CCN Survival Series
Submitted by ms in la on July 13, 2008 - 2:19pm.
Survival Series | Call to Action | Climate Crisis | Economics | National Security | Oil & Gas Prices
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
~ by Bob Dylan
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
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There is no more argument about the hard rains ahead for America-- regardless of the election, regardless of the Congress or who's sitting in the White House. Bush and the crime family have set us far enough down this perilous path that there's no more turning back, even if Merlin were our nominee... We all need to be preparing for the now certain eventuality of hard times. From a likely economic Depression to virtually certain extreme climate disasters-- for us to be unprepared now would be sheer folly, and inexcusable as Clarkies.
CCN is -if anything- a creative, knowledgeable, compassionate and resourceful community. Youze guyz rock! I wanted to tap into that wealth of collective energy so that we might pay it forward and have a sort of 21st century Post-Bush Era survival & resource guide-- that can be used by our gang, but also by those dropping in here to peek around. Lurkers and lookie-loos alike.
Because we have such a wide array of various skills, talents and innovation here -- it seems like a perfect place to publish a small, well-organized compendium of our own tips and solutions that will help ourselves and others to get through the Hard Rains a comin'. We'll all need to become increasingly self reliant going forward, things we once counted on experts and others to do for us may well fall into the luxury category tomorrow --of things that we can no longer afford.
Reading around and at shortie's blog today ...it sounds like everyone is primed to scribe their suggestions! This is a first rough draft outline of the idea - with an open mind towards alternative directions.
Here's yesterday's back and forth about a possible CCN Survival Series.
Post Bush Era Survival Skills or P-BESS...
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16070#comment-315514
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OBJECTIVE:
The end goal is to have a Survival Series of categorized blog entries, tagged for easy accessibility, that anyone from the community or visiting CCN could go to when / if in need to help alleviate their circumstance during these tough Post Bush Era times.
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FOCUS:
Focus would be on the practical and the now. Best routes toward saving money, time, and energy while overcoming the many obstacles. Bottom line- we all need to be learning to save and conserve. Tips should be something you or someone trusted has tried and has proven useful, in other words... something that works!
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FORMAT:
No theory, deep discussion, no historical overviews -- just a resourced HOW TO GUIDE format, simple and easy to do. KISS. Formatted for easy organized reading. Clean and streamlined. Think "Crockpot Cooking for Dummies"! :)
Don't worry if you don't know how to post images or hyperlink or anything - we can do it for you prior to publishing the blog.
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CATEGORIES:
Below are 7 Category suggestions I came up with off the top - we could run one per week - to run the cycle, then rerun in same order the new ones. Volunteer writers could take on topics of interest as we did in Series Blogs and work in teams or individually:
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HOUSEHOLD:
Tips on Cleaning products, energy saving appliances and their usage, green ideas in home building, repairs and maintenance, best insulation, windows, doors, solar, staying warm in the winter, cool in the summer with less energy output, lightbulbs, radiant heat, etc etc.
AUTOMOTIVE / TRANSPORTATION:
Best cars, gas mileage, which gas to use, alternative energy, driving styles, telecommuting, bicycling, scooters, car pooling, public transportation and alternatives (seen much written here recently on this -- find your old posts)
FOOD:
How to buy it, cook it, store it, plant it, grow it, freeze it, bulk cook, and what's best to eat for the environment. Gardening tips for all soils and climates (We seem to have a gaggle of Clarkies equipped on this topic!)
WATER:
Conservation, collection, rainwater, geographical areas most in need- learning tips from other nations (Australia, etc) Filtration systems, pros & cons of bottled, xeriscape landscaping, home wells, low flow showerheads & toilets, etc
FINANCE/ ECONOMIC:
How to save $$$$!! - sideline ways to earn, investment advice, banking, budgeting, retirement, how to cut out or trim down - credit lines, mortgages, credit cards - managing debt,forecasts and resources
SPIRIT - Psychology & The Art of Joy Mongering:
How to survive the really hard times ahead and financial doldrums without losing our minds, slipping into a depression, or a blue funk. Spiritual and psychological advice to keep our joy alive and well. Music, dance, nature, comic relief, the value of kindness and sharing what you have with loved ones, neighbors. Anger and frustration management tips for the tough times. I know we have some Clarkies versed and trained in these areas who could craft this section ....
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
Disaster preparedness. This would cover the extremes and ensuing disasters we might encounter. Extreme Climate: hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, killer heat waves and droughts. What to do in other possible emergency and disaster situations: Possibility of Martial law, terror attack, insurgency, violent crime, food /gas shortages, bank failures, health epidemics and outbreaks. All above categories - pushed to the scope of a national emergency level. Not a pleasant concept... but look at how many of us have already come down to evacuation - just from climate emergencies. (my home has been twice threatened by area wildfires)
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I think we have enough people to sufficiently cover each of these categories with expertise and panache.
OK, that's it for now, suggestions and comments welcome.
Please weigh in on if you have any interest in reading such a series and/or contributing to it. This is what I'm trying to gauge with this particular blog... Do you want something like this here, Yea or Nay?
And if you don't... I have a friend in the cement bootie business who would like very much to make an appointment with you about your shoe size.... Heh. ;)
No pressure.
is a Sunday newspaper supplement that's nationwide. Here's the link to this story and more: http://www.parade.com/
In times of war or peace, democracy requires dialogue, disagreement, and the courage to speak out. And those who do it should not be condemned but be praised." WKC
Just read the article and the tips section attached to it.
