More preps from here
Snowhound1 – at 15:37
Enough Already or anyone else….do you have a link for the online site for the “survival” buckets? I looked at costco online and couldn’t fine them. I was thinking that it might be something I might be interested in for “longterm” food storage for my kids at college. I did find information regarding the lawsuit, and it has to do with not enough calories in each bucket for 3 months for one person. I would be happy if it contained enough calories and food for one month.
BB - at least one of the dyhydrated food companies also has survival buckets. I remember there was even one that was supposed to last a year - all grains and beans basically, nothing else. It weighed a TON (okay, not that much) but shipping must be high. If I get a chance after I assemble something for dinner I’ll try to find it.
Snowhound1 - 15:37
There is a lawsuit over these buckets. Click here http://tinyurl.com/zjxld and go to page 4 basis of claim They might have had to pull them from the shelves
Caveat venditor (I’ve just been waiting to get to say that!)
It’s on the lawsuit CarreyinVA sited: www.nutristorage.com
well, mayabe not… it doesn’t work, it’s a dead page. It worked yesterday. I guess it’s the same company… sounds like it. I can’t find the flyer, probably threw it out.
The flyer I got didn’t say anything about being a 3 month supply for one person. At 55 servings… which includes 5 of milk… even with 5 servings in each packet… 1 cup servings, IIRC… even with that I don’t see how they get 3 month supply. The website from the flyer had the nutrition label you could look at for each item. It wasn’t a spectacular bucket of food, but it wasn’t bad… like a concentration camp. I can’t see it any worse, if as bad, as a diet of spam, or tuna for that matter. I wasn’t sure there was $100 worth of stuff in there. I guess the “bucket” jacked the price up.
I was considering it for a 90+ y.o. man that lives down the road from me. Guess that’s out, lawsuit and all.
If I find the flyer, I’ll post the info!
I had no problem with the link at 17:23 The bottom line seems that the Costco buckets only offer 455 calories a day and people need 1,500 to 2,000 calories. The moral is to check the caloric content of your preps.
I am having a really bad day here…
not Carry’s link, but the link from the lawsuit for nutristorage. I can’t get into nutristorage at all today. The stuff in the bucket was similar to HB helper stuff. It had a nutrition label you could read… on the website. You couldn’t read it on the bucket itself, or on the flyer. Going to the website, you could read up on the contents of the bucket. I can tell you this much, what adult is only going to eat 1 cup of chowder or vegetable soup and consider that a nutritionally balanced or nutritionally dense food source? Of course it isn’t calorically adequate or nutritionally balanced. They are getting slammed for advertising it was 3 month supply for 1 person… and nutritionally adequate. I didn’t see this advertisement at COSTCO or on the flyer. Guess they got smart and removed that. But… there are stacks of those buckets at the local store… and I mean STACKS!
Changing the subject a bit… I had a hard day. We had to have the vet come out and put my dear kitty to sleep. She was 13 and ravaged from a wasting disease. It was even very difficult to watch her go here in our home, much different than taking an animal into a vet’s office. My big brave son had to leave part way through, and he continued working on a small coffin for her in the garage. We placed her in the box and buried her by the garden. I can’t imagine doing this with one of my children or my husband. I can barely see tonight from crying so hard, how much worse to be helpless to help an ailing family member. So…Prep, prep, prep will be my healing mantra.
NEMO - so sorry about your beloved cat.
NEMO… a year ago we had to have our 21 year old cat put to sleep. She also had a wasting disease. It was just so hard! But, she was in so much pain, and wasn’t able to do the things she loved to do. Likewise, this summer my mother passed away. I, too, have thought about how difficult it would be to face death like is predicted in this pandemic. My mother’s passing is quite possibly the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. Some days are hard, and some are much easier. I will probably carrying the loss of both my mother and beloved cat (I know that may sound silly) with me every day of my life. Fortunately, I was enriched and blessed by both of their lives! And, like you, I find strength in the task now at hand.
I am so sorry for your loss! You poignant point about your husband and children is indeed a deep emotion I imagine we all are struggling with. Take care! And embrace your precious loved ones!
EnoughAlready – at 18:41 link I had saved it as soon as I saw it earlier listed, so here it is
I dehydrated more carrots today. I’m getting quite accomplished at carrot dehydrating.
I headed to our nearest CVS pharmacy to see if they still had any propane canisters and they did. I picked up the remaining canisters for $0.69/2. I also picked up a LED lantern and a small weather radio for cheapo bucks.
Then it was off to pick up some more fruits and veggies to dehydrate. Tomorrow will be the day I attempt to make tomato powder.
Nemo: I’m so sorry about the loss of your dear kitty.
Gary Near Death Valley – at 20:48
Thanks, Gary! But… it isn’t the lawsuit I couldn’t get to come up… it is the bucket makers, nutristorage, website. Which, by the way is working now. Maybe it was my computer. Anyway, thank you!
Snowhound1:
They have a sample you can order on that website. My question would be if you had to make the entire 5 serving packet, or if you could take some out. That might be a problem, or maybe not. It would be worth having it all done for me, sealed and contained. You can read the nutrient information and what is in the packaging on the website. I can tell you this… Kroger’s has 10 for $10 on Clam chowder, Chicken chowder, Beef Vegetable soup, and some other soups. The nutrient value seems to be compariable, and you don’t have to add water. It might be worth making your own boxes. My problem was keeping my college kid out of something like that. Also, making blueberry pancakes may be a problem. Most grocery stores have carnation instant breakfast, or a generic brand, that would be easier and possibly more nutritious. If you could think of a way to “kid” proof the box, like this bucket, it might be something you’d rather do. Nice thing about the bucket is it keeps for 20 years. Unless that’s part of the lawsuit, too. ;0
OKAY--- anybody dehydrated tomato paste for tomato powder? This stuff is like bad rubber. I don’t think this is what it’s suppose to be like. If I put it in my food processor I think it will … well, I am not sure… probably make a mess. Did I do something wrong? Thanks in advance!
Nemo, I ache for you — wanting to be there at the very last breath is the best gift you can give your precious kitty who probably spent many an hour just being with all of you.
It’s torture just thinking right now, so try to keep your mind at peace in the fact that kitty is well now, and waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.
EnoughAlready and Nemo, I lost my mother a year ago, and 6 days later my 16 year old cat died of kidney failure (same as mother for probably the same reasons) and this May we had to put my sweet 22 year old fur-child to sleep. I know exactly what you mean about one death compounding the grieving of the others. I was unconsolable for weeks with Jenny’s passing, crying every minute of the day and a lot of the night. I’d wake up crying. I have to tell you both that depression set in — I lost my desire to do anything, I felt like every move I made with my hands, my feet, or my whole body I was making under water. It was EFFORT to move. Most of the time it was too much effort. That commercial about depression that says it hurts everybody is so right — it HURTS your body, muscle cramps from trying to withdraw into yourself.
