In keeping with a theme I’ve been on for awhile now I’d like to talk about the events going on in the world right now and some things I’ve noticed and seen in the news.
What got me thinking about this was a story I saw in the news about interest in doomsday shelters suddenly going through the roof. It seems that more people are suddenly taking notice that our world may be a slightly more precarious place to live than once thought. The last time there was such big interest in this type of shelter was just before the year 2000 – the Y2K scare.
As I’ve pointed out recently there has been a lot of interest lately because of the disaster in Japan, the troubles in the Middle East, and all the problems we’ve been having with economy and the “Great Recession.” Add to that people scared about the Mayan calendar running out in 2012 and you have a perfect mixture of panic inducing events.
In the story above one guy explains why he took $20,000 of his money to buy a spot in one of these Vivos underground bunkers. He figures once Armageddon comes he’s got a place for him and his family to go to. The problem is that he took the money he was planning on buying a house with and put it down on this bunker space for him and his family. He figures what good is a house if they won’t be around to enjoy it. Remember my last post? No balance.
There are a few problems with this kind of thinking. In case you don’t remember or haven’t been reading here for long I don’t believe that 2012 is a significant year just because the Mayan calendar runs out then, so in my mind to go and buy $20K worth of bunker space instead of a house because next year is Armageddon is a rather stupid move. I’m sure ya’ll will have your own personal opinions about that, but now you know where I stand. Could something happen in 2012? Of course. It could also happen in 2013 or 2015 and I’m sure there are many Japanese who might argue it already happened in 2011.
A better life-plan may have been to plunk that $20K down on some good defendable property with a stream running through it and some arable land. That way if something does happen he’d have a much better chance of self-sustained survival instead of depending on someone in an underground shelter to look after them.
Another drawback to this plan is that you have to travel some distance in order to get to the shelter. As we all know this could be a huge problem if TSHTF. But let’s say he does manage to get him and his family to the shelter. Who says they’re going to let him in? If you’ve locked yourself in a shelter and all kinds of bad things are happening up above would you keep opening the door for stragglers or would you turn a blind eye and say, “Well, they should have been here a day ago.” But let’s say that they do get in and find a spot; the story says there is space in that particular shelter for 950 people and it’s about the size of a Walmart. Holy crowded sheep, Batman!
Personally, I’d rather be up top breathing the air and executing my SHTF plan.
Let’s drag this post back to it’s original point though… is the Apocalypse upon us? Well, to be honest I don’t know – I don’t think so; however, I do believe in being prepared and like I said earlier, there’s plenty of bad news in the world right now. But honestly, I don’t think it’s the end of the world by any stretch.
The point of this whole post is to be alert to what is going on around us, but not to panic over it. This is where we have a huge advantage over those who don’t prepare. If and when TSHTF they’ll be crowding the malls and grocery stores and competing for limited resources. Those who are prepared will be home watching it all on TV. I’m not saying this to be smug. I’m saying this because I have a certain level of peace in my life because I know that I’m at least somewhat prepared for many eventualities.
If you have just started looking around at the world and you’re thinking, “Holy cow! The whole mess is going to come crashing down any minute!” Don’t panic! I’m pretty sure that everybody who preps came to that realization at one point and felt the same way. Come up with a plan, start putting extra food and other supplies aside, and keep a level head. You only have so many resources you can throw at this, so do it wisely. I don’t advise you to spend the down payment on your new house on a spot for a bunker. I do advise you to take it seriously and plan for at least one month’s food in your pantry and start working that up to three month’s supply.
Here’s a parting thought about panic. When is it a good time to panic? Never, of course. No matter how bad a situation gets it can always be made worse with a healthy dose of panic. Keep your head on straight no matter what happens and you’ll come out the other end a whole lot better than if you didn’t.
–Jarhead Survivor
BTW:
You have to admire the scare tactics of the Vivos marketing group.
Is The Apocalypse Upon Us?
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i think it was kipling who said it best: if you can keep your head, though all those around you are losing theirs…
you obviously don’t understand the gravity of your situation.
Irish,
You said “you obviously don’t understand the gravity of your situation” would you kindly expand upon that please, I’m not clear what you mean. Thank you ~
I think it was a part of the quote, but I’m not sure.
yes it was part of the quote. (however, as it turns out, it wasn’t actually kipling who said it)
No. sorry, i’ve said more than enough already.
