<![CDATA[permies: "meaningless drivel"]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/forums/f-12/meaningless-drivel JForum - http://www.jforum.net share about vertical farm^_^ http://www.sa-space.com). we hope that you can give us your insights or actions and resources for us to stride forward in this field together. We need your help.



S+A Natural Farming & Micro Plant Factory Establishment, Landscape Design Co., Ltd
http://www.sa-space.com
blog: http://sa8662.pixnet.net/blog
Email: sa.space@msa.hinet.net
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/MicroPlantFactory
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14705/130753 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14705/130753 stringrays ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14695/130659 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14695/130659 Hippie jokes
Alex's contribution in the podcast was:

How do you know a hippie stayed at your place?
(He is still there)

Now some of my contributions:

How do you get rid of the hippie staying at your place?
(Offer him a job)

Where do you hide money from a hippie?
(Under a bar of soap!)

What do you call a hippie who just broke up with his girlfriend?
(Homeless)

How many hippies does it take to screw in a light bulb?
(None, hippies screw in tents)

Why do hippies wave their arms when they dance?
(To keep the music out of their eyes)

Any more, anyone?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14682/130530 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14682/130530 Children's Hospital "Stronger" video

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14672/130457 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14672/130457 Bit close for comfort... ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14649/130282 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14649/130282 What will it take to get people mad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBnlXGvA1Wk&feature=player_embedded]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14626/130081 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14626/130081 Lady of the woods http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14578/129638 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14578/129638 technology rant or not...........
.................I am on a computer.................talking to my virtual friends.

Nevermind. Time for me to go to bed now.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14569/129566 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14569/129566 A prepper, a permie, and Sepp Holzer walk into a bar...
Seriously Jack, Paul, and Sepp all in one spot!! I really hope they are able to record some of their awesome conversations!!


*I really did try to come up with a funny punch line for this, but it just doesn't seem to be happening...*]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14556/129465 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14556/129465 How many chicken tractors can you build for $750+ chicken coop with run

P.S. I didn't put this in the critters forum because I can't take this seriously as critter care education.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14530/129335 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14530/129335 Introduction
I've been listening to the podcasts for a few months now, I really enjoy them for those times when I need to be doing something like driving or repairing #@&**! lawnmowers.


First off my little animal shed. The previous owner of my property worked at a billboard advertising agency, so he built this little shed out of sign poles and sheetmetal from signs. The paper peels off and hangs down, but it's water tight for the most part. The tractor was my grampas, I'm just maintaining it to pass down to my grandkids. I built the little pen to house our 2 Kiko-boer goats completely out of wood I found laying around the property from past projects.


Our ~1 acre pasture. I collected some field stone for the goats to play on, I'm not sure they have it figured out yet. As far as you know, the couple sticks near the fence just naturally fell there and I didn't accidentally fall a tree directly onto my fence (again).



It's had to tell in pictures, but I am trying to show that I did some thinning in the pine woods around our place. I would say every third tree was dead and of those that are left, another third were stunted due to being too close together. Long-term, I'd like to encourage hardwoods in the area; the pines are great for privacy, but they keep the ground overly wet by blocking so much sun. The soil is very heavy and all the mud puddles lead to mosquitoes come summertime. Yes, a few bat houses are in the works!


A shot of the little creek bottom. Many of the trees are ash and infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. I'd like to get some fruit and nut trees started in this area as the ashes die off. The deer have some pretty major highways in this area, which is ok by me. The dogs keep them away from the garden pretty well.



This is my first "real" garden. I did put some rotting pine under the raised beds when I built them and a mix of goat, horse and hog manure to help out the clay soil. The potatoes are making a good start, and the pumpkins are just ok. I started a bunch of other plants indoors, we aren't 100% frost free just yet.

Looking forward, I'm planning on adding a lean-to off of my animal shed, adding a beef steer and chickens in the pasture, planting quite a few more veggies, continuing to thin my pines (6 truckloads of wood bartered in three days!), and planting some fruit and nut trees.

