OK, things are bad and getting worse. That means that we have a wonderful opportunity before us if we only grasp it firmly.
The economy of the United States, as well as most of the Globe is on a downslope that is taking on some of the aspects of an avalanche, and it is becoming nakedly obvious that the Kleptocracy of the Federal Government and Wall Street are scrambling to finish looting the treasury before the lights go out. 36 million honest Citizens are on food stamps with no recourse in the…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on November 6, 2009 at 9:38am —
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>> How Bad Is It??????
>> THE ECONOMY IS SOOO BAD,
>> THAT I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
>>
>> I ordered a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asked,
>> "Can
>> you afford fries with that?"
>>
>> CEO's now playing miniature golf.
>>
>> If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them
>> and ask if they meant you or them.
>>
>> Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on November 2, 2009 at 9:24am —
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With our news media turning into "infotainment," government informational opacity, and reliance on "psyops" aimed at shaping public opinion the question arises, "What is real? And how do you distinguish the Real from the lies?"
This is, of course, a perennial question which has arisen in many societies over the expanse of history, and it has been answered effectively by thoughtful men an women again and again.
Here is what I have learned.
People are real.
Your family, friends, and neighbors,…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on October 17, 2009 at 8:10am —
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Ok, I think everybody has got it now. The speculative economy we have all surfed for decades is a thing of the past. Jobs are drying up, credit for investment in capital ventures is disappearing, the Tourist Industry is down and will stay down into the foreseeable future. For people raised in times of an expanding economy this is an unmitigated disaster, especially those who are too rigid in their ways of doing things to understand that the rules of the game have changed.
On the other hand, mem…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on October 16, 2009 at 10:23am —
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First, let me say I understand why Ning wanted to keep this site non-political. I have a question for y'all that speaks to that hesitancy.
Now, I'm sure some members here consider themselves "liberal", while others may identify as "conservative". That being said, I'm also sure that there are narrow issues on which both sides find agreement. For example(and it may not be the best one), many would consider going off grid as a laudable goal. Those on the left want to save the environment, while som…
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Added by Scott Crosson on August 29, 2009 at 3:19pm —
1 Comment
I need a potato cutter and a fry-basket. Please leave any information here and I will make arrangements to purchase(or labor or whatever) it.
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Added by NeoGardener on August 18, 2009 at 2:38pm —
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Money circulating multiple times within any economic structure automatically multiplies it's effect within that structure.
It has already been noted that a dollar must circulate 5 times within a community before it gets spent outside that community for that community to be prosperous. It is that kind of economic powerhouse we are creating here at Cosby Cooperative. The nature of our little online community, where all the members communicate directly with each other rather than up and down a hie…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on August 5, 2009 at 11:34am —
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A new social movement is sweeping America. People are beginning to take a second look at their lawns. Economic and scientific attitudes have moved on and it is beginning to make sense that we should do things differently. Closely clipped expanses of sun drenched grass have not always been with us. In fact lawns did not take root in America as a status symbol til the Industrial revolution was well begun. Here's an excerpt from "The History Of Lawns" By Virginia Scott Jenkins. http://www.american-…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on June 28, 2009 at 9:01am —
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Here is how the Old Farmer explains the current economic crisis...He tells a story about how one day he paid a considerable sum to a neighbor for a new mule. Well the next day he goes over to the neighbor's farm with his truck to get the mule and they both go down to the pasture only to find the mule stone dead. "I'm sorry" says the neighbor," But I've already spent your money." "Don't let it bother you," Says the Old Farmer, "Jest load the mule on my truck and I'll take care of it." And he driv…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on June 24, 2009 at 8:29am —
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Gradually, as ideas and talk sloshes about, an actual plan for the Cosby co-operative is emerging. Everyone agrees the key issue in the Sevier/Cocke County areas is economic. It isn't that the region doesn't produce money, or jobs, it's that that money doesn't stay in the region to circulate and support a prosperous economy. It is mostly vacuumed up by giant corporations who send it off to company headquarters in distant economic capitals. Food is a very good example. Once this region was food i…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on June 6, 2009 at 9:28am —
2 Comments
The Cosby Co-op Council (Composed of all members of the Co-op who show up at the Friday Eve Potluck at Strange Brew) had a fine discussion last night on the pros and cons of organic gardening. My good friend Chris Snyder (also known as "The Telephone Guy") made a comment that struck me, as his comments often do, with the force of simple truth. "Farming," he said, "Lotta work, not much pay..."
