Bison Prepper

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

sugar sweet sugar

SUGAR, SWEET SUGAR

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Note: I've ordered the latest book from Engdahl, "The Lost Hegemon". This is a $20+ book and given his last failure I sure didn't want to risk the money on it. Yet, given his history with wonderful books I had to try. Don't spend your money just yet. If it is worthy ( no reviews on Amazon as of yet ) I'll sing his praises and implore you to get your own copy. His first book, "A Century Of War" is one of the best geopolitical books ever, in my opinion.
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Note: this is article 2 of 2 today. A guest article was posted previously
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The traditional Mormon Four ( wheat, powdered milk, honey and salt ) was a great compromise between cost and variety. I’ve always been a fan of wheat. Powdered milk, for a time, was substituted by myself with dry beans but too long ago beans started going up in price due to a combination of farmland to corn ( we don’t have soil banks anymore, and what cropland we do have contracts with population growth. It doesn’t expand anymore. Even if land yields corn that can both be animal feed and ethanol, that land isn’t used to grow other human crops. That puts price pressure on all human feed plants ) and the Latino population surge as well as California farms drying up. But you have to admit it is bizarre that animal protein is cheaper per pound than the inferior legume protein. You are almost better off now going back to powdered milk.

Honey, you might as well forget about. Thanks to genetically modified crops as well as other pollutants ( Congress-asswhores were bribed and bullspit-ed on GMO’s being the saving grace of humankind and overpopulation. All they are is a pollutant masquerading as food hiding a profitable patent ), bees are a dying breed and honey is liquid gold price-wise. Salt is as dirt cheap as ever ( but will quickly go back to priceless in a lot in landlocked locales, so stockpile it. No, water softener salt is not ideal. But it will do in a pinch. Get it? Pinch of salt. Whatever dude. I’m not sure why I’m wasting my A material on you people. It is better than nothing although iodine is needed daily so keep stockpiling grocery store one pound cardboard tubes of the fifty cent iodine salt. The sodium chloride [NOT potassium chloride] bags will work in food preserving ).

Wheat, surprisingly, has gone down in price. I believe, per minion comments, that wheat climates and corn climates don’t mix, so wheat is not displaced by corn like a lot of other items are. Plus, processed white flour is now more expensive than whole kernels so while Top Ramen and spaghetti noodles and what-not goes up in price ( I have no idea why unless whole grain bread is more popular than ever and white flour is no longer in surplus. I can‘t imagine it is transportation or packaging cost. Oil prices are dipping. Perhaps company consolidation and increased debt payments. Or, simply, pasta wheat isn’t available as before. Although that doesn’t account for plain bread flour cost increases but not kernels ), whole kernels stay affordable. Who knows how long that will last, so take advantage.

Honey is easily substituted with table sugar. I’m not sure of the difference between cane sugar or beet sugar price wise, but do try to go with cane if possible. Less processing and a slight bit more healthy ( some would argue sugar is the root cause of all disease. It might be, but eating sugar sure does improve the taste of that Fukishima radiation. I say, all things in moderation ) according to some. Now, I would argue that you should store more sugar on hand than just the baking supplement amounts in the Mormon Four. Unless you think the stuff is pure poison, sugar is a great stockpile item. First off, it is really no less healthy than white flour or white rice. It is an empty carbohydrate, just as white flour or white rice is ( I‘m discounting the diabetes and similar health aspect, but see below ) . There is no nutrients included, just calories. Empty calories are okay for you, as long as they supplement your main food rather than become your main food ( which, sadly, too many Americans try to do ). A big heaping bowl of wheat gruel is very healthy for you, and adding sugar to that does not subtract from those nutrients. It just adds a lot of extra taste and calories. Which you WILL need, eating all that damn wheat.

