C. Henry Martens's Blog, page 18
December 31, 2015
Race to Armageddon
©2015 C. Henry Martens
We are in a race to Armageddon. A race? Yes… because there are a significant number of people in our society not only wishing for Armageddon but actively engaged in bringing it about.
The two most obvious factions are diametrically opposed to each other. The science deniers that see a coming apocalypse (especially one involving higher temperatures) as the fulfillment of biblical prophesy, and the science embracers, those that believe people can, and will, overcome any obstacles to human survival.
But beyond the thought that there are human beings willing to play roulette with the future, all of the legitimate natural and man made disasters are still in the race as well. Some calamities are difficult to assign a causal relationship to. Natural disaster? Famine might be natural if an 800 year drought hits a society that irrigates with accumulated rainwater, but what about if it hits when a society has depleted groundwater with deep wells? But really, does it matter?
It cracks me up to imagine the science deniers standing in the way of something that could prevent the demise of our species… and all to prove that they and their religious views are right. I mean, do they have a calendar? Where does it say that God has the next hundred years in mind? What if God wakes up from a long nap and finds that his/her worshippers have jumped the gun and preempted his/her own plans? Wouldn’t s/he be ticked off?
The proponents of scientific bliss are just as bad. I am reminded of that great line in the movie Jurassic Park. You know, the one where Jeff Goldblum says, “Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.” I mean, ever since the Manhattan Project, when the scientific community pondered that the setting off of an atomic bomb might have the potential to burn off the entire atmosphere of the world… and did it anyway… has anyone hesitated to forge ahead. It is almost as if they expect divine intervention to step in and save us from their risky crap shoots. And that doesn’t even take into account the accidental and unforeseen consequences of unknown unknowns, some long range and seen as benevolent until the SHTF.
In the meantime there are several legitimate apocalypse scenarios in the offing. All with high probability. Perhaps they are the dark horses in this race, but they are every day closer to fruition. The scene plays out in my head like the announcement at a horse race.
“And they’re into the last turn! Global Warming is hugging the rail, ahead by a nose. Economic Collapse started to fade, but the whip is out and he’s staying abreast on the outside! Unexpected Famine and Genetic Exhaustion are crowding each other, vying for position with Genetically Modified Organisms! The two Plague Stables horses, Intentional and Accidental, are running neck and neck! Intentional Ignorance and Unqualified Stupidity faded fast from their early lead but are making a rally, driving the rest ahead of them! And on the outside, coming up fast from the rear, Undiscovered Asteroid is making his play! What a race, ladies and gentlemen! What a race! Get your betting stubs out folks… somebody is gonna win big!”
Whew! Won’t it be a relief when it’s all over? This constant expectation and competition is exhausting. Let’s get it over with!
Wait a minute. Calm down… Is that really how we want to play this hand? All in with a pair of deuces? Because that IS what seems to be going on. Personally, I think the real problem is that we are so invested in defending our positions, right or wrong, that we have given up on sanity. And THAT my friends, is the real most likely cause of Armageddon. My money is on Lack of Sanity in the 21st.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
We are in a race to Armageddon. A race? Yes… because there are a significant number of people in our society not only wishing for Armageddon but actively engaged in bringing it about.
The two most obvious factions are diametrically opposed to each other. The science deniers that see a coming apocalypse (especially one involving higher temperatures) as the fulfillment of biblical prophesy, and the science embracers, those that believe people can, and will, overcome any obstacles to human survival.
But beyond the thought that there are human beings willing to play roulette with the future, all of the legitimate natural and man made disasters are still in the race as well. Some calamities are difficult to assign a causal relationship to. Natural disaster? Famine might be natural if an 800 year drought hits a society that irrigates with accumulated rainwater, but what about if it hits when a society has depleted groundwater with deep wells? But really, does it matter?
It cracks me up to imagine the science deniers standing in the way of something that could prevent the demise of our species… and all to prove that they and their religious views are right. I mean, do they have a calendar? Where does it say that God has the next hundred years in mind? What if God wakes up from a long nap and finds that his/her worshippers have jumped the gun and preempted his/her own plans? Wouldn’t s/he be ticked off?
The proponents of scientific bliss are just as bad. I am reminded of that great line in the movie Jurassic Park. You know, the one where Jeff Goldblum says, “Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.” I mean, ever since the Manhattan Project, when the scientific community pondered that the setting off of an atomic bomb might have the potential to burn off the entire atmosphere of the world… and did it anyway… has anyone hesitated to forge ahead. It is almost as if they expect divine intervention to step in and save us from their risky crap shoots. And that doesn’t even take into account the accidental and unforeseen consequences of unknown unknowns, some long range and seen as benevolent until the SHTF.
In the meantime there are several legitimate apocalypse scenarios in the offing. All with high probability. Perhaps they are the dark horses in this race, but they are every day closer to fruition. The scene plays out in my head like the announcement at a horse race.
“And they’re into the last turn! Global Warming is hugging the rail, ahead by a nose. Economic Collapse started to fade, but the whip is out and he’s staying abreast on the outside! Unexpected Famine and Genetic Exhaustion are crowding each other, vying for position with Genetically Modified Organisms! The two Plague Stables horses, Intentional and Accidental, are running neck and neck! Intentional Ignorance and Unqualified Stupidity faded fast from their early lead but are making a rally, driving the rest ahead of them! And on the outside, coming up fast from the rear, Undiscovered Asteroid is making his play! What a race, ladies and gentlemen! What a race! Get your betting stubs out folks… somebody is gonna win big!”
Whew! Won’t it be a relief when it’s all over? This constant expectation and competition is exhausting. Let’s get it over with!
Wait a minute. Calm down… Is that really how we want to play this hand? All in with a pair of deuces? Because that IS what seems to be going on. Personally, I think the real problem is that we are so invested in defending our positions, right or wrong, that we have given up on sanity. And THAT my friends, is the real most likely cause of Armageddon. My money is on Lack of Sanity in the 21st.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
December 19, 2015
So Easy to be Rich
©2015 C. Henry Martens
“Whaaaaaaaaaat?!?! What do you MEAN, so easy to be rich?”
Well, I mean it is easy to be rich. Not by winning the lottery but by becoming wealthy by intentional effort. I know, I know… the common perception is that becoming wealthy is difficult. Well, not really. It is uncommon but not difficult.
Now lean in close, and I’ll tell you how to do it.
First off, let’s define some assumptions. Let’s assume I am speaking to a young person at the beginning of their earning years. All of this will apply to older people as well, but depending on age and income, not as much. So that is the first lesson… start early.
Listen, this can get away from you. Just like a physical ability, basketball, competitive running, ballroom dancing, you can tell yourself, “I could do that,” and yet you don’t. The years pile up, one on top of the other, and all of a sudden you realize that winning Dancing with the Stars will never be in your future. So no matter what age you are, if you want to be in better shape next year, the time to start is NOW.
Don’t be discouraged. This is going to be easy, remember? Now that you understand the immediacy of beginning, the next step is one often missed by financial advisors. This is the most difficult and yet most critical part of the process. Make a decision to start. RIGHT NOW! DO IT! Just like quitting smoking, you can’t be successful until you make “The Decision.” Once you REALLY make the decision, you are a non-smoker. Everything before was just practice. Until you make the decision to begin a task, it is all fantasy.
I know, you are probably saying to yourself, “Well, let’s just see what else he has to say first. Then I’ll decide.” That’s fine, too. It is said that caution is a virtue, and it is, as long as it doesn’t keep you from making the decision before it is too late. If you never become wealthy, then you put off the decision. Oh… and if you are married you MUST be sure your spouse is fully on board. Bad things happen in your brain when you get surprised by the sudden revelation that your spouse has spent all of your investment savings after a lifetime of what you thought was a combined effort.
Whether you are a disadvantaged person in the slums of a foreign country or a newly graduated PhD soon to be offered a high paying job, you must work with what you have. An income is critical. One of my favorite philosophers, Will Rogers, used to say, “You can’t beat something with nothing.” There are people in the world who started with minimum wage jobs, and they are now worth more than the gross national product of some nations. Get a job.
My parents had the foresight to teach me a few valuable lessons early in life, and I thank them for it. I have been lucky to have examples around me that I could observe and learn from. Use your resources. If you see people who are succeeding, or failing, pay attention. And don’t be sucked into making the assumption that people who live in big houses and drive fancy cars are worth a lot of money. Most of them are in debt up to their eye-balls. I’m a firm believer that most workaholics are driven by debt. The successful ones are driven by a need to be good at what they do. The rest are up the proverbial creek. Pay attention and learn to differentiate. Sam Walton (Walmart) drove a ’67 Belair and an old Ford pickup until he died.
I love proverbs. Not the book of the Bible but popularly known and repeated sayings that express a truth based on common sense or experience. “A stitch in time saves nine,” or “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Such simple wisdom from long ago and popularized by generations that heeded the advice. One of my early lessons in finance from my parents was the simple saying, “If you spend everything you earn, you will always be poor.” Just as important was the next one, “The most sure way to get a raise is to cut your expenses.”
