Urban Survival Skills received this via e-mail and does not necessarily agree with or believe the comments and predication's below. We decided to post this to let our readers draw their own conclusions,...because only you are responsible for you. We can make our own predictions but instead will devote our time preparing for a general collapse and trying to post information on this site to help those who seek it.
The following is a list of prophets, experts, trends-forecasters, etc, who are warning us of the approaching darkness. America, your best days are behind you. You will soon suffer the collapse of your empire. Judgment is almost upon you...and you will bring most of the world with as you go under. People of the US and the world, you must turn to the Lord now. Time is ticking. Prophets of God are in blue. Economists/experts are in bold/black.
March 16, 2010
Rick Wiles – Use the first 6 months of 2010 to prepare for the last 3 months of 2010. Purchase everything you need while you still can. Pay off your debts. Judgment is coming upon America (she will be shaken physically, financially, and spiritually) – not the end of the USA, only TEOTUSAAWKI – supply chain will be disrupted for years, admitted insolvency – handed over to allies for pennies on the dollar. POSSIBLITIES: (not prophecies) EMP attack, China Russia NK cyber attack, delayed Y2K bug.
Nathan Leal – August 2010 vision – meeting discussing dropping dollar as reserve currency of the world. Hyperinflation sets in – in his vision, food was so expensive many could not afford to eat. Lamentations is coming to America.
Augusto Perez – Super dollar devaluation coming.
Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj – Starvation and famine/financial problems will develop. Terrorist attacks. Banks close. Tsunami. 7 new diseases worse than swine flu.
Bob Chapman – First 6 months of 2010, Americans will continue to live in the 'inreality'...the period between July and October is when the financial fireworks will begin. The Fed will act unilaterally for its own survival irrespective of any political implications ...(source is from insider at FED meetings). In the last quarter of the year we could even see Martial law, which is more likely for the first 6 months of 2011. The FDIC will collapse in September 2010. Commercial real estate is set to implode in 2010. Wall Street believes there is a 100% chance of crash in bond market, especially municipals sometime during 2010. The dollar will be devalued by the end of 2010.
Gerald Celente – Terrorist attacks and the "Crash of 2010". 40% devaluation at first = the greatest depression, worse than the Great Depression.
Larry Randolph – ...there is yet a seven-fold shaking of greater magnitude coming that will produce enormous and perhaps catastrophic disruptions on economic, political, geophysical, atmospheric, and spiritual levels.
Neville Johnson – As I thought and prayed about the past year I felt the Lord say to me that 2010 was a year of labor pains, with the contractions getting closer and closer together towards the end of the year.
Igor Panarin – in the summer of 1998, based on classified data about the state of the U.S. economy and society supplied to him by fellow FAPSI analysts, Panarin forecast the probable disintegration of the USA into six parts in 2010 (at the end of June – start of July 2010, as he specified on 10 December 2008)
Neithercorps – have projected that the third and final stage of the economic collapse will begin sometime in 2010. Barring some kind of financial miracle, or the complete dissolution of the Federal Reserve, a snowballing implosion should become visible by the end of this year. The behavior of the Fed, along with that of the IMF seems to suggest that they are preparing for a focused collapse, peaking within weeks or months instead of years, and the most certain fall of the dollar.
Webbots – July and onward things get very strange. Revolution. Dollar dead by November 2010.
LEAP 20/20 – 2010 Outlook from a group of 25 European Economists with a 90% accuracy rating – We anticipate a sudden intensification of the crisis in the second half of 2010, caused by a double effect of a catching up of events which were temporarily « frozen » in the second half of 2009 and the impossibility of maintaining the palliative remedies of past years. There is a perfect (economic) storm coming within the global financial markets and inevitable pressure on interest rates in the U.S. The injection of zero-cost money into the Western banking system has failed to restart the economy. Despite zero-cost money, the system has stalled. It is slowly rolling over into the next big down wave, which in Elliott Wave terminology will be Super Cycle Wave Three, or in common language, "THE BIG ONE, WHERE WE ALL GO OVER THE FALLS TOGETHER."
George Ure – Markets up until mid-to-late-summer. Then "all hell breaks lose" from then on through the rest of the year.
Amos Scaggs – The ultra-rich will go broke. I don’t mean go bankrupt I mean go broke, no money. I saw ultra rich people working for food because they were broke. This will happen by mid-February 2011.
