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How One Retailer Is Preparing For The Apocalypse

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Zero Hedge first revealed Overstock's contingency plans "in preparation for the next collapse" ten days ago. Today, the strategy outlined by Overstock Chairman Jonathan Johnson has resonated across the Atlantic and this morning as the Financial Times catches up to the story of an "online retailer hoarding gold as crisis defense" in which it calls the retailer a "redoubt of doomsday conservatism" adding its policy to prepare for the loss of central-planning control is "redolent of the small band of US survivalists preparing for the end of civilisation."

The FT reports that Jonathan Johnson, Overstock’s "anti-establishment leader", told the Financial Times it has "stashed away $10m in gold and silver coins as an insurance policy against financial apocalypse" and that it keeps "precious metals outside the banking system so the company could pay employees even if lenders slammed shut in a crisis."

Mr Johnson, who is running to be Utah governor, said Overstock also kept extra freeze-dried food so it had enough to feed each employee and one family member for three months.

 

“We thought there’s a decent chance that there could be a banking holiday at some point caused by a crisis and it could last for two days or two weeks or who knows how long, and we wanted to be in a position where we could continue to operate during any such crisis,” he said.

 

Overstock’s gold stash will resonate with libertarian conservatives who distrust the Federal Reserve and Wall Street and view gold as a refuge from government attempts to inflate and control the economy.

According to the FT, Overstock's stockpile "makes up about 10 per cent of the company’s liquid assets."

The Nikkei's most recent media acquisition also notes that in an "act of rebellion against financial convention", Patrick Byrne, its chief executive, "is a strident libertarian who champions bitcoin, the virtual currency, and its immunity from government money-printing."

Well, if the company had converted all of its fiat currency in bitcoin two months ago, it would have doubled in value as of yesterday now that the predicted Chinese exodus into the digital currency has been unleashed.

Mr Johnson said Overstock’s board had approved its accumulation of gold and silver after the last financial crisis when the Fed’s policy of quantitative easing, which he called dangerously “irresponsible”, was in full swing.

So with the Fed jawboning for a rate hike, and ZIRP expected to end in 6 weeks (the way it "ended" in Japan in August 2000), has Overstock's gloomy outlook changed? Not at all: "On the bullion hoarding policy, he said: “It was put in place during quantitative easing. It’s in place now and we don’t see a reason to change it.”

“Gold is just one of the financial contingency plans that Overstock puts in place,” he said. “We also have contingencies if sales don’t come in as expected.”

The FT concludes by poking fun of preppers and those who think the world's biggest experiment in central planning intervention will end the way central planning interventions always have - in absolute disaster:  

"Overstock’s policy is redolent of the small band of US survivalists preparing for the end of civilisation, but Mr Johnson said he himself was not a “prepper”.

We'll spare judgment on Overstock's policy and Johnson's "prepperness" since the final chapter of the financial crisis - namely the so-called unwind of emergency measures - has yet to be written.

* * *

Finally for those who missed it and who would rather make up their own mind about the strategy, here are the key highlights from Johnson's speech presented first here in late October:

We are not big fans of Wall Street and we don't trust them. We foresaw the financial crisis, we fought against the financial crisis that happened in 2008; we don't trust the banks still and we foresee that with QE3, and QE4 and QE n that at some point there is going to be another significant financial crisis.

 

So what do we do as a business so that we would be prepared when that happens. One thing that we do that is fairly unique: we have about $10 million in gold, mostly the small button-sized coins, that we keep outside of the banking system. We expect that when there is a financial crisis there will be a banking holiday. I don't know if it will be 2 days, or 2 weeks, or 2 months. We have $10 million in gold and silver in denominations small enough that we can use for payroll. We want to be able to keep our employees paid, safe and our site up and running during a financial crisis.

 

We also happen to have three months of food supply for every employee that we can live on.

His full presentation before the UPMA is below:

 

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Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:12 | 6753017 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

Mormons are by definiton preppers. No need to be so apologetic. 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:24 | 6753062 The Pope
The Pope's picture

So I guess this means that the military will be sent in to steal the gold & supplies.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:17 | 6753251 Chairman
Chairman's picture

Actually the Feds tried that once already, it did not end so well for Uncle Sam.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:56 | 6753399 The Pope
The Pope's picture

<-- Fuck you for your serVITUDE

<-- Thank you for your serVICE

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:00 | 6753441 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

I posted this on the original article, www.deepcapture.com

 

its a very interesting story, patrick byrne has been battling the wall street crinimals for over a decade. click the link, and click on 'story of deep capture' at the top. Its a long read, but once you start reading you won't want to stop. If even half of the shit on there is true, its a pretty crazy story(i have no reason to doubt any of it).

