Doomsday

Diary

How to thrive and prosper

on the final day

or if things

get really bad

By Dr. James Tower

Dedicated to nut jobs (like me) who know something is terribly wrong with the current system, and is likely to get much worse, but want a legitimate plan to thrive and prosper

Table of Contents

Preface – Doomsday

Why This Book Was Written

9 Things You Will Get From Reading This Book

This Book Won’t Help Zombies and Kooks

The United States is Vulnerable

A Legitimate Plan

Introduction

How to Prosper if Things Get Bad

Doomsday Cults and Other Survivalist Groups

Keeping Your Head When All Others Are Losing Theirs

Chapter 1

Preserving the Quality of Life

Carving Your Own Path

Chapter 2 - Mental Preparation

How to Perform Well in a Survival Situation

The Absolute Will To Survive!

Understanding Stress in a Survival Situation

Acute Stress Reaction - Fight or Flight

The Bear Grylls Mind Set

Chapter 3 – Hedging Your Bets

Why You Need When Hedging the System

How to Hedge Your Best

The Seven Truths of Capital

The Benefits of Holding Physical Gold and Silver

Chapter 4 – Assessing Your Health and Wellness Needs

How People Survived the Black Plague

How to Get the Stuff You Need

4,000 Year Old Remedies

The Iodine Secret

The Most Effective Antibiotics, Painkillers, Anesthetics and Other Miracle Drugs

Seven Genuine Super-foods for Maximum Vitality

Chapter 5 – Urban Survival Guide 

Are Urban Survival Skills Necessary?

How the “Right” Skills Could Save Your Life

Black Belt Avoidance Strategies

Neil Strauss Emergency Plan

Chapter 6 – Living Abundantly “Off the Grid” 

How to Live Off the Grid - A Personal Journey

The Deyo Food Storage Guide

Trusting the Right People (Money, Barter and Trade)

World-class Luxuries

Chapter 7

An International Escape Plan

Jedi Knight Security Checkpoint Tips

14 Travel Tips from a Savvy International Man

8 Best Locations to Consider for Relocation

The Four Safest Places in the World to Avoid Natural Disasters

Chapter 8 – Flawed Sense of “Community”

The Amish and Other Resilient Communities

Homeschoolers

The Beauty of Online Communities

Chapter 9 – How to Live Free and Independent

You Can Be Free and Independent

Six Ways to Enjoy Economic Independence

Seeking Alternate Sources of Income

The Shift in Consumer Demand

Is Moving to a Foreign Country a Viable Option?

Chapter 10 – Choosing Your Battles Wisely

You Have Limited Time, Energy and Resources

Why Politics is NOT the Answer

Chapter 11 – Rise of the Individual

The Active Man

The Passive Man

How to Reduce the Effects of Groupthink

The Libertarian Philosophy 

The End Game (Your life is in your hands)

Chapter 12 – The Key to a Fuller Life

Accepting Reality

How the Brain Changes Itself

Is Learned Optimism New Age Hogwash?

The Magic of Prioritization

Chapter 13- An Inside View of Marshal Law

The Stages of Gun Control

How Will the Internet “Kill Switch” Affect You?

Police Brutality on the Rise – Filming is Banned!

Chapter 14 - When Systems Fail

Little-Known Secrets of the Power Grid and Smart Meters

What About “Smart” Meters?

Watch Out When the Food Distribution Breaks Down

Ethical Hacking on the Rise

Chapter 15 – Doomsday Action Plan

How to Profit When There is Blood in the Street

Investing during Doomsday (or if things get really bad)

There Will Be No Inflation or Recovery Any Time Soon

Japan is a Mess – But There is a Window of Opportunity

Ranking Opportunities

The Wisdom of Traveling Lite

Developing In-Demand Skills

Appendix – Doomsday Reference Library

Resources for Survival Kits, Emergency Preparedness and Information

The Prepper Movement

Closing Words

Bonus Chapter: Trader’s Guide to Precious Metal Profits

About the Author

Preface – Doomsday

Why This Book Was Written

It should obvious the old ways of doing things have changed.

The “old system” was based on industrial concepts, ideas and strategies.

The “new system” is built on the information and digital realities.

Sometimes the concepts and ideas of both systems interact.

But the Industrial Age has given way to the Information Age.

Goodbye horse and buggy -- hello high-speed bullet train.

Today most information and publications are delivered by “cloud computing”. That means information follows everyone, wherever they go, with whatever device they may be using.

People are catching on to fiat money too.

The old central bank system controlled fiat money. Fiat money is money which derives its value from government regulation or law, not real assets or commodities.

New forms of currency and payment have arisen; including BitCoin and encrypted P2P transactions. Barter has become an intricate science.

There’s been a shift in power and ideas too as we’ve entered the Information Age.

But this isn’t new. And you acquired this book for something NEW!

I’ll do my best to deliver new insight, information, tactics and strategies.

The coming months and years will most likely deliver changes which have never seen or encountered before.

In fact, I’ve seen more change in my life, economy, business and investments in past 24 months than I’ve seen my entire life.

We’re already witnessing the ramifications of the new shift; there are violent protests, bankers and brokerages (like MP Global) seizing cash, government crack downs on free speech, travel and the way we do business.

We’ve seen professional hackers’ gone wild, widespread global defaults, real estate collapses and more.

We’ve also seen “ethical hackers” like the group Anonymous. They’re penetrating computer systems and networks of corrupt governments, corporations, news organizations and more (and revealing the information to the public).

Politicians, bureaucrats and government hacks are clueless as to how thwart “ethical hackers”.  This is because they’ve spent their lives pushing paper, writing regulations, and finding ways to tax people, rather than learn about technology and digital realities.

The government’s solution to stopping the free flow of ideas and “ethical hackers” is an Internet “kill switch”.

They’re hopeless and clueless when it comes to technology, look at the post office or government agencies….most of them do not even have email or citizen support areas.

Government’s solution to keep people in line is force, laws and things like the Internet “kill switch”.

Our safety and livelihood is at stake.

Our businesses are in jeopardy.

Our families are being assaulted on multiple fronts including but not limited to mandatory government training (public schools), over taxation, limits on free speech, travel, spending and stonewalling our right to petition the government with grievances.

This book was written to help you, your family and business if there’s a doomsday occurrence or if things get nasty.

More importantly, this book was written to help you and your loved ones thrive and prosper in the coming days.

It’s not just about surviving.

You can build a bomb shelter one hundred feet underground, and stay there for two years.

But at some point you’ll need to come to the surface. If you’re not prepared mentally, physically, financially and spiritually, you will fail in a big way.

This book is different from anything you’ve ever read or seen before.

I developed this content over several years with the help of savvy investors, entrepreneurs, teachers and experts in the field of finance, business, personal security, international travel and survival.

In the end, this is the most comprehensive resource I’m aware of to help anyone thrive and prosper in the coming weeks, months and years.

This book is not about a political or religious event. The book transcends politics, religion and doomsday philosophies.

This book is a “How To” manual for living through Doomsday and in the new system.

If I’m wrong, and the old system remains unchanged, and there’s no doomsday you can still profit from the information in this book.

If doomsday, the apocalypse or “end days” do not happen, this book will still be a tremendous guide to prospering in any situation.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

9 Things You Will Get From Reading This Book

1.      A positive outlook for the coming turmoil without succumbing to doomsday mindset

The tendency of most people in hard times is to become negative, withdraw, and despondent. People lose hope of better things to come.

This is NOT the focus or objective of this book.  If you study and apply the material you will maintain a positive outlook of life because you’ll have legitimate answers and insight.

2.      A greater understanding of what’s happening around you

Most people have no clue what’s happening around them. They watch the news, read stuff online, rifle through newspapers and books, but still remain clueless as far as “connecting the dots”. This book will help you connect the dots.

3.      A clear action strategy for your life, family and business

Insider information, wisdom and understanding are useless if there’s no clear strategy for moving ahead. This book will give you a clear action strategy.

4.      Specific steps for “hedging” the system

Wall Street lied to you. The investments they’ve recommended are a sham.

When I say Wall Street I refer to the largest investment firms, banks, brokerages and financial media.

In most cases, the so-called “hedge funds” are an easy way to line investment banker or money manager’s pockets.

Wall Street hedge fund managers partied with champagne on balconies overlooking recent Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, and they were all laughing (along with their girlfriends).

Granted, the Occupy Movement is a joke, a pathetic moaning of spoiled baby boomer kids, who are mostly given everything they have, including iPads, designer clothes, rail passes, debit cards and education.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t protest or hedge the syste,

This book will give you viable steps for hedging the system.

5.      Comprehensive resources for health and wellness needs

The medical industry is a business venture.

If people were healthy, vibrant and enjoyed optimal wellness they would be out of business, and broke.

You will discover new comprehensive resources to optimize your health, and wellness.

6.      A concise guide for ranking opportunities in life, health and generating wealth

There are unlimited opportunities available to most humans today.

The trick is ranking opportunities with regards to time, resources, capital and other factors. You will be able to rank opportunities for life, health and wealth much easier by reading this book.

7.      The keys for a living a richer, fuller life

One of the great keys to living a full rich life is to avoid the things you cannot change, and focus on the things you can control. My life changed a thousand fold when I learned and applied this principle.

You will learn how to do this by reading this book.

8.      Expert insights from savvy, street smart people

It’s invaluable to have access and insight of people who have gone before you and from people who understand how to be successful in hard times. It’s easy to make money when it’s boom time.

You’ll have access to some of the smartest people on the planet.

9.      Learn new ways of developing valuable in-demand skills

In order to thrive and prosper in difficult times it will be necessary to develop new skills which have real value in the marketplace. I’ll show you where and how to develop valuable (in-demand) skills.

This Book Won’t Help Zombies and Kooks

It’s heartbreaking to see men and woman go off the deep in difficult times.

And I’ve met my fair share of zombies and kooks.

It’s easy to see why it happens. When you feel cornered, without God and without hope, and you’ve got nothing to live for people often snap.

But just like in the last Great Depression, when times got tough the tough got going.

Our culture has brainwashed people, making them lazy and complacent.

People think someone or the government is supposed to take care of them.

When the wheels fall off the “system”, they’re lost and start to panic.

When people panic they’re ruled by emotion, not logic. When we’re ruled by crazed emotion we become irrational and do some “crazy” things.

In other words, this book is not about living in underwater caves, on icebergs, tree houses or self-styled “patriot camps” (typically ruled by a charismatic leader).

No.

This book is for the mentally stable, sane and deep thinking individual.

This book is designed to help you make rational, sound decisions for your life, family, health and business.

Granted, sometimes everyone feels like they’re at the end of the rope and ready to “snap”.

If you have young kids (or even older ones) or parents with dementia you know what it’s like.

It’s normal to get frustrated with a corrupt system, the lack of opportunities, lies, deceit and fascism.

But, if we stay calm and logical, stay at rest on the inside, and don’t allow ourselves to be ruled by panic and emotion, we know there’s a way out!

We don’t snap or make rash decisions.

We are in complete control of our mind and senses.

When we’re in control of our mind and senses we’re able to make sound, critical decisions in times of tremendous stress and hardship.

The United States is Vulnerable

The United States and Europe are borrowing boatloads of money to pay the interest on the money they’ve already borrowed.

These governments can’t fund mandatory entitlement programs without going into the hole. Their options going forward are very limited.

Option one: Continue borrowing, and keep the party going

As long as a government can do this, they’ll do it. We’ve all seen this on a grand scale and on microscopic level like small towns and villages.

Regardless of someone’s intentions more debt worsens the situation, creating higher borrowing costs in the long run, and even more debt.

As this happens, the pool of buyers dries up, and especially from overseas.

Option two: Inflation

The more buyers stop purchasing Treasury securities, the more the Federal Reserve will mop up excess liquidity.

In doing so, the Fed essentially conjures up money and loans it to the government.

No matter what the government statistics say, this is inflationary.

The more money the Federal Reserve (or any Central Bank) print, the greater the level of inflation.

Meanwhile, as foreigners simultaneously reduce their US dollar holdings, this inflation will become more acutely felt in the US.

Option three: Austerity

There’s going to come a time when the US government is forced to face its economic reality and make some incredibly deep cuts which would be felt across society.

You’ll see it on Wall Street and the military industrial complex to housing projects in the darker areas of town.

Option four: Default

Eventually, the debt burden will be too much. The most obvious solution is default.

Politicians will make countries like China and India out to be the enemy.

They will probably invent a war just to have an excuse to default on Chinese owned debt. Americans will wave the flag and celebrate defaulting on their enemies.

Option five: Economic cannibalism

In the traditions of Atlas Shrugged, the government will continue its persecution of the productive class– professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers.

Existing taxes will rise, new taxes will be created, trade barriers will be enacted, and a maze of cost prohibitive regulations will be passed.

The first option (keeping the party going) is what has been happening for years.

Politicians make small concessions to show they’re “serious” about fiscal discipline, cutting small programs while dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into wars and entitlement programs.

The worse the debt situation becomes, the higher the borrowing costs become, and the worse the debt situation becomes.

It’s not an enviable position.

Existing lenders will continue backing away from the US Treasury market, giving option one a few months of life at best.

In the longer term, only options 2-5 remain: inflation, austerity, default, and cannibalism. Each of these remaining options will shake the financial system to its core.

More importantly, each of these has the power to create widespread social upheaval.

When inflation eats away at a family’s meager standard of living, when austerity eliminates the benefits to which recipients have grown accustomed, when default vanquishes a retiree’s savings, when high taxes make workers feel like they’re just government serfs– this is when the real turmoil begins.

We will see:

      Rising crime: devoid of a job or means to support their families, people will turn to crime out of desperation

      Class warfare: with dividing lines drawn between have  vs. have-not’s, it will become unpopular and even dangerous to be successful

      Corruption: low-level public service officials will look to supplement their income through bribery and kickbacks

      Black economy: An underground, cash-only (probably gold or foreign currency) economy will emerge with people getting paid in envelopes

      Censorship: Of course they’ll blame it on national security, but the idea will be to prevent public disparaging of government policy

      War: The government will need another major event to distract people from the real problems

      Protests/Riots: This is when things turn bloody

      Police state conditions: The government will close ranks and send the cops out to show all the little people who’s really in charge

      There are a number of other manifestations, and many are already showing signs of emergence. The US and European police states are alive and well. Crime is on the rise.

In Europe, cops are doing battle in the streets with their citizens.

If you don’t think it can happen in the US, think again. It’s already happening on a small scale and it will accelerate.

