Preparedness and Survival

Video:  WV Response

"Preparedness 101" and some of the realities about survival that most people try to ignore

The Ultimate Step-By-Step guide to creating your 40 Day Plan:

After I’d been serious about preparedness and self reliance for a year or two, I realized that my buying, training, and planning had been based on whatever was the most exciting or urgent to me at the time. I’d go through a gun phase, then a food phase, then a natural medicine phase, but I didn’t have anything to tie it all together.

I want to go over a few things that have acted as a compass for my personal preparedness planning. Yours should be unique to you, but feel free to use mine as a jumping off point to create your own. We’ll get into more nuts-and-bolts stuff tomorrow, but this is an important place to start so that you know that we’re on the same page. There’s a lot of nuts out there. I’m not one of them. I’ve got a wife, two YOUNG boys, and my planning is based on reality and proven, tested techniques–not fantasy.

1. Self-Reliance vs. Bureaucratic “solutions”: I define survival/preparedness/self-reliance, in part, as the ability for my family to survive and possibly thrive during periods of civil breakdown without having to depend on government agencies or non-government agencies. This will be as a result of a combination of our family preparedness and because of relationships with friends who have also prepared in advance. I don’t hate government agencies. In fact, I’m a first responder under FEMA–but I’ve repeatedly seen how one bureaucrat can destroy the effectiveness of dozens of competent first responders.

2. Maintain Morals: We have decided in advance that we will make the necessary preparations so that we don’t have to compromise on our morals and values in civil breakdown situations. A large number of people’s survival planning involves stealing/looting after a disaster. Ours does not. Remember, at some point, some form of stability will return and you’ll have to live with the consequences of your actions.

3. Carpe diem–Enjoy The Journey: We are not so focused on potential disaster that we miss out on daily fun. We continually evaluate our decisions and purchases based on how they will play out, regardless of whether we ever have to live through civil breakdown. This keeps us balanced. As an example, we tend to buy large quantities of food that we already eat rather than large quantities of MREs that, truth be told, we really don’t like. We actually USE a lot of our survival supplies on a daily basis.

4. Enrich Your Daily Life: Preparedness planning should not only be useful in a disaster, but enrich your daily life. Increasing your situational awareness will cause you to see more beauty as well as more potential threats. Exercise will help you be more resilient in a disaster, but will also burn off stress hormones and help you sleep better every day. Learning trauma skills and natural health care will allow you to treat yourself when there are no doctors available and it will put you more in tune with your body.

5. Preparedness Planning Should be Realistic. I’m always amazed at the number of people I talk to who’s plan is STILL to “head to the hills” when “it” happens. I kind of laugh because if half of those people actually DO go to the wilderness, the wilderness is going to be hunted clear of food in no-time. Then all the people will die…except for the handful who actually know what they’re doing. The reality is, most people live in urban areas (even communities of a few thousand) and will have to survive disasters in those areas.

6. “Survival” is not Necessarily Romantic, Fun, or Comfortable. If it was, it would be “Primitive Living.” Understand it, prepare for it, practice it if you’re able, and if you are ever forced into a situation where you need your skills to survive, you’ll have a more realistic idea of what to expect.

7. Most People will Never Understand Why You Prepare. Whether you call yourself “self-reliant”, a “prepper”, a “survivalist”, or just practical and moderately observant…everyone is not going to share your passion. Fortunately, we have a community online that does share your passion.

8. You’ll never be 100% prepared for everything that could happen…deal with it. We’ve got dozens of natural and manmade threats to contend with. Dirty bombs, EMPs, earthquakes, hurricanes, mud-slides, cyberattacks, economic collapse, attacks on the electricity grid, local accidents, etc. etc. Don’t waste your time worrying about it…Just start taking steps to prepare.

If all of your gear is at home and an earthquake buries it while you’re at the store, you’re going to have to improvise, adapt, and overcome. (and maybe decide to set up some caches) Especially as you’re starting out, try to focus on the basics…food, fire, water, shelter and then medical, security, and tools. These are all things that will help you on a regular basis and will help you if you go through rough economic times. They’re also ways that you can get prepared that are more “tolerable” for relatives who aren’t on board yet.

