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A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences.
Proverbs 27:12
Free Citizens United is designed as a resource... an on-line library of information insuring not only that you and your family will survive... but that they will thrive. It is based upon a mantra from the Great Depression that was inculcated in me by my parents and grandparents: "Use it up... wear it out... make it over... or do without. Check out the Preparedness section and the Preparedness forum
Preparedness is not difficult, the hardest part being to just start doing it if you haven’t started yet. The clock is ticking. It is great to have grandiose plans to buy land “someday”, to build windmills for power “someday”, to get the fanciest gear “someday”, or to buy cases of expensive freeze dried food “someday”. You may well be caught with everything in the planning stages.
The basic items are the core of any preparedness plan. Grab that huge sack of rice the next time you are in the grocery store. Don’t plan on it or think about it, just do it. Once you get it home and it is staring you in the face and underfoot all the time, you will eventually store it properly. In the meantime you have ownership of it. If food deliveries are suddenly shut down and you are still thinking about it, you will have much company. Good intentions means you go hungry. If you can’t afford a years supply of food now, don’t start saving up for getting it “someday”. Lay in as many canned goods as you can now. No, it ain’t freeze dried and won’t last for 30 years but you will have it now. Grocery stores are the first thing to be mobbed. Happens all the time here when a blizzard is forecast. Same goes for water.
If you have a firearm, any firearm, get some extra ammunition now. Maybe it is a poor excuse for a firearm... not much better than a club or maybe it is a single shot 410 shotgun, but it is what you have now. Ammo is expensive. Get what you can now. Think of the regret you may feel someday that you didn’t get that extra box of ammo because you was saving up to get a case at a better price “someday”. Planning on a rifle “someday”? If all you can get right now is a Mosin or an SKS, do it. A home invader is not going to mock your rifle because it is not a tricked out AR with all the bells and whistles, or taunt you because it only cost $150. He will not be frightened if you confront him with a picture of the MBR that you may have “someday”.
If you can afford a generator, get it now. For the life of me I cannot understand why everyone does not have one. Yeah, they take the “F” word (fuel). If your windmills, battery banks, and solar panels are “in the works”, you will be joining the throngs at the local shelter during the next long term power outage. A generator at the ready means you are unaffected by the most common event that should be prepared for. Can’t afford a big one? Get a small one. It will run your furnace blower and some light bulbs. Don’t have a 50 gazillion underground fuel storage tank but are planning one “someday”? Store a couple of gas cans now. No, it is not perfect but you have actually done something.
Do the best you can with what you have now. It’s fine to plan on the exotic stuff “someday” but not at the expense of immediate preparations. When things go down it will most likely be without warning. It can be discouraging for the individual just starting out. I just fear for those who are constantly “on hold” and planning without any sense of urgency. The smallest thing you do now puts you in a class far above most people. Most do nothing but hold everyone else accountable. Irresponsible, to themselves, their loved ones, and their community.
Free Citizens United is much more than a political rant site. True, it is your place to share your ideas on how to create or implement a plan to return our Republic to its Constitutional roots. It is not only designed as a place to rant, blow off steam and complain about the governmental idiots,but to perhaps find a way to peacefully and constructively change what we see as the downward slide of our Great Nation. Check out the Free Citizen's Preparedness forum
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about,
chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by,
bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the
nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper,"instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant,"and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got
plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and
continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no
food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants
distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had
collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
We have all been told this story at some point in our lives. It's about working hard and reaping the rewards. It is along those same lines of "Saving for a rainy day".
What if something does happen to our food supply? It's possible it could happen anytime. There are many things that can break up our normal food chain. Loss of employment, strikes, layoffs, a job change with reduced income, natural disasters, civil unrest, a major injury, illness, or death of the primary wage earner, or an oil crisis.
It has been said that every family will be the victim of one serious crisis during their lifetime some of us have more. My family has gone through many. Our income has not gone up; in fact, it's gone down 30%, due to job-related changes. Not easy, but it sure has taught me that many others may be facing some of these same challenges. It is during these high-stress times that we should not have to worry about food.