It's amazing to me how some people manage to do this with families to feed! We are only two adults - I couldn't imagine having to pay for food, clothing, health care and education for kids in these times too...
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and family
http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/
"It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and one to hear." - Henry David Thoreau
especially the part about turkey sex... :)
I like the idea of having book resource tie ins too for people who want to research further.
I guess it would be like one of those "-pedia" efforts. A Clark-Pedia on survival.
conservatively:
GLIDE to the corner/light/down the street; only accelerate when actually necessary.
There are gadgets to help drivers SEE what they're doing/how much fuel they're using; don't have info on these.
and it's made a difference too, haven't gauged the MPG but noticed it in my gas card bills!
Slow to accelerate - slower speeds all around, and use the AC only when absolutely needed. I have a convertible so I'm getting more wind in my hair lately....
Put I think I've not been clear in this blog... the question is:
Would you be interested in having a CCN Survival series like this and/or would you have something you'd like to contribute to it?
Trying to measure interest to see if it's worth putting together or not. I don't see it as any monumental project to mount. Just pick the categories and have people choose what they'd like to tackle and post.
The only caution I can see would be-- in the comments section of each blog, to limit the chit chat to providing actual suggestions and tips --so it wouldn't get too cluttered on each blog for anyone trying to locate the information they're seeking. Just staying focused and On Topic.
in any of these areas... (well maybe joy mongering!) I would function like I did on Series Blogs as the light handed editor if needed.
But I had thought you might be perfect (again) for the Finance section?
As for the timing, it would be best for me "in the future" too... but frankly, I'm not sure we have that luxury of time!
Got this feeling the hard times have already come to roost.
It's pretty basic. Suzie Orman says if you aren't putting money into a 401K fund every month to income average, you shouldn't be in the market at all. She said to save money in a cash instrument. Nobody can afford to plunk a big chunk of money into something and watch it go down the drain. Jim Kramer has a show on (tonight, I believe) on NBC about our current economic situation.
For those who weren't paying attention to all of what I was saying over the last few years, when I was screaming across the internets that the jig was up, I don't know what else to tell them. Maybe they should see Kit Kiteridge to get a sense of what to expect. It remains to be seen what government programs might be available to help people. With the Bush crowd, it's always been YOYO (you're on your own). As people lose their housing, I suspect more and more people will be sharing housing. I bought my house knowing I'd be doing this with my family. My parents live with me, as does my brother. He got hit when the dollar fell a couple of years ago and moved here from Rio. He's been in therapy ever since. It was devastating for him. It took him many months to figure out how to deal with the bills that added up using his credit card to try and make up the difference for what the dollar no longer bought down there. First rule, people have to learn to live within their means. If you don't have the money, you can't buy it.
everyone's financial situation is so very individual. I have almost never earned a weekly paycheck or a salary I could depend upon knowing what it would be. All my business efforts have been relatively "speculative" in nature, sometimes yielding huge profits, sometimes nothing at all, costing me.
Because of that I've had to learn how to stretch earnings across the dry times and how to use credit because there are times when there's NO income that you need to rely on your credit. I've just figured out a way to float thousands of dollars of credit on 0% interest. Took some time and effort but it's worth the savings I'll experience on those balances.
Because it's not a one size fits all subject, there's plenty to share and say about it that people could learn --- and it's late, but never too late to get your financial house in better order. :)
Hey, I've been screaming about election protection for 4 years and there are still people surprised to hear they stole Siegelman's election in Alabama!
I think Suzie is saying to invest in 401K prior to making other stock investments, but I would be shocked if she thinks that people should not invest in the stock market.
I lightened up considerably in June when the SP500 broke support at 1300 (1270 was my sell point), but am still about 50% in including selling some of my treasured Apple stock (which actually hasn't taken much of a hit).
Just want to have more cash when the bargains present themselves which may be further down the road than I was originally thinking. Originally was estimating about a 1 year bear market, this may be shaping up to be something more like 2 years as it was in the 2000-2002 timeframe (note SP500 dropped to low 800s then and it is now still 1230-ish, so there could still be considerable downside).
Will be keeping an eye out for anything Warren Buffet does like stepping in and starting to buy financial service stocks which are currently being obliterated.
One thing for certain is that earning 2% in cash long term is a guaranteed recipe for failure.
to the financial team.
Don't worry, it doesn't mean you have to do anything different than you're already doing. You'll just be doing in a place that's tagged "Finance"!
So I think LJM, FilthyRich and Defoliate would make good Financial reporters.
I know we have tons of gardeners here and that's the one that I REALLY need to learn about personally. We like to eat very healthy at the 'in la' household, it's one of our priorities, but the prices are getting astronomical, even though CA is a big agricultural state.
Who wants to be on the FOOD beat?
unless they know what they are doing, like you DB, people should stay in a money instrument to have access to their cash and not risk losing it. The only way she sees to be smart to be investing in the market, is if a person is investing long term and puts the same amount of money in every month to average the wins from the losses.
Jim Cramer on the other hand has a new show on Sunday evenings trying to direct people in investing. If I had to pick between them on who I would listen to for my money. I'd pick Suzie.
Easy....
