It is weird how things happen sometimes. I heard on the radio yesterday do nutritionist saying that you can't eat enough fruits and vegetables to actually get all the vitamins and minerals that you really need, Well that sounded ludicrous so I switched him off. So today in one of my newsletters they have a short piece on the same things saying that fresh spinach had only 25% of some nutrients then it did 60 years ago.
Okay this needed a little investigation, twice in 24 hours is a little suspicious. Now I was curious, I know that several foods are picked green and shipped then treated to appear ripe, tomatoes are the most common in that regard. Google is great and while I didn't find the original study I did find this reference to it that tells me that it has problems. It was done by a news organization, they have a certain interest in bad news. So while it may be true in certain cases, I have my doubts about the objectivity of the group that commissioned the story.
Personally most of the "fresh" foods in the supermarket don't taste all that good. The local Farmer's Markets are really good in variety and we have our own garden for a few things. Though our tomatoes have been hit by the rot so that will take some dealing with. On the other hand our raspberry bush has produced several cups of berries, we even made raspberry-chocolate ice cream.
Raspberry Chocolate Ice Cream
Prep time overnight
2 cups Half and half
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1 cup raspberries
8 oz milk chocolate bar (we used Lindt extra creamy)
Heat half and half, cream and sugar in a heavy pot until it reaches 170°F.
Remove from heat and wash berries and add to cream, don't break up the berries the ice cream maker will do that.
Cool over night in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to combine.
Startup your ice cream maker and pour in the berries and cream.
Break the chocolate into small pieces and place into a microwave safe bowl. heat for 30 seconds, then stir to smooth out the pieces, if they don't completely melt microwave them for another 15 seconds. Once you have a smooth liquid Slowly pour into the ice cream maker, You will get some very nice flecks of chocolate with bits of raspberry throughout.
Makes about 6 cups of ice cream.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Saturday, September 25, 2004
More Energy Saving Ideas
Insulate Hot Water Pipes
Insulate your hot water pipes, particularly if they are copper pipes. Copper is an excellent conductor, it is used for cookware because of its conductive properties. Your local home improvement store should have pre-formed lengths for your sized pipes, they are already split so all you have to do is snap them around the pipe, some even have adhesive pre-applied so you just have to pull off the protective paper and squeeze then edges together. The insulation can cost as little a $1 a foot.
If you don't know the diameter of your pipes, just take a piece of string and wrap it around the pipe, then measure the string and divide by pi though 3 is good enough since you know it will be only one of three sizes: 1/2", 3/4" or 1".
LCD TV
If you are in the market for a new TV consider an LCD TV, it uses only about a tenth the energy of a CRT TV and about half compared to a Plasma TV.
LCD monitors for you computers have the same advantages.
Shade the South Side
Shading the south side of you house will reduce the heat from the Sun that heats up your house.
Trees are great as they loose their leaves in the fall and so you get some solar heat in the winter, but shade in the summer.
Trellises do well, if planted with a vine that looses leaves in the fall.
Awnings over the windows make a big impact since windows have little insulation value, Installed correctly they too will shade in the summer and allow sun in the winter, since the Earth is tilted on its axis the Sun changes its height in the sky and this works great.
A verandah or overhanging roof will act like an awning over the entire side of the house.
Insulate your hot water pipes, particularly if they are copper pipes. Copper is an excellent conductor, it is used for cookware because of its conductive properties. Your local home improvement store should have pre-formed lengths for your sized pipes, they are already split so all you have to do is snap them around the pipe, some even have adhesive pre-applied so you just have to pull off the protective paper and squeeze then edges together. The insulation can cost as little a $1 a foot.
If you don't know the diameter of your pipes, just take a piece of string and wrap it around the pipe, then measure the string and divide by pi though 3 is good enough since you know it will be only one of three sizes: 1/2", 3/4" or 1".
LCD TV
If you are in the market for a new TV consider an LCD TV, it uses only about a tenth the energy of a CRT TV and about half compared to a Plasma TV.
LCD monitors for you computers have the same advantages.
Shade the South Side
Shading the south side of you house will reduce the heat from the Sun that heats up your house.
Trees are great as they loose their leaves in the fall and so you get some solar heat in the winter, but shade in the summer.
Trellises do well, if planted with a vine that looses leaves in the fall.
Awnings over the windows make a big impact since windows have little insulation value, Installed correctly they too will shade in the summer and allow sun in the winter, since the Earth is tilted on its axis the Sun changes its height in the sky and this works great.
A verandah or overhanging roof will act like an awning over the entire side of the house.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Redo the Office
It finally became too much, I had to redo the office because it had gotten too hard to get things done. Too much of the things I use often were just out of reach and now they are in reach. The real thing of it is that my needs have changed in the past few months and so this was necessary. I did get some good ideas from 43 Folders and I think they have made a real difference.
I did end up going to Home Depot a couple of times to get extra shelving and pegs that was a lot of work but worth it. I also got rid of a lot of junk, just a lot of old stuff that was cluttering up the place. I do have a small pile of handwritten notes I need to transcribe still but it is not too bad. I'll take it on in small batches.
I have noticed that the office evolves over time as my needs, interests and abilities change. I am constantly reading so having lot of shelf space is important but I usually only have a couple of books that I need handy at any given time, so having a space for the current books at the desk is all I really need that rest being across the room. Having a wood floor would make rolling a lot easier but this works better so I am a little more careful in what I do at any time. Also having a tickler file at the desk will work better too.
Applying Perato's Law also and getting rid of the 80% of stuff that isn't good is going to make a big difference but keeping it as a habit will be challenging
I did end up going to Home Depot a couple of times to get extra shelving and pegs that was a lot of work but worth it. I also got rid of a lot of junk, just a lot of old stuff that was cluttering up the place. I do have a small pile of handwritten notes I need to transcribe still but it is not too bad. I'll take it on in small batches.
I have noticed that the office evolves over time as my needs, interests and abilities change. I am constantly reading so having lot of shelf space is important but I usually only have a couple of books that I need handy at any given time, so having a space for the current books at the desk is all I really need that rest being across the room. Having a wood floor would make rolling a lot easier but this works better so I am a little more careful in what I do at any time. Also having a tickler file at the desk will work better too.
Applying Perato's Law also and getting rid of the 80% of stuff that isn't good is going to make a big difference but keeping it as a habit will be challenging
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Simple Home Energy Improvements
After paying the bills it is obvious that increasing your homes' energy efficiency will make a direct impact on your pocketbook every month.
There are some very simple and straightforward things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
1) Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which use only a quarter of the energy for the same amount of light.
2) Weatherstrip windows and doors, to reduce air leaks so your heated or cooled air doesn't just escape.
3) Insulate wall outlets and switches that on on outside walls since they usually have the least insulation behind them.
4) Put power bricks on power strips and turn them off when not in use. Those power bricks, or wall warts are always (24/7/365) drawing power the only way to stop that is to unplug them and a power strip does that just fine.
5) Turn down the hot water heater to 120. I haven't seen a difference with clothes washed one way or the other.
6) Install a setback thermostat and have it automatically turn down the heat when you are gone during the day and at night when you are asleep. We are home most of the day so we have it turn down the temperature at night when we are asleep and it helps. Now if they only had one that would automatically change between heating and cooling. Colorado has fun weather particularly in the Spring and Fall. It can be 90 during the day and 50 at night and that is a big swing and remembering to switch to heat at night is annoying particularly at 3am when you are shivering.
7) Extra attic insulation. 90% of heat is lost through the roof, remember heat rises.
8) Install cellular blinds. Cellular blinds are great they have air pockets that act as insulation. We have some on the bedroom windows and they make a several degree difference in the southern bedrooms by keeping the sun out and by keeping the heat in in the northern bedrooms.