You can't prepare for a disaster when you are in the midst of it. Perhaps one of the greatest assets of being prepared is knowing (peace of mind) that you have the contingency plans set aside if you ever need them.
Storing food and building up an adequate pantry are essential. Long-term storable food is truly an "insurance policy" that you can eat. Many people also store enough food to help others in their community and churches. Would you be able to feed your family? I encourage you to begin storing food. Store foods that your family likes variety is important. Learn to store food properly. Rotate and eat it. Storing food is your insurance that these events will not cause you, or your family and friends, to go hungry.
Peanut Butter
To get gum out of a carpet, scrape up what you can, using an ice cub to stiffen it if necessary. Then rub a small glob of peanut butter into the fibers, and wipe up the whole mess with a cloth. To get rid of any left-behind PB, just dab it up with a mixture of 1 tsp of dishwashing liquid in 1 cup of lukewarm water. It's also great to get gum out of your hair.
Corn Starch
If your tiny tot has diaper rash, sprinkle the area with corn starch -- it's a tushy saver!
Your child just learned how to tie their shoes and the knots are impossible to undo. Stay calm and sprinkle a little cornstarch on the laces to help you work out the knot.
Vanilla Bean
Don't just throw out the whole bean after you've scraped out the inside -- it's still fragrant with vanilla flavor. Stick it in the filter of the coffeemaker and enjoy the vanilla-flavor of your next brew.
Vinegar
Most people know that vinegar is a great way to clean a coffee pot. What to do with the hot vinegar afterward? Pour it on weeds. White vinegar is an herbicide, while boiling water also kills weeds.
Worcestershire Sauce
Use a soft cloth to rub Worcestershire sauce on silverware (or any silver for that matter), then rinse and dry. They will look brand new!
Bread
Put slices of bread in the bags and jars of cookies and other baked goods to keep the goodies fresh. Great for holiday baking and shipping.
Next time you drop a wine glass or break a plate, grab a slice of bread to help you clean up. After you pick up the larger pieces, press the bread over the area and it will pick up all the itty bitty pieces you can't see. Bread can also help clean fingerprints off walls and wallpaper. Just rub and voila!
Beer
Soak your hair in beer, and go lay out in the sun to pull out some great highlights. Make sure to shampoo afterwards, or you'll end up smelling like a brewery!
Garlic
If you get a splinter, rub some garlic on it -- the splinter will almost jump out for you! In the old days, carpenters used to always carry garlic in their pouches for this reason.
Bay Leaf
The fragrant leaves can be spread around in garden beds to deter insects, including those cute but pesky ladybugs.
Coca-Cola
Pour Coca-Cola over corrosion on car battery and it will eat right through it.
Grits
Uncooked grits are an excellent and inexpensive way to get rid of ants. Cover a mound of ants outside or sprinkle inside along shelves or walls where ants are a problem. Grits are environmentally safe and are not harmful to pets or children like other insecticides.
Lemons
Lemon is also great as a hair lightener. Just squeeze it in your hair and lie out in the sun. It's better than using artificial hair dyes!
Dandruff can be an embarrassing health problem, but the special shampoo often smells yucky. Try massaging 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinsing with warm water. Follow with a leave-in rinse of 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 cup of warm water. Use this daily until your scalp is healed.
Milk
Oh no! You forgot to put the cap on your pen and now there is ink seeping into your shirt. No worries -- just grab some milk and soak the area. Depending on the type of ink, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Patience is a virtue.
Pepper
Everyone knows Clorox's catchy ditty about keeping clothes bright, but all you need is pepper. Add a teaspoon of pepper to the wash before you add in your clothes and it will keep the colors from fading.
Sugar
At your next BBQ don't spend money on anti-pest candles that never work. Simmer 2 cups of milk, a 1/4 pound of sugar and 2 oz. of ground black pepper for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the mixture into bowls and put them where the flies will be attracted to them and then drown. You can also place around the house. No more buzzzzzing at the windows.