Anyway, I’m STILL not all OK, and I feel like people would think I’m silly ‘still’ grieving over the losses, but I can’t stop yet. My sister, who has dealt with depression as well, suggested that I hook up with a grief support group to help me understand how to cope with my feelings. So far, all I’ve done is sign up with a pet loss grief group on Yahoo — very nice people….reading their posts makes me cry, but it also makes me feel close to someone else who understands how much we can love our pets, because they love us back so unconditionally, just like a mother (usually) does.
May I suggest a book, Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates to help you and the kids get through your grief more easily.
Prayers for you both,
Rose
I had a little Chihuahua names Lucy, I got her the day Lucille Ball Died, and several months after my infant daughter died. She and my son kept me going. My son kept me busy and gave me lots of hugs and love, he was two and my dog gave me something little to hold and love. She was a spoiled dog! When Lucy died a few years back it was very hard indeed. One day I had fallen a sleep in the afternoon, I wasn’t thinking of her but I woke up to her doggy breath and the feel of a lick on my nose.
Nemo, my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours tonight.
Kim
I’m-workin’-on-it
When my mother died I couldn’t get out of bed for 2 weeks. At that point, I called a dear friend who I use to work with. (I use to teach for a company that employed mostly psychiatrist, psychologist and therapist. She is a therapist.) She assured me what I was going through was a perfectly natural process. That, coupled with a lot of support from my family and friends, and a lot of prayer, helped me get on with my life. In fact, I don’t think I ever have felt as close to God as I did in those first weeks after my mom died. One thing I know, without hesitation, is that my mother would want me to move on. I was so blessed and fortunate to have had her as my mother. I will always miss her, but I accept she is gone. I am still working through that grief. And, I realise that only time will help me adjust to her permanent absence. Meantime, I find comfort in my children (who she loved dearly), my husband, and my precious brother! And life!
I can’t think about “what if” this pandemic… That is just too big. And too mind boggling. Today, however, I can embrace the wonder of life! And, I can continually try to make this pandemic somewhat “managable.” In that… I have control! And… I pray alot!
Coping skills are going to be very important to have and/or develop in any catastrophic situation. Coping mechanisms for dealing with the grieving process only begin to scratch the service.
Society, generally speaking, used to have a lot of structure for the grieving process that we now lack. There were ceremonies that were followed, there were faith-based activities and beliefs, there was a general understanding that grieving was a process that took time … but the people — again, generally speaking — didn’t just disappear from the family history and thought processes. The social and family support network was also extensive and played a large role in the grieving process. But there was also the idea that as individuals, there were still things to struggle through in this life that gave purpose and dimension to the lives of those left behind. There frequently wasn’t time to sit around grieving, grieving was dones while still in the active survival mode. Physical labor played a large role in healing.
That isn’t always true these days. However, planning how to help our families, and ourselves, create healthy coping mechanisms in the event of a tragedy should be a high priority goal in our preparations.
Whoops, that was me. I haven’t a clue what is going on with my computer at the moment. Been having some trouble … older, cranky computer that needs replacing … which is one of the reasons why I haven’t been around much the last few days.
Nemo - I am sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pet. I’ve had many furbabies in my life and their departure is always extreemly difficult. Sending you many cyber hugs.
anonymous - I agree that many these days have not faced nearly the kinds of grief and hardships that previous generations have. In addition, most are fully unprepared for what may be coming down the road. The possibility of lossing loved ones is what motivates me to prep. But I also know that it could happen.
Enough Already…and others. Thanks for the info. I was thinking of something I could get for my young men to just keep in storage until needed. (Even if it would only feed them for two weeks.) Somehow, something in a bucket does not sound quite as appetizing as say a can of Campbell’s soup on the pantry shelf, and I really think my boys wouldn’t scrounge from it, unless they didn’t have anything else to eat. :) Costco is quite a ways from me, and I don’t have a membership, and I was trying to decide if making the trip would be worthwhile.
Snowhound - I was looking over another sites “buckets” and nutritionally they are less than optimal. yes, they’d feed you, but it’s a lot of grains and beans. Plus, that assumes you’ll have power for cooking. For a college student you’d probably be better off making something up yourself - lots of canned soups that could even be eaten cold if necessary, high-protein power bars, quick-cook rice, canned tuna, etc. You could make up a box of items that could tide them over for say two weeks - since dorm rooms have NO STORAGE! Even if they are banned from their buildings, a hotpot or small burner might be good thing for them to have in their rooms also.
And don’t forget the peanut butter!
So, between the WSJ article yesterday discussing why AF is so lethal (scary stuff), activity in Asia and all the memories of 9/11 flooding back yesterday (hard to escape it here in CT, very close to NYC) I am fully motivated to get more done in the next few weeks. The kids are FINALLY back in school (I did the happy dance out of the preschool today!) and before we know it we’ll all be busy with the holidays. So now is the time. I’m ordering my generator this week (yeah!), have a list of other equipment I need (mostly camping gear), cleaning more cra8 out of my basement so I can put up big storage shelves to put all my preps. They are all over the house right now, hidden out of necessity because I don’t have lots of room in my kitchen. While I’d prefer the stuff be less visible (kids, cleaning people, heat/ac guys, etc. all go down there), I know I’ll start missing expiring preps if I can’t have easy access to them. Some things that I’ll never use I’ll keep stowed away until an emergency hits (sorry, I know some of you like canned veggies but my family will only eat fresh!). If things start to get ugly and I think we need to hide things again, I’ve already found most of the good hiding spots in the house anyway. Once I get all that done, I’d like to start working on getting others to prep again. I tried a while back and only had a few takers. Time to strike again.
On bucket foods:
Lumen foods makes “bucket foods” for the Lousiana prison system.
Mostly non-meat entrees like stews and soups.
A couple of years back I managed to convince them to sell me a pallet load.
Since the caloric and nutritional requirements are codified in law, I felt comfortable that they would meet survival needs.
I keep them around for non-preppers.
Toss them a bucket with the instructions taped on the outside, a bucket of rice, and have at it.
It was WAY more calories than the costco stuff being advertised.
You could make up the same thing using a dry “scotch broth” mix and supplementing it with TVP.
RE: Lumen Foods: I was not familiar with that company, but they have an interesting website. Several interesting products there:
http://www.soybean.com/
That’s a food company I didn’t know anything about…….very good variety & info.