Do you remember tanks in the streets during the LA riots? Do you remember what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? Do you remember the G8/G20 protests?

The proverbial bottom line

Glance at the headlines to see what happens when you strip people of their livelihood, their ability to feed their families.

The US government has been able pass the buck because the country benefits from a US-oriented financial system.

This is coming to an end very quickly.

This much is obvious -- the greater the economic distortion the harder the collapse.

In other words, the US economy has been living a fantasy for so long, when its “almighty supremacy” is yanked away the collapse is likely to be a free-fall.

I’m not talking about the end of the world.

I’m talking about the difficult times ahead, and the things which go beyond economics. It’s time to face the facts and ask how society will change if there’s a disruption. And we’ve already seen spring training!

The United States is vulnerable.

A Legitimate Plan

The entire collection of ideas and recommendations in this book is an emergency plan of sorts for sound thinking individuals.

In every section of the book you’ll find invaluable insight and guidance to help you in the coming days, weeks and years.

Here is a brief overview of what I call a legitimate plan:

      Build a solid understanding of the situation

      Learn self-reliance

      Choose a viable path

      Prepare mentally

      Trust your instinct

      Learn how to hedge “the system”

      Assess your health and wellness needs

      Acquire basic survival skills

      Plant and maintain a garden

      Build a trusted network of people and contacts

      Develop an international escape plan (even if you never plan to leave your home country)

      Understand effective ways to preserve capital

      Focus on what you can control

      Understand prioritization

      Learn how to rank the best opportunities in life

      Develop valuable, in-demand skills

The Keystone of Success in Hard Times - Self Reliance

The old system and ways of doing things means your choices are limited.

In other words, people are often given option “templates” for major decisions in their lives.

For example:

Do you want to be a doctor? Option template: Follow this career path and go to this school.

Would you like to be a pilot? Option template: Follow this template for learning how to fly, and then go this school or military branch of service.

Would you like to invest your money? Option template: Select from these mutual funds, or these stocks, or these Wall Street recommendations.

All of these option templates are limiting.

These option templates are a tradition in our society.

Our reality is usually defined by other people and regulations and usually constrains our creativity.

For example, if you walk into a bank and tell the manager you would like to protect your dollar savings with other currencies or gold, the manager will be clueless. He or she would probably recommend CDs, mutual funds or insurance policies.

US banks are not going to recommend Chinese renminbi or gold bullion.

The political process is about limiting choices.

In 2012 there are basically two political parties.

Granted, may be more than a dozen parties on a particular ballot. But these parties are irrelevant, only there for show.

Any time a viable third or fourth party emerges from beneath the ashes they are quickly eliminated – discredited, slandered, polarized, whatever.

And most often, when a third or fourth party gains traction on the two party lockdown the original leader is eliminated or replaced with a nut job (financed by the two party system).

How many times have you been forced to decide between two pathetic, incompetent candidates? In the end, you vote for the lesser of two evils.

This strategy works as long as the system is working properly.

The problem is limiting choices like this are not designed to help you when the system collapses.

Career templates and racking up hundreds of thousands in school debt, investing in mutual funds, or putting cash into a savings account have been mildly successful tactics over the past 30 years or so.

But when and if the system falls apart, or changes slightly these option template options become destructive.

Introduction

How to Prosper if Things Get Bad

It seems whenever someone brings up the topic of prosperity or poverty, religion and politics are close behind.

Religion and politics have never prospered anyone.

Granted, religion or politics may have set the stage for prosperity. But the essence of prosperity has nothing to do with a religious leader, movement or political figure.

Prosperity is a condition or effect of applying certain principles.

What’s more, you can be dead broke with no money in the bank, no physical assets, and no friends or family around, and no prospects for better things ahead, and a person can STILL prosper.

The bible (and hundreds of other books) document great prosperity on people in the worst of times.

The essence of true prosperity is spiritual. This doesn’t mean it’s religious, it simply means the basis of genuine prosperity is spiritual.

However, if you had fifty people assembled in a room, and you asked each person if they believed prosperity was spiritual, half of them would disagree. The dissenters would probably believe a political party determined the conditions for prosperity. And some people would say religious dogma determines the conditions for prosperity.

But this book is not a study of spiritual or political philosophies.

Let’s just agree prosperity is more than making money or having a lot of “stuff”. True prosperity can affect every aspect of our lives including health, work, business, marriage, friendships and even relationships with our enemies!

Here’s the only bible verse in this book, and it deals with prosperity:

Psalm 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

The “he” in this verse is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather delights in the law (truth) of God.

In other word, if you believe prosperity is spiritual, and that perhaps the one true God is the source of it, then this verse makes a lot of sense.

Now, the problem with most religious folks is this…..

When they do not understand something they often guess, or force truth to fit their situation.

For example, most religious folks do not understand the principle of believing. Believing is simply seeing something (which is available) in your mind and acting like its true until it comes to pass.

The principle of believing is too simple for most people, and so they add, subtract, multiply and divide the simple truth of it.

And so, when it comes to prosperity, if someone is not prospering they make up all kinds of reasons and excuses why God is not working in “their” situation.

The bottom line is prosperity is available. It’s spiritual in nature. And there appears to be a force large than you or I responsible for it.

This section is about how to prosper if things get bad. But these keys will work when things are going great too.

There are things we can do to prepare for prosperity too.

This doesn’t mean God or a spiritual force needs your help to unleash prosperity. It simply means there are things we can do in our lives which will enable us to prepare and utilize prosperity when it arrives.

In my study of great prosperity, I’ve made a list of five things which can help us prepare to receive great prosperity and utilize it to help others.

In reality, it’s better to give than receive. If we receive great prosperity, it’s a natural thing to want to help and serve others with it.

1.      Prosperity is much more than money

2.      Prosperity is spiritual in nature

3.      Prosperity is not a respecter of persons

4.      Prosperity is a good thing

5.      Prosperity can be multiplied

If things go from bad to worse it will be a good thing to understand and be in a situation to receive great prosperity.

Doomsday Cults and Other Survivalist Groups

A doomsday cult is typically a term used to describe groups obsessed with Apocalypse, the Last Days, Doomsday or Millenarianism.

These groups prophesy catastrophe and destruction.

Doomsday cults are most appealing to people who are under great duress or stress, or emotional upheaval.

What’s more, doomsday cults tend to be cyclical in nature.

The rise of doomsday cults can often be tracked to periods in history of great economic or financial hardship.

The modern day term was popularized in John Lofland's 1966 book on the Unification Church called Doomsday Cult: A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith.

People often use the term to characterize groups which use acts of violence to harm their members and/or others.

Several years ago there was a doomsday cult called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. They were accused of salmonella poisoning at restaurant salad bars.

There was also mass murder/suicide of members in the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God.

The term can also refer to groups which made and then later revised apocalyptic prophesies or predictions, such as the Church Universal and Triumphant led by Elizabeth Clare Prophet.

Still others have used the term to refer to groups which prophesied impending doom and cataclysmic events, and also carried out violent acts, such as the Aum Shinrikyo saran gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

Probably the most well-known doomsday cult was the mass murder/suicide of members of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple.

The term cognitive dissonance comes into play as well. It is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously.

The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance.

They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions.

Dissonance is reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying.

The phrase was coined by Leon Festinger in his 1956 book When Prophecy Fails. The book chronicled the followers of a UFO cult as reality clashed with their fervent beliefs.

It is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology.

A closely related term, cognitive disequilibrium refers to the experience of a discrepancy between something new and something already known or believed.

And so, this gives us a basic understanding and foundation as to the rise of doomsday cults and other groups in our current state of affairs.

People are also experiencing of a discrepancy between the “new” system and the “old” antiquated system.

Obviously, not everyone turns to a doomsday cult or religion for relief from the discomfort.

One solution can found in self-reliance and keeping your head when others are losing theirs.

Keeping Your Head When All Others Are Losing Theirs

Few people have said this better than Rudyard Kipling:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

It’s so important to trust yourself, your instincts and your head in dire situations or even cataclysmic events.

This doesn’t mean you don’t have a higher power or God with whom gives you guidance.

But so many people succumb to mysticism and occultism because they lack self-trust, self-sufficiency or confidence.

The idea is to think for ourselves. We need trust our abilities and stop looking to a mystical figure or voodoo doll to take care of us.

Sometimes you can pray until you’re blue in the face and nothing happens because you were ALREADY given the ability and power to get out of a situation.

Chapter 1

Preserving the Quality of Life

In order to achieve true freedom, you need to be able to make money, control your time, and eliminate the mindset which says you are subject to a corrupt government which is bent on limiting your personal liberty.

There are the principles in life which serve as a guide for preserving the quality of life.

It’s time to expand our thinking and consider the great possibilities which exist. The things the old system told us were impossible, are actually possible, such as:

      You don’t have to be a slave to geography anymore; live where you want, how you want.

      You can take control of your time and spend it how you want, not how others tell you

      You can live a luxurious and worry-free lifestyle overseas that would be unaffordable elsewhere

      You can make money anywhere, whether it’s China, Panama, New Zealand, Chile, or online

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

Freedom is having control of your time, resources and the ability to make choices. The choices should be based on what you want, and not what someone else or the government wants.

This is NOT a magic pill.

Everybody is completely different with regards to the things which make them happy, and which they think will improve the quality of his or her life.

Most people want more freedom in life.

Whether it’s freedom from a boss, freedom from a lack of money, or bills, these are the types of things people want freedom.

You know everybody has issues and challenges, and it’s about the ability to build away from that.

That’s what I’m providing in this book.

I want to provide actionable advice to help you achieve more freedom. This will enable you to live a happier, richer and fuller life – and to preserve the quality of your life.

In the next chapter we’ll look at defining your reality and self-reliance at a deeper level.

Blazing Your Own Trail

It’s a sad day for most people less than 40 years of age.

Governments around the world have sacrificed their future to pay for their mistakes of the past.

For example, students in London protested in droves recently about the British parliament’s austerity measures which tripled the cap on their university tuition to $15,000.

Granted, Britain is imposing all kinds of austerity measures on its citizens… but students are having their benefits cut far more than any other segment of the population.

Aside from the small segment of high-income earners who will be robbed of their wealth, the younger generation will receive the brunt of the fallout crisis.

Younger people have lower incomes, benefits, job opportunities, and political clout than their seniors.

And yet they are expected to assume a larger burden of the consequences of government shenanigans.

The younger people are called on to fight and die in pointless wars in faraway lands. But it’s the younger generation who are forced to assume the debts of their forefathers.

The younger generation always gets pushed to the back of the political bus.

Here is the fate of an average young person today:

1) Government-run university tuition is going through the roof, saddling you with unfathomable debt before you even enter the world as an adult;

2) Once you graduate, you’ll be the last in the hiring queue

3) If you get hired, you’ll be the lowest on the totem pole and the first to get fired when tough times hit

4) If the labor market stabilizes, you’ll enter your prime earning years with the highest tax rates ever seen in history. Government will cannibalize your generation to pay off its largess and indebted entitlement programs which benefited older generations

5) You’ll pay into a pension system which will be bankrupt by the time you’re qualified to draw on it

6) There’s a good chance you won’t achieve the standard of living your parents enjoyed

7) Whatever wealth your parents accumulated won’t be left to you. The bulk of your parent’s estate will be confiscated by the state due to a host of new “death taxes”.

The system in place right now – a failed cycle of debt and consumption fed by government intervention - has stuck you with the bill!

Fortunately, there’s a silver lining (as always).

Younger people are less anchored than their elders; it’s much easier to for them to opt out of this perverse system.

If you’re angry your government is saddling you with the responsibility to pay off generations of bad decisions, and then get out of dodge.

Stop playing by the same rules which worked in the past.

The old playbook (go to school, get a good job, work your way up the ladder) doesn’t apply anymore.

Don’t stick around a society which has completely forsaken you.

You can get out of dodge while it’s still fairly easy to do and you have much less at risk.

Go explore the world and get an education based on experience, not expensive academic theory.

You could seek opportunities in wild “frontier markets” overseas… like Kurdistan, Mongolia, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Croatia and Chile.

You can soak up the local intelligence and become the guy or gal on the ground which can make things happen.

I’ve instructed my own kids very carefully. I’ve told them I’m not paying for a college or university education in North America. If they want to go to school they’ll need to go to a “frontier market” or free economy region.

One of the most exciting things to do as young person is to find people whose lifestyles you want to emulate and make yourself indispensable to them as an apprentice.

This will be the only time in your life you can afford to work for nothing in exchange for a valuable, first-hand education.

Most of all, stop playing by everyone else’s rules!

Do not accept the idea it’s your duty and moral responsibility to pay off the debts of your government’s failures.

Summon the courage to live a life by your own design.

The path to prosperity in difficult times depends on the ability to reject the old system, declare your independence, and blazing out your own trail!

Chapter 2 - Mental Preparation

How to Perform in a Survival Situation

Most outdoor enthusiasts spends hours learning and practicing survival skills which could save his or her life in emergency situations.

The benefit to practicing survival skills is it encourages critical thinking and problem solving.

Outdoor skills like fire-building, knot tying, wilderness navigation and orienteering can improve your confidence and ability to handle emergency situations, which is crucial to your personal survival.

Orienteering is also a sport which requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving with a time deadline.

The Absolute Will to Survive!

Practicing wilderness skills (building shelters, finding food and water, making fires, navigation etc.) is extremely valuable.

It improves your mental attitude and the absolute will to survive.

Having the will to survive is crucial.

When a person is in a survival situation, they will encounter acute mental stress.

This stress can impact your mind in many ways but it can also impact your physical health and wellness.

Acute mental stress can produce thoughts and emotions, which if misunderstood, can directly impact your ability to survive.

It’s is crucial to identify and cope with the mental stress associated with survival, as well as your responses to it.

The following are some mental preparation steps you can take to improve your odds of survival.

Understanding Stress in a Survival Situation

Stress is not an ailment you can discover and fix.

Stress is a natural reaction to pressure.

It can be described as the psychological experience a person has as they respond to life’s challenges.

But stress can have positive benefits when handled correctly too.

Stress can spotlight our adaptability and stimulate us to do more than we thought we could do.

The objective of any survival situation is to stay alive.

It’s important to understand fear, anxiety and frustration are typical emotions a person experiences due to the stress of a survival situation.

But a combination of confidence and survival skills will help use stress as a motivational tool rather than an inhibitor.

Your reaction to stress in the right way can increase your chances of survival.

On top of that, being in control of your mental capacity often leads to paying closer attention to your surroundings. The goal is to ensure your safety and security in the face of incredible odds.

