Monday, May 25, 2020

eyes on the prize


EYES ON THE PRIZE
It is easy getting overwhelmed here, as evil local politicians reenact the Russian Civil War, seeing who can be more tyrannical. But let's not forget the fundamentals. Excess energy equals centralization. Energy contraction first sees a centralized organization fail, then decentralized organizations takes its place. It is nothing more than different ecosystems taking over or failing due to climate change. You don't get to choose, Mother Nature does. The Constitution doesn't get to choose the type of government you get, but excess energy, and the battle between other colonial powers does.
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Food First. It is how man organized himself, and no amount of superficial mechanisms placed between human actors changes that. It is how Nature is organized. It is how economies run. It is all about energy. Thermodynamics is a law even communist Politically Correct Bitches Lib idiots cannot break. They THINK they can, because excess energy. But taking over the control mechanism of the Industrial Oil Age and allowing robots to do the heavy labor doesn't mean Entropy is conquered. It just means the effects are hidden or temporarily halted. You can use millions of years of sunshine in petroleum to ATTEMPT to get the Earth to support eight billion people, but as soon as that excess energy is gone, it's reindeer island die-off time.
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Fighting the last war, we are far too focused on the evils of the centralized state. We fear an organization that eighty years ago had the power of Stalin or Hitler behind it. But that war between giants was over the energy supply, and there were few enough people and enough energy that a 1984 government was able to feed itself. The draft was able to be enacted, gold was able to be confiscated. We were able to pave over wilderness.
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Big Gov powered by Big Oil, Big Brother and all the fear of a colossus forced compliance. But Peak Oil wasn't just the end of the growth in oil production, it was the beginning of the end of the Colossus. We are so busy quaking in our Girl Scout boots over the overreaching evil of big government ( and believe you me, I'm just as guilty if not more so than anyone else ) that we don't take a moment to question how capable the Beast is of actually controlling us.
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Think about the draft, either in an obvious poor excuse of a war such as WWI ( as if Krauts bayoneting Belgium babies was any of our concern, and really, realistically, how much did they deserve that, if it had been true, after Congo ) or as revenge. All it used to take to ensure near universal compliance was peer pressure. In Vietnam, when arguably we were still at almost the height of our power, it took riot troops and other law enforcement action to force men to show up for service ( yes, I'm aware more volunteered per capita in Vietnam than in WWII, but that was in response to inducements, I believe ).
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Forcing men to serve in the draft got so bad that it was better to hide the governments weakness by abolishing the draft. And before you say it, we went whole hog on high technology weapons in Vietnam, with as poor of results as we see today. Computerizing weapons has zero to do with effectiveness and everything to do with necessity. It is hyped as 'Murica Winning, when we have done no such thing, outside Grenada. You could claim we won in Iraq, against a WWI enemy. I claim that we lost, as the Iraqi's merely went back to their normal tribes and the US bled treasure over there, against a fictitious nation state, for thirty years.
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America is an empire. It is funded by oil, which has been in net energy decline for fifteen years. Here at home, we frail about, gnashing our teeth and wailing as if we were being held down and sodomized, when all we have seen is threats. Sure, a few weak individuals are wolf pack attacked, the exploits of our brave boys in blue splashed over the news to warn everyone what is in store for them should they dare open a retail business during Double Top Secret Lock Down, but by and large, discounting a few thousand targets a year out of 330 million people, the government is mostly ruling by bluff.
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Don't think I'm discounting them as a threat. If you dare come too close to their iron rice bowl, if you even look like you'll get close enough to knock it over, a plague of locusts will descend upon you and quickly strip your flesh. But your odds of dying in an auto accident ( even now, as the Happy Pill Poppers going without their Chinese medicines are driving like complete friggin idiots ) far exceed the odds the government will hump you as long as you play things smart.
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Big Picture, the government has LESS power, not more. This has been the trend for decades, and the less power they have the more they feel it necessary to overcompensate. Someone secure in their power doesn't need to keep lashing out at the innocent and powerless. We took the exact wrong lessons from Waco and Ruby Ridge. The government wasn't turning MORE tyrannical. They were becoming less effective at it. Now, instead of suppressing White Discontent, they merely import crack components and bribe White Females to do their fighting for them.
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This is actually a sign of their weakness. They were NEVER shy about killing everyone who disagreed with them. When they wanted cheap commodity colonies, they killed American women and children. When they wanted more gold for the bankers, they starved off Indian women and children. When they wanted to control the world, they firebombed German and Japanese women and children. The government has never been shy competing with communists for kill counts. They just cannot do it as well as they used to. The trend is your friend. This is the trend.
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Centralization is being starved, and the new ecosystem of decentralization takes over, one seed at a time carried in the wind invading the last system. Slowly, and with a seemingly high fatality rate. But casualties aren't the scorecard, progress is, less resilience of the old system is. This is me throwing you an optimistic bone here, people. You better grab it while you can. Take heart. We might not survive the process, but things are far better than they appear, in the great scheme of things.
( .Y. )
( today's related Amazon link click HERE )
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19 comments:

