Thursday, January 22, 2009

THE DRAMA HEIGHTENS, THE TENSIONS MOUNT

by

Michael C. Ruppert
(C) Copyright 2009, Michael C. Ruppert. All Rights Reserved.

JAN. 21, 2009 -- 9 PM PST -- What a day. OK, the good news: Obama is doing as much or more than I had hoped. By his repudiation of Bush-era FOIA policies today he made it a one-two after his inaugural (well-deserved) bitch slap of Bush over the Constitution. It looks like he has his priorities straight and is acting like a commander. (His salute is pretty good, but I've seen better.) But look, I'm as hardened a cynic as they come. In thirty-two years at this crap I have seen just about every kind of "let down" imagineable. The fact is that the force majeur of global economic collapse may make these efforts symbolic only; stillborn. But otherwise I could not be more encouraged over the last 36 hours. I know, that's a small sampling to judge an entire presidency. What will count most immediately -- and what will show us the Heart of Barack Obama -- will be what he does on the economy and he is going to have to make some very UGLY decisions within two weeks at most.

I was reading a piece today by Captain Hook at Financial Sense. It said that gold was like a beach ball being held underwater. That's a perfect analogy. My only minor disagreement was with Dr. Hook's assumptions about a recovery. There isn't going to be any recovery. And, knowing that, I say that gold will rise orders of magnitude higher. It all has to do with currencies and it looks like they are all going FUBAR at once... in several different directions. Hook made the point that the massive currency instability which is rocking the planet has made it difficult and/or impossible to negotiate trade contracts or even to ship commodities. That's just the tip of the iceberg. The British pound is plummeting and even approching parity with the dollar. British banks are -- according to some -- insolvent. Russia has devalued the Rouble five times in six weeks. A credible report says that hyperinflation is about to ravage China. The Gulf Cooperation Council has just approved the establishment of a single currency by 2010. The dollar is becoming a sea anchor to some of the biggest currencies and economies in the world and EVERYBODY has their
parachutes on; they're hooked up, and they're standing in the door. When no currencies are trustworthy there is nothing else to trust to keep ANYTHING going... EXCEPT GOLD. I think we see the behemoth holding the beach ball down losing its grasp. But the behemoth knows that the beach ball will pop out. Shoot, everybody knows that after age 4 or 5. The behemoth is trying to control the when and... of course to profit from it. Hence the massive hoarding of gold. I know
there's a lot of talk about Ameros and all these "newfangled" currencies. I don't care if there's a new currency called a "Bullwinkle" (I love Bullwinkle); without energy whatever you call it is just useless fiat paper. Currencies are becoming like the Tower of Babel.

In the meantime the second-largest Tar Sands developer in Canada, Suncor, has just announced it is cutting back Tar Sands costs by 50%. Even the OLD energy infrastructure necessary to fuel a recovery won't be there to enable it, let alone any alternative energy options. They're all shutting down too.

Energy and Money; Siamese Twins.

At this moment, all we can do is pray and exert our influence as much as possible to make people listen. We know that we have the right map here. Time has vetted it again and again. What we must make sure that those deciding our immediate future are reading this map too. Our lives are all at stake, here and now; and it is the last half of the ninth, two outs, and we're behind by three with one man on base. This is not over yet, not by any stretch so I'll resort to a cliched -- but very appropriate -- quote from Winston Chruchill. As far as collapse goes, "It may not be the beginning of the end; but it is the end of the beginning"... of the collapse.

REQUEST TO REGULARS -- Hey guys, I am going to be getting seriously busy... seriously soon. It's all very good stuff that will really help all of us get through some damn doors. There's no big red "S" painted on my chest anymore and you guys are super sharp. I need to ask you to follow closely and stark tracking anything you see out of Prez. Obama's first executive orders and report back what you find in the comments. Why should I use my fingers and toes when we -- combined -- are a super computer. Those EOs will be the best predictor we'll have this early.

The worse this gets, the more I read Henry Miller.

--
MCR
************************************************************************************

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

by

Jenna Orkin


Not a moment too soon, the new occupant of the White House has thrown open a few windows.

It has been breathtaking, the swift, sure dismantling of Executive Orders whose only purpose was to serve not the people of the country but the people who had issued the Executive Orders in the first place.