Soda
Next time your drain is clogged and you don't have time to run to the store for some Drain-O just look in your fridge! A 2-liter bottle of soda will do the trick. Just pour it down to clobber the clog.
Shortening
For a natural solution to diaper rash, try coating the area with a thin layer of shortening. It will act as a moisturizer.
Salt
Grease stains can be a huge pain when it comes to doing laundry. Before you wash, work a generous amount of table salt into the stain and then launder as usual.
Potatoes
Too much to drink last night and now you have puffy eyes? Apply a thin slice of cold potato to your eyes and leave on for five minutes. Then splash with cool water, put on your makeup (or just some moisturizer -- this means you, too, guys!) and head to work!
Oranges
Don't you hate it when you have to start a fire and little bits of newspaper are flying everywhere? Next time, air-dry orange peels, which contain flammable oils that burn longer, and use those instead of the paper. The delicious smell is a bonus.
Olive Oil
Does it seem like nothing is working for your bad skin? Use 4 tablespoons of salt and 3 tablespoons of olive oil to create a paste. Leave it on your face for 2 minutes and rinse with warm water. Then wash your face as normal. Use every day for a week and then cut back to 3 days a week and you should notice an improvement.
Mustard
It may make you smell like a hot dog, but rubbing a thin layer of mustard over your chest and covering with a hot towel can relieve a stuffy head and chest.
Mayonnaise
It's one thing when your child draws on the wall with crayons, it's quite another when it comes to your wood furniture. Rub some mayonnaise on the crayon mark and let it soak for ten minutes. Then take a damp cloth and wipeaway the mayo AND the crayon!
Club Soda
There's no more worrying about drinking red wine on white carpet. Soak up as much wine as possible and then pour club soda over the area, making sure to blot and not rub. Repeat the process until the wine is no longer visible. You can also do the same for urine stains.
Castor Oil
While most of us associate castor oil with constipation or childbirth, did you know it can also help get rid of pesky moles in your yard? Just mix a 1/2 cup of castor oil with two gallons of water and pour the mixture down the mole(s) hole(s). Don't worry, the solution is animal friendly and they will likely relocate.
We all know salt is delicious, and was one of our earliest preservatives, but did you know it can help you around the house, too? Here are just a few tips on cleaning with salt:
. Pour a bit of salt, followed by a few cups of boiling water down your kitchen drain once a week to prevent clogs or unpleasant smells.
. Greasy pan? Scour it with some salt and a paper towel before washing.
. Salt can remove grease from clothing, too. Just pour some salt on a fresh grease spot on to soak up some of the grease. Then gently scrub some more salt into the fabric and rinse before washing.
. Salt is a great way to remove coffee stains from pots and mugs.
. A paste of vinegar and salt can add shine to old copper pans and molds.
. Salt makes a great rust remover for getting bicycles moving again in the spring, or refreshing worn household objects. Make a paste using three parts salt to one part lemon juice.
. When your child is sick, salt can help clean up messy accidents. Sprinkle salt over the "throw up" and let it sit for five minutes to help absorb the wetness and the odor.
. Salt will also remove fishy smells from counters, cutting boards and refrigerator shelves.
Why Everyone Should Have a Stock of Food
We live in complex and perilous times. Whether it is a natural disaster, a national disaster, or a neighborhood disaster, our food supply could be disrupted. In any scenario, it is up to us to take care of our needs and those of our families--we should not count on the government. We buy insurance for our home, our car, and our lives but something as essential as food--we often leave overlooked.
There are other crises as well--personal crises. The loss of a job, a loved one, or one's health might strain personal finances and make a supply of food look very attractive.
Whether it is a personal crisis or a community one, we should be able to feed our family and feed them with food that is healthy and that they enjoy eating. In a crisis, our food supply should be a point of comfort and refuge.
