The beginning of the end....

Greece, Thailand, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, and on and on......

Why?

The media has essentially muddled the real reason why. Political figures, network news, and everyone in between is trying to polarize the issue into a good versus evil, socialism versus capitalism.

This is NOT why. The short answer is food. Yes, food. Rising food prices around the world are leaving more people hungry. This is not the only reason however. I argue it is essentially the straw that has broken the "camel's back".

What it REALLY comes down to is energy and money. To simplify even further, OIL. Yes.... it is oil. We are at a point in the industrial age where finding usable oil is becoming increasingly difficult. Don't believe me? The BP oil spill is the quintessence of the underlying problem. We are now having to drill further offshore, in more hostile terrain. Some argue that oil is virtually limitless. I agree, but there are 2 types of oil. Cheap, easy to access oil, and oil that is so difficult to collect, that it is cost ineffective to even attempt. When the cost to extract oil becomes more than the value of the oil, we stop drilling.

I am trying to simplify a very complex issue here. There are far more intricacies here, but for the purpose of this post, I am explaining it as basically as I can.

Here it is: "peak oil" has already been reached, meaning that petroleum supplies will continue to fall and prices rise until gasoline, plastic, pesticides and other oil-derived products become unaffordable.

Its a law as certain as gravity. When you have something that is finite, you get a bell curve. We are now at the top of the curve. So as the world population continues to grow, supply of oil will fall. There is NOTHING to stop this. Oil reservoirs will not replenish. It is really that simple.

This collapse is not made up. This is not hyperbole. It is real. I have for several years now, worked for the finance industry. I spend 10+ hours a day reading reports, studying markets and economies. This so called "recovery" is complete bullshit. Our government has fed us lies. I was raised and for a long time took the republican route. Then, after really studying and understanding the way the right works, I went the other way. I was a so called "liberal" from 2001 until about 2008. Then came the economic crash of 2008. Now? I am neither. What do I believe now? Hmmmm.... Well, government lies, companies lie. No matter if you have big government or small, the lying is just the same. We are all having the wool pulled over our eyes. What we see now is simply a prop. The bailouts, the tax credits, the goddamn stock market. Its all a big show put on by those in power to make us think that everything is alright. Well, it isn't!

I have seen this unfolding for years now. We are at the point in our lives where shit just won't be getting better until it gets much worse. What do I mean by worse? Here is a sampling of what is to come:
1) Contagion effect- more countries will follow the lead of those I listed above. It will spread to all corners of the globe. Those feeling their human rights violated will revolt. It will eventually make its way to our country
2) Oil prices will continue to climb
3) EVERYTHING will become more expensive
4) Hyperinflation- Because money is being printed at a feverish pace, the more money in the system, the less value it collectively has. Imagine a 3 dollar loaf of bread costing you 6 dollars, 9 dollars....(this is a whole other topic I will address soon)
5) Food costs spiking, food availability disappearing. I don't think this will happen immediately, but it will happen.
6) Real estate values plummeting further
7) Job loss- you thought 2008-2009 was bad? You haven't seen anything.
8) Mortgage collapse, more people will not be able to pay their mortgages due to A) high fuel prices, and B) ultimately high food prices. People will feed themselves and their families before paying their mortgage.
9) Bank collapse- there is an estimated 700 TRILLION dollars in outstanding mortgage backed derivatives! We will see something that will make the bank runs of the great depression look like child's play.
10) Municipality failures- states like New Jersey, Illinois and California will not be able to pay their debtors. Surely, the US government would not allow a state to default, but when the extra money is being printed to "prop" up these states, something has to give.
10a) Massive state layoffs, pensions evaporated, wages lowered
10b) Increase in crime against law enforcement- cities are so cash strapped that they have cut back on law enforcement. Criminals will prey on this.
11) Infrastructure failure- roads, bridges, railways, waste management, electric power grids, clean water supply, sewage systems, cell phone towers, etc.... will fall apart from lack of maintenance.
12) Religious fanaticism- Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike will begin looking to their God for guidance. Some will go to the extreme and try to kill us. This is not a time to look up to a supernatural power to save us. You need to focus on what is real. You HAVE to survive.

This list is much longer.

So what do we do? Well, nothing. When civilization collapses, there is nothing you can do! The only thing is to accept it and prepare for it.

What are my suggestions and what am I doing?
1) buy gold, it has true value and is an inflation hedge
2) learn how to plant and grow things
3) buy seeds
4) pay off all debt
5) build community, cooperation with neighbors. Create allies
6) reconnect with family
7) weapons for self defense, training (you need to have the attitude of a survivor)
8) 3 months of food and water
9) First aid supplies

Remember, if you are in the woods being chased by a bear, you don't have to be the fastest. You just can't be the slowest.

