It’s crucial to understand and apply urban survival skills if you can’t get out of a city, or even if you choose to stay.

 

This section is an urban survival “guide” to help you thrive if things get bad.

 

Food Storage

You should have enough survival food to last at least six months, but actually more is better.

 

This means enough food to live on without leaving home.

 

The most popular food staple items in a survival situation include rice, beans, flour, honey, wheat, sugar, tea, coffee, salt, pepper, baking soda, and cooking oil etc.

 

In addition, canned soups, meats, fruits and vegetables are easy to store and very economical.

     

Sprouting seeds will enable you to have fresh greens throughout the winter. Your local organic store and most of the larger supermarkets will have these.

 

Sprouts are germinated seeds of vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes.

 

Sprouts are nutritious, inexpensive and very high in protein. Sprouts should be included in an urban survival plan.

 

If you want whole grains then a grain grinder is the way to go. You can find these are most large department stores, Walmart and online.

 

Cooking

One of the best outdoor cook stoves is the Coleman multi-fuel camp stoves. They run on propane or kerosene. These stoves are small and super lightweight.

You can also cook with a thermos. Their insulating properties make them ideal for cooking foods like oats, dried beans, soup and whole grain cereals. Simply bring the ingredients to a boil and pour it into a thermos bottle.

Commonsense Shelter Tactics

There are things you can do to make your home or apartment in the city more secure. You can install a steel security door with dead bolt lock. Doors are incredibly easy to replace.

 

You can install magnetic door and window alarms. The alarms will sound off when vibrated.

 

You should have an escape ladder or rope if it’s practical for your situation.

   

If you are in immediate danger or being followed you can seek shelter in a number of “safe houses”, such as public buildings, libraries, hospitals, and even schools or universities.

 

Your home or apartment is your sanctuary. If you do not feel safe or if you suspect your location, building or circumstances could become unstable, now is the time to move, not later. People often wait until it’s too late in a disaster.

 

Fresh Clean Water 

It’s absolutely crucial to have a source of fresh clean drinking water.

 

City water is unacceptable if the system or electrical grid goes down. Water terrorism is a very real threat. Public utilities may use the “threat” of contaminated water to keep jobs, funding, and political power.

 

Bottled water is fine. You can also purchase 5 and 10 gallon water containers at most grocery stores or club warehouses like Sam’s.

 

Water purification systems are fairly inexpensive these days. The new water purification bottles are effective too.

 

The brands Sawyer Inline Water Bottle or Brita’s Water Filter Bottle are good choices.

      

Collecting fresh rain water is a great source of clean water too. Most camping supplies stores offer water collection tanks or devices.

 

In Bermuda water collection is a science.

 

The best water filters remove bacteria, organic compounds and protozoa (giardia) and other viruses.     

 

Urban Survival Weapons

These weapons will be a matter of personal preference.

 

Firearms are not best solution for everyone.

 

Here are some several urban survival weapons for most situations and people.

 

Pepper spray

Perfect for keeping in your jacket or purse. The best products put out a shot gun blast pattern of pepper spray so you know you hit your target. (Made in USA)

 

Magnum Bear Spray

This stops all mammals up to the size of a Grizzly Bear in their tracks, so it works on humans too. Fogger shotgun blast pattern assures good effect on target.

 

Knife

The Spyderco Manix is one of the best folding knives available for novices.  The blade is made of high carbon steel.

 

Firearms

Military weapons are built to take punishment and keep working. One of the best and most affordable military grade firearms is the SKS. The rifle comes with a short stock and easy to use. The next gun to consider is a 22 rifle. Ruger 10-22 is a well-built gun. Make sure it has a repeater; you don’t want a single shot gun. The Glock 21 SF is a good choice for a handgun. It is a 45 caliber and accepts a 13-round magazine.

 

Stun Gun

There are dozens of styles, variations and types of stun guns available. But it needs to be easy to operate and it needs to be powerful. In some cases stun guns are unable to stop criminals high on bath sales or

Methamphetamine. The Double Trouble is one of the best stun guns on the market and it sells for about $60. It runs on batteries.

 

Air guns and sling shots

Airsoft guns used to be for weekend warriors and paintball enthusiasts. Today, airsoft guns are sophisticated, powerful weapons. The high powered rifles can be used for self-defense. But farmers and ranchers use them for killing small game and rodents. They are easy to handle and fire, and come in many different varieties.

You can find hundreds of models at ShortyUSA. Sling shots require more skill and patience. But sling shots are very powerful and can be used in a variety of situations.

 

The Urban Survival Garden

 

The best urban survival garden is out of sight and detection. You can bet people will be looking for food, and in most cases scavengers did not plan in advance.

 

North American Indians use the Three Sisters plating technique. It is an ancient method of gardening using an intercropping system which grows corn, beans, and squash crops simultaneously in the same growing area.

 

Most of the time a rounded hill or mound of soil works fine.  You can grow corn, beans and squash without anyone noticing and it acts as a natural camouflage too.

    

Seeds will become a valuable commodity in any disaster. Make sure the seed you use is the non-hybrid (“heirloom”) variety.

 

You can plant and grow all of the vegetables you want. They’re easy to maintain and cultivate. Weeds will be your biggest challenge.

 

The Right Skills Could Save Your Life

 

It’s important to prepare a head of time and develop the skills need to survive and thrive in an urban situation.

 

Therefore, it’s a good idea to understand how to handle firearms and weapons. It’s also a sound strategy to AVOID problems, situations and certain people - this is a learned skill.

 

But the right skills also include having an escape plan and learning how to be self-reliant by growing your own food and collecting fresh water.

Riots and Looting is Possible

The populated urban areas will most likely endure rioting, burning and looting. Stores, shops and gas stations will be targeted.

 

If rioting and looting erupt in your area do not “check it out”. Crowds behave differently than individuals, and especially angry crowds inebriated on drugs and alcohol or both.

 

The objective of urban survival is to survive!

 

Black Belt Avoidance Strategies

 

In a perfect world people would behave normally. 

 

There would be no bad guys roaming the streets looking for houses or apartments to break into for drug money. 

 

There would be no human trafficking; no rape; no domestic violence or brutal robberies. 

 

But we don’t live in perfect world and these things do exist.  If you deny bad things happen you will increase your risk of becoming a victim.

 

The best self-defense you can learn is avoidance.

 

The best martial arts training in the world will always center on black belt avoidance strategies.

 

If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, then self-defense is crucial.

 

But avoidance should always be the primary objective. 

 

Avoidance won’t help you if a bad guy has you on the ground.  But there are steps you can take in order to escape unharmed.

 

Learn martial arts could be a sound strategy.

 

But our focus in this section is AVOIDING problems, people and situations, if you do not have martial arts training.

 

 

Avoidance Strategies

 

Avoiding dangerous situations is the objective off all good self-defense and martial arts.

 

Attackers are typically larger, stronger, and armed. Fighting to defeat the attacker is not always the best approach

 

In order to attack, an aggressor must have three elements in place: desire, distance, and decision.

 

If any one of these elements can be removed, an attack can be avoided without resorting to physical self-defense.

When avoidance is impossible, you often have a better chance at fighting to escape. In martial arts this is referred to as 'break away' techniques.

Personal alarms can be used in most “break away” techniques.

 

A personal alarm is a small, hand-held device which emits strong, loud, high pitched sounds to deter attackers because the noise draws attention to the attacker.

 

Verbal self-defense is using words to prevent or de-escalate an attempted assault.It is a way of using words as weapons.

 

The use of your voice, tone, and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violence actually ensues. You can also use your voice in an aggressive manner to confuse the attacker.

 

Black Belt Avoidance Tactics

 

The following tactics are taught by the finest martial arts academies in the world. These may be common horse sense but they are still very powerful and could save your life.

 

Two common denominators in these tactics include travel with friends or companions, and nothing good happens after midnight.

 

1.      Travel in a group or with a companion
2.      Avoid enclosed areas after dark, ie alleys, hallways and empty buildings
3.      Avoid bars and nightclubs after midnight
4.      Avoid high crime and drug riddled areas, especially after dark
5.      Never shop at a supermarket or mall at night, if you do use the valet service
6.      Never leave drinks, food or beverages unattended in public
7.      If cornered by an attacker quickly scan area for an escape route or weapon.
8.      The objective of a weapon is to kill or seriously maim attackers. Do not use weapons to hurt someone “a little”
9.      Never allow a stranger into your home, apartment or car
10. Learn how to lose someone following you. Google it.

 

Neil Strauss Emergency Plan

 

Neil Strauss is a soft spoken Columbia-educated “hipster". He wrote a book on dating and picking up girls, and Emergency, which is a tome on urban escape and evasion.

Wilderness survival is "really hard for someone who is not a nature person," admits Strauss. But it is also empowering. It helps you think for yourself and make quick, accurate judgments, which could save your life.

 

Neil secured citizenship in another country. It took a lot of time and a half a million dollars, but now he’s a citizen of the island of St. Kitts. He's learning to fly an airplane so it’s easier to get there.

"There's a certain group of people, we are scared enough to get prepared, but we're not scared enough to leave the city," notes Strauss, a Chicago native.

 

His quest began as an exercise in avoiding crime and other mischief in the city after 9-11 and this led to self-reliance. He’s made plans to flee, but he's equally prepared to stay in an urban setting and deal with whatever happens.

 

Here are some of interesting things Neil Strauss discovered and details in Emergency:

 

      Emergency responders and rescue teams receive priority during an emergency. The phone calls of regular civilians are NOT a priority.

 

      FEMA and other rescue groups, do not make it their mandate to get into an emergency situation as soon as possible, i.e., instantly. They are not there to protect you, it’s not their job.

 

      The State of California has planned to take DNA samples from every person arrested within its borders.

 

      Most Swiss banks no longer work with U.S. citizens. The new U.S. laws which require reporting of all overseas deposits by American citizens are the reason why.  So much for financial privacy!

 

      U.S. citizens are still required to pay U.S. taxes even once they officially emigrate and move overseas on a new citizenship – for another 10 years.  Talk about taxes being one of the only two certainties in life.

 

      The U.S. ranks only #53 in a ranking of the level of freedom in world press/media.

 

Part of Neil Strauss’ emergency plan is fleeing to another country and obtaining a second passport.

