10:16 – Barbara left at 0900 to pick up Bonnie Tedder, our next-door neighbor, and take her to run errands. Bonnie is almost 90 years old, and doesn’t get out much. Barbara said she’d probably be gone most of the day, taking Bonnie to two doctor appointments and various other errands.
In the wake of Trump’s election, a lot of preppers seem to be slacking off a bit on their efforts. Part of that may be relief that Trump is a lot less likely to get us into a nuclear war than Clinton would have been. Part of it, too, may be that many people were working so feverishly to get prepared in the run-up to the election that they’re now reasonably happy with where they stand preparedness-wise and are just taking a breather.
Obviously, in one sense, preparedness is a way of life rather than a discrete activity, but in another sense it’s quite reasonable to set preparedness goals, meet them, and then put further preparedness activities on the back burner. That latter is pretty much our situation at present. Sure, there are additional things I want to do, but at this point we’re better-prepared for any emergency than 99.9% of the US public. Probably even 99.99%.
Comfort level vary widely. I’ve gotten email from people who have three months’ worth of food and little else stored, but consider themselves well-prepared. Conversely, I’ve gotten email from people who have spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollars on preparations, have literally five years’ or more of food, dozens of guns and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, enough medical supplies to start a clinic, and large-scale solar power and water systems installed, and still consider their preparations inadequate. I think the first group are much too optimistic and the latter group much too pessimistic, but that’s just my take. How and to what degree people decide to prepare is their decision, but I love talking to other preppers regardless of their level of preparation. The more people who are prepared and the more they are prepared, the better. When (not if) something bad happens, it’s much better to be surrounded by a bunch of preppers than not.
“When (not if) something bad happens, it’s much better to be surrounded by a bunch of preppers than not.”
And that would be a real good intel thing to find out about this particular ‘hood and town and “city.” Not sure how I’d go about it, because it’s tricky talking to people about it; they either think you’re a flake or they’re guarded about their own OPSEC. So far as I can see, this means we have to escalate our meatspace activities and get to know people better, especially neighbors, love or hate them. In a rural area people seem to depend on each other much more, love or hate them.
Sunny w/blue skies so fah today; 31-33F w/snow showers the next couple of days/nights and then temps dropping to the teens and single digits Thursday and Friday. While wife is in Hawaii, natch.
Interesting observation about Amazon. Apparently the packages they ship by USPS are now being delivered by people in private vehicles. After having seen the same private vehicle deliver USPS Amazon packages two days in a row, even someone as obtuse as me can figure it out.
Interesting observation about Amazon. Apparently the packages they ship by USPS are now being delivered by people in private vehicles. After having seen the same private vehicle deliver USPS Amazon packages two days in a row, even someone as obtuse as me can figure it out.
They’re probably fill-in USPS carriers. That happens all the time here.
Amazon actually delivers a tractor-trailer full of packages to the Sparta USPS office every morning. Some of those are delivered to customers by regular USPS vehicles, but the volume is so high this time of year that USPS is all-hands-on-deck. They even have the postmaster out delivering packages, in his personal vehicle.
Fedex uses contractors too. Local folks in their own cars, no id, no stickers, nothing. Not the safest job in TX- messing with packages on someone’s porch….
I noticed that the Fedex Ground trucks were local subcontractors too. They are in liveried vehicles, with stickers describing the relationship.
My daughter asked this morning why we haven’t seen as much of “brown santa” as before. I’m not sure if we’re buying less online, but it seems like it, even though we get several packages in a typical day.
Without cheap delivery services, ecommerce couldn’t exist in it’s current form.
n
From the Snowflake of the Month Award Department:
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/12/john-boch/call-police-theres-policeman-classroom/
A bit of jollity on this fine fall morning. Yeah, it’s still fall.
I’d just note in passing that it’s easier (and perhaps stealthier) to buy more FLASHLIGHTS than pick up an extra TOILET.
FLASHLIGHTS are easier to store, also. How many extra TOILETS do you need, anyhow?
“https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/12/john-boch/call-police-theres-policeman-classroom/
BEST.COMMENT.EVER.
“It may be a crime, but some people just need a good slap across the face. I’m talking about a slap that only a pimp with at least 15 years in the trade can deliver. I’m not one to need safe spaces, but damn I feel like I need to lie down after reading that.”
