Hyper Miling to Save Gas, Free Garden Software, Avoiding PI's

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

For Independent Minded People!

ISSN 2161-5543

In This Issue:

1.       Hyper-miling (Fuel efficiency) Updates

2.      Burn Note-Auto Destruct for emails

3.      Avoiding private investigators

4.      Why most Americans don’t prepare – for anything

5.      Free Farm Planning software

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come
to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
-- Ronald Reagan

Hyper-Miling Updates…

About a year ago I wrote about this and how you can increase your mileage and we’ve included some updates in this issue:

Experts say you can cut your fuel costs in half, or better. What's more, anyone can take advantage of hypermiling for virtually no additional cost. And you don't need to do anything crazy like install an extra fuel tank on your car or property, invest in expensive equipment, or buy a government-subsidized electric or flex fuel vehicle (unless you prefer).

In fact, hypermiling works perfectly well with traditional vehicles like minivans, RVs, and 4x4s!

Put simply, it's the use of driving techniques that maximize your fuel economy and cut down waste. Ingenious drivers combine these techniques and driving habits to squeeze every extra mile, from every gallon of fuel they can. And it works.

Fast and Easy Steps to Reap the Rewards of Hypermiling,
No Matter What You Drive –

One foundation is keeping your vehicle well maintained. If your car is in poor shape, the more advanced techniques won't make up for it...

Tire Pressure – Inflate your tires to what the tire manufacturer they should be... not what the automaker says. Properly inflated tires keep "rolling resistance" low, which makes your car more fuel efficient.

Align Your Wheels – A car that drives straight and doesn't consistently pull to one side saves fuel.

Use a Clean Air Filter and Spark Plugs – A dirty filter suffocates your engine and forces it to work harder. Dirty spark plugs don't properly burn fuel, they waste it.

Lose Weight – Many people use their trunks as a spare closet, that's a very expensive habit. Reports say 100 pounds of excess weight reduces fuel efficiency by 2% to 5%. Start removing nonessential things that add weight.

Some committed hypermilers who commute long distances even remove some of the seats. Some say aluminum wheels could weigh less than steel wheels. Extreme drivers even remove the spare tire (not recommended unless you have newer tires, drive only on well-maintained roads, and have emergency road service to get you out of any jam).

Another good tip is to wash away excess weight. One hypermiler says his truck easily collects 10 to 20 pounds of gunk and dry mud stuck underneath, especially around the spare tire.

Use Lighter-Weight Oil – Adjust based on your circumstances. A lighter (lower viscosity) oil helps your engine to work less.

Cut Out Wind Drag – Remove roof racks and other exterior items that produce wind resistance (this could even help cut down on weight). Some go as far as taping up or covering gaps to make smoother aerodynamics. Lowering the rear gate on your truck also significantly decreases wind resistance on most models.

Mind Your RPMs and Momentum – One hypermiler says, "Hypermilage is more about your engine RPM than anything else. The faster it revs (i.e the faster you go) the more air and fuel goes through the engine."

In other words, don't abuse your car or drive aggressively; this wastes gas. Gentle acceleration is best, and let momentum be your friend. Once you practice a bit, you'll find that you don't always need to press down on the accelerator to get around places like a parking lot, drive up to a red light, or drive downhill. Keep your foot off the gas pedal and use the car's natural momentum to your advantage.

Plan Your Trips Efficiently – Avoid heavy traffic by using the Internet, radio, or a good GPS to get current traffic reports, and use the best routes. Leave earlier so you're not in a rush, which helps you avoid a heavy foot and mental stress.

The Weather – Avoid inclement weather like heavy wind, rain, or snow. In the rain, drive higher up on the crown of the road where water puddles less. In snow, choose roads and travel lanes with less snow.

Use Cruise Control, Even on City Roads – Read your owner's manual for recommended speeds.

Keep strawberries for two weeks by washing them in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 10 parts water before storing.  The vinegar will kill the mold spores that cause fruit to go bad.

PM’s Compendium of Useful Resources

Burn Note lets you send messages that are deleted after they are read.

You can use Burn Note to send a password or have an off-the-record conversation with a friend.

https://burnnote.com/about

Learn How To Avoid Private Investigators – Followed By A Private Investigator

How is it that the most nutty character, Dory, in the movie Finding Nemo actually teaches a very valuable principle? Let me assure you, it is not how to speak whale, it is what to do when you realize that you are being followed by a private investigator. There are certain times when it is most likely that you will be the subject of an investigation, ways to recognize surveillance, and ways to avoid private investigators or “burn” the investigator.

