My steady progress

http://play.typeracer.com/

Fifth Taste unami = MSG

(NaturalNews) The controversial food additive MSG may soon be making its way into consumers' diets in a new form, marketed as the so-called fifth taste, or umami.

Western scientists long believed that the tongue contained only four types of taste receptors -- sweet, salty, sour and bitter -- with the sense of smell supplying the remainder of a food's taste. In 2000, however, researchers at the University of Miami discovered that the tongue also has receptors for the chemical glutamate, and that those receptors fire only in the presence of one of the other four tastes.

In the presence of glutamate, foods gain a more pleasant flavor. The chemical occurs naturally in meats as well as in many fermented foods such as cheese, soysauceand black bean paste. Other foods high in glutamate include Worcestershire Sauce and human breast milk.

Western scientists dubbed the fifth taste"umami," after the Japanese word for "savory." The term had already been used as far back as 1908, when a Tokyo chemist identified the sensation and linked it to glutamate. This led to the development of a synthetic form of glutamate that could be added directly to food: monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Because of health concerns associated with high levels of MSG consumption, many consumers choose to avoid foods with added (rather than naturally occurring) glutamate. Many have learned to look for some of the labels food manufacturers use to conceal added glutamate, including autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, protein isolate and soy extracts.

Now a food writer has developed a new way to add glutamate to foods, with a new flavoring product dubbed "Taste No. 5." Made from ingredients including pulped anchovy and porcini mushrooms, tubes of the product will soon be on sale across the United Kingdom.

"I wanted to get away from the notion that umami is something of interest to scientists that no one else can really understand," Taste No. 5 inventor Laura Santtini said.

Sources for this story include: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1249571/Umami-Tubes-Taste-No-....

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/029134_umami_MSG.html#ixzz1qfOQQGJd

Piss here for my eggs

Urine-soaked eggs a tasty treat in China city

DONGYANG (China), March 30 — It’s the end of a school day in the eastern Chinese city of Dongyang, and eager parents collect their children after a hectic day of primary school.

But that’s just the start of busy times for dozens of egg vendors across the city, deep in coastal Zhejiang province, who ready themselves to cook up a unique springtime snack favoured by local residents.

Basins and buckets of boys’ urine are collected from primary school toilets. It is the key ingredient in “virgin boy eggs”, a local tradition of soaking and cooking eggs in the urine of young boys, preferably below the age of 10.

Hard-boiled eggs cooked in boys’ urine lie inside a pot for sale in Dongyang. — Reuters pic

There is no good explanation for why it has to be boys’ urine, just that it has been so for centuries.

The scent of these eggs being cooked in pots of urine is unmistakable as people pass the many street vendors in Dongyang who sell it, claiming it has remarkable health properties.

“If you eat this, you will not get heat stroke. These eggs cooked in urine are fragrant,” said Ge Yaohua, 51, who owns one of the more popular “virgin boy eggs” stalls.

“They are good for your health. Our family has them for every meal. In Dongyang, every family likes eating them.”

It takes nearly an entire day to make these unique eggs, starting off by soaking and then boiling raw eggs in a pot of urine. After that, the shells of the hard-boiled eggs are cracked and they continue to simmer in urine for hours.

Vendors have to keep pouring urine into the pot and controlling the fire to keep the eggs from being overheated and overcooked.

Ge said he has been making the snack, popular due to its fresh and salty taste, for more than 20 years. Each egg goes for 1.50 yuan (RM0.73), a little more than twice the price of the regular eggs he also sells.

Many Dongyang residents, young and old, said they believed in the tradition passed on by their ancestors that the eggs decrease body heat, promote better blood circulation and just generally reinvigorate the body.

A boy urinates into a container at a primary school in Dongyang. — Reuters pic

“By eating these eggs, we will not have any pain in our waists, legs and joints. Also, you will have more energy when you work,” said Li Yangzhen, 59, who bought 20 eggs from Ge.

The eggs are not bought only at street stalls. Local residents are also known to personally collect boys’ urine from nearby schools to cook the delicacy in their homes.

The popularity of the treat has led the local government to list the “virgin boy eggs” as an intangible cultural heritage.

But not everyone is a fan. Chinese medical experts gave mixed reviews about the health benefits of the practice, with some warning about sanitary issues surrounding the use of urine to cook the eggs.

Some Dongyang residents also said they hated the eggs.

“We have this tradition in Dongyang that these eggs are good for our health and that it would help prevent things like getting a cold,” said Wang Junxing, 38. “I don’t believe in all this, so I do not eat them.” — Reuters

Broke my speed record today...

Hospital workers call police to seize newborn baby, throw momma out of the building

Another shocking case of tyrannical, overzealous social workers and hospital staff has unfolded in Pennsylvania, where a mom who just gave birth in an ambulance to a healthy baby girl was threatened by a government social worker and accused of not allowing her child to receive "medical treatment." (A claim which is factually false.) In reality, the new mom, exhausting from giving birth in an ambulance, was merelyasking questionsand trying to determine how her newborn daughter was being treated by hospital staff.

