Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today - an On going Thread #3]

Frugal Dad .com ^ | July 23, 2009 | Frugal Dad

[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

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/cooking-with-home-storage-homemade-cheese-recipes-using-powdered-milk/

Cooking with Home Storage–Homemade Cheese recipes using Powdered milk

These recipes are from the “Cooking with Home Storage” by Vicki Tate , used with permission of author. (see end of this post to order this wonderful book) A most have book. This book has pioneer recipes, dried foods recipes, and more.

Parmesan Cheese

1 cup boiling water , 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 cup powdered milk

blend all ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until milk boils. the curds will be very small and milk will be frothy. pour into a cloth lined strainer, rinse and press out excess water. put curds into a bowl and stir with a fork to break up. spread on a cookie sheet and dry for about 10 minutes in a 150 degree oven. this cheese can be salted and used in place of parmesan, or mixed with 1/4 to 1/3 commercially dried parmesan cheese. refrigerate or freeze. makes about 1 cup of curds. a pleasant flavor change takes place after about 3 months of aging under refrigeration.

Mock Mozzarella

4 cups warm water, 1 3/4 cup white vinegar, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 3 cups powdered milk

blend all ingredients, pour into hot, oil-coated saucepan and heat to 115 degrees to form curds. rinse in warm water, drain and salt to taste. place in cheesecloth bag and hang to drain or squeeze out excess liquid. cool and grate or crumble. use as you would commercial mozzarella. for a firmer texture, use only 1/4- 1/3 cup of oil. *note: this has the texture and melt ability of comm. cheese, but not the flavor. you could mix 1/2 grated mock mozz. with 1/2 cup comm. mozz. for an authentic flavor.

I will post a few more later. This is a great book. I use the recipes weekly and they help save money.

The New Cookin’ with Home Storage- New and Expanded version with Index

By: Vicki Tate (435)835-8283 in Utah, USA

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/home-tips/

Home Tips

Here is were I’ll list ideas, tips on home and garden. These will be things that work for us and at our house. If you would like to share your tips, please do so. I love learning new ways and new things. When I add new things, I’ll do so at the top. So as you do not have to scroll down each time to find something new.

Hot Water Heater- saving money

Drying Clothes without a Dryer (click on title)

Plant sweet basil around your doorways as this repels flies. I know this works, even on a farm. I have a net bag on my screen door and fill it with sweet basil leaves every few days( leaves- the snips I take off every few day so it’ll grow bigger, some leaves get dried for winter use).

I found this recipe and like it the best for a few reasons: I can get Ivory soap bars for 3 for a dollar and baking soda is cheap, both Ivory and baking soda store just about forever, not a lot of work to make, can be used to clean other things. We use ERA detergent the most as it works best on the farm, and being able to make something’s is better than nothing . And I have not learned yet to make soap. But I’m am preparing for hard times to come,( power outages, no money, nothing in stores to buy, etc.). I have bought Ivory and as have baking soda, for when it’s need. There are some many things happening all around us. This recipe is the cheapest I can find and the easiest to make( which is what I look for in all recipes).

Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipe

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

* Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
* In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
* Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load

I got this at: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/ ( Recipe #8) There are other recipes here, too.

Homemade Sanitary Pads

Ok, ladies what happens when and if you can’t buy sanitary pads. This is a must, to use all the time not really. But if you made a few to just have in case, this is something that we need, monthly. Yes, you could stock up on store bought ones, this is just a money saving tip. These could also be used in a first aid kit, if needed. When I find something like these, I think of other ways it can be used. The site I found to make them is: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm

I found flannel sheets at thrift store, full sets, king size set $2.00 and queen size set $2.00. I will cut these up to make: washable paper towels, washable tissues, washable napkins, and to make pads. That’s a lot of material for $4.00.

With the very hot weather here, I have found a way to cool the house off some with out AC,(which we do not have). I have wooden clothes drying racks. Well I put them in front of the fans in house. It has made almost a 15 degrees cooler, and the clothes are softer than hanging out side. I like killing two birds with one fan.

