Although that is not the intention of the articles. I'm sure that neither author has any knowledge whatsoever of yours truly, and may not even agree with my response to it.
I'm referring to my decision to move out west and live off the land. The philosophy behind the decision has been written about in my off-the-grid series.
It boils down to a number of basic themes, which are alluded to in the articles thus mentioned above.
Number one was off Wayne Hale's blog. A sophomore intern that they employed as an editor for their written papers did not know what the cold war was. This kind of ignorance is frightening. Not to know something so fundamental as this, and from a supposedly educated person seem unfathomable. How could this be that an educated person would not know this? Wayne Hale thought it was a "good thing" not to know this, but I think that it is a very, very bad thing. I suppose not everybody has the same reactions as I do, but this nonchalance of Hale's bothers me too. The thing here is the inattention to who we are and why we do what we do, and also just basic knowledge of history. If you don't know your history, you are doomed to repeat it. Why would you want to repeat the "cold war"? This ignorance reflects a basic dysfunction and I don't think that our system can survive much more of this.
The second article comes from the Kurweil blog. The article was the "end of work", which discusses what I've discussed here on this blog. The automation of most jobs is going to reduce a substantial proportion of the society to a permanent dependence upon government largesse. This is extremely bad, as that kind of power should never, ever be granted to politicians. It is a dire threat to our freedom, and it is another development that spells doom for our freedoms if it isn't reversed. I'm not too optimistic about the prospects for this kind of turnaround, which is another development that worries me.
In sum, people don't seem to know who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. This cannot be a good thing. Certainly, polls indicate that we are on the wrong track. But does anyone really know why? It is impossible for me to see how this can be a good thing. Before that happens to me, I want to get into the position to where I can take care of myself. I suspect that not one person in a million even gets what I'm doing and why, despite the fact that I've written about it extensively. There you have it. People have been reduced to being deaf, dumb, and blind. What's worse, they don't seem to understand why it is a bad thing.
Al Fin: "Cowboy Commentary", aka "Eat your veggies" The Flag banner is posted in order to defy those who would make patriotic symbols illegal or disreputable.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
How you can tell where the priorities are
That is, the priorities amongst policy makers in the government.
I've identified one in a previous post. THOU SHALT NOT ROB A BANK. If you murder someone, no biggie. But you'd better not rob any banks, by golly. That will definitely not be tolerated.
Here's another: THOU SHALT NOT ANNOUNCE ANY TAX STRIKE. That one is so well grounded and understood amongst the sheep that it is unthinkable to even consider it. Everybody knows not to do anything like this. You will have the power of the government on you like a duck on a June bug.
Are there others? Maybe this one was so in the past, but is being challenged now: THOU SHALT NOT MESS WITH A POLICE OFFICER. If you did this in the past, you'd know you'd be in a world of shit. These days, if you are black, you can kill an officer and that might not be such a bad thing. But that hasn't happened yet. The left is lobbying hard for it, though. However, if you are white, the rule still applies.
Here's another just thought up: THOU SHALT NOT USE THE N-WORD, UNLESS YOU ARE BLACK. They call themselves "niggas" all the time, but this isn't allowed for any white person.
Ah, we can't ignore the homosexuals now can we? Hence: THOU SHALT NOT STOP HOMOSEXUAL RAPE. Because that never happens, don't you know that? If a guy get raped by a gang, well, that's his own fault. ( and it isn't rape, no such thing )
If I spent long enough time on this, the unsaid rules might be discovered one by one until they are all laid out. It's best to have all laws written so everybody will know and the rule of law shall understood and accepted. If not, then watch out.
I've identified one in a previous post. THOU SHALT NOT ROB A BANK. If you murder someone, no biggie. But you'd better not rob any banks, by golly. That will definitely not be tolerated.
Here's another: THOU SHALT NOT ANNOUNCE ANY TAX STRIKE. That one is so well grounded and understood amongst the sheep that it is unthinkable to even consider it. Everybody knows not to do anything like this. You will have the power of the government on you like a duck on a June bug.
Are there others? Maybe this one was so in the past, but is being challenged now: THOU SHALT NOT MESS WITH A POLICE OFFICER. If you did this in the past, you'd know you'd be in a world of shit. These days, if you are black, you can kill an officer and that might not be such a bad thing. But that hasn't happened yet. The left is lobbying hard for it, though. However, if you are white, the rule still applies.
Here's another just thought up: THOU SHALT NOT USE THE N-WORD, UNLESS YOU ARE BLACK. They call themselves "niggas" all the time, but this isn't allowed for any white person.
