An old friend once owned a rambler, about 1700 sq ft, that had baseboard electric heating throughout. His electrical bills in 2009 were $700+. That is when I knew the dream of a renewable energy society that otherwise looked exactly like this one, was a nightmare in the making. The electrical bill to heat an old Victorian that way today would be about $5000+.
The ways we build now are very different from before, most houses are very inefficient in thermoregulation. But I do get your point, it is one of the major reasons I don't have an AC, not because the device is expensive, they got relatively cheaper the last 5 years, it is because my bill will go up substantially.
In Australia, we (not with my help) just voted in a new government: Labour with the support of Greens and "Teals" (independent candidates platforming on climate change and anti-corruption measures). Victoria is already Labour-led at a State level, and we saw a huge shift to green candidates in the richer parts of both Sydney and Melbourne (Brisbane too, it looks like). As in the US, these green policies are a luxury of the affluent, who don't have to worry too much about food or energy prices. But judging from our election results last week, we are about to see much, much more of this in Australia... :(
Power transformers are being quoted at months-to-years out lately. The more one digs, the worse it looks. Even the specialty steel required for transformer cores is looking dicey. It's called Grain Oriented Electrical Steel. Here's a bit on that problem.
On the weather front, here's one that says the currents and temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are looking like they did in 2005 when Katrina hit the coast.
I am aware of this one, but most Americans get into a fit when I talked about the mere concept of food scarcity in the US, and oil/energy costs, if I start telling people the transformers situation (in California they are burning more units than they can replace) people will want to punch me.
What you wrote aligns with everything I have found so far, but the steel one is new to me. I mean, not the steel shortage, but that specific steel shortage.
John Paul you are one of the few substacks for which I am a paid subscriber and right now I can afford to keep subscribing and still take care of myself and my family. You are literally the only substacker I follow who has ever said don't pay me if you can't afford it and I absolutely appreciate that.
I also appreciate the fact that you put things in perspective, and particularly in this post, by pointing out that this is not the end of the world. All this information we are getting from different sources (much of which is aimed at trying to instigate fear and panic) can naturally make us freak out a little bit. Between potentially deadly vaccines to covid, monkeybox, WEF takeover, economic collapse It's hard to balance what is world ending and what is just a hurdle to overcome.
For some reason I have always been afraid of the zombie apocalypse (not necessarily zombies, but an armageddon type scenario) and 25 years ago my family moved to the country and set up a homestead where we could be sustainable. We homeschooled our kids, grew our own food and only stopped when the kids became teenagers and started to rebel the lifestyle. We went closer to the mainstream at that point and now are finding our way back to the lifestyle we always wanted to live. In some ways this is a good news story in all the bad news.
I thank you for your comments about we have months to prepare but when you started posting about stock up now I took that to heart and stocked up! No down side to it that I could see, food will ultimately get eaten. We are prepared for anything we can prepare for, and I thank you for your part in that.
Oh, and we also bought the ammo to protect our stores as I think that is something that shouldn't be ignored. you can have all the supplies you want but if shit hits the fan and you can't hold it, you might as well find a way to stay on the move and find resources as you go. And we live in Canada so getting ammo and guns was not easy! lol!
Thank you very much for the kind words ! A lot of people go to lengths to support, and I don't feel good if people sacrifice the little they have to support me.
I need to put things into different perspectives, especially from where I see things, I try to remain factual, and data based, with not much opinions because I want people to completely think for themselves (among a few other reasons). Situation might look dire, and times might get a little difficult, but overall I do see reason for not doom and gloom.
That has been my goal (live in the middle of nowhere, self-sustainable as much as you can be here) for as long as I can remember, reading accounts like this makes me happy and smile.
Well, the earlier you get prepared, the more money you save, some people can spend hundreds of dollars in one day to get prepared at the moment's notice, but I know a lot of others can't, they have to plan, etc. So besides untangling the web, and connecting a lot of unconnected dots, I give enough time for people like me to get ready.