What do all of these sayings have in common? What does the wisdom of generations tell us? You have to feed yourself and keep yourself healthy, but almost every other thing in life is optional. You MUST have the ability to say “NO” to yourself. This does not mean that EVERYTHING has to go into an obsessive focus on becoming a miser. Set a percentage of your income and live on it. The rest goes to savings. Creating wealth is first and foremost about accumulating. A swimming pool can be filled a drop at a time. How can you expect to accumulate money if you spend everything you receive?
So this is the first task that takes an actual, physical act. Put a percentage of whatever you make away in some kind of savings account. I’ve seen people living on their paychecks, week to week, and they manage to save up in the last months of the year, “so the kids have a good Christmas.” Yet they can’t manage the same thing during the rest of the year. Other people spend what they don’t have, accumulating debt and even worse… interest on that debt, and they pay it off by the next year and do it all over again. If you can afford a toy for Christmas, then you better be able to afford a savings account. This is a common theme in all financial advice, “Pay yourself first.”
I swear to you, I know people who live well, monthly, on what others complain about making in a week. Learn to live well while not spending money. One of the most valuable commitments I made, something I have stuck with over time because it has served me so well, is to simply ask myself if I really need what I am buying. As part of this attitude, I have found all kinds of alternatives to spending money. I look at this practice as an enjoyable challenge. Does it feel good to buy something for a hundred dollars? Imagine how good it feels to walk away with a hundred dollars in your pocket. THAT is an epiphany! Set yourself a limit. If something costs more than fifty bucks, don’t buy it for a week. You will be surprised how few things stay a necessity after a week. And for the love of… whatever… max out your 401K savings. Most employers match a portion of it. It is FREE money!
Really, there are so many wonderful, challenging, and entertaining ways to live well on less money. I detest coupon shopping but will use them for the things I buy normally. I limit my movie going to those that demand a really large screen and will use my old television until it dies a natural death. One of the crucial things for any person to avoid is the idea that you have to replace something that works with the next newest thing. Avoid paying for unnecessary and too often unused insurance if you can. Buy a used car with cash, and pocket the money you would be putting into full coverage. Just don’t get in an accident. Odds are that you will save money. Paying cash means you also avoided paying interest. More to go into your pocket. I could go on and on, but this is one of the things that a young person has an advantage in learning. If you start young, you won’t have as many bad habits to break.
Now, what to do with your accumulated savings? I mentioned your 401K. That is an investment. The purpose of all accumulated savings is for investment purposes. Finding the right investments can be fun. Look at the search as a challenge. You want to do better than everyone else. Enjoy the competition.
I should elaborate a little on your 401K investing. I have a strategy that has worked well for me over time, better than anyone else I know (admitting that I know little of other’s specific strategies), and is so simple I can’t believe others don’t use it. Many financial advisors like to use a “buy and hold” technique. This is intended to be used in purchasing stocks and accumulating, NOT as a way to manage a 401K. Buy, yes… hold as an investment, yes… but ALWAYS trade amongst the mutual funds listed on your menu in your quarterly report. Get comfortable selling and repurchasing what is offered. In your listed funds there will be fluctuations in what they have earned. Pay attention to that, and always put your money in the funds with the highest returns of the last quarter.
Note that I said “returns” with an “s.” Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, but invest in only the funds that show the best returns. The old saying, “the best predictor of future success is past success” holds true. If you have twenty or thirty choices, pick the top three, four, or five and put your money into them. Do this EVERY time you get a statement. That means you sell whatever has slipped below the top and reinvest in those that have risen. Easy. Make it happen. Those reports that list the stocks also offer information on what they consider those offering’s risk. I have never considered that information in making a purchase. I’m only buying for a single quarter, and the big, informed company that offers the portfolio has decided to place the fund on the menu. Don’t expect to pick winners perfectly, but using this information should net you better results than buying and leaving everything where it is forever.
The rest of your savings must be used. There are three strategies that are worth considering.
One is to buy and hold stocks. This works well for steady people with limited time to do research or a low tolerance for risk. I know people who have made it work well for them. They work hard, making money on the side which they use to add to their investments, living a life of concentrated effort to maximize their earnings, and rarely trade stocks while working with a large firm financial consultant. This is the most sure, steady paced method to accumulate wealth. But it usually takes a lifetime and trains you to always be working. I worry that it trains you so well that you will never be able to comfortably retire or enjoy what you have earned.
The second strategy is to go outside the box and look for other investments based on your own experience and expertise. Real estate, starting and/or owning a business, dealing in antiquities or military armament… all have a place in this type of plan. This one is more risky, and will surely be more exciting, but done well can be very rewarding.
I like number three. A combination of one and two. Accumulating in the stock market or with bonds, certificates of deposit, or anything that pays interest is a great way to put together a “risk fund” to be used when something presents itself that promises great returns. This means that you are always looking, always prepared, to jump at an opportunity. Oddly enough, it always seems that the next opportunity is just past the capability of your funds. But as they say, “patience is its own reward,” and with diligence and good timing you can find the opportunities. This combination of methods means that you have the best of both worlds, stability and risk.
The point is that without money set aside to be invested, there will never be anything invested.
One of the great disservices I believe many financial advisers use against people is to avoid timing the market. I’m not saying you should become a day trader and liquidate everything in a continuous cycle of churning your portfolio. What I am saying is that there are times, with clear indications, that you can see the writing on the wall. Whether it is your 401K, stocks, or real estate, you can often tell when the market is over heating or likely to crumble. My advice is to be aware and do what you think will protect your interests. I know people who buy and hold through the downs as well as the ups in the market. They buy more when the market is down and make the return as it comes up. That’s great if they can’t help taking the fall, but they failed to protect what they had to begin with. A person who jumps out before a large crash, or soon after it begins, protects what they have and will have more capital to buy back in when the bottom is found. Protecting what you have by paying some small commissions in selling is far better than taking a loss and waiting for a market to rebound.
The killer to all investment is debt. Paying interest is like throwing your money away. You should be paying cash for new vehicles at some point and later for a home. You are the one who wants to be paid interest, not the other way around. Paying cash is paying yourself interest.
Time… Time is the great equalizer for us all. But how you use your time is going to determine where you are next year and the year after that. And in the end, where you will be able to go. The question is whether you will have done what it takes. I have often heard people express the desire to be rich. The question that comes to my mind is “What are you willing to do to get there?”
The first step is making the decision.
Easy Steps to Becoming Wealthy Make the decisionStart nowGet a jobUse what you havePay yourself firstLearn from exampleEnjoy being frugalInvestProtect your assetsAvoid debtRetire before you are trained to work until you die
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
“Whaaaaaaaaaat?!?! What do you MEAN, so easy to be rich?”
Well, I mean it is easy to be rich. Not by winning the lottery but by becoming wealthy by intentional effort. I know, I know… the common perception is that becoming wealthy is difficult. Well, not really. It is uncommon but not difficult.
Now lean in close, and I’ll tell you how to do it.
First off, let’s define some assumptions. Let’s assume I am speaking to a young person at the beginning of their earning years. All of this will apply to older people as well, but depending on age and income, not as much. So that is the first lesson… start early.
Listen, this can get away from you. Just like a physical ability, basketball, competitive running, ballroom dancing, you can tell yourself, “I could do that,” and yet you don’t. The years pile up, one on top of the other, and all of a sudden you realize that winning Dancing with the Stars will never be in your future. So no matter what age you are, if you want to be in better shape next year, the time to start is NOW.
Don’t be discouraged. This is going to be easy, remember? Now that you understand the immediacy of beginning, the next step is one often missed by financial advisors. This is the most difficult and yet most critical part of the process. Make a decision to start. RIGHT NOW! DO IT! Just like quitting smoking, you can’t be successful until you make “The Decision.” Once you REALLY make the decision, you are a non-smoker. Everything before was just practice. Until you make the decision to begin a task, it is all fantasy.
I know, you are probably saying to yourself, “Well, let’s just see what else he has to say first. Then I’ll decide.” That’s fine, too. It is said that caution is a virtue, and it is, as long as it doesn’t keep you from making the decision before it is too late. If you never become wealthy, then you put off the decision. Oh… and if you are married you MUST be sure your spouse is fully on board. Bad things happen in your brain when you get surprised by the sudden revelation that your spouse has spent all of your investment savings after a lifetime of what you thought was a combined effort.
Whether you are a disadvantaged person in the slums of a foreign country or a newly graduated PhD soon to be offered a high paying job, you must work with what you have. An income is critical. One of my favorite philosophers, Will Rogers, used to say, “You can’t beat something with nothing.” There are people in the world who started with minimum wage jobs, and they are now worth more than the gross national product of some nations. Get a job.