Extra toilets?
Well, in the form of buckets and those nifty seats (check the fit; not all fit all buckets), several extra toilets ain’t a bad idea!
Depending on your situation, being ready to dig an appropriate hole (with useful seat over it) is a good idea, too.
I’m going to do a special kind of preparation. I’ll have to put my mind into acceptance & detachment mode WRT the new political situation here in Ro (i.e. the crooks back in power massively).
So, I’m going to read the published work of Alexandru Dragomir (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandru_Dragomir),a thinker who managed to isolate himself from the communism lies and intoxications, and was able to focus on his philosophy and interests. That’s my understanding of him. I’ll check it out.
I need to accept that the things would worsen and that I can’t do anything about it ( many respectable personalities failed and I’m really nobody who couldn’t even convinced, in the past, some friends about some political facts). To be angry will be useless. I’ll need to concentrate on my own studies and interests, and learn about political evolutions with detachment.
I also believe that the economy will suffer, so I’ll need to pay more attention on my (little) savings, mostly invested on the romanian Stock Exchange. I’ll have to open an online trading account (I closed one half a year ago).
Situation will remain calm, here in Romania in the following years. But corruption, manipulation, denigration, intoxication, and so on will rise, making the air unbreathable. I’ll have to immunize myself against that.
There is no danger to my physical integrity, or anyone’s else. Except that we already found out that corruption and incompetence kill people. Like in last year Colectiv club fire case, where inspectors failed to do their job :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colectiv_nightclub_fire
Interesting observation about Amazon. Apparently the packages they ship by USPS are now being delivered by people in private vehicles. After having seen the same private vehicle deliver USPS Amazon packages two days in a row, even someone as obtuse as me can figure it out.
Here in Austin, Amazon uses independent contractors who supply their own vehicles. Some of my students have worked as delivery drivers.
When we lived on the West Coast, Newegg deliveries used a private courier service. Unless the passes were snowed in, two day guaranteed usually meant overnight delivery in Portland since the trucks rolled out of City of Industry and straight up I-5.
Barbara left at 0900 to pick up Bonnie Tedder, our next-door neighbor, and take her to run errands. Bonnie is almost 90 years old, and doesn’t get out much. Barbara said she’d probably be gone most of the day, taking Bonnie to two doctor appointments and various other errands.
Barbara is kind. RBT is lucky, he picked well.
Folks, if you are looking for a way to help someone, spending some time with a shut-in is not bad. And with the fact that so many people are living a generation longer, there are many of them.
Interesting observation about Amazon. Apparently the packages they ship by USPS are now being delivered by people in private vehicles. After having seen the same private vehicle deliver USPS Amazon packages two days in a row, even someone as obtuse as me can figure it out.
Yes. Amazon is establishing their own delivery service. They have it running in Dallas now. People stop by the HUGE warehouse on I-45, south of I-20, sign in, pick up packages, deliver them using their vehicle, and get paid a flat fee (independent contractors). That warehouse is five miles long if it is a foot.
I guess that it is an Uber for packages.
Here in Houston, we see Amazon delivery branded vehicles. White Sprinter vans, mostly. I guess they are running experiments in various places to see if different models work. In high amazon buyer density areas (like the affluent areas around me) I bet it’s cheaper to have your own delivery. In rural areas, maybe not so much. Although I can imagine one person in each small town getting a bulk delivery and then making the individual deliveries.
n
Extra toilets?
Well, in the form of buckets and those nifty seats (check the fit; not all fit all buckets), several extra toilets ain’t a bad idea!
Depending on your situation, being ready to dig an appropriate hole (with useful seat over it) is a good idea, too.
As a part of our prepping, I have a potty chair and many, many, many kitchen trash bags. Our water table is about an inch down around here and the old squatty potty over a hole in the ground will not work well. I figure just putting it in the back of the garage behind the water bottle cases. I am also thinking about buying a couple of bags of lime but haven’t gotten that far yet.
https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Folding-Bedside-Commode/dp/B001HP7AQE/
Apparently the packages they ship by USPS are now being delivered by people in private vehicles.
