Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)
Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.
To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.
The Frugal Roundup
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)
Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)
Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)
Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)
40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)
Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)
5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)
A Few Others I Enjoyed
* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance
Propylthiouracil-Boxed Warning Added
Audience: Endocrine healthcare professionals, Pharmacists, Pediatricians
FDA has added a Boxed Warning to the label for propylthiouracil, to include information about reports of severe liver injury and acute liver failure, some of which have been fatal, in adult and pediatric patients using this medication.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
* Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
* Phone: 1-800-332-1088
* Mail: return the postage-paid FDA form 3500, which may be downloaded from the MedWatch “Download Forms” page, to address on the pre-addressed form
* Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the FDA Drug Safety Communication, at:
You are encouraged to report all serious adverse events and product quality problems to FDA MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - April 21, 2010
Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online (http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/archives.html#wh).
Share The Harvest: Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the latest sustainable agriculture news, funding opportunities, and events.
News & Resources
* USDA Extends Sign-up for Emergency Assistance to Eligible Producers of
Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish
* Mycotoxin Fact Sheet now Available
* Texas Organic Food Production, Marketing on the Rise
* Eastern Tent Caterpillar Numbers Up Again
* Agricultural Research Service Publishes Guide for Remote Solar Water Pumps
* Table Grapes’ New Ally: Muscodor albus
Funding Opportunities
* Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships Grant
* AFRI-Climate Change Grant
* Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council Common Fund
Coming Events
* National Organic Standards Board Meeting
* Production and Inventory Management Tools for Small Meat Processors
and Marketers Webinar
* Ecological Restoration Workshop
News & Resources
USDA Extends Sign-up for Emergency Assistance to Eligible Producers of Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=ner&newstype=newsrel&type=detail&item=nr_20100415_rel_0185.html
USDA has announced that it will accept applications for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses that took place in calendar years 2008 and 2009. ELAP sign-up ended on Dec.10, 2009, for 2008 losses and on Feb. 1, 2010, for 2009 losses. However, because of changes to program eligibility provisions, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting late-filed applications for 2008 and 2009 livestock, honeybees, and/or farm-raised fish losses through May 5, 2010. In addition, the requirements to document losses for honeybee producers who suffered losses due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) were modified to allow documentation by an independent third party for losses in 2010 through Sept. 31, 2011.
Mycotoxin Fact Sheet now Available
http://www.iowaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=373&yr=2010
A fact sheet about mycotoxin contamination of corn is now available from the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University (ISU). John Patience, associate professor of animal science, said he hopes pork producers, nutritionists and veterinarians will find the fact sheet helpful in understanding what mycotoxins are and how their presence in corn can affect swine. “The fact sheet explains the relationship between molds and mycotoxins, and provides vital information on how to detect, prevent, and in some cases, utilize contaminated corn,” Patience said. “We want to provide practical management recommendations for corn growers, swine producers, nutritionists and veterinarians in the pork industry.” In the publication, Patience and Steve Ensley of ISU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine department explain how molds and mycotoxins can be related, and describe several common forms of each. A current listing of mycotoxin field test kit suppliers also is included.
Texas Organic Food Production, Marketing on the Rise
http://www.extension.org/pages/Texas_Organic_Food_Production,_Marketing_on_the_Rise
A growing health-conscious segment of the population is contributing to the increased demand for organic food products as retail sales in the U.S. have grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $21.1 billion in 2008, according to Extension economists. Economists with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service have noted growing trends related to organic food production across the Lone Star State as sales in 2008 totaled $149 million, according to an initial survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service. In Texas there are 342 farms that produce organic commodities on 314,000 acres, a majority on pasture or rangeland (242,000 acres), according to the statistics service. Organic foods coming from Texas include milk, peanuts, vegetables, potatoes, melons and cotton, said Dean McCorkle, AgriLife Extension economist.
