-
Ed Winkle, over at Hymark High Spots, asked me recently how I got folks to comment on my blog. Other than the old advice to be sure to comment on theirs in return, I didn't have much to tell him. There doesn't seem to be any way to predict when people will comment, or what will catch their fancy. Some posts that are off the cuff draw scads of comment, while other well-thought-out and decently-written pieces draw almost nothing. Some weekends and holidays seem busy and comments take a dive, while others must be more leisurely and folks have a lot to say. Recently, the traffic to my off-beat little blog has been up considerably, yet comments are down. I can't figure it out. Any ideas? BTW, you should check out Ed's blog; he's had several good posts that caught my eye lately. I can't comment on his last one, though, since I have no experience with the matter.
-
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sorry, I Just Don’t Believe In Atheists.
-
The Holy Bible says that no one, anywhere in the world, has any excuse not to know that there is a god. It says that the very world around us screams His existence (my paraphrase). Proverbs tells us that “the fool says in his heart there is no god.” So, while atheists may say that they don’t believe in God, it’s obvious that He believes in THEM. In fact, Jesus died on the cross for them the same as for anyone else. Of course, some atheists go so far as to say that Jesus never existed, either, but there is too much secular proof to the contrary for that argument to hold water.
It’s always been my opinion that those who claim to be atheists are actually just so vain that they refuse to accept the existence of any power greater than their own mind. I say this after having known a few in my time, including one fellow in my family with a genius IQ. Due to a lack of judgment in many everyday things, he’s sometimes referred to as my “idiot” cousin. (Strange, how genius and idiocy are so closely related.) I also consider it to be a sort of Freudian slip that many so-called atheists are quick to take the Lord’s name (title actually) in vain. If they don’t believe in God, isn’t taking His name in vain sort of like saying “Mickey Mouse Dammit?” I don’t see any of them rushing to do that. The only logical reasons for it, then, is a subconscious belief in a God they chose to denigrate, OR a deliberate desire to offend the believers among us. The first is sad and ironic; the second is rude and childish.
Some atheists say that the whole evolution thing is their main reason for not believing in God. All major religions claim that their god created the world while, in the atheist mind, science “proves” otherwise. Academia and the media are quick to accept Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Strangely, they never mention that Darwin later recanted his theory, admitting that he was mistaken. That theory continues to be taught as fact in our schools, when the reality is that it remains only an unproven theory. I once saw where some odds-makers (think “bookies”) tried to figure out the odds of evolution. It was several million to one AGAINST man coming from a piece of pond scum, yet atheists and others expect us to accept that premise blindly. Even more telling is that the odds would be nearly the same for each of the many thousands of creatures on the earth, in the sea and in the air. What then would be the odds of that piece of pond scum (or thousands of separate pieces) begetting EVERY SPECIES ON EARTH? It takes far more faith and insanity to believe in that kind of “luck” than in a creator. I remember a few decades ago when Dr. Leakey was constantly discovering the “missing link” in Africa. EVERY TIME human remains were found within months that proved to be older than his latest “link.” Perhaps the apes are descended from US!
We’ve all heard people who say that they don’t believe in anything that can’t be proven scientifically. Yet, they don’t mention that the non-existence of God is just as impossible to prove as His existence. Remember, too, that “science” once insisted that the earth was the center of the solar system and that “bleeding” patients made them healthier. Most of the people reading this are old enough to remember “science” reversing itself on several issues in the past few decades. Let’s face it; science is nothing more than a system of educated guesses. Mind you, I’m not trying to dismiss science, only those people who believe it blindly.
And so, I have come to the conclusion that atheists do not exist. I believe that somewhere down deep inside of their hearts, hides the knowledge of His existence. That belief may be buried, denied and fought against from within, but it’s there. It is that uncomfortable knowledge that causes many of them to struggle against those who believe otherwise, hoping to change their mind or outlaw their religion. It is that knowledge that also causes them to mock others (including many scientists) who chose to admit their belief. That same knowledge sometimes moves those in great distress to rail against a god that they say doesn’t exist. However, it can also bring about deathbed and foxhole conversions, and often has over the years.
What, then, IS an atheist? I believe it is simply someone who has so successfully lied to himself about God’s existence, that he really believes he’s telling the truth when he shares his supposed opinions with others. Christians need to remember not to mock or be angry or mean to such people; they actually deserve our pity and need our prayers. “Atheists,” on the other hand, need to remember that God really DOES love them, whether they like it or not! © 2012
-
The Holy Bible says that no one, anywhere in the world, has any excuse not to know that there is a god. It says that the very world around us screams His existence (my paraphrase). Proverbs tells us that “the fool says in his heart there is no god.” So, while atheists may say that they don’t believe in God, it’s obvious that He believes in THEM. In fact, Jesus died on the cross for them the same as for anyone else. Of course, some atheists go so far as to say that Jesus never existed, either, but there is too much secular proof to the contrary for that argument to hold water.
It’s always been my opinion that those who claim to be atheists are actually just so vain that they refuse to accept the existence of any power greater than their own mind. I say this after having known a few in my time, including one fellow in my family with a genius IQ. Due to a lack of judgment in many everyday things, he’s sometimes referred to as my “idiot” cousin. (Strange, how genius and idiocy are so closely related.) I also consider it to be a sort of Freudian slip that many so-called atheists are quick to take the Lord’s name (title actually) in vain. If they don’t believe in God, isn’t taking His name in vain sort of like saying “Mickey Mouse Dammit?” I don’t see any of them rushing to do that. The only logical reasons for it, then, is a subconscious belief in a God they chose to denigrate, OR a deliberate desire to offend the believers among us. The first is sad and ironic; the second is rude and childish.
Some atheists say that the whole evolution thing is their main reason for not believing in God. All major religions claim that their god created the world while, in the atheist mind, science “proves” otherwise. Academia and the media are quick to accept Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Strangely, they never mention that Darwin later recanted his theory, admitting that he was mistaken. That theory continues to be taught as fact in our schools, when the reality is that it remains only an unproven theory. I once saw where some odds-makers (think “bookies”) tried to figure out the odds of evolution. It was several million to one AGAINST man coming from a piece of pond scum, yet atheists and others expect us to accept that premise blindly. Even more telling is that the odds would be nearly the same for each of the many thousands of creatures on the earth, in the sea and in the air. What then would be the odds of that piece of pond scum (or thousands of separate pieces) begetting EVERY SPECIES ON EARTH? It takes far more faith and insanity to believe in that kind of “luck” than in a creator. I remember a few decades ago when Dr. Leakey was constantly discovering the “missing link” in Africa. EVERY TIME human remains were found within months that proved to be older than his latest “link.” Perhaps the apes are descended from US!
We’ve all heard people who say that they don’t believe in anything that can’t be proven scientifically. Yet, they don’t mention that the non-existence of God is just as impossible to prove as His existence. Remember, too, that “science” once insisted that the earth was the center of the solar system and that “bleeding” patients made them healthier. Most of the people reading this are old enough to remember “science” reversing itself on several issues in the past few decades. Let’s face it; science is nothing more than a system of educated guesses. Mind you, I’m not trying to dismiss science, only those people who believe it blindly.
And so, I have come to the conclusion that atheists do not exist. I believe that somewhere down deep inside of their hearts, hides the knowledge of His existence. That belief may be buried, denied and fought against from within, but it’s there. It is that uncomfortable knowledge that causes many of them to struggle against those who believe otherwise, hoping to change their mind or outlaw their religion. It is that knowledge that also causes them to mock others (including many scientists) who chose to admit their belief. That same knowledge sometimes moves those in great distress to rail against a god that they say doesn’t exist. However, it can also bring about deathbed and foxhole conversions, and often has over the years.
What, then, IS an atheist? I believe it is simply someone who has so successfully lied to himself about God’s existence, that he really believes he’s telling the truth when he shares his supposed opinions with others. Christians need to remember not to mock or be angry or mean to such people; they actually deserve our pity and need our prayers. “Atheists,” on the other hand, need to remember that God really DOES love them, whether they like it or not! © 2012
-
Saturday, January 28, 2012
During The Flood
-
+George+&+Justine+Wharton+Frazier,+Junior+Dye,+Alma+Wharton(later+Kesterson),+Fred+Sivert+(dog+unknown).jpg)
My father, center, turned 12 years old on this date in 1937, while the 1937 Flood was in full swing . This picture was taken on the hill, at the home where he was born, though they were living at the house in the valley at the time. The folks in the picture were neighbors. I don't know whose dog the guy is holding. I don't know if this was taken on his birthday or not; probably not. His next-to-oldest sister may have been living in the house at the time, but I don't know that either. In 1949, he and Mom would move into the house and Dad would spend the rest of his life there, passing away in 1984 at age 59. I just happened to think - the school was about a mile up the road through flood water, and to walk the ridges to get there would be about a two or three mile hike. I doubt if the teacher could get there anyway, so the kids probably got an unplanned vacation. I doubt if many of them minded.