My parents had the foresight to teach me a few valuable lessons early in life, and I thank them for it. I have been lucky to have examples around me that I could observe and learn from. Use your resources. If you see people who are succeeding, or failing, pay attention. And don’t be sucked into making the assumption that people who live in big houses and drive fancy cars are worth a lot of money. Most of them are in debt up to their eye-balls. I’m a firm believer that most workaholics are driven by debt. The successful ones are driven by a need to be good at what they do. The rest are up the proverbial creek. Pay attention and learn to differentiate. Sam Walton (Walmart) drove a ’67 Belair and an old Ford pickup until he died.
I love proverbs. Not the book of the Bible but popularly known and repeated sayings that express a truth based on common sense or experience. “A stitch in time saves nine,” or “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Such simple wisdom from long ago and popularized by generations that heeded the advice. One of my early lessons in finance from my parents was the simple saying, “If you spend everything you earn, you will always be poor.” Just as important was the next one, “The most sure way to get a raise is to cut your expenses.”
What do all of these sayings have in common? What does the wisdom of generations tell us? You have to feed yourself and keep yourself healthy, but almost every other thing in life is optional. You MUST have the ability to say “NO” to yourself. This does not mean that EVERYTHING has to go into an obsessive focus on becoming a miser. Set a percentage of your income and live on it. The rest goes to savings. Creating wealth is first and foremost about accumulating. A swimming pool can be filled a drop at a time. How can you expect to accumulate money if you spend everything you receive?
So this is the first task that takes an actual, physical act. Put a percentage of whatever you make away in some kind of savings account. I’ve seen people living on their paychecks, week to week, and they manage to save up in the last months of the year, “so the kids have a good Christmas.” Yet they can’t manage the same thing during the rest of the year. Other people spend what they don’t have, accumulating debt and even worse… interest on that debt, and they pay it off by the next year and do it all over again. If you can afford a toy for Christmas, then you better be able to afford a savings account. This is a common theme in all financial advice, “Pay yourself first.”
I swear to you, I know people who live well, monthly, on what others complain about making in a week. Learn to live well while not spending money. One of the most valuable commitments I made, something I have stuck with over time because it has served me so well, is to simply ask myself if I really need what I am buying. As part of this attitude, I have found all kinds of alternatives to spending money. I look at this practice as an enjoyable challenge. Does it feel good to buy something for a hundred dollars? Imagine how good it feels to walk away with a hundred dollars in your pocket. THAT is an epiphany! Set yourself a limit. If something costs more than fifty bucks, don’t buy it for a week. You will be surprised how few things stay a necessity after a week. And for the love of… whatever… max out your 401K savings. Most employers match a portion of it. It is FREE money!
Really, there are so many wonderful, challenging, and entertaining ways to live well on less money. I detest coupon shopping but will use them for the things I buy normally. I limit my movie going to those that demand a really large screen and will use my old television until it dies a natural death. One of the crucial things for any person to avoid is the idea that you have to replace something that works with the next newest thing. Avoid paying for unnecessary and too often unused insurance if you can. Buy a used car with cash, and pocket the money you would be putting into full coverage. Just don’t get in an accident. Odds are that you will save money. Paying cash means you also avoided paying interest. More to go into your pocket. I could go on and on, but this is one of the things that a young person has an advantage in learning. If you start young, you won’t have as many bad habits to break.
Now, what to do with your accumulated savings? I mentioned your 401K. That is an investment. The purpose of all accumulated savings is for investment purposes. Finding the right investments can be fun. Look at the search as a challenge. You want to do better than everyone else. Enjoy the competition.
I should elaborate a little on your 401K investing. I have a strategy that has worked well for me over time, better than anyone else I know (admitting that I know little of other’s specific strategies), and is so simple I can’t believe others don’t use it. Many financial advisors like to use a “buy and hold” technique. This is intended to be used in purchasing stocks and accumulating, NOT as a way to manage a 401K. Buy, yes… hold as an investment, yes… but ALWAYS trade amongst the mutual funds listed on your menu in your quarterly report. Get comfortable selling and repurchasing what is offered. In your listed funds there will be fluctuations in what they have earned. Pay attention to that, and always put your money in the funds with the highest returns of the last quarter.
Note that I said “returns” with an “s.” Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, but invest in only the funds that show the best returns. The old saying, “the best predictor of future success is past success” holds true. If you have twenty or thirty choices, pick the top three, four, or five and put your money into them. Do this EVERY time you get a statement. That means you sell whatever has slipped below the top and reinvest in those that have risen. Easy. Make it happen. Those reports that list the stocks also offer information on what they consider those offering’s risk. I have never considered that information in making a purchase. I’m only buying for a single quarter, and the big, informed company that offers the portfolio has decided to place the fund on the menu. Don’t expect to pick winners perfectly, but using this information should net you better results than buying and leaving everything where it is forever.
The rest of your savings must be used. There are three strategies that are worth considering.
One is to buy and hold stocks. This works well for steady people with limited time to do research or a low tolerance for risk. I know people who have made it work well for them. They work hard, making money on the side which they use to add to their investments, living a life of concentrated effort to maximize their earnings, and rarely trade stocks while working with a large firm financial consultant. This is the most sure, steady paced method to accumulate wealth. But it usually takes a lifetime and trains you to always be working. I worry that it trains you so well that you will never be able to comfortably retire or enjoy what you have earned.
The second strategy is to go outside the box and look for other investments based on your own experience and expertise. Real estate, starting and/or owning a business, dealing in antiquities or military armament… all have a place in this type of plan. This one is more risky, and will surely be more exciting, but done well can be very rewarding.
I like number three. A combination of one and two. Accumulating in the stock market or with bonds, certificates of deposit, or anything that pays interest is a great way to put together a “risk fund” to be used when something presents itself that promises great returns. This means that you are always looking, always prepared, to jump at an opportunity. Oddly enough, it always seems that the next opportunity is just past the capability of your funds. But as they say, “patience is its own reward,” and with diligence and good timing you can find the opportunities. This combination of methods means that you have the best of both worlds, stability and risk.
The point is that without money set aside to be invested, there will never be anything invested.
One of the great disservices I believe many financial advisers use against people is to avoid timing the market. I’m not saying you should become a day trader and liquidate everything in a continuous cycle of churning your portfolio. What I am saying is that there are times, with clear indications, that you can see the writing on the wall. Whether it is your 401K, stocks, or real estate, you can often tell when the market is over heating or likely to crumble. My advice is to be aware and do what you think will protect your interests. I know people who buy and hold through the downs as well as the ups in the market. They buy more when the market is down and make the return as it comes up. That’s great if they can’t help taking the fall, but they failed to protect what they had to begin with. A person who jumps out before a large crash, or soon after it begins, protects what they have and will have more capital to buy back in when the bottom is found. Protecting what you have by paying some small commissions in selling is far better than taking a loss and waiting for a market to rebound.
The killer to all investment is debt. Paying interest is like throwing your money away. You should be paying cash for new vehicles at some point and later for a home. You are the one who wants to be paid interest, not the other way around. Paying cash is paying yourself interest.
Time… Time is the great equalizer for us all. But how you use your time is going to determine where you are next year and the year after that. And in the end, where you will be able to go. The question is whether you will have done what it takes. I have often heard people express the desire to be rich. The question that comes to my mind is “What are you willing to do to get there?”
The first step is making the decision.
Easy Steps to Becoming Wealthy Make the decisionStart nowGet a jobUse what you havePay yourself firstLearn from exampleEnjoy being frugalInvestProtect your assetsAvoid debtRetire before you are trained to work until you die
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
December 11, 2015
The Responsibility of Patriots
©2015 C. Henry Martens
My wife and I walk graveyards as often as we find them. There are stories there, etched and carved in stone.
Recently we found an obscure burial ground hidden and ill cared for on a lonely back road. We stopped as we usually do, to stretch our legs, allow the dog to run, and read the tombstones. It wasn’t long before we came to realize that there was a strange tragedy in this place, this hallowed yet forgotten ground.
Beyond the entrance there were a few markers like any other cemetery with various surnames, genders, and dates… but beyond a certain point the names became exclusively male, and many revealed just enough years between them that it became apparent the dead were fathers and sons, or brothers. A date in common, March 8th, 1924 was the last day etched into every marker as the date of death. A date, and story, obscured by time for most of us. A mining disaster.
The names reflected the truly American nature of the immigrant population of the early century, with Scots and Englishmen working alongside Japanese, Greeks, Italians, and Slavs. One hundred seventy-one men that had journeyed, tired, poor, and huddled together, to these tempest tossed shores to enter the golden door that liberty and freedom offer in the United States of America.
In ambling through these carven memories of the past, you have to contemplate the lives and times of those who passed before us. When you see a springtime that is filled with an unusual number of similar dates, and then equate those dates with the Spanish flu epidemic, you have to wonder at the trials and efforts that these people made to make a life for themselves and those they loved. What were their motivations, their dreams, their triumphs?