White rice has 1600 calories a pound, wheat flour 1500 and sugar 1700. As rice and sugar are about the same price per pound, why not get that extra 100 calories by going with sugar? Which, I believe I’ve mentioned, as a bonus has FLAVOR. Of the three white foods, it is the only one with flavor. Rice, at least to me, taste like bland dried glue. Flour can give you variety. But only sugar has both calories and flavor. If you are going to stockpile processed foods, I’d stock sugar way before I’d consider TVP or other monstrosities.

I’m not necessarily recommending you make sugar a meal, such as workmen in old timey Britain did ( some would argue that slaves fed the Industrial Revolution as a large portion of calories in the form of Caribbean sugar fed factory workers cheap calories ). Sugar is more than twice the price of wheat kernels ( but the same price as rice. Yes, I still think something is up with the rice price increase ), so it is purely a supplement. But as a combination of calories and flavor, it should be a very important supplement in your stockpile.

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guest article

GUEST ARTICLE ( article 1 of 2 today )

Ok I have chimed in several times on how to find cheap land. It is not as hard as you think but it takes some work to find how it is listed in your state and county. Their is land available from 1/10 to 10 acre in this area for back taxes in the city there are thousands of lots that are abandoned or condemned . You would be surprised what is available in populated areas with access to minimum wage jobs or better. Building codes will limit what you can build in these areas but most allow a shed or 2 under x square feet on lots.. In unincorporated areas the codes are not as strict but check before you buy. It is possible to have an in town lot with a shed and a rural lot with a shed for under 1500 $ in this area, yours may be more but still cheaper than you think. A word of caution if you are going to live small and cheap in a city it must be neat and clean with a cute or quaint factor. Your city and Nabors don't need to know you stay there at night ,it opens a can of worms you don't want. Spend a little on 6 foot privacy fence around the shed . Remember the old saying " GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NABORS ".

Ok you want to know how to start finding a place cheap. I assume most states and counties are similar to here in Alabama. Here taxes are due between October 1 and December 31. If you pay them before march 15 your penalized 1% plus 5 $ . Unpaid property taxes then get listed in the county paper for 3 weeks on April first and set for a sale between may 5 and 28th at public auction. Now this is not an outright sale it is a tax lien . I DON'T DO tax liens . Now to be fair you can luck up on a real cheap property if you very lucky. A tax lien is an investors tool to earn high interest 12% in Alabama. 95% of tax liens are repaid in the 3 year wait with interest. Now if a vacant property you want is going to be sold and you are willing to wait 3 years have at it. it work out like this ,tax 84$ listing and auction fee 66$ total 150$ +84+84 =318$ and a 3 year wait. Remember at any time the original owner can reclaim by paying his taxes, fees and interest. Every state has different time lines and interest rates some don't grant deed for 5 to 8 years . Check before you act and NEVER buy occupied property its WRONG ,do your research !!!!!

What I have done is over the counter deeds. This is where unsold tax liens wind up held by a states property assessor's office. If a parcel's taxes isn't sold at action it is transferred to the state. They have lists for every county in the state. If a property was unsold at a 2012 tax sale the state will sell it with a tax deed because the 3 years is expired. If it was unsold in 2013 or 2014 even 2015 you can buy a lien that if not paid becomes a tax deed after the 3rd year . I started this as a way to get my children out of my house. Since September I have bought 3 tax deeds and 1 lien and 1 mistake lien ( The mistake was a trailer occupied we thought it was the vacant lot next door). the 3 deed total 6 acres 1 house and 1 trailer in bad shape. The lien is 1 acre and trailer and matures in 2017.The total spent 7300$ for all . The assets value 90,000+. Value of a child free home ;).

The place to start is with a county GIS map it normally part of you county assessors web site.

Next is the state property list and request to bid form.

