Breaking: China and Russia Dump the Dollar

The news of China and Russia deciding the dump the dollar has been lighting up the internet for the past few hours. This could have serious consequences...

• Today's news.
• And what that news may mean.
• And a prediction from two years ago.

Update: More articles on this...

• From the Independent
• Over at the GunBroker forum
• From the IBT
• And one more article

10 Reasons Flyers Should Choose to "Opt Out" Tomorrow

For those who haven't heard, tomorrow--November 24th, the day before Thanksgiving--has been chosen as National Opt Out Day which means that those who will be flying on the busiest travel day of the year will be encouraged to opt out of the backscatter xray screening process at US airports nationwide. While I am not flying tomorrow, if I was, I too would opt out of the new screening process, here's why:

1. Because people shouldn't have to choose whether to be doused with radiation, let someone see you naked, or be sexually assaulted in order to travel from point A to point B.
2. Because I am a fan of civil disobedience--it gets the point across quickly, publicly, and succinctly.
3. Because although it will be inconvenient, it was also inconvenient to end segregation, give women the right to vote, fight against the British so we didn't end up living in the United States of England, and many other good causes.
4. Because it will send a loud and clear message to our legislators that the public won't stand for such treatment.
5. Because I am a fan of the Bill of Rights and this type of treatment infringes on Articles 4, 5 and 8.
6. Because I am also a fan of Ben Franklin and firmly agree with his statement "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."
7. Because I have yet to hear of a single person being identified as a terrorist through these extreme screening processes.
8. Because Bruce Schneier knows what he is talking about. Re: here, here, and here.
9. Because doing so en masse will make this a Thanksgiving to remember.
10. Because I would rather take my chances with the terrorists than be subject to more and more extreme violations of my privacy, my body, and my freedoms.

10 30-Second "Save Your Life" Activities

It doesn't take long to save a life. In 30 seconds you can:

1. Put your seatbelt on. Seatbelts save lives, it's a fact, and it's a very fast, simple thing to do (be sure to push the belt low around your hips instead of letting it ride over top of your belly; in a high speed crash, a belt that rides up high instead of low around your hips can snap your spine).
2. Go push the test button on your smoke alarm. Did it ring? If yes, you're done, if no, you will need to change the batteries in it.
3. Put your kid in a car seat. Once the seat is installed properly-and of course you tested the seat in the store for ease of you--it takes less than a minute to secure your kid to the seat which makes a whole lot of difference in the event of a car accident.
4. Have your blood pressure checked. They have these machines all over the place (grocery stores, the mall, etc) and they only take about 30 second to give you a read out. If it is too high or too low (there will be a chart on the machine) follow up with your medical provider.
5. Lock your door when you enter or leave your home or vehicle. This is a quick activity that can soon become a habit if you do it consistently and it can save your life in the event that you are targeted by a random car jacker or robber.
6. Secure your firearm. This could be as simple as removing the magazine or emptying the rounds from a revolver and stashing them in your pocket. Obviously you should have a better plan for securing your firearms, but in the event that you need to leave your firearm anywhere that it is not under your direct control, doing this simple task could save the life of a curious kid or adult that doesn't know anything about safe weapons handling.
7. Take the car keys away from someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It sounds quick and easy but trying to reason with someone who is under the influence is like banging your head against the wall. Nevertheless, this simple, quick action could save a life (or many lives for that matter).
8. Before you hop on your bike or motorcycle, stick a helmet on your head. It takes just a few seconds to do this but the difference between a massive amount of road rash and a traumatic brain injury is significant.
9. If you are caught after dark walking outside, whip out your cell phone and use it to help make yourself visible to passing cars. Drivers can't see you if it is dark and you are wearing dark clothing.
10. If you (or your kid) are playing sports and sustain a hard knock on the head, stop playing for the day. It takes a few seconds to call a time out and excuse yourself from the game (another thing that's easier said than done), which is better than the alternative (multiple head injuries that could render you an invalid or dead).

10 Must-Do Outdoor Experiences

I think people are hard-wired to need to be in nature. Although the spouse might disagree, thinking that "roughing it" entails an el-cheapo hotel room and no mall in the area, there is something primal about being outside. Here's ten must-do outdoor experiences that everyone should have:

1. Fishing. Everyone should catch at least one fish in their lifetime.
2. Hunting. If you eat meat, you ought to experience how it gets to your table--from on-the-hoof to on-the-plate.
3. Navigating overland. Whether you follow a trail or head out cross country with a compass or GPS device, wayfinding is a timeless art.
4. Navigating over water. Whether you choose a canoe, kayak, or Bayliner, there is something timeless about traveling over water.
5. Camping, complete with tent, sleeping bag, fresh air, a campfire, hearing things rustling around at night, etc.
6. Backpacking. This means really getting away from civilization on your own two feet with no opportunity to call for pizza or even get back to civilization without major effort on your part.
7. Climb a mountain. It can be a hill as they have on the east coast or a full-fledged mountain which you will find on the west coast. Hiking up to the pinnacle of a mountain where you can see all that lays below can be a surreal experience.
8. Forage for food. It is sad that many people, and even more kids, think that food only comes from the grocery store. Actually finding your own food (from wild berries to edible mushrooms, to picking crawdads out of the river) connects you to the cycle of life.
9. Grow your own food. Again, digging in the dirt, nurturing your plants, and enjoying the harvest is something our ancestors did for centuries and is a vital part of the life cycle.
10. Being in the outdoors in the dead of winter. Whether you choose to go skiing, walk through newly fallen snow, or climb up an ice waterfall, exploring nature in winter is something everyone should do.

