaganda claiming recovery was imminent just before total derailment. In many cases, investor confidence seems to be most heightened just before a brutal plunge. Perhaps it’s the power of reactionary denial, or maybe it’s the increase in false data supplied by establishment economic goon squads.
September has seen a very uncharacteristic stock rally, especially considering the fact that U.S. poverty levels are now at a 15 year high.
UrbanMan Comments: Mr Bruno's article goes on with links and facts to articulate what he is saying. His article continues on until he starts talking about Gold, which jumped up considerably in the last few days.
Gold Is Money Again…Must Be Time For A Collapse...
Finally, we get to the biggest development this fall; the so far unstoppable juggernaut of gold and silver.
Gold is breaking records weekly, sometimes daily, now rushing past the $1300 an ounce mark without batting an eye. Not long ago I predicted gold would hit the $1350 to $1400 mark by this winter, but it seems I may have underestimated the precious metal. $1500 is not out of the question in the next three months, especially if trade laws are passed against China before elections.
Silver has passed the $21 an ounce mark but is still highly undervalued in my opinion. I suspect that we could see a rapid increase in physical silver, akin to a “short squeeze”, before the year is out.
What is driving the new gold rush? MSM economists are apparently at a loss for words (which is rare). Gold criticism and uneducated skepticism has fallen silent lately. It’s hard to argue with the $1300 an ounce gold. Pundits are still bewildered at gold’s success, especially since they rely on disingenuous CPI and inflation data from the Federal Reserve and the government to make their deductions. This has led them to assume that an excessive sense of “fear” has pervaded markets and created a bubble in gold. They can’t seem to grasp that the bubble is not in gold, but in fiat currencies and the stock market, and this is why gold is on the rise.
Central Banks, primarily in Asia, are snatching up gold weekly. We all know about China’s unparalleled gold buying, but there are many other countries turning to PM’s as well. Thailand has apparently been buying gold in large quantities under the radar, improving their reserves by as much as 20%:
http://neithercorp.us/npress/?p=812
Combined with recent skyrocketing Gold and Silver prices, Mr Bruno makes good sense. I know what is possible and I hope a collapse is averted, but there just too many indicators otherwise. Take heed my friends.
Economic Collapse Update: Acceleration in Autumn
Our current economy is a shell game. A grand fraud designed to siphon more and more tangible wealth (not fiat wealth) from the average person and transport it post-haste into the silk lined pockets of a corporate banking minority. The goal? To reduce the self sufficiency of American citizens to the point of total fiscal and social dependence on the top 1% richest men in the world. Conspiracy theory? Not in the slightest. Just a cold hard fact of history. “Feudalism” is, sadly, rampant in the annals of human culture. Anyone who believes that our modern era is somehow different is simply fooling themselves. Elitists seek power over others, they always have and they always will, and, the most efficient way to gain control over the lives of the masses is through engineered imbalances in economy.
Every time you hear the term “bailout”, or “quantitative easing”, just think “wealth transference”. Every dollar that is printed from thin air by the private Federal Reserve and handed to a globalist entity like Goldman Sachs or AIG through our Treasury represents yet another dollar of debt (and another percentage of interest) that you, the U.S. taxpayer, and your children, are expected to eventually pay for without ever seeing any benefits. Right now, at this very moment, you and your descendants for generations to come are being enslaved by forcefully imposed usury. Our country has been “volunteered” for a financial debasement on a scale that dwarfs the Great Depression or even the Weimar catastrophe. We ignore this reality at our peril.
Since the initial meltdown began in 2008, we have seen two and a half years of stall tactics and skewed statistics designed to prolong total collapse while central banks position themselves for optimal gain. Simultaneously, the concrete underlying factors of our economy, including employment and purchasing power, have gone down the tubes. True, the system was an illusion long before its many flaws were openly revealed, and it needs to be dissolved, but should it be dissolved to the advantage of the elites who designed its flaws in the first place, and to the detriment of the rest of us? I think not…
Today, as Autumn 2010 begins to settle upon us, many notable and even dire trends are beginning to break the surface of the water and circle the sinking wreckage of our financial system. I believe these factors signal an extreme acceleration in the possibility of “trigger events”, which we have discussed in previous articles, and herald a new dynamic, a process that will directly contribute to a final breakdown of the present system. Let’s examine these trends now…
Dow Bubble Until November Elections?