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Numbers Up Again
http://www.usagnet.com/story-national.php?Id=788&yr=2010
Experts report that eastern tent caterpillar numbers are up for the third consecutive year, although populations vary from location to location. According to Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture entomologist, now is the time to check wild cherry and related trees for eastern tent caterpillar activity to determine whether management is necessary. Controlling eastern tent caterpillars is vital to area horse farms, as UK research has strongly linked the caterpillars with outbreaks of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, which can cause late-term foal losses, early-term fetal losses and weak foals. During the 2001-2002 MRLS outbreak, an estimated 30 percent of that year’s Thoroughbred foal crop was lost, and the state suffered an economic cost of approximately $336 million due to losses suffered in all breeds of horses.
Agricultural Research Service Publishes Guide for Remote Solar Water Pumps
http://www.kansasagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=293&yr=2010
A guide to choosing a solar water pump for remote (off-grid) applications has been published by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. For this guide, agricultural engineer Brian Vick and colleagues drew on the ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory’s 31 years of testing stand-alone water pumps. The laboratory is located near Bushland, Texas. Vick found that for pumps with motors rated less than 1,500 watts, solar is usually the best choice. With current technology and costs, wind power or a hybrid wind/solar pump is usually best for power needs of 1,500 watts or more. Their guide offers case studies in the Bushland area, where wells are more than 230 feet deep. One example is a four-person household, for which they recommend a helical pump powered by a 500-watt photovoltaic (PV) array. To supply water to 150 head of beef cattle, they would use a helical pump powered by a 640 watt PV array. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Table Grapes’ New Ally: Muscodor albus
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100416.htm
A beneficial microbe called Muscodor albus may help protect fresh grapes from troublesome gray mold. Experiments conducted over the past several years by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Joseph L. Smilanick and his ARS and industry colleagues have shown that M. albus can combat Botrytis cinerea, the organism that causes gray mold. Gray mold can ruin the taste and appearance of fresh-market grapes, according to Smilanick. For organic growers, Botrytis is especially troublesome because these producers can’t use the typical treatment, sulfur dioxide, to quell it. That’s why, if commercialized, M. albus could benefit conventional and organic growers alike.
More Breaking News (http://attra.ncat.org/news)
Funding Opportunities
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships Grant
http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=21021
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships program forges relationships between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and local grantmakers to fund promising, original projects that can significantly improve the health of vulnerable people in their communities.
Proposals are due June 30, 2010.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative-Climate Change Grant
http://nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri_rfa.html
For FY 2010, approximately $55 million is available to support the Climate Change Challenge Area within the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI.) In the Climate Change Challenge Area, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of mitigating and adapting to climate change in agriculture and forestry.
Proposals are due July 16, 2010.
Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council Common Fund
http://www.maelc.state.mn.us/Grants/apply.htm
The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is accepting grant applications for statewide and regional agricultural education initiatives across Minnesota. The Common Fund Grants Program will have up to $235,000 available in this fiscal year.
Proposals are due May 15, 2010.
More Funding Opportunities (http://attra.ncat.org/funding/)
Coming Events
National Organic Standards Board Meeting
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=LatestReleases&page=Newsroom&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav1=LatestReleases&rightNav2=&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5083261&dID=128470&wf=false&description=Na
April 26-29, 2010
Woodland, California
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet April 26-29. NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning the use or prohibition of several substances.
Production and Inventory Management Tools for Small Meat Processors and Marketers Webinar
http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nichemeat/
April 27
10am Pacific/1pm Eastern
This is the latest Webinar hosted by the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network. Please login at the website 10 minutes prior to start time.
Ecological Restoration Workshop
http://quiviracoalition.org/Land___Water/Restoration_Workshops/
April 30-May 2, 2010
Red Canyon Reserve, New Mexico
The Quivira Coalition would like to invite you to attend our 2010 Ecological Restoration Workshop at Red Canyon Reserve. The workshop will build on previous treatments and offer you a chance to work directly with leading ecological restoration specialists as they try out innovative techniques in erosion control, stream-grade and stream-bank stabilization.
More Events (http://attra.ncat.org/calendar)
New & Updated Publications
Considerations in Organic Hog Production
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/04/16/considerations_in_organic_hog_production
Paddock Design, Fencing and Water Systems for Controlled Grazing (Update)
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/04/08/paddock_design_fencing_and_water_systems_2
Small-Scale Egg Handling
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/04/08/small_scale_egg_handling_1
Question of the Week
What information can you give me on sprout production?