A social worker namedAngelica Lopez-Heagycontinued to threaten the mom, who persisted in asking polite questions to try to determine what she was being accused of. In response, the social worker demanded, "Since you're not going to cooperate, I'll just go and call the police and we can take custody of the baby."

The social worker then demanded that the mom and dad sign a "safety plan" that would contractually bind them to whatever medical procedures the hospital tries to push on all newborns, includingmultiple vaccines. The term "safety plan" is really just a linguistic mind trick for the agenda ofdamaging newborns with vaccinesso that they become repeat customers of the medical industry. Vaccines, as NaturalNews readers well know, routinely cause kidney damage, neurological damage and gastrointestinal damage, all of which produce huge long-term profits for hospitals, doctors and drug companies.

When the mom said she wanted her attorney to look over the document before she signed it, the nanny state social worker invoked her previous threat andcalled the police. The police then took custody (kidnapped) the daughter while hospital workers claimed the newborn was suffering from "illness or injury." (Completely fabricated to justify their kidnapping.) Then theyforcibly vaccinated the babywithout her mother's consent! This was all "approved" by the social worker, Lopez-Heagy.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/035398_hospital_social_workers_medical_freedom.html#ixzz1qaQ06NF9

OVEREATING: The #1 Killer

Forget what all the medical journals say about it. Completely ignore the daily health trumpet known as the MSM (mainstream media) on the topic. Even your health coach, massage therapist or chiropractor may be unaware of this little factoid.

The # 1 KILLER in Western Civilization is OVEREATING … coupled with eating the wrong foods for your body type … in the wrong combinations … in the wrong proportions … at the wrong time of day … in the wrong season … with the wrong attitude.

We’d love not to have to write another word on the subject, except that we just got a LOT of peoples’ attention, didn’t we?! (Source)

Malaysia is a western wanna-be civilization with eastern mentality but has the highest obesity rate in Southeast Asia and ranks sixth in Asia-Pacific region, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said: "We view this matter seriously because an excessive intake of sugar could lead to various complications including diabetes."

She was replying to a supplementary question from Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong).

According to a Bernama report, Rosnah said the daily sugar intake among Malaysians was too high, at 51g, which was above the World Health Organisation recommendation, at 50g.

Of the 1,266 food samples analysed in 2009, 92 samples or 7.3 per cent were found to have too much sugar.

Last year, 2,004 samples were analysed of which 108 samples or 5.4 per cent were found to have an excessive amount of sugar, the report said. (Source)

Aspartame: GMO Bacteria Poop Causing Blindness! (Video)

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is experienced by nearly 68 million adults in the United States alone — that’s 1 in 3 adults. Often accompanied by excess weight, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and the leading killer — heart disease. If you are someone who has high blood pressure, the mainstream medical industry wants nothing more than your eternal business, buying their pharmaceutical drugs that never really cure anything. But instead of doing that, try utilizing one of these natural solutions.

Drink Coconut Water to Combat High Blood Pressure

Coconut water is a tasty and nutritious beverage which has also been shown to be effective at lowering blood pressure. In one study where authors investigated the effects of coconut water when regularly consumed, they found that coconut water was able to significantly lower blood pressure in 71 percent of the study participants. This refreshing beverage has also been shown to rise above sports drinks in hydration while causing not nearly as many stomach pains.

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/home-remedies-for-high-blood-pressure/#ixzz1qZjyiwNA

Apple Cider Vinegar

Effectively helping thousands of health ailments such as strep throat and acid reflux, apple cider vinegar is also a fantastic solution for high blood pressure. Just a few tablespoons a day for one month could have a dramatic impact. I have seen people’s blood pressure go from 150/80 to 130/80 in just a month while taking 2 tablespoons of ACV a day. Many others have experienced the same scenario, and blood pressure medications are often chucked. It could help you too.

Vitamin D

Research points out that vitamin D can be an effective solution to lower blood pressure, promote vascular health by helping blood vessels, and contribute to healthy arteries. While helping to lower blood pressure, this powerful cancer fighter can also protect you from the flu 800% better than any flu vaccine.

Aloe Vera, Hibiscus Tea, Cayenne Pepper

Aloe, cayenne pepper, honey, and tea are all fabulous for helping with a whole host of health problems. They are often used in combination to treat anything from strep throat to lowering insulin levels to boosting overall health. Not surprisingly, some individuals have also found this combination to effectively lower blood pressure.

 ”One yr ago I started having headaches and Dr. found I had high blood pressure 187/100 yikes. I was told I needed to take meds for life. I refused to believe that and have been searching for a natural cure since then. I have found it drinking fresh Aloe every morning. I take a medium leaf wash and remove thorns, put it in the blender, with one lemon and one tablespoon raw honey. Strain and drink on an empty stomach after one month I am off meds and my readings are 109/65!!!!! I also drink one cup of hibiscus tea a day and eat cayenne pepper with meals. My friend also tried this and she is a diabetic her blood sugar is now an average 80, and off insulin.” Iamurelia on EarthClinic says.