Thanks for having me, and I look forward to hearing suggestions and feedback.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14521/129250 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14521/129250 This has nothing to do with permaculture but laughing kicks ass... Epic Rap Battle of History Einstein vs Hawking]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14520/129229 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14520/129229 Sauce for the goose...
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14487/129042 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14487/129042 Opportunistic swans
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14447/128633 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14447/128633 Eat your heart out, Mr Wheaton!




All the food served in Tamera (except the honey) was vegan. And delicious. Especially the cauliflower and broccoli they made in the giant cast iron frying pan. The whole thing was supported on, and powered by, three gas burners. ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14385/128128 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14385/128128 Absent but Keeping Busy ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14376/128067 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14376/128067 Hello, I’m Rob from Cape Town and I’ve just joined Permies...
I’ve been lurking here for about a year, and this is why: About a year ago I met up with an old friend whom I hadn’t seen in about a decade. He told me how he and his family and another family were planning to move from the city to start a permaculture farm in the country. They had spent most of their free time since I last saw them planning what they would do and searching for a suitable farm. I had never heard of permaculture so I borrowed a copy of that incredibly inspiring Geoff Lawton video. Well about two weeks after that they found their perfect patch of land, and I joined them as an equal partner!

Our farm is about two hours drive from Cape Town (where I live). It is 50 hectares (about 140 acres) which is quite small by local standards and had no buildings. About a third of it is not very good pasture, about a third is a thicket of invasive alien tree-weeds and the remaining third is very special fynbos wilderness. Fynbos (pronounced fain-bourse) is a kind of scrub vegetation consisting of an incredibly species rich variety of low shrubs and flowers, many of which are extremely rare. Our district is believed to have more CITES listed red data plants than anywhere else on earth of similar area. So zone 5 is really the most important part of our farm!

Eventually all of us (4 children & 6 adults) will live there permanently, but so far only one family can really call the farm “home". It’s also home to a dozen sheep and a few chickens and four colonies of bees. A couple of goats and a donkey are coming soon. We’ve been really busy establishing housing and food and power and water and sanitation for people and animals. There’s a big machine on site right now digging swales and a few small dams.

It’s a very beautiful and special place that we’ve got, and the project is full of promise and opportunities and it’s all great fun.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14337/127710 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14337/127710 Hello, new here :) http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14297/127398 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14297/127398 New Money for a New World http://sustainability.sbcc.edu/

i]According to Bernard Lietaer, scarcity doesn't need to be a guiding principle of our economic system. He also suggests that money should work for us, not the other way around, and unlike the weather, wasn't created by Nature, it was created by us!

Monetary systems have existed throughout human history, and with the centuries-old model that currently exists, has been the culprit for many of the negative economic and environmental issues we face today. But what most have forgotten is that money is a "human designed construct" that we absolutely have the ability to redesign for a more abundant and sustainable future.

Join the SBCC Center for Sustainability for a talk with Bernard Lietaer, author of the newly published book, "New Money for a New World" on *Sunday, May 6, 6:30-9pm, as he discusses radical but proven ideas about complementary currencies and their ability to strengthen local communities and their economies, while buffering them from the ups and downs of the global economy. Using innovative "new systems of exchange, along side existing national currencies", Lietaer suggests we move away from single currency monocultures, with their inevitable boom and bust cycles, to multiple and diverse systems of exchange. When one exchange system goes down, another one is in place for welcome stability, with a resilience and diversity that mimics natural ecosystems.

Sharing compelling examples of successful complementary currencies used around the globe today and those from past eras of history, Lietaers ideas are less revolutionary than they appear. Using creative initiatives such as airline frequent flyer miles (a form of complementary currency promoting customer-loyalty in exchange for free travel), Time Banks, commercial barter, carbon currency and mutual credit systems, communities can empower themselves and flourish in spite of the current economic crisis, by simply rethinking how money works.

For learning institutions such as colleges that currently leave many students in enormous debt and others left out of the system altogether, an exemplary complementary currency model is the Brazilian Saber, where funds from a small tax on cell phone usage is used to create "sabers" officially redeemable for teaching other students or tuition payments, thereby creating a "learning chain and learning multiplier" effect. The University of Missouri, Kansas City, introduced an innovative complementary currency called Buckaroos, that students can earn while performing community service activities.

