The Everchanging World

Prep No Fail

2010-01-09T23:45:00.000-08:00

I am pretty pleased with myself recently. I been in quite few situations lately were being prepared has really paid of. For example, the other day, I managed to minimize the time I had to spend battling the wind to feed the meter, (it so windy here that I could barely stand without being pushed by the wind) because I had thought ahead and packed a bag of change a few weeks ago for my car. Also, recently, when I picked up take-out and the soup container broke as I got home, but because I thought ahead and done all the dishes and pan/potware ahead of time, I was able to easily transfer the soup to the soup pot without loosing much of the soup and without much of a mess.

I have come to realize that being prepared is not just about survival, but it is about making your daily life easier and less stressful. Each time I needed something, it was there. I didn't have to search for it, or spend more time having to clean up and fix something. I was even able to help out my friends a couple times It doesn't seem like much, but when thing just fall into place when you need it, it is a good feeling, and just makes everything easier.

Take care and be well to all.

Saving is like Dieting

2010-01-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I did not drop off the face of the Earth.

I simply had nothing to say.

Anyway we all know I am all about saving money, so here is good link about some simple ways to save money. Even if you have read these tips before or whichever, it is still a good reminder of things to remember to do.

I like how the the article compares saving to dieting. It is a matter of mind set. Dieting is not really about loosing weight, but having a mind set of eating healthy and taking care of yourself.

Take care!

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108489/4-ways-to-trim-your-spending?mod=bb-budgeting

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Books

2009-07-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

It has to been said that I am lover of books, especially the classics. As technology grows, people do not grow with it. Happy is still happy, and sad is still. Read the classics and learn all the lessons that come with the classics. They are the classics for a reason.

There is no reason to be unable to find these books.

1- The World Catalog. It can find 14 million titles in just about any library, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding what you are looking for.

http://www.worldcat.org/

2- Google Books. They even have some books in entirety that you can read online. You can search by year, publication, isbn numbers, and a plethora of other ways.
books.google.com

Best to all, and keep well and safe.

Moon Time

2009-07-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is the post I been promising for a long time.

The idea is very simple. If you know your basic astronomy, you can use both the moon and the sun to tell time and direction.

The Ecliptic is the path the sun takes in the sky. While the sun and moon does not follow the ecliptic dead on, it is still valid to say the sun and the moon rises in the East, and sets in the West.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic

As the Moon goes through each of its phase, it revolves around the earth, which causes it to rise and set at different times. Therefore the full moon, will rise at 6PM and set at 6AM, and a new moon will rise at 6AM, and set at 6PM. However, we can not see the new moon, because the side of the moon that is getting sun is facing away from us.

This has some vocabulary, and a still frame of what I am talking about.
http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/wikipedia/l/lu/lunar_phase.html

Additionally, the following site has a interactive application, which you can set the moon to different phases and see what times they rise and set.
http://www.samuelwat.com/peabody/detailedmoon/index.html
A waxing gibbous will rise at 3PM and set at 3 AM.

Notes:
Daylight light savings time has to be taken into consideration.

The moon does vary slightly in rise and set times, but it is not enough to discredit the use of the moon to get an approximation of what time it is. The following link can tell you exact time of rising setting based on your location.
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.php

Waxing - Moon is becoming fuller, and it lighted on the right side (Think about waxing a car with your right hand)
Waning - Moon disappears, and it is dark on the right side.

I believe in the Southern Hemisphere this is all flipped, but I would have to double check on the fact. If anyone knows, let me know.

I did a previous post on using the sun as a compass for anyone interested.
http://ontologicalthinker.blogspot.com/2008/05/no-compass-no-problem.html

Happy Fourth

2009-07-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope all have a great day, and eat well, and remember the significance of what we are celebrating.

Solar Power Goodness

2009-06-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

I have notice a growing trend in solar power devices. Portable radios are no exception. I borrowed this from a friend.

It is solar-powered, hand cranked, has AM/FM radio, along with a headphone jack. It is a good size, and easy to store. It cost about $18 USD.

I have a couple more pictures of this, but I covered the important parts. When I get one, I shall let you all know how good it works.

Cliff

2009-06-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Really how far is this going to go?

Right now there is talk about regulations and taxes put on sugar products (such as soda) and on tobacco products.

I am not a smoker. I do not consume high qualities of sugar, either. (I like to keep an eye on my health. I see it as a long term investment, and beneficial to surviving longer.)

I do not care if people smoke, as they long do not blow it in my face. I expect to smell smoke at a bar, if I go to one. Don't go to a bar, if you are so offended by it. It is not anyone's place to say what you can or cannot put into your body.

The argument is that sugar and tobacco both cause health problems, therefore causing health costs to increase, and costing too much to upkeep health programs, ergo the necessity for taxes on these products. But, no matter what it stamped out, there is always some type of health problems around. One can say that eating too much meat is bad, so that must regulated as well; or fat is bad, so that should be regulated. It keeps growing.

People know the dangers of all this, just like people know that cliff diving is dangerous and people die, but if they want to, that is their business. Want to charge them for that, too?

If it starts with sugar,it will become like gas and tobacco, where the actual cost of the product is only a small percent of the price. What's next?

Language Love

2009-06-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

I found this article on yahoo. It amuses me that that we got people so dedicated to the English language.

Web 2.0 crowned one millionth English word Posted on - Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:15AM EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -

A U.S.-based language monitoring group crowned Web 2.0 as the one millionth word or phrase in the English language on Wednesday, although other linguists slammed it as nonsense and a stunt.

The Global Language Monitor, which uses a math formula to track the frequency of words and phrases in print and electronic media, said Web 2.0 appeared over 25,000 times in searches and was widely accepted, making it the legitimate, one millionth word.

It said Web 2.0 started out as a technical term meaning the next generation of World Wide Web products and services but had crossed into far wider circulation in the last six months.

Other linguists, however, denounced the list as pure publicity and unscientific, saying it was impossible to count English words in use or to agree on how many times a word must be used before it is officially accepted.

There are no set rules for such a count as there is no certified arbiter of what constitutes a legitimate English word and classifying the language is complicated by the number of compound words, verbs and obsolete terms.

"I think it's pure fraud ... It's not bad science. It's nonsense," Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguistics professor at the University of California at Berkeley, told reporters.

Paul JJ Payack, president of the Global Language Monitor, brushed off the criticism, saying his method was technically sound.

"If you want to count the stars in the sky, you have to define what a star is first and then count. Our criteria is quite plain and if you follow those criteria you can count words. Most academics say what we are doing is very valuable," said Payack.

He has calculated that about 14.7 new English words or phrases are generated daily and said the five words leading up to the millionth highlighted how English was changing along with current social trends.

