The Breaded Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloins all breaded are quite good enough for me;
once I've had my fill of them I'm full of joy de vie. 
With a little mustard and a touch of relish, too,
they provide me with an optimistic worldly view.
Bring 'em on for breakfast, or for lunch, or late at night;
I'll eat them till the cows come home, or mom turns out the light.
Pork tenderloins and Iowa go hand in glove, by gum;
and anyone says diff'rent is a lousy commie bum!
Of course if you put bacon on the top of one you'll find
the kind of taste and texture that will blow your little mind.
Forget about elections or a terrorist attack;
give me breaded tenderloins, and pile 'em in a stack!
Add some mashed potatoes and some coleslaw, holy smoke -- 
it'll send you straight to heaven (maybe by a stroke).
So hail the breaded tenderloin of pork, ye men of meat;
unlike Trump, it's something that is very hard to beat. 

Prepare for Winter Emergencies NOW.

In regions such as North Dakota and Maine winter is already here, with reports of snowfall and freezing temperatures. While winter offers many delights, it can also be a challenging time even without an emergency or a disaster taking place.
Hikingware.com offers these brief, common-sense suggestions for being prepared to meet and, if necessary, defeat Old Man Winter:

• Make sure all general garden maintenance is up to date. Loose and/or old branches cut down, perennial weeds burnt etc.
• Check slabs and pathways for cracks that may let water in and then freeze causing more damage and trip hazards – repair as required.
• Put a couple of bags of rock salt and grit mix out the back to keep the patio safe to walk on.
• Put a couple of bags of rock salt and grit behind the side gate to keep the drive ice-free.
• Stow all the garden furniture away for the winter. 
• Bag up footballs,  super-soaker guns and other kiddie crap and hang in the garage.
• Rinse and air dry the wetsuits and store in rodent proof box.
• Make sure wood supply is adequate and coal bunker is full.

• Grease saws and garden tools to keep them in good condition.
• Clean and grease lawnmower blades and wipe the machine down ready for spring.
• Replace all tools in their rightful home at the far end of the garage.
• Check roof for gaps and holes – close the door during daylight and look up, any splits and gaps will show. Seal/repair as required.
• Wipe down outsides of all electrical items: tumble drier, spare fridge and spare freezers. Check all plugs and sockets for damage, repair as required.
• Clean out cupboards checking food dates and looking for blown/rusting cans.
• Check pipe lagging under the sink.

• Check for flaking paint/varnish on wooden doors and sills, repaint /varnish if required to prevent water penetration and rot.
• Check weatherboards and fascias are in good repair and tightly fixed in place.
• Seal any gaps in window frames/door frames
• Clean UPVC frames and windows.
• Check lagging on the outdoor taps. Re-lag if needed.

• Check the roof. Go into the loft during daylight, close the hatch and look for dislodged tiles or slates. Repair as required.
• Check pipes on exterior walls are lagged.
• Put one emergency box right outside the back door on back porch ready for use.
• Test central heating and bleed radiators if needed.
• Get boiler serviced.
• Get chimneys swept.
• Fill log baskets and put next to each fire, ditto coal scuttles.

Many service stations offer a 'Winter Tune Up' special for vehicles this time of year. If you don't do this stuff yourself, take advantage of these specials to get your car in shape for winter. Also, go through your glove compartment(s) to throw out any trash and restock with safety and emergency items such as a flashlight, candles, matches, and some hard candy.

Don't be daunted by the length of this list! Do a little bit each day, and in a matter of a week or two you'll have your homestead and vehicle ready for whatever Old Man Winter may bring on this year. Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the sledding, skiing, and making snow angels with the kids! 