 

If you've seen me post the link before, i apologize, i promise Im not trying to spam yall, but i know the crowd on here would like that story.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:26 | 6753827 Surviver22
Surviver22's picture

Obama will not finish his second term! Banned independent documentary reveals the truth. This will scare millions! Current Events Linked to Ancient Biblical Prophecy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dWwkX3oUtI

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:31 | 6753837 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

It's a great read, thanks.  Just one more aspect of the capture of the government of this country by the mafia.  I've never seen this Kramer character perform, but he's painted as just another loudmouth moron shill here.  Seems he's a lot more than that, he's a jew mafioso, actively taking down good companies to make out on naked short sales.  That's taking down the functioning US economy.  Fucking criminals all.  Need to be decorating lamposts.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:41 | 6754073 Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard's picture

Everyone here is invited to sign up over at www.gunsgrubandgold.com we have financials, food storage calculators, survival manuals, etc. Looking for moderators and those willing to post. Thanks.

www.gunsgrubandgold.com

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:47 | 6754106 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Thank you for your service = "I cannot think for myself."

Rather thanking service members, the military should be disbanded. Rather than thanking service members, I prefer to apologize for not doing enough to keep them out of harm's way.

I have failed them, and their families.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:17 | 6753252 Chairman
Chairman's picture

Actually the Feds tried that once already, it did not end so well for Uncle Sam.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:05 | 6753937 Badsamm
Badsamm's picture

Going off my personal gold : ammo ratio, that guy might have a small army.
Poor job of the interviewer, asked the wrong questions. ;)

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:32 | 6753841 ali-ali-al-qomfri
ali-ali-al-qomfri's picture

mr johnson who is running to be Utah govenor,

he's campaining......

how would you campaign to Morom and the Utahnians,

and its not a stupid thing to be thinking ahead...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:06 | 6753935 Anonymous User
Anonymous User's picture

But did they have enough women to keep the flow going?

They should hoard some of those too. Preferably like this one here:

http://www.thepornster.net/video/466/

Mmm yummy!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:13 | 6753021 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

The first rule of prepping is you don't tell anybody you're prepping. The second rule of prepping is you don't tell anybody you're prepping.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:16 | 6753032 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

and the third rule is that EVERYBODY should be prepping.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:19 | 6753051 SumTing Wong
SumTing Wong's picture

The fourth rule is to have a small, trusted community who is also preppring. They can know, and we can all work together to cover all needed contingencies. (I can't be doctor, security, farmer, mechanic, and lumberjack all at the same time.)

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:07 | 6753215 TheGuru
TheGuru's picture

Rick Grimes Manages it.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:07 | 6753216 TheGuru
TheGuru's picture

Rick Grimes Manages it.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:50 | 6753675 erkme73
erkme73's picture

The fifth rule is to have that community located in middle-TN on the Cumberland plateau, where access and terrain are so difficult to navigate by foot, that the inner-city vultures will die of starvation or traumatic injuries before they ever reach your community.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:02 | 6753190 negative rates
negative rates's picture

And yet there eventually becomes a time when it is too late to prep without giving yourself away, like right about NOW.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:19 | 6753046 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

He did say he's not a prepper.  This is a financial contingency plan no different than the fact his company probably has an IT disaster recovery plan.  Just a prudent business practice, in my opinion.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:05 | 6753197 negative rates
negative rates's picture

You try to go 80 or 90 days without electricity and not be a prepper, the plan then goes to hell in a hand basket and quickly.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:36 | 6753329 pods
pods's picture

I tell myself every day that I am a prepper.

That way, I won't have to admit that I'm a hoarder.

pods

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:11 | 6753495 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

he did say that. I agree 100% with individuals not advertising that they are preppers. But I disagree with doc above about this case, since its a publically traded company, not an individual. They are doing a good service by talking about this. Maybe, just maybe, it will inspire other people or companies to do the same thing, since by talking about it in this way they remove some of the stigma from it. Good for them, and its funny they are getting ridiculed for this. anyone not trusting the largest monetary experiment ever conducted is now a crazy person, even though every instance of central planning on anything resembling this scale has ended in disaster.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:19 | 6753049 BandGap
BandGap's picture

I would wager they have an enthusiastic volunteer army to protect their stash.

Interesting times.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:56 | 6753418 herkomilchen
herkomilchen's picture

What's the third rule?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:03 | 6753736 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

In keeping with first two rules - it's unspoken.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:51 | 6754129 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Isn't is the Tapout rule?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:08 | 6753483 Hulk
Hulk's picture

That being the case, I should probably knock off my singing act where I run down the street with my battle rifle and fatiques singing:

I'm a prepper

He's a prepper

She's a prepper

Wouldn't you like to be a prepper too !!!

For you yungins, it kinda goes like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCTaccEkMI

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:14 | 6753027 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

The most important thing about prepping is security. By announcing this he will have every starving family descend on his company. If he really wants to help his employees he would not have announced this - so the intention is really something else.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:19 | 6753044 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Which indicates he is still hoping for a "civilized" collapse. It is socially responsible to sound the warning bells if you see danger, which is exactly what he is trying to do...no less than what the majority of posters here are doing albeit anonymously. (cause we be a little bit chicken)

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:30 | 6753076 BandGap
BandGap's picture

We don't have the voice/audience thius guy does.

I don't necessarily see what he is doing as prepping. It is a start but nothing near full blown.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:07 | 6753213 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Who rang that bell?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:26 | 6753067 ZeroPoint
ZeroPoint's picture

Maybe it is just 'lead by example'. Since America is constantly given the message that CEOs are VIPs, maybe this will make Boobus Americanus connect that the struggle he and his family and friends have been going through is connected to that Federal Reserve Note is his pocket, and he needs to do something to protect what little he has left.