Andrey Rasshivaev – At the very end of the year of 2007 I have received a revelation from God that the coming 2008 year was going to be the year of the beginning of outpouring of God's judgment upon this world...About half a year ago God has given me a further revelation. He reveled me that the crisis was just the very beginning. The world is going to face the total and complete economical and financial collapse in August-September of this new 2010 year. www.watchmanscry.com
Lindsey WIlliams – dollar devalued 30-50% by end of year. It will become very difficult for the average American to afford to buy even food. This was revealed to him through an Illuminati insider.
Greg Evensen – economic meltdown and possible martial law in the mid summer 2010.
Unamed Economist working for US Gov't (GLP) – what we have experienced the last two years is nothing to what we are going to experience this year. If you have a job now...you may not have it in three to six months. (by August 2010). Stock market will fall = great depression. Foreign investors stop financing debt = collapse. 6.2 million are about to lose their unemployment. godlikeproductions.com
Michael Rood – there will be a global economic collapse before or during the fall of 2010.
Chuck Pierce – This year, going into these next 10 years, beginning this year, history is re-defined. Fully re-defined. Not as if we have known before what will be. Totally new... This is going to take us from 2010 to 2019 in September, October... Not only is that the year you have entered, but that is the next 10 years. We are entering a season we have never known. GOD’S EYE IS NEAR.
Jimmy "Doomsday" – DOW will fall below 7,000 before mid summer 2010 – Dollar will rise above 95 on the dollar index before mid summer 2010 – Gold will bottom out below $800 before mid summer 2010 – Silver will bottom out below $10 before mid summer 2010 – CA debt implosion will start its major downturn by mid summer and hit crisis mode before Q4 2010 – Dollar index will plunge below 65 between Q3 and Q4 2010 – Commercial real estate will hit crisis mode in Q4 2010 – Over 35 states will be bailed out by end of Q4 2010 by the US tax payer End of Q4 2010 gold will hit $1,600 and silver jump to $35 an oz.
Weather Bill – Huge earthquake in America in September 2010. This EQ to come is going to start the swift downfall of America
Dr. Deagle – Food will soon become so expensive you won't be able to buy it. 2010/2011. Something is in the works for this year (reading btw the lines from Napolitano and other gov't officials.)
Unnamed – (dream from mid 2006)-...I saw boom and bust cycle, and the bust years were light gray to really dark gray with the light gray being the less severe, and the dark gray more severe. I could see over the past few cycles, each of the periods of bust were getting more and more severe. I saw the year 2010, that year was pitch black. Anyone who didn't prepare would lose everything, and it was so devastating, USA would never recover... and there is but one way to prepare for anything and that is to trust Jesus for everything. I keep seeing hyperinflation. Food prices soar so high that if you ordered a small fry you it can cost like $20.00. Think of paying $60 for one potato. I keep seeing prices that would today they would only charge at a high class extravagant restaurant for just small bits of food. Then I have had many dreams where the American dollar collapses and there is no more cash, just paper I.O.U's. No one will be able to get a loan, even if already approved and already have the paperwork done. This seems to trigger some kind of religious revival because people seek comfort from God in all of this suffering. www.sleeps.com
Harold Eatmon – (1998) I had a vision of the stock market soar and then crash. After the crash, many big business corporations and private parties bought up stocks because of the low cost to buy in. Then I saw the market begin to climb again in a short period of time. Then it crashed again bringing tremendous loss, ruin and devastation to all who bought in the first time. This is what I have labeled "Two Black Mondays" . The time period between the Two Black Mondays was very close together. I could not tell exactly how close. There are some tell tale signs indicating the season and the setting. I saw the season to be when *"the leaves fall to the ground"* then the first crash would occur."Like Joseph in Genesis, I believe America will have fat years of financial blessing. I also believe there are coming lean years of financial difficulty for America.