This list included "Jai Ho!" an Indian exclamation signifying victory or accomplishment, and "slumdog," a derisive term for children living in the slums of India that became popular with the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire."

The list also included "cloud computing," meaning services delivered via the cloud or Internet, "carbon neutral," a widely used term in the climate change debate, and "N00b," a derogatory term from the gaming community for a newcomer.

"Some 400 years after the death of the Bard, the words and phrases were coined far from Stratford-Upon-Avon, emerging instead from Silicon Valley, India, China, and Poland, as well as Australia, Canada, the U.S. and the UK," said Texas-based Payack.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Miral Fahmy)

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090610/tc_nm/us_word_millionth_life_tech

25 Things... You Find Out When You Have Young Children...

2009-05-24T11:27:00.001-07:00

I found this, and it made me laugh. Maybe you all will enjoy it, too!

25 things you find out when you have young children

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with WhiteKing makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A 6-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old boy.

11.) 'Play Dough' and 'microwave' should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super Glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jelly you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jelly.

15.) VCR's do not eject Peanut Butter & Jam sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odour is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in East Melbourne has a 3-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the WhiteKing and brake fluid.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao1rLdDAFpUB5BkJDi8vAW8jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20071013024121AA6MoTb

Watch Your Change

2009-05-23T10:40:00.001-07:00

When the economy get bad, people tend to dig into their coin/change jars. Which means all the change that is usually just sitting a jar is circulated, and a lot rarer coins are used. So, watch your change, because you may find some rare and valuable coins.

I know coin collecting seems like such a dull and worthless thing to do, but there is so much history and even economic implications (like how much copper is actually put into a penny)about when a coin is made. Also, it a great way to spend sometime with your kids teaching about things like that.

I do make it a point that with collecting, it is best not too seek out coins, because it costs a lot of money, but just to watch your change and see what you get lucky finding.

Times Keep on Rolling

2009-05-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

While my presence this year has been nearly hit or miss, I am around. I truly have very little to say that is not redundant to others.

I will be posting my telling time with moon post up soon. I been preoccupied with reorganizing the things in my life and working through my education.

I know the swine flu has been on the news and such. I have no comments.

Hurricane Season is coming, so to my fellow Texans, start preparing.

Lastly, the best advice I have gotten all week is from a fellow blogger.
The advice was simply "Live, Da** it"

My comment upon that is that you should plan for tomorrow, but still enjoy today.
This way you don't miss anything, but you are always ready for anything that comes.

Opossum

2009-05-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Yes.. opossum... is spelled with a O..
Found this little bugger when I went out to take the trash out.
He wasn't too camera flash shy.
The first two are with flash, and the last is with natural lighting.

The Times

2009-04-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

The times have changed.

Hard work doesn't seem to have the value it use to.
A college education is near meaningless, but yet, without them you may never be considered for the most trivial jobs.
So, it comes down to the fact that one has to pay 50-100k minimum in student loans + interest depending on the school and degree if you want a simple job.

I shalln't input my beliefs here. It is not my place to do so, but schools have become a place with no real discipline. If a child spends 40 hours a week there, not counting extracurriculars or after school day care, how can there be no moral belief system to guide the children. When I say moral believe system, I mean respect the teacher, learn to stand up for yourself, don't kill, don't lie, don't steal. Things that no matter who you are, there is no justification for doing those things.

Happy Easter

2009-04-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

Yup.. Happy Easter.. Need I say more?

Dissipated and Shipping Container Houses

2009-04-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well.. I am back... Life got busy, in result, I had no life for a few weeks, but happily, things are getting back to where they need to be, and I have returned here, as it should be.

I know I promised a astronomy post about telling time with the moon. Needless to say, that is still a work in progress. However I bring you something a bit more fun.

A growing trend is making houses out of shipping crates. With the right chemical spray, one can even make the shipping crate insulated. It is very cost effective, and very versatile.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/2008/09/23/20080923biz-containerhomes23-ON.html

I particularly like the pictures in this link, because they demonstrate both the simplicity and usefulness of this idea:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/shipping-container-houses.php

This one is a whole complex of shipping crate houses:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_b/207154861

Randomness

2009-03-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

I find my blog is very random, but that is perhaps because life is very random, or maybe it is just me. I just know that you can not just focus one thing, because you need multiple skills to survive in life.

I do like to talk about my projects, but I find I have so little time to work on them.
But, I do like to shy away politics and news, because if you are reading my blog, then you probably already read the news. I have long since said what I thought politics and the news. Which is pay attention to it! Use your brains. Do not let doublethink or minispeak confuse you. However, on the topic of news, there was barely any ammo at Wal-Mart today. I noticed some that were completely out stock previously had some, so they must be restocking, but it just flies of the shelf too fast. This perturbs me.

I read on Texas Preppers Blog today about group survival. I find that so few people think about that. It is encouraged when you go camping or even swimming to have at least a buddy. The hardest part about that idea though is that it is hard to find good people. During Ike, my neighborhood did not get together. Each neighbor took care of themselves, however in other parts of Houston there were apartment complexes, and even this couple I meet where they did work together and combined resources. I suppose the most difficult part of group work (in any form) is you do not want to have slacker/parasite that only brings the group down.

By the way, if you get a chance to, go check out Wolf Track's Patch. It is pretty neat.(Ya, I know The Texas Preppers got to it already. They are a good one to check out, too.)

Last bit of randomness. My next post is going to cover how to tell time with the Moon. It is not hard, but it is useful.

Star Wars

2009-03-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

Did Star Wars teach us nothing? Think about it.

For Your Review

2009-03-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

I know this is not the most useful useful information in the world, however, I believe it is still good information. This is a up to date list created by the FDIC listing all the bank closures since October 2000.

http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

FAK in Action

2009-03-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

I keep two FAKs (First Aid Kit) in my car. One for me, one for my car. On Tuesday I had the chance to use the kit I had prepared for my car. It is kind of lame, however I was pleased by the fact I had the tools I needed on hand assess the damage. It came down to the fact that I had a slow leak, which meant I had a flat. It made proud that even though this was not a serious problem, I had the tools I needed and that is what preparation is all about.

It Speaks for Itself

2009-03-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is what I talk about when I say make a logical argument.

A passage

2009-03-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

I was told by a friend of mine they banned 1984 from the school reading list. It is in our classic literature such as Ayn Ryan's work, George Orwell's work, Alas Babylon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Wuthering Heights, and so many more that we learn about human nature. We learn about the ideas before us that has shaped the world. So how can someone ban a book that is crucial to understand our lives?

I have included this short audio clip from the book. Listen and see what you think.

Midnight is Still Time.

