Prepping For: Communications Interruptions

If you want to know just how important it is to have communications available during a disaster, look no further than the current situation in Egypt. Over the last day or so, the government has sought to quell the rioting by shutting down the internet and cell communications within the country so that people could not organize their protests or get information to the outside world about what is going on there. And don't think it couldn't happen here--currently Congress is debating their own "kill switch" for the internet, ostensibly to "protect against cyberthreats". Yeah, right. The Internet Society offered a statement on the shutdown, basically saying that such a move is just going to piss people off even more.
So what do you do to prepare for such an event? Here's some ideas:

• Wired offers information about 'How to Communicate if Your Government Shuts off Your Internet'
• Lifehacker also offers information on 'How to Foil a Nationwide Internet Shutdown'
• One of the best ways to be prepared for such an event is to become a HAM radio operator. On a number of message boards, people in Egypt are asking about how to use HAM radio for communications but it's a bit late for that now. In order to use an amateur radio, one needs to take a test to become a licensed amateur radio user, then go out and buy the radio and other equipment they need for communications, then they need to practice using their radio so that in the event of a disaster they will know what to do. In other words, this is something you need to do NOW, not after a disaster happens.
• Another option would be to use a satellite phone.
• And as one article points out, dial up internet is another option (Google 'dial up internet services' for a list of providers)

The situation is continuing to change moment by moment in North Africa. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about what could happen here as well as give you ideas about how to handle such a situation. And the bottom line, as one article pointed out, without the internet, the country will suffer economic doom as most all financial transactions are done via internet these days. Prepare now for such an eventuality...

And a Few More News Links...

Here's a few more news links...with comments:

• Governor of Hawaii Can't Find Obama's Birth Record (how hard is this? either the record is there or it isn't! why are people still trying to figure this out after three years??)
• And another link on the 'War on Cops' topic
• Would-be Suicide Bomber Killed by Unexpected Text Message (poetic justice is a bitch)
• GPS in Cameras and Cell Phones Create Privacy Issues (something to be aware of)
• The Simplest Diet for Lean Fitness (not necessarily a survival article but then again, in a survival situation, you want to be as healthy as possible)

News Round-up (With Comments, of Course)

Feeling bored and snarky today. Here's the latest headlines from CNN:

• Utah May Adopt State Gun (cool!)
• Councilwoman Kills Self and Spouse (for a $94.00 mistake? a bit of an overreaction I think)
• US Missionary Killed in Mexico (unfortunately par for the course in that country these days)
• Kucinich Sues Cafeteria Over Olive ($150,000 for breaking a tooth? Are we glad he isn't President?)
• Teachers May Start Grading Parents (odd but effective way to remind parents that they are responsible for their kids education)
• FaceBook Turns Your Posts Into Ads (need any more evidence that FaceBook is taking over the world?)