Finally, The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as the five stages of grief, was first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying.

We are seeing this happen before our very eyes:
Stage 1: Denial
- Many of you reading this are in this stage. I was. "It won't happen to me" and "this is all a bunch of left wing bullshit"
Stage 2: Anger
- This is Egypt. They are pissed off. As we progress down this road, more and more of us will get to this stage. When we start to open our eyes to see the load of bullshit we have been fed, it will create momentum that will lead to civil unrest.
Stage 3: Bargaining
- "I understand I will die, but if I could just have more time..."; "let us try and work something out."
Stage 4: Depression
- "this is it, this is the end."; "I can't do anything about this." People will be sad, they will cry. They will feel despair.
Stage 5: Acceptance
- "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."
In this last stage, the individual begins to come to terms with his or her mortality.

Stage 5 is where we all need to be AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Accept that we have a serious problem on our hands that will change the course of human existence forever.

The beautiful thing about all of what I have written here is this: Life WILL go on. This earth is more powerful than the 6+ Billion people on it. We will not see the world "end." People will die, governments and companies will fall. We will witness "Social Darwinism." The strong WILL survive. So if we can make it through this transition, after the dust clears, we will see a new era. Where people will get back to working together.

Thanks for reading

OAC

Utah? Really??? Is this the wild wild west circa 1860 or 2010?

Please reference this article if you are not familiar with the recent news out of the great state of Utah.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/04/2010424162528622615.html



This is very bothersome to me. Do not get me wrong, this guy is a piece of garbage that deserves to be punished. I have an issue with the method and the precedent it creates.

“The firing squad is archaic, it's violent, and it simply expands on the violence that we already experience from guns as a society," said Bishop John C. Wester, of Utah's Catholic Diocese.

On Friday, both Burdell's girlfriend from 1985 and his father, Joseph Burdell Jr., testified that Burdell would not want Gardner to die in his name.

A pacifist who was drafted into the U.S. Army, Burdell served in Vietnam but refused to carry a gun, Donna Nu said.

"He would have not wanted Ronnie Lee's execution. He didn't believe in that," a tearful Nu said.
"If Ronnie would have just wounded him and Michael would have lived, he would have defended him."

I cannot believe that convicted murderers can choose the method of death!? We allow a known murderer to choose the way he dies yet a woman can’t choose when it comes to her body. Did the attorney Michael Burdell get to choose how he died?



What if it was your child or father or sister who made a bad decision and killed someone? Would you be so gung-ho about executing them then? I am sure that it is easy to be pro-death (penalty) if it doesn’t affect you. Utah has a very violent past and continues to propagate hate and vengeance. Funny how a state that was founded on the principles of the mormon religion that supposedly promotes love, family, and forgiveness of sins is so blinded by hate. Why not tie him to a table and cut him to pieces with a chain saw on live tv? Where does it end?



There is NO study that can prove that Capital Punishment deters crime , and in fact , Florida , Texas and other capital punishment states have much higher crime rates than some of the states which don't have capital punishment.

The cost of appeals is as much as housing an inmate for life , and there's a negligible deterrent , and it relegates the U.S. to being as backwards as Cuba , Iran , and the Third World African nations which make up the vast majority of nations still using Capital Punishment.
Murdering in the name of justice is still murder and the state of Utah is stooping to the level of the criminal in question.

Life in prison without parole, living in a dark cell, never having human interaction for the rest of their lives sounds like a better punishment to me. I use to think the death penalty was a good option, but then I grew up and realized that capital punishment was the easy way out and that some of the most religious people I know support it! Call me stupid, but that seems like hypocrisy…

All words by Jesus concerning love, mercy and forgiveness makes it impossible for the death penalty to be practiced within the framework of the Christian Church.

John 8:7 - But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

According to Jesus, you should not dole out punishment if you yourself have sinned, and something tells me that the Utah state government and all others involved have done their fair share of sinning.



If you claim to live by the edict of the bible, then you should, in fact, do just that.

Much Love

OAC

My Honest and Open Thoughts on Suicide

This is a bit of a touchy subject. Although most of my posts are humorous and edgy, this one is not. I feel that this subject is taboo and needs to be talked about more so that we don't lose the people we love. The information pertaining to suicide is staggering...

I never really understood why people kill themselves and I really never understood how it is actually criminal to take your own life. You never really know who silently struggles with depression, substance abuse and mental illness. Here are my thoughts relating to suicide, mental illness and civic responsibility.