-
+George+&+Justine+Wharton+Frazier,+Junior+Dye,+Alma+Wharton(later+Kesterson),+Fred+Sivert+(dog+unknown).jpg)
My father, center, turned 12 years old on this date in 1937, while the 1937 Flood was in full swing . This picture was taken on the hill, at the home where he was born, though they were living at the house in the valley at the time. The folks in the picture were neighbors. I don't know whose dog the guy is holding. I don't know if this was taken on his birthday or not; probably not. His next-to-oldest sister may have been living in the house at the time, but I don't know that either. In 1949, he and Mom would move into the house and Dad would spend the rest of his life there, passing away in 1984 at age 59. I just happened to think - the school was about a mile up the road through flood water, and to walk the ridges to get there would be about a two or three mile hike. I doubt if the teacher could get there anyway, so the kids probably got an unplanned vacation. I doubt if many of them minded.
-
New Bushcraft Blog
-
Well. new for me anyway! Check it out if you're into such things:
http://montanabushcraftandcountryliving.blogspot.com/
-
Well. new for me anyway! Check it out if you're into such things:
http://montanabushcraftandcountryliving.blogspot.com/
-
A Valid Question
-
Viking Preparedness asks a valid question about leadership in survival situations. See what you think.
-
Viking Preparedness asks a valid question about leadership in survival situations. See what you think.
-
Friday, January 27, 2012
Ralph's Been Cutting Wood
-
Over at Mindless Ramblings, Ralph Goff has been cutting wood with some of the neighbors. Boy does the sound of that ol' "buzz-saw" bring back the memories!
-
Over at Mindless Ramblings, Ralph Goff has been cutting wood with some of the neighbors. Boy does the sound of that ol' "buzz-saw" bring back the memories!
-
Another Murder Victim
-
I had written a post for today, full of venom, for those in the medical field who deliberately kill their patients for filthy lucre. However, for fear of further upsetting those who said good-bye to a young cancer victim today, I'll wait. I DO ask that all my fellow bloggers and followers who Are Christians pray for the friends and family of the young woman who's passing triggered my anger. You may not know them, but the Lord does. Thank you.
-
I had written a post for today, full of venom, for those in the medical field who deliberately kill their patients for filthy lucre. However, for fear of further upsetting those who said good-bye to a young cancer victim today, I'll wait. I DO ask that all my fellow bloggers and followers who Are Christians pray for the friends and family of the young woman who's passing triggered my anger. You may not know them, but the Lord does. Thank you.
-
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Guru Speaks On The Storage Life Of Food And Water
-
This is to answer your questions from personal experience as well as from books I have read, as well as from current Internet sites for verification:
If packed in a nitrogen atmosphere, dried potato slices, dried beans, white rice (lasts almost forever), etc, will keep for at least 20 years; freeze dried and sealed in a cool, dry nitrogen atmosphere would also keep for 25+ years ...but they must be stored in that nitrogen atmosphere to keep that long and retain flavor.
Just sitting on the shelf, if kept in a cool DRY place (like my sealed but turned off vermin-proof freezer) and in manufacturers' original packaging, dried (but not freeze dried) items keep for about 4 years before I notice the flavor changing (rice and beans, as well as flour). Potato flakes in sealed cardboard packages (original package, placed in a large Ziploc or plastic bag) have tended to last only a year or two before taste is noticeably changed. If the item is low moisture (like raisins, dried dates or dried apricots which retain a stickiness and some moisture), I suspect in a sealed package they would keep on the shelf for a year or two, but not much longer — there is enough moisture for any biological impurities to eventually start multiplying and I have even found worms in both raisins and dates after 18 months so I avoid doing it any more. Of course, in nitrogen nothing grows, nor in foods that have been irradiated, as some now are. If you’re not worried about flavor, white rice kept dry and sealed from moisture and bugs should last a hundred or more years.
This is what both personal experience and research over the years has turned up, with the assumption foods are being stored in a cool (70° or less), dark area and with no chance of bugs or vermin getting in — like a large, sealed plastic camping cooler, unused but sealed chest freezer in the basement (like mine), sealed mud- or paint-buckets (5 gallon or more) in a basement (There are so many variables in storage conditions, containers, and product preparation that exact times cannot be guaranteed.
• Soft grains --- around 8 years
• Hard grains --- 10+ years
• White rice --- 8+ years
• Beans --- 8+ years
• Honey/White Sugar/Salt, well sealed from bugs --- decades
Self sealed and stored as above, preferably vacuumed, then dry nitrogen from a high pressure nitrogen cylinder is introduced so there is as close to zero oxygen in the containers as possible doing it yourself — I have introduced dry nitrogen slowly from the bottom of a bucket using a buried hose that is pulled out.
• Peanut butter, vacuum sealed with all O2 removed --- 5 years (but most peanut butter is not vacuum sealed and it is a mess to try)
• Dehydrated vegetables, nitrogen sealed from O2 -- 10-25+ years
• Dehydrated Dairy products, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- about 5-15 years
BTW, butter, stored in wood kegs in brine --- well, I've eaten some that was more than 14 years old (and did not like the STRONG) taste — but it was edible; I would recommend only 4-5 years though and personally would do without or make it fresh from the appropriate mammal!
• Flours, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 5-25+ years
• Pastas, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 10-25 years
• Dehydrated fruit, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 5+ years
• White rice, nitrogen sealed from O2 to retain flavor --- potentially decades
• Brown rice, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- perhaps 2 years MAX
• Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) from soy beans, dried and nitrogen sealed from O2 --- easily 20 years
• Yeast, left in sealed packets, perhaps 5 years ... no longer; yeast is alive and it will eventually die.
HOWEVER, if you get food from a quality packager who does all the packing in a dry nitrogen environment, perhaps including in the cans an oxygen-absorber packet where necessary (similar to the small white packets in many bags of beef jerky), with quality control, and who uses freeze drying to virtually eliminate moisture, I would say the average keeping time is about 25 years for most all the foods, including pastas with freeze-dried meats. This would include canned in tin (actually steel) cans products from Sam Andy or Mountain House who do claim 25 year shelf lives. I am sure there are others.
AS FOR WATER: distilled water, while it might not taste that great, has nothing in it and off-the-shelf sealed gallon containers of it keep for many, many years before anything grows in it. In fact, I have never had unopened jugs of distilled water go bad; in one case I had put a gallon on a shelf to use later (2-for-1 sale, and I was topping off a couple of batteries with the other gallon) and forgot it — over ten years later it was still perfect and I recently partially used it in my deep-discharge RV "house" battery. The remaining water still had that distilled no-taste! It is my understanding that distilled and in pre-sterilized glass or thick plastic bottles, water can be stored for decades. Filtered or bottled water in the 1 gallon & 2.5 gallon jugs or water fountain carboys does not seem to keep as long. I would assume filtered bottled water in the wasteful throwaways, would keep about the same but truly do not know the life.
-
This is to answer your questions from personal experience as well as from books I have read, as well as from current Internet sites for verification:
If packed in a nitrogen atmosphere, dried potato slices, dried beans, white rice (lasts almost forever), etc, will keep for at least 20 years; freeze dried and sealed in a cool, dry nitrogen atmosphere would also keep for 25+ years ...but they must be stored in that nitrogen atmosphere to keep that long and retain flavor.
Just sitting on the shelf, if kept in a cool DRY place (like my sealed but turned off vermin-proof freezer) and in manufacturers' original packaging, dried (but not freeze dried) items keep for about 4 years before I notice the flavor changing (rice and beans, as well as flour). Potato flakes in sealed cardboard packages (original package, placed in a large Ziploc or plastic bag) have tended to last only a year or two before taste is noticeably changed. If the item is low moisture (like raisins, dried dates or dried apricots which retain a stickiness and some moisture), I suspect in a sealed package they would keep on the shelf for a year or two, but not much longer — there is enough moisture for any biological impurities to eventually start multiplying and I have even found worms in both raisins and dates after 18 months so I avoid doing it any more. Of course, in nitrogen nothing grows, nor in foods that have been irradiated, as some now are. If you’re not worried about flavor, white rice kept dry and sealed from moisture and bugs should last a hundred or more years.
This is what both personal experience and research over the years has turned up, with the assumption foods are being stored in a cool (70° or less), dark area and with no chance of bugs or vermin getting in — like a large, sealed plastic camping cooler, unused but sealed chest freezer in the basement (like mine), sealed mud- or paint-buckets (5 gallon or more) in a basement (There are so many variables in storage conditions, containers, and product preparation that exact times cannot be guaranteed.
• Soft grains --- around 8 years
• Hard grains --- 10+ years
• White rice --- 8+ years
• Beans --- 8+ years
• Honey/White Sugar/Salt, well sealed from bugs --- decades
Self sealed and stored as above, preferably vacuumed, then dry nitrogen from a high pressure nitrogen cylinder is introduced so there is as close to zero oxygen in the containers as possible doing it yourself — I have introduced dry nitrogen slowly from the bottom of a bucket using a buried hose that is pulled out.
• Peanut butter, vacuum sealed with all O2 removed --- 5 years (but most peanut butter is not vacuum sealed and it is a mess to try)
• Dehydrated vegetables, nitrogen sealed from O2 -- 10-25+ years
• Dehydrated Dairy products, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- about 5-15 years
BTW, butter, stored in wood kegs in brine --- well, I've eaten some that was more than 14 years old (and did not like the STRONG) taste — but it was edible; I would recommend only 4-5 years though and personally would do without or make it fresh from the appropriate mammal!
