Unto 7th Generation

Some say: "The Earth is our Mother; we should take care of her." While others think the Earth is an easy receptacle for our wastes and toxins. How can I, one person or even one family, really make a difference? And is it that important anyway?

We see so much hype on TV and in newspapers on the growing devestation of the earth's environment and the loss of so many species of animals, plants and trees. The oceans are becoming a sewer but when I look around my neighborhood it is so easy to just not see the problem.

So is it hype or is it time to aweaken to the fact that this is the only world we live on and the one we are leaving to our children and grandchildren. I appreciate the teaching of many native people I've been privilaged to work with and study with in different areas of the world. Often they say "unto the 7th generation" when making decisions. In other words .... STOP and consider how this action or non action will affect future generations.

If someone were to come along and dump a load of garbage in your front yard, I'd assume uou'd be a bit miffed yet daily we are dumping and dumping and dumping into the waterways, earth and skies that hold the very elements you and I need for survival.

So let us talk about it and find solutions that we can do to make a difference!


Thursday, June 19, 2008

Gas Saving Tips #1

Across this country and beyond, we complain about gas prices but ..

Are we doing what we can to make each drop count? Lets look at these ideas from Gas Saving Tips

ENGINE WARM-UP

1. Avoid prolonged warming up of engine, even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.
2. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up... chokes often get stuck,
resulting in bad gas/air mixture.

3. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the

gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

4. Avoid "reving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.

5. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows

carburetor to function at peak efficiency.

HOW TO BUY GASOLINE

6. Buy gasoline during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times

gasoline is densest. Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement".

7. Choose type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide you with greater economy because of better quality. Use the brands which "seem" most beneficial.

8. Avoid filling
gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.

HOW TO DRIVE ECONOMICALLY

9. Exceeding 40 mph forces your
auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance.

10. Never exceed legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your traveling safety, however better gas efficiency also occurs. Traveling at 55 mph give you up to 21% better mileage when compared to former legal speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph.

11. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

12. Manual shift driven
cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down", premature wearing of engine parts occurs.

13. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

14. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

15.Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you're on it.

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