Bernard Lietaer is a former Belgium banker and the author of several highly acclaimed books including "The Future of Money: Beyond Greed & Scarcity"; and "Creating Wealth; Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies", and his most recent, "New Money for a New World". He has been active in the realm of money systems in a wide variety of functions for almost 40 years, including being one of the principle architects of the European Euro. Formerly a professor of international finance at the University of Louvain, Lietaer was a fellow at the Center for Sustainable Resources at the University of California, Berkeley. Lietaer co-founded one of the largest and most successful currency management firms, GaiaCorp. He is co-founder of ACCESS Foundation, an educational non-profit organization whose goal is the re-alignment of sustainability and global financial interests. Business Week magazine named him "the world's top currency trader" in 1992.[/i]]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14281/127269 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14281/127269 hey....I'm new.... Angel]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14259/127060 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14259/127060 Overalls design http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14253/127021 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14253/127021 The Future of Money: Creating Sustainability & Abundance with Complementary Currencies The Future of Money:
Creating Sustainability & Abundance
with Complementary Currencies
with Bernard Lietaer

Sunday May 6, 2012
6:30-9pm
Fe Bland Auditorium, Santa Barbara City College, West Campus
$10-$5 SBCC Students

"Money is like an iron ring we've put through our noses. We've forgotten that we designed it, and it is now leading us around"
Bernard Lietaer


A ccording to Bernard Lietaer, scarcity doesn't need to be a guiding principle of our economic system. He also suggests that money should work for us, not the other way around, and unlike the weather, wasn't created by Nature, it was created by us!

Monetary systems have existed throughout human history, and with the centuries-old model that currently exists, has been the culprit for many of the negative economic and environmental issues we face today. But what most have forgotten is that money is a human designed construct that we absolutely have the ability to redesign for a more abundant and sustainable future.

Join the SBCC Center for Sustainability for a talk with Bernard Lietaer, author of the newly published book, "New Money for a New World" on Sunday, May 6, 6:30-9pm, as he discusses radical but proven ideas about complementary currencies and their ability to strengthen local communities and their economies, while buffering them from the ups and downs of the global economy. Using innovative new systems of exchange, along side existing national currencies, Lietaer suggests we move away from single currency monocultures, with their inevitable boom and bust cycles, to multiple and diverse systems of exchange. When one exchange system goes down, another one is in place for welcome stability, with a resilience and diversity that mimics natural ecosystems.

Sharing compelling examples of successful complementary currencies used around the globe today and those from past eras of history, Lietaers ideas are less revolutionary than they appear. Using creative initiatives such as airline frequent flyer miles (a form of complementary currency promoting customer-loyalty in exchange for free travel), Time Banks, commercial barter, carbon currency and mutual credit systems, communities can empower themselves and flourish in spite of the current economic crisis, by simply rethinking how money works.

For learning institutions such as colleges that currently leave many students in enormous debt and others left out of the system altogether, an exemplary complementary currency model is the Brazilian Saber, where funds from a small tax on cell phone usage is used to create "sabers" officially redeemable for teaching other students or tuition payments, thereby creating a "learning chain and learning multiplier" effect. The University of Missouri, Kansas City, introduced an innovative complementary currency called Buckaroos, that students can earn while performing community service activities.

Bernard Lietaer is a former Belgium banker and the author of several highly acclaimed books including The Future of Money: Beyond Greed & Scarcity; and Creating Wealth; Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, and his most recent, New Money for a New World. He has been active in the realm of money systems in a wide variety of functions for almost 40 years, including being one of the principle architects of the European euro. Formerly a professor of international finance at the University of Louvain, Lietaer was a fellow at the Center for Sustainable Resources at the University of California, Berkeley. Lietaer co-founded one of the largest and most successful currency management firms, GaiaCorp. He is co-founder of ACCESS Foundation, an educational non-profit organization whose goal is the re-alignment of sustainability and global financial interests. Business Week magazine named him "the world's top currency trader" in 1992.

Faye Cox, local currency expert, will introduce and facilitate the talk, which will also include other community members for an interesting discussion of how complementary currencies might be used to address critical social and economic issues in our region.