In the course of our travels we have found the occasional military burial ground. These places hold a more reverent feeling for us than others. The names and dates reflect tough choices and huge sacrifice in the interest of our nation. The tears and dreams of individuals, but also families, lie unrealized beneath the soil. Whether we feel the wars were more than justified, or not, we hold these fallen to our hearts and thank them for protecting the principles that this republic was founded on.
And we wonder what the patriots of the past would have to say about the current times and troubles of the present. What would the men at Bataan have said to us about water boarding? Would the earliest graves hold opinions about lobbyists and taxation without representation? How would the Irish casualties of WW1 have commented on immigration? The dead black heroes of Vietnam, living in the civil rights era, might have something to say about racism in America today.
The thing is these dead have already spoken. They have laid down their lives, and their futures, to be sacrificed in order that we who are left behind have a better story to tell. Although I’m sure that every one of the deceased warriors would gripe if they could about the food, the footwear, and the officers in charge, and might argue over the particulars of any one situation or issue, just as we all do, I am pretty damn sure they would be proud of their service and the nation they have made.
Sometimes I wonder though… Do they shake their heads at the discord? At the hostility? At the mean spirited, I’m-not-gonna-listen, it’s my way or the highway, I’m right and you’re wrong, entrenched, politicized, polarized, dissention?
You see, when all is over and done with, we citizens have a responsibility, too. If we are to honor the patriots before us, those sons and daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice, then we owe something to them. Not just that we can live our lives in relative harmony, make the American dream real, or have the right to do whatever we choose… but also to listen to our neighbors and change our minds when they speak the truth. To agree with reason, logic, and evidence rather than the loudest angry mouth. We, those of us who have never been in harm’s way, have as great a responsibility to this nation as those lying under the earth with flags on their graves. We have to make it work. We have to make it better. We owe a debt. A great and burdensome debt if we fail, but an easy load if we make our nation and the world better.
Go visit a cemetery. If you can, visit one with flags flying. And think about the thoughts that are silenced beneath the grass.
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www.readmota.com
My wife and I walk graveyards as often as we find them. There are stories there, etched and carved in stone.
Recently we found an obscure burial ground hidden and ill cared for on a lonely back road. We stopped as we usually do, to stretch our legs, allow the dog to run, and read the tombstones. It wasn’t long before we came to realize that there was a strange tragedy in this place, this hallowed yet forgotten ground.
Beyond the entrance there were a few markers like any other cemetery with various surnames, genders, and dates… but beyond a certain point the names became exclusively male, and many revealed just enough years between them that it became apparent the dead were fathers and sons, or brothers. A date in common, March 8th, 1924 was the last day etched into every marker as the date of death. A date, and story, obscured by time for most of us. A mining disaster.
The names reflected the truly American nature of the immigrant population of the early century, with Scots and Englishmen working alongside Japanese, Greeks, Italians, and Slavs. One hundred seventy-one men that had journeyed, tired, poor, and huddled together, to these tempest tossed shores to enter the golden door that liberty and freedom offer in the United States of America.
In ambling through these carven memories of the past, you have to contemplate the lives and times of those who passed before us. When you see a springtime that is filled with an unusual number of similar dates, and then equate those dates with the Spanish flu epidemic, you have to wonder at the trials and efforts that these people made to make a life for themselves and those they loved. What were their motivations, their dreams, their triumphs?
In the course of our travels we have found the occasional military burial ground. These places hold a more reverent feeling for us than others. The names and dates reflect tough choices and huge sacrifice in the interest of our nation. The tears and dreams of individuals, but also families, lie unrealized beneath the soil. Whether we feel the wars were more than justified, or not, we hold these fallen to our hearts and thank them for protecting the principles that this republic was founded on.
And we wonder what the patriots of the past would have to say about the current times and troubles of the present. What would the men at Bataan have said to us about water boarding? Would the earliest graves hold opinions about lobbyists and taxation without representation? How would the Irish casualties of WW1 have commented on immigration? The dead black heroes of Vietnam, living in the civil rights era, might have something to say about racism in America today.
The thing is these dead have already spoken. They have laid down their lives, and their futures, to be sacrificed in order that we who are left behind have a better story to tell. Although I’m sure that every one of the deceased warriors would gripe if they could about the food, the footwear, and the officers in charge, and might argue over the particulars of any one situation or issue, just as we all do, I am pretty damn sure they would be proud of their service and the nation they have made.
Sometimes I wonder though… Do they shake their heads at the discord? At the hostility? At the mean spirited, I’m-not-gonna-listen, it’s my way or the highway, I’m right and you’re wrong, entrenched, politicized, polarized, dissention?
You see, when all is over and done with, we citizens have a responsibility, too. If we are to honor the patriots before us, those sons and daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice, then we owe something to them. Not just that we can live our lives in relative harmony, make the American dream real, or have the right to do whatever we choose… but also to listen to our neighbors and change our minds when they speak the truth. To agree with reason, logic, and evidence rather than the loudest angry mouth. We, those of us who have never been in harm’s way, have as great a responsibility to this nation as those lying under the earth with flags on their graves. We have to make it work. We have to make it better. We owe a debt. A great and burdensome debt if we fail, but an easy load if we make our nation and the world better.
Go visit a cemetery. If you can, visit one with flags flying. And think about the thoughts that are silenced beneath the grass.
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www.readmota.com
December 4, 2015
Book Review: The Book of General Ignorance
©2015 C. Henry Martens
What is higher than Mount Everest?
The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know is Wrong by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson has been around for years. At one time it was listed as a New York Times best seller. I suspect that it has fallen on hard times lately.
There sure seems to be an over abundance of “believing what we think,” and it seems to be growing. This statement goes counter, I suspect, to what many people think. In this age of internet enlightenment, we are all so much less likely to be ignorant… RIGHT?
Well… WRONG! Have you ever tried to verify something using internet sources? I mean, take the idea that the Great Wall (you know, the one in China) can be seen with the naked eye from space. Well, it can not be seen by the naked eye from space. No way, no how. It would be like seeing a black hair on a camouflage jacket at fifty yards. But you can find satellite photos “proving” that the fifteen foot wide at the top, thirty five foot wide at the bottom wall can be seen from space. I’m not sure how they explain that you can also see the cars in the parking lot adjacent the wall.
So this book is timely and entertaining, too. You will learn where it hails the most, a place I would never have guessed. How you are probably wrong about thinking you know how many states there are in the United States. There are interesting forays into religion with the misconceived immaculate conception, history with an alternative to the naming of America, and a mass of facts that speak to logic rather than old wives tales.
I would love to give away some spoilers because they are all so interesting. But why spoil a great read? You are on your own. Hopefully you will demand of yourself a learning experience couched in humor.
I have to admit, I’m still scratching my head over what is higher than Mount Everest.
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www.readmota.com
What is higher than Mount Everest?
The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know is Wrong by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson has been around for years. At one time it was listed as a New York Times best seller. I suspect that it has fallen on hard times lately.
There sure seems to be an over abundance of “believing what we think,” and it seems to be growing. This statement goes counter, I suspect, to what many people think. In this age of internet enlightenment, we are all so much less likely to be ignorant… RIGHT?
Well… WRONG! Have you ever tried to verify something using internet sources? I mean, take the idea that the Great Wall (you know, the one in China) can be seen with the naked eye from space. Well, it can not be seen by the naked eye from space. No way, no how. It would be like seeing a black hair on a camouflage jacket at fifty yards. But you can find satellite photos “proving” that the fifteen foot wide at the top, thirty five foot wide at the bottom wall can be seen from space. I’m not sure how they explain that you can also see the cars in the parking lot adjacent the wall.
So this book is timely and entertaining, too. You will learn where it hails the most, a place I would never have guessed. How you are probably wrong about thinking you know how many states there are in the United States. There are interesting forays into religion with the misconceived immaculate conception, history with an alternative to the naming of America, and a mass of facts that speak to logic rather than old wives tales.
I would love to give away some spoilers because they are all so interesting. But why spoil a great read? You are on your own. Hopefully you will demand of yourself a learning experience couched in humor.
I have to admit, I’m still scratching my head over what is higher than Mount Everest.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
November 24, 2015
Thanksgiving Survival for Introverts
©2015 Kari Carlisle
Here we are. Thanksgiving. Family, food and football. What’s not to love? Well, for us introverts, Thanksgiving is fraught with emotional landmines. Here are some of my survival tactics you can use for the weekend and any similar social situations.
