Oil Free Fun: Max's additions to the Internet RE: Geoengineering, New Energy/Medicine/Science, Banksterism, Humanity's Awakening, Skiing, Surfing, Sailing, No-Impact Living, and Free Speech.
11/1/2012: Max Mogren reporting... Clearly the well-outfitted, combat ready, assault rifle wielding Sheriff's Department of Creek Country, Colorado does not understand the crimes against humanity committed by the corrupt banking/financial system which crashed the US economy in 2008 and led to the unprecedented number of -- often fraudulent -- foreclosures that have taken place in the four years since. The privately owned Central Banking Cartel (aka, The Federal Reserve, established dubiously in 1913) that has intentionally devalued our currency by 95% over the last century is still very much in power and is using unwitting law enforcement agencies as their strong arm to commit additional crimes against humanity.
If law enforcement agencies had any comprehension of what banks really are, how money is used as a covert weapon to control all of us, and how unelected Central Banksters dictate the agenda of political and economic life here in America, the police and military would turn their weapons towards the real criminals -- the economic terrorists responsible for so much unnecessary suffering -- instead of targeting and intimidating activists trying to raise awareness of the real problems we all face.
Unfortunately, the only sectors of the economy that have grown recently -- due solely to deficit spending increasing the national debt by ~1trillion dollars annually -- relate to providing "Homeland Security", eliminating "Domestic Terrorism", and furthering the "Police State". The budgets of increasingly-militarized law enforcement agencies are booming: very few cops are getting foreclosed on at a time when salaries are growing and new flashy toys -- like assault rifles and tactical gear -- are getting kicked down to them by the power brokers that really call the shots.
A prime example of the rise of fascism (the merger of state/corporate/bankster power) in America went down in rural Colorado around Halloween. Police dressed for war raided a home where activists were attempting to delay a foreclosure by one month so the previous owner -- who'd payed the mortgage on the home for 24 years -- could find a new place to live at the onset of a cold Colorado winter.
The homeowner facing eviction, Sahara Donahue, was apparently underwater on her mortgage with US Bank. She says she told the bank that all she was asking was for another 30 days in the home before an eviction. She needed an extra month in order to find another place to live with her two dogs, she said.
But US Bank and the Creek County Sheriff's Department had other plans, culminating in a show of excessive force that alarmed activists who had gathered on the property in an attempt to prevent the eviction.
Apparently the Banksters still want more empty homes and more
homeless Americans. The "Free Market " is rigged. Wake up!
Bear in mind that there are currently 24 empty "bank-owned" houses in America for each officially homeless person. If politicians and economic "leaders" were really intent on solving our economic and social problems, a system could easily be set up to house the homeless, minimize foreclosures, and do away with the so-called "backstock" of houses that need to be sold before the housing market will recover and so many struggling homeowners will get out from being underwater.
Occupy Denver protesters issued the following statement when they began assisting Sahara in protecting her home around October 26th.
"Occupy Denver members are staging an immediate action at the home of long time Idaho Springs resident Sahara Donahue. Sahara, who has volunteered with the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission for 12 years, is facing eviction by U.S. Bank after a long legal battle that, like so many cases of foreclosure in Colorado, involve fraudulent actions on the part of the bank.
Since 2006, the laws have been such that banks do not have to prove they own the home of persons they foreclose on, and this change is responsible for Sahara's having the law work against her as it has for so many others in our state. She has fought them in court, but is now facing eviction and has requested that Occupy Denver stand with her at her home in hope of persuading the police to do the right thing and allow her some more time to continue her legal efforts. She has asked the bank for 30 days during which time she can find another living situation, but the bank has denied her requests. Members of Occupy Denver are answering her call for help and are occupying her home with her as of Wednesday night. "
A YouTube video the occupiers released on October 26th shows a lighthearted and peaceful group building a small barricade in front of Sahara's driveway and emphasizing that this is a peaceful protest attempting to raise awareness of the crooked banking practices that crashed the economy in 2008 and has resulted in unprecedented foreclosures (by design) in the time since. Bear in mind that at this moment in time, Banksterism is the greatest threat to Humanity and all life on Planet Earth that our world have ever known...
Here is video from the raid itself. May God help us all. Peace.
I was fortunate to spend a good chunk of my childhood living in an "oil free" environment. Every summer from the age of 4 to 24 I spent at least a week -- if not three months -- living at a very special camp. I learned lessons there which grow more pertinent to modern life by the day.