9. You don’t have to be rich to get prepared. Focus on skills and double up on groceries as you’re able and you’ll be light years ahead of people who have a pallet of food in their garage but no manual can opener to get them open.

10. Plan To Survive Where You Are Right Now. Since most people live in urban areas, most people are going to have to survive disasters in urban areas. Some have no intention of leaving and feel honor-bound to stay. Full-time law enforcement and first responders, sheepdogs, CERT personnel, and others who aren’t willing to leave. It may not be ideal, but if your plan (or backup plan) for survival is to Survive In Place in an urban area, you aren’t going to be on your own. After every disaster, there will be remnants who are currently training to be able to help stabilize neighborhoods, cities, and regions if necessary.

The fact that you might HAVE to survive for a time in an urban area is the core of the 12 week SurviveInPlace.com Urban Survival Course. You don’t have to buy it to enjoy the free mini course, but I’ll give you an opportunity to sign up at the end of each email.

I have received several responses about the course and how much people got out of going through the exercises in the lessons.

Stayin' Alive,

David Morris -  SurviveInPlace.com  -  40-Days of Survival  -  To get a sneak peak of the Urban Survival Newsletter, you can go to: www.SecretsOfUrbanSurvival.com  -  Thanks to Glenn Beck and the Blaze~ >> Click here for instant access to my FREE SURVIVAL MINI COURSE

And then we have to help the Republic Survive!! Check out: The 2012 Check List for America’s Survival

Time for a Personal Revolution in the Hearts and Minds of Americans (Updated)

The answer to our problems is within each or us and in average Americans as a group.  The individual is the solution. We cannot fix our country, our political parties or anyone else until we fix ourselves.

Time For a Personal Revolution in the Hearts and Minds of Americans

Romney More Than Doubles Any Challenger in Early New Hampshire Poll, With Palin Second and All Others Lag Behind

Time is up!  We can not wait for the next George Washington or Ronald Reagan. If he shows up great… if not we each better prepared to be the example and the light.

Beck has changed his goal and the focus on his show to be a refueling station for those who chose to chart the coarse of leadership.

Enlightenment, education, empowerment and entrepreneurship are at the heart of his plan, the E-4 Project.  Add to these faith, hope, charity, integrity, truth, honor, common sense, self-reliance and questioning everything with boldness and everyone comes out the winner!

This is the best plan against the left’s top down, bottom up and inside out program that Van Jones spoke about… the Progressive Plan to fundamentally transform America.

The American Revolution was fought and won by farmers, merchants and everyday people using the power of the individual fighting against the greatest military power in the world, Great Britain.

How do we get there??  To be like our Founding Fathers?  That you have to do for yourself by wanting it and just getting to the point where you are fed up!

Glenn shared his testimony on Fridays show (01.07.11) about he went from suicidal, broke, hopeless, helpless, alcoholic to where he is now… today.  He got together earlier this year with Keith Ablow, who has an education and background in psychology.  Together they have produced Beck’s latest book: The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life. 

Glenn also shared his story about a call he received from someone who has hit rock bottom. Glenn explained to him that happiness is a choice and to reach true happiness, we need to become who we were born to be. 

Friendships are under attack right now because of division: political division, spiritual division, social division, required change…  If you are one who “sees”, one who has been given that gift that can sometimes feel like a curse or are someone who truly has a need to change, many of your friends may not want you to change or be willing to love the new you, let alone be willing to trust you and come along.  Sometimes you just have to persistent.  Other times you may have to change friends and even stop hanging around with destructive family members.  Glenn credits a lot of his success to his good friend Pat and his wife Tanya who didn’t give up on him and believed in him.

Why Unhappy People Become Liberals – Dennis Praeger

2011 – Time for the Next Step

“ I’ve never had a humble opinion.  If you’ve got an opinion, why be humble about it?”   --Joan Baez

The left has always been good at this… time for the rest of us to believer the same.