 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:34 | 6753086 azusgm
azusgm's picture

This should resonate with the Mormon voters.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:14 | 6753236 Chairman
Chairman's picture

It is no secret that everyone in Mormon country, even non-Mormons, are already fully stocked with food, guns, and ammo as well as a garden and livestock so where exactly will the "starving families" be decending from?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:50 | 6753659 Talleyrand
Talleyrand's picture

California, Washington, Portlandia...if they can make it over the Sierra and cross the desert...well, maybe not...depends on the season.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:53 | 6754138 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

There's always the Donner Camp sites. Heard they had a nice buffet.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:14 | 6753237 Chairman
Chairman's picture

It is no secret that everyone in Mormon country, even non-Mormons, are already fully stocked with food, guns, and ammo as well as a garden and livestock so where exactly will the "starving families" be decending from?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:37 | 6753335 TxExPat
TxExPat's picture

Again, just a good Mormon announcing that he is part of the community and doing what the community thinks is right...

One of the good things about living in a Mormon community is that everybody is or at least is expected to be prepared, don't expect to see starving hords hitting his door on the first sign of trouble, most people will be able to ride out the 3 months or so He is prepared for...  (Unlike a lot of other urban centers around the country which will go unstable the first day the EBIT card's don't work...).

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:07 | 6753750 undertow1141
undertow1141's picture

I feel like Utah will be the first area completely FSA free post crash. THe looters there will be shot quickly. Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota will follow quickly.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:53 | 6753902 Captain Benny
Captain Benny's picture

The FSA won't be tolerated pretty much anywhere in Nevada outside of Vegas and Reno.  I have serious doubts that Nanny state Californians will make it halfway to Utah.  We'd barricade roads before letting too many of them get through the Sierras ...

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:54 | 6754147 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

You will be accused of hording.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:15 | 6753029 Fred C Dobbs
Fred C Dobbs's picture

I will do more shopping at www.orverstock.com in the future. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:19 | 6753050 BKbroiler
BKbroiler's picture

right? I wonder if they're hiring

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:52 | 6753149 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

I've tried to shop there, but time and again their prices are WAY HIGH compared to multiple competitors; frankly, I can't believe the place is stil in business.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:57 | 6754162 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

This is the beauty of the subjective nature of value!!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:16 | 6753033 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

I predict a nail gun accident.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:18 | 6753040 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

On it.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:58 | 6754165 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

You're gonna need a disguise.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:17 | 6753034 Fukushima Fricassee
Fukushima Fricassee's picture

I never shopped there. I will start today.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:22 | 6753273 centerline
centerline's picture

Ironically, I have ordered some Augason Farms emergency food supplies from Overstock.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:40 | 6753637 r3ct1f13r
r3ct1f13r's picture

I couldn't get my payment to process with them, so I got bucket elsewhere, good deal it seems.

The lady did order a queen size mattress, (delivered to the door in a box for $160) from overstock. I kid you not, not a bad mattress either.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:16 | 6753035 RockySpears
RockySpears's picture

"We want to be able to keep our employees paid, safe and our site up and running during a financial crisis"

 

Not easy to do if there is no electricity, or water, or in fact any employee turning up to work to get a paypacket.  Who is going to do battle with the Hordes, just to get a couple of gold/silver buttons?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:41 | 6753354 tmosley
tmosley's picture

You've been watching too many Mad Max movies.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:53 | 6753402 herkomilchen
herkomilchen's picture

Yeah.  The collapse will not be armageddon.  Just chronic, widespread, excruciating poverty.  Like the great depression.  Basic things continued to be available, it was just a matter of how to afford them.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:02 | 6753453 Casey Jones
Casey Jones's picture

I'm not so sure it will be like the Great Depression. Remember back then most of the country was rural, most people knew how to hunt and fish, the woods and rivers were full of game, people were more self-reliant. This thing really could blow. I hope you're right but I'm worried is what I'm saying. Especially cuz the PTB seem to want it to blow sky high.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:24 | 6753562 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Yes, but we are far better armed now.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:01 | 6753730 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

But far less prepared physically, and spiritually. People will quickly lose hope. THey will scramble to the oraters, and demand that everything they have be taken - for an empty promise of daily bread.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:13 | 6753779 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

Don't presume a Hollywood style post-appocalyptic wasteland.

With a halt of modern just-in-time delivery, people have only days to perhaps a week to do mayhem before they become too lethargic and physically incapable.

If they don't get food in that time they will become lethargic, a week at most.   After that they will be more pitiful than frightening.

And that presumes they have water.

If the pumping stations can't give them good water, then they will be alternately sick, dead, or dying within 3 days.  Clean water is a life-and-death necessity for people who have not developed a tolerance to the stuff living in water-as-nature-made-it.

No one with disentary is capable of making mayhem.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:39 | 6753856 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

Not true about dysentery.  People from places it is rife (3rd world, and Silicon Valley, CA) eventually become chronic (assuming they survive, not a few don't survive acute bacterial dysentery, look at Briain in the Crimea (from memory)).  It's acute bacterial that knocks the stuffing out of you.