In addition to all of these solutions, living an overall healthy lifestyle with some exercise will also help greatly. This means avoiding fructose, which has been shown to up the risk of having blood pressure levels of 160/100 mmHg by 77 percent with the consumption of 74 grams (2.5 sugary drinks). Maintaining a healthy weight while reducing fructose intake to no more than 20g per day are excellent preventative measures.

Mike Barrett
NaturalSociety
March 28, 2012

Made from Genetically Modified Bacteria Waste, Aspartame Risks Public Health

Aspartame is one of the most used artificial sweeteners in the food supply today. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous. Aspartame is used in thousands of products as a substitute to sugar, though consumers would actually be better off eating regular sugar. Specifically, the toxic substance is often found in diet soft drinks and various candies. You should also be aware that aspartame is even present in a number of lesser-known conventional products as well.

Millions either knowingly or unknowingly consume aspartame on a daily basis. However, if the public was aware of the various dangers aspartame poses to individual health, they would stop — or would they?

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/made-from-genetically-modified-bacteria-waste-aspartame-risks-public-health/#ixzz1qKKabIq1

Got my typemaster skill level rank today - very happy after working a lot on it

Best race so far. 66WPM on the Ducky 9008s today

typing-test

My progress at type racer as of today. Play Type Racer here

Confirmed Anew: Cow's Milk May Trigger Type 1 Diabetes

For quite some time the link between juvenile onset diabetes (type 1) and cow’s milk consumption has been noted in the scientific literature. You can view 12 such references on our Cow’s Milk Page.  In genetically susceptible individuals the consumption of cow’s milk may trigger an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. A new study, published in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, has shed light on a possible new mechanism behind this connection.

Finish researchers looked at 1113 infants with a genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and who were randomly assigned to receive one of three infant formulas during the first 6 months of life whenever breast milk was not available:

1. Cow’s milk formula (CMF)
2. Whey-based hydrolyzed formula (WHF)
3. Whey-based formula free of bovine insulin (insulin-free CMF)

Beta cell autoimmunity was monitored at ages 3,6, and 12 months and then annually until 3 years of age. The results were reported as follows:

In comparison with ordinary CMF, weaning to an insulin-free CMF reduced the cumulative incidence of autoantibodies by age 3 years in children at genetic risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The likelihood of finding autoantibodies associated with beta cell autoimmunity was 25% lower in the whey-based hydrolyzed formula group, and 61% lower in the insulin-free whey-based formula when compared with the cow’s milk formula group.  

Discussion

This study brings to the fore a serious problem associated with drinking the milk of another species. The protein composition within cow’s milk --particularly the beta-casein A1 molecule -- is radically different than that found within human breast milk, and even the traditional universal foster milk, goat’s milk. Casein, is a disulfide-bonded, exceedingly hard to digest (for mammals with only one stomach, unlike ruminants which have many) protein that is literally the ingredient that gives Elmer’s glue its gluey consistency (Ever wonder why Elmer the cow is on the front of the bottle?).

Humans invented dairy culturing, in part, to harnish the power of “beneficial” bacteria in breaking down the proteins in milk that we are ourselves are not genetically equipped to degrade, e.g. yogurt, kefir. This is also true for lactose, the milk sugar we cannot break down beyond infancy (unless we have a rare, European genetic mutation that confers the ability later into life); we elect the help of Lactobacillus species of bacteria who got their name by breaking down lactose with their bacterial enzyme lactase into lactic acid.

The consumption of a food designed for another species (and even for that species only during early development as a calf), will usually have some unintended, adverse effects; the question is: do the benefits outweigh the risks?

And if there are risks, is it worth consuming that food when other readily available and nutritious alternatives exist, such as hemp milk, flax milk and coconut milk, to name but a few options on the market?

It is known that cow’s milk proteins such as beta casein A1 may be responsible for causing the human body to lose self-tolerance and form auto-antibodies to a number of self-structures relevant to type 1 diabetes, but this latest study indicates that the presence of bovine insulin may also play a part in stimulating cross-reactivity to our own insulin-producing beta cells, adding a bit more complexity into the picture and underscoring how it is important to respect the profound differences in physiology and biological needs pertaining between species. 

For additional research on the adverse health effects associated with cow’s milk consumption* you can view over four dozen such conditions on our Cow’s Milk Page.

