pwrfrk

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Posts posted by pwrfrk

  1. After reviewing this thread for usable info I found that it is lacking in a very serious area- chemical.  Namely pH.

    If the water is too acidic it will contain (at the least) metals, some of which you don't want in your body.

    If the water is too basic (alkaline), it will contain nonmetals and metallioids. 

    This is a serious concern as in some areas water heavy in zinc, sulfur, cadmium or calcium (for example) are not potable, but plants do just fine.  You drink the water and keep drinking because you're thirsty, but your body cannot use the water because of the "dissolved solids".  You have to precipitate those out.  In the past where I used to spend a lot of time, there was water, but the predominant dissolved solid was gypsum with higher than normal levels of cadmium and calcium.  I used instant tea with lemon to change the pH.  Filter the water getting rid of the floaters, then pout it into a cup lined with 3-4 coffee filters.  Add the instant tea mix and stir.  I would find a grey particulate precipitate and fall to the bottom.  Wait 10 minutes and remove the filters.  Then sip it.  It was far more potable than without.  "Gypy water" has a history in Utah, for certain.

    I realize the LDS normally does not drink tea, but under the circumstances where you need to filter the water, because you have nothing else, I do not see it as an issue.

  2. I used a list from back when I was in the local search and rescue unit.  It was for my survival bag.  Lot of tools, even a couple books, maps, stuff like that.  72 hours may have been enough to take care of you after the initial crisis, but today?  Forget it.  Maybe for a small backpack, otherwise I suggest going bigger.  IMO 5 days, minimum.

    Back a few years ago I was in a relatively remote area.  I had a water-proofed duffle bag for clothes, another for the emergency tools, and then another specifically for food.  I had enough Mountain House packed survival food to last me three months.  Then two 5 gallon water jugs and a bunch of filters and hose.  I normally kept both tanks for fuel filled, and that was around 110 gallons plus five 5 gal. jerry cans.  I made sure I was covered.

     

  3. I make it a point to collect tinder, kindling & firewood while hiking.  Manila cord is good for keeping it together, and I made a canvas wrap similar to what one of my former scoutmasters had, that I made for my backpack, can hold firewood and lashes to my pack.  It's a big help when everything is wet.  I also learned to carry with me, depending on the season and weather, a small flour sack with Kingsford charcoal.  The other brands I found, are garbage by comparison.

    One little trick from long ago, is an empty toothpaste tube.  Blow into it forcefully to fully expand the tube, then rinse it out with hot water until it's as clean as you want.  After it dries, get a narrow funnel that fit's the toothpaste tube.  Now dump Sterno camp fuel gel into the funnel.  Push the Sterno in with a piece of dowel or a pencil.  Keep packing it in until nothing more will fit.  Put the cap on tight and put the tube in a bowl of boiling water for about 10 minutes.  The temp will help liquify the gel making it settle in the tube.  Later, whenever you need a campfire, pop off the cap, squeeze some gel into the tinder and light it.  Works great!  Tastes awful for toothpaste, however.

  4. I discussed this with my Bishop, other than cautioning me on the use of social media, he understood what I was saying.  Sometimes there is so much that I want to tell, to help others understand this situation better, but in doing so also tells others who I am.  And that's not what I came to Mormon Hub for.

     

    I did go to church today, and I even showered- using the "20 oz. soda bottle" (a trick I learned from when I ran away from home when I was a teenager).  All was good.  Had a lot of guests though.

  5. I owe you guys another apology...I think I didn't exactly write the past post like I should have.  There seems to be a misunderstanding.

    It's not that I'm poor, really.  I'm a hermit.  Because of that, clean clothes usually are the least of my concerns.  I live "out in the sticks" literally.  After the past couple of years of turmoil I'm finally getting my finances back in line, but I won't be changing my way of living any time soon. 

    I simply stay away from people.  Past couple of years have been rough on me as I've been going to college trying to get a degree.  The more I'm around people the farther away from mankind I want to get. 

    It's not that I'm anti-social, because I'm not.  I have grown fond of privacy, and being around people tends to interfere with that.  And sometimes when someone steps too far into my private world, I bark at them.  Not intending to be a jerk, really.  So far the ward I'm going to is pretty cool and I get along with most anyone there.

    I did not write this asking for anything but views and guidance.  I appreciate the offers that came through, but I wrote this post for a different reason.  You see, being a hermit made me, for the longest time, one that really wouldn't care the least if others were offended by my presence.  Changing is hard.