9) Upgrade your appliances.
The furnace is usually the oldest appliance and if it is more then 10 years old is going to be far less efficient then a modern high-efficiency furnace. I would also recommend gas as that is very effective in converting the gas to heat.
The Air conditioner is much the same as the furnace.
The hot water heater if it is very warm or hot to the touch you want to at least give it a blanket or replace it. Remember to clean out the sludge and replace the anode, I once saw a heating element from a never maintained hot water heater that had 2 inches (4 cm) of minerals encrusted on it. The owner was complaining that he wasn't getting enough hot water to finish a shower any more. A lot of money was wasted because of that. I recommend gas for this appliance too.
The refrigerator: Modern refrigerators are better insulated and have better compressors then older models.
The freezer, many people have freezers, I am one of them and we keep a lot of food in ours, though many only have a pizza or two in it so it isn't worth running, see if you need it.
A front loading clothes washer uses only a third or less of the water an upright uses.
I also recommend a gas dryer, some people worry about them as they used to catch fire easily, but that was 50 years ago laws and design improvements have made it as safe as electric.
Replace your computers with laptops, because they are expected to run off of the battery it uses much less energy then a desktop, a desktop is usually 300W, laptops are near 30W.
Ceiling fans help move air around and even out the temperature layers in a room.
Hope these help.
There are some very simple and straightforward things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
1) Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which use only a quarter of the energy for the same amount of light.
2) Weatherstrip windows and doors, to reduce air leaks so your heated or cooled air doesn't just escape.
3) Insulate wall outlets and switches that on on outside walls since they usually have the least insulation behind them.
4) Put power bricks on power strips and turn them off when not in use. Those power bricks, or wall warts are always (24/7/365) drawing power the only way to stop that is to unplug them and a power strip does that just fine.
5) Turn down the hot water heater to 120. I haven't seen a difference with clothes washed one way or the other.
6) Install a setback thermostat and have it automatically turn down the heat when you are gone during the day and at night when you are asleep. We are home most of the day so we have it turn down the temperature at night when we are asleep and it helps. Now if they only had one that would automatically change between heating and cooling. Colorado has fun weather particularly in the Spring and Fall. It can be 90 during the day and 50 at night and that is a big swing and remembering to switch to heat at night is annoying particularly at 3am when you are shivering.
7) Extra attic insulation. 90% of heat is lost through the roof, remember heat rises.
8) Install cellular blinds. Cellular blinds are great they have air pockets that act as insulation. We have some on the bedroom windows and they make a several degree difference in the southern bedrooms by keeping the sun out and by keeping the heat in in the northern bedrooms.
9) Upgrade your appliances.
The furnace is usually the oldest appliance and if it is more then 10 years old is going to be far less efficient then a modern high-efficiency furnace. I would also recommend gas as that is very effective in converting the gas to heat.
The Air conditioner is much the same as the furnace.
The hot water heater if it is very warm or hot to the touch you want to at least give it a blanket or replace it. Remember to clean out the sludge and replace the anode, I once saw a heating element from a never maintained hot water heater that had 2 inches (4 cm) of minerals encrusted on it. The owner was complaining that he wasn't getting enough hot water to finish a shower any more. A lot of money was wasted because of that. I recommend gas for this appliance too.
The refrigerator: Modern refrigerators are better insulated and have better compressors then older models.
The freezer, many people have freezers, I am one of them and we keep a lot of food in ours, though many only have a pizza or two in it so it isn't worth running, see if you need it.
A front loading clothes washer uses only a third or less of the water an upright uses.
I also recommend a gas dryer, some people worry about them as they used to catch fire easily, but that was 50 years ago laws and design improvements have made it as safe as electric.
Replace your computers with laptops, because they are expected to run off of the battery it uses much less energy then a desktop, a desktop is usually 300W, laptops are near 30W.
Ceiling fans help move air around and even out the temperature layers in a room.
Hope these help.
Making things a little more useful
I was at Home Depot yesterday getting some more shelving, having so many books is such a chore:) and found a couple of fun little things.
The first s CableCuff a little plastic round thing that makes a great cable organizer, I had been having some difficulties with some cables behind my desk, I kept pulling on them with my feet and that was a small distraction I just didn't need anymore, it was only 89 cents so I thought "why not." It works great getting the cables organized.
The other was a small Compact Fluorescent (CF) bulb. I have been replacing or trying to replace my bulbs as they burn out with CF bulbs, They do cost a bit more but they will last long enough that I might not need to replace them and they use only a quarter of the energy to run compared to regular incandescent bulbs. The biggest problem has been that CF bulbs are rather large and don't fit in some of the fixtures we have. Now they have some that are the same size and even a little smaller then a standard light-bulb which will allow me to start changing a few more of these fixtures. These is a big step in making it easier for people to change to CF bulbs.
The first s CableCuff a little plastic round thing that makes a great cable organizer, I had been having some difficulties with some cables behind my desk, I kept pulling on them with my feet and that was a small distraction I just didn't need anymore, it was only 89 cents so I thought "why not." It works great getting the cables organized.
The other was a small Compact Fluorescent (CF) bulb. I have been replacing or trying to replace my bulbs as they burn out with CF bulbs, They do cost a bit more but they will last long enough that I might not need to replace them and they use only a quarter of the energy to run compared to regular incandescent bulbs. The biggest problem has been that CF bulbs are rather large and don't fit in some of the fixtures we have. Now they have some that are the same size and even a little smaller then a standard light-bulb which will allow me to start changing a few more of these fixtures. These is a big step in making it easier for people to change to CF bulbs.
Futuristic Macs
I ran across a couple of very interesting pages today that I just have to comment on.
First, Dennis Sellers wants a Home Automation Server. That can do all these things:
That is a very ambitious list. Looking at how Apple is positioned as a Computer and Music company. I could see Apple doing something more limited that works with what they have already done.
An Airport iTunes Jukebox.
Airport basestations already can be print servers so that is taken care of.
AirTunes can send music over WiFi so that is taken care of.
To be a file and iTunes server it needs a hard drive
It also needs an Operating System, but a limited form of OSX Server could do that work, though a consumer interface would be needed.
Since this is not a portable music device how about putting it in with the home theater system so it is next to the amplifier and speakers.
And since it is in with the home theater system how about connecting up to the TV where we can setup playlists and even connect to the iTunes Store to download the latest pop song. If this is successful then they could add a DVR version later just like how the iPod has been expanding in capabilities.
I don't really want my printer next to my home theater but then that is what an AirPort Express is good for.
Oh and it will need a really good remote, not a problem for Apple, and include a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.
This is something that leverages what Apple is already good at and know for: Computers and Music. The sensors and cameras and other stuff while score highly on the geek scale, just don't seem to matter to most people. I have heard far more people, including myself, talk about having those things but I know no one that has really taken that plunge. However, give the Jukebox a Firewire port or two and if it is important people can just pull in a box that handles the physical interface and the Jukebox can do the rest.
***
The other page is The Mac Night Owl who want half an iMac.
Personally, I love the idea of a pizza box iMac.
My question is what would happen to the eMac? It would likely have to be cannibalized as few people would buy it.
I wonder if the real reason that Apple doesn't sell headless consumer products is that the cheap monitors are really nasty to look at after not too long. And when you are on the computer what are you spending most of your time looking at: the monitor. If you can afford a PowerMac you will likely by able to afford and know enough to get a good monitor to go with it.
A Headless iMac would be bought with cost being the primary issue and they would buy a monitor the same way. I have not tested this but Aqua might not look too good on a cheap monitor. This would reflect badly on Apple, even though Apple would have no control over what monitor you would buy that way, it happens all the time.