I have a copy of one of the original books that this poem was published in. It’s one of my favorites; titled ‘If”
sanityjones:
“If” is indeed a great poem.
i was paraphrasing someone elses misquote. i can’t remember on which survivalist blog i read it. it’s safe to assume that anything i say, has been said before (and usually better) by someone else. (i never could write a proper footnote…)
It appears so, but it has many times in history to the point that people thought so. With the huge unrest in the middle east it is nearing the text book definition of armagedon, aka war on the plains of meggedo. While most of the indicators described in Revolation are appearant, not all of them are and they are subject to interpritation. Many of these anomilies are natural occurances that can be explained thru geo-physics and other scientific means. IT is also simple enough to show when they will pass to a large extent. What cannot be accurately predicted will be the response that humans will have to them in the context that they occur. As for the “appocalypse” I do not belive that the current upheavals will be the end of life on earth, I do believe that they could be the end of the world AS WE KNOW IT. That is to say, that the changes and set backs that we as a populace endure may be quite devistating to many among us. For those who have never lived in the world without internet or cell service or even running water and they dont know how to get things done without them, the impact would be huge and very depressing for some people. For those of us who have lived in the real world before all of these amenitys became so common place, it may actually be a welcome relief.
I have been saying for months just what you have.
The brown stuff is hitting the fan NOW.
What amazes me sometimes is how easily my fellow mankind can lose perspective, whether by investing thousands of dollars in bunker space or by buying hundreds of pounds of dried food their families will not eat. You make a good suggestion when you say “keep your head on straight”; but I gotta tell ya, sometimes it could be so easy to run screaming into the hills. The more I pay attention, the more I see that makes me doubt our society. I never noticed before how morally inept my local government is, or how oil-reliant my country is, how fragile our society is, how reliant I am upon others.
I hate that. I want to be as self-reliant as we can, and I’m finding many instances in my local community that works against that!
(I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to break that chain of reliance on society)
The end of the world as we know it will mean different things to different people as I have said before on this site. For some people it might mean actually having to work for a living and for others it might mean not being able to work for a living. Some of us have gone thru the end of the world more than once only to find it was just a bad day and some like those in Japan probably feel as though it has ended. I fear often that I won’t recognize the end when it happens. I believe that instead of a bang it might be a whimper and that most of us will miss it and those that do see it will not tell anyone or if they do will not be believed. I think many preppers have a deep fear that they will go thru their entire life and never have vindication that the effort they made was worthwile. NO one wants to live like a cave man, but some people might actually thrive. I fear that the major downfall will be financial and it will be slow, painful and not obvious and will never hit that magic aha moment when we can honestly say , “now is the time to bug out” and when we realize we need to go it will be too late. I have prepared all my life for something and I am starting to think I may be right and the time is near but near for what I don’t know. Earthquakes, nuclear meltdowns, war everywhere, famine economic meltdown, bank failures, layoffs, budget cuts, disease, pestilence and crooked leaders have been around all my life but either I did not notice as many or as much as often, or we have better news coverage or there really is more going on, either way, I am prepping the bunker and sharpening the knives and thinking a bow and arrow is a good skill and tool to have. I wish you all the best and hope that whatever you do it is for the best of reasons.
Semper Fi
Hi Carolyn. That’s a good question, but I’m not sure you can ever really break your dependence on society without going back to a hunter/gatherer type society. Think about the infrastructure, engineering feats, human labor, etc, that’s behind the simple act of flicking on your light switch.
Even if you decided to move to out to the woods you’d still be somewhat dependent on society. You’d need various tools, probably medical help at some point, maybe a resupply from time to time of various provisions, etc.
I think the best thing to do is to have good relations with your neighbors because they’re the ones who are going to most impact you if/when TSHTF. They might now believe at this moment that anything will happen, but if it does and you can assist them early on I suspect they’ll be grateful and will be more than willing to help out later.
I live close to a few farms and I’m friendly with the woman who owns the one across the street. As a matter of fact that’s where I buy all of my eggs. I’ve also volunteered to do some cutting on her property with my chainsaw. This helps her by getting a trail open for her tractor and it helps me because come hunting season I’ve got a nice path out to my tree stand where she let’s me hunt. Not to mention that you can’t buy this kind of good will.
I guess in the end that you really don’t want to break the chains of reliance, but you might want to make sure the chains you do need are good and strong through good relationships.
“I’ve also volunteered to do some cutting on her property with my chainsaw. This helps her by getting a trail open for her tractor and it helps me because come hunting season I’ve got a nice path out to my tree stand where she let’s me hunt. Not to mention that you can’t buy this kind of good will.”
Not to mention it’s just the right thing to do, call me “old fashioned” but I wish more folks would do things because they are right these days! Even if it’s just something simple like holding a door for a woman, when folks don’t do what they know they should it drives me completely nuts!
Excellent point Chefbear. I think this is a symptom of the moral decay in today’s society here in the U.S. I think there are still people out there who do these kinds of things, like you and I, but I think it’s a dying courtesy.
Quick story (as if!)
My 18 year old son and I are going to lunch and are yapping away as we hit the entry of Subway Sandwich. He pulls the door open, we’re still talking and motions this older couple to enter before us. We get a brief thank you, we respond with a smile then carry on. (My son is very engaging, incredibly smart and a pure pleasure to be around).
