Reinventing Collapse -Welcome to the U.S.S.A.

I got turned on to Dmitry Orlov by a friend. I read an article he wrote here. I found it fantastically written, pure, honesty, and a little gritty. Orlov presents the state of current affairs and how that is shaping our future. He also give some good advice on how to prepare for that future.

Certainly it is a point of view not shared by everyone. But after reading his article I decided to read his book “Reinventing Collapse”

It’s a rather simple concept. He lived through the break up of the U.S.S.R. In the book he compares different parts of society and culture in the U.S.S.R. to America today and makes some amazing insights. In Many cases we believe America can not fall apart, but the same feeling was true in the U.S.S.R.

Orlov goes over ideas like transportation, education, money, food, housing, family … etc… how each of these things were effect in the U.S.S.R. and what they might look like if the U.S.A. collapses.

It’s one of those books were if you have never thought about the idea of living in a collapsed nation, this will open your eyes and get your brain moving.

If It’s Not Raccoons, It’s Groundhogs!

Last year it was the Raccoons in the chimney that drove me mad. This years it’s the groundhog that has decided to have babies under the front porch.

Me and the kids the other morning sat and watched 6 babies and mommy eating in the front yard. Of course the kids are gushing over how cute they are. Jack even said. “Oh their just so cute I want to hug them” Which is not something that Jack says.

None of this would bother me, except the fact they have eaten my entire garden. Everything!. My lettuce, swiss chard, green beans, snap peas, carrots, all gone.

Jackson changed his tune when he saw they ate his cucumbers!.

He said “I can’t believe it, they ate my cucumbers”

I said ” I know Jack, they ate everything”

Jack replied ” Lets screw them in their heads”

Not so cute now are they.

Raspberry Jam Homeschooler

You could be a hippie, a yuppie, or consider your self granola or crunchy. But there is a new term I would like to broaden your horizons with.

Raspberry Jam Homeschooler

If you’ve never heard of the term, it’s because your not on the “in”. These people may be classified as people who don’t watch TV for six hours a day, Don’t use cellphones to check fantasy sports team, don’t twitter their exact location, don’t consider texting a primary language, or have less then 20 friends on facebook.

If you see someone who worries you about these anti-social behaviors, please take good notes. To help you classify these people refer to the helpful bullet points below. They might be a Raspberry Jam Homeschooler if they:

• Have no idea who the winner of American Idol is
• Have more toys made out of wood then Plastic
• Have only 1 TV
• Think they can educate their child better then the state
• Have canning jars, filled or emptied, or canning paraphernalia around the house
• Have a copy of the Bill of Rights or believe in the Constitution
• Live within 10 miles of a Grocery and still have a garden
• Can pronounce all the ingredients in the food they eat
• Have more fines on their library card then blockbuster card.

If you spot a Raspberry Jam Homeschooler in the wild, don’t be alarmed their not harmful, but you may observe some weird behavior.

Chia Thug

Nothing says summer fun more then growing your own Chia Saddam.

“…In Shallow Seas We Sail” Out Now!

The new album from Emery came out last week. It’s by far the best album of the year so far, at least for me. It’s better then coldplay and Dave Matthews, even better then Emery’s last album.

Check out their songs, Piggy Bank Lies, The Butcher, and Curbside Goodbye, on PureVolume