To which I can only add...Yup.
Why? Because America treats it's Farmers the same way it treats it's Art…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on May 2, 2009 at 9:30am —
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Is dinky, sleepy, Lil Cosby Co-op somehow OUT There on the cutting edge of social change?
I'm reading stuff here and there about the Internet that suggests that it is, and we may actually be founding an economic/social model that will prove very useful to Americans everywhere. First read a short piece by John Robb, a military analyst, that he posted on his website Global Guerrillas last January. (http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/01/the-resilient-c.html)
Wednesday, 30 J…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on April 13, 2009 at 10:15am —
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We are all coming to understand that the tectonic plates of economic reality have shifted and new, or in many ways, old, ways of doing things must be considered. For example, the vast majority of Americans are now doing without health insurance of any kind. 100 years ago people would have laughed at the idea of health insurance, but today we find ourselves one catastrophic illness away from complete ruin. (One of our members that I know of, recently broke his leg in an accident that also destroy…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on March 23, 2009 at 10:44am —
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Howdy, I'm UncaRay, a cartoon character in "Smokytopia." But I don't just play a Gardener in the comic. I am one. And as a frugal gardener of many years I have to say that all you folks wringing yer hands about money are missing a deal that could make all the difference for ya.
I do it all the time, so I know it works.
Here it is.
Plant a garden. In your Lawn.
Follow my reasoning here. First off your problem is that your cash flow doesn't cover your expenses. The answer, if you can't raise y…
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Added by Unca Ray on March 12, 2009 at 11:30am —
3 Comments
If you are an Independent Musician and have some songs you would like to post for others to hear or download, please visit http://indierockcafe.net
Follow the links to the three free jamrooms.
God's Jamroom- for christian artists
The Blues Room- for blues artists
Indie Rock Cafe-for any other kind of music
Just create a free account and begin to upload songs.
Why? Well by uploading a song you wrote you are in fact publishing it that carries a date which is like a poor man's copyright. It proves…
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Added by Terry Prong on March 7, 2009 at 3:00pm —
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No, I ain’t from here…even after nearly fifteen years I still get that question. Where I AM from is a tiny little wide spot in the road called Chickamauga Georgia (just South of Chattanooga, TN). Chickamauga is a Cherokee Indian word for “Oh crap here come the rednecks!” It is a landscape not unlike this one, foothills of the mountains…grand sweeping views, ancient trees, diverse flora, myriad wildlife…..and people. People are how I got here, or more true to point why I came here….but that’s a s…
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Added by rytrwanab on March 1, 2009 at 11:31am —
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After being planted for a decade & very little growth, the fruit trees are covered in lichen. Lichen per se doesn't harm the trees, but is indicative of a poorly performing tree....

I've dug 12 ft wide beds around the trees shovel deep or better, and worked manure into the soil, the…
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Added by Stone on February 25, 2009 at 10:48pm —
6 Comments
We now have 50 members! Y'all say "Hi!" to our 50th Member Joanne Riley. That is we have 50 people signed up as members, but we DO NOT have 50 "ACTIVE" members! If we had fifty truly active members we would be well on our way to being the economic powerhouse of Sevier and Cocke Counties. Below is a list of suggestions and ideas for what YOU can do to make this happen.
1. Post regularly. It don't matter if you are artikulate or cain't spel rite. We need to hear what is going on with folks. What'…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on February 23, 2009 at 9:32am —
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Out of work? Reduced income? Increased cost of living? Macroeconomic news getting you down?
Well I'm here to tell you how to get rich with Cosby Co-op. Not just survive, not just do well, but live a life of plenty with a substantial income and true security.
I have a dream you see. I dream that Cosby Co-op could support dozens of people. And supplement the incomes of many more. But so far, it's just an idea.
Sure the Banks and the Feds have screwed the pooch. That's what they do and it was as…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on February 17, 2009 at 11:00am —
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100 Items to Disappear First by a survivor of Sarajevo.
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8…
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Added by Ning The Merciless on February 14, 2009 at 8:38am —
5 Comments