[BigTex]

The three guys I thought of when I did Stonewall Jackson were him, Andrew Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt.

I read Edmund Morris's "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" about TR's life up until he became President and it's just an amazing story.

That dude did everything.

Thanks for adding him to The Man List.

***

One of the many amazing stories about TR is that when he was running for President in 1912 on the third party Bull Moose ticket (having not approved of the job Taft had done after succeeding him in the 1908 election), he was walking up to the podium to give an outdoor speech when a would-be assassin walked up to him and shot him in the left side of his chest.

TR collected himself after being shot, continued on to the podium and gave an "abbreviated" version of his speech that ran a half hour or so, during which he threw in a little trash talk about the guy who shot him, and THEN went to the hospital for treatment.

Amazing.

[Scout]

You know, on the gun thing... I don't like guns. Never did. My husband doesn't either. But I have to say, being a newbie and reading the posts around here, I think I'm changing my mind. I want a gun. And I want to learn how to use it. Then I want to take the bullets out and put it away. I hope to never get it out. But if some bullies who are armed try to come take my things or hurt my family, I'd like a fair fight. If it's my life over someone else's, I want mine. And, besides, we may need it for a squirrel or bird.

And, sometimes people just need a hug. It's hard being a tough guy (girl) all the time. That's why God made Mama's.

[MadScientist]

this is an awesome thread. my kids were rofl on the squirrel pic

/hug Scout

/salute Cashmere

I'd also like to add that you dont need to personally use a gun...As long as you have friends with guns ^ ^. well rounded community is the key. food, shelter, security, health, leadership.

[sameu]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sameu', 'l')ol yeah cashmere you're tha man!

[Ferretlover]

Gentle reminder, fellow posters: Agree, refute, attack the Idea, not the poster.

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sameu', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sameu', 'l')ol yeah cashmere you're tha man!

[sameu]

that's probably also the reason why you're hanging out on the psychology section
because come on cashmere, real men think that psychology is all bullsh*t

[Ferretlover]

Since you have not paid attention, let me put this a bit more strongly: If you two want to challenge each other's manhood, do it by PM.
Now, back on topic, Please.

[hermit]

Thank you to everyone who replied... The act of posting itself was cathartic, and thankfully no tears were shed. I'm still feeling a bit overtaken by events, but have no choice but to dig in and do what I can with what I've got.

To those who took exception to my comments about the "Organic hippies" - I should elaborate: I've got nothing against hippies, organic, etc, but in this case, these pseudo-preppers that we know seem to view prepping in idyllic and idealistic terms. Their "preps" seem unfocused and unrealistic, and they appear to view back-to-the-land as extended weekend camping. They're the closest thing to preppers we know, yet they don't seem to "get it" in any meaningful way.

You all have taught me a lot about prepping, and have helped me develop my own understanding of the coming challenges and necessary responses.... I sort of get the feeling that these people are prepping because the idea seems somehow fun to them.

I'm sure that many view my choice not to own a firearm as similarly idealistic and ill-considered. My case has already been made in one of the gun threads, and I stand by it.

[Vogelzang]

"Weird Al" Yankovic - White & Nerdy
02:51 From: alyankovic
link

[hermit]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', '(')We dislike guns).

[hermit]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '"')Yo, check out dis dude niggas, he gots a Bow!"
You really have summed up his contradictions very neatly. Too vegan for a gun, but too hip to go 'country.'

[hermit]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdumars', 'C')an we please drop the derogatory comments please. We've all had our own silly ideas. And frankly being good with a bow is a very good idea for a number of reasons. Also, owning a gun and being afraid of it or unfamiliar with its use is worse than having no gun at all.
Hermit, I understand where you're coming from. Ferret had some very good observations, and I would take them to heart. My list of short, immediate preps that can be done anywhere:
- Buy salt... at least 50 pounds per person in your direct household
- Learn how to build a rocket stove... it's easy, cheap and the most effective way to cook (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 4845&hl=en)
- Own some cast iron cookware
- Buy some bulk oil, especially olive oil (http://www.localharvest.org)
- Buy bulk honey, at least a 5-gallon bucket per person (http://www.ebeehoney.com)
- Make sure you have the ability to stay warm... clothing, sleeping bags, etc.
- Get as sustainable a method of water purification as possible in place, even if it's rocket stove + pan to boil water (I also recommend getting a rain barrel)
- Buy a good, sturdy knife or 10
- Convert whatever land you have access to to food production
- Get a "bug out bag" together with some basic survival necessities: matches, a bar of soap, water purification tablets, a good knife & multi-tool, small sharpening stone, some cash, pen & paper, some wire & twine, multi-vitamins, some hooch, and a pistol if you already own one and are VERY experienced with its use and maintenance.

- Start learning:
1. how to do without
2. how to grow food
3. how to identify wild edibles
4. what your minimum needs are
5. how to create a small, energy-efficient shelter
6. what dependencies you have
7. how to sharpen things
There's a lot you can do even in the city. My aunt converted her yard into a complete foodscaping setup and now provides a fair amount of food for her family. Passers by don't even know it either.

Do what you can, and remember: one thing at a time
Also, I would disregard people's recommendation to stop watching the news, etc. That's the last thing you need to do. I would recommend NOT trying to "wake people up" around you. They'll come around in time when the cognitive dissonance is so bad that they can't deny what's happening anymore. Some may never come around -- these are the ones who were rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Feel free to PM me any time if you just need someone to chat with.

[manu]

I see nothing wrong with a bow. It depends on how good with it you are. It has some advantages over guns, and also has some disadvantages. You can always poison tip the arrows in the future. Also you may be in a region where ammo is scarce. I wonder how many people that have guns can load their owe bullets and/or have the equitment to do so.

[bodigami]

...

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MadScientist', '
')I'd also like to add that you dont need to personally use a gun...As long as you have friends with guns ^ ^. well rounded community is the key. food, shelter, security, health, leadership.

[Aaron]

Balance is key.

If you can't skin a buck & recite poetry at the same time you missed the point.

Hermit: You are not losing it. What you are experiencing is premature enlightenment.

And it's a very, very good thing.

Guns... yawn. About as exciting & dangerous as a hammer.

Gun ownership should be mandatory for every citizen... so should hammer ownership.

You'll need both.

[Revi]

I think I'm losing it too. Some days I feel like there is not much point to getting ready to live through the peak oil crisis. I prepare anyway, but it's hard to maintain my enthusiasm for it.

The crisis may be here next winter in Maine. The statewide average price for heating oil went down to around $4 a gallon, but that will still be a buck more than what people paid for it last winter. There are going to be a lot of people freezing here.

Preparation helps with the sinking feeling I get thinking about what's going to happen. A little...

[wisconsin_cur]

I spent Monday evening with a high level of frustration, at all the work to be done and all that I do not know. I was able to work through it tonight. Re-discovering humility: simplifying my plan for the future. Doing less but doing it better; thinking less about the worse case scenario and thinking through more likely possibilities. Making a list of things to do this week. Getting it done, bit by bit. Not thinking I can do it all right now.

Hammer, gun, poetry, humility... all are very important tools to know how to use... if they can be a part of you, where the gun, the hammer, the poet and the recognition of your own limitations are part of you just as much as your own breath... then you are well on your way being prepared for a future of discontinuous change.

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'H')ammer, gun, poetry, humility... all are very important tools to know how to use...