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/question.php/2010/04/19/what_information_can_you_give_me_on_spro
Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert
Submit questions to our professional staff online
http://attra.ncat.org/ask.php
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This message contains the following:
1. Violation of Federal Mattress Flammability Standard Prompts Recall of Mattress Sets by Tropical Bedding
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10200.html
2. Trendset Originals LLC Recalls Girls’ Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation and Entanglement Hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10201.html
>>>(M16 was big time in the works when I was there) <<<
Boy, I’m sorry... Amazing how memory is - seems like it was yesterday and can remember most all the details, but some things I just get wrong... I came across where I said that, and I must apologize as it was actually the M-14. Hope you will let me blame it on old age(after all, it was only about 55 years ago)... LOL
Oh, I had a question for you - how do they get around the sawed off shotgun barrel length rules for those 410/45 Taurus revolvers? Always thought that would make a great personal defense weapon - could load two 410 shot shells and two 45 cal Colt rounds - the shot to get their attention and slow them down if they weren’t dissuaded, and the 45 to knock them head over tincups if necessary.
The Rossi youth models are long guns, with a 410 barrel 22 inches (IIRC) and a 22lr barrle of 16.25 inches (IIRC), on a rifle stock, single shot arrangement with break barrel loading and reloading. I'm considering a 410 auto shooter, too. But I pur the Rossi thing together as a home defense weapon where there are children int he home or grandchildren visiting regularly.
I don't suppose there is anything limiting the cartridge size in a pistol (there is after all a 50 caliber revolver, five shots), but it is a wrist buster! The Taurus Judge is a revolver, and probably the one to which you refer. It has five cylinders, I think, and can shoot 45 long colt ot 410 rounds.
The Rossi shotgun/rifle can shoot 410 shot or slugs, but cannot shoot the 45 long colt due to the choke of the barrel. I load the Taurus Judge pistol rounds in the Rossi for home defense use, alternating with a slug round for effect.
LOL, brings back some memories - we used to have a town policeman (part time as he was really a State Police Auto Mechanic by day) He used to strut into migrant worker camps and break up fights and clear out the gambling groups - wearing a 45 revolver on his hip....... One day my Father found out that he never loaded it because he said “the danged things just fall right through the cylinder.” My Father had to tell him that he was using 45 APC rounds and he had to either get 45 Colt rounds or get half moon clips so he could load in threes of the APC’s.
Checked local gun shop today, and he will be ordering the Rossi Junior Matched set for me $179.00 - didn’t have time to place the order today as he was tied up with all the turkey hunters, but said he would get the order placed tomorrow or Friday. It was cheaper to do that than to order online and then pay the fee here for them to do the paperwork and transfer it. Should be in in about a week.
Wal Mart sells the set for $135, plus tax, and $10 for background check. I paid ~$150 for the units I put together. Then, with labor, put a picatinny rail on them and a folding vertical foregrip and butt stock ammo arrangement out of industrial strength velcro. My bedside model (the prototype) also has a laser hanging from the barrel.
BTW, I like the Rossi system so much, I’m shopping for an adult model with three barrels: .223, 20 gage shotgun, and .22 magnum ... in OD Green if available. My home defense weapon until recently was a 12 gage Winchester S.W.A.T. shotgun (eight 2 3/4 inch rounds) in the front of the house and a 20 gage Maverick 88 (five plus one) in the back of the house. I’ve since added a few sundry weapons and gear. I do actually believe the fecal material will eventually hit the rotary blades. I want to live long enough to make it to my son and his family down in Alabama.
Most of the shops here with FFL's charge $40-50 to receive and transfer them... I had seen one at $139 online, but add the $40 and it is up to the $179.
I have an idea that I'll have to buy a second one as they won't want to share... Particularly after their cousin bagged her first deer this last winter at 12 years old.
Granny, just wanted to give you a quick report on the fruit trees. I was not really expecting too much as they were just planted last year, and some a few weeks ago, but checking after blooming, it seems that we have several that have set fruit.
Unless we have some fruit drop problems, we should have bing cherries, pears, peaches and apples to harvest this year. Of course there won’t be a very big crop with trees this young, but it is encouraging that we will have any this soon.