If this doesn't net anything that interest you go back to the GIS map and look for old home or mobile home parcels. They are easy to spot in the country their an acre or so and cut out of larger parcels. Most maps list owner name and mailing address. Drive out and look over several don't be shy go ask if they would sell, you have been told no before and you may hear yes .Be honest you may work a deal.

ok legal disclaimer I am not an attorney or investment adviser each state is different do you own research . This is what I have done in my state your mileage will vary!!!!!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

cubicle warrior 4 of 4

GO WEST, CUBICAL WARRIOR 4

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Note: you have simply got to frequent this web site:
https://srsroccoreport.com/
This guy is the only one I know that applies Peak Everything to precious metals. After a dozen articles or so I was so impressed I've started donating monthly to him. $5 a month is well worth his one of a kind information. And you all know how tight I am with money. If a few of you agree with my assessment and also donate, along with whatever other suckers come his way, then he will get paid enough to continue with his free site. Which is why I'm posting this notice. I'm being selfish and want his writing to continue.
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Okay, you’ve relocated if necessary. Your relocation is most likely far from perfect ( I went from a overbuilt area of 100k to a too crowded small town of 20k. I only feel marginally safer, but at least I now have a huge buffer keeping out even more folks. Far from perfect but that is the reality of job hunting today ) but the best you can do. I would advise you to seriously consider that. Hump the American Redoubt or other fantasy moves. Time is short, so don’t fantasize about crap that won’t happen in a perfect world and accept less than perfect but better than before. You can NEVER increase your survival odds to 99% except as a rich recluse on your own island and you are not rich. Again with the dreaming of money to save you. Ain’t gonna happen. You can only decrease your odds of sudden death. Work with that. So now, the dreaded Big Event happens ( Little Events have been going on for fifty years. Don’t be surprised if the Long Slow Collapse suddenly plunges over the waterfall ). Since you are still in the city, because we all are, working a job since nobody needs another ad choked survival web site covering the same Yuppie Scum advice as has been given for near that same fifty year time span and so you have to work a real job rather than from writing in the boonies, now the waiting game begins.

If you are living in the West ( the normal arid part, not the few agricultural area-and if it is an agricultural area I would advise against depending on that if they are using irrigation or federal water works. Rain dependent only. Anything else has no long term viability and the worst of both worlds short term golden horde attraction ) your best bet for when things look to be irrevocably falling apart is to pull the plug on your city property. Bug out immediately. The reason for this is that city dwellers in the West have no where to go except a few water spots or the highway to the illusive “better areas”. Everyone is going to be hitting the roads both in the East and the West, being an auto-erotica culture and believing that the gods themselves shower us with their favors while we are behind the wheel ( which is why they stay there so much- that, and just to irritate the crap out of me while I have to do the same for work and they insist on being on my blacktop. What, they can’t wait a few friggin minutes? Or are they just driving around in circles, waiting for me? ). Subconsciously, the answer to most will be to drive. Their destination, Nirvana, will be the catalyst for leaving, even if it in fact turns out to be Hell, but just getting in a car and driving will fill them with all the hope they need in a crisis. In the West, there is no real countryside to escape to. It is nothing but wasteland. Those that don’t jump into their Safe Place ( their vehicle ) will stay in place because there is some perceived safety where they are and none in the surrounding areas. Stay in place where there is some food and water and shelter, or go to the wasteland and die for lack of supplies. Those are the perceived options. You can jump in your covered wagon and go out into Indian country or stay in town.

In the East, by contrast, the countryside is full of farms and lush woods and lots and lots of water. In the city, with WAY too many people, there is nothing but death and destruction. Everyone will head to the promised land of limitless cornucopia. It is just the opposite of the West. Outside is safety, not inside. Everyone will head out and swarm the countryside. Your best bet is to hunker in place initially. Now, I understand the urge to flee. I would want to be in my countryside refuge myself. Since your Eastern junk land is in the hills, AWAY from agricultural land ( still lush land capable of feeding the homestead family, just outside the future agricultural empire lands. You want land that CAN’T feed an army ), there might be perceived safety there. Yet, I would stop and reconsider. You live in the city in a rental with an owned country cabin retreat. The cabin is too far to commute to work, which is good in the long term. But not in the short term. I would suggest that short term the population is so concentrated that all but the most inaccessible areas will be flooded by city refugees, stripped of anything of value, fought over and then abandoned. Perhaps being there to defend your property isn’t the best option. Perhaps it would be better to wait for the locusts to strip the field and THEN move back to it. Yes, there will be damage. But nothing of value should be up there anyway, right? If you live in the city you leave your cabin exposed to vandals. Apart from the items you place to distract and confuse, all items of irreplaceable value should be buried. I’d even suggest building from local materials so you can repair damage on site rather than needing to import items ( bury the tools which do this ). And yes, staying hunkered down in the city goes against our fears and instincts. Will it in itself be dangerous? Of course. Will it be safer than placing your life on the line to defend some plywood and sheet metal shack? Your circumstances differ and only you know, but keep the following in mind. The reason the East is so populated and desirable is its ability to grow food with good soil and abundant moisture. Why wouldn’t city dwellers follow their primal instincts flocking to that in times of trouble?

