What Did You Do Today To Prepare?

That was a heading on an awesome forum I used to spend more time on. People would post what they did or bought to prepare for hard times (joblessness, natural disasters, etc.), and it was often a source of some pretty good ideas. I thought I’d carry that over to here.

With the imminent passage of the Porkulus Bill, which will be shortly followed by socialized health care, the Fairness Doctrine, and the rolling back of the 2nd Amendment, capitalism and individual liberty will be on the decline. We’ve decided to go with European Socialism (you know, the construct wherein, even in the boom times of 2005 and 2006, they had higher unemployment rates than we have now in the US). These changes will be temporary–the American people still love their liberty, and even Messianic figures who get their own commemorative plates can’t change that. In the meantime, times will be tough. Still, there are things you can do.

What I Did Today To Prepare:

• Today was payday, so I bought and stored some silver. When I started this blog last fall, silver was about $9.30 an ounce. Today it was $13.13 an ounce. When our dollar becomes devalued due to inflation (which it will, as we will have to print that stimulating money), precious metals will go even higher.
• Put more money than I could really afford into a savings account (held at a credit union that’s unlikely to need “stimulating”). I’d rather have that cash in my checking account and enjoy it a bit, but since my elected representatives have chosen to extort my money to pay for their pet projects, I’m going to have to be very careful with what little is left. Socialism isn’t going to unstick the credit market, and cash will be king for some time. Then there’s the possibility of unemployment. The state of California can’t afford to cut people their unemployment checks anymore, and I expect that to extend to at least Michigan soon. If you have a job, put money aside in case the state can’t pay unemployment anymore. Plus, there’s the crippling tax increases that are coming, and not just to “the rich.” We’ve discovered in the past month that only the little people pay taxes: folks like Geithner and Daschle and Solis’ husband can’t be bothered. But God help you if YOU don’t. So save your money. It’s no fun, but you’ll be glad you did.
• On the subject of taxes, did mine and made plans to save the refunds. Normally I would buy something–not this year. If you can save nothing else, save your tax refund as a small emergency fund.
• Ordered seeds for this year’s garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Their seeds are heirloom (which means you can save seeds from them and next year’s crop will be the same as this year’s). I also bought extra  seeds for storage for the future.
• Worked out for an hour. For the next few years, it’s going to be more essential than usual to be healthy and physically fit. For businesses that chose to be stimulated, Mr. Obama, by executive order, put in salary caps. When he nationalizes medicine, what will he do? Ration care only for people who meet certain weight guidelines? Considering that democrat senator Debbie Stabenow wants to limit the First Amendment rights of people who don’t share her political beliefs, will there be a political litmus test for medical care? If nothing else, the long lines for government care will delay medical care for many. When you give the government this kind of power, you cannot be surprised when they choose to wield it against you. Moreover, when Mr. Obama passes the Freedom of Choice Act, I expect many, many Catholic and other Christian hospitals will close their doors rather than be compelled to perform abortions, so there will be fewer medical facilities available. So be healthy: exercise, lose weight, grow some of your own food.
• Called Senator McCaskill and asked her to vote against the Porkulus. She ran as a blue dog, but now has hitched her wagon inextricably to Mr. Obama, so I knew she wouldn’t actually follow the will of the people, but it’s the right thing to at least go through the motions. No matter–her choices are going to sink her in Missouri in 2012.

I’ll try to make this a regular feature. Feel free to post what you do to prepare.

Disaster Preparedness–Campfire Starters

Haven’t posted in a while. I’m doing the whole “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” thing. It might get a bit dull if every post was an “I told you so.”

So, back to basics. Here’s a preparedness post.

To make a tinder campfire starter, begin with a CARDBOARD egg carton. Fill the little holes with dryer lint. Melt a candle over them, until each has enough wax to harden on top.

Your result will look a little like melted baby Tribbles:

Break ‘em apart and store in a dry place. The wax and fluffy fibers should burn with enough heat to light small twigs in a campfire. I’ll give it a try on the backpacking trip later this month and post on how they worked out.

And Left From My Dreaming Was A Feeling Of Unnameable Dread

First blog post about the economy ever that had a Rocky Horror Picture Show lyric as its title? Perhaps.

Why the dread? One of the very nice and well-meaning things many Obama supporters said after the election was “Don’t be afraid.” I’m not; I blew straight past fear into horror and dread almost immediately. I try to keep a handle on it, since we made fun of the Bush Derangement Syndrome weirdos back in the day. And again, I’m willing to give him a chance.