That means 3rd world migrants, legal or illegal, will do better than McDonalds-raised Americans.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:17 | 6753037 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

I personally don't see why a company putting in place financial contingency plans is any different than putting place IT system disaster recovery plans.  If they have the resources to prepare in such a way I would call that PRUDENT business behavior, not something to be mocked.

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:26 | 6753065 RockySpears
RockySpears's picture

I mock it not.

I merely look to the reality of someone leaving his home to pick up a paycheck when the world is in any sort of chaotic state.  That is why prepping tends to be a solitary, though shared, occupation.

  When a difficult time comes, individuals must be ready.  Companies can try and insulate their business from things, that is only sensible, but from the sort of crash all here expect, there is little to do.

  It is all well and good you company being viable after a shock, but if the public has no purchasing mechanism, what need for the business?  PM reserves and food are needed ONLY if a SHTF type scenario ensues.  Otherwise is is probably mis-placed.

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:01 | 6753186 joe6px
joe6px's picture

You should check out Ferfal and his experience with the Argentine financial collapse. You may find it interesting.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:06 | 6753205 Panafrican Funk...
Panafrican Funktron Robot's picture

"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst."  This used to be conventional wisdom, arguably attributed to possibly the most famous overtly Jewish politician in history, Disraeli.  

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 14:01 | 6754181 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

What good is all that IT, if nobody is there to run in? Doesn't run itself.....yet.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:18 | 6753041 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

governor hell he should run for usa president

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:27 | 6753069 Doubleguns
Doubleguns's picture

That position is over stocked at the moment. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:39 | 6753112 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

he has one fatal flaw. he gives a shit.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:42 | 6753122 Arnold
Arnold's picture

Why completely wish for his corruption?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 16:25 | 6754836 Kyddyl
Kyddyl's picture

You would NOT want Gov. Gary Herbert R UT to have anything to do with you! I've lived in Utah all my life and he's one of the biggest special interest crooks we're ever had. He and Sen. Orrin Hatch R Utah (Patriot Act) are the worst sort of news. We've been inundated with nuclear waste sites, air polluters and the worst kind of "growth" backed by an education system one notch up from Mississippi and anti anything for the average people.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:20 | 6753052 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture
Still Report #448 - The Truth About the Fed - YouTube

All kidding, Overstock.com can ship the Federal Reserve counterfeit money around the world. Great place to visit, below. 

Deep Capture 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:23 | 6753057 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

My grandmother was a devout mormon and suffered through the depression.  She prepped the rest of her life until she died in her 90s.  It's part of the religion.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:26 | 6753066 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

I am not a Mormon but where I grew up was at least 50% LDS. I always thought...hey, that is a pretty smart idea...storing a long term supply of food that is. 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:44 | 6753125 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Having a couple of extra wives on hand might not be a bad idea either if things go tits up.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:49 | 6753386 herkomilchen
herkomilchen's picture

Hey, someone has to do all the hard baby-making work!

Definitely not during the early hunker-down phase though when things are shaking out.  After that, in the rebuild and grow phase.

Especially absent modern medicine, children are physically risky for a mother to have and incredibly draining on energy, food, resources, mobility, etc. 

Only having them once in a settled place where they can work the land alongside the family and pull their weight in short order do they make sense.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:05 | 6753746 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

If every man capable of supporting others did likewise I doubt there would be any demographics disaster in Europe or the US.

Instead we have the bottom of society, who can support no one, making babies and carrying on long-term but 'off-the-books' relationships with multiple welfare mothers.

 

Someone needs to relook the morality of the society's official position on the matter of polygamy.   Not justifying.  But it seems to me that society simply condones it for the least productive rather than the most productive.

Not so sure that is a recipe for success.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:10 | 6753222 toady
toady's picture

There's a  Mormon cannery here in AZ that's been very helpful. They only work with Mormons, but luckily my mother in law is one, so I get a lot of food/supplies at cost.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 14:06 | 6754203 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

That exclusivity always bothered me to some extent. Can't feed everybody.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:35 | 6753093 ramgold2206
ramgold2206's picture

This guy is one prudent man. We can all see the crash coming and many on ZH have warned about it for years now. However for all that foresight how many of us are actually doing something about it... im guessing less that one would imagine.

Coupled with this could just yesterday our largest bank (Bank of Ireland ironically) announced that its essentially banning transactions in cash. It's an incremental implementation policy, first all cash lodgements below €3,000 must be lodged at an ATM machine and cash withdrawals of €700 or less at atm only. While today they did a bit of a climb down and extend the implementation date due to the huge public outcry the policy in general remains the same.. reduce and ultimately eliminate cash.

This is why I do what I do... I educate and highlight to people the absolute necessity of owning physical gold. (even physical cash is unsafe over the long term) Many people are beginning to understand and this is manifesting in increased gold savings. If you are reading this and you understand the absolute necessity of owning gold, and want to make a difference in your community or even protect your family and friends - get in touch with me.