• Flours, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 5-25+ years
• Pastas, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 10-25 years
• Dehydrated fruit, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- 5+ years
• White rice, nitrogen sealed from O2 to retain flavor --- potentially decades
• Brown rice, nitrogen sealed from O2 --- perhaps 2 years MAX
• Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) from soy beans, dried and nitrogen sealed from O2 --- easily 20 years
• Yeast, left in sealed packets, perhaps 5 years ... no longer; yeast is alive and it will eventually die.
HOWEVER, if you get food from a quality packager who does all the packing in a dry nitrogen environment, perhaps including in the cans an oxygen-absorber packet where necessary (similar to the small white packets in many bags of beef jerky), with quality control, and who uses freeze drying to virtually eliminate moisture, I would say the average keeping time is about 25 years for most all the foods, including pastas with freeze-dried meats. This would include canned in tin (actually steel) cans products from Sam Andy or Mountain House who do claim 25 year shelf lives. I am sure there are others.
AS FOR WATER: distilled water, while it might not taste that great, has nothing in it and off-the-shelf sealed gallon containers of it keep for many, many years before anything grows in it. In fact, I have never had unopened jugs of distilled water go bad; in one case I had put a gallon on a shelf to use later (2-for-1 sale, and I was topping off a couple of batteries with the other gallon) and forgot it — over ten years later it was still perfect and I recently partially used it in my deep-discharge RV "house" battery. The remaining water still had that distilled no-taste! It is my understanding that distilled and in pre-sterilized glass or thick plastic bottles, water can be stored for decades. Filtered or bottled water in the 1 gallon & 2.5 gallon jugs or water fountain carboys does not seem to keep as long. I would assume filtered bottled water in the wasteful throwaways, would keep about the same but truly do not know the life.
-
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Generators - Thoughts From The Guru
-
Yeah, this is one LONG post, but there's a lot of good information here. I'm glad the guru agreed to let me share it.
Enough of that. Here's the first step in finding a generator:
Yeah, this is one LONG post, but there's a lot of good information here. I'm glad the guru agreed to let me share it.
American society today is energy-addicted with no one thinking twice about its availability everywhere. Heck, having gone from backpacking, to car camping, and now to small trailer camping even I, who was raised for the most part without reliable electricity, have become very dependent on it. In fact, I finally broke down and purchased a QUIET, inverter-generator several years ago so I could "boondock" with no utilities in remote areas. Having that generator, while a substantial investment at the time, let me have lights, microwave, and even air conditioning if I needed it.
Moreover, that generator allows me to plug in certain house devices (furnace, fridge, and freezer) during long term power outages, as well as have some light while the neighbors remain in the dark ages. Depending on the situation, there are many times where some portable electricity would make your life better, even if it simply be at a powerless home construction site or tailgating from your car — as long as that generator is quiet (and I am a strong believer in QUIET ... I hate the loud, chainsaw racket cheap, non-inverter generators produce). There is a wide range of power generation equipment available at many prices. Hopefully these tips will help you understand how to choose the proper generator that will meet your needs.
The first step is to determine how many watts of power you will need. Remember, the higher the wattage generator, the more fuel it will use and the larger it will be. For most car camping, a 1KW (kilowatt) or 2KW luggage size and weight inverter generator will do fine. A small trailer with an air conditioner and microwave may need 3.5-4KW. A palace on wheels may require 10-25KW. If you are looking at something for your home, out back where the noise won't cause an issue, there are wonderful 6-15KW emergency backup generators that look like and are housed like an outside air conditioner unit.
Personally, I prefer the slightly more expensive inverter-generators as they are usually much quieter and provide regulated current that is safe for any and all electronic equipment, unlike the non-inverter types that can damage sensitive equipment, but work fine for furnaces, fridges, and the like. A good inverter generator takes whatever the generator/alternator component is making and up-converts it to pure sine wave through electronics and provides rock solid, clean, 120vac 60hz (here in the States; other voltages and hertz are available for countries with different standard power), exactly as your power company does. In fact, many inverter generators can be hooked together to combine power, unlike other types of generator. An example is the easily toteable, 44 pound Honda eu2000i; two of them can be ganged together to provide close to 4000 watts of peak usable power.
My generator is a Yamaha EF3000iSEB 3000 watt inverter generator with an extra 500 watts "boost" that runs on gasoline, LPG, or natural gas and was purchased almost ten years ago — it still runs and looks like new. But, in fact, it has never tasted gasoline since my wife gets migraines when she smells gasoline, and especially diesel, fumes. Running only on LPG or natural gas, this barely manageable 140 pound "portable" gem on wheels runs cleaner than your gas oven baking turkey at Thanksgiving, while your burners cook all the additional yummies. Further, it is very quiet and highly efficient, getting more power out of every drop of fuel than non-inverter generators do. And, did say it is clean, clean, clean!
US Carburetion Inc. is the authorized Yamaha dealer of hybrid (multi fuel) generators, and the one I purchased my genset from. Besides, they are located right here in my state in Summersville, West Virginia: http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/ I highly recommend them!
Enough of that. Here's the first step in finding a generator:
1. Figure out the proper wattage you will need. All electrical devices show wattage on their info sticker, but you can also find generic lists of power needs on many web sites that will help you size a generator (here's one reputable site: http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/generator/sizing.aspx ) . If all you need is something to charge batteries, it can be small. But if you want to run your fridge and furnace, you will need to take into account both running as well as starting power requirements (motors require more power to start them turning than when they are running at speed). Add up the highest wattages of the devices you plan to use. Do not try to power everything at once ... plan on using some common sense energy management — bigger generators cost MORE ... sometimes LOTS MORE. For a small home where you need to keep the fuel-fired furnace running, you could easily get away with a 3-4K unit. But if you have electric heat, you are SOL unless you have a big budget for a big generator!
You can do what I do: operate the portable generator outside, and run a couple of extension cords inside where I plug in my fridge and furnace and a light or two. But if you have a larger, more permanent system, you will need to have an electrician install a power transfer switch into your home's electrical system; this is the only way anything hard-wired into your system, like many furnaces' electronics and blower, can run but still provide protection to any lineman working on the power lines as well as prevent an overload from your neighbors whose devices may also try to suck from your generator.
2. Consider the type of engine used by the generator. I cannot recommend the cheap 2-strokes that require you to mix oil with the gasoline. They are noisy, short lived, and stink (like many gas powered garden string trimmers, only worse). Better generators, most in fact, are powered by 4-stroke engines. Like automobiles and most loud lawnmowers today, just add gasoline and once in a while change the oil. Generally, they are also air cooled so run them in an open area ... never in an enclosed space.
3. Most portable generators run on gasoline, although some like mine run on propane (also called liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) or natural gas as well. Mine is a tri-fuel unit. Also consider fuel efficiency of the unit. For example, the Yamaha EF2000iS (you can tell I like Yamaha) generator is not inexpensive, but can run about 10 hours on a gallon of gas, generates 2,000 watts, weighs just 44 pounds, and plays nicely with sensitive electronics. Personally, I prefer to run a Yamaha LPG inverter hybrid conversion since — here it comes again! — LPG burns super cleanly (and smell free).
4. Loudness/Noise: If you've ever camped near someone running a generator all night, you know the noise pollution and annoyance it causes. Some can be as loud as (or louder than) 100 decibels, which is the sound of a gas lawnmower at three feet from your ear or someone gunning a poorly-muffled motorcycle while you stand next to it. Ninety decibels is about that of a hair dryer running close to your ear, and 80 is similar to a loud vacuum cleaner next to you — do you think you could live with that all day?
My Yamaha runs between 53 and 60 decibels, which is somewhere between the noisiness of a quiet office and conversational speech in a restaurant. In fact, at half power and ten feet away on a lawn, you hardly notice it. In the trailer, with a thin wall between us and the generator, we hear nothing. It is quiet because it is an inverter generator with economy mode settings.
5. Miscellaneous: I prefer an electric start generator and, in fact, my start battery pumps an additional 500 watts into the outlet for up to a minute or so which helps with motor and A/C starting (remember, motors have higher start-current than run-current draws). However, I can also easily pull-start my generator with the integral rope starter if the battery ever goes dead — and in ten years that has happened only once. I also like auto shutoff when oil levels get too low and the ability as an option to remote start my unit with a fob. For using gasoline, my generator has a fuel gauge (but as I mentioned previously, it has never tasted gasoline and won't unless it is an emergency).
6. Permanent or semi permanent installation: You need to have an electrician install a transfer switch, either automatic or manual. Period. No balking. Do it. In fact, it is required by most city and state electrical codes. A manual switch costs around $200, and an automatic switch around $600 — both will be mounted next to your house's mains. If your generator is a package home-emergency-generator, it may come with the appropriate switch. And if that generator is going to run on natural gas or propane, you may need a licensed plumber to install the connection.
7. A multi-fuel generator, such as my Yamaha, is my recommendation. Here are some of my reasons:
· Mine will run on propane, natural gas, or gasoline — my choice; I can switch back and forth on the fly if I choose to.
· On propane there is no smell, which is outstanding when I camp and keeps my wife from getting migraines. Cleaner emissions mean cleaner environment, also.