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A 2,600-Year-Old Manual for Living
by Alexander Green

I subscribe to the email column, Spiritual Wealth.  It is always one of my favorite emails that I receive and I got one today.  Somehow it just seemed to fit and complement Glenn Beck’s show today.

Dear Reader,

In my former life as a money manager, I found that many investors – often aided and abetted by their advisors – use a blinkered approach to the stock market.

They believe a successful strategy starts with a hunch about the economy. Based on this, they make an educated guess about what lies ahead for the stock market. This, in turn, leads to a theory about which stocks to buy. But a theory that's based on a guess that's based on a hunch may not be the best foundation for your investment portfolio.
Investors hate uncertainty. And history shows that they will pay brokers, hedge fund managers and investment gurus a lot of money to eliminate it.

The problem is they can't. Count yourself a sophisticated investor the day you wake up and say, "Given that no one can tell me with any certainty what the economy or financial markets will do, how should I run my portfolio?" This is the beginning of investment wisdom.

When my publisher, Julia Guth, first heard me describe my market-neutral approach more than a decade ago, she referred to it as "the Tao of the Dow." (I think she enjoyed saying this, in part, because Tao is also pronounced "Dow.")

I had never considered my approach a Taoist one, but as I learned more about this Eastern philosophy, I was struck by the similarities. Consider, for example, the following verses from China's ancient Tao Te Ching. They could be aimed squarely at economic forecasters, market timers, and metaphysical speculators:

The ancient Mastersdidn't try to educate the people,
but kindly taught them to not-know.

When they think that they know the answers,
people are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don't know,
people can find their own way.

Or consider this verse:

Not knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
First realize that you are sick;
then you can move toward health.

Or even more simply:

Those who know don't talk.
Those who talk don't know.

The venerable Tao Te Ching is not an investment guide, of course. It's a 2,600-year-old collection of 81 brief poems that describe a vision of what our lives would be like if we lived in harmony with the way things are.

It's among the most translated books in the world, exceeded only by the Bible and the Bhagavad-Gita. The Tao itself represents a transcendent mystery, something we cannot name or even imagine. Interpreted literally, it is "the way" of the universe, an explanation of life.

It contains no moral code, however. In fact, the Tao Te Ching is rarely about taking action. More often, it's about the wisdom of inaction and accepting what you cannot change, be it the state of the economy, the death of a loved one, or the behavior of your adult children.
Tradition tells us the author is Lao Tzu, a keeper of the imperial archives in the ancient capital of Luoyang, who lived around 600 B.C. But more likely, he didn't exist at all. Like Homer, Lao Tzu is probably a combination of many ancient sages – and the Tao is a compilation of wisdom that came into being over a great period of time. (The words lao tzu literally mean "old philosopher.")

Taoist philosophy challenges you to embrace paradoxical thinking. For example, you may believe an affront requires a forceful response. Lao Tzu encourages you to consider humility instead. A problem needs an effective solution? Consider the benefits of non-action first.

The ancient symbol of the Tao shows the two phases of the moon conjoined. This represents the yin and yang of the world: masculine and feminine, darkness and light, weakness and strength, action and inaction.

In the West, we tend to think that opposites contradict. The Oriental view is that they compliment each other – and it is only when we change our ingrained ways of thinking that we begin to change our world.

Taoist philosophy requires an open mind and considerable reflection to be fully appreciated. It reminds us, for instance, that we may be so busy trying to get rich, change the world or improve ourselves that we miss life's essence. Verse 8 says:

Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

Taoism offers an alternative view of abundance, one that values maintaining dignity over acquiring social position, and enjoying free time over acquiring possessions.

Culture, society and technology have changed a great deal over the last few thousand years. But the Taoist philosophy remains relevant. For example:

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.

Or consider this timeless nugget:

Wise men don't need to prove their point;
Men who need to prove their point aren't wise.