LE Shootings Everywhere

I was going to post about the usual survival stuff today but then I decided to hop up on my soapbox and rant a little. Here goes...
Yesterday, I was shocked and dismayed to hear about a shooting involving law enforcement in a small town southwest of Seattle. Two deputies were shot and injured while the suspect and his teen aged girlfriend were killed. A little while later, I saw on the news that an officer was shot and killed in Oregon and, yet a little while later, the story of two officers being killed in Florida while serving a warrant flashed across the bottom of my TV screen. (here's the run down on all of the officer-involved shootings of the past day or so)
Which makes me ask, WTF is going on? It appears to be open season on law enforcement officers and that does not bode well for our society. Yes, there have been slight rumblings of officers "getting away with murder" (note the protests that occur in Seattle after nearly every officer involved shooting, often supporting the person who was shot), there also seems to be an uptick in the certifiably insane going off on shooting sprees. Much more often, however, criminals (we're talking those with multiple-page rap sheets) don't even seem to think twice before pulling out a weapon and shooting law enforcement officers. In fact, when a man ambushed and killed four police officers in cold blood in a town south of Seattle a little over a year ago, a group--five to six--of his family members actually tried to help him elude police. That is crazy.
When people lose respect for law and order, as represented by the use of force against law enforcement officers that are paid to uphold the law, pretty much you are on the way to society going to Hell in a hand basket (witness the situation in Mexico).
I'm sure this will give sociologists something to study and wrap their data around but the bottom line to this problem, I believe, is multi-fold. First, many young people aren't taught by their parents to respect the law, follow rules, and how, if they do have a problem with law enforcement, that there is a right way and a wrong way to follow up on a grievance (not ALL young people but there are plenty of kids in the juvenile justice system who wouldn't be there except for their crappy parents). Then there is the 'Grand Theft Auto' and other video games where players are "rewarded" for shooting law enforcement officers. It's also a fact that actions that receive a lot of publicity spur copy cats (after the OJ car chase that was broadcast nationwide, there was an explosion of people who wanted similar "fame" via car chases caught on camera on the LA freeways). Maybe there are just a whole bunch of desperate, frustrated people out there.
I came across this link where people actually debate this very question.
This is not a road I want to see our society go down. There are plenty of countries where being in law enforcement is like wearing a rather large target on your back. Unfortunately, these are the very same countries where there is quite a lot of lawlessness and very little justice for any one...not the kind of place I would want to live.
I know quite a few law enforcement officers. There are a few that I would have to agree shouldn't be able to own a weapon let alone have a job in law enforcement but the vast majority are good guys (and gals) who are really in the job because they want to make a positive difference in their communities. It is a difficult job in many aspects; they deal with probably the worst people that society has to offer, and they need to make split-second, potentially life-altering decisions on a regular basis. They want to be cordial and polite to everyone they come in contact with, yet they know that there is an element in society that would just as soon punch them, or worse, shoot them, if they give them any leeway at all. Unless you are in law enforcement, you can't possibly understand all of the intricacies of the job.
On the other hand, the public perception of law enforcement seems to be teetering on a wire. It's pretty much a given that law enforcement will back up law enforcement no matter what they do. There have been a handful of shootings in Seattle that have been labeled as "justified" which in the public's mind clearly weren't.
Something needs to be done about this. I have no idea what that "something" might be, but I don't see a positive turn around to this problem. In fact, I see this as yet another step towards TEOTWAWKI, or some such thing...

Health and Fitness for TEOTWAWKI

Much like planning for food for TEOTWAWKI, if there is a world-wide disaster, or even a very large disaster in your country, you will pretty much be on your own when it comes to your health as well. Unfortunately, compared to say fifty years ago, there is a very large percentage of people who simply won't survive a serious disaster because they rely very heavily on an organized society to provide for them (think meds, doctors, oxygen company, public transit for the elderly and infirm, visiting nurses, welfare medical coupons, welfare/disability payments, et al).
When society collapses, these people will be toast. Here's how to NOT be these people:

• Do what you can to get off medications for chronic diseases. It is much easier to take high blood pressure/high cholesterol/diabetes medications than to go out and exercise and eat the right food. The problem comes when supply lines are down and you can't get these meds. Do whatever is necessary to improve your health to the best of your abilities.
• If you do rely on medications for your current medical conditions, see about stockpiling these medications. Depending on what you take this could be a very expensive proposition. Hopefully you have the cash to do this and a doctor who will understand your need to stockpile (and write you the prescription for say, a year's worth of meds). Another option (don't know how legal this is) is to buy your medications in foreign countries where they cost much less and often don't require a prescription.
• Exercise. A lot. I would suggest parkour but then I imagine me doing parkour and think better of that suggestion. Although I like the survival implications of parkour, any kind of exercise you do will be valuable in a survival situation. Just remember to concentrate on exercises that improve cardio, strength, and flexibility.
• Put together a stellar first aid kit. I would toss in anything that could be even remotely useful in a medical incident but I wouldn't use things I don't know how to use (for example, it is a good idea to have things like ET tubes even if you don't know how to use them in case a nurse or paramedic happens to come by).
• Stock the medications, both over the counter and prescription, that you can use in a survival situation. Everything from Thera-Flu to broad spectrum antibiotics and pain killers that can take down an elephant are suggested. Remember that prescription meds are usually best had with a prescription. Fortunately I have a doctor that understands both the need for stocking such meds and also understands that I know how to appropriately use them. Note, if you don't know how to use said meds, don't guess, you could die. Study up on this topic ahead of time.
• Speaking of meds, plenty of people have considered using veterinary meds which can be had without a prescription and have stocked up appropriately. Again this takes research and education before actually running out to the feed store and buying out their drug section.
• Speaking of studying, it's a good idea to learn about emergency first aid. First responder courses are a good start, an EMT course is even better, if you have the time and desire, maybe become a paramedic (which takes a huge amount of time and commitment).
• The most important thing to remember, especially when you don't have emergency medical services available (like what would happen after a major disaster) is to simply be careful. People take it for granted that they can do some pretty boneheaded things, first, because they either don't realize that what they are doing is dangerous or second, they don't care (witness a wide range of videos on YouTube). However, when there are no doctors or first responders available, again, you will be on your own so extra care and caution when doing anything that could have a negative impact on your health and/or life is in order.
• Finally, if you or a loved one is in a medically vulnerable position (elderly, seriously ill) then you--and they--need to come up with a plan for what you/they would do if there was a disaster that would keep them isolated for weeks or even months. What if they can't get to a doctor? What if they don't have meds? Where would they get their oxygen from? Is having emergency power a necessity? People don't realize the impact that not having these things would have on someone who absolutely relies on them. A friend who provided medical services at the airport after Hurricane Katrina said the thing they most needed after the disaster was, of all things, adult diapers. There were hundreds of elderly and ill people in the sweltering airport terminal in New Orleans and they couldn't get up to go to the bathroom and there were not enough staff to help them get up and go to the bathroom. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

