So now Rush thinks he speaks for God?
He's taking the (unacknowledged) collapse of the RNC pretty hard isn't he?

Eh, political parties are reborn all the time.  This time the RNC is being reborn as the Tea-Party movement.  In 30-80 years it'll be the Democrats turn to be reborn.

I think what is hapening is a little ore complex than that. For one thing the remaining republicans actually seem to have more clout, respect, and support in terms fo actual voters than the tea party movement.

Right. They don't seem to be going down easily. They're very well entrenched, and, IMO, they're willing to engage in a little eye-gouging to keep themselves on top. Eventually SOMEONE will win. The question is, how much damage will be caused in the process (not only to the republican party, but to leaving the Democratic party, whether good or bad, largely unchecked. Unchecked power is almost never a good thing, even in the hands of the best of people.)

And it isn't necessecarilly just those two. For example as the Republican-Tea Party feud continues some people may figure that since neither of them has a clear majority or even a reasonable challenge to get a clear majority they ay as well vote libertarian since that is how they really feel. If teh fight gets hard enough and long enough teh democrats may so completely dominate teh sphere of politics that many of tehir voters who support them primarilly out of concern for the 'conservative threat' begin voting for the green party or the communist party. Of course at that point the Republican party is pretty much down for the count and the question is who or what will rise up in it's place (even if it bears the name of the Republican party it won't be the same thing). Using history as our guide it is apparent that the eventual winners may be two parties which have not even been concieved or established yet.

Not sure that it's because the democrats have completely become dominant, but there's at least one sign that this is happening already:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...ml?wpisrc=nl_cuzhead

Labor groups are forming a new party in north carolina to oppose democrats who voted against the health care bill.

Probably, but what kind of membership does it have?

Dunno, that article is all I know about it so far.

I'm not sure, but I think this conversation should be either in the U.S. Politics Thread or the Sports Thread, since the way most people talk about the Parties you'd think they were Baseball Teams.

http://www.taser.com/pages/Vid...ails.aspx?videoid=96
It looks like it shoots water while electrifying those water streams!

didn't mythbusters do an episode on this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTPz59y5538
Holy Toledo!  Fully automatic low recoil shotgun that can fire grenade shotgun shells with a burst radius of 9 feet or so?  Not to mention all the normal rounds you can put in a shotgun.

Wow, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhstuvzMiB0 -- look at her hold it waist high, no shoulder behind it, then just fire it off like Rambo in a movie.  That just changes close quarter urban combat to no end.

I've seen that gun before. It looks pretty cool, but I'm trying to figure out how it's so quiet.

I'm not sure about those mini-grenades. Obviously, the energy is stored chemically, but you're still limited by the size of them. A 12-gauge is a 12-gauge, and you can't make it any faster or heavier without increasing recoil. I also wonder what the AA12 has that a Saiga doesn't (except likely a higher price tag!)

As an aside, it looks like the AA12 was pitched the USMC. The USMC is still using either Mossbergs or Bennellis. There's nothing I can see about the AA12 which means those mini-grenades can be used only with it and not with other, more established brands.

(I'll also say, I still want a Pancor Jackhammer :P )

Was that the gun with the new recoil (sort of a heavy trianglish-shaped wedge that goes to a spring in the big handle, so that the force is redirected downwards at the same time that exhaust gas is vented upwards, making it a very low recoil)?  It's been long enough that I don't remember.

Anyway... a man has a chip implanted in him with a computer virus that's then able to infect other devices outside him: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10158517.stm  As the article says, somewhat disturbing implications for really high tech pacemakers and such that might be accessible on the internet.

I don't know a lot of details on the jackhammer, except it was on Fallout 2, and has a distinctive look I think is pretty cool.

I've seen variations on this before, but this one has to be the easiest and cheapest way to put aluminum cans in a box to absorb solar heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...&feature=related

Home made toothpaste

1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon baking soda, plus 6 drops of essential oil. I've tried peppermint, and I'm tried orange, and both were really good.

Basic idea is it is a powder mix. Wet your toothbrush, and shake off the excess water. Dip into powder, and what sticks to the bristles is enough. The toothpaste will taste salty.

My kids weren't a fan of it, but I am . So your mileage may vary. I make my toothpaste for only pennies, and it lasts a long time on just those two tablespoons of salt and baking soda.

Considering all the toothpastes on the store shelves are made by the same monopoly, that might fall just into the 'save money by doing it yourself' category.

I have to ask, do you spend say one day a year just making batches of all of your minor items, or do you do say toothpaste one day, deodorant another, detergent a third day?

Thr same monopoly? Proctor and Gamble makes Crest, but not colgate...

In reply to Bart (msg #107):

I actually have a degree in making high-tech medical devices (prosthetics mostly), that are secure from that kinda thing. At last, my time has come!

In reply to katisara (msg #111):

Yea kat. I usually just make them up in batches as needed. I stock pile the ingredients whenever they are on sale.  And then when I want to make toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, etc, it takes only a few minutes of time to make.

The laundry soap is the only one that takes over night to sit and gel up. I'm guessing if you wanted to, you could take the laundry soap hot while fully liquid and use it. Otherwise, normally I'm ahead of the game, and just make it the day before, and make several gallons at a time. It gels up nicely.

The deodorant does need to cool down slightly too I guess. It warms up enough from body heat of your hands to be gloopy liquid like. But when it hits room temperature again, it's a solid.

So really, I make batches as needed. It's very easy, and quick to do, and usuable within a day.

I do want to try making my own soap. I can render enough grease from a variety of sources such as cooking fats. But I intend to be hunting soon enough to gather grease from animals. We'll see how successful that becomes.


I know you say saving money as opposed to prepping, but in the long run, if you can make your own items from stuff that is basic, you can store a lot of different items in a small amount of space.For example, I have several gallons of liquid detergent stored in the form of a few cups of dry ingredients, as long as I have access to water. (That can come from your own well, or even a pond, since it's for cleaning clothes.)

I can store a year's worth of toothpaste in a very tiny area. I used to buy toothpaste several tubes at a time when on sale. I once stockpiled a year's worth for my family of four when they were on for 50 cents a tube. But they never came down to that price again, so I had to settle for 72 cents, and now I haven't sen them drop down lower than 82 cents each. (75 ml crest for those who are wondering). However, it's just not as storable as salt and baking soda.

Sure, but how do you get the minty flavor without introducing fodder for plaque?

Peppermint essential oil for the peppermint flavor. Essential oils are anti bacterial as well.

You could mix up any assortment of flavors if you wanted. Maybe I should try a citrus mint next time?

The salt and baking soda work very well. Gargling with salt water helps disinfect as well.

I'm coming from the idea you are brushing your teeth regularly with whatever toothpaste you use, whether homemade or store bought, just brush to get rid of food and plaque.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Sat 30 Oct 2010.

Chocolate ice cream ;)

My teeth are sensitive and require special toothpaste or else it is really painful to brush; not really sure how they make it.