To preface, I have experienced suicide in many different ways. I have lost a couple friends and have also had many acquaintances that have taken their own lives. I also serve on the board of a non-profit organization that works to end teen suicide in Colorado and across the nation. Daily, emails roll into to my inbox of "referrals" of kids across the state that have been admitted to see a mental health professional for suicidal ideation and tendencies.

First- Suicide in Colorado
Colorado ranks 6th in the country for suicides. It also is the 2nd leading cause of death in the state behind motor vehicle fatalities in youth. There are an average of 60 a month in the state, and thats not including the spike you see during times of economic turmoil like we have seen these last 2 years. 5%, or 5 out of every 100 residents in this state have either attempted or have thought about doing it. So for every 100 people you see shuffling through the mall on a Saturday, 5 of them are considering to end their lives. Women contemplate it 50% more often than men, yet men are 4 times more likely to complete the act. Also, men tend to use more violent methods like guns or hanging while women tend to overdose on medications or cut. Risk factors for suicide can be characteristics of an individual (being male, having a mental or physical illness, having a family history of suicide), situational (living alone, being unemployed) or behavioral (alcoholism, drug abuse or owning a gun).

Second- Mental Illness
Now, in the cases that I have experienced, I always thought to myself..... "How could they do it?" "I never thought they would." The truth is, often times they do illicit signs that foreshadow an upcoming attempt. Like I mentioned above, if you know someone who is male, living alone, owning a gun, unemployed, that drinks a lot,..... that is a red flag. Obviously thats not always going to be true, but the statistics say that person is at a higher risk. A good friend of mine that took his life 2 years ago did not really fall into this group. He was married, had a child, worked, and never owned a weapon. What it comes down to is knowing your friends and keying in to any warning signs.
Here are a few:
-Despondent
-Wanting to be alone
-Carelessness
-Joke about killing themselves making off-the-cuff remarks
-Giving away possessions for no apparent reason
-Religious and/or cultural pressures (young catholic Latina women currently have the highest rate)
-Dramatic changes in mood and behavior
Often times these people are battling the "demons" in their head and for whatever reason, do not seek help. Reasons can include economic issues, and fear of what family and friends might think if they found out.
Our current health care system in Colorado and nation wide is broken, especially when it comes to mental health. The good thing is, people that have contemplated and/or attempted suicide that finally got help, usually get better and survive.

Third- Civic Responsibility
The fact that we have money pouring in to things like cancer research and automobile safety is promising from a financial standpoint. The issue is that something as taboo as suicide gets the back seat. Why don't people want to talk about it? The answer is complicated. Again, it can be religious(most religious sects avoid the topic and disregard the issue), cultural(admitting that one has thought about it can severely affect ones place in a given culture), or economic(without a physical and visible illness, people with little means may find it hard to legitimize spending the money to get help). We need to talk about it more and make it "OK" to get help if help is needed.

In closing- So what can you or I do about this very real and very serious issue? As mentioned, communication is key. If you ever find someone you know that is displaying any of the above warning signs, confront them. It may be hard to do, but simply asking, "are you thinking about killing yourself?" is a great way to start. Studies find that most people who have attempted suicide never REALLY WANTED TO DIE. When posed with the question, they may get mad or defensive, but I would rather have a loved one angry with me than dead. You can mend relationships, but if someone is gone, there is nothing you can do. We live in a transplant state. People from all over the world move here for various reasons. Often times they leave close family and friends behind and try to establish a life in our beautiful state. Their support system may be gone. Also, Colorado lives with an "old west" mentality of picking yourself up by your bootstraps when you get knocked down and being a strong and stoic individual that doesn't need help from others.

So call up that friend or family member that you thought of while reading this and see how they are doing, go out for coffee, and let them know that you care for them and that you are always there for them.

Alex

Why Vegan??? If I have to explain myself one more time I am going to lose it!!!

So I get asked every single day, "Alex, why are you vegan?". Normally, I wouldn't really care. And often times, just to avoid the typical arguments presented by meat-eaters, I just smile, nod, and change the subject. I liken it to the arguments I have concerning religion and the existence of god. I will explain my stance, but you will be so blinded by your views that you won't even "hear me out." Here, I will post a summary of all the reasons I am a vegan. That way, when we are out to lunch or dinner, I don't have to waste my precious time explaining myself.