Lao Tzu said we should have a nature like water. Water can be forceful, yet it is always the first to yield, moving quickly around obstacles and relentlessly seeking the simplest path. With time and persistence, water will wear away the tallest mountains and transform the landscape.

People who are confrontational – who remain dogmatic – never learn this lesson. They're more interested in being right than moving forward. The Tao Te Ching says:

People are born gentle and weak;
at their death they are hard and stiff.
All things, including the grass and the trees,
are soft and pliable in life;
dry and brittle in death.

Stiffness is thus a companion of death;
flexibility a companion of life.
An army that cannot yield
will be defeated.
A tree that cannot bend
will crack in the wind.

The hard and stiff will be broken;
The soft and supple will prevail.

One of the classics of Oriental literature, the Tao Te Ching is both simple and profound. And it's easy to follow. The secret is not to complicate it.

The Tao encourages you to stop feeding your ego and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It teaches that the experience of inner peace is the true gauge of accomplishment.

The Tao Te Ching deals with many of the most basic human experiences: birth, death, loss, gain, dignity in the face of challenge, how to judge the character of a person, when to move forward, when to retreat, how to deal with good fortune or ill fate. There is even sage political advice: Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.

Despite his wisdom, Lao Tzu expected skepticism. He seemed to know his message would not always be well received:

When a superior man hears of the Tao,
he immediately begins to embody it.
When an average man hears of the Tao,
he half believes it, half doubts it.
When a foolish man hears of the Tao,
he laughs out loud.
If he didn't laugh,
it wouldn't be the Tao. 

Our lives are full of responsibilities and obligations. Technology and the pace of modern life add even more pressure and anxiety. Yet it's possible to gain understanding from the Tao Te Ching, a more than 2,000-year-old discourse on the nature of existence.

Taoism teaches that to be truly free we must be able to work with change rather than against it. We should be humble, flexible and detached from most worldly concerns. The art of abundance is often a matter of recognizing, appreciating and celebrating life as it is:

If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you. 

Carpe Diem, Alex

2011 - Time for the Next Step…

Video: 2010… Time to Change

Video:  2011… Time for the Next Step

Welcome to a new year and the biggest two months for America, Freedom and Capitalism (as recapped by FBN’s Neil Cavuto on his first show of 2011).  Two months can change the world and two months will tell the story of change or status quo in Washington and whether Americans have chosen enlightenment or despair… courage or fear… Big Brother or God… to become self-reliant and fighters or pons and quitters for 2011. Remember, out Founding Fathers gave us a road map to success, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution and they gave us the perfect vehicle for freedom, a Republic, but warned us that it was our job to remain vigilant and educated in order to keep it.

Words are meaningless unless they lead you toward action.

Glenn Beck started his season calling his audience to a personal revolution as the left is calling theirs to violent revolution (see below).  He is challenging them to move from the couch to action and he will use his show to inspire those who take the challenge to do so.

Beck’s message from the Blaze

America is at a crossroads. We have known this for 10 years now but after each tragic event or “bubble” America has gone back to sleep because we wanted to believe that we could have it all and “it just isn’t as bad as they say.” Our gut however, has told us that it was time to wake up and use what used to be known as “common sense.” It is what Americans from all points of the political compass meant when focus groups gave every politician the presidential campaign slogan, change.

After spending years, and thousands of man-hours, in research, reflection, and prayer, my team and I have come to realize that a “Fundamental Transformation” is required. While it is just as powerful, it’s also the polar opposite of what President Obama touted last election. President Obama and the progressive ruling class of both parties believe in the collective planned society. I believe America’s answers are to be found with, by, and in the individual American honestly pursuing happiness not in 2,000 page bills.

If one is looking for a “collective” based solution it can be found in the phrase: America is great because America is good. When we look for our answers in Washington we ask our politicians or parties to “make us good.” They cannot. But we can, must, and will. The secret our Founders understood was that America is good because individual Americans are honest, just, thrifty, responsible, educated, charitable and God fearing.

