Comments, Observations,Tips, Advice, Recipes and Wise Words

Continuing the discussion on bears, here is a recent news article...and a comment from someone..I have included the exact web addresses of these articles.

I want my children and me (and all my loved ones for that matter) to not be afraid when confronted by a bear, but to be wise and know what to do!

These articles make you think...what IS the wisest thing to do????

Scout Not Seriously Hurt in Bear Attack

Fox News, October 15, 2007
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301758,00.html

WHITE HAVEN, Pa. (AP) — A Boy Scout played dead when attacked by a bear during a camping trip, avoiding serious injury.

Chris Malasics, 14, curled up in the fetal position in his sleeping bag after the bear ripped down his tent at Hickory Run State Park around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

"I was just trying to figure out what to do to not get hurt," he told the Daily Local News of West Chester.

As the bear started tossing Malasics around, a Scout leader tried to create a disturbance by banging pots and pans and flashing car headlights. The bear eventually wandered off.

Malasics, of Chester Springs, was taken to a hospital for treatment for his cuts and bruises. He was also given a precautionary rabies shot.

Malasics said the experience will not deter him from going camping. In the future, though, he intends to make sure he has a pepper spray for bears, and perhaps a gun.

"I know how to shoot," he said.

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http://fieldandstream.blogs.com/news/2007/10/boy-scout-thwar.html

See - that's why I have always wondered about playing dead...
When they start to get at you...

That kid's got guts.
And the guys that created the commotion saved the kid's life if the bear was really throwing him around.

Posted by: Tommy | October 16, 2007 at 01:10 PM

Might be interesting to point out that protocol for black bears isn't to play dead--that's for grizzly bears. You also don't curl into a ball, but lie on your stomach with your chin tucked in toward your body and your hands clasped behind your head, protecting your neck. Grizzlies tend to roll you, so you just try to keep rolling to a face-down position. Grizzlies are more territorial, especially with cubs, and temperamental than black bears. They're aggressive and more likely to attack you than black bears, but they usually aren't attacking you to eat you, which is why it's okay to play dead (note: this is being called into question by recent studies that show more grizzlies are also attacking in order to eat people: www.bears.org/pipermail/bearfolks/2000-October/000447.html). But black bears, especially ones raiding tents, I imagine, attack in order to eat, and playing dead does nothing to protect you from a hungry bear. You have to try to beat it away. Rather hard inside a collapsing tent, but this kid was awfully lucky that he had help. Also, while bear spray is very effective against grizzly bears in most studies, it does not always test as well against black bears, especially ones that are used to foraging in dumpsters. So the lesson is: keep your food properly stored, don't wash with very smell soaps, keep deoderant, toothpaste, etc. out of your tent, and do keep bear spray within reach because it's better than nothing. As far as a gun, it sounds like a camping hazard for a kid and is absolutely useless unless it is within reach, loaded, and chambered, which makes it a huge camping risk.

Posted by: tom mc | October 16, 2007 at 01:21 PM

He is lucky he wasnt a cub scout samich playin dead with a black bear. I have also heard you are more likely to be killed by a black bear because they intend to eat you if they attack.

Posted by: Greg | October 16, 2007 at 02:37 PM

Especially if it is in your tent. Goodness the horror of trying fend off a bear, any kind, in a tent with a weapon of any kind! Bear spray? Try to spray that in a tent without a bear in it and see the results. A gun? Oh boy - around other campers firing a gun blindly in defense.

Sounds like a blood bath.

Posted by: Tommy | October 16, 2007 at 02:55 PM

I know if I had that experience I'd make sure I always had a gun.

Posted by: Jonny | October 16, 20

This week , an 11 year old boy was killed by a black bear. He was camping with his family on the lower slopes of Mt. Timpanogas and dragged from their tent. 

The following is an easy to read and remember guideline of what to do when you encounter a bear during the day and I will do research about night-time/sleep-time safety.

If you encounter a bear

    * Do not make direct eye contact, which is an act of aggression.
    * Stay calm. Immediately pick up small children.
    * Make noise, yell, clap hands and throw rocks to scare it away.
    * Raise your arms or jacket to make yourself appear as large as possible.
    * Never approach a bear.
    * Do not turn to run. Back away slowly.
    * If you are attacked, fight back, kick, scream and yell.
    Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

 For more information, go to: www.wildlife.utah.gov/bear/pdf/bear brochure.pdf

 

Dear people...I must warn you!  If you sense you have a cavity, go to the dentist.

Actually, go to the dentist once a year at least.  He may find a cavity you did not know exist.

Once, I went to the dentist and he said I had a cavity. Hmm. I did not feel it. No pain. Well, I procrastinated making the appointment to get it filled.  Time passed and time passed.  One day I had excruciating pain in that tooth.  When I went back to the dentist, he said:  Your cavity grew, as all cavities do, and now I have to perform a root canal on this tooth. Yikes! Those are painful, take several visits to accomplish and are very expensive! 