“food NUTRITION company” SORRY
WAIT!!! They DO have food, too. I need to eat something…..I’m typing crazy stuff :-)
Snowhound1
I have planned to add canned chicken, or clams, or ham (depending on what the soup is) and even vegetables to the soup if I need/have to. That’s one thing you could do to add nutrient value and kcals. Instant oatmeal in packets and dehydrated fruits are another suggestion for breakfast foods. Family Dollar has Sue whatever her name is (in a blue and white can) chicken and dumplings for $1… that’s about the only canned stuff like that we like. We don’t like canned stew. The dollar kind of stores have large cans of spaghetti-o’s for $1. Cambell’s bean with bacon soup… I plan to add tomatoes, carrots and ham to that to increase calories. Somebody mentioned those rice ready to eat packages… my boys love them. (One of them is 6′5″… so I worry about him getting enough.) And if this thing doesn’t happen… there will be plenty of food to take hunting and fishing!
I have been looking seriously at those food bars mentioned. The one the coast guard uses is what I have sort of decided on… anybody tried those? I am considering those for 2 reasons. First, during sickness typically people have a loss of appetite. Second, I have grandchildren and my college age sons who need the calories. Both of these instances require calories for growth or repair work. Depletion of kcals (espcially if drastic &/or long term) can impede healing and increase risk of susceptibility.
My PPF is now around 4. I decided to add a few more weeks of supplies.
I have heard about the Costco emergency bucket problems. Basically they are only about $150 or so and only have about 450 calories a day when most people will need closer to 2000 calories a day. I wanted to see what was realistic.
I went to Wal-mart today and bought what I considered about 2 weeks of supplies for 3 (me, wife and one guest). It included OTC meds, vitamins, propane (4), sugar, salt, lite salt, Epson salts, Gatoraid, lamp oil (2qt), batteries, 60 lb of rice, ramen noodles(24), Vienna sausage(12), summer sausage, corn beef (4), beans (8 canned), powder milk, beef stew (3), peanut butter, instant potatoes, dried fruit, TP, tissue, storage tubs, trash bags, corn bread mix (3), and some small items (like season/gravy mixes). It ran about $150. I placed the total calories at 146,925 (most from the rice at 90,460). That is enough calories for 24 days for 3 or easily 2 weeks for 3 with some extra rice and noodles to give away to those in need.
Now it is nothing fancy, but it would allow one to survive. But then again, I already have the lamps, stove, light,….
Ramen noodles have VERY little nutritional value.
You’re better off with pasta or soba and thermos cooking in a survival situation.
I know it will fill your belly, but it’s almost useless as a caloric supplement.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size 1 container (43 g)
Amount per serving % daily value
If you can find them, there is a high protein bar called DETOUR. It is made with whey protein which is easier to digest. They all taste good - even my picky kids will eat them and they think they are a treat since they are slightly candy-bar-like. I can usually find them at GNC or Vitamin Shop. Read the labels of nutirtion bars carefully - many of them get their calories from sugar vs protein.
I think I found the near “perfect” comment for those that look at your prep cart and wonder. As I was checking out with 60 pounds of rice the clerk gave me “the look” on the third 20# bag. All I said was “wedding” and she just nodded and smiled. If she asked anything else I was just going to say “I don’t want to talk about it”.
Ramen Noodles:
Each packet = 2 servings
And there are also 10 g protein
AND… 1820 mg sodium (This is the problem I have… but compare it to soup in a can.)
Went to four stores and bought up all the lamp oil I could find; not that much but I’ve decided to supplement my lighting ( LED light (28 led which is just enough light) candles, outdoor solar lights and flashlights) with oil lamps. Already had a huge antique dual oil lamp (beautiful), one bedroom oil lamp (has handle to move around) and bought two cheap glass oil lamps for kitchen and backup. I don’t like the idea of mantels and lots of wicks on hand which I think should be easy to use and fairly efficient. I’m surprised there isn’t much lamp oil around my parts.
I bought a couple dozen cans Vienna “Chicken” Sausages because I don’t eat beef and very limited pork. I also bought several gourmet brand antipasto since it has many veges and tuna; love it on crackers or bread. Bought the shredded pork in large jars that is shelf stable to add a little for flavoring with noodles, pasta or rice.
We are in Alberta and expecting snow Friday, it’s 27 C degrees today (that about 75 F I think) so I wanted to top up before then. If our summer is truly over I won’t make many more trips to the stores to prep.
By the way I saw a flock of birds I couldn’t identify heading south today (thought they were geese but not so- strange) so the migration has begun. Get ready, we may not have much time.
“AND… 1820 mg sodium (This is the problem I have… but compare it to soup in a can.)”
ok. One of my staples is Progresso Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup - 19oz - Serving size is 1cup - 2 cups in a can.
Per Serving:
I plan to combine the 1.75 cups of liquid with 1.75 cups of Instant White Rice to cook then add remainder of can. The 3/4 cup of rice per person adds 300 calories, 7.5mg Sodium, and 6g of Protein. So for $1.25 for soup and about $.50 for the instant rice I get two meals of 400 calories and 13g Protein each.
Protein in instant ramen noodles ??
What brand is THAT ?
Nissin- Top Ramen (Ooodles of Noodles… chicken flavor)
Maruchan Ramen Noodle, creamy chicken flavor has 4g protein per serving and has 2 serving per pack.
I checked my “great value” (walmart) beef Ramen noodles and they have 5 gm of proteins. I think you may want to compare “flavors” of the noodles.
and again, I always eat the noodles with things added are part of another dish and not as a thing unto itself. (and normally without any extra salt)
nopower – at 21:32
That’s what I am talking about! Of course it isn’t what we may want to eat or even the best we could eat. But, most of us can’t prep any other way. Some of these tactics are good every day lessons.
Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day. This is it’s preferred “fuel”. (glucose) Carbs are also protein “sparers”.
Essential amino acids are just that… essential every day. These are found complete in meat, but we can get them by combining foods. And, this food just has to be eaten within a day… not necessarily together. So, throw a serving of beans in that soup… or somewhere in the day (but if total protein throughout the day becomes problematic… throw it in with the soup for 50 cents or less per can)… and you have a complete protein. Another trick… 1/4 cup of milk to a serving of oatmeal = a complete protein.
Throw some carrots, spinach, tomatoes, etc, into that can of soup and you’ve added more minerals and nutrients. And stretched your can of soup at a minimal cost. You may have to add some seasoning. But… probably not salt! ;)
Dennis C--- and that is probably for one serving. Usually there are 2 serving per package. If that is correct, that’s 10 grams of protein. Adding the other economical stuff is easy and practical. Dropping an egg into this would really up the protein level. (Like egg drop soup.)