 

there is a collapse coming in a magnitude like we have never seen before - will you be ready

 

 

www.teamramgold.com/about-us

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:38 | 6753106 doggis
doggis's picture

simply put - "I LOVE THIS MAN"!!! [FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD - THAT IS A CAPITAL [L] AS IN "LOVE" AS IN "ADMIRE", "HONOR" AND "RESPECT" - VERSUS SMALL CASE [l] as in "LOVE" AS IN CAITLYN FRIGGIN JENNER]

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:53 | 6753161 Niall Of The Ni...
Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

You know, I still don't believe for a minute that prepping will do anybody any good when it really counts. Eventually the canned food will run out, and nothing worth eating will grow in a nuclear winter or cobalt-salted fields. If you think it's at all likely, keep your treasures safe in heaven. Sell your belongings, give the proceeds to the deserving poor, and move somewhere where you're likely to die quickly and painlessly when the bomb is dropped.

Even if I did, I wouldn't tell everyone I knew. You might as well wear a shirt in the ghetto saying I'M CARRYING CASH. Hoarding food or gold just makes you a target for thieves---including supposedly loving wives.

The head of Overstock is using company money to hoard food and gold for himself when his employees could surely have easily used a pay rise. I dare say that if they ever show up for their canned food some big men with guns will be there to have a word with them.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:07 | 6753212 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

If things got doomsday bad, IMO prepping will be 10% of your survival(or less) and LUCK will be 90%.  1 prepper for every 100,000 or more people who go to instant nothing doesn't make for a very good social situation.  Lots of these people already know you're moving to the rural areas.  So you think you're gona fend off a herd with that 12ga?  "Oh, we'll ban together".  Yeah, sure you will.  I live in a rural area, people from the city have bought up what land isn't farmed, and don't want anything to do with anyone else.  When you call them neighbor they look at you like you're crazy because they are 1/2 mile or so away.  LOL, you're gonna ban together?  No you're not.  Most of you will get killed, who's left will decide to shack up together.    No one is planning ahead.  They think about it, talk about it, but hardly anyone is doing anything.  That's like some stupid fuck I heard say "well if shit gets bad i'll grow a garden and live off the land".  Ok, say shit goes bad today.  I hope you have super fast seeds that like snow.

You're most likely outcome is death.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:28 | 6753296 MarkAntony
MarkAntony's picture

Very wise words, sir.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:59 | 6753439 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

The end of world critics have a point about how difficult it will be to survive, and how few will be able to do it - but there are many other scenarios where some extra cash and food are well worth having - and where some gold is vital if you plan on becoming a refugee. Ask a Syrian how your life might change.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:07 | 6753752 Niall Of The Ni...
Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

The Syrians have somewhere to go (viz. your neighbourhood in the developed world, where they can live on benefits).

Trust me, when the time comes you won't.

Even if some semblance of civilization survives, there won't be many parts of the planet interested in, or interesting for, millions of white European Christian refugees.

If you're one of the 30,000-odd extremely rich people who rule us, Singapore will cheerfully admit you and your money. Otherwise, count on having the ship you tried to sail in on sent to Davy Jones' locker after one warning shot---if that. (Even Israel will get a lot pickier about who is Jewish enough to be worth admitting.)

Only Europeans and Americans (God knows why) have much sympathy for people who've obviously fouled their own nest or allowed others to do so.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:57 | 6753178 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

If things are going to get that bad, why will Overstock need to pay employees when no one is going to buy anything from them?  What are they going to do..........sit around and wait for the next big order of oversize tv's and stainless steel cooking ware to materialize in the middle of a collapse? 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 09:58 | 6753180 Spectre
Spectre's picture

1st of all, Ive been a stacker of metals for decades.  However the Overstock CEO's idea is flawed, when we have another even more powerful financial collapse, no one will keep buying on his website, thus no need for employees or a sharp reduction of same.  Just like if their business slowed over a certain amount of time they would reduce employees across his platform.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:08 | 6753219 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

HAHA beat you to it. LOL.  Glad to see someone else figured out the flaw.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:08 | 6753220 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

The LAST people to benefit from his "prepping" will be his employees.

Does he have plans to continue to pay his workers when the orders stop coming in? And for how long?

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:56 | 6753417 azusgm
azusgm's picture

But what if only NY and NJ were knocked out?

What if only LA and Long Beach went dark?

What if either of those areas went dark and people had to leave and start over somewhere else?

What if we had multiple but regionalized broken windows but not a total nationwide systemic collapse?

Even if the internet went down and OSTK could no longer receive orders online, they could wholesale to retailers or do mail order like Montgomery Wards used to do. If the ports were working and the internet went down, Amazon may eventually find a way around the communications problem, but many, many of their vendors may not be able to stay in business. OSTK could find a way to be in the supply chain or retail to the remaining customers.

If the grid were to go down, it will be boomtime for awhile for anyone who manufactures or sells natural gas generators. Anyone with an electrician's license will be working 16-hour days and then resting up until some more copper becomes available. If you are prepping for an EMP, you might want to seal up some insulated copper wire and find out how deeply to bury it.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:54 | 6753698 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

So what you're saying is, that only him, and his wife will be getting the gold, and food - since everyone else will be fired ahead of time?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:03 | 6753191 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

Overstock used to be great for furniture.  I outfitted an entire condo via them.  They had free shipping when I did it.  Not sure if it still does....