What to Save During an Emergency

WHAT TO SAVE DURING AN EMERGENCY

You can't schedule an emergency or crisis like you can a dental appointment. So how can you ever really be prepared for one?
Hikingware.com recommends five areas where planning ahead will help you better survive the disasters that unavoidably come into our lives:

Legal Documents

• Identification, especially in this day in age, is extremely important. In light of a catastrophic disaster, your access to transportation, medical aid, and other public services could be hindered if you fail to provide some form of identification. Also, in the event that one of these forms are stolen during a break-in, your family is now extremely vulnerable to identity theft for what can easily be several years. Not only can this lead to feelings of discomfort and perpetual worry, but it can even have a devastating impact on your family’s financial security. Other types of documentation to consider are insurance policies, wills, health records, and financial documents.

Bank & Financial Information

• Everyone, individuals and families alike, should have an emergency fund that will last a minimum of six months. Emergency funds are best made up of guaranteed investments such as savings accounts, as opposed to stock portfolios. Many individuals even elect to establish both short-term and long-term funds. While the short-term fund can be for less-serious emergencies like car repairs, the long-term fund is for major emergencies and disasters. The information for these accounts, and all other financial accounts for that matter, should be stored someplace safe and secure. If you do not already have them, consider purchasing a fireproof safe or obtaining a safety deposit box. At the very least, have copies of major banking information put in a freezer bag to store in your freezer.

Home Safe Home

• It is almost impossible to prepare for all disasters, but what you can do is take a few preventative measures that are easy, affordable, and protect your home from a wide variety of disasters. One such measure is investing in a good security system for your home. It will protect your home against everything from the obvious break-ins, to fires, floods, and below-freezing temperatures. These systems provide constant monitoring whether you are at home or away, and can save you a lot of heartbreak and headaches along the way as well. Having peace of mind that you and the proper authorities will be alerted in the event of an emergency is immeasurable.

Survival Kits

• Disaster emergency kits are simply a collection of the important items an individual or family needs during the event of an emergency or disaster. These kits should be kept in a couple places around the house, and perhaps even a place of work. They should contain at least one gallon of water per person, three-day supplies of nonperishable food, clothing, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, basic tools, maps, and even necessary medications. This will allow you, and/or the members of your family, to not rely solely on aid relief. It will also provide you with the ability to stay put, as opposed to venturing out into a potentially dangerous environment.

Plans & Instructions

• The American Red Cross recommends developing a preparedness plan, unique to you and your family, that both prepares and informs in the event of a disaster or an emergency. It is also recommended to choose two separate meeting places outside of the home. One should be immediately outside of your house for sudden disasters, such as a fire. The other meeting place should be outside of your neighborhood to cover the chance of there being a mandatory evacuation. This also brings up the point that an evacuation plan should be put in place, practiced, and executed efficiently by family members at least once a year.

How to Survive a Riot

Although the United States is a relatively safe and stable country, there are times, and places, when the civil authority begins to break down so that mobs and rioting can threaten your family. In fact, riots have been in the news quite a lot lately. It's getting so that the flash point for an urban riot and mob rule requires a much shorter fuse than in the past.

Hikingware.com asks if you are ready for such a crisis if it happens in your area? Here are some tips and ideas to help you get through the worst of a riot:

When certain densely populated areas become a cauldron of human rage and anarchy, that’s when “groupthink” begins to take over. Groupthink is the loss of reasoning in individuals – when they adopt the mentality of the crowd that they’re a part of.
It has been defined this way: a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures.

This is one reason why it’s absolutely crucial for individuals to take cover and stay out of sight for the duration of the riot — especially during the hours that curfew is in effect. Obviously, you’ll want to keep away from downtown areas, but also, it’s best not to come within blocks of businesses, either.

You’ll know where the rioting has reached a fever pitch wherever there is looting, as this is an invaluable indication of where law and order has been temporarily overturned; places where consumer goods are concentrated tend to be magnets for looting. Also, it’s best to keep away from places that sell alcohol, because A), this is probably not the best time to be attending happy hour, and, B), alcohol will attract and enable groupthink. This is why a police scanner should be part of your emergency equipment; it can let you know where the trouble areas are. 

