Flu Proliferation

swine-flu-mustache-5824-1241014268-2In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

Some simple precautions:
1. Frequent hand-washing throughout the day. Soap your hands for a full 2 minutes.
2. Hands OFF your face. This is a habit that you must get use to to keep healthy.
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (or Listerine). Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Blowing your nose hard once a day and swapping both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich with vitamin C (citrus fruits), or with supplements tablets that contain Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much warm liquids as you can. Warm liquids wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive.

A slightly different version of #4 above recommended cleaning your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water using nasal irrigation.

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Diarrhea, Dumping And Deer

upshitcreekbook The story below reminded me of a great book on a similar theme.

Diarrhea, Dumping And Deer…, A short story about a deadly crap

It was back in the 70’s, during one of the Great Droughts to hit California, I was busily engaged in trekking students from UCLA through the Sierra Nevada mountain range in search of survival skills. These treks lasted anywhere from 9 days to two weeks and once a year we did a 3 week program. During one such program late in the year we discovered that previously reliable but small, water sources had dried up. This made for some rough trekking. Hike, dig in a stream bed, fill canteens and move on. Our goal was “Strawberry Meadows” on the South Fork of the Kern. The Kern was running, I knew as I’d flown over it a week earlier and seen the water.

Now in those days water purification was limited to chemicals, Iodine, and boiling. We had no filtration or UV stuff so the chances for drinking contaminated water increased exponentially with the low water levels, fire proscriptions and concentrated wildlife. With that in mind…

It was late when we got into camp. The Kern was 5 feet from my shelter. The night was warm and I had an unusual rumbling in my gut. I’d ignored it all day in hopes that dehydration would quiet the noise and snake-like twisting going on down there but once I rehydrated from that wonderful surplus of cold water, things changed… dramatically. I tried to fight it and laid down to sleep on my pine needle mat. It was a warm night and I was beat.
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The Bricklayer’s Story

0511-0903-2316-3616_Bricklayer_Working_clipart_imageIn the early days of personal computing, long before the Internet, but in the era of 1200 baud modems and BBS’s, the pioneers understood what these electronic marvels were best suited for: passing around jokes and humorous stories. I remember this story very well, since it was printed off (on a slow dot matrix printer) and passed around to every family member at every family event of the year:

Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number 3 of the accident reporting form, I put “poor planning” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer. On the day of the accident, I was working along on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the building, at the sixth floor.
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Red-Neck Trike

Front-wheel drive turned rear wheel drive Ford Escort powered Jap-Bike-Trike. Wowsers.

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Go Texas Tech-s

While I was cooking breakfast this morning, Bryson started doing the gun’s up sign and saying “go Texas Techs”. I’m wearing a TTU t-shirt, so maybe he recognizes it. The brainwashing is going well!

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The Philosophy of Liberty

Check this video out: (warning- contains crappy new age music, try to look past that)

And then you might want to read a little bit about what is going on in Keene New Hampshire with the freekeene folks.

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The County Sheriff: America’s Last Hope

No Sheriff Left Behind-sm I ran across this news article last week that explained a possible solution to dealing with the un-constitutional actions of the federal government. (pause: FYI, the first 10 amendments were all about limiting the power of the federal government, and we have pretty much trampled over all of them now) Sheriff Mack (Arizona) has written a book

to prove once and for all that the sheriffs in this country are indeed the ultimate law authority in their respective jurisdictions. The sheriff absolutely has the power and responsibility to defend his citizens against all enemies, including those from our own Federal Government. History, case law, common law and common sense all show clear evidence that the sheriff is the people’s protector in all issues of injustice and is responsible for keeping the peace in all matters. He is the last line of defense for his constituents; he is America’s last hope to regain our forgotten freedom. This short but powerful book is a must read for all citizens, sheriffs, and government officials that we may all work to return America to the constitutional republic she was meant to be. Amazing as it might be, the sheriff can make this happen!

He is going through each county, state by state, to deliver his book and inform sheriffs of their obligation to protect their citizens against all enemies. He filed a lawsuit against the federal government for the Brady Bill, but he now believes simple non-compliance is a more economical and effective means of standing up against unconstitutional acts by the federal government. I was interested to learn he does not enforce the federal seat belt laws in his county, and he wrote his senators and rep to get his federal income taxes back, since he is sure he needs his money more than the a-holes that received federal bailout money.
Could this be a solution or part of the solution to the problem of an ever expanding and un-constitutional federal government?

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Beans and Bread

I practiced my bread making skills again today. More beer bread. This time I used a combination of white flour, wheat flour, and oat flour. I also replaced 1/2 of the white sugar with honey, but I can’t taste it. I topped one of the loaves with cheddar cheese. I also made a big pot of beans, with lots of peppers from my garden, and some cornbread to go with it.

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Bryson Drives

IMG_4550sIf you aren’t careful when you get Bryson out of his car seat, he will jump in the front seat and start driving. He is especially good at operating the hazard lights.

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Family Pictures

We took family pictures Saturday morning. Bryson was very cooperative and I think we got some pretty good shots.

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