If you look back at the history of economic collapses across the world, you’ll find a strange and ironic constant preceding most breakdowns; the disproportionate values of stocks and securities when compared to actual profits and consumer activity. The Great Depression saw record breaking rallies in the Dow and relentless financial propaganda claiming recovery was imminent just before total derailment. In many cases, investor confidence seems to be most heightened just before a brutal plunge. Perhaps it’s the power of reactionary denial, or maybe it’s the increase in false data supplied by establishment economic goon squads.
September has seen a very uncharacteristic stock rally, especially considering the fact that U.S. poverty levels are now at a 15 year high.
UrbanMan Comments: Mr Bruno's article goes on with links and facts to articulate what he is saying. His article continues on until he starts talking about Gold, which jumped up considerably in the last few days.
Gold Is Money Again…Must Be Time For A Collapse...
Finally, we get to the biggest development this fall; the so far unstoppable juggernaut of gold and silver.
Gold is breaking records weekly, sometimes daily, now rushing past the $1300 an ounce mark without batting an eye. Not long ago I predicted gold would hit the $1350 to $1400 mark by this winter, but it seems I may have underestimated the precious metal. $1500 is not out of the question in the next three months, especially if trade laws are passed against China before elections.
Silver has passed the $21 an ounce mark but is still highly undervalued in my opinion. I suspect that we could see a rapid increase in physical silver, akin to a “short squeeze”, before the year is out.
What is driving the new gold rush? MSM economists are apparently at a loss for words (which is rare). Gold criticism and uneducated skepticism has fallen silent lately. It’s hard to argue with the $1300 an ounce gold. Pundits are still bewildered at gold’s success, especially since they rely on disingenuous CPI and inflation data from the Federal Reserve and the government to make their deductions. This has led them to assume that an excessive sense of “fear” has pervaded markets and created a bubble in gold. They can’t seem to grasp that the bubble is not in gold, but in fiat currencies and the stock market, and this is why gold is on the rise.
Central Banks, primarily in Asia, are snatching up gold weekly. We all know about China’s unparalleled gold buying, but there are many other countries turning to PM’s as well. Thailand has apparently been buying gold in large quantities under the radar, improving their reserves by as much as 20%:
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Survival Chronicles of Jim- Chapter 18
Back again. I haven't been as busy these past weeks as I'd like to have been. It seems that I have been one a long road...and there is no end in site.
Most of your preppers out there would have to admit that there really is no end in sight in getting prepared for TEOTWAWKI. There is always something to do, something to buy and ALWAYS another idea or tip out there.
When I start to get a little anxiety over the latest economic news I try to rationalize that I am much better off than I was nine months ago. At least I have a re-location plan, a Survival Bug Out Bag, some stored food - both the long term storage and more short term food,.....I have a growing cache near the cabin. I have some Silver coins (for their silver melt value) as well as some Silver bullion in the form of one ounce rounds. I have a Survival firearms battery of a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 LR pistol and a Mosin-Nagant rifle. I also have a .22 LR up at the cabin in cache.
Again, haven't been as busy as I'd like. Still considering an AR type M-4 rifle or something similar. Urban Man also had me look at Ruger Mini-14's which I really like but they are only about $250-$300 cheaper than an M-4. Urban Man says the two disadvantages with the Ruger Mini-14, compared to the AR rifles, are the lack of magazine compatibility with the millions of M-4 and available magazines, and, the inherent inaccuracy versus the M-4. I'm not too concerned about the accuracy thing since I am not really a shooter, but I do intend to get better and maybe attend a shooting school.
These past weeks I did however get some 3/4 inch plywood and two by fours cut for the windows of my house. Found a couple picnic bench tables at a flea market which will form the basis of shooting platforms from my small basement windows.
I also picked up six rolls of duct tape, a roll of 3 mil black and clear plastic sheeting and some small hand tools: I bought a folding metric and standard allen wrench set and some small open/box wrenches; a hammer and several boxes of nails from 8D to 16D; plus a hacksaw and small hand rip saw.
This coming week I am supposed to go with Urban Man to the range and shoot my shotgun and handgun some more - so that means more ammunition. At the last couple range sessions Urban Man has been letting me shoot several handguns to see what I may be interested in. These include: a Glock 19 in 9mm; a Glock 22 in .40 S&W; a Smith and Wesson M&P in 9mm; two H&K handguns - a USP-C and a P2000 both in .40 S&W; and, a Smith and Wesson 586 .357 Magnum revolver.
Haven't heard from Neomi, probably better since she told me about having to include her mother and sister and children into any Survival plan she is a part of. Still I have to be prepared for people who show up at my place at the beginning or into a economic or other collapse asking for refuge. And undoubtedly Neomi and her relatives would be among the first, unless she gets a boyfriend first, ha ha.