Still, the dread. Consider this. George W. Bush is a businessman from old wealth. That was one of the reasons he was supposedly evil–had an MBA, was an oilman, ran a baseball team. Eeeevil capitalist. Nevertheless, when the economy started on a rocket sled to hell, HIS default position was Socialism–bail everyone and everything out, send out “rebate checks,” nationalize banks. That’s what the evil capitalist did in response to the economic crisis. Given that, what will the ACORN-supported community organizing lawyer from the church that disavows middle-classness do? There’s the dread, right there.

To be fair, Obama’s choices so far haven’t been that bad. It’s sort of scary that he picked a person from EMILY’s List as communications director, but he has to play to his base somewhere. Clinton’s not a terrible choice. I like Bill Richardson okay. The market seemed to like Obama’s choice of Treasury Secretary pretty well, and I have yet to hear anything bad about him. Larry Summers would be a decent choice as Fed Chairman, for as long as we have something as misbegotten as a Fed.

And then there’s Pelosi. After we had a few hopeful days of thinking that we the taxpayers WEREN’T going to bail out the Big Three automakers and thus they would have to renegotiate with the unions that are bleeding them dry, I heard on the news today that Pelosi is now offering them not only the 25 billion dollars in taxpayer dollars they asked for, but another 50 billion on top of that. Ooh, there’s that dread again.

And, Obama’s talking the sort of policies that turned our 1930s Depression into a Great one. Increasing the size of Americorps, raising the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, taxing the wealthy, creating millions of government jobs in infrastructure and “green” jobs. For what it’s worth, many of Missouri’s state parks were constructed by the CCC–they did a great job…back in the day. That was a different culture, one that valued and was familiar with the concept of hard physical work. Will that work now? Will the banker who used to make million-dollar bonuses be willing to live in a dormitory and build rock walls? Will the college grad who can’t get a job be willing to do likewise? Will these highway building projects be subject to the same bidding quotas that have turned highway departments into such bloated bureaucracies? Will these green jobs be subject to market pressures, or government-subsidized make-work details? I guess we’ll have to see, but I have my thoughts.

The weird thing is, none of this will hurt me too much personally–the dread I feel is more for the economy as a whole, and our standing in the world. I have no credit card debt. I am toward the end of Step 2 of Dave Ramsey’s baby steps, in that I am still paying for a car. That’ll be done by the end of next year. Then comes step 3–saving up 3 to 6 months of expenses in cash. I want to save more than that because I also want to save a 20% down payment on a Gulch of my own. That’s 2010 taken care of, maybe more than that, and I expect in 2010 to see a Republican revolution rivalling or surpassing 1994. I’m young-ish, and for now I’m only paying into my 401(k) up to my employer match (6%). By the time I get to step 4–investing at least 15% of my income for my retirement, we should have ended our sojourn with Socialism, barring a 1930s-style Depression and the market should be looking up. So, it’s all good–my destiny is mostly in my own hands. And yet, the dread remains.

Preparedness tip of the day: Booze. I was grocery shopping yesterday and noticed that the holiday liquors were out now–you know, bottles of good booze with glasses or other extras. They’re cheaper now than they usually are, and will be up through the New Year. Buy a few bottles (or more) of what you like–bourbon or vodka is probably better if things go to hell and you have to barter with them. Liquor has many uses–you can drink it to calm down when the President announces another Socialist plan, it’s as good as NyQuil for treating a cold at bedtime, etc. If you’re seriously into preparedness, consider buying the equipment and learning how to make your own beer or wine. You could be very popular if things go all to hell.

Don’t Panic

So it is written in large, friendly letters on the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and so it shall be.

This is pretty much another disaster preparedness post. Again, scroll if it’s not your thing.

Vital stats: Dow down 445 to 7552 (down 2076 points since Mr. Obama was elected); silver down $0.36 to $9.32 an ounce; gas $1.76 a gallon.

There’s a lot there to panic about–even those of us who live simply and don’t have much or any debt do feel the tension of seeing our retirement plans dwindle for a few years. We’ll either bail out the American auto industry with taxpayer money (bad) or take even more of a hit in manufacturing (also bad). Not even the pundits seem to understand what’s going on.

