UNEASINESS - HOW ARE YOUR PREPARATIONS?

I'll admit that in waking today and following my normal routine I am troubled and uneasy.  Not uneasy in the sense that I'm fearful, uneasy that we are truly at an inflection point in our economy.  Having said that, we have also witnessed a disaster in Japan that is still going, we see war breaking out in the Middle East and a subtle transition of power that is happening unbelievably fast.  All the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico we've had in recent years should also put us on notice that those that are prepared have a chance.  Let your mind think through what would happen if your entire state had no power for 2 weeks.  What would you do?  How would you provide?  Are you ready?




I found this list several years ago and bookmarked it.  Unfortunately, I think I still only have about 25 of the items and they are not in a consolidated place to ensure that I could access them in an emergency.  This list is a good starting point and there are many others, but I do feel the deep urge to do this now.   I share this with you so that you might think about if you need to do the same and pray about how to approach this.


100 Items to Disappear First - http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens


From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate near renewable food sources.

2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.

3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.

4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)

5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.

6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.

7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.

8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

Be careful!

GOATMUG

FUNDAMENTALS ARE COLLAPSING AND EVERYTHING IS FINE

Here is a video I found on YouTube by a guy named Alexiscom1. It is interesting because he actually shows the impact of inflation on your currency in a realistic and meaningful way. In the first couple of minutes he really gets to the money shot which I quote below.





Alexiscom1 states -
"It reminds me of the Soviet Union in 1990s, where all fundamentals were for the collapse, but you couldn't actually see it because the mainstream media would convince you everything was fine -- and people hope, and wait, and do nothing..."

Sound familiar?  This goes really well with the post I made yesterday about Politics of Deception where the media is used to tell the story that we are to hear.

If you watch the entire 9 minutes of video you'll also find that Alexiscom1 underscores the need to prepare for the events in other ways than just financial preparation.  He implores you to store food and also learn new skills to enable you to deal with radical changes.

Good stuff, but I felt the quote was great and the overall message was spot on.

GOATMUG

DOLLAR STRENGTH - YEN WEAKNESS / TURN IS COMING

Check out this chart of YCS, the double short yen. This gives us an indication that the market levitation based on dollar weakness may be ending. The double short yen ETF broke out today as there has been building strength in this position since December. I've been watching for a breakout above the $20.50 level and we got it in a big way today.

Here are my levels on the YCS trade.
Purchase below $20.75
Sell Stop - $20.45
Initial Resistance on the upside will be around $21.50
Ultimate Target to exit - $23.2 (There may be opportunities to sell near $21.60, buy on weakness for a final push to the $23 area, but I'm trying to keep these levels simple).

Again, I want to put this trade in the context of my overall view of the market. Even though YCS is breaking out, I'm sticking to my view that we still have around one month of upward movement left in the market till the end of April, but even during this last gasp up, weakness will sort of permeate the market rather than suddenly showing up in one giant sell off. This sort of trade showing dollar strength gives us a view of what might be to come. Even though equity markets are at 52 week highs, we are seeing the dollar gain and the yen weaken - all in the midst of another log on the fire (Portugal being downgraded by Fitch) -http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aRbaF3Ideaco

Why is the dollar showing strength? Treasury auctions are not being bid so well and interest rates are climbing and Europe is on the radar again for its sovereign debt issues. I want to reiterate, I believe we have some upside left (1200 target on S&P) however this is the last little push in sight for the entire year in my opinion. We want to begin identifying trades that benefit in a falling market and begin closing out winners that have performed well. I may be a bit early in this trade, but I am willing to enter in and have a hard stop to limit downside, ultimately, this is a good risk reward and sets up well for my strategy for the remainder of 2010.

Goatmug