The evening talk takes place on Sunday, May 6, 6:30pm-9pm, 2012, at the Fe Bland Auditorium, Santa Barbara City College West Campus, 721 Cliff Drive, SB, 93109. $10 general/$5 SBCC students. No reservations required. More info: (805)962-2571, email: sbpcnet@silcom.com, http://sustainability.sbcc.edu/


Sponsored by:
The SBCC Center for Sustainability
http://sustainability.sbcc.edu/
Co-sponsors: Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, Santa Barbara Time Bank, & the Santa Barbara Slow Money Chapter




Read More:

Bernard Lietaer website: http://www.lietaer.com/

Santa Barbara TimeBank:
http://santabarbara.timebanks.org/

International Journal of Community Currency Research (IJCCR):
The online forum for disseminating knowledge about community and complementary currencies around the world.
http://www.ijccr.net/IJCCR/IJCCR_Home.html



Quotes:

"National currency is cold and selfish by itself. So let's create community currencies with which we can warm up our communities as New Money For A New World recommends."
~Tsutomu Hotta
Former Minister of Justice and Supreme Court Judge in Japan
Chairman, Sawayaka Welfare Foundation
Founder of the Japanese "Fureai Kippu" currencies
"Bernard Lietaer and Stephen Belgin compel us to rethink our assumptions about money, economics, and commerce today. Their analyses and historical insights are incisive and provoke thought about what's gone wrong with economies all over the world. But more importantly, they provide tangible solutions­illustrated in real-world examples­to challenges we face with building more just, prosperous and sustainable global societies."
~Martin N. Davidson, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor at Darden Graduate School of Business
Author of The End of Diversity as We Know It

"Every so often, something comes along that changes our perceptions, turning our world upside-down and inside-out. New Money For A New World will shatter the views of anyone who uses money, and show how we can make money work for us, creating greater prosperity and possibility, while bringing balance to our greatest social and environmental problems."
~Nitin Gadia
Videographer of Creating Our Own Money
Facilitator of the Central Iowa Currency Initiative
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14209/126814 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14209/126814 Crocs and guinea fowl

Our male guinea fowl had gone infertile, and the hens were past their best so we decided it was time to give up and take them home for the the crock-pot. When we got back to the village square, there were two old men, both Portuguese, who I had never seen before. They were obviously fascinated by the idea of foreigners in the village, and watched every move I made with great interest as I got out of the jeep, opened up the back door and exchanged my wellies for a ridiculous pair of sky-blue-pink crocs. Then I smiled broadly at them, wished them a bom dia and pulled out a brace of guinea fowl. They fell about laughing, asked if I was going to put them in the oven and decided that I wasn't so different to them after all ;) ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14171/126449 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14171/126449 USDA will let industry self inspect chicken, saves 85 million, effective next week

The proposed inspection system will better protect the public from foodborne illnesses by reducing reliance on old-fashioned visual and sensory inspection and moving to prevention-oriented inspection systems based on actual risk to consumers. Studies by the
National Academy of Sciences, the General Accounting Office and by USDA have established the need to modernize the poultry inspection program and this proposed rule does that.
USDA has been exploring the modernization of its poultry inspection system for two decades. A pilot program running in 20 chicken plants since 1999 has been studied, debated and reviewed in depth to assure its effectiveness. Disagreement about the allocation of resources in this area and others has been a long-running battle between the department and the inspectors union, and this rule has gotten caught in the crossfire.
Here are the facts:
USDA will remain in its oversight role and USDA inspectors will still be in every plant, looking at each carcass to ensure the safety of chicken products and providing them with the USDA seal of approval for wholesomeness.
USDA inspectors will have a greater role in looking for things that cannot be seen, like harmful bacteria that has the potential to make people sick, by shifting some inspectors, not all, to microbiological instead of visual inspection. These efforts will help better ensure that the vigorous testing and other protocols that companies have in place are working properly to prevent bacterial contamination.
It is the goal and primary focus of the chicken industry and USDA alike to provide consumers with safe, high quality and wholesome chicken. This proposed rule does not change that goal.
The National Chicken Council will be providing detailed comments to USDA regarding the proposed rule, outlining concerns and seeking clarification in some areas.


Link for more details.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/usda-to-let-industry-self-inspect-chicken/]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14166/126411 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14166/126411 I really should have washed the van...