[My note: while this doesn't give an exact date, this prophecy was dead on accurate – the markets crashed -777 points on MONDAY 9/29/08, roughly 1 week into the FALL (leaves fall to the ground.) The markets then rebounded OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (from April 2009 to October 2009 the markets rallied nearly 4000 points!) and everyone bought back in. According to this prophecy, the next huge crash will happen on a Monday. Eatmon even accurately predicted the coming 'fat years' and the now present 'lean years']
Garret Crawford – (5/28/09) The first thing I recall in this dream is I was lying in bed, reminiscing about a strange dream I had seen. In this dream, I had met a young, blue-haired man who was the nephew of author Tom Clancy. After getting out of bed, it had crossed my mind that I had to go over to a friend of mine's home for something and he was expecting me. I got in my car and drove over to his home; I walked up the step and opened the door. As I swung the door open, I saw two men whom I had never met before, sitting in my friend’s living room. One was a heavy-set man and the other was a younger fellow with blue hair. The blue-haired man was setting up a camera and tripod, as if he was going to film me, like in a documentary. At this point, I knew that he was in fact Tom Clancy’s nephew. I walked over to him and asked “Do you believe in prophetic dreams?” He replied with a yes. I then told him that the Lord revealed to me this morning that I would be meeting him. After this encounter I found that the two men were impressed with this miracle and that allowed me to be able to talk with them about many things. After some conversation and time had passed, one of the men, either my friend or the heavy-set companion of the nephew, said to me, “You know, I never forgot what you said about the market crashing; I still think about that.” (I guess he was referring to the dream I had about a year ago where I feel the Lord showed me two crashes of the market.) “Yesterday the market dropped like a hundred-and-something points; I think you were right on.” (I had the dream on the 28th, so if the dream was correct there should have been a loss of over 100 points on the 27th. I looked it up and found the market closed down 173 points on the 27th. So maybe this was just a sign that an all-knowing intelligence was at work in my dream.) I solemnly responded to him that that wasn‘t the crash. I told him to expect something closer to the market index crashing to 5000 (or losing 5000 points, I can’t remember exactly. I never perceived in the dream that this one-day loss of 100+ points would directly precede the greater crash, but that it would be a way down the road. I think the man's comment represents the worldly, hopeful belief that the worst is over or that only a little pain will be felt. But to the lost's surprise, the crash that is soon to come will be beyond their worst fears.)
Joseph Meyer – Forecasts on the economy. He sees the real estate market continuing to decline, and advised people to invest in precious metals and commodities, as well as keeping cash at home in a safe place in case of bank closures. The stock market, after peaking in March or April (around 10,850), will fall all the way down to somewhere between 2450 and 4125 during the next leg down.
Pastor Leo Strathman – Yes, My Children, Judgment is coming this year. It is coming worse than it has ever been before. My Children, My Children, My Children, Look to Me for the things coming upon the world. It is going to scare men's hearts, put fear in men's hearts, and men are going to die for fear. Those who are NOT Trusting in Me. Those who are NOT Trusting in My Word. NOT Trusting in Me and My Word. NOT Looking To Me. Yes, My Children, this world is going to turn upside down. Your world, your world, is going to turn upside down, the likes of which you have not ever seen. Judgment is coming. It is at the door and it will be this year, says the Lord. It will multiply. It will increase. It will get worse and worse and worse. Yes, My Children, your finances will get worse, food will get higher, gasoline will go higher. Everything that you have to purchase will go higher and the money will be worth less. My Children, there is a great famine coming on the land, mostly it is created. It is a created famine. But, My Children, you must Look To Me... http://www.thechurch...ecomingking.com
Niño Becerra (Professor of Economics) – predicted in July 2007 that what was going to happen was that by mid 2010 there is going to be a crisis only comparable to the one in 1929. From October 2009 to May 2010 people will begin to see things are not working out the way the government thought. In May of 2010, the crisis starts with all its force and continues and strengthens throughout 2011. He accurately predicted the current recession and market crash to the month.
Robert Holmes – On October 21, 2008 the Lord said to me (of the global economic crisis):“It will be a dead cat bounce,” meaning it will go down fast, bounce back then fall again. In April 2009, after some growth had taken place, the Lord affirmed, “Don’t get too excited about the market news, it will crash again.” In September 2009, He commented on stock market prices (as measured by the Dow Jones), “It will be a W curve”. Though it will improve through to mid 2010, it will crash again under “the weight of debt”. http://www.storm-harvest.asn.au
Harry Dent (investor) – a very likely second crash by late 2010. The coming depression (starts around the summer of 2010). Dent sees the stock market––currently benefiting from upward momentum and peppier economic activity––headed for a very brief and pleasant run that could lift the Dow to the 10,700-11,500 range from its current level of about 10.090. But then, he sees the market running into a stone wall, which will be followed by a nasty stock market decline (starting in early March to late April) that could drive down the Dow later this year to 3,000-5,000, with his best guess about 3,800.
