I know this is a site for radio related issues - but we also cater to the prepper mentality - and it is to that aim that I address this post.
It's been over a week and everyone I encounter seems to say the same thing...they just can't believe what has happened - not that anything has happened - but the feeling that SO much changed that we weren't aware of...the rallying of common sense, didn't overcome the forces of chaos.
...or did it?
Either way, I am glad I started my preparations two years ago, because of this, Ive been able to acquire a new skill, and some necessary equipment. I am, however, very concerned for those who JUST woke up. This is not meant to be a political bash - more of a - I can't seem to put my finger on - a door has been opened, and not to a familiar place.
I think we would have had our problems even if the other party had gained power - but now we seem to be running headlong into oblivion with our fingers firmly plugging our ears to keep us from heeding sane advice to STOP!
I don't mind saying, while it fits my world view...I'm definitely in shock. The sense of foreboding has changed...into..something...else...?
How about you?
I think my 'shock' has turned into 'numbness' at this point. The amazement about people being 'stupid' is still there though.
- Paul
For me, it's more of the same, and virtually NONE of it is within my power to change in even the tiniest amount.
40 years later, and I still shudder at the thought of Nixon having won the re-election.
Or dubbya miraculously (ugh!) "winning" Florida.
In my mind, very little of it has to do with the politicians themselves. The majority of it has to do with the spending of our sons and daughters' lives. And, oh yah, our money. Today, Israel has erupted, but we'll continue to send them billions of dollars while we shut down the NY/NJ warming (and feeding) centers. How exactly is it that our national priorities revolve around committing genocide rather than ensuring that a veteran doesn't have to wait YEARS to get a decision on his disability claims?
Tim's right; our thoughts -- and radios -- have turned to the prepping mode and our instincts run more toward self-preparedness. Those are good things.
As for me, my daydreams are running more toward the wish to be part of a heavily-wooded prepping compound / commune somewhere in Idaho. I have a few skills that would be of value; Wood stove, fire-brick and refractory construction, firewood preparation, and communications with the outside world.
Nice dreams. They keep my mind occupied against what a horrific world we've somehow found ourselves to exist within.
73 de Luck, WA4STO
(http://www.hurderconsulting.net/radiostuff/keyjump.gif)
Good morning Luck,
I am thinking of Idaho too, but I hate being cold, so that's going to be a tough one...
Gil.
I've spent most of my life prepped and on the edge of one wilderness or other - unless I was working overseas, and even then, I had at least three plans in place. Now that things are actually closing in, I'm no longer young & strong and am in fact injured. While I do live in a great location in my immediate county or two, I am far from where I used to live - in the mountains of Idaho. My preps are probably at the worst point in thirty years, but slowly crawling forward again. An advantage is the land that we live on is very good, and location - brilliant! surrounded by farm land and forest on a semi-isolated peninsula. The weather is generally mild with 40's considered to be cold and only rarely below freezing. Being 70 air miles from Washington D.C. is somewhat prejudicial . . . :P
As for the almost 'humming' numbness - I do sense that here and on other boards. I think that many are reconsidering their preps , the much more obvious need for them and wondering how little time we have before the talking heads on the TV begin to use phrases like 'dollar devaluation' , 'civil unrest in major cities', (read: unrestricted rioting, raping and murder by the usual suspects) 'gun-collection' for food, and lock-down of sub-urban & rural areas by law enforcement and military (foreign?) where 'right wing racists' are taking the law into their own hands (Translated: normal people are defending themselves.) . I think that if anything, this latest propaganda exercise is making Prepper's transition from a theoretical 'some-day' exercise to an actual time-line, and beginning to wonder just how far we are behind the time-curve.
