Are You Prepared to Be Stranded?

It seems a bit ridiculous that two inches of snow in Atlanta has managed to strand thousands of people in stores, schools, and businesses for more than a day but it has.  Which just goes to show that no matter where you are (even in places that don't usually get hard winter weather) or how you usually travel (a two hour commute each day there isn't unusual, but that distance certainly makes it unlikely to be able to leave your car and walk home), you need to be prepared to be stranded in the most unexpected times and places.  Here's how to be prepared for such an occasion:

• Pay attention to the weather reports.  This storm was expected a couple of days out and anyone who has lived in Atlanta knows the city is NOT prepared for snow of any kind.
• ALWAYS have your car BOB with you.
• Have maps of the area you are traveling in (freeways were impassable but back roads may have helped people get around the traffic).
• If there is even the slightest possibility of snow, carry tire chains (no one I know who lives in Atlanta even own car chains since snow is so rare there).
• Always keep your car stocked and ready for the season (always extra food and water stored in your car, blankets and hand warmers during the winter, a tarp and rope during the summer, etc).
• Make sure your BOB has a stock of important items you would need if you were stranded for two or more days (additional prescription meds, a charger for your cell phone, etc).
• If you commute more than a few miles or you are on a trip, never let your gas gauge fall below half.
• Stay with your car unless you are close enough to seek shelter somewhere else (like Home Depot and many restaurants that were allowing stranded people to camp over night).  

And some more simple tips can be found here.

101 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft and Consumer Fraud

Stories of identity theft are rampant, there have been a number of recent retail data hacks, and consumer fraud alerts hit the news on almost a daily basis.  Here are 101 ways to prevent identity theft:

1. Don't have your name on your mail box; just an address is fine.
2. Send your mail from a locked mail box.
3. Receive your mail at a locked postal box (your own or at the post office)
4. Get on the 'do not mail' list.
5. Be sure to shred any mail you receive that has personal information on it.
6. Review your free annual credit report and correct any problems; do this yearly.
7. Leave a generic message on your phone (don't add the fact that you are out of town until X date).
8. Leave a generic message on your email auto responder (ditto the above).
9. Get on the do not call list.
10. Shred any old documents you no longer need with a cross cut shredder (old financial records, etc).
11. Have online access to your financial institutions and check your accounts regularly for discrepancies.
12. Cancel all but a couple of credit card (more cards mean more you need to monitor).
13. Don't participate in surveys, raffles, "win a free car" drawings, etc. which require you to provide all of your information (name, address, birthdate, etc).
14. Put a 'no soliciting' sign on your door and don't open your door to people you didn't invite to your home.
15. Don't leave items with your personal information (bills, documents) laying around the house, on your desk at work, or sitting in your car where others can see them, take a photo of them, or simply take them.
16. Don't carry more in your wallet than you need (no social security card, no birth certificate, no list of passwords, etc).
17. Ask that your information be marked confidential on county and state tax databases.
18. Consider paying your bills online instead of via the mail.
19. If someone calls and asks for any personal info, get the name of the company and call them back (don't call the number they give you, look up the company's number yourself).
20. Opt out of unsolicited credit offers.
21. Take care of your personal security when out and about (keep your wallet in a front pocket, make sure people aren't watching you enter your PIN when using the ATM, never leave your purse unattended, etc).
22. Be sure your children are safe online.  Children can be targeted by child predators as well as identity thieves who would be only too happy to ask for their name, birth date, and social security number.
23. Pay with cash instead of credit card.
24. If you carry items with an RFID chip (credit cards, passport, driver's license, etc) used a wallet that block RFID scanning.
25. If you notice that something looks "off" with the ATM or credit card reader you are using, don't use it (putting fake scanners on ATMs is not uncommon).
26. If you sell your used computers and cell phones, make sure all of the information on them is completely and permanently erased.
27. If you have particularly sensitive information on an old computer, consider destroying the hard drive.
28. Change your online passwords and PINs regularly (and make them difficult to guess).
29. Do not download files to your computer or apps to your phone that you didn't request.
30. Make sure you regularly update your computer's security (firewall, anti virus, anti spyware) software.
31. Make sure you regularly update your cell phone as well (firmware and other updates).
32. Keep a list of your passwords and PIN numbers (preferably handwritten and in a secure location like your safe; don't put this list on your phone or in an unprotected file on your computer).
33. Keep a list of all of your financial documents/information in a secure location (in the event of theft you will have the information at your fingertips to cancel credit cards, lock down financial accounts, etc).  Keeping photocopies of these items is a good idea as well.
34. Regularly back up all of your cell phone's content.
35. Regularly back up all of your computer files and online files.
36. Be wary of uploading sensitive documents to cloud storage.
37. Know your cell phone's IMEI number (cell providers can use this to disable a stolen phone).
38. Encrypt your email, your files, and be sure if you shop online that you are using a secure website to process the financial transaction.
39. Use a dumb phone instead of a smart phone.
40. If you must have a smart phone, be sure to log out of financial accounts each time you use them.
41. Always require a password to access your cell phone.
42. Use tracking software which will lead you to your lost or stolen devices.
43. Be certain of the software and apps you download (some could allow access to your private information).
44. Never put too much personal information (your vacation plans, your address, etc) on social networks.
45. Be wary of putting too much information about yourself on online service sites (like when you list your resume on Monster.com).
46. If you order checks, pick them up at the bank instead of having them mailed to you.
47. If you don't use credit and want extra protection, request a "credit freeze" through the big three credit reporting agencies.
48. If you notice something wrong or odd (credit card bills in your name that you didn't request, incorrect information on credit reports, ATM charges you didn't make, etc) report it to the financial institution immediately.
49. If you have your phone stolen or know you are a victim of identity theft, file a police report immediately.
50. Don't give or loan your information (driver's license, insurance card, PIN numbers, etc) to anyone, even a trusted friend.
51. If you want your kids or someone else to use your credit card for whatever purpose (on iTunes, to put gas in your car, etc) give them pre-paid gift cards or pre-paid credit cards instead of giving them your debit/credit card and access to your bank accounts.
52. Have accounts at multiple banks.  Use only one of these for online financial purposes (to make purchases on Amazon, to attach to your PayPal account, to pay for your monthly Netflix subscription, etc).  Also, keep a minimum amount of money in this account and do not allow overdrafts on this account.
53. Be sure that agencies that have your personal information (bank, mortgage company, doctor/insurance company, etc) keep this information secure.  And throw a fit if you find they don't.
54. Keep receipts of your debit/credit transactions then compare them to your online bank statement (make sure amounts weren't changed, that credits were applied, and that there are no mystery charges).  When you no longer need these receipts, shred them.
55. Be careful of putting "auto charge" authority on any of your credit cards (like with iTunes, etc).
56. Know what bills you are expecting (monthly bills, annual bills, etc) and if any turn up missing, find out why.
57. Be sure to check each and every financial transaction (amount, name of store, location of store) on your bank statements (sometimes scammers start with small purchases at McDonalds just to see if the card is valid).  Report any transactions you didn't make.
