Thursday, July 25, 2013

Too far with the Prepper B. S.

Maybe I've been going too far with the Prepper thinking. For those who never heard of it (Prepper) refers to being prepared; as in survivalist.
I've been buying guns and ammunition, lately. It started with reading the book "Aftershock". I just bought a couple of books on survival at Barnes and Noble.
I don't know what I'm trying to be prepared for. If the economy collapses, I'll still be living in a rual community ; where I'll be as safe or safer than anywhere else in the country. I live in a cheap apartment and I have a steady income from Social Security. I only have to provide for myself; I have no dependants. So why do I find myself buying guns and books on surviving in the desert?
I think I'm just being foolish.
I was discussing this train of thought with Sonja and she asked my if I wanted something bad to happen. We discussed the "Law of Attraction" and how I might be bringing negative things into my life by my thought. I think there is a tendency for people to think that they are more intelligent than others, just because they are more negative thinking. Maybe that is what I'm doing; but I think I'll continue buying ammo and camping supplies. There is an auction, this Sunday, where those are some of the things being sold. I'll be there.
Next year I'll run off to California to pan for gold.
Later.





Saturday, July 20, 2013

Detroit, tip of the iceburg; or just a bump in the road?

By now everyone has heard about Detroit's bankruptcy. So does this portend the beginning of hundreds of municipal funds becoming worthless; or will Washington bail everyone out? I think Washington will bail out the Muni-bond sector just like they bailed out the mortgage business. After a tidal wave of defaults it will become apparent that wealthy people need to be bailed out again. They will also bail out the union members whose pensions are at risk.
They will just use quantitative easing money (which is just paper, anyway) to bail out everyone affected by the various bankruptcies.
I'm wondering how to profit from all of this. I feel certain that Detroit is the tip of the iceberg and we can expect more chaos. In the short term, interest rates will go up and trash the stock market, as well as gold.
I was thinking about buying junk muni bonds. Since I think the government will bail out that sector just like they did the banks; that might be a good, (contrarian) bet. If a person was to wait about a week or two; those bond will go down to levels lower than they deserve. I would pick the bonds of cities which may be considered "too big to fail". Detroit muni's might be my first pick. Then I might buy bonds from Michigan, which, apparently, has the same problems that Detroit has. California is also on the brink of bankruptcy, as well as New Jersey, and New York. Maybe a person should wait until they actually go bankrupt to buy them.
Of course, I wouldn't risk money that I couldn't afford to lose. I've lost a ton of money on junk bonds before. It's possible that your money in junk bonds will just evaporate, while the unions get bailed out. That is what happened with Delphi and GM.
On a different topic; I bought a .22 rifle last Sunday. It's a Mossberg that I got for $107. I was surprised that it was so inexpensive. I priced a Henry Survival rifle at $230. The Henry folds up into the stock so it would be handier, but the Mossberg will get the job done. If the economy totally collapses I'll be ready to hunt squirrels and rabbits for food. If I go out west I'll be able to find plenty of rattlesnakes for food.
I feel that this was a great step towards being independent of the civilized world.
I need to sell more of my etchings before I head out west to prospect for gold. I'll see if I can post a picture of one of my etchings here. It's named "Some with Strong Backs Waning".

I've got it hanging in my bedroom.
Later

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

I Won!!

I found out yesterday that I won a pennyweight of gold in a raffle that was held in California. I contributed to the legal fund of a club named "The New 49'ers". I won one of the consolation prizes of 1 pennyweight of gold. I called them and they said that they would be sending it out next week. That is the first time that I've won anything for the last 30 or 40 years. A pennyweight is 1/20 of an ounce of gold and worth about $64.
I'm hoping that this shows a turnaround in my life. I've been doing a lot of spiritual studying lately and maybe it is starting to show.
I was also told that my school will be paid for by Experience Works; and I'll be getting paid to learn Spanish. I figure that Spanish will help me wherever I end up.
The other night I went to Wal-Mart and bought a .22 rifle. I now have a complete arsenal. I can use the .22 to hunt for rabbits and squirrels if it comes to that. The Mosin is too large for squirrels and is most useful if there is a war. I might need it for bears that I might encounter panning for gold. The 12 gauge shotgun can be used for pheasants and rabbits, as well as geese and ducks. I need to get some ammunition but that is relatively inexpensive.
I'm taking a lot of test for Experience Works. So far, I've passed them all except for the English test (which I retook and passed the second time).
I'm going to mark down the etchings that I'm showing at Java Johns for "Ridiculous Days". That's an annual celebration we have here where the merchants take their goods out to the streets. I'm marking them down by about thirty percent to move them.


