Recent comments

  • Supermarket Angst Part II: What Eggs Should I Buy?   16 years 46 weeks ago

    You might not be able to raise poultry in your backyard, but you could probably keep quail. Try about 10 quail, it should provide your egg needs. Use about 4 quail eggs to one chicken egg in receipes.

    cheers
    Craig

  • Last night I threatened to disconnect my cable   16 years 47 weeks ago

    After reading this and may other articles I decided i will give this a try, actually I tried multiple times.

    http://www.emoneylog.com/negotiation/my-comcast-negotiating-experience/

  • Supermarket Angst Part II: What Eggs Should I Buy?   16 years 47 weeks ago

    I eat since 2 months of bio-egg, to me it tastes very good and also not expensive

  • The Disaster Known as the California State Budget   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Because I was once on a First Five contract im my county and despite all the work we put into trying to get books in the hands of little kids and playgroups where there were no preschool programs etc., it was impossible to reach those kids that needed it most. Partly this had to do with the apathy of the parents in the demographic we were trying to serve. My paycheck was tied to about 20 hours of paper work every two weeks. As you may infer---most of my wages went to paper work NOT anything having to do with children.

     

     

     

    Margaret Garcia-Couoh

  • Grocery Store Earth Angst -- Tackling Some of Those Questions About Buying for Health and Environment   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Organic Valley does sound better than what I've read about the other big producers -- 120 days a year is something, at least. And Organic Valley even puts out coupons, which the bargain shopper in me adores.

    I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.

  • Free Food in Your Yard: Edible Weeds!   16 years 47 weeks ago

    The "skin," mature shoots and berries of pokeweed contain a teratogen / mutagen and dangerous poison that can coagualte your blood, putting you into the hospital for week or killing you. This is NOT a plant to experiment with. It should be cooked in a double change of water (to leach out the poison). Only use the youngest shoots and/or peel them. Toxin levels vary by site, so this is one food plant that you should learn how to cook from someone in your area, NOT a book. See http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/196945/tradition_or_insanity_wh... or google [pokeweed danger]. There is NOTHING good to be said for the berries. They can't be made edible in any way, so far as I know.

    Finally, this is a very dose-dependent, subtle poison. Below the trigger level, there's very little effect. A mouthful more, and it's like having been snake-bit. I especially would not feed it to kids while experimenting--their body weight is low.

    Try lamb's quarters. It cooks even faster, grows in a lot of the same regions, and you can pick and eat it safely for months and months each year.

  • The Disaster Known as the California State Budget   16 years 47 weeks ago

    I say cut the wages of all major elected officials by 10% and let them lead by example. It's easy to cut social welfare programs and state parks and everything the lower half of the economic population benefit from and then drive home in a 2009 mercedes or lexus to a warm house.

    I also think small one-cent taxes on soda and fast food is a great idea. Something has to change and its either lose funding that is geared toward helping or pay a little extra to keep jobs that help stimulate the economy.

    I say we need as many jobs as possible

  • Remove Car Dents Quickly and Cheaply   16 years 47 weeks ago

    I agree one could parobably pop the dent out by hand, except most of us don't want to tear apart their interiors in order to remove the internal panels enabling access the metal underneith. I will go with the dry ice/CO2 can method, thank you very much.

  • 6 Unique Ways to Eat Watermelon   16 years 47 weeks ago

     On a recent trip to London, we were offered watermelon with ackawi, a salty cheese popluar in the Middle East. I thought it was delicious.

  • Would you get rid of credit cards if stores give more discounts to customers who pay cash ?   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Yes...I would ditch the plastic for cash if the incentives were good enough.

  • Things You Might Not Know About Your Local Thrift Store   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Has a website for recalls, and usually lists the reason as well as the item recalled.

    All kids stuff except toys: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/child.html

    Everything, including toys:
    http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/prod.aspx

  • A Restaurant Where You Pay What You Can Afford For The Meal?   16 years 47 weeks ago

    WOW...what a great concept. This world could use a lot more people like Brad & Libby. Their concept of helping everyone will bring them joy and take them many places in life. Kudos to these fine folks.

  • The Disaster Known as the California State Budget   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Here is MORE documented First 5 data:

    How African American children are underserved by First 5.

    From Orange County’s CFCOC's Annual Report to the State Commission: 2007-2008 located at http://www.occhildrenandfamilies.org/Outcomes.aspx

    In 07/08, of the 115,865 children for whom ethnicity breakouts were provided, only 1,066 were African Americans.

    That is 0.92% or 92/100 of 1%.

    From the Center for Demographic Research (vol 7, no 1 March 2002) using census data in its Orange County Profiles, African American children make up 1.8% of the children ages 0-17 in the OC. So one should expect that about 1.8% or at least 2,086 African American children should have been served.

    Perhaps not as ridiculous as the others, but people, what we have here is a pattern:

    Santa Barbara: 56 out of ~40,000+
    Ventura (documented): 31 out of ~10,000+
    Orange: 1066 out of ~115,000+

    In total, of the approximately $55,000,000 received per year in Prop 10 funds in these three counties, of the 165,000 children, only 1,153 African American kids were served.