Richard Russell (Market Expert) – (from 2/3/10) says the bear market rally is in the process of breaking up and panic is on the way. He sees a full correction of the entire rise from the 2002 low of 7,286 to the bull market high of 14,164.53 set on October 9, 2007. The halfway level of retracement was 10,725. The total retracement was to 6,547.05 on March 9, 2009. He now sees the Dow falling to 7,286 and if that level does not hold, “I see it sinking to its 1980-82 area low of Dow 1,000.” The current action is the worst he has ever seen. (Bob Chapman says for Russell to make such a startling statement is unusual because he never cries wolf and is almost never wrong)
Lyndon Larouche – the crisis is accelerating and will become worse week by week until the whole system grinds into a collapse, likely sometime this year. And when it does, it will be the greatest collapse since the fall of the Roman Empire.
WALL STREET JOURNAL – (2/2010) "You are witnessing a fundamental breakdown of the American dream, a systemic breakdown of our democracy and our capitalism, a breakdown driven by the blind insatiable greed of Wall Street: Dysfunctional government, insane markets, economy on the brink. Multiply that many times over and see a world in total disarray. Ignore it now, tomorrow will be too late."
Eric deCarbonnel – There is no precedence for the panic and chaos that will occur in 2010. The global food supply/demand picture has NEVER been so out of balance. The 2010 food crisis will rearrange economic, financial, and political order of the world, and those who aren’t prepared will suffer terrible losses…As the dollar loses most of its value, America's savings will be wiped out. The US service economy will disintegrate as consumer spending in real terms (ie: gold or other stable currencies) drops like a rock, bringing unemployment to levels exceeding the great depression. Public health services/programs will be cut back, as individuals will have no savings/credit/income to pay for medical care.
Value of most investments will be wiped out. The US debt markets will freeze again, this time permanently. There will be no buyers except at the most drastic of firesale prices, and inflation will wipe away value before credit markets have any chance at recovery. The panic in 2010 will see the majority of derivatives end up worthless. Since global derivatives markets operate on the assumption of the continued stable value of the dollar and short term US debt, using derivatives to bet against the dollar is NOT a good idea. The panic in 2010 will see the majority of derivatives end up worthless.The dollar's collapse will rob US consumers of all purchasing power, and any investment depend on US consumption will lose most of its value.
Deryn Johnstone – (1/25/2010) "We will experience a worldwide economic upheaval resulting in the collapse of our monetary system. This economic crash will come suddenly, sending shockwaves throughout the world. It will be the opening of the establishment of a new one-world monetary system under a new one-world government. When this worldwide economic disaster hits, it will be unlike anything we have ever experienced. The world will be thrown into a state of shock. Panic and fear will grip the hearts of the people everywhere. They will be confused, not knowing what to do or where to go. During this time, the people of God will be clearly distinguished from the world by God's supernatural provision in their lives. It will not be the absence of problems and adversity among God's people that will be a witness to the world, but in the midst of this financial crisis the world will see God's strong arm of provision for His people.
Alpha-Omega Report – (Trends Forecast) Going into 2010, the trends seemed to lead nowhere or towards oblivion. Geo-politically, the Middle East was and is trending towards some sort of military clash, most likely by mid-year, but perhaps sooner...At the moment, it seems 2010 is shaping up to be a year of absolute chaos. We see trends for war between Israel and her neighbors that will shake every facet of human activity...In the event of war, we see all other societal trends being thoroughly disrupted...Iran will most likely shut off the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf. This will have immense consequences for the world’s economy. Oil prices will skyrocket into the stratosphere and become so expensive that world’s economies will collapse..There are also trend indicators along economic lines that point to the potential for a total meltdown of the world’s financial system with major crisis points developing with the change of each quarter of the year. 2010 could be a meltdown year for the world’s economy, regardless of what goes on in the Middle East.
