To whom it may concern: mytopo.com will generate a waterproof 24x36 topo map of anywhere in the US at any standard scale with lat/long or MGRS grid references shipped for around $25.  I use 1:50000 with an MGRS grid.

--biere--good to see you.  Agreed.  Impossible to do enough, alone.

--STJ that background is astounding.  General internetting routinely astonished at depth/talent
art/writing/composition/etc. in "background" of threads/posts/etc.

--BigDam/STj Guernica indeed.  Holy FFF what a choice/execution for "entertainment"--somebody
should be very proud.

--DesignatedM--topos--BRILLIANT.  Everybody please expand in PPRIVVATE on the value HERE
of DesignatedM/s reference.  PPERFECT.

GENERAL NOTE: as a matter of practice as the future generates wise to increase the habits of
circumspection.  1.  Please study the success/methods of the French banlieueeee noo-goe zones.
The Amish.  How to LIVE WITH NO EXCEPTIONS  the /practice of non-communicatio/isoloation
from/with individuals/groups whose sole purpose
is to deceive in order to destroy.  

GENERAL NOTE: THE MOST IMPORTANT/MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY SPECIFIC TOOL YOU WILL EVER OWN.

The mural is on Mandalore.

As thing progress, your writing looks more and more prescient.
On your points:
We’re considering location as we’re in suburbia and need to get further out, but commutes and quality of schools becomes a serious concern rather quickly on our budget.
On peer group, events of the last year have been a laser-focused spotlight on this as our biggest problem. Those who we thought of as friends are not going to be reliable in the near future. Very troubling, but not unexpected. The timeframe was, shamefully, shorter than expected.
This little mini-community of you and your readers should be backed up somewhere. It’s a unique subset of mindsets. I’m in the Austin area; anyone who has posted here is welcome to reach out. Friends are critical.

It can be difficult, but step 1:

That exact quote has been on my mind today, and is quite true. We’re exploring options for sure.

Worldwide Government Disarray

This website is hokey, but all the stories are independently verifiable.  We live in interesting times.

Would it be prudent for regulars on this thread to have a means of communicating with each other outside of arfcom?

I posted similar a few posts up. I very much agree.

I just got mine a couple days ago. Thank you!

I could create a Signal group.

Same; what does everyone use? Signal and Wickr Me are essentially messaging apps with group functions. Telegram and MeWe have more features. I’ve been using Signal for years with zero issues until they were down for the day yesterday, they said they were upgrading their server capacity due to the millions of people joining. Not trying to turn this into a messaging app discussion just curious what those here prefer.

@DCBourone, preference, thoughts?

Signal is good

I been working over but got a few signal groups to join once I learn and install.  I think this is another group I would like but I procrastinate cause I am usually sleeping after working stupid amounts of overtime.

If I could be so bold, now more than ever we need physical bound books. I don't trust the River as far as I can spit, and the deep knowledge is only a click from oblivion.

Very true, it’s never been more necessary.


All, I’ve created a Signal group. I’m going to give @DCBourone and some other “known” regular members admin rights also, I don’t want to own the chat. I’ll PM the link to several of you shortly. I’ve set it to require an admin to approve everyone; plenty of people here that I won’t know but someone will (hopefully).


Edit: The name is a placeholder, any admin can change it. I just sent the link to everyone on this page via IM.

Thanks, Cpn_Ron.

Signal group paused for the moment. Waiting for further instructions.

GENERAL NOTE:

This was written in 2011--published in 2012:

"A man can only find what he will call divine in his own language.
No man can learn what he lacks in words. No man can teach, what he cannot describe.  And I was only a man, doing the best I could," George said.
"The Founding Fathers called you 'the essential man,' of everything, of everything we once had," Billy said.  "Great powers want to destroy you and everything you made.  I want to see them crushed.  I want to see them burn."
"Know that the children of those powers will bow over many graves, for what their parents did.  And their children's children, all children everywhere will live as slaves in the chains those powers hope to make.  So I tell you, you must wait.  You will raise no hand in anger.  You will only use your voice.   You will see that this will not be a war of bodies, but a contest of minds.  Resolved by a million private choices, in a million private homes."
"OK.  It's strange to see you here," Billy said.
"At the bottom of the sea?" George replied.
"Yes, sir.  And in my dream," Billy answered.
"I go where I am invited, Billy." George said.
"How is that, sir?" Billy wondered.
"I go where I still live.  And I live in you.  In your memory." George said.
"Sir?" Billy said.
"Perhaps that's your job.  To remember. To remind.  To warn.  You will be a book in our library of values.  Can you tell a story?" George asked.
"I don't think so, sir.  But I can try," Billy stepped forward, very tired.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

So.