If you currently live within blocks of a possible rioting hotspot, then you’ll want to consolidate, hide and protect your valuables and necessities. It’s really anyone’s guess as to what the groupthinkers are going to do and where the riot virus will spread, which means that it’s best to prepare for the worst BEFORE things get out of hand. 

You should keep on hand enough lumber and nails to board up your front windows quickly so that mobs cannot get a peek inside your home. Also, a few boarded up windows may convince them that there's no one and nothing worth disturbing. 

Having a 72-hour pack ready to go out the door with you is literally going to be a lifesaver if you have to evacuate because of rioting near you. 

Remember that there are two triggers to evacuation. One, the local authorities tell you to leave, and two, you yourself decide that your home is no longer save for your family. Make sure you discuss the second trigger with all of your family, so they know ahead of time that when you give the word to go it's not time to sit down for a family council, but time to make like a bread truck and haul buns!

One final warning about dealing with rioters and police:

If you own a firearm, keep it concealed. If rioters see your weapon they might feel threatened and react immediately in a deadly manner. Also, if the police and/or National Guard see your weapon they may think you're a rioter and react in as deadly a manner as the rioters. When a riot threatens your neighborhood, don't play the hero. Get your family out with your immediate valuables and documents, and don't look back. The way to play hero is to prevent any violence to your family be removing them from the threat zone -- not by flashing your weapons around like The Magnificent Seven. 

Keeping a Food Terrarium in Your Home

KEEPING A FOOD TERRARIUM IN YOUR HOME

While they are most often used for growing flowers and other non-edible plants, it is possible to grow food inside of a terrarium.

Hikingware.com encourages you to consider the uses an indoor terrarium could have during a disaster or emergency that cuts you off from getting out for fresh food, or even just the chance to look at some greenery.

A terrarium is a closed or almost closed mini-ecosystem, enclosed in a clear container. Depending on what’s inside, the lid will either fully or partially cover the bottle. The lid will help control the environment inside your terrarium.

For each terrarium you’ll need:

• A clean, clear container with a wide top and a lid such as:
  • A large mason jar
  • A cake stand
  • A gallon pitcher
  • An aquarium
  • A plastic deli container
• Activated charcoal pieces or an aquarium filter
• Potting soil that drains well
• Enough pebbles to line the bottom of the container a by ½ inch
• Sphagnum moss
• Your desired plants and seeds (more details below)
• A spray bottle for misting
• Plastic wrap to cover the top if your container’s lid is missing or doesn’t cover tightly.

How to Assemble Your Terrarium

You’ll need four layers at the bottom of each terrarium. They are each essential to creating a healthy, low-maintenance system.

First, place a layer of pebbles or cleaned gravel at the bottom of your container. This layer allows drainage from the upper layers, and prevents your plants from rotting at the roots.

The second layer is a thin layer of activated charcoal. You can also use a piece of aquarium filter cut to size. The charcoal absorbs odors from the decomposition that’ll happen as your garden grows and keeps the soil clean.

If your plants don’t need a tropical environment, you can skip the charcoal. For these plants, you’ll be leaving the lid off of your terrarium at least partially, and the fresh air will keep the odor down.

Next you’ll add a layer of sphagnum moss. This moss is often found in swampy areas, and is also known as sheet moss. It will prevent the soil on top from making its way down to the filtering material.

Your final layer before adding plants is potting soil. You’ll want soil that stays well drained. A soil mixture comprised of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite works really well for growing in small spaces.

The soil needs to be deep enough to accommodate root growth. Three inches is a good starting point, though you can adjust this based on the plants you are growing.

Before planting, you’ll want to pack down your terrarium’s base as much as possible. You can use your hand, or a small gardening tool that’ll fit inside your container. A hand-held potato masher also works.

This packing process will remove air pockets in the soil and gravel, and help your plants grow better. Once packed, your soil and drainage materials should take up about a quarter of your terrarium container.