And of course, don't forget these items.

Adventures With the TSA

I spent the last couple of months flying around the US and beyond and fortunately I am happy to report that I didn't have a single run in with the TSA. Not so for others...

• TSA Groping Out of Control
• TSA Encounter at SAN
• The Indignity About the Full Body Scanners
• What the TSA Isn't Saying About the Full Body Scanners
• Protect Yourself and Your Family Against TSA Tyranny

And a bonus: 35 Secrets Your Pilot Won't Tell You

Prepping For: A Medical Disaster

I stopped into a client's office last week. As usual, I had a great conversation with his office manager who has been like a fixture in his office for nearly a decade. She is always there, morning to night, any time I stop by. She runs everything smoothly and effortlessly, she is a relatively young 40-something, and everyone relies on her--her kids, her husband, her extended family, the people in the office, and especially my client--she's like his right arm.

Fast forward to Sunday morning when I get a panicked call from my client (also a friend) saying that his assistant had had a massive stroke and had been flown to a Boston-area hospital and would I want to meet him there since I happened to be in the city this week. Of course I met him at the ER then checked back in with him the following day and found that the lady was still in a coma with a not-good prognosis.

If you would have asked me last week about the lady, I would have said that she looked like she would live to 90, now it looks like she may not make it through the week. The lesson here is that, like everything else we prep for, prepping for a medical emergency is something that needs to be done now, while we are still able to do it. Here's how:

• Make sure that you have an updated Will, Living Will, and Medical Power of Attorney (where people can find them!).


• Life and disability insurance is something that everyone who has debts/dependants should have.


• If you don't have debt or dependants and have the cash available so that your next of kin can pay for your funeral, you may not need life insurance but disability insurance is a good idea for every adult. Health insurance is a must.


• Although you/your staff/your spouse may be indispensable, the things that they know how to do shouldn't be a mystery to you/your spouse/your other staffers. Job action sheets or a Standard Operating Procedure manual are a good idea, both for your home and your business.


• Cross training is also another good idea. I have seen small businesses where the one person who knew how to write paychecks was out ill/in the hospital/fired/etc and no one else knew how to do paychecks. Not something you want to try to figure out on a Friday afternoon with employees chomping at the bit. This goes for home-type activities as well. If there is something that the spouse "always does", you should probably learn how to do it as well.


• Having a BOB at home and a BOB in the car for each family member is always a good idea. When the lady collapsed, her entire family hopped in the car and drove the few hours it took to get to the hospital while she was flown there. Obviously people aren't in the frame of mind to stop and pack a bag and remember to feed the cat and all of the other things that you need to do to adequately prepare for being away from home for a period of time. At least with a BOB, all of your must-haves will be with you.


• Having a neighbor or friend you can rely on with a key to your home is also a good idea. Note the cat feeding above. They also may need to pick up your kids from school, check in on your elderly parents, etc.


• You also need to have a contact list with you at all times. I have this list on my computer, on my cell phone, and in a printed version in my BOB. Medical emergencies usually require calling lots of people and providing lots of info, this is easier to do if you have the list of people to call at your fingertips.


• If you or a loved one is in the midst of a medical emergency, this website (http://www.caringbridge.org/) is an excellent way to keep everyone updated without making/answering a hundred calls a day.


• Have a responsible person with you at the hospital if at all possible. If one spouse is severely injured/ill, it is always best to have a stable/responsible person with the other spouse at the hospital because in the midst of trauma, the waiting spouse often hears "blah, blah, blah, serious, blah, blah, critical...". The friend can more easily take in all of the information and help with calls to relatives/explaining things to the waiting spouse/etc.


• You need an emergency fund. The family of the lady I told you about above is now holed up in the hospital waiting room, and they also have a room at the hotel across the street from the hospital (in one of the more expensive cities in the country I might add). You will need extra money during a medical emergency for everything from food and beverages for the waiting family to hotel rooms, to gas to get back and forth from home to the hospital, and various other sundries.


• Leave your final instructions with your attorney or in your safe deposit box. There may be many things that you are responsible for in your daily life that no one else will be able to figure out. What will happen with your blogs and websites? Have you been secretly sending support to a child your spouse doesn't know about? All of these sorts of things need to be planned for in the event of your demise/extended incapacity.


• Don't keep stuff that you don't want others to know about. While cleaning out the (massive amount) of papers at my aunts place, I came across a few things that she probably never intended anyone to see. If this is the case, get rid of the items now.


• Don't forget that it is important for all family members to know the basics about emergency first aid response.

So we are still in a holding pattern as far as the lady goes. Many prayers are being said on her behalf and there is always the possibility, no matter how remote, that she will recover, but her family, and indeed my friend's entire office is still reeling from the incident. Take the time now to prepare for this possibility.