We are there.

Yes.  Really.

Live as if a single careless choice of a single word can destroy your life, and
the lives of loved ones.  Forever.

Assume that you will be furiously and purposefully misunderstood by those
who deceive in order to destroy.

From now on the issue/x of how to use words will be fantastically complicated.

1.  Eschew at this time an aggregating method discussed here other than what
you saw up to one week ago.  No harm no foul at this time.  Reconsider
that Chinese strategy dude.  Reflect on the regular admonition here not to
use proper names/descriptors.  More later.

2.  Words that you like should be saved in lots of places.

3. If you can think of any texts written some time ago that you could use
as a kind of Rorschach of ideas, TEMPERAMENT (PATIENCE), comprehension (I.Q)
you might consider recommending them.  Make sure when you recommend
them that you can shake the person's hand.

3A.  I have been asking (actually...begging) people to move to certain places
for many many years.  So I could shake their hands....

3B.  Historically, most people are not in the right place at the right time.

4.  Some texts were crafted with a particular purpose in mind, years ago.

5.  The failure of language within a group/s is an exponential function.

6.  All language and related social groups have been parsed down to the timing
of the individual purchase.  How those social groups behave in the future has
only been modeled.  Human creativity is very hard to model.  

7. Real books and coins and other beautiful things are super useful and should
be encouraged.  Actually using them is more complicated than particle physics.

8.  Some of the best lessons in managing boundaries can be understood from
a very close line reading of classic cold war authors....although there is really
only one.

9.  Study the Amish.

10.  IMPORTANT:  posting interesting diverting lovely things on this thread.

So...this is just the very very beginning of everything next.

Lovely things:


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Oof, a lot to unpack there.

I recently reread a book titled a date not far from the turn of the century, having to do with an authoritarian government.


Language is a fascinating, (dangerous when controlled) tool. You control language, the rest falls into place.

Being at the right place at the right time, and most wont be...


I’ve been doing a bit of digging into the concept of the fourth turning lately, the rest of the decade promises to be...interesting.

Once lovely, now well used things

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CTrapper--well said and very well done.  Awesome artifacts.

Ha!  The GW conversation is usually where I lose it in IR.

There's the distillate...that is the very concept I spend my 'spare time' 'coin' on.  
How many heartbeats do I have left?  
How many of them will your fantastically interesting idea cost me?
Is this acceptable coinage?



This made me laugh the proverbial out loud.  It really is your gift...second only to describing combat...small sentences of infinite mass.
And you are not wrong...we are dangerously unpredictable creatures.



I went to a rules committee meeting at my gun club today, it went well and also reminded me why I will likely not be spending 'coin' on that service again.
After the meeting, I went to sight in my FAL as a dear friend and I are running a team run-and-gun next weekend.  The rifle was shooting high and it was cold and windy, but I stayed and took the time to adjust the scope for the new ammo because my friend deserves this.

.41 Master race.

Checking in.

--STJ good to see you.  Coinage: covered in spades.  Creativity: ongoing.  Lot's to do now...

--PFunk--good to see you.

Indeed.

Checking in.

I bought a hardcover edition of Areopagitica today.  My resolution for this year is to get more books.  My wife complains that every horizontal surface in the house is covered with books already, but she can deal with it.

Checking in after a long break. Been focused on local things. Glad to see some familiar folks still in the mix.

Re: physical books.  It's been decades, but I recall the Foxfire series of books as being useful for simple / off-grid living.
Link to Buy from Foxfire instead fo Big River

+1 for Foxfire, even just for pure historical value

I have 1-9, published in 1986. I didn’t realize that there were now 3 more.

DCB - any thoughts/progress on dead tree copies?  There was an author here who started his own publishing company. Might be worth a convo.