58. Keep confirmation receipts for any online purchases (and don't delete these receipts until you receive and are satisfied with your purchase).  Receipts for large purchases should be kept until you no longer have the item.
59. Make sure your home looks "lived in" when you are on vacation.  You may want to put expensive or sensitive items in a friend's secure safe while you are gone.
60. Make sure your internet modem/router wi-fi signal is password protected (WPA/WEP encryption is best).
61. Be careful of using unsecured wi fi networks (and be really really careful if you are using an unsecured network for financial transactions).
62. Keep the camera feature of your laptop/phone covered unless you are using it (these can be remotely turned on).
63. Also turn off features you aren't using on your phone (bluetooth, GPS, wi fi, etc).
64. Be knowledgeable of popular scams (there are thousands of them--everything from the kidnapped grandchild to the Nigerian prince who wants you to hold his money).
65.  Be wary of buying items from from CraigsList or other non-secure online sources (items such as vacation rentals, and big ticket items should never be bought site unseen.  And you should never wire money instead of using a credit card as there is no consumer protection once the money has been sent).
66. Donate only to verified charities (after disasters you may get all kinds of unsolicited requests for donations).  Ditto for religious organizations and smaller community assistance funds.
67. DO NOT co sign for others (rental agreements, student loans, etc).  When they bail your credit will be on the line until the loan is paid back.
68. Be wary of getting into contracts that are notoriously difficult to get out of (gym memberships, time shares, etc).
69. Be extra careful when emailing or faxing sensitive documents (ie: financial documents to your mortgage company, etc).  If the item is sent to the wrong number/address you may have problems.
70. Decide how much security your various online activities need:  when banking online be sure to log out completely when done, your generic email program can probably be left open, when finished online shopping, log out completely.  Ditto for these activities on your cell phone.
71. Beware of tax scams.  Places that promise to find you "more money" than regular tax preparers or who will advance you money at a high fee in anticipation of your tax refund could be fraudulent.
72. Stay away from payday lenders and title loan places!
73. Check your important documents regularly to ensure that #1 they are still where you left them and #2 have not expired or need to be renewed.
74. When making big purchases, do your research (ie: state Lemon Law, store return policies, a businesses BBB rating, etc).
75. Only deal with reputable e-commerce sites (like Amazon.  Small, unknown sites may not provide any sort of consumer protection and you may not even get the item you order).
76. Immediately return any packages you didn't order (scammers sometimes try to beat the homeowner to a package they had delivered to your address).
77. When you are at your wit's end with a consumer issue, contact your state's consumer advocate or even you local media (TV, newspaper) consumer help line.
78. Beware of investment fraud and scams.
79. Also beware of education fraud and scams.
80. If someone calls or email you and asks for your account number, password, or other personal information do not respond, these are called phishing scams and are a way that thieves can steal your identity.
81. Be aware of what the CARD act covers.
82. Do not participate in fraudulent or illegal online activities (child porn, insurance fraud, welfare fraud, foreign lotteries, etc).
83. Never send money to someone you don't know or receive money from someone you don't know (a common scam is that you receive a check and the sender asks you to deposit it into your account, keep some of the money, then wire them the rest).
84. Keep open communication with elderly or infirm friends or relatives and note/report anything that seems off (ie: your 90 year old grandfather sending money to his "girlfriend" in Asia).  
85. Be aware of the ways that the elderly can be targeted for identity theft and fraud.
86. Don't be intimidated or rushed to make a financial decision or to provide more information than your are comfortable with.
87. Don't allow strangers in your home unless you know they are coming (ie: the cable guy who need to make repairs).  You will also want to make sure they don't see your wallet, credit cards, cash, financial documents, etc laying around.
88. When leaving your car with the valet, only give them the key to your car (not the entire ring of keys).  Also, hide insurance and registration information which would give them your address.
89. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is (like being paid $5000 for a paper marriage so someone can get a green card or being given a "once in a lifetime opportunity to join a Multi Level Marketing program).
90. Do not carry debt (personal loans, car loans, credit card debt, etc); this makes your financial life much easier to keep track of.
91. Always do your own homework (ie: don't just buy a bottle of pills because Dr Oz's face is on it, don't give a friend money to invest for you, don't fall for the spiel of a convincing salesman, etc).
92. Hang up on robocalls.  If someone wants to talk to you, they can certainly wait on the line until you answer.
93. While the housing market is getting better, mortgage scams are still around.
94. If you need help, seek qualified assistance.  Find a real CPA, a real lawyer, or a real doctor to help you.  And you should seek them out, they shouldn't seek you out (although personal injury attorneys are pretty good at tracking you down if you've been in the press).
95. Gambling is pretty much a scam anyway but if you must gamble, choose legal options.  Illegal gambling scams abound but they are just that--scams AND illegal.
96. There are enough car fraud opportunities to write an entire blog post about--everything from fraudulent dealer practices to more fraudulent practices to other types of fraud.
97. Believe it or not, you aren't even safe from identity thieves when you are dead.
98. Even pets can be used for identity theft (if your dog gets a credit card in the mail you have a problem) as well as scams (someone scoops up your dog--or says they did--then demands a reward).
99. Pyramid schemes have been around, probably since the pyramids were built. 
100. And if despite following all of these tips, you still become a victim of identity theft, here's what you do.
101. This is what you do to report other types of fraud.