Advanced Planning. I don’t mean what side dish to bring. I mean think about who’s going to be there and what’s likely to happen that will involve you. If you show up and just go with the flow, you’re going to get tsunami’ed. The best way to handle things is to know what to expect and be prepared. Do you have a particular family member you don’t always get along with? Are there likely to be topics of conversation that lead to disagreements or worse? Decide NOW how you are going to react and what you want to say. If you leave your reactions to the heat of the moment, you’ll respond with the instinctual fight or flight, and either of those means you’re not in control. Run away, and you’ll be accused of avoidance. Fight back, and you’ll just exacerbate the situation. Either way, you will not sway anyone to your point of view. The best course of action is to transcend the conversation and respond with diplomacy. Better yet, just ask questions, and let everyone else dig themselves into a pit. You may just find that people who once took you for granted discover a new-found respect for you.
Food Alternatives. Personal dietary choices are becoming more varied with each passing year. Though not a function of personality type, how you manage to avoid pissing someone off is. Having placed some dietary restrictions on myself for health reasons, I have inadvertently upset my hosts in the past. And unfortunately, even announcing your restrictions in advance will not always help. Hosts forget, misunderstand, get confused, forget to communicate to the cook, or frankly just don’t give a rat’s ass. Only you can evaluate your own situation, and you may get caught off guard. On the plus side, Thanksgiving gatherings typically offer a wide enough array of food choices, you can pick and choose. But if you’re a weekend guest, you may find Friday morning’s ham and eggs with toast don’t exactly meet your raw, gluten-free, vegan lifestyle. Your choices are limited, but you do have choices. 1. Give in. Will it kill you? It could, depending on your reasons. 2. Refuse to eat it. Good luck with that one.3. Bring your own food. So you think you’re better than the others? 4. Suggest everyone go out to eat. Better be prepared to pay. 5. Take over the cooking. In someone else’s kitchen? Make sure he/she’s not a control freak.
Activity Alternatives. What’s the Thanksgiving activity of choice? Whether it’s football (playing or watching), movie marathon, shopping (when did Black Friday take over Thanksgiving Day?), or some other activity, it’s likely a group activity that has become traditional for your family. If you look forward to it, great! If not, you’ll need a way out. Do you have any commiseraters? Is there any other person or two with no heart for it? Contact them before Thanksgiving, and say, “Hey, let’s say you and me go for a hike after dinner Thursday instead of watching football?” If you plan something ahead of time, especially involving multiple people, you may be pleasantly surprised to find others jump on the bandwagon. You might even start a new holiday tradition. My firm belief is that the others who choose Activity “A” won’t notice you’re missing.
Having addressed some of the most common social issues faced by introverts on Thanksgiving, I do realize the complexity of your own situation may be beyond the scope of this blog post. To you, I say call in sick or suck it up… or get professional help. On top of it all, politics, religion and alcohol can play havoc on social situations. So good luck, save room for pie, and if you have any other suggestions for us introverts, PLEASE post them in the comments below.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
Here we are. Thanksgiving. Family, food and football. What’s not to love? Well, for us introverts, Thanksgiving is fraught with emotional landmines. Here are some of my survival tactics you can use for the weekend and any similar social situations.
Advanced Planning. I don’t mean what side dish to bring. I mean think about who’s going to be there and what’s likely to happen that will involve you. If you show up and just go with the flow, you’re going to get tsunami’ed. The best way to handle things is to know what to expect and be prepared. Do you have a particular family member you don’t always get along with? Are there likely to be topics of conversation that lead to disagreements or worse? Decide NOW how you are going to react and what you want to say. If you leave your reactions to the heat of the moment, you’ll respond with the instinctual fight or flight, and either of those means you’re not in control. Run away, and you’ll be accused of avoidance. Fight back, and you’ll just exacerbate the situation. Either way, you will not sway anyone to your point of view. The best course of action is to transcend the conversation and respond with diplomacy. Better yet, just ask questions, and let everyone else dig themselves into a pit. You may just find that people who once took you for granted discover a new-found respect for you.
Food Alternatives. Personal dietary choices are becoming more varied with each passing year. Though not a function of personality type, how you manage to avoid pissing someone off is. Having placed some dietary restrictions on myself for health reasons, I have inadvertently upset my hosts in the past. And unfortunately, even announcing your restrictions in advance will not always help. Hosts forget, misunderstand, get confused, forget to communicate to the cook, or frankly just don’t give a rat’s ass. Only you can evaluate your own situation, and you may get caught off guard. On the plus side, Thanksgiving gatherings typically offer a wide enough array of food choices, you can pick and choose. But if you’re a weekend guest, you may find Friday morning’s ham and eggs with toast don’t exactly meet your raw, gluten-free, vegan lifestyle. Your choices are limited, but you do have choices. 1. Give in. Will it kill you? It could, depending on your reasons. 2. Refuse to eat it. Good luck with that one.3. Bring your own food. So you think you’re better than the others? 4. Suggest everyone go out to eat. Better be prepared to pay. 5. Take over the cooking. In someone else’s kitchen? Make sure he/she’s not a control freak.
Activity Alternatives. What’s the Thanksgiving activity of choice? Whether it’s football (playing or watching), movie marathon, shopping (when did Black Friday take over Thanksgiving Day?), or some other activity, it’s likely a group activity that has become traditional for your family. If you look forward to it, great! If not, you’ll need a way out. Do you have any commiseraters? Is there any other person or two with no heart for it? Contact them before Thanksgiving, and say, “Hey, let’s say you and me go for a hike after dinner Thursday instead of watching football?” If you plan something ahead of time, especially involving multiple people, you may be pleasantly surprised to find others jump on the bandwagon. You might even start a new holiday tradition. My firm belief is that the others who choose Activity “A” won’t notice you’re missing.
Having addressed some of the most common social issues faced by introverts on Thanksgiving, I do realize the complexity of your own situation may be beyond the scope of this blog post. To you, I say call in sick or suck it up… or get professional help. On top of it all, politics, religion and alcohol can play havoc on social situations. So good luck, save room for pie, and if you have any other suggestions for us introverts, PLEASE post them in the comments below.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
November 19, 2015
The Business of Art for Writers
©2015 Kari Carlisle
I am not an artist.
Allow me to clarify. I have not put in the years of practice it takes to become an artist. I have tremendous respect for and a little bit of jealousy of artists. The product of their labor enlightens us, heals us, and is essential for a functional society. It is my firm belief that no child can get a well-rounded education without art classes.
Though not an artist myself, I’ve been in the art “business” for many years. I’ve curated art as a museum professional, run an art gallery, assisted with the formation and operation of a community art guild, and co-coordinated an art festival. I currently operate a business the primary focus of which is the buying and selling of art.
As a professional in the world of art, I have several times attended the annual Dixie State University seminar, Business of Art, in Kanab, Utah, and I just recently attended the 2015 seminar. As usual, I attended with multiple pairs of different colored glasses. Even though the seminar is geared toward visual artists, writers can learn much at Business of Art.
There’s really not much difference between artists and writers. All rely on creativity… yes, even the photographers and non-fiction writers. And regardless of the amount of raw talent one possesses, it takes years of practice to reach a high level of proficiency in one’s craft. And sadly, many have resigned themselves to a fate of remaining the stereotypical starving artist/writer. But that fate need not be.
Business of Art was founded specifically to give visual artists practical training and knowledge in running their own business. From marketing to accounting to increasing productivity, these skills are useful for any sole proprietor or small business, but the sessions are presented by artists for artists and in a way that the creative brain can benefit.
During this month’s seminar, I attended sessions on creativity and genius, developing personal style, and artist resumes, among others. One particular session, “Enhancing Creative Flow,” is an excellent example of the uniqueness of Business of Art to serve the needs of the creative brain. Presented by an art therapist, the session included simple art techniques (that even I, a non-artist, could do!) as well as kinesiology to promote creativity and to get past writer’s, I mean artist’s, block. In what other business seminar would you learn that?
And the icing on the cake? One of the keynote speakers works in the film industry. So, yeah, a copy of Monster of the Apocalypse made it into his hands and was well received. Keep your fingers crossed.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
I am not an artist.
Allow me to clarify. I have not put in the years of practice it takes to become an artist. I have tremendous respect for and a little bit of jealousy of artists. The product of their labor enlightens us, heals us, and is essential for a functional society. It is my firm belief that no child can get a well-rounded education without art classes.
Though not an artist myself, I’ve been in the art “business” for many years. I’ve curated art as a museum professional, run an art gallery, assisted with the formation and operation of a community art guild, and co-coordinated an art festival. I currently operate a business the primary focus of which is the buying and selling of art.
As a professional in the world of art, I have several times attended the annual Dixie State University seminar, Business of Art, in Kanab, Utah, and I just recently attended the 2015 seminar. As usual, I attended with multiple pairs of different colored glasses. Even though the seminar is geared toward visual artists, writers can learn much at Business of Art.
There’s really not much difference between artists and writers. All rely on creativity… yes, even the photographers and non-fiction writers. And regardless of the amount of raw talent one possesses, it takes years of practice to reach a high level of proficiency in one’s craft. And sadly, many have resigned themselves to a fate of remaining the stereotypical starving artist/writer. But that fate need not be.
