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

[upcountry miss]

That is the line that is missing. File Edit View Tools

All those are now missing.

Maybe it isn’t called the tool bar. What do I know??? Very little, evidently.

[DelaWhere]

>>>The Great Canned Pumpkin Shortage of 2009

When word began to leak in grocery stores of the canned pumpkin shortage plaguing this holiday season, baking enthusiasts hoped the chatter was a joke. And others, like Mike Sherrod, owner of the Pink Elephant Cafe, 301 E. Main St., couldn’t stifle their amusement, exploding into full-throttle laughter when approached with the news. Reality check: Those empty shelves aren’t a mean trick or a byproduct of haphazard stocking. This year, America is rationing its canned pumpkin. “It’s the Great Pumpkin Pie Shortage of 2009,” Sherrod said between laughs. “Maybe I should have invested in pumpkin futures.”<<<

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387381/posts

- - -
Well, it appears that the commercial growers had the same rotting problem that I did...

Yesterday I made a pumpkinless pumpkin pie - Butternut Squash is every bit as good and tastes the same. Since I had a bumper crop of Butternuts, we will have no shortage of pumpkin pie here...

Want to make one the easy way? Just cut a butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds, place the two halves on a plate with the cut side down, place it in the microwave and cook as you would a baked potato. (Or in the oven works just as well)

Once it is done, turn the halves over and let them cool a bit - then use an ice cream scoop or large spoon and scrape out all the flesh and put it into your blender. Add the other ingredients - eggs, flour, spices, milk (even powdered milk will work) and whirl it a few times and pour into your pie crust and bake as normal. Now how easy is that!

After trying that, why would I plant pumpkins? The Butternuts store better (they last all winter without being canned) and serve not only as a substitute for pumpkin, but are a great sweet potato substitute too.

Anyway, if you just have to have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and can’t get the pumpkin, give a butternut a try...

[DelaWhere]

>>>That is the line that is missing. File Edit View Tools

All those are now missing.<<<

I’m going to suggest pressing the ‘F11’ key.

Sounds like it accidentally got pressed which puts you in full screen view mode.

[upcountry miss]

Thanks for your hint but that isn’t it as when I press F11 my FR screen goes all the way to the top and I don’t even have the line for google search, bookmarks etc. Guess I’ll just have to wait til Thanksgiving or until some puter savvy guy comes in. Thanks for the hint anyway.

[upcountry miss]

I agree with you on the butternut squash. I always thought that I had to have buttercup but they failed miserably this year and for the first time I had planted butternut along with a lot of buttercup. They seem to ripen faster in our short growing season and except for the paler color they are equally as good as buttercup. Guess what I’ll be planting the most of next year?

By the way, I picked the last of my everbearer strawberries on Oct. 21. Up until then, I was picking approximately one and a half quarts every three days. I think I will plant another 50 plants next spring and that should give me extra to share with family through the fall.

[DelaWhere]

Hmmm, Computers never make things easy...

OK, if you want to get to the ‘File Edit View Tools’ items, you can hold the
Alt key and F for file -
Alt and E for Edit -
Alt and V for View -
Alt and T for Tools -
Alt and H for Help

Then you could try the suggestions others offered, but don’t really know if that will help as it seems your browser top is off the visible screen. I think I had that happen a time or two but can’t remember how I got it back...

[DelaWhere]

>>>I picked the last of my everbearer strawberries on Oct. 21.<<<

That’s great - mine fizzled early this year - so much rain that I think they drowned out. I will probably have to replant a new bed next year.

[upcountry miss]

Hey!!! Thanks!! It works but disappears as soon as I hit any other key, but at least, if I want to copy and paste, I can. I think you are right about the browser top being off the screen, but I can manage this way very nicely til someone gets the line back for me. Thanks again. A grandson also told me that I could copy by highlighting and hitting control and c and paste by hitting control and v. Haven’t tried it yet. I’ll get by with my limited use of the computer.

[DelaWhere]

>>>but at least, if I want to copy and paste, I can.<<<

You can also highlight and click the right mouse button - that should give you the option to copy and then go to where you want to put it and right click again and select paste. :)

- - -

OK, think I remember what to do..

While holding the alt key, press the space bar - release them and then press the ‘M’ key - now press the down arrow key a few times. This should move your program down on your screen. Once you have it where you want, press the enter key.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov09/atm_111609.html

[Interesting photo for Atlanta]

HIGH-TECH HEIST
2,100 ATMs Worldwide Hit at Once
11/16/09

It was a highly sophisticated and cleverly orchestrated crime plot. And one unlike any we’ve ever seen before.

