Tree at the Overlook
Wisdom of a quarter mile between campsites
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that beauty of the state’s policy of keeping dispersed and wilderness campsites at least a 1/4 mile apart.
While that leads to fewer camping opportunities in popular locations, it also means a truer wilderness experience where other campers will not be disturbed by talking, music, chopping wood or other human noise, smoke from other fires or other privacy issues.
I enjoy having my space while camping and having nobody else in sight or sound while in the wilderness.
My Take President Donald Trump
I’m not really into politics nor do I follow every news story or tweet, but my grotesque obsession over Donald Trump continues. He’s one part horror show, one part freak show, one part agent of change. I can’t decide if I hate or love the man or for that matter have much of an opinion of his presidency.
There are some things I think are just awful about Trump. He seems to have a very poor understanding of economics, international relationships, climate change and science. It’s fine to have an opinion and be a conservative, but you should have a basic understanding of the concrete facts your dealing with as our nation’s chief executive. Sometimes liberals insist on policy outcomes not based on the facts but their own values without considering values and priorities of other Americans — but they sometimes are more grounded in reality rather then rhetoric.
And I think Trump is just wrong on immigration. Immigrants are the fabric of our community, and while illegal immigration is problematic, we should find solutions to integrate immigrants already here, and go after employers who break immigrant law. Immigrants rarely take American’s jobs, because most of the lowest skilled jobs aren’t that attractive to Americans. If we want more jobs, we should have taxpayer-support of public colleges and training, so people can get the skills needed to succeed in our economy. We shouldn’t discourage international trade, we should encourage fair trade.
At the same time, I like the idea that Donald Trump is pushing a smaller government – I think the government at all levels had gotten too involved in too many people’s lives, pushing the trendy social causes of the day, spending too much time and money to save puppies and cute children. Government has core responsibilities, but we should empower private citizens rather then state to mediate conflicts. We don’t need more laws, we just need simpler, more enforceable laws, and fewer of them. Government needs to spend less time trying to stop the next so-called tragedy, and focus on making people’s lives better today.
To that matter, I am not that horrified by his budget proposal, as much as I’m amused by it, even if it spends too much on military defense and the police state. We need an honest discussion of government programs, and those that are absolutely necessary, Congress should reinstate. Sometimes it’s better to start at ground zero, and build back up. Maybe they shouldn’t keep doing things the same way in government, because that’s the way they’ve always done it.
To be sure, I’m not thrilled by Donald Trump. I thought Barack Obama had a better grasp of the facts, and delivered a healthcare program, while not perfect, helped out a lot of people. But as they say, there is always more to do. Mr. Trump has three years left to prove himself, and ultimately governing is not defined by who has the best rhetoric, but who gets the best results. People need to learn that things need to change, so we can make life better for people.
What would happen if the Army was sent into New York City unpermited by state and local leaders? 💣
I was hearing on the radio that the second amendment is not applicable today with the overwhelming force of the US military. While this is true with against any individual or small group, the US military would be ineffective against any mass resistance using guerilla tactics.
Imagine the scenario that the federal government invaded New York City with the army. The state and city could respond by giving either official or implied immunity to those those who fought against the federal government. This could empower and encourage ordinary citizens to engage in gorilla tactics against the US Army with immunity from state prosecution.
The population numbers suggest serious problems for the invading US Army if there was significant civic resistance to the Army invasion. If one in 10 of the city’s population engaged in a gorilla tactics against the military – fire bombing army trucks, cutting brake lines or even improvised explosive devices – could be extremely costly to the US Army in both lives and equipment loses. Remember, 10 percent of the city’s population is 750,000 bigger than the America’s standing army at 470,000 persons and even if you called in the reserves of 190,000 your still talking one New York City resident against one soldiers.
Not to mention that citizens resistance against the federal invaders would be supplemented by local law enforcement and the state’s national guard and state police which have extensive military experience and a much better knowledge of the city then the defense department has. Other blue state national guards and law enforcement would come to the state’s defense.
So it is true that individuals are not particularly powerful but together they are a strong force. Guerilla warfare might be a far off possibility – most likely New York City and the federal government would resolve their concerns in the US Supreme Court or other democratic institutions but don’t think individuals, joined outside of official government channels couldn’t be incredibly different.
Memorial Day is Tragic
I often think Memorial Day is one of the most tragic holidays, as it’s one that honors the war dead, young men and women killed by the folly of our leaders.
Most war could be ended if our leaders had more of a calm demeanor, more of an ability to listen and to bridge differences through discussion and negotiations rather than violence.
World-wide the planet is making progress at ending war but its happening at much too slow of a pace. Fewer people are dying in modern times from war but its still not obsolete yet. But it should be as war and violence is totally unnecessary in modern times.
Altamont
Cabin Fever or the race for space 🏡
On Friday I went into the office rather than work from home with it being a cold and rainy day. I realize some days are going to be that way, but still it’s tough to be stuck at home in my relatively small apartment with not a lot of places to get up and stretch my legs. From a cleaning and maintenance perspective my apartment is too big, and indeed when I own my off-grid property I think I would want something smaller.
As a raw number, 500 square feet sounds big but it’s just 5 foot by 10 ft, in one direction too small for me to lay down. 750 ft is bigger than that, 7.5 ft by 10 ft but hardly expansive space. Even 1,000 ft is considered a tiny house by modern standards. But small is nice as it means less space to clean, less space to heat, and less room for clutter. If it can’t fit inside, it can fit in the burn barrel, the compost heap, the dead pit, the scrap metal pile or the landfill. There is just too much stuff in this world and industry is always pushing more on us.
If I had my way, I’d probably have a single room cabin which by definition is easy to clean, heat and maintain with no internal walls. Just room for a bed, a propane range and and oven, small refrigerator, woodstove, small wooden table and maybe my old rocking chair. A gun rack on the wall, a place for the solar batteries and maybe a dresser. And nothing more. A chest freezer for meat I’ve harvested is best stored outside in a shed with electric fence. Don’t need anything more. I’d rather do my business in a outhouse or external building incinerator privy with quick on propane heater, and likewise the same for showering. Keep the moisture and smells outdoors.
Space for stuff isn’t the issue. It’s space for stretching my legs on particularly cold and wet days that are inevitable in the woods. Wet days in the truck camper as claustrophobic, as the screen tent or under a tarp. I just like to have space to walk around indoors. Even my apartment seems too small to be cooped up all day. Maybe I’m just spoiled by downtown office hooked up to the Empire State Plaza and the half mile plus of tunnels. But I guess on a homestead there is always animals to feed and wood to split even on a rainy day.