Looking around, my back is getting a nasty itchy feeling about this coming winter. I fear it is going to be a nasty one, on more than one level.
I’m trying to set some preparations for the fact that I’m worried it may be a very cold and snowy/icy winter. There are some signs and portents that it may be so. As for the weather guessers (my name for forecasters), they seem to have a spread that would make Vegas proud. That said, number of interesting people are in the nasty winter camp.
I really want to get at least one more Mr. Buddy emergency heaters, and stock up on propane. Between camp stoves and heaters, I will be able to stay warm and cook — and people who’ve been there know what a difference a hot meal can make. I’m pretty well set on blankets and such, and am continuing to experiment with solar power additions to the power and lighting game. The more options you have for power and light, the better.
I’m even trying to get the landlord to invest in some power backups and a small generator, but not sure I’m going to have any luck. Did add some options to my Amazon wish list in that regards.
Snow, ice, and storms can bring down power lines in a hurry. It’s not too late to do trimming around power lines and such to keep ice from bringing them down. I’m also encouraging that around here.
Thing is, I’ve got an itchy feeling about why this could be a nasty winter on another level. Frankly, I’m amazed that the anger I’ve been talking about hasn’t broken yet. Part of it is the “safety valve” that is provided by naming, shaming, and inflicting consequence culture (as opposed to cancel culture) on those saying and doing the worst of things. Part seems to be something else that I can’t quite put my finger on. But, they are holding for now.
How long they can hold is the interesting question. Ian makes some good points, and I would add that if the “ghouls” are not brought to heel, there’s a good chance the safety valve may be clogged. Also consider this food for thought from The Scuttlebutt. And in regards part of it, I do sometimes use the word “Normies” (usually in quotes) but with affection and a small amount of envy as there are days I wish I was one of them as I live here in flyover country.
All it will take to make this a truly nasty winter is one idiot, one person having a bad day when they respond to said idiot. We do not want to see here what many have seen elsewhere when civil war breaks out. Riding the ragged edge short of that won’t be nice or pleasant, but it will do far less damage. It may set some things back a year or two, but a civil war will change the country and potentially set back a great future (interplanetary species, advanced medical and health, and other things that are about to happen/break loose) by a century or three. Humanity is likely to survive, but our current level of civilization is not. So, let’s avoid going there if we can.
Let’s get through the winter and hope that it is not cold and nasty on multiple levels. Me, I’ve got things I want to do/am planning to do next Spring. Things that bring growth on many levels, and not necessarily just for me.
Fixing the problems that face us will not be easy or fun. Nor will it be easy to keep them short of that ragged edge. It is, however, the best shot for humanity and our future. Pray.
As always, be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.
I wonder what effect cold weather has on the breakout of Civil War? I know that about half of invasions start on weekends, and most of those in summer. Old time generals knew that Spring Rains would bog down their armies. And Winter Quarters were mandatory.
Heck, Pearl Harbor happened in December, but the weather was fine, almost summer-like in Hawaii.
I vaguely remember being an infantryman out in the cold and rain, my first two years were at Ft Lewis WA.
I used to live in the PNW and we used to say that it is either raining or getting ready to rain.
I suspect it slows it down. For most of history, wars often began in the spring when the weather improved (and often after planting so there would be food later). My hope is that if the weather is bad, it might prevent stupidity from starting, or continuing/expanding.
In the deep blue state I live in, where I pay a sunshine tax for nice weather, my little corner of it is not strictly deep blue – in large part because of the large proportion of US Military presence here. If you haven’t guessed – Sandy Eggo. The Fed Govt would nationalize and martial law this area so fast in the event of say Gavin deciding to secede – and it would be easy for them to do so with how much USMC and USN assets are here. Would be like my hometown (Baltimore) during the Civil War, I imagine, just writ much larger.
I am surrounded by a large number of deep blue people in my life. What none of them have ever done is the math on in all their “it’s the guns!” screeching is that they are already disarmed by choice. The locals who would be siding with the US Govt against whatever manner of CCP endorsed seceded Cali state are the armed ones, by and large. It would be real ugly for the blue folks.
I did watch a bit from a guntuber the other day – Henry Chan – where he discussed calling Charlie a martyr, and he discussed Northern Ireland and the Troubles in that regard. The gist being we really don’t want more martyrs and when things go sideways it gets stupid ugly. At least that was my take away. To paraphrase from one of my favorite books, we don’t want to be under the shadow and we don’t want to go down at last to elemental things.