 

But he also has a Plan B which includes staying, and living in urban areas.

 

Here are ten priority areas for succeeding in a “hostile” urban survival environment:

 

      Food, water, shelter and heat will always be the top priority. Always have backup food, water and fuel for backup heating devices

 

      Safety. Travel in groups when practical. Always keep your home or apartments secure (deadbolts, window locks, etc.). Know how and when to defend yourself – take a class get a stun gun.

 

      Find alternate routes through the city. Always have alternate routes in case main streets or arteries are blocked, destroyed or removed.

 

      Get a bike, moped or skooter. Whenever you drive a car, truck or SUV in the city you are more susceptible to crime, car-jackings or worse. Granted, you can get mugged on a bike or moped just as easy but not likely. It’s much easier to get around a city with smaller transport.

 

 

      Know the safe houses or safe locations ahead of time. Pinpoint the best safe houses close to your home, work or wherever you hang out.

 

      Spend more time with your kids. If you have children spend more time with them and reduce babysitting. Your kids will always be safer with you.

 

      Plant an urban garden. Use the Three Sisters technique. This is not only a great source of food, working in a garden will help reduce stress, make you more self-reliant and improve your outlook.

 

      Enjoy the surroundings. Urban areas will continue to deteriorate and become infested with crime. But not everything will be ruined. Find things to do in the surrounding area; walk, jog, fish, bike, climb, play sports, sightsee, physical activity.

 

Large metro areas are vulnerable to any disruption in the system. A good strategy for surviving and thriving in an urban environment includes stocking certain food and vegetables, or planting a garden. Learning the right urban survival skills could save your life.

 

In the next chapter I’ll show you how to live abundantly “off the grid”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6 – Living Abundantly Off the Grid

Is Little House on the Prairie Really Possible Today?

 

I’ve always loved the simplicity, honesty and family centered living in the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, as well as the popular TV show by Michael Landon.

 

But, is Little House of the Prairie really possible in today?

 

We’ll find out in this chapter.

 

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 in the log cabin described in Little House in the Big Woods.

 

She and her family traveled by covered wagon across the Midwest.

 

Later, Laura and her husband, Almanzo Wilder, made their own covered-wagon trip with their daughter, Rose to Mansfield, Missouri.

 

There, believing in the importance of knowing where you began in order to appreciate how far you've come, Laura wrote about her childhood growing up on the American frontier. For millions of readers Laura lives on forever as the little pioneer girl in the beloved Little House books.

 

In one excerpt from the book Laura recounts her father selling their house and land and moving west.

One day in the very last of the winter Pa said to Ma, "Seeing you don't object, I've decided to go see the West. I've had an offer for this place, and we can sell it now for as much as we're ever likely to get, enough to give us a start in a new country."

"Oh, Charles, must we go now?" Ma said. The weather was so cold and the snug house was so comfortable.

"If we are going this year, we must go now," said Pa. "We can't get across the Mississippi after the ice breaks."

The correlation between today and the days of Little House on the Prairie is amazing.

For some readers this will mean selling everything and moving to an area of the world that’s safer, cleaner and offers more opportunity.

For others it will mean staying where they are and “hunkering down”.

But either way a decision must be made or it will be made for you.

Little House on the Prairie is a metaphor.  But it can also be literal.

As you’ll see if you read Laura Ingalls Wilder books seeking opportunity is not always easy. Sometimes it takes back breaking work, sacrifice, and baring great burdens, for yourself and for your family.

But in the end, there will be great satisfaction knowing you made a choice for something better. When “better” materializes your life takes on a deeper meaning, scope and perspective.

Little House on the Prairie is possible today.

The Secret of Victory Gardens

 

Victory Gardens were started during World War I as a way of relieving food rationing and shortages.

 

People encouraged by their governments to start gardens and grow food in large metro areas and suburbs.

 

Most people don’t think about planting fruit trees or shrubs in a Victory Garden.

 

But fruit trees are the easiest food to grow. But you have to focus on fruit native to your area. Ignoring this principle is why people have such a hard time with fruit trees.

 

You can’t grow bananas in Canada or blueberries in the Arizona desert. Certain varieties do well in different areas. Fruit shrubs, like blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are super easy to plant and maintain, and are actually quite hardy, so you can grow them in most areas.

 

 

 

 

Garden Secrets Anyone Can Master

 

The key to growing vegetables, herbs, species and even flowers in a Victory Garden is the soil.

 

Often times people think adding fertilizer, nutrients, compost or minerals to the soil will help things grow. This is NOT always the case. You can over fertilize a garden.

 

Things have been growing for millions of years before people showed up. Granted, the soil has been breached, contaminated and eroded over the years.

 

But, if you have good, healthy soil, that is all you need.

 

Compost is different.

 

Compost is naturally rich in all kinds of organic material. Most gardens love compost.

 

Make sure your garden will have at least six hours of sunlight a day.

 

Raised garden or flower beds work well in most conditions too.

 

Raised beds do not have to be more than 10 to 12 inches high with wood sides to keep the soil from spilling over.

 

The best way to ward off bugs, pests and animals is with organic bug powder and spray.

 

Choosing the Best Vegetables and Herbs

 

Picking the right vegetables and herbs can be a lot of fun, but don’t get carried away and pick too many.

 

Keep three simple things in mind when picking vegetables and herbs

 

1)     Native to your area
 
2)     ) Easy to plant and grow

 

3)     People will eat it
 
Your local garden club can tell you which vegetables will grow best in your area.

 

Only plant short rows of the type of vegetables you want. Thus will make it easy to manage and maintain. If you “over plant” it may ruin the other vegetables, herbs and flowers, so leave at least 6-8 inches between plants.

 

Only Use Organic Non-Hybrid Seeds
There are actually many reasons to use organic, non-hybrid seeds. Here are a few of them:

 

Nutritional content is not the primary criteria of the “hybridization” movement. The profit motive is the primary motive. When you grow open pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties you are growing original strains with much higher nutritional content than varieties that have been bred for color, storability and portability. And they taste better!

 

If the economic downturn becomes inflationary, the cost of food, vegetables and non-hybrid seeds could skyrocket. If seeds double or triple in price it will still be worth it – health-wise.

 

You can buy organic, non-hybrid- seeds in bulk from local co-ops, organic stores and local farmers (as well as online). These will be great for your Victory Garden, as well as an investment.

 

In hard times, one of the best ways to reduce your cost of living is by growing your own food. In the 40’s there were an estimated 22 million Victory Gardens in the US. These gardens produced the same amount of food as the entire commercial farming industry!

 

You can also save seeds from your previous harvest which save money for next year’s garden.

 

Victory Gardens provide economic security by lowering the cost of food, add to your health and wellness, and provide an investment opportunity (sell produce and seeds to others, or donate them to loved ones).

 

 

 

How to Live Off the Grid - A Personal Journey by Jeff & Kathy Chaney

 

The Chaney’s have lived “off the grid” in rural Tennessee for more than ten years.

 

They built an alternative energy homestead, enjoy the benefits cell phone and mobile broadband services, but insist it does not support big oil, electric conglomerates, and water, sewer, or satellite providers.

 

They live mortgage free, and they do not wear tin foil hats or wait out the horrors of this world in a bomb shelter.

 

Jeff Chaney and his wife are living “off the grid” as cheaply and as comfortable as possible.

 

Jeff suggested the comfort level someone might enjoy will be proportionate to the available budget. But he insists any comfort level can be raised using your own knowledge and abilities.

 

Their desire was to create a sustainable lifestyle using a minimum investment.

 

Jeff and Kathy are not experts in any given field, nor do they hold any advanced degrees. Jeff’s qualification is the fact they’re living “off the grid” daily.

 

The amount of money it takes to live and build a sustainable lifestyle “off the grid” depends on the amount of work you do for yourself, what you are willing to outsource, and how willing you are to learn new skills.

 

Jeff and Kathy did most of the work themselves. Jeff said about 90%.

 

They found, purchased and cleared the land for their home in 1997.

They used standardized building practices to build their home, and this included obtaining materials, alternative energy, and waste water disposal.

 

They soon found out legal issues and building codes vary widely with location. But town offices and local officials can be very helpful.

 

Jeff suggested to a project right the first time. Because demolition and rebuilding are vastly more expensive than building it right the first time.

 

They are not connected to the electric, water or sewage grid, so electrical inspection was not required. This does not mean they ignored electrical codes. They used current standard electrical standards and codes for everything.

 

Jeff and Kathy are hoping to sustain their lifestyle and homestead for twenty to thirty years, or longer. So they approach every task with this goal in mind. 

 

Jeff reminds people on his blog they are off the grid. This means there are times when abundant power is not available. On occasion, especially in the winter, weather patterns dictate electrical usage and need to be curtailed at times.

 

He tells everyone with a desire to live off the grid to be prepared for a a lot of hard physical labor.

 

If you are working with a minimal budget, as they were, the physical and mental toll can be unimaginable at times.

 

Jeff’s original philosophy was to hire help only when absolutely necessary, to control costs. I questioned this wisdom many times. His wife questioned his sanity too!

 

But Jeff added, “If you want to know whether your marriage will work, build a house together. If you both survive, it’s possible the marriage will too!”

 

Jeff does not want people to be discouraged or intimidated, just prepared.

 

A sustainable lifestyle is a lot fun, rewarding and well worth the effort. You can live abundantly off the grid and experience a life of self0releiance, satisfaction and great joy.

 

You can follow Jeff and Kathy’s “off the grid” adventure on their blog Off the Grid Affordably

 

You can also read about them on Mother Earth News.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Deyo Food Storage Guide

 

Stan Deyo has held Top Secret Security Clearance and worked undercover for the FBI. He was part of an exclusive "black project", headed by Dr. Edward Teller specializing in the development of "flying saucer technology".

 

Stan is also a computer programmer, systems analyst, research physicist and an entrepreneur. He developed a food storage planner for emergency situations and preparedness. Stan is considered an expert in survival training, emergency situations and preparedness.

 

The Deyo Food Storage Guide is available as a downloadable software program and online.

 

In this section I provide a comprehensive overview.

