I was surfing for other info last night and came across this very promising-looking site. I was too tired to check the individual recipes, but surely a few will be useful for Y2K.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/8707/Recipes/recimain.html

Recipes Page 1

After-Bath Splash, All-Purpose Cleaner, Bath Oil, Brass and Copper Cleaner, Bubble Bath, Car Wash Concentrate, Christmas Snow, Cockroach Exterminator, Cold Cream, Cologne, Comb and Brush Cleaner, Cough Syrup

Recipes Page 2

Cuticle Cream, Delicate Washable Soak, Deodorant, Disinfectant, Egg Facial Mask, Facial Mask, Fire Extinguisher, Furniture Cleaner, Gargle, Ginseng Tea, Glass Cleaner, Glue

Recipes Page 3

Hair Conditioner, Insecticide, Jewelry Cleaner, Laundry Presoak, Laxative, Lip Balm, Liquid Soap, Makeup Remover, Moisturizer, Nonstick Cooking Oil, Nose Drops, Oven Cleaner

Recipes Page 4

Papier Mache, Perfume, Poultice, Refrigerator Deodorizer, Snow and Ice Melt, Soap Bubbles, Soda Pop, Starch, Sunburn Soother, Tile and Grout Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Watercolors

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 26, 1999

Answers

While scouring the garage sales this weekend, I found a very handy set of reference books: The Formula Manual (editions 1 - 4). These are written by Stark Research Associates, and were published by Andrews and McMeel (A Universal Press Syndicate Company), copyright 1975, 1980. These are comprehensive manuals, giving directions & recipes for such things as: household cleaners; automotive products (antifreeze, radiator leak sealer, leak sealer for tires, hydraulic brake fluid, etc.); agricultural items (bug repellants, fertilizers, fence post preservative, etc.); camping ("sterno", gun lubricant, etc.); personal care (cosmetics, permanent wave solutions (!), soaps, lotions, deodorants etc. NEAT books! The best part was they were 20 cents each! I don't know if these are still in print (doubtful), but you might be able to stumble across them at a yard sale or used book store. This was my most serendipitous find this weekend! : )

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), April 26, 1999.

Old Git,

Off topic, but do you remember which thread it was awhile back that had those hilarious (including yours) posts about the social consequences of a whole bunch of people living together if the SHTF? Your story about your dad and the bus was a treasure. I'd like to re- read the whole post. (Need a laugh today!)

(You can email me privately if you'd like to)

Enjoy your posts!

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 26, 1999.

FM, would that be the post where breaking wind with simply appalling ferocity was discussed? Hmm. Now would that have been under Food, Health--or perhaps Embedded Systems? Let me go see.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 26, 1999.

Thanks OG, good catch.

BTW, an added thanks for furnshing sooo much good material here. It's one of the few things that keep me hanging around. Have gotten fatigued with all the haranging back and fourth. Still some new info coming around that makes it worth the trip.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), April 26, 1999.

Greybear! There you are! Haven't heard a sound from you lately (giggle). Lucky my son grabbed those old magazines, huh? Tons of good info in those stacks. 'Bout time we had another of your good long posts, innit? Definitely need some balance around here.

I have plenty more magazines, just a matter of typing up stuff. The Hungarian is off this week and we'll be playing a lot.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 26, 1999.

Wilferd, what a great find! I've been collecting how-to books for the last 20 years. Never really knew why I just found them so interesting and liked having them on hand. Stuff like wind power, composting, handmade soaps, make your own groceries, all kinds of gardening books, repair books, building greenhouses and sheds and barns. Looks like my personal library is going to come in very handy. It already has over the years. Good luck to you!

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), April 26, 1999.

Wilferd and nb = would you post a couple of those useful-for-Y2K hints for us?

Greybear - PS, the epazote is up, bushy and healthy as can be. It's going to be quiet around here! (Epazote is an herb--see richters.com--which Hispanics add to beans to reduce their flatugenic effects.)

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 26, 1999.