The most likely reasons for investigation include when you have filed a claim with your insurance company for personal injuries, if you are involved in litigation, or for divorce or child support/custody issues. Essentially, there must be an incentive to discover some detail of your private life, such as breaching any sense of bank privacy you think you have, before you need to think about avoiding private investigators

http://www.howtovanish.com/2009/08/avoid-private-investigators/

Economic Blu Homes

Founded in 2007, Blu makes beautiful green homes suitable for a wide range of residential, commercial and institutional buyers. Blu’s breakthrough computer modeling, unique use of steel and wood and revolutionary folding technology makes beautifully designed homes more economical to ship and quicker to set up than other modern, green homes. Blu homes are healthy to live in and better for the environment because they are built with the highest green standards in mind and they are more energy efficient, quieter, better ventilated, create less waste, less destructive to the natural habitat and the open designs allow for spaces that feel larger than they are, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.

http://www.bluhomes.com/about/

I’ve added additional gardening how-to reports to the site:

>Edible Landscaping

>Preserving Food: Drying Fruits & Vegetables

>Rain Garden Design & Installation

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/urbangarden.aspx

CSA Farm Planning Software

Whether you are new at starting a CSA farm, or already have experience, this online planning software can help simplify your planning. The Fantastic Farm & Garden Calculator handles all the heavy thinking for you, and you only need to enter the basic info about your farm and your growing needs.

The farm and garden calculator will help you to determine:

Potential yields for a wide range of vegetables and herbs

The number of plants required

Row space required for each plant type

Planting and harvest dates for your area (by noting your last frost date)

Successive plantings

How many people or CSA members you can provide for

Retail sales calculator for market gardeners & farmers

http://www.poormansurvival.com/Pages/urbangarden.aspx

Keep deer away from your plants by scattering soap slivers on and around the plants.

The Nanny State Updates…

Arrested For Taking Pictures; Tortured For Being ‘A Teabagger’

Some local law enforcement need some SERIOUS discipline…let’s hope this woman sues these jerk offs…

Nancy Genovese was arrested in New York for taking pictures. She was imprisoned and tortured over several days to send a message to “Teabaggers.”

http://personalliberty.com/2012/05/16/arrested-for-taking-pictures-tortured-for-being-a-teabagger/

The principal of a high school in Walker, Mich., suspended 64 seniors on the final day of class... for riding their bicycles.
“Students say more than 100 classmates participated in a three-mile bike ride to school that included escorts by a Walker Police cruiser and the mayor,” reports MLive.com. “It was supposed to be a fun twist on the types of things that typically happen on senior prank day.”
But the humorless principal, one Katie Pennington, was not consulted in advance, and thus took offense. “I am glad they made it here safely. It was a safety risk,” she said. Even with a police escort, apparently.
Now the students are stuck rescheduling exams

The Parting Thought –

Why Many Americans do not Prepare for anything…

The number of preppers in the United States today is steadily increasing, but the vast majority of people out there still see no reason to start getting ready for "the end of the world as we know it". Most people just assume that things will always somehow get better or that they will somehow be immune to whatever calamities are heading our way. Most people always seem to have a "good excuse" for why they do not need to prepare.

The following are the top excuses for not prepping....

1. "The U.S. Economy Is The Greatest Economy On The Planet - There Is No Way That It Could Ever Collapse"

2. "Once Barack Obama Wins The Election Everything Will Be Better"

3. "Once Mitt Romney Wins The Election Everything Will Be Better"

4. "When Things Get Really Bad The Government Will Take Care Of Us"

5. "When Disaster Strikes I Will Just Steal From Everyone Else That Has Been Busy Preparing"

6. "The Rapture Will Be At Any Moment So I Don't Have To Worry About Prepping"

7. "The Economy Has Always Recovered After Every Recession In The Past And This Time Will Be No Different"

8. "The People That Are Running Things Are Very Highly Educated And They Know Exactly What They Are Doing"

9. "Wal-Mart Will Always Be There"

10. "Our Politicians Are Watching Out For Our Best Interests"

11. "The 2012 Apocalypse Is Almost Here And We Are All Doomed Anyway - So Why Even Try?"

12. "Preppers Do Not Have A Positive Mental Attitude"

13. "If An Economic Collapse Comes I Will Just Go On Welfare"

14. "There Are Some Things You Just Can't Prepare For"

15. "Prepping Is Too Expensive"

16. "We Are Not Like Other Countries - U.S. Cities Are Designed To Withstand Major Earthquakes"

17. "I Need To Save Up For Retirement Instead"

18. "The Stock Market Has Been Soaring So Why Worry?"