 

One Year Food Storage

We recommend storing a year's supply of canned and packaged goods, and as much of the staples as you can.  The staples have a longer-than-one-year shelf life and consist of things like wheat, rice, beans, pasta, white sugar, pure, raw honey pure, and cold-pressed olive oil, etc.

 

Combining canned/packaged goods with the staples gives a variety and will extend your food for a longer period of time, especially if you cut down on how much is eaten every day.  You can find the Long-Term Food Storage Consumer's Guide online.
 

The minimum basics (staples) are designed to keep one person alive for one year.  But additional items add variety is highly recommended.

As a general rule the food in metal cans last at least a year (usually more) and food in packages last about six months.  

 

Organization is very important when panning food storage.  Make a written inventory.  Food storage calculators can be very useful. Here are three online food storage calculators:

 

Food Storage Analyzer

 

Simple Food Calculator
 

Deyo Food Calculator

 

You also need to store water. 

 

It is very bulky and heavy to store, so if you can't store it, you need a exceptional water filter (such as Katadyn Pocket Microfilter), extra filters and a water source. 

 

FEMA:  Food & Water In An Emergency

Miles Stair's Water Page

Variety is another important thing to remember when planning your food storage.  Adults often get what is known as "food fatigue" and stop eating.  Children can too, or they just refuse to eat strange foods. 

That's why having more foods than just the bare-bones staples is so vital. 

There are dozens of ways to prepare foods like rice and pasta to make them different and tasty. It is important have variety in your food storage program.

And since pasta is one of those staples, it's good to learn how to make excellent pasta.

 

The primary objective for the Deyo Food Storage Guide is sustained and save lives.

Therefore certain steps can be taken to insure you the right food, the right amount, the right storage and enough water. It’s important to build variety into ANY food storage program.

 

More useful resources:

 

The Emergency Lady:  Long-term Food Storage

Tips On Food Storage

Prudent Food Storage

 

 

Trusting the Right People (Money, Barter and Trade)

 

In 2001, inflation was soaring in Argentina. The Argentine peso dropped like a lead balloon.

 

Buenos Aires shoe salesman Pedro Perez found himself out of work and closed off from the market economy.

Shoe sales plummeted as prices soared. Perez could not support his family.

 

Perez joined with other Argentinians without the use of money by participating in a “new” barter system.

 

Barter systems are not new. Most of them fail miserably. But the barter system in this situation grew, flourished and prospered.

 

The New York Times reported more than a million Argentinians turned to this new moneyless, “barter” economy to solve some of their financial problems.

 

Perez carried sacks of shoes to the exchange clubs once a week to barter for fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

This new economy focused on sharing well-being, one economist observed.

 

The barter system sustained most of Argentina’s lower and middle classes through the money crisis.

 

The benefits of moneyless trade can apply anywhere.

 

New Web-based Bartering
 

Bartering in the 21st century is no different from the bartering of ancient civilizations or early American settlers.

 

The forum today is in cyberspace – online.

 

Internet barter helps people make connections with one another quickly and easily.

 

Obviously, not all barter is being done online. Most bartering will take place in your geographic area.

 

But you can find online bartering sites designed to handle specific demographics like busy mothers at MommySavers.com or specific geographic areas at CraigsList.com (swap, trade, barter category) or services trading BarterYourServices.com.

 

Business Exchanges

 

On a larger scale, companies, schools, and community groups are finding ways to operate without always using money too.

 

Barter relationships between businesses and other organizations can be set up on a single project basis. Surplus Exchange is a barter system which offers surplus office equipment and supplies to organizations.

 

Surplus Exchange executive director Rick Goring says the exchange includes about 1,400 members.

 

The White Dog Café does business using a “local” dollars program. They accept partial payment for meals “local” dollars. They seek local vendors who are willing to trade for business-related transactions.

 

Time Dollar Trades

 

Time Dollar Trade is a way to get what you need without money.

 

In the Time Dollar Trade system, members trade hours of labor.

 

One hour equals one service credit in the system no matter what the service (i.e., house-painting, computer services, or accounting etc.). This system honors everyone’s contributions equally.

 

The IRS has ruled that the Time Dollars Trade program is tax-exempt. But be sure to check for the most up-to-date information.

 

However, income generated by bartering is not tax-exempt.

 

The IRS says: “Bartering occurs when you exchange goods or services without exchanging money. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged must be included in the income of both parties.”

 

The Time Dollar Trade concept and network is growing.

 

Check out TimeBanks.org to see if there’s a Time Dollar Trade system in your area.

 

Barter and trade systems can work if the people in the community or network can be trusted.

 

World-class Luxuries

 

There is a misconception about living “off the grid” when it comes to abundance, luxuries and having the things which make us happy.

 

In this section I provide links to websites and mail order house to help you acquire some of life’s great luxuries and pleasures.

 

Luxuries can help living “off the grid” more palatable, and give us the motivation to survive and thrive if doomsday arrives or if things get really bad.

 

Cigars

http://www.thompsoncigar.com/

 

Fresh Belgian Chocolates

http://www.leonidas-chocolate.com/

 

Cognac

http://courvoisier.com

 

Cheese and Bourbon Fudge

http://www.gethsemanifarms.org/

 

Pure Wisconsin Ginseng

http://www.schumacherginseng.com/

 

Grass-fed Organic Beef

http://www.alderspring.com/

 

Fresh Tuna

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/tuna.htm

 

Seafood

http://www.seafoods-direct.com/

Certified Organic Coffee

http://www.rockcitycoffee.com/

 

Wine

http://www.hallwines.com/site/home

 

Organic Pet Food (for your loving creatures)

http://www.petfooddirect.com/

 

Organic, Gluten-free Bread

http://www.rudisbakery.com/

 

Organic Veal

http://www.dartagnan.com/

Truffles

http://www.nctruffles.com/purchase.html

 

Organic Oils

http://www.barleans.com/

 

Bath Oils and Soaps

http://www.saffronrouge.com/bath/bath-oils-milks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7 - International Escape Plan

I like the idea of having an international escape plan somewhere outside of your home country.

But I realize some people cannot or will not leave. That’s okay.

There’s nothing wrong with being happy and comfortable at home. I still think it’s a good idea to have a plan, just in case.

Having a plan ensures when you reach your breaking point you’ll know exactly where to go and what to do when you get there.

This is not a decision you’ll want to make while packing your suitcase.

Will it be safe if there’s rioting in the streets of the United States?

To be honest it’s not the rioting I’m worried about it’s the government’s response to it!

Some countries will have a Mubarak-style response to social upheaval.

When you see wide-scale riots in the streets of Cincinnati or Pittsburgh, the entire police force will show up in combat gear to squash the protestors.

Politicians will denounce participants as a “fringe minority of criminals” (this is how they refer to the Occupy Wall Street protesters). 

What’s more, politicians will laud the police for their courage and professionalism. That’s when the real fun begins. If you think you’re living in a police state now, just wait until they tighten the screws in response to mass riots. It’ll be an all-out war.

I know some of the countries we’ve recommended today and which are “stable” will probably experience their own problems in the future.

Four key differences to keep in mind

It’s important to know how dependent a country is on the outside world.

For example, a small country like Palau has to import everything; a country like Chile is fairly self-sufficient.

The more dependent you are on others the more potential for nasty upheaval. The US is OK in this area.

Second, are there existing tensions within society, particularly among race or class?

For example, countries with a large gap between rich and poor are going to be the first to break. The erosion of the middle class in North America and Western Europe is becoming a great concern.

Third, what is the level of violence or criminality in the culture?

Is it a society which deals with turmoil in a calm, stoic way (Japan), or do people go postal like in Zimbabwe?

In the US, there is certainly historical evidence (Hurricane Katrina, LA riots) which suggests there are pockets of society which could become unglued.

Fourth, what is the government response? Does the government have a massive military or paramilitary force to violently crush protestors or impose some state of martial law?

Bottom line– I’m not saying everyone should get out of dodge, damn the consequences.

Each person needs to weigh the options carefully against their own situation and craft a deliberate action plan. This includes a clear idea of where to go in case you reach your breaking point.

Chile is high on the list of most expats. Andorra is another nice option.

Some people are concerned about an international escape plan or moving because of a lack of cash.

The traditional recipe for success is pretty much dead.

In other words, “Working your way up the ladder” is not an option anymore.

Learning Valuable Skills to Increase Your Cash Position

The best way to improve your cash position is to learn a skill that’s valuable to other people– so valuable; in fact, they’re willing to pay you for it.

This could be anything, ranging from learning a foreign language to certifying rare coins to growing organic vegetables in people’s backyards.

Think about how you see the future and then consider what services will be in demand based on that vision. Learn how to provide those services.

Also, if you don’t have a lot of money, you’ll find opportunities to provide valuable services and create wealth are often greater overseas where the economy is growing and the market is not already saturated with competitors.

I’ve written about opportunities in Kosovo.

If you’re low on cash, remember living costs can be reduced dramatically overseas.

If you’re barely surviving on $2,000 per month, you can live quite well in places like Ecuador or Chile for $1,000 per month.

The most important thing is to have a plan. Know where you will go if you reach your breaking point.

Know specifically how you’ll get there, and what you’ll do the first couple of months. This doesn’t have to be a burden or stressful, it can be a fun exercise.

14 Travel Tips from a Savvy International Man

 

Ben Cohen travels the world in his business, and for pleasure. I don’t know anyone who has been through more airports, checkpoints, security scanning or interrogations then Ben.

 

He agreed to give me his top international travel tips.

 

Most of the time when people travel they’re nervous and fidgety. You need to be aware of what you look like when you travel, alone or with a family.

 

It is actually much easier to travel with a family or a group of people than it is on your own, from a security screening point of view.

 

Pretend you work for the TSA, Homeland Security, or for the Israeli Security at Ben Gurion International Airport. Terrorists have not penetrated Israeli airport security since 1972.

 

Jedi Knight Security Checkpoint Tips

 

The one thing which makes Israeli Airport Security the best in the world is profiling.

 

Profiling is a bad word in the US and Canada.

 

But then again the security at US and Canadian airports are clueless, and politically correct.

 

The U.S. Transportation and Security Administration treats all travelers the same, with the exception of people on the “terrorist watch list”.

Everybody shows the same documents, goes through the same lines and walks through the same machines.

 

Israeli security on the other hand separates travelers into two groups before they go to the x-ray machine.

