BadIdea Musings

Jan 27th, 12 / 0 Comments

Your BadIdeaGuy hasn’t been very active blogging of late. Now this doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about much, the last year has been hectic as all get-out.  Between having a third child, two active ones, and an incredibly busy work-schedule, I have no idea where 2011 went. In fact, does anyone know how many hours above 40 per week that one must work salaried-exempt before you’re considered a trafficked human?

My workplace is not friendly toward blogging.

The GIN’s been busy of-late as well. Everyone’s got families and lots of work but we’re still active. I’ll try to transfer GIN discussions for readers here to read and comment upon as well, so you can get the pulse of the GIN.

I just read William Forstchen’s “One Second After,” and found it to be a worthwhile read. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve struggled to do recreational reading lately but this book insinuated itself into my “free time” (aka time that I normally try to achieve 7.5 hours of sleep). It’s about what happens after a successful EMP attack.  It was gripping, depressing, enraging, and inspiring.  Typically I don’t get drawn emotionally into books like I did with this.  It’s well worth a read if you get the chance. Plus, it will inspire you to do some more preparation for a SHTF situation.

Speaking of which, I’ve been feeling rather agitated about the risk of SHTF events, particularly economic ones lately. When you look at it, we’re like frogs in a boiling pot of water when you try to look objectively at things:

  • The economy is so poopy it might break the fan when it hits it. A daily perusal of Zero Hedge and a stop at SurvivalBlog will help with understanding this.
  • The GOP race is a joke. I keep waiting for the knight on the white horse to ride in and save the GOP from Romnegrich, but istead I get the pale horseman of the apocalypse. I’m with those like Matt Kibbe of Freedomworks who’d like to throw back the fish we caught and start over- brokered convention will go to Romney
  • The incompetence and destructiveness of the Obama regime is stunning. More stunning is the inability of the media to cover it adequately.
  • Did Soros really predict OWS would turn violent? Yes, yes, yes.. (say it George, SAY IT!) my precious!!!!

My preparations continue to work to keep my family safe and prepared. I picked up two guns for Christmas but that will be it for a while. I’ve also been making small silver purchases while the price is lower. While I don’t hold enough precious metals to ever be wealthy, it’s good to have some available.

Other things I’ve been looking at are different food storage opportunities. My family will be eating in the event of a grid-down disaster, but I guess nutrition might suffer.  I have a decent amount of grains and beans stored, but I haven’t perfected eating in a rotation yet for canned goods.  I’m investigated freeze-dried foods, we’ll see.

Of course, after reading One Second After I’m pretty well convinced that my current location would be an utter disaster in a post-EMP world.  There’s actually potential that the BadIdeaFamily will be relocating this year, and one of the locations is promising in terms of being safer as a locale/retreat.

Bad Ideas, G.I.N. discussions

Feel-Good of the Day

Jan 26th, 12 / 0 Comments

This ought to put a smile on your face (link):

A 65-year-old man riding his bicycle along a Berks County trail became the target of three teenage boys Wednesday morning.

Soon the teens became the target of the cyclist, according to Cumru Township Police.

The cyclist was riding on the Thun Trail near the Bertolet Fishing Dock at S First Avenue and Chestnut Street in West Reading, Pa. around 11 a.m. when the minors — described by the AP as 15- and 16-year-olds — knocked the man off his bike, police said.

As two of the juveniles attacked the man he pulled out a handgun and shot them, cops said.

That kid won’t do that again! (Found by the GIN’s Mr. Hopeful)

Bad Ideas, G.I.N. discussions, gun issues

Atlas Shrugged-esque Moment of the Day

Jan 20th, 12 / 0 Comments

Wesley Mouch would definitely approve (link):

Six House Democrats, led by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), want to set up a “Reasonable Profits Board” to control gas profits.

The Democrats, worried about higher gas prices, want to set up a board that would apply a “windfall profit tax” as high as 100 percent on the sale of oil and gas, according to their legislation. The bill provides no specific guidance for how the board would determine what constitutes a reasonable profit.