The bottom line is that like everything else after a major disaster, you will basically be on your own. Plan accordingly.

Gardening for TEOTWAWKI

A few posts back, a reader asked about gardening and non-hybrid seed procurement. Here's my take on the subject:

• If you aren't currently gardening and we have a massive global food shortage in the next few years, you will probably starve to death. I'm not being dramatic, it is just a fact. You've seen how people clamor for food in a localized shortage (Haiti, the tsunami areas, etc) and that is when the whole world is working together to get them food. Now imagine what would happen if all of the countries of the world are facing massive food shortages. No one will be coming to bring you food.
• Gardening has a learning curve to it and it also has a time lag which means if you want to eat from your garden, first you need to start gardening (and experiment...and not expect to harvest a lot to begin with...and work...alot. Then experiment some more and figure out why some of the stuff you planted didn't grow. Repeat.), then you have to wait for your garden to produce (some things grow fairly quickly, other items take months), then you have to learn how to process your food via canning, freezing, pickling, etc. for future use.
• To be completely self sufficient, you need to start with a good assortment of seeds and then you need to learn how to save seeds from what you produce to plant the next season. This is where non-hybrid seeds come in as some vegetable seeds that you buy at the store often only come in hybrid varieties. Here's a good explanation about why you want to use non-hybrid seeds: www.non-hybrid-seeds.com/anhs/whyusenonhybridseeds.html
• Then there is the whole natural disaster possibility. Farming, and on a smaller scale, gardening, is particularly susceptible to all kinds of natural disasters that can wipe out your entire crop including floods, freezes, drought, blight, animals and bugs eating your crops, etc.
• Another thing to worry about is how you will protect your crops. If there is such a food shortage that your neighbors are literally starving, the little fence around your garden won't keep them out. Then what will you do?
• For a number of reasons, it won't be feasible to grow all of the plants you need to sustain yourself. Think of all of the foods that you eat. Could you grow all of these plants? Growing a variety of grains (wheat, oats, rice) is difficult for many reasons, including the fact that some may not grow well in your climate, the amount of land you would need to grow these grains, and the amount of processing they would need after harvest. Other things you have come to rely on such as coffee and spices may not even grow in your area. Because of these things, you may need supplements to cover all of the nutrients you wouldn't get from your limited garden.
• Most people don't have the land needed to grow enough to feed their family year round. I like the 'square-foot-gardening' theory but when it comes to production farming you need land. To harvest the ton of food you may need, you need land. Five acres, ten acres...hundred acres... Oh yeah, you also need the people to do the work, thus the large farm families of decades past.