 

All passengers speak to a polyglot agent.

 

These agents ask a series of questions, looking for nerves or inconsistent statements.

 

Most travelers pass the Q&A session easily – and there are no full-body scans!

 

Less than 5% of all travelers get singled out for additional screening.

 

The exact selection criteria are not publicly available (for obvious reasons) but ethnicity is a consideration.

 

There's more to Israeli airport security than secondary-screening.

 

Officials think of passengers as passing through a series of concentric circles, with increasing scrutiny as they get closer to boarding the plane.

 

Agents pay close attention to the parts of the airport passengers do not usually visit.

 

They monitor fences around the airport's perimeter 24/7 with cameras, humans and radar systems. All vehicles are subject to weight sensors, trunk x-ray, and an undercarriage scan.

 

Advanced Profiling Technology

 

Israeli’s are developing technology to replace the human agents.

 

When a traveler steps up to the new machine, it senses body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, just like a polygraph exam!

 

If the flyer's vital signs shift, he would be subject to secondary screening.

 

Officials in the U.S., Europe, and Canada are considering these high-tech solutions, Israeli officials will use this in conjunction with human profilers.

 

Our readers will not have too much to worry about when it comes to international travel. But there are some things you can do to reduce problems or eliminate them for you and your family when crossing international borders.

 

14 Travel Tips from a Savvy International Man

 

1.      Always carry documentation, passports and ID in a separate folder (one for each child if traveling as a family)
2.      Always know why you are traveling and for how long. Don’t say you don’t know.
3.      Travel lite. Why do people feel the need to carry so many bags, luggage, boxes, gifts, cameras, laptops and shopping bags? Ship as much as you can to your destination. When boarding a plane, boat or train carry less.
4.      Do not take a political stand. When you enter secure areas everyone is nervous, including guards, police, security agents and passengers. This is NOT the time to voice your opinion or take a political stand. If you are insulted by security, take it. You can resolve this later. The objective is to travel.
5.      A warm smile always disarms people – in almost every country. This isn’t grinning from ear to ear like a cartoon character. It is is warm, simple smile – with a “thank you”.

 

 

6.      Learn the language of the country you are traveling too. This doesn’t mean a 10-week college course or “immersion”. You can learn conversational language online or on YouTube in a few days or weeks. You only need to learn ten-fifteen of the most used words or phrases.
7.      Learn how to pack a suitcase. Everyone thinks they know how to pack a suitcase, but most fail. Pack a suitcase so security can empty contents and put them back in two minutes or less. In other words, nothing loose, everything has a place and purpose.
8.      Dress comfortably but not like a tourist. The best choice is business casual. Criminals can target tourists in 30 seconds or less. Don’t be a target.
9.      Carry one prepaid credit card. You don’t need your wallet if you’re a man, and you don’t need a full handbag if you are a woman. Kids should have simple, laptop backpacks – nothing more. You don’t need ten cards and loads of cash. Although I always carry a pocket full of 20’s – just a preference.
10. Know where your country’s embassy is and have at least two contacts and phone numbers of people in the country you are visiting.
11. Know if the country or area you are visiting is dangerous. Why are US citizens hiking across Iran, Syria and Rwanda? People want to stand out by being different. They end up in jail or killed.
12. Know how to protect yourself and family. You can’t beat up a “gang” of criminals. But you can quickly disable a lone ranger with death blows like Dim Mak. However, avoidance of problems is always the best choice.
13. Pack your own security devices. This can include door and window locks, Taser and mace. These can be made out of plastic or Kevlar to avoid detection. But always pack these in checked luggage.
14. Obtain an international prepaid cell phone, with voice mail, text and email capability. You can buy these in your country destination. In today’s world they are a must. Google has international voice mail for free and you can patch this into your cell phone number for easy access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Best Locations to Consider for Relocation

 

The following are the 8 best locations for immediate relocation.

 

This information is based on my network of entrepreneurs, travel experts, local residents and “on the ground” research and experience.

 

Chile

Chile is a leader in a number of important categories.

 

Chileans work more hours (2,068 hours per year per employee) than almost anyone in the world with the exception of people in South Korea, parts of China and Greece.

 

Chile ranks high in banking system stability.

 

Chileans have one of the best medical care systems in the world. The country still has the highest life expectancy in Latin America.

 

Chile has more medical school graduates than Israel or Japan with about 6 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants.

 

Chilean has some of the cleanest water in the world, which surprises most people. Chile has first class sewage treatment plants.

 

Ecuador

Ecuador is wired and you can find Internet access almost anywhere, except rural areas.

Ecuador is not as forward thinking as Panama or Malaysia when it comes to business and commerce. But it’s not bad.

Taxes are fairly reasonable in Ecuador.

It’s a beautiful country with warm friendly people. Real estate values are some of the best in the world, and certainly in Latin America.

Transportation is an issue, but not in larger towns and cities.

You can find luxury apartments for under $1,000 per month, with a maid.

Andorra

Andorra is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Andorra has no direct tax on individual income, there’s no tax on business profits, and no tax on gifts.

On top of that, there are no taxes on inheritances, and limited consumption taxation.

Androrra has some of the world’s lowest unemployment rates.

Andorra has prospered because they attract productive people and their capital. It is similar to what Hong Kong has done.

Real estate prices in Andorra are reasonable but not cheap.

There is almost no crime in Andorra.

The standard of living is among the best in the world.

Colombia

Colombia is known for drugs and terrorism.

 

Most people seem to think drug cartels and kidnappings dominate everything in Colombia. But it’s not true.

 

You have about the same chance of getting kidnapped in the United States!

 

Colombia has adopted its own culture of security. Police and military forces are everywhere.

 

It’s impossible to walk on the streets Bogota without seeing uniformed personnel.

 

Colombia is beautiful, vibrant, and is surprisingly sound economically speaking.

 

Colombia is healthy relative to the rest of the world.

 

The best city in Colombia in my opinion is Medellin. 

 

The weather is ideal in Medellin.

 

The people are friendly, the nightlife is something to behold, and the costs of products, goods and services are very reasonable.

 

Sri Lanka

The country is seeing the effects of inflation today. This is probably because its policy to keep the currency low against the US dollar.

Sri Lanka exports are strong.

Sri Lanka is a security culture and the troops can be seen on almost every corner.

Sri Lanka has a huge military. It comes out to about 11 troops per thousand people.

By comparison, the US has 9 troops per thousand, 6 in the UK, 5 in China, 5 in Canada, and 2 in India.

The culture is opportunistic and enterprising.

It’s cheap to live and work here.

The infrastructure is in good condition. The environment is okay but could be better.

A 1,500 square foot, 3-bedroom luxury apartment goes for about $1,200 per month including utilities.

The average meal with wine will run about $12. Sri Lanka has world-class medical care (without the arrogance found in Western countries).

English is widely spoken. Sri Lanka is really beautiful.

Sri Lanka is bustling with Chinese entrepreneurs and Asian investors.

Malaysia

Malaysia is super cheap.

 

It is one of the cheapest countries in the world.

 

I think the property prices are the most undervalued in the Pacific Rim.

 

Malaysia is rich in agricultural resources. High quality food is plentiful. The government subsidizes gasoline so gas is about $2/gallon!

 

Malaysia is full of modern conveniences, including world-class medical care and luxury products. 

 

What’s more, there is very little crime and Malaysia is relatively safe.

 

Your rights as a foreign asset owner are strong in Malaysia.

 

In addition, it’s super easy to move to Malaysia.

 

Malaysia is a transportation hub with an abundance of cheap flights to most Asian capitals.

 

Malaysia is a nice place to do business. It has a strong and vibrant economy.

 

There is a growing international finance industry in Labuan, Malaysia’s economically autonomous region too. 

 

Malaysia is a stable, well-developed Muslim nation.

 

Estonia

Estonia is devoid of most of the elements of extremism within its borders.

Estonia has a history of running a budget surplus. Estonia’s public debt is a manageable 7% of GDP.

The net result for Estonia is a steady decline in its unemployment rate. They are committed to economic growth.

Panama

Panama is vibrant city with a world-renowned international banking center.

 

It offers a free flow of capital, and a stable government.

On top of that, Panama is super easy to get to. It’s only 3 hours to Miami.

Panama has its fair share of problems, no place is perfect.

Panamanian officials welcome visitors with open arms.

Panama City may become Latin America’s new model city!

 

The Four Safest Places in the World to Avoid Natural Disasters

 

According to research spanning a period of more than 500 years, four places in world have been deemed “safest” when it comes to avoiding natural disasters.

 

The natural disasters used in the research included hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, Tsunami, and volcanic eruptions.

 

The four safest places:

 

New Zealand

New Zealand enjoys beautiful mountain chains, breathtaking coastlines, fiords and lush rainforests. It has the lowest incidence of natural disasters than anywhere else in the world.

 

Iceland

This Nordic state is among the highest longevity rates in the world. But it is also one of the safest. Iceland has experienced very few natural disasters over the last 500 years. It is also one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

 

Canada

Canada is the second largest nation in the world. It is also one of the most sparsely populated. Canada is one of the safest countries in the world, not only from natural disasters, but also from human disasters.

 

Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its pristine beauty. But Switzerland is also one of the safest countries in the world. It also has a friendly stance towards most countries making it welcome sign for people to come enjoy the safety of the Swiss Alps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8 –

Flawed Sense of “Community”

 

It’s true that no one is an island.

 

The concept of a community is one of the basic building blocks of being human. We’ve been building communities since the beginning of time.

 

Traditionally, human beings formed families, and the families became tribes. These were large collectives based on common factors such as geography, DNA, and eventually languages and core values.

Over time, the tribes grew into kingdoms and empires.

 

But the common factors which tied people together have become blurred.

 

Today, kingdoms and empires have become nation-states. The common factors which brought people together are limited.

We might look, talk, and dress alike. We might in the same community but our shared values are for the most part gone.

But we desperately need a trusted “community” or network of people in order to survive and prosper.

 

I’ve lived out in the middle of nowhere several times, and I can tell you, we need community; we need people with shared values around us.

 

The Amish and Other Resilient Communities

 

For example, the Amish communities are self-sufficient individuals.

 

But they would never attempt a barn rising alone.

