I just came across this article on solar flares: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down US for Months (hahahahaha, "the next peak in solar activity is expected to come around 2012." Hello 2012oh, and the recent blackout that some of us local-folk experienced, with the thought that winter ain't over yet and there will be more storms coming and more ( Read more... )

Did a bit of looking today, trying to figure out what sort of lamp/lantern I'd like to get (I'd like more than just the one.). I'm really torn between drop-dead gorgeous lamps like this one or more practical ones like these here.

There are pretty brass lanterns here and they're having a buy 2 get one free sale, even. Whee ( Read more... )

The thing I missed the most yesterday/the night before about having no power was having no radio (ok, not having heat sucked, too, but it never got below 10C inside, so it wasn't THAT bad this time).

So Imma get a hand-crank, solar-powered, rechargeable battery-option radio. I've seen these beauties in the Lee Valley catalog. I wants one ( Read more... )

Pick Up Your Hat[this short story by Robert Heinlein that she summarizes in the previous paragraph] illustrates just how hard it is to live your life as though you believe bad things are going to happen to you. Even when we know they are likely, even when we see things forthcoming, it is awfully hard to pick up our hats and set aside one set of ( Read more... )

I took a look at the calendar last night and cross referenced it with my pill pack and I have discovered that next Thursday will be my last day on the pill. This means that for the next three months, I will be flushing excess hormones from my body in preparation for trying to conceive ( Read more... )

"Sweden Plans on Being the First Country in the World to Be Free From Oil in 2020"
Article from Treehugger.com
Article from Swedish government

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Got a Favor? Need a Favor?
Favorville: People Helping People
Toronto Star article: Toronto duo links people

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Energy Saving Ideas

Saving Energy in the Kitchen:
Useful tips for everyone, ( Read more... )

Oil Crises
The Long Emergency, a Rolling Stone article by James Howard Kunstler
Life After the Oil Crash, quasi-alarmist in tone, but there are links aplenty for further research
The Olduvai Theory: Sliding Towards a Post-Industrial Stone Age by Richard C. Duncan, Ph. D.
Hubbert peak from Wikipedia

Practical Information
The Humanure Handbook ( Read more... )

If you are already thirsty, it is too late to start digging the well.

So the oil's going to run out eventually, and sooner than we'd all like to think about or admit. Or there'll be another blackout and the power just won't come back on -- or it'll be extremely limited when and where it does return. And where will that leave us? Up shit creek ( Read more... )