· Personally, I think natural gas/propane is safer than liquid gasoline. Refueling is as simple as changing the propane cylinder, which takes seconds and, if I use my gas-bottle transfer before the one tank runs out, the generator does not even stop (my trailer has two LPG [propane] cylinders). I can then get the empty one refilled while the generator continues providing power.
· Run mostly on propane/natural gas, there is no carburetor gumming, and the unit starts very easily — even if I rope start it.
· There is much less maintenance and a significantly longer engine life if you use propane/natural gas instead of gasoline. The engine burns much, much cleaner!
· Propane can keep for years as it is very stable, unlike gasoline or diesel which can go bad in a short time of storage.
A generator is not for everyone, but they are very nice when RV or even car camping in remote areas with no facilities (boondocking) and they can stand in if you have an emergency power outage at home. If your area is prone to regular tornados, major snow and ice storms, or other natural causes that can leave you without power for days or even weeks, a backup-generator is almost a necessity in today's electronic world. The choice is yours as to "type", permanent installation or "portable", and to fuel used. I like the freedom a multi-fuel generator gives me, but I also love the cleanliness and virtually odor free operation of LPG or natural gas.
Too, if you're like several people I know in our neck of the woods and have "free" natural gas as part of the mineral rights deal on their property, a quality natural gas generator would be an excellent investment with rapid payback!
-
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Waiting - 1937 Flood
-
I suspect the men are waiting on a raft coming downstream from somewhere. Whatever is on the raft, goods or people, will probably be put on the wagon and hauled overland to town by farm roads along the ridges, bypassing flooded county roads. The horses and wagon are sitting on the same spot as the car in an earlier photo. At first, I thought there was only one horse and wondered why the wagon had a tongue instead of shafts, then I noticed that the horse had eight legs.My grandparent's home was just to the left out of sight, sitting on a bank a few few above the water. When at its highest, the water came to the back steps, lacking only four feet of elevation or so of being in the house. It's several feet lower at this point.
-
I suspect the men are waiting on a raft coming downstream from somewhere. Whatever is on the raft, goods or people, will probably be put on the wagon and hauled overland to town by farm roads along the ridges, bypassing flooded county roads. The horses and wagon are sitting on the same spot as the car in an earlier photo. At first, I thought there was only one horse and wondered why the wagon had a tongue instead of shafts, then I noticed that the horse had eight legs.My grandparent's home was just to the left out of sight, sitting on a bank a few few above the water. When at its highest, the water came to the back steps, lacking only four feet of elevation or so of being in the house. It's several feet lower at this point.
-
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Seagulls!
-
I was waiting in the truck as my wife made an emergency stop at the mall this afternoon, when I noticed something atop nearly every light post in the area. It took me a minute before I realized that they were seagulls. I still haven’t gotten completely used to seeing them here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. It was a rare treat to see them when I was a kid—usually by ones or twos and just after a big storm. I always assumed they’d been blown down from the Great Lakes. I remember going to Lake Erie about 30 years ago and seeing one or two on each lamppost along the highway, like sentinels along the road to a military site.
They’re not a pretty bird when they’re on the ground. In fact, they’re a bit homely to my way of thinking, and their squawking and bickering when afoot reminds me of a woman from my past who shall go unnamed. In the air, though, they’re a thing of beauty. We all have our element, I guess.
As we left the mall, I noticed a flock of about 50 on the front lawn. They’re pretty common anymore, but not that far away from the river. You can hardly take a drive along the river, though, without seeing a raft of them floating somewhere. It seems to me that they float rather high in the water, for they look like bigger birds than they really are when seen from a distance. They must taste horrible, for I’ve never heard of anyone eating one. Fishy, I imagine, like some ducks.
I don’t know if those rare birds from years ago stayed and bred a resident population, a flock was blown down from the Great Lakes and stayed, or if their range has simply expanded gradually up the Mississippi and the Ohio. I would guess the latter, though. Unlike some species, they don’t seem to bring any negatives with them; at least I haven’t heard of any yet. I sort of enjoy seeing them. They seem a bit exotic to me, sort of like the pigeons that used to visit our country barn on rare occasions from their homes in town. Their presence makes it seem a tiny bit like I’m visiting the beach, but without all the bother. © 2012
-
Nowhere To Go - 1937
-
This is another picture of the '37 Flood in my home valley. The car is stopped on the dirt version of the road that I was raised on. By my time, the road was paved and an aunt and uncle lived in the stone house that sits just out of sight to the right. Of the clump of three American elms and the sycamore in the creek bottom, I only remember the sycamore and the big elm to the right. The elm (much bigger by then) died and was cut down when I was in my teens. For a couple years, I jumped my horse over the log just above the fork, as it lay on the ground. The sycamore (also much bigger by then) was cut a few years later when my idiot cousin built a horse barn there. (Yes, it flooded, but he got the horses out by wading through water nearly to his waist, and he was 6'4"!)
The section of road the car sits on can be seen from the back yard of the Civil War Era hilltop home where I was raised about 175 yards at four o'clock from the car. Once the car turned around, it would only have been able to go about a mile down the road toward town before it ran into high water again. Town was another watery mile farther at that point.
This is another picture of the '37 Flood in my home valley. The car is stopped on the dirt version of the road that I was raised on. By my time, the road was paved and an aunt and uncle lived in the stone house that sits just out of sight to the right. Of the clump of three American elms and the sycamore in the creek bottom, I only remember the sycamore and the big elm to the right. The elm (much bigger by then) died and was cut down when I was in my teens. For a couple years, I jumped my horse over the log just above the fork, as it lay on the ground. The sycamore (also much bigger by then) was cut a few years later when my idiot cousin built a horse barn there. (Yes, it flooded, but he got the horses out by wading through water nearly to his waist, and he was 6'4"!)
The section of road the car sits on can be seen from the back yard of the Civil War Era hilltop home where I was raised about 175 yards at four o'clock from the car. Once the car turned around, it would only have been able to go about a mile down the road toward town before it ran into high water again. Town was another watery mile farther at that point.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Obama Strikes Again!
-
No, he didn't sign the papers to layoff 1200+ American workers himself, but the dots aren't hard to connect. Are our military planes going to start being made offshore? That would be great in time of real war! Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMMfIK0YD6Y
-
No, he didn't sign the papers to layoff 1200+ American workers himself, but the dots aren't hard to connect. Are our military planes going to start being made offshore? That would be great in time of real war! Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMMfIK0YD6Y
-
Digging A Seep Well
-
It's more of a survival than a preparedness thing, but SurvivaLogic has a good common-sense post on getting water in trying times. Check it out!
-
It's more of a survival than a preparedness thing, but SurvivaLogic has a good common-sense post on getting water in trying times. Check it out!
-
archy and mehitabel
-
The guru introduced me to "archy and mehitabel" a few years ago and recently re-introduced me to them. I've never really looked into them much for lack of time, but he assures me there's a lot of wisdom in them for those who can see it. Here's part of his email on the subject with a couple links. I neglected to ask his permission first, but all things considered, I know he'll forgive me.
The guru introduced me to "archy and mehitabel" a few years ago and recently re-introduced me to them. I've never really looked into them much for lack of time, but he assures me there's a lot of wisdom in them for those who can see it. Here's part of his email on the subject with a couple links. I neglected to ask his permission first, but all things considered, I know he'll forgive me.
Mom …got hooked on Don Marquis and his columns in the paper and even purchased his signed book, "archy and mehitabel" as well as several others. I was raised on them, mom read them to me, and then I learned to read them myself and understand the allusions and meanings as a very young lad.
And here is the song of mehitabel: http://donmarquis.com/literature?pp=608, one of my favorites
Read more here at the sites root: http://donmarquis.com/
Oh, since archy is a cockroach, he can't hit the shift key on the typewriter as he writes all the stories overnight for Don to publish the next morning, so everything is in lower case without most punctuation.
-
The Impoverishment Of America
-
I wrote this article about eight years ago, when I was still working at a factory that has since closed, and before anyone had heard of a muslim, socialist traitor named Barrack Obama. Guess I’m just psychic!
The company where I work for used to have three manufacturing plants within five miles of one another. A couple years ago the first plant was closed and the work sent to a neighboring state where labor and transportation was cheaper. The company saw no need to pass any of their cost savings on to their customers, of course. The second plant was closed about a year ago and most of the work sent to China. The remaining products are now being made in their out-of-state plant, (except for two products which are now made where I work). As you might guess, even though labor costs in China are one percent of what they pay us, the company doesn't seem to have dropped their prices on products manufactured there. They've tried finding a way to take our jobs to China as well, but, the items that we manufacture are heavy and bulky, so shipping costs eat up much of the huge profits they keep hoping for.
If our plant was losing money it would be more understandable. However, it's been a consistently generous money-maker since it first opened in the 1930's. In fact, except for the years during which my union is negotiating a new contract, the company still likes to brag about our man-hour production and gross sales. We've now been through two sieges by corporate raiders and the newest owners are making money hand over fist. Yet, all they can think about is how to cut our wages and benefits to make more money. We're now expected to churn out the same volume and quality of product with fewer workers and ever worsening materials (purchased overseas, of course). Meanwhile, they keep holding the specter of hungry Chinamen over our heads.
