Working on the VW, organizing, reading and resting are on the agenda for the next nine days as I am on much needed leave next week. My Belgian Army shirts came in and they are excellent..

fit well and obtaining 3 of these shirts for $20.00 is a tremendous, practical, anti-styling protest. My Russian watch has come in and keeps perfect time..I am awaiting a replacement black, Nato watchband to install it on and then add a watchband compass making a great, cheap mechanical timepiece. The 24 hour indicator face takes a bit of getting used to but it is very logical.

The garden is pretty much done for this year---JoJo is going to try making a go of a patch of Winter Wheat this year tho.....

Currently reading---- REAMDE by Neal Stephenson--excellent...so far Russian mobsters, hackers, Chinese gamer gold miners, weed runners...it's all good....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Stephenson

I wonder how I stand it....My Fox News viewing, bible thumping co-workers believe the OWS protesters are some type of revolutionary scum...I turn and walk away but they follow me, dogging me, mistaking my silence for agreement...I control myself instead of turning on them, werewolf like...for there is no use in debate any longer..my consolation is my belief that our society's turning point is very near now.

I have been testing and outfitting the new VW Eurovan Camper. Mechanically it is perfect. Cruises at 70mph with plenty of guts left, heater works, AC blows cold, everything necessary seems to work....Drives amazingly well. Our anarchist, peace, free Tibet and Grateful Dead stickers are on it...(very important you cannot own a VW camper without these it's the law)

I ordered a combination porta potty/shower alcove tent, pictured below.......have installed the front protective bra, the TomTom Gps that I picked up used super cheap, modified and installed my scuba diving compass to the dashboard and next week will work on installing the 50 watt solar panel power system. I'm stocking it with paper plates, emergency gear, porta potty supplies and so on.

There are one or two cosmetic items I am working on, but if the van was absolutely perfect--

I would be so depressed with nothing to do ....my plan is to set up the van with side sun porch, alcove tent and pop top up, take and post pictures here of the complete system. But bear with me since I am deep into this......

My father would shake his head and tell me I should become a watchmaker. Not quite the in demand job of today's world----he would often tell me that because I have great patience when it comes to constructing, repairing or assembling small things---and probably because I am an autodidact and very close on the spectrum to having Asperger syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspberger%27s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism

... In the 1950's, when these father-son chat's occurred, these terms did not exist, you were simply a strange child and being a watch maker or watch repairman was considered one of the "good" jobs...meaning you didn't get ground up in machinery, Thinking of my watch fascination the other day made me consider that when the globalized world stops spinning in the not too distant future...being a watch maker or being able to repair watches may again be a "good" job. A watch will once again become a non-replaceable prized possession. Watch repair tools are actually reasonably priced on Amazon now, since they are Chinese copies, but viable tools for someone like myself and there are several books, reprints from the 40's and 50's on watch making and watch repair....I have bookmarked all these items for purchase next month. Why not study and become competent at a subject I love---watches---- and have a viable niche for the coming new world ?

All this being said of course there is a new Chronograph in route---retailing, supposedly for $500.00 (which I actually doubt) and purchased on sale for $80.00 is this huge, 60mm cased--white faced, 1/2 inch thick, Invicta Chronograph. This is described as more of a wrist clock, as compared to wrist watch---beautiful...... I'll advise.

Cannibals prefer those who have no spines.
Stanislaw Lem

The weather in New Mexico has become beautiful and appreciated after our summer of torture. I was out outside early, working on the driveway this am wearing my new Norwegian camo field jacket---it was in the mid 50's the perfect temperature....JoJo has the kitchen full of the last remaining harvest--planning on canning and drying the last vegetables to arrive....People however have been very strange these past few weeks---responding to the negative waves floating everywhere---is the only explanation I can determine....like animals before a storm----we know what is coming.

Occupy Wall Street has turned out to be the real thing.....I wish i could add insightful commentary to the national conversation on this issue, but I like many others are supporting from the sidelines listening to what the Occupy Wall Street people are saying....hoping they are able to turn our world upside down----I've watched the live, video, internet feed of their meetings and processes---these are very smart people---I admire them. The occupation of wall street has become a perfect example of natural anarchism in action---whereas there are no OWS leaders for the current power structure to corrupt or buy off---or for the corporate media to spin against---the politicians have no idea of what to do---OWS is not political---- it is a rebellion against the complete and ongoing violation of the social contract between government and the people...