Guns and ammo should be priority, but I don't know how people would take it here, and Substack instance on this, so I don't mention on posts. Especially right now after the shootings.
Glad my posts were helpful to you. Have a great weekend btw !
Thank you. These are always worthwhile. On top of everything, which is essentially the cost of living, the cost of some place to live is also soaring. I overhear people at work discussing attempts to purchase homes, modest ones, and being outbid by 20+ competitors. It's a great time to sell, if you have someplace else to go. If you need to buy something, you can't find anything, and if you could, interest rates are rising. Rise in property values means a rise in property taxes and rate increases for renters. The county proposed a tax valuation increase on my property of about 30%. Many would be priced out of their homes, just from the property taxes alone.
I had to replace a septic pump tonight. Damn glad I bought a second pump the last time I replaced one with few extra fittings. I don't know that I can just walk in somewhere and pick one up.
On Feb 24 2020 I went to Costco and bought $1000 of non-perishable food, in anticipation of a possible pandemic. I would have headed to Costco last month to buy enough food for three for next winter, but my financial situation will not allow me to purchase that for another three weeks. That is going to be a long three weeks, after reading this. Every time I read one of your articles I want to run out and fill the van with food and fuel I can store. I'm also going to buy a LOT of seed, and pre-order fruit trees.
I had very little stored, but granted I am used to live VERY frugally, and the situation here is somewhat different in some levels. Don't get desperate, there are still months to get ready, but inflation won't go down, either stays the same or it goes open and there are signs everywhere that the American economy is contracting and that affects the entire world.
Don't give yourself anxiety, think this as "I have a few months to get prepared". The intention is people getting ready slowly, before everyone else's start to see and get ready too.
Thanks. It is a challenge to balance the perspective of one life to the pace of change of society. I realize most of the shortages of food will not be understood to be a problem until next fall and winter, for most people, and here in America in the seat of empire we are likely to feel it the least, globally. I merely mean to put away as much food as I can, to not have to worry about the winter, by this coming fall, with plans for next spring to plant an orchard and a big garden.
Lets say its me, wife and 3 kids. Got a gas camping cooker and 8 gas cans. Got 30kg rice. 3kg pasta. Maybe 10 tins of lentils. 20 litres water. 10 packs fast noodles. 5 packs toilet tissue. 15 tins salmon. Am I the worst prepper ever? That'd feed us less than a week! I do have lots of lo-salt though for fasting.(half sodium/potassium chloride) Do people think food will just get expensive or is it a case of empty shelves?If so, how long? And how long x 5 people. Gonna get a super soaker water pistol filled with chilli sauce so I can disable pigeons for food when the zombie apocalypse happens.
As Vix7 wrote, you should definitely worry more about water supply, but a Sawyer Mini-Filter would take care of that, analyze the situation per your region though.
Stock wheat flour because you can make a ton of things with it, and it is still cheap right now. Otherwise you are on the right track.
This should feed your family longer than a week though. 30kg of rice is plenty. What you have to plan that if there's a chaos you immediately have to switch on survival portions. Obviously to control kids will be the most difficult. So 1kg/rice/day/family would keep you alive. I would be more worried about your water supply. (at least in Ireland it's raining regularly)
Thanks for the reply. Might even get away with 1/2kg rice per day so thats 60 days worth for 30kg. I was afraid Id have to stock 2000 calories per person per day which would mean equate to like 500 tins of salmon and 500 tins of beans or something crazy just for 3 months. But thats only if SHTF like nuclear winter and you need to hole up and barricade the doors for 3 months.
I think 2000 is way overshooting. My first problem with the 2000 kcal diet that it is already outdated. This was recommended for people doing physical jobs in the past. In today's world where most of the people spend their time on their arses I think 2000 is already making you fat. Probably you are better off around 1500-1600 kcal/day.
But I think just to survive at home even half of this could be enough. Fasting also does not hurt. What I am personally always concerned about is water.