Michael Johnson – Let me preface my words tonight by saying that even though we see fearful things coming to this nation and this planet, we must realize and recognize that “God has not given us a spirit of fear. This year I see things happening very quickly-an acceleration of things in the natural and the supernatural...I see false prophets, self appointed and self seeking-arising in this nation, speaking words of peace and prosperity-prophesying for money and gain-they will receive great notoriety, but a sudden turn of events will expose their greed and deception...I see the collapse of our economy bringing about a new monetary system, a new form of government and a new national religion...I see Americans continuing to be lulled into a false sense of security because of continued forecasts of a booming economy. However, I see this brief economic spurt giving Christians and churches a short window of opportunity to get their houses in order. However, I see this window of opportunity closing. I see us waking up one morning to the announcement that our nation is broke and that drastic measures, which have been in motion for some time-must now be taken. The collapse of our economy is spoken of in the book of Lamentations... Now the good news: I see the church, responding to the condition of our nation, awaking out of its slumber and sleep, and going forth as a might army. I see the church coming out of hiding, falling on its face! johnsondrummer.com
Robin Landry – (Market Expert) I believe we are headed to new market highs between 10780-11241 over the next few months. The most likely time frame for the top is the April-May area. Remember the evidence IMHO still says we are in a bear market rally with a major decline to follow once this rally ends.
Robert L – What is going to happen this year? 1. The stock market in America will not only crash, it will no longer exist 2. The President of the USA will foolishly bring sanctions on the nation of Israel 3. There will be a great earthquake that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific 4. The greatest fear will be none of these things; it will be the lack of food men will fear most. The sad truth is that even after all these things have taken place in 2010, most will not repent and turn back to God, most will become even more corrupt as we speedily rush toward the end of time. www.squidoo.com
Samuel Garcia – (11/04/07) Last night/this morning I had a dream that I had in two parts. The first part I awoke and asked THE LORD to give me further understanding of and then I went back to sleep and THE LORD gave me the second part of the dream. In the first part of the dream I felt like I had just left church, it being Sunday and I was headed towards the store I work in which is a check cashing store; as I approached it I noticed that it was closed and that alarmed me because it was open when I left to go to church in the morning, so that concerned me but I did not see my bosses car so I decided to call her but I got a recorded message from the operator about the phone being out of service or something like that. I also noticed that I did not see any cars driving in the streets and it seemed like it was around Christmas time; then I woke up. The second part of the dream started exactly in the same location the first part started - – in back of the store; then I walked towards the front of the store and I noticed that the store was closed again but then I looked a second time and the store had become a ONE DOLLAR BARGAIN STORE but it seemed like it had shifted. The store had shifted and it was in a location where a massage parlor currently is. So I went inside and asked what appeared to be a security guard what had happened to the people that owned the check cashing store and the guard assured me that that family was well and in good health. I did notice that inside the DOLLAR STORE the items were in a open box and low quality and they seemed to be Christmas accessories. I stepped out of the store and felt that I was in the future and it was anywhere between 2008 and 2010 and I told the guard that I was aware that I was in a dream but as I said that I felt myself leaving the dream; then I woke up. I felt that the dream basically was saying that a MAJOR economic collapse was going to happen in this country due to the fact that I did not see any cars driving in the street and that the check cashing store which requires you to have large sums of money has become a ONE DOLLAR STORE with poor quality items.
John P. Hussman, Ph.D. – In my estimation, there is still close to an 80% probability (Bayes' Rule) that a second market plunge and economic downturn will unfold during 2010.
Robert Prechter – founder of Elliott Wave International, implores retail investors stay away from the markets… for now. Prechter, who was bullish near the lows in March 2009, now says the stock market “is in a topping area.”predicting another crash in 2010 that will bring stocks below the 2009 low. His word to the wise, “be patient, don’t rush it” keep your money in cash and cash equivalents.
Richard Mogey – current Research Director at the Foundation for the Study of Cycles – Because of a convergence of numerous cycles all at once, the stock market may go up for a little while, but will crash in 2010 and reach all-time lows late 2012. Mogey says that the 2008 crash was nothing compared to the coming crash. Gold may correct in 2009, but will go up in 2010 and peak in 2011. Silver will follow gold.