10 Old Time Food Skills

These days, many old time cooking skills have gone by the wayside since basically any sort of food stuff you want can easily be bought at the store.  However, while you don't NEED to be able to cook many things, you still SHOULD know how to make said items (which requires some practice):

1. Beer and wine making.  This is a fun and interesting hobby with some mighty tasty rewards at the end of the process.
2. Cheesemaking.  It really isn't as hard as it sounds and many cheeses don't require mold, a deep cave, and a lengthy shelf time.
3. Pickling.  Whether you are pickling cucumbers or cabbage, this is an old skill that can easily be learned today.
4. Canning.  What better way to put away the harvest or take care of a super good deal on a crate of vegetables?  Once you buy the supplies for canning you will be set for years and be able to put plenty of food away for later use.
5. Baking.  Everyone should know how to make a loaf of bread but surprisingly, many people have yet to figure out this simple skill.  Give it a try.
6. Making jams and jellies.  Again, this is another old-time food skill that many people don't do anymore (it is pretty simple and cheap to run to the store for a jar of jelly) but it is rewarding to be able to create your own preserves.
7. Smoking.  With a bit of creativity and a couple of YouTube videos you can turn your barbecue into a smoker and do some pretty interesting things with pork or fish.
8. Sausage making (and other meat processing).  If someone handed you a pig (dead, not alive) would you know how to process it from snout to tail?  Knowing how to cut up and process all parts of an animal is a useful skill to have.
9. Candy making.  Whether you are making taffy or gourmet chocolates, learning how to make your own candy is a unique and interesting experience.
10. Create your own food items from scratch.  Look in your pantry and pick a few items then figure out how to make them yourself--mayonnaise, vinegar, salad dressing, cake mixes, etc.

MLK Day and Helping Out Your Community

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day and part of the holiday involves doing volunteer work in the community.  While doing a day of service is a good idea, volunteering regularly in your community has a range of positive benefits--you get to help people in your community, you get to learn some valuable skills, you make friends, and you may even get some freebies and rewards for your service (ie: a free meal if you volunteer at a soup kitchen, etc).  Here are ten places to volunteer that will give you not only skills and the satisfaction of helping people, but other side benefits as well:

1. Your local non-profit shooting range (these places are usually staffed by a lot of volunteers and can often use any help you can provide).
2. Your local Search and Rescue group (these are often coordinated through city, county, or non-associated SAR groups and provide very useful training)
3. Your local Red Cross (this organization has offices in many communities and can almost always use volunteers)
4. Become an EMT (with a two month course, often free if you agree to volunteer, you will be able to provide a very needed service in your community; ask at your local fire department/ambulance company for details)
5. Become a volunteer fire fighter (many fire departments in rural areas rely very heavily on community volunteers; free training is provided)
6. Your local Department of Emergency Management (in addition to Search and Rescue, and sometimes in combination with it, your local Department of Emergency Management can often use volunteers to help with their programs and response efforts)
7.  Use your special skills to volunteer in your community (ie: HAM radio operators often volunteer with ARES and RACES, doctors volunteer with disaster response organizations, dentists volunteer their services at community health fairs, SCORE, VISTA, etc).
8. Use your non-special skills to help out at non-profits in your community (everything from domestic violence shelters to food pantries to free meals for the homeless to Habitat for Humanity can use volunteers--training is provided).
9. For longer term commitments consider becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister, a Boy Scout Troop leader, etc.
10. Volunteer to help people you have an affinity for (veterans, those in hospice, at a hospital, through your church, with the homeless, etc).

TMI

TMI, otherwise known as too much information, seems to be the rule now rather than the exception. In my grand dads day people kept their personal information "close to their vest" or "under their hats" (note it was during his time when such expressions became popular--not so subtle reminders during World War II that "loose lips sink ships" and so on). 

Back then your personal information was personal--the only person who knew your financial information was your banker (and even then he probably didn't know everything about your finances as it wasn't uncommon for people to hide some of their money rather than place it all with the bankers), the only person who knew about your health was your doctor, and the only person who knew about your history--both lustrious and illustrious, unless one was particularly fond of digging through old news papers--may have been only your closest relatives.

These days your information, good, bad, indifferent, scandalous or otherwise, is available to anyone with access to the internet. And that isn't always a good thing. The worse part is that, NSA data mining not withstanding, it is often each person who is consciously or unconsciously providing the majority of this information about themselves to be gathered, mined, parsed, and saved into perpetuity.