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:15 | 6753242 world_debt_slave
world_debt_slave's picture

those that have drank the kool aide, nay say preppers

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:31 | 6753307 Contrariologist
Contrariologist's picture

It's interesting...everyone knows that the Stock Market always goes up, until it doesn't; and disaster comes on slowly, until it comes on rapidly. So this guy at Overstock is basically a crazy radical...until he's not.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:35 | 6753322 MarkAntony
MarkAntony's picture

Man, people wake up! Please...   this guy is running for office and will say anything that resonates with his constituency.  Like many of you have said, his stock piles of gold and food will mean nothing in a SHTF scenario - but, boy! doesn't it make him look good in Utah...

 

rsnoble said it perfectly few posts above, 90% of survival will depend on pure luck.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:49 | 6753382 tmosley
tmosley's picture

You sound like a lazy idiot more than anything.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:39 | 6753343 venturen
venturen's picture

They have any overstock weapons and ammo?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:43 | 6753363 sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

Too late. I think it all got shipped to Syria

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:45 | 6753350 Winston Smith 2009
Winston Smith 2009's picture

"libertarian online retailer Overstock"

Mormon online retailer Overstock.

South Park - All About Mormons (dum, dum, dum, dum, dumb)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu4y7x9LRyY

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:54 | 6753405 tmosley
tmosley's picture

Good people, but a DUMB religion.

Had a couple stop by a couple of years ago and we had a chat. I asked them for a Book of Mormon. When I opened it, it took me about two seconds to realize it was 100% certainly a fraud. You know why?

It's written in Ye Olde Englishe. This was supposed to be a translation from some ancient unknown language, translated, NOT by William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, and others, but by some dude from the 1850's. It should read like a document from the 1850's. He made it Ye Olde Englishe to make it sound "church-y".

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:35 | 6753608 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

Hardly conclusive.

When you translate business documents, you use the currently accepted 'all businessy' language.

When you translate military documents from one language to another, you use military vernacular.

In the 1820's religious vernacular universally was drawn from the King James bible... "Ye Olde Englishe Churchy vernacular".

But that vernacular was itself stylized.

Specifically, all scholarly work for the preceding centuries in Europe had been done exclusively in Latin.   During this period the main English Universities were also founded. 

Unsuprisingly, they attempted to regularize the English vernacular and dialect along the lines of Latin.  This included regularization of singular and plural forms (Thou, You) as well as increasingly regularizing spelling... which continued into the 1800's...and to some extent continues today.

If you read much older documents like Sir Thomas Mallory's "Le Mortre D'Arthur" (link below) your primary difficulty will likely be with the use of letters no longer included in English, as well as unfamiliar variations in spelling...because people have always sucked at spelling, and because they were spelling phonetically, but using a larger alphabet than the modern one.    However, once you figure out those little difficulties, read it out loud.  It sounds about as much like modern English as what you hear on "Game of Thrones".

 

 

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:3.1?rgn=div2;view=fulltext

Shakespeare and the King James Bible were using University Stylized English of the period.

In the 17th thru 19th centuries it was common to mimic that style when writing religious texts.

Don't believe me? 

Read some of the sermons delivered in the major protestant churches in New England during the 1700's and 1800's.   They use a language style closer to Shakespeare and the King James Bible than to other contemporary documents, like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address, Moby Dick, etc.

Style selection is not an indicator of whether something was translated or made up.

Respectfully, you gotta dig deeper than that.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:56 | 6753712 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

For those of you with trouble deciphering the letters and spelling in "Le Mortre D'Arthur",  Here is the first paragraph, word by word.  Keep in mind that Mallory died centuries before Shakespeare or the King James Bible, in 1471.  I'm not changing the word forms or grammar here at all, just spelling them with the modern spelling and punctuation.  But you can compare for yourself.

 

It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon when he was King of all England.  And so reigned that there was a Mighty Duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time.  And the Duke was called the Duke of Tintagel.   And so by means King Uther sent for this Duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and passing wise.  And her name was called Igrayne. So when the Duke and his wife were coming unto the King by means of great Lords they were acccorded both.  The King liked and allowed this lady well.   And he made them greet her out of measure, and desired to have lain by her.  But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent unto the King.  And then she told the Duke her husband and said, "I suppose that we were sent for that I should be dishonored.  Wherefore, husband, I counsel you that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle."   And in like wise as she said so they departed - that neither the King nor none of his Council were aware of their departing.  All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing so suddenly, he was wonderly wrothe.  Then he called to him his Privy Council, and told them of the sudden departing of the Duke and his wife.

Original 1400's text below:

"HIt befel in the dayes of Vther pendragon when he was kynge of all Englond / and so regned that there was a my?ty duke in Cornewaill that helde warre ageynst hym long tyme / And the duke was called the duke of Tyntagil / and so by meanes kynge Vther send for this duk / chargyng hym to brynge his wyf with hym / for she was called a fair lady / and a passynge wyse / and her name was called Igrayne / So whan the duke and his wyf were comyn vnto the kynge by the meanes of grete lordes they were accorded bothe / the kynge lyked and loued this lady wel / and he made them grete chere out of mesure / and desyred to haue lyen by her / But she was a passyng good woman / and wold not assente vnto the kynge / And thenne she told the duke her husband and said I suppose that we were sente for that I shold be dishonoured Wherfor husband I counceille yow that we departe from hens sodenly that we maye ryde all nyghte vnto oure owne castell / and in lyke wyse as she saide so they departed / that neyther the kynge nor none of his counceill were ware of their departyng Also soone as kyng Vther knewe of theire departyng soo sodenly / he was wonderly wrothe / Thenne he called to hym his pryuy counceille / and told them of the sodeyne departyng of the duke and his wyf /"

 

See what I mean?