Still, panic fixes nothing. Panicky people make bad decisions. Panicky governments throw the people’s wealth at problems with no understanding of how to fix them. You cannot control the Dow. You cannot control the worth of precious metals. You cannot control what Mr. Obama may or may not do. What you can do is to strive for greater self-sufficiency. Pay off your debts. Dave Ramsey has awesome advice for this. Cut back on lifestyle so that you can pay debts, save some cash, and store supplies for you and your family–food, how-to books, water filters, health supplies, clothes, weapons and ammo, etc. Develop skills–learn to hunt, fish, grow your own food to the extent you can, can, knit, sew. People in the last Great Depression had the advantage of living close to the land–we have the advantage of suspecting what is coming and having the time and health to prepare for it.

There’s a preparedness tip coming up, but first a cautionary note. This is something that I’ve seen repeated on Rawles and du Toit’s blogs, and it bears repeating as times get tougher.  I am a Christian (yep, true, I’m not a pure Objectivist), and I believe people have a moral obligation to help each other out (on the other hand, I don’t believe the government has the right to coerce people to help each other out, or to confiscate people’s wealth for redistribution). I believe in helping others out. I post these tips on this blog, and I give to churches and charities. However, my charity is not a suicide pact. Some people know I have preparations.  They should know this–except for those I have invited to come, if the absolute worst occurs, I will turn others away. We’ve all heard the “joke”–’Well, if the zombie apocalypse happens, I’ll come to your place.’ No, if you’re not invited, you won’t. Most all people who prep do not have enough to provide for everyone. That’s why so many preppers work so hard to educate others. It’s part of the self-sufficiency thing. Be prepared to do for yourself. It’s not that hard, and it’s extremely satisfying. Teach a man to fish, be an ant and not a grasshopper, and all those other cliches are true. If you are reduced to trying to join up with someone who didn’t previously invite you, be prepared to offer something–money, skills, food, shelter, supplies, etc. You’ve seen photos of Katrina refugees walking into the Superdome with nothing–not a bottle of water, a toothbrush, or food–don’t be like them. It’s a scary, panicky, powerless place to be. You are at the mercy of others, or of the state.

Preparedness tip of the day: Bread. Bread is so key–a good, simple, whole wheat bread (ideally with a little butter), some protein, and some carbs will keep you going on the cheap. If you’re into basic preparedness, store plenty of flour (all purpose or wheat, your choice), yeast, and salt. If you’re a serious prepper, buy whole wheat by the 5-gallon bucket and invest in a sturdy hand grinder. If the weather goes bad for a long time, or the stores empty out, this no-knead bread will make you happy happy. It’s a recipe from the Mother Earth News adapted from the New York Times. There’s a loaf of it rising in the Gulch’s kitchen right now. Makes one 1 1/2 pound loaf.

• 1/4 t active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 cups flour (your choice)
• 1 1/2 t salt
• Cornmeal, wheat bran, or flour for dusting

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the flour and salt, stirring until blended. Dough will look shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let it rise at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 18, at warm room temperature (room temperature in the Gulch is cool, so I let mine rise on an electric heating pad turned to low–a gas oven with a pilot light also works).

2. Dough is ready when surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and put dough on it. Sprinkle with flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal. Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour, bran, or cornmeal. Cover with another towel and let rise for 1 or 2 hours. When it’s ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (I use a cast-iron dutch oven, but you can use an enamel, Pyrex, or ceramic pot) in the oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don’t sweat it–it will even out as it bakes.

5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf is browned. Remove the bread from the dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.

Dense, dense, but satisfying and good. Awesome with soup or stew.

So Easy a Soviet Infantryman Can Do It*

*Or, John Galt Field-Strips an SKS.

Some background: I didn’t get into the gun thing until about 7 years ago–my family didn’t hunt or keep firearms for self-defense. Since then, I’ve grown to really enjoy shooting, and I acquired a nice little battery of boomsticks. After Mr. Obama’s election, I decided to get something that shot 7.62 x 39 in anticipation of either a foreign-ammunition ban or an “assault weapons” ban. At the gun show I attended, the AK-47s were crap, but I saw a nice 1952 Russian Tula Arsenal SKS with a 1 on the front sight. I got a good deal on it.

Here’s the problem–I knew Jack about Commie guns. Today when I was out shopping I picked up a maintenance guide and was able to field-strip the weapon with no real difficulty. I’ve started cleaning it (there goes my dream that it was unfired), and I can’t believe the schmutz in it, but it’s cleaning up easily, so I think the weapon’s been well-maintained. Firing pin moves easily in the bolt, which as far as I’ve read is the only real problem people ever have with this weapon–when they were prepared for export they were coated in Cosmoline, which sometimes caused the firing pin to stick, causing the SKS to slamfire–fire all 10 rounds in quick succession.