The Gas Price Spike Act, H.R. 3784, would apply a windfall tax on the sale of oil and gas that ranges from 50 percent to 100 percent on all surplus earnings exceeding “a reasonable profit.” It would set up a Reasonable Profits Board made up of three presidential nominees that will serve three-year terms. Unlike other bills setting up advisory boards, the Reasonable Profits Board would not be made up of any nominees from Congress.

By the way, I got to rent the Atlas Shrugged Vol 1 DVD the other week and rather enjoyed it.  It makes the point clear, and the actors were good.  I appreciate that the actors in the film are not, at least to me, household names. Because most of the household name actors would love to spend some time with Bertram Scudder.

Bad Ideas

Some Uplifting Economic News

Jan 12th, 12 / 0 Comments

It’s funny how people who don’t tune into any news think we’ve had a recession and it’s over, the economy’s about to kick into high gear. People who watch mainstream news think we’re in a shaky recovery.  Then there are people like me who are uplifted by the fact that the impending economic doom hasn’t arrived yet (link):

Twenty-two months of hysteria of an impending European financial collapse, starting with Greece in March of 2010, will finally come to an end in 2012, according to the founder of Trends Research Institute, Gerald Celente. Sign-up for my 100% FREE Alerts

Hysteria of the horrid possibility of a European meltdown and the dire implications for the world economy a collapse implies will end, as the event finally turns into unequivocal reality by April 1, with accusations of ‘fear mongering’ by a significant portion of the mob quickly dropped in favor of the next predictable reaction to the crisis: outrage against those who allowed the collapse.

“I would say, since I’ve been doing this work, over 30 years ago, I’ve never been more concerned than I am right now,” Celente told ABC, Australia.

In Celente’s latest forecast, titled, The First Great War of the 21st Century—Prepare, Survive, Prevail, he paints a bleak picture for 2012, predicting a worsening of class warfare that already wages within more than a dozen countries, from Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain and Qatar to the UK, Greece and Italy, which will eventually spread to eastern Europe/central Asia and more intensely in the United States.

But, what the world has seen so far is only a economic and social symptom of central bankers’ stop-gap remedies, haphazardly applied to the global financial crisis since its beginning in the U.S. and the fall of Bear Stearns in 2008.

After dozens of trillions of dollars thrown at a global solvency crisis with nothing but further deterioration to show for the money spent, some wonder if the world is about to slide still further into depression.

According to Celente, when the European Union falters from too much supply of debt coming due ($7.3 trillion from G-7 nations, see zerohedge.com) against the backdrop of sliding demand for more debt, the European domino will topple other dominoes, widening the global depression to include the world’s larger economies.

“If you live in Greece, you’re in a depression; if you live in Spain, you’re in a depression; if you live in Portugal or Ireland, you’re in a depression,” Celente said. “If you live in Lithuania, you’re running to the bank to get your money out of the bank as the bank runs go on. It’s a depression. Hungary, there’s a depression, and much of Eastern Europe, Romania, Bulgaria. And there are a lot of depressions going on [already].”

And as far as a Chinese riding in on a white horse to save the day, Celente said, it’s “highly unlikely. China has 1.3 billion people with a million problems . . . If the Europeans and Americans don’t buy a lot of crap, then the Chinese can make it and sell it to them.”

He continued to explain that China will then likely slow its imports of materials from countries which have been supplying mined product during the commodities boom, leading to a vicious spiral of increased unemployment and declining economic activity—a scenario strongly intimated by Dow Theory Letters author Richard Russell in his latest letter to investors (excerpts posted on King World News). Russell, too, expects a steepening U.S. depression, with 25 percent unemployment in the America as his target at the bottom of the depression.

By the way, by “uplifting economic news” I meant “high probability of calamity”. I apologize to anyone who misunderstood.