Amazon is using a mix of delivery methods, as others have noted:
– delivery by USPS, UPS, FedEx employees
– delivery on Sunday by contractors using idle USPS vehicles
– local delivery of packages by contractors in their own vehicles (my brother is starting to do this in Denver)
– local delivery of 1-hour packages by contractors and by employees in Amazon vans
– local delivery of food from restaurants by contractors
– I think they have local delivery of groceries in a few places
“Remind Me Why Russia is Our Adversary?”
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/154383373696/remind-me-why-russia-is-our-adversary
And Russia is our space flight buddy at the moment until our fledgling private space industry gets off the ground (pun intended).
Yep, someone forgot that it was Global Communism that was the enemy. Not much commie about the oligarchs running russia or china, although china still mouths the platitudes.
We’ve got more common interest with Russia than Chechnya for example….
n
Once found one of those bedside commodes at a remote but popular campsite, sitting over a hole…
Was tempted to grab it, but I didn’t really want to touch it. I’d rather spend $32 on one, though I have not done so yet.
That would be an excellent option for family or old folks, for sure, and it would not be a bad thing to have around for all sorts of crisis situations. Folds pretty compactly, too, right?
And, repeat, don’t forget lots of appropriate plastic bags!
Good observation about ground water contamination, Mr. Lynn!
Recently the USPS, using uniformed drivers and trucks, has been making Sunday deliveries. This past Sunday I received 3 Amazon packages in two separate deliveries, one late a.m. and the other mid-afternoon. When I looked at the tracking there is no reason for them not combining the deliveries, all packages were at the Post Office very early in the morning. Indicates to me that their local sorting is the weak link.
Our cities have finally approved Uber. Starts here in Kennewick this Thursday, 12/15/2016 and in the rest of the Tri-Cities (Pasco and Richland) in January. The hassle for the past 3-years has been whose background checks will be used, looks like local police won.
We have several “taxi” services run by Hispanics, they charge us Gringos a higher rate, however they will bargain in Spanish so my daughter (who speaks Spanish, all Pacific Rim languages, and more) get the “amigo” rate 😉 (BTW, one of the taxi companies is actually called “Amigo Taxi” and has dual language magnetic signs on their vehicles)
WRT plastic bags:
What are all us preppers going to do when we no longer have a supply of plastic bags? Plastic bags made today are required to decompose over a period of years (our gooberment working for the “greenies” again). A while ago I came across a very old box of Costco black garbage bags, probably more than 10 years old. When I opened the box they looked okay but when I tried to remove the first one in crumbled in my hands.
Be ready to dig that hole. 😉
“How many extra TOILETS do you need, anyhow?”
In this house? One more would do us nicely. On the ground floor. But don’t see how we can without ripping out a good chunk of the central core.
“BEST.COMMENT.EVER.”
That WAS good, wasn’t it?
“…someone forgot that it was Global Communism that was the enemy. Not much commie about the oligarchs running russia or china, although china still mouths the platitudes. We’ve got more common interest with Russia than Chechnya for example….”
Exactly. The Russian PEOPLE and the Chinese and Cuban and North Korean PEOPLE are not our enemies; once again, it’s governments. Not very much commie or socialist about the oligarchs running those places, and not much capitalistic or “free market” about the oligarchs and globalists running the West these days, either. We do indeed have more in common with Russia than Chechnya, or a bunch of those ‘stans down there along the Sandbox borders.
Trump met with Kanye West, so the Free World can rest easy now.
I note that he plans to run for Prez in 2020, supposedly, but will refrain from trashing the guy ’cause he seems like he has genuine mental health issues that will require treatment of some kind.
I just booted Linux Mint 18 (Cinnamon) on my wife’s old laptop from the live DVD. It looks good, and I think it’s time I actually blew away the copy of XP on that machine. I’m going to actually ask my wife first. She wasn’t using it, so I borrowed it and swapped the hard drive for an SSD 3 times the size without asking, and she hasn’t noticed yet. I think the switch to Linux might be noticed though, so in the interests of domestic tranquility, I will actually ask first.
Isn’t there a distro that was themed and arranged to look just like winXP? Prob not maintained anymore, but …..
n
Russia was always an agressive nation. Always – no matter who its rulers were.
“How many extra TOILETS do you need, anyhow?”
In this house? One more would do us nicely. On the ground floor. But don’t see how we can without ripping out a good chunk of the central core.
In your case, I would build an awesome bathroom with walk-in shower, dual sinks, and a tub / spa off the backside of the house. And a new man-cave XXXXXXXX gameroom ! Your house only occupies what, 3-4% of your property ?