Just spend an hour a day learning investment concepts (especially technical analysis) instead of watching American Idol/The Bachelor/Deal or No Deal/, etc. Technical analysis is great because it takes a lot of the emotional side out of things when you know what your actions are going to be before events (as defined by stock prices hitting certain points) occur that trigger those actions.
And then you have to apply it with real money. Dollar cost averaging (in DIVERSIED mutual/index funds) is by far the simplest/safest way of doing things.
BTW, did you see this? It seems O made an inartful comment. Guess he's got to throw himself under the bus.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1337076120080713
I don't know how it applies to convertibles as the aerodynamics are different, but in general the benefit of turning off the A/C is not applicable at speeds over 40 mph.
Can't fink the link! Probably google-able.
Edit--here's one:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20050804a1.asp
/snip/
Consumer Reports' auto-test department reports that the air conditioner reduces your car's fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. So to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, motorists should avoid using the air conditioner at speeds below 40 mph and travel with their windows down, explains Gabe Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Report's auto-test department.
"But as your speed increases to 45 mph, or highway speeds," says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, "wind drag becomes an issue. Driving with the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle, resulting in decreased fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Drive at speeds over 55 mph with windows down and you'll decrease fuel economy by up to 20 percent or greater."
/snip/
I heard was
AC for on the freeway
Off driving in town
Makes sense.
I just love the top down, that might go under luxuries... :)
We live where distance driving is necessary (in a ranch). Had a bet with Hubby who likes to drive 75-80 mph to get wherever he's going. In our experiment several months ago--before gas prices skyrocketed-- I drove at or under 65 and got over 30 mpg. He got only 25 in the same vehicle and saw the light. Lead foot no more.
THAT is an entry, or a comment, that would be the sort of thing I'm talking about. It would come under the AUTO / Transportation section-- under somebody's blog entry in the series, and it would take as long to type as it just did! No special research needed just something you've done to and found to be successful.
This is what I'm talking about. In that way, you could contribute and participate - even if you didn't want to post a blog on any of the topics.
brainstormed out!
I have to tend to some household errands for now, will check back in later and see if anyone is up for this or not.
I guess the overriding purpose of doing it would be to have all of those very useful bits of information we all toss out here randomly on blogs and GD....tagged into one category. So when one of us is at last ready to plant that garden or buy that hybrid -- we could easily have our very own kind of Consumer Reports or advice column on the best proven methods and means to go about it... One click away. A findable resource! Whatta concept... :)
to beat the rising cost of food and help your grocery dollars go further:
1. Buy produce in season. Check the food section in your newspaper to find the best buys for the week, based on fresh produce in season. Food in season is usually priced to sell. During the summer months, corn on the cob can cost as little as 10 cents an ear; at other times of the year, it may cost 10 times as much. Also, shop your local farmers' market for great deals on local produce. The prices won't include shipping costs. Also, another great resource for finding local farms is http://www.localharvest.org.
2. Use sales and coupons. Planning meals around what's on sale can lower your grocery bills, especially if you also use coupons (make sure they're for item you would buy anyway). Sunday newspapers are full of coupons and sales circulars to get you started. It's also a good idea to stock up on staples when they're on sale. "Buy one, get one free" is basically a technique to get you to buy twice as much as you need at half the price. At some markets, though, the product rings up half-price -- so you don't have to buy more than one to get the savings. Use your freezer to store sale items that can be used at a later date.
3. Brown-bag it. Making lunch and taking it with you is a great money-saver and an excellent use of leftovers for meals at work, school, or wherever your destination. Packing your lunch not only saves you money, but you can control all the ingredients so they are healthy and low in calories. Pack a simple sandwich, salad, soup, wrap, and/or a hearty snack of cheese. Use freezer packs and containers to keep food at the proper temperature unless you have access to a refrigerator. You can make your own reusable bag versus using paper or plastic bags. You can even buy reusable stuff to wrap up your sandwich (http://www.reusablebags.com/store/wrapnmat®-set-of-3-p-137.html?osCsid=1e12a64c4624e20fbb038426fe684f19). Just google for sources if you’re not able to make your own (http://www.reusablebags.com/store/lunch-bags-more-c-4.html?gclid=CK_Ij9bSvZQCFQNaFQodF3cVTQ).
4. Think frozen, canned, or dried. Next time you're gathering ingredients for a recipe, try using frozen, canned, or dried foods. They may be less expensive than fresh, yet are equally nutritious. Produce is typically frozen, canned, or dried at the peak of ripeness, when nutrients are plentiful. Fish and poultry are often flash-frozen to minimize freezer damage and retain freshness. With frozen foods, you can use only the amount you need, reseal the package, and return it to the freezer. If it's properly stored, there's no waste. Canned foods are often sitting in a bath of juice, syrup, or salty water, and usually require rinsing. Dried fruits are concentrated in flavor and a great substitute for fresh fruit. Also consider using powdered or evaporated versions of milk in soups, casseroles, mashed potatoes, or desserts. Buy the form that gives you the best price for your needs.
5. Save on protein foods. When possible, substitute inexpensive, vegetarian sources such as beans, eggs, tofu, and legumes for more expensive meat, fish, or poultry. Eat vegetarian once a week or more to increase your consumption of healthy plant foods while saving money. Eggs are an excellent, inexpensive source of protein that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You could also try using a smaller portion of meat, fish, or poultry and extending the dish with whole grains, beans, eggs, and/or vegetables.