Apple doesn't compete at the low-end. They are positioned as a premium product and they can't sell at the low-end if they want to keep up that image. Is that good or bad, I don't know yet, but it seems to work as Apple is profitable.
First, Dennis Sellers wants a Home Automation Server. That can do all these things:
• A centralized iTunes server
• A centralized DVR (digital video recorder)
• X10 controller
• Security camera controller
• Sensor monitor (camera motion sensors, temperature, humidity, RFID, etc., that aren’t necessarily computer related)
• Phone manager (voice mail, fax, call logs, etc.)
• Print and file server
That is a very ambitious list. Looking at how Apple is positioned as a Computer and Music company. I could see Apple doing something more limited that works with what they have already done.
An Airport iTunes Jukebox.
Airport basestations already can be print servers so that is taken care of.
AirTunes can send music over WiFi so that is taken care of.
To be a file and iTunes server it needs a hard drive
It also needs an Operating System, but a limited form of OSX Server could do that work, though a consumer interface would be needed.
Since this is not a portable music device how about putting it in with the home theater system so it is next to the amplifier and speakers.
And since it is in with the home theater system how about connecting up to the TV where we can setup playlists and even connect to the iTunes Store to download the latest pop song. If this is successful then they could add a DVR version later just like how the iPod has been expanding in capabilities.
I don't really want my printer next to my home theater but then that is what an AirPort Express is good for.
Oh and it will need a really good remote, not a problem for Apple, and include a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.
This is something that leverages what Apple is already good at and know for: Computers and Music. The sensors and cameras and other stuff while score highly on the geek scale, just don't seem to matter to most people. I have heard far more people, including myself, talk about having those things but I know no one that has really taken that plunge. However, give the Jukebox a Firewire port or two and if it is important people can just pull in a box that handles the physical interface and the Jukebox can do the rest.
***
The other page is The Mac Night Owl who want half an iMac.
Personally, I love the idea of a pizza box iMac.
My question is what would happen to the eMac? It would likely have to be cannibalized as few people would buy it.
I wonder if the real reason that Apple doesn't sell headless consumer products is that the cheap monitors are really nasty to look at after not too long. And when you are on the computer what are you spending most of your time looking at: the monitor. If you can afford a PowerMac you will likely by able to afford and know enough to get a good monitor to go with it.
A Headless iMac would be bought with cost being the primary issue and they would buy a monitor the same way. I have not tested this but Aqua might not look too good on a cheap monitor. This would reflect badly on Apple, even though Apple would have no control over what monitor you would buy that way, it happens all the time.
Apple doesn't compete at the low-end. They are positioned as a premium product and they can't sell at the low-end if they want to keep up that image. Is that good or bad, I don't know yet, but it seems to work as Apple is profitable.
Futuristic Macs
I ran across a couple of very interesting pages today that I just have to comment on.
First, Dennis Sellers wants a Home Automation Server. That can do all these things:
That is a very ambitious list. Looking at how Apple is positioned as a Computer and Music company. I could see Apple doing something more limited that works with what they have already done.
An Airport iTunes Jukebox.
Airport basestations already can be print servers so that is taken care of.
AirTunes can send music over WiFi so that is taken care of.
To be a file and iTunes server it needs a hard drive
It also needs an Operating System, but a limited form of OSX Server could do that work, though a consumer interface would be needed.
Since this is not a portable music device how about putting it in with the home theater system so it is next to the amplifier and speakers.
And since it is in with the home theater system how about connecting up to the TV where we can setup playlists and even connect to the iTunes Store to download the latest pop song. If this is successful then they could add a DVR version later just like how the iPod has been expanding in capabilities.
I don't really want my printer next to my home theater but then that is what an AirPort Express is good for.
Oh and it will need a really good remote, not a problem for Apple, and include a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.
This is something that leverages what Apple is already good at and know for: Computers and Music. The sensors and cameras and other stuff while score highly on the geek scale, just don't seem to matter to most people. I have heard far more people, including myself, talk about having those things but I know no one that has really taken that plunge. However, give the Jukebox a Firewire port or two and if it is important people can just pull in a box that handles the physical interface and the Jukebox can do the rest.
***
The other page is The Mac Night Owl who want half an iMac.
Personally, I love the idea of a pizza box iMac.
My question is what would happen to the eMac? It would likely have to be cannibalized as few people would buy it.
I wonder if the real reason that Apple doesn't sell headless consumer products is that the cheap monitors are really nasty to look at after not too long. And when you are on the computer what are you spending most of your time looking at: the monitor. If you can afford a PowerMac you will likely by able to afford and know enough to get a good monitor to go with it.
A Headless iMac would be bought with cost being the primary issue and they would buy a monitor the same way. I have not tested this but Aqua might not look too good on a cheap monitor. This would reflect badly on Apple, even though Apple would have no control over what monitor you would buy that way, it happens all the time.
Apple doesn't compete at the low-end. They are positioned as a premium product and they can't sell at the low-end if they want to keep up that image. Is that good or bad, I don't know yet, but it seems to work as Apple is profitable.
First, Dennis Sellers wants a Home Automation Server. That can do all these things:
• A centralized iTunes server
• A centralized DVR (digital video recorder)
• X10 controller
• Security camera controller
• Sensor monitor (camera motion sensors, temperature, humidity, RFID, etc., that aren’t necessarily computer related)
• Phone manager (voice mail, fax, call logs, etc.)
• Print and file server
That is a very ambitious list. Looking at how Apple is positioned as a Computer and Music company. I could see Apple doing something more limited that works with what they have already done.
An Airport iTunes Jukebox.
Airport basestations already can be print servers so that is taken care of.
AirTunes can send music over WiFi so that is taken care of.
To be a file and iTunes server it needs a hard drive
It also needs an Operating System, but a limited form of OSX Server could do that work, though a consumer interface would be needed.
Since this is not a portable music device how about putting it in with the home theater system so it is next to the amplifier and speakers.
And since it is in with the home theater system how about connecting up to the TV where we can setup playlists and even connect to the iTunes Store to download the latest pop song. If this is successful then they could add a DVR version later just like how the iPod has been expanding in capabilities.
I don't really want my printer next to my home theater but then that is what an AirPort Express is good for.
Oh and it will need a really good remote, not a problem for Apple, and include a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.
This is something that leverages what Apple is already good at and know for: Computers and Music. The sensors and cameras and other stuff while score highly on the geek scale, just don't seem to matter to most people. I have heard far more people, including myself, talk about having those things but I know no one that has really taken that plunge. However, give the Jukebox a Firewire port or two and if it is important people can just pull in a box that handles the physical interface and the Jukebox can do the rest.
***
The other page is The Mac Night Owl who want half an iMac.
Personally, I love the idea of a pizza box iMac.
My question is what would happen to the eMac? It would likely have to be cannibalized as few people would buy it.
I wonder if the real reason that Apple doesn't sell headless consumer products is that the cheap monitors are really nasty to look at after not too long. And when you are on the computer what are you spending most of your time looking at: the monitor. If you can afford a PowerMac you will likely by able to afford and know enough to get a good monitor to go with it.
A Headless iMac would be bought with cost being the primary issue and they would buy a monitor the same way. I have not tested this but Aqua might not look too good on a cheap monitor. This would reflect badly on Apple, even though Apple would have no control over what monitor you would buy that way, it happens all the time.
Apple doesn't compete at the low-end. They are positioned as a premium product and they can't sell at the low-end if they want to keep up that image. Is that good or bad, I don't know yet, but it seems to work as Apple is profitable.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Spiritual Preparedness
Spiritual Preparedness is the most powerful kind since it frees you from many other cares. It centers your soul and that is very valuable. This is the shortest list and it is a simple list, but it is not always easy.