There probably was at least one. While I was searching the web after seeing your comment, I found there is a theme for Cinnamon called CinnXP that does that. I may try that out if Linux Mint Cinnamon by itself isn’t good enough.
And Russia is our space flight buddy at the moment until our fledgling private space industry gets off the ground (pun intended).
Another year, minimum, for SpaceX.
I have my doubts that Boeing’s will ever fly.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/12/13928844/spacex-crew-dragon-delay-nasa-commercial-crew-program-2018
I have my doubts that Boeing’s will ever fly.
Boeing’s X-37B space plane just hit 500 days in orbit, “Air Force’s X-37B Space Plane Mystery Mission Wings by 500 Days in Orbit”. There are two of these bad boys and this is the third flight. The preceding two flights landed just fine at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, just like the space shuttle.
http://www.space.com/34343-x37b-space-plane-otv4-mission-passes-500-days.html
Reputedly, Boeing is working on a stretch version that can land six Marines anywhere in world in two hours.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a5539/plans-for-marines-in-space/
Dropships!
Now Thoth anti air missiles please…
n
Fed Ex smashes mailboxes
Yesterday I came home to find my mailbox, mounted on a decorative cast iron post, smashed and dangling by a bolt, mounting brackets bent beyond repair. I did a search on our external security camera system and quickly found clear video of a Fed Ex truck pulling into our drive and scraping the mailbox off with it’s rear fender. The driver got out with an envelope, looked at the damage, then went to the door to get my wife’s signature for the envelope. My wife said he never mentioned hitting the mailbox. I called Fed Ex last night and they opened a case for me, promising that the recovery team would call me back within two hours. No call last night. I call this morning, give them the case #, they apologize, promise that I will get a followup call inside two hours … and 5 hours later no call. I fear we will keep this up through the new year. Anyone have any problems with Fed Ex damaging property?
Actually, I am a big fan of Pournelle’s THOR system. And that X-37B could carry many of those along with a deployment system. Who needs nukes ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment
If you don’t get a response post-haste, I’d go ahead & have the box repaired, then settle with them after. There are federal regulations (laws?) regarding how/where the USPS may deliver mail, and if your box doesn’t meet the standards, it’s your responsibility to fix it or they don’t have to deliver. If you have it on video, you have a valid small-claims court case. They would probably rather settle in any case – it’s not like they have people that regularly replace mailboxes.
Speaking of which, our local township will replace any Mailbox (caps- one that meets postal regulations) that they hit with the plow. But they won’t replace those plastic jobs you get at the home center because they’re not official mailboxes. Mine gets replaced at least once/year. And they do it FAST.
Boeing’s X-37B space plane just hit 500 days in orbit, “Air Force’s X-37B Space Plane Mystery Mission Wings by 500 Days in Orbit”. There are two of these bad boys and this is the third flight. The preceding two flights landed just fine at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, just like the space shuttle.
Sure, but X-37B wasn’t built within the confines of CCDev funding.
NASA will probably bail them out at some point so that CST-100 flies at least once like the Lockheed Martin Orion capsule.
“Isn’t there a distro that was themed and arranged to look just like winXP? Prob not maintained anymore, but …..”
Tails. The mostly secure distro that you boot up from a USB stick or DVD on any machine and the sticks have persistence if you wish. The screen can look like XP or Windows 7. Uses the Tor browser.
“Russia was always an agressive nation. Always – no matter who its rulers were.”
So was Germany. And England. And the good ol’ U.S. of A. Must be a northern peoples’ thing. Norse/Vikings. Japan, before certain events in the summer of 1945.
“Your house only occupies what, 3-4% of your property ?”
More like a third to 40% or so, and we have a pesky leach field/septic which takes up half the back yard.
“…Boeing is working on a stretch version that can land six Marines anywhere in world in two hours.”
Many jarheads will tell you that’s overkill.
“Anyone have any problems with Fed Ex damaging property?”
Not yet, but let us know how that pans out; maybe send a copy of the vid you have to their regional HQ?
And here’s some flashy SHTF nooz:
http://www.shtfplan.com/conspiracy-fact-and-theory/are-you-living-in-a-death-spiral-these-6-states-will-collapse-during-the-next-recession_12132016#
Pension defaults. With a lot more states underwater, including Vermont. Wife’s could disappear. SS will also disappear eventually. VA disability? Who knows?
