My father was raised during the Great Depression, becoming an orphan in his pre teens. His oldest sibling took over the family to keep them all together. Scarcity of food affected his personality so strongly that he later insisted that my family live on a farm and learn how to supply our own table. For years he had a problem of over eating, until he finally convinced himself he was not going to starve.
One of the stories he brought with him combined hunger with cleverness, the tale of "Nail Soup". I later learned that the story dates back centuries in Scandinavia, Poland, and other Northern European countries. We do know that the story originated after the invention of iron tools... unless it was previously known as "stone soup" as has been suggested.
Recip Saw
Today, some folklorists say the story teaches cooperation across skill sets. I think the simplest explanation fits best, namely, how to harness greed to the benefit of both sides.
We can tweak the tale a bit to make a guide for dietary self interest. But the story was born long before anyone knew about vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, or other nutritional concepts. Most likely our ancestors thought in terms of filling the belly, and what we now call calories. It went something like this.
One day our hero (vagabond, itinerant peddler, beggar, tramp, disbanded soldier, pilgrim, et cetera), who was footsore and very hungry, came upon a (small village, cabin in the woods, camp-ground, monastery, et cetera). The person[s] he saw there told him he/she/they were sorry but there was not a bit of food to share, times being desperate as they were. Hero said "not to worry, I'd just like to borrow a pot and some water, a spoon, a place on your fire, and I'll make nail soup." Well this did arouse a bit of curiosity, so the pot of water was provided. Hero then pulled an iron nail out of his pocket, held it close to his face, then mumbled some barely heard words. That done, he put the nail in the pot, and proceeded to wait for it to boil.
To short cut about thirty minutes of story telling, Hero satisfied questions by saying that, indeed, the soup would be a bit better if provided a pinch of salt, some wilted vegetables, an onion, a marrow bone, some left over barley, some old bread, and so forth, carefully stirring the pot and tasting the broth after each addition. Eventually Hero declared that, to show his thanks for the use of the pot, he would gladly share the soup if person[s] had bowl[s] handy. He then served out the soup, being careful to palm the nail and make it vanish back into his pocket.
Now that we do know something about nutrition, we could round out the recipe by including some potatoes, carrots, green vegetables, some lean ground beef or chunks of soy bean curd, perhaps some spices. Depending on the needs of those eating, we could allow some oil or other fats to raise the caloric content, but no sugar.
My "Easy Health Diet" gives more detail on how to build healthful recipes and to upgrade existing ones.
One final note: when you have eaten enough, stop.
Special Price!!! DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit
Oct 19, 2011 17:24:35
Click for larger image and other views
DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit Feature
- Lever-action keyless blade clamp for quick and easy blade changes and 4-positions for flush cutting
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length and 0-3,000 strokes per minute for faster cutting speed, pivoting shoe for comfort
- High-capacity XRP battery offer 40% more run-time than standard batteries
- Includes saw, battery, 1-hour charger, kit box
- 8.2 pounds, 90-day money back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, 3-year limited warranty
DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit Overview
The DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless XRP Ni-Cad Reciprocating Saw Kit will help you make quick work of demolition tasks involved in renovations and remodels. Featuring variable-speed trigger, and a powerful DEWALT XRP extended run-time battery system, this saw is built for control and power. The kit includes a quick one-hour charger, 18 volt XRP battery, and handy carrying kit box so you can recharge and be back at it in no time.
|
 Take on renovation and remodeling projects with this powerful reciprocating saw. View larger. |
 Variable-speed saw blade delivers 3,000 spm, ideal for framing jobs. View larger. |
A reciprocation saw mimics the back-and-forth motion of a handsaw that lets you quickly cut through wood framing, shingles, PVC pipes, and more. Plus a reciprocating saw fits into places where other saws can't go, making it a truly versatile addition to your professional tool kit.
A DEWALT cordless reciprocating saw helps you capitalize on all those benefits, thanks to the fast cutting speeds allowed by its powerful, 18-volt motor and big 1-1/8-inch stroke length. This saw offers variable-speed control for application-specific performance, and it is capable of operating at speeds ranging from 0 to 3,000 spm. When you're finished with a cut, the saw's electric brake stops the blade quickly and reliably.
 Three-position adjustable shoe. |
For versatility, the saw's four-position blade clamp allows you to choose the configuration that best matches your application, and the blade clamp is reinforced with metal for long-term durability. This setup gives you the ability to make flush cuts and the ability to reverse the blade for cutting upside-down, and--regardless of which configuration you're using--the saw's pivoting, open-top shoe makes it easy to see what you're working on. The three-position shoe also makes adjusting cut depth easy and helps extend blade life.
Fast, Keyless Blade Changes
When it comes time to switch to a different type of blade or replace a blade with a fresh one, the keyless lever-action blade-clamp design allows for fast, easy blade changes--no special tools required.
Comfort Grip and Long Battery Life
Since comfortable handling contributes to better control and accurate cuts, this saw weighs an easy-to-maneuver 8.2 pounds and features a textured, anti-slip grip. The variable speed trigger provides consistent performance and improved user control in extended use situations.
A tool's only useful if it runs long enough to get the job done, and DEWALT XRP extended run-time batteries keep this reciprocating saw running at full tilt. They provide up to 40 percent more run-time than standard batteries, and any XRP battery can be used with any 18-volt DEWALT tool, which allows you to streamline your kit. In addition, the one-hour charger helps reduce downtime so you can get your task done quickly.
This 18-volt cordless XRP reciprocating saw kit also comes with a DEWALT warranty package that includes a three-year limited warranty, a one-year free service contract, and a 90-day money back guarantee.
What's in the Box
DC385K DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless XRP Reciprocating Saw, one-hour Ni-Cad charger, 18-volt XRP battery, and kit box.
 Four-position blade change. |  Keyless blade-change lever. |
SAVE NOW on the special offers below!
Available In Stock. |
| This DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. |
Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please. |