...i do fear for what is coming---wall street contributes huge amounts of money to a New York Police Department secret fund...

http://politics.salon.com/2011/10/07/the_nypd_now_sponsored_by_wall_street/

which means that at some point the NYPD, being the purchased lap dogs of wall street and the Mayor are going to attack this peaceful demonstration------ the corporate owned media will paint/spin it in a manner where the OWS people will be the unruly mob...who attacked the poor police...

The power structure, our corporate government, needs to realize that Occupy Wall Street is a merely warning shot---they need to pay attention---I am hoping they will not and wind up like Czar Nicholas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czar_Nicholas_II

Moon baby and I await the VW camper--it's on the way---we have actual photographic proof displayed below--- it is supposed to arrive sometime between now and the middle of the week. I have cleaned and organized the garage and driveway in preparation for it's arrival...the problem with being OCD is that I will probably have to polish it's muffler before going camping----

We viewed PAUL this past week and I found it to be superb--tremendously geekie--UFO--Comic Con---funny.... another excellent Pegg and Frost film.....you've got to laugh when Paul the alien argues evolution vs. intelligent design with a God shouter while in an RV's bathroom....the end of the film will just slay you if you are into SF films at all---I highly recommend an evening of PAUL on DvD and a Pizza....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_(film)

The newest surplus "buy" in route are 3 Belgian Army OD XL fatigue shirts.

3 for $20.00 in XL (true XL i hope) how can you beat this? The problem is always trying to figure out if a Belgian XL equals a true American XL---it's a crapshoot always with military surplus if what you buy actually fits-----they appear to be styling enough for work...

Government is an unnecessary evil. Human beings, when accustomed to taking responsibility for their own behavior, can cooperate on a basis of mutual trust and helpfulness.
Fred Woodworth

Bravo for life's little ironies

My Norwegian Army Camo Field Jacket has arrived and is in perfect condition...I just need to work in into my EDC system as it turns colder here....you know you are now fat when an XL Norwegian jacket is a little bit tight---still works but it makes you think?

The VW camper is still in California-- we upped the price offer on auto transport and maybe there will be a shipping notice next week? David is right I am getting burnt out and need to take some leave as soon as the camper arrives....

Too tired from work this week to read at night---I just come home 12 hours after waking up, compute a bit and then sleep so no new book reviews this week.

Most of the action around the homestead this past week has involved the kitchen---JoJo is doing all the work, organizing, dehydrating garden produce, and baking bread...I have not really been doing much of anything this past week other than hypermiling with the Prius on the commute to 52.7 mpg, sharpening knives, emailing friends and working on my every day carry equipment and once completed with this blog I'll clean and organize the house...it is that odd early fall...between the what you can and can't do times...

I am constantly grateful and thankful that we grow our own fruits and vegetables---allowing us to ignoring the most recent contaminated produce poisoning deaths of consumers---those still dependent on the commercial farming system, the Republicans want to destroy the FDA...a relative number of citizen deaths from contaminated food is obviously acceptable to the Republican Taliban---after all you can pray over your food to make it safe--can't you????

Congratulations to those 2,000 + protesters occupying wall street---last week I was sure that the occupation would collapse after the arrest of 55 demonstrators...but was I ever wrong. The corporate controlled media still ignores what is happening as does the elite bastards sucking the life out of us...but the action taking place in NYC is a symbol, you don't have to be a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows.... There are no leaders or organization to this protest, no one for the elite classes to arrest, produce propaganda against, or corrupt---this alone should make them afraid...very afraid...there is no violence for the elite classes to use as an excuse to imprison the crowd....i can only hope that this is a beginning-----that it grows and grows and grows.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15134806

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/occupy-wall-street_n_987439.html?1317319917

My watch Otaku will never subside---i cannot fight it...I give in.....above is my most recent watch order. A Soviet mechanical 17 jewel, 1937 Arctic North Polar expedition commemorative watch, new old stock. I ordered a black Nato web 18mm watch band to replace the standard crummy Soviet watchband that is the usual with these watches. This is the 2nd Soviet mechanical watch in my collection. The other displayed below a Poljot mechanical chronograph, 23 jewel movement, I purchased close to 10 years ago whose value has now increased 10 fold over my original cost--I bought the below chronograph when Soviet watches were practically unknown here...but still one of my better investments? Still works perfectly!