I'm not against fair trade; every country that pays livable wages and has few punitive tariffs should have access to the world market. However, countries where workers struggle just to make enough to cover their food cost, while that nation's government and merchants get rich, should not be allowed to compete against countries that treat their workers like human beings. The U.S. has to contend with such things as OSHA, the EPA, The Endangered Species Act and a host of other regulatory nightmares which, at least in theory, make our workers and environment safer. The countries which are undermining our economy not only lack those mind-boggling costs but, also, the expense of wage and hour laws, welfare programs, un-employment programs, Medi-care, Social Security, insurance, and other things we like to think makes our workers more than mere slaves.
I'm afraid that slavery is the reality of many of those working in third world countries. We know some of those countries use convict and child labor. We also know they often lock factory doors when the workers are inside, don't let them take restroom breaks, and won't let them leave until their quota is met. Plus, they often are not allowed to travel, even within their own country, to look for better jobs. It's certainly not fair trade to force American workers to compete against enslaved work forces. I doubt if those foreign workers see much freedom in "free-trade".
Obviously, the companies that are moving their production to those countries are the moral equivalent of the old-time slave-holders of this country. Then again, maybe they're worse. At least the old slave-holders didn't try to call slavery by the high-sounding name of "labor competition". The gravest danger from all this is not the immediate loss of a few thousand jobs here and there, but, the ever quickening downward spiral of pay-scales and purchasing power for the average worker. More and more workers have to compete for fewer and fewer jobs. Even many union workers are finding themselves making concessions unheard of in earlier days. Having forgotten the simple fact that a buying customer must first have disposable income, most corporations will someday find themselves sharing the same grave they dug for the American worker. No doubt, when that occurs, the corporations will whine and gnash their teeth before asking the government to bail them out. By that time, the government will have a hard time saving them, since there eventually won’t be enough people paying taxes to continue corporate welfare.
Years ago, I read a statement by a utopian dreamer that American industry would someday export prosperity to the far corners of the world. The truth, I fear, is that corporate America is importing third-world poverty for our children and grandchildren. © 2012
-
I wrote this article about eight years ago, when I was still working at a factory that has since closed, and before anyone had heard of a muslim, socialist traitor named Barrack Obama. Guess I’m just psychic!
The company where I work for used to have three manufacturing plants within five miles of one another. A couple years ago the first plant was closed and the work sent to a neighboring state where labor and transportation was cheaper. The company saw no need to pass any of their cost savings on to their customers, of course. The second plant was closed about a year ago and most of the work sent to China. The remaining products are now being made in their out-of-state plant, (except for two products which are now made where I work). As you might guess, even though labor costs in China are one percent of what they pay us, the company doesn't seem to have dropped their prices on products manufactured there. They've tried finding a way to take our jobs to China as well, but, the items that we manufacture are heavy and bulky, so shipping costs eat up much of the huge profits they keep hoping for.
If our plant was losing money it would be more understandable. However, it's been a consistently generous money-maker since it first opened in the 1930's. In fact, except for the years during which my union is negotiating a new contract, the company still likes to brag about our man-hour production and gross sales. We've now been through two sieges by corporate raiders and the newest owners are making money hand over fist. Yet, all they can think about is how to cut our wages and benefits to make more money. We're now expected to churn out the same volume and quality of product with fewer workers and ever worsening materials (purchased overseas, of course). Meanwhile, they keep holding the specter of hungry Chinamen over our heads.
I'm not against fair trade; every country that pays livable wages and has few punitive tariffs should have access to the world market. However, countries where workers struggle just to make enough to cover their food cost, while that nation's government and merchants get rich, should not be allowed to compete against countries that treat their workers like human beings. The U.S. has to contend with such things as OSHA, the EPA, The Endangered Species Act and a host of other regulatory nightmares which, at least in theory, make our workers and environment safer. The countries which are undermining our economy not only lack those mind-boggling costs but, also, the expense of wage and hour laws, welfare programs, un-employment programs, Medi-care, Social Security, insurance, and other things we like to think makes our workers more than mere slaves.
I'm afraid that slavery is the reality of many of those working in third world countries. We know some of those countries use convict and child labor. We also know they often lock factory doors when the workers are inside, don't let them take restroom breaks, and won't let them leave until their quota is met. Plus, they often are not allowed to travel, even within their own country, to look for better jobs. It's certainly not fair trade to force American workers to compete against enslaved work forces. I doubt if those foreign workers see much freedom in "free-trade".
Obviously, the companies that are moving their production to those countries are the moral equivalent of the old-time slave-holders of this country. Then again, maybe they're worse. At least the old slave-holders didn't try to call slavery by the high-sounding name of "labor competition". The gravest danger from all this is not the immediate loss of a few thousand jobs here and there, but, the ever quickening downward spiral of pay-scales and purchasing power for the average worker. More and more workers have to compete for fewer and fewer jobs. Even many union workers are finding themselves making concessions unheard of in earlier days. Having forgotten the simple fact that a buying customer must first have disposable income, most corporations will someday find themselves sharing the same grave they dug for the American worker. No doubt, when that occurs, the corporations will whine and gnash their teeth before asking the government to bail them out. By that time, the government will have a hard time saving them, since there eventually won’t be enough people paying taxes to continue corporate welfare.
Years ago, I read a statement by a utopian dreamer that American industry would someday export prosperity to the far corners of the world. The truth, I fear, is that corporate America is importing third-world poverty for our children and grandchildren. © 2012
-
BEWARE!
-
I've already gotten an email form someone using the supposed address "IRS.gov." REMEMBER, the IRS says that it NEVER contacts you with an initial email. If you get such a communication, delete it immediately! It is NOT the thieving government; it is some OTHER thief!
-
I've already gotten an email form someone using the supposed address "IRS.gov." REMEMBER, the IRS says that it NEVER contacts you with an initial email. If you get such a communication, delete it immediately! It is NOT the thieving government; it is some OTHER thief!
-
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Why I’m A Telemarketer (I Think)
-
Get comfortable, this is a long one by MY standards.
I’d certainly never planned to be a telemarketer. It wasn’t like I’d climbed up on my mama’s knee with my toy telephone when I was a tiny tyke, raised the receiver in the air like a Roman short sword and, looking far into the future, shouted "Veni, vidi, vici!" No, in fact, I never used to care much for telemarketers, though I tried to be polite but firm with them. Unfortunately, it seemed like they only called at the most inopportune times, so that wasn't always easy. I always swore that I’D never have a job where I had to pester people on the telephone!
Now, I was raised by Christian parents who were descended from generations of Christian ancestors, so my family was a tolerably decent bunch. Each of us had our quirks and a few had more than their share, but I guess we “averaged out” morally acceptable in a worldly sort of way. I grew up with plenty of food, plenty of love, a reasonably good roof over my head (considering that it was built in 1865) and plenty of clothes (even if some WERE hand-me-downs). I never missed one meal in my life due to lack of available food, I was never cold for any length of time (unless I’d done something really stupid like forgetting my coat) and though I got a lot of spankings (fewer than I deserved), I never got one beating in my life.
I grew up on a farm, fished and hunted pretty much when I wanted to, got my own horse when I was 14 and, at age 15, kissed the girl that I believe now that the Lord wanted me to marry. Unfortunately, I wasn’t much “into” the Lord at that age and broke up with her when I was 16. I continued to do a lot of hunting, fishing and camping over the next few years. At age 21, I married the girl I’d been fornicating with for nearly three years and stayed married to her for almost five years. She could be counted on to be “true blue” faithful when she was sober, but needed chaperoning when she wasn’t. She left because I didn’t make enough money to suit her. Four months after the divorce was final, I finally landed a decent job driving truck. It paid well enough that she would probably have stayed if I’d gotten it sooner. That may have been the first time I realized that maybe someone was looking after me.
Some guys turn to booze and broads after a divorce, but I saw how they just went from bad to worse, so I decided that THIS guy wasn’t going that route. I started reading my Bible a whole lot more, sometimes to prove that others weren’t what they were supposed to be, rather than to seek guidance for my own hell-bound soul. Still, I was reading the right book, at least. I started praying that God would send me a Christian woman and, despite the “fact” that He isn’t supposed to answer the prayers of heathens, He did MINE! We married four months after we met and I was saved four months later. She turned out to be nearly impossible to live with, but she’s true blue ALL the time, and she never gets “un-sober.” Our lives have been full of ups and downs over the years, but we’ve always had at least “just enough” of everything and, often-times, even enough to help others. Most of that time, we were faithful church attendees.
After the factory where I worked sent most of their jobs to China and the rest to Pennsylvania, I drew unemployment long enough to get associate degrees in Information Technology and Accounting. Those degrees never helped me find a job here in West Virginia, but if not for things I learned from “the guru,” who taught the IT classes there at the college, this blog probably wouldn’t even exist. I kept putting off applying at the telemarketing places due to pride and supposed scruples. Unfortunately, pride doesn’t put food on the table, so I finally applied and was accepted at one telemarketing company.