There's a certain confidence that goes along with being self-reliant, with preparedness. If we know we have provided for our family--if we know they are safe--we perform better. We're happier and they're happier. We're better parents, citizens, and neighbors and we perform better outside the home.
Will I Really Have to Use My food Storage?
We all hope that we are never faced with a emergency but food storage is not new and it seems that most people who have had long-term food storage have utilized it at least once in the past.
Usually, it wasn't because of a public emergency but a personal difficulty of some kind--an economic setback brought about by illness, the loss of a job, or an accident.
But times have changed. We expect that community crises--from terrorists to computer failures--will make food storage an even more important issue in the future.
How to Save Money and Build a Personal Food Storage Program that
Works
Food storage programs that work are built around one simple principle: Store what you eat and eat what you store.
Store what you like, what you know how to fix, and what your bodies are accustomed to. When an emergency comes, we will want to disrupt our
eating patterns as little as possible. Most of what we eat today, from main dishes, to breads, to desserts, can be accommodated with storage items. Store them.
Eat what you store. All foods deteriorate over time. They become less palatable and the vitamin content decreases. If you don't use your food, you will throw it out.
Surveys have shown that people regularly overestimate how long food lasts. Governmental and university experts publish shelf lives much shorter than what some manufacturers and individuals suggest. The best way to assure that you will have a good supply of food in an emergency is to regularly eat what you store, using it before it becomes marginal,
and replace it. Eating what you store is not a challenge if you store what you like to eat.
Five Easy Steps to a Food Storage Program that Works
1. Determine what you like to eat. Make a list of what you are eating now. Start with your grocery list or grocery receipts. Look in your pantry. These foods are what you want to store. Storing foods that your family likes to eat--not trying to persuade your family to like what you store--is the key to practical food storage.
Fundamentally changing what your family likes to eat is not a realistic
expectation. While it may be true that "if our kids get hungry enough, they'll eat anything," who wants to put their children through that kind of misery? In a hardship, we want to maintain our routines and habits as much as possible and not stress family members with foods that they do not like or that their bodies are unaccustomed to.
2. Determine how much of what you like to eat is storable. Build your storage program around these items. For those items that are not storable, look for ready substitutes that your family will enjoy. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be complemented with frozen and canned produce. Meats can be purchased on sale or in bulk and frozen. Mixes will readily substitute for the breads, desserts, and snacks you currently buy.
3. Purchase storable foods regularly. Keep your plan simple and affordable but buy storable foods regularly. Every week, every pay period, or every month buy something that you can store. You will be surprised how fast your stocks build. Buy items on sale and buy in quantity so that you save money. Think in terms of stocking up, not storing. Replace what you use.
4. Eat what you store. As a general rule, even storable foods need to be used within two years. The FDA suggests that canned goods be consumed within two years. Using your stocks regularly will keep your food fresher, tastier, and more nutritious.
5. Take inventory. From time to time, take inventory. You will be reminded of what you have and surprised at what you don't have. You can then purchase those items you need and use older items while they are still sound.
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Emergency Car Kits
(one for every car you own/drive)
* Box to hold everything
* Water (at least 1 bottle/seat belt in the car, preferably more during the summer or if you live in a hot climate)
* High-energy snacks
* Flashlight
* Batteries (store outside flashlight for longer shelf life)
* Wet wipes
* Toilet paper roll (store easily by rolling off the roll onto your hand and place in a ziplock bag)
* Basic first aid kit
* Blanket/towels
* Change of clothes for children (or yourself if you want)
* Diapers (if you have children)
* Umbrella
* Reading Material
* Jumper cables
* Hand sanitizer
* Pen & Paper
* Pocket knife
* $5-$20 cash (and change)
HOUSE INSPECTION CHECKLIST (usually best done in the fall) EXTERIOR
❏ Check for cracks in asphalt or concrete on driveway, sidewalks, and paths. These can be a tripping
hazard, and can invite water that will do more damage during the colder months.
