2012 is here! Are you ready?

[Guest drv2fst]

Historically, all civilizations fall eventually. Ever notice how the world is full of ruins and NONE of those civilizations lasted. Sure new ones cropped up and mankind marches on, but ruins tell us that it happens all the time throughout history.

However, I believe that if the Mayans were smart enough to predict 2012 accurately, then they would still be here to explain it to us. Since they aren't, I'm willing to bet that they didn't have ALL the answers.

So the answer for me, is to prepare for emergency as best you can to take care of your family, and hope that matters. If it doesn't, then preparation does no harm.

[Will H]

I bought a bunch of rice form Walmart. It is like $6 for 20 pound bags and for enough for two people for 6 months is probably less than $75. I have had one bucket of rice in Co2 for over a year to test viability. I will be cracking it open in the next few weeks. The bags have survived a year without any issues either. For protein I have 10-15 pounds of beans as well as plan on taking game locally. The first sign of SHTF and I am dropping the deer that hang out in my front yard and begin making jerky.

People need to realize that they need more than 3 months of food. Imgaine if today the world ended as we know it, I mean really ended. We cannot plant food crops until spring and they will not be ready until late summer which is 8 months away. And even if we plan on foraging for food nothing will be edible for at least 4 more months. And foraging alone isn't going to provide enough for a family. And 3 months of food is only going to extend the inevitable starvation. Food will be taken almost immediately by looters and thugs.

Security is also another big concern because LE will not be concerned with anything but their own families, which is how it should be. So roaming bands of thugs are going to emerge almost over night. And it is these thugs that are going to prey upon those people/families who leave their current location for a better one. Also, I wonder where those planning to bug out are planning to go where everyone else isn't aleady going? This mass exodus is only going to make for easy pickings for the thugs. Every member of your group should be armed with some type of firearm. It is the one equalizer that prevents people from becoming victims or at least levels the playing field.

I live in a relatively remote area on a dead end road. It will not be hard to convince the neighbors to block the road to prevent ingress. Then we will do what we need to to remain safe. It is a lot safer to guard a single point of entry.

I have had a lot of survival training as well as lived in some of the most austere conditions. I have also watched how those who live in austere conditions live their day to day lives without electricity or running water. I learned a lot. I had a chance to run a mini ramp up this spring when our power was out for 4 days. Hardly a survival situation but it showed me water was my biggest weakness, hence the hand pump for my well. Lack of water is the biggest killer in the short term. And believe it or not but potable water will become a commoditiy. I also have several barrels for the collection of rainwater as well as a homemade sand filter for when I donn't have access to potable water. It is capable of filtering 8 ounces of water a minute and once it builds up its mud layer the water will no longer need to be boiled, just filter and drink. It cost me less than $20.

I also keep gasoline on hand. Not for running cars but for running a small multifuel stove. For those times when you can't or do not want to cook over a fire this is a great alternative. It will burn anything that is flammable so the alcohol I have under the sink will also work.

Future plans include a still for making alcohol. Not for running cars but for fuel, sterilization as well as drinking alcohol which will also become a highly sought after commodity. Some sort of wood heat. Everyone has a vice and it is those vices that are going to become valuable to others.

The biggest thing to survival is never give up hope and always think. Think about how to improve things like your living conditions and your security. Have a backup for everything you need to survive. Also, I believe those people who are tinkerers are going to make it longer than anyone else because they tend to see things differently than the rest of us. They can use normal everyday objects is ways we never envisioned to help improve their lives.

Dolomite

Good ideas. Thank you for taking the time to write that.

[Guest bkelm18]

[Caster]

There's a reckoning coming to this soil. I've said it for years and the logic is undeniable. It can be proven no matter what you believe. The mayans? Not for me. IF you study the Judeo-Christian prophecy, the end of days are made up of Israel surrunded by the Kings of north, south, east and west. The west being the EU. There's no mention of North and south america, which means were have been folded into the EU, driven to less than 3rd world status or wiped out all together. In any event, it's apocalyptic to me and you. If you don't believe any of this don't be so quick to jump on the keyboard and hammer out long rhetoric on religion please because no matter what your spiritual beliefs may be, it's absolutely preposterous to think that the USA will maintain it's current level of power and authority in this world. This country is already greatly diminished from it's previous capacity. Make no mistake, money, or should I say the lack thereof will destroy these arrogant waves of grain. I have no doubts about the coming [physical] battle about to take place here on our soil, but it will [imho] take place after a MAJOR economic collapse that will cripple the remaining infrastructure of our government. If we are fortunate to carry on without invasion and occupation by outside forces, there will be a quick scramble for pieces of the broken power and we will be reduced to a feudal warlord mentality whereby clans form, fight and conquer one another.