Here's some things to do:

• By all means, start gardening even if it is only tomato plants on your apartment balcony. At least you will learn something about growing your own food.
• Consider other types of gardening such as sprouting seeds, growing mushrooms in a closet, hydroponics, etc.
• Learn how to forage for food in your local area (this is a good skill to know but not a complete solution to food shortages because everyone and their brother will be out doing the same thing).
• Stockpile supplements and vitamins.
• Practice putting food up for future use. Canning, drying, pickling, freezing, making jam...all of these valuable skills are really not that difficult with practice, unfortunately doing these things is not nearly as common as they were in years past.
• Learn how to trade your produce with your neighbors. This will allow you to bring in a wider variety of produce than what you could grow yourself.
• Consider sea vegetables (seaweed, kelp, etc).
• Find local sources of fruit and vegetables. Join a CSA or a co-op, go to u-pick farms, check out local ethnic market and vegetable stands, etc.
• And the obvious: stockpile at least a year's worth of food (canned, frozen, dried, etc).

Where Do Survivalists Shop?

The short answer would be "my house" as we are now in the process of liquidating almost everything we own before we head off to travel for a couple of years. Here's where I have noticed that most 'survival-minded' people shop for their gear/supplies:

• Garage sales. This is an excellent place to shop for nearly everything the survivalist could need including gardening stuff, tools, outdoor gear, household goods, etc. You never know what you will find so it takes a bit of patience to get the "good stuff" but the best things about garage sales is that you buy your stuff on a cash-only basis (no pesky security cameras or credit card paper trail to immortalize your purchase).
• CraigsList. Similar to garage sales, you are buying (usually) used items but people really do list the most wide-ranging list of items on this popular website. Again, these sales are anonymous, cash-only, no names sales that can net you a lot of great stuff without the Big Brother part.
• Private sales. Word of mouth can be a great way to sell/buy what you need. Just letting friends know you are looking for a _____ or you want to sell a _____ can bring buyers or sellers to you rather quickly. Buying and selling firearms this way is, as Martha Stewart would say, a good thing.
• Thrift stores. Another good option is your local thrift store where items may be new (but are usually used) and they are generally much cheaper than what you would find in a regular store. Use cash, not your credit or debit cards here as well.
• No-name stores. This category includes small businesses that sell antiques, re-sell items (generally that the owner has gleaned at estate sales and auctions), etc. Usually these stores prefer cash sales but they often accept credit cards as well.
• Auctions. My granddad couldn't pass up a good auction. There are plenty of deals to be had if you know what you are doing at an auction and while these places are more competitive than garage/estate sales, you can also walk away with some pretty good stuff for very little money (depending...I usually avoid auctions in cities as everyone and their brother comes to these and often bid up to more than the value of an item which is both annoying and flies in the face of getting a good deal).
• The big box stores. Sometimes you just need certain items that you either can't wait to buy at the places listed above or can't find. So off you go to the local Walmart or Home Depot to acquire said items. A caveat...shopping at these places will create a digital trail of your visit. If I had a quarter for every murderer who I have seen on surveillance video at one of these stores buying duct tape, zip ties, a shovel, a garbage can, sheet plastic...you get the idea.

Need Help? Here's Where to Look

People need help all the time. From asking why your computer is DOA to finding out where your next meal is coming from, if you find yourself destitute, here's some places to try if you need help:

• AskMetafilter. People use this site to seek help on all kinds of issues from relationship problems to travel questions to tech/cooking/health/et al issues.
• Reddit. This is a huge site with a special section to ask for help from other redditors.
• Call 211. It's like dialing 911 but this nation-wide number connects callers to all kinds of social service help in their local communities (food banks, emergency housing, job training, etc). You can also visit the online 211 site here.
• Google. Many problems can be solved, or at least helped, by Googling. I have been able to Google computer problems (and solve them with what I found on Google) and provide referrals for all kinds of things (crisis intervention, medical /legal), etc. just from typing away on my computer.
• Local churches. There are all kinds of churches; some are more helpful than others with everything from pastoral care to hosting food banks, emergency housing, and other services for people in need.
• Community "helping" agencies. Such as the Salvation Army (food, toiletries, occasionally shelter), St Vincent de Paul (help with utility bills and food), YWCA (domestic violence support and emergency shelters), state welfare office (food stamps, housing, cash assistance), etc.
• Ask people. Getting help in it's simplest form comes down to asking people for what you need. Whether you are asking the family to help with a project, standing on a corner with a sign asking passers-by for a spare dollar, asking for a job, or asking friends or relatives for a place to stay, a pleasing personality and the nerve to ask for help when you need it can be one of the easiest and fastest way to get the help you need.