1) Prayer.
Spend time talking with God.
2) Scripture Study
Spend time learning what God has told us. He tends to
repeat himself because we don't listen very well. It has
been recommended that we read half an hour per day.
The church website http://www.lds.org now has the
scriptures as mp3s so you can listen to them anywhere.
3) Family Home Evening
Spend time teaching God's word to each other, and
with each other.
4) Temple Attendance
Go to where the Lord lives and spend time with Him and what He has to teach us.
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30)
A common theme in the scriptures is that we should be generous and helpful to our neighbors. The parable of the Good Samaritan is the big one. A Year's Supply will feed 1 person for 365 days or 365 people for 1 day or 1095 people for one meal. How you react to a disaster may be as important as how prepared for it you are.
1) Prayer.
Spend time talking with God.
2) Scripture Study
Spend time learning what God has told us. He tends to
repeat himself because we don't listen very well. It has
been recommended that we read half an hour per day.
The church website http://www.lds.org now has the
scriptures as mp3s so you can listen to them anywhere.
3) Family Home Evening
Spend time teaching God's word to each other, and
with each other.
4) Temple Attendance
Go to where the Lord lives and spend time with Him and what He has to teach us.
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30)
A common theme in the scriptures is that we should be generous and helpful to our neighbors. The parable of the Good Samaritan is the big one. A Year's Supply will feed 1 person for 365 days or 365 people for 1 day or 1095 people for one meal. How you react to a disaster may be as important as how prepared for it you are.
Helping out at the Cannery
Earlier this week I went to help out at the Cannery in Denver.
There were a lot of people there and we got a lot done. In about 2 hours we canned over 100 cases of salsa.
I was a little apprehensive about going since I have heard of lots of horror stories of only a few people showing up and it taking 5-6 hours to complete the assignment. This time we had lots of people, too many really as some people ended up waiting for something to do from time to time.
The Cannery guys did a great job getting us basically organized and they did a great job at the canning station, they had one person putting jars on the conveyor belt, another filling them from a hose, a person to top off under-filled jars, another to push the jars into two lines where the lidding group was, about 8 people putting lids on the jars as fast as possible, there were also a couple of people getting more lids and jars and one running the cookers. And one person putting date stamps on the labels for the jars and cases.
I found that the rest of the operation was less organized, by creating impromptu little systems things sped up immensely. Just remembering what Henry Ford did with a similar situation make a big difference. Opening the cans of tomato paste and diced tomatoes went a lot faster once we had one person pull the cans off the pallets to the canning station, another to open the cans, another to dump the cans in the pots and return the cans to the canning station upside down so the can opener could pop off the bottoms, so the cans could be crushed by the person who pulled the cans off the pallets and placed in the trash. Took three people and it went a lot faster then when one person was doing it all. For the boxes where the jars of salsa ended up we started with a bunch of people folding boxes and taping them and putting in the dividers by hand. I again found that be borrowing some of Henry Ford's wisdom worked great, four of us divided into box folder, taper, divider inserter and stacker got 100 boxes done in less then 10 minutes or about 10 times as many boxes as we had done before we got organized.
The Cannery is a noisy, messy job and I am proud of the people who are called to do it, My wife's parents are running one, too. It is challenging, you end up with a lot of people who have never done it before. And trying to get things happening with minimal downtime is hard.
It's funny, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a reputation for being organized. If this is organized, I pity the other guys who are disorganized, because at times this looked like the Keystone cops where more organized then we were.
There were a lot of people there and we got a lot done. In about 2 hours we canned over 100 cases of salsa.
I was a little apprehensive about going since I have heard of lots of horror stories of only a few people showing up and it taking 5-6 hours to complete the assignment. This time we had lots of people, too many really as some people ended up waiting for something to do from time to time.
The Cannery guys did a great job getting us basically organized and they did a great job at the canning station, they had one person putting jars on the conveyor belt, another filling them from a hose, a person to top off under-filled jars, another to push the jars into two lines where the lidding group was, about 8 people putting lids on the jars as fast as possible, there were also a couple of people getting more lids and jars and one running the cookers. And one person putting date stamps on the labels for the jars and cases.
I found that the rest of the operation was less organized, by creating impromptu little systems things sped up immensely. Just remembering what Henry Ford did with a similar situation make a big difference. Opening the cans of tomato paste and diced tomatoes went a lot faster once we had one person pull the cans off the pallets to the canning station, another to open the cans, another to dump the cans in the pots and return the cans to the canning station upside down so the can opener could pop off the bottoms, so the cans could be crushed by the person who pulled the cans off the pallets and placed in the trash. Took three people and it went a lot faster then when one person was doing it all. For the boxes where the jars of salsa ended up we started with a bunch of people folding boxes and taping them and putting in the dividers by hand. I again found that be borrowing some of Henry Ford's wisdom worked great, four of us divided into box folder, taper, divider inserter and stacker got 100 boxes done in less then 10 minutes or about 10 times as many boxes as we had done before we got organized.
The Cannery is a noisy, messy job and I am proud of the people who are called to do it, My wife's parents are running one, too. It is challenging, you end up with a lot of people who have never done it before. And trying to get things happening with minimal downtime is hard.
It's funny, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a reputation for being organized. If this is organized, I pity the other guys who are disorganized, because at times this looked like the Keystone cops where more organized then we were.
Friday, September 10, 2004
Being Prepared
As an old Eagle Scout I do believe in being prepared. I have a lot of information on becoming prepared and I just posted several summaries. A lot of disaster big and small have happened in the last month so I put those all together to make some sense of them all.
When my Mother went into the hospital for the last time it was obvious she wasn't going to come out. So I created a simple Deathwatch bag. Just some snacks, books and toys for our daughter and ourselves for the trip all the way down there, and some extra gas cash. So when Mom died going down there was no big deal.
There have also been a lot of other things going on:
Hurricanes in Florida
Wildfires in the West our county had the first wildfire of the season, but we have been getting just enough rain to keep things quiet.
The Russian school terrorist hostage taking. I would not be surprised if they take a page our of Israel's history to deal with that problem.
We had snow in the Colorado High Country for Labor day, so we should get ready for blizzards.
It has been a very exciting year.
When my Mother went into the hospital for the last time it was obvious she wasn't going to come out. So I created a simple Deathwatch bag. Just some snacks, books and toys for our daughter and ourselves for the trip all the way down there, and some extra gas cash. So when Mom died going down there was no big deal.
There have also been a lot of other things going on:
Hurricanes in Florida
Wildfires in the West our county had the first wildfire of the season, but we have been getting just enough rain to keep things quiet.
The Russian school terrorist hostage taking. I would not be surprised if they take a page our of Israel's history to deal with that problem.
We had snow in the Colorado High Country for Labor day, so we should get ready for blizzards.
It has been a very exciting year.
Financial Preparation
Financial Preparation is often lumped into financial education or ignored completely. But there are some things that aren't really talked about and I will try to bring them up here.
If the Husband is the primary breadwinner, the wife should have a life insurance policy on him that she pays through her own account so she unequivocally owns it and can get the money faster that way.
Each spouse should have a bank account with a 3 months supply of cash in case the other dies or is incapacitated so they have easy-to-get-to money, the legal system can end up tying up bank accounts for some time. This supply should be enough to cover your bills and other standard fixed expenses to keep and keep up your home, it doesn't have to be 3 months salary. Together this will be a half years' supply, the other half should be in some other hard asset form such as gold bullion coins, or junk silver coins. During World War II people often traded gold jewelry to farmers for food and other necessities.
First you have to know where you are. You need to create a few reports. Create an income statement by listing all your assets and sources of income:
Paychecks
Dividends
Interest from any interest bearing accounts like savings accounts and money market accounts.