I’ve only been an occasional poster, but a long time reader. I’m due for my annual re-read.

Now is definitely a time I’m getting physical copies of books. The Soldier's Son is on that list. I hope to have a chance to buy it someday. Soon, I hope.

This is the consolidate and reorganize phase. Make sure you’re green on everything before you move on to the next event.

Sadly I can't disagree.

Not gonna speak on legality and what not.  But a laser printer does not dry up like an ink jet.  You can print shit out using a decent generator like the basics for neighbors to understand how to play an outhouse and grey water and this and that.

I don't keep it ready and the laptop can run on its own battery but a laser jet and a couple cartridges can really help you and the neighbors do well when it comes to trash, waste water, grey water, compost, gardens and their feeding, and a lot of other basics.

Or you know.  Some crayons and a pack of printer paper.  whatever.

GENERAL NOTE: context this thread/general social engineering have had a number of
conversations last 24/72/plus .re "not being late" to make essential adjustments

1. Geography
2. Peer group, and 3. Etc./s

--all of which appears to be/"should be" self-explanatory.  It is not.

--so try this rephrasing of emphasis:  How can I be as early as possible.

--CPnR--exactly.

--mnmiv--good to see you.

--DesignatedM--Aero--amazing!!!  And kudos to you wife.

--LtBeaker--"local things"--likewise.

--MoonD the Foxfire books are invaluable.  Let's hope things never get that far but who could
reasonably say they will not?  Unreal.

--CTrapper, indeed, good to see you.

--mnmiv--dead tree copies--ouch.  Agree with all arguments in favor.  Have no excuse other than
dismay/inertia.  SSon must be rewritten to reflect recent events, and make corrections.  I have
many notes.  In the interim, the digital version should still serve to model a local peer--meaning:
"could/would/should this individual understand a/this/any relevant text and to what extent"  IMPORTANT:
THIS IS A SHORTCUT to model "the mind" of a peer--your subconscious will already "know"/have sorted
who understands what.

--Vaquero--"consolidate and reorganize""green on everything"--very wise.

--greyguy--yep.  The fuckery is extreme.

--biere, on printing, very much yes.  One of many overlooked "preps" is signage/signaling/boundary
management--must be owned/printed.  Actual hard copies of essential texts must be kept in reserve.
Note to self: enhance.

That was time and eight bucks well spent. The engravings on a lot of their pieces was absolutely jaw dropping

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Everything?

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Available as an audio book? Want to listen to it.

Or a way to have kindle read it to me from my Galaxy S9+?

--CTrapper the Ranger Museum posts/pics--just amazing.  Have been.  For any man
not to appreciate they must have been TRAINED not to appreciate.  Not appreciating
fine tools and meticulous labor like not appreciating a Spitfire or P-51 Thunderbolt
or Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp.

--JOhnS--no audio I am aware of as of now.  Problem: purpose of this book/etc.
very largely satisfied.  Imagine negatives to wider distribution in any media,
positives notwithstanding.  Sorry that I do not have a solution at this time.

GENERAL NOTE: how to think about the future, .re concept "don't be late"versus"how early
can I be"--continuing--imagine that the volatility in/of all metrics friction/economic/
social/political/minor-personal/macro-everything else WILL INCREASE forever.
Meaning as long as you/all will live.

Can I ask, how many copies of The Book have you sold?

This is important to internalize.

I have realized recently that my often idealized situation of selling my house in town and being able to buy a piece of property with a house out in the country can easily transition from daydream into reality (just not in the way that I originally wanted, not on that in a sec).

A lot of people are feeling a crunch that they have to do something now, because something is coming. I fall into this thought process often and have to dig myself out in order to function.  There's always something coming, there always has been.

When making life altering decisions, I don't think it's best to make them based only on how they'll work out if doomsday scenario X happens. We have to look at building a life that's enjoyable as possible, to borrow a tagline from a podcast I listen to, "if times get tough, or even if they don't".

Don't try to go live in a cave in isolation because the zombies won't wander out there, unless you want to live like that if the zeds never come.