Who knows - maybe in ten years this will all prove to be nothing, but I think that many of us are now living on the edge of dread, understanding like we never have before and THEY are in control - not us. Whether 'blue or red', I think that many people understand that this was a political farce. An exercise in controlled opposition and that we're increasingly being pointed toward the slaughter house door with fewer options and at ever increasing speed. A few 'handy' 9/11 type events and we can be whipped into a full gallop, carried along by the herd into the chute to the slaughter house door. We have the power to shut this down, but we do not have the direction to resist effectively - yet. // Personally - I believe that direction is going to be from God. //
Now back to Yahoo! to see what those Khardasian sisters are wearing . . . and why that sweaty football player has his arms around those pretty college co-eds, Lindsay LowBrow in her new movie & other "IMPORTANT" stuff designed to distract and numb me . If only I owned a TV - then everything would be OK! ::)
73 de RadioRay ..._ ._
Well I can fix the cold part for ya, Gil! :)
A hot wood stove, plenty of seasoned wood and the Snake River are all we'd ever need. That, and maybe 50 acres. Yum!
(http://www.hurderconsulting.net/radiostuff/91.jpg)
Insert 100 foot tower(s) here ---^
I wish.. With the economy the way it's going, I don't ever see saving enough money to buy land..
QuoteInsert 100 foot tower(s) here ---^
I'd never use a tower, too visible...
Gil.
Like going through the looking glass, darkly. Everything is the same, but is no longer the place I once knew.
I liked that phrase the almost 'humming' numbness that has set in. Suddenly, the monsters under the bed just might really be real, are those preps stashed away really adequate, care might really be necessary for what is said or typed. It just might all be real.
Sort of feels like "the deep breath before the plunge", a phrase from the movie/novel LOTR, return of the king, which was loosly modeled on another time of building crisis, leading to ww2. (parallels?)
I'm not sure if it would have made a lot of difference which side had won, but the speed of the victory was certainly a shock/surprise. Maybe that's all, the shock of just how it went just hasn't worn off yet.
I had missed my opportunity to sell this place just before things came apart a few years back, and have been in 'holding my breath' mode hoping I can find a break and let it go since, starting to run a bit short of air. so I'm becoming more careful now, re-evaluating my position, and continuing to plod thru the morse alphabet has stepped up as a priority for me. Have to focus on little bits right now, keep moving forward despite it all, panic is not productive.
Allan
(http://vivaciousvodkavixen.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/94223817174045357_puujrwff_f.jpg)
Now I'm hungry for . . . CAKE ! Mooooo-ha-ha-ha!
Quote from: RadioRay on November 17, 2012, 05:52:50 PMNow I'm hungry for . . . CAKE ! Mooooo-ha-ha-ha!
Haha. You funny Peter-san. Ha. ;D
DISCLAIMER: I''m over it, and was over it 20 minutes after I found out the next morning.
Whether you are numb, in shock, ho-hum, or chowing down on the most decadent cake you can find (yeah!), just remember there are 2 best times to plant a tree. 20 years ago..... and RIGHT NOW!
Whatever is causing the shock was a long time comin' & not driven only by events on 6 November. Now you can say to more entitlement oriented folks (some of whom will desparage your efforts but surreptiously do an inventory in the periphery): "OK, YOU are now the establishment - you have the helm. And you will OWN what you do. Have a nice day." That just yields some (valid) visceral satisfaction though. Whatever it is, in whatever chunks you can do - in a whole-solution way - keep doing it.
Exhale (http://tlinexile.blogspot.com/2012/11/time-to-exhale.html) and keep reaching out to like minded friends to validate the appropriateness of what you're doing. (I include myself in that task, I just detest the Imperial 'we' as a smoke screen in writing.)
Those things to do can be done in small chunks, you don't need to wait for the massive Mountain House truck sale to prep food needs, or a giant sale from some gel-cell distributor, or win the lottery to acquire your first method to purify water on the fly. Buy what you can, when you can, appropriate to the next 25m target on your list. And learn how to use it all.
And don't forget to breathe and laugh and all that kinda stuff too...
Fortunately there are some here very adept at keeping things from getting downright morbid. He might be busy eating cake, though...
Wow, I have been out for most of the day - great responses - many of you have found words for what I was unable to articulate.
I especially like Ray's "humming numbness" a-LOT...on edge, but completely dazed...