  1. I was checking out those star plates mentioned in yesterday’s post. I went over to Stromberg’s and looked through some of the reviews. A few dude’s mentioned that they’re really great for the building impaired (Which I am). They’re also said to be really strong. But I wonder, how would they hold up with earth over the top?

    Previously, I was all hot over the hexayurt, which I still think is a cool design. The deal breaker was, when I read that you need up to 18 people to place the roof cap over the bottom structure. Since I’m the minion that hates other people, it probably goes without saying, that I don’t know anywhere near 18 people :D

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    1. I don't even know if I know 18 people through the blog ( regular correspondence )!

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    2. Starplate is a geodesic design, which makes a strong structure GIVEN the materials used. With 2x4’s as the bones, I would be cautious about weight bearing. I would try 2” of ferrocement to see if it held. I would not mound dirt on top and wait to see what happened if it got very wet. I have read of good tolerance of snow on the roof with 2x6’s or 2x10’s. I believe you have to make a few cuts to get those to work where the studs meet.

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    3. I helped build a Starplate building back in the 80s. You put it up one stick at a time, two people should be all ya need to build it, one if you think things through. Dunno about burying one, but I would at least try to backfill evenly if you do.

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    4. Maybe research using the newer engineered wood type of glue laminate type of beams. They are structurally as or more stronger and come in any biggly size. Don't know on cost comparisons but if load weight is a concern they will need to be near amish barn beams sizes for your b-pod bunker. A support beam in the middle of your domicile is a bit of a nuisance, but will be appreciated as a pre conceived need when constructing, especially when the zombie mutant biker gangs over run the wire and drive their choppers over the buried roof like motorcross races. Go deep.

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    5. All good info gents, thanks. In reality, I probably won’t go this route, but rather, pre-fab something (i.e build a reinforced wooden crate, haul it to the site, excavate, and cover over). Or, I just might go with a trench shelter, which is sounding more appealing by the day. Though the latter option will probably add more time to the project.

      For above ground, the dome sounds nice. But for above ground, you really would be better served with something that has exceptional insulative properties, such as straw bale, earth bags, sod homes, etc.

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    6. Not so sure about geodesic designs anymore. Through the years, some of the early believers/builders have cast them aside. And many contemporary builders won't touch them. You just discovered 1 small reason with that roof issue. LOL

      After following Lloyd Kahn for years, I took serious all of his comments on geodesics. He used to build them but gives them a thumbs down now.

      Lloyd Kahn was an early hippie type who has built a few homes. I like his style of scrounge and recycling. He owns Shelter Publications. He was the editor of the Whole Earth Catalog (remember that?)

      His new book Half Acre Homestead is beautiful and quite inspirational. His website has a great deal to offer someone looking for alt shelter: lloydkahn.com
      There's a couple of videos at YT to see more of what he and his wife are about, too. I've learned quite a bit from his offerings.
      MT

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    7. I have a few old Whole Earth catalogs. Commie commune catalogs, but I appreciated them for Free Thinkers anyway.

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    8. Use 2 sets of the plates, 1 on top and 1 on the bottom, use longer bolts with washers on both sides. Use pressure treated 2x6's not 2x4'. Cut wood wedges (72 degrees) and glue and screw them between the spokes against the plates. Use carriage bolts, pounded in from the outside, so that you can tighten them up later from the inside. Trowel the ferocrete on in 1" layers, 4 layers total, with wire mesh between layers for structural strength. Wet sponge float each layer so the next layer has some *tooth* to grip.