When you do buy meat, choose smaller portions of lean cuts. For example, lean cuts of beef are those that include the terms "loin" or "round." (You can tenderize lean cuts of meat mechanically or by marinating it.) You can also buy a whole chicken and cut it up instead of paying the butcher to do it for you, or buy the cheaper "family pack" and portion it into airtight freezer bags.
6. Waste not, want not. Before you toss perishable food into your grocery cart, think about exactly how you'll use it. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans generate roughly 30 million tons of food waste each year. Using leftover vegetables, poultry, or meat in soups, stews, salads, and casseroles minimizes cost and demonstrates your creativity in the kitchen. For example, have a roasted chicken for dinner one night, and use the leftovers for dinner the next night. Try topping a bed of fresh greens with vegetables, fruits, and slices of leftover chicken. Add a loaf of whole-grain bread, and presto! You've got a nutritious meal in minutes. You can also eat leftovers for breakfast or take them with you for lunch.
7. Go generic. Consider buying store brands instead of pricier national brands. All food manufacturers follow standards to provide safe food and beverage products of high quality. Many grocery companies buy national-brand products made to their specifications and simply put their own label on the products. Read the ingredient list on the label to be sure you're getting the most for your money. Ingredients are listed in order by weight. So when you're buying canned tomatoes, look for a product that lists tomatoes, not water, as the first ingredient. Also look for simpler versions of your favorite foods. For example, buy oatmeal or simple flaked or puffed cereals that contain fewer additives and are less expensive (and often healthier) than fancier cereals.
8. Buy prepackaged only if you need it. Unless you have a coupon or the item is on sale, buying prepackaged, sliced, or washed products comes with a higher price tag. Still, people living alone may find that smaller sizes of perishable products or bags of prepared produce eliminate waste and fit their needs best, despite the extra cost. You can also save money (and boost nutrition) by passing up the aisles with processed foods, cookies, snack foods and soda.
9. Buy and cook in bulk. Joining a bulk shopping club, like Sam's or Costco, can be cost-effective if you frequent the club regularly. Bulk purchases can be a great way to save money -- as long as they get used. You might also look in your community for shopping cooperatives that sell food in bulk at a substantial savings. Cooking in bulk can save both money and time. Prepare food in bulk and freeze into family-sized portions, which saves time in the kitchen. For example, making a big batch of tomato sauce will less expensive (and probably tastier) than buying some.
10. Plant a garden. For benefits that go beyond cost savings, plant your own produce. There's nothing better than a summer-fresh tomato from the garden. Tomatoes even grow well in containers if you don't have space for a garden, and some neighborhoods offer community gardening spaces. Start small, and see how easy it is to grow fresh herbs or a few simple vegetables. And if you invest a little time in freezing or canning your harvest, you can enjoy summer's bounty all year long. Many local extension offices offer classes in canning. Check it out. Canning is advantageous to refrigeration.
one entry!
See how easy it is?
This would fit perfectly under the FOOD category and could be combined with some resource or other info to form one blog entry for the community.
That's great, thanks Ice!
PS Others who have already posted things that would work for the FOOD category: PA, Marinerfan, NCGram, Susan in Cleveland and Ben.
...and I like the organizational format. I'm in--but over-scheduled for the near-term future.
This would be a good resource for anyone.
Most of us will find ourselves in leaky boats if we aren't already there. Never hurts to wield a study bucket.
to your comment, you can go back into it and make corrections. Just hit "edit" in the lower left corner. Once someone comments, sayanora to making changes.
In times of war or peace, democracy requires dialogue, disagreement, and the courage to speak out. And those who do it should not be condemned but be praised." WKC
It's apparent we need a "CERTAIN TOPIC" per week, as it would give us all an opportunity to post our tips on that topic, if we have one. The one that ICE posted, has many topics covered. How about a blog, titled, "VARIOUS TIPS" which could also be be useful.
A written topic every week, would provide those who have advise on that topic to post and would give everyone a blog to go to when advise on that topic is neeed in the future!
The topics you posted are great!!!
I would add: Electric/Heat/AC Utility Conservation
Big one for the Country...esp us Northerners.
Lets go, and we Clarkies will be doing alot of PUBLIC SERVICE to our fellow Wes Clark supporters, guests and heck we could bring in some new supporters to WES!!! ya think!
Could maybe come under an "ENERGY" heading or fall under "HOUSE" and just be part of household preparedness - utilities and such.
I think Ice's tips fall nicely into the FOOD grouping.
We seem to have lots of Clarkies who know a thing or two about FOOD! :)
I for example an an expert EATER of Food.... Few can eat with my professional expertise - or match my ability to savor, ingest, masticate, and appreciate the many flavors and delicacies of good food. File under "Dubious Skillsets"...Heh.
Not a quick fix, but a longer term thang.
Plant decidiuous trees on the south side of your house.
It will shade the house in the summer, and bare branches allow heating from the sun in winter.
in green architecture and got certified!
So interesting. California leads the country now in this but as a nation we are behind many others. That's why I was so curious about the work going on in Dubai now and Barry's pictures.
Planting trees is always a good idea, isn't it? When we cut a few down a couple years ago I couldn't believe the difference in just wind exposure alone that the house took. Probably was a mistake but they had grown so and blocked the light and the views, trimming wasn't helping.
Wind breaks, shade, fruit(!), decorative.
Trellises and vines are nice up close to a patio, deck, etc.
You can train all kinds of vining veggies on trellises.