 

The Amish are a group of Christian church fellowships which form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt the conveniences of modern technology.

 

The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann.

Homeschoolers

Homeschooling is a resilient group of people committed to the education of children at home.

The homeschool movement is a “community” and network of likeminded people, with various skills, core values, backgrounds and objectives. The members are quite resilient.

Homeschoolers from around the world have various religious, socio-economic and philosophical beliefs. Most of them do not have a central physical meeting place.  Online communities are increasingly popular as a place to share ideas, needs and exchange needed skills.

My wife and I homeschool our children so we know a few of the benefits.

Homeschooling is a legal option for parents in most countries to provide their children with an environment as an alternative to public or private schools.

Homeschool.com and TheHomeschoolLounge.com boast hundreds of thousands of community members.

 

There’s a big difference between a trusted network and expecting others to take care of you. The former is a position of strength, the latter a position of weakness.

 

When you build a network where you are a valued member you are an asset, not a liability.

Developing valuable relationships with like-minded people is very rewarding, personally and professionally.

 

Human beings are social creatures. And like it or not we will all need help someday.

 

It’s much easier when times are difficult knowing people in your network or “community” shares your core values and skills.

We can also congregate digitally in online communities, or in person at various expat havens or resilient communities, based on complementary skills, philosophy, and core values.

Do everything you can to find those people and build a network.

The Beauty of Online Communities

 

An online community is an Internet (or Extranet) community whose members share something in common. It can open to the public or it can be closed to members only.

 

Most online communities include tools for members to communicate with each other and share resources such as videos, pictures, content or email.

 

Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, Google+, Yahoo! Goups and Tumblr become “communities” when they focus on a common idea, cause, objective or desire.

 

Typically, online communities do not have a single person “in charge” rather the community polices itself.

 

eBay is an online community, as is YouTube, Ancestry.com and MLB.com.

 

The idea of a community is not new.

 

What’s new is transferring the community into the online world.

 

In the online world, social interactions do not require face-to-face meetings or based on geography. Online communities can be with anyone, anywhere at any time.

 

Gaia is one of the largest online communities with more than 23 million registered users and members. The community focuses on animation and video games.

 

Not everyone who joins an online community is a full time resident. There are various participation levels. But you can easily participate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9 – Free and Independent

You Can Be Free and Independent

 

True freedom is being able to make your own choices, without having the influence of other people or entities you haven’t invited into your life.

 

Freedom is having control of your time and the ability to make choices. Choices are based on what you want, and not being told by someone or something else.

 

I think everyone wants more freedom in his or her life, whether it’s freedom from their boss, or being able to have more time, or not having to worry about money, or bills.

 

These are the things people tend to worry about.

 

Everybody has issues and challenges but it’s about having the ability to work with these things.

 

This section is about actionable advice to help you achieve more freedom, and live a happier, richer and fuller life.

 

Six Ways to Enjoy Economic Independence

 

What would you do if your sole source of income dried up tomorrow?

Would you be prepared? Do you have a plan B?

 

In days ahead or even Doomsday income sources which were considered “stable” maybe at risk.

 

This includes retirement pensions, investment income, social security, salaries, wages, royalties and small business profits.

 

For example, retirees living on company pensions could easily see their monthly stipends fall due to corporate bankruptcies.

 

Hundreds of companies in the US and Canada slashed company pensions and benefits in 2011.

 

Public pensions like Social Security will probably not change in the short-term; this pathetic system will see massive restructuring in the next decade.

Meanwhile, many small business owners (and self-employed professionals) are already suffering reduced revenue as consumer priorities shift.

 

For salaried workers, we live in a time when the corporate profits at some companies are soaring, yet revenue growth is flat lining.

 

Companies are slashing expenses by reducing headcounts and squeezing every drop of productivity from a smaller workforce.

 

Millions of people are unemployed today and don’t have a backup plan.

 

Politicians make endless speeches about hope and change and better times ahead, it’s all a crock. Government debt and power have increased – that’s a fact. It doesn’t matter who’s in office.

 

There is a way out!

 

Here are six ways to enjoy economic independence.

 

1.      Self-reliance is the way to thrive and prosper in the days ahead or on Doomsday

 

We’ve endured tough times in our history. A few hundred years ago, new settlers in the United States, Canada, had to brave harsh terrain, hostile natives, war, and disease, etc., without the convenience of modern technology.

 

Their only assets were their labor, ingenuity, and whatever they could carry on their backs. We can thrive and prosper in the hardest of times.

 

2.      Despite the difficult conditions these pioneers blazed a new trail with their bare hands. They didn’t rely on government handouts or incompetent central bankers to do it!

 

Back then, most settlers were economically independent.

 

Pioneers built their own homes, fetched their own water, and put their own food on the table.

 

I’m not saying we should live off the land or like pioneers. But the same lessons of economic independence apply today.

Declare your economic independence.

 

We only have ourselves to rely on, and our livelihood.

 

3.      It’s critical to declare economic independence by seeking alternate sources of income.

 

Alternate sources of income can be produced in a variety of forms.

 

For those with a secure job and a fair amount of investment capital, income can be derived from any number of passive assets like high yielding securities, productive land, or other income-producing real estate.

 

For people who are short on capital, the development and licensing of intellectual property is a way to generate an additional source of income.

 

4.      If you have a creative idea which solves a problem, there are likely several potential suitors who would license the rights to your idea.

 

For others who enjoy the stability of a steady paycheck, it’s a smart idea to develop NEW skills and seek secure employment in faster growing industries in developing economies.

 

For example, in China there is a hiring bonanza in retail banking.

 

Citigroup hired more than 12,000 new people there in 2011. This is also true with investment banking and fund management.

 

There are dozens of other places in the world with similar conditions, including your home country.

 

The housing market may have slowed down, but alternative energy is a thriving industry just about anywhere.

 

 

5.      In the worst economic conditions there is substantial opportunity everywhere. You can make money in the stock, commodity, Forex, credit and currency futures market by shorting when the market collapses, or you can make money when the market surges.

 

In a down economy, not everything stops.

 

Unemployment may be 15% and underemployment may be 20% but 80% of the workforce is getting paid and allocating their income towards purchases each and every month.

 

The critical difference is their priorities shifted.

 

In general, people are no longer looking to spend their money on useless trinkets or expensive consumables. But they will gladly spend on the things they actually need.

 

This is an area with great opportunity for entrepreneurs and professionals– tapping in to the shift in consumer demand.

 

6.      A good entrepreneur identifies an unfilled need in the marketplace and creates value by providing a solution.

 

Any business which can provide value for its customers will prosper in any economy, good or bad.

 

Seeking Alternate Sources of Income

 

Seeking alternate sources of income is crucial part of being economically independent.

 

We can’t rely on the traditional job market or wait for the government to give us something.

 

Everyone is good at something, and most likely many things.

 

Think about how you could add value to a product, service or to a community.

 

Think about how you could solve problems.

 

Web-based Business Opportunities

 

Failing to properly protect your savings, seeking alternate sources of income, and diversifying your sovereign risk gives you a one-way ticket on the economic Hindenburg.

 

If you’re looking for ideas, particularly for an Internet-based business, here are a few sites and people I highly recommend:

 

InternetIndependence.com

 

EarlyToRise.com

 

AskMarcCharles (blog)

“The King of Business Opportunities”

Marc Charles

 

Sovereign Man.com

 

App Business Brokers.com

The League of Power (LeageuOfPower.com)

 

MergerNetwork.com

 

The Shift in Consumer Demand

 

BizBuySell.com

 

QuietLightBrokerage.com

 

WebsiteProperties.com

 

 

There’s an obvious shift in consumer demand, not only in North America, but around the world.

 

In the US large LCD flat screen TVs have never been lower.

 

You can purchase a 52” LCD TV for under $600. Three years ago the same TV cost $2300 (and up).

 

But the shift in consumer demand is not just for electronics, PCs, and iPhones.

 

There is a major shift in demand in hundreds of markets.

 

Here are just a few examples:

 

      Verizon Wireless has opened its cellphone network to devices not sold by the company due to consumer demand.

 

 

      The shift from buying to renting is in place. Recent strength in the US apartment sector reflects a rental mindset.

 

      A shift in consumer demand for smaller cars is alive and well. Ford’s biggest hit is the Focus selling more than 23,000 units per month.

 

      In the travel industry the new consumer demand is “customization”. The ‘Customized' Customer is the new buzz word. The customer wants to customize their own experience from leisure to a business trip, individuals and groups.
 
      Branded Differentiation is the new buzz word in the cruise industry. It means we will begin to see cruise companies align themselves with corporate sponsors in an effort to make cruising a “branded” experience. A few examples include ELLE Fashion Week Cruise, Petron Tequila Cruise, The Letterman Cruise with David Letterman

 

      The future of the publishing has shifted dramatically with the announcement from Amazon.com that the sale of e-books has overtaken sales of hardback books!

 

We should look for ways to profit and develop alternate sources of income based on the shift in consumer demand.

 

Opportunities in Other Parts of the World

 

Let’s take Panama as an example of opportunities in other parts of the world based on the shift in consumer demand.

 

There are some exciting opportunities in Panama right now for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

 

There may be more opportunity in Panama than any other country in the western hemisphere with few exceptions.

 

Panama has two strong emerging consumer markets.

 

The first is the obvious low hanging fruit: foreigners.

 

Their ranks in Panama are growing every day. They are swarming into the country with their capital and their consumer demands. These foreigners are accustomed to certain products and services, not all of which are available in Panama. This spells opportunity to an entrepreneur.

 

Granted, there are droves of foreigners already posing as real estate agents trying to sell the next expat on an overpriced, generic condo in Panama City. But that business model is dead for now. There are much better options.

 

One option is a professional property management or self-storage company.

 

There are thousands of new condo units in the city whose owners might only visit a few times a year.

 

During the vacant periods, there are bills to be paid, maintenance to be performed, and tenants to be found and managed.

 

There are only a few companies in Panama focusing on this business model, and they are super busy..

 

The market could use more competition, and especially considering all of the new construction coming online in the next 24 months.

 

Another consumer demand which needs to be addressed is high-end storage. 

 

Panama’s heat and humidity can be disastrous for sensitive belongings like wine, paintings, and antiques; thus, a high-end self-storage facility would likely do quite well here. What’s more, this would be fairly inexpensive to start up.