Also something that has been on my mind as I think about relocating.  I had my heart set on north Idaho for many reasons, a major one being that it's a day's drive from basically everyone I know and trust. Now, I'm realizing that Idaho has gotten expensive enough that I cannot get there without putting my family in a worse financial situation than I am in now. If I'm going to leave my tribe to start my own (or find a place in one), I need to be in a substantially more stable financial situation than I am now (not that I'm in a bad spot now). Community just might be more important than location in a lot of cases. How do you find community in an unfamiliar place when you feel motivated to act quickly by a sense of impending doom.



Sorry for the rambling  It does feel like the universe is speaking, but(like this post) it's a little difficult to say exactly what it's getting at. Lol

--DFarm--approx. 400-500 SSon sold/and borrowed.  Frankly have not been keeping track.  Never
sold more than...ten in one day, and only that for a few days.  After Amazon fees means made...1000 dollars?
Meaning basically meaningless as income, relative to labor/work.  20 cents an hour? On the other hand: this
forum: priceless.

--DFarm--to your next point: it is almost impossible to manage/communicate "tone" via text,
as hard as one might try.  Try this: if "volatility"/friction will increase for the rest of your life
in ALL DOMAINS, what is value of knowing your neighbors, by geographic radius, by percentage,
will definitely/possibly/ maybe/rarely/never interfere with your life.  Example: many many many
individuals consistently survive multiple encounters.  There is literally ONLY ONE distinguishing
shared feature across culture/training/equipment/etc.: they got the first hit.  Not the best hit.
Not the perfect hit.  The FIRST hit.  That first hit disproportionately effects all that follows.

GENERAL NOTE: there are obvious limits to what can be posted anywhere.  There are obvious
limits to individual definitions of "possible."  I am trying as hard as I can to increase the meaning
of "possible."  As fast as I can.  

GENERAL NOTE: my bias would be that I must account for bias FIRST.

GENERAL NOTE: this process only as it CAN BE SEEN HERE began in 2011.  Ten years ago.
How are things going now? Make sense?

It seems like I'm pretty far off track. Lol. Feel free to PM if you'd like.

What I was getting at is that moving to an area with more freedom and a better ability to increase the amount of things that can be produced on the property at the cost of not having community, at least in the short term, is a difficult decision.

I think everyone should try to be as self reliant as possible but community is important. In the past, people lived in tribes for a reason. You can't do everything. You can be a loaner now because you can work a job to make money to go buy everything you need, and security isn't much of a concern in most of the US, at least to the point that people don't need to have guards posted while they sleep.

Things might not stay like this.

What is more important, producing a higher percentage of your needs on site, or having a tribe to help out and provide some strength in numbers?


To keep it relevant to the story, Brian was probably smart enough and "good" enough to make it on his own, but why did he want to hang out with the gehrs?(aside from the nude, shovel wielding lady)

And since I'm on "being lost" as it relates to this thread, there is something from the story that I've been thinking about, especially in the last few months. I haven't had time to sit and read the story again, so forgive me if it's blatant in there.

if anyone wants to discuss this in PM's or something to keep spoilers out of the thread, I'm all for it.

My question is, did the nuke really happen, or was it just a tool to create a predictable response from the population?

DFarm see Im/s.

When I was in my 20's I made a number of cross country moves, and even one brief international one (albiet with a pre-known end-date) with very little planning or forethought.  "Do I have enough for first/last month rent?  Cool, load up the clunker again and head out."  Everything I owned back then could be packed into a beat up old Volkswagen Fox, I kept it like that on purpose.  I would always find a job and meet other young adults rapidly, I've always been pretty outgoing.

Now I have elderly parents and in-laws who are in real need of support.  I have friendships with folks here that span decades.  I am also more concerned about saving money so that I can hopefully stop doing this activity called "work" someday.  A major move seems a lot more disruptive to me now than it ever did back when I was young.

I know it is partly in my head but a move to the areas I have been fantasizing about lately (SD, MT, ID, WY) seems like an abandonment of folks who will need more and more help from me in the coming years.  Folks that sacrificed for my well-being and for that of my wife more times than can be counted.  That is real too.  Lots of heavy thinking is being done here and there's lots still left to do...

My household is pivoting from a growth mindset to more of a “don’t be late” plan, a decision we batted back and forth recently. Considered choices need to be made and we’re working to find something that works for us. Hedging either direction can be wise as well.