I always thought lichen grew really slowly, but these seem to be making pretty good progress. There are some 'frondy' types, too, which I always thought were supposed to be an indicator of good air quality.



I think maybe I won't bother washing it for a few more years. It makes a good shed, anyway... ;-)]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14108/125904 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14108/125904 we're all the same

I just got the heads up on this. Too cool. Making yogurt. Looks like a tiny house. Definitely some homesteading action.



]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14090/125813 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14090/125813 Simple Outhouse ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14076/125592 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14076/125592 BAD duck!


I'm going to have to make some Holzer-style bone sauce to try to keep them at bay. Sigh...]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14073/125576 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14073/125576 Catching up on the podcasts --- and restoring my sanity
Now I'm spending the evening catching up on podcasts and restoring my sanity by listening to people who actually make sense.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14067/125536 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14067/125536 Multi-function garden recliner

Adjustable position, can also be used as a rocking chair.



Or even a wheelbarrow... ;) ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14054/125384 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14054/125384 KeepFoodLegal.org
I thought you might be interested in this website. It bills itself as, "The first and only nationwide membership organization devoted to culinary freedom." They advocate for everything from raw milk to junk food. It might be worth a look.

http://www.keepfoodlegal.org/]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14047/125352 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14047/125352 Paul - I saw this and thought of you... ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14037/125305 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/14037/125305 Moving a barn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS6uVnH9rQs]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13982/124925 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13982/124925 tiny but tough ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13960/124751 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13960/124751 What next after round up http://www.naturalnews.com/035487_GMO_corn_Agent_Orange.html]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13952/124716 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13952/124716 aurora borealis from space ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13942/124629 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13942/124629 snow shovel revenge
http://www.wimp.com/janitorrevenge/]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13940/124621 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13940/124621 huge flash mob - with vodka!
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13934/124577 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13934/124577 electrified brain .... wave of the future ? ;)
http://theweek.com/article/index/226196/how-electr...on-can-change-the-way-we-think

This is from one comment ("Dr. Fugedy") .....
" ....I have used tDCS to provide relief for treatment-resistant chronic pain, migraine and depression for the last 5 years ..."

Not an herb, but maybe 'natural' when achieved by ... meditation, single point focus, 'drawing on the right side of the brain', 'Flow', etc. A tie-inn to People Care somewhere in here.....?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13910/124439 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13910/124439 Has anyone seen the documentary "The Money Masters"? http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13884/124200 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13884/124200 Hello i am new here http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13879/124165 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13879/124165 Can't stop planting
When I was a horse nut I just couldn't stop training; if I had even 30 minutes to spare in my day then I had to take on another customer - to the point of exhaustion.

Now it is gardening.

Every sqaure inch of prepared area is planted with so much stuff that I don't know what is in there anymore and today I picked up some yellow squash seeds and planted watermelon and cosmos that showed up free in the mail. The only reason I stopped is because it is dark out.

The up side is that we get food out of it. And I suppose that there really isn't a down side -- I could just be sitting around watching TV all day.

It is 10:33pm..........only 7 and a half hours till daylight again................]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13873/124133 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13873/124133 Rockefeller Foundation Announces 2012 Innovation Challenge Just wanted to post this here, potential $100k grant for good ideas to save the world
http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/rockefeller-foundation-announces-2012-innovation-challenge
I am not affiliated with the program so I don't know much about it, but I do know that this group of people have some really good ideas. Good luck! ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13868/124081 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13868/124081 Knowledge - Information -Wisdom

My son just found this on his computing course with the Open University.

I think maybe it could be relabelled Trivia - Education - Permaculture.]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13856/123985 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13856/123985 Alternatives to Facebook? http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13834/123804 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13834/123804 weird laugh
All I said was "sustainability means barely not dead"


]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13822/123701 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13822/123701 Communities working together
There is probably a lot of truth that a community where everyone has the same base knowledge has the least conflict over how to address problems within the community, however then you are also left in the situation faced where Santa's reindeer are stumped by a bunch of fog until Rudolph (someone with a different base of knowledge) comes along. Which is my way of saying that the uniform community is also has fewer resources from which to draw to solve problems from.