If you are in the West, you have no people outside the city to contend with. You can’t grow crops but you can go nomad. It will be a precarious existence. If you are in the East, as long as you avoid the initial die-off and stay out of the bottomlands needed to feed armies, you will have the needed resources to survive after the collapse. There is no best place for everyone, just the best place for you. You just need to play it smart on the journey there.

END

Monday, February 15, 2016

cubicle warrior 3 of 4

GO WEST, CUBICLE WARRIOR 3

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note: got Harry Browne's book in the mail last Friday. Thank you dear minion!
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My preference is living in the West. I love the desert. Most people don’t. They are used to trees and abundant water. If you are like them, stay were you are. We are so divorced from nature, living in our petro bubbles, that we might forget that in the very near future we will be living alongside the Great Outdoors, not hidden from it. You might as well enjoy the spot you are in. That said, just because north Idaho or west Montana/Wyoming has a little water and some trees does not mean they are the best places for you. While every place has its own set of problems, right now those places suffer from sky high land prices AND higher unemployment. To me, those places have a sign erected on their border saying No Poor People Please. Okay, sure, they said “please”, but I still find their attitude suck-ass. I mean, Wyoming has LESS land under Fed control than Nevada, yet MORE zoning controls and much higher prices. Have you been to eastern Wyoming? The wind never stops. I want to pay big bucks to live in an Artic wind tunnel? Blow me, Wyoming. If your state is destined to be a retirement haven, I want nothing to do with you. And the simple fact is that where you go to needs to offer at least the chance of some jobs. Only rich people invited is a sure reason Rawles Rangers would want to live in an area, and lack of jobs helps in that regard. They are “professionals” or telecommuters and so must put up with much less riff-raff. Rich humpers can blow me.

The rest of us are not rich and we need a place to stay to weather the Apocalypse. If you are really poor, you can move West to the smallest town with minimum wage jobs and make payments on nearby junk land ( E-Bay land sellers don’t require credit as they self-finance. Have surface water nearby-wells are droughts waiting to happen, not a cure for them, given lack of power or replacement parts ). If you have a good paying gig ( or, as good paying as it is ever going to get ), you might consider staying in the East, if that is where the company can send you to another location or where you can get a bug-out lot affordably. Bug out land in the East is very realistic, it just needs to be used differently to be viable. I’ll get to that the next article.

Right now, you must be thinking to yourself that you dare not leave your job because they are very few and far between everywhere. And you are right. So you need to make plans that fit reality. It doesn’t matter if you can’t make the perfect prepper plan. What matters is you make the least worst decision and do it quick. You know, I know and Ross Perot knows that time is very short. And if it isn’t you need to act like it is, because it could very well be. So transfer to another nearby city with affordable countryside or at least get out of the worst of the worst areas like NYC or DC or whatever. Even if you can’t get land at least get to an area that is more survivable. Already owning land ( to have a place to survive unemployment AND the apocalypse ) in the East is more important than the West ( in the West, you can squat on desert land and nobody cares whereas in the East every lot will be desired and contested ), and it sure couldn’t hurt your prospects in the future to do so, but it can be worked around if it isn’t a viable option. More important right now is to get to a less worse area, even if it is still too crowded. At least it will be less too crowded. Most of us working are forced to live in a too crowded area, even out West. Next article, the actual strategies of surviving the collapse while living in the urban areas, east or west.