Source: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/confirmed-anew-cows-milk-may-trigger-type-1-diabetes

Rene Choy - Malaysian Humour. Listen (Mp3)

Forbidden Cures - Video

3 Ways to Naturally Reduce Life-Crushing Stress

Not only is stress arguably more prevalent than ever before given the current circumstances of the modern world, but the detrimental effects of stress on your body are certainly now more understood than ever. With research indicating that high stress levels can actually increase your risk of premature death by a staggering 50%, it is apparent that stress is perhaps a leading killer in the general public and it is now more necessary than ever to de-stress. Here are 3 ways to naturally combat stress — without the use of harmful pharmaceuticals or other medical interventions.

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to enhance cognitive function and fend off depression naturally. In addition to general omega-3 supplements like high quality krill and fish oil, food sources high in omega-3′s include flax seeds, walnuts, sardines, salmon, and soybeans. Flax seeds are a popular choice due to containing highest omega-3 content (119% established daily value), plus they are easy to throw into a protein shake or a delicious raw salad.

Try consuming foods loaded with omega-3 each morning to start off your day, or pickup an inexpensive omega-3 supplement. Make sure it is purified and free of all contaminants and fillers (particularly mercury), as many low quality fish oil products can actually be damaging to your health.

2. Drink Tea

It’s extremely simple, and it is equally effective. Tea is a tasty way of melting stress and entering a deep state of relaxation. Chamomile tea in particular is a great nerve tonic that can also act as a beneficial sleep aid. Stress can oftentimes heavily impact your sleep schedule, which oftentimes amplifies the negative effects associated with high stress levels.

To add a nutritional boost to your tea, add some raw honey and stir it into the hot tea. Raw honey is used by many professional athletes as their ‘secret weapon’ and is also loaded with essential nutrients to help optimize your health and ward off unwanted stress.

3. Movement

It seems counterintuitive, exerting yourself physically in order to reap the benefits of relaxation. The truth of the matter, however, is that proper exercise is a fantastic method of ‘working off’ stress and leading to a higher state of relaxation. Exercise also comes with life promoting and extending benefits. Just 15 minutes of exercise per day can add 3 years to your lifespan — directly combating the life-shortening effects of stress.

Start including something known as high-intensity interval training (HIIT for short) into your fitness routine. HIIT is a great option if you are seeking an exercise routine that is the most effective and least time consuming. The idea behind HIIT is to utilize a short period of high-intensity training, and then allow your body to rest for a short period of time. This exercise trumps traditional cardio, as it has been found to burn fat for roughly 24 hours after completion.

Try the following beginner’s HIIT cardio workout and see how it works for you:

• Walk at a slow and steady pace for 1 minute
• Run for 1 minute
• Walk at a slow and steady pace for 2 minutes
• Run for 1 minute
• Repeat

Fighting stress can be done naturally and effectively, without the use of antidepressants or other sedatives. When given the proper tools, your body can easily repair itself and begin to recover from ailment — this includes stress. In conjunction with eliminating harmful ingredients from your diet and focusing on your goals with the amazing power of your mind, your stress will soon be eliminated.

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/3-ways-to-naturally-reduce-life-crushing-stress/#ixzz1oXwkuLjh

Today - one person is diagnosed with the mental illness every seven seconds

Professor Peter Piot, former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, compared dementia to the AIDs epidemic and said one person is diagnosed with the mental illness every seven seconds.

Dementia is 'next global health time bomb'

Dementia should be made a top health priority on a par with cancer and lung disease, a leading expert has said, after it has become the next global “time bomb”.

The population of sufferers, which currently stands at 36 million, is set to double by 2020 worldwide.

He is now calling on the World Health Organisation to add dementia to their list of top priority diseases to fund research and treatment across the globe.

He said: “It’s not adding years to your life, but life to your years.” 

Despite his calls to improve diagnosis, Prof Piot admitted it may not always be ethical to diagnose the condition, in parts of the world where treatment is not yet available.

He told BBC Radio4’s Today programme that developing countries in Asia and Latin America were seeing the greatest rise in dementia sufferers, as better healthcare led to people living longer.

Prof Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “The figures speak for themselves. We are really going into the next global health time bomb.

“I have worked for the last 30 years on AIDs. That was a time bomb several decades ago and it’s still not over.

"But the figures are there. Today 36 million people are living with dementia. Every seven seconds there is a new case and we will see a doubling in the number of people by 2020.

“People in the emerging economies, like Asia and Latin America, are living longer and dementia is progressing fastest there in terms of the numbers.

“It’s affecting, families, communities and of course the people themselves.”

He added that the idea dementia was an inevitable part of aging is a “myth” and that early diagnosis would allow sufferers to make legal, financial and care arrangements.

The World Health Organisation list of priorities currently comprises of cancer, lung disease, diabetes and chronic heart disease.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Animal carcinogen are in soft-drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi

March 7 2012 – A consumer’s group in the US says it’s found a known animal carcinogen in sodas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi which contain caramel colouring.

According to the lab results of The Center for Science in the Public Interest, sodas like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a byproduct of the ammonia-sulfite caramel colouring which is used to give sodas their brown hue.