    

This is how you are providing vast amounts of data about yourself and how you can stop it:

• Fitbit and other bio-metric devices.  Does the world really need to know how many steps you took last Friday and how well you slept last night?  If you must record such information, do it on a piece of paper.  Otherwise be satisfied that your clothes fit well and you get a bit of sunshine each day.
• Genealogy DNA tests.  While some people think this is one of the best inventions since sliced bread--or Ancestry.com--it also puts your most personal of information (your DNA) out in the cloud and saved for who knows what future uses. Thanks but I would prefer to keep my DNA to myself.
• Your Facebook timeline.  I'm sure many future biographers will be able to collate a compendium of a person's life simply by reviewing someone's Facebook timeline/Instagram timeline/Twitter feed/etc.
• Everything you buy these days.  People use their credit cards and debit cards for nearly everything they purchase--from their morning Starbucks to their bimonthly order of Viagra to the dinner for two purchased when they were supposed to be solo business trip.  In other words, pay cash and get rid of these electronic breadcrumbs that give anyone a trail to follow. 
• And everything you do.  A while back I called a local (legitimate) massage place figuring my aching back and feet could use a bit of attention and they insisted on a credit card number even though I told them I would be paying cash.  I promptly took my business to Chinatown, paid cash for one of the better massages I've ever had, and left no record of my activities.
• Let's not forget about your comment history.  These days everyone has an opinion and there are more than enough online venues to let you express such opinions--reddit, your local newspaper's comment section, etc.  However these comments, even when made anonymously, can still be identified and associated with you for basically ever.
• Finally, your electronics are more likely to allow easy tracking of you and provide reams of information on your thoughts and activities than Orwell could have ever imagined.  Cell phones can be pinged, email can be intercepted, your wi-fi connections and online searches can be tracked right back to you and even your camera can GPS-tag the location where you took the photo.

In this world of information overload, where no personal information is too personal to post online for everyone to see, consider ratcheting back the amount of information you provide.  You never know how it could be used against you in the future.

Another Day, Another School Shooting

It's getting to be pretty ridiculous when a school shooting barely hits the news because such things have become so commonplace.  Just in the past month there have been three (here, here, and here).  While I have no idea how to fix society's woes, I do know that these children shouldn't have access to guns which means that gun laws don't work (obviously) and that, for whatever reason, kids aren't being raised right these days (spoken like a true old person).  Which means that all of us need to take responsibility for our weapons (and keep them out of hands that they don't belong in) and we also need to do a better job raising our kids.  'Nuff said.

This is Why You Need to Walk

I walk and/or hike nearly every day.  Sure there are plenty of other things I could be doing and walking is hardly as brag-worthy as doing a P90x workout or climbing a mountain but it is great exercise and it's as simple as putting on a pair of shoes and walking out the door.  Here are 10 reasons you need to walk every day.  Starting today.

1. It's easy.  You already know how to walk and have been doing it practically since you were born.  There is very little learning curve for this sport.
2. It's convenient.  There is no class time you need to put into your calendar.  You can walk anytime, 24 hours a day.
3. It's inexpensive.  Granted you can deck yourself out in all kinds of fanciness but really all you need is a good pair of shoes.  Compared to greens fees and putters, walking is practically free.
4. It can be as competitive or non-competitive as you like.  Most walkers just walk.  Others rack up the kilometers to staggering heights with the AVA (a guy I know just passed 20,000 kilometers walked. Wow).
5. It can be as social or non-social as you like.  Some people prefer to walk alone, others walk with a neighbor, still others walk with groups (like this or this)
6. The kind of walking you do can range from simple--a two mile jaunt through your neighborhood--to massive (read these trail journals)
7. Externally your bod will look good.  Walking makes your entire core strong and happy.
8. Internally your bod will look good (to your doctor at least).  Walking every single day tends to have a positive impact on such things as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, anxiety, depression, etc.
9. Have you ever heard of a disaster where they people caught in it don't need to run away?  Whether there is an active shooter or you need to flee from a natural disaster, evacuating usually requires some physical ability and some physical endurance both of which you will have after walking regularly.
10.  You can cut out a number of bills by walking: gym membership, the dog walker, gas for your car (walk to do your errands), doctor's visits, you may even be able to get rid of your car all together if you live in a place that is very walkable and has a good public transportation system for longer distances.

Go. Walk.

Should You Carry a Firearm in the Woods?

This question tends to come up quite often and, depending on who you ask, you are likely to get a number of answers--everything from no never to yes always to yes or no depending on the situation.