We sit, eat, get lost in conversation & on our way out the older woman stops us and asks “how old is your son?” I replied and she said she was completely surprised that a boy that age was so considerate, then thanks my son.
She sorrowfully tells us about her own grandkids & her general experience of today’s youth & how they would never consider such a thing & are basically rude most of the time.
Although proud, it made me more determined to do more. Those types of acts may be dying courtesies but it ain’t dead yet!
Thanks for sharing & figured you both leaned that way ~
Not that it is the reason I act courteous, (again I do it because it’s the right thing to do and I want folks to treat me with the same respect I try to show everyone) but I can still imagine Ma’s hand coming from nowhere to smack me in the back of the head if I don’t act right! Which is a strong motivator
Timely Post………….
It does appear to me from a Biblical perspective that certain prophecies spoken of there are
defintely coming to pass rather qucikly. One that really concerns me is we have No Leadership Nationally or even Internationally that being said. What happens when there is a void or vaccuum in nature things work hard to fill it.
that filling of the leadership void scares me especially with all the One World Government types already in Place a person with skills could convince nations to follow at this point and especially those without leadership.
Hungry Desperate people will do strange things out of character things.
Are we facing the Apocalypse. it certainly appears that we are. Will we
disappear from the face of the doubtful. Will we suffer for the path we’ve chosen probably.
Will prepping make life easier during these time defintely……….
Prepping is good advice what ever is happening around us.
In 1990 I studied eschatology and the thinking was Armageddon was at hand – back then. We had a the EU formalized into the 10 nation kingdom as described in the Bible, Gog & Magog (Russia) was making moves with nukes & the Akula class submarines, China (kings of the east) and it’s millions of troops all prepped to march into Israel. George Bush Sr. speaking of the new world order etc.
Now it’s 20 years later & a new threat has come from the ancient Mayans, economic turbulence, the Charlie Sheen life model (ha, ha) so what is real?
One of the best Biblical teachers I know of always said the key to end times is to watch what happens to Israel. If the S seriously H’sTF there – I talking serious S, like Iran launching nukes, then the show begins & would recommend having a balcony seat to watch the action.
And the Bible also states that no one knows the day or time but the Father in heaven.
Let’s seriously assume that 2012 is indeed the end of the world, not as we know it, but the honest to God END OF THE WORLD mwuhaahahaa. I think I would be more inclined to take the 20k and go on one Hell of a vacation with my family and best of friends and enjoy the time we have left minus all of the worry about Armageddon. No one REALLY believes that the END is upon us………hard times, yes. Really, hard times, yes. really, really hard times……probably. The actual end of the world, crawl into my bunker, wait for supplies to run out, and die in a tomb of my own making……..I’m not buying it. As far as the ending of the Mayan calendar goes; they had to stop somewhere, otherwise they would still be charting it out off into infinity, It’s a frigging calander.
Just need to add that while I do believe in the end of days from Christian perspective, I do not buy into the fanatical New Age Nostradamus, Mayan, Sammy Hagar UFO, Alternative media spawned drivel which is more concerned with making a profit off the fear of others rather than attending to my well being.
sanityjones
What you just described is the end of the world as we know it & thank goodness – the girdle has finally come off of the blubbery media and we now see it for what it is:
An insatiable, self perpetuating money generating machine that uses fear for the fulcrum to leverage dollars out of our pocket.
It’s all a big fat lie and the anxiety being felt is from people beginning to see that we don’t need to buy into the BS anymore & finally question motives.
Do I think the world will end & people will be wandering aimlessly throughout the streets? HELL NO, nothing remotely close to it! If you are stupid enough to run and hide in a bunker, don’t forget your deodorant & Lysol. Please leave me the deed to your property as you drive away ….
In case you haven’t guessed, I absolutely loathe fear driven agendas. It is disgusting, demeaning & insults intelligence.
Things will change & be far different I believe better, but going through the valley of the shadow of deal will unnerve some and that always happens.
Oops , what the deal? It was supposed to be valley of the shadow of >>> death <<<!
Maybe you’re on to something there with the “valley of the shadow of deal” as it is the multitude of deals with the proverbial Devil himself which has brought us to the doorsteps of ruin and it is only through further dealing with the Devil that the world as we know it can further it’s not so hidden agendas. The question is will your body be broken upon the false alter of prosperity, or will you do your part to rise up and defend all that is truly righteous and just? As for me, my decisions have been made…whatever tomorrow may bring.
A little off topic, but my favorite quote of all time is by Gen. George S. Patton- “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, Because I am the MEANEST Mother F%&*#$ in the valley!”
+1 on the eerie Freudian slip.