The secrecy that for eight years, in the interest of 'national security,' has been invoked across the board - even to the EPA, where Policy Analyst Hugh Kaufman, railed, "We're the country's janitors, for God's sake!" - is going into reverse.

Guantanamo is being closed and the United States is forgoing policies of torture or rather, since we never officially espoused them in the first place, 'enhanced interrogation.'

Scientists are sighing with relief that once again their disciplines will be considered objectively rather than twisted to serve industry's needs.

And an insidious practise of inbreeding between lobbyists and government employees just got harder. The one-hand-washing-the other, inbred military-industrial complex (originally referred to by Eisenhower as 'the congressional, military industrial complex' before some antsy speechwriter intervened) is not going to have such a smooth ride.

No question: This guy's showing what he's made of. He's got good intentions.

Ah, but the road to Hell....

Will this inspiring start turn out to be no more than a wistful salute to idealism before reality returns from its heady few days or weeks of euphoria?

So far, Obama's got the wind at his back, universal approval for his reforms.

That won't be the case when it comes to the economy. The inevitable correction that must follow the parade we've witnessed of ever larger bubbles is not going to be popular. The biggest bubble, in Treasuries, is going to make the biggest pop. Were Obama to tell the truth, much less do what needs to be done which is to say, allow nature to take its course, he would be booed, Congress would vote down his initiatives and the people would vote him out of office ASAP.

Americans, being the most spoiled people in the history of mankind, not only want the good life back; they want it now. Man-on-the-street interviews by CNN reveal that some people expect the President to be able to turn things around in a matter of months. The more circumspect allow him a second term. But unless there's some major editing going on (as there may well be,) no one dreams that perhaps it is the President, not to mention we the people, who will be turned around.

What we have lost in the period of ease since World War II is a sense of time, investment and history. Having never known lack, we believe it's obsolete, like, oh, getting places on horseback. Why should it return, now that we have so much cool stuff like cellphones and computers?

Because what goes up must come down, especially if the 'up' part was artificial. Everything returns to equilibrium, reverts to the mean. Taking in the big picture, the balance of our consumption with the depletion of resources somewhere outside of frame and therefore consciousness, this abundant garden is turning out to be mortal. It could have nourished us forever but not without some stewardship on our part.

We are learning this, but too little too late.

And Obama, being the people's hero, is not far enough ahead of us. Rather than offering us what we need, he is offering us what we crave. Now that the birthday boys have gotten their supersized bailout, it's time for party favors for everyone else.

There's something goofily fitting about the stimulus package, like balancing the loss of a leg by cutting off the other one. But the tragedy of it is that it is throwing - I want to say 'good money after bad' but by now it's worse money. (I'm also tempted to call the stimulus package a kneejerk response but for the two amputated legs of the previous metaphor.)

The point is: Obama has the potential to be a great president. The question is: Will we let him?

JO


PS: Re the twaddle that I (not Mike) at times allow into the comment section of the blog. This is also in the interest of the big picture. It helps to know who your correspondents are. It can shed retrospective light on their other comments which may or may not also contain a certain amount of twaddle.

36 comments:

redrosebeader said...

Right-on!!
Will we let him??

businessman said...

Regarding the "twaddle", Jenna, I think you're doing a good job in here. Thanks so much for all that you and Mike continue to do for us.

Anonymous said...

Executive Orders

koolkarma817 said...

ICE SHELF hangs by a THREAD!
I Hope you all can see this. It's a Comcast video.

http://www.comcast.net/data/fan/html/popup.html?v=1007733904&pl=1007666527.xml&plc=1007666527&launchpoint=Cover&cid=fancover&attr=default_headline&config=/config/common/fan/default.xml

v said...

www.amsterdamgold.com

I get about 2000 euro of tax refunds in June and want to buy some gold....

anton v said...