Income from other sources like hibbies, rental properties and the like.
Now list your liabilities or expenses:
First your fixed expenses: these are periodic and predicable.
Tithes and offerings
Mortgage or rent
Electricity
Gas
Water
Sewer
Garbage
These next items are often ones you can reduce by shopping around:
Phone
Internet
Food
Cable/Satellite
Insurance: Home/Renters, Health, Auto, Dental, Optical, etc.
Now your variable expenses: These are things you have control over. Try to reduce these as best you can.
Clothes
Eating out
Movies
Games
Entertainment
Now list your debts: all your credit cards from smallest to largest.
To pay off these debts, take the money saved from your variable expenses and any reductions from phone, internet cable/satellite and food and insurance bill adjustments and start paying off the smallest one. Once that is paid off, celebrate with a banana split or other small but nice thing. Save the big celebration for the last credit card. Then get to work on the mortgage.
Now that you have gotten rid of all you bad debt you can start doing some important things: Building a Year's Supply and Investing for you children's education fund, and your retirement fund.
There are really only five simple rules for handling money:
1. Spend less then you earn. Save ten percent of your income. In 10 years you'll have one years salary put away.
2. Invest that money wisely. Start by using some of it for educating yourself about investing and business.
3. Search for good financial advice and use it. Find people who do it and are successful at it, whatever "it" is. If you don't know what is going on, you are just gambling, not investing.
4. Invest only in businesses you know about. Don't forget to keep learning new things.
5. Don't be tempted by a deal that look too good to be true. Remember, your profit comes when you buy not when you sell.
As in everything there is good debt and bad debt. You don't want any bad debt, which is generally called consumer debt, things like credit card debt. Generally it doesn't do anything for you. Good debt is debt you take on to leverage (or multiply) your money to acquire an asset that will produce money for you. For example, using some of your home equity to buy a rental property that will generate a passive cash flow to you. Don't be like the guy who buys a rental that costs him $100 more a month then he gets in rent, hoping to make the money when he sells it to some greater fool.
Ideally you want a passive income, income that comes from sources that you don't have to constantly work on (like interest, rents or royalties), that covers your basic expenses (mortgage, utilities, food) so that your family is supported even if something bad happens to you.
If the Husband is the primary breadwinner, the wife should have a life insurance policy on him that she pays through her own account so she unequivocally owns it and can get the money faster that way.
Each spouse should have a bank account with a 3 months supply of cash in case the other dies or is incapacitated so they have easy-to-get-to money, the legal system can end up tying up bank accounts for some time. This supply should be enough to cover your bills and other standard fixed expenses to keep and keep up your home, it doesn't have to be 3 months salary. Together this will be a half years' supply, the other half should be in some other hard asset form such as gold bullion coins, or junk silver coins. During World War II people often traded gold jewelry to farmers for food and other necessities.
First you have to know where you are. You need to create a few reports. Create an income statement by listing all your assets and sources of income:
Paychecks
Dividends
Interest from any interest bearing accounts like savings accounts and money market accounts.
Income from other sources like hibbies, rental properties and the like.
Now list your liabilities or expenses:
First your fixed expenses: these are periodic and predicable.
Tithes and offerings
Mortgage or rent
Electricity
Gas
Water
Sewer
Garbage
These next items are often ones you can reduce by shopping around:
Phone
Internet
Food
Cable/Satellite
Insurance: Home/Renters, Health, Auto, Dental, Optical, etc.
Now your variable expenses: These are things you have control over. Try to reduce these as best you can.
Clothes
Eating out
Movies
Games
Entertainment
Now list your debts: all your credit cards from smallest to largest.
To pay off these debts, take the money saved from your variable expenses and any reductions from phone, internet cable/satellite and food and insurance bill adjustments and start paying off the smallest one. Once that is paid off, celebrate with a banana split or other small but nice thing. Save the big celebration for the last credit card. Then get to work on the mortgage.
Now that you have gotten rid of all you bad debt you can start doing some important things: Building a Year's Supply and Investing for you children's education fund, and your retirement fund.
There are really only five simple rules for handling money:
1. Spend less then you earn. Save ten percent of your income. In 10 years you'll have one years salary put away.
2. Invest that money wisely. Start by using some of it for educating yourself about investing and business.
3. Search for good financial advice and use it. Find people who do it and are successful at it, whatever "it" is. If you don't know what is going on, you are just gambling, not investing.
4. Invest only in businesses you know about. Don't forget to keep learning new things.
5. Don't be tempted by a deal that look too good to be true. Remember, your profit comes when you buy not when you sell.
As in everything there is good debt and bad debt. You don't want any bad debt, which is generally called consumer debt, things like credit card debt. Generally it doesn't do anything for you. Good debt is debt you take on to leverage (or multiply) your money to acquire an asset that will produce money for you. For example, using some of your home equity to buy a rental property that will generate a passive cash flow to you. Don't be like the guy who buys a rental that costs him $100 more a month then he gets in rent, hoping to make the money when he sells it to some greater fool.
Ideally you want a passive income, income that comes from sources that you don't have to constantly work on (like interest, rents or royalties), that covers your basic expenses (mortgage, utilities, food) so that your family is supported even if something bad happens to you.
A Year's Supply
A Year's Supply is one of the best ways to feel more secure, if you lose your job there would still be food in the house.
Suggested Amounts of Basic Foods for Home Storage*
(Per adult for one year. This list may vary according to location.)
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,2006-1-1116-1,00.html
Grains (wheat, rice, corn, rolled oats, spaghetti)
400 pounds (181 kg)
72 #10 cans (wheat)
Legumes (dry beans, peas, lentils)
60 pounds (27 kg)
12 #10 cans (beans)
Powdered Milk
16 pounds (7 kg)
4 #10 cans
Sugar or Honey
60 pounds (27 kg)
10 #10 cans
Cooking Oil
10 quarts (9 liters)
Salt
8 pounds (3.6 kg)
Water** (2 weeks)
14 gallons (53 liters)
*See also Essentials of Home Production and Storage, 1978
**It is impractical for most families to store a year's supply of water. Fourteen gallons per person is a suggested minimum reserve.
***
A major problem with such basic foods is flavor fatigue, people have died due to not wanting to eat any more, so adding some flavorings to your supply is important. Whole spices will last for years if stored in a cool, dry, dark place. You would also need to add a mortar and pestle and a grater to grind or grate them down to useful sizes.
12 oz (339g) Whole peppercorns
8 oz (226g) Cinnamon sticks or chunks
8 oz (226g) Whole nutmeg
8 oz (226g) Whole cloves
And a large jar of hot sauce.
***
Beyond Food Storage
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,2004-1-1127-1,00.html
In addition to food and water, fuel and clothing are important to store.
By making reasonable preparations, individuals and families can minimize the difficulties that follow emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. To prepare, develop a plan of action for each type of emergency and store needed supplies. The following items could be helpful in an emergency:
• Matches, candles, lanterns, flashlights, and battery-operated lighting equipment
• A battery-operated radio, preferably a AM/FM/TV/Weather multiband radio
• Knives, a hatchet, a shovel, and other tools
• Medicine, blankets, spare eyeglasses and a first-aid kit
• Mess kits or paper cups, paper plates, and plastic utensils
• A manual can opener or Swiss Army Knife
• Wheat grinder, manual
• Plastic garbage bags and a plastic bucket
• Soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, and supplies for dentures and contact lenses
• Toilet paper and sanitary items, Charmin says Americans use about 1 roll per person per week.
• Money
• Books or games for children
Suggested Amounts of Basic Foods for Home Storage*
(Per adult for one year. This list may vary according to location.)