How to Prepare

You won’t find a definitive list of things you must do in order to survive an emergency because every situation, person and ability is different.

However, as I’ve said, learning and practicing a range of skills is the best way to increase preparedness.

Try to anticipate your fear by thinking about what would scare you the most if faced with a survival situation.

For example, some people have a fear of falling or being trapped underwater or on a mountainside.

Make an honest assessment of your skill in relation to this fear and develop the skill where you may be lacking.

If you can’t swim take swimming lessons. If you have a fear of falling take go skydiving. If you tremble at the thought of being caught on a mountain ledge with no way out, go technical climbing a couple of times and repel.

Failure to prepare for a survival situation can have dire consequences.

Stay positive.

Even when preparing for the worst always hope for the best.

There most valuable tool in any emergency situation is your mind and mental state.

Practice your skills. You can also practice variations of the skill using different materials, methods, and tools.

The more realistic your preparation the less overwhelming an actual emergency will be.

You Can Do It

The survival instinct is something everyone possesses.

But you need to remind yourself you can do it.

Primal instincts can be leveraged with preparation, practicing the right skills.

It’s crucial to sharpen your focus on the key objective; survival!

In the next section we’ll see how acute stress reaction plays a role in the survival game.

Acute Stress Reaction - Fight or Flight

Acute stress reaction is a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event.

It should not be confused with the unrelated circulatory condition of shock.

Acute stress reaction was first described by Walter Cannon in the 1920s as a theory regarding animal reaction to threats with a discharge of the sympathetic nervous system.

The onset of an acute stress response is associated with physiological actions in the sympathetic nervous system.

There is a release of epinephrine from the medulla of the adrenal glands.

These hormones facilitate immediate physical reactions by triggering increases in heart rate and breathing, constricting blood vessels.

This facilitates reliance on spontaneous or intuitive behaviors often related to combat or escape.

By definition, acute stress reaction is the result of a traumatic event in which the person experiences or witnesses an event which causes the victim or witness to experience extreme or unexpected fear, stress or pain.

Acute stress reaction is a variation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is the mind and body's response to feelings (both perceived and real) of intense helplessness.

Symptoms of Acute Stress Reaction

The symptoms typically include an initial state of "daze", with some constriction of consciousness and a lack of focus, an inability to comprehend things and disorientation.

This state is usually followed by withdrawal from the surrounding situation or by agitation and over-activity, anxiety and impaired judgment or confusion.

Autonomic signs of panic anxiety (tachycardia, sweating, flushing) are also commonly present.

The symptoms usually appear within minutes of the impact of the stressful stimulus or event, and disappear within 2–3 days (but often within a few hours). Partial or complete amnesia for the episode may be present.

Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity. But relaxation, cognitive restructuring, vivo exposure and supportive counseling are often the most effective.

In 1898, after being attacked and stabbed, Austrian empress Elisabeth of Bavaria boarded a ship, unaware of the severity of her condition as a consequence of an acute stress reaction.

Bleeding to death from a puncture wound to the heart, Elisabeth's last words were, "What happened to me?"

The Bear Grylls Mind Set

Bear Grylls is a popular survivalist and TV star. In the next section we’ll see how his mind set in survival situations can help you.

Edward Michael Grylls, nicknamed Bear, (born 7 June 1974) is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Man Versus Wild.

Bear Grylls has become known around the world as an expert survivalist and outdoor adventurer. 

His journey started in the UK on the Isle of Wight, where his late father taught him to climb and sail. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, serving with 21 SAS.

It was in the Special Forces he perfected many of the skills his fans all over the world enjoy watching him pit against mother-nature.

Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places, and enduring months in military rehabilitation, Bear went on to become one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Bear has led record-breaking expeditions from Antarctica to the Arctic.

He has authored 10 books, including the No 1 Bestseller: Mud Sweat & Tears.

The following is an overview of Bear’s Mindset when confronted with an extreme survival situation.

Bear Gryll’s Essentials for Survival

1. Waterproofed Cell Phone

"Never go without a cell-phone and make sure it's waterproofed. All you need to do is double-bag or even single-bag it in Ziplocs. And this kinda goes without saying, but always, always tell someone where you're going and when you're due back."

2. A Kayak Backpack

"I'm not very particular about the brand of my backpack. I love kayak ones though because they're light, waterproof, and small. Since they're waterproof, you don't need liners and they're buoyant."

3. My Own Pee

"No joke: it can save your life. You can drink it, you can use it to clean wounds, and it will neutralize jellyfish stings. If you're in extremely hot temperatures, you can pee on a shirt and use and use it to cool your head. I bring it everywhere with me!"

4. Degree Everest Deodorant 

"Shameless plug: The cool thing about this deodorant though is that it responds to spikes in adrenaline, which will come in handy more places than just the polar icecaps."

5. Extra Hiking Socks

"I don't even wear underpants, but I always like having a spare pair of socks. It's as important emotionally as it is physically. There's nothing better at the end of the day when you're cold and wet than pulling on a dry pair. Another thing you should waterproof with Ziplocs, too."

6. A Laminated Picture of My Family

"Survival is all about hope, keeping your spirits up, and smiling when it's raining. So bring something that does that for you. Take a laminated picture of your loved ones, for instance, and stick it in the sole of your shoe. I have one of all three of my kids that I keep in my boot."

7. Trash Bags

"Stick a couple in your bag. They weigh nothing, and you can do so much with them. You can waterproof all of your stuff, make a shelter, collect water, hide the smell of leftover food, and store it away from a bear's grasp. And if you really need to, you can use them as a loo."

8. The Ultimate Knife

"This is the knife I use on every show. It can take a beating, let me tell you. It has a fire striker, a sharpener, a serrated blade, a normal blade, and even a whistle."

9. The Bible

"I always bring my Grandpa's old New Testament. I actually only know one verse, Matthew 28:20: 'Be sure of this, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the Earth' When you're in the kind of situations I'm in, it's a good one to have."

10. Barefoot Shoes

"I am an advocate of the barefoot-shoe trend. They take a bit of getting used to, but they give you more sensitivity on the ground and when you're moving. I'm a massive fan of the style and feel of these from Inov-8 in particular."

Survival Gear Check List

An extreme survival situation could occur at any moment.  A sound strategy includes a survival gear check list.

Here is Bear Grylls Survival Kit.  It’s a fifteen piece kit containing the following items:

* Multi-tool – it’s stainless steel, weather resistant and has needle nose pliers, wire cutter, fine and serrated edge knives, Phillips screwdriver along with small and medium flat drivers, lanyard ring, bottle opener and tweezers.

* Miniature light

* Hand saw

* Signaling mirror

* Survival blanket

* Fire starter. Have you ever tried to rub two sticks together?

* Waterproof matches

* Cotton ball fire tinder

* Snare wire

* Emergency cord

* Waxed thread

* Fishing kit

* Sewing kit

* Pocket survival guide

* Rescue instructions

* Nylon pouch

This is a great kit with the basic for a survival situation.

The Bear Gryll’s Mindset can be summed up this way:

Be prepared before disaster strikes.

The most important objective in a survival situation is to make it our alive. Focus on food, shelter, water and staying dry.

Chapter 3 – Hedging the System

Think about some of the things you need when you start your day.

You flip the switch and the lights come on.

You turn the faucet and the water starts running.

You open the refrigerator and it’s full of cold food and beverages.

You jump in your car and head down the road. Sometimes you stop at the store to pick up some things and the shelves are packed to the gills.

We exchange money without thinking about its value.

We all depend on these systems.

The “money system” is run by central bankers. The highway system is run by bureaucrats. Commercial activity is heavily influenced by politicians.

What about the electric grid or the transportation network for food and fuel, or the water treatment facilities?

Why Do We Need to Hedge the System?

We need to “hedge” these systems because they can FAIL.

Japan learned about system failures the hard way recently. The country went dark due to TWO earthquakes, a tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown!

We don’t have to obsess over all of the things that can go wrong. But we should consider the possibility that banks, governments, and utilities, etc. -- are prone to failure

It’s obvious to causal bystanders our governments, politicians, and central bankers have failed.

They are desperately hoping the same tactics will prop up a system which is now defunct.

The US Treasury Department recently stated government officials know what’s best for us and how to make the best choices.

The Argentina Experiment

Argentina’s economy took a turn for the worst in 2000. It completely collapsed later that year.

There was tremendous pressure to maintain an unrealistic currency value, fight recession, and pay its swelling debts. The government defaulted on its debt obligations, devalued the peso, closed banks, and confiscated every penny of private funds they could find.

Then blood ran in the streets.

Protestors in Buenos Aires staged huge riots demanding change. 

Sound familiar?

In response, President Fernando de la Rua sent police and military into the streets to engage the protestors.

It was not Argentina’s finest hour.

Argentina lost the confidence of investors and the flight of money increased exponentially.

In 2001, people began withdrawing money from their bank accounts, turning pesos into dollars and sending them abroad, which caused a run on the banks.

The government enacted several measures which effectively froze all bank accounts for twelve months.

Only small sums of cash could be withdrawn, initially about $250 a week.

Because of this limit many Argentines became enraged and took to the streets in droves and especially in Buenos Aires.

Most businesses installed metal barriers because windows and glass facades were being broken and fires were being started at their doors.

Billboards of companies like Coca Cola and others were ripped down by demonstrators.

Amid rioting, President Fernando de la Rua resigned (December 21, 2001).

Confrontations between the police and citizens became a commonplace.

Fernando de la Rúa declared a state of emergency. This only worsened the situation, and the violence continued.

The fall of the government resulted.

The President fled the country in a helicopter.

Argentina defaulted on the larger part of the public debt which was more than $130 billion.

The new Presidential administration came up with a project dubbed the "Third Currency" Plan.

It consisted of creating a new, non-convertible currency called Argentino coexisting with convertible pesos and U.S. dollars.

It would only circulate as cash (checks and promissory notes could be nominated in pesos or dollars but not in Argentinos).

It would be partially secured with federally managed land. This was expected to counterbalance inflationary tendencies.

Critics called the plan a "controlled devaluation".

Many private companies were affected by the crisis: Aerolíneas Argentinas (the country’s largest airline) canceled international flights in 2002.

The airline almost went bankrupt, but survived.

Most barter networks collapsed as large numbers of people turned to them desperate to save as many pesos as they could in exchange for hard currency.

Thousands of people became homeless and jobless. A large number of Argentines found work as cardboard collectors. The unemployment rate soared to almost 25%.

Argentine products were rejected because countries feared products would arrive damaged. The USDA put restrictions on Argentine food and drugs arriving into the United States.

The So-Called Argentina Recovery

The government encouraged import substitution and accessible credit for businesses. They also promoted an aggressive plan to improve tax collection, and set aside large amounts of money for social welfare.

The government also controlled debt and expenditure in other fields.

As a result the peso slowly revalued, reaching a 3-to-1 rate to the dollar.

Agricultural exports grew and tourism returned.

The huge trade surplus caused an inflow of dollars.

The government was forced to intervene to keep the peso from revaluing further, which would ruin the tax collection scheme (largely based on import taxes and royalties) and discourage further re-industrialization.

The central bank started buying dollars in the local market and using them as reserves.

By December 2005, foreign currency reserves reached $28 billion.

The downside of the accumulation strategy is dollars had to be bought with freshly issued pesos, which could have induced inflation.

The exchange rate and currency eventually stabilized, and the country recovered.

Argentina may still doomed

The country has vast natural resource wealth and once one of the richest in the world.

The current president of Argentina is Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, wife of her predecessor Nestor Kirchner. 

The couple has been in power since 2003 and has been extraordinarily effective at consolidating power at the federal executive level.  They are among the most anti-market leaders in the world whose policies have continued to waste and squander Argentina’s natural wealth.

The problem with Argentina is not the Kirchners, or even the long history of criminals who ran the country before them.  The problem with Argentina is Argentines.

It is a great place to visit and full of natural splendor.

But Argentines have revolution in their blood.

They are intolerant of politicians.

Most situations like this never improve because people never look inward.

What makes a country great, wealthy, and competitive is not related to its government, but to its people. 

A country like China prospers because its people are industrious and thrifty. They work hard and save their money. 

Argentines don’t come to work when it’s raining outside.

Argentina will probably experience another revolution.

Their economy will continue to deteriorate, and I doubt Cristina has the capacity to survive. 

Unlike Honduras where the present coup is political in nature, Argentina’s will be economic and likely result in substantial instability.

The Seven Truths of Capital

The seven truths of capital is also referred to as the “golden rules” of money by author George S. Clason in his book The Richest Man in Babylon.

These truths are applicable in the current situation, and especially if doomsday arrives.

The Seven Truths of Capital:

1.      Start the Purse to Fattening by Paying Yourself First

2.      Control Expenditure

3.      Make Money Multiply

4.      Guard the Money from Loss

5.      Invest the Money in Safe, Profitable Investments

6.      Insure a Future Income

7.      Increase the Ability to Earn

By adhering to the Seven Truths of Capital you can build great wealth, stability and confidence in handling money.

Current Risks in the Good Old USA

Let’s say you're a U.S. citizen, a U.S. taxpayer, you live in the United States and you work in the United States. You also own your property in the United States.

Your savings are in the United States.

If you own gold, you hold it in the United States.  You have investments in the United States. You structure your company or your business through a corporation registered in the United States. 

Now imagine something goes wrong.

Maybe a bureaucrat who works for a three-letter agency decides you violated some obscure law.

Or maybe your neighbor's knucklehead kid falls into your swimming pool.

There are a number of things, big or small, that can happen.

If you have all of those assets and interests tied up in the United States, you're in big trouble.

Anyone, whether it's a judge or a bureaucrat, can just click a couple keys on their keyboard to freeze your accounts and confiscate your assets.

In most cases, it's a "guilty until proven innocent" system. 

They assume you're guilty, take away your assets (with which you could prove your innocence) and say, "Well now that you're guilty, it's up to you to prove that you're innocent." It's a scary proposition.

This is what some people call sovereign risk.

Sovereign risk is when you have all of your assets and interests in one basket, in one country.

And as you can see, it's not just a concern for the very wealthy, like many people assume.

Nor is it only a concern for criminals, "gold bugs," or those who think America is headed for a dollar crisis though that's a serious concern too..

This is something everyone should consider.

Ask yourself, "What would I do if this happened to me? How would I put food on the table for my family?"

The simple solution to this problem is to diversify... simply spread the risk around a little.