Business of Art was founded specifically to give visual artists practical training and knowledge in running their own business. From marketing to accounting to increasing productivity, these skills are useful for any sole proprietor or small business, but the sessions are presented by artists for artists and in a way that the creative brain can benefit.
During this month’s seminar, I attended sessions on creativity and genius, developing personal style, and artist resumes, among others. One particular session, “Enhancing Creative Flow,” is an excellent example of the uniqueness of Business of Art to serve the needs of the creative brain. Presented by an art therapist, the session included simple art techniques (that even I, a non-artist, could do!) as well as kinesiology to promote creativity and to get past writer’s, I mean artist’s, block. In what other business seminar would you learn that?
And the icing on the cake? One of the keynote speakers works in the film industry. So, yeah, a copy of Monster of the Apocalypse made it into his hands and was well received. Keep your fingers crossed.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
November 13, 2015
The Scarce Fuel Scenario
©2015 C. Henry Martens
What do you think is going to be a good bet to get you down the road when the SHTF? Well… in my opinion, pretty much nothing in the long run. In the short run, anything with a full tank of gas will probably be as good as any other in most cases. Beyond that tank of gas, you might want to invest in some horse flesh.
I guess there could be exceptions. So let’s explore those. Some of the criteria have to be what kind of apocalypse we are dealing in. A sudden nuclear holocaust? A genocidal plague? An unforeseen electromagnetic pulse? A hack of the grid? Or a long unrecognized-for-what-it-is slow burn as society changes through economic collapse?
In the long, slow burn scenario any vehicle on the road will function until fuel becomes scarce. Why will it become scarce? Supply and demand. As society changes through the loss of income to those of the labor force replaced by automation or other obstacles, there will be no funds to support the purchase of commodities. Fuel - gasoline, diesel, and natural gas - is a commodity. Money becomes scarce; so does fuel. No reasonable business man will subsidize the existence of retail fuel outlets if there is so little profit that they can’t make a buck. Gas stations will run out of product and will not be able to refill their tanks. In this case the best vehicle you might want to have is something that recharges with a cord. My vote as of this writing? A Nissan Leaf.
In the case of a sudden calamity, nuclear, plague, or hack attack, a lot will depend on what survives. Reasonably we might expect to have areas that are unscathed, but let’s not dwell on what we hope for and rather explore worst case. We might, and I do, envision lots of guys with beastly trucks panicking and heading for the hills. They may have an extra couple of jerry cans full of fuel. What is that, ten gallons? Trucks with lift kits and huge tires get about ten or twelve miles per gallon with a tail wind, right? No matter, because in these scenarios the guy with the econo-box that gets forty mpg on a bad day is still going to run out of gas. Much like the slow burn, it is really a matter of availability of fuel. If no one is refilling the tanks at the local Fill-um-up, then you only have one tank of gas no matter what you drive. In these cases my vote is for something that has a long range and a full tank, not necessarily something that gets good mileage. I would rather have an ’04 Chevy truck with a thirty-seven gallon tank that gets twenty miles per gallon than an econo-box that gets forty miles per gallon and only has a ten gallon tank. Best case, you have both and can fill the econo-box from the truck tank.
I recently had a conversation with a man that believed abandoned Wally-worlds were being used as staging areas for Russian and Chinese troops to overthrow the United States from within. He said “they” were stockpiling plastic coffins and guillotines in them to be used on Americans. Other than the pure “loon factor” of these ideas, based on the notion that a President of the free world would willingly give up his nation and his own place in control of the most powerful country on Earth (this, when you can’t PRY Assad out of a sh-tbox worthless country like Syria), he did come up with a valid point to be made in the possibility of an EMP weapon being deployed.
The way I understand it, a nuclear device can create an electromagnetic pulse. That means that within the immediate area (more or less) of the blast, all electronically controlled devices would be rendered inoperable. Modern vehicles are full of electronic components, so any newer car or truck would become a chunk of useless iron. The scenario as my friend described it might be even more likely. There seems to be more than one way to create an EMP, and one triggered well above Earth, on the order of a hundred miles or more, could affect a significantly larger area and do much more destruction to electrical energy systems. In this case we would be best served by having a pre-electronic ignition vehicle. That means something made before 1973-4 as all manufacturers converted to that kind of system in that time frame. Of course that assumes your older vehicle hasn’t been converted to the newer system. In this EMP case you also need to have a dry battery stockpiled, along with a container of battery acid. A worthy EMP will fry any battery with a charge. We still have the problem of refilling any tank with fuel, so the prior opinions on range and mpg apply.
If you have a tinfoil hat, you might want to consider wrapping your ignition circuits in it. There are ways to protect electronics from an EMP, but only if you think it is worthwhile BEFORE the fact. Not many people do, including the NSA from what I gather. No surprise there, though, since they never seem to take anything of truly massive proportion seriously until after the fact.
Now to the meat of the issue. When there is a sudden necessity to get from one place to another to survive… you have GOT to ask yourself… IS there a necessity? IS THERE??? We are of a mind set in the industrialized world that a tank of gas is cheap. DON’T bring that mind set into an apocalypse. First, you will most likely be best off if you hunker down in place. With any luck you have an established network where you live, a network full of people who can be depended on. Use them. That means that if a trip is necessary, ask around and see if you can catch a ride. Hopefully the community you live in will have already established some kind of support system to conserve hard to replace resources. They are your best hope. In the worst case scenario you must become a hoarder of effort… but especially a miser of irreplaceable value. That means fuel.
In my own community the very first thing I will be suggesting is that we contact the other localities in the area and set up community supported public transportation so that trade between areas will remain established. Not fossil fuel transportation, where gasoline is precious, but instead a horse-drawn “train” that can carry multiple people and travel the asphalt that artificially fueled vehicles will have disappeared from.
If your community is not inclined to come together and be supportive of each other, an unlikely scenario in my opinion, then it will be every man for himself. In that case a tank of fuel may be valuable enough to put a dayglow target on your back. It might be better to trade off your worth-killing-for-fuel to the guy you least trust {wink}.
To the guys in the overly large gas hogs, those who abandon their homes and communities to forage in the woods, I wish you well. Just don’t be expecting to sneak into town with a siphon hose.
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
What do you think is going to be a good bet to get you down the road when the SHTF? Well… in my opinion, pretty much nothing in the long run. In the short run, anything with a full tank of gas will probably be as good as any other in most cases. Beyond that tank of gas, you might want to invest in some horse flesh.
I guess there could be exceptions. So let’s explore those. Some of the criteria have to be what kind of apocalypse we are dealing in. A sudden nuclear holocaust? A genocidal plague? An unforeseen electromagnetic pulse? A hack of the grid? Or a long unrecognized-for-what-it-is slow burn as society changes through economic collapse?
In the long, slow burn scenario any vehicle on the road will function until fuel becomes scarce. Why will it become scarce? Supply and demand. As society changes through the loss of income to those of the labor force replaced by automation or other obstacles, there will be no funds to support the purchase of commodities. Fuel - gasoline, diesel, and natural gas - is a commodity. Money becomes scarce; so does fuel. No reasonable business man will subsidize the existence of retail fuel outlets if there is so little profit that they can’t make a buck. Gas stations will run out of product and will not be able to refill their tanks. In this case the best vehicle you might want to have is something that recharges with a cord. My vote as of this writing? A Nissan Leaf.
In the case of a sudden calamity, nuclear, plague, or hack attack, a lot will depend on what survives. Reasonably we might expect to have areas that are unscathed, but let’s not dwell on what we hope for and rather explore worst case. We might, and I do, envision lots of guys with beastly trucks panicking and heading for the hills. They may have an extra couple of jerry cans full of fuel. What is that, ten gallons? Trucks with lift kits and huge tires get about ten or twelve miles per gallon with a tail wind, right? No matter, because in these scenarios the guy with the econo-box that gets forty mpg on a bad day is still going to run out of gas. Much like the slow burn, it is really a matter of availability of fuel. If no one is refilling the tanks at the local Fill-um-up, then you only have one tank of gas no matter what you drive. In these cases my vote is for something that has a long range and a full tank, not necessarily something that gets good mileage. I would rather have an ’04 Chevy truck with a thirty-seven gallon tank that gets twenty miles per gallon than an econo-box that gets forty miles per gallon and only has a ten gallon tank. Best case, you have both and can fill the econo-box from the truck tank.
I recently had a conversation with a man that believed abandoned Wally-worlds were being used as staging areas for Russian and Chinese troops to overthrow the United States from within. He said “they” were stockpiling plastic coffins and guillotines in them to be used on Americans. Other than the pure “loon factor” of these ideas, based on the notion that a President of the free world would willingly give up his nation and his own place in control of the most powerful country on Earth (this, when you can’t PRY Assad out of a sh-tbox worthless country like Syria), he did come up with a valid point to be made in the possibility of an EMP weapon being deployed.