KC9TNH/Underhillm- I think you both nailed it when you said we need to "take smaller bites" (my paraphrase) and focus on what we can control - but the thing about a humming numbness...it's hard to focus, period. It's a form of shock, I think...
Luck, you will be happy to learn that I have been able to focus (because I'm determined) on upgrading my license. I don't want any limitations as I learn to operate. I also don't want anyone telling me I shouldn't be on a particular band/frequency - and I don't want to end up there by accident...so to that end: I'm scoring high 80's on my Extra practice exams and looking for a location near me to get my Extra before the end of the year.
I'm also committing to O-P-E-R-A-T-I-N-G! Received my "free" operator manual from the good, kind, and wise folks down at the ARRL (only had to join)!p
What was it someone was saying about a sale on gel-cell batteries? I don't have any yet, but I could sure use some! Can I charge them like I would a lead-acid battery (swap it for the one in my car)?
Gil - sometimes you can find owners that will sell you some land for a down payment and a monthly payment. Especially popular when real return on investment takes a hit during economic downturns - gives the owner a wad lf cash and a stable cash flow. A family member just did a similar deal for 5 acres, a 2 bedroom 1 bath "retreat" on Michigan farmland. It has a stocked pond and a well with a septic tank. Deals can be made if you don't mind being flexible.
This creeping/humming numbness has caused me to bring my BOL daydream, closer to home, for now. I was discussing it with the Frau (that's XYL for the hard timer hams in the audience), and she has begun to feel the same way - and my son heard us talking and chimed in that he was "down"....(I think that meant he's "in"). He added that he felt this first stage of the Bug Out should be intermediate and within a distance gotten to on a half-tank of gas. This is attainable - and it allows me a level of comfort because I can begin to "set-up shop" in an area devoid of....zombies. Also allows me a way to test my idea (by way of WA4STO) of using SSTV as a security link.
And it allows me to continue pursuit of my ultimate BOL - the mountains of North Carolina - that have harbored many from tyranny over the past couple of hundred years.
It is a pleasant and necessary distraction - at least until we find out for sure, just what that humming sound is...
Again, thanks for the excellent posts - didnt know if anyone would respond - must have struck a chord! it does seem less lonesome when you're walking through the night with others who feel similarly!
Quote from: White Tiger on November 18, 2012, 01:54:47 AM
Luck, you will be happy to learn that I have been able to focus (because I'm determined) on upgrading my license.
-----> No surprise there. You've been the easiest Elmeree I've ever run across!
I'm also committing to O-P-E-R-A-T-I-N-G! Received my "free" operator manual from the good, kind, and wise folks down at the ARRL (only had to join)!
---> Don't forget that you can get The ARRL Letter for free now that you're a member. I wonder if the book you got was the ARRL Operating Manual. I once wrote a chapter for that book; it would've been either on Emergency Communications or traffic handling and the ARRL National Traffic System.
allows me a level of comfort because I can begin to "set-up shop" in an area devoid of....zombies. Also allows me a way to test my idea (by way of WA4STO) of using SSTV as a security link.
Just yesterday, I was FINALLY successful at getting Winmor going and transferring messages. No matter where you end up with your eventual BOLs, we'll now be able to get error-free files to and from your areas of concern.
73 de Luck, WA4STO
Quote from: WA4STO on November 18, 2012, 09:43:26 AM
Quote from: White Tiger on November 18, 2012, 01:54:47 AM
Luck, you will be happy to learn that I have been able to focus (because I'm determined) on upgrading my license.
-----> No surprise there. You've been the easiest Elmeree I've ever run across!
Probably has a lot to do with me finding the right Elmer...Elmer...! Reminds of something I heard Quy Cheng Cain say (Kung Fu) back in the 70's: "...when the student is ready, the Elmer appears..." (Ok, so I paraphrased)!
Quote from: WA4STO on November 18, 2012, 09:43:26 AM
I'm also committing to O-P-E-R-A-T-I-N-G! Received my "free" operator manual from the good, kind, and wise folks down at the ARRL (only had to join)!
