Backwoods Driving 101

I headed out yesterday to visit a friend...who happened to live at what seemed to be the end of the world. After many hours of driving, I came back with a whole new respect for a skill I basically do on autopilot most of the time. Here's a few lessons on rural/backwoods driving:

• Make sure your car is in good working order. If my car breaks down in the city, I can call a friend, call a tow truck, or hop on mass transport to get home. If it breaks down in the middle of nowhere, I'm screwed. Of particular importance, especially on windy, gravely roads that are barely clinging to the side of the mountain, is how much you come to appreciate brakes that work flawlessly.
• Defensive driving is raised to a whole new level. Let's see...there were hairpin turns, logging trucks barreling down the middle of the almost two-lane road coming around the curve, animals big and small crossing the road, small wash outs, uneven road surfaces, nervous drivers huddled next to the center line, maniac locals who could successfully maneuver the tiny roads at double the posted limit, swift changes in weather, and extraordinary, driver-distracting views.
• Come prepared. Should a break down, accident, or other event occur, you need to be prepared. Of course I had my car BOB, food, water, first aid kit, firearm (generally I carry this should the need arise to ward off people however in this circumstance I figured it would be more useful for hunting down dinner should I get waylaid in the backwoods), and two cell phones (from two different companies--one always seems to have a signal when the other doesn't although neither worked for most of this trip).
• Travel will take longer than expected. Meeting another friend at what I figured was fairly close to my destination, I inquired how long it would take to reach X's house. "For me? About a half hour. For you? Better plan for closer to an hour since you don't know the roads." Then he chuckled. Amusing but true, if you don't know the roads or are unfamiliar with the driving conditions, the distance/time calculator on a map will be of little use.
• A plan. Depending on the circumstance, the spouse generally knows where I am going, approximately when I will return, and the route I am taking. This is just a basic security measure developed after living in a third would country where the family likes to know where to start looking for your body.

That's it basically. Of course the same friend always has much to say in the rare instances when he ventures out to the city--crazy drivers, exits heading off the freeway every which way, cars going 90+...you get the idea.

10 Quick Steps to Get Your Financial House In Order

Everyone should have their financial house in order. Whether you need to bug out at a moment's notice, a financial disaster strikes, or you (God forbid) die, the impact of having a firm financial foundation for both yourself and your loved ones cannot be overstated. Here's ten quick steps to get you there:

1. Have an emergency fund. Keep $200 cash in your wallet, $500-$1000 cash in your home, and $10,000 in the bank.
2. Get rid of debt. Pick the debt with the lowest balance and hammer away at it until it is gone. Move on to the next higher balance debt, get rid of that, and so on. When your consumer debt is gone, move on to your auto and mortgage debts.
3. Make sure you are well insured. You should have home, health, life, and auto insurance at a minimum.
4. Review your spending. Obviously if your spending habits are putting you in the poor house, you will need to make significant changes, however everyone should evaluate how they spend money. Reduce the unnecessary, frivolous spending (lattes, junk food, etc) and if you must spend money buy items that appreciate in value (firearms for example).
5. Cut your expenses. Arrange your expenses, and your life, around how YOU want to live not how the neighbors, family members and the Jones' live. If you don't watch much TV, cancel cable. If you are online all day at work, consider canceling your home Internet service.
6. Increase your income. Start a low/no investment needed side business. Get a part time job. Ask for a raise. Change jobs for a more lucrative opportunity. Do all of the above.
7. Have a plan. If you have specific goals, you will have a target to aim for. Getting financially fit is great, but there is more impetus to succeed at this endeavour if you have a specific goal or goals you are working towards.
8. Invest. Invest in yourself (education, skills, tools), invest in your children (education, skills), and invest in a well-diversified portfolio (real estate, stocks, bonds, CDs, mutual funds, etc).
9. Make it a habit to save money. Americans have a savings rate of -.4% which is unsustainable (duh). Make saving your change, saving money from each paycheck, and saving unexpected monies a regular habit. And don't spend it.
10. Plan for your retirement and eventual death. Both of these events will have a significant impact on the finances of you and your loved ones. Start planning now to prepare financially for retirement by making sure you will have the money available to sustain you for decades after you quit working. Also plan for your death...have a will, power of attorney, money to pay for your funeral, and the knowledge of how to pass on your assets without incurring a huge tax debt for your children.