Use cheap wash cloths instead of paper towels. You can find them at the Dollar stores. And you can get the color that goes with your kitchen.

Garden tips:* when you sucker your tomato plants, put the suckers on and around your cabbage plants.* those of you who drink coffee, allow your used grounds to dry out, then spread around garden and or plants(in pots). This feeds your earthworms and brings more around.

* allow used coffee filters to dry out, then place around plants to keep weeds down, and acts like a mulch( helps keep moist in soil)

* allow empty egg shells to dry and crush them up and put them in a ring around the base, on the ground: cabbage and tomato plants.

*Don’t tell to many people this hint, OK. Most feed stores that sell straw and hay by the bale, will allow you to clean up ground and/or floor of busted bales, the extra that falls off while moving it around. But ask first, my feed store calls me to clean it up so they don’t have too. This is great mulch, and cuts way down on weeding. I did my whole raised bed garden last year, and walk ways too. (any extra hay can be used to fill chicken nests, that means no more buying hay for nest, straw is not good for there nest)
Well this should get you started. If any one has good tips, please share them.
Time to go hoe some more and plant my Sweet Basil plants, and check on my drying herbs.

Thought I’d share my soft bath soap recipe. Very simple to make. I buy the cheapest shampoo available (non scented if possible). Then buy a small bottle of scented oil such as lavender, apple, strawberry. (1)Pour half of the shampoo into another reusable container. (2)Add about 25 drops of scented oil to each shampoo container.
(3)Slowly add water to your desired consistency then shake to blend. A little goes a long way. The scented oil is the biggest expense but 1 half ounce bottle should make at least 10 bottles of soap.

Comment by Steve | July 12, 2009 | Reply

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

makes 14 cups (this makes a 28 cup batch)

2 cups instant non fat milk (1 cup)

1/2 cup cocoa (1 cup)

1 1/2 cup sugar ( 3 cups)

1/4 teaspoon salt ( 1/2 teaspoon)

Mix all together well, store in an air tight bowl. To use add 3 heaping tablespoons to a cup of hot water, not boiling water. If you have a coffee maker- run the water with no coffee, this is just the right temp. ( after making it with the hot water and stirring good, it can be put in the ice box and becomes choc. milk, this is good too.)

More Brownies Please

1 cup butter(2 sticks)

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup nuts optional ( but are great with walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350, grease 13 X 9 X 2 pan, melt butter in a pan then turn heat off and stir in sugar and vanilla, add eggs one at a time beating well with wooden spoon after each egg, add cocoa, beat until blended, add flour, baking powder, salt, beat well. stir in nuts. Bake at 350 for 30 – 35 min. or until brownies pull away from the sides of pan. Enjoy!

Freezing Eggs
(Freezing eggs- Farm and store bought with photos)
You crack say 2 -3 eggs into a bowl, add 1/4 tsp. of sugar or salt 9 use sugar or salt depending on what the eggs will be used for), just pop the yoke, and pour into a freezer bag. label your bag sugar or salt and how many eggs inside. Check your most used recipes to find the number of eggs you use the most. I use 6 eggs in ice cream with 1/2 tsp of sugar. Eggs to eat, I pack in 3’s with 1/4 tsp salt. Eggs for cakes add sugar to eggs. The only thing you can’t do with these eggs is have them fried. I have found they last 6 -12 months in the freezer. The older they get, its best to use them in recipes than to eat plain. A lot of people don’t know you can freeze eggs. After the first year here of home grown eggs, the store bought eggs didn’t taste so good any more. So I found a way to keep us in eggs when the hens slow down. This does work with store eggs, too. Date your bags and always use the oldest first.

Freezing Milk:
I have found that best way to freeze milk is to use juice bottles or 2 liter bottles, WHY? the jugs that milk comes in is very thin and weak. And more times than not, when the milk thaws the jug leaks. In a 2 liter bottle put a 1/2 gallon of milk, this will leave room for it to freeze. Always date your bottles. And it will thaw over night in ice box. I have found it will last 6- 12 months in freezer, I know that is not what is said, but that’s what works here. Just always use the oldest first. We have done this for over 6 years now, and same with eggs.