Firearms and TEOTWAWKI

I was chatting with a guy I know from the range today. He informed me that he is basically stockpiling firearms with "the end of the world as we know it" in mind. Whatever that means. So here are a few of my concerns (some of which I voiced, others of which I didn't):

Once you have an arsenal of firearms, what if:

• you run out of ammo? (I would suggest a side hobby of reloading and stocking up on the components needed for reloading and of course saving your brass whenever you practice)
• TEOTWAWKI is actually an earthquake, flood, mudslide, etc and your home becomes unlivable. What do you do with your arsenal then (as in how to you move your firearms to a new location, which new location would this be, how would they be stored at your new location, etc)
• you have too many varieties of weapons? (problems may include difficulty in securing the variety of ammo needed, not having enough of the ammo you use the most because you are purchasing ammo for all of your other weapons, other family members being unfamiliar with the different weapons--remember it may be them, not you, using said weapons--and your own unfamiliarity with practicing with the weapons if, for example, you have 100 different firearms)
• they are all registered to you and the authorities come calling for them? (my friend has about half of his firearms purchased by/registered to him and half bought from private citizens with only a receipt to link the weapon to his name)
• your huge stash of weapons becomes common knowledge (not so much of a problem now--depending on what neighborhood you live in--but this could definitely be a problem with society run amok and people who know about your stash becoming desperate)
• something happen such as your arsenal gets buried in a land slide and you end up with zero firearms when you need them most? (Time for a plan B. What is your plan B?)

Those are a few of the things that ran through my mind as I was talking with my friend. I guess the main point is that, of course it is better to have a firearm than not have one in a survival situation, however just because you have a firearm doesn't mean you are finished being prepared, you need to consider all of the other possibilities as well.