Since that time, I’ve heard stories that would bring tears to the eyes of a bronze statue. One of the first was the pregnant girl who worked there and resided with a different friend each night on a rotating basis, so she wouldn’t wear out her welcome, since she had no place to call home. Then there was the kid who had adult ADD and couldn’t keep a job or a girlfriend. All he wants is to be normal, but will be forever denied that chance. The sad thing is—he knows it. Add to that, all the stories of child abuse, of living on the streets, of going hungry, and of cheating girlfriends, boyfriends and spouses. I watch them come to work hungry, but I can’t feed them all. I watch them lose their jobs, sometimes deservedly, and sometimes not, but I have no work for them. I see them loose their apartments, but I have no extra room to lend them. And, while it’s easy to blame the company and the bosses for some of the problems, and wonder how they live with themselves, I’ve also learned that the last time there was a big lay-off, the boss-lady was red-faced and teary-eyed for days. As much as I hate my job, I wouldn’t want HERS!
During my nearly three years in this place, I’ve finally come to see just how wonderfully BLESSED my life has been. I’ve also come to realize just how blind I’ve been over the years to the problems of others. It wasn’t that I didn’t care; I was very generous with charities that helped such folks. However, I was blind to much of the need around me, and certainly took for granted the life that the Lord had allowed me to have. That’s not true anymore. I know all too well the heartbreak and the hunger that surrounds me. I know that I have been foolishly, sinfully blind to the blessing the Lord has given me from birth. And I know that only one or two catastrophes could put me where they are now.
The guy at work called “the sandwich man” brings 3-4 extra sandwiches a day to give those who have no lunch otherwise. With that angle mostly covered and with the end times perhaps knocking on our very doors, the eternal souls of those folks was what came to MY mind. I’ve been blessed spiritually just as I’ve been blessed otherwise. I want to share that with them in some way that they won’t see as pushy. So, a friend of a friend gets me little New Testaments, and a couple times a year, I pass them out to anyone who’ll accept one. I think passing out testaments and getting my eyes opened is why God put me there in that awful place. I had a meal of crow when I took such a job. I still want out as soon as possible. However, it IS a job and I have yet to find another one. Things are looking pretty shaky for me there, but I know that as long as there are still folks the Lord wants me to give testaments to, or as long as there are still spiritual things for me learn there, I’ll continue to be a telemarketer. © 2012
-
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Security Stash
-
Another communication from the guru.
A friend just told me about how her father-in-law's dad and another neighbor's house were broken into a couple weeks apart ... and the thief went straight to where each of them had their coin collection, including some gold. Probably an inside job by a teenage relative and pal, but no one knows yet.
I told her what I had done many years ago in our old house, and thought you might find it interesting. Rather than locate it in the floor joists on the basement side, I actually had it coming out of the dirt in our quarter basement/crawlspace making the hidey-hole look very real. Here's the tip, worded in a useful way:
If you need to have a relative safe storage spot for some small valuables, one thing I (and I am sure others) have discovered is the fact that most houses have a plethora of plumbing pipes running all over the place.
If you look carefully in the basement between the joists you can follow the blackwater (toilet) waste pipe to where it leaves the house. Get yourself a piece of matching waste pipe, say 4 feet long or so (4 or 6 inch, depending on your home's plumbing) at your local home or hardware store. Glue an end cap on one end and a waste cleanout adapter with screw cap on the other end.
Place the glued-on end cap end against something to make it look like it is coming out of a wall or whatever, as though it is a part of the maze of pipes already there. Then hang or in some way attach the pipe just as the others are hung. You want it to blend in. Leave the screw cleanout end free where you can get at it.
You can also make a "tray" for the inside of the pipe using slightly smaller pipe. Unscrew the cleanout and slide your items inside on the "tray", then screw the cleanout cap back on.
No one would look for something to be in a waste pipe ... just remember which pipe is real and which is fake when you go to store or retrieve your valuables or you might be in for a surprise!
-
Another communication from the guru.
A friend just told me about how her father-in-law's dad and another neighbor's house were broken into a couple weeks apart ... and the thief went straight to where each of them had their coin collection, including some gold. Probably an inside job by a teenage relative and pal, but no one knows yet.
I told her what I had done many years ago in our old house, and thought you might find it interesting. Rather than locate it in the floor joists on the basement side, I actually had it coming out of the dirt in our quarter basement/crawlspace making the hidey-hole look very real. Here's the tip, worded in a useful way:
If you need to have a relative safe storage spot for some small valuables, one thing I (and I am sure others) have discovered is the fact that most houses have a plethora of plumbing pipes running all over the place.
If you look carefully in the basement between the joists you can follow the blackwater (toilet) waste pipe to where it leaves the house. Get yourself a piece of matching waste pipe, say 4 feet long or so (4 or 6 inch, depending on your home's plumbing) at your local home or hardware store. Glue an end cap on one end and a waste cleanout adapter with screw cap on the other end.
Place the glued-on end cap end against something to make it look like it is coming out of a wall or whatever, as though it is a part of the maze of pipes already there. Then hang or in some way attach the pipe just as the others are hung. You want it to blend in. Leave the screw cleanout end free where you can get at it.
You can also make a "tray" for the inside of the pipe using slightly smaller pipe. Unscrew the cleanout and slide your items inside on the "tray", then screw the cleanout cap back on.
No one would look for something to be in a waste pipe ... just remember which pipe is real and which is fake when you go to store or retrieve your valuables or you might be in for a surprise!
-
The ’37 Flood
-
January 18—on this date in 1937, the first few homes were flooded by the waters which had just left the confines of the Ohio River that day. The three-week, “fifty-year flood” that followed would supposedly leave a million people homeless, kill 385 people and cause $500 million in property damage between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cairo, Illinois. I suspect those estimates were conservative. Interestingly enough, In the Wikipedia article from which the above figures were taken, West Virginia isn’t even listed amongst those states affected by the flood, despite sharing the Ohio River (and owning most of its width) for its entire 256 mile border with Ohio (which IS mentioned). Considering the general misinformation and ignorance of most Americans about West Virginia, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Needless to say, there was considerable damage to the state from the 1937 Flood. One Huntington paper ran a story in 2009 that estimated the damage at $18 million in 1937 dollars. Of course, most of the photos from that flood were of cities and factories, where things could be more easily appraised. I doubt if that figure included a lot of the small country homes, churches, businesses and farms that were located up tributary streams. Over the next few days, I’ll post a few pictures that my family had of the valley where they lived, five miles from the Ohio River. I may also post or link to a few photos of the cities during the deluge. I’ll let my readers decide if there was any damage in West Virginia from the 1937 Flood.
At the link below are photos and a good article about the 1937 Flood in West Virginia:
http://www.wonderfulwv.com/sub.cfm?month=jan12&fea=1
The photo below is taken from the upstream edge of my paternal grandfather's farm about five miles from the Ohio River, looking downstream over the "highway" and the neighbor's farm.
January 18—on this date in 1937, the first few homes were flooded by the waters which had just left the confines of the Ohio River that day. The three-week, “fifty-year flood” that followed would supposedly leave a million people homeless, kill 385 people and cause $500 million in property damage between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cairo, Illinois. I suspect those estimates were conservative. Interestingly enough, In the Wikipedia article from which the above figures were taken, West Virginia isn’t even listed amongst those states affected by the flood, despite sharing the Ohio River (and owning most of its width) for its entire 256 mile border with Ohio (which IS mentioned). Considering the general misinformation and ignorance of most Americans about West Virginia, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Needless to say, there was considerable damage to the state from the 1937 Flood. One Huntington paper ran a story in 2009 that estimated the damage at $18 million in 1937 dollars. Of course, most of the photos from that flood were of cities and factories, where things could be more easily appraised. I doubt if that figure included a lot of the small country homes, churches, businesses and farms that were located up tributary streams. Over the next few days, I’ll post a few pictures that my family had of the valley where they lived, five miles from the Ohio River. I may also post or link to a few photos of the cities during the deluge. I’ll let my readers decide if there was any damage in West Virginia from the 1937 Flood.
At the link below are photos and a good article about the 1937 Flood in West Virginia:
http://www.wonderfulwv.com/sub.cfm?month=jan12&fea=1
The photo below is taken from the upstream edge of my paternal grandfather's farm about five miles from the Ohio River, looking downstream over the "highway" and the neighbor's farm.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Another Note From The Guru
-
For those visiting this blog for the first time, "the guru" is a local college instructor who I'm blessed to have as a friend. I am not a guru. I am a "sage!" ;-)
For those visiting this blog for the first time, "the guru" is a local college instructor who I'm blessed to have as a friend. I am not a guru. I am a "sage!" ;-)
We hardly seem to get out very much anymore except to work, so have been scrounging around and fixing up my old tent/backpack camping equipment, and getting stuff back in order ... both in-the-trailer and in-the-cars. The grandkids just might enjoy tent camping!
And, with the cost of gasoline and what I expect it to be this summer, we might have to go back to the tents ... the canvas ones of which, thank goodness, have held up well all these years (the flimsy nylon backpacking ones have not). I de rusted my old tri-fold Ames-made-in-the-USA trenching shovel and repainted it, and it is as good as new. Have also ensured my various blade tools (hatchet, axe, etc. that I camp with) are sharp. I was amazed at how much I had let go over the past 12 or so years since we stopped tent-camping and went to pop-up, then trailer.