IMHO, these are the kinds of things people need to know about & discuss. It is so expensive to do this prepping. And trying to achieve quanity and nutrition on a shoe-string budget is doable. I have read so many times on various threads how people just can’t do this. It is understandably frustrating. But how can we help?
bump
I believe it’s caused by the link from Gary Near Death Valley – at 20:48
Could one of the Mods please fix it
Still juggling day-to-day and disaster stuff. Am getting some car repair/maintenance, dental, household stuff done; did get more supplies, still important stuff going undone everyday.
(Note to younger self; why didn’t you want to get on a track that would have gotten you some staff or personal assistants by this age? “Too soon old, too late smart.”)
bump
EnoughAlready – at 22:25 Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day.
The brain (and all other organs except the liver) gets along quite nicely on ketones, a product of fat metabolism. The liver is the only organ that requires glucose and it can make its own from protein through the process of gluconeogenesis.
Has anyone thought about couscous? I don’t know how easy it is to find over in the States, but here it is inexpensive and everywhere. It has become the foundation of my preps since I really don’t enjoy rice. I also think it will be more economical to prepare, needing less water and less cooking time (except with a thermos!) then rice or pasta. Basically, you bring one measure of water to a boil, then turn off the heat, sprinkle an equal measure of couscous into the water, stir, cover, and let sit for 5 mintutes, add salt and a little olive oil and voilà! I have recently tried preparing it in the same way but replacing the water with vegetable soup (blended so it’s liquid) to feed the baby. She loves it and now I’ve started stocking up on extra soup.
Paris - re: cous cous
Great idea! I was thinking exactly the same thing last night. I was looking through my cupboards and had a few small boxes. I got to wondering why I hadn’t thought to get more before now, since it’s so simple and all the kids like it. We use it for both savory and sweet dishes.
Where I used to live, I could buy it inexpensively in bulk at several health food & grocery stores. Here I have only been able to find it in small boxes in one aisle of one store…much pricier that way. For now that I’ll try to add extra boxes as I am able, and then plan to visit a Whole Food market or similar the next time I’m in the big cities (about 100 miles away) and raid the bulk bins.
According to the nutrition info on my box here, one serving has 8g protein, 1g fat, 0 cholesterol or sodium, 43g carbs (2g of which are dietary fiber) and provides 4% of daily iron.
WOW That’s still very high in carbs — not very diatetic friendly — isn’t that higher than rice?
White rice seems to run about 35g carbs; brown rice about 32….
I’m-workin’-on-it - my DH is on a low carb diet, but not because he is a diabetic. While I have some low-carb pasta, it is rather pricey and I simply cannot afford to buy much of it.
I keep telling him - If we need to eat these preps…..the carb count on food is going to be the least of our problems;-)
WIT, you’re right about that! But since we’re rotating by eating, I have to consider those carbs now! :-)
And low-carb anything is so expensive, it just makes you depressed doesn’t it?
We have to make trade-offs — what seems low in carbs will probably be high in sodium! :-)
I found a product at Walmart that some may be interested in. It’s a sugar-free (sweetened with aspartame :( caffeinated drink mix that has 200% of the daily vitamin C requirement, called Morning Spark. Comes in 4 flavors; apple, orange, ruby red grapefruit, and cranberry, just mix with water. Since I’m not a coffee drinker but am addicted to caffeine thought I’d give it a try ($1.50 for 10 packets that make 16 ozs. each). I got the ruby red, and must say the stuff is pretty good. I’ll be laying in a supply of it for my preps, and will probably also use it regularly when I can’t make it to the convenience store to get my daily shot of “Rooster Booster” caffeine drink.
Bulgur (tabouli) is another quick food. I used to make Near East brand tabouli on hot nights when cooking wasn’t appealing. With chickpeas, tomatoes, whatever you have, it can be a salad.
One thing to watch out for is not eating the same foods so often that we get sensitized to them. I don’t know what the probabilities are for such a change, but I can’t eat wheat anymore ( or barley or rye or beer) since I developed gluten intolerance. If I eat it, my throat gets really sore and red; my daughter’s symptoms include stomach upset. Maybe it only happens in people who have other allergies?
tooooooooo wide! thanks
Does anybody have names of grocery or health food stores in the U. S. that stock bulk couscous? Sounds like something I want to try, but I’ve only noticed small packages.
Mari – at 17:48 bulk couscous
11 lb at $25.56
I should repeat what I said in the Ramen thread- a single food item is not the answer. The important thing is to have a variety of items.
of course there is always blue green algae (almost perfect nutrition but not to good on taste).
Also, I find Couscous in large containers where the regular rice is, usually down towards the bottom shelf. The nice thing about it is all you need is some boiling water. Add it to boiling water, cover and let stand five minutes. A good base for other foods when cooking fuel is limited. Boiling regular pasta or making regular rice takes a long time.
The following is a cut and paste from survival website, followed by the link.
Perhaps one of the biggest jokes in the world is “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil,” priced at about $20.00 per gallon. As few people these days have any familiarity with the history of lamps, their design, or their fuel, they actually buy “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” to burn in kerosene lamps. The lamps were all basically designed before 1890 to burn coal oil, so they are still called “oil lamps” even though coal oil was replaced by kerosene well over 125 years ago. But some marketing genius realized that kerosene is called “paraffin” in England, but by that name is a solid waxy substance in the US, so why not call clear kerosene “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” and fleece the unwary? It worked! Just a few weeks ago (early February, 2006) I purchased 16 gallons of Low Odor Mineral Spirits at a True Value hardware store to use in my B & H, P & A and Kosmos lamps…on sale at $4.19 a gallon. While I was checking out with the best lamp fuel available, others were waiting to purchase “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” on sale for $19.95 a gallon.
sorry sidescroll alert was me.
oops, was me
Dennis in Colorado – at 14:33
hmmmmmm, then I guess they need to change a whole bunch of biochemistry and nutritonal biochemistry literature and textbooks. Because glucose is the brains fuel of choice. And, to operate under ketosis long term is a very expensive metabolic procedure.
Here’s a strange question for you. My toddler has weaned herself (too early for my taste - I wanted to get her through this fall but there you go, she certainly knows her own mind!) Anyway, as I was putting away breast pump and assorted paraphenalia, I came across some of those sterilisation tablets that you drop in water before plunging bottles or pump in to sterilise them. Each tablet has 800 mg of NaDCC. Are these going to be useful in any way for BF sterilisation?
Paris - I used those when I lived overseas (in US now and I’ve never seen them here). I only used them when traveling and didn’t have access to hot, clean water or cleaning equipment. I didn’t “trust” them to do 100% of the job - I just felt better giving everything a good scrub vs just letting something just sit in water. They might be good for cleaning certain things, especially if water is limited, but I wouldn’t trust it to kill off AF since it’s such a tricky little bugger. Can you call the manufacturer and see what they say about what it kills?