If used the same scenario where your neighbor's knucklehead kid falls into your swimming pool and somebody wants to sue you and take your money, take over your business, and take your assets... what happens if your money is in Hong Kong?

What happens if your business is structured in Nieves?

What happens if you own foreign property instead of U.S. property, and it's owned through a trust in the Cook Islands?

With these types of things, nobody can come after you anymore.

Society is increasingly litigious, and government and individuals are increasingly going after people that have assets.

You'll sleep better knowing your assets are diversified. Knowing they're spread across different places and where nobody can touch them anymore.

The Biggest Risk Right Now

Sovereign risk is the biggest risk we all face.

The best strategy is to diversify assets and interests overseas.

One way to do this is with a foreign bank account.

First, you instantly get more control over your own money.

You can free yourself from the risk of confiscation or having all your assets frozen, because now some of your accounts are overseas.  If the United States, for example, imposes capital controls, you won't be subject to those.

Second, many foreign banks are actually safer. 

Many banks in the United States are still technically insolvent. But you have banks in places like Singapore which has never failed!

These are strong banks with healthy balance sheets.

Third, you get exposure to things outside of the U.S. dollar. The US Dollar is not exactly the soundest currency these days. 

When you bank overseas, you get into other currencies which have better fundamentals. It's an easy way to diversify your assets from the U.S. dollar (and away from US banks).

Best of all, it's surprisingly easy to do.

It does take some work to find and contact various banks, but almost anyone can do it.

The Benefits of Holding Physical Gold and Silver

The writing is on the wall. It seems fairly obvious precious metals will again be confiscated, outlawed, or at least severely restricted in many countries.

What possible sense would it make to reduce or restrict gold ownership?

It’s very simple.

The modern financial system is a joke.

Money is created out of thin air, and backed by false promises from bankrupt (usually corrupt) governments.

Then there's the fractional reserve swindle, imaginary interest rates, government-produced inflation, manufactured statistics, and sovereign debt bubbles, etc.

It's a fraud. But like any good con, it depends on confidence.

In order for a system based on nothing to perpetuate, it's imperative the system commands the confidence of the people.

And people in rich western countries have been programmed since birth to believe paper money has intrinsic value.

Most developing countries already know it's a scam.

They don't trust their governments, and they don't trust colored pieces of paper either.

In Asia for example, most of the region is gold-oriented. They use paper as a medium of exchange, but it's a cultural norm to save with gold.

People in western countries are starting to get it too. More people every day are peeking behind the curtain to how the game is really played.

When the masses catch on the system will be finished.

The gold price is a constant reminder the fiat financial system is a con job.

And the higher the gold price becomes, the more people become aware.

The political establishment will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo.

It is possible precious metals restrictions will become a tactic:

Step 1: Make gold harder to buy, transport and to own.

Think about the changes we've seen over the last three years; government-regulated exchanges are continually hiking their gold margin requirements, increasing investors' burden to buy.

On the physical side, the US government buried some insane regulations deep within the healthcare bill. The new rules required a mountain of paperwork for anyone who purchased a single ounce of gold from a coin shop AND requires citizens to submit a special 1099 form to the IRS. 

(The rule was modified under intense pressure from various lobby groups. But it gives you an idea of what government hacks are thinking)

There's new legislation which makes it nearly impossible for US citizens to trade securities and commodities from overseas accounts beyond the reach of the federal government.

Then there's the Liberty Dollar debacle. The US government used counterfeit laws to seize millions of dollars of silver coins that were owned by the firm's customers!

Then last year, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued new guidance requiring US taxpayers who hold gold in certain offshore financial accounts report such holdings on their annual FBAR.

This ruling put up a barrier for Americans to use Gold Money. 

Gold Money's battle with the Dutch regulators is another example of governments making gold ownership more cumbersome.

Step 2: Plant seeds of doubt

Celebrity economists are pounding the table against precious metals with vigor. And the propaganda ministry is focusing its efforts on gold's recent price drop to make people believe that it's dangerous to buy.

In a recent media clip a reporter extols the virtues of the US dollar being backed by the federal government says it all. It's already begun, and we should expect more.

Step 3: Tie gold to terrorism and plant evidence

Here are two incontrovertible facts: Westerners are petrified of Arab terrorists. The Arab world is a gold-oriented society. It wouldn't take much effort to link the two by suggesting (and planting evidence) terrorists use gold to move money and finance their operations.

This is most likely the next step... and if we start seeing this, you can bet your last ounce restrictive controls are coming.

So how does a person respond to all of this restriction?
If you live in a broke western nation, whatever you do, don't store your gold in a bank safety deposit box.

Bankers are unpaid government spies.

Ideally you’ll want to consider moving your gold out of the country.

One company in Vienna (Das Safe) offers anonymous boxes and Hong Kong's The Storage. Both of these are nice options to buy and store gold.

Chapter 4

Assessing Your Health and Wellness Needs

It’s important to assess our health and wellness needs to insure they are the best they can be.

Our health is usually compromised when we’re under great mental, physical and emotional stress.

In order to enjoy life to its fullest and maintain great health we need access our situation, and acquire the tools, information and supplies we need to stay healthy.

This information may be controversial. It has been criticized and condemned by the traditional medical industry.

But my primary concern (and responsibility) is to convey information and insight which helps you not pleasing the traditional medical or the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s true….some scientists, researchers and medical professionals withhold, distort, cover-up and even destroy information, products or tools which enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

I know this is hard to believe but it’s absolutely true.

Often accumulation of huge sums of money is more important than the public’s health, wellness and vitality.

For example, I mentioned the current research regarding grapefruit seed extract and its miraculous anti-pathogenic properties to high-ranking medical professional recently and he proclaimed, “That’s nothing but folklore and junk science”.

I said, “There’s proof grapefruit seed extract has tremendous anti-pathogenic effects”.

“That’s hogwash”, the doctor said.

“Have you ever researched grapefruit seed extract”, I asked.

“No. It would be a waste of time. I went to medical school for eight years. We only focused on the most significant developments and research”, he said.

That is part of the problem.

Most medical students leave school and enter residency with a clearly defined approach to health and wellness which in most cases is drugs and surgery.

Most medical students have very little knowledge; let alone an understanding, of natural cures, remedies or naturopathic science.

When you go to a conventional medical professional today they’ll usually prescribe drugs and/or surgery without hesitation.

My intention is not to blast traditional medicine or the pharmaceutical industry. I’m simply presenting other possibilities and alternative methods which may be available to you.

If financial, economic, food and government systems are prone to failure, there’s a good chance healthcare and medical systems are prone to failure as well.

If Doomsday arrives, or if things get bad, we need to be self-reliant, and especially when it comes to our life, health and wellness.

Let’s explore some available options so we can experience great health, wellness and vitality in our lives.

How People Survived the Black Death

In Medieval England, the Black Death killed about 1.5 million people out of an estimated total of 4 million people between 1348 and 1350.

No medical knowledge existed in Medieval England to cope with the disease.

After 1350, the black plague hit England six more times by the end of the century.

The peasants were terrified at the news the Black Death might be approaching their town or village.

The Black Death is the name given to the disease called the bubonic plague.

The Black Death was caused by fleas carried by rats which were very common in towns and villages. The fleas bit into their victims literally injecting them with the disease. Death was often quick for the weaker victims.

The plague spread like wildfire

In towns and cities people lived close to each other. Most people knew nothing about contagious diseases.

The disposal of bodies was very crude too. This contributed to the spread of the disease even more. The people handling dead bodies did not protect themselves.

The filth that littered streets gave rats the perfect environment to breed and increase their number. It was commonly believed rats caused the disease. But it was actually the fleas.

However, the rats enabled the disease to spread like wildfire.

Lack of medical knowledge meant people tried anything to help them escape the disease. One of the more extreme was the flagellants.

These people wanted to show their love of God by whipping themselves, hoping God would forgive their sins and spare them from the Black Death.

Bogus Cures for the Black Death

Bogus cures, remedies and ill-conceived advice ran rampant. Here are a few of the bogus cures discovered in literature:

Vinegar and water treatment

If a person gets the disease they should be washed with vinegar and rose water

Lancing the buboes

The swellings associated with the Black Death should be cut open to allow the disease to leave the body. A mixture of tree resin, roots of white lilies and dried human excrement should be applied to the places where the body has been cut open.

Bleeding

People believed the disease was in the blood. Therefore the veins leading to the heart should be cut open. This would allow the disease to leave the body. An ointment made of clay and violets should be applied to the place where the cuts have been made.

Diet

Food which rots easily and smells badly such as meat, cheese and fish should be avoided. Instead patients should eat bread, fruit and vegetables

Sanitation

The streets were cleaned with human and animal waste. It should then be taken by a cart to a field outside of the village and burnt. All bodies should be buried in deep pits outside of the village and their clothes should also be burnt.

Pestilence medicine

Roast the shells of newly laid eggs. Ground the roasted shells into a powder. Chop up the leaves and petals of marigold flowers. Put the egg shells and marigolds into a pot of good ale. Add treacle and warm over a fire. The patient should drink this mixture every morning and night.

Witchcraft

Place a live hen next to the swelling to draw out the pestilence from the body. To aid recovery you should drink a glass of your own urine twice a day.

The Black Death had a big impact on society

Fields went unplowed. Harvests could not be made without manpower.

Animals were lost as the people in a village would not have been around to tend them.

Therefore entire villages faced starvation.

Another consequence of the Black Death was inflation. The price of food went up dramatically creating even more hardship for the poor.

In some parts of England, food prices went up by four times.

The Peasants’ Revolt!

Those who survived the Black Death believed they were special – as if God saved and protected them.

Therefore, some took the opportunity offered by the disease to improve their lifestyle.

Feudal law stated that peasants could only leave their village if they had their lord’s permission. Many lords experienced a shortage of labor.

After the Black Death, lords encouraged peasants to leave their village to come to work for them.

Often when the peasants did this, the lord refused to return them to their original village.

Peasants could demand higher wages because they knew a lord was desperate to get in his harvest.

So the government faced the prospect of peasants leaving their villages to find a better “deal” from a lord. This upset the concept of the Feudal System which had been introduced to tie peasants to the land.

Ironically, this revolt by the peasants was encouraged by the lords who were meant to benefit from the Feudal System.

To curb peasants roaming around the countryside looking for better pay, the government introduced the Statute of Labourers in 1351which stated:

No peasants could be paid more than the wages paid in 1346. No lord or master should offer more wages than paid in 1346. No peasants could leave the village they belonged to.

Many peasants ignored the statute but they also knew disobedience would lead to serious punishment.

This created great anger amongst the peasants which led to the Peasants Revolt in 1381.

Was the Black Death Eradicated?

An epidemic like the Black Death dies after a few months because it has no host in which the bacteria can survive.

However this does not mean it could not break out again.

If there is somewhere for a surviving infection, in a rodent or flea or in a warm place, this could act as a reservoir and a breakout breaks could occur.

The Black Death plague returned to Europe and the Mediterranean several times throughout the 14th to 17th centuries.

Although the plague is easily treatable with antibiotics, it has not yet been fully eradicated.

This is nearly impossible because countless fleas and rodents still carry the disease.  The plague can be found throughout most of the world today, including the United States, Africa and southern Asia. 

As many as 3,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organization annually.

There are things you can do to reduce exposure to the disease, such as avoiding contact with rats and fleas, live in sanitary conditions, and use powerful natural bug repellants.

Some natural health experts are concerned with the effects of DEET on a person’s health and wellness. But there are “DEET Free” products available too. 

DEET is slightly yellow oil. It is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing, and provides protection against tick bites, mosquito bites, chiggers, and other insects which can transmit disease.

DEET was developed by the United States Army, following its experience of jungle warfare during World War II. It was originally tested as a pesticide on farm fields.

It is good to have a backup storage of antibiotics readily available. There are natural antibiotics on the market too.

If you own cats or dogs they should be fully bathed with flea repellent, or wear flea and tick repellent collars.

How to Get the Stuff You Need

It’s easier than ever to get the health, wellness and medical supplies you need today.

But if systems break down it may be more difficult to get some items. You may consider having backup supplies of the most crucial items and products.

Granted, a prescription is usually required from a medical doctor for certain medicine and supplies. But doctors or medical professionals are not always readily accessible. So it’s good to have a backup plan.

Most products and supplies can be easily acquired on Internet, or by phone and postal mail. In most cases you’ll need a physical address but mail forwarding services work fine too.

A common question we receive with regards to ordering products online is “How can we trust a company doing business online”?

One of the great things about the Internet is the “community” aspect of it.

For example, when you do business on eBay it’s easy to spot the people or companies who are trustworthy because of the buying and selling “community”.

In most cases, if a company or person has thousands of reviews and a Feedback Score of 95% positive they can usually be trusted with confidence.

The companies or people with poor feedback scores should be avoided, even if the products they offer are priced lower than everywhere else.

The “community” on sites like eBay, Amazon.com and Newegg.com are self-policing. This means buyers and sellers talk to each other.

Another way to test a company’s trustworthiness is to place a small order and observe how it’s confirmed, fulfilled and shipped. Call or email them with a hypothetic problem to observe the response.

If a company screws up the first order the chances are they will screw up again.

Another way to test a company’s validity is by crosschecking a few reference points.

For example, does a company have a physical addresses and landline phone?

It may be the age of cellular phones.

But most companies on the Internet selling products to the public should have a physical address, landline phone and physical address for returns.

If they don’t, move to the next company on the list.

The Chinese site Alibaba.com recently discovered a fraud perpetrated by a few middle managers and e-commerce store owners. The fraud centered on consumer electronics. Faulty products were being shipped or not at all.

The fraudulent e-commerce stores DID NOT have a physical address, contact person or landline phones.

The fraud was discovered, managers were fired, and the e-commerce stores were removed. New practices were put into place immediately after.

Incidentally, Alibaba.com and the sister site AliExpress.com is a great source for health, wellness and medical supplies.

Ten trustworthy companies in which to acquire health, wellness and medical supplies:

Swanson Vitamins

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/

NorthStar Nutritionals

https://www.northstarnutritionals.com/

Mountain Rose Medicinal Herbs

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Raintree Nutrition

http://www.rain-tree.com/

Dim Mak Herbs

http://www.dimmakherbs.com/

Allegro Medical

http://www.allegromedical.com

Hsu's American Ginseng

http://english.hsuginseng.com

Ray Sahelian, M.D

http://www.raysahelian.com/

Mercola.com

http://www.mercola.com/

Emerson Ecologics

http://www.emersonecologics.com/

4,000 Year Old Remedies

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for more than 4,000 years.