It culminated a year ago this month—on November 8, 2008—when a wave of thieves fanned out across the globe nearly simultaneously. With cloned or stolen debit cards in hand—and the PINs to go with them—they hit more than 2,100 money machines in at least 280 cities on three continents, in such countries as the U.S., Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Estonia, Russia, and the Ukraine.
share.gif

When it was all over—incredibly within 12 hours—the thieves walked off with a total of more than $9 million in cash. And that figure would’ve been more, had the targeted ATMs not been drained of all their money.

An ATM security camera photo shows a suspect approaching a machine to steal money.

This individual, one the suspected “cashers” at an ATM in the Atlanta area, is still at large. Contact our office in Atlanta at (404) 679-9000 if you have any information on him or the case. Details

The alleged masterminds of this slick scheme—prosecutors charged earlier this month following an extensive FBI investigation assisted by other federal agencies and our partners around the globe—were three 20-something Eastern Europeans and an unnamed person called simply “Hacker 3.”

Working together, the four hackers cooked up “perhaps the most sophisticated and organized computer fraud attack ever conducted,” according to Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates of the Northern District of Georgia.

* It started when a 28-year-old Moldovan man learned of a vulnerability in the computer network of major credit card processing company based in Atlanta. With an eye toward exploiting it, he passed that information to a hacker living in Estonia.
* The Estonian conducted “reconnaissance” on the network vulnerability and shared what he learned with a hacker in Russia.
* With the help of the three other hackers at varying times, the Russian busted into the electronic network, reverse-engineered the PIN codes from the encrypted system, and raised the limits on the amount of money that could be withdrawn from the prepaid payroll debit cards. (These cards, used by many companies, enable employees to withdrawal their salaries from an ATM.)
* In addition to providing computer support, Hacker 3 managed the network of thieves around the world—called “cashers”—who used a total of 44 counterfeit cards to withdrawal the $9 million. The Estonian also managed his own cashing group.
* As the cashers went to work, the Russian took the lead in monitoring the victim company’s database to track the illegal withdrawals. With the Estonian, he later deleted or tried to delete files on the computer network to cover their tracks.
* When the ATM thefts were complete, Hacker 3—with the help of the Estonian—gathered and divvied up the proceeds. The cashers got to keep 30 to 50 percent of the money they stole; the rest went to the four hackers.

A security camera captured this man allegedly using a cloned debit card to steal money from an Atlanta-area ATM.

Another wanted casher hits a convenience store in the Atlanta area. Details

Fortunately, the company reported the breach immediately, and we quickly got to work. Our ensuing case was made with a great deal of international cooperation and even led to joint investigations overseas. Suspected cashers, for example, have also been identified and arrested in Estonia and Hong Kong.

The case is a testament to both the globalized nature of crime in today’s world and the international reach of the FBI, which depends more and more on a network of 61 overseas offices worldwide to protect the U.S. from a range of national security and criminal threats.

Resources:
- Atlanta press release
- FBI cyber investigations website

Headline Archives home

[nw_arizona_granny]

That is the line that is missing. File Edit View Tools<<<

I am so glad that Delawhere had tips for us, for it was far beyond my simple knowledge.

At least I know who to ask the next time I loose mine.

[nw_arizona_granny]

>>>The Great Canned Pumpkin Shortage of 2009<<<<<<<

Thanks for the link, amazing what we run out of, it is impossible to second guess them.

Sweet Potato and squash I knew made good pies, but I saw one post that said to use carrots.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Report Says 14.6% Of US Households Low On Food

[Why can’t they say “Facing Hunger?” granny]

A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says 14.6 percent of U.S.
households — or about 49 million Americans — are low on food, the highest
number since 1995 when the government began its “food security” report.

MORE DETAILS:
http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5LkM9aAHq.html

[Marmolade]

http://www.grandpappy.info/indexhar.htm

I bookmarked it to read later. Looks like some interesting articles.

[Marmolade]

Glad to hear she found a job. I know you said she’s been looking for quite a while. It looks like the jobs are getting to be far and few between.

[DelaWhere]

Well, seems the Feds are going to dominate the H1N1 shots...

Wife got a letter through the hospital that the first 3,000 shots will be available November 20,21 & 22 - They will be administered by Federal Government team of 8 that is traveling to states to administer vaccinations of the highest priority people. By apointment only - NO EXCEPTIONS!

They will have only one location and one day per county.