Ah, we can't ignore the homosexuals now can we? Hence: THOU SHALT NOT STOP HOMOSEXUAL RAPE. Because that never happens, don't you know that? If a guy get raped by a gang, well, that's his own fault. ( and it isn't rape, no such thing )
If I spent long enough time on this, the unsaid rules might be discovered one by one until they are all laid out. It's best to have all laws written so everybody will know and the rule of law shall understood and accepted. If not, then watch out.
Alternatives for housing
Prev Next
Next in the off-the-grid construction subseries:
A permanent cabin is ruled out for the time being, if not permanently. Too many regulatory headaches.
I started out with a conex, for crying out loud. Lately, I've mainly considered a trailer conversion and a van conversion. The latter are the cheapest options, but have the least amount of space and would require the most amount of work, aside from another option mentioned later in this piece.
Other options not discussed much so far include RV conversions of large vehicles, like buses and moving vans. Aside from conversions is the purchase of an RV. There are two possibilities for the latter: a trailer and a motorized RV.
The simplest but most expensive of all these options is the motorized RV. I can get one for about 15k. The purchase of an RV trailer could be had for about 5k. I do not like these options even though these would be the simplest in terms of execution. Very little work would be necessary in making them ready for occupancy.
The conversions of big vehicles like buses and moving vans are intriguing. But cost is a bit on the high side. It may be possible to live in it while doing the conversion. Of course, you could drive the thing out there, which would be convenient in a way. I'm thinking a backup vehicle would be necessary, as driving such a big vehicle would not be cost efficient at all.
So that's the summary of the options.
One of these will have to be selected and soon if I want to go by the end of May.
I'm starting to like the moving van conversion, to be honest about it. It combines a number of advantages, but has one disadvantage and that is the up front cost.
Next in the off-the-grid construction subseries:
A permanent cabin is ruled out for the time being, if not permanently. Too many regulatory headaches.
I started out with a conex, for crying out loud. Lately, I've mainly considered a trailer conversion and a van conversion. The latter are the cheapest options, but have the least amount of space and would require the most amount of work, aside from another option mentioned later in this piece.
Other options not discussed much so far include RV conversions of large vehicles, like buses and moving vans. Aside from conversions is the purchase of an RV. There are two possibilities for the latter: a trailer and a motorized RV.
The simplest but most expensive of all these options is the motorized RV. I can get one for about 15k. The purchase of an RV trailer could be had for about 5k. I do not like these options even though these would be the simplest in terms of execution. Very little work would be necessary in making them ready for occupancy.
The conversions of big vehicles like buses and moving vans are intriguing. But cost is a bit on the high side. It may be possible to live in it while doing the conversion. Of course, you could drive the thing out there, which would be convenient in a way. I'm thinking a backup vehicle would be necessary, as driving such a big vehicle would not be cost efficient at all.
So that's the summary of the options.
One of these will have to be selected and soon if I want to go by the end of May.
I'm starting to like the moving van conversion, to be honest about it. It combines a number of advantages, but has one disadvantage and that is the up front cost.
Merry Christmas from Texas to the World
Free Republic
comment:
People forget their history. In the mid to late eighties, Saudi Arabia flooded the oil markets and caused the prices to fall to lows not seen in a decade. History is repeating itself. As the low prices didn't hold back then, they won't hold this time either. Saudi Arabia will force the high cost producers out of the market as they did before. Supply and demand will balance out again and prices will recover.
Moral: If you want to get complete independence from the Saudis, you are going to have to do something else besides drill for oil. I don't mean solar panels and windmills, either.
comment:
People forget their history. In the mid to late eighties, Saudi Arabia flooded the oil markets and caused the prices to fall to lows not seen in a decade. History is repeating itself. As the low prices didn't hold back then, they won't hold this time either. Saudi Arabia will force the high cost producers out of the market as they did before. Supply and demand will balance out again and prices will recover.
Moral: If you want to get complete independence from the Saudis, you are going to have to do something else besides drill for oil. I don't mean solar panels and windmills, either.
The Big Lie of the Anti-Cop Left Turns Lethal
Heather Mac Donald
Mentioned by Limbaugh, but all you get from Limbaugh is words. Sometimes, even the words aren't strong enough.