I have a unusual prep story. My “significant other” had been out of work for over a year. I was to the point of kicking him out (long story). Two months ago I caught him stealing my preps, alot of them. Come to find out, in the last 2 months he has had a 18 year old girlfriend, he is 52. He had been setting up a apartment for her using my things. His reason for having the affair- I accused him of stealing a can of chili. At first I was very angry, we had been together for 10 years. But now I am glad he is gone. I would not want to go through bird flu, or life in general with him. I guess prepping can include more than buying things, it can also be letting go of people that aren’t good for you.
DebP - If that was his “reason” for having an affair, I’d have to agree that you’re in better shape now without him. Keep prepping, it sounds like you might have to replace a few items!
DebP – at 07:52
That’s an AMAZING story! How awful a betrayal for you and honestly, for that 18 year old who doesn’t understand yet how people (men AND women) can be so selfish. After 10 years, you’d think you knew someone’s underlying ethics, but you just can’t always tell.
You’re very wise to realize that prepping can mean not only getting rid of the physical junk that we accumulate like junk in a closet we need to use, or extra weight around our middles, or the things that would break our hearts any day of the year. Doing it now, while we have time to adjust is really such a blessing, even though it might not feel like it right now to you.
There are so many positives for you at this point, and I assume you’ve changed the locks, considered a pistol, and are much more aware that you can now stock only the foods that YOU like! :-)
Seriously, I hope you can adjust to this betrayal over time, and my prayers are with you — the pain is the still the pain, no matter how it got there.
DebP – at 07:52
My sympathies concerning your betrayal, but having been through that situation before, I can tell you that even though you are missing a lot of preps the trade-off was well worth it.
DebP - if you rent, I would consider going elsewhere, cuz you know he’ll be back if TSHTF…he knows you have supplies. He probably also knows that you will have replaced what was taken. Do you have another potential storage location?
Been off the net for a few days again,but keeping my eyes on the TV news.So I assume h5n1 is not a problem anymore (kidding!!!! but over 5 days of no net and TV news only I didn’t hear a word about it)Been pretty cash poor but garden rich here.Since I am an avid canner I am able to sock away lots of food.Peaches, pears , and tomatoes are all in season here and if I run out of one I just look to the next loaded tree I see from the road and pull in and ask the owner if they would trade a few quarts of finished canning for the fruit laying around.Most are glad to have them cleaned up from the yard.If they are small and poked,I just make sauce out of them.Thank god for the foley food mill.
Thanks for the support, unfortunately I bought this house with him. This will be a major complication as I have made all the payments myself. I have told him I am not moving right now. On the plus side, he is afraid of my son(no real reason other than he is over six foot tall and 250 at 16) so I am hoping that is somewhat of a detterant. I do have to admit, I am considering getting a gun for protection, for the first time in my life. I was taught how to shoot by my father when I was younger, so I know how to use it. I have been slowly replacing the things he stole. I am considering moving some things to my mothers apartment. He wouldn’t go over there even if he was dying. He views her as the “evil mother-in-law”, so I guess that is a good thing in this case.
I have been in a similar situation myself. I am sure that there will be responses that say “No gun!” It is interesting to see how this might fall along gender lines though . . . ;-p
1. Get a restraining order, for you, for your residence, for your place of work, for your mom’s apartment against him and his girlfriend. That gives you a lot more legal protection in case you have to use . . . (drumroll)
2. THE GUN. Whatever you purchase, make sure you have all licensure, paperwork, concealed carry permits—and don’t advertise to him or anyone else that you have it. Even though you have experience, spend some time practicing with it (best with a NRA instructor if possible.
Hang in there! You are better off without him—
DebP….Good luck with this difficult situation.I do feel concern for your son as 52 yr old bas***ds are much meaner and sneakier than 16 yr old boys.My friends son once tried to get involved in his mom and stepdads serious arguement and ended up with a blackeye and concussion.He felt he could over power the guy but did not have the stuff needed to really make sure the stepdad was incompacitated.Even really big 16 yr olds are kittens at heart usually…..Sorry if I bring new worries to the table for you,it just struck a cord within me….I know 2 men who have pulled this move on their wives( getting with 18 yr old girls) one being my dad and the other my hubbbies dad. My hubby once joked with me that when I turn 40 he would trade me in for 2 20′s….That didn’t go over too well with me.It prompted me to store one secret prep from him.Condoms…..We are close in proximity I think,and if you would need anything let me know….
Can you get some strong locking cupboards for your preps, in case he broke into your place when you weren’t home? Also, lock up your tools so he can’t use them to break into cupboards. Sorry you have such a worry before pandemic even starts!
oremus, here’s a site regarding parafin oil for lamps- under FAQ, Parafin oil notice (scroll down). Parafin oil isn’t kerosene; apparently it’s thicker and isn’t recommended for lamps with wicks over 7/8″ wide. I’ve been looking for refillable liquid candles, because I have so much parafin stocked already, but no luck so far. Funny, my Walgreens has large bottles of Ultrapure oil, but only tiny non-refilllable candles. Too bad. http://www.lanternnet.com/faqs.htm
DebP, wow…talk to a lawyer right away about the house. There is every possibility you can have it placed in your name only since you were not married, especially if you can prove he made no financial contribution. Many states have no recognition of common-law marriage, and even the ones that do have certain requirements to make it valid. A divorce laywer is the best place for you to begin getting control of your life again.
Make sure all the locks are changed, and perhaps consider a short-term move of your preps to a storage facility or your mother’s place. With the temps falling, now is a good time and will keep the items safe until this situation is sorted out.
Once the house problem is resolved, sell it and make sure he doesn’t know where you live. And when you visit places he knows you will go to (such as your mother, or your place of employment) be very sure he isn’t watching or following you when you leave. Jefiner has it right about the restraining order. And try to vary your routine, in case he is watching you or your residence.
You never know what could happen, even seemingly normal men can become ‘temporarily insane’ in situations like yours. Not using that term as an excuse for the bad behaviour that some men have at times like this, but more as a warning that it can happen when you would least expect it. It happened to me once, and was very scary.
A really nice guy I dated, from a really nice and very normal family stalked me when I broke up with him. One day he showed up at my home, pounding and kicking on the door and I got scared. I called 911 and got my kids to the master bedroom along with my dogs as protection. Turned out I was right to be afraid…he had a knife and threatened the police officers who responded to my call.
When he went to court, he had no explaination for why he acted as he did, he just said I had driven him crazy by refusing to see him…he got probation for a few years which was lucky for him. But if he had made any further attempt to contact me, he would have gone to prison for a year.
One more thing, you might want to consider a basic self-defense course at a local martial arts school. You can learn how to use various common items as weapons in an emergency, and how to have a good chance at hurting an attacker enough to allow you to escape with your life. This will be useful in many ways, even if you never need it because of your ex. It will teach you to always be aware of your surroundings, a vital skill imo.