❏ Make sure retaining walls have no bulges or loose areas. One heavy rain or snowfall, and you could have
a mud slide on your hands. Make sure the weep holes built into the wall are clear.
❏ Examine porches and decks for sagging ceilings, loose rails or boards, and damaged steps. Check to
make sure the posts are still firmly in the ground and not loose, or worse yet, rotted completely out of the
footing.
❏ Give fences and stone walls-and their gates-a once-over for leaning and loose parts, which could fall or
blow off during a storm.
❏ Look for stains on the siding, which could be a sign of a water problem or a roof issue
❏ Look for signs of insect or bird nests in soffits, eaves, or attic vents. If you see signs of animal waste in a
certain area, look around for the possible nest or culprit.
❏ Take note of where paint is peeling, brick mortar is missing, or stucco is cracking on the house's siding.
❏ Look for leaning on the chimney. Check that the flashing is in good condition, and not peeling up or
missing.
❏ Check gutters and downspouts for debris or improper pitch, especially during a rain storm. Look for
stains on the soffit, which could be a sign of a leak.
❏ Examine the foundation for cracks and bulges.
❏ Take a look at the sill, checking for rot and insects. Look for raised mud channels, which indicates the
presence of termites. Use a sharp knife or other probe to see how much the wood gives.
❏ Make sure the grade of the ground around the foundation slopes away from the house.
❏ Look at the roofing. Are there cracks, missing shingles, crumbling pieces? Check asphalt for dry,
blistering, alligatoring, or curling shingles; wood for rot and splits; slate and tile for broken pieces; and flat
roofs for holes. Be especially vigilant under trees, where falling branches or jumping animals could have
done damage. Once the leaves have fallen, look more closely at where branches touch the house.
❏ Examine the flashing and vent/chimney caps for missing or damaged parts. Look for rust.
❏ Look for moss and other debris on the roof.
PLUMBING, including BATHROOMS and LAUNDRY
❏ Look for signs of leaks in all exposed pipes, and in areas where pipes run through the walls or
foundation.
❏ Look for signs of corrosion, which could indicate a problem with the water, or with the pipe itself. Watch
for green stains around brass and copper fittings and on shutoff valves, a sign of either corrosion or
electrolysis caused by mismatched metals. This will cause leaks and bad connections if left uncorrected.
❏ Check the water pressure. Low pressure could mean a problem with the line or just sediment buildup in
the faucet aerator or shower head.
❏ Check drains for speed of drainage - a slow drain may have a clog or a blocked vent pipe. Look for a full
swirling drain; bubbling drains are a sign of a problem.
❏ Flush the toilets to make sure they operate properly. Open their tanks and look for worn or missing
parts. Then wait around for a few minutes to see if the toilet runs after a pause, a sign of a slow leak.
❏ Look inside the burner chamber of the water heater for rust flakes. Check the flame; it should be an even
blue, with no yellow. A yellow flame indicates soot or a problem with the gas-air mixture, meaning the jets
need cleaning.
❏ Drain the water heater to remove sediment that has settled to the bottom. Sometimes leaks in faucets
are caused by hard water wearing out the washers.
❏ Watch out for cracked tiles in the shower area or around sinks. Tap on tiles looking for loose or hollow
ones, which could be masking rotted backerboard behind them.
❏ Check on the state of the tub and shower caulking to see if its time to replace it.
❏ Look for evidence of mildew where water has a chance to stand for longer periods
❏ Manipulate the toilet base to be sure it doesn't rock, which might mean a leak has damaged the floor
around it.
❏ Look for cracks on the toilet tank or bowl or on sinks
❏ Slide shower doors do check for sticking, rust, or obstructions. Examine the gaskets around the door
glass for gaps and tears.
❏ Turn on the shower and bath faucets and check for leaks around handles and valves. Are they easy to
use, or harder to turn on and off? Check set screws around escutcheon plates.
❏ Unscrew the shower head and look for collected sediment in it that could be lowering the water pressure.