Also worth to read some comments on these substacks. Sometimes you would like to prepare for weeks but then many people pointed out that if serious chaos happens the world will collapse within 1-2 weeks so basically this is the time you have to survive hidden in your place and not being attacked or looted by others...
Im happy to fast for days if needs be once I have salt. And yes survival rations would suffice. But you think 2 weeks is enough if SHTF? what happens after 2 weeks in your estimation?
Honestly sometimes we talk it through with wife and it seems impossible to prepare for an absolute chaos with 100% so I would say after the 2 weeks absolute zombie apocalypse people will survive who:
-have good community
-have great survival skills/ improvisation skills
-have huge resources to buy their way
I don't think I particularly belong to any of these so we will see what happens...
Specific regions are suffering specific weather changes. Where I live it literally went through that exact cycle. Rain, cold and within days super hot, dry, hit by drought.
There were much warmer and much colder periods in the past.
There have always been localised weather anomalies, if historic news reports are accurate.
The sea levels are always in flux and in some places, the high tides are lower than they were in 1914, while the ice shelves are always in a constant state of advance and retreat, especially as the earth tilts on it's axis.
What Duncan said. The changes are drastic and faster than society can adapt. Before it was slow enough people had the ability to move (well, there were a lot more poor people, so leaving nothing behind is easier). But now it is faster than the ability for countries to cope, or society to structure itself.
I don't believe in climate BS btw, to make myself abundantly clear.
Are they? For every statement detailing the evidence of doom, there is also evidence to contradict it.
The sea levels haven't risen to engulf any cities, even though they keep moving the goalposts back by decades.
Some levels are higher, many are lower, suggesting that the land is moving.
Tuvalu is still not remotely underwater and the elites still insist on buying beach front properties.
Forest fires are a fraction of what they were, notwithstanding criminally inept land management (Australia and California).
It was warmer in the 1850's and the 1930's
The 97% consensus was an easily demonstrable lie.
The hockey stick was another blatant lie.
David Attenborough has been caught lying on several occasions and so have the Guardian, about the Greenland ice sheets, which is Km deeper than it was in the 1940's.
The Petermann Glacier was retreating. Now it isn't.
If "global warming TM" was real, the elites would actually give a shit regarding their actions. The very fact that they don't, should speak volumes.
Climate change may indeed be happening, though I suspect it is just another tool to control the masses, exactly like covid, vaccination, digital ID, CBDC and the constant threat of new, scary viruses / wars / bad guys.
Just like covid, any experts that questioned the narrative were silenced and dismissed.
If it is happening then it is incumbent upon the "experts" to produce the evidence without lying, or relying on massively flawed computer models.
That all said, I clearly cannot disagree with your actual real experiences, but there is documented evidence of some pretty terrible and strange weather events in historical newspaper reports.
It's both, and always at the wrong times. So rain & cold too early in the season, so you can't plant. Then near overnight swings to hot & dry, so what you did manage to plant withers & dies.
Half my horses pasture is 6-8+ " tall. Or was til they grazed & I mowed. The other half has just germinating where reseeded or barely growing because it was so wet, & is still way to wet for the horses to walk on. Normally they br grazing full time by now. Instead 2 hours day/tops & using up hay that supposed to last til Sept.
This is how suicidal some of these people in governments are.
Gas could be phased out in Victorian houses in clean energy push
https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/gas-could-be-phased-out-in-victorian-houses-in-clean-energy-push/video/bf12b8f1c983c3a4c126c584fefb7a0a
An old friend once owned a rambler, about 1700 sq ft, that had baseboard electric heating throughout. His electrical bills in 2009 were $700+. That is when I knew the dream of a renewable energy society that otherwise looked exactly like this one, was a nightmare in the making. The electrical bill to heat an old Victorian that way today would be about $5000+.