2009-03-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

I really do not have much to say at the point in time. I been working on my projects
I plan to buy this book called The Encyclopedia of Country Living By Carla Emery.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1570615535/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
This book comes highly recommended, and it is a DIY book on gardening, horticulture, and some other things relevant to country living. If you follow the link, you can see both the table of contents and the index.

Now my rant:

People need to take care of their health.
Not only can it save you money in the long run, but if you are ever put in a survival situation, if your health is lacking, your chances of survival goes down as well.

I am deeply perturbed with how everything is these days.
I can remember play dodge ball, red rover, and even watching fights at school, but now as I watch a new generation of student attend the same school, with even some of the teachers I had, I shudder at the thought of what they are being taught. I shudder at the thought that they will be the future of this Nation, in a mere ten to fifteen years. That is a very short time.

Don't get me wrong. I do not wish to hurt anyone. However, if we are raising the new generation to be wusses, teaching them that everyone step on them, and drugging or separating anyone that doesn't fit the perfect mold. Is that what we want out of our future?

How is that at the point in time, we have the most amount of availability to the most amount of information, but have the least educated populous both in book smarts and street smarts?

Well this ends my mid-night rant. I hope

Even Sesame Street Says So

2009-02-28T18:37:00.001-08:00

I was watching television, and as I flipped through the channels, I saw a commercial from Sesame Street telling kids/parents to go their site to learn more about preparing for emergencies.

I know it bad when the govt tells you to prepare, but when Sesame Street is promoting workshops and site material on this... I am just left with my mouth wide open.

I have included the site address given by the commercial, and some other links of interest, which includes a neat blog I found (Third Link.)

http://www.sesamestreet.org/ready/

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/ready

http://incaseofemergencyblog.com/2008/09/29/grover-sesame-street-what-should-we-tell-the-publicnational-preparedness-month/

http://www.ready.gov/

If you get a chance to watch the video on the Sesame Street Site, it actually highlights on the important things and is somewhat thorough; however some parts are kind of annoying and obviously for little children(But you can skip forward during those parts.)

Keeping it together

2009-02-25T20:27:00.001-08:00

Even though cleaning and keeping things organized seems like a chore, it is a great thing for the mind. It saves headache and stress when you are trying to find something, as well as, being easier to think and get what you need done when you need to do it. So, I have included some links about organization that may help you.

It is good to have a emergency leave the house kit/box. If for some reason, God forbid, you have to escape your house from fire or any other natural disaster, you want to have all your important paperwork together (eg. birth certificate, social security, etc.)It does not have to be anything fancy, but we are a paper based society, so without your documents, it would be difficult to claim who you are. It's like a first aid kit for your identity.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/homestyle/01/05/mhi.organize.your.closets/index.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2109082_become-organized-one-minute-time.html

http://zenhabits.net/2007/11/obsessive-compulsives-guide-top-12-organizing-tips-plus-resources/

How to use a swiss army knife can opener

2009-02-23T00:25:00.000-08:00

Read it

2009-02-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

I found this blog post titled Working Hard or Hardly Working. The blogger brings up some good points about working these days and what to expect.

Revamp

2009-02-22T12:00:00.001-08:00

Over the next week or two, I shall revamping this blog. I plan to give a new face, perhaps edit/ combine some previous posts, and put up more links.

I know my writing tends to be a bit haphazard, but anything I put up is something I feel people need to know.

Going with that theme, I tell you that right now it nearly March. It is not too late to put your gardens, and practice you skills. If the economic trend continues, you will need these skills. Right now things are still floating, so it gives you this planting season to practice a little bit.
on the new

We see and hear on the news the government, the president, and the media are all calling crisis. They all have been telling us to prepare. We read on the news that the military is being trained to handle riots and civil unrest. Even they are being prepared, we need to as well.

Take Care!

Glen Beck Says

2009-02-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

Recession, Depression...either way we all suffer.

2009-02-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Well, as much we do not wish to believe we are in a recession, we are.
Of course there are people who saw this coming years ago, and have always penny pinched, and always prepared; but for others who have not worked long enough or not saved, penny pinching is more vital than ever.

I saw this on the New York Times website. The article is called Low Tech Fixes for High Tech Problems.

Other article of note is that Washington State is doing fairly well. In fact their economy is growing versus shrinking.

Saving your wet cell phone

2009-02-20T23:12:00.001-08:00

I like this article. On many occasions people have dropped their cell phones into water. This article talks about how to save your cell phone and the information on your cell phone from damage.

http://www.switched.com/2007/08/15/how-to-save-a-wet-cell-phone/

Do not feed the excutives

2009-02-16T23:23:00.000-08:00

Just watch.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T12:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Single's Awareness Day.

Just for some fun I pulled up some history on Valentine's day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine/

Have fun today, and tell someone you love them. May it be your friends, family, your significant other, or just yourself.

It does not make sense to me.

2009-02-11T22:28:00.000-08:00

I saw this video today.
I find some things just do not add up.
Now, I am just taking this from a logical stand point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO3kHC61I88

First, if the guy, Julio Osegueda, in the video is working at McDonalds after four years, and if he can't find anything else it means one of two things.

1. According to USA today, he 19 years old. Meaning he started there as a teenager and then went to college. Therefore, he is where he is suppose to be, because we all start at the bottom of the barrel earning minimum wage. That's why you go to college. There are not too many other jobs that 19 year olds are qualified for. So the "I have worked McDonald's for four years, at this point there is nothing wrong with it. If he was forty, and working at McDonald's without advancement, then it should cause quite of a bit of concern.

2.He is not qualified for any other job, because McDonald's will advance people to manager positions, if you qualify. If he is in college, that would qualify him even further for promotion. So why has he not been promoted?

He going to have a college education, and have the opportunity to do well. So why does he still asking for a hand out?

More Projects

2009-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

I like my projects. I know I have too many of them, but there is just so much I want to get done. This past weekend when a friend of mine came to visit, we were talking about composting, which ties right into my gardening project. It is really good way to get nutrition to your plants and safer than manure. I will post more about this later once I figure out what I want to do, and how I want to do it.

Did you remember this?

2009-02-06T19:11:00.001-08:00

Remember when you took driver's ed? How much do you remember of it?
This is a nice little quiz to see how much your remember.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/quiz/driving-skills-quiz/home.aspx

Only in Chinatown Would You See Dragons Inside the Store

2009-02-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to Chinatown to get some good eats, but as well see some of the lunar new year festival. While I was in the one of the Asian supermarkets, the dragon dancing started, and they dragons and the Buddha looking guy started to come in the store. It was quite amusing. Everyone was taking pictures/ videos with their phones and such.

Anyway, onwards, I have an interesting question for everyone. I had a conversation with a good friend of mine the other day about donating sperm and eggs. Supposedly woman who donate eggs can get up to $10,000 dollars. My friend said, if he could could do that, he would, because it is 10,000 dollars. However, I felt because it would my child, and I do not have a buying price; I would not do that.