Although I have friends who range from those who don't own a firearm, don't want to own a firearm, and would never carry a firearm anywhere to people who are never more than a foot or less away from their firearms AT ALL TIMES, I'm one of those yes or no depending on the situation people.  In almost all cases, the reason I carry a concealed weapon is for threats from two legged animals, not the four legged variety.

When I am in the woods, I am of two minds when it comes to carrying a firearm.  If I will be camping I always bring a firearm with me as there is more of a threat from people coming up to a remote spot in their vehicle.  Also, driving to a spot in the woods allows for me to carry my firearm of choice and ammo (no weight restriction), and there is often a spot or two I can hop out and do a bit of shooting along the way.

On the other hand, when I am hiking or backpacking, I never feel the need to take a firearm with me.  First, the added weight is more of a liability than an asset, and second, I figure that someone who is hunting a person for whatever nefarious purpose (to commit a robbery, etc) isn't going to haul themselves ten miles down a trail to do so (and then have to schlep their ill gotten gains back out on foot).

But what about wild animal attacks?  Having never been the victim of such an attack (knocking on wood), I can say that I use a number of other measures in an attempt to prevent such an event.  I have my trekking poles, a fixed blade knife, and bear spray.  I keep a clean camp and try not to smell like fried bacon as I hike down the trail.  I make plenty of noise (apparently my singing could route a bear at a hundred yards...or so I've been told), and I try to make myself as aware of my surroundings as possible.

Yes, people have been attacked by wildlife and yes, I'm guessing in that moment anyone in their right mind would feel better with a firearm in their hands, but logically, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to carry a firearm in the minuscule chance that you will need it.  Add to that the minuscule chance that the firearm you are carrying will take care of the threat (a black bear will probably laugh at your choice of firearm since the tiny .380 that fits in your pocket won't get the job done and if a cat wants a swipe at you, you won't even hear it coming until the swipe has been taken...then try to draw...).

As with everything firearms related, it is a personal preference where you need to weight the pros and cons of your decision to carry or not carry.

5 Concerns for This Week

A recap if you will...

1. The flu is on the rise.  The H1N1 flu tends to kill young, healthy people as opposed to the "regular" flu which usually kills the very young, the very old, and the very ill (although there is some of this flu to go around as well).  Consider getting vaccinated.
2. Target and now Neiman Marcus have had huge data breaches in recent months which means your financial information could be in jeopardy.  Consider pulling your free credit reports and straightening out any information in the reports that is incorrect.
3. The recent poisoning of water sources in West Virginia only highlights the problem that could happen to anyone without notice and without recourse besides driving around trying to find bottled water or waiting in huge lines for FEMA water trucks.  Consider storing bottled water and lots of it.
4. The weather has been wacky--ranging from feet of snow in the Northeast to feet of rain in Florida, massive wind storms throughout the south to blustery winter storms in the Pacific Northwest.  Prepare ahead of time for winter weather, of the 100 year storm variety.
5. Marijuana is now legal in Colorado and moving towards that direction in other states.  I don't have an opinion one way or the other on the topic and don't care what people do in the privacy of their own home.  Do NOT however, get high and drive, which is as bad as drinking and driving.

This Is Why You Need to Stockpile Water

Most preppers have a triple redundant backup plan for storing water.  You never know when your well will run dry or a water main will break or some other disaster will befall you and you will be left without water.  What many people don't plan for, however, is that ALL local sources of water will be compromised and they may need to sustain themselves with their stored water for days or weeks as happened today in West Virginia.  If your triple redundant plan is: tap water, stored water in the hot water tank/bath tub, outside water such as from a local stream...you would be a tough spot should the same problem happen to you as in the news article.

What would happen if you wake up tomorrow morning to urgent notices via the news, reverse 911, etc saying DON'T DRINK THE WATER?  Don't bathe in the water, don't water your pets or cattle with the water in your taps or from other local water sources.

Stored bottled water will be your only option as using any water coming into your home through well or municipal lines will be contaminated.  Here's some ideas:

• Store A LOT of bottled water (we only drink bottled water as tap water in Las Veges is just gross) so tend to have cases and cases of the stuff in the garage.
• Consider ways to utilize your stored water in a timely fashion if you can't drink it all yourself (donate it to a local homeless shelter for a tax write off a couple times a year, etc).
• Practice ways to use MUCH LESS water than you do in your normal daily life.
• Don't count on finding bottled water in the stores in the event of an emergency--everyone in town will have the same idea and you will probably find the shelves empty.

