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Oh, I forgot this: there is a way to have solar space heating, it just is not electric. Go to YouTube, and search for "solar space heater". There are bajillion videos on how to build one. Basically, what you are doing is building a super insulated box that contains either aluminum tubes or...

That's right where I am. Do you ever watch the Simpsons? A few Halloweens ago, they did a Treehouse of Horror where all the big advertising mascots come to life and terrorize Springfield. Lisa figures it out, and says, "They get their power from your attention! Look away! Just look away!"...

This is asinine. What about those rocket mass heaters, that Paul Wheaton linked to? Those are incredibly efficient, but will one of those get EPA approval? Of course not, because if an average joe can build one for under $100, there isn't massive corporate/crony money to be made. And what...

This is the opposite of what our economy needs. We need people to be able to retire so that young people can get some experience. Not that I think we could come with a regulation that would have that effect. Silliness.

Well, I didn't mean to offend you, but it's not an issue for opinion, it's a fact. From Wikipedia: Welfare: "Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma...

Well, Social Security *is* a form of welfare. The term "welfare" has become so politically loaded that it's actual definition is kind of ignored, now.

Well, it would be considerably more than $160. That's just the bearings. We'd also have to get the handle and crank machinery, as well as the wood and some sort of tightening mechanism. It would cost closer to $250 when it was all said and done.

Unless its some sci-fi scenario where the house cleans itself like an oven- you know, you just lock the door, leave, and come home to a clean place- I'd have to go small house.

Computer. Fo' sho'. Netflix: DVDs or streaming?

If it were me, I would: -start using Swagbucks to get Amazon gift cards to buy kitchen stuff -enroll in IBR for student loan(s) -pay off the truck -use first (and second?) truck-paymentless month to buy DH's gun -once the truck and gun are paid for, go nuts and buy all the kitchen stuff you want!

I am going to invest in some hand washing laundry equipment. Specifically, I am looking for things to get water out of clothes. I would love a wringer (aka mangle) and DH and I have been pondering him building one. However, the neccesary bearings cost $40 each and we'd need 4 of them. Eeek...

Hah! I live in the only county in the U.P. that's NOT dark blue. Not really surprising, though, our whole state has an aging population. It makes me sad to think about because things are geared *so* much toward young people leaving for cities where they can find work, there's not going to be...

Popcorn! A million times popcorn! Okay, here's a slightly more involved question: You are off the grid. You have a big chest freezer, that's a gimme. For your only other major electric appliance, do you have a washing machine or a dishwasher?

Bike, for sure. Would you rather watch a sunrise or a moonrise?

I used to use Dr. Bronner's to wash the dishes. We had 2 gallons Dr. B's bartered to us from people who owned a health food store. We brought the soap with us when we moved, and for about a year after we moved we were B-R-O-K-E. Too broke to even buy dish soap. But we got food stamps, so I...

The whole thing started because everyone was asking us where our jack o' lanterns were. We told everyone that we don't carve them until Halloween afternoon. We put a a beeswax candle in each one, and after trick or treating is over (about 8 p.m.), we bring them in, peel them, and put them onto...

I make that cake mix! (Except I don't include the coffee crystals.) A couple of years ago, I put together that cake mix, a pint of homecanned pumpkin, and a cup of chocolate chips. On the card, I had a recipe for "4 Ingredient Cake": 1 jar cake mix, 1 jar pumpkin, mixed together and baked...

Oh, beef and noodles! I was going to make sour cream today. I can harangue DH into making noodles. I'll buy mushrooms and we can have stroganoff on Sunday for about $1. Yay. Thanks!

We got a heritage hog (well, 1/3 of one) this year and it was raised on scraps including a lot of skim milk/whey, and finished on frostbitten peaches and acorns, and oholymotherofmercy it is, I think, the best meat I've ever eaten in my life. The fat is amazing. I used it to sautee the veggies...

DD gets a commodity food package.* About half the box is canned goods. There is always a meat included with the canned goods. It's only ever been tuna or salmon, but this month we got a big, BIG can of beef. Just beef, in it's own juice. The can says it's ready to eat. I don't know if I...