---> Don't forget that you can get The ARRL Letter for free now that you're a member. I wonder if the book you got was the ARRL Operating Manual. I once wrote a chapter for that book; it would've been either on Emergency Communications or traffic handling and the ARRL National Traffic System.
The very Same - how cool is THAT??!! It looks to have been updated by Rick Palm, K1CE
Quote from: WA4STO on November 18, 2012, 09:43:26 AM
allows me a level of comfort because I can begin to "set-up shop" in an area devoid of....zombies. Also allows me a way to test my idea (by way of WA4STO) of using SSTV as a security link.
Just yesterday, I was FINALLY successful at getting Winmor going and transferring messages. No matter where you end up with your eventual BOLs, we'll now be able to get error-free files to and from your areas of concern.
Oh - even more cool! Does it operate like an email program? Either way, that is going to be awesome - cant wait!
WINMOR can be used ham2-ham for error FREE transfer of anything that you can send over internet. More useful is that it also allows you to send/receive 'normal' e-mail through about three dozen e-mail/radio servers located around the US and Canada. This means that if you lose internet at your location or are on the move and have none at the present time, you CAN send/receive e-mail with those who still have it. These e-mail/radio ground stations or ANY WINMOR ham station can also be used as an on-the-air mail box - very similar to the old dial-up BBSs during the pre-internet days to hand-off messages directly from one ham to the other when they log into that intermediary station.
In short - yes - e-mail over radio is and has been around for a couple of decades and it's esier , more effective and less expensive than it's ever been. When you are busy 'survivin' you might not be able to make your skeds that require same freq/same time, but e-mail over radio is as handy as 'normal' e-mail.
>de RadioRay ..._ ._
Quote from: White Tiger on November 18, 2012, 11:28:39 AM
Oh - even more cool! Does it operate like an email program? Either way, that is going to be awesome - cant wait!
To my eye, it looks a LOT like email. Here's a generic example that comes with RMS Express / Winmor
(http://www.hurderconsulting.net/radiostuff/white.jpg)
No need to "wait"; the system is already up and running, 365/24/7. Did I mention it was all free?
I would guess that, with your location now, there'd be access to the system on 2 meters by way of your IC271. As for the Ten-Tec OMni, that's still a work in progress but you're getting there as we speak/type.
73 de Luck, WA4STO
Regarding the HF/Ten Tec - I'm looking again at stealth antennas - probably going with one of these and a a tuner...but Im keeping the dipoles...call it emergency, or outfitting for the BOL...I think they're the simplest & best for an SHTF environment.
As for WINMOR - that looks a LOT like regular old email to me!
It has helped distract me from the "humming"...
I have packet and have thought about using that for private communications between the daughter am my wife & I.
The problem is, the PTB can still monitor packet and any other digital format.
As the PTB have a data base referencing your call sign to your home address, those using digital texting via HAM radio will still be monitored and found out.
And if you are using HAM bands, you still need a license and so, you are exposing your messaging and physical location to those would WILL come to harm you.
I really don't think there will be any safe mode of communications, once the SHTF.
In fact, I speculate that, once the SHTF, any kind of transmitting device that enables private citizen-to citizen communications outside of cell phone and government controlled Internet will be banned and outlawed, making their use a criminal offence.
What the difference between a Winlink message and a peer-to-peer one?
Gil.
Quote from: KC5OTL on November 18, 2012, 01:34:24 PM
I have packet and have thought about using that for private communications between the daughter am my wife & I.
The problem is, the PTB can still monitor packet and any other digital format.
As the PTB have a data base referencing your call sign to your home address, those using digital texting via HAM radio will still be monitored and found out.
And if you are using HAM bands, you still need a license and so, you are exposing your messaging and physical location to those would WILL come to harm you.
I really don't think there will be any safe mode of communications, once the SHTF.
In fact, I speculate that, once the SHTF, any kind of transmitting device that enables private citizen-to citizen communications outside of cell phone and government controlled Internet will be banned and outlawed, making their use a criminal offence.
Thank you for returning us to the topic at hand!