    I done said too much, odds are those that know me in real life, now know me here.  Grrrr!

  6. Sometimes I get to think that I should have been a write for the ABC Special "What Would You Do" with Don Quinonias, with some of the crazy stuff I think up.

    But some of it really isn't crazy.  Some of it is very real.  Think about this one-

    You have a fella coming to church.  Everyone knows him, he's friendly, usually happy and he's familiar with the Gospel and Teachings.  However, he's not a member.

    Somedays he comes to church with an odor.  Well, it maybe he hasn't changed clothes, or done laundry.  Sometimes not even bathed.  Who knows the reason.

    But do you have a problem sitting next time him in sacrament or sunday school?  What goes through your mind when you two meet?

  7. Back to the OP....

    Leaving the church over such minuscule reasons shows there is far more at stake than just someone leaving the church.  There is almost always something greater, something larger, something more damaging than something small like pianist not being paid enough or being asked several times to do janitorial work.

    When I left the church, I was incensed over how I had seen members being mistreated and church leaders didn't care.  But it was more than that, my wife and I were mistreated.  A certain church leader has a history of mistreating women in church, and I screwed up when I put my foot down, demanding it stop.  Finally, seeing my complaints and complaints of others go no where, I left. 

    You see, I look at what I went through, and even now, in my attempt to return, I see what my errors were.  I left the church because of the imperfections of others separate me from the pureness of the Church.

    When you leave the church, you are leaving for what reason?  Oh, this guy doesn't talk nice to me.  That woman hates me.  These people treat me like I'm inferior.  In my case I had a stake president that harassed women if they wouldn't sleep with him.  My wife included.  Except she wasn't LDS (she preferred agnostic).  But even in my case, that wasn't reason enough to leave.

    Instead of leaving, discuss the issue with the person you have problems with.  If that isn't possible, go to the Bishop.  If that doesn't work, try the Stake President.  And if that is not possible, go to a different ward.  Make arrangements with the Missionaries for home teaching.  But do not leave the Church over the imperfections and sins of others. 

    You're on a cruise ship (for argument's sake, let's say it's Norwegian Cruise).  It hit's an iceberg off the coast of Egypt (location means nothing really).  There's people in your lifeboat that you don't like.  Whatcha gonna do?  Bail out?  Try swimming for shore?  No, you stay in the lifeboat and make the best of it.  Just like in Church.  You don't get along with a few people, make the best of it.  Because you're not in the lifeboat for the sake of the jerks, but your sake.  You are going to Church so you can worship with those of like faith, and show God that He really is more important to you than the opinions of others. 

    Think about this- when you bail out of the lifeboat, remember where you are.  Off the coast of Sri Lanka.  Alligators are freshwater.  Crocodiles can do both.  When you bail, you're munchies for the crocs.  When you leave the Church, Satan welcomes you.

    Just my thoughts.

  8. What bugs me I when I go to the store, and my legs will sometimes hurt so badly that it's difficult to stand, and there are no handicapped shopping carts.  The ones I'm talking about are the motorized ones.  For a long time I hoped, I prayed, that I would never be in a spot to need one of those, seeing how rude people are to those using them.  Especially store employees.  Well, my prayers were ignored.  Sometimes I have a choice, go shopping or starve.  Sometimes I have no choice but to walk.  And sometimes I feel so good that I *can* walk with minimal pain.

    Years ago I took a leave of absence from working for the town and as a volly firefighter and went to get re-enlisted in the Army.  I was instead, 2 days before signing on the dotted line, nearly killed by a drunk driver.  Messed up knees, left hip, herniated 4 out of 5 vertebrae in my back and neck.  And we have these snot-nosed high schoolers and college punks that think "oh, I'm not feeling well, I think I'm gonna use the handicap cart". 

    Karma, punk.  It's coming for ya.

     

  9. Is there some kind of expectation on what the testimony is to be?  Do you expect multitudes of people to go rushing to the streets waving their arms in praise, singing "Hallelujah" or would watching a man or woman survive a wreck under circumstances that the person should have died?

    There are times you could be watching an event unfold that for anything in this world you'd think "wow, that's really neat", and you may not realize the overall impact of the event is much much greater than what you observe.  That could be enough.  You may see, for example, an 8 year old kid get hit by a car while riding his bike, and he gets up and walks away.  Lucky kid, right?  That helmet he's wearing, that helmet he may have stolen from a WalMart because it looked cool.  Don't know about you, but that seems to me to be testimony.

    Be open minded, and don't expect the whole world to sing praises.