The typical american. I don't care how many hours you work a week, you are still lazy. Arrogant. Convinced of your own superiority. Typical american. You have no idea. How foolish you are to think that the things of which I speak cannot happen here. You have not the stomach for what comes on the horizon. You will weep in the final moments of your life and still not understand. Some of you will scurry like cockroaches and try to hide. Some of you may survive for a time, by hook or crook or the compassion of those few who knew what was coming, and took pity on you still. BUT for the majority of you, it will be death or servitude.

I love the attitude your high and mighty types have. You can't do that to me. I'm an american. I have rights! No. What you have is the barrel of a rifle stick in your yapping mouth, and the holder of said rilfe is growing weary of listening to you. You dirty tree huggin' hippy scum, with your peace and love and tolerance. History repeats itself. What has been documented for centuries is not a lie, nor does it need to neuter itself to make you feel better. It doesn't need to give your stupid kid a participation trophy. It doesn't need to justify itself to you. History has proven that no one can rule for long, but no one can rule at all without a fist of iron. The heaviest, well forged fist wins. Might makes right, if but for a time. Your paltry, pathetic concepts of equality and kumbaya around a fire are but a momentary pause; denial of what we [humans] are. Animals. You have suppressed the animal far too long. In your quest to set yourself above even yourself, you have turned your back on the animal that man really is. The beast will awaken. If there are any survivors this time, they will write fantastic stories about what we are about to see.

Have you told the ones you care about that you love them today?

[Will H]

^^^ So, how do you really feel?

[RobertNashville]

There's a reckoning coming to this soil. I've said it for years and the logic is undeniable. It can be proven no matter what you believe. The mayans? Not for me. IF you study the Judeo-Christian prophecy, the end of days are made up of Israel surrunded by the Kings of north, south, east and west. The west being the EU. There's no mention of North and south america, which means were have been folded into the EU, driven to less than 3rd world status or wiped out all together. In any event, it's apocalyptic to me and you. If you don't believe any of this don't be so quick to jump on the keyboard and hammer out long rhetoric on religion please because no matter what your spiritual beliefs may be, it's absolutely preposterous to think that the USA will maintain it's current level of power and authority in this world. This country is already greatly diminished from it's previous capacity. Make no mistake, money, or should I say the lack thereof will destroy these arrogant waves of grain. I have no doubts about the coming [physical] battle about to take place here on our soil, but it will [imho] take place after a MAJOR economic collapse that will cripple the remaining infrastructure of our government. If we are fortunate to carry on without invasion and occupation by outside forces, there will be a quick scramble for pieces of the broken power and we will be reduced to a feudal warlord mentality whereby clans form, fight and conquer one another.

The typical american. I don't care how many hours you work a week, you are still lazy. Arrogant. Convinced of your own superiority. Typical american. You have no idea. How foolish you are to think that the things of which I speak cannot happen here. You have not the stomach for what comes on the horizon. You will weep in the final moments of your life and still not understand. Some of you will scurry like cockroaches and try to hide. Some of you may survive for a time, by hook or crook or the compassion of those few who knew what was coming, and took pity on you still. BUT for the majority of you, it will be death or servitude.

I love the attitude your high and mighty types have. You can't do that to me. I'm an american. I have rights! No. What you have is the barrel of a rifle stick in your yapping mouth, and the holder of said rilfe is growing weary of listening to you. You dirty tree huggin' hippy scum, with your peace and love and tolerance. History repeats itself. What has been documented for centuries is not a lie, nor does it need to neuter itself to make you feel better. It doesn't need to give your stupid kid a participation trophy. It doesn't need to justify itself to you. History has proven that no one can rule for long, but no one can rule at all without a fist of iron. The heaviest, well forged fist wins. Might makes right, if but for a time. Your paltry, pathetic concepts of equality and kumbaya around a fire are but a momentary pause; denial of what we [humans] are. Animals. You have suppressed the animal far too long. In your quest to set yourself above even yourself, you have turned your back on the animal that man really is. The beast will awaken. If there are any survivors this time, they will write fantastic stories about what we are about to see.

