Survivor @ MindSay

Well, for those of you who are on my old friends list (the other one has now been deleted)this is the blog I will now be using.  I have had this one for awhile and wasn't sure if I was going to use it or now but I do believe that I am going to now.

My friend Renee has decided to walk in Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Her walk will be in Charlotte, NC, and it's in October. If you don't already know about the Avon Walk, you have to raise $1800 in order to do the walk. So far she has raised $70, but only just registered. If you would consider helping her raise the money, and help save the lives of women and men everywhere, it would be greatly appreciated. With a minimum donation of $50 she will add your name or the name a survivor, or in memory of someone who wasn't able to fight off the disease, to her shirt. I have a friend here who is a survivor, and I am asking Renee to add her name with my donation.

 

Here is her fund raiser page through the Avon Walk. http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/Charlotte?px=3856608&pg=personal&fr_id=1670&s_tafId=283615

 

She also has a myspace http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=324748709&MyToken=5e6336d1-1130-4a4f-8e80-6e8373201385 

 

Renee and I have been friends  for over 18 years, and this is a really big deal for her. She's never done anything so big, and it will be a great accomplishment for her. She is also doing this because her mother-in-law is a survivor of Breast Cancer. Please help out with this wonderful cause.

100 Items to Disappear First


1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky.
    Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12
    months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil.
    If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size.
     Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY
     food grade if for drinking.
16. Propane Cylinders
      Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc
   . (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
      (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty
     (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.)
      Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests
     (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks
     (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic
     (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Mens Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste,
      Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware
     (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach
     (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies,
      (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils
      (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap
     (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies
      (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons
     (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch
      (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors
      (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war
- death of parents and friends, hunger and malnutrition,
endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last
   so locate near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster.
    But there is no luxury in warquite like toilet paper.
    Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity
   - it's the easiest to do without
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
    heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy
    - it makes a lot of  the dry unappetizing things you find to eat
     in war somewhat edible.
    Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to cook.
    It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries
     become more valuable as the war continues.
    Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure
     most of that out on your own anyway
    - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast.
    I can't tell you how many people I knew who would have traded
    a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne.
    Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity.
   These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How To
 Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
Better than Bleach:

Many ourdoorsmen and survivalists rely upon common household bleach
as a disinfecting agent to make water safe to drink.

Bleach will destroy most (but NOT all!) disease causing organisms
 (boiling water to make it safe to drink is always the best method).

What is not well known is Calcium Hypochlorite is a far better
 for chemically disinfecting water.

Old Way: Using Bleach to Disinfect Water

Those of us who have emergency preparedness stocks of survival food
 and survival gear often keep a gallon or two of unscented household bleach
on hand for making safe drinking water in large quauntites.

Bleach is often the chemical of choice because it is commonly available
 and frequently mentioned when discussing the how-to’s of drinking water.

Typical fresh household chlorine bleach has 5.35% chlorine content
(be sure to read the label). To use household bleach for disinfecting water:

   1. Add two drops of bleach per quart or liter of water.
   2. Stir it well.
   3. Let the mixture stand for a half hour before drinking.

If the water is cloudy with suspended particles:

    * First filter the water as best you can.
    * Double the amount of bleach you add to the water.

Why Using Bleach to Disinfect Contaminated Water is a Problem

A little known problem with long term storage of bleach in your survival supply
 cache is that it degrades over time. Consulting a Chlorox bleach representative
produced this statement:

“We recommend storing our bleach at room temperatures.
 It can be stored for about 6 months at temperatures between 50 and 70
degrees Fahrenheit. After this time, bleach will be begin to degrade at a rate
 of 20% each year until totally degraded to salt and water.

 Storing at temperatures much higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit
could cause the bleach to lose its effectiveness and degrade more rapidly.
However, if you require 6% sodium hypochlorite,
 you should change your supply every 3 months.”

I cringe to think how many people have expired bleach in their emergency
 survival kits that will be used for treating polluted water during a disaster.
Even what are considered reliable sources of information such as the EPA
 and other government agencies will show you how to use bleach to disinfect
water but will leave out this exceedingly important piece of information.


So if bleach is unreliable for long term storage in emergency preparedness kits
then what other commonly available chemical methods of disinfecting water are there?

As it turns out there is a better solution.
Use Calcium Hypochlorite for Disinfect Water

Calcium hypochlorite is one of the best chemical disinfectants for water,
better than household bleach by far. It destroys a variety of disease causing
organisms including bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses.

Calcium Hypochlorite is widely available for use as
 swimming pool chlorine tablets or white powder
 that is much more stable than chlorine.
 This is often known as “pool shock”.
How to Disinfect Water Using Calcium Hypochlorite

Using granular calcium hypochlorite to
 disinfect water is a two step process.

   1. To make a stock of chlorine solution (do not drink this!)
      dissolve 1 heaping teaspoon (about one-quarter of an ounce)
      of high-test (78%) granular calcium hypochlorite for each
       two gallons (eight liters) of water.
   2. To disinfect water add one part of the chlorine
       solution to 100 parts water to be treated.
   3. Let the mixture sit for at least one-half hour before drinking.

Be sure to obtain the dry granular calcium hypochlorite since once it is made
into a liquid solution it will begin to degrade and eventually become useless
 as a disinfecting agent.

 This also means you should make your treated drinking water in small batches,
 for example enough for a few weeks at a time at most.

Another plus for using calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water during emergencies
 is that a little goes a very long way. A 1-pound pag of calcium hypochlorite
 in granular form typically costs only a few dollars and can be obtained in any
 swimming pool supply section of your hardware store or online.

This amount will treat up to10,000 gallons of drinking water,
which is enough for a family of four for some six or seven years
at a gallon per day per person!

Calcium hypochlorite will store for a long period of time and remain effective
 as a chemical drinking water treatment. So get rid of the household bleach
and buy a can of Calcium hypochlorite for your emergency water disinfection
 survival needs.
 It lasts far longer and treats far more water than the traditional
chlorine bleach water disinfection treatment.

Make a copy of this now please for you own good
 You someday might not be able to get on line.

My camera came back from repair this week and I couldn't wait to test it. This rose growing beside my driveway has survived the drought better than anything around except the grass growing south of the septic tank.

What's with this whole kidnapping of another tribe member on Survivor? How tacky to have everyone running around in their underwear. I am not really enjoying this season so far. I am watching this weeks episode, but it just seems so contrived this year to me.

 

Anyone else?