The Weekly Watch

Side Stepping the System

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I don't think we need to accept the oligarchs' neofeudal system. No doubt it will impact us all, but there are approaches to avoid the global power grab and have a full and meaningful life. There are many paths and today we'll look at a few.

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There isn't A recipe, but many roads lead toward happiness and away from the the system and its propaganda.
If I had to prescribe a technique I would start with "be yourself" or as William Shakespeare suggests in Act 1, Scene III of the famous play, Hamlet, when Polonius says:
“This above all: to thine own self be true"
My next thought is practice your art whatever that may be.
And to keep it simple one more idea...live a happy, productive life.

I know easier said than done. Some techniques to accomplish that might be:
be debt free...debts are the chains of modern day slavery.
live inexpesively...this is influenced by where and how you live your life.
make art/music/painting/writing/ a hobby...cheap, fun, and rewarding.
Spend time in nature, gardening, hiking, experiencing...for health and well being.
eat and sleep well...defeat hyperinsulinemia with diet, exercise for a well earned rest.

We all have our own recipe for healthful, happy lives. That pretty well encapsulates my approach. I hope you too have a path to health and happiness away from the the for profit system that wants us captured and in submission.

I've featured this cooking couple from Azerbaijan before. Their simple outdoor life is fun to observe. They are masters of campfire cookery. (13 min)

Today they are cooking lamb and vegetables in a Tandoor clay oven

Raising sheep can also be fulfilling. Here's my favorite grassland farmer, Greg Judy. 20 min

They also raise cattle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKY04I2fsIQ (9 min)

I can't feature a rancher without looking at a gardener. I'm a subsistence producer, Charles is a market gardener and is quite productive. (20 min)

Winter vegetables in January, Charles Dowding's no dig gardens.
It's 4th January on the 51st parallel, 8 hours between sunrise and sunset. And yet, see how the vegetables think it's spring, after an exceptionally mild December.

Being in nature... is one thing most of these lifestyles incorporate...
Here's a different way to raise sheep.
Two Years Living Alone in the Wilderness: Our Story of Learning from Nature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_HmJIL_8L0 (25 min)
We spent our childhood growing up here in the mountains, exploring rainforests, caring for orphaned lambs, planting trees and harvesting fruit. Living in harmony with the rhythms of nature has taught us so many things. It has taught us to be still and calm, to love, and to give more than we take. It has taught us to to care for the land and each other.

Many folks (like us) live a simple homesteading life. I enjoyed this couple's approach in Colorado. (32 min)

In 1978 the Howards were urban professionals. Wanting a simpler, more meaningful life on a smaller budget, the family-of-4 lived on $18K/year, reducing costs to $10K/year after moving to their "intentional" Colorado homestead.

This young family are doing things a bit differently! They gave up their city lives in Southern California to live a debt free and simple life, close to nature in a beautiful tiny house tent in New Mexico! (17 min)

Tent living is not without it's challenges, but for this family the benefits greatly outweigh the disadvantages. It's allowed them to deeply connect, live a more simple, debt free and rewarding lifestyle and most importantly grow together as a family, with love and quality time being a corner stone of each day.

1 yr Time Lapse of the year that changed our lives!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIb96BZV4oI (55 min)
In 2021 we sold and donated everything to leave the AZ desert behind and move to the mountains in Arkansas to build our dream cabin and finally make our dreams a reality.

Nomads
From those rooted in the land to a nomadic life...(14 min)

Maya and Aladino are living full-time on their tiny 28-foot sailboat. They travel slowly with minimal belongings, and they keep their expenses low by doing most boat repairs themselves, and by living as cheaply as possible. Sailing Magic Carpet is a 1979 Vindø 32 that was lovingly restored by Aladino.

Here's another approach...
Couple Living in a Tent on a Self-Built Raft - Floating Off the Grid in Sweden. (16 min)

The couple has created a surprisingly cozy little float home on the raft with a bed, a table and chairs, and even a woodstove! For electricity, they have 2x 150-watt solar panels and 3 batteries. When they visit small towns along their route they carry groceries and gas cans on a homemade handcart.

Finding Freedom ° Living & Traveling in a Caravan through Sweden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qul7i4zMxI (28 min)
I left my home to follow my inner feeling to travel, and see where the road would take me. Together with Manny we left with nothing more than what fitted in the car and caravan. This helped me see how much stuff, clutter I accumulated, I've always lived with the feeling in my bones, don't own more you can cary, or better said - don't get attached to more stuff that you can cary. In the end the things are not what matter, but our memories, feelings and actions, those are what matter.

Nomads are found all over the world...
People of Nature - a visual feast of global culture.

A video showing some of the people who live their lives immersed in the natural world, living by hunting, fishing foraging and herding. We visit Africa, Asia, Siberia, and the Middle East in search of humans who still live outside of the high-tech, high-industry, high-stress world that most of us inhabit.