A contrasting community to Santa's reindeer is found in classic Trek. How many more problems are they able to solve because they have a diverse group of people where everyone uses their acknowledged strengths to contribute to the effort! Yes, they have a few squabbles, but one suspects that even Spock and McCoy would agree that the other has valuable strengths to give towards the group effort.

In my experience as a math tutor where I routinely as my first step in tutoring them spend a bit of time especially in the beginning to intuitively evaluate each person's strengths and weaknesses, I think that a community where everyone got to play to their strengths most of the time would be a very happy community. I also think that in that community having someone to turn to when one is faced with a problem that lands within one's weakness -- someone who is a lot stronger than you in those things would be a welcome support for most people.

In my daydreams about community (and I acknowledge that they are little more than thought experiments), it would be an important process especially early on in the formation of that community to have a general coming to terms with who has what strengths and who has what weaknesses and then match people up with the jobs that suit that. (That kind of function is something that I personally would be particularly suited for.) It would also seem to be a good thing if people in general were to know their own and each other's strengths so that then their differences would not be a source of dischord, but a source of greater strength and resilience for the community.

What do you think?]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13760/123225 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13760/123225 one way to tell if you have mountain lions in your neighborhood ]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13680/122602 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13680/122602 the most astounding fact about the universe http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/whats-the-most-astounding-fact-about-the-universe]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13670/122530 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13670/122530 I have the authority (joke) A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas , and talked with an old rancher. He told the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher said, "Okay , but don't go in that field over there.....", as he pointed out the location.

The DEA officer verbally exploded saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me!" Reaching into his rear pants pocket, the arrogant officer removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher. "See this fucking badge?! This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish.... On any land !! No questions asked or answers given!! Have I made myself clear......do you understand ?!!"

The rancher nodded politely, apologized, and went about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officer running for his life, being chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull...... With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he'd sure enough get gored before he reached safety. The officer was clearly terrified. The rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs.....

"Your badge, show him your fucking BADGE........ ! !"]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13666/122503 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13666/122503 The origianl FEMA camp
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094823/North-Brother-Island-Eerie-pictures-abandoned-New-York-leper-colony.html]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13661/122459 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13661/122459 Things sheeple say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlX3_QbLSS8&context=C4400915ADvjVQa1PpcFNPdrt5BFNlbLkXe1ys7s70sntz4Su59yk=]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13655/122400 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13655/122400 A playful note on the recent idiocracy podcast discussion
http://xkcd.com/603/

Thanks to XKCD.com for providing my life with endless entertainment.

Also, thanks to Paul for all your podcasts and dedication to disseminating knowledge. I enjoy it all immensely.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13651/122383 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13651/122383 Welcome to Permies.com. Introduce Yourself...
I live in north Florida, work for an industrial contractor as a foreman. That means I put on boots and yell at people most of the day.
I steward just under 4 acres of pasture with some woods around the edges. Instead of a dog, I went a miniature bull-a Lowline Black Angus. There's a couple of roosters around to keep the hens in line. This year I added 3 turkeys to the flock. Next year I'd like to get a couple of pigs. There are some fruit trees-Japanese Plums, Lime, Apple, with more on the way. Pecans, hickory and pignuts grow wild in the forest.
I'm doing what I can to develop this place into an All-Natural farm. Beds are in the works to grow vegetables. I intend to grow enough to open a Pick-Your-Own Vegetable operation to the public. Things are falling in place, but it will be a couple more years before I am able to flush the job.

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13645/122339 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13645/122339 1 in 5 teens will experiment
From faceyourfarmer.com:

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13643/122335 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13643/122335 What garden projects do you have going today? http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13628/122212 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13628/122212 deadfall trap
]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13567/121748 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13567/121748 favorite mule (joke)
“Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine’?” asked the lawyer.

Clyde responded, “Well, I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule, Bessie, into the…”

“I didn’t ask for any details,” the lawyer interrupted. ”Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine!’?”

Clyde said, “Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road….”

The lawyer interrupted again and said, “Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question.”

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Clyde’s answer and said to the lawyer, “I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule, Bessie.”

Clyde thanked the Judge and proceeded. ”Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting, real bad and didn’t want to move.