Anyway, I think I am getting better, how about you?
Most of your preppers out there would have to admit that there really is no end in sight in getting prepared for TEOTWAWKI. There is always something to do, something to buy and ALWAYS another idea or tip out there.
When I start to get a little anxiety over the latest economic news I try to rationalize that I am much better off than I was nine months ago. At least I have a re-location plan, a Survival Bug Out Bag, some stored food - both the long term storage and more short term food,.....I have a growing cache near the cabin. I have some Silver coins (for their silver melt value) as well as some Silver bullion in the form of one ounce rounds. I have a Survival firearms battery of a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 LR pistol and a Mosin-Nagant rifle. I also have a .22 LR up at the cabin in cache.
Again, haven't been as busy as I'd like. Still considering an AR type M-4 rifle or something similar. Urban Man also had me look at Ruger Mini-14's which I really like but they are only about $250-$300 cheaper than an M-4. Urban Man says the two disadvantages with the Ruger Mini-14, compared to the AR rifles, are the lack of magazine compatibility with the millions of M-4 and available magazines, and, the inherent inaccuracy versus the M-4. I'm not too concerned about the accuracy thing since I am not really a shooter, but I do intend to get better and maybe attend a shooting school.
These past weeks I did however get some 3/4 inch plywood and two by fours cut for the windows of my house. Found a couple picnic bench tables at a flea market which will form the basis of shooting platforms from my small basement windows.
I also picked up six rolls of duct tape, a roll of 3 mil black and clear plastic sheeting and some small hand tools: I bought a folding metric and standard allen wrench set and some small open/box wrenches; a hammer and several boxes of nails from 8D to 16D; plus a hacksaw and small hand rip saw.
This coming week I am supposed to go with Urban Man to the range and shoot my shotgun and handgun some more - so that means more ammunition. At the last couple range sessions Urban Man has been letting me shoot several handguns to see what I may be interested in. These include: a Glock 19 in 9mm; a Glock 22 in .40 S&W; a Smith and Wesson M&P in 9mm; two H&K handguns - a USP-C and a P2000 both in .40 S&W; and, a Smith and Wesson 586 .357 Magnum revolver.
Haven't heard from Neomi, probably better since she told me about having to include her mother and sister and children into any Survival plan she is a part of. Still I have to be prepared for people who show up at my place at the beginning or into a economic or other collapse asking for refuge. And undoubtedly Neomi and her relatives would be among the first, unless she gets a boyfriend first, ha ha.
Anyway, I think I am getting better, how about you?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Urban Survival Planning - Required 1099's when buying Gold and Silver
In case you haven't heard, one of the add ins to the Obamacare Healthcare Law that was passed a few months back,...passed without being read by anyone I might add, was a requirement for business and vendors to issue 1099 forms to anyone they do business with in commodities of a value of $600 or more.
So I have heard some Survivalists saying "Fine, then I won't make gold or silver purchases of more than $600 at any one time." And that would be okay, but I recently heard that this new reporting requirement was $600 or more in any one calendar year!
SO my view on this is that buying large amounts, over $600, of precious metals (PM's) in any one calendar year now creates an automatic register with the IRS, so if the Government rescinds the current law on PM ownership or otherwise restricts ownership and mandates a turn in of Gold and Silver, they will have a curent list of people owning gold and silver and can track turn in.
I also think that this would be such a large endeavor as to make it unrealistic to enforce, but I for one do not ant my name on a Federal Warrant or even a watch list for suspected PM ownership withour compliance of turn in.
I am interested in other Survivalist's views on this.
So I have heard some Survivalists saying "Fine, then I won't make gold or silver purchases of more than $600 at any one time." And that would be okay, but I recently heard that this new reporting requirement was $600 or more in any one calendar year!
SO my view on this is that buying large amounts, over $600, of precious metals (PM's) in any one calendar year now creates an automatic register with the IRS, so if the Government rescinds the current law on PM ownership or otherwise restricts ownership and mandates a turn in of Gold and Silver, they will have a curent list of people owning gold and silver and can track turn in.
I also think that this would be such a large endeavor as to make it unrealistic to enforce, but I for one do not ant my name on a Federal Warrant or even a watch list for suspected PM ownership withour compliance of turn in.