“When most people see ‘caramel colouring’ on food labels, they likely interpret that quite literally and assume the ingredient is similar to what you might get by gently melting sugar in a saucepan,” said CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson in a statement March 5.

“The reality is quite different. Colourings made with the ammonia or ammonia-sulfite process contain carcinogens and don’t belong in the food supply.”

For their lab tests, the group collected different samples from Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and measured the levels of 4-MI in each can.

Cans of Pepsi products clocked in at between 145 to 153 micrograms (mcg) of 4-MI, while Coca-Cola products clocked in at between 113 mcg to 146 mcg.

But in California, the 4-MI benchmark is 29 mcg, the CSPI points out, and any foods and beverages that contain levels above that threshold are considered to increase a person’s risk of developing cancer over their lifetime.

This is the CSPI’s second attempt at getting the US Food and Drug Administration to ban ammonia-sulfite caramel colouring. The group also appealed to the government with the same request last year.

Meanwhile, the American Beverage Association (ABA) struck back Monday, issuing a statement that called the report “outrageous” and nothing more than “scare tactics.”

Pointing out that regulatory agencies around the world  including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada consider caramel colouring safe for use in foods and beverages, the ABA said: “The science simply does not show that 4-MEI in foods or beverages is a threat to human health.”

Caramel colour is also used in beer, chocolate, cookies, spirits and liquors, custards, potato chips, dessert mixes, donuts, fruit preserves and gravy. – Source AFP

Expectant mothers will be told that getting a flu shot while they are pregnant is SAFE!

Expectant mothers will be told that getting a flu shot while they are pregnant is not only safe, but will protect from one of the possible consequences of influenza while pregnant – low birth weight.

How many doctors will ever read the abstract, let alone the full text? In the hectic environment of medical practice, they will take someone else’s word for it, and reassure unsuspecting mothers that the vaccine is the way to go.

My question would be, “Did the influenza vaccine increase that baby’s weight or did the pneumococcal vaccine decrease the ‘placebo’ baby’s weight?”

If the pneumococcal vaccine had negative effects, then that would minimize the observed effects seen in the influenza-vaccinated group. We’ll never know, unless someone funds a true placebo study, preferably on rats, not pregnant Bangladeshi mothers and their infants.

Full Report Here

How to Live in Your Car -Posted by Barbara Peterson

March 4 2012

Living in a car isn’t something that anyone would recommend. However, when you get laid off, your emergency fund runs out, your home is foreclosed (or you get an eviction notice) and there’s nobody to help, living in your car might be the only choice, especially if you don’t feel safe at a local shelter. Unfortunately, in many places, sleeping in your car is not only frowned upon, but also illegal. Here’s how to get by until something better comes along.

Remember, you are not alone and you have a vehicle. Lots of people have survived and even thrived while sleeping in cars.[1] 