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.
Adlai E. Stevenson

Updates on previous entries:

The Scuba Diving wrist compass is in---it is mechanically very cool and huge with a case about 75mm in diameter and very easy to read---one problem tho is a warning that came with it

"Do not expose to the burning sun"??? Which will make usage here in New Mexico a small problem--Duh, it's a Scuba Compass! I didn't see that one coming..have to figure this out?

Our VW EuroVan Camper is still in California---we haven't had any offers at our cheapest transport rate so we will have to get off the dime and pay more for transport by big truck---but we tried to save what we could....maybe we can get it in route next week by being willing to pay more? As soon as it gets here I am taking leave from work.

The morning temperatures have dropped into the 50's, although here in the desert here by noon it's the low 90's---still---- it is nice and the season is definitely changing....the Prius is now getting 52.7 mpg on my daily work commute since the wind direction has changed with the seasons....bite me Dick Cheney....

I have a big pile of books next to the bed awaiting reading...it's great...there is nothing better than to have books wanting to talk to you.

I am so thankful we are the way we are---right now there are 12 jars of crab apple jelly sitting on the kitchen counter that my JoJo created yesterday---from our own crab apple tree out front. This weekend I'll be peeling/coring/slicing the last of the traded for apples, with our little Amish machine and we'll can apple pie filling for the winter. Our surplus vegetables are dried, the greenhouse is planted for the winter and on the first day of fall we were as prepared as we could be for the winter---I stood out front of our house this morning and marveled at what we do--(without being prideful, just honest) on a 90x120 lot, with a house built in 1903, 3 blocks from the town business district. It has not been easy, and when others were traveling and vacationing we were working building our soil, putting up a wind generator---sort of an ant and grasshopper thing. But the results cannot be disputed...we are safe from what occurs out there...

Elect your Rick Perry's---we don't care anymore you can't hurt us, we don't need you.

The book of the week is "The World as it is, Dispatches on the Myth of Human Progress" by Chris Hedges....a collection of essays on the current situation in the United States and our upcoming descent into 3rd world status....Mr. Hedges is a former foreign correspondent turned social author/activist....he is a brilliant and elegant writer and thinker. Mr. Hedges is one of the last remaining thinkers whose ability to be heard over the roar of stupidity is diminishing day by day as our society falls into idiocracy......I can only recommend this book to those willing to think----

The Wall Street protest is apparently down to about 50 persons left....An American style Arab Spring type occupation protest against wall street capitalists....NYPD blocked off wall street to the protesters keeping them 3 blocks away to protect their corporate masters from actually having to see the common human angry with them and there was a news black out on the subject---very very limited coverage---which isn't surprising since the corporate world owns the media today......I admire the attempt, courage of those who did this.....

Ok I have a thing about applying Military Surplus clothing to my civilian life....the sheer utility and durability of military clothing is perfect for me(and of course for my complete lack of style). Last winter I purchased and used all through the snow season a used French Army Parka...it is/was excellent...this year I wanted to find a system for when it is cold--but layering is practical as compared to a parka---You are already seen my Italian Marine light field jacket---it is excellent but needs some kind of liner...I was lucky to find the below displayed woolrich tactical vest...I found it in my size on sale for way way way less than 1/3 of it's usual $250.00 asking price. Thin, very warm and loaded with pockets this vest makes the perfect under layer.

My thoughts are to use the above vest as a warmer/liner layer for both my Italian Marine Camo field jacket and my newest military surplus purchase which is on the way--a used, Norwegian Army, Camo field jacket.

With these two latest purchases I am now complete for winter....Norwegian and Italian for fall, and French for deep winter....all on the most excellent cheap.....

Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night.
Isaac Asimov