Interesting Ideas

Some interesting links and ideas:

• Hidden messages with thermo reactive ink http://www.dezeen.com/2007/11/13/well-done-a-food-company-annual-report-that-has-to-be-cooked-first/
• Turn your text into computerized speech http://www.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php
• How much do you know about where you are? http://www.kk.org/helpwanted/archives/cat_the_big_here.php

Why the Third World is Catching Up With the US

In a totally random, completely unscientific survey of the many places I have traveled to, I have noted a number of reasons that the people of many third world countries are catching up with, and in some cases surpassing, the people of the US in a number of areas.

• They save money. In China, the average rate of savings is 30% of household income. The average rate of savings in the US is -.4% of household income.
• Industrial nations have the highest overall levels of cancer.
• The US has the most obese and overweight people (64%) in the world. This means more medical costs and less productivity.
• Singapore has a higher life expectancy than the US.
• A greater emphasis is put on a college education in many poorer countries. The kids truly appreciate their education and put this education to work serving industrial nations while also improving the economic levels of their families and communities.
• The countries where citizens are bilingual (with English being taught in schools as well as their native language), the people have much better access to work as the world gets smaller. Some of the best writers and techies I know are from the Philippines and India.
• Common sense. The US is so regulated by laws, rules and litigation, that common sense often seems to be lacking. In developing nations, there are not so many rules and laws and litigation is practically unheard of at the individual level, therefore people rely on their common sense to keep them healthy, safe and secure.
• Mostly because they have no other options, people in developing countries eat a more basic diet (read: no fast food), get more exercise (ie: they walk because they can't afford a car), and have a more laid back attitude (they don't stress over every little thing like Americans do).
• A business sense. In many developing nations, you can't walk more than a few yards without seeing a small family business, a small family farm, or a grandmother selling trinkets on the side of the street. Unlike the US where the citizens are brainwashed into being good little worker bees, many people in third world countries know what the bottom line is--buy low, sell high, and make a buck.

OK, before the hate mail starts to flow in, there is hope for America. Many people have already begun to take steps to move away from the typical American brainwashing system. Here's what you can do:

• Being in debt isn't cool. Save money! Aim for 20% savings of your household income.
• Take care of yourself. You have the best medical care available and the best medical information available. Make good choices and improve your health.
• Get the most education you possibly can. Formally, informally, it doesn't matter. As long as you have education and skill, you can use these tools to increase your income and make a difference in the world.
• Learn a foreign language. Chinese may be a good choice, ditto for Spanish. As the world gets smaller, you will no doubt be running into more people who speak a language other than English. Who do you think a Chinese businessman wants to do business with? Someone who only speaks English or someone with the same credentials who can also speak Chinese?
• Use common sense. Just because you can sue someone doesn't mean you should. Learn lessons as they come (both good and bad) and move forward. And if you are in a marked crosswalk and a big truck is quickly coming your way, get out of the way whether you are in the right or not.
• Don't do things just because everyone else is doing it. If you don't need a 4500 square foot house, don't buy it just to show off. If you don't mind riding the bus, leave your car at home. Mostly relax, Americans tend to stress out about the smallest things.
• Develop a business sense. You should always be able to make money without having to kiss up to a boss. You may enjoy your corporate job, however it doesn't define you. As the book says, make yourself You, Inc.

DPT--Emergency Info on Your Fridge

An acquaintance had a major medical incident a couple of days ago which required a call to 911, a ride in the ambulance, and a multi-day stay in the hospital. I just happened to arrive at his house as the incident was unfolding--he was unable to provide any information to the paramedics and I knew basically nothing about him so the medics had to garner what little information they could from random messages on the fridge and the prescription bottles in the bathroom. To provide information to emergency responders when you are physically unable to do this, you need a paper on your refrigerator with the following information for each family member:

• Full name, address, birth date, contact phone number
• Name and phone number of your doctor
• Name and phone number of your emergency contacts (at least two people)
• Pertinent medical history (illnesses, surgeries, chronic diseases, etc)
• All current medications that you are taking (both prescription and over-the counter: name, dosage)
• A POLST (Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) or DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) form. These forms need to be signed by your doctor and provide information on what life-sustaining treatments you want performed and which treatments you don't want performed in an emergency situation. These forms are usually provided to patients who have a terminal disease or a serious chronic condition.