      To be extra strong, cut 3/4" pressure treated plywood panels for each triangle/pentagon. Glue and screw it to the 2x's with stainless steel screws to prevent rusting. Install the plywood to the bottom side too, after you'd sprayed the cavities with expanding foam. Plan your envelope penetrations before the fact. Before installing the ferocrete install a 3/8" stainless steel compression cable around the base of the dome with 2 or more tension triangles to resist base plate blow out. Or install a concrete footing/slab and anchor bolt the bottom plates to the slab/footing.

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    9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Bison and others, are you experiencing prescription drugs not being available? I use 2 on a regular basis, and I can still get them through my local drug store.

    Which drugs are in short supply?

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    1. I honestly thought there would already be more obvious shortages. NOL is still getting hers. I'm only inferring shortages of Happy Pills due to widespread observations of extra idiocy by the public.

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  3. As a contracting resources and withdrawal of government reach example: the southern nevada water consortium has abandoned it's pipeline for a water grab into eastern nevada. (It would have laid waste to the area like the california example) There was a court ruling against it but they seemed to fold up the lawn chairs and gave up. This even after a lot of money was spent and the continuous growth thirst needs that the vegas megalopolis requires. Some one got a phone call to triage the remaining .gov money for other needs elsewhere, and there is probably an expected or planned drop of population and the demand for the water will be less by eliminating mouths. Something is afoot, the .gov only gives up on light rails and industrial park enterprises not on the utilities/water projects. Collapsing is big enough that even .gov has to change it's expectations. Gravy days are over. Stay hydrated and frosty.

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    1. Interesting. Thank you. Here's to hoping Vegas returns to high rollers with 1950 population to support them

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  4. Right. We only pretend to play nice with others to avoid incarceration.

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  5. Another home run article. If I wasn't on my knees thanks to coronachan slashing my household income and increasing the cost of things I was already skimping on I'd send you a biscuit.

    LOL can't believe this is how we all go down. I was hoping for something more spectacular.

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    1. Minion love was great. It should start being less so soon enough. I'm okay with that. I'd honestly rather have people buying extra food now than supporting me. Don't give it a second thought. It COULD get more spectacular. Pray it doesn't. I know what you're saying though. How long can a whimper instead of a bang go on?

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  6. Ive built two starplate domes above ground. The first was done stock with 2 by 4's using the biggest triangle they recommended(was it a 12 foot triangle?)and I put a center pole up just in case, on bare ground deep in forest as a home away from home/ Covered with tarps, pallets for floor, very primitive. Held up for over 5 years but one winter after numerous storms dumping 4 feet at a time every Thursday (read up on Geoengineeringwatch.org to get the lowdown on that craziness) so I couldnt keep on top of the shoveling ,the thing buckled under the weight of the massive snow pileup and it collapsed. The other one was the 7 foot triangle built with galvanized chain link fence poles, Roof was wood. I put a loft in that one, made the floor as per included directions and is still standing 11 years later as a toolshed. Weaknesses are sealing those triangles. I would say if I were to do it again and re use the collapsed big ones starplates I would use double plates as above commentor suggested, sheath outside with rough cut, inner with anything laying around and fill in with insulation, anything to stay warm. They are easy and quick and I did it myself,frame goes up in half a day, just needed a ladder to put up the last plates. Only go big if you dont live in snow country or can beef it up. Another good shot is reading "The Underground House Book" . Made one of those. The poles were really thick, say 8 or more inches. The roof was a shed style with sheet metal. Entire thing is buried 6 feet down, about 12 by 14. Use it all the time as my basement to keep things cold or from freezing in the winter.Never did finish the roof and it sits in half sun/half shade but yet it is still at least 20 degress lower than ambient temp in summer, better in winter, can see daylight in some places, no insulation and all but still performs. I would say one of those over the starplates anyday but a bit of labor, but if a young stud, it should be a pleasure to build.

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    1. If it wasn't for the $50 & Up Underground House Book, I don't think I'd have ever tried to build underground. Invaluable. My favorite Hippie, 'ol Mike

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