My inner Eee-Orr identifies & agrees with you - which brings us back to morse code...even though the NSA is flying drones in current war zones, copying ALL communication formats...there is one thing that they cannot decipher...and my friend Luck WA4STO introduced me to the concept: bad code cannot be deciphered!
So, I'm hoping I develop a desire to learn code - because I don't yet have it - but until then, I'm going to invest in a code reader and see if I can pick up a way to break it down and begin to copy my own.
More than one way to skin a cat.
In the movie "Independence Day" those were no-code aliens.
(http://rankatron.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/area51-independence-day-attack.jpg)
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Peer-2-peer goes directly between hams.
a WINLINK message goes into the WINLINK system for auto-forwarding. Via internet, it will route to the stations where the ham usually picks-up his radio e-mail, or to the 'normal e-mail address of a non-ham.
It is very common for hams to have a couple of WINMOR (or winlink) stations between them where they can send/receive messages for each other, not requiring internet, by using those intermediary stations as a BBS/Mail Box. There is also provision for BULLETINS which is quite handy during disasters.
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Quote from: RadioRay on November 18, 2012, 03:59:20 PM
In the movie "Independence Day" those were no-code aliens.
de RadioRay ..._ ._
C-130, F-5, F-16 and F-18 Hornet all caught on the same ramp. Don't you love "joint-ness?" Well played, sir.
;D
My $.02 adjusted for the drachma is that we should not lose sight of the fact that we may be inadvertently mentally prepping for one thing to the exclusion of all else. Prep, in general, will support many scenarios. If you're already there, then by all means take an "any & all" approach.
Otherwise it might be wise to take the elephant in manageable bites. With some deep soul searching and honest-to-goodness research answer these:
- What is the most credible man-made/instigated threat to me & mine?
- What is the most credible natural event that is a threat to me & mine?
:)
Quote from: KC9TNH on November 18, 2012, 06:52:54 PM
- What is the most credible man-made/instigated threat to me & mine?
- What is the most credible natural event that is a threat to me & mine?
:)
Man made event: terrorist attack, EMP attack, U.S. government going totally rogue, home invasion, economic collapse, nuclear accident.
Natural event: tornado, earth quake, coronal mass ejection.
These are only some. There are others that could be either man made or natural, one such being fire.
One event that greatly concerns me, an area where I have worked for the past 20 years is the food processing industry. In every case, they have large storage facilities of Anhidrus Amonia - on the order of half a million to a million pounds. While this type of event would be localized, there would be no escape for many residents within a 5 to 10 mile radius.
There are thousands of threats to our safety that could constitute serious and life threatening scenarios. These are threats that we should all be mindful of. Regarding a nuclear or amonia incident, moving out of the area before the by-products migrate to your location is paramount.
Situational awareness is your best friend when living in an industrialized area.
Quote from: RadioRay on November 18, 2012, 03:59:20 PM
In the movie "Independence Day" those were no-code aliens.
(http://rankatron.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/area51-independence-day-attack.jpg)
de RadioRay ..._ ._
And we must then perfect
bad code...because, someone might be listening, but not everyone can decipher
bad code!
I use another tactic: Slow-as-molasses code, which is easily decodable, but nobody has the patience to do so. Well, except Ray sometimes, I don't know how he does it...
Gil.
Quote from: KC9TNH on November 18, 2012, 06:52:54 PM
- What is the most credible man-made/instigated threat to me & mine?
- What is the most credible natural event that is a threat to me & mine?
:)
Excellent decision tree, starting point.
In my case, I began with the idea of prepping for a natural disaster ( been through several of the same types in Florida over the past 30 years)...
My credible man made instigation -
caused me to actually start prepping.
The global economic melt down isn't on the horizon, it
already started. Like an explosion going off, you may not know when it happened - but when the whistling stops ringing in your ears, and you start to feel your head throbbing, you instantly
know two things:
1) You lived through it.
2) Your life will never be the same.
