July 2008 Archives
July 20, 2008 8:46 PM
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED?
You'd be surprised how doing a little bit of preparing each week adds up. And, you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget what you have collected. I spent most of last weekend making an inventory of what I had. What a great sense of accomplishment that was. It gave me an idea of what still needs to be done, and made me realize I need better guidelines.
Regarding food, I was doing a chicken-scratch kind of thing. I haven't really looked at the charts that say how much one person/two persons.....should have, for how long, etc. But that's a wise thing to do, otherwise you'll just have a bunch of this and that without any kind of plan. Which leads me to an invaluable resource.
Thank you to the folks at Simply Living Smart for the time they spent creating a user friendly chart that does all the work for you. They've created an Excel spreadsheet with pages for all the foods including dairy, oils, canned goods, sweeteners, and more. All you have to do is enter your family size, the items you have, and calculations are automatically done for you. You can see what you have and what the requirements are for different periods of time, such as one month, two months, 1 year, etc. You can easily keep track of what you have on hand, and what you'd prefer to have.
Here's the link to the chart.
http://simplylivingsmart.com/images/Resources/Food-Storage-Master-Plan.xls
Make sure you visit their site. It's outstanding. Link Here
July 16, 2008 8:33 PM
COAL IS THE #1 FUEL FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY IN THE U.S.
I was taken by surprise to learn that coal represents 48.6% of the mix of fuels used to generate electricity! I thought it was something from days gone by, used infrequently, and in places where there weren't alternatives. I didn't realize that it is still the most predominantly used fuel for electricity generation, with natural gas at 21.4%, nuclear 19.4%, and hydropower, fuel oil, and non-hydro renewables making up the remaining 11%.
Visit this website. It's fascinating and interactive. You can see the pie charts showing the specirfic breakdown of fuel mix, but interestingly you can click on any state on the U.S. map and get the pie chart of fuel mix specific to that state. I think you'll be surprised at the differences for each state. For example, did you know that Washington use 75% hydropower and 8.6% nuclear? New Mexico uses 86% coal? Vermont 75% nuclear? You can also learn about each fuel source and developing technologies for the future.
Here's the link: http://www.getenergyactive.org/fuel/mix.htm
Be well! Be happy!
Louise
July 15, 2008 5:45 AM
July 13, 2008 7:03 PM
What is
For an overview of
The risk of getting
Most people who are infected with
Preventing
Prevention is the key to minimizing the risk of exposure to WNV. Everyone should take action to minimize the risk:
· Reduce mosquito larvae habitat around the home by dumping standing water.
· Change water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, animal troughs, and other sources once or twice a week.
· Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk to dawn).
· Make sure the screens on doors and windows are working properly.
· Cover exposed skin with light colored clothing when outside in the evening.
· Use an effective repellent on exposed skin and always follow the directions on the label.
Reprinted from Washington State Emergency Management Division Website
Link Here
Be Happy! Be well!
Louise
July 6, 2008 2:31 PM
What Stung Me? I was visiting family in My mother retold the "famous" one about me when I was very young. She thought she was hearing a fire engine, but saw with horror that it was me, running out of the forest behind our house screaming, being followed by a huge swarm of wasps/hornets. They were all over me, in my hair, in my clothing, etc. I was thrown into a tub of water and my mother proceeded to "debug" me. I remember the incident well, even though I was quite small. Fortunately I was not allergic to them. You'd think one attack in a life would be enough. Shortly after moving here to So to put things in perspective, here's a little information about yellowjackets and paper wasps .
Yellowjackets and Paper Wasps
Peter J. Landolt and Arthur L. Antonelli
Yellowjackets and paper wasps are beneficial insects. They feed their young numerous insects that ordinarily damage shade trees and crops. They also kill countless houseflies and blowflies. A few species of yellowjackets however, scavenge for meat and sweets and can become pests, especially at picnics and campgrounds. Even though they may at times become pests, yellowjackets and paper wasps are highly beneficial. Do not control them unless their stings present a hazard.
Identification
Yellowjacket workers are about 1/2 inch long, and appear short and stocky. All yellowjackets are yellow and black or white and black. Paper wasps are up to 3/4 inch long, and are more slender. Paper wasps may be distinguished from yellowjackets by their more slender body shape and longer legs. Although the golden paper wasp is easily distinguished from yellowjackets by its yellow and dark brown coloration, the newly introduced European paper wasp is quite similar in color pattern to yellowjackets. Identification is important, because paper wasps are valuable as biological control agents of garden pests.
Safety Precautions
Yellowjackets and paper wasps may become aroused and attack in defense of their nest when disturbed. If you decide to remove or spray a nest, follow these precautions:
• Cover yourself with thick clothing (including head, face, neck, and hands).
• Wear glasses to protect your eyes. Some species are capable of squirting venom for short distances and may target the face.
• Spray or remove aerial nests during the coolest part of the evening, on a cool day if possible.
• Carefully put the pesticide into the entrance hole of ground nests after dark. They may fly towards the light from your flashlight.
• If you are allergic to wasp stings, do not risk removing the nest yourself. Some people react strongly to the stings of bees and wasps. Symptoms can include swelling, nausea, dizziness, difficulty with breathing, and shock. Symptoms may be immediate or delayed for several hours. For most people without allergies, a sting may be no more than a minor annoyance or irritation at the time of the sting.
• In late summer, paper wasps and yellowjackets are attracted to the odors from decaying fruit. Avoid wearing perfumes, hair sprays, or other strong scents when in areas with abundant paper wasps and
yellowjackets. Also, avoid brightly colored clothing, particularly yellow, orange and red.
• Restrain children and others from throwing objects at wasp nests. This not only agitates the wasps, but makes them more likely to attack upon future encounters.
Treatment of Stings
There are commercial preparations, such as antihistaminic ointments and tablets, that are effective in reducing reactions to stings. People who are highly sensitive to stings should consider a desensitization procedure in an allergy clinic, and consult their physician about emergency kits which contain syringes with premeasured doses of aqueous epinephrine (for injection) antihistamine tablets, and frequently a bronchodilator(inhaler), which may also contain epinephrine.
From Louise: More natural remedies include the use of a paste made of baking soda and placed directly on the sting; apple cider vinegar swabbed on and around the site, or a combination of the two. Both are highly effective and readily available in most homes.
For the full article with lots of interesting info and photos on their nests, lifecyle, etc. Click Here
Copyright 2003
You may order copies of this and other publications from the WSU Bulletin office, 1-800-723-1763, or online http://pubs.wsu.edu/