Good luck, and don’t stop prepping! Remember, learning to defend yourself is a prep skill. And securing your home is too.
Jane- check this site for oil candles, they have tons http://tinyurl.com/quewy
This morning I pulled out my powdered buttermilk (which I rarely use) and found it hard as a rock. I know how to soften brown sugar in the microwave, and this would have probably worked for the buttermilk too, but if I didn’t have power, I’d have been up a creek!
Fortunately, awhile back I’d purchased a heavy (thick) plastic mortar & pestal — it looks just like a marble one, but is plastic. I got it for $4 at our regional Winn Dixie grocery store. I’d priced ‘em on eBay & the stores that sell marble stuff & always those had rough bottoms, to help with the pulverizing I guess.
Since I wanted it to crush up my pet’s medications, I couldn’t afford to leave a bunch ground into the bottom because most cat tabs aren’t that big to begin with & it would have adjusted the dosage if I couldn’t get it all out. ANYway, I found this one — with a smooth bottom!
So I grabbed it and started on my buttermilk powder & it works great! I’ve now transferred my powder to a glass jar with an oxy absorber! I’ll do my egg whites the same way!
You might want to consider something like that if you have a lot of powdered drink mixes or foods in your pantry!
EnoughAlready – at 00:58 I guess they need to change a whole bunch of biochemistry and nutritonal biochemistry literature and textbooks. Because glucose is the brains fuel of choice. And, to operate under ketosis long term is a very expensive metabolic procedure.
Your previous post on this issue was:
EnoughAlready – at 22:25 Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day.
My response was:
Dennis in Colorado – at 14:33 The brain (and all other organs except the liver) gets along quite nicely on ketones, a product of fat metabolism. The liver is the only organ that requires glucose and it can make its own from protein through the process of gluconeogenesis.
I stand by that statement. The human brain does not need dietary carbohydrate. Ketogenic diets have been used by neurologists to treat seizure disorders for more than 80 years. Children have been maintained on ketogenic diets for years at a time without deleterious effects. The long-term efficacy and safety of ketogenic diets is well-established. We have mounting evidence that ketogenic diets have neuro-protective effects in persons with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and CVA (stroke). Also, please note that the “preferred” energy source for the human heart is ketones.
While the human brain appears to “prefer” glucose as its primary fuel when we consume a “normal” diet, metabolism changes from that of a glucose-based energy substrate to a ketone-based substrate quite readily when we consume a ketogenic diet.
It simply is not true that your brain needs 140 grams of carbohydrates a day.
I emphasize this point for the subject of surviving a pandemic: If you find yourself away from your normal prep food, with nothing but a freezer full of elk or deer meat, do NOT despair. The fact that you will not get your government-recommended 10 ounces of grains per day and six cups of fruit & vegetables per day will not adversely affect your health. You don’t need the carbohydrates.
Jane – at 11:03
I just wanted people to know that they could use Low Odor Mineral Spirits in oil lamps.
Other than socking alot of supplies away, our family has made another significant change that was influenced at least in part by the possibility of panflu. We’ve been considering homeschooling for a couple of years and finally decided to do it. It’s gone very well so far. I’m really enjoying spending much more time with my children, teaching them is certainly an exciting and interesting experience.
Wow Mama! You are homeschooling now? That’s great. I never felt confident in such things. (Well, maybe K-6) :) I was looking over my son’s calculus last night when he had a question and all I kept thinking to myself is “Gosh, I’m glad I’m not his teacher!” :) If we all end up stuck in the house together for six months, maybe I’ll take up calculus as my hobby. :)
Snowhound1 – at 14:05 If we all end up stuck in the house together for six months, maybe I’ll take up calculus as my hobby. :)
I’d rather die! :-)
MaMa how do you get started with homeschooling. I’ve been thinking about it, and now that our teachers are going on strike my DH said OK. I feel they would benifit from have a schedule in place and I wouldn’t have to worry about pulling them out too early(or too late) when TSHTF.
“I feel they would benifit “ ha ha
I can’t spell but I can teach calculus!!
Dennis in Colorado – at 12:25
Ketosis is the bodies survival system. It’s been known for decades that the brain burns ketones. It is a very expensive, metabolically, and comes with risks. The diet you are sugesting (ketosis) does not support the body’s “optimal” functioning. There is a reason it is recommended that a diet consists of ~55% of calories from carbohydrates (CHO).
After one day the body depletes glycogen (stored glucose in lean tissue and muscles), the body starts breaking down protein structures to provide “glucose” to the brain & nervous system. (The brain needs a constant level of glucose to stay alive. It is so highly specialised for nerve conduction that it has had to compromise by almost soley relying on glucose. The brain is very limited in its scope to do this. Apparently the brain only enough glycogen to provide glucose to the brain for a total of 2 minutes. All other body organs and muscles have much longer glycogen stores.)
Eating less than 120–140 grams of CHO a day increases ketone build-up in your blood (i.e., ketosis) and can cause high level of uric acid to build up, which is a rish factor for gout and kidney stones. Dehydration is also a risk factor. Understand this, ketosis is only one part of the equation--- dehydration is the other. Ketones irritate your kidneys and the kidneys try to get rid of them via urine. Your body drains water from your tissues to wash these ketones out. That’s the reason you have to urinate so often on this type of “diet.” The diet you are suggesting can also cause the body to loose calcium. Also, when the body depletes it’s stores of glycogen (glucose stored in lean tissue and muscles), there is a loss of lean tissue mas (for example, the heart is a muscle.) Metabolic rate slows, which is why a person gets sluggish and mentally --- your brain gets sluggish because IT ONLY RUNS ON GLUCOSE. CHO is NECESSARY to SPARE PROTEIN! In addition, in the Journal of American Medical Association’s Aug. 20, 2003 edition, a significant study showed a 60% increase in carciovascular disease relating to the ketogenic diet. Ketosis is also a symptom of diabetic shock. Ketosis is not meant to be anything but survival mode. And, keeping out of ketosis is the best “diet.” (Studies have shown that morbidly obese patients, 100 pounds or more overweight, benefit from a ketonic diet… UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION. There are risks associated with this diet.)
Current recommendations by the American Dietetic Association, the US Surgeon General and the American Medical Association encourage people to eat a diet centered around the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guide Lines for Americans for a reason (that’s why it is on most labels.) A diet that is balanced and varied is the cornerstone. If living on elk or deer (as in your scenario) was the place you find yourself, it would behoove you to find natural vegetain as well to sustain “optimal” body and life functioning.