What do you all think? What would you do?

Gun Control is not Crime Control

2009-02-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

Saw this on Kaiser's Blog. I just had to share.

People don't understand that it is fear that the media makes of Guns, that causes gun control. Even the video says, statistics show that "Gun control is not necessarily crime control." Think about that next time you want more gun control, because you are also controlling those who can protect themselves.

For your amusement ... ,and mine.

2009-02-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

The most common car related injuries, that don't involve actually driving the car.

"When I woke up this morning, there was ice on my car window, but now I am in shorts."

2009-01-30T14:40:00.000-08:00

This morning when I woke up at 7am, there was ice on my window. Not Northern, need a ice scraper, ice, but enough where I had to wait a good five minutes before it started to melt and clear up. However, by 1pm when I saw good friend of mine, he was already in shorts. That's Texas weather for you.

Moving on. Projects. All my project going slowly to my dismay, but all takes time and effort. For my Lost Arts, I am thinking about learning how to make cloth diapers from a good friend of mine. A lot of people depend on disposable diapers. They are not a bad thing, but they can get costly. Cloth diapers are reusable, and it has been said that cloth diapers can be more comfortable for the baby.

Also, as spring is coming closer, I am thinking about planting a small garden. I enjoy cooking, so I think this is a good way to bring many of my projects together. I can add more to my Lost Arts project, cut my costs, and best of all I know what I am putting my food. I doubt I would make enough to last me all year, but I would have plenty to eat for a while. I am in the mists of deciding what to plant, and what I would need to do each for type of vegetable.

Lastly, I have come upon a book that has really struck my interest. I just started reading The Catcher in the Rye. The book starts with "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth." If you get a chance to read this book, I highly suggest it.

Keep and eye on the news everyone. Lately, France is rioting already, the postal service wants delivery to move to five (5) days instead of six (6), because they are in the red, and California will be stopping grants, tax refunds, and welfare, as of tomorrow. Watch the news, and be careful.

Wired

2009-01-24T12:10:00.003-08:00

It has been one of those weeks, however on the bright side, I am feeling much better and getting my affairs back in order.

So for now I just have fun article about the 30 most wired cities. Any guesses on number one?

http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/wired-cities-2009-tech-wire-cx_ew_0122wiredcities_slide_2.html?partner=yahoore

Take care and be well.

Isn't this disturbing

2009-01-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

California is going to stop government payments of welfare and such, because they lack the funds to do it.

http://kaiservontexas.blogspot.com/2009/01/signs-and-wonders.html

Divorce

2009-01-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

I hate the word Divorce.

I have never had to experience it first hand, but I have seen some of the people in my life go through it. I have to upfront about the fact that I never been married. I am just not at the point in my life where I want to be yet, but I intend to be in the future. However, despite that point, I still hate the word Divorce. I hate it because people always seem to jump to as a first option to any little problem in a marriage. I know that marriage comes down to making it work or not, but it seems like no one wants to even try.

I know that marriage should be based on love, but I am sure there are many people out there that have had an arrange marriage or a shotgun wedding, who will say that you learn to love that person, or you just make it work.

Divorce should not be an option unless it simply gets so bad that it is really needed. I know the argument is that people are unhappy if they have to deal with it, but my argument is that before you get married, make sure it is really what you want, make sure you want to spend your life with that person.

When you divorce it effects everyone and everything around you. It is pretty traumatic, especially for children, and that is why marriage should not be taken so lightly.

I say all of this, because I do not believe in Divorce as an option. I hate what it has become. You can not married thinking that you will just refund the marriage, just in case it does not work out. I know sometimes it is needed. I do not argue with that. I am just saying that it should not be an option from day 1.

Bicycles and Exercise

2009-01-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

I have been working on is getting my bike up to par. I know in most places, everything is far enough where a bike is not sufficient as a mode of transportation. However, it has be kept in mind that biking is a good form of exercise, which I need, but it is a form of transportation that is not dependent on electricity, gas, oil or any other type of fuel. This means as long the bikes works, you have a dependable form of transportation.

I like to stress the importance of keeping your body up to par. If your body is healthy, you are less likely to get sick as often. Also, in times of survival, such as Ike or all the snow storms, if you are healthier, then you have a more fighting chance to survive better.

I have mentioned this before, but being healthy saves you money, time, and pain. Take the time to keep yourself well.

Stay well and safe!

The Internet Can be a Musician's Best Friend.

2009-01-16T16:10:00.000-08:00

One of my many projects is to get my viola back into good condition and start playing again frequently. There is nothing wrong with it, but I need to have it restrung along with some other minor care issues. Currently, I have already cleaned it, and now I have to get new strings for it.

So in my quest of not going broke with my project, I searched online for strings. I remember when I first played my voila, that even the thinnest string (the cheapest) was ten dollars. As the strings got thicker, so did the price. I was incredibly pleased with what I found. Hence the title of this post. Moreover, it has been about five years since I last changed a string, so I looked up how to, which will save me the money from getting someone else to do it. If anyone wants any links to all this, just comment.

It has been said by many that music, well particularly classic music, is a waste of time. Well, I beg to differ. Perhaps my opinion is a bit bias, because I love classical music, but in times of crisis and survival situation, stories and music along with food is how morale is kept up. Moreover, just because an instrument is dubbed as an classical music instrument only, it does not mean it can not play contemporary music.

I like to mention that Music is processed differently than other types of information to your brain. It has been seen many times when an elderly person will cry when they hear a song, but have no idea why. It is because the song is linked to the emotion of the memory.

Stay well and stay warm.

Weather and Wills

2009-01-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

For anyone watching the news and weather, the weather is going to get pretty cold over the next couple of days. Even in Texas the temperature will reach the low 30's.So bundle up, and stay warm. I personally love the cold weather, so this makes me happy. However, most people I know are looking forward to the summer.

Now on to a more important topic. WILLS.
I know most people do not wish to talk about their deaths, however once of age, one should think about this topic. Also, if you have one, make sure it gets updated. This ensures that you and your loves ones are taken care of, and that your wishes are honored. Moreover, if one dies without a will, in many states your assets becomes property of the state.
I highly doubt I have any readers under the age of 18 (the age of majority), so make sure to take care of this. Remember every state and country have their different laws and rules about Wills and trusts, so, take care in doing this.

*Additionally, if you have any valuables, take pictures so you have a record of your valuables.

Laughs

2009-01-12T23:49:00.000-08:00

These videos make me laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O3Plt8DyMk&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKgnkIN8C8&feature=channel_page

*I could not get the last two videos to be embed.*

Enjoy!

It is about time.