But there are discoveries being made every day!

Research is starting to unlock ancient secrets of green tea and hundreds of other herbs including ginseng, burdock, blood root, thistle and even sea kelp or coral calcium.

Research has been accelerated in the past few years because of the rising trend and interest in natural remedies, cures and alternative medicine.

Here are some of medical conditions green tea is reputed to be helpful:

Cancer

Rheumatoid arthritis

High cholesterol levels

Cardiovascular disease

Infection

Impaired immune function

Controlling high blood pressure

Lowering blood sugar

Researchers claim the secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in EGCG, a powerful anti-oxidant.

EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

A University of Purdue study concluded a compound in green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Red wine contains resveratrol, a polyphenol which limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

But researchers at the University of Kansas determined EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol.

Research also indicates green tea lowers cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

It may be a miracle tea.

The health benefits of green tea are even more far reaching. Green tea inhibits abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

New studies have shown green tea can even help you lose weight.

Hundreds of studies have shown drinking green tea can give your body a greater ability to fight infection and kill bacteria.

Green tea also inhibits tooth decay. Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill bacteria which cause dental plaque and aid the immune system with its antifungal properties by improving digestive function.

As the research of this ancient beverage continues it may take years to unlock all its secrets.

Green tea should not be considered a “magic bullet” researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising

The Iodine Secret

Iodine is an essential mineral nutriment.

“Essential” means in order to maintain a healthy body we must get the necessary nutriment from outside our bodies; we cannot make it from other materials.

The most important use for iodine is in the thyroid gland, and without iodine the thyroid hormones cannot be produced.

One of the most important functions of thyroid hormones is to regulate the rate of metabolism.

If the proper amount of thyroid hormones in our body nothing works correctly.

The inadequate hormone production causes hypothyroidism.

In children sustained hypothyroidism also leads to mental retardation and other problems.

In women it is associated with infertility, miscarriages and breast and ovarian cancer.

In 1940, the average American diet contained about 800 micrograms a day of iodine.

By 1995, the daily intake dropped down to about 140 mcg.

Early symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Fatigue
Cold intolerance, increased sensitivity to cold
Cold hands and feet
Constipation
Weight gain
High cholesterol
Essential hypertension
Thin, brittle fingernails
Hair loss; thin, brittle hair
Puffiness in face and elsewhere
Depression; poor concentration
Muscle aches
Dry, itchy skin

It is important to note iodine is found in every tissue in the body - not just the thyroid gland.

The second highest concentration of iodine is found in breast tissue.

Low iodine is associated with fibrocystic breast disease and in animal studies low iodine increases the risk for breast cancer.

Iodine is also found in the prostate gland, gastrointestinal tract, salivary glands, bones, connective tissues, brain, ovaries, thymus gland, adrenal glands, and elsewhere.

However, too much iodine can be a problem too.

There is research which indicates high doses of iodine can actually cause hypothyroidism in sensitive people, as well as hyperthyroidism. This is rare; you need to be careful with taking too much iodine.

In the meanwhile, most people would do well to supplement with kelp, a natural source of iodine.

Sea vegetables are excellent sources of bio-available iodine.

The coastal Japanese consume large quantities of sea vegetables and have very little thyroid disease.

Kelp supplementation goes a long way towards protecting people with iodine deficiency.

The Most Effective Antibiotics, Painkillers, Anesthetics and Other Miracle Drugs

As Doomsday unfolds (as I suspect) a few remedies, cures and medicines may be hard to get or scarce 

It is important to be knowledgeable regarding the most effective antibiotics, painkillers, anesthetics and other miracle drugs on the market. It’s equally important to know how to acquire these products before and after a system unravels.

There’s a need to panic, wear tin-foil hats or hide in caves.

It is simply a sound strategy to be prepared for your family’s health, wellness and medical needs.

Talk to your family physician or medical professional for his or her insight too.

I am NOT a medical doctor and I am NOT dispensing medical advice or diagnosis of any kind.

I am offering my opinion for informational and educational basis only.

It’s important to know how to obtain antibiotics, painkillers, and anesthetics when a doctor can’t be found.

If things get bad some doctors and dentists may accept food as payment.

But this is a worst case scenario.

More than likely cash will remain king for a long time. Cash should be able to enable most things you need.

But there may come a time when barter with food; gold or silver comes into play.  

If you are on prescription drugs is a good idea to have several month supply.

Most of the raw ingredients for "life-or-death drugs" come from Third-World countries, and we can’t rely on them in a crisis.  

Antibiotics, Painkillers and Anesthetics

Injectable Penicillin

Short-acting (crystalline)

Intermediate-acting (Procaine Penicillin)

Long-acting (Benzanthine)

Syringes

You should be able to get these at your pharmacist without a prescription.  A box of 100, sterile, single use is fine. These are good for Vitamin B-12 injections also, when fresh meat and eggs are not readily available.

Vitamins and minerals

Whole food vitamin and mineral powder or liquid is best, with no additives or preservatives. Emerson Ecologics offers pharmaceutical grade vitamin and mineral powders.

Antibiotics

Ampicillin Tablets: (500 mg. tablets)

Erythromycin: (alternative to Penicillin)

Tetracycline/Terramycin

Pet Meds (In some cases these are safe for humans too and you don’t need a prescription)

Drs. Smith and Foster

http://www.drsfostersmith.com 

Nystatin and Gentian Violet for fungi

Mebendazole or Albendazole, and Piperazine for worms

Neosporin Opthamlic Solution antibiotic eye ointments for eyes

Silver Nitrate Eye Drops

Lidocaine (Xylocaine) (sewing wounds)

Tetanus Immune Globulin

For immunization Doctors recommend Super-Tet Tetanus Toxoid

Silvadene (for burns)

Huperazine A

Iodine crystals (better than Chlorine for water purification)

Evicol (water purification)

Pain Killers

Aspirin, acetaminophen, and other NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Chemical Warfare Agents (This is serious stuff folks)

Super Tropical Bleach (STB)

Decontaminates against G- and V-Agents, Mustard agents, and Lewisite

Biological Agents

Start on antibiotics.  

(Important Note: Penicillin and tetracyclines, amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and gentamycin are good for Anthrax.

If an organism has developed resistance, penicillin and tetracyclines may not be effective).  

Huperzine A (Hup A):  Takes the place of Physostigmine, (a prescription drug for neural agents (chemical warfare) 

Hup A is not a prescription drug.  

Chemical and biological decontamination

Liquid chlorine bleach (dry form available too)

You can use it for water purification, chemical and biological decontamination

Calcium Hypochlorite is an algicide; bactercide; deodorant; potable water purification; fungicide; and a strong bleaching agent

AIDS

There are a number of O-T-C, over-the-counter medications which can stop the aids virus if they are used quick enough like Nonoxynol 9.  

Get a current edition of The Merck Manual for consultation.  

Author’s note: I am offering this information for educational purposes only. This information is offered in case you are unable to see a physician, get to a hospital or to a medical facility.

Chemical Warfare and Biological Attack Treatment Protocol

(Courtesy of the Medscape Reference Manual)

Have the patient perform as much of the decontamination as possible is preferable to decrease the amount of cross-contamination.

Remove the patient's clothes and jewelry and place them in plastic bags.

Wash the patient from head to toe with soap and water. Avoid vigorous scrubbing to prevent skin breakdown.

Decontaminate open wounds by irrigation with saline or water for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Avoid contaminating unexposed skin on the patient. Use surgical drapes if necessary.

Flush exposed areas with soap and water for 10-15 minutes with gentle sponging.

Irrigate exposed eyes with saline for 10-15 minutes, except in alkali exposures, which require 30-60 minutes of irrigation.

Clean under fingernails with a scrub brush.

The best universal liquid decontamination agent for chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is 0.5% hypochlorite solution.

It is prepared by diluting household bleach to one-tenth strength (9 parts water or saline to 1 part bleach).

Hypochlorite solutions are for use on the skin and soft-tissue injuries, including open lacerations. Do not use it in penetrating abdominal wounds (leads to development of peritoneal adhesions), in the eye, open chest wounds, or in open brain or spinal cord injuries (effects unknown). Irrigate these areas with copious amounts of sterile saline solution.

After using hypochlorite solution on either the skin or soft-tissue wounds, subsequently irrigate these areas with sterile saline solution

Miracle Drugs

The term “miracle drug” is often used with reckless abandon to increase sales. There are few drugs which actually perform “miracles”.

But there are drugs which are living up to the claims by the medical and research communities.

In this section we offer information on five such drugs.

Please consult your physician or medical professional for further insight or to see if these drugs are right for your situation.

Avastin

In 1989, Napoleone Ferrara discovered vascular endothelial growth factor (which led Genentech to pursue a new type of cancer therapy which starves tumors of their blood supply). Avastin, appears to extend cancer patients' lives.

Bextra

Chemist John Talley says every atom in a drug should have a purpose. He left a job at Pharmacia to lead research at Microbia where he studies antifungal drugs. Bextra is an antifungal drug.

Enbrel

Biochemists Craig Smith and Ray Goodwin developed the autoimmune drug Enbrel. Enbrel targets the prototype member of the gene family: tumor necrosis factor.

Velcade

Julian Adams developed the drug Velcade. Velcade targets the obscure proteasome which acts as a cellular garbage disposal.

Celebrex

Another drug developed by master chemist John Talley. Celebrex is a Cox-2 inhibitor which relieves pain and inflammation without harming the digestive tract.

Seven Genuine Super-foods for Maximum Vitality

Organic apples

Apples are prime sources of healthy flavonoids, including cancer-fighting compounds called triterpenoids, You still need to wash them in lukewarm water to remove all the natural and unnatural stuff used, such as fertilizer. The skin is where most of the nutrients reside.

Goji berries

Goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and other compounds which may help prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart disease. Antioxidants may also boost the immune system and lower cholesterol. 

Organic broccoli

Broccoli is a rich source of bio-chemicals which are known to fight cancer. One of the most well-known bio-chemicals is isothiocyanates. These powerful chemicals stimulate certain enzymes produced by the liver which act to neutralize the effects of cancer causing agents that enter the body. 

Organic Swiss chard

Organic Swiss chard provides cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory benefits, antioxidant protection and immune support. It is also good for maintaining bone health; reducing the risk of cataracts; providing higher levels of energy; and promoting lung health; and helping to regulate nerve and muscle tone by balancing the effects of calcium.

Grapefruit (and grapefruit seed extract!)

Grapefruit is high in enzymes that burn fats, has high water content and has less sodium. It contains salicylic acid which helps break down the body’s inorganic calcium, which builds up in the cartilage of joints and may lead to arthritis.

It contains Lycopene which is a carotenoid pigment and is a powerful agent against tumors and cancers as it acts as a scavenger of cancer-causing free radicals.

Grapefruit seed extract is often referred to as “liquid gold”, and rightly so. It can help to protect nerve and brain tissue by penetrating the blood brain barrier. It prevents formation of plaque in arteries, improves mental alertness, may help to prevent senility, prevents tooth decay, helps to prevent osteoporosis, may interfere with cancer cell growth and proliferation, may inhibit virus expression and replication in individuals with HIV, it aids in poor circulation, addresses complications due to diabetes and relieves constipation

Organic spinach

It improves eyesight, blood pressure, strengthens muscles, prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. It also known to prevent atherosclerosis and heart attack, has neurological benefits, anti-ulcerative, anti-cancerous property, and skin protection

Free range, fertile eggs

Free-range eggs are superior to supermarket eggs in many ways. They typically contain1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, more vitamin, more omega-3 fatty acids, three times more vitamin E, seven times more beta carotene. Eggs are naturally rich in vitamin D. Free range; fertile eggs are often referred to as the “perfect food”.

In the next section I’ll show you vital principles of urban survival and why they may be needed.

Chapter 5 – Urban Survival Guide

Are Urban Survival Skills Necessary?

Cities and large urban areas are vulnerable to any disruption in the system.

We’re already witnessing some sections of urban areas run by criminal gangs.

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.

I use the Netgear 2-bay Network Storage (NAS). It backs up all of the computers in your home or office, and stores them securely, offline, on your property. The Netgear NAS costs less than $500.

We should always be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Anonymous (Offline) P2P File Sharing Networks

Aram Bartholl is a Berlin based media artist. He started the “Dead Drops” project during a visit to New York City in October 2010.

Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space.

USB flash drives are embedded into walls, buildings and curbs accessible to anybody in public space.

Everyone is invited to drop or find files on a dead drop. All you have to do is plug into a wall, house or pole with a netbook or laptop computer and share your favorite files and data.

Each dead drop is installed empty except for a readme.txt file explaining the project.

“Dead Drops” is open to participation.

If you would like to install a dead drop in your city/neighborhood follow the ‘how to’ instructions on DeadDrops.com and submit the location and pictures.

New P2P “dead zones” are popping up all over the world.

Most anonymous (offline) P2P file sharing networks are open to the public and are self-policing.

Police Brutality on the Rise – Filming is Banned!

Are cameras the new guns?

There have been a flood of videos on the Internet which depict police brutality and abuse of a person’s constitutional rights.

In four states it is now illegal to record an on-duty police officer.

This is also true if you are involved in an encounter and the information may be necessary to your defense.

In many states when police do not consent to filming the camera-wielder can be arrested.

The courts, however, disagree.

Recently an Illinois judge rejected a motion to dismiss an eavesdropping charge against Christopher Drew. Christopher recorded his arrest for selling dollar artwork on the streets of Chicago.

The misdemeanor charges were dropped (peddling in a prohibited area).

But Drew was prosecuted for illegal recording, which is a Class I felony punishable by 4 to 15 years in prison.

Video recordings of a police officer rescuing a dog - will almost certainly not result in prosecution, even if the filming is done without all-party consent.

The only people who seem to be prone to prosecution are those who embarrass or confront the police, or challenge the law.

This is a form of social control which discourages criticism of the police.

CopBlock.org is a decentralized project founded by Ademo Freeman.

It is a group of people united by shared goals of police accountability, and the education of individual rights. The site also disseminates effective tactics for filming police

Resources

Busted: The Citizen’s Guide to Surviving Police Encounters

An educational film about how to handle police encounters

10 Rules for Dealing with Police

A second educational film about how to handle police encounters

Copwatch Handbook (.pdf format)

A short book about how to run a Copwatch group

Chapter 14 - When Systems Fail

Systemic trigger points refer to something which affects a system-wide grid, such as the electric, power, transportation and sewage grids.

It’s doesn’t take much effort to consider the ramifications when major systems and power grids fail or deteriorate. 