Not every food plant is suited for terrarium growth. You want slower growing plants that won’t grow bigger than your container. Here are some that gardeners have had success with:

• Dwarf tomato plants
• Dwarf blueberry plants
• Herbs such as mint, thyme, and oregano
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Arugula
• Green onions
• Creeping figs

A terrarium is a great project for the kids. It's simple and low maintenance, and it will give your children a sense of contributing to the welfare of the entire family as they care for it consistently. Unlike a bag of split peas, a glass terrarium can actually add beauty and color to your living room decor while providing a bit of security in times of emergency. 

Helaman 5:3

  "Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction."

Helaman 5:3

A Nephite who had a stiff neck

held mercy and justice in check.

He would not be led 

by leaders, instead

the ship of state he made a wreck. 

 

Hurricane Season

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON?

 Florida, usually considered the most hurricane-prone state, has been extraordinarily lucky until now, with Hurricane Wilma in 2005 (the same year as Katrina hit South Florida).

It doesn’t take very long for people to forget the devastation that previous hurricanes have caused in the United States. Hurricanes are one of the few disasters that advanced weather forecasting can predict well ahead of its arrival. The National Weather Service puts out regular advisories for upcoming storms. Despite this, few are prepared to handle the dangers to life and property that can occur.

Certainly, hurricanes can be severe, but they don’t have to be life-threatening for those who prepare.  Unlike tornadoes, which can pop up suddenly, hurricanes are first identified when they are hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.  We can watch their development and have a good idea of how bad it might get and how much time we have to get ready.  An effective plan of action takes into account factors like shelter, clean water, food, power, and other important issues.  By planning before a hurricane threatens your area, you’ll avoid the mad rush for supplies that leaves supermarket shelves empty. 

It's also a very good idea to have your emergency supplies on hand well before hurricane season begins, according to Hikingware.com. Because you never know what other kind of disaster or emergency may strike your neighborhood at any time. 

You can outrun one of these storms if you get enough of a head start. That’s actually one of your most important decisions:  Should you get out of Dodge?  If you live on the coast or in an area that floods often, there will be rising tide waters (known as the “storm surge”) that might be reason enough to leave. The storm surge, combined with heavy rains, can cause impressive flooding, and is the leading cause of deaths due to hurricanes.

The National Weather Service keeps a close eye on hurricanes and issues two types of warnings:

Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within a specified area.

Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are expected somewhere within a specified area.

In many cases, the authorities will issue an order to evacuate areas that will be hardest hit. If such an order is broadcast, you should leave. If you live in pre-fabricated housing, such as a trailer, or near the coast, it’s wisest to hit the road before the storm makes landfall. Alternatively, many municipalities will designate a hurricane-resistant public building in your own community as an official shelter.

If you decide to weather the storm at home, designate a safe room somewhere in the interior of the house.  It should be in a part of the home most downwind from the direction the hurricane is hitting you. Be certain to plan for any special needs that family members (and pets) may have.  You may wind up taking care of more people that you expect, so have more water and non-perishable food than you think you’ll need (1 gallon/day per person minimum). Filling bathtubs with fresh water would give you a reasonable supply.

Fill up gas and propane tanks early in every hurricane season. Make sure that you know how to shut off the electricity, gas and water, if necessary, and perhaps consider getting a generator and some extra gas cans. Never use gas grills or generators indoors, though, as the fumes may be life-threatening.

Some items will be very useful in the cleanup after the storm.  You’ll need work gloves, plastic garbage bags, duct tape, insect repellent, and even tweezers to deal with the splinters that inevitably are part and parcel of moving a lot of debris.  A chain saw might be needed as well.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, cell phone service may be down due to the huge volume of calls. Texts may be possible, however, even if voice calls aren’t.

By planning early to get your home and family prepared for a hurricane, you’ll get through the storm in the best shape possible.