Mike -
I've got a copy of Big Sur and The Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch sitting in my reading room. Been re-reading it and digging up tons of useful nuggets. I love that man; I have the same birthday as he does, and I swear when I read him, I'm looking in the mirror! Good thing to get our spirtual nurishment. (somehow I knew you'd be a fan of his, too - what with your UCLA connection and your take no prisoners attitude! ;)

Here's a little gem of Henry's:

…the real problem is not one of getting along with one’s neighbor or of contributing to the development of one’s country, but of discovering one’s destiny, of making a life in accord with the deep-centered rhythm of the cosmos. To be able to use the word cosmos boldly, to use the word soul, to deal in things “spiritual” – and to shun definitions, alibis, proofs, duties. Paradise is everywhere and every road, if one continues along it far enough, leads to it. One can only go forward by going backward and then sideways and then up and then down. There is no progress: there is perpetual movement, displacement, which is circular, spiral, endless. Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it lead him.

Anonymous said...

Re the "twaddle":
Jenna,
I appreciate your efforts to allow some twaddle through to "shed retrospective light". As a long time lurker, thank you for taking the time keep this blog updated and always interesting!! :)

kathy harrison said...

I havebe gun a blog based on my book: Just In Case: how to be self-sufficient when the unexpected happens. I am doing a post on my favorite sites and would like to include Act 2 but did not want to do so without permission. If you would like to visit my site before deciding, the url is justincasebook.net. There are only a couple of postings but I am sure you will get the drift. I think of it as Joe and Mary Average are not stupid and decide to get prepared. I can be reached at bruchrrsn@aol.com.

Jenna Orkin said...

yes, thank you kathy. looks like a potentially valuable book.

Unknown said...

It's time to dampen some spirits. Time to clean up the champagne bottles from Obama's inauguration and get ready for the real deal. Jenna's comment about revolving door government being over just won't wash.

If you make the entire staff appointed by Obama remove their outer garments, half of them will be standing in Goldman Sachs undies.

Defense contractors have nothing to fear. James Jones apparently sits on the board at Boeing (as well as Chevron). Dennis Blair has already been admonished for studying the procurement of F-22 fighters while he was on the board of EDO corporation, which helped produce them.

William Lynn, who was comptroller of the Defense Department during the period that trillions went missing, is now Deputy Secretary of Defense. He will be moving over from a desk at Raytheon, where he has been Vice President of Government Opperations and Strategy.

The new comptroller of the Defense Department was also on duty (comptroller of the Air Force) during the same mystery period (a couple of years around 2000)and spent part of the Bush Administration at LMI Consulting

http://www.lmi.org/aboutus/aboutus.aspx
“…strategic consultancy committed to helping government leaders and managers reach decisions that make a difference. As a not-for-profit organization, we are a trusted advisor to government — free of commercial or political bias and dedicated to our mission of advancing government management."

Okay, whatever.

Of Lynn and Hale, Catherine Austin Fitts quipped: "I guess the guys who got the last $3.3 trillion were pretty happy with Mr. Lynn and Mr. Hale and decided to bring them back."

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0901/S00130.htm
And as for the Department of Agriculture (we're talkin' food, people) we get Tom Vilsack, who used to fly around in a Monsanto jet.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_15573.cfm

Halliburton, Carlyle and Bechtel are not represented in the cabinet this time. But their minions are not far away. What happens when the Bush administration privatizes? Will they be less powerful, or more free to act? We should definitely be watching.

Jenna Orkin said...

aw shucks, eyeballs. reality can be such a bummer.

i was referring to the aspiration sans the compromises.

Nekobus said...

Kathy, I purchased your book recently and I think it's great!

Jacob Gittes said...

I've been reading your blog for a few months. At first I thought you guys were nuts... then slowly it dawned on me that your "map" is turning out to be quite accurate. I run a little blog, "The Republic of Clowns."
http://republicofclowns.blogspot.com

I link to this blog. Keep up the good work.

One thing you didn't mention: it is critical that the Obama administration start to worry about food security. Will he give in to Monsanto, ADM, and industrial-scale agriculture, or will he start to encourage - no, mandate - a return to sustainable forms of agriculture that might stand a chance of feeding this nation and even providing some surplus to the soon-to-be hungry world?

Thanks,
Publius

Jacob Gittes said...

And I absolutely adore Henry Miller. Thanks for reminding me of my youthful love of this underrated author. I need to dig him out before I get too depressed.

businessman said...

Just because you're discovering that the map that's been revealed within this Blog is accurate Publius, this doesn't necessarily exclude the notion of all of us still being nuts anyway!