The way I understand it, a nuclear device can create an electromagnetic pulse. That means that within the immediate area (more or less) of the blast, all electronically controlled devices would be rendered inoperable. Modern vehicles are full of electronic components, so any newer car or truck would become a chunk of useless iron. The scenario as my friend described it might be even more likely. There seems to be more than one way to create an EMP, and one triggered well above Earth, on the order of a hundred miles or more, could affect a significantly larger area and do much more destruction to electrical energy systems. In this case we would be best served by having a pre-electronic ignition vehicle. That means something made before 1973-4 as all manufacturers converted to that kind of system in that time frame. Of course that assumes your older vehicle hasn’t been converted to the newer system. In this EMP case you also need to have a dry battery stockpiled, along with a container of battery acid. A worthy EMP will fry any battery with a charge. We still have the problem of refilling any tank with fuel, so the prior opinions on range and mpg apply.
If you have a tinfoil hat, you might want to consider wrapping your ignition circuits in it. There are ways to protect electronics from an EMP, but only if you think it is worthwhile BEFORE the fact. Not many people do, including the NSA from what I gather. No surprise there, though, since they never seem to take anything of truly massive proportion seriously until after the fact.
Now to the meat of the issue. When there is a sudden necessity to get from one place to another to survive… you have GOT to ask yourself… IS there a necessity? IS THERE??? We are of a mind set in the industrialized world that a tank of gas is cheap. DON’T bring that mind set into an apocalypse. First, you will most likely be best off if you hunker down in place. With any luck you have an established network where you live, a network full of people who can be depended on. Use them. That means that if a trip is necessary, ask around and see if you can catch a ride. Hopefully the community you live in will have already established some kind of support system to conserve hard to replace resources. They are your best hope. In the worst case scenario you must become a hoarder of effort… but especially a miser of irreplaceable value. That means fuel.
In my own community the very first thing I will be suggesting is that we contact the other localities in the area and set up community supported public transportation so that trade between areas will remain established. Not fossil fuel transportation, where gasoline is precious, but instead a horse-drawn “train” that can carry multiple people and travel the asphalt that artificially fueled vehicles will have disappeared from.
If your community is not inclined to come together and be supportive of each other, an unlikely scenario in my opinion, then it will be every man for himself. In that case a tank of fuel may be valuable enough to put a dayglow target on your back. It might be better to trade off your worth-killing-for-fuel to the guy you least trust {wink}.
To the guys in the overly large gas hogs, those who abandon their homes and communities to forage in the woods, I wish you well. Just don’t be expecting to sneak into town with a siphon hose.
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November 6, 2015
5 Science Fiction Movies to Celebrate Veterans Day
©2015 Kari Carlisle
Warning: may contain minor plot spoilers, but you’ve seen all these, so it doesn’t matter
Hoist up your American flag, and turn on your green light. If you really want to honor those who have served our country, give to one of the noble non-profit organizations that serve our veterans, and…
…forget the picnic. Order a pizza, and turn on the big screen for a troop-honoring, sci-fi movie marathon!
Here are my recommendations for alien-busting, planet-protecting, military heroes in 5 awesome science fiction flicks.
1. Predator – Never mind that the alien predator is one of the coolest aliens ever created for the movies. And never mind that this movie has spawned a series of movies and spoofs to rival all other favorite sci-fi movies. This movie features some bad-ass commandos who really know what they’re doing. They’re put into this crappy situation of being hunted by an alien with better camo, and though sadly most don’t make it, they really know how to die, too. This movie is so much fun, you can easily get past the thick Austrian accent of the lead character, and just be thankful that Jean-Claude Van Damme was fired for being too short. This movie just wouldn’t have been the same without Arnold.
2. Stargate – With a plot so intriguing it spun off 3 TV series totaling 16 seasons, it’s really the military team that steals the show. Kurt Russell plays a sympathetic and believable Colonel Jack O’Neill. I’m such a big fan of this character, I named my dog Jack. True story. Anyway, the military guys are so brave, they willingly walk into a wormhole that carries them through subspace to a different planet. There, they kick alien butt and save a whole race of people, but not before leaving things open enough to allow for enough TV episodes it will take weeks to binge watch. Trust me on that one.
3. Aliens – Yes, I’ve picked a movie sequel as one of my Veterans Day picks. Don’t worry, you don’t need to watch Alien first. Aliens stands on its own. It may follow the main character of the first movie, but it’s only with the help of a military team - “…these colonial marines are very tough hombres” – that Ripley manages to survive to make another sequel. My favorite characters are Privates Hudson and Vasquez who love blowing up aliens more than life itself.
4. Starship Troopers – Ignore the political satire. We can debate later. Just sit down and enjoy watching young military recruits destroy world-threatening, giant bugs. Trivia from IMDB: more ammunition was used to make Starship Troopers than any other previous film. ‘Nuff said.
5. Independence Day – I love that this movie relies as much on military intelligence and strategy as it does military might. Here, the soldiers are smart, brave, caring, funny and strong. In other words, realistic. If you watch no other, watch this one. I’m gonna get serious here – it even touches on the issue of PTSD. Add on top of the tribute this movie pays to our troops, it’s also an alien ass-kicking blast!
So relax. Have some fun on your day off. Eat popcorn, watch movies, revel in these freedoms we enjoy. Because they are our nation’s troops who have risked and paid life and limb for you. And if you are a veteran reading this, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
Warning: may contain minor plot spoilers, but you’ve seen all these, so it doesn’t matter
Hoist up your American flag, and turn on your green light. If you really want to honor those who have served our country, give to one of the noble non-profit organizations that serve our veterans, and…
…forget the picnic. Order a pizza, and turn on the big screen for a troop-honoring, sci-fi movie marathon!
Here are my recommendations for alien-busting, planet-protecting, military heroes in 5 awesome science fiction flicks.
1. Predator – Never mind that the alien predator is one of the coolest aliens ever created for the movies. And never mind that this movie has spawned a series of movies and spoofs to rival all other favorite sci-fi movies. This movie features some bad-ass commandos who really know what they’re doing. They’re put into this crappy situation of being hunted by an alien with better camo, and though sadly most don’t make it, they really know how to die, too. This movie is so much fun, you can easily get past the thick Austrian accent of the lead character, and just be thankful that Jean-Claude Van Damme was fired for being too short. This movie just wouldn’t have been the same without Arnold.
2. Stargate – With a plot so intriguing it spun off 3 TV series totaling 16 seasons, it’s really the military team that steals the show. Kurt Russell plays a sympathetic and believable Colonel Jack O’Neill. I’m such a big fan of this character, I named my dog Jack. True story. Anyway, the military guys are so brave, they willingly walk into a wormhole that carries them through subspace to a different planet. There, they kick alien butt and save a whole race of people, but not before leaving things open enough to allow for enough TV episodes it will take weeks to binge watch. Trust me on that one.
3. Aliens – Yes, I’ve picked a movie sequel as one of my Veterans Day picks. Don’t worry, you don’t need to watch Alien first. Aliens stands on its own. It may follow the main character of the first movie, but it’s only with the help of a military team - “…these colonial marines are very tough hombres” – that Ripley manages to survive to make another sequel. My favorite characters are Privates Hudson and Vasquez who love blowing up aliens more than life itself.
4. Starship Troopers – Ignore the political satire. We can debate later. Just sit down and enjoy watching young military recruits destroy world-threatening, giant bugs. Trivia from IMDB: more ammunition was used to make Starship Troopers than any other previous film. ‘Nuff said.
5. Independence Day – I love that this movie relies as much on military intelligence and strategy as it does military might. Here, the soldiers are smart, brave, caring, funny and strong. In other words, realistic. If you watch no other, watch this one. I’m gonna get serious here – it even touches on the issue of PTSD. Add on top of the tribute this movie pays to our troops, it’s also an alien ass-kicking blast!
So relax. Have some fun on your day off. Eat popcorn, watch movies, revel in these freedoms we enjoy. Because they are our nation’s troops who have risked and paid life and limb for you. And if you are a veteran reading this, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
October 30, 2015
What Scares You?
©2015 Kari Carlisle
October is my favorite month. Not only are my birthday and wedding anniversary in October, the weather is cooling off (which means a lot in Arizona), and Halloween approaches.
Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I don’t really have a favorite. I equally love and detest many features of all holidays. But Halloween may be the most fun. I don’t typically participate in the festivities, but I enjoy watching. Okay, I’m a Halloween voyeur.
As I write this, I’m watching Halloween themed shows on the Travel Channel, featuring a variety of haunted house attractions, things to do and places to go, real (supposedly) haunted locations, etc. Regular folks pay money to be pelted with paintballs on haunted hayrides, groped and tied up (although one could argue those who opt for this are not “regular folks”), get startled by all things spooky, and more, all for that rush of adrenaline. It’s a “safe” scare. One can reasonable assume one will not actually die doing these things.
So that all got me thinking about what scares me. As I’m watching these shows, the things that seem to affect me most just by seeing them on TV are the clowns and the creepy babies/children.
