Kiltedkeefe - Cultist At Large

It's time for a drastic change in politics. We need more transparency and honesty in our parties.

I propose a new party, the Party of the Dark Star. There will be weird rituals, orgiastic caucusing, and the party motto will be "Blood for the Blood God".

Rodrigo A. Branco

One interesting detail I've noticed up in them thar hills is there's a surprising number of dudes that casually walk around with knives on their belt. Well, surprising in relation to an urban area. Dudes that have open carry knives in urban areas have multitools and are geardos. Here, it's because it goes on with the pants. And I'm all for this. I get to have my knife on me and not feel like I have to keep it secret.

Sharpfingers, Buck 110s, Schrade Old Timers, and Walmart knockoffs seem to be the most popular. Multitools like a Leatherman or Gerber seem popular with the fishermen and actual farmers.

Side effect or bonus? Because the primary heating is wood, I basically smell like a combination of my aftershave (bay rum) and wood smoke all the time. Gotta get the fire going or build it back up, and a bit of smoke gets out. The cabin smells like sandalwood and wood smoke as well.

Sustainable energy pets.

Right now, in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, there's an unofficial naval conflict going on between the Chinese Coast Guard, "Chinese fishing boats", and various SE Asian nations. Basically, the CCP has decided to basically seize fishing grounds, lay claim to various islands and shoals and try to gain control of the sea lanes. They've been intruding into EEZ areas of smaller nations chasing fish, and are eyeballing the enormous amounts of trade that pass through the area. There's also huge oil fields and natural gas reserves under water that China is eager to control.

"Volunteer fisherman" in special fishing boats that have been reengineered for ramming have been pushing other nations out of their fishing grounds. Much like the little green men of the Crimean invasion, these little blue men (from their blue outfits) are deniable assets used to enforce Chinese will. They basically suck as fishing boats now, but boy howdy can they damage other fishing boats.

Along with this, the Chinese have been building land onto reefs by dredging to create instant sovereignty land which they then claim. Other nations have responded with derelict ships being anchored across reefs that act as permanent bases.

Recently, during a supply run to a Philippine base ship, the Chinese Coast Guard decided to intervene and called the whole thing an intrusion into Chinese waters. They rammed the supply ship and made a hostile boarding brandishing swords, knives and axes, the Philippino sailors fought back with bare hands and whatever weapon like object they could lay hands on. A Philippino sailor reportedly lost his thumb in the fracas along with other injuries.

So, uh, HOLY CRAP. Pirates, cutlasses, boarding actions, water cannons... everything old is new again.

All's groovy when the weather is nice and the cabin is comfy. Rainstorms and tea, sunny days in the hammock, idyll and pleasantry. There are a few things that you need to know, though, in order to get by:

You will need a knife. All of the time, especially when you don't have one on you. It needs to be sharp, and sturdy, and you need to be willing to use it. Tactical knives are poo for this, as are expensive ones. Find one for your pocket or belt, one you can pull a thorn with or cut an errant root.

Firewood comes by the rick or cord. Ricks can also be called face cords. A full cord or bush cord is a volume of well stacked firewood, four foot high and across, and eight feet deep. A rick is a single row four foot high and eight feet deep. Split firewood is 12-16 inches long, no bigger than three-five inches in diameter. If you can find someone who delivers, great. If you can find someone that stacks the delivery, latch on quickly and get some wood. You're going to need at least a cord for the winter, probably two, maybe more if it's really cold.

Invest in good slippers. When you wake up in the morning, or get up in the middle of the night, and the fire is down, your feet will thank you.

Have a pantry with preserved food, at least enough for everyone in the house for a week. It can be canned or jarred or dry, monotonous or varied, but if you get snowed in and can't get to the market, you can at least eat something.

The forest is going to actively take the land back. You're now locked in eternal battle with Queen Anne's Lace and blackberry canes.

omfg i forgot that i never showed tumblr my greatest achievement. my pride and joy, my pi-ass de résistance

Did you ever learn or maintain a skill set you either weren't supposed to or would be seen as anachronistic? And do so because it's interesting or fun? Like for example I'm teaching myself how to use a boatswain's pipe right now. Not because I'm a reenactor or anything, just for the funsies. I've taught myself how to pick locks, I'm slowly working on radio stuff with an eye to get a ham radio license one day, learned how to fight with a tomahawk and big knife, maintain the skill of orienteering regularly, amongst others.

Never know what's going to be useful when.