Please, understand--- this could become part of the problem. If one is sick, stressed, and does not have the adequate body fuels… it becomes a slippery slope with a downward sprial. Proper nutrition is a key tool in survival and recovery.
I don’t want to fight with you. I very much want to get over to you the importance of carbohydrates and all nutrients and minerals in one’s diet. Especially during a crisis like we are considering… a pandemic. This most likely will be a long term journey, not a short term journey.
I beg and implore you to contact a registered dietitian, a medical doctor, a nutritionist (with certified credentials) and ask them about this. Don’t take my word. I don’t have to hang around here on this site. I choose to because it is a way I can make a difference in helping others prepare. I know what I am talking about.
Hi guys! Sorry for disappearing, I got called away unexpectedly.
Snowhound1, I am so lucky- mu hubby has 5 years university level math- I am completely off the hook for anything past what I call ‘normal’ math:-)
I feel confident in being able to teach the rest of the subjects. There are a tremendous number of excellent resources out there, many of them at little or no cost.
silversage at 14:25, I’m not sure where you live but the best first step is to contact the education dept. in your province/state. Ask them what the requirements are to homeschool. In Manitoba, any parent can homeschool their child- all that needs to be done to fufill provincial regulations is to 1.)advise the education dept. of your intention to homeschool, there are a few forms to fill out and a course outline must be submitted for each child. There are several choices in how you will homeschool- you can buy courses from the edu. dept.- you can develop your own curriculum using the depts. general guidelines(our choice)- or you can have another curriculum, such as religion-based.
2.)2 progress reports must be submitted each year, one in Jan. and one in June.
You might find it helpful to get in contact with any local homeschooling associations or parent groups. Many of them have events throughout the year, like textbook swaps, which can save alot of money.
My kids are in gr.2,7 and 8. I’ve found alot of great sites for worksheets, research for projects, etc. on the internet. If you’d like feel free to e-mail me(my addr. is in my profile) and I’d be happy to share them with you and answer any other questions you might have.
EnoughAlready – at 15:26 After one day the body depletes glycogen (stored glucose in lean tissue and muscles), the body starts breaking down protein structures to provide “glucose” to the brain & nervous system.
Only in the absence of adequate caloric intake. You are clouding the issue by confusing starvation with a ketogenic diet.
The brain needs a constant level of glucose to stay alive. It is so highly specialised for nerve conduction that it has had to compromise by almost soley relying on glucose.
No, it doesn’t. You already acknowledged that “It’s been known for decades that the brain burns ketones.” You needn’t deny that now. The brain can function very well burning glucose or ketones, depending on what is available.
Eating less than 120–140 grams of CHO a day increases ketone build-up in your blood (i.e., ketosis) and can cause high level of uric acid to build up, which is a rish factor for gout and kidney stones.
Again, you are confusing a ketogenic diet with starvation. In a ketogenic diet study published in the International Journal of Obesity (PMID: 617109), “serum proteins, electrolytes, uric acid, cholesterol and blood haemoglobin and haematocrit were unaffected.”
Also, when the body depletes it’s stores of glycogen (glucose stored in lean tissue and muscles), there is a loss of lean tissue mas (for example, the heart is a muscle.)
Once more, you confuse ketogenic diets with starvation. A ketogenic diet of adequate caloric value does not result in the loss of lean tissue mass. Even a hypocaloric ketogenic diet depletes muscle mass less than a “balanced” hypocaloric diet does. Body builders use ketogenic diets to burn fat while preserving lean muscle mass. I served as proofreader for Lyle McDonald’s book, The Ketogenic Diet, and he had an entire chapter devoted to cyclical ketogenic dieting for body builders.
Metabolic rate slows, which is why a person gets sluggish and mentally --- your brain gets sluggish because IT ONLY RUNS ON GLUCOSE. CHO is NECESSARY to SPARE PROTEIN! In addition, in the Journal of American Medical Association’s Aug. 20, 2003 edition, a significant study showed a 60% increase in carciovascular disease relating to the ketogenic diet.
Now you’ve moved from “misleading” to “lying.” The 8/20/2003 article in JAMA (PMID: 12928468) concerned elevated cholesterol levels in children who consumed a ketogenic diet. It in no way reached any conclusion regarding any increase in cardiovascular disease. The exact quote is, “CONCLUSIONS: A high-fat ketogenic diet produced significant increases in the atherogenic apoB-containing lipoproteins and a decrease in the antiatherogenic HDL cholesterol. Further studies are necessary to determine if such a diet adversely affects endothelial vascular function and promotes inflammation and formation of atherosclerotic lesions.”
There is, indeed, a slight decrease in cognitive functioning that lasts for approximately 3 days, as the brain switches from glucose metabolism to ketone metabolism. After that, cognitive function is normal.
Ketosis is also a symptom of diabetic shock.
No, you are confusing ketosis and ketoacidosis. Ketosis is one of the body’s normal processes for the metabolism of body fat and is not pathognomonic.
I don’t want to fight with you.
Nor I with you, as long as you use truth in your statements and not red herring and straw man logical fallacies. I will, however, identify untruths and inaccuracies wherever I find them.
If you are comfortable in consuming a politically-correct “balanced” diet, that is fine. Just don’t try to confuse others by mixing in statements about starvation and passing them off as applying to ketogenic diets and don’t mis-quote medical studies.
If people find themselves in a situation where they choose (or are forced) to consume a low-carbohydrate diet, they should not be frightened by the Food Police into thinking their brain will not function. The brain does not need 120–140 grams of carbohydrate per day.
silversage – at 14:25
I’m not sure if your in the U.S. for sure or not, but homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Some states are more strict than others. For instance here in VA I can homeschool with just a HS diploma. All I have to do is remit a “letter of intent” in the begining of the school year, and the scores of a nationally standardized test at the end of the year. Some states don’t even expect that much.
My suggestion is not to contact the school district, but to google “homeschooling support groups” and the name of your state.
Dennis in Colorado – at 17:07
First of all, I am not a liar.
Secondly, I have a masters degree in nutrition and dietitics. My information is based on research, education and clinical experiences from people with degrees in nutrition and dietitians. My own experiences include research and field experience.
Finally, you are just wrong about the brain not needing gluclose. As I suggested earlier, contact a dietitian, medical doctor and nutritionist (with certified credentials) to verify. Your food police remark is not only uncalled for, but unprofessional and tacky.
Bottom line: we need food from a variety of sources presented in a balanced manner to obtain and maintain optimal functioning. That should be the focus. And how to achieve that in an economiical fashion with scarce resources.
EnoughAlready – at 17:48
You have ignored each piece of evidence I have presented to you. It is apparent that you cannot refute that evidence. I shall not continue the discussion.