“America is great because America is good” is not just some trite slogan. It is a deep and well thought out philosophy that has over 200 years of evidence of its truth. Yet we are being told on every level from our classrooms to our newsrooms that America is not good and never was great.

We cannot as a nation survive much longer. We must take a page from our own history at the Alamo and “draw a line in the sand.” We must decide who we are, what we are capable of and look to the heavens to chart our course. Do we return to the ideas of the past or do we continue West to the yet unrealized and unfulfilled promises laid out in our Founding ideals? We must choose as individuals and then put those choices into action. We must demonstrate to our children, neighbors and to ourselves that it is not policies or politicians but people that make this nation what it is for better or for worse.

This year, I as an individual and private citizen stand at those crossroads and boldly declare my choice. I will not accept that America’s best days are behind Her, that there is no such thing as American exceptionalism. Nor will I stand by silently as the most charitable nation in the history of mankind now needs the IRS to act as our charitable collection basket. I refuse to believe that Eric Holder is right when he states that we “are a nation of cowards” when it comes to issues of race.

I will admit our wrongdoing, but I will not be a constant apologist for our nations mistakes. However, I will also look for historical context. I choose to believe that while many Americans may be ignorant of even the basics of our own history, Americans are waking up in record numbers educating themselves. One of the first things they will find is that History tells us when this happens Americans change the world.

I will no longer look to others for leadership or answers. I will lead my family and teach them to be independent, honorable, educated and charitable. With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence I choose to ReFound this amazing nation by rediscovering within myself, and my own circle of influence, the principles and ethics that defined American exceptionalism.

n 2011, my wife and I will dedicate significantly more of our personal resources to what some call charity but as you and I will show is nothing less than “investing in people.” I have also charted a new and exciting course for my company Mercury Radio Arts. I currently have plans on hiring more than 40 people as I expand many of our operations as well as creating new divisions such as one that will be known as “E4 Experiences”.

Over the next 12 months, all Mercury divisions, radio, television, books, digital and stage will focus on what I call ‘The E4 Solution.” The four “Es” consist of: Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. We will challenge ourselves and those who choose to chart this course with us, to find what we as individuals really believe, challenge what we think we know and dig deep to find out what we are each capable of.

Today, I call out to those who are tired of feeling powerless. Commit to become the person you were meant to be, not who you have allowed yourself to become; the Father, mother, sibling, friend, businessperson and American. As the old story goes:

A man decided that he would change the world.

But, he wasn’t successful.

So he decided to change the country.

But, he wasn’t successful.

So he decided to change his community.

But, he wasn’t successful.

So he decided to change his street.

But, be wasn’t successful.

So he decided to change his family.

But, he wasn’t successful.

So he decided to change himself.

AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

AND HIS FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.

AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.

AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

Today, I ask you to take the first step in your success. This is part Enlightenment and part Empowerment (E1 and E3 of the E4 Solution). One of America’s premiere psychiatric minds, concerned American and good friend Dr. Keith Ablow has been working with me on a project called “The 7.” Together we have developed 7 steps that can help you change your life, I know because they are the 7 steps that I used to change my life. This book meant for those who are tired being less than happy, fulfilled and want to be a part of a life that is bigger than they can currently imagine.

In the next 12 months, I challenge each American to come to the place where they can say without equivocation “YES, I CAN.” I believe strong, educated, charitable individuals who can stand on their own two feet, because they know who they are, will be remembered by future historians as those Americans who once again answered the call and changed the world again.

We have know for 10-years… more if you were a student of history and politics, that things were going very wrong in America.  Calls to get back to Common Sense.  But we chose to ignore it because we didn’t want to believe it.  We are now at the point for action and good change or lose the America we know and the beacon of hope and freedom for the world.

We were all born at this time for a reason…  We must all answer the call and find our purpose.

Sadly a fundamental transformation is necessary, but a fundamental transformation exactly the opposite of the Obama, the Clintons and the Progressives want.

America is great because America (and Americans as a group are) is good… De Tocqueville.  This is a true statement but for 100-years our children have been programmed to believe exactly the opposite.  We will not survive if we allow this lie to continue to be taught and perpetuated.