And speaking of critical situations and issues:
https://readfomag.com/2016/12/us-critical-infrastructure-in-six-maps-new-geoint-resource/
Again, all over the major cities and mostly on the coasts, with the exception of the pipeline masses.
As has been discussed here before a few times, any couple of halfway slick operators can take down major sections of any of this stuff, particularly electric lines and phone services.
“Your house only occupies what, 3-4% of your property ?”
More like a third to 40% or so, and we have a pesky leach field/septic which takes up half the back yard.
Oh. I just look at your house and your lot is smaller than I remembered. Your property line does not go as far back as I thought. Hah, the google street view still has a for sale sign in your front yard. I’m still betting that you could add on a bath / spa to the back of your house and sneak in a game room.
“…Boeing is working on a stretch version that can land six Marines anywhere in world in two hours.”
Many jarheads will tell you that’s overkill.
Two sniper teams. Just ignore that X37-B coming overhead at mach 6.
Pension defaults. With a lot more states underwater, including Vermont. Wife’s could disappear. SS will also disappear eventually. VA disability? Who knows?
Texas too. The City of Dallas may file bankruptcy on Jan 1.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-21/dallas-mayor-admits-police-pension-pushing-city-toward-fan-blades-municipal-bankrupt
“Now, the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System has asked the city for a one-time infusion of $1.1 billion, an amount roughly equal to Dallas’s entire general fund budget but not even close to what the pension fund needs to be fully funded. Nothing would be left for fighting endemic poverty south of the Trinity River, for public libraries, or for giving current police officers and firefighters a raise.”
I would love to have a pension plan that pays 90% of my final salary after 20 years of service with an annual COLA. And Houston is right behind Dallas.
Anyone have any problems with Fed Ex damaging property?
I think it is time to get the police involved and have the police file hit and run charges against the driver. That will get corporate’s attention real fast.
“…the google street view still has a for sale sign in your front yard. I’m still betting that you could add on a bath / spa to the back of your house and sneak in a game room.”
So that view is at least over four years old. We could add another bathroom to the back of the house off the kitchen if we did something with that section of the back porch. Beyond that there is little to no room for building anything, thanks to the tank/leach field. We do not play games here. (except me, w/Solitaire on the computer and Kindles).
“I would love to have a pension plan that pays 90% of my final salary after 20 years of service with an annual COLA. And Houston is right behind Dallas.”
A great many retirees are finding now, or will find out shortly, that their pensions that they presumably EARNED are long gone and they won’t get a dime. But somebody made out pretty well somewhere along the way; cui bono??
“I think it is time to get the police involved…”
I’d try sending the vid out before calling the cops on it, but hey, it’s his mailbox and his decision. It was mos def a hit-and-run-w/property damage. Took ballz to just walk up to the door and not mention it, though.
Texas too. The City of Dallas may file bankruptcy on Jan 1.
Looks like Fort Worth also. Mish’s reader makes a good point about “banked” vacation time.
https://mishtalk.com/2016/12/13/not-just-dallas-fort-worth-employees-pension-plan-in-deep-trouble/
As a state worker, I get letters from the TexPERS. I guess I need to open one up and take a look at some point.
In theory, I should get *something* from Death Star Telephone, but I’ll probably drop dead from shock if a check actually shows up in my mailbox in about 20 years. Still, I keep them updated with my address and made sure my boss left my file clean after I quit.
In theory, I should get *something* from Death Star Telephone, but I’ll probably drop dead from shock if a check actually shows up in my mailbox in about 20 years. Still, I keep them updated with my address and made sure my boss left my file clean after I quit.
TXU (actually EFH – Energy Future Holdings) moved their four billion dollar pension plan to Fidelity before their bankruptcy. When I turn 65 in 8 years, I will get a $265/month check from Fidelity for the rest of my life supposedly. I only worked at TXU (I actually worked for Tesco and TU Electric) for 8 years in the 1980s. I plan on taking that check over to McDonalds and see if it will cover a quarter pounder with cheese.
BTW, I’ll bet that all of these people getting total extractions from the city pension funds do not know that a Federal Bankruptcy judge can go back five years and reverse all transactions.