These Folks Were My Role Models. Staff Summer of 92'
This wasn't some rich kids' camp: the dated infrastructure was perpetually falling apart, and the food was horrible. We lived packed together in one room cabins with no heat or air conditioning. A communal bathhouse and a couple rustic outhouses met the needs of 250+ people. Aside from propane in the dining hall kitchen, a few naked light bulbs in the cabins, and the weekly food delivery truck we lived without modern convenience. No cell phones. No computers.
Even the basketball court was unpaved, and all cars remained permanently parked well out of sight. Transportation was limited to walking, biking, canoeing, sailing, or riding horses. We learned how to camp out, build fires, shoot guns, fend for ourselves, etc.
We learned how the natural world works and what roles are appropriate for humans within that world.
The staff was almost entirely under the age of 25 -- just kids ourselves -- yet we cared for and mentored over a thousand kids each summer. Most staff members weren't "tree huggers". We were just a bunch of outgoing young folks looking to get away from authority figures and have a good time. The best days of my life were lived at that camp. Together we shared something truly great: a real, functioning, damn-near-sustainable community.
At the end of every summer I'd experience horrible culture shock as I transitioned back into the "Real World" with it's senseless hurry and waste. Heading back home to SE Minnesota, we'd have to drive through the sprawling Twin Cities where the chaos would literally cripple me. Back then I'd think to myself, "Why would anyone in their right mind want to live in a world like this?!"
Now I pity my countrymen for suffering the cancer of consumerism spawned by infinite growth. That cancer is running it's course, and soon many of us will be living some variation on summer camp once again. Hopefully it's not FEMA-sanctioned or populated by homocidal maniacs.
As the lies fall away we need truths to replace them. Hopefully these simple observations from my years at camp can help your lifeboat weather the storm. Please share your own life lessons in the comments section.
Communal meals build community. Scheduled community meals are a great way to share information, make friendships, and build a sense of belonging. They're also a great way to get everyone out of bed and active in the morning. Back at camp, if your cabin slept in through breakfast you got cold oatmeal and ridicule. In a post-oil world I imagine many people will want to sleep in. Scheduled breakfasts are a great way to get the members of your lifeboat up and on the same page.
Never underestimate the power of a bitchin' party. Every summer the staff would spend a week training and getting to know each other before the campers showed up. The community was usually cliquey and awkward until after we'd all gotten drunk and rowdy together. After a solid night of good-natured debauchery we would form a cohesive group. The lifeboat that smokes together jokes together. The lifeboat that drinks together thinks together... just do so in moderation or you'll sink together too.
Making music together creates shared meaning. Sing off key, dance poorly, beat on an old oil drum, whatever. A community that makes noise together grows closer together. After a while you might even make some good music. I think Mike Ruppert's band, The New White Trash, showcases the importance of music to a lifeboat. If he's got time to make music, you've got time to make music.
People grow quickly into responsible roles. At camps around the country, it's amazing how quickly young adults pick up the reins and run with their role. In my own experience, there were, of course, exceptions, but for the most part people who seemed needy, whiney, or incompetent in the "real world" quickly adapted to the needs of our rustic little community. Anyone who couldn't make the transition was fairly easy to spot.
Lead by example. Everyone hates a tyrant. Unless it's a life or death situation, it's worth your while to tactfully guide the members of your lifeboat. Nothing causes more strain on a community than a dictatorial leader. Even the best intentions are lost in an overbearing delivery.
Teach with humor. Nothing defuses nerve-wracking situations like a properly dropped joke. Keep smiling, nurture your sense of humor, and laugh every day... no matter how bad life really is.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Back at camp things fell apart every day. With minimal tools or training someone had to keep the place running. Every disaster got dealt with eventually, and we got along fine. The more problems you solve, the better you become at problem solving. Plan as far ahead as you can, but don't stress too much over foreseeable but unlikely problems. Build a bridge when you get to the river.
Kids work hard if you make it a game. In a world without TV, cell phones, and video games dealing with children used to those toxic luxuries is equivalent to herding cats. The same holds true for adults so used to the "real world" that they barely function in reality. People unaccustomed to hard work will learn quickly if it's at all fun or rewarding. One thing kids are exceptionally good at is collecting fire wood.
Daily bathing is overrated. Back at camp, we'd have a contest to see which staff member could go the longest without a shower. Even when we did shower, it was a one or two minute ordeal because the water was rarely anything but freezing cold. On a year long sailing trip I went months at a time without a proper shower: daily dips in the ocean served me just fine. If I wanted to get really clean, I'd lather up and then dump a gallon of fresh water over my head. All good.
