As much as he enjoys talking about design, what Jay Scaafer really wanted to talk about in this interview was the politics of tiny houses. Why building and zoning codes are stacked against tiny houses, how the costs of purchase and upkeep compare to the big houses he calls “debtors’ prisons”, and why, when the Big One shakes the land around San Francisco Bay, he’d rather be in his tiny house than anywhere else.
Dee Williams decided to downsize from a 1,500 square foot home to a 84 square foot home after a trip to Guatemala. She built her current home, “The Little House,” herself for about $10,000. With a propane tank for heat and electricity coming from solar panels, Williams cost of living runs extremely low.
Dan Louche built this tiny retirement house for his mother who was in need of a home.
SunnyBot is about the size of a large desk lamp and is equipped with an on-board mirror that continuously adjusts to reflect the sun’s rays on a chosen area. It is integrated with a dual-axis microcomputer that’s powered by a row of solar cells and comes with an optional feedback system. The device redirects 7,000 lumens (equal to a single 500 watt halogen lamp) with a range at just over 656 feet.
Stacey Irvine looks surprisingly well for a 17-year-old who’s eaten only chicken nuggets since she was 2. She claims never to have tasted fruits or vegetables, but admits to sometimes eating fries and toast. “McDonald’s chicken nuggets are my favorite,” said Stacey. “I share 20 with my boyfriend.” She also enjoys nuggets from KFC and the supermarket.
Stacey recently went to the hospital after passing out from struggling to breathe, doctors told her that she absolutely had to eat more healthily. She’s been told in no uncertain terms that she will die if she carries on like this, but Stacey says she can’t eat anything else.
They haven’t walked their dog on my lawn since I paraded around in my Haz Mat Chic outfit.
Dear Folks,
What most you admire, that shall you become. — One, Richard David Bach (1936-) Author
Think not only of how you can live the qualities but also who you Admire who has lived them or who is living them. Think also of other ways to consider the qualities. We automatically think of someone who is good with their hands as Dexterous. But how about a person who can manage all of the complexity of a household? Or the mathematician who can hold several ideas in mind at once?
Peace,
Jim
ADMIRABLE
Definition: deserving the highest esteem; a person who inspires approval or respect
Synonyms: choice, excellent, pleasing, wonderful, worthy
Derivation: Latin, “to wonder”
DEXTEROUS
Definitions: (1) ready and expert in the use of the body or hands; skillful and active in manual activity; adroit; (2) mental cleverness; quick at inventing
Synonyms: apt, artful, clever
Symbol: a juggler
Consider the Source
Dear Folks,
Each week the top quote is one from those in-the-know expressing this idea: The concept of focusing on your desire in order to attain it is an ancient and primal element of human understanding. People have always realized learning comes from experience. Whatever you pay attention to, you not only acquire expertise in but also absorb the nature of. You are becoming what you emulate.
What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action. — Meister Eckhart (1260?-1327?) Mystic
The combination of qualities we possess – physical, mental, and spiritual – jammed together in a cohesive ball, are the sum of our soul. If this ball is large, it is recognizable and thus considered to be Terrific. We cannot expand our soul without consideration of others. Empathy is crucial.
Peace,
Jim
TERRIFIC
Definition: awesome; excellent; extraordinary; great; magnificent; unusually good; wonderful
EMPATHETIC
Definitions: (1) characterized by insightful understanding; the ability to know how another is feeling; possessing a mutual knowingness arising from sameness of experience; (2) vicariously being aware of, or being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another without personally participating with the other at the time these feelings, thoughts, or experiences took place; (3) being able to grasp what is happening without the situation being fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; (4) an emotion of sympathetic pity or compassion
Quotes:
Being able to feel the pain of others is a strength. It gives us incentive to avoid causing pain.— Morgan Llywelyn (1937 – ) BARD, The Odyssey of the Irish
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 bc-30 ad) The Bible, Matthew 7:12
Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Relate yourself to every man as if you were in his place. Recompense injury with kindness. — Lao-Tse (6th Century bc) T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien (The Treatise of the Exalted One on Response and Retribution) Taoism
Note: The last two quotes represent the Golden Rule. We cannot adhere to this principal of reciprocity if we do not empathize with our fellows.
Experience:
The Five Stages of Grief
1. Denial and isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
Note: You may not be able to bypass the stages of grief, but you can move through them efficiently if you do not allow yourself to wallow in defeat or sorrow. After living through the difficulty you will be a more mature person, thus better able to empathize with others in similar pain.
Consider the Source