19. "I Don't Have Room To Store Anything"

20. "Prepping Is For Crazy People"

21. "I Don't Believe In Conspiracy Theories"

Excerpted from:

http://endoftheamericandream.com/

 “Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man

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Newest Poor Man Updates, Protect Your Privacy Updates, Frugal Resources

Bruce’s Poor Man Recession Bulletin
Your choice for usable information!

In This Issue:

· Free Rabbit Butchering Video
· More on Protecting your privacy
· Frugal ways to live on despite ‘end’ of recession
· Free Alternative Energy Videos
· Get our newest Poor Man CD release
· More free resources to make life easier


The trouble with socialism is you run out of other people’s money to spend.
--Margaret Thatcher


Spring is here and Scavenger Lifestyles
Off-the-Grid Economics

There are dozens of ‘survivalist’ sites available to you on the internet. Most of them and related print magazines are devoted to finding a place in the country to ‘homestead.’ While this is a terrific goal, one that I had achieved in the late 90s (we had a great 38-acre spread), it’s not always practical or affordable for most…even with the recession, land prices in most (not all) parts of the country are still expensive and even in ‘recession-torn Michigan, virtually no one is offering cheap land.

Going completely off-the-grid is not an inexpensive process, even for DIY folks. We also, at one point, owned 40-acres of vacant land in AZ which we had planned as our off-the-grid retirement project. An uninsured illness and other factors forced us to sell that land. While planning that project we estimated it would cost us nearly $45,000 to become completely energy self-sufficient excluding the cost of the home itself.

That’s why our Poor Man site and Bulletin is devoted more to the Urban Survivalist. Most of us will be happy to cut our utilities in half, earn a living from home, and to supplement our larder with natural, home-grown food. Not all of us have a complete workshop with our own lumber mill and a circle of like-minded DIY’ers to help us out…hell, I can’t even convince my wife to go along with some of the stuff I do (she will not help raise any animal she might have to eat). Of course, I do throw my politically incorrect insights about how the government mistreats its one-time masters into the mix!

I’ve always admired the Amish, many of whom I’ve hired over the years to perform tough carpentry projects, farrier work, etc. Because of community, they can raise a barn in a weekend without any kind of debt! It’s tough to find that sense of community in most localities. (More on Amish in next issue).

In that regard I’ll soon expand my book offerings to include a useful new book by Brett Markham called Mini-Farming: Self-Sufficiency of ¼ Acre. I’m waiting on his publisher for prices. As you noted in the previous issue, we’re also offering the best book on stockpiling, now in its 11th edition – Don’t Get Caught With Your Pantry Down, available on our site. In 1999 we distributed case lots of this book and it’s one I suggest everyone in America own.

Finally, another useful paperback we’ve begun stocking is Anneli Rufus’ Scavengers’ Manifesto: a guide to freeing yourself from the endless cycle of buying stuff and discovering how salvaging, swapping and recycling can save your cash and the earth! This is currently available on my eBay site at 40% less than bookstore prices – go to www.Oldbooknook.com to order.

With all the doom & gloom that’s fit to print…stock market crashes, earthquakes, oil leaks, mass murders, mining accidents, bomb plots, etc. don’t you think it might be prudent to become more self reliant and prepared?

Our newest release:
Advanced
Poor Man Underground Survival
Strategy Series
Part III

Now on CD and a perfect companion to our first two releases of the Poor Man’s Recession Survival kits…includes:

· The Crisis Preparedness Handbook complete Guide to Home Storage & Physical Survival– 322 page PDF
· The Unemployed Millionaire-Escape the Rat Race – 275 pages
· Knife Fighting Manual-Put ‘Em Down/Take ‘em Out/31-pages
· Survival – Outdoors, Self Protection-330 PDF files covering everything from Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival, Survival & Evasion, Civil Disruption Preparedness, Several US & Canadian Military survival manuals and much, much more.

Here’s the deal for our readers…skip the shipping & pay just $4.95 for this CD ROM – heck of a deal off our already low prices. Order directly from our site or send your payment & address via PayPal to: bedavid@yahoo.com
--If you don’t have a paypal account, you can still send money through them – visit their site at: www.PayPal.com or contact me for other payment arrangements.

With this addition to our Self Reliance library, the Poor Man now offers the most comprehensive collection anywhere. Go to our site to order all of our CDs for one low price.