On the subject of gold and silver...it's been shown for months in here with various links to articles how these prices have been manipulated downward. With this in mind, will we ever see the true market price for these metals quoted to us again? Or will we just have to get used to, for example, someday hearing that the spot price of gold is $2,500.00 an ounce, but in reality people are exchanging gold for goods and services at the rate of $5,000.00 an ounce?

sunrnr said...

The hidden crisis we cannot escape from ... running out of water.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5562906.ece

The article discusses "Peak Water" along the same lines as Peak Oil. It also mentions the H2O footprint (how much water is involved)of food production, energy extraction, etc.

The oil lobby is touting billions of barrels of recoverable oil just waiting (locked up) in shale oil, tar sands, etc.

The processes to extract the oil from rock and sand is hugely water and energy intensive. Deposits of oil shale and tar sands are not found next to large water sources, just the opposite. A huge waste to extract negligible energy even if the technology was viable (which it isn't).

If we don't die outright from nuclear blasts, super volcanoes, etc. we'll die of thirst before we start starving to death.

Those that are left will be forced to confront and prioritize the use of hydrocarbon fuels and water. It would be much nicer to work on this now while we can and not when it becomes a question of day-to-day survival.

Other water shortage links-

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28772342/
http://www.alternet.org/water/82378/
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav122208.shtml

I'd stongly suggest auditing your personal water useage and needs. Make adjustments as you can and plans for when you can't.

namaste

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

Jenna, re twaddle. First of all, ditto to a couple of other comments aleady in: great job and thank you. I had the hunch that there was a "meta-motive" behind the clearing of certain questionable comments, IMO.

Speaking for myself, I refer to Mike's wrapping up of Rubicon and writing to the effect: "The message is wasted on 'the masses'...they are just too out to lunch. It is necessary to fire up a dedicated cadre to craft and carry the message." Something to that effect. (I couldn't find it and cadre isn't in the index.)

I have always believed that this blog is an extension of that sentiment. This is the real McCoy, we are alive for it, lives will be at stake. Usually, stragglers and malcontents get left behind because they can't hack it and their attitude puts others at risk. They are a liability. This blog, IMO, has a primary purpose. The message is here for those who want it, not for those who merely need it. God only knows everyone "needs" it. That's not how it works, IMO. The paradoxical notion of dictatorial freedom will only register with the few, not with the many.

As for the Obama administration, good intentions, etc. blah blah blah, it is all for naught. The collapse of industrial civilization cannot be put on hold, it cannot be averted, no matter how pink the lenses are through which the spin is spun. To think otherwise relegates Rubicon to a critique of the Bush administration and ain't it all just gonna be swell again.

We have entered onto the slope. It is done. It is over. It is finished. It is very, very, very real.

Patrick said...

What collapse might be like!

Video Diary

Peace all,
Patrick

me said...

Has anyone heard of any plans to repeal the "patriot act" (I feel dirty just typing those two words).

I ran across the following article (I have no connection to it other than I found it using google), so I'm not the only one that thinks repealing this vile legislation is essential if Obama is serious about defending the Constitution and that IS what he pledged to do, after all. Last time I checked, the Bill of Rights was part of the Constitution and the patriot act turns that inside out. To me, this one thing is FAR more important than closing gitmo or anything else he could do. In my mind, until this is repealed, the government has zero legitimacy.

Our founding fathers and the Sons of Liberty would would roll over in their graves if they saw what has been done to our beloved Constitution. I get down on my knees daily and I pray that Obama restores the absolute sanctity of that document and restores it to its rightful place as the guiding force and light that makes our democracy possible.

The only way in my mind that Obama can redeem himself, after voting for that traitorous act, is to totally and completely repeal it and -not only that- but, to fully restore to their prior status, every single individual who was investigated, arrested, convicted or otherwise violated on the basis of 'any' action authorized by that act.

Go Obama! Repeal that sad stain upon Our Country and our Constitution and set yourself and all our People free!

http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2009/01/20/Opinions/Column.President.Obama.Repeal.The.Patriot.Act-3589113.shtml

OregonSurvivor said...

I really appreciate this blog and all the comments. Very nice to hear the MCR has made a full recovery! So now a question: In light of the recent revelations on the NSA (which were exposed by Wayne Madsen in December '05) how does PROMIS factor into the warrantless surveillance? What do we know about the evolution of the software, and how it is deployed? And how do the massive and continuous data thefts figure in?

gildone84 said...