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,2006-1-1116-1,00.html
Grains (wheat, rice, corn, rolled oats, spaghetti)
400 pounds (181 kg)
72 #10 cans (wheat)
Legumes (dry beans, peas, lentils)
60 pounds (27 kg)
12 #10 cans (beans)
Powdered Milk
16 pounds (7 kg)
4 #10 cans
Sugar or Honey
60 pounds (27 kg)
10 #10 cans
Cooking Oil
10 quarts (9 liters)
Salt
8 pounds (3.6 kg)
Water** (2 weeks)
14 gallons (53 liters)
*See also Essentials of Home Production and Storage, 1978
**It is impractical for most families to store a year's supply of water. Fourteen gallons per person is a suggested minimum reserve.
***
A major problem with such basic foods is flavor fatigue, people have died due to not wanting to eat any more, so adding some flavorings to your supply is important. Whole spices will last for years if stored in a cool, dry, dark place. You would also need to add a mortar and pestle and a grater to grind or grate them down to useful sizes.
12 oz (339g) Whole peppercorns
8 oz (226g) Cinnamon sticks or chunks
8 oz (226g) Whole nutmeg
8 oz (226g) Whole cloves
And a large jar of hot sauce.
***
Beyond Food Storage
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,2004-1-1127-1,00.html
In addition to food and water, fuel and clothing are important to store.
By making reasonable preparations, individuals and families can minimize the difficulties that follow emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. To prepare, develop a plan of action for each type of emergency and store needed supplies. The following items could be helpful in an emergency:
• Matches, candles, lanterns, flashlights, and battery-operated lighting equipment
• A battery-operated radio, preferably a AM/FM/TV/Weather multiband radio
• Knives, a hatchet, a shovel, and other tools
• Medicine, blankets, spare eyeglasses and a first-aid kit
• Mess kits or paper cups, paper plates, and plastic utensils
• A manual can opener or Swiss Army Knife
• Wheat grinder, manual
• Plastic garbage bags and a plastic bucket
• Soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, and supplies for dentures and contact lenses
• Toilet paper and sanitary items, Charmin says Americans use about 1 roll per person per week.
• Money
• Books or games for children
Shelter in Place Kit
The Shelter In Place Kit is primarily for ride-it-out disasters, such as blizzards and blackouts.
Since you will be riding it out in your home you have a relatively large amount of space to work store things. Mostly you have everything you need already but getting it all organized beforehand gives you greater peace of mind.
A two week supply of food and water plus other supplies for your entire family. Two weeks is a good length since many of the disasters I have been part of and researched is about how long it takes for things to return to normal. For example the Northeast Icestorm of 1999 shutdown several major cities in the Northeast and Canada for nearly two weeks before they could restore basic services.
Most people have about two weeks supply of food at home at any given time, though they are often missing a staple or two, so keeping a staples list handy and up-to-date is important. Plus a few things like powdered milk and extra frozen meat.
I would also suggest to lay in a three day supply of "sick" food, food that is good when you are sick, such as cans of chicken soup, Gatorade, crackers and Jello. There have been occasions where my family has been really sick, I get something at work and I pass it to my wife a couple of days later who passes it to our daughter and then it mutates and it circles around again the other way. This cycle can take weeks and no one has the energy or desire to make dinner or go even go shopping.
You need to store enough water for everyone the basic amount is 1 gallon per person per day or 14 gallons per person for a two week period or 56 gallons for a family or four for two weeks.
For storing water you already have a nearly perfect storage device right now. You hot water heater. This will give you 30, 40 or even 50 gallons of good drinking water. The only real issue is in the case that the drinking water supply is contaminated. Yes, you can purify most things or boil them out but having am offline backup clean supply is better.
We like to use 2 liter soda bottles, we don't drink that much soda, but when we do we try to get 2 liter bottles which we then clean with hot soapy water dry and then add water and put a couple under every sink for easy access and the rest wherever it will fit.
Most homes have a gas grill for summer-time outdoor cooking, keep an extra bottle of fuel for such occasions when you may have to use it to cook all your meals.
Since you will be riding it out in your home you have a relatively large amount of space to work store things. Mostly you have everything you need already but getting it all organized beforehand gives you greater peace of mind.
A two week supply of food and water plus other supplies for your entire family. Two weeks is a good length since many of the disasters I have been part of and researched is about how long it takes for things to return to normal. For example the Northeast Icestorm of 1999 shutdown several major cities in the Northeast and Canada for nearly two weeks before they could restore basic services.
Most people have about two weeks supply of food at home at any given time, though they are often missing a staple or two, so keeping a staples list handy and up-to-date is important. Plus a few things like powdered milk and extra frozen meat.
I would also suggest to lay in a three day supply of "sick" food, food that is good when you are sick, such as cans of chicken soup, Gatorade, crackers and Jello. There have been occasions where my family has been really sick, I get something at work and I pass it to my wife a couple of days later who passes it to our daughter and then it mutates and it circles around again the other way. This cycle can take weeks and no one has the energy or desire to make dinner or go even go shopping.
You need to store enough water for everyone the basic amount is 1 gallon per person per day or 14 gallons per person for a two week period or 56 gallons for a family or four for two weeks.
For storing water you already have a nearly perfect storage device right now. You hot water heater. This will give you 30, 40 or even 50 gallons of good drinking water. The only real issue is in the case that the drinking water supply is contaminated. Yes, you can purify most things or boil them out but having am offline backup clean supply is better.
We like to use 2 liter soda bottles, we don't drink that much soda, but when we do we try to get 2 liter bottles which we then clean with hot soapy water dry and then add water and put a couple under every sink for easy access and the rest wherever it will fit.
Most homes have a gas grill for summer-time outdoor cooking, keep an extra bottle of fuel for such occasions when you may have to use it to cook all your meals.
Communications options.
During a disaster local phone lines and cell sites are overloaded as everyone is trying to contact each other. One of the simplest and best ways to contact each other is to establish an out-of-state contact person that all of you can call to coordinate who is where. It might take a little longer but it is far more likely as long distance lines are generally okay during disasters. Make sure everyone has a calling card and the contact phone numbers with them at all times.
During the 9/11 attack the cell phone and telephone systems were overwhelmed, but the Instant Message services and paging services were fine. Another option that has worked well is Short Message Service two-way paging. It is not as popular as cell phones and the information sent is much smaller so it can get through a lot easier.
Another option but the most expensive is using the Internet. Setting up a free website at someplace like Blogger is easy and that way everyone can leave messages to each other there. There are PDAs and cell phones that can hook up to the internet that can do this pretty well. The Internet was originally designed to withstand nuclear war so while calling out of the local disaster zone may be difficult the Internet will be there to communicate with.
For short range communications (2 miles) you can use Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkie radios. for a little longer range (5 miles) your can GSRM radios.
During the 9/11 attack the cell phone and telephone systems were overwhelmed, but the Instant Message services and paging services were fine. Another option that has worked well is Short Message Service two-way paging. It is not as popular as cell phones and the information sent is much smaller so it can get through a lot easier.
Another option but the most expensive is using the Internet. Setting up a free website at someplace like Blogger is easy and that way everyone can leave messages to each other there. There are PDAs and cell phones that can hook up to the internet that can do this pretty well. The Internet was originally designed to withstand nuclear war so while calling out of the local disaster zone may be difficult the Internet will be there to communicate with.
For short range communications (2 miles) you can use Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkie radios. for a little longer range (5 miles) your can GSRM radios.
Gathering and Evacuating
There are a number of disasters where the local government will advice evacuation, you need to have a plan to deal with that possibility. Hurricanes and Wildfires often have large scale evacuations. Small scale evacuations often come from things like chemical spills from a truck crash, or a burning warehouse.
A typical family ends up quite widely separated during an average weekday, The parents at different workplaces and the children in one or more schools.