The 1400's language when read aloud is more like modern English than the stylized university and religious English of the 1500's and 1600's.

From that you can know that it was always a consciously performed style rather than something reflecting "Ye Olde Tymes" actual manner of speech.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:43 | 6753867 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

I think I made an error above.

I think this:

"The King liked and allowed this lady well."

Ought to be this:

"The King like and a-loved this lady well."  

We don't use 'a-loved' to mean 'fell in love' anymore.   But when spoken rather than written, I think most every English speaker would know what was meant.   

Archaeic and internally inconsistent spelling is tough to decipher.  I am sympathizing with my second-grade teacher Mrs. Wyatt.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:19 | 6753797 zeroaccountability
zeroaccountability's picture

My favorite part about the mormon bible is, (I think it's in Esther?)  is where he talks about 'The Land of Moron'.  Also, the angel 'Moroni'. 

Did he have his target audience pegged, or what?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:25 | 6753822 zeroaccountability
zeroaccountability's picture

That video shows the pronouncement of 'Moroni' as

Moron-I....."I-Moron".....just WOW!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:33 | 6753842 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

Respectfully, you gotta dig deeper than that...

 

I still remember the reviews Samuel Clemons gave to both Mary Baker Eddy's and Joe Smith's copy write protected works of fiction.  Sam was a professional writer himself and easily recognized the fraudulent nature of these works and the ulterior motive behind both “authors” in their ability to capitalize on the US’ patent office’s newfound power to confer ownership and profit to persons publishing works for sale and distribution.

The fact these literary devices developed into “religions” was just a bonus.

 

 

jmf

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:38 | 6753854 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens  was bornabout 230 years too late to be the author of literary devices developed into religions.

I am not prostletizing here.

I am just saying that before you knock another man's religion you need to be coherent.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:26 | 6753921 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

Sam was a contemporary of both Mary and Joe who sold their literary devices to people that turned into adoring fans and both developed into "churches" that took the name of Jesus to lend additional credibility.  Joe died while Sam was a kid, but their lives still overlapped a bit and Sam sure saw what became of Joe's legacy when traveling back and forth to the gold and silver fields in the mid 1800's.  Sam and Mary both died in the same year though, 1910.

 

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.--Sam Clemens

 

just my understanding

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:37 | 6753851 Ward no. 6
Ward no. 6's picture

all religions are dumb

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:42 | 6753360 venturen
venturen's picture

Funny stock piling food and gold which the government has done for over 100 years...is now considered radical. I am sure they want him to be fully invested with Goldman and one meal away from New Orleans during Katrinia!  

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:03 | 6753458 azusgm
azusgm's picture

The government has almost zero food in storage now.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=4770135&page=1

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:21 | 6753543 BSHJ
BSHJ's picture

That article was from about 2009 when Ed Schafer was still Agriculture Secretary.  Who knows what the current situation is.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:27 | 6753583 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Well, it wouldn't be very "confidence inspiring" if they did, now would it? The premise of a society based on dependency is that there will always be MOAR coming from an ill defined but infinite source. The proverbial "other people's money".

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 10:44 | 6753368 CHoward
CHoward's picture

10million is gold can hardly be considered "hoarding".  I don't appreciate the article mocking Overstock.com for doing something - anything - to protect themselves in times of chaos.  The idea of having small denominations of gold and silver to be able to continue to pay their employees is thinking outside the box. Having food stored is brilliant.  Now...I don't know how many customers will be placing online orders when all hell is breaking loose in the economy but I tip my hat to the CEO and board of Overstock.com for at least thinking of their employees - something that is largely lacking in the majority of American companies today.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:01 | 6753449 fightapathy
fightapathy's picture

There be grasshoppers. And there be ants. And the grasshoppers fucking hate the ants. Till winter comes round, of course.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:36 | 6753611 theblackknight
theblackknight's picture

In winter you dont see a lot of ants unless you know where to dig. Those ants can carry AK47s and dont like to be dug up. But when they do, grasshoppers will make great hog-food. Ants can always be happy.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:08 | 6753480 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

FT's position reeks of ignorance and propaganda.

"Civilization" is a set of conventions for people dealing with each other in a "Civilized" way.   It breaks down all the time in the small scale - think of the police brutality video's or flash-mob assaults online.   In larger scales it breaks down also quite frequently, no less than once every few years on a local or regional level - think Hurricane Katrina, Ferguson Riots, LA Riots, etc.

"Civilization" breaks down in a regional manner about once a generation - every 20 years or so - for someone.  Or do you think that Regional Wars are civilized? 

And much larger conflagarations, involving whole continents and perhaps even hemispheres of the planet happen about once every 60-80 years.

Some level of prepardness for events that happen every year or two, is not insane, it is prudence.

The preparations Johnson cites are those, maybe, more applicable to one of the regional disasters that happen every generation, and whose location can't be predicted.  Why is this considered abnormal?