I'm not familiar with the source, but...

Pentagon is watching your blog (and probably posting):

http://www.blacklistednews.com/news-2903-0-5-5--.html

koolkarma817 said...

The Plunge Protection Team........PPT are busy little bees

quote......
There are two fundamental problems facing all those (including myself) who accuse the PPT of regular, rampant manipulation. How do they obtain all the countless billions necessary to fund their operations, and (even more importantly) how do they avoid accumulating huge holdings of U.S. equities as they buy-up shares to push stocks higher?

The answer to those TWO problems are naked shorting and temporary money.

Anyone familiar with naked shorting understands that the practice amounts to counterfeiting shares (i.e. they "short" a stock with shares that don't exist). Thus, a HUGE problem with the rampant, naked shorting which takes place in the U.S. (and other markets) is that vast pools of counterfeit shares come into existence as a stock is subjected to naked shorting over a period of months.

This brings me to "temporary money". Imagine if the PPT could walk into the markets with billions of "temporary dollars" (much like counterfeit money), buy up a bunch of shares to prop up U.S. markets, and then (to cover their trail) at the end of the day they simply delete all those purchases - causing the "temporary money" to vanish.
end quote.....
http://www.stockhouse.com/Community-News/2009/January/21/Naked-shorting-and--temporary-money-

quote........
First and foremost it is imperative that everyone realize and understand that Gold “is” Money. We know that gold is money because every Central Bank in the world carries gold on their balance sheets as ‘an official reserve asset’.



With that in mind, folks would do well to read one of James Turk’s latest articles titled, The Fed's blueprint for market intervention . In this article, Turk offers commentary on a recently unearthed 1961 document from the archives of the late, long-time former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, William McChesney Martin Jr. which details in the Fed’s own pen; their plans to intervene surreptitiously in the currency and gold markets to support the dollar and to conceal, obscure, and falsify U.S. government records so that the intervention would not be discovered. In Turk’s words,

“In short, [the newly unearthed document] lays out what the Treasury and Federal Reserve needed to do in order to begin intervening in the foreign exchange markets, but there is even more. This document plainly shows what happens when government operates behind closed doors. It also makes clear the motivations of the operators of dollar policy long described by the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee and its supporters -- namely, that the government would pursue intervention rather than a policy of free markets unfettered by government activity. The run to redeem dollars for gold had put the government at a crossroads, forcing it to make a decision about the future course of dollar policy. This paper describes what the government would need to do by choosing the interventionist alternative.

This document provides primary, original source supporting evidence that GATA has been right all along.”
end quote..........

http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1232485460.php

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

sunrnr, re water. Most Peak Oilers know that the proposed monstrosity known as the NAFTA Super Highway will bypass unionized west coast ports, carry oil and gas lines, and basically be a conduit towards NAU. This is basic empire building, i.e.lay down the transportation infrastructure. Manifest Destiny comes of age. What has always seemed odd is that it seems to end in the middle of nowhere at its northern point, just below Manitoba. What a lot of people don't know is that, along with parallel gas and oil lines, will be water lines. Now take a look at the size of the two fresh water lakes, Winnipeg and Winnipegosis. Turns out that the highway doesn't end in the middle of nowhere afterall.

Patrick, great video. My worst image is roaming bands of cannibals. Cities are prisons, much like POW camps. If you can, get a hold of Enemy at The Gates, by William Craig (the hollywood fluff was based on it) to see what the human creature is capable of doing in order to survive (Russian POW camps holding Italian Stalingrad survivors).

Fool Britannia said...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/18/recession-banking

Im still amazed at how many people I try to warn/educate still dont 'get it'. Despite the evidence being everywhere they fiddle while Rome (London/Paris/Everywhere!!) burns.

RayLeeUS said...

A little comic relief here. And it ties in to some comments recently about the bright side of hyper-inflation. Anyone remember this?


President Jimmy Carter: Good evening. On Tuesday, we Americans will have the opportunity to exercise our role as citizens in a free democracy. Yet, only a third of the eligible voters will actually cast ballots. The other two-thirds are, in a sense, very lucky. Because they do not know what's going on.