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Many are adopting a new nation free form of money, Bitcoin
Can we escape fiat currency? Some think bitcoin is the future...
I'm no expert, but my understanding is that you first create an account with an exchange like coinbase, binance, or strike. Most experts agree you should not leave bitcin in the exchange but download it to a wallet like trezor.

Payments in bitcoin can be made using apps like the Lightening network. The most informative nuts and bolts videos I've found are at Trader University Here's his intro clip (45 min)

Another less complicated way to invest is to buy stock in a company like microstrategy that is heavily invested in bitcoin.

El Salvador is offering a Volcano bond program. Max Keiser discusses them with Samson Mow, who designed the new volcano bond in El Salvador.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvBJkNK95lU&t=12m28s
Sounds pretty good with a 6.5% return and a bitcoin bonus after five years. El Salvador plans to use the money to invest in their country and escape the chains of IMF debt used to control them and much of the world. Max thinks they are the first of many countries that will move to bitcoin as their national currency.

As I started today's column, there are many ways to side step the system. I think El Salvador's approach is interesting and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.

Well that about wraps up today's alternatives. Of course there are many other ways to break out of the noose of global control, but these are a few fun and interesting techniques. Hope you found one or more entertaining and informative. I'll look forward to your ideas in the comments below. Any and all thoughts are welcome.

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Are forward thinking folks. Rather than waiting to end up homeless, living in their cars or section 8 housing, they have devised a lean alternative which is livable. A successful transition away from
established norms is inspiring. Some of us may have to follow in their wakes at some point.

What is that song .. while you're living beyond your means and the man in the suit has just bought a new car on the profit he made on your dreams ..

Thanks for the Watch!

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Lookout's picture

@QMS

...and the song. I enjoy learning about others approach to escape the system, so I had fun putting this together.

Stay warm...snow here this afternoon. Had an inch of cold rain last night.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

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NYCVG

Lookout's picture

@NYCVG

you'll get to tolerate. SNL is still funny at times.

I like the tent idea too.

Take care, stay warm, and hang in there!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@NYCVG @NYCVG The new Mayor is that horrific.

The comedy and anger probably was sparked by Hizzoner's first remarks after a house fire in The Bronx which killed 17 people. The Mayor blamed the victims.

Adams thereby confirmed the worst fears about him---his stance is alignment with the Real Estate industry not with the safety of our residents. Trying to be Trump without any of the charisma The Donald has.

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NYCVG

enhydra lutris's picture

Subsistence no longer suffices most folks because of things like land taxes, forcing even the renegades to have some source of the wherewithal to deal with such things. Bitcoin seems, at this point, still problematic. One needs reliable tech, power and connectivity, almost the opposite of the "complete and utter simplicity" approach. It will be interesting to see how it works out in El Salvador. I can't help but wonder if they got permission from the US to go off the dollar. That's generally a dangerous move.

Thanks for the WW.
be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Lookout's picture

@enhydra lutris

...is so low as to be negligible...about $3/acre/year. Quite a contrast to my CA friends.

So it is location, location, location ... at least in regard to land tax.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Azazello's picture

This just came up, very good, Primo Radical with Ben Norton.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QV5Uv0n_WU width:600 height:360]
Some innocent nostalgia, from 1953.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtuR1XhaCiQ width:600 height:360]
Anybody dropping acid tonight? Go ask Alice, 1915.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adxZA3L8SL0&t=919s width:600 height:360]

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

...and it was good...worth people's time if they have an interest.

Hope all is well in your world. We've had some snow already today, but the big dose is due this evening. We'll see.

Thanks for all the clips... as Alice scares all the animals away...no sound but used the closed caption.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Edited to add this example:

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Lookout's picture

@humphrey

Caity is on target.
Article here

We're really good at projecting our actions onto other countries.

Thanks for adding that to the conversation!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Being completely debt free is a type of freedom quite like no other. It was not easily achieved, but once done, it is just a different life.
As I am not in a position to utilize any of my properties for agriculture, as I once was, I am burdened with grocery purchases priced at some whim of somebody who is making huge profits, especially in the current environment.
I am exploring ways to build a quanset hut for my retirement getaway. The building codes in Colorado will require some education. We also need to research which foundation in that terrain. We will go on a cistern water supply, and will use composting bathroom plumbing, but solar paneling may not be appropriate. We aren't sure about snow damage, or the likelihood of theft. We will be there, at most, 5 months a year.
It will be quiet, secluded, scenic, and 5 only minutes from the nearby town. The soil appears to be perfectly suited for a cactus garden, and not much else.
Take care, and thanks for your interesting videos.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Lookout's picture

@on the cusp

The journey has its own joy...one door to the next.

