Updated March 30, 2025 – Now it’s seven years since Bob passed and the world seems to have gone mad.\u00a0\u00a0 The drums of war beat ever louder, politics continues to divide people, and the economy is teetering on the brink….\u00a0 Sound extreme?\u00a0 I hope so, and I hope I’m wrong.\u00a0 I’m not betting that way though.\u00a0 I’m betting that history still teaches valuable lessons, and that you can predict the path of the world on a macro level by looking around and seeing, if you have the eyes to see.\u00a0 Join me and the community here as I prep, and we all discuss the world around us.\u00a0\u00a0 Be welcome.<\/p>\n
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nick<\/p>\n
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Updated February 15, 2024 – Now it’s six years since Bob passed, and I’m still keeping the door open and the lights on. Covid madness has mostly passed, but the economic collapse seems to be gathering speed toward a tipping point, and the world and domestic political situations are rapidly worsening too. In other words, there is still a reason to prep, and to lead a preparedness focused lifestyle. Bad things are coming. Join us here and get through them, and on to the other side. Better times are sure to follow.<\/p>\n
nick<\/p>\n
Updated January 3, 2021<\/p>\n
Welcome to all.\u00a0 We are now almost three full years along since Robert Bruce Thompson’s passing, which means that I’ve been doing a daily post and riding herd on the comments here for that long too.\u00a0 It sure doesn’t feel like that long.\u00a0 I still hear Bob’s voice in the comments and especially when I read his older posts-\u00a0 which is something I encourage everyone to do.\u00a0\u00a0 Use the tags on the right side (kind of haphazardly applied but a good starting point) and the search tool at the top of the page to read some of the VAST array of info and knowledge captured here.\u00a0\u00a0 Most of the really good stuff is in the comments as people share and ask questions.\u00a0\u00a0 The search tool does a good job of finding it but you do need to look a bit further in the search results as the answer is very likely to be in a comment and not the post.<\/p>\n
We maintain this place as a community.\u00a0 Be civil.\u00a0 The ongoing discussion and sense of place is part of what we like most about what Bob built.\u00a0 Join in.\u00a0 Help out if you can, ask for help if you need it.<\/p>\n
I’m still focused on prepping and the world around us.\u00a0 I’m treating the current political and medical situations as an ongoing disaster and focusing on getting through it to the recovery and rebuilding stage.\u00a0 I believe worse is yet to come.\u00a0 Bob thought we were headed into a slow collapse and I think we have already started down the slope.\u00a0 Any number of disasters still await as well.\u00a0 There are opportunities out there too.\u00a0 I believe we are living through one of those times in history when everything changes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I intend to do everything I can to bring my family successfully through to the other side, or die trying.<\/p>\n
Join us.<\/p>\n
—Nick Flandrey<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Updated February 1, 2018<\/p>\n Welcome visitors.\u00a0 With a sad heart, I mark the passing of Robert Bruce Thompson on January 20th, 2018, the originator and owner of this site.\u00a0\u00a0 Please see his obituary here, and his original page below that.\u00a0 Discussion and remembrance on this site starts here.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Some of his faithful readers are endeavoring to keep this site alive, which is what you find here now.\u00a0 Robert’s work will be available as long as there is interest.<\/p>\n —Nick Flandrey<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr. Robert Bruce Thompson, formerly of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away Saturday evening, January 20, 2018 at Winston-Salem Nursing and Rehab from heart complications. Robert was born in Pennsylvania on June 6, 1953, to the late William E. Thompson and Lenore Fulkerson Thompson. He was an accomplished author and scientist, publishing books on computers and the sciences. Robert built and sold science kits in support of home school education throughout the United States. He is survived by his wife of 34 years Barbara Fritchman Thompson; a brother William Thompson; sister in law Frances Ann Johnson and husband Albert; and a beloved four legged friend \u201cCollin\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 There will be no formal services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Alleghany County Public Library, 115 Atwood St, Sparta, NC 28675. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n ==================================================<\/p>\n Welcome to my personal journal page. When people ask me who I am or what I do, I tell them I’m a writer. I write both to earn a living and because I enjoy doing so. <\/span><\/p>\n Over the years, my emphasis has shifted. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, I wrote books, articles, on-line training courses, and whitepapers mostly about computers and software. For the last few years, I’ve concentrated on writing about science<\/span>, particularly doing hands-on science at home.<\/p>\n Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture<\/em>, written for O’Reilly\/MAKE, has sold many thousands of copies and become a standard text among homeschoolers.<\/p>\n My wife, Barbara<\/a>, and I also wrote the not-yet-published Illustrated Guide to Home Forensics Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture<\/em>, and are currently (as of summer 2011) writing Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture<\/em>. We also plan to write other titles on earth science, physics, and so on. From reader feedback on the chemistry book over the last three years, we learned that many homeschoolers would love to do a chemistry lab course but were discouraged by the cost of the necessary equipment and materials. To address this problem, Barbara and I decided to start assembling and selling homeschool chemistry kits, with the goal of providing a comprehensive, rigorous chem lab component at an affordable price.<\/span><\/p>\n In April 2011, we incorporated as The Home Scientist, LLC, and began shipping our <\/span>CK01 Standard\/Honors Home School Chemistry Laboratory Kit<\/a> in June 2011. Over the coming months and years, we plan to design and build similar kits for homeschool biology, earth science, forensics, physics, and other science courses.<\/p>\n –RBT<\/p>\n [editor’s note- Bob and Barbara finished the books and more, see the links below, and the science kits are still available, see the link at the top of this page. Thank you for your continued support.]<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Illustrated-Guide-Home-Chemistry-Experiments\/dp\/0596514921?tag=ttgnet-20<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Illustrated-Guide-Forensic-Science-Experiments\/dp\/1449334512?tag=ttgnet-20<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Illustrated-Guide-Home-Biology-Experiments\/dp\/1449396593?tag=ttgnet-20<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Illustrated-Guide-Astronomical-Wonders-Observer\/dp\/0596526857?tag=ttgnet-20<\/a><\/p>\n And the classic<\/p>\n
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