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Updates, Resources, Freebies & News

Rabbit Butchering Video---be sure to see the Poor Man’s How-to Video selection too.
http://www.homesteadernews.com/survivalskills.htm

Free e-book, the *Basic Sprouting Guide.* Click on the link below to receive the download:
http://familypreparednessguide.com/E-Book-Basic-Sprouting-Guide.pdf

Here are more great resources to help you with your Solar or Wind renewable energy projects:
Solar Calculator:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/
Wind Map:
http://www.bergey.com/wind_maps.htm

Ever want to know how much solar or wind energy you can capture at your home? Here are some online tools that you will really like. "DIY Solar & Wind" Video page. Here is a link if you wish to watch the videos:
====> 4 DIY Videos: http://greendiyenergy.com/gotvideos.php
Former eBay Execs Are Behind New Social-Shopping Yardsellr Site

Former eBay manager Danny Leffel has created a new site for
online sellers called Yardsellr, backed by former eBay VP Michael
Dearing's investment firm. The site focuses on social shopping
and uses some of the ideas from eBay's 3.0 project.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y10/m05/i11/s03

Myth: Brown eggs are different than white.
Fact: The only difference between a brown and white egg is the color of the shell, which is merely a reflection of the breed of the hen. In general, but not always, hens with white feathers and earlobes lay white eggs and those with dark feathers and red earlobes lay brown eggs.

Thinking of Going Back to School? Find help from scholarships to support:
www.eLearners.com/ProjectWorkingMom!

Change your name with a click. We discovered the hard way when renewing a passport that a name change due to a marriage requires an original marriage certificate – the government won’t accept anything else (adding to the cost). Either way, when you change your name, it frequently requires notifying 25-35 different agencies. Here are few resources to use.
www.namechangeexpress.com
www.MissNowMrs.com
www.GetYourNameBack.com

Find a missing part…Looking for an oddball knob or replacement part for an older, discontinued appliance? Type in what you need at these sites to quickly find it:
www.PartStore.com or www.RepairClinic.com

"Government machinery has been described
as a marvelous labor saving device which
enables ten men to do the work of one."
-- John Maynard Keynes

Frugality among consumers is outliving recession
A new frugality among consumers whose wealth has shrunk is outliving the recession…Gee, what’s the Poor Man been saying for years now?
Even as the economic recovery plods ahead, many American consumers are refusing to come along.

They're not spending freely -- and they have no plans to.
Many of them have steady income. They aren't saddled by high debts. They don't fear losing their jobs. Yet despite recent gains, they've lost so much household wealth that they're far more cautious about spending than before the recession.
Their behavior suggests that the Great Recession may have bred a new frugality that will endure well into the recovery. And because consumers fuel about 70 percent of the economy, their tightfisted habits means the rebound could stay unusually sluggish.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Frugality-among-consumers-is-apf-3355135283.html?x=0

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4,525-number of lobbyists hired by companies &
organizations to influence health care reform in 2009.

The hogs have come to the trough again to feed!

Survey of Jobless Finds “No End in Sight”
A new national survey of unemployed Americans reports that nearly 80 percent of those who lost jobs during the Great Recession were still without work as of March 2010.

In a report titled No End in Sight: The Agony of Prolonged Unemployment (pdf) released today by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, researchers found that of those surveyed who were jobless in August 2009 only 13 percent had found full-time work.

According to Professor Carl Van Horn, a co-author of the report:
“Despite recent signs that the worst phase of the Great Recession may be behind us, the vast majority of jobless Americans have not found new jobs. When they did find work, most took pay cuts and/or lost benefits. Among those still searching for work — many for more than a year — are millions who have never been without a job and who have at least a college education. The inability of these job seekers to find new opportunities is an economic and cultural disaster.”

The report is based on a six-month follow-up survey of unemployed Americans included in a September 2009 study titled The Anguish of Unemployment.
This latest follow-up found that of those who were jobless last August only 21 percent had found any work. Less than 10 percent had found jobs that were at least on par with their previous pay levels. Of those newly reemployed more than half had settled for lower pay, and more than one-third had accepted reduced benefits.

In what will come as no surprise to many older jobless workers, the new survey found only 12 percent of those over age 50 had found either full- or part-time work, compared to 21 percent of those age 30 to 49, and 29 percent ages 18 to 29.

Related Story…

The latest survey to hit the wires is the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which surveyed more than 30,000 Americans about their entrepreneurial inclination.
There are some interesting results to report:

· More than 1/3 of the respondents describe themselves as "free agents". I'm surprised that only 1/3 said this, as it is ever more clear that large corporations consider all of their employees as "free agents" - subject to termination whenever they feel the need to boost the stock price to up the obscene value of executive stock options.
· 38% of Boomers describe themselves as "free agents" compared to 33% for Gen X folks.
· 52% of Boomers say that they have the skills to start a business.
· The largest concentration of self-employed or free-agent people is in Hartford, CT (52 percent), followed by Baton Rouge, LA (50%).
· NOTE - The main factor preventing Americans from becoming free agents is uncertainty about income, followed by availability/cost of replacing corporate health care.