Tomatoes, peas, green beans, cucumbers, squashes; and there's always grapes. :p
I'm in to the gardening thing. Sad to say we didn't put in a garden this spring. Maybe some fall crops.
Dehydrators are very good for preserving foods, including meat.
A web site was launched today in Dubai as an e-initiative, Going Green is not an option anymore it is mandatory for all of us to act now.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
ms.
I don't have much time for participating in creating the blogs because I'm pretty busy "surviving". :D But...I'll be happy to add to them in the comments if there are tips I can share. Most of what I would have to add are not expert advice or researched. Just things I know and have done....learned along the way.
Most important thing is to keep it simple, I think.
Some points and/or questions
1) Category specific blogs -- would we generate a topic blog per week? per day? or start off with a variety of blogs on different topics?
2)I think if we just start out with multiple blogs, titled by topic being addressed, people would automatically start weighing in with their own experiences or ideas. i.e. I'm not sure trying to recruit people to take on a specific topic would be necessary, unless someone had extensive knowledge in a specific area, and they were interested in being the creator of that particular blog.
3) As you point out, it will be important for people to keep the blogs free of chit chat and limit the posts to tips and/or suggestions for that specific topic.
That's it for now. I think it could turn out to be something that will benefit all of us, and probably everyone we know, too!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
commitments... I don't see it taking any more time than it does to post like we are now. These aren't 7 page articles for Vanity Fair! Just tips, advice, sources, ideas and resources. That said, I like your #2 idea. Just put them up!
I was thinking we could do one per week but multiples at the same time could work too. Doesn't have to be too structured as we are all on various and differing time clocks and work/life schedules.
I just wanted to be sure there was a need and a desire to contribute to something like this ... If we put it up, will they come? :)
PS Mariner, Busted! Just noticed that you have a nice crop of posts you put up between yesterday and today that together make up an entire blog of good gardening advice already! All the way up to your tomatoe cages for Susan in Cleveland! So I'm reasonably certain you now have those comments all neatly tucked away into a file labeled:
"CCN Survival/Food"....
and so, your first contribution is all ready to go! :)
Whether it's a blog or a series of comments doesn't matter.
We are working for an early retirement in a few years. Here are some things that we've been doing to help us meet incremental goals - some fall into the categories that ms in la outline, some - not so much. Anyhoo - hope they help.
Great crockpot recipes for frugal, healthy and stress free meals: http://www.my-crockpot-recipes.com/crockpot-recipes-for-a-new-generation.htm
Solar oven (we're getting one next summer): http://www.abcsolar.com/solar_oven_by_sunoven.html
How to save using coupons: http://www.thegrocerygame.com/
Healthy living tips: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/HealthyLivingIndex/HealthyLivingIndex
Making your own cleaning supplies: http://www.organizedhome.com/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products
And I've also found some good tip here: http://beingfrugal.net/2008/01/29/save-money-by-making-homemade-cleaning-products/
Emergency preparedness: http://www.ready.gov/
Stay ahead of the snakes (credit card companies): http://www.debtfree-revolution.com/2008/01/04/ways-credit-card-companies-separate-you-from-your-money/
Hope this helps. I'm not involved in politics anymore, but I am involved in surviving and thrivng. Two rides on the tandem bike (AKA "Old Yeller") in gorgeous weather today - what more could a person want? :^)
Proud to be an American.
I actually thought of you when I wrote this, recalling your course in disaster preparedness (right?) at NCCM. I missed it as I was across the hall teaching disaster elections! LOL
But you could really be a good source for a series like this, even though I know you're not around so much anymore.
Glad to see you surface in any case!
These look like some excellent resources.
I am the process of doing a 'stay ahead of the snakes' move with my credit cards now. I will find out next week if it was successful or not. Looking good so far. Like I said earlier, if it all works out, I'll be at 0% for nearly one year with the entire batch of all cards' balances, including gas, dept stores, MC, Visa, AMEX etc. So I won't have to worry so much about those monthlies going up and down while paying them off.
Yes, disaster preparedness - who knew I'd need a canoe to get away from IL politics :)
One strategy for killing credit card balances is to sell anything you can on eBay and Craiglist, and pay the minimums on all but the smallest balance - and pay as much as you can on the smallest balance, then when that one is paid, go to the next one, and so on until they are all gone.
Proud to be an American.
with my credit card strategies!
I use the power of negotiation. I call them and basically do deal making with all of them, until I reach the best offer from two or three. At that point it's the Credit Card Shuffle. A new dance I have learned and incorporated into my repertoire! I empty those two or three totally, so I can start new and not have any older balances carrying any percentages in interest. Then promptly fill them back up at my newly negotiated 0% rates- from all the higher rate cards!
This is predicated on being able to negotiate a long enough term for the teaser rate to make it worth your while. And keeping a good credit score.
Everything is negotiable -- but most people don't bother trying to even deal with the companies. It's a little time consuming but often pretty easy once you begin. I do it all after midnight when they're less likely to be busy "helping other customers". :)
When income comes in... as it should do (!) I then pay the balances down. My income is way too fluctuating to be able to have a plan that is consistent week to week, month to month on paydowns.
These dry periods make me more creative though, so there's an upside!
sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency, avoiding the consumer driven lifestyle, saving for a rainy day...
I would help on any of then except the money stuff.