What is abnormal is the culture of unlimited dependence and subservience to systems that have never yet proven out against one of these periodic break-downs in civil behavior.

Who here is the more crazy?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:19 | 6753540 azusgm
azusgm's picture

Spiro T. Agnew's phrase "an effete corp of impudent snobs" applies to the FT writers.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:09 | 6753484 2muchtax
2muchtax's picture

Not understanding the criticism, except public announcement. This guy is preparing for the first month of a great depression. You guys are judging him based on a Mad Max scenario. No one knows what is coming, but if you have the resources do something to prepare. I'm very prepared, compared to the average person...because I can. You can insure you food supply for 6 months, for the price of insuring your car. Which makes more sense?

Being prepared is the most logical thing to do, if you have studied any history. As for the argument about defending it, there are too choices defense or offense. I'll take the high road.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:31 | 6753599 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

One of the first companies that protect there employees. Zionist churn out talent, like a revolving door. 

Both, my grandfather and father worked for Ohio Bell. They retired from the company. From my Grandfather's perspective, pioneer . Dad took a golden parachute. He saw the M&A bullshit coming. Never had to work again. 

Bleed these jew cunts for stealing. Kikes will always be kikes. 

5 stars to Overstock.com management. 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:16 | 6753523 superdave
superdave's picture

What everyone is missing here is how he is percieved by the MSM.  He is being presented as an "anti-establishment leader".  The powers that be will not stand for this!  He now has a huge target on his back.  They'll find some way to take him down along with any other high visibilty leader.  There can be no dissent. There can be no thought expressed that is outside of the agenda.  Think I'm wrong?  Try speaking out against some of what's going on in front of our eyes at your next city council meeting. Say something about " Black Lives Matter" being a racist organization or Why are our children are being taught about transgengers?  See how far that will get you! 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 11:47 | 6753666 theblackknight
theblackknight's picture

WTF is with the negative attitude at all with this guy?? I dont get it! Should he have just taken the cash as a bonus? Is he now "weird' because he has a backup plan?

I need a new planet....

 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:00 | 6753728 PoasterToaster
PoasterToaster's picture

The end of a particular State is not the same thing as the end of "Civilization".  States are themselves quite uncivilized.  But people are being taught that the health of the system their Aristocratic slavemasters use to dominate them is civilization.  The end of the system of slavery is likewise not the end of "civilization".  This fear porn is being spread far and wide, because the fears the slavers have of losing their power is being projected on the livestock.

Herding millions of people into obedience at gunpoint, stealing their property, throwing them in rape cages for disagreeing with the rules imposed on them without their consent... these are not hallmarks of civlization.  Only the indoctrinated Cloveritic masses believe it to be so.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:19 | 6753796 Professorlocknload
Professorlocknload's picture

So, can we add central banks to the FT list of survivalist gold hoarders as well?

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 12:53 | 6753899 homebody
homebody's picture

Why do the lazy bread and circus idiots always defend an anti-prep position with the argument that -when we are thrown back into the stone age.  Many emergencies happen that are relatively short term where a few months of food, shelter, currency, and security would be a life saver.  Good for any company that would try to insulate their employees from the shock of upheaval.    

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:43 | 6754087 fishwharf
fishwharf's picture

This could clever marketing.  I just created an account at Overstock.com.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 17:10 | 6755074 Kyddyl
Kyddyl's picture

Utah and the Intermountain West is earthquake country. We get burning heat, deep snow and high winds and about a dozen people each year that get killed in avalanches that sometimes close roads and freeways. The distances out here are mind boggling for many people. It's not just Mormons who prep. Even with common sense issues and well within Utah itself there are many who are completely unprepared for anything. We're getting our share of gang bangers too. They're the ones who will be a burden as the economy crashes and yes, everyone I know has at least one gun. Bows and arrows, knives you name it. A former Marine sniper in the house teaches us lots about how to dissappear in plain sight, in a bad way for the bad guys.

As for gold and silver one of my grandparents kept their stash in the well casing after one of the banks closed in the 1930's. They kept cash and metals and did very well with knowing how to really do real things. Most of that $42. gold is being handed down to our grand kids.

Johnathan Johnson is well regarded here in Utah. He has the welfare of his employees in sight as well as very prudent plans to back both employees and himself. Too many commentors here watch too many Mad Max and blues smokey devastation movies.

It is the Europeans who get lost/drowned/chewed on out here all the time is why we have large search and rescue teams.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 18:55 | 6755471 ihatebarkingdogs
ihatebarkingdogs's picture

Obama will not finish his second term!

 

Truth be told, it would have been better if he'd have never started his first.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 22:13 | 6756213 Old Poor Richard
Old Poor Richard's picture

It's a cute thought, but nobody is going to want silver and gold coins, they're going to want greenbacks.  PMs are only useful when some semblance of society and infrastructure is in place.  In a true collapse people use what they're used to, not what they "know" has "intrinsic value".

Even if the US is insolvent, people will work with what they know and trust.  When he pays them in precious metals, they will pawn them for cents on the dollar of their worth in greenbacks.  He should stockpile $10 million in Jacksons and Benjamins if he really wants to pay his people during a banking holiday. 

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