Eligible will be infants 6 months to 4 years of age
Pregnant women
Those 5-64 years of age with chronic conditions diagnosed and documented by a physician. Individuals must have had regular medical follow up or been hospitalized during the preceding year. It goes on and excludes those with high blood pressure and it will include those with HIV/AIDS

None are being given to Doctors or Hospitals - all will be Feds controlling. Plus they will only have 3,000 shots available - Let’s see 15 per hour - one every 4 minutes - Geesh, in the Army they had 4 people dispensing over 800 per hour when I was inducted.

The rationing begins - being well over the 64 year age, regardless of conditions - not elegible! The 5-64 year olds have to bring documentation by a physician . Individuals must have had regular medical follow-up or been hospitalized during the preceding year.Diabetes, blood disorders cancer or heart conditions.

The Obama care begins... Out of 825,000 residents, they are doing 3,000 then in December (date to be announced) they will do another 3,000. So by End of the year they will have done .7% of the population... Then by February it will be too late for the shots... Really well organized...

What would have been wrong with distributing to family doctors and hospitals - I am sure they are at least as well trained as the Fed workers... Hell, I am experienced in giving shots - give wife allergy shot every week and give animals all their shots...(which they are trying to put in the hands of veterinarians to support them as we are all just dumb clucks who must do everything wrong...)

Oba Mao service coming to a town near you - WATCH OUT!

Oh, I asked if they report said shots to the family doctor or enter it into the electronic records system... Got an icy NO. You will have to tell your family doctor to put it into your records. And NO, they don’t give you anything for your records certifying you got yours... (so family doctor has to take your word for it and guess how much they gave you) Really smart!

[nw_arizona_granny]

Dear Quilt History Enthusiasts,

It’s been quite a while since I’ve sent a newsletter. It’s been a busy summer and fall for me. In October I went to the American Quilt Study Group seminar in San Jose. It was a great experience as usual. I urge all who love quilt history to join the American Study Group. http://www.americanquiltstudygroup.org/

First of all I want to let know that I’ve updated my Harriet Powers article with some fascinating information that Kira Hicks discovered through her research. All these years it’s been assumed that quilter and former slave Harriet Powers must have been illiterate. Not so. Read at about it at http://www.historyofquilts.com/hpowers.html

It’s always fantastic to learn from some of the top quilt historians and in San Jose I was able to take a class from Julie Silber on Amish quilts and the Esprit collection and a class from Merikay Waldvogel on appliqued chintz mediallion quilts. The great thing about a website is that it is so easy to update when you learn something new.

Go to http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/medallion.htm to see my new information on medallion quilts along with pictures of two quilts one shown with permission from Merikay and one from The Quilt Complex. http://www.thequiltcomplex.com/

On top of that The Quilt Complex made it possible for me to show you some fantastic examples of broderie perse at http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/broderieperse.htm

It’s goodbye for now but I hope to have new and updated articles to tell you about more often.

Judy Anne

---

America’s Quilting History
http://womenfolk.com/historyofquilts

Patches From the Past
http://historyofquilts.com

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quilthistory/

[nw_arizona_granny]

The Obama care begins... Out of 825,000 residents, they are doing 3,000 then in December (date to be announced) they will do another 3,000. So by End of the year they will have done .7% of the population... Then by February it will be too late for the shots... Really well organized...<<<

They will do just enough, to keep in the headlines and to keep the ‘martial law act’ available for them to slap down.

Sad and a shame that it happens anywhere in the world, this is worse than the socialist Russia, at least they knew not to expect equal care with the party leaders.

[nw_arizona_granny]

It looks like the jobs are getting to be far and few between.<<<

It took Diana a full 6 months, in the beginning, she was not worried, for she is good at what she does in the insurance business and has years of experience.

She soon found out that all the rest of the offices had the same problems and were laying off.

Her office had to close completely, all were let go.

[Eagle50AE]

>>> Well, seems the Feds are going to dominate the H1N1 shots... <<<

Uhh.. that's not all authorities are doing..

Coming soon to a location near you... " Sign zee Papers , Old Mann!!"

Deputies Hold Boy Who Fled Flu Shot

Student refused; was held down for vaccination

By SHELLEY HANSON Staff Writer

Nov 11,2009

(Excerpt): WHEELING - It took the strength of two sheriff's deputies to keep a middle schooler still enough to receive a shot of the swine flu, or H1N1, vaccine at a recent clinic.

During a regular Wheeling-Ohio County Health Board meeting Tuesday, health department Administrator Howard Gamble told board members about the student's attempt to flee Wheeling Middle School during a vaccination clinic held there last Friday. :

Full Story:

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/530805.html?nav=515

Look How far we have "advanced" in less than a Year. The "New" "Change" Amerika.