We’re seeing minor systemic trigger points around US and world right now.

Alabama’s most populous county recently became the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Politicians tried to retake control of its beleaguered sewer system and wipe away as much of $4.15 billion in debt as possible. Efforts failed and the country went bankrupt.

This is a systemic trigger point.

As we move into Doomsday stories like this will become commonplace.

In addition, throughout history systemic grids were pawns in retaking political or economic political power.

In other words, power, electrical and transportation systems and grids are often held hostage.

We’re already seeing an escalation of this type of blackmail.

Little-Known Secrets of the Power Grid and Smart Meters

There’s a secret about wind power turbines which hasn’t made the mainstream media yet. They consume energy from the electric grid even when they’re not spinning.

During the winter months in most locations, this can be as much as 20 percent of the output of wind turbines.

What’s more, there are even more legitimate questions regarding wind power:

      Does it reduce CO2 gases?

      Does it generate clean power?

      Will create independence from oil and reduce world conflict?

      Will it generate so much electricity wind farm operators will pay customers just to take it off the grid?

It’s anyone’s guess whether there’s a corrupt system of wind energy subsidies being paid to politicians, wind energy operators, unions and venture funds. Word on the street is wind power is “dirty”.

I like the concept of wind energy, as well as energy from tidal pools, cow manure, gas turbines and even solar.

I’m simply presenting the argument politicians and bureaucrats cannot be trusted. They often hold systemic grids hostage.

Are Windmills Noisy?

The residents of Vinalhaven Maine (and island off the coast) cheered the arrival of three giant windmills.

But then the windmills were turned on.

“In the first 10 minutes, our jaws dropped to the ground. Nobody could believe it. They were really loud”, one resident claimed.

About a dozen neighbors living less than a mile from the $15 million wind facility here, say whooshing of the 123-foot blades is making life in their tranquil corner of the island unbearable.

I guess most people if given the choice of living next to a nuclear power plant and windmill would choose a windmill.

But windmills are not silent, and they do not produce nearly as much energy as proponents and salesmen claim.

The new documentary “Windfall” tells an entirely different story of so-called “wind power”.

What About “Smart” Meters?

Few people are shedding more light on so-called “smart” meter controversy than Devvy Kidd. Her website is www.devvy.com.

She has sued her local power company over her rights to refuse the attachment of a “smart” meter on her home; she has also led the charge of providing factual information on the devices.

There is a war being waged in the US, although you'd never know it by the silence from the old, disgraced media and the cable "news" networks.

This new assault on our bodies and privacy is over electric “smart” meters. It is a relatively new technology which allegedly saves energy.

The truth about “smart” meters

Wireless “smart” meters emit pulses of microwave radio frequency radiation every few seconds seven days a week.

The World Health Organization recently classified the type of radiation emitted from smart meters (non-ionizing radiation) as a Class 2B carcinogen, on par with lead.

Transmitters inside your home or office communicate with “smart” meters attached to the outside of each building. These meters transmit at higher frequencies to central hubs throughout local neighborhoods.

The scientific evidence of the biological impacts from microwave radiation impacts such things as DNA damage, increased risk of cancers and tumors, cellular stress, decreased melatonin, decreased sperm, cognitive difficulties and brain-wave alteration, heart rhythm disturbances, red blood cell clumping, and impacts on wildlife including to bees.

Wireless radio-frequency radiation from “smart” meters can cause medical devices to stop working.

There are reports from people with “smart” meters installed relating to heart palpitations, dizziness, inability to fall asleep, memory problems and cognitive disturbances, flu-like symptoms, worsening of existing health problems, abrupt depression, agitation, headaches, hearing problems."

Of course, “smart” meters will also cost tens of thousands of jobs for meter readers (saving power companies hundreds of millions of dollars).

Millions of Americans are up in arms over “smart” meters, and the fact they are being forced on citizens.

You can read Devvy’s articles for an understanding of how dangerous “smart” meters are and why you don't want one on your home or business.

I have opted out of Smart Meters on all of my properties.

Watch Out When the Food Distribution Breaks Down

For anyone living in a large metropolitan area the storage of food is absolutely critical.

When and if a food distribution channel breaks people will be out of luck.

I’ve seen food riots. All other riots pale in comparison to riots caused by hunger.

Even in rural, farming areas people often get hysterical when there’s a storm, blizzard or tornado in the forecast. They STORM supermarkets to stock up on necessities, like chips, soda, beer, cigarettes and ice cream.

We need to be ahead of the curve when it comes to food and the possibility of food distribution channels becoming disrupted or sabotaged.

Air Traffic Control Running Windows Software

The U.S. air traffic control system has serious problems.

The new $2.1 billion computer system has misidentified aircraft and is having trouble processing radar information.

Air traffic controllers at a Federal Aviation Administration have also encountered some difficulty transferring responsibility for planes to other controllers.

The new NextGen program is supposed to replace the current air traffic control system, which is based on World War II-era radar technology. The new system is based on GPS technology.

In 2005 a breakdown in California's air traffic control system was due partly to a design anomaly in the way Microsoft Windows servers were integrated into the system. The radio system shut down, and lasted more than three hours, leaving 800 planes in the air without contact to air traffic control.

Linux and Unix software applications are proving to be the best fit for high velocity operations such as air traffic control. But this software is unlikely to be implemented any time soon. The bureaucratic red tape and government superpowers will certainly make the wrong decisions at the wrong time.

The air traffic control problems are even worse in Russia, Ukraine, Libya, Sudan and Venezuela.

Ethical Hacking on the Rise

Lin Mun Poo, is accused of hacking into a Federal Reserve computer server. He was eventually caught. But this is an example of a rising trend called ethical hacking.

Ethical hackers steal data, credit card numbers or other pertinent information on secure computer networks and sell it on the black market.

These modern day Robin Hoods often hack into large, impenetrable computer networks, for the thrill of it.

A band of ethical hackers tried to penetrate US Government networks and Internal Revenue Service computers with only one objective: destroy and disable all data. Innocent bystanders cheered them on, anomalously, on the Internet and Facebook.

Granted, many hackers do it solely for the monetary reward. But ethical hackers often have a greater purpose in life than money.

One publication, Hackers Journal, is devoted to ethical hacking. They posted these headlines recently”

Hacking a website: Parsing a URL

Hack Passwords on Network

Hacking Windows Account Passwords with Cain and Abel

How to Use Live HTTP Headers to Sniff Login Packets

How to Hack Wireless Networks (WPA – Windows/Linux) – Part 1

Wireshark – Password Stealing

Ethical and “hacking for hire” are hot rising trends.

A new virtual hacking group called Anonymous is causing all kinds of problems for government hacks, secret operatives, corrupt politicians, unruly corporations and more.

I think ethical hacking can be a good thing. Granted, anyone with power and fame typically make the wrong decisions.

But the “old system” and corrupt government has gone virtually unchecked and or exposed. Journalists have been compromised. Most of the journalists trained in government sponsored and supported schools are nothing more than shills.

Most of the passionate, investigative journalism and research today is being done by unpaid volunteers who simple want the truth known and corruption exposed.

Chapter 15 – Doomsday Action Plan

How to Profit When There is Blood in the Streets

The most dreaded economic scenarios are playing out right now.

It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dotted lines.

      Unemployment is at historical highs (the government would never publish accurate statistics)

      Real estate continues to plunge in value and the third wave of foreclosures has begun

      US Government debt is the highest of any country in human history (but they tell us everything is under control)

      The stock markets around the world are being propped up by propaganda, media spin and other insidious tools

      US manufacturing is all but dead

      The US Dollar is backed by nothing

The good news is there are ways to profit when there is “blood in the streets”.

A unique set of circumstances always unfolds when there’s blood in the streets and doomsday unfolds, or things get really bad.

Let’s focus on some profitable opportunities for Doomsday and beyond.

The world has entered a deflationary cycle, among other things. It can’t be stopped or slowed down. This will not to be a good time for most people.

Depressions are the least understood of economic events, and they’re so powerful.

Depressions devastate economies, countries and civilizations.

Times like this often produce riots, mass protests, war and revolution.

Occupy Wall Street is just one example. It’s a disorganized protest. The core objective is convoluted. The participants curse Wall Street and Washington, but they want money and to be in charge.

Either way, it’s an example of what to expect in the future.

Depressions and mass chaos are misunderstood because they do not occur very often.

What’s more, historians usually overlook depressions as the root of the problem when things go awry.

Deflationary periods are often accompanied by social and political upheaval and wars.

Investing, speculating and building a business when there’s blood in the streets take great courage, because you go against the crowd or masses almost 100%.

This is the essence of profiting when there’s chaos or blood in the streets – bet against the masses.

The term, “blood in the streets” was coined by Baron Rothschild. He said the best time to buy is when there is "blood in the streets", or when the markets have fallen drastically and investor sentiment is extremely negative.

For example, the US Government has been on the hot seat because of the $10 trillion debt (and rightly so). The masses are NOT jumping on board to invest in the US Government.

On the Wings of Fear Opportunity Lingers

However, one opportunity along these lines, and going against the crowd is US treasury STRIPS.

STRIPS are an acronym for “separate trading of registered interest and principal securities”.

In other words, Treasury STRIPS are fixed-income securities sold at a discount to face value and offer no interest payments because they mature at par. They offer minimal risk and some tax benefits

The best way to invest in these is with US Treasury ETF's.

You Can Profit When Investor Sentiment is Positive Too

Most investors don’t understand you can make as much or even more money selling or “going short” the market as you can buying or “going long”.

This does not mean buying stocks that should do well in a depression!

It means literally to sell or short the market, and there are a variety of ways to do this.

In other words, can also sell when the markets have risen dramatically and investor sentiment is extremely positive, examples include real estate, precious metals and oil.

Most people never see or understand what’s happening until it is too late.

The more you research you perform on investor sentiment the more you will see this contrarian approach is true.

There’s an old adage in the market which says, “The trend is your friend”, which is true. But when trends shift or change it becomes an enemy fast. This is what we’re seeing in the markets today.

The masses refuse to accept inflation is gone.

Here’s an example….

Most people still believe real estate will always goes up in value, no matter what or where it is.

People refuse to believe inflation is gone.

For instance, look at the foreclosure real estate market. A lot of people jumped on foreclosed homes and bought them. Maybe this could not be construed as the “masses” but a lot of people bought into this market before it had a chance to bottom out – or clear the books.

The problem is MOST foreclosed homes are still overpriced.

Investing during Doomsday (or if things get really bad)

If you understand depressions you only need a few dollars to invest. You could parlay a small investment or purchase into great wealth if you do it right.

The old rules of investing and speculating do not apply

We need to understand the money game has changed forever.

Real estate used to be valuable, as did stocks, corporate and municipal debt.

These were regarded as AAA investments. These investments had appreciated in value for generations.

In a depression they become almost worthless.

In the near future, million-dollar homes and buildings will be abandoned across the country.

You can see the effects of deflation all over the place.

For example, in Flint Michigan, South Bend Indiana and Cleveland Ohio you can find rows of homes and factories, all victims of the depression.

You can acquire thousands of homes free and clear by just paying the back taxes.

If you’ve been to Nevada, California, Florida or Arizona you’ll see widespread real estate wipeouts.

In Nevada contractors are building new homes, even with more than new 100,000 homes sitting empty!

It seems new home buyers don’t want the “older” new homes (3 years or less) because they’re invested with bugs, rats or worse. They want new, new homes. They believe inflation is alive and well.

Devastation Equals Opportunity

If you could acquire new homes for ten cents on the dollar, that’s one thing. But that’s not what people are doing. They are paying $200-$300,000 for homes, in a depression.

We DON’T need to be in a hurry to buy homes or real estate in the US. There’s plenty of bad news and fallout yet to come.

However, you can be prepared and plan ahead to scoop up homes, apartments and buildings in areas you expect to survive the fallout.

Not all areas will survive. There will be pockets of opportunities, mostly in the exurb areas (areas 3-4 hours from major metro areas, like Telluride CO, Jackson Hole WY and Camden Maine).

In Ireland, huge subdivisions sit vacant.

In Spain, millions of homes are sitting empty. Multi-million dollar villas on the coast of Spain have been foreclosed.

The proof is obvious to those with eyes to see.

As more economies fall into depression some people will eventually figure it out.

But for the masses it will be too late.

In the last Great Depression, farms, factories, homes and businesses were boarded up and abandoned.

People loaded up what they had and left.

The same thing is happening right now.

But this time the turmoil will be much bigger and last a longer period of time.

The good news is by building on a foundation of self-reliance, you won't have any conflicts or problems with the people in power. You become a power base of unto yourself.

A few months ago some of richest Americans signed a pledge. They agreed to give away most of their wealth to charity.

They are endearing themselves to the power structure. There is wisdom in their insanity.

When Age of Turmoil and chaos comes full circle the government will use its armies to defend them.

By understanding deflation and by understanding how NOT to become a debt slave, in other words by being generous with your wealth, making a bunch of money, paying taxes and putting people to work in a way you become a friend to government.

Its’ sad but some people will be executed like what happened in depression era Germany. I hope things don’t get to ungodly extremes like this again, but it does happen when things get bad.

Unfortunately a self-styled, tin foil hat survivalists and anti-government antagonists will suffer the same fate.  They don’t have a plan, you do.

We need to be patient if we plan to buy “when there’s blood in the streets”.

We need to think like bottom feeding fish.

The objective is to buy stuff at the bottom.

There Will Be No Inflation or Recovery Any Time Soon

It’s hard to visualize this but there will be no inflation or recovery anytime soon.

There’s a chance the current situation and economy could be a decades-long event.

We need to spend as little money as possible. The goal is protect our cash and assets (and pay taxes on them). 

For now, cash is king. It’s not just a neat saying.

We need to avoid debt and credit like the plague.

Japan is a Mess – But There is a Window of Opportunity

Japan was hit with a catastrophic earthquake, then a tsunami, and then four nuclear reactors exploded, and now radiation is all over the place.

Experts have predicted more than a trillion dollars of Japanese infrastructure has been destroyed.

Panicked selling hit the Japanese stock market and about 1 trillion dollars of market value was wiped out.

A flight to quality has occurred not to gold or precious metals but to U.S. dollars and U.S. government debt, and the German Mark.

Yields on ten-year T-notes have plunged to 3 %.

Gold, stocks, oil, platinum, palladium, copper and silver have all plunged.

Japan was already in a 20 year depression. Japan’s economy was the most indebted in the world (as a percentage of GDP).

