SHTF

Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

http://gapingvoidgallery.com/

In reading through today’s mail, I came across a link after link that began to create depression.  It lead to something interesting.  In thinking about the bigger picture.  The market will likely face a major correction between now and October.  The Federal budget is a disaster.  Federal spending has been out of control for too long and will not likely recover.  The Fed is printing money and devaluing our currency.  As a result, the strongest currency on earth is faltering.  State budgets are a disaster. 

And beyond that, there are groups calling these the end times. 

The sun is out but it still looks pretty dark.

When the money stops flowing down to the man in the street, the blood starts flowing in the streets. It’s a simple equation. A few at the top have too much, and too many others have too little.

The Trends Journal (See the 2011 predictions)

Middle East

The news from the Middle East is grim. no matter what you read in the paper about democracy, there is little chance that American style democracy will arrive in the countries in crisis.  The match that set the countries on fire was economic, not a desire for democracy.  We all want freedom for us, just not the other guy.  The resulting structures will likely be Islamic.  And radical Islamism is not good for the US. 

Some have speculated that roots of Muslim anger at America lie in a clash of civilizations between Muslim and the West, that Muslims are simply opposed to liberal values of democracy, pluralism and human rights. Muslims largely reject this view. Numerous polls that we have conducted as well, as well as others by the World Values Survey and Arab Barometer, show strong support throughout the Muslim world for democracy, for human rights, and for an international order based on international law and a strong United Nations.

These surveys do however suggest that there is a kind of internal clash of civilizations or at least some tension of civilizations. For example while large majorities support the principle that will of the people should be the basis of authority for government; majorities also support the notion that shari'a should be the basis for government and that a group of Islamic scholars should be able to vet laws.

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/

“Fight and slay the unbelievers wherever ye find them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war. But if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them . . . .”

Sura 9, verse 5

So it’s not over until all of the unbelievers are gone.  And today: Shahbaz Bhatti, the minority affairs minister, is the second top official to be killed after opposing a blasphemy law.  He was Christian.  LA Times.

Global Warming

Global warming was supposed to end the world as we know it.  But it’s not anthropogenic global warming that will do us in.  The relationship between the weather and the sun and the sun’s activity is pretty direct.  See: www.weatheraction.com  Not per the UNIPCC though.  Instead of CO2, it’s now particulate that is the issue. Seattle Examiner MUYFM. 

The upcoming projected solar flares in 2012 or 2013 could create havoc.  What could possibly happen?  Well, major sunspot activity could cripple communication and commerce in the US. Loss of transformers could shut down power across the country.  And knowing that a large transformer takes 6 months – 12 months to replace, doesn’t help.  Combine high inflation, enormous sovereign debt, continued joblessness, and a loss of communication – shutting down transportation and banking – and Whoa, the internet…  Not the internet.

So what’s the worst that could happen? Take a lesson from an EMP incident…

If the worst were to ever happen – and we’re not talking about a short-term disaster – but, rather, an all out collapse of the world as we know it, including a complete grid-down scenario and a breakdown in food production and emergency services, the majority of the population in the regions(s) affected would likely perish. In a recent report the Center for Security Policy suggested that in such a scenario 9 Out of 10 Americans Would Be Dead Within One Year – a terrifying thought, indeed.

Considering that most people have less than a week’s worth of food in their pantries, no medical supplies, and absolutely no idea how to operate without electricity, one can guesstimate that the die-off would begin almost immediately after the grid goes down. Within several weeks, tens of thousands would succumb to starvation and/or disease. In many cases, dehydration and the elements would also become a key factor.

http://www.shtfplan.com/

The End Times

Beware, there is a group on the west coast and in the south with vans and trucks showing up to tell us of the end.  http://www.wecanknow.com/.  The rapture of believers is expected on May 21, 2011 and the end of the world will be October 21, 2011.  Not the first of the end of the world predictions.  If you want to know when the world will end, or was supposed to end, there is an extensive list at http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm.  No endorsement of the website though.

Investing

There is no shortage of gloom and doom on the web.  Just start reading investment newsletters.  You can also checkout www.shtfplan.com. 

I am so energized after reading about the end times or end of the world.  What a comforting thought.  A cattle ranch in Belize or maybe Argentina is looking better all the time.  The new mantra for 2011 is becoming Beans, Bullion, and Bullets.  I’m off to pick up some batteries for the shortwave radio.

Have a good day.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain