Volume Three: Number One

Impression, soleil levant

Claude Monet

(1872)

State of the Union

In a few months, the new President of these United States will stand before the country and give his thoughts about where we stand, as a nation.

First, he will say we face many grave threats. Some of these threats will be foreign secular and religious dictators trying to control their part of the world. Some of these dictators will have access to nuclear, biological, chemical, and cyber weapons. Weapons that could be used against our country, with little to no warning.

The next threat will be the financial difficulties facing the country. The Federal Reserve, large financial institutions, and big corporations have made poor financial decisions, by buying risky assets and extending credit to marginal customers.

These financial difficulty aren't limited to large companies, either.

The new President will add the trillions of dollars in debt for student loans, housing, and credit cards to the financial problems faced by our families. The President will also mention the underfunded local, state, and business pension plans. Lastly, he will mention the unfunded government liabilities facing generations.

The third set of threats, the new President will discuss will be the so-called natural disasters facing our country such as Coronal Mass Ejections, global climate change, and an eruption of a super volcano like the one in Yosemite National Park.

He may also discuss the seasonal events that affect our country such as tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, severe summer weather, and other major and minor natural events.

After discussing the natural threats faced by our country, the President may discuss technological events such as artificial intelligence (AI), computer warfare, digital crime, and pollution (thermal, noise, air, odor, water, and many others).

Next, he will talk about the technological disasters facing our communities and families, such as toxic chemical releases in the air, water, and on land. The President will mention how these events would cause whole neighborhoods to disappear like Times Beach, Missouri; Love Canal, New York; and Centralia, Pennsylvania.

The new President may also mention the threat of workers, in all fields, being replaced by automation, offshoring of whole industries, and the permanent loss of those careers. He may even talk about how the past trade policies have enriched a few while impoverishing the many

The next threats facing our country, he may talk about, is the decay of our nation, morally and physically.

To illustrate our moral decay, he'll highlight the so-called Too Big to Fail financiers, the Wall Street brokers, and other legally corrupt financial institutions. He'll talk about the hypocrisy of the media corporations' bias against our country and the majority of its citizens by advocating for open borders, unlimited immigration, and amnesty for illegals. He might even mention how some companies profit from selling harmful products, sexualizing children, and lending money at 300% + interest.

The new President will definitely discuss the moral decay of our security services and judicial system. How the ticket, to court, to monetary fine scam that lines the pockets of  corrupt cites and towns; the unconstitutional asset forfeiture laws that force people to prove their innocence; and the wholesale surveillance without constitutionally required warrants.

Our President will highlight the physical decay in our country's infrastructure; the collapsing bridges, crumbling roads, neglected railways, overloaded sewer plants, antique water plants, and other physical decay facing our nation, states, and communities. He may include our failing neighborhood schools in this physical decay.

Lastly, the President will talk about policies that the administration will enact to overcome these possible events facing our country, but they will be ignored by our so-called elected representatives (only 54% of eligible voters voted), have already been tried by former administrations, and will not cover the unforeseen Black Swan events.

Doom and Gloom

Booking Fee

Campi Flegrei

EM Drive

Gangs

Laws

Plane Crash

South China Sea

Typhoon Nok-ten 

Unexploded Ordinance

Things You Might Want to Think About

Regrettable Developments
I forgot some things ; - )

In Other Words
Of course, I forgot these things, too


Bing and 'Fake' News
You may have seen this article, about a shooting in Mount Vernon, highlighted at Bing. One person was killed and four people injured.

The only problem; it wasn't in Mount Vernon, Virginia, home of George and Martha Washington.

Terror
As we know, terrorist adapt to counter measures. Terrorists robs several banks, for cash; remove excess cash to heavily armed centralized locations. Terrorists hijack a few planes, for cash; add armed security to aeroplanes, and so on. Simple.

Well, ... The whole 'Ban Guns' as a countermeasure isn't working, so we need to get more guns into hospitals, shopping malls, theatres, and schools, ... before the terrorists attack these places.

Resolutions
These are some interesting propositions to improve yourself, your family, your community, and our country.

Overheard

"Many of us, owing to an intuitive sense of where technological and social progress are taking us, have a preconceived notion of what the future will look like. But as history has continually shown, the future doesn't always go according to plan."

"Governments everywhere are facing fast-rising pension and healthcvare costs, and the need for more tax revenues will skyrocket once the global recession trims income, payroll, business and sales taxes."

"Ergo, the best way to recover value from these ships is to go straight from the building yards to the wrecking yards. However, it would destroy less value not to build them in the first place."

"The KKK leaders who were interviewed by Variety detailed how they were wooed with promises the program would capture the truth about life in the organization; encouraged not to file taxes on cash payments for agreeing to participate in the filming; presented with pre-scripted fictional story scenarios; instructed what to say on camera; asked to misrepresent their actual identities, motivations and relationships with others, and re-enacted camera shoots repeatedly until the production team was satisfied." Note: Never, Ever Talk to the Media

What Others Wrote

Defense One: The D Brief, 23 December, 2016

Shall Not Be Questioned: Weekly Gun News: Edition 52

The View from Chaos Manor: 30 December, 2016

WeaponsMan: Friday Tour d’Horizon, 2016 Week 52

Yer Ol' Woodpile Report: Index 458

The Links

OPSEC, Mindset, and Thinking
The stock market is at an all time high. Employment is very low. Home prices and home sales are increasing.

What could go wrong?

Emergency Evacuation and Health
Most preppers overlook the number one asset; their families will need during an event. Yeah, being physically fit and healthy.

Shelter, Fire, and Clothing
There are many different ways to make fire starter, but most people either use wax or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and cotton balls.

Water and Food
The classic Food and Water in an Emergency published by F.E.M.A. and the American Red Cross is the must read for all preppers, new and experienced.

Firearms, Ammunition, and Militia Skills
The best 'prepper' rifle, ever!

O.K. I might be exaggerating, just a little
 
Communication, Transportation, and Information
Buying a shortwave radio receiver is not a priority for most families because the AM/FM/Weather radio combination (either as a single radio or two separate radios, AM/FM and Weather Radio) will provide most of the critical information you and your family will need during an event, but they are limited to local, state, and national news. For unfiltered international coverage, you will need a shortwave radio.

Finances
I disagree with this article.

Yes, it is very important to have some cash (an emergency fund) and several precious metal coins (silver and gold Eagles or Maple Leaves), in your home, for an event.

But, ...

In my opinion, you and your family will not be able to anticipate an oncoming event, then beat everyone to the front of the line for critical supplies, like water storage containers, long-term food, and ... before that event unfolds

That's Just the Way it Was:

Omar, West Virginia (ca 1938 and 1935)

Payday in a coal mining town

Homes along the railroad track