New Discovery Chanel Show: Militia Rising

[Greg]

I honestly saw no menace there, that it was a reference to voluntary resource pooling, both from outside acquisition and internal donations.

Which means it's time for a The Last Centurion reference. Bottom-up community self-organization is enormously powerful, and yet many can't comprehend it. Those that can't tend to be undesirable, either evil or parasites, or both.

Given the number of people already in positions of authority, who feel entitled to the resources of others, I think it's totally reasonable to be suspicious of any who would appoint themselves the arbiters of resource allocation during times of trouble. And I think that to assume that there would not be a movement, favoring confiscation of resources from those who planned ahead, somewhat naive.

Except we were specifically talking about 'authority' that was non-governmental. So, knowing what you are, how you are... in a real disaster I strongly suspect you would *be* one of those local self-organizers that Yogi is talking about and you are so paranoid of. And that would be a good thing, if everything really went to shit, your local community would probably be better off if you were one of the people who stepped up and, well, led.

And you really ought to read the book I mentioned. It's more eloquent than I could be about the difference between... there are a couple different possible ways to say it. Say between useful people and useless people. And communities function better than individuals, especially communities composed of useful (or at least led by useful) people.

[Weetabix]

hmmm, that's got me looking at my All-American in a new light. It can process 7 qts at a time.

What would be the relative merits/demerits of dry canning that way or in an oven as Malthorn showed.

Thinking out loud here, I'd think the oven canning would be better because:
- I'd think the oven canning would kill more and different types of bugs.
- I'd want to be careful with the lid to make sure it was as clean as possible - that seems to be the sterility weak point in this method.
- Easier because no extra equipment needed.
- Lower "Cool!" factor because no extra equipment needed.

Once upon a time, someone on the forum suggested either freezing or heating rice before storing in buckets to kill the bugs. This seems like it would accomplish that.

[Kommander]

Mall ninjas to canning in less than 20 posts. Good job guys!

[Netpackrat]

And you really ought to read the book I mentioned.

Why would I read a work of fiction other than for pleasure? Unless you are suggesting that reality would work out the same way things did in a story that is the product of one guy's mind?

[Greg]

And you really ought to read the book I mentioned.

Why would I read a work of fiction other than for pleasure? Unless you are suggesting that reality would work out the same way things did in a story that is the product of one guy's mind?

Because it helps give context to this conversation that you don't seem to have. If you don't think fiction can be educational, then you're missing out on a lot.

If I were suggesting that things would work out the same way in reality as in a story, it would be prophesy not fiction. Tell me you're not that dense.

[Kommander]

Back to the original topic I actually managed to watch a bit of the show that the "Watchmen" had streaming (not sure about the legality there) and got to see their Arizona chapter commit assault with a deadly weapon. Fun stuff.

[Netpackrat]

Because it helps give context to this conversation that you don't seem to have. If you don't think fiction can be educational, then you're missing out on a lot.

Lots of fiction can be educational. You can learn a lot about a variety of subjects when an author bothers to research the details surrounding what they will be writing about. One of my favorite authors, Louis L'Amour, was famous for this. But what you seemed to be suggesting, is that in the event of a societal collapse, the noble militia will step in to restore order and establish a fair re-allocation of community resources (voluntary donations and I assume "abandoned" property only). And you offered up a fictional tale as an example of how this might happen, if not as evidence that it would. Or at least, that seems like the context so far, to me.

If I were suggesting that things would work out the same way in reality as in a story, it would be prophesy not fiction. Tell me you're not that dense.

I suppose I would be happy if things actually did work out that way (although, who appointed the militia to this duty, anyway?), but I think it would be foolhardy to assume that it is likely to happen. There's also a part of me that would like to see the ending of Unintended Consequences play out in reality, but I'm still waiting for that one as well, and I expect I'll be waiting a long time.

[Netpackrat]

Except we were specifically talking about 'authority' that was non-governmental. So, knowing what you are, how you are... in a real disaster I strongly suspect you would *be* one of those local self-organizers that Yogi is talking about and you are so paranoid of. And that would be a good thing, if everything really went to shit, your local community would probably be better off if you were one of the people who stepped up and, well, led.

I'm flattered, and I appreciate that. And it might even work out that way if I still lived in a smaller community. As it is, I expect we'd either be trying to lay low, and not attract any attention, or caravan out to one of a few possible places of refuge.

[Kommander]

I have read the book in question. There is no Militia (at least in the US). There is just a bunch of people trying to help from the bottom up and sometimes through the government. I think the point is that in a disaster these overweight clowns would be running around in circles accomplishing, at best, very little while the adults got on with things.

[Netpackrat]

I think the point is that in a disaster these overweight clowns would be running around in circles accomplishing, at best, very little while the adults got on with things.

No argument there.