 

Another idea is providing services for companies involved in Panama’s two major construction areas, the Canal Expansion 34 project and the Panama Pacifico redevelopment project.

 

(Panama Pacifico is a $1 billion mixed use commercial/residential development on the former Howard Air Force base near the Canal.)

 

These two projects are attracting foreign companies. There are limited options available for corporate services, especially lodging for business travelers – so this is an opportunity.

 

The first business class hotels outside the city will be opened in 2016.

 

A well-located existing structure could be renovated and marketed as a business hotel very quickly.

 

The second consumer market in Panama is the emerging middle class. This group is growing because of the income effect of Panama’s growing economy.

 

In Panama middle class households earn around $1,000 per month. This is enough to buy a house and a car with money left over for savings or other consumption.

 

A clear opportunity is the shortage of housing for middle class Panamanians, especially homes in the $50,000 to $80,000 range.

 

The government projects about 80,000 homes are needed around Panama City. Existing approvals show only about 8,000 in various stages of development!

 

There are also retail opportunities. Panamanians are a consumptive group. If they have money they’ll spend it.

 

Assisted living facilities and elderly care is also a fabulous opportunity.

 

This is an opportunity which targets the Panamanian middle class. This group has the income to outsource the care of their parents and other family members.

 

The twenty or so facilities which offer this service in Panama are booked solid.

 

However, there are some issues when it comes to employees under Panamanian labor laws. The laws are fairly simple in comparison to the rest of Latin America. But laws clearly favor the employee.

 

 

 

Is Moving to a Foreign Country a Viable Option?

One of the hardest things you can do is pack up your life, leave everything behind, and move to a new area full of uncertainty.

But the trend for now, is more government control, fake security, and reduced freedom.

Freedom, independence, and awareness are undoubtedly in decline in the western world, and particularly the US. 

Homeland Security is seizing Internet domains from “rogue” webmasters, and labeling dissenters of its new security procedures as domestic extremists.

Everyone reading this had ancestors who moved to a foreign country.

They were not cowards, they were pioneers; they were trading tyranny for opportunity.

In fact, our ancestors moved to a land full of bright prospects where they could carve out a new life and be accountable for their own successes and failures.

Granted, we have it easier today than our pioneering ancestors... but leaving behind the familiarity of home is still a difficult concept for most people to commit.

It's like staying in a bad marriage or dead-end job. People do it because the paralyzing fear of the unknown is often greater than the routine misery to which they've already grown accustomed.

Taking action requires a catalyst, and that's what we're experiencing today.

Maybe it’s a mother who watches a government agent fondle her child, or an entrepreneur whose assets are unlawfully frozen, or a student who realizes social security will not exist when he or she hits retirement age.

One by one, people consider his or her options.

"Stay and fight" is just a bombastic rallying cry of the institutionalized, it’s not a real option. 

The fact is there is a gradual erosion of freedom and opportunity.

Unable to change what we cannot control, productive people will eventually reach a breaking point and leave.

The "stay and fight" crowd who remain will congratulate themselves on their patriotism, chastise the "cowards" who have left, and resolve to go down with the mob-mentality, mafia-controlled sinking ship.

Fortunately, there are a lot of options around the world for the open-minded.

I've traveled to dozens of countries and I’ve done business in a couple of them. My favorites are:

Chile: the new America. Strong, independent, civilized economy, you'll think you're in Europe given how modern it is.

Singapore: Too much to say here... you need a job? They're hiring. You need capital? They're investing. You hate taxes? They do too.  Singapore is ideal for families, and obtaining residency (and citizenship) is simple.

Colombia: Forget everything you've ever heard and go see for yourself. With similar geology to Venezuela and peace at hand, the country is poised for a bonanza.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan government is bending over backwards to provide great investor incentives. It’s one of the cheapest (and most beautiful) countries in the world.

Malaysia: Peaceful, beautiful, cheap, and thriving, Malaysia will constantly surprise you and exceed your expectations.

Estonia: With its flat tax structure, streamlined government, and brilliant work force, Estonia provides ample opportunity for entrepreneurs, particularly those looking for entry into Europe's harmonized customs union.

Brazil, Indonesia, Uruguay, Tanzania, and China, are intriguing too, but you get the idea.

Granted, every country has its faults (believe me).

In case you're geographically constrained, you can still take steps to increase your freedom.

One option could be to move money to an overseas bank account, and store gold in an offshore vault. This safeguards your wealth from government bureaucrats who could otherwise freeze or confiscate your accounts on a whim.

Also consider buying land overseas, even if it's just a small piece.  This is a great way to move money, and it gives you a starting point if you ever need a place to go.

These options are not exclusive to the wealthy.

Anyone who is willing to reject institutional programming can find opportunity overseas or start protecting what they have at home; it takes an open mind, creativity, a readiness to learn new skills, and the will to act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10 - Choosing Your Battles Wisely

 

Public transit commuters in Philadelphia are being randomly subjected to forced pat downs and baggage searches with explosives-sniffing dogs.

 

The US Department of Homeland Security implementing a new technology which scan human eyes from six feet, then stores the information in a government database.

 

Homeland Security is testing the technology with a specially outfitted hidden camera.

 

These kinds of things should make your skin crawl.

 

The Breaking Point

 

Too many people are in support of these outrageous acts.

 

This should illustrate the mental state of our fellow human beings and some people just don’t get it.

 

As conditions deteriorate in certain parts of the world, you can count on governments delivering the solutions which people will demand.

 

On top of that, voters will demand more intervention, more security, greater erosion of their liberties, and more Draconian economic measures.

 

There are significant steps we can take to protect ourselves in order to survive and thrive in the Age of Turmoil, as we’ve shown.

 

But these steps take time, energy, focus, and sometimes money. We are all constrained by finite amounts of those resources.

 

Choosing What You CAN Control

 

As such, we must be wise about allocating these resources and choose to affect the things we can control.

 

It’s nice to hope for change, but in the broader scope there are simply too many things that we can’t control.

We have been talking about the pillars of self-reliance, ways to become independent and succeed in the Age of Turmoil.

 

The final pillar is being able to pick your battles. This means wisely allocating resources to affect that which we can change, and which is most important.

 

Grassroots campaigns to affect political change are wonderful ideas, and they have admirable goals.

 

There’s clearly right and wrong in the world, and it’s morally nice to be on the side of right.

 

You Have Limited Time, Energy and Resources

 

Given our limited resources, realism must prevail.

 

How do you want to spend this time?

 

You could spend your life working for these goals and trying to change the perspectives of people who don’t want their perspectives changed.

 

Or you could use the time getting prepared to ensure you and your family thrive and prosper on Doomsday, or if things get really bad.

 

I want to provide an actionable strategy based on viable contacts and experiences. This type of information you won’t find anywhere else.

Why Politics is NOT the Answer

 

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

                                                                                              Sun Tzu

 

There are three basic approaches to changing public policy: politics (elections and lobbying), direct citizen action and violence.

 

We can quickly rule out violence as morally repugnant and inefficient.

 

Political action has rarely caused government to shrink in size and power.

 

The natural tendency of government is to grow and expand its powers.

 

Over time, it will tend to tax and spend more, hire more people and assume more power over our lives, liberty and property.

 

Government policies are constantly changing but if you look closely, it is almost always in the direction of bigger government.

 

If you favor bigger government, you really don't have to do anything, just sit back and enjoy the show.

 

By the natural laws of politics, governments will tend to grow.

 

If you check back in five years, it is highly likely that the government will be bigger and more powerful.

 

Government in America has grown enormously since about 1917, the start of American involvement in World War I. No coincidence there; war grows the state.

 

By its nature, the state is the means by which some people can impose the costs of achieving their goals onto unwilling others.

As Frédéric Bastiat put it, “Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.”

 

The desire to impose costs on others is virtually limitless. Thus, governments tend to grow over time.

 


There are five main reasons for this which are structural features of political life:

 

Rational apathy — the incentives some people have to increase the size of the state outweighs the incentive the rest of us have to fight them;

 

Government control over political ideas — the state uses its control over schools and other idea-disseminating institutions to propagate support for further government growth;

 

Government creates its own demand — because the state's various interventions into the market economy always fail (e.g., health care), ironically, they increase the demand of the uninformed majority for even further interventions to fix the problems caused by the prior interventions;

 

The productivity of the mixed economy — given the inherent tendency of the state to grow, only extreme dissatisfaction among the populace will rouse them to act; however, even a partially free market produces enough wealth to mollify the people;

 

Government has a monopoly on the use of legal force — government grows because it can.

 

Given the universal human desire to accomplish goals with the least possible exertion, politicians have an irresistible urge to use the state's powers to continually expand the amount of wealth they control.

 

Anyone who objects can always appeal to the politicians' judges and can expect to be told, “Get lost!”

 


Since it is in the structural DNA of government to grow, it is nearly impossible to persuade its officials to reverse that tendency or to persuade the voters to elect candidates who intend to shrink government.

 

The last time a mass political movement was able to achieve power and shrink government was Thomas Jefferson's velvet revolution of 1800!

 


Ron Paul's campaign for president shows how difficult it is to elect a candidate who favors smaller government.

 

In spite of over 100,000 campaign workers and $30,000,000 and an articulate candidate with 20 years in Congress and a sterling personal life and record of accomplishment, he received less than ten percent in every Republican primary election.

 

The system is thoroughly stacked against anyone who would attempt to reform it from within.

 

The main function of national elections in this country is to give the people the illusion that they are in charge and can change policy whenever necessary.

 

However, the basic policies never seem to change. Elections allow people to blow off steam and thus serve as a safety valve for the regime that allows them to rule us for another four years.

 

With respect to the upcoming congressional elections this year, a Patriot candidate would need as much as two million dollars to run a competitive race for the House.

 

Very few have that kind of money or can raise it.

 

More likely, the Republican challengers will be party loyalists funded and controlled by the plutocrats and GOP establishment.

 

I know these are harsh realities to accept. They contradict what we have been taught in school and told to believe in endless TV ads urging us to vote and participate in the political process.

 

However, to win this fight, we need to be as clear-eyed as our adversaries are about the realities of power politics.

 

That's how the political class got all this power in the first place: by seeing things clearly and not being fooled by myths and clichés.