To start, I have to get some things off my chest. Lay the groundwork if you will. First, nothing is more annoying than someone acting disgusted or revolted that I am vegan.
Example: "Alex,.... you are a vegan???! Why would you ever do that?"
OK.... there are more reasons than your small little brain can handle, but I will keep it simple. My standard response is- It is good for your health, it is good for the environment, and it is the ethical thing to do. Of course I get the typical "We NEED meat in our diets!"- Umm.... no we don't brain stem.
Or "humans are carnivores and we eat meat for food because we can and it is part of being human!"- Yeah,.... no again buddy. Humans are not carnivores by nature and part of being human is the ability to adapt, learn, and progress. We now have the ability to be a vegetarian society and utilize land to raise crop that would support FAR MORE people than using it to raise cattle. But again- you can't reason with stupid. Who cares if we use all of this land to raise cattle that feeds several thousand when we could use the same land to feed hundreds of thousands..... Americans are privileged. We don't give a shit about anyone else. As long as you have your fat steak on your plate, you could give a fuck less about starving people half a world away.
Then there is the environment argument. I often hear that it is all a scam, all bullshit. Well, global warming may not be the case, but there is certainly global climate change going on. That, my friend, you cannot deny. Polluted water from runoff, methane production, increased use of oil and gas to logistically move cattle from factory farm to slaughter. Its all an ENORMOUS contributor to climate change.

Second, questioning my manhood because of my lifestyle is just plain stupid. This one always gets me. I often hear, "REAL men eat meat." "only women are vegetarian." "you must have a lot of estrogen from eating vegetarian." So ridiculously funny to hear these things.
Lets take the 1st statement... It actually takes more of a REAL man to be compassionate; to end an addiction to flesh. It takes more of man to admit they love animals and that they do NOT want to participate in the cowardice involved in the meat industry. It takes a real man to go against the grain of society and stand up for something that they know in their heart is wrong. So you sir, are actually a coward, a phony. You legitimize your actions because its the "manly" thing to do! Here is another fact- Vegetarian men are more fertile and can sustain an erection longer than those who eat meat. Here is an excerpt. In an article titled "Eat Yourself impotent" Dr. John McDougall states "The same diet that closes the arteries to the heart (heart attacks) and brain (stroke) also closes the arteries to the penis--the result is erectile dysfunction (ED), which means a delay in time for maximal erection, reduced rigidity, and decreased ability to sustain an erection." Also- "Studies have shown that impotence is often a sign of blocked arteries, and artery blockages are commonly caused by the consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products, which are high in cholesterol and saturated fat." Chew on that. So not only are you balding at thirty and making fun of a vegan, but you have a limp penis. Bravo.
The second statement is not even worthy of a rebuttal. I wonder if guys who say this get laid. Honestly, a chauvinistic statement that further prevents you from ever finding a modern woman.
Third, this one is funny! "hey Alex, i hear that soy products make you grow boobs and decrease sex drive/testosterone." No you idiot, they do not. My main source of protein is from seeds, nuts, and whole grain. I would invite you to step in to a ring, or to run a race, or to do anything athletic with me and see who is deficient in testosterone. In fact, more and more athletes are subscribing to a vegetarian diet for its benefits in sports(more energy, explosiveness, endurance). See NFL tight end Tony Gonzales, Milwaukee Brewers 1st baseman Prince Fielder, Olympian Carl Lewis, UFC champion Mac Danzig.

And finally, I was raised eating meat, did my research, and decided to be vegan- so you will never change my mind. I was in your shoes and made a conscious effort to improve my life. Often times, the people that question me or argue with me were raised to eat meat. Therefore, that is all they know. How can you argue your point if you haven't explored the other side. Again, referring to my stance on religion. I would not be able to make as compelling an argument had I not been raised catholic. Because I was raised that way and believed it until my early 20s, I have seen both sides. I made an educated and conscious effort to change my entire belief system. So it is the same with meat. I was a meat-addict for more than 13 years of my life until one day I decided to challenge the status quo! Questioning the status quo and making your own decisions is a hard thing to do. Especially with subjects as though provoking as this. And as a young, 13 year old teenager who played 3 different sports, vying for the alpha position in my clique and in my circle of influence was hard. Especially when you were the vegetarian kid.
It makes me smile to know that now, I have essentially zero cholesterol, low blood pressure, got rid of my asthma, fertile, no ED, a full head of hair, and endless energy. So you know what? I am quite alright with defending my position. I am proud of where I stand. And if you so choose to step into an argument, I will see you in the ring. If you are interested in knowing more because you are ready to make a move, I would love to impart my knowledge on you. I am 27 now and have been vegan since age 13..... I feel like I may be a bit of an expert.

Live well

OAC

Words cannot describe.... This is a kids show? Really?