Now I can’t say I have an explanation for that. I was never traumatized by a clown. I just find them terribly creepy. And I suppose children are not supposed to be creepy, so when they are, it’s just not right. I also can’t stand any commercial, TV show or movie that features talking and/or dancing babies. Not cute… creeeepy.
Some people are afraid of snakes, bugs, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, ghosts, zombies, vampires, werewolves, heights, being buried alive, etc. There are so many things that people are afraid of, those in the field of psychiatry have identified and named hundreds(?) of phobias. Sorry, I didn’t bother counting. You can if you really want to know the exact number: The Phobia List
Obviously, there are degrees of phobia. One day I’m screaming for my husband to kill the spider in the bathroom, and the next day, I’m grabbing a paper towel and viciously crushing one in my hand. I feel like Ripley in Alien when I do that. And then there was the daddy longlegs that I couldn’t bear to dispatch. He was doing such a good job of getting rid of the gnats. I almost named him. Actually “her.” One of her offspring did her in and took over her spot.
So what scares you? Could it be this creepy clown?
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
October is my favorite month. Not only are my birthday and wedding anniversary in October, the weather is cooling off (which means a lot in Arizona), and Halloween approaches.
Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I don’t really have a favorite. I equally love and detest many features of all holidays. But Halloween may be the most fun. I don’t typically participate in the festivities, but I enjoy watching. Okay, I’m a Halloween voyeur.
As I write this, I’m watching Halloween themed shows on the Travel Channel, featuring a variety of haunted house attractions, things to do and places to go, real (supposedly) haunted locations, etc. Regular folks pay money to be pelted with paintballs on haunted hayrides, groped and tied up (although one could argue those who opt for this are not “regular folks”), get startled by all things spooky, and more, all for that rush of adrenaline. It’s a “safe” scare. One can reasonable assume one will not actually die doing these things.
So that all got me thinking about what scares me. As I’m watching these shows, the things that seem to affect me most just by seeing them on TV are the clowns and the creepy babies/children.
Now I can’t say I have an explanation for that. I was never traumatized by a clown. I just find them terribly creepy. And I suppose children are not supposed to be creepy, so when they are, it’s just not right. I also can’t stand any commercial, TV show or movie that features talking and/or dancing babies. Not cute… creeeepy.
Some people are afraid of snakes, bugs, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, ghosts, zombies, vampires, werewolves, heights, being buried alive, etc. There are so many things that people are afraid of, those in the field of psychiatry have identified and named hundreds(?) of phobias. Sorry, I didn’t bother counting. You can if you really want to know the exact number: The Phobia List
Obviously, there are degrees of phobia. One day I’m screaming for my husband to kill the spider in the bathroom, and the next day, I’m grabbing a paper towel and viciously crushing one in my hand. I feel like Ripley in Alien when I do that. And then there was the daddy longlegs that I couldn’t bear to dispatch. He was doing such a good job of getting rid of the gnats. I almost named him. Actually “her.” One of her offspring did her in and took over her spot.
So what scares you? Could it be this creepy clown?
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
October 23, 2015
Weigh in on the Book Description for Hell Follows After!
©2015 C. Henry Martens and Kari Carlisle
Hell Follows After, another book in the Monster of the Apocalypse Saga , is just weeks away from publication. We’re working on the ebook and print formatting, last minute edits, back cover touch-ups, and of course… the book description! Probably one of the more important aspects of any book, the description is what makes or breaks a sale to a reader.
Here are four versions of a possible book description for Hell Follows After. Which of them speaks to you?
Draft one:Centuries have passed, and the world plague-emptied civilization of the mid twenty-first century bears a striking resemblance to that of the mid 1800’s. Communities and industry are once again vying for power and resources, and a young man newly displaced from his future must regain his position in order to succeed. His opportunity? A long shot chance offered by a man he trusts, to join a trading party into the interior of the once great nation. The dangers of the trek, and a young woman newly orphaned, tempt both failure and unusual reward. Together they bring to light the truth of the past and their ancestor’s defeat at the hands of power and bring back an entity meant to remain forever hidden.
Draft Two:A decimated world has once again come to resemble the time of the pioneer west. Edge, a disgraced apprentice, and Jody, a trail orphaned young woman, are thrown together to deliver an ancient diary to the hands of those who can decipher its meaning. The risk of ancient evil contends with a more present danger grown from hidden malice and long restrained rage. Will Edge win back his place in a society of strict guild codes and reestablish respect for his family? Can young Jody, descended from the only people who knew the truth of the Great Plagues and their terrible secrets, be able to survive the journey as an evil man seeks to add her to his multiple wives? Will the long lost creature resurrected from the deep be a boon… or a bane on the new world?
Draft Three:A wagon train pulled by massive oxen travels east from the Pacific coast. Manifest destiny and the quest for wealth and power have once again become a necessity as the world emptied of humanity rebuilds. A young man, Edge, newly disgraced and stripped of his apprenticeship, is offered a second chance. He takes hold as his future depends on it. He must fight his way through the new dangers of an uncontrolled and hungry landscape, as well as contend with the malicious man who intends to make him fail. Does Jody, the young woman who shares his passion for the great oxen, have the strength to challenge her own demons and provide assistance? Can Occam, the giant blacksmith offering Edge his unforeseen opportunity, give Edge back his lost position in the polygamist society? And will Arc, a small man of ill hidden malevolence, succeed in disgracing his nephew even further while adding Jody to his number of wives? And the book that Jody’s ancestors penned long ago… will the secrets within resurrect the power beneath the oceans of the world, for good… or for evil?
Draft Four:Two hundred years have passed since plagues nearly wiped out humanity on earth. With ingenuity and found technologies of the past, communities are flourishing once again, forming alliances and discovering differences. Can Edge and Jody, youths from communities separated by distance and ideology, find common ground to defeat a common enemy? Is there hope for the long-term survival of humanity, or are we destined to repeat history?
Did any of these pique your interest? We’d really love to hear your feedback. Click on "Add a comment" below to tell us what you think..
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
Hell Follows After, another book in the Monster of the Apocalypse Saga , is just weeks away from publication. We’re working on the ebook and print formatting, last minute edits, back cover touch-ups, and of course… the book description! Probably one of the more important aspects of any book, the description is what makes or breaks a sale to a reader.
Here are four versions of a possible book description for Hell Follows After. Which of them speaks to you?
Draft one:Centuries have passed, and the world plague-emptied civilization of the mid twenty-first century bears a striking resemblance to that of the mid 1800’s. Communities and industry are once again vying for power and resources, and a young man newly displaced from his future must regain his position in order to succeed. His opportunity? A long shot chance offered by a man he trusts, to join a trading party into the interior of the once great nation. The dangers of the trek, and a young woman newly orphaned, tempt both failure and unusual reward. Together they bring to light the truth of the past and their ancestor’s defeat at the hands of power and bring back an entity meant to remain forever hidden.
Draft Two:A decimated world has once again come to resemble the time of the pioneer west. Edge, a disgraced apprentice, and Jody, a trail orphaned young woman, are thrown together to deliver an ancient diary to the hands of those who can decipher its meaning. The risk of ancient evil contends with a more present danger grown from hidden malice and long restrained rage. Will Edge win back his place in a society of strict guild codes and reestablish respect for his family? Can young Jody, descended from the only people who knew the truth of the Great Plagues and their terrible secrets, be able to survive the journey as an evil man seeks to add her to his multiple wives? Will the long lost creature resurrected from the deep be a boon… or a bane on the new world?
Draft Three:A wagon train pulled by massive oxen travels east from the Pacific coast. Manifest destiny and the quest for wealth and power have once again become a necessity as the world emptied of humanity rebuilds. A young man, Edge, newly disgraced and stripped of his apprenticeship, is offered a second chance. He takes hold as his future depends on it. He must fight his way through the new dangers of an uncontrolled and hungry landscape, as well as contend with the malicious man who intends to make him fail. Does Jody, the young woman who shares his passion for the great oxen, have the strength to challenge her own demons and provide assistance? Can Occam, the giant blacksmith offering Edge his unforeseen opportunity, give Edge back his lost position in the polygamist society? And will Arc, a small man of ill hidden malevolence, succeed in disgracing his nephew even further while adding Jody to his number of wives? And the book that Jody’s ancestors penned long ago… will the secrets within resurrect the power beneath the oceans of the world, for good… or for evil?
Draft Four:Two hundred years have passed since plagues nearly wiped out humanity on earth. With ingenuity and found technologies of the past, communities are flourishing once again, forming alliances and discovering differences. Can Edge and Jody, youths from communities separated by distance and ideology, find common ground to defeat a common enemy? Is there hope for the long-term survival of humanity, or are we destined to repeat history?
Did any of these pique your interest? We’d really love to hear your feedback. Click on "Add a comment" below to tell us what you think..
Click HERE to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