Last week, I delivered a message on inflation. Since then, the dollar has dropped in value, the stock market has sustained record losses, and the wholesale price index increased 0.9%. In other words, our economic system is screwed, blued and tatooed! We just have to face the fact that there is simply no way to fight inflation in a capital-intensive, highly-technological, conflict-ridden, anything-for-a-thrill world of today. That's why, tonight, I want you to try to look at inflation in an entirely new light: Inflation is our friend.

For example, consider this: in the year 2000, if current trends continue, the average blue-collar annual wage in this country will be $568,000. Think what this inflated world of the future will mean - most Americans will be millionaires. Everyone will feel like a bigshot. Wouldn't you like to own a $4,000 suit, and smoke a $75 cigar, drive a $600,000 car? I know I would! But what about people on fixed incomes? They have always been the true victims of inflation. That's why I will present to Congress the "Inflation Maintenance Program", whereby the U.S. Treasury will make up any inflation-caused losses by direct tax rebates to the public in cash. Then you may say, "Won't that cost a lot of money? Won't that increase the deficit?" Sure it will! But so what? We'll just print more money! We have the papers, we have the mints.. I can just call up the Bureau of Engraving and say, "Hi! This is Jimmy. Roll out some of them twenties! Print up a couple thousand sheets of those Century Notes!" Sure, all these dollars will cause even more inflation, but who cares? Everyone will be a millionaire!

In my speech last week, I said that America would have to undergo an austerity program, but since this revolutionary new approach welcomes inflation, our economy will be free to grow, and we can spend, spend, spend! I believe the watchwords for the 80's should be "Let's Party!" And in that spirit, I'd like to say, "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Carter was, of course, played by Dan Aykroyd. Steve Martin hosted that show on 11/4/78 giving his famous "never at dusk" opening monologue. Later Belushi gave a commentary on Weekend Update, ranting about the importance of voting - "Just look at Amsterdam, they all vote there, and they get to . . ."

Ah those were the days. Yet still the idiots say "who could have seen this coming?"

Unknown said...

The final weeks of the Bush Administration gave us prime time interviews and TV specials. A main talking point of this media coverage dealt with the idea of history being kind to GWB. His actions would be deemed worthy and just. "He kept us safe" and "We were not attacked since 9/11", were the favorite phrases of the talking heads.

Now, with all the talk of the Executive Orders and the closing of Guantanamo, along with the rethinking of "torture techniques", it seems to me that we are being set-up.

set-up for failure. set-up for false flags.

this NYTimes article links to a Karl Rove WSJ article and a Marc A. Thiessen Washington Post article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/politics/22web-baker.html?_r=1&hp

Rove says W was "Right When It Mattered Most". Now, to me, it looks like the door is going to opened for future "terror attacks".

I can just hear Hannity saying it now, "These guys were locked up with Bush, Obama let them go". With Fox News contributer Karl Rove live via satellite, of course.

AR said...

Before y'all get too giddy about Obama's EOs, look for the loopholes in them.

The Bushes and Clinton are still alive, so their records will not be released yet.

There is a huge loophole in the 'we don't torture' EO, called Appendix M in the Army Field Manual, which permits essentially KUBARK's 'no-touch' torture.

To learn how deeply The Wrecking Crew is burrowed within the federal government, and thus how little progress Obama will be able to make in wresting control of his employees, I suggest reading Thomas Frank's book.

Scuttlebut: Arlen Specter has been tasked with delaying confirmation of AG until after March 10, to let the statute of limitations expire on warrantless wiretapping during the window when Bush authorized its continuation without Ashcroft's OK. There's a case with proof of having been tapped during the window. Does this mean the GOP is worried that the Obama DoJ will prosecute?

Excellent post over at Daily Kos succinctly explains why the economy is collapsing: So who's predicting economic collapse?  And why? This is handy for the folks in denial.