END

Friday, February 12, 2016

go west, cubicle warrior ( 2 of 4 or 5 )

GO WEST, CUBICAL WARRIOR 2

Okay, so far we’ve ascertained that your average minion wants to move someplace safer, but with no abnormal life changes ( the move itself, from suburbia East to suburbia West, or whatever, is enough disruption ). We’ve talked about how the American Redoubt is more a political fantasy than a viable PODA location. Let’s talk about the problems with the East ( then, I’ll cover the good points of each location ). The East is both very overpopulated and vulnerable to extreme disasters. I don’t know if the extreme disasters are even realistic, given as how the primary reason for avoiding the area is downwind nuclear fallout from our strategic missile bases, which I don’t think is a probable threat anymore ( possible? Of course. Probable? I have my doubts. While any commander in chief can be an idiot and needlessly provoke Russia or China, don’t let all your public school propaganda fool you. WE are the historical aggressors, not the Russians. If economics draw back our forces, the American imperial drive for occupation which made nukes so scary will no longer be a catalyst for Russian launch ). And while grid down overheating of nuclear power plant fuel rods will be immediately dangerous to down winders, it is far easier to be on the right side of a power plant than of Midwest silos. Mostly, I’d fear overpopulation in the East more than anything else. There are a LOT of people living there, but there are a LOT of people living in the West ( just more concentrated. As if that is a better thing ). So the question becomes not who is overcrowded but how to avoid the crowds which are everywhere. The American Redoubt solution is rural settlement in the West. And that is fine except for reliance on our communications grid ( as well as our long distance transportation ). I think the solution is not in avoiding crowds now but during and after the collapse.

So far, the normal advice has been on either avoiding crowds now or planning on long distance bug outs. My stated advice has been on relocating to a town or small city close to your affordable junk land. But that still just sort of assumes a Western preference ( as that is where most junk land is. Or was. Prior to 2008. Now, a lot of Eastern land is opening up as whole communities fail economically. Of course, the affordable junk land has also, at least in the East, morphed into Not-So-Affordable junk land now. Well, that is what relocation and 401 (k) liquidation is for ). The main question in this article series is where to go to be safest. Safest is less people and I think you can achieve that in either location. Not less NOW, but less after the collapse ( to be fair, less now is far better as far as avoiding crime. But here the focus remains long term collapse danger ). You just need to ride out the die-off and you can do that either location. Yes, the East is a more dangerous place to hunker down. But the West is more dangerous surviving afterwards. More next article.

END

Thursday, February 11, 2016

go west, cubicle warrior ( 1 of 4 or 5 )

GO WEST, CUBICAL WARRIOR

A cubical warrior living in the East asked on advice about relocating. Now, I’m assuming that said minion was assuming several things. Such as, the living he was making dictated a continuation of the same type of career. He could not just buy a quarter of a million dollar country retreat and telecommute from there. He might be dragging along family and family members are not exactly known for embracing The Dark Side of survivalism and getting all giddy about living out of a travel trailer while a sudden unexpected snow storm trapped them in the middle of spring construction of a convention house. I’m assuming a regular suburban type of move with family is desired. Junk land is bought nearby and used for vacations ( the excuse given to the spouse ) or as a collapse back-up ( the real reason ). After all these years, I just assume most minions want a normal life with affordable back-up plans ( hell, that is the life I’m living now and I sure didn’t plan on that one ). So, while a Greyhound to junk land and living in a tent for six months working minimum wage is THE quick and cheap Rat Race Escape, most folks will take a pass, roll the dice and do things the safe ( as in safe for the marriage ) way instead. I’m also assuming that said minion has a head full of American Redoubt advice. While most of us feel crowded and hemmed in and unsafe amongst the populace ( even those of us living in the West ) and might wish to flee to safety, let’s talk about if that is even a good idea. In a nutshell, what is the average nervous city dwelling survivalist to do?