There are three places you generally would be when a disaster could happen, you need to keep a 72 hour kit in each place:
Home
Work/school
Car/Traveling
You need a plan to gather everyone together so you can provide and protect your family.
Where will your spouse and children be?
How will you be able to contact them?
How will they contact you?
How will you gather together?
Where will you meet?
Where will each of you go if your building is evacuated?
Try to think of the worst case scenario for something to happen in. If you can solve that one, even if imperfectly, all the rest will be easy.
Most times you will try to get together back home which is fine in most cases, just have an alternate ready as well in case the home has been destroyed, from say a tornado or is otherwise inaccessible, a bridge collapsed.
What your responses would be may be different depending on where you are, mainly because of what resources you might have available to you to deal with the disaster.
Having pre-planned evacuation routes in all major directions is the ideal. For example Florida has had evacuations several times in the past few years due to hurricanes. A common feature to any major evacuation is that the Interstate end up jammed. People without plans take the most convenient route, and since hardly anyone has a plan they all pick the same route. So the evacuation plan should not depend on the Interstate but on other highways and roads. Practice using them at least once a year.
Having a good atlas in the car also allows you to route around cities and other things. Sometimes the best thing to do may be to go the long way to get where you want to go as fewer people will take that route and so you can go faster. For example going from Denver to Kansas City might be most direct by taking I-70 however most people without plans would take the most direct route and jam the highway. A route that would do better is to go North to Cheyenne and take I-80 East instead.
A typical family ends up quite widely separated during an average weekday, The parents at different workplaces and the children in one or more schools.
There are three places you generally would be when a disaster could happen, you need to keep a 72 hour kit in each place:
Home
Work/school
Car/Traveling
You need a plan to gather everyone together so you can provide and protect your family.
Where will your spouse and children be?
How will you be able to contact them?
How will they contact you?
How will you gather together?
Where will you meet?
Where will each of you go if your building is evacuated?
Try to think of the worst case scenario for something to happen in. If you can solve that one, even if imperfectly, all the rest will be easy.
Most times you will try to get together back home which is fine in most cases, just have an alternate ready as well in case the home has been destroyed, from say a tornado or is otherwise inaccessible, a bridge collapsed.
What your responses would be may be different depending on where you are, mainly because of what resources you might have available to you to deal with the disaster.
Having pre-planned evacuation routes in all major directions is the ideal. For example Florida has had evacuations several times in the past few years due to hurricanes. A common feature to any major evacuation is that the Interstate end up jammed. People without plans take the most convenient route, and since hardly anyone has a plan they all pick the same route. So the evacuation plan should not depend on the Interstate but on other highways and roads. Practice using them at least once a year.
Having a good atlas in the car also allows you to route around cities and other things. Sometimes the best thing to do may be to go the long way to get where you want to go as fewer people will take that route and so you can go faster. For example going from Denver to Kansas City might be most direct by taking I-70 however most people without plans would take the most direct route and jam the highway. A route that would do better is to go North to Cheyenne and take I-80 East instead.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
72 Hour Personal Evacuation Kit
Disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and chemical releases require you and your family to evacuate, You need to have a place to go to and a plan to get there. which I will discuss tomorrow, but here are some things you would need to get there.
In other cases a fast moving disaster like a tornado or earthquake will cut you off from the outside world for a short time. With most disasters there is a delay of about 3 days for most relief agencies to mobilize and get supplies to a disaster area. The food is not gourmet and most would recommend twice the water but this will get you by.
This kit has been broken down down into several sub kits to make it easier to understand what they are for. There are also basic and advanced sections so you can build up as you have the funds and experience. Basic should get you by, advanced will generally make it more comfortable. There are some duplications, that is intentional, some things you never have enough of.
You should try to put this into a backpack in case, your car is disabled and you must continue.
Food and Consumables Kit (per person)
These items need to be replaced every 6 months. At the same time check your spare tire for pressure, tires for wear and fluid levels.
Basic items (per person)
o 9 Energy bars (upgrade to MREs with heaters)
o 1 roll hard candies
o 3 1 liter bottles of seltzer water or club soda (has lower freezing point)
o First aid kit including prescriptions that the family needs.
o Batteries for flashlight, cellphone, weather radio, GPS, hearing aid, and other electronics
o Travel packs of baby wipes (clean hands)
Advanced items
o 3 more 1 liter bottles of seltzer water or club soda (has lower freezing point)
Clothes (per passenger)
Basic assumes you are dressed for the day, advanced assumes you had to jump out of bed. Put all of these in sealed plastic bags to keep them dry. Summer and winter make some changes.
Basic items
o 1 set socks and underwear. (cold wet feet are bad for warmth and morale)
o 1 wind breaker to keep the wind and rain off.
o 1 pair of work gloves
o 1 wool or fleece hat
o 1 emergency blanket
o 1 pair extra eyeglasses or contacts
Advanced items
o 1 long sleeved shirt
o 1 pair of pants
o 1 pair rain pants
o 1 pair mittens
o 1 sleeping bag
Tool Kit
o AM/FM/TV/Weather radio
o Flashlight
o Cellphone
o Swiss army knife or Multitool
o Candles and matches/lighters
Document Kit
List of important phone numbers, account numbers and ID numbers. If you home is destroyed, you can at least prove you owned it.
o Survival guide
o List of phone numbers and addresses and e-mails of important people in your life: parents, siblings, spouse, children, work, church, and anyone else important.
o Social security numbers
o Passports
o Birth certificates
o Mortgage, deeds and titles
o Drivers License
o Insurance Papers: Health, life, home, car, and etc.
o Family Genealogy
o Family Photos, labeled so you know who is who.
o House inventory video on DVD (insurance claim purposes)
o Backup CDs of the data on your computer.
Baby/Child (per Child)
This changes as children grow up, but for infants figure on 10 diapers and feedings per day. Even if you are breast feeding, put in the formula since you may have been seperated. Toddlers and older children would have water and canned baby food.
This should go into a shoulder bag if you have babies or small children. Older children can carry a small pack.
o 1 standard package of baby wipes
o 30 diapers, also very useful for controlling bleeding
o 30 sticks of formula for bottle feedings
o 2 bottles with nipples and rings
o 2 2l bottle of water to make formula and clean bottles
o 3 sets of clothes
o 1 Blankie
o 1 stuffed animal or other comfort toy
Toiletries (per person)
Things to keep you feeling clean, which is great for morale.
Basic items
o 1 mini Kleenex
o 1 travel toothbrush or toothbrush in zip lock bag
o 1 trial size toothpaste
o 1 trial size soap
o 1 disposable razor
o 1 metal camp cup (can boil water in)
o 1 travel pack baby wipes
o 1 trial size shampoo and conditioner
o 1 roll toilet paper
o 16 Overnight Feminine Hygiene Napkins
Advanced items
o 1 nail file (smooth nails, roughen wires for better connections)
o 1 pack breath mints (sugar based for the energy)
o 1 small comb
o 1 trail size antiperspirant
o 1 camp mirror (useful for signaling)
o 1 manual breast pump (if you get seperated from your baby)
In other cases a fast moving disaster like a tornado or earthquake will cut you off from the outside world for a short time. With most disasters there is a delay of about 3 days for most relief agencies to mobilize and get supplies to a disaster area. The food is not gourmet and most would recommend twice the water but this will get you by.
This kit has been broken down down into several sub kits to make it easier to understand what they are for. There are also basic and advanced sections so you can build up as you have the funds and experience. Basic should get you by, advanced will generally make it more comfortable. There are some duplications, that is intentional, some things you never have enough of.
You should try to put this into a backpack in case, your car is disabled and you must continue.
