What we are hearing from bloviating gun control advocates in America is nothing short of emotionally driven irrationality. According to statistics assembled from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Center for Disease Control and the Federal Government, firearms related homicides are minuscule in comparison to other the other “big killers” in the United States. If we look at homicide statistics in the United States it’s clear that more murders are committed with knives, bats, hammers and poisons than with firearms. As Kurt Nimmo recently noted, “ the number of murders committed annually with hammers and clubs far outpaces the number of murders committed…
Category: News
This is What Gun Control Looks Like: 532 Murdered in Chicago in 2012
If gun control laws work, why were 2,670 people shot and 532 people murdered in the Anti-Gun City of Chicago last year?
Illinois Legislator Trying to Ban Guns, Weapons & Gun Ranges by January 9th
Gun owners throughout Illinois need to be aware of what’s happening right now. Late last night Illinois Senate Democrats pushed through legislation that will ban semiautomatic weapons, shut down gun ranges and ban all high-capacity magazines.
Brinicle: Icicle of Death; Or I Can’t Fucking Handle How Amazing This Is
…no words: here’s the BBC link note: the BBC link has the narration done by David Attenborough, while the youtube one has …probably Alec Baldwin. You decide…
Japanese Dance-Art: Butoh
I can’t recall where I ever learned about Butoh, the japanese dance/performance/style of movement that uses white body makeup and slow hyper-controlled motion, that verges between the playful and grotesque. It’s…utterly fascinating. I don’t know if it’s beautiful, hilarious…or better left un-described. I have a couple of youtube videos I’d like to share that highlights Butoh dancing, and a documentary link for those who are really interested. The documentary linky link
What’s the Longest Mountain Range in the World?
Were you going to answer the Rocky Mountains? The Himalayas? The Andes? Turns out it’s neither of these. I wouldn’t have known that, mind you. I didn’t even know the relative length of any of those mountain ranges (4,800kms, 2,400kms, and 7,000kms, respectively, by the way). The record actually belongs to a mountain range that’s underwater…and stretches from Iceland, down under Africa, below Australia, up the Pacific to Baja California where it shoots up the west coast of the United States to end up in Alaska. Hawaii is actually the tip of this mountain range. It doesn’t have a name, but goes by ‘…
Vegetarianism, Anarcho-Primitivism, Permaculture, Sustainability, and Ted Kaczynski
As you can probably tell from the title, this post is going to be a clusterfuck. I don’t know where to start, so I’ll just talk about a book I’m currently reading, that got me back on some of these ideas I’ve been introduced to before, and go from there. The book is titled The Vegetarianism Myth by Lierre Keith. You can read the first chapter from her website here. This book is chock full of both good arguments, and full out bat-shit nonsense. The main point of the book is that a vegetarian diet is unsustainable and unhealthy (at least for veganism), and that if you really want to save the world and so on, …
Sustainable, Self-Sufficient, Off-the-Grid Houses: Earthsip Biotecture and Mike Reynolds
I talked about this in my last post, about Mike Reynolds the ‘Garbage Warrior’. He builds houses that are essentially made of garbage (about 45{660353129f8d892044c993645a1c75194301fec6786a7f617c15adde0b0011e9}), relies largely on the sun for heating (and dirt-filled tire walls to keep in heat), grows plants inside and outside for food, catches rainwater and recycles the water used through grey water recycling and plant purification. I want one of these house so bad! And you can watch the full documentary Garbage Warrior about Mike here:
Jamie Stewart from Xiu Xiu Recalls His Father’s Suicide
I was visiting the Xiu Xiu website, since every now and then Jamie Stewart will write something of interest: either dramatic life stuff, or fun silliness, and came upon a really intense post about his father’s suicide which occurred 10 years earlier. Here it is in full: On November 13th, 2002, 10 years ago, my father, Michael, killed himself. He may have actually died on the night of the 12th, but my mom found his body on the 13th. Her own mother had died only 6 months before. I have never told anyone my entire experience of those days or of the funeral. At the time I was working at East Side San Jose Child Development Center. The student population was largely impoverished or…
Facts about Wind and What is Wind Energy
A simple definition of wind is when air moves from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. This is the starting fact about wind – that movement of air is as simple of a reason to cause wind to occur. What causes the high pressure and the low pressure? These are differences are caused by the fact the sun does not distribute heat evenly across the planet. Some areas are warmed more than others and this variation of the sun’s heating causes the high pressure and low pressure areas which result in wind and subsequently, wind energy to be created. What…
Top Reasons to Be Self reliant in this day and age
In the current environment the work force is facing 10{660353129f8d892044c993645a1c75194301fec6786a7f617c15adde0b0011e9} unemployment, obesity and other health related concerns continue to get worse and worse, credit value as the housing market falls further and retirement is a dream turned nightmare for many. A sobering opening? Well that is why learning how to be self reliant in this day and age is something all people should strive for. Health: The more self reliant you are, the more you are forced to do in a day. If you are not paying someone to mow your lawn, to rake your leaves, to clean your gutters you …