❏ Examine vent fans for obstructions or dust. Turn them on: If it sounds really loud, the bearings may be
worn out or a flapper may have gotten stuck.
❏ Check washer hoses for signs of aging (cracks or brittleness) or leaks.
❏ Check dryer vents for tears. Vacuum or brush out lint in hose and around lint screen inside unit. Look
for link around the floor or on the wall, indicating a clog in the vent hose.
WATER and SEPTIC
❏ Send out a sample of well water to your country cooperative extension to test it for chemicals and
bacteria.
❏ Make sure that the well cover is tightly sealed but there is still access to the pump.
❏ Check the sump pump by pouring water on it, to see if it turns on automatically.
❏ Look around your septic tank/field for soggy ground or overly lush vegetation, which could mean the
tank is full or failing.
HEATING
❏ Take a flashlight into the furnace flue and look for a buildup of soot or rust. Tap on it to see what falls;
rust is a sign of condensation, which is cause by an inefficient furnace. Have a pro service the system
regardless of what you find.
❏ Make a solution of dishwashing soap and water, then brush it on ductwork joints-wherever there are
leaks you’ll see bubbles in the soap.
❏ Check registers and vents for loose or missing covers and screws.
❏ Check around radiators for leaks, or damaged floors, which could be a sign of a leak or an incorrect pitch
toward the return.
❏ Look for overall deterioration, rust, loose parts, and other signs of a failing system.
ELECTRICAL
❏ Check trees around the house to be sure they're not threatening wires.
❏ Open the panel and look for new scorch marks around breakers or fuses. Also check outlets for scorch
marks, which could be a sign of loose and sparking wires.
❏ Look for loose outlet covers, receptacles, and loose boxes, which may have to be refastened to the studs
while the power is turned off.
❏ Test all GFCI outlets by plugging in a lamp and then hitting the test and reset buttons to see if it turns the
light off and then on again.
❏ Go around with a electrical tester (or lamp) to make sure all outlets work
INTERIOR
❏ Now that summer's humidity is gone, check doors for swollen spots and sticking.
❏ Look for loose hinges and doorknobs.
❏ Check the floor for popped nails, loose boards, loose tiles, and springy spots that could be a sign of joist
trouble.
❏ Look at ceilings for stains, which could indicate a roof or plumbing leak.
❏ Make sure ceilings and floors aren't sagging or cracked in new places, which might mean a bigger
problem causing a shift in the house. Look above doors for cracks.
❏ Check walls for popped screws and nails on drywall or new cracks in plaster.
❏ Point a flashlight into the fireplace and up the chimney, checking for loose bricks, cracks, signs of
animal nests, or excess soot that could spark a chimney fire.
❏ Make sure the damper operates properly.
❏ Check around ceiling fans to be sure they're well secured to the ceiling and not working their way loose
with all the summer use.
❏ Jiggle the stair balustrade to test its sturdiness, and take note where balusters and banisters have come
loose.
❏ Test all smoke and CO2 detectors and replace batteries immediately if something doesn't work.
DOORS AND WINDOWS
❏ Examine weatherstripping around exterior doors and windows for tears and wear.
❏ Look for cracks in window glass and glazing around panes.
❏ Check the action of the windows for sticking points.
❏ Look for peeling paint and other signs of wear on window frames and stools, usually in the bottom
corners. Check that weep holes in the sill outside haven't been caulked over, inhibiting drainage.
❏ Take a look at thresholds for cracks that could let water reach the sill.
ATTIC
❏ Look around the attic space during daylight hours, with the lights turned off. Look for holes in the
roofing that let light in.
❏ Keep an eye out for signs of animal activity or entry points for animals.
❏ Check around vents for gaps. Look at fan motors for frayed wiring or loose screws.
❏ Feel around insulation for damp spots where leaks might be occurring. Look for missing or torn
insulation, which could be a sign of animal activity.
❏ Examine joists and rafters for structural damage.
GARAGE
❏ Check the action of the garage door and look for dents in the tracks or cracks in the door.