We're in the 5th straight year of the highest unemployment, for the longest sustained period, of any time during my life. At this exact moment we also have the highest public debt load ever in my life, and at least 15 quarters of the most erratic/volatile stock/commodity market valuation in my life.
...more people are retiring than at any time in our history, and they're about to be supported (for the first time in my life) by fewer workers than there are retirees...
Food is skyrocketing, credit is tight, rent is through the roof, and we have the most folks on food stamps in the HISTORY of the program...
You aren't heading for the cliff...you passed the cliff...quite a while ago. The printing of dollars aren't padding our fall, they're extending our drop. That means they're cranking up those presses to give folks more time...take advantage of the time...don't wait for relief, the cavalry was way-layed, "help" ain't what they're planning - COG is what now occupies the minds of the central planners (Continuity Of Government): "How does government survive the worst-case-scenario, then how does it reassert control if/after that happens..."
Unless you're sitting on piles-o-cash, or piles of food/guns/ammo and have access to a lot of water - you'd better
start doing what uncle Sam's been doing (...while he distracts you with CFB/NFL/NASCAR/MLB/World Cup/Kardashians (etc.,) on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday's...to take your mind off of the heaviness of reality...)...
...prepping!
...buy food first - find water, then the means to protect both...you're already here, so hopefully that means you have comm's-as-prepps, figured out!
F-O-O-O-D...
Quote from: KC5OTL on November 18, 2012, 07:53:53 PM
One event that greatly concerns me, an area where I have worked for the past 20 years is the food processing industry. In every case, they have large storage facilities of Anhidrus Amonia - on the order of half a million to a million pounds. While this type of event would be localized, there would be no escape for many residents within a 5 to 10 mile radius.
I think that's a phenomenally good example of a specific event which can lead to questions of shelter-in?/evac? And for each a branch from there... etc. What would be available from response (alot less than you think) and what do you need?
Slow-as-molasses code works fine as long as the within-character intervals are reasonable. (Otherwise it's t e t t e t e t t t t e.....)
For those who simply would like to toss in the towel. (http://www.nowzerodays.com/)
QuoteN0D: A Special Event Station celebrating The End of the world!
That's right! The end is finally near. According to one of the three Mayan Calendars, the End of the world will occur on December 21, 2012. To celebrate this?literally?once in a lifetime event, Special Event Station N0D (Now Zero Days) will be activated for three days during and possibly after the end of the world. December 20; is a celebration of the end of the world. December 21, the day of destruction, we will be on the air as long as possible. December 22...that is a little iffy right now.
dit dit
:)
N0D - That's funny! I am designing a WAS certificate (Worked All Survivors) for post event contesting...
---
As for the Decision tree:
1. Financial collapse: We are already in 'it', but it's a train wreck in SUCH slow motion that we're not in shock and even worse, most people are not perceiving the magnitude of the downward motion of the economy -v- the upward surge of inflation from the banker bail-outs. The welfare State is a ticking time-bomb, which I believe will be used as shock troops to take down most of any resistance, before it's time for the gummit to mop-up those who are left. It's a Win/Win for tyrants: two birds/one stone.
Have the government threaten entitlements, the media whip-up a crowd with reporting of events - real or contrived and the usual suspects will hit the streets as they shift into high level crime/low level warfare against those who are still functioning [that's us]. This 'war' would eliminate the non-productive burden and greatly thin any potential resistance forces by having the mob and the resistance fight each other to the bitter end, then the paid troops slide-in to kill/control what remains. Ordo Ab Chao [Order out of Chaos] . It's an old game and well practiced. Ask the Polish Resistance during WW II why the USSR told them to rise-up! , then the Soviet troops were held back until both Nazis and Poles were almost completely fought out, and THEN the Red Army moved in to kill/enslave what remained of all sides. Joe Stalin did this in many places and I would believe that so will these guys, given the chance. The reporters will be gushing out praise of how the politicians liberated us. "History" will be written by those who remain victorious. This is why history will convince you that good people never lost a war. . . because good or bad, those defeated are NOT allowed to write the history, so that even the most evil tyrants look like perfumed princes in their own 'history'. [but I digress...]
