Isn’t that an oxymoron? Armed service is above all a selfless course of action offered from a position of strength against evil or aggression. Some things never allow for equivocation, “that others may live.” Switzerland has for decades required that every male serve in its’ armed reserves from age 18 through 58. Each man is not only issued arms and ammunition to maintain at home, but each is required to attend training semi-annually in home defense and target…
Ten times more people die or are incapacitated after disasters from poor sanitation conditions than are injured in the disaster itself. After the earthquakes in January, l994, in North Ridge, California, not only was the water system breached, but the sewer system was also. Nothing flushed. This caused the #1 and #2 problems, if you catch my drift, and the entire town stunk. Trucked in from as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada, water was only used for drinking….
Foods are chemical compounds that with time break down. Everything comes from Mother Earth, and I guess this is Mother’s way of house cleaning. The rate at which foods break down is directly related to temperature and other bacteria supporting elements. These chemical detractors effect foods as follows: 1. Heat – For every 10 degrees below 72 that you store foods, potential shelf life doubles. Store cool. 2. Light – causes heat and photo chemical changes in foods and even…
The first rule taught in US Forces Survival School is, “when living off the land, eat more protein.” The second rule is “insects are nine times more nutritious than beef, pound for pound.” The trouble is, it is hard to find a pound of the little critters. Many people ask if grain has to be rotated or thrown out if old or if bugs get into it. Hold on to your tummies, now. Sixty-five to eighty-five percent of…
“If I put a bunch of food in storage, when times get tough my neighbor will just visit me with his .45 and take what I have anyway.” I thought of the promise: “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear,” (DC 38:30) and guidance about storing whole grains, and foods recommended in the Word of Wisdom. And then the answer came. We are a “peculiar” people when we live the commandments. If we “store what (we)…
“You Mormons seem more concerned about standing before the Lord than your standing before the Lord,” he said. “I don’t understand. Is that a double ontondre?” I said. “Yes.” (I felt so much better) “Mormons are more concerned with the end of things, rather than the journey – the event than your condition – His vengeance than His approbation – death rather than the quality of life. All of your preparedness talk seems focused on avoiding death…
“How would you like to live in one of your antique cars with you family,” I said to a car dealer friend who was also a client? Like most dealers, he was a hobbyist, having collected a number of vintage cars. “If your house is paid for, that’s $1,600 a month you don’t have to earn if your mortgage is cleared. No bills, no need for income.” The market was high, a package sale of his antiques cleared…
Pachyderm 37, a Chinook helicopter of the 101st, was going down with its back end on fire. I was headed for the barn. I had cheated death for 976 combat flying hours in Vietnam. I was going home tomorrow. Before I could channel change to the emergency frequency, the response came: “Pachyderm, this is King 6. We have you!” I knew my assistance would not be needed. Every radio net has a designated emergency frequency that all…
“If they don’t have my wife, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and baseball in heaven, I ain’t going.” Now, there are some notable aspirations! · Wife – without a loving helpmate, there is no eternity. · Homemade – everything is always the best when made sweet through thrift, love, and selflessness. · Baseball – anyone who can play the game and win when the odds are 9 to 1 against them (opponents cover all the bases, fields, and even…
Home canning is getting to be a lost art. With prepared foods of such great variety and at such low relative cost in the supermarket, why go through the hassle of a hot kitchen to do a few quarts of fruits, vegetables, juices, or meats? I hear the same argument about gardening. “Now, if I could can pizza or Big Macs, it might be worth it. I’ll need those when times get tough.” Everything we learn…