Thinking About Buying a Firearm for Protection? Here's 20 Questions to Ask First

The recent shooting in Arizona made quite a few people suggest that congressmen, and others, should run out and buy a gun for protection. If you have been considering buying a firearm for personal defense, here’s 20 questions you should ask yourself first:
1. Is everyone in relative agreement about having a firearm in the house for protection? If one spouse wants a firearm and the other is adamantly opposed to it, these issues should be worked out before you make your purchase.
2. Are there any situations in the home which would preclude safely having a firearm? If there is domestic violence, mental illness, alcoholism, or someone who is suicidal living in the home, having a firearm in the mix is probably not a good idea.
3. Are there any convicted felons in the home? Legal issues regarding a felon in possession of a firearm, even if it is registered to another member of the household, should be addressed before purchasing the firearm.
4. Are you aware of the laws and local sentiment regarding having and using a firearm for protection in your locale? Laws vary widely and so does the sentiment of the prosecutor/DA should you actually end up killing someone on your property. Know these things ahead of time.
5. Do you have a safe location in which to store your firearm? Hidden behind the clothes on the top shelf of the closet is not a good answer. With firearms ownership comes the responsibility to keep it away from those who shouldn’t have access to it (your kids, your kid’s friends, guests in your home, burglars, etc).
6. Are you willing to take a “firearms for personal defense class”? Even if you went shooting every day as a kid or frequently used a firearm in the military, personal defense classes cover many topics that are specific to the kind of use you are thinking about.
7. Are you willing to make the investment of time and money to practice regularly? I’m talking about at least 50 rounds per week at the nearest firing range. This is a big commitment of time as well as money but it is imperative if you intend to use your firearm as a means of protection.
8. Are you aware of any registration/licensing you may need to do if you buy a firearm? Again, laws vary by jurisdiction and you may also want to carry your firearm concealed off of your property which could necessitate a concealed carry license.
9. Are you aware of how owning a firearm will impact how others react to you? This could include everything from other parents not letting their kids play at your house because they know you have a firearm to making you a target for burglary if your kids brag about the “arsenal” you keep in your home.
10. Are you willing to take someone’s life? Hopefully and most likely this will never happen but owning a firearm for personal defense means you are willing to use it to kill someone. There is no “I’ll just use my gun to scare someone or “wing” a burglar”. When it comes to the point that you are pulling out a weapon to defend yourself, the probable outcome is someone will end up dead and while the movies make using a weapon to defend yourself look glamorous, it is actually anything but.
11. Do you know what kind of firearm(s) you want to purchase? Each type of firearm/weapon caliber has a purpose in self defense from close quarters pistol combat to shotguns and rifles for particular purposes. It is a good idea to go to a firing range and try a variety of firearms as well as seek the advice of experts before you make your purchase.
12. Are you willing to take care of the nitty gritty details of firearms ownership? Including but not limited to keeping your firearm clean and in good working order, education yourself about the differences in the ammo that is available for your weapon, maybe taking a foray into reloading, etc?
13. Are you willing to continue your education in personal defense? A basic personal protection class is just that, pretty basic. You usually get an overview of firearms, an overview of local laws, a bunch of safety tips, and some range time. This in no way covers everything you need to know about using a firearm for defense which is why continued, advanced training is a necessity.
14. Would you consider participating in other types of gun owner activities? There is no better way to expand your knowledge of firearms and related firearm topics than going to gun shows, reading firearms magazines and websites, joining a shooting club, hanging around other shooters, making friends at the local gun shop, etc.
15. Have you considered a number of “worst case scenarios” and thought of ways to address them? There’s too many to list here but just look up “gun accidents” and you will find not accidents but lapses in safety, education, supervision, and skill. How would you address these in your household?
16. Do you know the limit of your firearms knowledge and skill? There’s no shame in being a newbie, that’s how everyone starts out, but it’s a wise person who realizes they can’t teach their own kids or spouse about shooting until they have improved their skills. It’s a wise gun owner who isn’t ashamed to admit they don’t know something instead of just guessing at an answer that could have catastrophic consequences.
17. Would you be a responsible gun owner? Some people just aren’t. The ones I am speaking of get drunk then haul out their firearms to show their friends, they have anger management issues that haven’t been addressed, they “brag” about their guns to anyone who will listen, they think they are safe shooters even as they sweep their friends while finding their target during practice. You get the idea.
18. Are you willing to publicly support firearm ownership? No longer are we secure in our right to own firearms. It takes everyone who is supportive of firearms rights to “support the cause” whether you join the NRA, volunteer to teach a hunter safety course, or discuss your views with your politicians and vote accordingly. If our rights aren’t protected and defended, pretty soon we won’t have these rights.
19. Will you completely disregard anything you have seen in the movies or on TV in regards to firearms use? The shooting you see on TV or on the movie screen is generally a stylized version of what people, who have often never even held a real firearm, think shooting should look like. It’s hardly realistic and copying some of the crap you see on TV could get you killed. Seek out knowledgeable firearms trainers as your life could depend on it.
20. Are you willing to review/enforce participation in all of the above points for everyone in the home? Even if you know and faithfully follow all of the advice above, if you aren’t the only one living in your house you need to ensure that everyone has considered and practiced the above points from attending classes and practicing to having safety uppermost in their minds when handling a firearm.

That’s a pretty comprehensive list of things to consider. A few decades ago these things weren’t even thought about as it was pretty much a given, at least where I lived, that every house had a shotgun behind the door, a pistol next to the bed, and a rifle hanging in the back window of their truck. These days, especially with fewer and fewer people growing up around firearms, a lot of thought needs to be put into the whole firearms for personal defense question followed, of course, by a lot of education, training, and many considerations for safety.

10 Things You NEED During a Snow Storm

Many people are already knee-deep in snow (even friends from Atlanta have been sending me their snow pictures!). While we had some snow here today, we are expecting maybe six inches or more of the white stuff tomorrow. Here's ten items I always have on hand for snow:

1. Tire chains. My rule is not to drive in the snow because, well, I don't have to. But there is always the possibility that an emergency could come up and I would have to drive on the road with all of the other maniacs with *cough* four-wheel drive *cough* so having chains is a definitely necessity. So is avoiding people with four wheel drives who don't know how to drive them in the snow. Just sayin...
   