I am interested in other Survivalist's views on this.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Urban Survival Planning - Influenza Immunizations
Subject: Influenza Vaccinations
The 2010-2011 influenza (flu) season is right around the corner and the Government is recommending all citizens get a flu shot. Seasonal influenza kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year. Flu vaccines are based on predicting which mutants of H1N1, H3N2, H1N2, and influenza B will spread in the next season. Separate vaccines are developed for the Northern and Southern hemispheres in preparation for the yearly migration of these influenzas.
This year, the vaccine in the United States provides protection against the three most concerning types of influenza: influenza A/H1N1 (Swine Flu), influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B.
The Government states that the best way to protect yourself and your family from these viruses is to get immunized against influenza, even though, again, it is based on last years virus. It is also very important to wash your hands frequently, shield your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow, and if you are sick, stay home and remain at home until you have been without a fever for 24 hours.
Pharmacies and physicians have already started offering flu shots. The government makes this available to all employees and in fact in the military this is a mandatory shot. If you have concerns about whether you are eligible for the flu shot this year, due to age or existing physical conditions then please check with your physician.
The key is not to wait until the people around you are coming down with the flu. Get vaccinated early and stay healthy.
Now, having repeated the Party (Government ) Line in the above paragraphs, I have to admit that I do not get Flu shots anymore. I have not had a flu shot since I was in a position where they were mandatory as a "condition of employment". I have not been sick, at all, for almost six years, and during that time I have been exposed to sick people and other disease conditions. My personal view is that an exceptional healthy individual is better off letting his own immune system deal with any virus. However, everyone has to make their own decision. Good luck and hope you make the right decision for you and your family.
The 2010-2011 influenza (flu) season is right around the corner and the Government is recommending all citizens get a flu shot. Seasonal influenza kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year. Flu vaccines are based on predicting which mutants of H1N1, H3N2, H1N2, and influenza B will spread in the next season. Separate vaccines are developed for the Northern and Southern hemispheres in preparation for the yearly migration of these influenzas.
This year, the vaccine in the United States provides protection against the three most concerning types of influenza: influenza A/H1N1 (Swine Flu), influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B.
The Government states that the best way to protect yourself and your family from these viruses is to get immunized against influenza, even though, again, it is based on last years virus. It is also very important to wash your hands frequently, shield your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow, and if you are sick, stay home and remain at home until you have been without a fever for 24 hours.
Pharmacies and physicians have already started offering flu shots. The government makes this available to all employees and in fact in the military this is a mandatory shot. If you have concerns about whether you are eligible for the flu shot this year, due to age or existing physical conditions then please check with your physician.
The key is not to wait until the people around you are coming down with the flu. Get vaccinated early and stay healthy.
Now, having repeated the Party (Government ) Line in the above paragraphs, I have to admit that I do not get Flu shots anymore. I have not had a flu shot since I was in a position where they were mandatory as a "condition of employment". I have not been sick, at all, for almost six years, and during that time I have been exposed to sick people and other disease conditions. My personal view is that an exceptional healthy individual is better off letting his own immune system deal with any virus. However, everyone has to make their own decision. Good luck and hope you make the right decision for you and your family.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Urban Survival Equipment - 5.11 Items and Equipment
5.11 Tactical is currently offering Free Shipping on all orders of only $75 or more. We are big fans of their Tactical Pants and the 5.11 Tactical Duty Uniform (TDU) pants. Although we have camouflage uniforms, clothing in solid colors is less likely to project that "para-military" look if you need to avoid it but still have a pastal or earth type colors that are easy to blend into your terrain, be it an urban, suburban or rural environment.
We evaluated the 5.11 Tactical Pants in a previous post, to review this evaluation click here.
We recently had a opportunity to evaluate the new 5.11 Rush 24 and Rush 72 Backpacks, intended for stays of 24 and 72 hours respectively. Both make nice Survival Bug Out Bags. We are showcasing the Rush 24 here. We prefer smaller bags for Bug Out bags and intend to utilize molle compatible add on pouches to store more Survival Items essential to a Bug Out on the outside. We think the Rush 72 is much more than a 72 hour pack, and really an excellent pack for extended operations of up to 6 or 7 days.
Rush 24 Bag
Description of the Rush 24:
20" H x 12" W x 7" D
Water-resistant 1050-denier nylon
Flexible main storage compartments
Internal dividers
Compression straps
Hydration pocket
Fleece lined eyewear pocket
Sternum straps
Molle-compatible webbing on front and sides
Elastic keeper for strap ends
Name tape and flag holder
YKK® zippers
Three colors; Black, Flat Dark Earth and Tac OD
To shop 5.11 Tactical or to look around their product line, click here:
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