It’s an attractive weapon–sort of a red lacquered wooden stock with Red Star, bayonet, very basic looking. It’s constructed out of equal parts of Win and Commie. I’ve seen pictures of SKSs that have been rendered tacticool, and even though it’s heavy, I don’t think I’ll go that route. It just doesn’t look like the sort of weapon that should have a composite stock and a 5000-round mag with a huge scope and Surefire light mounted on it. It is what it is. I’m looking forward to firing it, but I still have a couple of hours of cleaning left to do. I know, without pictures it didn’t happen, but I do not yet have a digital camera, a situation I hope to remedy at Christmas.

Is there any doubt now that there would have been riots had Mr. Obama lost? Just witness the behavior of the “No on California Proposition C” idiots. Proposition C was a ballot question asking whether the California Constitution should be amended to ban gay “marriage.” The people voted, and they voted for the ban. Ever since then, opponents of the ban have been protesting in California, especially against LDS churches, and now the protests are spreading–they had one in St. Louis today even though Missouri has had a gay marriage ban for 4 years. If a small minority is this incensed at the will of the people, imagine what would have happened if Mr. Obama had lost.

I do not care what gay people choose to do. I believe they should have the same rights as co-habitating straight couples–they should be able to have inheritance rights, be able to get power of attorney, visit each other in the hospital, etc. That is only just. But they are not married. Marriage is between a man and a woman–any other definition leads to a slippery slope. The behavior of the protesters toward the Mormons has been reprehensible. Fact is, the Mormon Church is not big enough in California to have made a difference. A large cross-section of people voted for the ban–the protesters know the Mormons are peace-loving and will not fight back as they are smeared. I’m usually not a huge fan of amending constitutions, but when pressure groups do an end-run around the will of the people by going to the courts, or when rogue mayors like San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom decide to ignore the will of the people, that’s the only recourse left to them. It says a lot about the protesters that they cannot respect the will of the people.

Disaster preparedness tip of the day:If you have friends and relatives who wouldn’t be totally freaked out about it, consider buying or building them a basic “go bag” for Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, or Festivus. Take a small bag, like a bike messenger bag. Put in a small knife, some portable food like nuts or jerky, a small first aid kit, a bunch of lighters and some candles, a gallon of water and some iodine tabs for purifying more, a flashlight, an emergency space blanket, some basic fishing equipment, baby wipes, and whatever other small items you can think of. Tell them to add some cash to the bag and keep it in the trunk of the car or in the front closet. It may save a life someday. If you think your gift recipients will look at you like Joe Survivalist if you do that, be a little more subtle. Buy people hand crank radios and flashlights, car emergency kits, warm sweaters, and other useful things built to last. They’ll thank you for it.

Vital stats: None, because it’s a weekend, but we got our first flurries of the fall. May be a hard winter…

Home Sweet Home

Nice to be back. Flew back to St. Louis last night, went to work this morning, then came back and passed out for a bit. Got my paycheck today so I paid my voluminous bills and now I’m kicked back watching Dave Ramsey. Rainy and cool, but what the hell, it’s November.

Earlier this week I went to the sheriff’s office to do the concealed carry thing–it’s no ordeal, but do have all of your documentation ready.

Flight yesterday had a layover in Chicago. Now, I despise Illinois politics, but I love Chicago. Yes, it’s Obama’s chosen home–imagine that, an ambitious democrat politician choosing to start out in Chicago–but he’s not from there, it didn’t form him. Chicago is my favorite city in the country. As you approach O’Hare, heading north over Lake Michigan, you look to the west and see the awesome concrete canyons of downtown Chicago–the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Building, Soldier Field, the Navy Pier. I love nature, but if anything I’m even more moved by these achievements of people. Massive buildings, well lit and full of action. These buildings are evidence of great thinkers and great do-ers. I don’t think Mr. Obama would know how to change a fluorescent light bulb in any of those great buildings. Chicago is glorious–the massive downtown, surrounded by marvelous, densely populated, livable neighborhoods. The only thing that mars it is to look down and think “That city allows only criminals to carry guns.” Try not to think of it, and move on.

One of the many horrible things about September 11, 2001, in addition to the unbearable loss of life, was the destruction of buildings and planes. Nineteen screaming morons with box-cutters killed 3000 people and destroyed numerous buildings in New York, as well as damaging the Pentagon. These scum, and the stupid ideology they followed, are incapable of building a plane, or a great skyscraper. They knew how to slash, murder, and crash. Contemptible filth. The World Trade Center towers were not beautiful, but the were striking structures that gave the New York skyline a muscular, dynamic appearance. It’s a crime that we’re not replacing them exactly as they were, but replacing them with that odd, willowy, contemplative structure. Terrorists, *spit*. They’re cowards, not worthy of the name human being. I will NEVER forgive, nor forget.