    Though of course some programs cost more than others, for the sake of simple intuitive understanding, and ballpark speaking, about how much did they spend per child (including admin and evaluation costs)?

    Prop 10 revenues / approx # kids served = estimated average cost per child served

    Santa Barbara $ 5.7 million/40,000 ~$ 140 per child
    Ventura $10.7 million/10,000 ~$1,000 per child
    Orange $40.2 million/115,000 ~$ 350 per child

    And so about how much went to serving African American kids?

    Santa Barbara $ 140 per child x 56 = $ 7,840
    Ventura $1,000 per child x 31 = $ 31,000
    Orange $ 350 per child x 1066 = $373,100

    In other words, only about $410,000 of about $55 million went to serving African American kids.

    That is only 74/100 of 1% or 0.74% of the money.

    THAT STINKS!

    (Note that I know Orange actually spent about $9 million more by taking funds from their reserves, but this kept it simple, and actually the picture would be worse if I had included that money – i.e. it already massively stinks without my having to splice and dice further).

  • Things You Might Not Know About Your Local Thrift Store   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Oops...hope this doesn't post twice. Great tips....we have also been hitting the stores that have been going out of business. Sometimes, name brand items for generic or lower prices. Also, at the end of the season, they tend to be discounting items at a great savings.

  • Things You Might Not Know About Your Local Thrift Store   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Great tips....we have also been hitting the stores that have been going out of business. Sometimes, name brand items for generic or lower prices. Also, at the end of the season, they tend to be discounting items at a great savings.

  • A (by no means definitive) list of some cool (and free!) additions for your blog or website   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Hello

    This is one of the sweetest blog postings I have ever read. I hope to mean the world to someone one day to.

  • 15 Wonderful Uses for Witch Hazel   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Just wanted to let you know I linked to this in my weekly roundup post. Link is under my name. Thanks!

  • Credit Scores Across the Country: Which Third are You In?   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Because of the numerous questions I can't answer them all here but would be glad to at info@creditcarecorp.com. Sincery,Skip Mull.

  • 6 Options if You're Underwater on Your Mortgage   16 years 47 weeks ago

    My situation is that I bought a condo when, through no fault of my own, the market was high. I no longer live in the house, and the rent doesn't cover the costs. This does not fit into your simple scenarios.

    I agree that the people who caused this should pay. The fault is the corporate banks and lenders who connived with Republican free-marketers to run without adequate checks and balances which always cause speculative bubbles.

  • Are You a Sucker for Health Trends?   16 years 47 weeks ago

     I get SO tried of medical trends, especially the ones that report on the latest vitamin cure-all. There's nothing more tiresome than hearing the idiots on CNN blab about the latest "discovery" - fiber, vitamin C, vitamin D, lycopene, anti-oxidants, mangosteen, acai - bloody hell! Eat more fruits and veggies, and you're pretty much covered, you know? 

  • Argentine Wine Hack: Make Bad Wine Better   16 years 47 weeks ago

    Sangria! I mix in some rum, fruit, and then add diet Squirt to each glass before pouring. Easy to drink and very refreshing.

    I've also noticed that red wine, even the cheap ones, can taste a lot better after being opened for a while. I decant into a juice jug and let it sit for an hour, and it tastes much better than when first opened.

  • Baby Carrots: The Frugal Idea That Isn't   16 years 47 weeks ago

    It is tough to get kids to eat things that adults enjoy - that's standard all over the world. Kid' palates are strange and finnicky, so crusty bread, spicy food, and sour things can really be displeasing to them. I used to HATE onions as a kid, and now I can't get enough of them, for instance.

    I'm sure you're doing a good job teaching your kids about food, and they'll doubtlessly grow up enjoying many of the same things that you do. It just takes a while to get past that "Ew, icky!" stage. :)

    My mother always pushed me to try strange and new things, and the result is that I will eat all kinds of stuff that my mother considers bizarre and gross, like natto beans.

    Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

  • Feeling Stuck? 100 Ways to Change Your Life   16 years 47 weeks ago

    well, i just lovedd this really just kept on going and going even after te time limit and i think it really helped me figure out a little about myself and thanks i aswell lvove the comment how something similiar shuold be done everyday i am definantly going to start doing that

  • Living a Life of Weisure?   16 years 47 weeks ago
    :)

    There's a real easy way to stop working during your off hours.
    Disconnect yourself.

    turn off your blackberry.
    don't acknowledge emails you probably read right away, cuz odds are you're on your pc 'winding down' anyways.

    I went from a job in which I was on-call all the time, and HAD to answer my phone, to a job now in which once my shift is over, even if I get a call, there's nooooooooo need to answer it.
    My entire life outside of work is my own.

    sometimes, I do nothing at all.
    but sit there.
    and stare at a tv.
    or a book.
    or a video game.
    or my eye lids.

    it's magical. Magical.
    Nobody on their deathbed ever once said, 'I should've worked more..' Yes, we all need jobs.

    Work to live. don't live to work.

  • A Restaurant Where You Pay What You Can Afford For The Meal?   16 years 47 weeks ago

    This is awesome!!
    I'm a commie socialist though, so ;)

    -end