I know I mentioned multi-tools previously, and have used the Leatherman Super-Tool for right on two decades now. All other knives have been almost exclusively Buck, using the 120 (almost a Bowie) for over 40 years (my smaller 119 of the same vintage was stolen a few years ago), as well as their lock back (very used) and pocket knife (also very used) both also in their 40s. I still have one newer but little-used Gerber tactical blade, and a couple of no names that were given to me and have not been broken or worn out.
The "problem" with the Super-Tool was that it appears to be riveted together and items were not easily replaceable (Leatherman fixed a misused blade many years ago — I could not get it apart to fix it myself). The newer incarnations, though, appear to be user rebuildable and stronger. Anyway, some time back I got wind of Leatherman's new MUT from some military relatives in Afghanistan.
The MUT is a well thought out Leatherman tool — yes, it's purposed to tactical/weapons uses but is still a true multipurpose everyday tool and better made (IMHO) than most other civilian variants. The easily replaceable blade and saw is EXCELLENT and VERY sharp, and the overall construction of this is better and totally repairable (no rivets) with everything being replaceable.
I sent my brother a photo I took of it a bit back since he is a gun person and thought you might like to see it. Obviously it is geared toward the tactical shooter but includes numerous Leatherman "flat-base" screwdriver blades (standard, Phillips, eyeglass, star, Allen, etc.) and the extended adapter that holds standard hex-base bits, as well as my Smith sharpener. Everything fits in the belt/MOLLE case shown, with the exception of the Smith sharpener. The black bar is the removable punch for weapons disassembly, the yellow soft "blade" is for cleaning carbon from weapons (firing pins, receiver, etc.) without scratching or damaging them (and those two items are what make it "tactical"), the base has a cutter, a belt snap, a lock to hold the unit closed, and the very back is a hammer ... remove the punch and hit it with the hammer to remove reluctant pins if necessary. I had considered the EOD variant, but do not intend to ever work with explosives!
Neither version, EOD or Tactical, is cheap (quality or price!), but this one was well worth it to me at the time, and remains so although the punch, wrench, and bronze carbon scraper, along with the saw, remain unused!
The Smith's sharpener works well, like others of similar build (I used to have a Fiskars one but have lost it), and I have used it to sharpen my various pocket knives to almost razor sharpness. It has a diamond hone to sharpen serrated blades, also. At 8 bucks it has been a worthwhile investment. But for general "outstanding" sharpening, I prefer my old Buck Knife small stone "kit" or my large workbench honing stones (both of which are almost half a century old and still in excellent condition).
Below is my almost 20 year old Super-Tool which I can highly recommend. Taken care of, sharpened, oiled, and polished (I use a special metal-buffing wheel on my Shop Smith) on occasion keeps it working well and looking good. Of course, the hard leather sheath (pictured) was replaced with a new one about 7 years ago. I have not carried it or used it as much since I started working at XXX in 2001, and it now lives mostly in the camper where I keep it in a leather pouch that also holds a mini-mag light (that holder, not pictured, and mini-mag were a gift from my brother).
-
Monday, January 16, 2012
Three Cheers For The Mud Bucket!
-
This piece originally appeared a few years ago in “The Backwoodsman Magazine” in slightly different form. Since it fit in with the subject of containers which has recently been discussed here, I thought I'd post it.
I've always called them "mud buckets" for the slang term used to describe joint compound. Normal folks call them "drywall buckets." They can be gotten for free at most home construction sites although, in a desperate moment, I once paid a buck a piece for a few. My first use of them was to haul water to livestock. I've also used them to haul water for gardening and, when our well pump was on the fritz, for carrying bath water from the spring. The lids start out water-tight but get less so with use.
They can also serve as bait buckets, live-wells, creels, and tackle boxes. Being a firm believer in the conservation of energy, I always include a short board in my fishing tackle to use as a seat on top of the bucket. Due to high snapping turtle populations in my area, I’ve even used the buckets when fishing from a boat. Otherwise, my day's catch could have ended up as a stringer of fish heads. The airtight buckets will also protect gear in case of capsizing and, when lashed inside the boat, will provide extra flotation in the same event.
The mud bucket has gone deer hunting with me too. Using the lid and a hunter's cushion makes one of the plastic buckets seem luxurious compared to sitting on damp leaves. The cushion, and any other gear, can be stowed in the bucket when walking to your hunting site. My hunting model had the bail replaced with a carry strap and was given a camo job. Though I always took the seat and strap home, I often left the bucket for the next time. Maybe I was just lucky, but no one ever stole the handle-less bucket.
Of course, trappers need no introduction to the mud bucket; most "truck" trappers that I know use them instead of a pack basket. A few folks fasten one to a pack-board for their own version of a pack basket. Others fasten two together for the same purpose. They also make good cubbies in areas relatively free of trap thieves.
Where the mud bucket really shines is low-budget truck camping. A pickup bed will hold a lot of buckets, and they provide water-tight storage for food, clothing, sleeping bags, ammo, and about anything else. Plus, with all those ready-made stools, there's always room around the campfire for company. If you're afraid the buckets will blow around at interstate speeds, just pass a rope through all the bails.
We've all used a bucket as a toolbox at some point; on most jobsites you'll see several serving that purpose. Retailers have caught on and now offer all kinds of aprons and liners to fit them. I store my electrical tools in one bucket, plumbing tools in another, small masonry tools in another, etc. By putting the lids on, they stack neatly under the basement stairs. By labeling each one, when a certain type of job around the house arises, I've only got to grab the right bucket and go.
Any kind of storage is, of course, the mud bucket's forte. Without lids, they can hold apples, potatoes, turnips, and more. With lids, they can be filled with bags of flour, sugar, or other items for insect and rodent-free long term storage. Some folks store livestock feed, birdseed or dog food in them. I’ve used them to store fertilizer, deer minerals, and containers of lawn chemicals. Just don't change from one use to another or you might be asking for trouble.
There's one other thing for which I've used one of those handy plastic buckets. One winter the locks on my truck doors kept freezing up, which made me afraid to lock it. Not wanting my small toolbox to get stolen, I put it in a mud bucket and put on a lid. Laid on its side in the front of the truck bed, along with a few broken bricks and chunks of 2x4, it served as a “trashaflaged” security stash.
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch and I know it's true, but, there's a heck of a good deal to be had in the lowly mud bucket. Give it some thought and you'll probably come up with a few ideas of your own! © 2011
This piece originally appeared a few years ago in “The Backwoodsman Magazine” in slightly different form. Since it fit in with the subject of containers which has recently been discussed here, I thought I'd post it.
I've always called them "mud buckets" for the slang term used to describe joint compound. Normal folks call them "drywall buckets." They can be gotten for free at most home construction sites although, in a desperate moment, I once paid a buck a piece for a few. My first use of them was to haul water to livestock. I've also used them to haul water for gardening and, when our well pump was on the fritz, for carrying bath water from the spring. The lids start out water-tight but get less so with use.
They can also serve as bait buckets, live-wells, creels, and tackle boxes. Being a firm believer in the conservation of energy, I always include a short board in my fishing tackle to use as a seat on top of the bucket. Due to high snapping turtle populations in my area, I’ve even used the buckets when fishing from a boat. Otherwise, my day's catch could have ended up as a stringer of fish heads. The airtight buckets will also protect gear in case of capsizing and, when lashed inside the boat, will provide extra flotation in the same event.
The mud bucket has gone deer hunting with me too. Using the lid and a hunter's cushion makes one of the plastic buckets seem luxurious compared to sitting on damp leaves. The cushion, and any other gear, can be stowed in the bucket when walking to your hunting site. My hunting model had the bail replaced with a carry strap and was given a camo job. Though I always took the seat and strap home, I often left the bucket for the next time. Maybe I was just lucky, but no one ever stole the handle-less bucket.
Of course, trappers need no introduction to the mud bucket; most "truck" trappers that I know use them instead of a pack basket. A few folks fasten one to a pack-board for their own version of a pack basket. Others fasten two together for the same purpose. They also make good cubbies in areas relatively free of trap thieves.
Where the mud bucket really shines is low-budget truck camping. A pickup bed will hold a lot of buckets, and they provide water-tight storage for food, clothing, sleeping bags, ammo, and about anything else. Plus, with all those ready-made stools, there's always room around the campfire for company. If you're afraid the buckets will blow around at interstate speeds, just pass a rope through all the bails.
We've all used a bucket as a toolbox at some point; on most jobsites you'll see several serving that purpose. Retailers have caught on and now offer all kinds of aprons and liners to fit them. I store my electrical tools in one bucket, plumbing tools in another, small masonry tools in another, etc. By putting the lids on, they stack neatly under the basement stairs. By labeling each one, when a certain type of job around the house arises, I've only got to grab the right bucket and go.
Any kind of storage is, of course, the mud bucket's forte. Without lids, they can hold apples, potatoes, turnips, and more. With lids, they can be filled with bags of flour, sugar, or other items for insect and rodent-free long term storage. Some folks store livestock feed, birdseed or dog food in them. I’ve used them to store fertilizer, deer minerals, and containers of lawn chemicals. Just don't change from one use to another or you might be asking for trouble.
