while i totally agree on your concept about the world basically being a fight between communal ownership vs private ownership, i think the term communism is more appropriate than socialism in this case. Socialism is more the tool used in capitalist societies – the means of production are still privately held, but we combine some capital to solve certain society-wide problems/needs.

And privately held means of production can only work if, by “private,” we do include the vast majority of people owning their own means to produce [hence the homestead movement being a necessary part of true capitalism] But, as dollars are the vote in the marketplace, under capitalism, it is very easy to have wealth collect under fewer & fewer people, as the wealthier someone is, the more voting power in the marketplace they have, hence certain regulation becomes necessary. Also, since wealth transfers down through families, some people may be born with less ‘votes’ and therefor less ‘market voting power’, depending on their forefathers’ intelligence, luck, etc, starting their lives at a disadvantage. And someone cannot be born into a world where everything is privately held & they own nothing. How can someone be born and have no legal right to exist upon any space without paying someone else. That is the same as being born into a debtors’ prison. [until we can float above the ground, and then air rights could also be privately held.] Wealth transfers to children, but we no longer transfer debts. . A new way to give all people born into a society and equal opportunity to produce for their own needs through their labor & intellectual capitol needs to be discovered. I do not know if that is possible, but i believe the ‘homestead movement’ is possibly the only real solution we may have. If all people are raised to be producers for their own needs [at least partially], that would help create the solution to the inherent problem. So some natural resources will need to be available to anyone, i.e. hunting, trapping, farming, building a home etc. But how to manage? WHo is responsible? the eternal problem of human society. i hope we find solutions, because capitalism seems to devolve into this corporatism & crony- capitalism. Communism cannot function without totalitarianism. both are government control. but i agree privately held means of production is the only way to be free. Just some thoughts… keep up the great work.

+1 on the mobile podcasting sometime this week Jack, it would be great to hear an old fashioned car rant!

Jack,
Regarding the soap question on today’s show, I’ve made soap for about 10 years and know both the modern and the old methods of soapmaking. I’d be happy to share the information with you if you decide to do a show on it.
I also know how to make lotion and lip balm, which can be more important than most might think in the winter.
Great show and good luck with the move!
-Rebecca

I just want to second the “Surviving Stupidity” show, I would love to hear that one!

While I agree with you that modern day running has many issues where we diverge opinions is on the statement that “men were not built to be marathon runners” It is actually that we are doing it all wrong!! We aren’t in touch with how to run properly! So I agree with your advice about walking as being a safer activity because chances are if you start running you won’t be doing it correctly.

Most of the issues and injuries surrounding running are a combination of 2 factors: Shoes and pavement.

First of all you are dead on about walking on dirt versus pavement. Just like a monoculture is bad during farming running on roads only gives your feet long term exposure to uniform gravity. The second main thing about modern day running is the shoes we are given have way too much padding and encourage bad form. Running barefoot solves most of these problems and there are actually “shoes” that simulate this effect. I would reccomend a book called “chi running” which is by a barefoot ultra-marathon runner. The book shows you how to establish correct running form using normal running shoes without having to go barefoot… also check out vibram 5 fingers running “shoes”. I have a pair of these and they are great.

This year is the first year in 5 years I have not trained for and completed a 50k trail ultra-marathon. This is due to preparing for the massive life change that is the birth of my son.

Our prehistoric brothers hunted by running down their meat over miles and miles. Men are so designed for long term running and endurance that we actually have greater endurance than almost any other animal when trained properly. As crazy as this sounds what would happen is we would chase deer or other prey down over epic all day “marathons” and basically when the deer was too tired to move they would just club them in the head.

http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/men-who-live-forever I’ve met Jurek (mentioned) in the article at the Badwater Ultramarathon… he finished a 133 mile race averaging 9 minutes a mile with air temperatures of over 130 degrees…

“When it comes to the top 10 health risks facing American men, the Tarahumara are practically immortal: Their incidence rate is at or near zero in just about every category, including diabetes, vascular disease, and colorectal cancer. Age seems to have no effect on them, either: The Tarahumara runner who won the 1993 Leadville ultramarathon was 55 years old. Plus, their supernatural invulnerability isn’t just limited to their bodies; the Tarahumara have mastered the secret of happiness as well, living as benignly as bodhisattvas in a world free of theft, murder, suicide, and cruelty.”

Please check out “Born to Run: A hidden tribe of superathletes and the greatest race the world has never seen” http://amzn.to/gk3YV3

to learn more about this amazing tribe living a prehistoric lifestyle and THRIVING!

Amazon Review:

“Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.”

OH…. one more point:

I couldn’t figure this out at first… but it is pretty easy once you see where the setting is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujz5E2y-S6I

OK sorry to dominate the comments thread… RE the headset.. please test it first obviously! (just covering my ass here)

Awesome job Jack!