 

SO: This advice I may say twice or even thrice: GO TO THE DENTIST ONCE A YEAR.  GO TO THE DENTIST IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A CAVITY.

 

Do not say to yourself..I cannot pay for it. Yes, you can.  Most dentists will take payments over time. 

Love, Mom 

Hi everyone...cherries are on my mind.  The California cherry harvest and the Washington cherry harvest will be awesome this year! So I have heard. Cherry harvests are usually mid to late June in this country.

Our little cherry tree in front has only 3 cherries on it.  Hmmm. Last year we had so many.  Hmmm.

Well, after doing some research, I found out that you must never pick the cherry stem!!! Just pick the cherry itself. Those stems need to stay on the tree to prepare for added growth the following year!

There! Now you young'uns know what I learned at age 58! The proper way to pick a cherry!!!

This is a very important tip! May you always remember it!  Love, Mom

I was very sad to read today about an LDS missionary who recently was killed when he got hit by an SUV as he rode across several lanes of traffic to get to the left side of the road. What?  Did he not know better? Caution and patience is needed! I have ridden a bicycle so much in my life and I have alway been aware of the "walk your bike across busy intersections" rule. Do this- even if it takes you longer to get to your destination. It's worth it! You will avoid getting hit!

 

Here is the article and here are some good bicycle rules and the site where I got them: 

Utah missionary struck by car in Seattle dies
By Russ Rizzo
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 05/04/2007 03:42:31 PM MDT

  
An LDS missionary who was hit by a car Thursday while riding a bicycle in the Seattle area died today, the LDS Church announced.
    The church said Elder William Tenney Angilau Jr., 21, of Salt Lake City, died in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle of injuries he suffered from a wreck in an unincorporated area of King County.
    Angilau was riding a bike east on SE 208th Street east of Kent about 1:45 p.m. when he was struck by a Ford Explorer going the same direction near the intersection of 120th Avenue SE, said Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff's Office.
    He was apparently trying to cross lanes of traffic on the five-lane road to get to the left side of the road when he was struck from behind, according to Urquhart, who said he was wearing a bike helmet.
    Another Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary on a bike was about 40 feet in front of the man and had made it to the left shoulder of the road when the wreck happened, Urquhart said.

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BICYCLE RIDER'S RULES
 

   1. Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition (tires, chain, brakes).
   2. Obey all traffic rules and signs -- always give proper hand signals.
   3. Walk your bike across busy intersections.
   4. Always ride with the traffic - as close as possible to the right side of the road.
   5. Be sure the roadway is clear before entering.
   6. Always ride single file and watch for opening car doors.
   7. Most bicycles are built to carry one person -- YOU! And you alone.
   8. If you must ride your bike at night be sure your headlight and reflectors are in good condition.
   9. Select the safest route to your destination and use it. Avoid busy streets and intersections.
  10. Yield right of way to pedestrians.
  11. Always wear a bicycle helmet.

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/pd/bicyclepedautosafety.asp

 

That is my advice!!! Please be super cautious! ~Mom (Joanie)  

Also...All kids 11 years old and under must ride on the sidewalk..this is what most citiy bike rules say. 

Hi Everyone! 

For a long time I have wanted to start a blog with just advice about all kinds of things.  So tonight I start it, at the gentle proddings of daughter Amy. Thanks, Amy! You have given me confidence to go forward with this idea!

This blog will allow me to share my hard earned knowledge(without being a nag) and hopefully contribute to a higher quality of life for my children and whoever else reads it.  Sometimes knowing things like this make life a little more enjoyable, a little less stressful. 

My first entry is regarding the problem of burned food in a pot.  This is fresh in my mind because just this morning I was cooking some chicken tenders in a pot with about a cup of chicken broth and then I left the kitchen for too long. 

I heard a sound of loud sizzling and so I ran into the kitchen, took the pot off the flame and placed it on a nearby burner (that was unlit, of course) You do not want to put a pan this hot on your counter. I removed the lid.  The chicken was cooked and not burnt . The bottom and sides of the pan was blackened and crusted because the broth boiled out and then the residues in it had burned. While the pan was still hot, then, I transferred it to the sink and ran water in it immediately and then added liquid dish soap. (By the way, I always use Palmolive...it is easy on your hands).  Then I ran and got my big jug of white (clear) vinegar and poured about a cup and a half in (You do not have to measure...just pour some in) and then I let it sit for 20 minutes.  After that I took my copper scrubbing pad and swiped it around inside the pot and all that black stuff came off effortlessly. The pot was bright and shiny again! Whew!

SO:  Always have A GALLON JUG of white vinegar in your home. ($2.99  but it lasts a long time and is good for a lot of things around the house.)

That is my advice for this day.  ~Mom(Joanie)