Response to a Very Confused and Naive Christian

So I was on an atheist blog, and some clown who was offended by the content decided to write a response. Here it is:
----------------------------------------------------------
i am religious. however, i only have a couple questions to ask. one, what do atheist believe happens after death? cause if you think you'll die and just die then whats the point of liveng. two, how many of you atheist were religious people who gave up on your religion because you couldnt hang in there? cause i have had plenty a things happen to me to help me believe in god. and as for those of you who want to question Christianity. Christianity is a relationship not a religion. its like being married. if you cant hold in long enough to get to the good part, you'll end up missing out on something wonderful.
----------------------------------------------------------
Utterly amazing that this was his argument for religion. If this was his argument for religion and the majority of people in the world that are religious think this way...... then I am quite worried. You cannot reason with stupidity. Reason can only occur with intelligent beings. So Here is what I posted back. Pwned! P.S.- I titled the post "I DON'T BELIEVE IN MAGIC".
----------------------------------------------------------
In response to the above guest. Normally I don't respond to people who can not spell or form proper sentences, but you seem very naive.- i only have a couple questions to ask. one, what do atheist believe happens after death? NOTHING, YOU CEASE TO EXIST. cause if you think you'll die and just die then whats the point of liveng. THAT IS THE VERY POINT OF LIVING! IF YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE KNOWING THAT THIS IS IT, YOUR ONE AND ONLY SHOT, YOU WILL LIVE A LIFE OF BEAUTY AND LOVE. PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE THIS NOTION THAT THIS LIFE IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN YOUR SO CALLED "ETERNAL LIFE" IN HEAVEN. two, how many of you atheist were religious people who gave up on your religion because you couldnt hang in there? UNLESS YOU ARE BORN IN TO AN ATHEIST SOCIETY, YOU CAN NOT CONTROL HOW YOU ARE BROUGHT UP. JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T CHOOSE YOUR SEX OR YOUR SKIN COLOR. THE WONDERFUL THING THOUGH, IS THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND FIND OUT THE TRUTH FOR YOURSELF. cause i have had plenty a things happen to me to help me believe in god. LIKE WHAT? DOES YOUR GOD GRANT YOU YOUR PRAYERS AND WISHES BUT NOT THE POOR PEOPLE OF HAITI? HOW ARE YOU SO SPECIAL? and as for those of you who want to question Christianity. Christianity is a relationship not a religion. TYPICAL CHRISTIAN RESPONSE its like being married. 60% DIVORCE RATE CURRENTLY, MARRIAGE IS AS FAILED AS RELIGION if you cant hold in long enough to get to the good part, you'll end up missing out on something wonderful. SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO GET TO THE GOOD PART? WHY NOT AUTOMATICALLY GET THE GOOD PART. FREE YOUR MIND! IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THE MOST INTELLIGENT AND SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE TO EVER WALK THIS EARTH WERE ATHEISTS.

OAC

Everyday Humour (I like spelling it that way)

Ah yes.... Funny things are everywhere. I make it a point to look for things that are funny on a daily basis. Essentially, if you find no humour in anything at least once a day, you are a sad, bitter, and an empty-shell of a human.

Exhibit A- Motorcycle with Sidecar
I did not actually snap this picture, but I did in fact, see a motorcycle and sidecar on the highway. For some reason I find it to be funny. Anytime I see one, I think, "that is funny, but it could be a lot funnier if a giant brown bear was driving it with maybe an English bulldog in the sidecar." Maybe even have the bulldog driving and the bear riding in the sidecar with a spiked helmet, goggles, and a scarf....no pants however. A cow is pretty damn funny though. Cheers to you sidecar motorcycle guy.

Exhibit B- Pirate at the Supermarket
So there is this guy that I see everywhere near where I live. I have seen him at gas stations, supermarkets, and the liquor store. Normally this wouldn't be all that odd, but why he makes the list is that he has a bad ass eye patch with a single diamond on it! To make things even more awesome, is that this guy has an enormous beard and a slight limp. Case in point, this guy is a god damn pirate! Of course, anytime I see a guy with an eye patch, I can't help but stare and think "this is a real god damn pirate within our midst!" Thank you pirate, your missing eye makes my day.

Exhibit C- The Banana Peel
Remember the old Looney Tunes cartoons where the witty and sly mouse would strategically place a banana peel on the ground? Enter the big, lanky, stupid cat who would step on the peel and eat shit. Well, on my way to work a few days ago, I was minding my own goddamn business when I stepped on said banana peel and ate shit. All while wearing a suit! How the hell does that happen? Bananas are not slippery by nature, but this one got me. All I have to show for it is a cracked coccyx and complete shame. FML

Exhibit D- The General Larry Platt
Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground

With the gold in your mouth
Hat turned sideways
Pants hit the ground
Call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ talkin’ with your pants on the ground.

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground


Good Night, and Good Luck

OAC