Says the surveys director: "We are seeing a new mindset among many workers who do not share the same concerns about job security as their parents nor do they place such high value on lifelong career, or attachment to one employer".

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I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it!

How to Stay Anonymous Online
If you want to stay inconspicuous while online, here are some products, services, and best practices to put to use

The good news is that you can take back control of what others see and know of you online. Here's how.

CHECK YOUR STEALTH
Put your PC through an Internet anonymity test to see just how stealthy it really is. Whenever you connect to Web sites, you're basically telling them your IP address—if nothing else. Based on that information alone, sites can tell a lot about you, such as your general location. If you want to get an idea about what you're telling the Web, check out sites like What the Internet Knows About You and Stay Invisible.

ANONYMOUS E-MAIL
Let's face it, as nice as it is to remain anonymous as you surf, it's almost essential for your e-mail to go unnoticed, or you're going to be swamped with spam in no time. Consider this: Recently, a PCMag editor created a Hotmail account, did nothing with it, and days later he was getting over 500 unsolicited messaged a day. If you prefer a Web-based mail service, Google's Gmail has, without a doubt, the best spam catcher in the business.

In addition, you can avoid putting your e-mail out in the wild by using an alias. These sometimes-temporary addresses can be doled out as you receive requests from Web services or elsewhere. You might be able to set one up if you own your own domain name.
Buying an alias or two is also an option. For example, Anonymizer's Nyms, short for pseudonym, provides alias e-mail addresses for $20 a year. Anonymizer ensures that you still receive your messages but without the sender knowing your real address.
Get all the tips here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363302,00.asp

Speaking of no privacy…the Commonwealth of PA is getting snoopy with their Find Us Before We Find You TV Ad – View Ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybcu2itqvEQ&utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Shocking%20TV%20Ad%20Targets%20Public,%20Escalates%20Government%20Fear%20Campaign
What's telling about Pennsylvania's taxpayer attack ad campaign is that it brags how you have no shield of privacy from government snoops. It is a classic example of a disturbing trend: A situation in which bureaucrats have forgotten their place as public servants and now openly regard taxpayers as subjects to be preyed upon -- not a master to serve.

Why it’s happening – same old story: government greed…
Northwestern University economist Joshua Rauh recently calculated 50 states' pension obligations by removing the rigged statistics governments use to make their pensions appear solvent. Rauh learned that in addition to horrific operating deficits, state government pension obligations are (on a national level) a whopping three times greater than their rapidly collapsing reserves.
Don’t leave counterfeiting to amateurs; let the feds do it!

<<<>>>

I don’t want to get into printing recipes every issue but thanks Carolyn for this cool recipe that we’ll all enjoy!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Self Sufficiency-Not Dependency!

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^^^^SPONSORS^^^^
Resources for Stockpiling and Disaster Preparation
http://www.tbotech.com/cmd.asp?af=1126539

Make Your Own Energy
Step-by-step guide reveals how to
make your own energy for $100 or less. http://tinyurl.com/PMEnergy

Terrific site for resources and green, eco-friendly goods http://www.growandmake.com?ref=71

Don’t Get Caught With Your Pantry Down – the all time best book on family preparedness has been updated & now includes an online video segment as well. Highly recommended 11th Edition. Go Here:
http://tinyurl.com/PMBasics

Learn from Skip McGrath the real way to make money on eBay
I’ve been a powerseller on eBay for 10 years and have met Skip or Mr. EBay as he’s sometimes called…you won’t go wrong with his selling advice.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1180719

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Parting Shots

We finished a busy weekend participating in a community wide garage sale. As anyone who has ever set up a three day sale knows, the challenge is in the set up. In this part of the country we’ve had problems with weather and tons of rain ruining the first day…or so I thought. We actually had more customers on the day it rained the hardest-go figure.


The Heritage Foundation’s Economic Freedom Index shows the US slipping in its freedom rankings to below that of Canada…who would have guessed?! It’s also clear the long-term trend of our dollar is headed downward, especially with huge and growing deficits and our trillion dollar plus unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare and of course, new reports indicate Obama’s healthcare plan will be higher than originally promised – much, much higher. I said it from the start, Obama’s first priority should’ve been JOBS!

I just placed an order for some Eco friendly products from Green Irene. Once I test them in terms of reliability and cost I’m thinking about signing on to become a distributor of theirs…if you’ve had any experience with this firm, drop me a note to let me know what you think.

Yours for better living,
Bruce “The Poor Man”
Global Economy=s Global Serfdom!
http://www.PoorManSurvival.Com



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