The ways we build now are very different from before, most houses are very inefficient in thermoregulation. But I do get your point, it is one of the major reasons I don't have an AC, not because the device is expensive, they got relatively cheaper the last 5 years, it is because my bill will go up substantially.
In Australia, we (not with my help) just voted in a new government: Labour with the support of Greens and "Teals" (independent candidates platforming on climate change and anti-corruption measures). Victoria is already Labour-led at a State level, and we saw a huge shift to green candidates in the richer parts of both Sydney and Melbourne (Brisbane too, it looks like). As in the US, these green policies are a luxury of the affluent, who don't have to worry too much about food or energy prices. But judging from our election results last week, we are about to see much, much more of this in Australia... :(
Power transformers are being quoted at months-to-years out lately. The more one digs, the worse it looks. Even the specialty steel required for transformer cores is looking dicey. It's called Grain Oriented Electrical Steel. Here's a bit on that problem.
https://www.transformer-technology.com/news/us-news/2788-us-warns-lack-of-transformer-steel-would-threaten-national-security-transformer-technology.html
On the weather front, here's one that says the currents and temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are looking like they did in 2005 when Katrina hit the coast.
https://theconversation.com/bad-news-for-the-2022-hurricane-season-the-loop-current-a-fueler-of-monster-storms-is-looking-a-lot-like-it-did-in-2005-the-year-of-katrina-183197
I am aware of this one, but most Americans get into a fit when I talked about the mere concept of food scarcity in the US, and oil/energy costs, if I start telling people the transformers situation (in California they are burning more units than they can replace) people will want to punch me.
What you wrote aligns with everything I have found so far, but the steel one is new to me. I mean, not the steel shortage, but that specific steel shortage.
John Paul you are one of the few substacks for which I am a paid subscriber and right now I can afford to keep subscribing and still take care of myself and my family. You are literally the only substacker I follow who has ever said don't pay me if you can't afford it and I absolutely appreciate that.
I also appreciate the fact that you put things in perspective, and particularly in this post, by pointing out that this is not the end of the world. All this information we are getting from different sources (much of which is aimed at trying to instigate fear and panic) can naturally make us freak out a little bit. Between potentially deadly vaccines to covid, monkeybox, WEF takeover, economic collapse It's hard to balance what is world ending and what is just a hurdle to overcome.
For some reason I have always been afraid of the zombie apocalypse (not necessarily zombies, but an armageddon type scenario) and 25 years ago my family moved to the country and set up a homestead where we could be sustainable. We homeschooled our kids, grew our own food and only stopped when the kids became teenagers and started to rebel the lifestyle. We went closer to the mainstream at that point and now are finding our way back to the lifestyle we always wanted to live. In some ways this is a good news story in all the bad news.
I thank you for your comments about we have months to prepare but when you started posting about stock up now I took that to heart and stocked up! No down side to it that I could see, food will ultimately get eaten. We are prepared for anything we can prepare for, and I thank you for your part in that.
Oh, and we also bought the ammo to protect our stores as I think that is something that shouldn't be ignored. you can have all the supplies you want but if shit hits the fan and you can't hold it, you might as well find a way to stay on the move and find resources as you go. And we live in Canada so getting ammo and guns was not easy! lol!
Thank you very much for the kind words ! A lot of people go to lengths to support, and I don't feel good if people sacrifice the little they have to support me.
I need to put things into different perspectives, especially from where I see things, I try to remain factual, and data based, with not much opinions because I want people to completely think for themselves (among a few other reasons). Situation might look dire, and times might get a little difficult, but overall I do see reason for not doom and gloom.
That has been my goal (live in the middle of nowhere, self-sustainable as much as you can be here) for as long as I can remember, reading accounts like this makes me happy and smile.
Well, the earlier you get prepared, the more money you save, some people can spend hundreds of dollars in one day to get prepared at the moment's notice, but I know a lot of others can't, they have to plan, etc. So besides untangling the web, and connecting a lot of unconnected dots, I give enough time for people like me to get ready.