2. A snow shovel. If you have ever tried to shovel snow with a garden shovel, you will understand why a shovel made specifically for snow is a necessity.


3. A kerosene heater which is my preferred alternate heating system aside from the fireplace. Snow usually goes with ice which usually goes with trees falling down which usually goes with power lines going down.
   
4. Cold weather gear. Whether I choose to go out in the snow or not, I still like having insulated boots, gloves, a parka, and a hat on hand. When I used to drive in mountainous areas I would keep a set of these items in my vehicle as well because it could be sunny in the lowlands and pouring snow in the mountains.


5. An ice scraper for my vehicle's windshield. I use this about four months out of the year so it is a necessity and works better than the credit card my neighbor uses.


6. Insulation for pipes that could freeze. I also put those little bell insulation cups on my exterior faucets. If you've ever had a pipe freeze and burst you know how important it is and how much less of a hassle it is to prepare ahead of time to keep your pipes from freezing.


7. Basic survival supplies in your home and car: flashlights, extra batteries, portable radio, charged cell phones, ready-to-eat food, matches, candles, blankets, etc. Again, if there is a power outage or your are stranded in your car, you need to be prepared to feed, entertain, and take care of yourself for a while.


8. A list of resources. Depending on your situation, you may need to know where local warming shelters are (call 211), know how to acquire prescription meds/extra oxygen/etc during a storm, know where to call with help to keep your electricity/gas on even if you can't pay the bill (call 211), have the emergency numbers for your electric/gas/water company in case you have an emergency and can't look the numbers up online, know what radio stations to listen to for emergency information, etc. Note that you should gather this information prior to the storm.


9. Basic supplies for everyday living. During most major storms everything from gas stations to grocery stores may be closed. If you read this blog you probably have a pretty good stockpile of stuff, but I am always amazed when they show people on the news running out to stores ahead of the storm trying to buy everything from blankets to toilet paper to diapers to milk to generators. Again, prepare prior to a storm. You should have enough supplies in your home right now to stay put in your home for a week even without any advanced warning.


10. A couple of bags of sand or kitty litter. This stuff comes in handy for a number of things, namely providing traction if your car is stuck in the snow, making your driveway and walkways less slippery, or even for adding weight to the back of your truck.

That's it. With these supplies you should be able to weather any storm.

p.s. Should you choose to go out/are required to go out during a big snow storm, I highly recommend an emergency locator beacon. No joke...one of these could save your life in certain circumstances.

Yesterday's Shooting in Arizona

If you have been anywhere near the news since yesterday, you probably heard about the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and 19 other people at a political event in Tuscon. Here's some random thoughts on the topic:

• By the time you start offing politicians, you've pretty much lost democracy. There is a political way to "take back" the government and it doesn't have anything to do with violence or political hatred on all sides.
• And yes, Sarah Palin, your "Take Back the 20" targets look like gun sites to me, not survey markers. This doesn't put the blame on anyone but the shooter but when you carry a lot of political weight, you need to use it responsibly.
• Like almost every other mass shooting, this situation seems to be a failure of the mental health system, not the failure of gun control. Note to people in Congress and other politicians...if you want to prevent many of these shootings you need to fix our horribly broken mental health system. It's the psychopath on the other end of the gun that is causing the problem, not the gun itself!
• A typical knee-jerk reaction was the ludicrous call for all in congress to arm themselves. That's a scary thought. When you choose to carry a gun for protection, you also need to educate yourself about your firearm and, most importantly, PRACTICE regularly. Just carrying a firearm does not protect you!
• If a person in the public eye is thinking that they would be able to carry a firearm to protect themself, think again. It is hard enough for the average (well trained) guy on the street to carry a gun for protection. In the case of your average citizen, they will have to recognize the threat (much easier to do when you are in a common one-on-one situation not in a large crowd) and then be able to shoot without collateral damage (shooting other people who just happen to be around...much more difficult to avoid in a crowd of people). The bottom line, if you are in a position where you need executive protection, hire a professional and don't try to do it yourself. It would seem to be a very difficult proposition to give a speech and smile nicely at the crowd while at the same time scanning for threats and being in the "ready" position with your firearm.

That's about all. I pray for those who were killed in the shooting and pray for a swift recovery for those who were injured.