Think of how much water and energy is wasted every day in the "real world" for unnecessary and excessive bathing. A lifeboat that wastes these crucial resources unnecessarily is not a sustainable lifeboat.
Electricity is not essential. At summer camp we got by with minimal electricty. On my sailing trip, I went for months at a time with no electricity at all. Even if your lifeboat can generate it's own electricity, try to minimize your dependence on it and use it only when you need to. It is very useful for applications like pumping water, emergency lighting, etc. but it's generally a luxury most of the time. Waste not, want not.
Cell phones and the internet can make you stupid. At camp we had no cell phone or internet service. Though the cell phone and internet can be very useful tools, they can also debilitate you. Both can inhibit your creativity and problem solving skills. Also, they can cause information overload and a tendency to focus on things frivolous to your actual real world needs.
The internet is a great tool for sharing information and learning about collapse, but the real growth and preparation necessary takes place in the real world. Limit your computer time and minimize your dependence on cell phones for maximum reality.
Just because some conspiracy theories are total nonsense, doesn't mean they all are. For example...
***
A group of young guys walk into a bar with intent to get laid. They're dressed nicer than they normally dress, smile bigger than they normally smile, and talk sweeter than they normally talk: from the moment they step through the door, they've put up a false front. Running into a few women they're friends with, they have a few drinks, share a few laughs, and hatch an impromptu plan to collaborate in carrying out the evening's seductions.
A woman across the bar catches the eye of one of the guys, so his female friends mosey over and strike up a conversation. A few minutes later the lust-struck guy joins them, gets vouched for by his female friends, buys a couple rounds of drinks, talks a lot of bullshit, and before you know it he's leaving the bar with his new-found lover.
Did he and is friends conspire their way into that young lady's pants? By the definition of "conspiracy", absolutely.
***
A guy is trying to sell his old car, but it's as piece of junk. Though a few people have looked at it, there hasn't been a single offer. He's got someone coming over to look at it in a few minutes, so he hatches a little plan...
The tricky owner is riding shotgun while the potential buyer test drives the hunk of junk. A conveniently timed call arrives to his cell phone: it's an "offer" a mere $200 less than the asking price! The caller is actually one of his buddies whom the owner instructed to call at just that moment.
The test driver is led to believe that the car is more desirable than it actually is. He is also now limited in his bargaining margin. Surely the tricky owner and his buddy have conspired against the test driver.
***
A college football program needs to win so they recruit ruthlessly, offering clandestine agreements to star high school players. Once the team is assembled, they devise a book of secret plays which they practice for hours daily. Every night they watch films of teams they will soon face, analyzing all aspects of the competition's strategy, probing for every potential weakness. They might even resort to spying on the other team's practices in hopes of learning the competition's secret plays.
On game day, this highly trained squad rallies behind their ruthless leader (aka,the Head Coach) and does everything in their power to crush the competition. They use secret codes, run deliberately deceptive plays, and hit hard in hopes of injuring key players on the other squad. In a box up in the stands, several highly skilled assistants analyze the action and radio their findings to the Head Coach. He is the general, they are his advisors, and the team is, of course, his army.
Have they conspired against the other team? Is the other team conspiring against them? Sure.
***
MegaCorp - like any other corporation - is designed to generate as much wealth as it can. If it's not growing, it's dying. This growth is facilitated by offering products and services in exchange for money. Complicating matters, equally powerful competitors are trying to do the same thing. Thus, knowing competitors' strengths and weaknesses gives a clear advantage while formulating strategies.
MegaCorp has recently been losing sales to ÜberCorp, so a few middle managers hatch a plan to take ÜberCorp down while bolstering their own careers. They approach a few ÜberCorp employees with access to confidential documents, promising cold, hard cash in exchange for leaked information. This information exposes a major weakness in ÜberCorp's business plan. The middle managers share this information (minus it's source) with the top brass at MegaCorp. MegaCorp exploits the weakness, and ÜberCorp is crippled. ÜberCorp soon faces bankruptcy and is bought out by MegaCorp.
Obviously, those recently promoted middle managers at MegaCorp conspired against ÜberCorp.
***
One Final Example:
A nation "must" go to war in order to control a crucial resource. The thought of paying a fair price for it doesn't sit well with the economic and political elites. Recent history shows the general public won't support an offensive war unless they perceive a "direct and imminent threat to their security". Thus, the nation's leaders know stating their actual intent for war would be political suicide... so they lie about it.
They demonize the "enemy" and claim - despite evidence to the contrary - that deadly weapons are poised to strike helpless civilians. With no evidence whatsoever, they blame past atrocities on the "enemy" and do everything they can to plant fear in the hearts of their own citizens. They claim noble intentions like "spreading Democracy" when actually all they care about is controlling the crucial resource. They lie to their own people about their perceived enemy. They trick their nation into supporting an unjust war.