Wow, my cup runneth over. “Lock and Load,” the history of the rifle, is on the History Channel, then “Suspiria” on TCM. Win!

Vital stats: Yesterday: Dow up 52 to 8835; silver up $0.11 to $9.37; gas $1.94 a gallon in the undisclosed location. Today: Dow down 338 to 8497 (down 1131 points since Mr. Obama’s election); silver up $0.13 to $9.50 an ounce; gas $1.82 a gallon–shoot, we’re broke, but we can drive anywhere we want! Big international meeting in DC tomorrow about the economy. Pray they don’t come up with yet more Socialism, but don’t hold your breath while you’re doing it.

Preparedness tip of the day: You’ll note I mention silver prices every day. You should have some precious metals–James Wesley, Rawles, recommends $1000 face value in junk silver, but every little bit helps. Gold is good for holding large amounts of wealth, but it’s hard to divide up in an emergency. Still, if you can afford it, get some. If you are of more modest means, like myself, you can still get into precious metals. First, make sure you’ve got an emergency fund of cash in the house and in the bank. Make sure you have the basics of survival–beans, bullets, and band-aids. After that, with every paycheck, go to your local coin shop and ask about “junk” silver. These are silver coins pre-1965 that don’t have value for collectors, but they are 90% silver. A silver dime is currently “worth” about $0.75, but expect to pay a dollar a piece because they are scarce right now. I expect their value to go up, or I wouldn’t invest in them. They may not, but they’ll always have intrinsic value, unlike paper money, which is only what governments agree it is worth, or the worthless alloy coins circulating today. Try to buy $10 in face value of dimes with each paycheck–you’ll eventually be glad you did.

Rand of the Day (Part Two, Chapter X: “The Sign of the Dollar”)(Kellogg is discussing the dollar sign): Incidentally, do you know where that sign comes from? It stands for the initials of the United States…. Do you know that the United States is the only country in history that has ever used its own monogram as a symbol of depravity? Ask yourself why. Ask yourself how long a country that did that could hope to exist, and whose moral principles have destroyed it. It was the only country in history where wealth was not acquired by looting, but by production, not by force, but by trade, the only country whose money was a symbol of man’s right to his own mind, to his work, to his life, to his happiness, to himself. If this is evil, by the present standards of the world, if this is the reason for damning us, then we–we, the dollar chasers and makers–accept it and choose to be damned by that world. We choose to wear the sign of the dollar on our foreheads, proudly, as our badge of nobility–the badge we are willing to live for and, if need be, to die.

Change is coming

This is a disaster preparedness post. Scroll past if it’s not your thing.

The election of Mr. Obama makes it more likely that Israel will feel it has to strike Iran’s nuclear program before his inauguration. Iran’s nuclear program poses an existential threat to Israel, and Mr. Obama has made it a point to say several times that he favors unconditional talks with Iran. Israel cannot count on America’s protection. An attack is more likely late this month or late next month.

Now, Iran has said if it were attacked, it would respond against the United States. Are you prepared for a terrorist attack? Here are some basics. Have plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows and rooms during chemical or biological attack. Have surgical masks and latex or nitrile gloves. Have at least 2 weeks of water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning. Have at least 2 weeks of food that doesn’t require cooking. Have extras of medicine, baby supplies, and feminine hygiene supplies. Have a way to use the bathroom for 2 weeks. Have lots of baby wipes for bathing. Know several ways to get home depending on traffic, closures, etc. Tell friends and family where to meet in event of emergency.Have a hand-crank radio. Practice everyday carry–always have a flashlight, multitool, and some bandanas on you. Have a 72-hour “go” bag with all supplies necessary for 3 days of survival in a closet. Keep comfortable shoes by the go bag. Have enough cash for 2 weeks of expenses in your house. Have flashlights, candles, and oil lamps. Practice situational awareness-be aware of dodgy people or items in your surroundings. If you live in a city that does not allow you to protect yourself with a gun, have legal self-defense measures close at hand–bright flashlight, aluminum bat, knife, etc. Keep your gas tank at least half full all the time. Be safe. Be prepared. Be aware.

Vital stats: Dow down 443 to 8696 (you know, it’s almost like the markets don’t like that we just elected a Socialist President); gas $2.00 a gallon; silver down $0.18 to $10.07 an ounce.