My Views on Higher Learning

RG wrote in and asked about my views on higher learning after having read the post on JJ Luna's book 'Skip College and Go Into Business for Yourself'.
My views on higher learning, meaning the education your receive pre and post high school that will enable you to become a self sufficient human being, can be summed up in a handful of bullet points:

• You should only go to college if you can pay cash for it (ie: your parents pay for your education sans loans, you pay for college as you go, or you get scholarships. Don't take out loans for college!).
• You should only attend college if you are going into a field that absolutely requires it (writing doesn't, web design doesn't, being a doctor, lawyer, or rocket scientist does).
• You need a skill (or multiple skills) that you can sell to others. This is especially true in difficult economic times. People won't pay for you to be a paper pusher (note the huge layoffs of middle and upper management), they won't pay for you to do a job that isn't economically feasible (such as car assembly in Detroit when cheaper cars can be had from overseas), they won't pay for you to do something they can do themselves (note the number of restaurant closings...people can cook at home and save money).
• People do pay for things they absolutely need: plumbing fixed, surgery, legal defense, car repair, etc.
• Quit waiting for permission and GO DO SOMETHING! No matter what positions I am hiring for, if the job candidate doesn't have credible experience I don't want to talk to them. I don't even care if they have a degree. I care about #1 can they do the job (based on prior accomplishments and not BS chatter) and #2 can they help make me money (this is where skill as well as the ability to think creatively/logically/strategically comes in). It's that simple. I don't care about degrees and internships, what I care about is can they do what I need done and do it well. I would rather hire the geeky kid down the street that eats, breathes, and sleeps web design (for example) than a person who has a new college degree and no actual experience.
• Whatever skill/skills you choose to have, you should learn something more about said skill every day, become an industry insider, practice your skill every day, learn how to market/sell said skill(s), give some of your skill/service away for free to good causes, become known as an expert in your field, do such a good job that word of mouth brings you more than enough work, and leverage your skill/service a number of ways in order to have multiple sources of income from it.
• I think everyone should own their own business. When you own your own business and you are your own boss, many things become quickly apparent. Everything from budgeting to pricing to customer service to continued education to deal making to PR to all of the other things that impact your bottom line become of the utmost importance. There is no padding the expense account, brown-nosing the boss, reading FaceBook all day instead of working, etc. that many people do at work and think it constitutes an income-producing job.
• There is also a place for strategic thinkers which may come with higher learning but often comes with experience/logical thinking. Simply, they see a need in the market and meet that need. Hard times? They open a second hand store because they know people would rather pay second hand prices than full retail when times are tough. There was also the story about a guy who was selling used cars until he noted that people would pay more for individual parts off a car than what the car would bring as a whole so he opened an auto junk yard and made much more than he ever did as a car salesman.
• You also want to work on sub-skills that will allow you to improve your money-making opportunities such as having a good attitude and personality so people will want to hire/work with you, develop your understanding of accounting and finance which is important in any business, brush up on particular areas of your chosen skill (this may include a pertinent college class or two), find a mentor in your field, network in your field, etc.

The bottom line is to pick something you want to do in order to earn a living at it then GO OUT AND DO IT! And strive to do it better than any one else.

Get Your Free Financial Survival E Book

Check out this free e book entitled "In the Trenches-Financial Survival During Times of Hardship" here. It contains useful information and some pretty good ideas for working with your money, even during hard times, and making your money work for you.

Change Your Life, Starting Today

Today is New Year's day. It also conveniently falls on a Saturday so you have a couple of days before getting back to the grind in which to make some major changes in your life. Make this the year that you become your own action hero.
This will include the following things:

• Excellent health and fitness
• Being in control of your money, not the other way around
• Being prepared for anything
• Being an excellent role model
• Building the proper network of people to support and help you in your journey

This will preclude the following things:

• Making excuses
• Sitting on the couch watching TV
• Doing the same things you always do (if you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting)
• Settling (for a less than stellar job, less than stellar relationships, less than stellar living conditions, et al)
• Waiting for direction from others (you're the action hero, you make your own direction)

So start today. What is it you will do to move you forward and make your life the stellar testament that it was meant to be? Now go do that....