Make Sure You're Prepared for Disaster with a 72-Hour Kit

Make Sure You're Prepared for Disaster with a 72-Hour Kit

When in doubt, aim for 7 days or more. 72 hours is the bare minimum.

Can't believe the images/video coming out of Japan. Terrible and amazing at the same time, that something like that can actually happen. Luckily Ayako's family all seems to be safe.

The Lifehacker Guide to Staying Focused

The Lifehacker Guide to Staying Focused

MOTHERLODE

Understanding - and Maximizing - Your Brain's Reward and Planning System

Understanding - and Maximizing - Your Brain's Reward and Planning System | Psychology Today

Summary of good tips for self-motivating, backed up by SCIENCE!

Also, a haircut can do wonders.

AKA every night

Every. Single. Night.

Snowpocalypse? Puh-leez.

Snowpocalypse? Puh-leez.

Spent about 4 hours today playing various zombie flash games, so... yeah. Truth.

Hold a Nail Steady with These Household Objects (and Avoid Crushing Your Fingers)

Hold a Nail Steady with These Household Objects (and Avoid Crushing Your Fingers)

Good tip for those who are terrified of hammers (e.g. Grace) or bad at hammering things in straight (e.g. me).

Vegan Super Bowl Menu (Steelers!)

Well, it's a bit late now. Sorry Steelers, I guess you'll just have to be satisfied with SIX rings, for now.

I went a bit crazy pants with my food provisions.

Here was my menu:

• Pigs-in-a-blanket served with HEINZ ketchup (eff yeah) and 4 kinds of mustards
• Chips with a variety of salsas, including Steelers Black & Gold Salsa
• Potato pierogies with caramelized onions and applesauce (from Vegan Brunch)
• Crackers & TJ's hummus

Here's the recipe I'm using for the 'pigs':
V e g a n D a d: Vegan Bratwurst

But I changed a couple of things:
subbed 1/4 cup chickpea flour, plus some liquid, instead of mashing beans
instead of grinding dried mushrooms, buy some freaking mushroom powder, what a pain

I simmered them in a pan in some beer before I cut them into thirds and wrapped each piece in crescent roll dough (2 tubes). Baked at 425 for 20 minutes (check at 15, mine were a little burnt/dry). Next time I might aim for a Kielbasa center instead.

I got some black and yellow chips to mix together and serve with Black and Gold Steeler Salsa:

Black and Gold Steeler Salsa

1-1/4 cup Black Beans
1-1/2 cup Yellow Corn, thawed
1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper, finely chopped
1 Jalapeno Pepper, minced (optional) (I used a can of diced green chilies and a few shakes of Tabasco)
1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar (I did more like 1/4 cup)
1/3 cup Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
Salt & Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and let marinate at least 1 hour before serving.

Pine Ridge Rising: Community-Based Development Project Gets Underway

Stephanie Woodard: Pine Ridge Rising: Community-Based Development Project Gets Underway

Sounds interesting - perhaps they can benefit in some similar ways as Tulalip, combining land leasing/ownership with shopping, tourism, or some similar model. Glad it's being done from the bottom up instead of the other way around.

Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done

Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done

Good to know! Now I just have to figure out if I have a UPS. I don't think I do. Maybe I should get one?

12 Post-Apocalypse Floating Cities and Homes: From Crazy Concepts to Reality : TreeHugger

12 Post-Apocalypse Floating Cities and Homes: From Crazy Concepts to Reality : TreeHugger

A few of these concepts are super interesting and may have some merit; a lot of them just seem like they're asking for trouble.

I like the idea of water-based communities, though. The floating homes in Seattle seem to work fairly well in that regard.