So You Want to Fake Your Own Death

I actually don't recommend that a person fake their death.  Sure you may have plenty of problems in your current life but faking your death usually only compounds your problems.  You may get a bit of temporary relief from the problems that sent you over the edge in the first place but those problems will still be there when your scheme unravels...not to mention the additional problem that will result from the aftermath.

So should you want to take your own death, here's some reminders:

• If you are supposed to be dead, you shouldn't be commiting a robbery...
• ...or any other crime
• Consider that a seven-steps-with-pictures "how to fake your death" article probably isn't comprehensive enough to actually get you to your goal
• Although it is a popular topic
• And some more "what not to do's"
• And a few more
• And yet more (popular topic, no?)
• It doesn't even work very well in third world countries
• And it doesn't work well when you are marginally famous
• By "cutting all ties" with your previous life, they mean cut all ties
• Although it isn't technically illegal to fake your own death
• The whole fraud part of faking your own death usually has some severe consequences
• And a list of dumb mistakes people make when they fake their death

Do Something Different

Stuck in a rut? Bored with life? Need to re-orient yourself?  Try doing something different.  Here's some examples:

• Do a microadventure
• Make a big change in your life for a year
• Set a big goal
• Make any change
• Reinvent yourself
• Be more adventurous

Flu, Flu Everywhere

If you haven't heard, not only are people being battered by the miserable weather around the country, but now the flu looks to be gaining steam as well.  Here's some preparedness tips:

• Know what the problem is.
• And check out what flu.gov has to say.
• See if the flu is being reported near you.
• Consider getting a flu shot.
• Learn how to take care of yourself and others who have the flu.
• Stockpile items you will need if you get sick (kleenex, canned soup, Gatorade, Tylenol, cough drops, TheraFlu, etc.).
• If you have severe symptoms, take yourself to the hospital.

January is the Time for...Gardening

Yes, really.  And you may be thinking "yeah, after the two feet of snow in my back yard melts" but I remember as a kid, snowed in during the cold months of January and February, that one of the bright spots during that time was planning for the big garden we would soon be planting.

First comes planning.  You map out your garden space, look at the previous few years' garden maps, and figure out where you will plant things.  Remember crop rotation is a good thing.

And then you order your garden catalogs.  Here, here, here, and here, for example. (note, this was before being able to browse and order seeds online).

Next you start dreaming of what you will plant.  If you have lots of space, you may plan for a variety of gardens: vegetable garden, flower garden, herb garden, an orchard, a berry patch, medicinals garden, for-profit garden (such as u-pick berries, pumpkins, sale grapes, etc), etc.  Beware, people usually plan a much bigger garden than they can deal with in reality.  Start small and grow, pun intended, from there.  Gardening is a lot of work!

Check your garden journal and note any problems you had during the past year.  Some items just don't grow well so you may want to skip the crops that don't grow well, try similar crops and see if the problems can be averted, or challenge yourself to grow the same crop and figure out how to solve the problem.

You may also want to schedule rototilling and order manure/hay/cover crop/fertilizer for use before, during, and after the season.  Now is also a good time to make sure your tools and gardening machinery are in good working order.  If you have a big garden project planned--a corn maze, a business selling u-pick pumpkins, building a green house--now is the time to pre-plan those projects as well.

Remember, if you need help or are new to gardening, there are plenty of free resources to help.  Simply Googling your garden questions will get you a lot of information.  Also check to see if you have a local county extension office with myriad gardening resources or a local Master Gardeners Program.

10 Resources For Those of You In the Frozen North

While I'm basking in 65 degree weather in Las Vegas, a big part of the country is buried under snow and ice.  Here's ten resources to help you weather the storm (pun intended)...

1. 8 Tips to Ease Winter Travel Woes
2. Cold Weather Survival Guide
3. How to Stay Alive When It's Cold
4. Cold Weather Survival Tips
5. What You Need to Know When Temperatures Plummet
6. 10 Ways to Survive a Snowstorm
7. Winter Storm Survival Kit for Travelers
8. Winter Weather Preparedness
9. EDEN Winter Storms
10. 5 Tips to Prepare for Frigid Cold

Just a Reminder...