Canning hard cheeses:
We love sharp cheddar cheese but don’t like it frozen. You can, can any hard cheese this way. So I found a way to can it. In jelly/ or pint jars, in a pan of water (put jars in water), put cheese in jars(slice into small pieces) , allow to melt down to 1 in. from top, then put lids on and hot water bath 40 min. for both pints and jelly jars.The longer it sit on shelf the sharp it gets. We just got plans to build a cheese press, so as I can make my own cheddar cheese. We have had to wait to make it because I had no way or place to allow cheese to ripen. So now I’ll make it and can it. The can cheese will last 2 plus years in a cool dark place.

Home canning Cheese sauce

6 lbs of velveeta cheese ( I used a off brand, which was half in price)

3 1/2 cups of heavy cream

1/4 lb butter

1 quart milk

( I used our fresh cows milk, our butter and cream. This cut the price of my sauce way down. I just had to buy the cheese. In case any of you have your own cows, I’m not sure if goats milk will work.)

*melt butter in a big sauce pot

*add milk and cream

*slice cheese into above mixture

*melt cheese slowly, if melted too fast it will burn on the bottom.

*put into hot jars

*seal and hot bath for 20 minutes.

Makes 20 jelly jars. ( mine made 22 jelly jars)

The cheese sauce is great. I found that a jelly jar is enough cheese for a batch of mac & cheese for 4 people. And here, they like to spread the cheese on crackers too ( it’s like a cheese whiz). The best part for me is that it stores on the shelf. If keep in a cool dry place, it should last at least 2 years. ( I got it at http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=82726 It’s called “home canned nacho cheese sauce”, But I just wanted the cheese sauce above.

Home canned butter

I also found out you can, home can butter see here: http://frugalabundance.com/homecannedbutter.htm I have not tried this one yet as for time and it’s been to hot to make big batches of butter. I only make what we need, and all the extra cream I freeze for now. Then when it cools off, I’ll thaw the cream and make butter, then can it.

Canning raw cow’s milk

With our milk cow giving us 3 plus gallons a day ( it’s only her first calf). I have extra milk. So I freeze some (for when she is dry) and I can some( this canned milk makes the best white gravy you ever had. I use the canned milk for cooking only.We have been doing this for years. Can be used any where you would use milk or store can milk.)

Fill quarts and/ or pints with milk to with in 1/4 in. from rim. Then pressure can (cook) 10 minutes at 15 lbs pressure for both qt’s. and pt’s.

The milk will be a light tan color. I have canned the milk whole (without decreaming it, which will give you a thick cream like butter on top of the milk, which is good in cooking) and I have canned decreamed milk ( I take just the heavy cream off first, which gives you a little of the cream like butter on top). Both ways are good.

[upcountry miss]

Thanks, don’t know why I didn’t think of that. We have used this service many times, especially when I operated my “pick your own bouquet” flower business. We will be heading to their office this A.M.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/road-ahead-recipes-from-scratch-part-6/

These are the recipes I use weekly.

Pie crust or pastry( chicken and pastry dinner)

3 cups sifted all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking power

1 cup lard or shortening

1 eggs

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

5 tablespoons ice water

Sift flour with salt, baking powder. Cut lard into flour mixture until crumbs form. Beat egg lightly and add to mixture. Add lemon juice, and water. Stir with a fork until blended. Roll out on a lightly floured space. makes 2 pie crust.

for pastry: roll out very thin, cut into squares or strips, drop into boiling broth and chicken. Cook about 10 more minutes. This is like a chicken and dumplings but the pastry’s taste almost like a noodle. I usually have to double the recipe as they eat it up fast here.

No bake Choc. Oatmeal Cookies

1 3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 1/2 cups quick oats

Mix sugar, butter, cocoa, milk in a pan over med. heat, boil 1 minute.

remove from heat, stir in peanut butter, then quickly stir in oatmeal.

then drop by spoon fulls on to wax paper.