Maybe six months of MREs for my family isn’t such a bad investment after all? Hmmm…

SHTF, collapse

Animal Terrorists Terrorize

Jan 12th, 12 / 0 Comments

Found @ Instapundit.com (link):

Animal-rights activists are taking responsibility for an arson fire that destroyed 14 cattle trucks at the sprawling Harris Ranch in the San Joaquin Valley off Interstate 5.

The fire broke out at the feed lot truck-storage facility at the ranch about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, said Fresno County sheriff’s Deputy Chris Curtice. Firefighters found 14 trucks fully engulfed and extinguished the blaze within 45 minutes, he said.

In an e-mail sent to the media Monday, the North American Animal Liberation Press Office said it had received an anonymous message from someone with specific details about the fire at the Coalinga ranch, one of the largest farming operations in the San Joaquin Valley.

“Containers of accelerant were placed beneath a row of 14 trucks with four digital timers used to light four of the containers and kerosene soaked rope carrying the fire to the other 10,” the e-mail said.

I’m sure BATFE is all over this. Who knows, maybe they’re starting fires now to get to the top of the ALF type terror groups?

Bad Ideas

Where’s a Guy To Vote? GOP Presidential Primary Thoughts

Jan 2nd, 12 / 0 Comments

“Hawkeye Cauci”
Well, after tomorrow’s caucuses, Iowa will figuratively cast its vote for the GOP primary. I have a lot of thoughts about the GOP field, though haven’t had the time to blog them. 

Let Me Be Clear
First issue: do I like everyone in the primary better than the current White House occupant? Yes. Do I have someone I feel strongly in favor of?  I feel awful saying this but no.

The Temptation of Mitt
Next issue: will I support the GOP candidate?  I really have to say that I would struggle to offer strong support to Romney.  Would I vote for him? I’m frankly not sure. I swore I’d never hold my nose and vote for a McCain-type Republican again, but I may have to test that oath out.

A week or two ago I read an article about Mitt Romney as told in part by Harvard Business school classmates, that gave a real warm and fuzzy about Mitt being a pragmatic guy driven more by success than ideology. It was, the best explanation for Mitt that I’ve heard to-date. To summarize, it stated that Mitt was not as much a flip-flopper as one who makes decisions on an individual basis. It was very well written but I had to question “why is this Mitt-love-piece front and center in the New York Times”?

The prescient comment from reader “tjbbpgobIII” back on October 19th is my sentiment exactly:
“…Remember how the left wing media fawned all over John McCain and then as soon as he was selected to run all they could do was excrete on him. Which was planned of course. They are doing the same thing this time around with Mitt Romney, giving him all the face time in the so called debates. I just hope and pray that the electorate doesn’t fall for that this time.”

TJ nailed it (where does TJ land post Cain?).  They have a lot of folks on the hook, but I think there are very big plans for the campaign against Mitt Romney, and folks on the left are keeping their powder dry.

The seductive part of Mitt Romney that has people like Ann Coulter have fallen for is based on three factors if I had to guess:
1. Presumed electability: In some small way, it’s easy to say if we can get a shoe-in guy who’s electable, who’s 68% right, it sure beats having the guy who you agree with on 5% of what he says but think his actions are intentionally designed to destroy our way of life.  68% wouldn’t pass a Harvard Business School class.
2. “X” Factor: It’s not supposed to matter, but I remember hearing more than once how women voters found appearance to be a bigger factor than they’ll admit in votes cast.  I don’t know how they picked this guy, maybe it’s a generation of women secretly in love with Steve Erkel. Anyway, Mitt would win this portion of the women’s vote.
3. Perceived Harmlessness:  He’s not a “compassionate conservative,” he’s a dispassionate “moderate”. I think one thing Reagan had that we wish other conservatives had was the ability to disarm people and win arguments in favor of largely conservative principles.

My concerns with Mitt that have not been resolved are:
1. His position on 2nd Amendment rights and plans to sign semiauto weapons ban.
2. Romney-care and individual healthcare mandates.
3. Will he appoint liberal judges?
4. Is he going to assume that the objectives of the leftists in Congress is the will of the people and compromise on bad ideas?
5. How will he execute the powers of his office differently than that of Massachusetts?