My father lost about half of his pension when Bethlehem Steel went bankrupt. Pension Guarantee Corp has an upper limit of $44k IIRC. Big kick in the nuts in any case.
Only a few funds will get “saved” by the Guarantor, there’s no money there either. Lots of bad assumptions built into their earnings and minimum ROI formulas…..
n
(BTW, this is another way low interest rates screw the ordinary man, and benefit the 1%.)
Yep. You don’t get to be the largest nation on earth without grabbing what you can at every opportunity. Back in tzarist times (1870-ish, I think) their equivalent of the general staff briefed the tzar and bragged that Russia had been in 30 wars in the past three centuries and only 8 of them were defensive. (I’m making up those numbers, but they’re qualitatively about right.)
I got so tired of apologists claiming that Russia/USSR was only occupying eastern European nations because they were afraid of Western invasion — Napoleon! Hitler! — and the Russians just wanted to live in peace with their neighbors. No mention of Russia’s “need” for a “safety buffer” on southern side, where over the centuries it had mostly been the Russians invading southward rather than the various islamic empires invading northward. It was especially annoying that the professors of the “Soviet Union” class in college* pitched that line of garbage, but those two sleazy liars were politically so far over that they probably had Communist Party USA cards in their wallets.
Note also that China, the Commie one, is also relentlessly expansionist. Over the decades it was announced Tibet had “always” been a part of China and that’s why the Chinese army had to move in, and Mongolia had “always” been a part of China and the Chinese army had to move in to protect Mongolia from the Russians, and part of the border between China and Burma had “always” been a part of China. Currently, Taiwan has “always” been a part of China and the entire South China Sea has “always” been Chinese and a big swath of the Himalayas which are currently part of India were “always” part of China. It’s not really US business, but I’d say that someone needs to do something to crush the government of the PRC. (Or do something to kill most of the population of the PRC. That would probably do it, too.)
* I’d have dropped the class as being worthless, but it was required for all ROTC cadets and midshipmen.
It’s not really US business, but I’d say that someone needs to do something to crush the government of the PRC. (Or do something to kill most of the population of the PRC. That would probably do it, too.)
I’ve been advocating that the AGW people should nuke China and India to stop anthropomorphic global warming. Funny, no one wants to debate me on usenet.
I’ve been advocating a mass die-off for decades. No one wants to debate me, either. Buncha cowards.
You may get one. Let’s just hope we’re not among the dead.
You may get one. Let’s just hope we’re not among the dead.
I figure just about everyone above the age of 40 will be in the die off (first wave – the event or the second wave – starvation and conflict over food).
“I figure just about everyone above the age of 40 will be in the die off (first wave – the event or the second wave – starvation and conflict over food).”
Well thanks a lot, Mr. Sunshine, and Happy Holidays to YOU, too!!
If I gotta die, I’m taking a bunch of sons of bitches with me.
I’m makin’ a list and checkin’ it twice,
Already know who’s naughty or nice…..
“I figure just about everyone above the age of 40 will be in the die off (first wave – the event or the second wave – starvation and conflict over food).”
Well thanks a lot, Mr. Sunshine, and Happy Holidays to YOU, too!!
Thank you, I’ll be here all week ! BTW, be sure to tip your waitress.
“I’ll be here all week ! BTW, be sure to tip your waitress.”
Someone’s been watching Peyton’s commercials (repeated over and over again) for Nationwide. He’s had funnier ones but we never see those again.
In theory, I should get *something* from Death Star Telephone, but I’ll probably drop dead from shock if a check actually shows up in my mailbox in about 20 years
I thought that when I worked for National Bancshares Corporation in the 81-88 time frame. Company was going under and after I left was rescued by FDIC. About 10 years ago I got a letter from Bank of America asking what I wanted to do about my retirement money. I was a little stunned because I never worked for BofA. Turns out between sales, mergers, whatever, BofA now had what was left of NBC. I opted to take the money early, a whopping $114 a month. But at least I got something.
TXU (actually EFH – Energy Future Holdings) moved their four billion dollar pension plan to Fidelity before their bankruptcy
That is who I get my checks from, Fidelity. Apparently Fidelity holds a lot of pension funds. Last statement I got from Fidelity about the retirement there was several billion in the fund. What was disgusting is the law firm gets north of $25 million a year for administering the fund. I offered to do it for $5 million but never heard back.