Chocolate Cream Pie ( this will disappears very fast)

makes 2- 9inch pies

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup all purpose flour

3 eggs, beaten

12 oz. can evaporated milk

1 1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 baked pie shells

Combine sugar, cocoa, flour in a heavy sauce pan, stir to remove lumps.

combine eggs, milk, water in a mixing bowl.

gradually add milk mixture to cocoa mixture, stirring until well blended.

Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.

remove from heat, add butter and vanilla, stir until butter is melted.

pour in to pie shells and chill. then top with whipped cream. ( you had better hide one)

Creamed Cheese Peas (the only way my kids will eat peas)

1/2 stick butter

2-3 tablespoons flour

6 slices of cheese ( or a jelly jar of the canned cheese sauce in the recipe tab)

1 can of peas

In a sauce pan add butter, melt butter over med. heat, stir in flour and add a pinch of salt, stir until it thickens. then add about 6 slices of cheese and stir until the cheese melts, then add a can of strained peas.

Quick Pizza Dough

2 cups flour

2 1/4 teaspoon yeast

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup lukewarm water

Dissolve yeast in water, mix flour and salt together then mix with yeast mixture. let sit covered for 5 minutes. grease pan and sprinkle with flour. form crust and let it rest for about 10 minutes. (to prevent sogginess, coat lightly with oil or non-stick cooking spray).

add toppings. bake at 400* for about 20 minutes.

An even faster pizza: use English muffin halves, and add topping.

Coconut Dream Bars (a heavenly treat)

Bake at 350* , 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown, in a 13 X 9 pan

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups coconut

Combine flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, butter until particles are fine, use low speed of mixer. press into the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 pan and bake at 350* for 15 minutes. beat 1 1/2 cups brown sugar with eggs , just until blended. mix in remaining ingredients, spread over partially baked crust. bake 20 -25 minutes or until golden brown. cool and cut.

I know this is mostly sweets. But in hard times this is what is cut first from the food bill. And having sweets around always makes hard times a little easier on old and young alike.

---

#

Our family loves this! It’s easy, quick and a comfort food. It’s wonderful just plain warm or with a side of vanilla ice cream

Apple Crisp

5 C. pared apple slices
1/2 C. flour
2/3 C. sugar
1/4 C. soft butter
Cinnamon

Fill lightly greased 8 in. square baking dish with apple slices. Sprinkle with the amount of cinnamon that your family likes (ours likes it almost ‘black’ with cinnamon). In mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar and butter. Mix with fork or pastry blender and cut in butter. Spread over apples. Sprinkle more cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 for 35-40 mins. depending on the type of apples. It should be bubbly.

God has graciously given us a bumper crop of apples around here. This is one great way to enjoy his gift.

Hopefully, I can post more later. It’s applesauce day here :-) !! Whoo hooo

Linda J.

Comment by http://valleyvisions.blogspot | October 22, 2008 | Reply
#

Here is another recipe…it makes a ton, so if you don’t have time to spend in the kitchen, cut it in half. Be sure to do ‘quality control’…taste test shortly after they come out of the oven…another comfort food.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 C. flour
2 C. quick oats (uncooked)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C. soft butter
2 C. packed brown sugar
1 C. white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. canned pumpkin
2 C. or 1 pkg. chocalate chips (can use raisins)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and salt in large mixing bowl; set aside. Cream butter; add sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocalte chips. Drop cookie dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 mins.; cool on rack. Store in airtight container.

Dough may be frozen in airtight container. Thaw in refrigerator. Bake as directed.

Thanks for sharing all those great recipes, Becky!! I’ll be trying them.

Comment by http://valleyvisions.blogspot | O

[nw_arizona_granny]

Can anyone here give me a tried and proven recipe for making hard cider?<<<<

Not I, for I have never tried to make it.

Good luck, there are instructions on the net, but one never knows the secrets, until they do it themselves.