Have you told the ones you care about that you love them today?

I often think that America has already beaten the odds by surviving this long as a (relatively) free country; perhaps a testament to the wisdom of our founders that is has taken this long for the power mongers/communists/socialists and the outright greedy/corrupt of society to tear down the republic the founders gave us...perhaps a testament to God that he isn't quite done with us yet...maybe a testament to both? I've spent much of my adult life (about 40 years now) studying and re-studying Biblical prophecy; it's been a natural interest for me. Yet, all I can really say is that I do believe the end is coming and that God is in control - all else is pretty much conjecture and opinion. I don't know "where" the United States will be in all of this or even if the country will exist as a country...I've always assumed, however, that as a country, the U.S. will not have any major part to play (but "we" the people may!).

For those who don't believe in God (or at lest not the God of the Bible), that's your decision and you are free to hold that opinion; I just don't happen to agree with it.

I have tried to prepare for difficult times ahead; I'm a lot further along than I was a couple of years ago; further along than this time last year...I've still more to go.

Although I think very troubled times are coming; I hope they don't or at least that they don't before I check out...I'd like to see something akin to the world envisioned by Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek) which is one of the few "positive" futuristic looks at the human condition...but I don't expect we'll get there. Whether the "end" is near or far or never, I do know that we still have tornadoes and floods and earthquakes and man-made disasters to contend with; they may not happen this month or this year or this decade to THIS area but you can rest assured they will happen (just as they have in the past) so being prepared for them is not an "extreme" position or a paranoid one; being prepared is just a thoughtful, well-reasoned thing to do.

[Guest FiddleDog]

On a digressional note, I've decided to refer to the year 2012 as "And12".

[Guest 6.8 AR]

And it's also amazing that the words from prophets like Nostradamus and the Mayan

calender, along with the current financial crisis, being caused by a lack of control and

abuse of human nature by the political class, is painting a picture because we merely

see it and assume it to be the case. We could change a lot of the woes our dear

country is in if only the will of the people would like to understand things similarly.

That's a huge problem all rolled up in one bag.

Human nature

Evil as in social justice, or communism

Lack of understanding

Break down of a moral, just society

All that equals a destruction of a civilization. Something like what happened to ancient

Greece and Rome(not that the evil was the same as communism, but equally evil).

We could do something but it would take a lot of will power from a lot of folks and there

are too many, even around here that might disagree.

Out of the seven deadly sins, all seven have been marginalized by our present day society.

What's wrong with this picture?

[robin48]

Well put as always 6.8. Preparedness living should be a way of life instead of a knee jerk reaction. I wish I had learned this years ago. As father and husband I am accountable to Almighty God for taking care of my family. So I prepare for whatever may happen be it natural disaster, economic collapse or come what may. I have formed a group here and our preps are progressing. Be smart and prepare.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

[strickj]

I do not prepare. If something happens that's bad enough to wipe out that much life, I only hope I'm taken out by the first wave.

Having nothing but rice and beans for 3-6 months then slowly dying of starvation when that runs out is not the way I wanna go. No thanks.

As far as prophecies and predictions from long gone societies, meh... I'm not holding my breath. According to predictors in the '80s, we should have hover boards and flying cars by now. Needless to say, I don't hold much credit to things predicted by people that thought the earth was flat.

Edited January 3, 2012 by strickj

[Guest 6.8 AR]

strickj. 2012 may just mean an interruption of basic necessities, not necessarily

doom. For what you mention, I am the same way. I'm too old to play soldier, but

I will do what I have to to survive. In other words I'll go down swinging if the

need arises.

From what I see, the political class is readying itself for structural change in

society. And for that to happen there will need to be interruptions in food

and fuel supply. I think the political class is knocking on the door to becoming

a dictatorship if, or when our government fails. May even be an "October

Revolution". I know this is what certain people are working towards. But it

is just more tinfoil thinking from an old fart:D I really doubt our political class

could pull it off, even with Republicans giving everything away, also, but it

is something to consider.

2012 has a lot of possibilities, hopefully some good things, but they are minute

so far.

There is another way to look at it. We're not dead, yet, so keep on living the

"American Dream" until you have to fight for it again.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

A favorite end of the world tale is Robert A Heinlein's 1952 longish short story "The Year of the Jackpot".

Here it is the story at scribd, though it appears to have been entered via OCR and has numerous typos. It is generally readable regardless of the typos. Capital R's are often transmuted to capital B's, especially later in the document.

