The magic EMP-proof box Even though U.S. scientists have known about electromagnetic pulses for quite some time – and, in fact, intentionally created them in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the Cold War – it’s been more recently that EMPs have entered the conversation for ordinary Americans. There is rising concern that a rogue nation or terrorist organization could seriously disrupt our power grids by detonating a nuclear weapon high above the United States or setting off an e-bomb that could do much damage on a more local level. So isn’t it strange that a device with the capability of blocking or at least significantly reducing the effects of an EMP was invented prior to the Civil War? It may not be realistic to build a Faraday cage around a country, or even a neighborhood, for that matter. Have you ever used or tried to build a Faraday cage? Recommended Today EMP Survival Guide: Did you know that defense experts are warning that this “weird” device could wipe out 280,000,000 Americans?
16 things I know are true but haven't quite learned yet There’s a difference between knowing something and living as if it were true. At the end of 2013, these truths are all lingering on that awkward threshold, for me anyway. 1) The sooner you do something, the more of your life you get to spend with that thing done — even though it takes less effort (or at least no more) than it will later. It’s the ultimate sure-thing investment and I pass it up all the time. 2) I never regret working out. 3) Whenever I’m playing with my phone I am only shortening my life. 4) Nothing makes me more productive and in-the-moment than a clean house. 5) Minute-for-minute, nothing I do is more rewarding than meditation. 6) Creative work is something that can be done at any time. 7) Acting the way you want to feel usually works. 8) Ninety-five per cent of my happiness comes from having a home, a functioning body and something to eat. 9) Our minds are geared to manage much less than we typically end up managing. Goodbye 2013, you were great. Photo by David Cain
Why Fear of Discomfort Might Be Ruining Your Life By Leo Babauta Think about the major problems in your life — from anxiety to lack of regular exercise to a bad diet to procrastination and more. Pretty much every one of these problems is caused by a fear of discomfort. Discomfort isn’t intense pain, but just the feeling you get when you’re out of your comfort zone. Eating vegetables for many people, for example, brings discomfort. And most people don’t like discomfort. The problem is that when you run from discomfort all the time, you are restricted to a small zone of comfort, and so you miss out on most of life. Amazingly, the simple act of being OK with discomfort can solve all these problems. This is a discovery I made a few years back, when I was trying to change my life. I started by trying to quit smoking, but I hated the feeling of having an urge to smoke and not actually smoking. I learned to sit and watch the discomfort. Then I watched this same process happen with running. How to Become Good at Discomfort Try it in small doses.
$300 underground greenhouse grows produce year-round, even in severe climates (NaturalNews) With staggering food prices and shortages looming, there's no better time to grow your own produce. Sadly, most greenhouses are expensive to build and impractical to heat during cold, wintery conditions. Thankfully, a solution is found with the Walipini. Developed for South American mountainous regions over twenty years ago, it allows edibles to be grown year-round - even in the most inhospitable weather. As an added bonus, it's also outrageously inexpensive to construct.Known as a pit or underground greenhouse, the Walipini utilizes the advantages of passive solar heating along with earth sheltering properties. The structure makes use of thermal mass energy, creating a highly efficient and cost effective method for heating the interior. "The Walipini, in simplest terms, is a rectangular hole in the ground 6' to 8' deep covered by plastic sheeting. The estimated building cost (using volunteer labor) for a 20 x 74 foot Walipini in La Paz, Peru is between $250 - $300.
