Fall 2009 - beginning of the end of American Empire

[Encephalon]

SCHOLAR WARRIOR

 

MAXIMIZING VERSATILITY

 

Skill is the essence of the Scholar Warrior. Such a person strives to develop a wide varity of talents to a degree greater than even a specialist in a particular field. Poet and boxer. Doctor and swordsman. Musician and knight. The Scholar Warrior uses each part of his or her overall ability to keep the whole in balance, and to attain the equilibrium for following the Tao. Uncertainty of the future inspires no fear: whatever happens, the Scholar Warrio has the confidence to face it.

 

From "Scholar Warrior: An introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life," by Deng Ming-Dao

 

I wish I could say I was further along than I am with regard to absolute versatility. I'm utterly convinced that faith in the American experiment will be bankrupt by the end of this year, and, unfortunately, Obama will be vilified and Sarah Palin (or some version of her) will become the spectacle's new mouthpiece.

 

My family has mountain land, a well, plenty of Bambies to feed upon, gardens, guns. I wish it were all located up in British Columbia, but it's in N. California. I feel relatively lucky. I want to believe that all Taobums will hold up well; after all, we do have our martial side, do we not?

 

What are TaoBum plans for when TSHTFan?

Edited September 2, 2009 by Blasto

[abramelin]

Well now I am not a american, but what goes on over at the other side of the pond does effect

the rest of the world.

 

Preparedness for wtshtf, mostly a mental preparedness, ie getting skills and knowledge.

learnig about different natural foods such as mushrooms and whatnots. Not just to be prepared, because it is also fun .

 

On another not I have had this nagging feeling that something big is going to happen in the near future 2009/2010, something that will rock the world. Maybe its just me experiencing what is called "the return of saturn" but what the heck, felt like shearing.

 

Peace/ john

[hyok]

What's going to happen in Fall 2009?

 

It's good to have mountain land and reserves of essentials, but date predictions tend to be incorrect. I'm sure things will happen in the fall of 2009, but it's a slow car wreck in my book. I think 2011 will be when it really hits the ground level (my date prediction. lol)

Edited September 2, 2009 by hyok

[Marblehead]

I'm just going to turn the fan the other way. I'm not moving.

 

Happy Trails!

[TheSongsofDistantEarth]

Edited September 3, 2009 by TheSongsofDistantEarth

[hyok]

^Nice! He's definitely more right than wrong. I like this guy! Thanks for the hook-up.

 

 

 

While on the subject of, whatever this is.... http://www.gardeninacan.com/

 

 

How can you go wrong with a garden in a can? Might be the best $79.95 you've ever spent!

[Jeremy]

It's very important to think about how to get clean water, much more important than finding food, at least for the short term. Get some iodine, and remember, 5 drops of iodine per quart of water! Let it sit for several hours. This will kill pathogens but only distillation will get rid of chemicals. It depends on where you manage to find water. This book goes into detail about this and just about everything else worth considering for those worst-case scenarios:

 

http://www.amazon.com/When-All-Hell-Breaks...0288&sr=8-1

 

That's for "practical" solutions. This may be even more important:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXsizrEeX_w

[Sloppy Zhang]

You know what I like to do?

 

Go back and read old conspiracy threads to see if that stuff has happened.

 

I found an old thread a while ago here talking about how the New World Order would make their universal currency debut in the winter of 2008 at the earliest, and at the latest the summer of 2009.

 

Well it's September, and I have heard nothing about a universal currency.

[rene]

I found an old thread a while ago here talking about how the New World Order would make their universal currency debut in the winter of 2008 at the earliest, and at the latest the summer of 2009.

 

Well it's September, and I have heard nothing about a universal currency.

 

This news article might be of interest: US backs Universal Currency

[Aetherous]

You know what I like to do?

 

Go back and read old conspiracy threads to see if that stuff has happened.

 

Haha, exactly.

 

But the threads do make for sources of good info. Like the garden in a can. That's awesome!

[TheSongsofDistantEarth]

You know what I like to do?

 

Go back and read old conspiracy threads to see if that stuff has happened.

 

I found an old thread a while ago here talking about how the New World Order would make their universal currency debut in the winter of 2008 at the earliest, and at the latest the summer of 2009.

 

Well it's September, and I have heard nothing about a universal currency.

 

 

I think what people are picking up has nothing to do with "conspiracy theories", in which I put just about no stock. If you're not sensing somewhere deep in your intuitive belly that things are not all right with the world, then that's fine. For example, the events of this and last year show all too clearly that the US and global economic structure is deeply rotten...run by people who run wild with greed and little regulatory oversight. No conspiracy, just a bunch of people who can game the system and it wouldn't take too much for things to get much, much worse. It seems there is imminent collapse of many of our systems and institutions. I dunno, I can sense/feel some things ominous looming in the near future. I hope I'm wrong, and we'll all live happily ever after, but if the events in just the economic world haven't shaken you a bit, wait until you lose your job, and the world may seem a different place.

[Martial Development]

Mark Faber Outlines the Final End Scenario

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3UmOGF9r1M

[voidisyinyang]

Full-lotus vs. machine gun? haha.

[Encephalon]

I don't place a great deal of weight behind conspiracy theories either, because they usually don't explain real phenomena and they are often not necessary for explaining real phenomena. Anyone with some basic physical science under their belt and some grasp of ecological principles can make use of available data (peak oil, especially) and see an impending culling of the human herd.