 

[Editor’s note: A special thanks to James Ostrowski for providing this essay. He is an attorney in Buffalo, New York and author of several books on why politics is not the answer]

 

In the next chapter we’ll see the rise of the individual, and its benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 11 - The Rise of the Individual

 

One of the greatest threats to mankind is the spread of the totalitarian philosophy.

 

To fight it we need to understand it.

 

Ayn Rand said it best: Totalitarianism is collectivism.

 

Collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group.

 

This could mean subjugation to a race, class or government, it doesn’t matter.

 

Collectivism says man must be chained to collective action and thought for the sake of “the common good.”

 

Throughout history, tyrants rose to power on the claim of representing “the common good.”

 

Napoleon served “the common good” of France.

 

Hitler served the “common good” of Germany.

 

Horrors are perpetrated with a clear conscience by “altruists” who justify themselves by “the common good.”

 

No tyrant has lasted very long with the force of arms alone.

 

Men have been enslaved primarily by spiritual weapons. And the greatest of these is the collectivist doctrine which states the supremacy of the state over the individual constitutes the common good.

 

No dictator could rise up if men held the conviction they have inalienable rights of which they cannot be deprived for any cause whatsoever, neither by evildoer nor supposed benefactor.

 

This is the basic tenet of individualism, as opposed to collectivism.

 

Individualism holds man is an independent entity with an inalienable right to the pursuit of his own happiness in a society where men deal with one another as equals.

The American system is founded on individualism.

 

If it survives, we must understand the principles of individualism and hold them as our standard.

 

We need to reject as evil the conception of “the common good” is served by the abolition of individual rights.

 

The power of society must always be limited by the basic, inalienable rights of the individual.

 

The right of liberty means man's right to individual action, individual choice, individual initiative and individual property. Without the right to private property no independent action is possible.

 

The right to the pursuit of happiness means man's right to live for himself, and to choose what constitutes his own, private, personal happiness and to work for its achievement.

 

Each individual is the final judge.

 

A man's happiness cannot be prescribed to him by another man or by any number of other men.

 

These rights are the unconditional, personal, private, and individual possession of each man. These rights were granted to him by the fact of his birth and requiring no other sanction.

 

This was the conception of the founders of America. They placed individual rights above any and all collective claims.

 

From the beginning of history, two antagonists have stood face to face, two opposite types of men: the Active and the Passive.

 

The Active Man

 

The Active Man is the producer, the creator, the originator, the individualist. His basic need is independence; in order to think and work.

 

He does not seek or need power over other men — nor can he be made to work under any form of compulsion.

 

Every type of good work from laying bricks to writing a symphony is done by the Active Man.

 

Degrees of human ability vary, but the basic principle remains the same: the degree of a man's independence and initiative determines his talent as a worker and his worth as a man.

 

The Passive Man

 

The Passive Man is found on every level of society. You’ll find them in mansions and in slums, and his identification mark is his dread of independence.

 

He is a parasite who expects to be taken care of by others. He wants to be given directives, to obey, to submit, to be regulated, and to be told what to do.

 

The Passive Man welcomes collectivism. This eliminates any chance he might have to think or act on his own initiative.

 

When a society is based on the needs of the Passive Man it destroys the Active. When the Active is destroyed, the Passive can no longer be cared for.

 

When a society is based on the needs of the Active Man, he carries the Passive ones along on his energy and raises them as he rises, as the whole society rises.

 

This has been the pattern of all human progress.

 

How to Reduce the Effects of Groupthink

 

Most humanitarians demand a collective state because of their pity for the incompetent or Passive Man.

 

For his sake they wish to harness the Active.

 

But the Active Man cannot function in harness!

 

And once he is destroyed, the destruction of the Passive Man follows automatically.

 

The history of mankind is the history of the struggle between the Active Man and the Passive, between the individual and the collective.

 

The countries which have produced the happiest men, the highest standards of living and the greatest cultural advances have been the countries where the power of the collective of the government, the state was limited and the individual was given freedom of independent action.

 

For example, the rise of Rome had the conception of law based on a citizen's rights, over the collectivist barbarism.

 

The rise of England had a system of government based on the Magna Carta, over collectivist, totalitarian Spain.

 

The rise of the United States to a degree of achievement unequaled in history — honored individual freedom and independence in the Constitution and gave each citizen rights over the collective.

 

Individual Man means independent action.

 

Collectivism is the ancient principle of savagery.

 

A savage's whole existence is ruled by the leaders of his tribe.

 

The new order of things belongs to Individual Man.

 

The Libertarian Philosophy 

 

Libertarianism is a political philosophy which holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society.

 

I am not promoting libertarianism or encouraging readers to join a political movement.

 

I’m simply making the case as to the essence of the libertarian philosophy because I think it has merit when it comes to the rise of the individual.

 

What’s more, libertarianism includes diverse beliefs, but most advocating strict limits to government activity. It also shares the goal of maximizing individual liberty and political freedom.

 

The End Game (Your life is in your hands)

As humans, we’ve managed to get ourselves into dangerous straits.

The fortunes of nearly every man, woman, and child on the planet are tied to a bogus financial system which is crumbling before our eyes.

Governments are reacting with policy tools and spending programs which only exacerbate the pain, putting billions of people’s livelihoods at risk.

Add to this resource shortages, overpopulation, and waves of political instability. The next several years will probably be a difficult period for most people.

      Entire nations have and will go bankrupt.
      Other countries will simply cease to exist.
      Some countries will go to war.
      Some countries will descend into criminality and social chaos driven by lack of economic opportunity.  And some countries will regress into the worst kind of authoritarian regimes.

As difficult as the economic end game may seem, humanity has faced overwhelming odds before.

I have no doubt in our ability to adapt and overcome.

The times in which we live are more of a transition period. It is a major turning point in human history which will lead to a renewed system and brighter days ahead.

In the 14th century when the Black Death was vanquishing populations by the million across Europe, few people probably saw the Renaissance coming, but it happened. 

Humanity suffered a major blow, started again, and ultimately flourished.

This is an important lesson from nature: you’re either one of those who adapts, or you’re one of those who will perish. It’s that easy.

Nature doesn’t play favorites; it simply separates those who are unprepared from the rest of the ecosystem.

The face of human civilization is transforming, and nobody knows what’s going to happen in the coming years with certainty.

All I can say is it’s not going to look anything like it does today!

The economic end game may seem pretty dismal. But humanity has faced overwhelming odds before. Your life is in your hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 12 – The Key to a Fuller Life

Accepting Reality

If you want to improve your life you need to accept the way it is now.

This doesn’t mean you have to judge it or make it right. We don’t have to glorify our life or make it more attractive to others. We just need to accept reality for what it is.

This is the first step to a fuller, more enjoyable life.

Personal improvement usually comes from finding pain in the current situation.

For example, when you the situation as negative you often gain the motivation to move forward to improve your life, and this method usually works.

Extreme pain often motivates people to action, which helps break them out of complacency.

But this method also has a cost.

Whenever you make your reality negative or wrong you feel internal pain.

You may reach a higher standard of life for which you think you will be satisfied, or you may end up endlessly chasing goals and dreams never to feel any fulfillment or happiness.

Personal development doesn’t have to be like this.

When you accept reality for what it is not labeling it good or bad, you start to see clearly.

You begin to see life marks a path for each of us. The obstacles we overcome and the problems we solve are part of the path. 

The challenges are not designed to disrupt our path; they’re simply a part of it.

Reality is not good or bad, harsh or compassionate.

Reality is what it is.

Statements like good, bad, compassionate or cruel come from a brain which tries to imagine and compare.

There is a duality to every experience in life.

In other words, every problem has a solution, every obstacle an opportunity, every negative a positive.

If you’re confronted by personal challenges, this means your path will be interesting, with other stumbles and achievements.

Does this mean we should accept reality and stop trying to make it better? No.

When we accept reality for what it is we start to realize every path is equal. And so the motivation to improve does not come from a sense of weakness but rather from a desire to explore.

There is an old Buddhist saying, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.”

Accepting reality for what it is allows you to see the big picture.

When we accept reality for what it is life begins to look like a game.

Complaining and negative feelings about challenges in a game is silly.

For example, striking out in baseball is part of the game, sooner or later if you know the rules and prepare you will get a hit.

The challenge is the point of the game.

Granted, some challenges are easier than others, but the bigger the challenges the greater the satisfaction.

The key to a fuller life is accepting reality for what it is, we can’t make it behave or conform to our feelings.

 

 

 

 

 

How the Brain Changes Itself

 

The following passage is an edited excerpt from Norman Doidge’s book, The Brain That Changes Itself.

 

Dr. Doidge book is about a revolutionary discovery which contends the human brain can change itself.

 

The book includes stories of scientists, doctors, and patients who brought astonishing transformations.

 

Without operations or medications, people made use of the brain’s hitherto unknown ability to change.

 

Patients who had what were thought to be incurable brain problems; and people without specific problems who simply wanted to improve the functioning of their brains or preserve them as they aged.

 

For four hundred years this venture would have been inconceivable because mainstream medicine and science believed brain anatomy was fixed.

 

The common wisdom was after childhood the brain changed only when it began the long process of decline. When brain cells failed to develop properly, or were injured, or died, they could not be replaced.

 

It was also believed the brain could never alter its structure and find a new way to function if part of it was damaged.

 

The theory of the unchanging brain decreed people who were born with brain or mental limitations, or who sustained brain damage, would be limited or damaged for life.

 

Scientists who wondered if the healthy brain might be improved or preserved through activity or mental exercise were told not to waste their time.

 

A neurological nihilism – or a sense that treatment for many brain problems was ineffective or even unwarranted had taken hold, and it spread through our culture, even stunting our overall view of human nature.

 

Since the brain could not change, human nature, which emerges from it, seemed necessarily fixed and unalterable as well.

 

The belief the brain could not change had three major sources: the fact that brain-damaged patients could so rarely make full recoveries; our inability to observe the living brain’s microscopic activities; and the idea, dating back to the beginnings of modern science, the brain is like a glorious machine.

 

And while machines do many extraordinary things, they don’t change and grow.

 

Dr. Doidge became interested in the idea of a changing brain because of his work as a research psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.