There's one other thing for which I've used one of those handy plastic buckets. One winter the locks on my truck doors kept freezing up, which made me afraid to lock it. Not wanting my small toolbox to get stolen, I put it in a mud bucket and put on a lid. Laid on its side in the front of the truck bed, along with a few broken bricks and chunks of 2x4, it served as a “trashaflaged” security stash.
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch and I know it's true, but, there's a heck of a good deal to be had in the lowly mud bucket. Give it some thought and you'll probably come up with a few ideas of your own! © 2011
More From The Guru
-
The friend that I call "the guru" wishes to remain anonymous, but he IS a very wise fellow (in everything but politics).
The reason I mentioned the gallon-sized parmesan cheese container storing the ice-melter was it was on my mind (just re-filled it last Monday from the 45 pound bag I keep sealed in the basement), and the fact it seals air-tight so the salt does not adsorb water from the air and clunk at the bottom in a puddle like melter-salt does if you leave it open to the air.
Reusable food-grade wide mouth screw-top sealable storage containers are also good for in-use flour, etc. (and what we use them for). Why spend money on canisters that don't seal well in the first place when you can get them free?
Also, the reason for distilled water is while it might not taste that great, it has nothing in it and off-the-shelf sealed gallon containers of it keep for many years before anything grows in it. I used to keep the milk-jug-type-distilled water that way. Filtered or bottled water in the gallon or 2.5 gallon jugs does not seem to keep as long. As for filtered bottled water in the wasteful throwaways, I do not know how long it will keep before it goes green.
Also, if you store toilet paper in a sealed paint/mud bucket (especially carefully squashed) you can store a whole lot in just one bucket, yet have dry, usable, TP when you need it.
Here's a tip that makes owning one of the vacuum sealing units worthwhile: simply take your grains directly from the store-sealed bag, put the grain(s) into the vacuseal bag, and vacuum seal it. They will keep ten times as long that way. If you do it to instant rice, oats, etc., you have a self-made longish storage and yet toteable supply. For camping years ago, I used to vacuum seal Uncle Ben's, Ricearoni, mac&cheese, potato flakes, etc. boxes (get rid of the box, pour the contents into a vacuseal bag) — they became relatively-quick-to-make, TINY, easily backpackable for camping, meal packets at a tenth the cost of the virtually instantly-made freeze dried foods (hey, to save quite a few dollars by spending a few minutes longer in preparation is well worth it).
I have even vacuum sealed a spare roll of toilet paper to get it to fit into a backpack — it works when space is at a premium!
-
The friend that I call "the guru" wishes to remain anonymous, but he IS a very wise fellow (in everything but politics).
The reason I mentioned the gallon-sized parmesan cheese container storing the ice-melter was it was on my mind (just re-filled it last Monday from the 45 pound bag I keep sealed in the basement), and the fact it seals air-tight so the salt does not adsorb water from the air and clunk at the bottom in a puddle like melter-salt does if you leave it open to the air.
Reusable food-grade wide mouth screw-top sealable storage containers are also good for in-use flour, etc. (and what we use them for). Why spend money on canisters that don't seal well in the first place when you can get them free?
Also, the reason for distilled water is while it might not taste that great, it has nothing in it and off-the-shelf sealed gallon containers of it keep for many years before anything grows in it. I used to keep the milk-jug-type-distilled water that way. Filtered or bottled water in the gallon or 2.5 gallon jugs does not seem to keep as long. As for filtered bottled water in the wasteful throwaways, I do not know how long it will keep before it goes green.
Also, if you store toilet paper in a sealed paint/mud bucket (especially carefully squashed) you can store a whole lot in just one bucket, yet have dry, usable, TP when you need it.
Here's a tip that makes owning one of the vacuum sealing units worthwhile: simply take your grains directly from the store-sealed bag, put the grain(s) into the vacuseal bag, and vacuum seal it. They will keep ten times as long that way. If you do it to instant rice, oats, etc., you have a self-made longish storage and yet toteable supply. For camping years ago, I used to vacuum seal Uncle Ben's, Ricearoni, mac&cheese, potato flakes, etc. boxes (get rid of the box, pour the contents into a vacuseal bag) — they became relatively-quick-to-make, TINY, easily backpackable for camping, meal packets at a tenth the cost of the virtually instantly-made freeze dried foods (hey, to save quite a few dollars by spending a few minutes longer in preparation is well worth it).
I have even vacuum sealed a spare roll of toilet paper to get it to fit into a backpack — it works when space is at a premium!
-
A Note From The Guru
I guess I learned my frugality from my Dad, who dumpster dove for perfectly good throwaways: new rugs used less than a year, radios, lamps, even all-wood chairs and tables, and recycled them. He came out of the Great Depression, and that's what they all did back then.
I keep various containers and use a few sealed 5-gallon paint pails (or mud pails) to store dry food like rice and beans and flour (as well as my empty chest freezer, which is the last stop before it gets rotated to kitchen use). We do not have a sealed supply of water but I do depend on the water heater as a reservoir here in the home (Turn the juice off first if it’s electric.) — I should probably get a few sealed distilled water containers (do have a couple left over from when the babies were on formula and we avoided the tap).
I do have a couple of unused backpackable bacteria/virus water filters that will provide several hundred gallons of good water from muddy and infested sources in an emergency. Today, though, the best bet is a relatively inexpensive "Lifestraw" since prices have gone so high so quickly (everyone preparing for 12/21/12 I guess, so there will be good prices AFTER that date when everyone divests themselves of their new and unused acquisitions). I also have some old (but still good) purification pills from Army surplus, as well as household bleach.
I use a large plastic big-mouth gallon-sized parmesan cheese container next to the door with de-icer in it for the steps and walk. That is just one of my many uses for plastic containers.
Again, all this is not for Armageddon, but is simply common sense for relatively short term disasters.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Thoughts On Preparedness – Containers
-
I grew up with two sets of grandparents who’d lived through two world wars and the Great Depression. They seemed to save everything. “You just never know when that might come in handy,” they’d say. I won’t go into all the other stuff, but containers were high on their list of items to save. Of course there were the old stone jars, ALL of which I wish I had today. But there also canning jars that no longer sealed, bottles, jugs and jars in which food products had been purchased, old-fashioned milk jugs, pop bottles from companies that they couldn’t collect deposit from, and even sturdy cardboard boxes, including the tubular Quaker Oats boxes. Any container which had come with a lid still had that lid, if it was salvageable at all. If not, there was usually a cork in the top of the bottle or jug. Extra corks were stored, of course, in an old canning jar that wouldn’t seal. Old buckets with the bottom worn or rusted out were given a fitted piece of tin and still used for non-liquid use. I used to doubt their sanity just a bit for continuing to save such things. However, I’m beginning to wish that I had one of their collections of such “trumphry,” as my Aunt Marie used to call supposedly worthless items that were kept anyway. In fact, I’m starting to build my own container collection.
After water and shelter, food is the next most important item for long-term survival. Some would put it second, but I’ll remind those folks that emergencies don’t necessarily occur only during dry, balmy weather. That said, it’s best to have some food and water already stored, but it’s also good to have containers available in which to save or transport newly acquired food and water. My maternal grandfather was a great hand to garden, but his best garden was high on the hill above the creek bottom where his house was located. Of course even his gardens in the valley needed help during hot and droughty weather. As a result, I often saw him bouncing along on his Ferguson Model 30 toward his gardens, pulling a farm trailer loaded with everything from drywall buckets to quart plastic milk jugs filled with water. Mostly, he used gallon milk jugs, though, and his collection of them was prodigious. Luckily, he had two good springs across the hollow from his house which not only supplied his own need for water, but also the needs of half the neighborhood. The neighbors, too, used different types of containers, but mostly gallon milk jugs. Why not, they’re free, plentiful and supposedly safe to use around food.
Containers can be used for storing crops, grains, dried pastas and other dried foods. They can also be used to gather and or store foraged foods such as nuts. The latter usually calls for things like drywall buckets, boxes or even crates. If you have the space, you may find it advantageous to keep a few extra containers of various sorts on hand. If space is limited, it might be easier to justify their presence if they’re full of things that can be used during an emergency, like water, dried milk and cereal, pasta, etc. You might even justify keeping a few large plastic non-food storage containers if you use them to store off-season clothes or toilet paper. (Think hard about that last one; leaves ain’t cool!)
I recently put the word in to my neighbor who works construction that I could use a few more drywall buckets with lids. I’ll probably come home from work some evening to find a pile at the end of my driveway. My wife and I buy drinking water in gallon jugs that seem much stronger than milk jugs. I’m laying back a few to store rice, orzo, plus some grains like wheat, oats and barley. I’m also saving the little plastic jars that hold the peaches and oranges that I sometimes splurge on. Incidentally, from what I read, you should probably limit food storage to containers of type 2,4 and 5 plastic. I should also get a half-dozen or more real-to-goodness burlap bags at the feed store; they can be used for a LOT of things, even to make emergency clothing!
I guess that’s about as far as I can go without getting into details, but remember, without containers you’re limited in your foraging to what you can carry in your hands and pockets. Plus, during close times in home or in camp, food storage without containers would be limited to what fits in your belly. Just thought I’d give you one more thing to think about. © 2012
-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)