There was something that Limbaugh was quoted as saying that I saw yesterday. He said something to the effect that the actor who is being slated to play in a James Bond flick should not be black. Well, yeah. It's no different from the filmmaker who said he was going to have a white Moses and the critics jumped all over that. But Limbaugh says that he would be a "racist" to say this. Poor phrasing. Never, never be seen as confirming the premises of the opponents. I don't know if Limbaugh actually said this and was misquoted, which is a real possibility. But his lack of stronger rhetoric would make it harder, if not impossible, to believe it. What he should have said and might have said was something to the effect that "it would be said to be racist if he were to say that actor should be white." It would not be racist to merely tell the truth. Bond is from a country of white people ( unless that has changed), and he should be portrayed as white. This is merely stating truth and is not racist. Saying it that way makes it look like he agrees with their premises.
Mentioned by Limbaugh, but all you get from Limbaugh is words. Sometimes, even the words aren't strong enough.
There was something that Limbaugh was quoted as saying that I saw yesterday. He said something to the effect that the actor who is being slated to play in a James Bond flick should not be black. Well, yeah. It's no different from the filmmaker who said he was going to have a white Moses and the critics jumped all over that. But Limbaugh says that he would be a "racist" to say this. Poor phrasing. Never, never be seen as confirming the premises of the opponents. I don't know if Limbaugh actually said this and was misquoted, which is a real possibility. But his lack of stronger rhetoric would make it harder, if not impossible, to believe it. What he should have said and might have said was something to the effect that "it would be said to be racist if he were to say that actor should be white." It would not be racist to merely tell the truth. Bond is from a country of white people ( unless that has changed), and he should be portrayed as white. This is merely stating truth and is not racist. Saying it that way makes it look like he agrees with their premises.
Death Wish 1974
I've had this video for years and I watched it again yesterday. While watching it, I was struck at how the political arguments haven't changed much over the time in which the film was made and our time, some forty years later.
It is a very, very pro 2nd Amendment flick. There's a lot of ideas there which should be taken to heart, but haven't been. We wouldn't be where we are today if those ideas had taken hold strongly enough back then.
The loss of 2nd Amendment rights are a very real possibility in this country. The left is behind this and they will not stop until they have us disarmed. The saying that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance certainly applies here. What I think of the political left could not be printed here, but just use your imagination a little and you might get the picture.
You can find it on video with a google search, but I won't provide the link. Watch the video by buying it and respecting their copyright.
It is a very, very pro 2nd Amendment flick. There's a lot of ideas there which should be taken to heart, but haven't been. We wouldn't be where we are today if those ideas had taken hold strongly enough back then.
The loss of 2nd Amendment rights are a very real possibility in this country. The left is behind this and they will not stop until they have us disarmed. The saying that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance certainly applies here. What I think of the political left could not be printed here, but just use your imagination a little and you might get the picture.
You can find it on video with a google search, but I won't provide the link. Watch the video by buying it and respecting their copyright.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
In 2015 LPP Fusion will test Tungsten cathode, beryllium electrode and Proton Boron Aneutronic Nuclear Fusion
Next Big Future
At the high end, that's 200 bucks per kilowatt installed power at 3/10ths of a cent per kilowatt hr for fuel.
Let's compare that with a little old gas generator that I have. I got it for less than 200 bucks, but it costs a gallon of gasoline to run it for 5 hours. That's about 5 kwh potential electricity for about $2.20 at current prices. You save the money on the fuel, in other words. The biggest cost for gasoline or fossil fuel generators is the fuel itself. It looks like it saves about 95% of the cost for the fuel while delivering an installed cost comparable with fossil fuels. Very impressive if they can pull this off.
But the potential is even greater. A device like this is sufficiently small that it can power a spacecraft. Since fusion can give an ISP of close to a million, it can solve the biggest problem that now exists for space flight---the tyranny of the rocket equation.
This should have high priority, but a lot of people don't even know about it.
If successful with their research and then commercialization they will achieve commercial nuclear fusion at the cost of $400,000-1 million for a 5 megawatt generator that would produce power for about 0.3 cents per kwh instead of 6 cents per kwh for coal and natural gas.
At the high end, that's 200 bucks per kilowatt installed power at 3/10ths of a cent per kilowatt hr for fuel.
Let's compare that with a little old gas generator that I have. I got it for less than 200 bucks, but it costs a gallon of gasoline to run it for 5 hours. That's about 5 kwh potential electricity for about $2.20 at current prices. You save the money on the fuel, in other words. The biggest cost for gasoline or fossil fuel generators is the fuel itself. It looks like it saves about 95% of the cost for the fuel while delivering an installed cost comparable with fossil fuels. Very impressive if they can pull this off.
But the potential is even greater. A device like this is sufficiently small that it can power a spacecraft. Since fusion can give an ISP of close to a million, it can solve the biggest problem that now exists for space flight---the tyranny of the rocket equation.
This should have high priority, but a lot of people don't even know about it.
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