[nw_arizona_granny]

I don’t like any of the commercial shampoos. It’s very difficult to find any shampoo which is not FRUIT based, and I believe that fructose is dangerous for the health of the scalp, so I’d never apply it there everytime I washed my hair.<<<

You may be correct, for I do not know that much about fructose....yet.

I do know that most shampoos make my scalp itch.

[nw_arizona_granny]

You are welcome, LOL, why not steam?

Unless where you live is as treeless as my area.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Nutrition books state that the term redneck arose in the South due to the severe Niacin Deficiency associated with a diet based on cornmeal which gave rise to an epidemic of Pellagra.<<<

I like my version of red neck better, for most of them are hard working people.

Good to know, the truth though, thanks for the information.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Incidentally, it’s much less expensive to forego the natural lanolin altogether, and to simply add about one tablespoon of cheap generic hair conditioner to the final rinse water - it will soften those scratchy old wool socks right away.<<<

When one spins the wool ‘in grease’ for knitting sweaters and caps, it gives the clothing a way to repel the water, as in rain or splashed for fishermen.

We do not often see in the grease wool used today.

When I was spinning, I washed my wool in the bathtub, which is fixed to drain out on rose bushes and a male Mulberry tree.

You should have watched them grow, they loved all that dung infested water.

I don’t know about adding lanolin to the rinse water for the socks, seems as though they would be greasy and maybe even smelly.

Do you spin and weave?

[nw_arizona_granny]

HISTORY or how the plan works.....

http://www.osaarchivum.org/files/holdings/300/8/3/text/107-4-91.shtml

BOX-FOLDER-REPORT: 107-4-91
TITLE: More on Military Preparations and Civil Unrest in East Europe
BY:
DATE: 1961-9-21
COUNTRY: (n/a)
ORIGINAL SUBJECT: Research and Evaluation Department all Units

-— Begin -—

RFE RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION DEPARTMENT
All Units

News Background

X CURT,- MORE ON MILITARY PREPARATIONS AND CIVIL UNREST IN EAST EUROPE F- 57

Munich, 21 September 1961 — The Berlin crisis and the
Soviet resumption of nuclear testing continue to produce reports
from both official and unofficial East European sources that military
preparations and civil unrest are the order of the day behind the
Iron Curtain.

East Germany

It was reported by the official East German new agency
ADN on September 20 that a GBR draft defense bill was debated in
the Volkskammer. The bill provides for extraordinary measures in
all fields of the state, economic and social life of the nation
in case of danger or attack against the GDR. The chairman of the
state council, in the fulfillment of international obligations, is
empowered by the draft bill to proclaim a “state of defense”.
During this “state of defense” materiel and services can be required
from the citizens in return for compensation.

The Reuter and UPI news agencies reported on September
20 that East German authorities had begun to evacuate East
Berliners from apartment houses bordering West Berlin from which
people had been escaping to the West.

Since the closing down of the Berlin escape hatch, all
criticism of regime actions is punished by draconic measures, and
the number of denunciations is so large that local courts have had
to remain in session on Sundays, according to reports from local
GDR newspapers. In the language of the SED the crime of objecting
to Ulbricht’s policies is labeled “espionage, sabotage,
diversionism, head-hunting, etc.” Although, according to the same GDR
newspapers, many sentences were handed out during the first days
following the August 13 sealing off of East Berlin, the late August
issue of the official East German “Neue Justiz” announced even more
stringent measures against such persons who practice “ideological
diversionism” (listening to Western broadcasts or reading Western
papers) and those who object to the recent measures in Berlin and
create “unrest”. The current organized campaign against

West-oriented TV antennas, the so-called “Oxenkopf-antennen”, is
motivated, in “Neues Deutschland” of August 26 for example, by
the regime’s desire to “stop provocations, the instigation to panic
and war psychosis and the attempts to disturb the building of
socialism”.

(pto)

[page continues with information on several countries]

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17192122

* Abstract

Toxicol Rev. 2006;25(3):155-97.
Medical management of the traumatic consequences of civil unrest incidents: causation, clinical approaches, needs and advanced planning criteria.

Ballantyne B.