2009-01-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

A customer got so mad at his phone company for wasting his time, that he charged the phone company.. and they paid up!

http://tags.consumerist.com/5127559/customer-bills-phone-company-for-time-wasted-gets-paid

I am still laughing.

Maybe you guys will get a laugh out of this, too.

Je suis malade.

2009-01-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

I am sick. (That is what the title says)

I do not have much to say. I can only make some suggestions on how not to get sick,or how to deal with being sick since just about everyone is coming down with something.

1. Dress Appropriately for the weather. Be Reminded that your head, hands and feet lose most of your body heat. Your head alone loses 22% of your entire body heat.

2. Sugar kills your immune system when you are trying to get better.

3. Chicken soup is good for you.

4. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough.

5. Wash your hands regularly both when you are healthy and sick.

6. Try to let your body battle some of your symptoms if you can. By always using medicine you make the germs in your body more resilient to the antibodies.

7. If your nose is stuffed up or your ears are clogged up, try taking a wash cloth and making it damp with hot water from the sink. (Take caution in not burning your hands. Lay the hot washcloth on the afflicted area to make some of it clear up. (The warmth of cloth will melt the mucus in the nose or the built up wax in the ear.) (You may have to repeat in warming up the cloth.)

That all I got. I hope everyone stays safe,well and healthy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years

2009-01-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

I know I have not posted in a little while. I was visiting and dealing with relatives for a while.

It was nice to see everyone, but I am glad to be home.

I hope everyone is well, and had a wonderful holiday season.

I been paying attention to the news, I hope everyone else has been, too.

I will post more later.

So, it is not just us.

2008-12-18T10:58:00.000-08:00

According to Yahoo, Las Vegas received record snowfall today.

One has to wonder.

A little about the author

2008-12-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

Got this from Shy wolf. (Hope you do not mind.)
100 things you have done..... starting now?

1. Started your own blog. (hmmm... that's a toughie.)
2. Slept under the stars. (Yes, and hopefully I can go camping this winter)
3. Played in a band. (Does an orchestra count?)
4. Visited Hawaii. (No)
5. Watched a meteor shower. (Seen a few shooting stars, but too much light pollution here.)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (Not more than I can afford, but I give.)
7. Been to Disneyland. (In Tokyo)
8. Climbed a mountain. (Kind of want to.)
9. Held a praying mantis. (no.)
10. Sang a solo. (yes, but that was when I was a child.)
11. Bungee jumped. (No, and probably never.)
12. Visited Paris. (Want to.)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (Nope.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (Yes.)
15. Adopted a child. (Haven't even tried to have kids, yet.)
16. Had food poisoning. (School food...)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.(nope.)
18. Grown your own vegetables. (Use to, want to again.)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (Want to.)
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight. (Yes.)
22. Hitch hiked. (No.)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort. (Not in Texas)
25. Held a lamb. (NO.)
26. Gone skinny dipping. (No. )
27. Run a Marathon. (No.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. (Afraid not.)
29. Seen a total eclipse. (Once.)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (Many Times)
31. Hit a home run. (I wish.)
32. Been on a cruise. (Nope)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (No, and do not wish to.)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Yes.)
35. Seen an Amish community. (I do not know if I want to. I think it would be neat to see how they do things. Especially all things we have forgotten how to do.)
36. Taught yourself a new language. (Bits and parts of different ones.)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I am overworked, and underpaid, but at the end of the day I have what I want, and people that love me. So what you think?)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (Not really.)
39. Gone rock climbing. (See mountain climbing.)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (yes, no comment.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. (no.)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. (no.)
44. Visited Africa. (no)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. (yes )
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (no.)
47. Had your portrait painted. (no.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (no.)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.(see pictures.)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.(no.)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (no.)
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud. (yes.)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (no.)
55. Been in a movie. (no)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China. (yes.)
57. Started a business. (no)
58. Taken a martial arts class. (yes)
59. Visited Russia. (no.)
60. Served at a soup kitchen. (no.)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. (no.)
62. Gone whale watching. (no.)
63. Got flowers for no reason. (no.)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (no )
65. Gone sky diving. (no.)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (no.)
67. Bounced a check. (never)
68. Flown in a helicopter. (no.)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (yes)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. (no.)
71. Eaten Caviar. (did not taste good)
72. Pieced a quilt. (no)
73. Stood in Times Square. (no.)
74. Toured the Everglades. (no.)
75. Been fired from a job. (no)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London. (no.)
77. Broken a bone. (yes)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (no)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. (no.)
80. Published a book. (Want to.)
81. Visited the Vatican. (want to.)
82. Bought a brand new car. (no.)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.(want to.)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. (no.)
85. Read the entire Bible. (not at once.)
86. Visited the White House. (No)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (want to.)
88. Had chickenpox. (vaccinated.)
89. Saved someone’s life. (no.)
90. Sat on a jury. (No.)
91. Met someone famous. (define famous.)
92. Joined a book club. (I do not see the point.)
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. (no- see adopting a child.)
95. Seen the Alamo in person. (Yes.. well I live in Texas, I better have)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. (no.)
97. Been involved in a law suit. (no.)
98. Owned a cell phone.(yes)
99. Been stung by a bee. (no.)
100. Read an entire book in one day. (Several in one day.)

Used

2008-12-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well needless to say in tough times many of us will not be getting that new car with that new car smell.

I found this link that covers some basic DIY of checking out a used Car

Updates:

On my Lost Arts Project, I have decided my first endeavor will be to make a paper towel roll flashlight. I know that sound incredibly lame; however, it is so I can get a good hold on how electricity works and maybe work up to solar panels and such eventually. I already understand the basics of closing the circuit and such, but could not hurt to build up from fundamentals.
Also, my friend going to make Renaissance clothing for when we go next year to the Renaissance festival. So, I will get to see how to make clothing from fabric, which I do not know how.

Only in Texas

2008-12-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Well, it has to be said. Only in Texas can it snow one day, and have 60 near 70 degree the day after. (More like a day and half after.)

I really have not had much to say. I am working on several projects. One of which is learning calculus. I took pre-calculus in high school, and college level business math in college, but that is as far as I got. I know most who are reading this will have a "are you crazy?" reaction, but I am good at math. I really enjoy working with numbers, and perhaps now I will understand it even better than I did in high school or college.

My Lost Arts Project is going slowly, due to work and life. I will update you all on it when I have a chance.

One link I would like to share today: TOP 5 Financial Meltdown Scams
I do like the picture in the article. It says: THE MARKET IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. Any truth to that? What do you all think?

Stay safe, as always.

It is about as good we get.

2008-12-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

It rarely snows here.
But today around 4 Pm there were reports of snow falling already.

In some places it is very white, but in other places it is barely sticking.

But it so beautiful.