"It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and one to hear." - Henry David Thoreau
I'm not an expert on anything, but I have been gardening with native plants the last 5 years - and can really tell I spend a lot less time, and less water on my plantings. I also have some good sources of growing and using herbs; there are some great herbal cleaning products you can make at home, which really smell terrific and have no toxicity. I am growing in the SW in near arid and hot conditions; this climate may move north and include more of the US.
I am interested in learning more about homes built with alternative systems, such as rammed earth, adobe, the new concrete block filled with insulation, and especially people's experiences living in some of them; hopefully, before too many years pass by, I plan to build a new home, and want to know more about rain-water collection systems, how they work, and how much they cost. Some references would be great!
How would the tags work? If they are in a discussion, would you or someone go through and collect them into a blog?
Some weeks I don't have time to keep up with the blogs, then spend a day catching up, which is fun, but I wouldn't want to miss anything lost in a general discussion.
Oh, also, after 9/11 and Katrina, a friend of mine really did a lot of research preparing lists of emergency things to do, emergency kits to prepare, etc.. Unfortunatly, I just printed them all out, and they aren't on my computer! But perhaps I could dig them up. They were very comprehensive.
This sounds like a good positive way to get our minds off the depressing political news, and the dismal world news in general.
I heard that B*** told his G-8 friends "Goodbye from the country which is the worst polluter in the world!" grinning and fist-pumping his way out the door.
I'll bet they are glad to see the back of his idiotic hide.
Like when we did the Series blogs (were you here then?) but just not using that same front page space, because it's an election year and that space is used for WesPAC endorsed candidates now, which is important.
So each Topic specific blog would be Tagged with something like (1) "Survival Series" first, then (2) the category of the subject - like "Food" or "Household" or "In case of emergency"....etc. (We might need to ask Kat if she could add Survival series into the tag drop downs at either Select a Topic (orange bars at the top of the page) or at CCN Series Blogs to make it function best)
Then if you came to CCN and wanted or needed to find some information about the best recipes for freezing in bulk or canning or driving tips to save gas.... or how to prepare to evacuate before a hurricane... you could simply click on "Survival Series" in that drop down, and they would all come up.
But this isn't intended for the General Discussion area, only on individual blogs. Someone with a little interest and/or knowledge on a topic writes a blog and the comments are offered by anyone, to add to the information on that subject matter.
Hope that's clear, it's late and I'm tired so ... you know!
even though the pricing they were using of $3.61 a gallon is outdated right now:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0805/03/cnr.06.html
CNN NEWSROOM
Philadelphia Police Officer Killed; Tornadoes Hit South Central States
Aired May 3, 2008 - 14:00 ET
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: All right, many of you are looking for ways to conserve gas and save money. Who isn't? CNN's Kathleen Koch has some tips from a service station in the nation's capital. Help us stretch that dollar, Kathleen
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredericka, we've got a lot of good news for you from the gas station and I know that's hard to believe, but first of all, let's do point out that for the second day in a row, gas prices have come down ever so slightly. The nationwide average right now is $3.61 a gallon. So that's just a wee bit of good news and drivers here though are still frustrated. They are coping with some of the highest prices we've ever paid before as a nation and we talked to them about some of the strategies they're using.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm actually inflating the tires. I'm going to drive at 55 or 60. I'm really just trying to make the most efficient use of the gas that I have to buy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it gets up to that level, $4 or $5 a gallon, then at that point, I might just forget driving at all and just rely completely on the metro public transportation and maybe walking more often.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: The other good news is that there are some things individual drivers can do to really stretch the gasoline that they put in their tanks. First of all, check your air filter. By putting in a clean air filter, you can boost your gas mileage by 10 percent. That will save you about 35 cents a gallon. Also check your alignment, if your alignment, if you get that straightened out, you can save another 35 cents a gallon. That's because tired that are poorly aligned not only wear out more quickly, but they also put a strain on the engine and they stop it from being as fuel efficient as it might be. Get a tune up, a properly tuned vehicle will have 4 percent greater mileage. That will save you about 14 cents a gallon. Also having properly inflated tires makes a huge difference. That can save you about 10 cents a gallon, though I must point out that about 25 percent of the cars on the road today are driving around with tires that aren't inflated to the proper tire pressure.
Another great idea according to the experts and that's get rid of all that junk in your trunk. Whether it's kitty litter from the wintertime to help increase your traction on the ice or those golf clubs, if you can eliminate 100 pounds of weight from your vehicle, you'll save 4 cents a gallon. Another very important tip is not to speed, not to drive aggressively because every five miles an hour that you slow down, you cut your fuel consumption by 7 percent. So in other words, if you're driving down the highway, 75 miles an hour or 70 miles an hour and you take it down to just 65, that will save you 25 cents a gallon. So it makes a big difference.
And then finally, if you're just sitting, if you're idling, shut the car off if you're idling for more than 30 seconds. If you're on a side road or waiting for someone not on a major highway would you do this even if you're stuck in traffic. But the experts say that for every two minutes that you don't idle, you'll save the equivalent of 1 cent a gallon. And Fredricka, after a while, the 1 cent here and there, 15 cents, 35 cents it does really add up.
WHITFIELD: It really does accumulate. I like all those tips except that last one, given that I know and a lot of folks out there still are driving old cars. If I turn my car off, I'm afraid it may not crank back up and whole lot of folks behind me...
KOCH: Don't do that on a highway.
WHITFIELD: Right, right, we're not going to take any chances like that. All right, thanks for the tip, love it. Kathleen Koch.