You may also want to have: a medical power of attorney, a Living Will, and an organ donor designation.

Sunday Morning Roundup: Get Healthy Edition

Good health is one of the best preparedness tools out there. You can have all of the fancy survival equipment in the world, however if your health is lousy, your odds of surviving a disaster decline drastically. Here's how to get (and stay) healthy:

• 50 Easy Ways to Lose Weight
• World's Healthiest Foods
• 42 Exercise Hacks
• Healthy Habits
• 20 Snacks that Enhance Productivity
• Hooah 4 Health
• MediterrAsian
• Oldways

10 Real Life Reasons Why You Need to Be Ready to Bug Out

It's been a busy few months around here with a record number of natural disasters which have necessitated "bugging out" by hundreds of people at a moments notice. While most disasters did not require a long term change in circumstances, these events, none the less, show how important it is to have a handful of cash and a bug out bag on hand at all times. Here's the short list:

1. As I write this, Snoqualmie Pass is closed. A friend has been waiting for two days to cross this major east-west corridor and get home to the other side of the state. After waiting for hours for the pass to open then hearing that an avalanche would keep the freeway closed for an indeterminate period of time, he is now holed up in a hotel (with his car BOB) waiting....and waiting.


2. A month ago while at a meeting I was speaking to a colleague in Washington state. Suddenly she yelled "there's a f^&*ing tornado heading my way!" and the phone disconnected. Come to find out, a freak tornado had come out of nowhere--an event that is exceedingly rare in that part of the country. Thankfully no one was killed or injured but there was widespread damage and some people were forced out of their homes for a period of time.


3. From reading prior posts, you will note that a windstorm came through our area of the country leaving many homes without power for over a week. Yet another example of a reason people (especially those with the elderly or small children to care for) can be forced to bug out for a while.


4. Following the windstorm there was a "hundred year" flood that closed another major highway for a week, and wiped away homes, bridges, businesses, and farms. Many families were given less than a hour's notice to evacuate their homes, only to return to a piece of land with nothing left standing on it.


5. If you followed the wildfire situation in California, you will note that once again, families were given sometimes only minutes to flee their homes with what they could carry. These people also returned to basically a bare piece of ground and ashy remnants of their lives in many instances.


6. Snow. We've had lots of it this year. In areas that rarely get more than a couple of feet of snow at a time, some people ended up driving down the mountain and staying at hotels while they waited for the twenty plus feet of snow that covered roads and even their homes to be cleared.


7. "Storm Traps Amtrak Riders". That's one of the many headlines today. What was supposed to be a few hour ride is now a multi-day event for a train-load of passengers. At least with your bug-out-bag, you will be prepared for events like this.


8. I know more than a couple of people who have received notice that their loved ones were at the state trauma center a couple of hours away. In all cases, these people had to run home, grab what they could for an indeterminate length of stay at the hospital, all the while focusing soley on their loved one. Being able to grab your BOB which has everything in it, creates one less thing to worry about in this type of situation.


9. Domestic violence is another situation that can require an immediate bug out. In many situations when counseling victims of domestic violence, the women a. didn't have any money, b. had to leave with just the clothes on their backs (foregoing important documents, toiletries and other basics), and c. had no where to go and ended up in a shelter. In many of these cases, they would have had a better time of it had they a. had a secret savings account with lots of money in it, b. had their BOBs ready (ostensibly in preparation for a natural disaster), and c. could use aforementioned savings to resettle themselves in another area.


10. Finally, you never know when a chemical spill (a train derailed next to a major military base causing a localized evacuation), hostage situation (in one multi-hour, event the entire neighborhood was evacuated), or other freak event (a crane fell through a man's apartment killing him instantly and causing other tenants to be evacuated until the structure could be checked) will occur. All the more reason to have cash and BOB on hand at all times.