2. Natural Disaster: We were (fortunately) on the south/west side of Hurricane Sandy (Thank God) and so had a little less wind. The effect of the storm surge was negated by these same winds blowing water OUT of th Chesapeake Bay in my region, making what remained of the surge more like a very high tide, rather than a Hurricane surge. We can deal with four feet of extra tide.
Fortunately, the best thing that I can do in this mortal life is also a bit of fun with more home 'mini-farming' , perrenial food plants, laying hens, fishing and etc. The more that I can make this little house into a cornucopia of fruit, nut and garden production, the better. There is no downside to these kind of preps, because if you over do it - you eat your mistakes and share with neighbors and recycle the surplus through the hens and compost pile.
It's just good home-economics: Shelter, water, fire and the last 0.01& is the ability to defend your shelter, water & fire.
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Quote from: RadioRay on November 20, 2012, 10:46:03 AM
N0D - That's funny! I am designing a WAS certificate (Worked All Survivors) for post event contesting...
---
As for the Decision tree:
1. Financial collapse: We are already in 'it', but it's a train wreck in SUCH slow motion that we're not in shock and even worse, most people are not perceiving the magnitude of the downward motion of the economy -v- the upward surge of inflation from the banker bail-outs. The welfare State is a ticking time-bomb, which I believe will be used as shock troops to take down most of any resistance, before it's time for the gummit to mop-up those who are left. It's a Win/Win for tyrants: two birds/one stone.
Have the government threaten entitlements, the media whip-up a crowd with reporting of events - real or contrived and the usual suspects will hit the streets as they shift into high level crime/low level warfare against those who are still functioning [that's us]. This 'war' would eliminate the non-productive burden and greatly thin any potential resistance forces by having the mob and the resistance fight each other to the bitter end, then the paid troops slide-in to kill/control what remains. Ordo Ab Chao [Order out of Chaos] . It's an old game and well practiced. Ask the Polish Resistance during WW II why the USSR told them to rise-up! , then the Soviet troops were held back until both Nazis and Poles were almost completely fought out, and THEN the Red Army moved in to kill/enslave what remained of all sides. Joe Stalin did this in many places and I would believe that so will these guys, given the chance. The reporters will be gushing out praise of how the politicians liberated us. "History" will be written by those who remain victorious. This is why hostory will convince you that good people never lost a war. . . because good or bad, loosers are NOT allowed to write the history, so even the most evil tyrants look like perfumed princes in their own 'history'. [but I digress...]
2. Natural Disaster: We were (fortunately) on the south/west side of Hurricane Sandy (Thank God) and so had a little less wind. The effect of the storm surge was negated by these same winds blowing water OUT of th Chesapeake Bay in my region, making what remained of the surge more like a very high tide, rather than a Hurricane surge. We can deal with four feet of extra tide.
Fortunately, the best thing that I can do in this mortal life is also a bit of fun with more home 'mini-farming' , perrenial food plants, laying hens, fishing and etc. The more that I can make this little house into a cornucopia of fruit, nut and garden production, the better. There is no downside to these kind of preps, because if you over do it - you eat your mistakes and share with neighbors and recycle the surplus through the hens and compost pile.
It's just good home-economics: Shelter, water, fire and the last 0.01& is the ability to defend your shelter, water & fire.
de RadioRay ..._ ._
Excellent post - QFT
Quote from: RadioRay on November 20, 2012, 10:46:03 AMI am designing a WAS certificate (Worked All Survivors) for post event contesting...
LMAO. Another cup of coffee saved in the nick o' time.
;D
Quote from: RadioRay on November 20, 2012, 10:46:03 AM
N0D - That's funny! I am designing a WAS certificate (Worked All Survivors) for post event contesting...
---
As for the Decision tree:
1. Financial collapse: We are already in 'it', but it's a train wreck in SUCH slow motion that we're not in shock and even worse, most people are not perceiving the magnitude of the downward motion of the economy -v- the upward surge of inflation from the banker bail-outs. The welfare State is a ticking time-bomb, which I believe will be used as shock troops to take down most of any resistance, before it's time for the gummit to mop-up those who are left. It's a Win/Win for tyrants: two birds/one stone.