From our own history… today we that hear the call and anyone that we can awaken must draw a line in the sand and choose to change as individuals and prove to ourselves, our neighbors and our children that it is people that make a difference and are what matters.

Glenn had made a plan for himself and invites your to join him as a private citizen and as an individual.  He said he will not accept that America’s best days are behind us.  He refuses to believe the Progressive lies that we and our children have been fed.  It is time to stop apologizing for our mistakes, look back to history at and for our good and bad, and continue education ourselves (and our children) in the truth.

A George Washington or Ronald Reagan will hopefully turn up at sometime again, but we must each choose to re-found this nation through ourselves… one person, family and community at a time.

Faith Hope and Charity must be our base but it is time to move forward in the 4-E’s Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship.  Beck challenged himself and invites anyone who wants to come along to join him.

Beck and his wife Tanya will invest more of their resources in Charity… into people.

Beck’s new project:  The Seven Project.  It correlates with his new book for which he has done no promotion.  He knows it will get into the hands of those who need and want it.  The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life

Andrew Cloward and his wife Frances Fox Piven.

CHILLING VIDEO: OPENLY ROOTING FOR REVOLUTION, THE LEFT CALLS FOR AMERICAN CIVIL UNREST & RIOTS (FRANCES FOX PIVEN, LIB TALKERS, JOURNALISTS, VAN JONES, REV WRIGHT, ENGLISH PROTEST LEADER, ETC)  -  Cloward-Piven.com 

More Chilling information and Videos:

FRANCES FOX PIVEN RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR BY CALLING FOR VIOLENT REVOLUTION

NYC Marxists:  We Prefer to be called ‘Progressives’

If you want to change things, you must change yourself!  Start living the answer.  Make a plan.  Live a planned life.  Put God first; Your Family (Your Spouse who is your partner and should be part of every decision) Next… and then kids etc; Country 3rd; Your Job or Responsibility 4th; and your Passion 5th.  Pray for God’s help and guidance daily and talk to him throughout the day.  You cannot do it alone.  Spend time daily learning something about America and our history, one on one time with your spouse, and kids at home, reading scripture and at least a chapter of something else worthwhile.  Volunteer and share your knowledge.  Some entertainment… TV, sports, etc is fine but it should be the extra.  Be generous!!  Work toward being self-sufficient and being prepared for any emergency. Always use common sense!  Tithe and help those in need.  Be kind and giving…  give more than you think you have to give. Step out of your comfort zone and be brave.  Be an example, especially if you have children (and doubters) watching you.

I have had some people say to me… I don’t even know what to pray.   I received this simple prayer  suggestion from a friend:

"Lord, I recognize that I am a sinner and have tried to do it all on my own... please come into my heart and be the Lord of my life and guide me with your Holy Spirit, in the Name of Jesus. Amen".  Then sit back and prepare for the ride of your life. 

The most important thing is asking God every morning, what He wants you to do, where He wants you and your spouse to work and focus.  Do what and where that special place is that He wants you so. 

Related:

• REV AL’S RACIAL REDISTRIBUTION RACKET: CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT MANDATED ‘SPOILS’ REDISTRIBUTION BASED ON BLACK POPULATION

• SHOCK AUDIO: NEW BLACK PANTHER LEADER REVEALS COLLUSION AT NYC MEETING WITH AHMADINEJAD TO BUILD ALLIANCE, SECURE RAW MATERIALS AND OVERTHROW AMERICA

• GREEN MAKE BELIEVE: VAN JONES ADMITS LEFT IS ‘PRETENDING’ NEED FOR REGULATIONS IN GREEN MOVEMENT

• UNEARTHED LETTERS LINK ACLU FOUNDERS TO COMMUNIST PARTY

• NYC MARXISTS: WE PREFER TO BE CALLED ‘PROGRESSIVES’

"Anyone willing to give up liberty in exchange for security deserves ( and usually gets) neither." Benjamin Franklin