Oremus at 13:45, thanks for the tip. Sometimes it’s hard to find a particular fuel, so looking in the paint department for low-odor mineral spirits instead of kerosene is a good idea.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464915
Bergqvist and the group from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have also begun to examine bone density in children on the ketogenic diet.[7] Using a cross-sectional (rather than longitudinal) design they showed that males on the ketogenic diet for 12–24 months experienced a significantly worse osteopenia than females. This is part of an ongoing prospective study that may clarify observations made in 1979, when Hahn and colleagues[8] reported that children on the diet had a significant reduction in serum 25OHD as well as loss of bone mass, which can be partially reversed by vitamin D treatment. This work will be important to providing optimal care for children who are on the diet for an extended period of time.
A broad review of both early- and late-onset complications of the diet was presented by Kang and colleagues[9] from Sang-gye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. They reported their experience with 117 patients. Typical early problems included GI intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, and transient hyperuricemia. Other early problems of interest included lipoid pneumonia in 5%, suggesting aspiration. Late complications (after 2 months) were seen in 30% of patients and included infections, dyslipidemia, hepatitis (6%), and single cases of cardiomyopathy, acute pancreatitis, and secondary hypocarnitinemia. Of interest is that most children who experienced growth failure showed normalization of growth when the diet was discontinued. Diet-related deaths were presumed in 4 cases (sepsis in 2, cardiomyopathy, and lipoid pneumonia).
Carnitine deficiency was also addressed in a study by Werner and associates[10] from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. Although the clinical relevance of measuring free carnitine remains in question, the investigators conducted a retrospective chart review and found that 61% of 20 children on the diet developed a carnitine deficiency. However, only 1 child developed symptomatic carnitine insufficiency (acyl/free ration > 0.4) with increased seizures and lack of energy. Two of the 20 children experienced improved energy and alertness after carnitine supplementation, although free carnitine levels had improved in all of them. Children who received the diet orally appeared to have more abnormalities than those who were fed enterally, perhaps because the formula was fortified. Others who have looked at total carnitine levels find that they stabilize or return to baseline over time and that most children on the diet do not need supplementation. This remains an area in need of further prospective clarification with clinically relevant observations.
Dennis in Colorado and Enough Already at a bunch of times ---
How about you two swap email addresses and argue via email? That way, the Flu Prep thread can get back to Flu Prep. Thanks…
Play nice children.
I will only home-school if and when necessary. You know how you know when you are not cut out for certain professions? Being a teacher is definitely one for me! Anyone who does it well, at school or at home, amazes me. That being said, since the kids could be out for a long time, I have collected some workbooks and materials, stashed away lots of books which could also be holiday gits, etc. My 4th grader’s teacher already has a lot of her homework assignments on-line. If it starts getting nasty I’ll print a lot off so he has more to work with.
Speaking of keeping kids busy - in Target’s dollar section this week they had TONS of craft stuff. They also had cheap reading glasses, which, for those of us past 40 and starting to suffer in that department, it’s a good idea to keep several on hand.
Anybody know about these UV air purifiers? There will be more of these types of items as time goes on? The are biofilters, or something like that. Please comment on these.
Bronco Bill – at 19:24
Sorry, but no way. I personally have problems with the way this was handled, and have no problem remaining in lurking status.
NJ Jeeper - my kids have allergies, youngest one asthma. I’ve used air purifiers for a few years and they’ve made a real difference in symptom acuity with both kids. Just before I came on to the wiki tonight I was ordering replacement filters for our purifiers, and replacement uv lights. For the money, the best ones I’ve found are from http://tinyurl.com/k379x. They use hepa filter, charcoal filter, uv light and negative ions. The combination treatment decreases airborne particles, viruses and bacteria. Many comparison sites exist although the consumer digest (name?) was not the best. Prices for a good unit vary dramatically so be careful. Multifiltration method is most comprehensive though some units are advertised as ‘never have to change a filter’. This often means the unit has decreased filtration components. Good luck. The unit you asked about uses 2 out of the 4 filtration methods of the surround air unit, negative ions and uv cleansing with circulating fan. There is research on the antiviral and antibacterial effect of both of these actions, but you can find a unit with more air cleansing activity for less money I think.
A friend whose kids have horrible allergies (you name, it makes them miserable) just installed this one in her house. She did a lot of research on it and thought this one was a good value, did what she needed, etc. in terms of allergies. But she is also one on the few perppers i know and she was happy to find out it filters out viruses as well (or so they claim). But Carrier is a reputable company. If I had the money I’d get one as well, but we’re shelling out some bucks for a generator which seemed a higher priority for us right now.
http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/airquality/aircleaners/purifier.shtml
Homeschoolers- Ive just started homeschooling my kids (grades 10 and 7)-we’ve been at it a month or so. It has been great! My kids are a lot less cranky-they’ve almost stopped bickering with each other plus we’ve escaped a round of mono, strep and that nasty staph infection thats going around.
I am fortunate that I have family members who help me out in the advanced mathmatics and sciences. I can handle history/humanities. Having the kids at home is one less thing to worry about in regards to bird flu.
Another prep this week-I visited a GREAT used book store and picked up 5 veggie cookbooks from 1970′s lots of info about combining grains/legumes, complimentary proteins, cooking with tofu/tvp, etc. I’m going to spend next few days reading them and then comparing with current nutrician info-I know the current thinking about proteins for example is a little different.
Also picked up a couple of copies of Barry’s “Great Influenza” pretty cheap. I’m putting some website info-fluwiki, pandemic.gov etc inside, then will “release” the books a’la Bookcrossings. I very much want to get the word about panflu out, but I also very much want to remain anonymous. I’m thinking this will be a good compromise.
I read a review of a cookbook in our local newspaper this week. The book is Stories & Recipes of the Great Depression by Rita Van Amber. The reviewer tried several of the recipes and said they were really good. One I found interesting was that they used to make a large pot of oatmeal (the slow-cooked kind), put the leftovers in a bread pan, refrigerate it, and then for dinner, they’d slice it, fry the slices in lard, and serve with maple syrup. Some of the recipes utilize plants we would consider weeds. Think I’m going to order it.
This is a great time of year (northern hemisphere) to get a great deal on a home reservior system. Its amazing how many people have these. If you buy them new they cost thousands. I bought a used one several years ago and only paid $250 for the whole thing, pump, filter, and above ground open tank. It even came with a ladder to get into it, (for cleaning?). And the previous owner was GLAD to see it go! Just check you local newspaper classified ads under, I think they are usually called, em, oh yeah, swimming pools.
And Wallyworld has chemicals on clearance.
A 15ft diameter pool filled 3.5 ft deep holds 4600 gallons. That is a lot of water.
Only 4 days, and this thread is already getting too long. Closed and continued at Flu Preps XXI
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