Guns and ammo should be priority, but I don't know how people would take it here, and Substack instance on this, so I don't mention on posts. Especially right now after the shootings.
Glad my posts were helpful to you. Have a great weekend btw !
Thank you. These are always worthwhile. On top of everything, which is essentially the cost of living, the cost of some place to live is also soaring. I overhear people at work discussing attempts to purchase homes, modest ones, and being outbid by 20+ competitors. It's a great time to sell, if you have someplace else to go. If you need to buy something, you can't find anything, and if you could, interest rates are rising. Rise in property values means a rise in property taxes and rate increases for renters. The county proposed a tax valuation increase on my property of about 30%. Many would be priced out of their homes, just from the property taxes alone.
I had to replace a septic pump tonight. Damn glad I bought a second pump the last time I replaced one with few extra fittings. I don't know that I can just walk in somewhere and pick one up.
On Feb 24 2020 I went to Costco and bought $1000 of non-perishable food, in anticipation of a possible pandemic. I would have headed to Costco last month to buy enough food for three for next winter, but my financial situation will not allow me to purchase that for another three weeks. That is going to be a long three weeks, after reading this. Every time I read one of your articles I want to run out and fill the van with food and fuel I can store. I'm also going to buy a LOT of seed, and pre-order fruit trees.
I had very little stored, but granted I am used to live VERY frugally, and the situation here is somewhat different in some levels. Don't get desperate, there are still months to get ready, but inflation won't go down, either stays the same or it goes open and there are signs everywhere that the American economy is contracting and that affects the entire world.
Don't give yourself anxiety, think this as "I have a few months to get prepared". The intention is people getting ready slowly, before everyone else's start to see and get ready too.
Thanks. It is a challenge to balance the perspective of one life to the pace of change of society. I realize most of the shortages of food will not be understood to be a problem until next fall and winter, for most people, and here in America in the seat of empire we are likely to feel it the least, globally. I merely mean to put away as much food as I can, to not have to worry about the winter, by this coming fall, with plans for next spring to plant an orchard and a big garden.
"... electricity bills will necessarily skyrocket ..."
--Barack Obama
Lets say its me, wife and 3 kids. Got a gas camping cooker and 8 gas cans. Got 30kg rice. 3kg pasta. Maybe 10 tins of lentils. 20 litres water. 10 packs fast noodles. 5 packs toilet tissue. 15 tins salmon. Am I the worst prepper ever? That'd feed us less than a week! I do have lots of lo-salt though for fasting.(half sodium/potassium chloride) Do people think food will just get expensive or is it a case of empty shelves?If so, how long? And how long x 5 people. Gonna get a super soaker water pistol filled with chilli sauce so I can disable pigeons for food when the zombie apocalypse happens.
As Vix7 wrote, you should definitely worry more about water supply, but a Sawyer Mini-Filter would take care of that, analyze the situation per your region though.
Stock wheat flour because you can make a ton of things with it, and it is still cheap right now. Otherwise you are on the right track.
Would also stock some multivitamin !!!!
OMG that water filter looks amazing-I had no idea!
Flour is still 2kg for €1.20 right now-Ive got some.
Multivitamin-of course, eating rice all day youll need a multivitamin.Didnt think of that one. Many thanks.
This should feed your family longer than a week though. 30kg of rice is plenty. What you have to plan that if there's a chaos you immediately have to switch on survival portions. Obviously to control kids will be the most difficult. So 1kg/rice/day/family would keep you alive. I would be more worried about your water supply. (at least in Ireland it's raining regularly)
Thanks for the reply. Might even get away with 1/2kg rice per day so thats 60 days worth for 30kg. I was afraid Id have to stock 2000 calories per person per day which would mean equate to like 500 tins of salmon and 500 tins of beans or something crazy just for 3 months. But thats only if SHTF like nuclear winter and you need to hole up and barricade the doors for 3 months.