I don’t necessarily agree that if you are East you should go West. On the surface it is great advice, but digging a bit deeper the West has many problems. Hell, EVERY place has many problems in the very near future. In Rawles fiction series, after economic problems and Dreaded Blue Helmet Occupation, things stabilize and return to near normal in a reasonable amount of time. For Yuppie Survivalists, this is just the future they want to hear about ( because if things stay in collapse mode too long, things like propane and chainsaws and SUV fuel and PV panel batteries break or are depleted and if luxuries such as those disappear than Pussy Preppers don’t want to survive ). Back in Non-Unicorn-Glitter-Farts Land, in reality, when overpopulation meets resource contraction, there will NOT be a recovery until population is culled enough to allow the soil to recover ( and, sorry to burst bubbles, organic methods need INPUTS. Inputs are not available if their location is occupied by an enemy. And everyone who won’t share is an enemy ). And that is in the East. In the West, where there never was a non-carbon fuel source of water in too many locations, the reality is that in terms of resources the West is far more crowded than the East. There will be no recovery at all, just a return to the mean. Populations will be nomadic grazers only. If rain is not the norm where you are in the West now, forget long term agriculture. The East will revert to agriculture level insofar as soil fertility allows and the West except in a few fertile areas will revert to nomadic population levels. The American Redoubt is non-viable in this regard. It is another mans version of moving to Wyoming or New Hampshire with the desired demographic to vote in freedom. It does not work for PODA. More next article

END

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

non linear 3 of 3

NON LINEAR 3

Today, the last day in this series ( thank me later ), we talk about available calories and how your body responds to them. Remember, we are talking primarily about the non-linear aspect of things. These are illustrations of that concept so perhaps you can get a handle of how things double-down and quadruple-down on calamity when the feces hit’s the fan. As we saw, a mere 2% increase yearly in the population gives you a seven fold increase in a century. It is why no economy can pay interest past a second or third generation ( compound interest ) because there is never enough money available. Taxes, war or currency failure always respond to a non-linear growth in wealth ( which is why any douche bag talking about how gold isn’t an investment should be shouted down with solid bodily waste thrown in their general direction. NO currency can last indefinitely. The fact that gold always holds its value long term means it is much better than any other investment multi-generational for preserving wealth ). Now let’s talk about how quickly calorie deficit hurts you. This is definitely non linear. The bare number of calories you need to live is 1500. These are enough for your metabolic functions as well as providing enough energy to fight infections. Long term, if you lose 30% of your normal body weight ( after a cumulative daily calorie deficit ), you can’t even keep up your blood pressure OR absorb nutrients.

Okay, the base calories are 1500. If you are pregnant or a laborer, you need 2500. If those 2500 drop a mere fifth, to 2000, this HALVES your ability to work ( manual labor or nourishing a fetus ). A 20% drop in calories is a 50% reduction in energy needed. The 17^th century, which saw such widespread crop failures globally ( one surmises from a combination of volcanic activity and sunspot minimums, along with overpopulation from the previous favorable weather ) that war and famine and pestilence set records we will be breaking soon, saw the average worker in constant calorie deficit. English and French records show a constant consumption of only 500 to 700 more calories than bare minimum. Yet, 1000 extra are needed for laborers. Just this 300 to 500 calorie deficit added over time to vast increases in mortality. After a period of this seemingly trivial calorie drop, any cold ( especially cold and damp ) or disease rapidly takes its toll. Any weather dropping normal temperatures kills. You could still be eating those 1500 calories and still die, even if the technical cause of death wasn’t famine. You would be hard pressed to find an American who worries about future calories, yet in the future the calorie equivalent to a 20 ounce soda or a candy bar could be all that will be keeping you alive. Ain’t the unintended consequences of a century of capitalism ( resource depletion and overpopulation for profit ) grand?

END