Have the government threaten entitlements, the media whip-up a crowd with reporting of events - real or contrived and the usual suspects will hit the streets as they shift into high level crime/low level warfare against those who are still functioning [that's us]. This 'war' would eliminate the non-productive burden and greatly thin any potential resistance forces by having the mob and the resistance fight each other to the bitter end, then the paid troops slide-in to kill/control what remains. Ordo Ab Chao [Order out of Chaos] . It's an old game and well practiced. Ask the Polish Resistance during WW II why the USSR told them to rise-up! , then the Soviet troops were held back until both Nazis and Poles were almost completely fought out, and THEN the Red Army moved in to kill/enslave what remained of all sides. Joe Stalin did this in many places and I would believe that so will these guys, given the chance. The reporters will be gushing out praise of how the politicians liberated us. "History" will be written by those who remain victorious. This is why history will convince you that good people never lost a war. . . because good or bad, those defeated are NOT allowed to write the history, so that even the most evil tyrants look like perfumed princes in their own 'history'. [but I digress...]
Very acccurate history lesson this is. In modern times if one wants to watch the MSM whip up the peasants one can look to France recently, or if you're really hungry, Greece. (The UK masses are only now starting to ask questions about what all their EU money given has bought them. Shhhhh.)
Those who can defend their homesteads should know the legal latitude the authorities (waiting in the wings) will grant them. The miscreants may not have bought up 5.56 or 7.62 in 1K round boxes but they might have learned how to make a Molotov cocktail and done some flash-mobbing practice at their local Stop & Rob. (Worth noting in my state anyway that even
attempted arson of an occupied dwelling is an offense that garners the judicious application of deadly force. But I digress...)
The scenario cited with the Poles is a real one. I have a close friend whose grand-father was in that brotherhood (he managed to keep going westbound...). The Sovs played them like a banjo. Lesson: Save your stockpiles and remember that, for any resistance, it's much more important to
survive than to win one particular battle that you hope will be the remake of Red Dawn 2016. Yes, sorry, that means no embedded reporters - none.
Darn these digressions - it's all this talk of fire, which makes me think this is a run-off the zombies lesson.
Anyway, unless WO1 Ripley is in charge of all the spacecraft, hang in there.
8)
Quote from: WA4STO on November 18, 2012, 12:24:52 PM
Quote from: White Tiger on November 18, 2012, 11:28:39 AM
Oh - even more cool! Does it operate like an email program? Either way, that is going to be awesome - cant wait!
To my eye, it looks a LOT like email. Here's a generic example that comes with RMS Express / Winmor
(http://www.hurderconsulting.net/radiostuff/white.jpg)
No need to "wait"; the system is already up and running, 365/24/7. Did I mention it was all free?
I would guess that, with your location now, there'd be access to the system on 2 meters by way of your IC271. As for the Ten-Tec OMni, that's still a work in progress but you're getting there as we speak/type.
73 de Luck, WA4STO
OK, this interests me in an extremely serious way, but unfortunately it seems like nobody has ever bothered to port a Mac client. I may have to break down and either buy a cheap-ass Windoze machine, or install a Windows partition on my MacBook Pro again. Grrrr.....
Yah that bites, in a big way.
O.T.O.H. having been a long-time Windoze developer, I'm used to my ever-present shrug when trying to explain to the Mac crowd why the software they really want to run is just not available. You've found yet another.
Pretty sure you already know this, but the W2LK system is accessible via the Mac and Airmail. Not the same by any means but an option.
I'm gaining ground with Winmor but it's a slow grind.
73 de WA4STO
>>>N0D - That's funny! I am designing a WAS certificate (Worked All Survivors) for post event contesting...
Heh, considering the Worked All Zones award these days, and noting with some wry humor that the last letter could well stand for 'zombies'.
OK, back to the Walking Dead series now...
73 de Luck, WA4STO