- Two from The Onion (language in both NSFW): Steve Jobs obituary and “Nervous American Voters Worried About Botching Another Election.”
- One from Ragnar in a recent comment section. Sort of a redneck punk rap song, “My Country, My Ass.” (“Teacher used to say we had a Bill of Rights. I think they took our rights and sent us the bill.”)
- Regulators vs an enterprising ship salvager.
- What to do if you can’t afford a vet.
- DRM encourages piracy. No surprise, really.
- Neither is this. (Not that the fedgov should be subsidizing anything, of course.)
- Funniest pet Halloween costumes.
- Think it’s the 1930s all over again? David Leonhardt says we should be so lucky.
- “The ‘Seagull’ Citizens of Anywhere.” PT, who sent this, notes the irony; this opening of the globe to smart, able people is happening just as the U.S. gov clamps down further on freedom of movement.
- Yesterday, LewRockwell.com published this list of top 10 foods for long-term storage. If you’re into hardcore food storage, you won’t consider these foods “long-term” at all. Wheat berries they ain’t. But it’s a great list for people getting started — who want standard grocery store items. It’s a fine way to begin expanding a three-day or seven-day kit into a one-month kit. And a pretty good reminder of EZ, no-fuss items for any of us to keep on hand. When emergency hits, you don’t want to have to think or work too hard just to feed yourself.
I enjoyed the article on “Seagulls” and once thought this would be how I would live one day. However as I get older and see that many countries have atrocious freedom records I am not sure I would benefit from globe hopping. For example, try moving or carrying a firearm for personal protection overseas and see what happens to you. Most likely you will end up in dank prison somewhere. It is only marginally better in the U.S.
However having said that cultivating assets and locations in other countries to go in case things get really bad here probably wouldn’t be a bad investment of resources and time.
Also, as a last resort, there is a finance company called “Care Credit” that can be used for veterinary (and human) medical care.
Regarding food storage, gluten intolerant folks like me can’t store wheat, so in the starches category, we have to store rice and quinoa.
BTW, how is the dog that needed surgery?
Water Lily — Nice of you to ask about our boy. He’s still here with me and the coordinators of the local rescue group have formally petitioned a vet school to take him in for the surgery. (Surgeons at the school have already said they very much want to perform the operation; now it’s time for the bureaucracy and other formalities.) One of the coordinators — a far more energetic volunteer than I! — has even offered to drive him to the vet school and back, though this will mean a multi-day expedition. Right now, we’re just waiting with crossed fingers for it all to come together.
He remains a terrific dog — intelligent, eager to learn, easy-going, and a real charmer. But my Robbie still detests him (as Robbie has always detested all male dogs, on principle) and I continue to have to keep them mostly separate. Unfortunately Robbie — 10 years old and with bad knee joints — will start fights that he can’t finish. The last time I experimented with letting him near the new boy, he made an unprovoked lunge, and the new kid (previously willing to back off) laid him flat and drew some blood from him. It was pure self-defense; otherwise the new guy loves everybody. But Robbie is now strictly crated when they’re anywhere near each other, except when we’re on woods walks.
Oh yeah. And thank you for the word about Care Credit. I wasn’t aware of that. Hope nobody here ever has to use it.
To me that Lew Rockwell list is kind of a “no brainer.” I’ve always stocked plenty of those items in the pantry, they are always part of my grocery list and are part of my long term stocks. Many of those items you can find in gallon cans and those will last a very long time. I’m not much for storing wheat berries, but do store large amounts of beans, rice and various other legumes.
Since there’s one person, me, and I’m not a big eater in general – buying anything food wise in bulk is a guarantee I’ll either 1. Be eating one thing over and over for a month – or – 2. Spend 10 times more for food saver bags/pint size canning jars. The Top 10 List is nice because there’s more can/package sizes to choose from…just have to be diligent on rotating…..
Robbie has no clue he’s an old guy, in his mind he’s still a pup….
Naturegirl said: “Robbie has no clue he’s an old guy, in his mind he’s still a pup….”
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Me too, Woody, me too….LOL
That person in the mirror isn’t the same person looking…..I swear…..