When I turn 65 in 8 years, I will get a $265/month
I had the option but chose to take the money early. The break even point was somewhere north of 90 verses taking a reduced amount early, half of what I would get at 65.
be sure to tip your waitress
I did leave a large tip once, $50.00 on a $22.00 tab. It was close to Christmas. Never will again when I found out the manager took half the tip for himself.
“I offered to do it for $5 million but never heard back.”
Bastids.
“…when I found out the manager took half the tip for himself.”
What a DICK!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ektZ_RC1VL8
Hahaha….avoid cities!
Especially these:
http://freedomoutpost.com/25-cities-on-the-brink-of-disaster-dont-be-here-when-things-get-violent-unsafe-and-fragile/
But ANY city, really. And crowds. And “events.”
Actually, I am a big fan of Pournelle’s THOR system.
The problem with Thor is that you need lots (hundreds to thousands) of them in orbit to hit anywhere, anytime. It’s similar to the problem with the orbital “smart pebbles” system that was proposed for SDI. The Thoth missiles are sort of what the combination of Hellfires on drones (or manned fighters) guided by ground operators with a laser gets you. A former employer’s missile division had made a small missile with a guidance package that was Hellfire compatible. I tried to get them to make a pallet that could go in a C-130 and loiter just over the horizon and pop out these suckers on demand. Much cheaper than Hellfires and the warhead was small enough to take out a house without killing the neighbors.
Also, there are specialty bunker-buster bombs that have been designed and used that do about the same thing as Thor.
https://virginiafreemen.com/2016/12/14/hamilton-delegates-the-lefts-misplaced-confidence-and-its-potentially-deadly-consequences/
This guy says it in longer form than I usually have done or do, but it’s worth reading in full. It represents my own political beliefs and I have the same reaction in store if the government abdicates its responsibility and the rule of law is finally trashed beyond all recognition. It means we will be living in an occupied country. Deal with it accordingly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Treasure
“The Romanian Treasure is a collection of valuable objects and the gold reserves (~120 tonnes) of the Romanian government sent to Russia for safekeeping during World War I. Only part of the objects, and none of the gold reserves have been returned as of 2015.”
The romanian Wiki page (much more detailed) mentions that the gold reverses kept(stolen) by Russia contains 91 metric tons of historical gold coins and 2.4 metric tons of gold bars, evaluated in 2011 at 3.2 bn euros ($ 3.4 bn).
@Eugen, I meant to reply to you before, when you posted the election results.
All I can advise you is to become the “grey man.” This is a common theme in prepping, with many interpretations, but mainly means ‘blend in with your surroundings.’
Don’t do anything to attract attention to yourself. Keep your appearance ordinary. Dress to match your community. Keep your home to match your neighborhood. Keep your opinions to yourself (in real life.) Maintain relationships with people on an ordinary, but superficial level, again, matching your surroundings.
Read thru all the things that Selco regrets from his experience and what he’s done to be prepared for the next time. http://shtfschool.com/blog/ No one thinks it can happen to them, and then it does.
nick
Added– didn’t realize Selco was addressing the Grey Man in his most recent post, just a happy coincidence.
Thanks Nick. I’ll check that link out.
But, as I said, I’m in no danger and nobody else is. I kind of like to be myself, so a ‘grey man’ attitude won’t suit me well, but I might get there if things will be that bad (very unlikely). But in that case, it’s more likely that I will leave the place than to stand and try to put some rationality in the minds of the stupid majority. That will be a lost battle from the start.
Stupidity of masses is the worst enemy of the democracy.
Stupidity of masses is the worst enemy of the democracy.
True dat.
We have a republic, not a democracy. The progs have been pushing this democracy crap for decades. The Founding Fathers knew all too well that democracies fail catastrophically and quickly.
“The theory of the wisdom of the crowds tells us that pure democracy is the best form of government.”
— paraphrased from some libtard I heard recently.
If I understood him correctly, Clinton should be president because she won the popular vote by millions. (Or so the lie goes. If all of the absentee ballots in Republican-majority states were counted and all of the fraudulent votes in Democrat-controlled states were discounted, I suspect the popular vote would go the other way.) And to hell with the electoral college and the rule of law and all that nonsense, if we can lie our way to getting the results we want today.