I think 2000 is way overshooting. My first problem with the 2000 kcal diet that it is already outdated. This was recommended for people doing physical jobs in the past. In today's world where most of the people spend their time on their arses I think 2000 is already making you fat. Probably you are better off around 1500-1600 kcal/day.
But I think just to survive at home even half of this could be enough. Fasting also does not hurt. What I am personally always concerned about is water.
Also worth to read some comments on these substacks. Sometimes you would like to prepare for weeks but then many people pointed out that if serious chaos happens the world will collapse within 1-2 weeks so basically this is the time you have to survive hidden in your place and not being attacked or looted by others...
Im happy to fast for days if needs be once I have salt. And yes survival rations would suffice. But you think 2 weeks is enough if SHTF? what happens after 2 weeks in your estimation?
Honestly sometimes we talk it through with wife and it seems impossible to prepare for an absolute chaos with 100% so I would say after the 2 weeks absolute zombie apocalypse people will survive who:
-have good community
-have great survival skills/ improvisation skills
-have huge resources to buy their way
I don't think I particularly belong to any of these so we will see what happens...
Chilli sauce can surely knock out a pigeon. LOL
Rain and cold?
But I thought we were meant to be increasingly hot and dry according to all the models and predictions.
It's almost as though we're being lied to and the experts are just making shit up.
Again.
Specific regions are suffering specific weather changes. Where I live it literally went through that exact cycle. Rain, cold and within days super hot, dry, hit by drought.
The weather is changing faster than their math.
Hasn't it always?
There were much warmer and much colder periods in the past.
There have always been localised weather anomalies, if historic news reports are accurate.
The sea levels are always in flux and in some places, the high tides are lower than they were in 1914, while the ice shelves are always in a constant state of advance and retreat, especially as the earth tilts on it's axis.
The changes are accelerating, quickening, unlike anything the industrial economy of the last 150 years has seen, which is what matters.
What Duncan said. The changes are drastic and faster than society can adapt. Before it was slow enough people had the ability to move (well, there were a lot more poor people, so leaving nothing behind is easier). But now it is faster than the ability for countries to cope, or society to structure itself.
I don't believe in climate BS btw, to make myself abundantly clear.
Are they? For every statement detailing the evidence of doom, there is also evidence to contradict it.
The sea levels haven't risen to engulf any cities, even though they keep moving the goalposts back by decades.
Some levels are higher, many are lower, suggesting that the land is moving.
Tuvalu is still not remotely underwater and the elites still insist on buying beach front properties.
Forest fires are a fraction of what they were, notwithstanding criminally inept land management (Australia and California).
It was warmer in the 1850's and the 1930's
The 97% consensus was an easily demonstrable lie.
The hockey stick was another blatant lie.
David Attenborough has been caught lying on several occasions and so have the Guardian, about the Greenland ice sheets, which is Km deeper than it was in the 1940's.
The Petermann Glacier was retreating. Now it isn't.
If "global warming TM" was real, the elites would actually give a shit regarding their actions. The very fact that they don't, should speak volumes.
Climate change may indeed be happening, though I suspect it is just another tool to control the masses, exactly like covid, vaccination, digital ID, CBDC and the constant threat of new, scary viruses / wars / bad guys.
Just like covid, any experts that questioned the narrative were silenced and dismissed.
If it is happening then it is incumbent upon the "experts" to produce the evidence without lying, or relying on massively flawed computer models.
That all said, I clearly cannot disagree with your actual real experiences, but there is documented evidence of some pretty terrible and strange weather events in historical newspaper reports.
It's both, and always at the wrong times. So rain & cold too early in the season, so you can't plant. Then near overnight swings to hot & dry, so what you did manage to plant withers & dies.
Half my horses pasture is 6-8+ " tall. Or was til they grazed & I mowed. The other half has just germinating where reseeded or barely growing because it was so wet, & is still way to wet for the horses to walk on. Normally they br grazing full time by now. Instead 2 hours day/tops & using up hay that supposed to last til Sept.