I don’t think my concerns will be satisfied. And no, appointing anti-gun but fun-loving fiscal fatguy Chris Christie as his running mate will not allay my fears. Romney has not “pandered” to conservative ideals, he’s just running as the guy who can beat Obama. That’s not good enough for me. If Romney said he would govern America differently than Massachusetts, stated that he was going to clone Scalia for Supreme Court and have his running mate Wayne LaPierre hold his signing hand on all bills dealing with 2nd Amendment rights, I’d put a Romney sticker on my truck.

On Ron Paul, I can’t get with his foreign policy program and have serious reservations about some of his positions on the border/immigration, etc.  And don’t think that the media won’t write articles about his newsletters on a weekly basis.  Assume that they will do so, and then ask people like David Duke to endorse him.

I think a surging Santorum is intriguing.  Good time to peak. I agree with Santorum for the most part but a lot of conservative-libertarian folk did not like his position on Terry Schiavo.  I think Santorum has a number of solid positions but he doesn’t have governing experience. However, he couldn’t possibly be any worse than Obama. I don’t think having lost his last election is a position of strength.

I still like Rick Perry, liked Herman cain, don’t like or trust Donald Trump if he gets in, love Michelle Bachmann in a not-going-to-vote-for-her sort of way, and I don’t understand Huntsman. As for Newt, I’m voting “present”. I find Newt’s views really interesting on c-span but I don’t see him as being organized enough to run a campaign, let alone a government.

2012 Election, Politics

Guns Save Lives

Nov 25th, 11 / 0 Comments

(link):

PHILADELPHIA — Police say a homeowner who was robbed three weeks earlier has shot and killed two people who were breaking into his home again.

The incident happened late Wednesday night, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on its website today, at a Frankford rowhouse. Police say the owner was robbed on Nov. 6. The same four men broke into the house again and the homeowner, who was not identified, used a shotgun and killed two of the men and wounded the other two, who fled.

The two injured men are hospitalized with one in stable condition and the other in critical condition.

Police are still investigating the incident and no charges have been filed.

Remember that your former cocaine smoking president (whose is guarded by many men with guns) voted to allow the perps to sue the homeowner who defended his home from robbery, rape, or murder.

PBO, gun issues

Best “Occupy” Headline Evah: Preoccupied

Nov 10th, 11 / 0 Comments

“Tent Unrolled As Occupy Delaware Standoff Continues” (link). Holy cow, one man has done it, fired a shot over “the man’s” bow.  This is a direct challenge to corporate greed and inequality.  He’s unrolled his tent, folks. He might erect it! OMG, he’s going to pitch his tent!

I can’t believe what a bunch of sops the media are for the occupy folks. It seems they’re the ones pitching tents!

Uncategorized

Stock Up On Incandescent Bulbs Now: Reminder

Oct 26th, 11 / 1 Comment

The GIN’s Deacon reminded us today of the utter failure of the GOP to roll back the approaching ban on 100Wincandescent light bulbs.  Ask yourself what the chances of Obamacare or the radical agenda passed by the last Congress that can get rolled back by folks with little actual desire to do so.

100W light bulbs are a good symbolic stand. I have a few boxes of them in my attic, and intend to buy some more, even though prices have been hiked.

If you are a true, freedom-loving conservative, you’ll begin to purchase 100W (and 75W if you want to get in before prices go up) light bulbs.  Think about it: if someone goes into a few small stores and buys all their 100W light bulbs each week, anyone going into the store looking for them will see the empty shelves and begin to realize they’re no longer available.

Think about what happened when the threat of a gun ban hit ammo prices in 2009. Now realize that 100W bulbs will be banned. I can tell you that in construction we use a lot of 100W bulbs, and we don’t want CFL bulbs in temporary construction lighting because of the risk of bulbs breaking.

I also don’t want CFL bulbs in lamps that could potentially be knocked over by my 4 year old and two year old with a little baby girl in the room.  Which child do you remove first?  Is it possible that the damned bulbs could create what OSHA considers an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere for my children?  I’m not sure that the mercury vapor IDLH threshold can’t be hit.