Still haven’t grafted that one apple, will wait till it gets a bit more size on the shoot and try it next winter.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2010
Release #10-202
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 797-5912, ext. 108
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Wood Burning Stoves Recalled by SCAN Andersen Due to Injury Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: SCAN Andersen 10 Wood Burning Stove
Units: About 200
Importer: Jotul North America, of Gorham, Maine
Manufacturer: Jøtul AS, Fredrikstad, Norway
Hazard: The stove’s door can dislodge and fall from its hinges, posing a risk of injury to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Three incidents were reported to the firm including one report of a bruised foot.
Description: The recalled SCAN Andersen 10 wood burning stoves have serial numbers from 7951 through 8267. The serial number is printed on a label applied to the rear panel of the stove. These units are freestanding, black, cast iron stoves with a single front load door with glass pane. Dimensions are 35”H x 26 2/8” W x 16” D.
Sold at: Company dealers and distributors throughout the U.S. and Canada from March, 2009 to February, 2010.
Manufactured in: Norway
Remedy: Consumers should contact their dealer for a hinge replacement kit and to arrange for a free professional installation.
Consumer Contact: For more information contact Jotul North America at (800) 797-5912, ext. 108 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s recall web page at www.jotul.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10202.html
US-CERT Current Activity
McAfee DAT 5958 Issues
Original release date: April 21, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Last revised: April 22, 2010 at 7:10 pm
US-CERT is aware of public reports indicating that McAfee DAT release
5958 is incorrectly identifying the valid system file,
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe, as containing malicious code. Reports
indicate that a false positive detection occurs on Windows XP Service
Pack 3 systems. Symptoms include a denial-of-service condition when
the McAfee software attempts to clean the file.
US-CERT encourages users and administrators to review the McAfee Virus
Profile: W32/Wecorl.a and apply the “extra.dat” and additional updates
provided by McAfee as necessary to mitigate this issue. Users should
ensure that they have installed DAT 5959 or greater before running any
on-demand scans.
Corporate users and administrators are encouraged to review the McAfee
Corporate Knowledgebase Article KB68780, while home users are
encouraged to review the McAfee FAQ Document TS100969.
Relevant Url(s):
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?lc=&id=TS100969
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB68780&pmv=print
http://home.mcafee.com/VirusInfo/VirusProfile.aspx?key=265240#none
Another ill Freeper needs our prayers.
Thanks for all of your prayers, so many needed right now.
My sister Diana, is having a major breast biopsy done this week to see if it is really cancer...and needs lots of prayers.
and Kimmie 7 says:
“Been in hospital and very ill, have been reading but not posting much.”
Prayers needed there also.
Praying for God’s miracle healing.
I am so sorry that you have been ill, that is not fun at all.
I pray that you are getting stronger and will soon be joining in.
So many are silent right now, I hoped it meant they were getting the gardens in and don’t want any of you to be sick.
Thanks for all your prayers.
I was not really expecting too much as they were just planted last year, and some a few weeks ago, but checking after blooming, it seems that we have several that have set fruit.<<<
That is wonderful, even a few will give proof that all the work was worth it.
Now aren’t you glad you got them planted last year and not this year.
What happened to the tree that got the copper wire, did it recover?
You too.
You’re welcome.
Thanks for the ping...
Prayers being sent... :)
[BTW: While we’re “on the subject” so to speak, My daughter has to get some blood drawn tomorrow to check her potassium levels which were low on her last draw — being watched due to her meds for the Blasto she had/has. If you have a chance please pray that her levels are high enough that they won’t have to bring her into the hospital to get it straightened out...]
PRAYER REQ PING:
Another ill Freeper needs our prayers.
Thanks for all of your prayers, so many needed right now.
My sister Diana, is having a major breast biopsy done this week to see if it is really cancer...and needs lots of prayers.
and Kimmie 7 says:
“Been in hospital and very ill, have been reading but not posting much.”
Prayers needed there also.
Praying for God’s miracle healing.
Thanks so much, dear ones. Doc said today he’d be surprised if I got through this without having to have part of my colon removed - which would necessitate a temporary colostomy.
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