*pictures later*

Something Useful

2008-12-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

I saw this article on Yahoo Finance:

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106255/In-Lean-Times,-Online-Coupons-Catching-On

It talks about a lot of coupon codes from many different sources for all the products we frequently buy online and elsewhere.

Stay safe and well.

The Thing I Do Not Say

2008-12-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

When I write, I like to leave my personal life out of it.
I may make a slight reference here and there, but I believe that your personal life has very little relevance on the internet, unless it is part of the topic at hand.

Despite the previous statement, I cannot help but feel saddened by the fact that my sweetie is worried about our future. I wish to tell my sweetie that we will make it in every way that sentence can mean.

I think that is what I wish to impart upon the world the today. Do not put off your future plans for marriage, children, careers, or what not. I do not mean if you goal to be an actor/ actresses. I mean daily survival.

If you intend to make it with all your might. If you intend to truly survive, and I mean truly, truly survive. No matter how hard it is, then you will be fine. It make a lot of work, and a lot of suffering, but if our grandparents could make through great depression, and our long time ago ancestors could make it through the dark ages. Why can't we?

I do not bring religion into my writing very often, I find people will not listen to me when I do. But in today's breaking of my many habits, I wish to say that God will take care of those who are truly faithful to him. So I do not fear anything that comes my way.

Midwifery

2008-12-01T20:31:00.001-08:00

I was talking to a good friend of mine who is thinking about becoming a midwife. She is a good, compassionate person who would be perfect as a midwife. I took some time to look up midwifery, and was stunned to find all the regulations and controversies about it. Up till recent times, that was the way women gave birth, but now it is viewed as weird, but it is making a bit of comeback.

I am not sure what to think of this. I remember in secondary school in my health class we had to watch the "miracle of life" movie. It made me cringe, but to understand it was enlightening. I do not know if I could ever really watch someone give birth, let along assist in the process, but I figure life is interesting; so I shall not say never about anything that could happen.

Take care, stay safe and be well.

Gattaca

2008-11-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

On Hulu.com, they are doing a special event called Movies for the Holidays.
Currently, they have the movie Gattaca in its full length. (You all should watch it. It is a good movie!)

This movie scared me a bit, because I know it is pretty much all possible already.

On the side note the word Gattaca comes from the first letters of the hydrogen bonds of DNA.(GATC) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dna

After seeing the movie last night, I came upon this article today in which a school is testing the children via genetics to see which child would be the best for what sports. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/30genetics.html?no_interstitial It seemed like Deja Vu to me.

What do you all think? Is this a way we want to go?

Say Only What You Must

2008-11-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

I know I do not update this blog as often as many others update theirs, but there is reason for this. I simply do not always have something to say. I figure saying what is important when it is needed is far more valuable than just always talking. I am thankful for my frequent visitors who leave comments once a in a while or votes on my polls. I hope you all like what I write, and if there is any topics you would like me sound off about, do not hesitate to let me know.

So, in the spirit of this post, I wish to let everyone know my Lost Arts project is going well. I am working on doing gummy bears and candles right now. I found out a good friend of mine knows how to make candles, so when we both have time, we will be attempting that. Also, if conditions permit, we will try to see which types of candles last the longest, which makes the least amount of mess, and any other variables that come along.

The one piece of wisdom I would like to impart to you all out there is that ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Meaning what you do will always say more about who you are than anything you can ever say.

I do wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving (aka Happy Turkey Day.) Be thankful for what you have. We all very lucky to have what we have, when so many are without.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Lost Arts

2008-11-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

We are so dependent upon people making things for us. I know it is because of the economic principle of how much our time is worth, and it is not worth our time to grow and or kill our own food, and process it. Also it is not worth our time to make candy, toys, butter, candles, or even sew our own clothing. However, if these services for some reason were not available, most people would not know what to do.

So along with my urge to stock, as mentioned previously, I have decided to embark on the lost arts. I want to make a book out of what I try and what I fail at. I know there are many resources both via the internet, and via books that are available, which I intend to use; however, there is nothing like experimenting and understanding first hand how different things react. (I already understand what not to put together thanks to high school chemistry, so do not worry, I shall not cause too much harm to myself.)

I found this one blog that maybe of assistance to me, and to anyone else who wishes to embark on the lost arts. The Lost Arts.

Also, I am proud to announce I have acquired a telescope. It is not a big one, but it was inexpensive, and of decent quality. I was going to build one, but I have not had a chance, nor the money to do so. I am a bit of an astronomy buff.. unfortunately, I only really know the basics, but in theme of lost arts, I want to keep learning. about the night sky (and day sky). I know already that you can tell time, direction, and if you are good enough, even tell what day it is, with astronomy. I have posted before about using the sky to tell direction, if anyone wants to read it.

Take care and be well. If anyone else is embarking the lost arts, let me know about your trials and errors.

Junk Mail and the Mailman

2008-11-22T21:24:00.000-08:00

Well I saw an article today about people trying to figure out why Postal Workers hoard mail. I do not think they have solved the mystery quiet yet; however, I do not entirely mind when I don't get ten thousand pieces of the same junk mail...so I can not really make an opinion on this matter.

http://www.slate.com/id/2204823/?y=1

Stay well and safe, as always.

Cellular Phone

2008-11-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say today. Just my usual. Watch the news. Pay attention around you. I thought this article was kind of cute. I had not thought about PDAs and such in a long time, but I remember them.

Five Gadgets Killed By the Cellphone

Take care of yourselves!

The Good Olde Days

2008-11-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

The best places to raise your kids.

In the article, they mention a town called Mount Prospect. This the way things are suppose to be. This is the way it use to be. People should strive to be financially independent, but still care about the people around them. This is the type of place I would want to raise my kids in and live in.

Driving through clouds

2008-11-15T01:50:00.000-08:00

After all that is been going on, it is nice to see even nature is trying to be back on schedule. The true cold front winds are passing through. On Thursday, I drove through some fog on my way to work. The denser parts of the fog had already risen to about the eighth floor on buildings. It was really beautiful. I did not have my camera with me, otherwise I would show everyone.

My thoughts have been on storing. I know I mentioned this the other day. I have also thought about transport for my storing, if I was to flee. Car would be no good if there was any type of EMP disturbance or simply if I have no gas. So the choices are either an old (1970's and before) car which runs on near to no electronic devices, or something self propelled (eg: a bike.) However, if I was fleeing, a bike would not be the best choice because there is cover, so it would be relatively unsafe.

I know my ranting thoughts seem a little tin foilish, but bear with me. I believe preparing. If I had not, Ike would of been far worse for me. If events like Ike can happen, which most people did not see coming, what is to say other things can not. They are quite plausible, otherwise the government would not do the drills they do, or promote preparation as they do.