Occupational and Clinical Toxicology, Charleston, West Virginia 25304, USA.

In the context of this review, civil unrest is defined as disharmony, expressive dissatisfaction and/or disagreement between members of a community, which leads to a situation of competitive aggression that may find expression as disruption of organisation, conflicts, damage to property and injuries. Such a breakdown of harmonious relationships, which may result in property damage and human injuries that may be threatening to life, varies in magnitude from participation of a very few individuals up to the involvement of large crowds of people, which may evolve into a full-scale riot. It is the latter situation often involving demonstrators, opposing groups and law enforcement personnel that can result in multiple casualties and present a very significant challenge to the resources of local healthcare institutions.

The causation of civil unrest incidents is multifactorial and has generic, specific and potentiating elements. With the current national and international societal, political and discriminatory problems, it is likely that civil unrest incidents on both small and large scales will continue to occur at a high and possibly increasing rate on a worldwide basis, and for these not infrequent incidents, the medical community should be in a state of informed preparation. The circumstances of civil unrest incidents are very variable with respect to causation, overall magnitude, frequency, timing, geographical location, numbers of persons involved, demographics of participants, influence of extremists, confrontation with opposing groups and control measures used by law enforcement agencies. Methods used by police and security forces for the control of civil unrest incidents, if advanced negotiations with organisers and verbal warnings have failed, fall basically into two categories: physical and chemical measures. Physical methods include restraint holds, truncheons, batons, mounted horses, projectiles (such as bean bags, plastic and rubber bullets), water cannons, tasers and (rarely) live ammunition. All of these physical measures are associated with pain and immobilisation, and there is a high potential for soft tissue and bone injuries. Some of the more severe physical methods, including plastic and rubber bullets, may cause lethal injuries. The basis for using chemicals in civil unrest incidents is that they cause distraction, transient harassment and incapacitation, temporary impairment of the conduct of coordinated tasks and cause a desire to vacate the area of unrest. Although screening smokes and malodors have sometimes been employed, the major group of chemicals used are peripheral chemosensory irritants (PCSIs), which reversibly interact with sensory nerve receptors in exposed skin and mucosal surfaces, resulting in the production of local uncomfortable sensations and associated reflexes.

Major effects are on the eye, respiratory tract and (to a lesser degree) skin. Thus, the induced transient pain and discomfort in the eye, respiratory tract and skin, together with associated lacrimation, blepharospasm, rhinorrhoea, sialorrhoea, cough and breathing difficulties, produce temporary incapacitation and interference with the conduct of coordinated tasks, and form the basis for harassment of malefactors. Currently used peripheral chemosensory irritants are 1-chloroacetophenone, 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, dibenz(b.f)-1,4-oxazepine, oleoresin capsicum and pelargonic acid vanillylamide. Depending on operational circumstances, irritants may be dispersed as a smoke, powder cloud, aerosol, vapour, or in solution; the mode of generation and dispersion of irritant can influence hazard. Brief acute exposure to chemosensory irritants produces effects that generally resolve within an hour, leaving no long-term sequelae. However, sustained exposure to high concentrations may produce tissue injury, notably to the eye, respiratory tract and skin. With solutions of sensory irritants, other formulation constituents may enhance PCSI toxicity or introduce additional local and/or systemic toxicity.

By the very circumstances of civil unrest incidents, injuries are inevitable, particularly when emotions are heightened and police and security forces have to resort to various chemical and/or physical means of control. Trauma may include slight to severe physical and/or chemical injuries, psychological problems and occasional deaths. Hospitals should be prepared for a wide range of casualties, and the fact that those seeking help will constitute a heterogeneous group, including wide age range, male, female, and individuals with pre-existing ill health. A major civil unrest incident necessitates that the local receiving hospital should be prepared and equipped for decontamination and triage processes. It is necessary to reassure patients who have been exposed to sensory irritants that the signs and symptoms are rapidly reversible, and do not result in long-term sequelae. With respect to chemical exposures, detailed evaluation should be given to possible ocular, cutaneous, respiratory and gastrointestinal effects. Also, exposure to chemosensory irritants results in transient increases in blood pressure, bradycardia and increased intraocular pressure. This indicates that those with cardiovascular diseases and glaucoma may be at increased risk for the development of complications. This article details the pharmacological, toxicological and clinical effects of chemicals used in civil disturbance control and discusses the management of contaminated individuals. Additionally, the potential for adverse effects from delivery systems and other physical restraint procedures is summarised. Due to the emergency and specialised circumstances and conditions of a civil unrest incident, there is a clear need for advanced planning by healthcare institutions in the event that such an incident occurs in their catchment area. This should include ensuring a good information base, preparations for medical and support staff readiness, and availability of required equipment and medications. Ideally, planning, administration and coordination should be undertaken at both local (regional) and central (governmental) centres.