How to Work from home – three ways to live financially self sufficient
For anyone who dreams of being self sufficient the biggest hurdle they will face is how to pay the bills and earn enough income to live self sufficient. How to work from home is not an easy thing and more importantly it is not something done overnight. Patience will be a key as you build investments and income streams which will eventually allow you to see the light on how to work from home and earn enough income to work for yourself. There are endless ways to try and become self sufficient financially, the three items I am going to list below are the investments that I am following in my own attempts to work from home and live self sufficiently. Online Writing…
Easily remove wine stains from many materials
Many homesteaders enjoy the process of making their own wine. It is a great way to further the self sufficient lifestyle and a fun hobby to experiment with. One problem with wine is its amazing ability to stain. Whether you are enjoying this delicious beverage or bottling it, chances are you are bound to splash a bit on your clothes or carpet at one point or another. If you have had wine splash on clothing before, you probably know how badly it stains. Have no fear – there is a way to prevent wine from staining your favorite materials. The best part about this is that the stain remover is inexpensive and…
Great uses for fallen leaves
Fallen leaves serve many purposes. While many people simply rake up these leaves and throw them in the garbage, there are alternative solutions for managing this frustrating situation. Instead of throwing out your leaves this year consider saving some for around the house. In order to winterize your garden a fresh layer of mulch should be applied before the colds sets in. There are several different types of mulch that you can use, but leaves are also a great option. If you have a mulcher laying around your house you can use it to shred your leaves easily. The shredded leaves can then be placed on top of your perennials that have been cutback and around your shrubs and trees. The insulation from the shredded…
Living off the grid – Generate less energy to save money
Living off the grid requires anyone to figure out ways to cut back in what they spend in order to survive. When someone attempts living off the grid they will generally have less income which means they need to reduce their expense to compensate. There are many simple things anyone can do to their house right now to cut their daily living expenses down to both put more money in the bank and lesson your over requirements for energy. Five things you should do right now if you are living off the grid A daily and constant draw is as simple as a light switch. If you switched out the light bulbs in your house with fluorescent bulbs you will see an overall savings in…
Looking to move off grid
hello! I am Timmy a 28 year old male living in Florida currently. For the past 7 years I have dreamed of living off the grid. I am done running the rat race with my fellow man in this monetary system, I rather share and work together towards a common goal and create great friendships along the way. I was born and raised on a farm with horses goats and chickens leaving with knowledge and care for livestock, I can also ride as well. I am an avid hunter in florida. I also grow some of my own vegtables with the room i have. i am a very hard worker and dream to be free. i am saving for some land one day hopefuly, but…
Nipton – self-powered town in California
One of the world’s biggest solar power collectors is being built next to the tiny town of Nipton, Calif., which is ironic because Nipton is the closet thing to an off-grid town – with 85 per cent of its energy coming from a set of solar panels installed by one of its 60 residents. Gerald Freeman unlocks the gate to the small power plant and goes inside. Three rows of solar collectors, elevated on troughs that track the sun’s arc like sunflowers, afford a glimpse of California’s possible energy future. This facility and a smaller version across the road produce almost all of the power required by Nipton’s 60 residents, its general store and motel. Freeman, a Caltech-trained geologist and one-time gold mine…
Tired of waiting to go off grid?
Seems to me there are many looking to break free of mainstream societies ways, but also involve many obstacles to overcome. When considering our own ideals such as location,lifestyle and all sorts of other factors, finding suitable partnerships is not very likely to happen quickly. And even if it did, what do you do when its not working out as planned? I’ll tell you what I did. Bought myself a camper, didn’t spend alot, and started the transition to off grid on my own in the vast free land use of the Southwest. There are actually areas all over the country you can camp …
Stops Along the Way: Part 2
Five o’clock quickly arrived at my desk on my first night as a full-time RVer. I left my office and walked into the dark parking lot knowing I would be home in less than 30 seconds. No one from work knew it. Since I land acting and print gigs on occasion, they believe my camper is to go on jobs out of town. Half-truths go a long way. I also made it a point for them to know that owning an RV has always been a dream of mine. I considered letting my co-workers know of my new lifestyle, but I’ve grown less trusting with age. My managers may feel less compelled to give me higher raises…
Truman Lake MO, interested in sustainability
I’m interested in networking with people in my area to share ideas and possible resources. Solar energy and sustainable living are my main interests. I’m 56, work full-time at a job I plan to retire from, own and living on two small properties close to Truman Lake and I want to make one of the properties self-sufficient. No leeching lazies/druggies/drunks/or militants. Zero tolerance for drama.