I would like to mention I am not so wrapped in preparing that I do not live. I can not understand those who get so wrapped in what they do, may it be video games, preparing, religion, work, or what ever else is their thing. Do not forget to live. You need to prepare, but preparing is about survival and living, so what is the point if you don't live? When I say live, I do not mean breaking laws or hurting people. I simply mean enjoy the people around you. Be cognitive of what is going on around you.

A side note: I did mention religion. I mentioned religion, because I know people who do nothing but go to church. Now, I have no quarrels about church. It is a good thing. But, if you spend all your time at church, then are you doing what you are learned at church?

You all take care of yourselves. Like I have said before pay attention to the news. Read multiple sources, and if you can read the news in different languages. The way another country reports about something happening here can be quite different than the news we are receiving. A good source for news is http://www.drudgereport.com/ It sums up all the news in one place. I find it to be more honest then a lot of major news networks.

Humour At Work

2008-11-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

http://graphjam.com/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/page/1/

Just laugh.. it is good for you!

This has to be said

2008-11-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans' Day.

Thank you very much for all our present, pass, and future Veterans.

This had to be said.

For anyone that cares, here is some history on Veterans' Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day

The Urge

2008-11-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

I have the urge to stock up.
This is no where the full list I want, but it is a start.

beans
soup
rice
pasta
vacuum sealer ( I have)
tuna packet things (I wonder if the can or pouch lasts longer)
Chicken packet things

*Will edit later.*

The little things I learned today

2008-11-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

1."John Podesta said the president can use such orders to move quickly without waiting for Congress to act, highlighting the extraordinary powers a president can wield beyond signing legislation approved by Congress. Podesta said people should expect Obama to use those powers to reverse many policies of the Bush administration."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081109/ap_on_el_pr/obama

2. How Ex-Presidents/ Ex Prime Ministers make their money.

3. The unhappy ending to fairly tales. (Some of these are somewhat twisted. Read at your own caution.)

4. Louisiana Jindal for President in 2012

Didn't we just finish the last election, finally? It only took two and half years.

Meat ya

2008-11-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, I am an meat eater.
Don't hate me for it.
I don't agree with hurting little animals, but doesn't mean I should deprive myself of meat.
As I like to say, I have pointy teeth and flat teeth for a reason. It means I should eat both meat and vegetables.

I found two really awesome meat related sites.
The first is a site that sells meat, but that is raised on a farm and everything, so it should taste real good.
The second site it a blog about meat. Check it out!

http://www.exoticmeats.com/

http://www.shamelesscarnivore.com/

Enjoy.. and remember stay well and take care of yourself!

Laptop Care

2008-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

For many of us, our laptops are our lives.. and a major investment.
So, just like your car, you should take care of your laptop.

Even though where I live it does not even reach freezing most of the time, I was curious what the cold could do to a laptop.

The following links are just ones about taking care of your laptop in the cold, but the last one is a fun link from a company that makes electronics to withstand the extreme cold.

Enjoy!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/469717/cold_weather_care_for_your_laptop_computer.html

http://www.computing.net/answers/hardware/using-a-cold-computer/38520.html

http://www.abrfid.com/solutions/freezer-computer.asp

This Doesn't Surprise Me.

2008-10-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Gun sales thriving in uncertain times

Saving Messages and Memories

2008-10-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

I was looking for a way to save my cell phone messages. Unlike a regular voicemail machine in which you can save your messages by not deleting it or on the old machines, you would just take out the tape.

http://www.thephantomwriters.com/free_content/db/r/download-voicemail-messages.shtml

"The 30 Greatest Road Trip Movies"

Enjoy and Stay Well.

Now, that is just Electrifying

2008-10-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

According to researchers, by peeling packing tape in a vacuum, it causes x-ray to happen.

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081022/full/news.2008.1185.html

Something Isn't Right

2008-10-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

Basic economic principles are not being followed.
The gas prices are falling, yet the food prices have not.
The two are correlated.

The gas prices are falling, but why are they?
There is nothing going on that would make them fall.
There is the same amount of demand. Gas, like milk is inelastic demand item. Meaning, it is like milk. People will buy milk, no matter how much it is, because they need it. So the price variation does not make sense. In Fact with Ike coming and going, it should cause the price to increase, versus decrease. The economists even said that would happen.

Something isn't right. I will leave it at that.

My dorms never looked like this

2008-10-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1838306_1759869,00.html

This is an interesting video essay on how dorms have changed over time.
Needless to say the dorms I live in college never looked like these, but it is quite interesting to see how things have changed.

There was an article on Yahoo about how the DOW has jumped 500 points.
We can only see if this trend continues, or what. The problem with the economy is not so much there is something wrong with it, but the fact people lack the confidence to spend money, because they fear they will not have a job to make the money to spend later on.

Free House

2008-10-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/v/10170522

It is not just us.

2008-10-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

We have heard a lot recently about Wachovia, Indy Mac, Wamu, and so forth Banks not doing well, and watching the goverment try to save them.

Well it is not just us that suffering, but also the European Nations.

Europeans scramble to save failing banks

If this is a sign of what is to come, it is not looking too good.

A Little bit of Everything

2008-10-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

I do not know how long these links will last, but I hope you all will enjoy.

Those who stayed in Galveston in Ike.

O.J.'s Future

25 Best Movie Soundtracks Since '83

25 Best (and Worst!) 'Star Wars' Moments

Happy Birthday Google

2008-09-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed using google.
There is pretty much nothing I can not find.
So Happy 10th birthday to Google.

I found interesting Google Trivia

http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/#2008.5

http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/

Enjoy

Post Ike

2008-09-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

The power came back on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Still recovering and will have to write more about this later.

Needless to say I was very fortunate.

I had a gas stove that could be lit with a spark light to cook hot meals.
The landline allowed for communication and limited use of the internet.

One thing I would like to mention before I forget: Food keeps morale up.

2008-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well the power is still out. But that is the worst of my problems. The power went out a few moments after my previous post.

I have been on survival mode.

You never realize how much you depend on power till you do have it.
I have been fortunate. My folks have a generator.
So have been able to keep our refrigerator alive along with keeping a bit cooler and our survival lighting charged. Also, we have running water.

I am able to get in contact with people, because the landlines still work, moreover it how I am able to be here at the moment. I am only able to use the phone, because we have an old school style phone.

The grocery stores opened in my area despite many homes still without power, and I was able to get some ice today.

I shall keep this short, for this ordeal is very physically and mentally draining.

I have to give my ancestors dibs. They had to do this every day.

Here Comes the Rain

2008-09-12T21:25:00.001-07:00

The rain is here.
It is a catagory two, almost a three.
It is weakening.

No, it is not Alica.