A good way to increase your food stockpiles on the cheap is to take advantage of case lot sales.  From the ad below you can see that you can get 12 cans of Chunky soup for $12 which means 12 meals (four days) of emergency food rations.  12 jars of peanut butter for $17 will give you enough protein for a month!

5 First Aid Kits

It's important to have first aid supplies on hand so that you can take care of minor medical incidents without running to the pharmacy or being forced to do without if you happen to be stranded somewhere.  Here are five first aid kits you should have on hand:

• Daily carry first aid kit: a couple of band aids, an alcohol wipe, a packet of aspirin.  Include also a day's worth of prescription medicine and any other items that you may need on a regular basis (ie: glucose tabs if you are diabetic, Epipen, feminine hygiene items, etc).  These few items should always be with you and will take care of most minor medical problems--headache, cuts and scrapes, etc.
• Day hike first aid kit: four or five band aids, a couple of alcohol wipes, two packets of aspirin, antiseptic ointment, glucose tabs, rehydration salts, moleskin, Benadryl, needle, gauze pad, adhesive tape, and any other items you may need (prescription medication, Epipen, feminine hygiene items, etc).  I also include items specific to the area I am hiking such as a snake bite kit, chemical hand warmers for winter hikes, etc. 
• Car/RV/Boat first aid kit: a handful of bandaids, a handful of alcohol wipes, a bottle of aspirin, antiseptic ointment, glucose tabs, rehydration salts, Benadryl, gauze pads, adhesive tape, moleskin, ACE bandage, scissors, tweezers, tourniquet, antidiarrheal medication, cold pack, hot pack, needle and thread, and any other items you may need (prescription medication, Epipen, feminine hygiene items, etc).  This first aid kit will need to be more substantial since, if stranded, you could be many hours or even days away from medical assistance.
• Home first aid kit: a box of bandaids, a box of alcohol pads, a bottle of aspirin, antiseptic ointment, Benadryl, gauze pads, adhesive tape, ACE bandage, scissors, tweezers, antidiarrheal medication, thermometer, decongestant, and any other items you may need (prescription medication, Epipen, feminine hygiene items, etc).  This kit can be a bit less substantial that a kit you carry when away from home because you have the option of calling 911 for medical assistance in an emergency.
• Bug Out Bag first aid kit: a handful of bandaids, a handful of alcohol wipes, a bottle of aspirin, antiseptic ointment, glucose tabs, rehydration salts, Benadryl, gauze pads, adhesive tape, moleskin, ACE bandage, scissors, tweezers, tourniquet, antidiarrheal medication, cold pack, hot pack, needle and thread, QuickClot, water purification tablets, narcotic pain pills, suction syringe, and any other items you may need (prescription medication, Epipen, feminine hygiene items, etc).  This first aid kit will need to be the most comprehensive since if you are bugging out that means there has been a disaster which could mean medical assistance may be days away.

And 11 other considerations:

1. Keep a comprehensive set of first aid books on hand (don't rely on looking things up on the internet as it may be down).
2. Take as many first aid classes as possible (from the basics at the Red Cross to EMT school to a NOLS course).
3. Consider keeping other first aid equipment on hand if you have the necessity or skill to do so (an AED, a blood pressure cuff, a glucose meter, advanced first aid equipment, etc).
4. Get some hands-on first aid skills (by volunteering at your local Red Cross or as an EMT).
5. Keep up with the latest in emergency first aid by going online (I recommend Adventure Doc, WildMed, etc).
6. Consider growing your own pharmaceuticals along with your garden vegetables (info here).
7. Also know how to forage for pharmaceutical plants (blogs and websites abound on the topic).
8. Be sure to review your first aid kits at least once a quarter, get rid of expired items, and replace items that have been used.
9. A note on aspirin: I tend to always carry both aspirin and Tylenol since aspirin can be chewed by someone having a heart attack (give them the aspirin--not Tylenol as it doesn't work the same--and call 911 immediately) while they are waiting for help to arrive.
10. Here's a few other items to carry with you that could be useful in a medical emergency: mirror to signal for help, a packet knife, a space blanket, duct tape, and acidophilous. 
11. In a medical emergency, ALWAYS call 911 first and get them rolling before you attempt to help the victim.  

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping you and yours had a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve and New Year's day.  Today starts a new year in which you can meet your goals, improve your self, and become more prepared for anything that life throws you.  Onward!