February 26, 2007

like seeing who all comes to our website. Yesterday we had 5,058 hits on the website and people from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Norway, Great Britain, South Korea, Ireland, China, Germany, Sweden, Philippines, Poland, Kenya, Israel, Spain, UAE and Japan. No worries. I can only see what country you are from.. not who you are.

Today I learned even more about "Spy Chips" the Radio Frequency Tracking Identification  (RFID) chips which are used in various products. I knew Walmart and a few other stores were putting these tracking devices into the seams of your clothing, on coffee, Mach II razor blades, Philadelphia Cream Cheese,  as well as lots of other products. If you use a club or store card or your credit card, they will even know your name. What I knew about RFID before,  I deemed bad enough to begin with, but when significant media sources are also saying these companies are also taking your picture and sending it hundreds of miles away to their marketing people, I got very concerned. These RFID devices are on products in both Canada and the US.

So, having Mach II and Gillette Shaving Cream in this house, we are now going to be making our own shaving products too. We were going to eventually anyway, but this is an added push.

1/4 cup stearic acid
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 cup hot water
1 tsp borax power
2 Tbsp grated soap (scentless)

Melt stearic acid and canola oil in double boiler until clear liquid forms. In a bowl, mix hot water, borax, and soap and stir until the borax and soap are dissolved. Pour the soap solution into a blender and blend well for about 1 minute. Slowly pour the melted canola oil mixture into the soap solution. Blend on high until a smooth cream forms. Pour into a clean sealable container and allow to cool completely. Before using, wash area to be shaved using warm water; and then apply the shaving cream and shave.

Old fashioned straight razors still can be found and the guys I know who use them, prefer them. They are expensive, but by the time you get a years supply of disposables, you are actually ahead by buying the straight edge. Disposable razors did not even exist before the 1960's and even today in Europe, straight razors and strops are more the norm. Plus, it is more environmentally friendly. You will also need a strop and a couple other odds and ends. I found a good site about how to choose a razor and another one on how to use a straight razor. The fancy handles do not always mean better quality.

Below is a few samples of the 'spy chips' found at Walmart and other super chains.