Regional centres should have responsibilities for education, training, ensuring facilities and staffing are appropriate, and that adequate equipment and medicines are available. There should be cooperative interactions and communications with local police and other emergency services. Centrally directed functions should include ensuring adequacy of the information base, coordinating activities and agreeing approaches between the regional centres, and periodic audits of regional centres with respect to the staffing, facility, equipment and training needs. Also, there is a need for most countries to introduce detailed guidelines and formal (regulatory) schemes for the assessment of the safety-in-use of chemicals and the delivery systems that are to be used against heterogeneous human populations for the control of civil unrest incidents. Such regulatory approval schemes should also cover advisory functions for safe use and any required restrictions.

PMID: 17192122 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

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[Quix]

Sunlight can make steam.

[hennie pennie]

There's some couple who had (have?) a synidated column called something like "People's Pharmacy" and on their website, I think, or maybe somewhere else online, there was a letter by a beautician who stated that if you are bothered with a severely itchy scalp, then the next time you wash your hair, pour FULL STRENGTH Listerine Mouthwash all over your head and rub it well into your scalp for a minute or two.

Then just shampoo your hair as you regularly would.

[hennie pennie]

>>>> "...I do not know that much about fructose... yet." <<<<

I was just enraged when I learned that even the major journal for American nutritionists - I can't recall the name, but it's "The" journal, like the New England Journal of Medicine, but it's all focused on diet & nutrition -- they devoted an ENTIRE ISSUE to the implications of our fructose-rich diets -- and still the CDC, or whomever it is, STILL recommends NINE servings of FRUIT and veggies every single day!!!

But it is a known fact that 45% of Americans of European descent cannot tolerate large amounts of fructose -- do you realize how many Americans this could apply to?

I cannot imagine that they want toddlers to eat jarred pear sauce -- that's almost PURE fructose, and most children can't handle it!

So the information is coming from REAL research and from REAL doctors, like John Lustig and Richard Johnson -- but the same old advice about fruits, fruit juice, carrots, fructose-rich veggies, etc., keeps being given out.

[CottonBall]

I cut the sorghum and let it dry, then store it in feed bags (burlap) then I feed it to the chickenS - they love it

Oh good, I thought it was some kind of recipe with sorghum and canned chicken. ;) I didn't want to hurt your feelings by declining the recipe.

Egg production seems to go up when we feed them our own grains and excess veggies.
,br>I can't wait until we get to have chickens. We'll either need a barn up here or to move somewhere with less snow.

[CottonBall]

That’s pretty neat that they could put his picture on the back of it.

It is neat. There's no color to it - it is just etched into the metal.

Thanks for the link - I will check it out. And probably do more than that ;)

[CottonBall]

Have saved directions for making rag rugs for years, but alas, have never actually saved enough material to make one.

Could you post the directions?

A dear friend of mine used to make baskets out of rags. I wish I had asked how how she did it - they were so cute and make good use of leftover clothes. (She has since passed away.) She was in the 80's and was of the generation that didn't waste anything. Thinking back about all she told me about her life, I am even more saddened at the waste and materialism of today.

[CottonBall]

Does any of this sound like America?

Sadly, no. Even more sadly, only a few Americans even seem concerned!

[CottonBall]

thanks for the homemade cheese recipes.

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