An interview with a guy who's been living the self-reliant, off-grid, grow-yer-own life, mostly, for over two decades: A Trip to Todd's.
..............
Shorebreak:

You may have been replying to my post a week or two ago, about eschewing gold because of the harm caused by its extraction. In that same post I also had written that I had cash, a farm, knowledge and seeds for growing my food, etc. And clearly I'm spending the cash on whatever else I think I'll need to sustain my self-reliance, such as water filters, including sharing with others in my community, as we make our preparations for when cash has no more value. Yes, I still pay for internet service, but that doesn't mean I expect to continue blogging until I die. I don't expect the grid or the web to be accessible in the boonies after collapse, even if I had gold. I'm preparing for subsistence, if necessary, although it's more likely I'll be murdered by pillagers.
.......
eyeballs: Thanks for pointing out the compromised Treasury, 'Defense' and 'Intelligence' teams.
........
Publius:

There is good discussion of the FDA/USDA assaults on sustainable food at The Complete Patient.
............
As for Henry Miller, seeing as my diet has been very heavy on the rice and beans of late, I'll never forget his cure for diarrhea, from The Collosus of Maroussi. This is why it's a good idea to start getting used to your survival diet before digestive aids are no longer available.

Will said...

Can someone explain to me why, if the shit is going to hit the fan to the extent Mike says it will, why would gold have any value whatsoever to someone starving?

I don't get the logic behind this buy gold advice.

koolkarma817 said...

Recall what the neo-con think tank, Project for the New American Century foretold: “the process of transforming the US into tomorrow’s dominant force was likely to be a long one, in the absence of some catastrophic and catalyzing event like a new Pearl Harbor.”
------
On January 18, 2009, the Associated Press reported that in an interview aired on “Dateline NBC” the Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Warren Buffett said that the “US is engaged in an economic Pearl Harbor.”
--------
What is in store for the United States and the world in this, the third and final Pearl Harbor?



Since Warren Buffett has stated that the United States is already “engaged in an economic Pearl Harbor” I can only conclude that we are going to be in a real big mess very soon – to be precise, the end of the first quarter of 2009!

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11964

pstajk said...

No more Caddyshack quotes, promise.

Anonymous said...

Well, isn't it just perfect timing for this story to break?

Freed by U.S., Saudi Becomes al Qaeda Chief

Anonymous said...

Re: Twaddle

I'm sure this blog means different things to different people. What one person may find boring or inconsequential may be valuable to someone else. I find myself skipping over some posts altogether and hanging on every word of others.

Why would someone want gold and silver in a crash situation? In the coming world, perhaps not all necessities may be purchased with food or barter items. What if one wanted a parcel of land, a large piece of farm equipment or an appendectomy? My philosophy is to cover all bases. One never knows what the situation will be in the future. Having some cash, precious metals, food, stored water and supplies, tools and equipment means not having to wonder where these things will come from when the need arises. What a great sense of security this gives.

Look for the silver lining with the beach ball held under water. Gold and silver low = opportunity to buy before prices take off.

On another topic, how does one cook when there is no power? I just got a Rocket Stove, which are used in 3rd world countries. They make intense heat, practically no smoke and use very little fuel. There are many variations on them which can be found on Youtube, under "rocket stove". I got mine from a man who is now making them for sale:

http://stockstorage.com/

He accepts offers for less if you don't have the funds. I got mine for $90. If you're handy, you can make one for less than $10. No matter what happens, you've got emergency cooking and hot water.

Anonymous said...

AR - I was responding to RanD and others from a very recent post.

Anonymous said...

In response to comments/concerns over admissions by the NSA:

It's been documented in various places and publications going back at least 25 years that TPTB who are looking to absorb the US into a regional government (similar to the EU) will eventually begin working with the media to take steps to seriously discredit the US government boith nationally and internationally. The goal is to make a new/changed system look more appealing than the current system that promises individual liberty and national sovereignty.

In other words, the trojan horse that has controlled the US government for several decades has a specific goal to integrate us into a larger political/economic entity. They know that to do so, they need to convince Americans and the world that our current structure no longer works.

FYI - it does work. The problem is that the media was purchased by the corporations who seek globalk control, leaving us with no watchdog to tell us what's happening. The crimes of the NSA and the subsequent reporting by mainstream media are by design. Re-designing the US government isn;t the solution, that's part of the design. The solution is eliminating the entities who have usurped the US government.

Paula said...

From the entertainment division...

Here's another satisfying bitch slap posted at the White House website:

"President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. He and Vice President Biden will take steps to ensure that the federal government will never again allow such catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur."

Unknown said...

Paula,
Keep those satisfying bitch slaps a-coming. A little levity goes a long way!