The story opening is somewhat dull and dated, but gets better after the first couple of pages.

Heinlein, Robert A - Year of the Jackpot

[IggyBcool]

Not going to say where, but we have a cabin in the mountains and its stock piled full of food, water, gas, propane, solar, back up generator. We have enough to probably last a solid couple of months. We also have acreage too with plentiful deer, bear, boar, and vegetation. I'm mainly focused on stocking up on .45 (have about 400 rounds) would like 1000, 12 slugs and 00 (have about 40 rounds of 00 and 15 of slug..would like about 200 of each. I have 300 rounds of 6 and 7 bird) would like another 3 or 4k rounds of .22 to make it around a solid 20k rounds. Have about 60 rounds of .243 don't think I'll buy too much more..maybe another box, going to buy another two or three boxes of 300RUM and reload the 40 brass I have now, and finally wanting to get another 100 or so of .357 mag. Really would like to get an AR or two.. But my fiance wont allow me to fund another project with both of us in school and minimally working. Hopefully we'll make it through another year without any major problems.

Not to mention the stockpile of guns and ammo we have in the safes up there. It is way off the beaten road so if someone wonders back up our 1.5 mile drive way during the end of the world, they're gonna be zombie food.

[strickj]

strickj. 2012 may just mean an interruption of basic necessities, not necessarily

doom. For what you mention, I am the same way. I'm too old to play soldier, but

I will do what I have to to survive. In other words I'll go down swinging if the

need arises.

I have the same mentality for that, too. If something is bad enough to affect the food supply across the world, I just hope I'm in the first wave.

As far as playing soldier over politics... I doubt that will ever happen here. The reason it happens in other countries is because they do not have a system that removes corrupt dictators every four years like we do. [Although, I do enjoy stocking up arms just in case ]

And I highly doubt a major gas shortage or stoppage would cause it, either, like some think. The masses will just drive Priusessss.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Good read, Lester, thanks. I hadn't read that one.

[creeky]

Don't forget medicine.

Specifically any prescription medications you may be taking.

My son is Insulin Dependent. Disruption of basic medical supplies for an extended amount of time scares the living fire out of me. Reading "One Second After" didn't help me any.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I just posted this:

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/survival-preparedness/67256-how-home-made-handpump-water-all-parts-lowes.html

Dolomite

[daddyo]

Don't forget medicine.

Specifically any prescription medications you may be taking.

My son is Insulin Dependent. Disruption of basic medical supplies for an extended amount of time scares the living fire out of me. Reading "One Second After" didn't help me any.

I'm right there with you, man. My son has Type 1 Diabetes and I have the same nightmares.

[jtmaze]

I'm right there with you, man. My son has Type 1 Diabetes and I have the same nightmares.

I am type one diabetic and have been for 30 yrs. This is one of the most feared things my wife thinks about when we talk shtf. I am part of a research group for about 25+ years, this has allowed me to stockpile some diabetic supplies. The only things I can suggest is when things start looking bad you can purchase Reg and NPH insulin in generic form at any Walmart pharm for about $25 a bottle. This is where being mentally prepared comes in to place. I have approximately 9 months of insulin and still get scripts filled when available. That is about as far ahead as I can get without running into expirations.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[Oh Shoot]

Well, 7 billion of us. Something will have to give because of our sheer numbers alone, simple as that.

It's THE gorilla in every think tank that nobody much seriously talks about because there's really nothing that can be done about it, and I'd posit that the course is now set without any more increase in population at all. Perhaps even 5 billion was the threshold. Or 4. Whatever.

It's really at heart an enormous environmental upside down pyramid of supply and demand. We've been over-driving the resources for a long time, but like most all things now is translated into economics. You're already seeing it. It really is possible for most of the world to go broke at the same time. Here, an American where half or less of the population must support the rest can go only one direction -- into decline. Having a corrupt and wasteful ruling political class only accelerates that decline.

Science could have been our salvation, but we've squandered most of it for bucks, science that the masses soon will no longer be able to afford because individual worth is less all the time due to another of the many edges of science -- machines (most significantly the computer), automation, etc -- each year it takes fewer of us to make the goods for the rest of us yet fewer of us can afford those goods, viscous circle once you hit a certain population density of unneeded worker bees. One of science's most noble causes, extending human life, has ironically only compounded the problem with the supply/demand math. Another of its most noble causes, the spreading of the human seed into the cosmos, has been put on the back burner -- we can't afford it.