The disasters have dashed any dreams of recovery, for decades into the future.

The Proverbial “Game” has Changed

The global depression is not over. There will always be an ebb and flow in the market and the economy.

But specific events like the Japanese disaster and the Greek bailout changes the game forever. We’ve been thrust into the next phase of the great depression.

Depressions wipe out wealth.

But opportunities abound.

The Greek Bailout is Smoke and Mirrors

The Greek bailout is a joke designed to fool the masses. A bailout is impossible.

Greece already defaulted.

Granted, stocks and commodities have rallied recently.

But the MF Holdings collapse is a very big deal.

MF Holdings was convinced Greece would not default. They offered 50 cents on the dollar for the Greek debt. Greece already defaulted.

The market has rallied the past few weeks or months because of the Greek bailout publicity stunt.

Slowly seasoned traders and speculators begin to realize it is all smoke and mirrors – no substance to any kind of so-called “deal”.

Commodities have started down; stock markets around the world have started to plunge too.

Italy is next. They will default.

The European debt wipeout is happening right before our eyes.

How can a savvy gentlemen profit from the European debt wipeout?

One way to profit is with Currency Shares Euro Trust ETF (FXE). You can buy this ETF as you would any share of stock. If the immediate debt problem in Europe is addressed then this ETF will likely surge in value.

Another way to profit is on the other side of the world…away from Europe’s problems is Brazil’s currency, the real, is one option.

The real is gaining against the euro, the Swiss franc, the British pound, Japanese yen. It’s also gaining on most of the other actively traded currencies as well.

Brazil’s huge trade surplus is one reason it’s so strong, and low debt loads. You can buy the real through ETFs like BZF or directly through currency purchases.

Ranking Opportunities

Ranking opportunities in the coming days, weeks and months is not difficult.

All it takes is some wise observation, research and a contrarian point of view.

Remember: the masses are typically late, wrong and indecisive.  

As hard times or even Doomsday accelerate we can use the tools available to us and observe, research and be diligent. We can go opposite of the general public or masses.

For example, most people are underwater with debt. Banks have tightened lending practices. Banks are a hard business to get into today. But starting a bank or lending institution is certainly “contrary” to conventional wisdom.

Granted, opening or acquiring a bank may not be an option for most people.

But you can operate as a bank on P2P platforms with the help of sites like Prosper.com.

On Prosper.com you can lend money to people, business owners and entrepreneurs in a secure, regulated environment.

In ranking opportunities I often use eight criteria. I rank each category from 1-10 (10 being the best or highest)

1.      Time

How much time is involved? Will you need to spend an inordinate amount of time in order to see a profit?

2.      Risk

What is at risk and how much? Drug trafficking could cost you your life and all of your assets. Whereas selling prescription drugs online as an affiliate, in a legal and regulated environment has very low risk.

3.      Legal

Is there an opportunity for legal entanglements? Offering medical consultations or advice without a license is illegal. Whereas providing a medical or hospice referral service has fewer legal entanglements.

4.      Knowledge

Do I understand the market, product or service? Investing in nanotechnology when you don’t understand what it is, the completion, or players is foolish. Investing in a company with a proven sales record in your field of expertise is smarter.

5.      Resources

What is required? Do I need to provide space, vehicles, manpower, contacts, or other physical resources?

6.      Physical Requirements

Do I need to be physical involved with a given opportunity, or can I be involved “virtually” or as a silent partner, or investor?

7.      Unforeseen Problems

Every opportunity or business has unforeseen problems and issues. These should be addressed up front. If you invest in a gold mining company and they go bankrupt because of problems “unforeseen by you” this should be avoided. Whereas if you invest in a real estate development project in Chile you or your representative can be present and name or company can be on the real estate title.

8.      Profit Potential

Does this opportunity provide legitimate upside potential? Most investors or entrepreneurs believe the opportunity they are involved always has an upside profit potential. But the best way to determine if an opportunity, project, venture or start-up business has profit potential is to look at previous investments in a similar market, profitable competitors and calculated probability.

The last criterion not listed is an exit strategy.

How easy will it be to get out of an opportunity, investment or business?

We can use this ranking system to determine great opportunities going forward and during Doomsday.

The Wisdom of Traveling Lite

A billionaire friend once told me, “Traveling lite has become really important to me. Even after amassing a small fortune”.

My friend, P.S., built a fortune in a half dozen industries including self-storage real estate, importing men’s clothing, antiques and medical office buildings.

It dawned on P.S. that having more things than you can use, like cars, homes, planes, race horses, boats and other toys was foolish, and actually sucked energy from your life.

My friend started liquating physical assets in the mid-nineties and by early 2000 he only had two homes, two cars and lots of land.

The principle of “traveling light” has been known and understood by some of the greatest spiritual minds throughout history.

The simplicity of this principle is even better. It’s easy to apply and integrate into your life.

Basically, traveling light means getting rid of all the stuff you don’t need, everything which holds you back, or limits your life in any way.

Most people don’t have a problem getting rid of junk.

It’s a bit more difficult getting rid of stuff when you are emotionally attached to it, like homes, businesses, camps, cars, toys or even partnerships.

In ancient times sages referred to this principle as burning the chaff. It simply means getting rid of the things you don’t need.

Traveling light enables a person to move in this life without being held back.

This doesn’t mean selling or getting rid of everything you own or need.

It simply means getting rid of the “chaff” the stuff that’s not needed.

This will become evident to more people as the difficult times and Doomsday matures. If these things never occur you’ll still enjoy the benefits of traveling light, and never miss “stuff”.

People quickly realize they can live abundantly without junk, trappings and stuff people have told them they MUST have in order to succeed.

Developing In-Demand Skills

The object is to learn valuable in-demand skills, which a person or business owner will find useful.

Maybe you find it easy to strike up conversations with people and are able to develop a network of contacts in an unfamiliar place.

In this case, you could build a database of people moving to a new country. You could be a facilitator and help people get things done.

Everybody has something they are naturally gifted at… something they can use to grow a valuable in-demand skill.

Developing a valuable skill not always easy, it can’t be done overnight.

It’s been said it takes about 2,000 hours of study, learning, and practice to become competent at most things.

When you break this down into smaller chunks it’s not so daunting.

For example, 20 hours a week for two years would be 2080 hours, or 15 hours a week for less than three years would be 2000 hours.

Could dedicate a couple of years of your life to learning a valuable new skill which would set you apart from the crowd and open doors to moneymaking opportunities?

If you want to change your situation, I’m sure you can. I’ve done it many times.

Everything in life, like moving from one situation to another takes some effort.

No one is entitled to anything in life. You have to work for and earn it.

Now is a great time to learn a valuable in-demand skill. I’m here to help you if I can.

High-demand skills needed if things get really bad

      Computer programming (Help people and businesses with programming and software challenges, issues, problems and new applications)

      Network security (Everyone needs network security. But it is even more crucial in the days ahead. If you understand network security issues and can communicate or resolve issues efficiently you should have no problem acquiring clients)

      Translation (New applications for iPhones, iPad, smart devices and even on the web make translation easier than ever. But content, letters, books, and websites need translation services and help)

      Application developer (iPhone, Android, iPad, Windows, Unix, and Linux, etc. If you can develop applications, especially mobile or “cloud” applications you should have a wellspring of eager clients)

      Languages (Helping people and businesses with Mandarin, Japanese, German, Spanish and French, also tutoring kids and adults)

      Writing (Relevant content is cash. People and businesses need help developing content in dozens of areas including copyrighting, sales, web, Kindle, Nook, smart phones, e-books, how to manuals, asset protection and entertainment)

      Personal security (There are an abundance of opportunities in this market, including martial arts training, self-defense, firearms instruction, evasion tactics, body guard services and security services)

      eCommerce (Helping people and businesses with money, credit cards and transactions issues relating to the Web, smart phones, P2P, auctions, and programming)

      Database administration (Information is stored in a database. This skill focuses primarily on the business sector providing database administration, maintenance, backup, security, employee training and database development)

      Tutor (A professional tutor comes to individuals and businesses to teach and train them at their convenience, in a classroom setting or online. The list of subject areas is endless).

      Consulting (Help people and businesses with concise, relevant, tipping point ideas and strategies in all areas of business, the arts and personal)

      Executive Temp (People are being fired and downsized in droves. Positions are being eliminated. Companies are hiring temporary executives and management. In the worst economy since the Great Depression Robert Half International reported revenues of $3.18 billion with temporary staffing operations in more than 400 locations worldwide. This is a hot rising trend. Also temporary or absentee business owner opportunities.)

      Farming and Agriculture (There is a food shortage in many parts of the world, but especially in China, India and Pakistan. Products and services related to farming and agriculture should prosper nicely during Doomsday) - Read Jim Rogers’ books on commodities and farming.

      Sales (If you can sell you will never go hungry). Most companies need to increase or maintain sales. If you’re good and you are willing to work as an independent contractor or freelance sales expert you should have more work than you can handle)

      Marketing (Marketing paves the way to closing a sale). Marketing is needed on many levels with an emphasis on direct, permission, social media and Internet marketing

      Health and Wellness (Doctors, Dentists, Naturopathic Physicians, Holistic, and herbalists)

      Travel (People will move, migrate, immigrate, run and enjoy leisure travel – all travel related products and services with a personal edge should perform nicely)

      Marksmanship (firearms expert) Training, helping, and advising people and businesses on the safe and confident use of firearms.

      Fix It Trades (These skills have been needed since the beginning of time, and will still be needed: Carpentry, electrician, plumbing, heating, solar, geothermal, mechanical engineer, and auto repair)

      Help Desk (helping people and business (online and off) with all things digital; computers, laptops, smart phones, servers, web hosting, encryption and software)

Doomsday Reference Library

Resources for Survival Kits, Emergency Preparedness and Information

Survival Kits, Gear and Food

Quake Kare

http://www.quakekare.com/

Quake Kare's survival kits are designed by emergency preparedness experts and contain only the highest quality emergency food, water, shelter, sanitation, lighting, communication, and rescue supplies.

Their Emergency Ration Food Provisions utilize a special non-thirst provoking formula providing survival victims with the optimal balance of calories, vitamins, and minerals to survive for 72 hours.

They also offer accessory emergency kits containing additional emergency supplies designed for specific types of disasters.

For example, if you live in an earthquake prevalent area, you should accessorize your home survival kit with an earthquake kit containing earthquake preparedness supplies specifically designed for protection from a major earthquake

Bear Grylls Online Store

http://www.us.beargryllsstore.com

Bear is a man who loves adventure. After breaking his back in three places in a parachuting accident, he fought his way to recovery, and two years later entered the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest aged only 23. He has since led ground-breaking expeditions across the world.

You can also find all the latest updates from Bear on his website www.beargrylls.com.

Emergency Disaster Systems Inc.

http://www.edisastersystems.com

Emergency Disaster Systems was founded in 1989 to provide earthquake preparedness supplies to communities throughout California. Today, EDS serves communities, governments, industries, and individuals around the world with a variety of innovative emergency preparedness solutions for disasters ranging from fires to winter storms.

LifeSecure

http://www.lifesecure.com

LifeSecure Emergency Solutions offers superior emergency kits and supplies. They help people to respond effectively to emergencies and natural or man-made disasters.

Costco - American Preparedness Emergency Backpack Kit

http://www.costco.com

American Preparedness designed the 7204 emergency preparedness kit to support four people for 72 hours (three days). The contents are packed into a sturdy, easily identifiable, red back-pack. The 7204 contains enough food rations, water and other emergency supplies, such as emergency space blankets, flashlights, water-resistant radio with batteries and emergency ponchos to provide 4 people with the items needed to assist in surviving a natural or man-made disaster.

The Ready Store

http://www.thereadystore.com/

They specialize in offering emergency preparedness products which meet the needs of individuals, families, businesses, government agencies, schools and community groups. They offer a wide range of survival kits, food storage and emergency food & water and many other emergency preparedness essentials that meet your needs.

SaveALife.com

http://www.savalife.com

They specialize in emergency response products and emergency planning services. They also offer emergency training materials, emergency preparedness policy manuals and dental emergency medical supplies, including emergency drug kits, defibrillators and oxygen systems.

Personal Security

Guardian Self Defense

http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/

Women on Guard

http://www.womenonguard.com/

Sabre Red Products

http://www.sabrered.com/servlet/StoreFront

Taser International

http://www.taser.com/

Great Call Urgent Response

http://www.greatcall.com/

Survival Shelters

Utah Shelter Systems

http://utahsheltersystems.com/

“All Hazard Shelters” withstand violent earth movement from severe earthquakes; high velocity winds from tornados and hurricanes; invasion from mobs; heavy overpressures from nuclear blast; all types of radiations; wild fires; and air contamination from fallout and chemical and biological war gasses.   

ArmoredGuard Underground Shelter

http://www.shelters-of-texas.com/armoredguard.html

The Armored Guard is a deep earth preparedness and survival shelter developed to protect families. The extended stairway puts the Armored Guard three foot below ground level and out of harm’s way.

SafeCastle.com

http://www.safecastle.com 

SafeCastle fallout shelters, storm shelters and safe rooms provide safety and protective in a world of uncertainty and danger. SafeCastle is in the business of providing steel-plated peace of mind.

FORTS – Portable Fold-Out Shelters

http://fortsusa.com

FORTS utilize groundbreaking fold-out technology to provide a comfortable, rapidly deployable, and logistically superior portable shelter. FORTS can be delivered up to six units at a time on a flatbed trailer, overseas container, or helicoptered to a remote base camp location. The units can be unfolded and ready for use in less than 10 minutes.

Survival and Preparedness Information

Modern Survival Online

http://modernsurvivalonline.com/

Survival Station

http://survivalstation.org/guides.html

Ready.gov

http://www.ready.gov/

Survival News Online

http://www.survivalnewsonline.com/

CDC Emergency Preparedness 

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

72 Hours

http://72hours.org/

PEPID (emergency medical information)

http://www.pepid.com/

Emergency Food Supplies and Information

http://www.emergencyfoodsupplykits.com/

Off The Grid News

http://www.offthegridnews.com/

Financial Products

BitCoin (Secure, encrypted digital currency)

http://bitcoin.org/

Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to operate with no central authority: managing transactions and issuing money are carried out collectively by the network.

Bitcoin Charts

http://bitcoincharts.com/markets/

Bitcoin charts provide financial and technical data related to the Bitcoin network. Bitcoincharts uses daily intervals (UTC) to display data. For example, the volume of a market will usually be zero at midnight (UTC) and increase during the day.