Steps

1. You can only live in your car successfully if your car works. You’re going to need a new or “newish” car or be a good mechanic to live in an older car. If you have an old car keep in mind that you’re liable to break down at an inopportune moment if you don’t stay on top of maintenance.
2. Find a safe and inconspicuous place to park. First, check to see if there are any organizations or businesses in your area (or a nearby area) that designates parking lots specifically for people in situations like yours; For example, Wal-Mart allows people to camp overnight in their parking lots. It’s not only legal, but the organization might screen the people who use the lot, or even designate a women-only lot.[2] If there are no such lots available, and you live in a urban area, look for streets with no sidewalks, no overlooking windows, and adjacent to woods; the area should be sparse enough to avoid nosy onlookers but populated enough that the car does not stand out.[3] Parking lots of big-box retailers (especially those that are open 24 hours and have restrooms, such as Wal-mart) are great to clean up in and have security, as long as you spend a couple of dollars there and don’t park in one place too often. Parking lots however can be noisy, particularly in the morning as trucks arrive carrying food and goods. [4]
   • Church car parks are often quiet during week days. If you check around, you may find a church that is less used than others. This could be a good place to park, and you may be able to ask for assistance at the church.[5]
   • Industrial estates and business parks are often noisy by day, but very quiet at night. Small ones close to residential areas are best. They have to be quiet at night. You may encounter security in some places like this, but if you are honest, saying you are just sleeping the night in your car, they usually won’t bother you. Their main role is to protect the property.
   • University car parks. This is okay if you are a student, but not so good if you are not associated with the university. If required, get a parking permit.[6]
   • Camping grounds are another option, although they usually have time limits and some are almost as expensive as a hotel room. Some offer a shower for a nominal fee. National Forests have some free camping with a limit of 14 days.
   • If there’s no restroom, having a creek nearby helps for rinsing purposes. Know how to safely defecate outdoors and make a poop tube. Five gallon bucket with a lid and lye for odour can also work.
   • A free hospital parking lot is another option. If approached by a guard, you can say that you’re waiting to visit a sick relative.[7] However, note that in Australia, due to past murders of nurses, you may attract police attention by parking in a hospital car park. You may be asked to move on by security.[5]
   • If you can establish rapport with the manager of a retail store or restaurant, they may not give you problems about staying overnight, especially if they see your presence as a form of overnight security.[8]
   • Once you find a spot, try to arrive late at night, and leave before 7am. This will draw as little attention as possible to yourself.
   • Due to noise, you might find that you will need ear plugs to sleep. Ear plugs will block a lot of background noise to a level that is bearable. Ear plugs are good for blocking out traffic, birds, animals, talking and background music. They will not block out very loud noise or close noise, such as some one tapping on your car.
3. Find a place to shower. The most logical place would appear to be a gym. This will help you keep your sanity and give you a purpose to your morning. Don’t settle for the first gym you find. If you look around, you may find nearly deserted gyms in which you can showerand fully clean yourself without embarrassment.
   • Gyms though can be an expensive option. Many gyms range in cost from $35 a month to a more typical cost of $55 a week. This is pretty expensive just for a shower. Many councils, churches and support organisations have free showers. It can be a false economy to use a gym just for showers, particularly as there are many free ways to keep in shape without a gym.[9] Try to remember the flip flops or water shoes as not to get a foot fungus and let the towel dry out in the car.
   • Community or Recreation centers that have gyms and showers are a cheaper option than the nationwide chains. Many Rec or Community centers yearly memberships cost about the same as the monthly memberships at a national gym. You may not be able to store your items as safely in these places though.
   • The next best choice is to check into an affordable caravan park one or two days a week. These usually range from about $18-$26 a night in Australia, possible more in the USA. You will have a spot to park your car, you can do laundry (usually an extra fee), fill up on water, have a shower and even pitch a tent if you have one. They usually have powered sites, so you can recharge your electrical devices or run a fan or heater.[10]
   • Another option, though possibly more expensive, is to book into a cheap motel or hostel once or twice a week and clean up thoroughly there (if you can afford it).
   • Public pools tend to have showers, depending on whether they have private stalls or are set up gang style, they may provide a discrete place to shower. Another option to consider- when you can’t shower, use unscented baby wipes to clean up, or take a “bum shower” in a public restroom where you feel comfortable doing so.
   • At a truck stop, you can ask around for a shower coupon, if you feel safe allowing people to know that you’re without a place to stay. Truck stops are good to sleep at too. Truck Stops can be noisy at night though, so ear plugs are recommended.[4]
   • Some toll roads, especially state turnpikes, have large rest areas with free showers for truckers. Since these are usually open 24 hours, these plazas are also good places to sleep.
   • Keep an eye out for community college athletic field houses– they don’t always check IDs, and can be a good free shower option. Check their fee schedule– sometimes you can take a single class for a nominal price, thus becoming a legitimate member of the college community, with access to their gym, library, wi-fi, employment office and other resources (in addition to learning something).
   • Rest areas on National highways are good for a few hours and most have security.
4. Be discreet. Keeping your situation under wraps minimizes the embarrassment and helps avoid becoming a target for police officers and criminals alike.
   • Rotate among several parking locations to avoid getting noticed.
   • When you move around in the parked car, move slowly to avoid rocking the car.
   • Consider using a car cover. Not only will it maintain privacy (especially since condensation on the windows will otherwise make it obvious that you’re in there) but it will also keep the car warmer during winter. This is not a viable option, however, when it’s hot outside.
   • When it’s sunny in the daytime, use a sunshade for the windshield.