Protest now: buy bulbs. Lots of them. You’ll need a lot in your lifetime.

Accurate Predictions, Self-Reliance

Flocks Of Filthy Squawking Seagulls

Oct 22nd, 11 / 0 Comments

Now for some commentary on the overarching bad idea of the flock of filthy squawking seagulls named “Occupy Wall Street”.  Have these folks met our definition of seagulls? Let’s see:

Have they been conditioned to expect others to supply their basic survival needs? Check!

Once, conditioned, are they squawking for ever more? Check!

Finally, are they defecating all over those who provide for them? CHECK!

Yes, they are a filthy flock! Here’s some anecdotal evidence presented by Karen Matthews of AP (link):

NYC residents complain about ‘Occupy’ protesters

By KAREN MATTHEWS

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — New Yorkers who live near the park where anti-Wall Street protesters have been camping out for more than a month are complaining that their quality of life has declined.

At a two-hour meeting Thursday night, some neighbors said protesters urinated in the streets and beat drums in the middle of the night.

“They’re defecating on our doorsteps,” said Catherine Hughes, a member of the area’s community board, a representative panel that helps funnel local concerns to city officials.

Some neighbors who attended the packed meeting called for the protesters to vacate Zuccotti Park, the plaza where protesters have set up their base camp.

But the board voted unanimously for a resolution that recognized the protesters’ First Amendment rights while calling for a crackdown on noise and public urination and defecation.

Read the rest (link), good reporting, especially for AP. Never once was there a complaint of public defecation by TEA partiers.  We didn’t even leave trash, and were orderly.  All we asked was that our elected representatives get control of  budgets (which still hasn’t happened, BTW).

But these folks, what a bunch of sniveling little crybabies demanding more milk from the teet.  They need to occupy math class. There’s NOT enough wealth to fund the stuff our government is committed to providing now. There’s NOT enough wealth for universal health care (for the world), or universal college education (for the world), or for everyone to have an easy lifestyle with a minimum wage of $20. 

And then… then there’s the RevDocMLKJr Memorial dedication ceremony last week.  I watched it, because I respect the memory of MLK Jr.  It’s nice to finally see something dedicated to Dr. King that’s not a dirty street or squalid school. Anyhow, I watched as the folks there demanded  equal everything for everyone. From Bernice King to MLK III, it was a disgrace.

Now I was raised and taught that Dr. King was about equal opportunity for all.  I believe we have that in this nation better than any nation or society in history.  People from the bottom can raise to the top. People can make a better life for their kids, and see to it that their kids start out in a better place than they did.

I did not know until last week that, as his memorial’s dedication service would indicate, that Dr. King was a radical socialist/communist. I’d heard folks say that before, but dismissed it. But to hear it from his dedicators, one would think that Dr. King’s dream was an end to merit- that everyone would have an equal starting point and equal results.

The belief that equal results are deserved by all is nothing short of evil.  Ann Coulter couldn’t have nailed it better by calling the “liberal” hordes “demonic”. They absolutely are.  They are grave robbers, they are looters, they are rapists, they are thugs, they are thieves, they are murderers, and they are cannibals.  Just give them the power, and they will do these things.

These people are immoral, evil, and what they want is insane.  They want to go pillage the countryside, and they will have to because they don’t produce anything. 

Another thing people haven’t mentioned is that the “occupiers” are the National Security force we were promised by President Obama. They are the political basis for the national secret police force that knows who has more than others, who doesn’t agree with the party, who’s not thinking right (or more appropriately left), and have their way paid for by others.

And look who’s supporting Occupy. The breathless, worthless, nonprofitable squawking seagulls in the news media. Those who searched high and low to find one crazy in the TEA party to lambast, who are covering up the squalid feculent masses of dope-smoking brain dead commies and union thugs.

Bad Ideas, Feeding Seagulls, PBO, PC World, Self-Reliance, collapse, news tilt, union thugs