Day: June 26, 2009

The Meme of Crushroom: A Key Retreat Architecture Element

One bit of retreat architecture that I’ve often recommended to my consulting clients who are designing (or retrofitting) retreats is the inclusion of a protruding entryway foyer, that I call a crushroom. Passing this advice along to you gives me the chance to employ one of my horrible puns: The Meme of Crushroom. A crushroom is a controllable confined space, typically an entry foyer, that can be covered with small arms fire or subjected to irritant or obscurant smoke or sprays. The outer door (or barred gate) to the crushroom is normally left open, but has a spring loaded self …


Letter Re: Dealing With Local Building Inspectors

I’ve been in construction and construction management on projects all across the country since the 1970s. Generally, I try to maintain good relations with the local zoning and building authorities. You really don’t want the inspector to come out and stop a scheduled concrete pour because he caught you trying to cut some stupid corner, or sneak something by him when you thought he was not looking. Having been an inspector, I am always looking… But…when the time comes to build my little citadel out in the middle of nowhere, I have mixed thoughts about how completely truthful I want …



Economics and Investing:

Greg C. sent us this: Fading of the Dollar’s Dominance; Other Nations See Opening to Boost Their Currencies Also from Greg: ECB Injects $662 Billion into Banking System Reader A.C. contributed this: Buffett: U.S. Economy in Shambles Spotted by JHB: Unemployment: The Hardest-Hit States Items from The Economatrix: Fed Says “Recession” Easing, Inflation Tame. [JWR Adds: My Barbra Streisand Meter is pegging.] AAA: Weak Economy Will Zap Holiday Trips UK: Pensioners Kidnap Financial Adviser and Torture Him Ron Paul: Obama’s “Goal” Is Economic Collapse As China Hoards, Concern Grows About Recovery Longshoremen Running Idle at Newport News (Virginia) Port “There’s …


Odds ‘n Sods:

From Nanny State Scotland: MSPs get power to fine over climate change    o o o North Korea Threatens US as World Anticipates Missile    o o o From Cheryl: Plan to protect D.C. from nuke EMP attack    o o o Bill Buppert mentioned a controversial video that uses movie clips to illustrate a point: The Four Stages of Revolution: Part 1 (and Part 2)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“There’s no such thing as life without bloodshed. I think the notion that the species can be improved in some way, that everyone could live in harmony, is a really dangerous idea. Those who are afflicted with this notion are the first ones to give up their souls, their freedom. Your desire that it be that way will enslave you and make your life vacuous.” – Cormac McCarthy (author of the disaster novel The Road )