Species in the wild which over-populate their turf (or have their turf limited by us) don't just die back to environmental sustainability -- they really crash way below that level. I expect the same with the homo sapiens correction. When is the only real question in my mind, and whether it will be sudden snap or a more gradual slide. If the latter only, I suspect it has already begun -- and the slide may just be prelude to the snap.

"Civilization" is a quite thin veneer in the developed countries, totally dependent on JIT delivery of fuel, food, medical supplies, everything. When, not if, that breaks down due to economic crash, and consequently followed by failing public utilities (the most immediately important ones being water and sanitation), the Biblical plagues may commence. Not to mention the beasts inside us all.

And that's the good news from Lake Wobegon. Happy New Year, folks!

- OS

[Dolomite_supafly]

I beleive our SHTF situation is going to be started by economic issues, not a natural disaster. I think it is a lot closer than most people think. Two weeks ago there was a two month extension put on unemployment benefits. When those benefits run out for millions of Americans, who are just barely surviving now, things are going to get much worse for us as a nation.

I also believe other countries are going to take advantage of us when we hit bottom and China is going to be the first in line. So much of everything sold in the US is imported from China that we would not survive a boycott by China. Although our imports are good for China's economy they also hate us, not because we buy so much but because we owe so much. And we are having problems paying China what we own them now. And just like any other creditor at some point they are eventually going to demand we pay our debts. When we can't, China is going to quit selling to us and when that happens we will become a third world country virtually overnight. China has set in motion several trade agreements with other countries to sustain THEM when they cut the US off, most notably Russia but also several middle eastern oil producing countries (some more of our friends). When this happens China and Russia will call upon those oil producing countries that they have trade agreements with to stop selling us oil or at least limit us.

I suspect this is going to coincide to a major impact on benefits Americans are receiving now. And all of this is going to cripple us.

Our society has become so accustomed to the "buy it now, use it now" mentality that any substantial break in our supply of goods or services will spiral us into an era similar to the way we lived 150 years ago. When Americans can't walk into a store and buy their cheap food (yes food) and products that came from China most are going to loose their minds. They are going to demand the governent fix the problem because they are entitled to cheap goods. When the government can't fix it there will be widspread riots and looting. We won't be able to produce our own goods because our industrial base was moved overseas decades ago to meet out demand for cheap products.

And it is our own stupid ways that has brought this upon ourselves by demanding cheap goods.

We, as a country, have become so spoiled. There are so many other countries where electricity is a luxury. Where water requires an hour walk to get a drink and the water they drink isn't safe. Or to eat they must plan days or even weeks ahead. And that the main staple is rice because that is all they have or can afford. I have talked to people who have never driven a car or watched a television. And yet, if we (as a nation) can't walk in and buy that double venti macchiato we are just going to die. Cell phones, cars, electricity, and even cheap goods are not needed to survive. Only water, food and shelter.

My sister even falls into this spoiled category. She lost her job and found a job two days later. She quit that job the same day because she said she was too good to to empty trash cans and sweep the office. And her last words as we got off the phone? "I am not worried about loosing my home yet". She has a young child to support but has put her own feelings above that of her child.

Something else on the SHTF list is a pellet rifle. It is quieter, cheaper to shoot and can take small game. Making shootable items isn't that hard either. A person could make miniature arrows to take small game when the pellets ran out. Also, a good machete is something else I consider a must have.

Dolomite

[Caster]

The only thing I would add to Dolomite there, is, for those of you who are able, a suppressor will be a very valuable tool as well.

[Mike.357]

How is the Mayan end of days scenario less believable than the bible's theory?

[Guest drv2fst]

How is the Mayan end of days scenario less believable than the bible's theory?

I don't think the Mayan end of days prediction is a scenario at all. I think it's just a period of destruction and drastic change. Their calendar has several of these in the rotation (like seasons). The end of 2012 is just a really bad season on their wheel calendar. But it is a wheel so it starts over. There is a 12:01 right after 11:59 and 12:00.

That all seems VERY reasonable. The only problem that I have with the Mayan calendar is that it referenced very specific dates. That makes it seem prone to failure. We have all seen that predictions that include specific dates always fail.

The Bible end of days does not give a specific date and explicitly warns that no one will be able to solve that riddle either.

That's my answer without getting into faith or religion.

[Mike.357]

Good answer