Funny you should say that PND, I thought exactly the same thing & almost did not correct it.
sanityjones – we are very much on the same page. It is interesting to watch the separation of the wheat from the chaff …
As far as the answer to your question, although I had (note – past tense) made boat loads of money in my career & most went bye, bye – prosperity has never really been my thing, it was a result of a talent, application & hard work.
Take it from someone who found out the hard way – without proper perspective, money or fortune is totally useless.
I see a different light now & am quite relieved …
“When you take your eyes off of the lighthouse, you hit the reef.”
Well said Jarhead. Stay calm and keep prepping.
Ok Jarhead, I have a “stupid question” about the video by Vivos that you put a link to at the end of your article… If the world is to end by a huge chunk ‘o’ rock hurdling in from the cosmos… and as it showed in the video several times, and a wave of fire and destruction rolls across the surface of the earth…. #1 Would there be any air left for folks to breath? #2 If all the air is gone as a result of a planet-wide firestorm, can those fancy bunkers produce their own breathable air? #3 If there is nothing left but ash on the surface of the earth, would folks EVER be able to leave the bunker and scratch out a living on the surface? #4 IF that scenario were to play out, would anybody REALLY want to carry on afterward? #5 Hasn’t science proven that something like that would cause severe earthquakes??? Can one of those bunkers survive if they are sucked into the center of the planet?
I find those kinds of scare tactics amusing. Personally, if we are faced with something of that magnitude, then I am probably gonna drive as close to the point of impact as I can get; because at least I wouldn’t have to slowly burn to death/suffocate, I could quickly go to meet my maker and be done with it! Afterward I will be “treading the streets of gold”!
I think that even if I had the finances/desire to “buy space” in one of those bunkers… Let me correct myself… I don’t think…I KNOW I wouldn’t waste my time/money! I had enough of living in a confined space, between my experiences in Panama and my old apartment!
Personally, I don’t buy into the scenarios that people try to use in an effort to fatten their wallets by removing hope from their particular brand of TEOTWAWKI. Not to sound “crunchy”, but without hope what are we left with? Despair? Regret? Fear? None of those are to desirable to me! So, I am going to continue hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst that I can REASONABLY deal with. A giant rock smashing into the Earth and destroying everything, is beyond my abilities to stop/prep for… My girl might call me “Hulk” (because of my weightlifting hobby), but I am pretty sure even the big green guy from the comics/show/movies couldn’t deal with an asteroid better!
Hi Chefbear,
Yeah, all good quesitons for their marketing department I’d say. I wouldn’t waste my time or money on one of these bunkers either.
Jarhead,
That Vivos video was extremely well done from an artistic point of view. But I rather take my chances above ground than to face the new, destroyed world.
The concept is pretty stupid & obviously greed oriented but it was pretty cool to watch!
It was artistic and it had a nice musical score to the end of the world as well. Too bad they’re preying on the fears of people to turn a buck, but I guess that’s nothing new either.
One thing I haven’t heard about all of this Mayan 2012 talk is that perhaps it meant that it was the end of the “Mayan world” which would be southern Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and their general vicinity. That could be a volcanic eruption, an earthquake, or a hurricane. It Could also be massive gang warfare in that area (think MS-13). I seriously do not think that it would be the end of the entire world, or even a hemisphere or continent.
It’s probably the end of Mayan restaurants and thank goodness, that food always gave me gas.
I do not beleive so, I think what we are seeing is just the reality of our world where information is flashed around the world in seconds. This stuff has been happening since the beginning of time, we just did not have the means to broadcast it live 24/7 until recently.
3rd Man,
That’s part of my argument about things getting bad – are they really getting bad OR are we just now able to see the entire world – in intimate detail, acting as it’s been for centuries?
Exactly!
More people living in areas that we may not have lived in before but have to now since the population exploded since the discovery of oil.
The Apocalypse may well be the result of our own sucess!
Is that Apocalypse Upon Us……………?
No it’s just drippins from my Philly Steak and Cheese I had for lunch, sorry, false alarm.
nice post
Just because greed and corruption is now institutionalized in this country, that we are severely over-extended militarily, that there is an energy disaster looming (peak oil/supply disruptions/ price of oil/ nuclear power problems/etc.), we have 9 to 10 per cent unemployment, the nuclear family has been destroyed, we’ve lost control of our border, inflation is now starting to rear its ugly head, confidence in our leaders and institutions is low, our industrial base is gone, we have oppressive government rules and regulations, and we’re heavily reliant on technology while we’re in a spiritual desert doesn’t mean anything bad is going to happen.
Correct, which is why I’m holding my breath for man to recognize his foolhardiness, repent and correctly apply his many thousand years of accumulated wisdom to correct the grievous errors of the past and chart a proper course towards the land of milk and honey; not just for a select few mind you, but for all; regardless of race, color, creed, religious affiliation, sexual preference, attitude, abilities, language, geographic location, mental condition………………………………….