[RedStateGreen]

Feeling much better today, first day in a week without a headache which is always good. My tomato plants have bunches of tomatoes, and some are almost ripe. In October!

Today is a beautiful day, sunny, warm, with a slight breeze. I sat out front by my fish pond and read a novel and thought about how fortunate we are to be alive in this time, where we can have the temperature as we want it, have more food and clothes than we can handle, and be free of immediate danger for most of our lives. It's a wonderful thing.

[wisconsin_cur]

The community that I have been attempting to foster is coming together (the words of the participants not me).

It is not based on a concern about peak oil but it will be able to transferable... assuming that the whole place does not blow up in a day.

This is changing some of my thoughts about the future. This has me planning and prepping in a slightly different manner.

[WildRose]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'Y')esterday a friend asked me to help lead a girl scout troop. She wants to teach then outdoors skills: campfire building, map and compass, first aid. We want to get them into doing some gardening. I'm stoked!

[WildRose]

Our family went to meet a litter of puppies this evening. We'll be adopting one or two of them in the coming weeks. They're mutts, shepherd/border collie, maybe a bit of husky? Darn cute, anyway!

Mother dog was rescued from a pound in northern Alberta. We're considering adopting her, too.

[WildRose]

Ibon, congratulations to you and your family! Wow, those pics took my breath away.

[Daniel_Plainview]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('WildRose', 'I')bon, congratulations to you and your family! Wow, those pics took my breath away.

[Dont_Panic]

I did a preliminary calculation of my sales today and found that even if I take November and December off, I'll still have my best business year ever

[RedStateGreen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dont_Panic', 'I') did a preliminary calculation of my sales today and found that even if I take November and December off, I'll still have my best business year ever

[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('WildRose', 'I')bon, congratulations to you and your family! Wow, those pics took my breath away.

[pedalling_faster]

i just went for a walk and found 2 walnut trees to go with the 1 walnut tree i already knew about. so now i'll be able to collect a serious amount of walnuts.

also, i harvested my first wheat seed crop. no surprises there, it looks like wheat. it's drying in the sun now. i did a seed viability test, where i took some seeds and gave them 2 days in the freezer, after drying them out. this helps some seeds, but not wheat. the wheat seeds that did not get the freezer treatment are quite fertile, viable, alive.

& railroad stocks are getting more affordable by the day.

[DarkDawg]

The fall foliage is close to peak against a clear blue sky today. Absolutely brilliant.

[Ainan]

The financial doom has proven I'm not insane! We are all forward thinking rational people! I was worried for a while...

The Autumn is upon us! The local forest is so beautiful, I am looking forward to Sunday, I am planning to go out for at least 8 hours and take pictures, collect berrys and pick some mushrooms maybe.

[eastbay]

There are plenty of reasons to be thankful and think positive thoughts about the economy after today.

No Really Large Companies went bankrupt today.

No Really Big Factory closings were announced.

No Really Big Layoffs were announced today.

No riots today.

No bank runs.

No food stores overwhelmed with panicked buyers.

Quiet everywhere.

On a personal note: My 401k is right back where it was 2 years ago. That's positive news indeed and as long as it doesn't remain down there for the next five years I'll be one happy fellow.

Eastbay: One Happy Guy!

[rdsaltpower]

that sums me up.

[canuckinczech]

I suppose with these slow downs and the time its taken 'The Grand Depression' to pan out ...really puts doubt into the conspiracy theory of the 'Illuminati'.
According to the claim, this is all a subversive plot to destroy the American economy. What would be the point of letting it all go through the motions and risk exposure? It would just be too easy for those who are purportedly involved, to achieve their goal with as little chance of recovery as possible.
There can be no brilliant conspiracy plan...that assumes too much intelligence in those who have already exposed their incompetence.

[katkinkate]

Australia's in good shape to face the world slow-down.

I've learned that obesity is mostly genetically determined and even if I may be doomed to have to put up with the disapprovinng reactions to my fat, I have a better chance of outliving my skinny persecutors.

It's spring time in Brisbane and the jacarandas are in all their sweet-smelling, lilac glory.

I don't have to go back to work for months at least.

[katkinkate]

Sorry SPG, I seem to have killed your threat.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('katkinkate', 'S')orry SPG, I seem to have killed your threat.

[IgnoranceIsBliss]

I have the ABSOLUTE BEST good news that anyone can imagine.

My husband and his 2 sisters, have spent the last two months waiting on potentially life changing test results that could sentence the three of them, and all of our small children (ages 3 months - 4 years) to a horrible death from a brain wasting disease called CJD (related to mad cow) .

We finally got the results last night on a conference call with the doctor. He said "Ok, now I'm going to open the envelope with the genetic test results" and we all held our breath. Then he said "There is no genetic mutation" and I just sobbed for like 20 minutes as this huge crushing weight was lifted off of my shoulders.

The story behind this is that my mother in law is currently dying from this disease. It is estimated to strike only about 1 in a million people world wide. She is 64, which is the age range when it usually appears. One variation of this disease is the 'mad cow" that we hear of. She does not have that kind, but has what they call 'sporadic" which means it kind of appears for no reason that anyone can find. Doctors estimate that 5-15% of these cases are genetic, and can be passed down the line to children and grandchildren. So they tested a blood sample from her to determine if any other family members could be at risk.

I know the fact that my MIL is dying is still terrible, but for 2 months now I have been living with the possibility that my husband and our two boys could also be doomed to suffer this same horrific early death. To find out that this will not happen is a relief beyond anything I could imagine.

So now we will all have Thanksgiving with my MIL and try to enjoy each others company as this will be the last Thanksgiving that she is here with us. (this disease is usually terminal only 4-12 months from the onset of symptoms)