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Collier and Focus

I've been reading "The Life Magnet" by Robert Collier. In a few of the later chapters, he discusses the importance of having focus in one's life. He seemed to feel that it's important to keep a goal in life to maintain your health and youth. In fact, he believed that the key to longevity was to be future-oriented.
His position was that as long as you kept working for something in the future your body would regenerate and you would stay young. He maintained that since every cell in your body would be replaced in 11 months, that you are constantly renewing anyway. He felt that the reason we got old and sick was that we lost our focus on the future. When we lose our hope and focus our bodies start to betray us. It might be small at first but it accumulates and eventually we get old and die.
I feel that I've been going through that process, lately.
It started when I lost $7500 on the stock market. Of course, I've been losing large sums of money on the market for some time, but things really deteriorated when I borrowed money to trade the market, last year. After losing that money I came down with shingles. Then I had to move while I had shingles.
Life has been pretty adverse since then.
It has forced me to go back to studying Christian Science and to read a lot of metaphysical books, like the ones by Collier. The process of becoming more spiritual has been similar to steering an oil tanker. It takes a while for the changes to become apparent. I do think I'm making progress.
I have a new job and I'm making headway on paying down my loans. I have more silver and gold for the pending economic collapse. I now have 2 guns, again for the economic collapse. I'm seeing 2 counselors. One is a wellness coach and the other a counselor at the VA. The VA counselor had me start an account at a website called OKCupid. That is a dating website. All sorts of good things are happening and I'm very grateful.
I have to make a little more money by selling my etchings and also the Nook. I've decided that I've had it with the Nook. I can't seem to do any blogging with it and it's really no better than my old Macintoshes. I'm going to see if I can barter it for something more useful.
I tried to post one of my newer etchings but it didn't take. I'll just post a picture of Java Johns instead. That's where I've been blogging and spending this afternoon. And now that I think about I spent most of the morning here as well.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

One negative book cancels out ten positive books

It seems that one negative book "Aftershock" by Weidermeyer has canceled out several books by Collier, Eker, and Dyer. I find myself shopping for food, guns, and gold on the certainty of a coming depression.
He makes a compelling case for a depression based on the devaluation of our currency. We are over 17 trillion dollars in debt as a country. He feels that we will have 50% unemployment, 100% inflation, and a housing market that will go to 30% of it's present value.
I've been basing my purchasing decisions on fear. That is why I bought a gun and gold rather than using that money to purchase more etchings by Malcolm Childers. I probably missed an opportunity to triple my money because it was tied up in survivalist things. By the way I missed the opportunity to buy 3 of Malcolm's expensive etchings for $150 each. I did buy one for $100 but I was bidding for some gold at the time this opportunity came up and I was afraid to bid on the etching since I might have had to pay for a bunch of gold as well as the etchings.
Collier's book "The Life Magnet" points out the parable of the Prodigal Son to demonstrate that God loves us no matter how far away we move from him.  When the son came back he was rewarded with all sorts of gifts and such. It implies that God just wants us to turn to him for our sustenance rather than  depend on ourselves or material means.
I think I've been relying on the book "Aftershock" for my financial decisions, lately. I'm probably making bad purchases based on the fear that he is drumming up. I suppose he is just selling gold or books or something. Ten minutes ago I bid on a 10 ounce silver bar. I hope that I don't get it. I've got to quit buying things on E-bay. I just don't have the money. All that I can hope to do to get ready for the financial collapse is to hang on to my job and hope for the best. I've done fairly well,so far.
Later




 
















Friday, July 5, 2013

Mosin-Nagant

Yesterday, I bought a Mosin-Nagant, that's a Russian, military rifle, from Cabela's in Prairie Du Chien, WI. I needed something that would work on bears in case I go West to pan for gold in the mountains. The only thing I still need for my arsenal is a .22 rifle for snakes, and maybe rabbits for food. I do think that people should be prepared for the financial collapse.
When I got home I went to Culvers for a burger and ice cream. While I was there I checked the Malcolm Childer's etchings on E-bay. I was surprised to find some that etchings that normally go for between $2300 and $4400 were going for $150. At least that was what the seller was asking for.
 I saw one that I really liked and offered $75. He came back with an offer of $100 and I took it. There are still some that he is asking $150 for on the market. I made a bid of $75 for another one. I haven't heard back from him, yet.
I'm wondering if it would make sense to go even more into debt and buy the rest of those etchings. I don't think they will be there for long, and I could hold onto them until the depression is over and have something that will appreciate in value. I still need to find a way to sell some of these etchings at a good price.
I'm sorry that I haven't been talking much about metaphysical things. I feel that part of the "Law of Attraction" is the opportunities that you are able to perceive. When we are attracting things into our lives it is often in the form of opportunities that we don't get, normally. Of course, I may be fooling myself and am just getting into debt over something that will not pay off. Only time will tell.
Later

Monday, July 1, 2013

Robert Collier and the "Law of Attraction"

In his book "Riches Within Your Reach" Collier quotes Jesus: "Unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
This has always struck me as being basically unfair. It seems to work out in real life, but it has made me feel hopeless.
It seemed that no matter what I do, my money is always taken away.
The way that Collier explains it is that like attracts like. It's similar to magnetic attraction. If you think wealth, more wealth will come your way. If, on the other hand, your thoughts are about poverty and how you will pay your bills, you will get more poverty.
I guess you have to change your thoughts to thoughts of wealth. Start dressing better. Eat at a fancy place now and then. Save up some money to just blow extravagantly.
T. Harv Eker talks about this in his book "The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind". The "Law of Attraction" is mentioned in many of the books I read.
Another metaphysical law that Collier writes about is the "Law of Multiplication". It was demonstrated by Jesus when he multiplied the loaves and fishes. It was also demonstrated by various prophets by increasing the supply of oil for a widow and grain for another widow.
This indicates that you take what you already have and multiply it. Keep in mind that the prophets and Jesus demonstrated these things for all of us to do as well. They meant for us to take up where they left off.
I haven't posted any pictures lately so I'll post a picture of one of my etchings by Malcolm Childers. I would sell it but I want at least $1000 for it since it is one of his lower numbered editions. It's named "Some with Strong Backs Waning".
 Malcolm has a tendency to make long titles for his etchings.