Living on a school bus
With a $12,000 budget, a San Fransisco couple decided to turn a 39-foot school bus into a dream home – that sleeps ten people. To create their totally off-grid dwelling, Richard and Rachel, who run a blog, mounted six solar panels on the roof of the bus, installed a compost toilet, solar fridge and freezer and a propane-fed catalytic heater, stove and oven. Rachel, who says they live rent-free, paying just $100 per month for maintenance, admitted that family and friends were ‘confused’ by their decision. ‘My mom’s reaction was “this isn’t the sixties.” But …
UN Syria "Peace Plan" a Fraud
December 28, 2012 (LD) – UN “peace envoy” Lakhdar Brahimi is attempting to broker a transitional government ahead of proposed elections in Syria. For Brahimi, his efforts are not only in vain, they are entirely disingenuous. The proposal of a “transitional government” in the midst of what is in fact a foreign invasion, funded, armed, and perpetuated openly by foreign interests violates both Syria’s sovereignty and the UN’s own founding charter. It would be not unlike a UN envoy visiting Poland at the beginning of World War II, and proposing a transitional government in the midst of the Nazi invasion. The UN would clearly…
NYT Defends Fortune 500’s Global Human Exploitation
December 27, 2012 (LD) – While the US funds and arms sectarian death squads across the Arab World under the guise of “promoting democracy,” it props its own economy up on a vast network of global human exploitation. From Walmart’s sweatshop-death traps in Bangladesh, to Apple’s deplorable partnership with Taiwan’s Foxconn, millions go underpaid while overworked under dangerous, inhumane conditions to fuel America’s consumerist paradigm.Public backlash against these practices range from outrage over human exploitation (less common) to complaints that the West’s economies are suffering due to these outsourced jobs (more common). As this backlash increases, and as technology reaches a point where real viable local alternatives may soon displace large, centralized corporations, a perfect …
Intro to Synthetic Biology
January 5, 2013 (LocalOrg /Tony Cartalucci) – Professor Jamie Davies walks an audience through the coming synthetic biology revolution. Comparing it to the personal computer revolution of the 70’s and 80’s, Professor Davies explains the lessons learned and how they can be applied to developing an open and constructive use of synthetic biology. What is synthetic biology (video)? It is the next step in genetic engineering – not simply copying and pasting genetic code from one life form to another, but creating entirely new genetic sequences, and thus entirely new life forms. Already, competitions like MIT’s iGEM, pit universities and even high schools against one another as they develop new forms of synthetic biology using “biobricks” -open source, standardized components that can be interchanged…
War on Syria: Gateway to WWIII
January 5, 2013 (Corbett Report/Global Research) ….The book, “War on Syria: Gateway to WWIII,” can be found, for free in .pdf format, here. For the latest Land Destroyer Report headlines on Syria, see here.
Multimedia Roundup: Fiscal Cliff Charade
January 4, 2013 (Corbett Report – PressTV)
On the Cusp of Ending Big Pharma
Gene therapy threatens to disrupt forever big-pharma’s profiteering, but not without a fight. December 28, 2012 (LD) – Imagine being diagnosed with cancer, a genetic disease, or even age-related deterioration in the morning, given a single injection in the evening, and beginning your recovery the next day. No prescriptions, no lengthy treatments, no difficult decisions between finances and getting better. This is the promise of gene therapy, a promise already being fulfilled.Image: One method of gene therapy – taking human cells, “editing” them genetically, and reinserting them into the human body where they will replicate and carry out their newly designed functions. (Microsoft Encarta Online Concise Encyclopedia)…. Gene therapy is the identifying…
How To Make Home-Made Orange Cordial "Splitza"
When the end of orange season comes, more often than not we are left with a surplus of this wonderful fruit, which is a really good position for me to be in because it forces me to do something with the extra bounty before they go bad. Orange marmalade is great, fresh orange juice is terrific but can become overindulgent and it doesn’t keep or freeze well either, and then there are other ways to treat an orange surplus… like making cordial. Fresh oranges start perishing from the time they are picked and if you leave them piled in a container they will soon go mouldy, attract fermentation flies, …
Why I finally got a solar system?
In my last solar article: 20 Solar Questions Answered PT 2 (when I asked 20 questions from Brett the QLD State Manager of Green and Gold Solar here in Australia), I concluded by stating not to be surprised if in 6 months to read about my own solar installation. Well, I’m pleased to announce that’s exactly what I’m writing about in this article – my very own photovoltaic (PV) system. Over the past two years, I have seen the price for a 5kW solar system plummet from 20k plus, down to around 13k in June/July this year (2012). Before that, but still not so long ago, I…
My Solar Installation 5Kw System On Shed Roof (Installed By Green & Gold Solar)
So my previous solar article on "Why I finally got a solar system" answered why I finally did end up getting a solar system, and this article is dedicated to explain my whole solar install experience. Even though I was very happy with my final price and overall solar package, there’s no doubt that a solar investment is still a lot of money (offset against electricity savings or not) and it’s a big decision for most people. My 5kW PV System installed on shed roof (image above) This is why the hunt for solar took me so long, because I wanted to be convinced beyond doubt that not only was it the right decision…