Food and Consumables Kit (per person)
These items need to be replaced every 6 months. At the same time check your spare tire for pressure, tires for wear and fluid levels.
Basic items (per person)
o 9 Energy bars (upgrade to MREs with heaters)
o 1 roll hard candies
o 3 1 liter bottles of seltzer water or club soda (has lower freezing point)
o First aid kit including prescriptions that the family needs.
o Batteries for flashlight, cellphone, weather radio, GPS, hearing aid, and other electronics
o Travel packs of baby wipes (clean hands)
Advanced items
o 3 more 1 liter bottles of seltzer water or club soda (has lower freezing point)
Clothes (per passenger)
Basic assumes you are dressed for the day, advanced assumes you had to jump out of bed. Put all of these in sealed plastic bags to keep them dry. Summer and winter make some changes.
Basic items
o 1 set socks and underwear. (cold wet feet are bad for warmth and morale)
o 1 wind breaker to keep the wind and rain off.
o 1 pair of work gloves
o 1 wool or fleece hat
o 1 emergency blanket
o 1 pair extra eyeglasses or contacts
Advanced items
o 1 long sleeved shirt
o 1 pair of pants
o 1 pair rain pants
o 1 pair mittens
o 1 sleeping bag
Tool Kit
o AM/FM/TV/Weather radio
o Flashlight
o Cellphone
o Swiss army knife or Multitool
o Candles and matches/lighters
Document Kit
List of important phone numbers, account numbers and ID numbers. If you home is destroyed, you can at least prove you owned it.
o Survival guide
o List of phone numbers and addresses and e-mails of important people in your life: parents, siblings, spouse, children, work, church, and anyone else important.
o Social security numbers
o Passports
o Birth certificates
o Mortgage, deeds and titles
o Drivers License
o Insurance Papers: Health, life, home, car, and etc.
o Family Genealogy
o Family Photos, labeled so you know who is who.
o House inventory video on DVD (insurance claim purposes)
o Backup CDs of the data on your computer.
Baby/Child (per Child)
This changes as children grow up, but for infants figure on 10 diapers and feedings per day. Even if you are breast feeding, put in the formula since you may have been seperated. Toddlers and older children would have water and canned baby food.
This should go into a shoulder bag if you have babies or small children. Older children can carry a small pack.
o 1 standard package of baby wipes
o 30 diapers, also very useful for controlling bleeding
o 30 sticks of formula for bottle feedings
o 2 bottles with nipples and rings
o 2 2l bottle of water to make formula and clean bottles
o 3 sets of clothes
o 1 Blankie
o 1 stuffed animal or other comfort toy
Toiletries (per person)
Things to keep you feeling clean, which is great for morale.
Basic items
o 1 mini Kleenex
o 1 travel toothbrush or toothbrush in zip lock bag
o 1 trial size toothpaste
o 1 trial size soap
o 1 disposable razor
o 1 metal camp cup (can boil water in)
o 1 travel pack baby wipes
o 1 trial size shampoo and conditioner
o 1 roll toilet paper
o 16 Overnight Feminine Hygiene Napkins
Advanced items
o 1 nail file (smooth nails, roughen wires for better connections)
o 1 pack breath mints (sugar based for the energy)
o 1 small comb
o 1 trail size antiperspirant
o 1 camp mirror (useful for signaling)
o 1 manual breast pump (if you get seperated from your baby)
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Disaster List
With all the things going on right now, Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, and Ivan, the terrorist takeover of a Russian school, wildfires and drought in the West, and an economy that doesn't seem to be doing much I put together a list of disasters that can occur.
This list is in approximate order of effect: personal, family, community, region, continent, global.
Cronic medical condition
Acute sickness
Injury
House fire
Appliance failure
Car failure
Car crash
Animal Attack
Burglary/Mugging/Home Invasion
Utility Failure
Birth of a baby
Layoff/Job Loss
School Shooting
Hostage Situation
Wind storm
Thunderstorm
Hail
Tornado
Blizzard
Avalanche
Wild fire
Flood/Flash flood
Hurricane
Earthquake
Nuclear
Biological
Chemical
Drought
Famine
Economic Downturn/Recession/Depression
Epidemic/Pandemic
Volcano / Supervolcano
Tsunami (Tidal Wave)/ Mega-tsunami
Asteriod Impact
What disasters are likely where you live?
Give it a rating of (very unlikely), (unlikely), (somewhat likely), (likely), (very likely).
Give it a likely time scale to happen: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 years.
Give it a area of effect rating: family, neighborhood/business, city, state, nation, or planet.
These rating together will show you where you want to concentrate your resources at first.
Thinking about the effects of each kind of disaster will help you get ready for them. Thinking through what would happen and what you would need is a big step in getting ready.
This list is in approximate order of effect: personal, family, community, region, continent, global.
Cronic medical condition
Acute sickness
Injury
House fire
Appliance failure
Car failure
Car crash
Animal Attack
Burglary/Mugging/Home Invasion
Utility Failure
Birth of a baby
Layoff/Job Loss
School Shooting
Hostage Situation
Wind storm
Thunderstorm
Hail
Tornado
Blizzard
Avalanche
Wild fire
Flood/Flash flood
Hurricane
Earthquake
Nuclear
Biological
Chemical
Drought
Famine
Economic Downturn/Recession/Depression
Epidemic/Pandemic
Volcano / Supervolcano
Tsunami (Tidal Wave)/ Mega-tsunami
Asteriod Impact
What disasters are likely where you live?
Give it a rating of (very unlikely), (unlikely), (somewhat likely), (likely), (very likely).
Give it a likely time scale to happen: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 years.
Give it a area of effect rating: family, neighborhood/business, city, state, nation, or planet.
These rating together will show you where you want to concentrate your resources at first.
Thinking about the effects of each kind of disaster will help you get ready for them. Thinking through what would happen and what you would need is a big step in getting ready.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
I am very thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since my mother died a few people have talked to me about how terrible it is to lose someone. And I have to explain that I haven't lost here. We are still a part of a family. We were sealed by the power of God to be an eternal family, that is what "sealing in heaven and on earth" is all about. It took a lot of work to be ready for that, and it still takes a lot of work to repent of my sins all the time. God established the family before the Fall of Adam, before mortality, so there must be some way for the family to continue into eternity. And it is through the sealing power that it is so.
After our daughter died in 2000 it was terrible. The grief literature that the hospital and insurance sent was just too depressing to read because no one had any hope of ever seeing their family again. It doesn't have to be this way, and it is terrible to see in peoples eyes the desire not to hope that it could be this way. That they could be disappointed if they allowed themselves that hope. I want them so desperately to believe and be happy and to know real joy.
I don't expect them believe me, I am no one and nothing, I don't want you to believe me. Ask the omnipotent, omniscient God, our all-loving Heavenly Father, what He thinks and He will answer your sincere, heartfelt prayers. He loves you unconditionally and wants you to be happy. Christ atoned for us to help us and He is there to help.
Prayer is powerful. Do it.
P.S. To learn more go here.
After our daughter died in 2000 it was terrible. The grief literature that the hospital and insurance sent was just too depressing to read because no one had any hope of ever seeing their family again. It doesn't have to be this way, and it is terrible to see in peoples eyes the desire not to hope that it could be this way. That they could be disappointed if they allowed themselves that hope. I want them so desperately to believe and be happy and to know real joy.
I don't expect them believe me, I am no one and nothing, I don't want you to believe me. Ask the omnipotent, omniscient God, our all-loving Heavenly Father, what He thinks and He will answer your sincere, heartfelt prayers. He loves you unconditionally and wants you to be happy. Christ atoned for us to help us and He is there to help.
Prayer is powerful. Do it.
P.S. To learn more go here.
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