   • You may find that you need and want more privacy than windows offer. There are a few cheap ways to gain this privacy. Reflective window shades in your back and front window help. Similarly fold up shades on the side windows are good. You can also buy some cheap cloth and either stuff them in the windows, tape them in, or hold them in place by magnets.[11] Black cloth is best for privacy and blocking out light.
   • If you can afford it, local laws allow, and you don’t mind driving with it. Get your windows tinted as dark as legally possible. This along with the front sunshade and dark cloth or towels can provide a lot of privacy. If you hang a towel or cloth on a untinted window it screams homeless person. You hang the same on a tinted window it’ll be impossible to see inside and won’t draw attention.
   • Keep the windows cracked open while you sleep, not wide enough for someone to reach in, but enough to allow fresh air and reduce condensation on the windows.
5. Get the things you’ll need. The basic essentials for living in a car are a blanket, apillow, and a mattress or some other padding. Due to the angles involved in the seating setup, you may develop dull back painfrom the cramped quarters. Should this happen, be sure to have pain medication on hand. Once you have your sleeping gear, you’ll want a blanket to place over the back seat, and draped over the two front seats. This will block light and people’s views.
   • A cheap cooler will help make life easier. The main thing the cooler needs is to be water proof. Cold food will cause condensation, while ice will melt. You don’t want that water inside of your car. A cooler will help keep your perishable food cool. It will work most efficiently when full, so add bottles of cold water to it as you take out food. If you choose to buy an electric cooler, it will need good ventilation to work. For this reason, it will not work well in your car’s boot. It is best placed within the car when running. Make sure it is only running when the engine runs, or use a low voltage cut out device, as explained below. Make sure the cooling vent grille is not touching anything as it exhausts waste heat and may set some things on fire.
   • One essential item, if you can afford it is a porta potti, a chemical toilet. These devices can really make living in a car bearable. They can be purchased for under $100 new these days. If you can’t afford a porta potti or don’t have room for one, you can pee into wide necked bottles like gatorade bottles, or make an improvised bucket style toilet.[12]
6. Find alternate ways of generating electricity. A cigarette lighter converter is one option. These are useful for powering low consuming devices (100 watts), but if you plan on using your vehicle for cooking, then you’ll need to draw power more directly from your battery or you’ll blow the fuse. Running electric cooking appliances from your car though is fairly impractical without an expensive dual battery and inverter system. There are small 12 volt water heaters and skillets, but these generally are not very efficient. You will also need a much more expensive inverter if you plan to run things that use mains voltage. You may need to idle the vehicle while drawing this power if you don’t have a dual battery system, however even then, car alternators are not designed for such use and may not be able to produce the current you need.[13] [14]
   • A good buy for any car dweller is a low voltage cut out device.[15]This device protects your car’s battery by cutting off the electricity once the battery reaches a voltage where it can still start the car, but can’t really run plug in devices much more. These usually retail for about $25-$40. They are a very good investment for a car dweller, as continual flattening of your battery will damage it, resulting in a costly replacement, and inconvenience of not being able to start the car.
   • An alternative to electric cooking devices is to use gas for cooking, but do not use this inside the vehicle for safety reasons. There are many dangers associated with cooking inside your car; unstable surfaces, fire hazards, burns from hot metal or spilled liquids, carbon monoxide build up, smells. Cooking is for outside of the car. If you live in a van with a stable set up for cooking, then cooking inside is okay, provided there is ventilation.
7. Have a place to store items that is portable. Get bags you can fill with your soaps, clothes,  cell phone, etc. Keeping things in order will save you a lot of hassle. A vehicle may seem like a small space, but losing things can be extremely easy. Also, keeping things neat inside the car will draw less attention from people passing by who happen to look in the windows. Hiding your bedding might be a good idea (consider the trunk). If there is not room in the car for a weeks worth of clothes and supplies, try to leave them at a friends for safe keeping and then you can have a reason to come over, and they may give you a shower and a place to hang out. When you do your laundry, be sure to get them bone dry, as you do not want damp clothes to mildew or smell bad in the car. When you’re not in the car, leave windows cracked and dryer sheets scattered about to keep the interior smelling decent. Wash your sheets once a month, or else you risk smelling like a homeless person, which will blow your cover and get you treated like a homeless person.
8. Keep dirty clothes separate in plastic bags so they do not smell up all your clothing.
9. Evaluate your food options. Peanut butter, tuna and crackers are great staples. Have a box for food so it does not get smashed. Gallons of water are a necessity for a lot of things. They will be limited by the lack of refrigeration. Fast food is expensive when you’re living off of it. With old fashioned (large flake) rolled oats, powdered milk, bottled water, plastic cups, and chocolate protein powder, you can ensure that you always have a nutritious snack to fall back on.[16]
10. Before you start living in your car, use your permanent address to:
    • Rent a P.O. Box or a Private Mail Box (PMB). Although PMBs tend to be more expensive, you can receive packages at them and some services will let you use a address format which makes it appear to be an apartment, which is useful for when someone requires a physical address.
    • Sign up for a gym membership. (This however, can be expensive, and if your resources are limited, you may find it to be a drain.)
    • Renew any paperwork that will require an address to process soon.
    • Put valuables in a safe deposit box at a bank.
    If you have friends or family who can’t (or refuse to) help you with your living situation (or you refuse to ask them for help) think about at least asking them if you can use their address.
11. Stay positive. Keep reminding yourself that the situation is only temporary. Spend each day hitting the pavement and looking for jobs. Use the local libraryand bookstore not only to search for jobs, but also to become more knowledgeable in ways that will help you get through this and find a job. Most importantly, talk to people like social workers and religious organization workers who will sympathize and understand, and try to help.