Kitco Precious Metals

http://www.kitco.com

An online precious metals store, with live spot prices, expert market commentaries, news and relevant market information. The Kitco website receives nearly a million visits every day. Kitco Metals Inc. is a premier retailer of precious metals.

American Precious Metals Exchange

http://www.apmex.com  

An online gold dealer actively involved in buying and selling most precious metals including bars, wafers and coins. They carry all U.S. Mint bullion products including gold, silver and platinum American Eagles. They also sell all Krugerrands.

Anonymous Money Transfers

See BlackHatWorld.com

LiqPAY.com

https://liqpay.com

Simple, free device which allows Visa/MasterCard charges for goods and services anywhere with your smartphone or tablet.

Prepaid Gift Cards

http://boldprepaid.com

Prepaid gift cards have become a new currency. People and companies are using them to buy and sell products and services.

Ten most popular prepaid gift cards:

1.      Wal-Mart

2.      Amazon.com

3.      Target

4.      Home Depot

5.      Visa

6.      Best Buy

7.      Lowe’s

8.      Costco

9.      Starbucks

10. McDonalds

Gift Card Rescue

http://www.giftcardrescue.com/

GiftCardRescue.com makes it easy for people to unlock the value in their unwanted gift cards. The company buys gift cards from those who don’t want them and sells them to those who want them.

Consumers can get up to 90% cash back for their unwanted gift cards and save from 4% up to 30% on discounted gift cards to over 350 national merchants. GiftCardRescue.com guarantees all transactions.

Miscellaneous Products and Services

Scanner Guard Card (Blocks RFID signals)

http://www.scannerguardcard.com/

The Jammer Store (Jamming devices for GPS, cell phone and wireless RF communications)

http://www.thejammerstore.com/

Crisis Cooker (You can prepare hot meals when the power is off. A great backup stove enables you to cook anything, anywhere at any time)

http://www.crisiscooker.com/

Heirloom Organic (Organic and non-hybrid seed packs)

http://www.heirloom-organics.com/

Urban Survival Tools

http://www.urbansurvivaltools.com/

Adventure Medical Kits

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/

Prepaid Cell Phones (no contracts, tracking, secret apps or billing)

Boost Mobile

http://www.boostmobile.com/

Net10

http://www.net10.com/

TracFone

http://www.tracfone.com/

Kajeet

http://www.kajeet.com/4u/index.html

Straight Talk

http://www.straighttalk.com/

Software

ProxyShell Hide IP Standard (Hides your IP address for laptops, iPads, Netbooks, etc.)

http://tinyurl.com/742hd8d

Hide My Ass (anonymous browsing)

http://hidemyass.com/

Tor Project (Anonymity online)

https://www.torproject.org/

Hushmail (anonymous, encrypted email)

http://www.hushmail.com/

Lockbin (free, anonymous, encrypted email and more)

https://lockbin.com/

MalwareBytes (best anti-malware software)

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

The Prepper Movement

Millions of people are preparing for what they fear is going to happen in the US and around the world.

These people are often referred to as “preppers”.

There is no shortage of people going to extremes and becoming unglued emotionally, physically and spiritually.

The book is an effort to counterbalance the insanity and “kooks” with comprehensive, relevant information and “tipping point” ideas.

Preparation is absolutely required for doomsday or if things get really bad.

But we can do this with a calm, assertive persistence and passion.

There’s a good chance some of your neighbors may be preparing for what is coming.

Some friends, family or neighbors may try to convince you “the end of the world” is near.

We doubt the world will end any time soon.

Some “preppers” will crawl out of bomb shelters and realize there has been no nuclear fallout, the government is not lining up citizens in firing squads, or placing them in underground detention centers.

Interestingly, a fallout shelter one hundred feet below the surface of the earth might protect you from a nuclear blast, and maybe some of the fallout. But sooner or later you’ll need to make your way to the surface, and this is when the real challenge begins.

We are not ignorant to the atrocities government can and will do to retain power and silence objectors.

However, as in all things, there must be a balance.

Either way, we have provided links to the following extreme prepper information and resources, so you can educate yourself and family, and make wise decisions.

Extreme Military Survival

http://www.survival-spot.com

WeaponsCombat.com

http://www.weaponscombat.com/

Suburban Suvival

http://suburbanprepper.wordpress.com/

PrepperNation

http://preppernation.com/

American Prepper Network

http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.com/

Pioneer Living

http://www.pioneerliving.net/

Practical Preppers

http://practicalpreppers.com/

ExtremeSurvival.net

http://www.extremesurvival.net/

ScienceDaily (Extreme Survival)

http://www.sciencedaily.com

The Modern Survivalist

http://www.themodernsurvivalist.com/

Captain Dave’s Survival Center

http://www.captaindaves.com/

2012Supplies.com

http://2012supplies.com/d/

Closing Words

Doomsday may never come. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared if things get really bad.

Most thinking people understand something has changed in a very big way.

The old way of doing things has changed.

The “old system” which was built on industrial concepts, ideas and strategies is dying a slow painful death.

The “new system” is built on information, speed, the Ethernet, technology and digital realities.

Sometimes these concepts intersect.

But there’s no doubt the Industrial Age has given way to the Information Age.

It’s interesting this change has occurred at the same point in history where people have predicted an apocalypse, final day, or even Doomsday.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I have a sneaking suspicion we are simple at a MAJOR crossroads in human history. But I could be wrong.

What’s more, if Doomsday fails to materialize, there’s a fairly strong probability things may get bad.

We’re already witnessing “bad” things – which I’ve covered in this book.

Back to the changes we can see…..

Analog telephones are dead. Cloud computing is the new, new thing.

Today all kinds of things via “cloud” computing.  Newspapers, magazines, Kindle books, Facebook updates and sport scores are delivered via the “cloud”.

The “cloud” simply means information follows everyone, everywhere, with whatever device they may be using. 

People are starting to catch on to fiat money too.

The old central bank system controlled fiat money. Fiat money is money which derives its value from government regulation or law, not real assets or commodities.

And because of this folly new forms of currency and encrypted payment systems have arisen; including BitCoin and encrypted P2P transactions, and barter. Barter is now an intricate science.

There has been an obvious shift in power and ideas as in the beginning days of the Information Age.

But most of this information is not new.  You bought or borrowed this book for new information and relevant tipping point ideas!

I’ve done my best to deliver new information, tactics, strategies and relevant ideas to help you thrive and prosper in the days ahead.

The coming months and years will be unlike anything we’ve seen in our lives before.

We’re already seen the new shift; violent protests, bankers and brokerages (like MP Global) seizing cash, government crack downs on free speech, travel and the way we do business.

We’re watching the government seize Internet domain names without due process of law. We’re seeing people thrown in jail without legal representation.

In response, professional hackers are breaking into government networks (with ease I might add).

There are widespread global defaults, but this is kept under wraps so people don’t panic.

Real estate has not recovered. And you know this is true because of your real estate investments, friends, family or business associates.

Ethical hacking groups like Anonymous are spreading like wildfire. Many of these groups are penetrating the computer systems and networks of corrupt governments, corporations and news organizations, and revealing the truth of what they find!

Politicians, bureaucrats and government hacks are clueless when it comes to thwarting “ethical hackers”. 

The government’s solution to stopping the free flow of ideas and “ethical hackers” is an Internet “kill switch”.

Our safety and livelihood is at stake.

Our businesses are in jeopardy.

Our families are being assaulted on multiple fronts including but not limited to mandatory government training (public schools), over taxation, and limits on free speech and travel.

If you’ve ever petitioned the government with a grievance you know what a joke it is. The system has been compromised.

But this book was written to help you, your family and business!

If there’s a Doomsday occurrence or if things get really bad, it’ll be nice to have concise, accurate information without a political or religious “slant”.

But more important, I wrote this book to help you and your loved ones thrive and prosper in the coming days.

It’s not just about surviving.

You can live in a cave a thousand feet below the surface of the earth, and stay there for two years.

But at some point you’ll need to come to the surface.

If you’re not prepared mentally, physically, financially and spiritually, it’ll be a hard road.

I’m confident this book is different from anything you’ve ever read or seen before.

As I mentioned in the opening, I developed this book over several years with the help of street smart investors, entrepreneurs, teachers and experts in the field of finance, business, personal security, international travel and survival.

In the end, this is the most comprehensive resource on the market to help thrive and prosper in the coming weeks, months and years.

This book is not about a political or religious event. I’m hopeful this book transcends politics, religion and “doomsday philosophies”.

This book is a “How To” manual for living through Doomsday, in the new system, and if things get really bad.

If nothing happens, and Doomsday never materializes, you’ll still be able to thrive, prosper, make money and protect your family.

I hope you enjoyed the ride!

James Tower

Bonus Chapter: Trader’s Guide to Precious Metal Profits

As Doomsday unfolds, or if things get really bad, there will be opportunities of a lifetime in dozens of markets, sectors and industries.

One market in particular is precious metals.

In my experience more money is lost in the precious metals market than any other market.

There are many reasons for the likelihood of losing money, but two of the most prominent are:

1) Following the masses or general public

2) Following or listening to people who have never made money in precious metals.

In this bonus chapter I will provide a short overview of the type of ways to invest in precious metals, as well as a few time-tested strategies for generating profit.

One area where novice investors fall short is failing to have a strategy to remove profits.

Almost everyone knows how to buy precious metals these days, including bullion coins, futures, swaps, ETFs or options.

However, most novice investors do not have an exit strategy.

Whatever approach you choose to invest or speculate in precious metals it’s important to establish an exit strategy. This strategy should include the best and worst case scenarios.

For example, the buy and hold strategy in the old system rarely works with precious metals, with some exceptions for coins and bullion.

Therefore, if you invest in a precious metals exchange trade fund (ETF) you should know the average price per share since the fund inception, the historical low and the historical high prices.

Armed with this information you can enter a trade knowing where the price is in relation to the average, high and low, helping you establish a general exit point.

For example, if you purchase a precious metal ETF near the average price of $5 and the historical high is $10, one exit strategy would be to sell before the historical high, say $8.50.

Granted, the ETF share price could very well exceed the historical high. After you sell at $8.50 and REMOVE profits, you could re-enter the trade at $8.50 and if the price exceeds the historical high you can profit accordingly.

But the objective is to remove profits, and start over again small.

One key component to trading precious metals profitably is probability.

Probabilities, averages and constants are mathematical statistics the largest and most profitable precious metals and hedge funds use to make money.

New Ways to Invest in Precious Metals

Numismatics and Rare Coins

Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. Numismatists are usually characterized as collectors of coins. Numismatics includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the exchange of goods. Rare and historical coins fall into this category.

Bullion Coins

A bullion coin is a coin struck from precious metal and kept as a store of value or an investment. Investment coins are generally coins which have been minted after 1800, have a purity of not less than 900 thousandths and are or have been a legal tender in their country of origin.

Bullion coins are available in gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The only exception would be the Krugerrand and the Swiss Vreneli which are only available in gold. The American Eagle series is available in gold, silver and platinum, and the Canadian Maple Leaf series is available in gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

Exchange-traded Funds (ETF)

ETFs are available for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. They are traded on most world exchanges. They typically track the price of the physical metal. ETFs are also available to short precious metals. In addition, there are ETFs which enable you highly leverage the precious metals market as well.

Futures

Precious metals futures currently trade on various exchanges around the world and over-the-counter (OTC) directly in the private market. In the U.S., gold futures are primarily traded on the New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX) and Euronext LIFFE.

In India, gold futures are traded on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) and Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). Future contract prices are listed on financial websites and on exchange websites. The product symbol for gold futures is GC, and it is traded in a standard contract size of 100 troy ounces.

Options

Precious metals options are option contracts in which the underlying asset is a gold, silver, platinum or palladium futures contract.

The holder of an option possesses the right (but not the obligation) to assume a long position (in the case of a call option) or a short position (in the case of a put option) in the underlying gold futures at a given strike price. This right terminates when the option expires after a market closes or on the expiration date.

Mining stocks

These do not represent the actual price of precious metals. These are shares in gold, silver, platinum and palladium mining companies. If the precious metals prices rise, the profits of the gold mining company may rise. But there are many factors to consider. Share price do not always rise when the price of a particular precious metal increases.

Mint and Commemorative Sets

Commemorative coin programs were created by an act of Congress to honor a person, place or event. Surcharges from the sales of these coins help fund a variety of organizations and projects that benefit the public. Commemorative coins are only available from the United States Mint for a limited time, as specified by public law.

Bars

Bars are a popular way of investing in precious metals. In some countries, like Canada, Argentina, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, gold and silver bars can easily be bought or sold at the major banks. There are also reputable bullion dealers around the world which provide the same service. Bars are available in various sizes.

Certificates

Gold certificates were issued by the US Treasury from the Civil War until 1933. There are denominated in dollars. The paper certificates were used as a gold standard and could be exchanged for an equal value of gold.

Gold certificates offer investors a way of holding gold without taking physical delivery. This is how paper money got its start. But of course, bankers soon realized they could issue paper certificates and not be forced to store or back up certificates with actual gold.

Jewelry

Millions of precious metals jewelry exchanges hands every year. Jewelry is not usually considered a serious investment. It can hold and increase in value.

Unit Trusts

The most popular unit trust is BlackRock Gold & General. They invest in the shares of gold mining companies as well as other commodity businesses. Another unit trust is JPM Natural Resources. Gold mining equities are typically more volatile than the gold price.

The End (I hope not!)

About the author

Dr. James Tower is a pseudonym. It is safer for him to write about sensitive topics, and shield his family, business and charitable activities. Dr. Tower sits on the board of two companies. He writes, teaches and speaks on various topics around the world. Dr. Tower attended schools in the US, England and Singapore. He is an avid world-traveler. James is married with three children.

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Table of Contents

Dedication

Preface – Doomsday

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 - Mental Preparation

Chapter 3 – Hedging the System

Chapter 4 Assessing Your Health and Wellness Needs

Chapter 5 – Urban Survival Guide

Chapter 6 – Living Abundantly Off the Grid

Chapter 7 - International Escape Plan

Chapter 8 – Flawed Sense of “Community”

Chapter 9 – Free and Independent

Chapter 10 - Choosing Your Battles Wisely

Chapter 11 - The Rise of the Individual

Chapter 12 – The Key to a Fuller Life

Chapter 13 - An Inside View of Marshal Law

Chapter 14 - When Systems Fail

Chapter 15 – Doomsday Action Plan

Doomsday Reference Library

Closing Words

Bonus Chapter: Trader’s Guide to Precious Metal Profits

About the author