Darby, Montana – fix, repair, invent, create, internet, websites, operating systems, household, storage solutions, planning, organizing, management training, preparedness, innovation, woodwork, metalwork, handyman
I do not know what they are, but am certain they are not of nature. Between 10:30 and 11:00 I took my puppy out for his final relief before bedding down. It was under a perfectly clear, starry sky. Due south, in the mostly uninhabited Bitterroot Mountains I thought I saw a brilliant flash of light. No clouds. No thunder. Just a ball of brilliant light from a great distance to the south. Now I am pondering and paying attention…. Read moreflashes in the night sky
From Basics of Resistance by Claire Wolff and Kit Perez: “Every person is driven, at the core, by a deep-seated need. An individual may crave acceptance, love, power, money, recognition, honor, or something else. In many cases, people don’t know themselves well enough to know what their primal drive is, or they tend to see their drive as solely positive. They might think their drive is “to serve” or to “stand up for liberty,” but these aren’t primal drives; those… Read moredriven … by what?
One might assume I am a pessimist expecting TEOTWAWKI too soon to do any long-term projects. That one would be wrong. While I continue my drive to be prepared for Bilderberg-engineered disasters, I also recognize their schemes continue to be frustrated by events beyond their control. So I prune fruit trees, plant blueberries and build an asparagus bed as if I might get to enjoy the fruits of that labor two or more years hence. Yesterday it was blueberries. Today… Read moreasparagus
I would guess I have had a favorite machete for over 30 years. Since our move that began in August I do not think I have seen it – Not lost, but not found yet either. However, I needed my machete sooner rather than whenever. Searching the Internet uncovers many choices, a large number of which do not understand the tool … more charitably, their customers have something else in mind. A machete is a brush hacking instrument. It may… Read moremachete
I am currently taking a weekly evening class on growing oyster mushrooms. Our instructor, Chase, spent the 6 months following his oil field job layoff studying mushrooms, and experimenting with their production. He is enthusiastically passing on what he learned. There is SO MUCH about mushrooms that I did not know. Of course the rather meticulous, involved propagation is part of that, but the nature of a mushroom colony is quite different than what I imagined. The part we all… Read moremushroom leather
We like sweet. Nature did this so we would be attracted to fruit and berries. They are good for us. Where we get into trouble are with modern refining of natural sugars and commonplace availability of fruits rather than seasonal, intermittent access. Since we abandoned our hunter-gatherer existence in exchange for our grocery store cornucopia we either learn about healthy nutrition or suffer negative consequences. I am comfortable with natural sugars like real maple syrup and evaporated cane juice, but… Read moresugar stupid
Last month in Studio wired I showed you my breakthrough getting my studio 12-volt emergency lighting operating. I accomplished a couple of refinements recently. Besides the obvious advantages of having lights regardless of power grid failures, my 12-volt LEDs provide lighting options in addition to, instead of, or in combination with the various 110-volt lights I have installed. Prior to connecting up my antique meters, I was running on a gut-feeling that I had to be real conservative in my… Read more12-volt lighting
I began intermittent fasting January 2017 eating modest-sized regular late-morning breakfasts and evening dinners with no food intake between. It was very successful in the obvious weight loss that inspired my adoption of the regimen. I wrote about it here: fasting – by Ted Dunlap, on May 31st, 2017 losing it – by Ted Dunlap, on February 11th, 2017 I think I also enjoy the more subtle changes in mind and body that others have written about. It may well… Read moreIntermittent Fasting, a review
Progress in two-way radios is similar to that in all other electronics. That is to say this recommendation will not be the optimum choice years from now. Nevertheless, this radio can serve you well for many years. The other caveat is there are many good choices. This is only one of them. I am making this suggestion to help the novice find a solid handheld transceiver that is well received within the amateur radio community. In a crowded field of… Read morehandheld radio recommendation
The statistics below and to the right are occasionally compiled. I carried one such list on a card in my wallet for a decade. The numbers ebb and flow year-to-year, but their position on the causes of death list rarely move much. There are 32,000 gun related deaths per year by firearms. The U.S. population is 324,000,000. Thus: 0.00987% of the population dies from gun related actions each year. -80% are through criminal activity, gang and drug-trade related This is… Read moreCause of death statistics – Hint, guns not in top 10
I feel like it has been a long time coming. But when I really think about it, we moved into a trashed homestead 7 months ago. We have made tremendous progress on numerous fronts. Nevertheless, today’s big success is the proper lighting and wiring of my studio. I have had a solar-recharged 12-volt grid-independent electrical system for about 5 years. The primary motivation was for my short and long range 2-way radios; my HAM gear. All of these radios run… Read moreStudio wired
THEY can access every part of your computer, your cell phone and your smart appliances. THEY can turn them on even when you have turned those appliances off. THEY monitor, collect and store every bit of electronic traffic coming to or from you. Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by… Read morepoking Big Brother in the eyes