 

When patients did not progress psychologically, often the conventional medical wisdom was their problems were deeply “hardwired” into an unchangeable brain.

 

“Hardwiring” was another machine metaphor coming from the idea of the brain as computer hardware, with permanently connected circuits, each designed to perform a specific, unchangeable function.

 

When he heard the human brain might not be hardwired, he investigated and researched the evidence for myself. These investigations and research returned incredible results.

 

Dr. Doidge met a group of scientists, at the forefront of brain science, who made a series of unexpected discoveries.

 

They showed the brain changed its structure with each different activity it performed, perfecting its circuits so it was better suited to the task at hand.

 

If certain “parts” failed, then other parts could sometimes take over.

 

The machine metaphor, of the brain as an organ with specialized parts, could not fully account for changes the scientists were seeing. They began to call this fundamental brain property “neuroplasticity.”

 

Neuro is for “neuron,” the nerve cells in our brains and nervous systems.

 

Plastic is for “changeable, malleable, modifiable.”

 

At first many scientists wouldn’t use the word “neuroplasticity” in their publications, because their peers would belittle them for promoting a fanciful notion.

 

Yet they persisted, slowly overturning the doctrine of the unchanging brain.

 

The idea the brain can change its own structure and function through thought and activity is the most important alteration in our view of the brain since we first sketched out its basic anatomy and the workings of its basic component, the neuron.

 

Like all revolutions, this one should have profound effects.

 

The neuroplastic revolution has implications for, among other things, our understanding of how love, sex, grief, relationships, learning, addictions, culture, technology, and psychotherapies change our brains.

 

All of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences, insofar as they deal with human nature, are affected, as are all forms of training.

Neuroplasticity has the power to produce more flexible but also more rigid behaviors—a phenomenon Dr. Doidge calls “the plastic paradox.”

 

Ironically, some of our habits and disorders are products of our plasticity.

 

Once a particular plastic change occurs in the brain and becomes well established, it can prevent other changes from occurring.

 

It is by understanding both the positive and negative effects of plasticity that we can truly understand the extent of human possibilities.

 

Because a new word is useful for those who do a new thing, I call the practitioners of this new science of changing brains “neuroplasticians.”

 

Is Learned Optimism New Age Hogwash?

Optimists do better. In studies of religion, politics, sports, and insurance salesmen, people with the most optimistic attitudes come out on top.

Yet, pessimists can learn optimism.

Psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman discovered this when he taught a group of laboratory dogs to act helpless in the face of escapable electric shocks. These dogs, he reasoned, behave just like people who are depressed.

Then he retrained the dogs to avoid the shocks, thus proving they can learn their actions would lead to a positive outcome. Once the dogs learned this optimistic point of view, they never forgot it.

Seligman espouses the cognitive view of psychology, according to which people feel the way they think. If people believe that things will turn out badly, they will feel depressed and be less inclined to take positive action.

Seligman asserts people can change their negative beliefs, not to pollyannaish positive statements but to “non-negative” beliefs which are realistic and encourage action.

Seligman admits one advantage of a pessimistic point of view is it is usually more accurate.

Realistic pessimism is practical for evaluating risks with large consequences.

Seligman seems to label depressives as willful failures, as if they consciously choose their painful and often biologically based condition.

People can learn positive thinking from a book. Dr. Martin Seligman’s book Learned Optimism is a good read.

The Magic of Prioritization

 

The magic of prioritization accomplishes goals and objectives.

Prioritization is an essential skill to make the best use of your efforts.

It's also a skill to create calmness in your life so you can focus your energy on the things which really matter.

Prioritization is particularly important when time is limited and demands are seemingly unlimited. It helps you to allocate your time and frees you from less important tasks which could be attended to later or just dropped.

Prioritization can bring order to chaos, reduce stress, and accomplish objectives.

Simple Prioritization

Prioritization based on profitability is a common use. Whether it’s used for a simple financial decision or for a sophisticated financial evaluation, it often obtains favorable results.

Time constraints are important where other people are depending on you to complete something. Prioritization is the key to time management.

Prioritization Tools

Here are a couple of simple prioritization tools which work in a variety of situations. They can be very effective.

Paired Comparison Analysis

 

Paired Comparison Analysis is useful where the decision criteria are vague, subjective or inconsistent. It helps you prioritize options by comparing each item on a list with other items on the list individually.

By deciding in each case which of the two is most important, you can consolidate results to get a prioritized list.

Scientists use this application when deciding priorities during complicated research analysis.

Grid Analysis
Grid Analysis helps you prioritize a list of tasks where you need to take many different factors into consideration.

For example, you need to fix the car, shop for clothes, get a new cell phone, visit your mother, and call a business partner.

By listing all of the tasks and factors in a grid analysis you would come up with one priority. In this case it is probably visiting your mother!

Action Priority Matrix

 

This quick and simple diagramming technique where you plot the value of the task against the effort it will consume.

By doing this you can quickly spot items which give you the greatest rewards in the shortest period of time.

This is an ingenious approach for making highly efficient prioritization decisions.

Urgent/Important Matrix

 

Similar to the Action Priority Matrix, this technique asks you to think about whether tasks are urgent or important.

Sometimes a seemingly urgent task actually is not important.

And often, an important activity (like achieving your life dream) becomes an obvious priority. This approach helps you filter through urgent and important tasks.

The Ansoff Matrix

 

The Ansoff Matrix helps you prioritize opportunities by risk.

In a list of tasks, you would identify the ones with high, medium, low and super low risk.

Pareto Analysis

 

When you're facing a flurry of problems which need to be solved, Pareto Analysis helps you identify the most important changes to make.

For example, you would group different types of problems you’re facing. Then you to count the number of cases of each type of problem, and by prioritizing the most common type of problem, you can focus your efforts for resolving it. This clears time to focus on the next set of problems, and so on.

Prioritization is an essential skill to make the best use of your efforts. All of these tools help you to master the magic of prioritization and accomplish your objectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 13 -

An Inside View of Marshal Law

 

We’ve seen the cause and effect of economic and financial trigger points.

 

Now let’s look at political trigger points, and specifically and inside view of Martial Law.

Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis. It’s supposed to be temporary.

Martial law comes into play when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively (e.g., maintain order or provide essential services), or when civil disobedience becomes widespread.

In most cases, military forces are deployed to quiet crowds, to secure government buildings and to maintain order.

Generally speaking, military personnel often replace civil authorities.

It’s conceivable the US constitution could be suspended and the highest-ranking military officer could take over, or be installed as head of the government.

Martial law can be used by governments to enforce their rule over the public.

Popular incidents of martial law include a coup d'état (in Thailand 2006); a popular protest (China, Tiananmen Square 1989); to suppress political opposition (Poland 1981).

Martial law may be declared in cases of major natural disasters, however most countries use a different legal term such as "state of emergency".

Martial law has also been imposed during conflicts where the absence of a government providing for an unstable population. The post-World War II reconstruction in Germany and Japan is one example.

The southern reconstruction following the U.S. Civil War is another example.

Martial law often requires the suspension of civil law, civil rights, and habeas corpus.

Civilians defying martial law may be subjected to military tribunal (court-martial).

The Stages of Gun Control

 

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.

 

However, the “control of guns” and “gun ownership” is a hot political issue.

 

I err on the side of the US Constitution.

 

Granted, nobody wants mentally incompetent individuals, felons, drug addicts and other disqualified individuals to have access to and use guns on innocent citizens. But this is a different argument.

 

For the majority of US citizens it is a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

 

Big government and the politicians and bureaucrats that come with it, generally speaking, endorse gun control.

 

The reason is simple.

Big government has the power to control citizens with force. If the citizens rebel and start protesting too loudly, the government sends in armed police.

 

If a citizen disagrees with the government with regards to constitutionality of filing an IRS Form 1040, and refuses to pay income tax, the government simply deploys armed troops (IRS, FBI, Sheriff and others) to make citizens comply by force.

 

The government has the power to control citizens by force.

 

If all of the citizens are armed with guns it puts the government at a disadvantage.

 

You can have as many aircraft carriers, tanks, helicopters and personnel carriers as you want, but 300 million armed citizens “on the ground” (in their own towns, villages and cities) is a serious situation.

 

Granted, this is an extreme example.

 

But at its core this is why big government, politicians and bureaucrats are typically anti-gun.

The stages of gun control

 

1.      Promulgate the serious damage guns have on innocent people. Start “guns for cash” programs.
2.      Re-enforce the imagery of drug gangs, mentally challenged, and deranged persons with guns. Mass shootings (Fort Hood), random freeway killings (Washington DC) and accidental deaths
3.      Convince people they will be safer with fewer guns. Convince people only trained professionals should keep and bear arms
4.      Make it difficult to acquire guns or penalize citizens (taxes, fees, permits, and expensive licenses)
5.      Ban guns in certain areas and by certain people. The government will decide what areas and what people are appropriate.
6.      Ban guns. Guns will be banned in all areas, by all people, at all times. The only exception will be hunting and sport shooting. But DNA samples, blood tests and fingerprints will be required of all gun owners

US citizens have the right to keep and bear arms according to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

 

How Will the Internet “Kill Switch” Affect You?

 

The so-called Internet “kill switch” is a political trigger.

 

The Egyptian government recently shut down most of the country's Internet servers. In Africa this practice is commonplace, Russia too.

 

Republican Senator Susan Collins proposed a bill which would grant the President the power to shut down Internet servers in the U.S.

The so-called 'kill switch' bill was approved by the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. But the bill expired when the new Congress assumed power a few weeks later.

 

Collins, who serves as the Republican ranking member of the Committee, says the legislation wouldn't allow the President to actually "kill" the Internet. But it would give the President the ability to shut down "critical infrastructure" in the event of a cyber-attack on the country.

 

I wonder if “critical infrastructure” would include any servers hosting articles, information, news or opinion critical of the President or any politicians.

 

There is essentially nothing anyone can do to stop the government, politicians or bureaucrats from shutting down, disabling or even targeting specific IP addresses.

 

Therefore, I am a big proponent of the hyper-back up of all computer and digital files.  There are online services which do this but if you do not have access to the Internet, then you do not have access to your files.

 

My suggestion is to back up all files on an external hard drive automatically, and unplug the hard drive from the computer each day.