2008-09-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

The power is starting to go out everywhere.
Do not know how long I will be here.

The wind is starting to gust toward 50 mph.

It is suppose to start getting bad toward midnight.

For some interesting information on previous hurricanes click below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Carla

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_retired_Atlantic_hurricane_names

Sunset on Ike

2008-09-12T18:28:00.001-07:00

Sunset before the storm. (about 7:37PM)

This is facing North.

Will try to continue to update as long I have power.

Love the fact I can use my survival know how.

Stay Safe!!!

Salutations Ike

2008-09-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

Spent most of the day prepping for Ike. Mostly cleaning, cooking, and orgainizing supplies.

Yesterday it was a madhouse at the stores and the gas stations.
Both were empty and people were fighting for supplies.
Fortunatly enough I got some gas during my lunch break, and thanks to Gustav food prepartions had already been done.

Currently Galveston is already starting to flood and some of their electricity is already starting to go. It is quiet outside. It is very eerie.

The wind currently is blowing at about 30+ something miles and starting to pick up. You can see some debris really start to fly.

It has been drizzling on and off since 2pm.

Now Is The Time

2008-09-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to start charging everything- cell phones, laptops, batteries, lamps, etc.

Now is the time to have your water, your food, to protect your family and property.

I am bunkering with my folks.
It is so weird to see our house all boarded up.
I want to write something original on the boards.
Or maybe i will just write "Take a Hike, IKE"

I have started video logging the events going on around me.

It was ominmous for a few minutes but now is so calm, blue sky and beautiful sunset outside right now. It is a bit creepy when you know what is coming your way.

For the worst

2008-09-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

How to Survive Anything Mother Nature Throws at You

It explains itself.

IKE

2008-09-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well I am here waiting for Ike.
I will be bunkering down and get a chance to use the survival skills and things I have been prepping.

This was a bit hard to find, however I found it.
It is the evacuation zones map for Houston.
I assume this is just for Ike.

I am a bit scared, but I am not panicking.
This is what I want to tell people.
DO NOT Panic. It is bad to. Take a deep breathe and make a decision on what you need to do.

Also, six inches of water can move a person, a foot of water can start moving a car.

I will update more as I do more and as long as the power stays on.

Eating Better and Eating Out

2008-09-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/gabbyguide/8717/basic-weight-loss-mistakes/

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/13623/secrets-that-restaurants-dont-want-you-to-know

Recovering your Electronics

2008-09-10T08:34:00.001-07:00

I saw this neat news article. They talk about how this woman was able to recover her camera via her SD chip.

http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/v/9666295

Enjoy

Birthdays and Ike

2008-09-10T08:23:00.001-07:00

Some Birthday Trivia for you all:

Yesterday was Michelle Williams', Otis Redding's and Rachel Hunter's birthdays.

Otis Redding died when he was 26 and before he ever knew he was such a bit hit. Some of the songs we know by him are "Under the Broadwalk", and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay"

This picture speaks for it self.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Tropical-Storms-and-Hurricanes-NOAA-Cabo-San-Antonio-Cuba-Gulf-of-Mexico/ss/events/sc/091905hurricanes/s:/ap/20080910/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropical_weather#photoViewer=/080908/480/b324148bd962415aa6a39d192cc4aa27

Hello Ike

2008-09-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well it is that time again.

For all you hurricane trackers out there here are some useful sites.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200809_model.html?MR=1

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?5day#contents

http://www.stormpulse.com/

A Little Bit of Everything.

2008-09-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of Sarah Palin. Many people make the mistake that feminism is about woman dominate power.but it is not. Woman and men are meant to be complementary. It about good strong women who can kick butt, and actually bring good to this world like I have mentioned before. http://ontologicalthinker.blogspot.com/2008/06/feminism.html

She spoke very well, and really did a good job at yesterday's Republican National Committee. Congratulations, Sarah!

I am pleased to announce that when I walked outside today for work, I was met with a cool breeze. This means Autumn is coming. With cooler weather coming, we will want to stay warm. It is easy to crank up the heater, but that is friendly to your pocketbook. Instead use blankets, sweaters, and insulating your house properly, this way you do not have to turn the heater on so high.

This will be a interesting election, needless to say.

Take care, watch out for Hanna and Ike, and keep an eye on the news.

Google Chrome

2008-09-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

Google is trying to come out with a new browser. Check it out for yourself.

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/52190/First-Test-of-Chrome-Google%E2%80%99s-New-Browser;_ylt=Av2K.0NAR0iCy3vsBO.wRS67YWsA?tickers=goog,msft,aapl

I don't like this.

2008-09-02T13:38:00.001-07:00

I am not a comcast user, but I know a lot of people that are. Supposedly they are going to set limits on how much you can use on broadband.

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2008/08/29/comcast-s-new-downloading-limits.aspx

It is good for you.

2008-09-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about starting a exercise routine.
I know it is good for me.
Also, once you get in the routine, then it is easier to stick to it.

I found this neat article with tips on ehow.com for doing this.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2054054_stick-workout-program.html

Exercise just makes you feel better.
When you exercise it releases a hormone that makes you happy, and for each pound you loose, you take four pounds of your knees.

Take care and stay well!

How to do anything

2008-09-02T11:57:00.001-07:00

I found this really neat site that has basic steps on how to do most things.

Enjoy!

http://www.ehow.com/

Gustav

2008-09-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Hurricane-Gustav/ss/events/sc/082908hurricangustav/#photoViewer=/080901/photos_ts/2008_09_01t141028_450x300_us_storm_gustav

"A street at a railroad crossing near the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal is flooded as Hurricane Gustav hits New Orleans, September 1, 2008.
(Lee Celano/Reuters) "

Dare to Prepare v.2

2008-08-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have been working on my get home pack. I feel it is needed.. even if there is not a natural disaster or anything.. sometimes you just get stranded.
A lot of this is new to me.. so I am just discovering what is important or what is better to use and easier to carry.
I have several items already, (like a compass, some food, water, and some other things)but it is no where near done.
I have measured that I would have to travel between 18-20 miles depending on where I am at during the day.

Currently I keep in my car the following basic items:
First Aid Kit (FAK)
Several Bottles of water.
Socks
Tennis/ Walking shoes
Crackers (I switch them out on a monthly basis)
Along with what I call a FAK for my car- jumper cables, flat fix, and some other items.

I want to get a tool kit and a space blanket for my car.

Most people do not realize that if for some reason you are trapped in your car after dark, it can get cold very fast and it is quite possible to get hypothermia. So a blanket can be a life safer.

As I have posted previously, there are ways to find your way home without a compass.. by using the stars and the sun. If you don't know how to do that.. it is a really good thing to learn. http://ontologicalthinker.blogspot.com/2008/05/no-compass-no-problem.html