❏ Make sure tool storage and hanging rakes and shovels don't create a falling or tripping hazard.
KITCHEN
❏ Test the drainage of the sink and look for signs of leaks on the faucet.
❏ Look at all the cabinet doors and drawers to make sure they open and close properly. Check for loose
hinges or sticking drawer slides.
❏ Turn on the disposer and listen for signs of obstructions or problems with the motor.
❏ Try all the stove burners to be sure they turn on quickly and properly, without sparking or bursts of
flame. Make sure gas stoves give off an even blue flame.
❏ Check the oven door gasket for signs of wear and tear.
❏ Turn on a gas broiler to make sure it lights properly.
❏ Make sure the gas shutoff valve is working. It should be able to turn until its completely perpendicular to
the pipe.
❏ Open the dishwasher and spin and lift the washer arm by hand to make sure it isn't stuck. Check that
nothing has dislodged the drain hose; it should arc up to prevent backwash from the drain into the
dishwasher.
❏ Look for signs of leaking under and around the dishwasher.
❏ Make sure water filters have been changed recently.
A Personal Food Storage Program Saves Money in Three Ways:
1. Stocking up leads to buying in quantity or on sale--often with substantial savings. If we store what we eat and use those foods regularly, we save on everyday food.
2. Foods suitable for storage tend to be less expensive than prepared foods. As we gradually rely more and more on our stocks, we use less prepared food and the average cost of our meals is reduced.
3. Habits and attitudes change with a food storage program. Those that have a personal food storage program tend to be more careful with their food purchases and better utilize the foods they purchase.
Many families find that when they adopt a program of purchasing and using storable foods, their food bill drops substantially--as much as 25%.
Remember; with the "just-in-time" inventory system currently being used by our grocery stores, there is roughly a three-day supply of food on the shelves. If a public crisis occurs, there will be runs on the food stores, (remember the video clips from the last hurricane?). The fast food restaurants will not have anything to sell should the trucking industry be disrupted
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Living will
In the spring of 2005, an American woman named Terri Schiavo, who had been in a coma since 1990, became the center of a national debate about when to “pull the plug” on someone who is on life support, and who can make that decision. The Schiavo case consumed the attention of the American public, the news media and even the highest levels of the federal government. On March 21, 2005, Congress passed a bill transferring jurisdiction of Terri Schiavo’s case from a Florida state court to a U.S. District Court.
The case of Terri Schiavo wasn’t the first of its type to become the center of a public debate. On April 14, 1975, Karen Ann Quinlan collapsed at a party after ingesting alcohol and valium. She survived but entered a persistent vegetative state. Her parents did not want to pursue “extraordinary means” to keep her alive, believing she was beyond recovery, but hospital officials wanted to keep her on a respirator. Her parents removed her from the respirator, but Karen lived for ten more years before dying on June 11, 1985. Still, she never awoke from her coma before finally passing away.
Now, every state has laws about advance directives, commonly called living wills, and these documents have become an important tool for planning for one’s future medical care. It’s worth noting that Terri Schiavo did not have a living will, which likely contributed to the court battle surrounding her medical care.
Although it is not an easy subject to contemplate, a living will, (known as a durable power of attorney for health care in Illinois), is the only prudent way to insure your wishes are followed... even if you cannot communicate those wishes due to incapacity.
A living will is a legal document that gives instructions for medical care in the event that someone is unable to communicate due to a severe injury, terminal illness or other medical condition. Also called a health care declaration, advance directive, medical power of attorney or patient advocate designation, a living will is not necessarily an easy subject to consider, but it is an important one. An estimated one third of Americans have had to decide whether to keep a loved one alive using “extraordinary means”
There are some legal requirements that must be met in order to have a living will. You must be at least 18 years old and of “sound mind.” You must be able to sign the documents, or if unable to, you can direct someone else to sign them. Depending on state law, you may need witnesses and/or a notary public present. You can change or revoke your living will at any time, though it’s important to notify your doctors and family before doing so.