KOCH: You bet.
WHITFIELD: How about you? Are you driving less because of the gas prices? We'll get a reality check from CNN's Josh Levs later on this hour, why so many are and why many are still not...
I'm afraid my generation has dropped the talents of canning & freezing & conserving! However my 94 year old mother has not forgotten any of those arts, and could be depended upon for advice with canning, and other skills, such as how to kill and dress a chicken!!! I'm serious, she used to do it all the time when young. Let's not forget our elderly depression friends and family - they lived through hard times and might have things to contribute through us; it also would give them a feeling of being important in this digital age that has completely gone beyond their capabilities.
who grew up in the Depression or WWII years have some experiences that could be shared which probably seem severe given most of today's life styles. (standing in line for a pound of butter for a special occasion instead of the usual squeezing a bag of margerine to dissolve the color capsule so it would look more like butter (but taste like lard), putting up a cellar and jelly cupboard full of food (no freezers), cashing in a treasured ration coupon for a couple of gallons of gas for the car, pulling the blackout curtains every evening at sundown then going outdoors to look and make sure no light excape the house, etc.)
And, having lived a good portion of my adult life in rural area and observing the natives and their low cost, sustainable life styles (which we happily took to) you can easily see how most of them stayed healthy and content well into their 90's. Watching most of today's younger generation and their rampant consumerism, stressful wowrk habits (my own children and grandchildren certainly included) I'm appalled at their wastefulness. Thought as these times demand, they are now beginning to see the light and mend their ways. They can't understand how I live and eat well, but not sumptuously, and am content, on poverty level finances.
There are a couple of old saying often heard in rural New England (and perhaps elsewhere) - food for thought.
Our forefathers grew strong with little while we grow weak with much.
And -
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIlQJg1kSvk
How the Greatest Generation fared during wartime and practiced community conservation.
with all the old images and think I'd like to use some of them for this series.... they are so fun!
Especially the canning and gardening ones.
Here's a good one:
Back then, when almost every family had someone serving in Europe or the South Pacific, there was great sense of community, neighborhood conservation projects, and sharing of everything - garden space, rides, hand me down clothes for children - was the rule, not the exception. And no one felt especially deprived because they were all in it together. There was great celebration when someone with chickens had enough eggs to make an angel cake for all to enjoy.
Would be nice to see that kind of cooperation again. CCN is a logical starting place.
My grandfather, who lived in Oklahoma City proper, had a small acreage of sandy loam out west of town (which would now practically be in the middle of town). He grew veggies and berries. Damn, those blackberry bushes are thorny!! Then on the way back, he'd stop by a small farm and pick up a couple dozen of fresh eggs, some milk, and a bottle of water from a well. But I wouldn't let him go out there with me until Ding Dong School was over.
After the picking, Grandmother Davis started the canning. Was there any kind of canning jar other than Mason Jar?
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
memories from simpler times. In the summer when we were at the shore we got our milk from a farm, glass bottles with a narrow neck where the cream collected. Dad would carefully spoon out the nice heavy Jersey sweet cream and put it on our cereal, much to my Mother's chagrin - she wanted the bottle tilted back and forth several times till the cream and milk were mixed. When I got to be "a big girl" I was sometimes allowed to ride on the running board while the farmer's wife delivered milk on the point where we lived. Big thrill.
Yeah, you are right - those blackberry thorns are lethal and sure make a mess of arms and legs.
quite so much, she gave as a present to all the grandchildren one of her old canning jars.
In Indiana, there is no other type of canning jar but "Ball"
Mine has a place of honor in the living room as decorative art.
"It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and one to hear." - Henry David Thoreau
I never could figure out why it was called "canning" when glass jars were used. Shouldn't it be "jarring?" :)
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
Also, Barry, why do we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Marhaba Stan,
I have my hands full with Arabic right now I can't deal with illogical English! :)
I'm doing fine with the numbers and the rest of the language will follow, insha'allah.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
Since the Arabic language doesn't use the Roman alphabet, and now that you're becoming an Arabic linguist, why do Anglophones torture the spelling so? I mean, why "Iraq" when no English word ends just in "q"? If we're writing phonetically, why not "Irak," like the French do? Same deal with "Qatar." Why not "Catar" or "Katar"?
I know...in English you can't even spell "phonetically" phonetically.
Ah...all those insoluble ponderables.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
One thing that I have learned is that there isn't a single system of transliteration for Arabic. I have seen "Irak" in English publications here for example. The real solution is to learn the Arabic writing system.
The Dubai library system is offering free Arabic classes this summer. I with I was going to be here longer, I'd sign up.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
My parents lived on the farm where I still live. We had a cow, chickens,couple of pigs and always a big garden. The food was always prepared from scratch. My Mother only bought the necessities for baking her breads, rolls, cakes, pies, and even made her own noodles. She was a tremendous cook and baker.
She taught her 3 daughters how to bake, cook, can, and from scratch. I see myself going back to those days, as the food was healthier (no preservatives)!
My Father was a hunter, provided lots of venison, plus the older chickens (that stopped laying) were baked,or boiled for great polish soup..esp when we got a cold or flu.
Home remedies that kept us healthy! Lots of fruit, for delicious pies..she was always cooking. Bought our meat from local farmer, or butcher. Those were the days, that we have to get back too.
Then Dad,in later years planted Blueberries, and that is Good too!!!