I see the right having a release valve in how many of the ghouls who self identified as such after the assassination have been introduced to ‘consequence culture’. Schadenfreude is a helluva drug. As for the perpetrating ghouls – I sincerely fear that there is a rot there far deeper than we know, and it is a fantasy to believe this is some lone gunman situation. I sincerely hope to be absolutely wrong there. But the work of datarepublican small r and others is sure bringing a lot of sunlight, and its looking pretty bad.
The left though? they dont appear to have a release valve, and are just reeling from hit after hit shattering their attempts to control and craft the narrative. After Kimmel’s firing they are lashing out like a wounded and cornered animal. They remind me of Ceausescu in the week before he got put against the wall.
I am not religious – wont get in to why – but I am doing all I can to hold out grace for those in my life who are on team blue and flailing with it all. Frankly, with how much evil has suddenly appeared I might have to revisit this God thing – because as others have noted, clearly there is a satan
You’re absolutely right. There is a Satan and there are demons, just as there is God and there are angels. If you read the Bible, angels are fearsome warriors, which is why every time a human has an encounter with one in the Bible, the angel leads with, “Do not fear!” or words to that effect. I STRONGLY encourage you to read the Bible, the most historically accurate book ever written. Read it and your mind will confirm what your heart already knows deep down: it is all true. God is real, His truth is real, Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Trust in God, turn to Jesus, repent and believe, and He will give you eternal life. Salvation is free but it was costly. He suffered and died for us, rose from the grave, had victory over death, and those who trust in Him will have victory over death also. Charlie Kirk had victory over death. We will see him again one day.
Some good points, and agree it should not be seen as a lone gunman. Too many knew in advance. Also, the work DataRepublican is doing is amazing and essential. Lots of sunlight and more needed! Am glad you are holding out Grace like you are, it is important we all do so. Ever want to talk, drop me a line as my own journey has been interesting, and may just be getting started.
Not reading what others replied, however… He the prepared are OK!
I’d recommend adding thermo-electric fan to Mr. Buddy heater. Cost for most of the fans is $20-30 USD. You won’t need batteries to power the fan. Get the hose adapter that fits BBQ tanks for about $20.00 and stock up on tanks. I live in Idaho and it gets a little cold in winter. I did a test with the MR. Buddy heater. I turned off all heat and a 20 degree F. day The house was about 50 degrees F. My house is about 1200 sq.ft. In about 45 minutes the house reached 68 degrees F. using 1 pound propane tanks.
I’d say on average You would use a pound of propane per day for a well insulted home. I did not run the Mr. Buddy heater over night and only used the heater while awake.
I think adding a woodstove/oven is a great idea. It is not cheap. Buying/installing a stove to code costs about 5 grand and you have to buy/cut fire wood. None of that is cheap.
Will look into the thermo-electric fans, and already have the hose for the bigger tanks. Might not be a bad idea to get a couple more, as should also work to hook the Coleman camp stove to a larger bottle. Thanks!
The Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption put an incredible amount of water into the atmosphere. Lamestream media doesn’t want to talk about it, but apparently, such events take years for the water to dump out. That was in 2022, and the vapor is still high.
We’re in a normally dry area in the Intermountain West. Most years, we’ll get 1 – 2′ of snow for the season, but last year, we got 4′ in the course of a week. Between tree damage, destroyed buildings (anywhere from sheds to the occasional house), and lesser damage, it was a good year for tradesmen. (And, I have an extra couple cords of firewood. Widowmaker branches are a thing; rather scary too.)
We’re in a conservative area of Oregon (such exists, and we’re trying to get the Idaho border moved to reduce the problem), so local
activiststerrorists aren’t a thing, but we’re on the highways. September 2020 was bad for arson fires. I won’t be surprised if we get more events like that.Most people don’t get how much impact Hunga Tonga has had on the weather, and is still having. It’s part of why I think we may have a cold wet winter. As for the other side of a cold nasty winter, I’m hoping that the weather might slow things down. When you are having to spend more time and energy fighting nature, you tend to have less focus on your avowed enemies.
I’ve had a little naggling feeling in the back of my mind that it might be an unpleasant winter temp-wise, but I tend to chalk it up to a (very mild) case of PTS, as my poor body does NOT like being cold and I’m remembering the terrible 2021 freeze down here. I remind myself that we’ve done a significant amount of remodeling. It’s hard to shake that dread though!
In the other case, not weather-related… yeah, I have a feeling it’s going to be ugly going. In those circumstances, I fall back on the comfort that while I do NOT know what’s coming, I’m well acquainted with the One who does.