 

I admire a lot of what got posted in here. This is an important subject, but I feel it has particular relevance for Taoists, or those who train for radical independence and self-sufficiency.

[hyok]

Anyone with some basic physical science under their belt and some grasp of ecological principles can make use of available data (peak oil, especially) and see an impending culling of the human herd.

 

Peak Oil is tricky. Similar to the observance of money manipulation in that maintenance of control is at the Highest Level - meaning national, international and moral law does not seem to apply, only control through whatever means seems to matter.

 

There are those who believe that the Arabs aren't as stupid as we think. There are those who believe the Arabs began hiding oil a long time ago, siphoning billions and billions of barrels to unknown locations in the desert. Who can know of this than those who are hiding their own natural resource? What measuring instruments can read the minds of men?

 

If I were the Arabs, that's exactly what I would have done in light of the odds against me.

Edited September 3, 2009 by hyok

[Encephalon]

Peak Oil is tricky. Similar to the observance of money manipulation in that maintenance of control is at the Highest Level - meaning national, international and moral law does not seem to apply, only control through whatever means seems to matter.

 

There are those who believe that the Arabs aren't as stupid as we think. There are those who believe the Arabs began hiding oil a long time ago, siphoning billions and billions of barrels to unknown locations in the desert. Who can know of this than those who are hiding their own natural resource? What measuring instruments can read the minds of men?

 

If I were the Arabs, that's exactly what I would have done in light of the odds against me.

 

Given the size of the petroleum industry and the sheer number of petroleum geologists at work around the world, I would venture to say that the feat of siphoning off billions of barrels of oil into secret underground holding facilitites is about as plausible as faking the moon landing. They don't have to hide it; they can simply let the market drive up the price to $150/barrel or higher, which is inevitable as soon as the Asian economy starts heating up again. The US economy will never heat up again. We've indebted ourselves into a prone position.

 

The most optimistic US scenario is rammed earth homes, chi kung, hemp fields, and maybe (maybe!) a modest national train system.

[hyok]

We're in agreement that the US is finished as the Land of Opportunity. Climate change, converging cycles, earth ships, all these things sure look like they're approaching...

 

But peak oil... hmm... peak oil... what do I really know about peak oil? I know that geologists do not receive their paychecks from Geologists Without Borders. I know the scientific community seems to be more concerned with their individual image/credibility than truth. I know that for some strange reason, the Royal Arab families have been able to retain their power unilaterally to this day. It's strange to me that a bloc of nations who have control over the most precious resource in the world, while seemingly buried in the stone age, remains autonomous. How does this happen?

Edited September 3, 2009 by hyok

[Encephalon]

We're in agreement that the US is finished as the Land of Opportunity. Climate change, converging cycles, earth ships, all these things sure look like they're approaching...

 

But peak oil... hmm... peak oil... what do I really know about peak oil? I know that geologists do not receive their paychecks from Geologists Without Borders. I know the scientific community seems to be more concerned with their individual image/credibility than truth. I know that for some strange reason, the Royal Arab families have been able to retain their power unilaterally to this day. It's strange to me that a bloc of nations who have control over the most precious resource in the world, while seemingly buried in the stone age, remains autonomous. How does this happen?

 

"I know the scientific community seems to be more concerned with their individual image/credibility than truth."

 

Are you speaking of individual scientists concerned with their credibility, or are you speaking of the scientific community? I hesitate to ferret out the implications of what you are suggesting - that somehow essential facts of peak oil are non-ascertainable because their is some ulterior motive on behalf of planetary scientists? You There are a LOT of people who are scientifically literate.

 

In response to your question about how ruling theocracies can maintain their power for so long, I would say it's because they've been soaking in petro-dollars for five decades and can afford to maintain state power, coercion and control. I would also speculate (carefully) that Islam enables theocratic thuggery, but I'm not a fan of the Abrahamic tradition at all, and pretty much reject all three (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). As Gary Snyder once wrote - "Otherwordly philosophies end up doing more damage to the planet (and human psyches) than the pain and suffering that is in the existential conditions they seek to transcend."

 

I'm not sure where you want to go with this. You might take a peak at www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net I'd be happy to look at any other data you want to introduce.

[joeblast]

the only thing we really need to fear of climate change is the legislation, i.e. more tax hikes to pay for ridiculous laundry lists.

[hyok]

Blasto, I'm not going anywhere with this. Just blathering and also attempting to present the possibility that the oil industry, being largely governed by governmental business (human beings), may not be what we think it is. I mean, heck, the debate on whether oil is biotic or a-biotic still goes on!

 

One should open themselves up to the role duration of time plays - How long has petroleum been the main source of energy against modern technology against The World Wars, security pacts and multinational business arrangements.

 

The possibility that those who control the West are very much aware of this "hidden" oil is a very real one. If it does exist, surely the thought of a military strike to uncover and claim these vast fields of oil have been pondered upon. Unless of course the Arabs have an ace under their sleeve which prevents military action, or deems it "unprofitable" for the Western Oil Barons and their kin. Should this be the case, what threat does the US, its allies and its army of fossil-fueled weapons of war pose against nations in the middle of a desert who are full of oil they can only trade for? None. They become business partners in the exchange, conversion and pricing of ultimate material value, oil and gold.

Edited September 4, 2009 by hyok