The progs and SJW asswipes and rumpswabs have been yakking about “democracy,” as RBT says, for decades now, and it’s a gigantic load of stinky malarkey. We have, in theory, a federal republic, and in reality, a corporate fascist oligarchy. The only true remaining democracies in the U.S. are the surviving rural and semi-rural town meetings in New England, themselves descendants of the old Norse and Anglo-Saxon “Thing.” And these are fast disappearing or being suborned by the usual corporate and oligarchical interests.
One of the ways this is accomplished is through the MSM, of course, but also by means of all the fairy-tale dreams of how wonderful the new technology is going to be and such nifty projects as a Basic Income for everyone:
https://outlandersystemsblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/14/cybersocialism/
“For those who find themselves unemployable, life will be a feudalistic, hand-to-mouth, subsistence existence; merely surviving at all will be at the behest of government underlings. Your very financial livelihood would be akin to a trip to the DMV, and all the joy that experience provides…indefinitely.”
“We have a republic, not a democracy.”
That’s an interesting point. In my country, you hardly hear the word ‘republic’, but ‘democracy’ is used a lot.
While improving my French, some time ago, I closely followed what happens there in France. I did remarked that they use the word ‘republic’ a lot.
Democracy is mob rule, pure and simple. Only idiots favor it.
I knew it.
“Muslim teenager who claimed Trump supporters called her a ‘terrorist’ and tried to take off her hijab in New York subway attack is arrested for ‘making the story up’
Yasmin Seweid, 18, was arrested on Wednesday for filing a false police report
She claimed she was attacked by three Donald Trump supporters in New York
Seweid told police she was called a ‘terrorist’ on a subway train on December 1
College student later posted about the ‘traumatizing’ ordeal on Facebook
Police have charged Seweid after she admitted to lying about whole ordeal ”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4035004/Police-NYC-Muslim-womans-bias-report-false.html
Democracy is mob rule, pure and simple. Only idiots favor it.
Oh, like student council elections in High School. THAT all seemed fair. Fairly well rigged for the jocks and the chicks that put out for the jocks. Otherwise, pure caca.
What we have isn’t perfect. Nothing really is. But it keeps the population dense areas from running the whole show. For example, what little I have read, Virginia was the largest state way back. To get tiny NH to sign on, electoral college. It works.
Now for term limits.
Two terms max each … two rep, two senate. 16 years and then go the fuck home and run the family grocery store. Or chase ambulances. Plus two terms as President if slimy enough.
I can dream.
I hope the judge doesn’t cut her any slack at all. This “teenager” is an adult. It’s not like she’s a thirteen-year-old making up a story that spun out of control. And, in fact, if you look at the Middle Eastern countries where most of the “refugees” are coming from, an eighteen-year-old woman would most likely have a couple of kids of her own already.
What we have is the worst possible system, except for all the others.
“What we have is the worst possible system, except for all the others.”
That sounds vaguely familiar…
What we have is a corporate fascist oligarchy, sorta like Brazil or Argentina or Mussolini’s Italy. It’s more subtle than those places and times, but that’s what it is. Democracy MIGHT work with smaller populations, say, up to around 5K, max. With traditional town meetings and Roberts Rules of Order and all that good stuff. And those small pops could as easily be city ‘hoods as well as small towns and villages like here or Sparta, NC.
“I can dream.”
Me, too. The original Articles of Confederation.
Naturally the 50 or so urban counties in this nay-shun that won’t go along with that can go organize their fucking socialist utopias and good luck and good riddance to them.
Paul wrote:
“Now for term limits.”
Elizabeth Holtzman and Geraldine Ferraro were prime examples of wimminz who would run for any- and everything to get into public office. People like them should be banned from it for life.
On the other hand, this cutie can keep her job as long as she likes…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_McMorris_Rodgers
“On the other hand, this cutie can keep her job as long as she likes…”
Agreed. Your taste in wimminz has improved considerably.
WRT that mooslem teenager: she needs a dose of sharia law, flogging and stoning preceeded and followed by… (well I’ll leave that to your imagination)
She herself did not commit a crime of violence, so I would not be in favor of using violence as punishment against her. She’s open to libel suits from those guys and I’d make her do a public apology and some community service. Humiliation and ridicule is needed for these kinds of people, not stooping to the same level as their medieval sand-dune-bat-cave cult.