The Humanure Handbook by Joe Jenkins is a useful guide for a low-tech, sanitary, low-odor composting toilet option that is safe if correctly maintained.

Was just having a conversation about the phrase “selling out”. Seems you don’t hear it used much anymore. I reckon that’s because the concept is seen as more of a life skill now than some despicable practice. But I feel sure it would be argued I’m just jealous of those sweet living wages.

If you haven’t already you may wish to read The Humanure Handbook by Joe Jenkins. It outlines a practical diy composting toilet system that is low-odor and sanitary when maintained properly.

Kefir is also an option. It incubates at room temperature. Just need a scoby, container and milk.

This. I’ve watched too many people I care about suffer horribly and die prematurely from largely preventable illnesses. My own health went to hell from some genetic predispositions until I worked out I could absolutely not tolerate a standard American diet. Obviously some people can get away with it more than others for longer. But that’s not me. Found I wanted more life and a better quality of life. Fortunately I had the resources to change my diet and lifestyle. I realize that is a luxury not available to everyone.

Robert Loggia and David Lynch have something to say about this:

https://youtu.be/nDilD3wAxt8?feature=shared

Split-screen simultaneous brawling action.

“What’s all this sectarian racket then? We don’t get Buddhists playing bagpipes in our bathroom or Hindus harmonizing in the hall! The Shintoists don’t come here shattering sheet glass in the sh__house and shouting slogans-”

Oh no. It’s getting hit on the head lessons in here.

The Pete Seeger version that I’ve often heard sometimes called Ode to Joy/Russian Song has fantastic lyrics. Not speaking German, I’m wondering if these folks are singing the same translation?

Yeah, maybe. Though what if Grandpa Joe is chronically ill with waxing and waning debility. There are lots of folks in that boat. Maybe he was just having a very good week. One of the chief complaints I hear from friends that are so stricken is that when they are having an ok day, and are out doing something important or essential or even fun, they are seen by some dillweed that takes it as proof they are a lazy, shiftless malingerer.

This is my speculation too. Been super-sick a number of times. Always swabbed negative. Anecdotally, I know folks that tested a lot more often and only came back with a positive on the 4th try or so when feeling ill. The fine-print of my at-home tests say they’re only something like 76% accurate. Maybe I need to play the odds.

Somebody explain this to the trees that drop millions of nuts in the surrounding forest every few years skyrocketing not only rodent populations but also their parasites; ticks, chiggers, fleas. Predators are here, but they can’t seem to catch up to the mouse output.

Same boat. It took my health totally imploding to galvanize my resolve to look closely at what I might do and do it. I lost 115 lbs and have kept it off 22 years this summer. Managed to resolve all my metabolic health problems and vastly improve some unrelated ones. My quality of life improved in many ways. A tough row to hoe. Yet totally worthwhile for me anyway. And I do recognize there is a privilege in being able to devote the resources to one’s health. I know it’s far tougher for lots of folks. And certainly more so now than a couple decades ago.

This reminds me of a recent meme pushing back against the “greed is human nature” narrative. Was something like:

“If you see a bear riding a bicycle at the circus, do you assume it is the nature of bears to ride bicycles?”

Also frequently hear the same argument made for any change to the thoroughly corrupt healthcare scheme in the U.S.

That any form of socialized medicine would collapse the insurance industries putting thousands out of work and damaging stock portfolios and retirement accounts that may have invested in such. But hey, it’s totally ok to bankrupt tons of citizens and enslave ill folks to lousy jobs because they can’t afford to lose employment-tied insurance that would never be affordable as an individual.