There's no doubt these leaders conspired against not only the enemy but their own constituents as well. Right?! I mean they got their nation to go along with them using fear tactics and outright lies. This sez a lot about their commitment to truth, justice, and liberty.
***
The point of this little exercise was to show how prevalent conspiracy can be at all levels of human interaction. Whether it's a few people sitting at a bar or a few guys starting an unjust war, the basic concept of deceptively working together to capitalize at someone else's expense is the same.
In everyday matters, people conspire against people. In business, corporations conspire against corporations. In governance, political parties conspire against each other. In international relations, the same is true of whole nations. So why is it such a stretch to acknowledge that the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world conspire against the rest of us?
In discussing our current cluster fuck with intelligent people, I'm shocked by how many can't make the leap to assigning blame. With all the technology and wealth currently at humanity's disposal, there is absolutely no reason people should have to suffer economic oppression... but most of us do. Why is that?
The simple answer is because most of that wealth and technology is held tightly by a very small number of powerful people, organizations, and corporations.
The writing is on the wall in plain English, and all signs point to the global economic elite. Sadly, as soon as someone points a finger, it triggers a defense mechanism somewhere in the average American's psyche. The average American writes the messenger off as a batshit crazy "conspiracy theorist" and denies the possibility that the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet are capable of working together for a common goal.
Apparently - though personally sworn to the principles of planning, hard work, and cooperation - the average American assumes that the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet got that way though no effort of their own. Though their fortunes and power are completely dependent upon controlling the masses, apparently the global elites are amateurs when it comes to collaboration, manipulation, and consolidation of power.
Really?!?! Gimme a break! Wake up!
The most important thing to understand is this. In order to control our collective destinies - in order to conspire against the common folk - the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet don't have to get together and hold secret meetings. They don't have to formulate grand schemes or cackle maniacally either. Truth told, all they have to do is continue operating in their own self interest. Here's why.
The principal of "growth or death" that we saw in the MegaCorp example applies similarly to individual wealth and power. Once a person gets a taste of godlike power and insane wealth, most of them just want more. If the 100 most wealthy, powerful and influential entities on the planet follow the basic bottom line and seek their own advantage over all other considerations, they're all on essentially the same page without having to plan anything. The unwritten mission statement is: BIGGER. STRONGER. FASTER. MORE.
Thus, even without some mastermind behind the scenes, most of the big buckaroos are on essentially the same page. They get richer. We get poorer. And that's that. No blatant conspiracy needed. The conspiracy is built into the system.
So the system is broken?! The system is inherently flawed?! Yep. Exactly. Call me a Commie. Call me a Socialist. Call me whatever you want... at least my mentality isn't at the root of humanity's downfall. Peace.
Lyric of the Day: Aceyalone, MORE
More and more and more and more.... Just a little bit more just a little bit more just a little bit more More and more and more and more...
they always want a little more than they got never take a little and they always take a lot didn't any want more cause they never stop you always on the bottom and they always on the top they know what to say, you face em every day always got a place for you in case you wanna play a fire in the hole couldn't chase em away they come around and take it all and never wanna stay gotta have extra, add to the texture I don't want a lecture but that's a nice gesture need a bigger portion pile it on my plate gluttony and suddenly there's nothin else to take less is more unless you're poor gimme everything and leave a mess on the floor want the best score and the rest of yours they forge and the gorge and they whore just a little bit...
[Hook]
no they not satisfied no it's not enough make mine bigger pile it up to the roof over your head I need more bread even my ego needs to be fed lock and load headed for the war zone I need more stones to crush more homes greedy and lust for em must have been known we only want everything leave us alone want you to give up more than you ever did before open doors so I never get bored it's never too many, gimme gimme gimme come on down my chimney and gimme somethin good add somethin to it super size kick it up a notch gimme everything that you got in your stock make it a double I don't want trouble I'm takin all the rest of these don't look puzzled
[Hook]
it's perfectly normal to not have morals no more talented they want every morsel who is the mortal I see every mornin with more than a little bit he must be important no I'm not surprised you want more fries you wanna be formally immortalized mortified at the borderline cause this moron got more than mine I need morphine, I want more things the mortgage is due and I need more green to get more high, buy buy buy take it or steal it or get it with a lie an eye for an eye, make it more wide I need more room when I jump the ride there's more than enough more stuff I can hide I need all minds in an endless supply