Change the hair to brown and that's my mom and me, complete with the aprons. What wonderful memories I have of helping her with the canning.
Then I went on to do it in my own kitchen, mostly those wonderful Colorado peaches and pears. Always in the heat of August and September, the sweat rolling down my face as the water boiled and the fruited scent of the syrup fill the air. Then the delightful sound of "ping" as one by one the jars sang out that they had sealed.
A long, long time ago when we lived in rural PA, I learned canning, freezing, and jam making from my neighbors. (I could have learned these things from my mother as well, if I'd been paying attention.) Somewhere along the way, life and lack of necessity got in the way, but I'm at the point in my practical, cheapskate life where picking up where I left off seems like a good idea.
I'm roasting a turkey as we speak, and will package it into smaller meals for the freezer, and make stock from the carcass.
It's also a great time to buy (or pick your own) blueberries and green beans in quantities for freezing.
I'm not sure I want to do canning this year, yet. But I did tomatoes, pears, peaches, and applesauce back in the day when we had a huge garden and fruit trees, and it was nice to have those goodies on hand throughout the winter months.
to go to the cupboard and have such a luxurious assortment of food to choose from. I haven't put up anything but jelly, jam and chutney since my husband died - freeze everything now when I have room for it in smaller freezer/fridge. Lots of fruit can be dried as well, blueberries, cranberries which are great in muffins. Apple slices, too rather than having the wild critters get them all when they are ready to fall off the trees. Dried ones work quite well for pie or dumplings, or slump - not as good as fresh but satisfactory. Raspberry vinegar is tasty.
It looks as though the American people are going to have to take on the environmental changes necessary without any leadership from our "leaders", but we still should really start being more pointed about prying out of them their specific plans to tackle global warming and the energy crisis. There are so many crisis problems coming together now, that no one is saying very much about conservation. But the experts say we can save more energy this way than we can by building a hundred nuclear plants and drilling all the rest of the oil. But everyone needs to be involved, not just a few with consciences.
If there should be an ENERGY category and might that cross over with some HOUSEHOLD energy advice and with Auto/Transportation too?
Hmmm. Not sure but it's a huge topic.
intelligence (that's a joke) to have a household energy section as well as an automotive one.
Household energy audits are one way to go AND at work we have done the same and changed some long-standing behaviours as well...
"It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and one to hear." - Henry David Thoreau
I don't think this has been mentioned yet (if it has, sorry!) but buying local is the greener way to go. Not only do you support your local economy, but it takes less fuel to get your goods to you. We are in Ohio and have bought local pork, grass fed beef, and poultry from farmers through the OEFFA. I would imagine other states have similar organizations.
The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off. ~Gloria Steinem
some thoughts in the psyc section, although it will have to wait for a few days, because I'm finishing up grading four classes this week (I teach a lot of online courses during the summer). I can probably get something posted either late this week or early next week.
No hurry on anything. We can experiment and put a few topics up the first week, a few the next, see what works.
Whenever is good for you.
We just need to keep them all in the same titling, heading and tagging system so they'll be stored in the same place together. So we need to agree on the categories and the simple names for them. I'm just thinking out loud here... don't mind me! :)
I know where I am mostly concern, not that all of them are not important:
- SPIRIT - Psychology & The Art of Joy Mongering
- IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
- FINANCE
I will be happy to contribute but who is going to write the collective information, and is someone going to be assigned to particular category so we avoid duplicate work? I wouldn’t mind writing it but I know there are great writers here that can represent the blog to its perfection.
Anyway for spirit, one of the reasons why I think spirit category should be first because we do need to be mentally healthy and strong in order to accomplish and handle all the list you have, even being prepared when disaster comes–can't be running around like chicken without heads during that time.
How about art therapy? Is anyone ready to draw portraits of Gen. Clark ;-). lol But of course there is a book I have been reading and it's called "The Secret", it has to do a lot about how you think etc. I wouldn't mind sharing tips...
For emergency category, I did some volunteer work with the red cross doing some admin work, and I learned few things about how to be prepared… I have a go-bag, flashlight next to my bed ets.
Finance? I though I would never have this on my list but it’s extremely important because I live in NYC and every penny counts, especially since the economy is in bad shape.
Anyway, this is my quick thoughts and I am looking forward to reading what others can teach me.
ms in la, keep me on toes…
All those folks who panicked for Y2K because someone passed the rumor around that the world as we know it would end when all the computers died, are probably oblivious to the trouble coming down the road today even though facts are staring them in the face.
The rumor mongers made a fortune off those poor people in 1999. Where are they now that a real crisis is in the offing?
...Y2K was very real. It was averted by mainframe programmers working 24/7 among other things.
Why have Obama and the New Democratic Party chose to rehabilitate the Republican Party at a time when it and conservatism has proven to be such a failure? Answer: "Because that's where the money is."
that if those programmers had decided to not do the things necessary computer systems would have gone off kilter.
The shysters who used that possibility on the other hand, blew the whole thing out of proportion to make a buck.
I don't hear much about the folks that may have learned something by falling for the inflated "disaster" scenarios fed them in '99 are putting what they learned to use now that we seem on the verge of a the same kind of disaster that is a lot more likely to actually take place because fixing it isn't as "easy" as reprogramming a computer system.
of the Sunday supplement, Parade Magazine, has an article on "Secrets of Thrifty Familes." Some good stuff.