7 Smart Ways to Deal with Toxic People Don’t let toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and get them out of there. Surviving the ups, downs, and lightning storms of other people’s moodiness can be quite a challenge. It’s important, though, to remember that some moody, negative people may be going through a difficult stage in their lives. But there’s another type of moody, negative behavior: that of the toxic bully, who will use his or her mood swings to intimidate and manipulate. I’m a firm believer that toxic mood swings (like chain letter emails) should not be inflicted on one person by another, under any circumstances. 1. If you know someone who insists on destructively dictating the emotional atmosphere, then be clear: they are toxic. When you delete toxic people from your environment it becomes a lot easier to breathe. A healthy relationship is reciprocal; it should be give and take, but not in the sense that you’re always giving and they’re always taking. 2. 3. Stand up for yourself. 4. 5. 6. 7. Related
50+ Personal Productivity Blogs You've Never Heard of Before (and about a dozen you probably have) The personal productivity niche on the Web has grown by leaps and bounds since Lifehack launched only a few years ago. While a few sites dominate the rankings, there are lots and lots of lesser-known sites that are as good or even better than the “A-list” productivity blogs. Most of them are solo operations — the GTD newbie documenting his or her quest for greater control over their life, the coach or consultant sharing his or her knowledge with the world, the writer adding to his or her published work with notes, errata, and new findings. Their voice is personal, intimate even — and deserves to be heard. So here I present a collection of productivity blogs that are less well-known, by writers I think you should get to know better. Of course, the big names are here too — after all, I owe some of them a tremendous debt for helping me get a grip on my own life. Enjoy! 43 Folders: Merlin Mann started a lot of us on this journey, so now he has to pay. Read full content
Gregg Braden - The Deepest Truth of Our Existence - Interviewed by Nathan Crane The Little Book of Procrastination Remedies | zen habits Post written by Leo Babauta. Procrastination is one of those topics that, it seems, I can’t write enough about. There isn’t a person among us who doesn’t procrastinate, and that’s a fact of life. It’s deep within us. If our current self can’t beat procrastination, why will our future self do it? I thought I should cover some of the best procrastination-beating strategies, in light of my recent book, focus. Here’s a quick guide. Why We Procrastinate Let’s take a quick look at what makes us procrastinate. 1. 2. 3. 4. Four Powerful Solutions Now that we know the problems, the solutions aren’t that hard to figure out. 1. 2. 3. 4. A Different Mindset Three other things that must be said about procrastination: 1. 2. 3. —Read more about focus and getting great things done in Leo’s book, focus.
22 Killer Personal Development Resources You're Missing Out On You’ve got the personal development itch once again. You know the feeling. Maybe you want to be more productive, finally tackle that goal of yours, or start waking up earlier. So you go to Google or your favorite personal development blogs. Maybe if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for you try searching for a Youtube video or ask your Facebook friends if they know of any good sites. And that’s it. Sometimes you find what you need, but you still have a sense that there’s got to be more. And that’s where you get stuck. Today I hope to change that by sharing with you 22 of the killer personal development resources you’re missing out on. 1. I know, you thought Reddit was just for gamers, atheists, and students – but that’s a misconception. 2. Mindbloom.com is a nifty personal development web application. 3. Lately, it seems there have been hundreds of eLearning websites popping up across the web. 4. 6. Stumbleupon is another excellent resource for personal development. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Awakening: The Next Step 5th June 2015 By Mary Batson Guest Writer for Wake Up World Step 1. If we’re going to keep our eyes closed, there’s no reason to wake up. As Gran put it, it’s hard to wake up someone who’s pretending to be asleep. Waking up – awakening, moments of enlightenment, whatever you want to call it – is not about feeling good all the time, floating so high off the surface of this planet that we no longer relate to the people on it, flaunting our privilege to avoid or ignore problems. You know that moment, early in the morning, when you wake up, but you didn’t want to just yet – and you can hear the birds calling? So we’re still lying there, covers pulled over our heads. It serves no one to rationalize about those who are still genuinely sleeping, or to hope that the eagerly awaiting toddler will head off to the other room, where Momma or Daddy has already begun the tasks of the day. What about me? No. So it’s up to the grown-ups now. About the author:
11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Memory Whether you want to be a Jeopardy! champion or just need to remember where you parked your car, here are 11 things you can do right now to turn your mind from a sieve into a steel trap. These days we’re all about things being faster. That’s why this advice is invaluable: When you really need to remember something, concentrate on it for at least 8 seconds. That can seem like a long time when you're running around trying to get a million things done, but it is worth it. Studies have shown that 8 seconds is the minimum amount of time it takes for a piece of information to go from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. We’ve all walked into a room and suddenly realized we can’t remember why we needed to be there in the first place. If you’re having trouble remembering things at work, get a stress ball. At this point we should just accept it that science considers exercise the cure for absolutely any problem, and memory is no different. We’re all font snobs to some extent.