Wishing you a big fun adventure!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@on the cusp

the cost of living in New England is exorbitant.
We worked our asses off to rid ourselves of the student
debt as well as the mortgage and car payments.
The rest is lumpy gravy, so to speak.
Taxes, insurance, food and utilities are the majors.
The minors are booze and gasoline.
Perhaps a still would resolve the last two?
Bathtub gin and gasohol.

Good luck with your quonset. They were invented here.

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@QMS and they rise in cost every year.
Now, you could make your own beer or wine. Everyone around here picks berries and wild grapes, and make their own booze. Give it a go.
I am allergic to bank loans, but will likely have to get one this year to get my cabin built. I spent my cabin fund on a car. At least my fuel costs are way down.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

mimi's picture

I have nothing I could make a reasonable comment on, other than to try my fubar attempts to make a joke.

So, therefore, let it be known I am not into bitcoins, I am into peanuts. I would grow peanuts if I lived in a climate zone where they would grow.

I really like all your suggestions to sidestep the system. I look for another crop than peanuts, which would grow here in Hamburg in Germany. To me bitcoins are just like a bit of coins not worh to lose my sanity over. May be green peas would be a suitable crop to grow here?

Have a good one and stay healthy and stay here for us to learn. Thank You.

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Lookout's picture

@mimi

the classic camp song...(2.5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmTbfLO4k04]
The song is a old children's song sung by deathmetal-band Macabre. It's the story of a guy who finds a peanut and gets more than he bargained for, and afterwards, another guy is stupid enough to make the same mistake.

They grow here, but I rarely grow them. Used to have a buddy (now passed on) who grew and boiled them.

Here's another boiler...(2.5 min)
Boiled peanuts: "Caviar of the South"
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw_FpneX--c]

Have a good one and have you some boiled peanuts....

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@mimi

prefer mine roasted ..

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Lookout's picture

@QMS

...eatin' goober peas.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9brwzyhx2Z0]

I prefer valencia goobs, a sweet western variety. And we roast them.

Once had a couple from Syracuse NY here at a festival. They declared ours were the best peeeeanuts they ever had.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

mimi's picture

@Lookout @QMS
goober peas:

A peanut is a legume, not a nut. It was first propogated in South America, then exported to Asia, Europe and Africa. The peanut proved very popular in Africa, and it was African slaves who brought the peanut to the southern United States. The term goober is derived from the Kongo word, nguba.

Aha, so the good stuff from Kongo region again. As far as my real life memories go, peanuts in Cameroon and Kongo area are first roasted and then made into a butter by crushing them by hand with a stone on a stoney kind of shelf. This is the way I saw it in the mid 1970-ies. The peanut paste is then put into a hot and spicy tomato sauce. yummy. Smile

I could bore you with some video about it, but I have to digest my peanut memories and sleep. And today nobody would make the peanut paste by hand anymore, I assume. hmm if you want to you can watch her here but that was too much for me. And I never use facebook. I am principled... Wink

Good Night from here.

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@mimi

I grew up on the stuff, before I learned to cook other things, like pancakes and eggs

I freaked out hectaes cat with this one way back. oops

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mimi's picture

@QMS

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

in the 50s and 50s was to do a corn field crop rotation every few years to growing a field of peanuts, instead of corn. At some point, we picked the peanuts, invited our ranch foreman and his family to pick what they wanted, then we turned our cattle loose to do the clean up. I have shelled peanuts for years.
My Mom would roast the ones we kept for our kitchen. I insisted on eating mine raw, at least as long as I can. My preference to this day, is raw peanuts, and watching cattle enjoy a field of them right along with me.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

I didn't get a chance to comment yesterday but I enjoyed the variety of ideas you presented. I especially enjoyed the cooking in a tandoori oven vid.

At my household we spend a lot of time cooking outside. We do that primarily because we like to be outside, we spend a lot of time cooking, and I get cranky if I'm in an indoor kitchen too long.

We're having strange but very pleasant weather here overall. We have had a mild, mostly sparklingly sunny winter with just a few days where the temps went into the freezings. The temps have been going up and down, vacillating like crazy and that makes it challenging to keep my plants alive. But it's still been so beautiful that I can't complain.

I see it's cold and snowy in your neck of the woods. I know you'll stay warm and weather the weather, whatever it throws at you. Best to you out there on L.O Mountain.

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Lookout's picture

@randtntx

My main way is in a smoker (the crock pot of outdoor cookery). Load it up, wait a while, take the food out. We like to grill too, but you have to tend that as you know.

We did have a spurt or two of snow, but mainly rain...almost 2 inches. So stuck inside most of the day. Clearing but chilly today, but at least I can bundle up and take a walk.

Always nice to hear from you. Enjoy the weather and get outside!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

zed2's picture

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zed2's picture

The Anglosphere and its spiders web represents a theft of everything!

The Bank of International settlements is a private entity and enables an ideological capture of society. The use of technology to control us as a society. Yes, it is a conspiracy.

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