Video

Some introductory steps to sleeping in your car for the first time.

Tips

• If your car has the capacity, install a hanging bar. This will provide a bit more storage space as well as keep clothes wrinkle-free for job interviews, etc.
• Tint your windows for privacy; tinting works better than using barriers (blankets etc.) because it enables you to see out while others cannot see in. This could be helpful when trying to live unnoticed. Barriers also attract attention and advertise what you are doing, while tinted windows are very common on many cars.
• If you wear contact lenses you will need a disinfectant for your hands. Better yet, wear glasses.
• Sleeping will likely be a challenge at first because there is a good chance that your vehicle is not large enough for you to fully stretch out your body. Find a position where you can comfortably sleep with your legs bent or against your chest. Alternatively, you can try sitting up in the back seat and propping a pillow against the wall of the car.
• Get an automobile association membership. This will help you if you drain your battery, or break down.
• Make sure you have vehicle documentation and insurance. Without them, your problems will increase.
• Personal safety should always be your number-one priority. Knives used for food preparation and tire irons can be used as weapons. You may want to learn your state’s gun laws and purchase a handgun or other firearm if you do not already own one. Criminals seek out people who appear vulnerable, or travel alone. Sometimes the sound of a cocked gun will be sufficient enough to deter a potential mugger. However, be aware that if police become aware that you have a gun, they may shoot you for possessing a weapon. Police generally do not regard homeless people well and there has been many unfortunate cases of shootings of homeless people (even unarmed ones) by police.[17]
• Be aware that if you carry an unlicensed gun in Australia that there are extremely stiff penalties for doing so.
• If you are spending the night in your car and you have been drinking alcohol, do not have the keys in the ignition, If it is winter and you need to run the car for heat, move over to the passenger or back seat. Otherwise, you could get a DUI/DWI just for being in your car.
• The garbage truck or other neighborhood noises can wake you up. Considerearplugs.
• Pay attention to your instincts. If a parking spot feels weird for any reason, find yourself a new one.
• If you are on food stamps, and can’t afford deodorant or car deodorizer, baking soda is really good substitute that food stamps can buy. Also cheap dollar store hydrogen peroxide along with baking soda, are a phenomenal toothpaste. If for some reason you cannot bath for a day or two, baking soda will make your hair clean and grease free.
• Apply for HUD Housing in remote areas of the country where there is no waiting list.
• An outdoors shop, like REI in the U.S. or MEC in Canada, is a great place to get cheap things you’ll need to live outside of an apartment.
• Wal-Marts usually allow all-night parking and sleeping in cars.

Warnings

• Avoid driving the car. While it seems harmless, police do not take kindly to marginalized people. A danger is that they may write a report about you to a government office in the hope that they’ll cancel your license.
• Never sleep in the driver seat if you can avoid it. Your body will quickly associate that seat with sleeping, creating risks when you are driving – especially when you’re tired. Recline the passenger seat or lie down in the back if there is room.
• If you are sleeping in the car on a regular basis, do as few other things in the car as possible. Don’t eat, read, or anything else that will cause you to spend more time than necessary in the car. The more time you spend in it, the more smells will accumulate.
• If you use a car cover, never run the car or smoke while it is on. You could easily suffocate or get carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, do not use it on a warm day without adequate ventilation.
• Be careful who you tell about your living in a car. If they’re not likely to provide assistance, then don’t bother, because you might end up endangering yourself.
• Be aware that having a gun in the car carries its risks. If you are startled awake and point the gun at the wrong person (i.e. a cop tapping on the window), you can wind up being shot yourself.
• Don’t drink alcohol. Don’t even bring any alcohol into your car. If cops find you with alcohol in your blood or in your car, you could get in serious trouble, even if you’re not driving at the time.

Things You’ll Need

• Car with insurance and license
• Blankets and pillows
• Towels and wash cloths
• Water
• Gas
• Food
• Gym membership (you will stay clean and work off stress)
• Automobile association membership (if your car insurance doesn’t include Roadside Assistance)
• If you have been homeless for a while, you may not have money for car insurance. Be aware that you can be considered a vagrant. Your car will be impounded. No money, no recovery of your car and the impounder has just stolen your car. Now where can you go??????

Related wikiHows

• How to Find a Place to Live in LA
• How to Make Money Fast
• How to Panhandle
• How to Become a Hobo
• How to Stay Positive when You Know Your Life Sucks

Sources and Citations

1. ↑http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003590929_outofdebt27.html
2. ↑http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html
3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/us/02cars.html
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.carliving.info/101.htm
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.carliving.info/parking.htm
6. ↑ http://www.carliving.info/parking.htm
7. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/us/02cars.html
8. ↑ http://www.pitch.com/2008-09-04/news/joco-s-hobos-when-a-working-man-doesn-t-have-a-home-in-johnson-county-a-wal-mart-parking-lot-is-the-next-best-thing/2
9. ↑ http://www.carliving.info/myths.htm
10. ↑ http://www.carliving.info/parking.htm
11. ↑ http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-gPZEzVy4
12. ↑ http://www.carliving.info/bathing.htm
13. ↑ http://www.carliving.info/isolator/index.html
14. ↑ http://cheaprvliving.com/howtohaveelectricity.html
15. ↑ http://youtube.com/watch?v=BBtFT7LRY4o
16. ↑ live-frugal.blogspot.com/2008/02/stealth-living.html
17. ↑ http://www.the-spark.net/np749603.html

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