James Howard Kunstler – (January 2010) The economy as we’ve known it simply can’t go on, which James Howard Kunstler has been saying all along. The shenanigans with stimulus and bailouts will just compound the central problem with debt. There’s not much longer to go before the whole thing collapses and dies. Six Months to Live – The economy that is. Especially the part that consists of swapping paper certificates. That’s the buzz I’ve gotten the first two weeks of 2010.
Peter Schiff – (3/13/2010) "In my opinion, the market is now perfectly positioned for a massive dollar sell-off. The fundamentals for the dollar in 2010 are so much worse than they were in 2008 that it is hard to imagine a reason for people to keep buying once a modicum of political and monetary stability can be restored in Europe. In fact, the euro has recently stabilized. My gut is that the dollar sell-off will be sharp and swift. Once the dollar decisively breaks below last year's lows, many of the traders who jumped ship in the recent rally will look to re-establish their positions. This will accelerate the dollar's descent and refocus everyone's attention back on the financial train-wreck unfolding in the United States. Any doubts about the future of the U.S. dollar should be laid to rest by today's announcement that San Francisco Federal Reserve President Janet Yellen has been nominated to be Vice Chair of the Fed's Board of Governors, and thereby a voter on the interest rate-setting, seven-member Open Markets Committee. Ms. Yellen has earned a reputation for being one of the biggest inflation doves among the Fed's top players." Schiff is famous for his accurate predictions of the economic events of 2008.
Dennis Cramer – DREAMS! 2010 will be a year where ALL Believers will see a dramatic increase in the number of spiritual dreams they experience. Seventy-five percent of them will be warnings. Take heed.
Elaine Tavolacci – (January 2010) Yes things in the natural will continue to grow darker but don’t look to the media keep your eyes on Jesus. He is your source and He is your deliverer. Yes there is a changing of the guard. Some of you are confused because you have also been hearing many prophetic words from credible prophetic voices that seem to be contrary to one another. We are hearing that we are coming into a season of a great move of the Holy Spirit but we are also hearing that we are coming into the worst days in history. Who are we to believe? Both are accurate. It is like looking into a diamond. The Lord is showing some people one facet of the diamond who are seeing the brilliance of it, some are seeing the transparency of it but there are others that are looking into the other side and seeing the flaws. As you stay connected to the giver of life you will be safe in the secret place and experience the awe of God in your life in 2010.
Gene Redlin – You hear in media that things will be OK. Things are recovering. Strained optimism is everywhere. They are nothing more than signs in the tea leaves. False hope is rebounding everywhere. Even those who are MY Prophets are saying things will be fine. That is true, but not for all people and not for a long time...The only thing supporting this economy is hope in government, hope in systems, hope in hope. Until Hope in ME is restored there is no hope. Only hopelessness. The greed and excess that caused Baal to fall has not yet been removed from a system with evil as it's intention. This is more than just a floating higher balloon driven by so much hot air, this is an illusion. People have become prisoners of hope. There will be one more drastic downturn soon. Efforts will be made to hold this off until after the political season. It will only make things worse. Corruption to be removed is at the heart of this judgment. Once this downturn is completed it will be a very long time until recovery can take place. Well into the decade to come. 2015. Oil prices will soar, for a short time. Gold will go up in value for a very short time, housing will not recover for a very long time, Unemployment is going to stay very high. This will be a time for you to learn to TRUST in MY provision. For some it will be ravens by the Brook. For others a cruz of oil and a little meal. Fear not. It's all part of an adjustment that must come. It will mean a currency devaluation that will stagger many. Wealth will be destroyed. It will mean that many will come to the end of themselves. True wealth will be found, and it's not in worldly systems. It's time for truth and justice to be restored. The old systems have become a false God. It was essential that this idol come down. I will have no other God's before ME. I stand above any man's market or economy. When I call a famine or prosperity I call for it and it will happen. Be certain, I will take away anything that tries to substitute itself for dependence on ME. Particularly those called by my name must repent of dependence on the world for their provision as if they have forgotten my name as Jehovah Jireh. I am the Lord your God, there is no other. There will be more change in this decade then you ever imagined. Restoration of many things. Tearing down of others. Seeming disasters beyond understanding. Amazing miracles. Discoveries. Peace. War. Resolution. Birth. Death. Pain. Joy. Challenges to everything you believe. Then affirmation of that Faith you hold so dear. You will be refined as by fire. And it has ever been thus. And will be. The end of 2010 will be the beginning of these things