“However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, and saw her fatal condition, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes.

“Then the Patrolman came across the road, gun still in hand, looked at me and said, ‘How are you feeling?’

“Now what the fuck would you say?”

source

]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13566/121737 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13566/121737 Medical needs
I'm afraid I don't have any decent ideas, but I do have some thoughts. I recently had to figure out the least debilitating way to get coverage and I'm afraid it didn't improve my attitude in the least.

Erica

I think you hit on THE reason people will have to stay connected to the "mainstream" economy. Even with a change of attitude toward death or caring for the aged and disabled, there is a lot of health care needed by everybody. There are numerous "tactical" methods, such as connecting with any local clinics or teaching hospitals, finding and using midwives instead of doctors etc. But that depends on the specific person and locale and has a limited scope.

If I were just out of school I would seriously consider enlisting in the services for a set term depending on what life time medical coverage was offered. I don't know any other options for medical planning that doesn't involve continuously paying significant (and increasing) money each and every single month until you die. Paychecks from large businesses hide this mostly but it's one of the most important ways they draw people to work their 9-5 jobs forever.

I don't see any real alternatives (solutions) because the system grows out of people's willingness to pay almost anything for their loved ones and a whole lot for themselves in the hopes of a cure (for whatever). In other worlds fearful or desperate people will beggar themselves for medical treatment. That irresistible temptation has drawn all the most ambitious money makers in our world together and they have made a system to extract as much as the market will bear.

This is not merely a moral judgment, it's written into our laws. Corporate officers are required by law to do the best for their shareholders that they possibly can. The only measure of "doing well" for a corporation is distributing large and increasing dividends; there is NO other measure of corporate success except continuous large and increasing MONETARY profit. It is the sine qua non. All other goals are subordinate. And by law corporate officers must do the best by their company or face civil and possibly criminal charges.

Two (of many) more ordinary considerations that maintain the present system: 1) The cost of equipment required for basic medical procedures (X-rays; remove an appendix) is far beyond the reach of any small group (say of doctors). This means that corporations must be involved in all but the most benign or trivial medical work. 2) If a smaller group did coalesce to provide basic treatment under a different compensation model, they would not survive a year w/out serious mal-practice insurance. This would hike their overhead and greatly increase the fees they would have to meet expenses and stay out of jail. (People die after seeing a doctor. Of course, people die after seeing their minister or mother (or whoever else happens to be around) also, but the doctor is in the direct line of blame. A serious injury or death will almost always make somebody very very very distraught, angry and totally willing to take it out on somebody in front of them to blame. There _will_ be serious lawsuits - that's the way this country functions.)

No, I don't have any good answers. At the moment my choice is Kaiser (CA) and hopefully I will be able to maintain that. I don't know any other "insurance" that comes close their value. I've heard Oregon and Mass. have "good" systems, but since I'm not likely to live there, I don't know much about them. I have read the Amish self insure and generally pay as you go for not-always-great treatment; they pay as little as they can. Yes, they will accept treatment at modern facilities. They are the only group I know of right off that actively stands outside the norm in a consistent way that includes their medical treatment.

Food is a dirt simple and easy DIY project compared to medical treatment. It appears this is where the rubber meets the road vv. a person's relationship to our economic culture and our larger institutions.

The Amish get on as well as they do because they are a cohesive united group with significant savings who pay taxes completely and early and they provide economic benefits to their local community in the form of cheap honest extremely hardworking labor and cash flowing into the farm stores of the community. IOW, even though they keep to themselves, they play an active functioning respected role for their community and maintain their state and federal responsibilities religiously(!). And they PAY ALL BILLS IMMEDIATELY and as far as I know in cash; debt is abhorrent to them. They are the only people I know of who don't either pay out to insurance companies or grind through the system as indigents. And I don't think I or many others could be Amish so that's no solution.

Rufus]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13556/121671 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13556/121671 Obama addresses nation with national defense bill
http://theintelhub.com/2012/03/18/executive-doomsday-order-obama-authorizes-gov-to-seize-farms-food-processing-plants-energy-resources-transportation-skilled-laborers-during-national-emergency/]]> http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13553/121650 http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/preList/13553/121650