Prepared In Every Way

Archive for April, 2009

Just had to share this with you.  Take your business to the next level and create unstoppable streams of income.  Click here.

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Discovered a great new survival site.

Survival Guy

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With all the sensationalized news about the so-called swine flu flying around, I figured we’d better set all the facts straight.

1. So far, only 82 cases of so-called swine flu have been definitively identified worldwide, mostly in Mexico (26 confirmed, 7 deaths) and the U.S.(with 40 confirmed, no deaths). (Though about 1600 suspected cases, including 159 deaths, are reported in Mexico.) That does not add up to a pandemic swine flu outbreak.
2. This virus has nothing to do with swine. In fact, it hasn’t been seen in a single animal. And you can’t possibly get it from eating pork.
3. No existing vaccines can prevent this new flu strain. So no matter what you hear – even if it comes from your doctor – don’t get a regular flu shot. They rarely work against seasonal flu…and certainly can’t offer protection from a never-before- seen strain.
4. Speaking of this strain, it doesn’t seem to have come on naturally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this particular strain has never before been seen in pigs or people. And according to Reuters, the strain is a ‘genetic mix’ of swine, avian and human flu. Was it created in a lab? We don’t know yet.
5. The drug companies are getting excited…and that’s never a good thing. According to the Associated Press at least one financial analyst estimates up to $388 million worth of Tamiflu sales in the near future – and that’s without a pandemic outbreak.
6. Let’s not forget that Tamiflu comes with its own problems, including side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, cough…the very symptoms you’re trying to avoid. And let’s not forget that Japan banned this drug for children back in 2007, after links to suicidal behavior.
7. Vaccines for this flu strain probably won’t have to jump through all those annoying hurdles like clinical trials for safety and effectiveness. That won’t, however, stop the government from mandating the vaccine for all of us – a very likely scenario. And if the vaccines are actually harmful…killing people, for example…the vaccine makers will be immune from lawsuits.

Your best defense – your only real defense in any flu season – is a bulletproof immune system. You can learn about the best ways to strengthen yourself in the HSI archives.

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Take a look at this site for ideas and recipes.  It’s inspiring!

http://myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com/2009/04/easy-pumpkin-chocolate-cookies.html

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This site is dedicated to all those who struggle to put food on the table.

http://theprudenthomemaker.com/default.aspx

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http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm

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On Saturday, I attended a ten hour class to get a concealed handgun license (CHL). A few of my friends took the class with me, and that helped make the long classroom time a little more bearable. At the end of the class, all sixty of us went to a pistol range to demonstrate our ability to handle a handgun without harming anyone. The shooting was much more fun than the actual learning, but my ears did perk up when a young sharpshooter named Josh talked to us about how important it is to be aware of our surroundings. He said that people can generally be found in one of four different zones. I was surprised that the Twilight Zone was not one that he was going to talk about!

White Zone – This is where most people are most of the time. They’re walking or driving along, minding their own business, and not paying attention to anything going on around them. When you’re in this zone, if you’re at the gas station filling up your tank, you may be standing there just watching the numbers roll by on the pump. Someone could be stealing your purse out of the car, but you don’t know it because you’re looking the other way. Sound familiar?

Yellow Zone – Using the gas station scenario, if you’re in this zone, you’re aware of things around you. First of all, you lock your car door, making sure you have the keys first, when you get out of the car. You pay for the gas and get the pump going, but you’re watching the people around you. You may even make contact or start up some small talk with the person at the pump next to you. The key here is to make sure people know you see them.

Orange Zone – Being in this zone, you’re aware enough of the situations around you that you rely on your intuition to avoid trouble. Notice the guy nervously looking around as he fills his tank. Is he just late for an appointment, or is he driving a stolen car? Is he watching for a woman who leaves her purse on the front seat? Unfortunately, you just don’t know. Keep your eyes open and soak up everything going on around you. If you notice any unusual activity before you stop the car, just keep moving and get out of the lot.

Red Zone – This is where you want to be. You saw the crazy guy and decided to keep going. You assessed the situation as you looked for an open pump. You had a clear head and were able to protect yourself from something that could have been dangerous. But there’s something else you needed to do to allow you to move on. You had to make sure you kept enough gas in your tank that you weren’t in crisis mode yourself! It’s always a good idea to keep gas at least at a quarter tank. If you’d been driving along in the white zone, paying no attention to your surroundings, or your empty gas tank, then you might have had no other option but to stop there.

You can apply these zones to just about anything in life. It doesn’t take any more time to walk and pay attention than it does to walk around with your head in the clouds. I’m not telling you to stop walking. I just want you to be aware of what’s going on around you. It could save your life.

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Today most people are so tied to technology that when you have a power loss or computer glitch, it can be devastating. I can tell you all about that!

1. A few years ago I lost everything on my laptop when I had to reformat the hard drive. I learned later that the technician who walked me through that could have helped me save my data, but by then it was too late. That experience was something that caused me to agonize for days over lost information. Not only did my laptop contain business and personal files, but several years of personal journals. It’s painful to even remember how sad that made me feel.

2. Just recently, I learned that Microsoft is no longer selling or supporting Front Page. I taught myself how to use Front Page when I created my website six years ago. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I know how to do it! The way I learned about it was when I made some changes to my website last week. Nothing would upload to the server. When I called my web host to find out why, I was told that since Microsoft no longer supports Front Page, they have stopped supporting it, too. Gee, don’t you think it would have been nice for someone to have told me?

3. Not long ago I received an email from Kodak telling me that unless I paid a membership fee, I would no longer be able to save or view the thousands of pictures I have stored on their online site. I decided not to pay the fee because I didn’t like feeling like I’d been hog tied and forced to do so.

4. A major upset this year was when I discovered someone was writing checks off my checking account. I didn’t lose my checkbook, but someone out there printed checks that looked just like mine, and they even knew my driver’s license number. It’s scary enough to have someone else spend $2,000 of your money, but really makes you wonder how they got your identification, too.

Ever feel like you’re just at the mercy of strangers who don’t really care about you? People in foreign lands encouraging you to reformat your hard drive, camera people wanting money for your pictures, credit bureaus wanting money to protect your credit?

Here’s what I’ve done to keep these things from happening again! They say as long as you learn from your mistakes, then you’re a better person for having them. So let me share this with you and maybe you’ll be spared the experience.

1. I have recently signed up with Carbonite so that everything on my computer is constantly saved online. With my business and personal files on one computer, it scares me to think of it crashing. It took about three days for the initial backup, but now it searches my files and backs them up routinely so that if I ever need to restore my computer, or even if I buy a new computer, the information is there for me. Visit http://www.carbonite.com to learn more about the company and what they do, and then do a search for coupons to get a discount. I was able to save $20 by doing that.

2. If you have a website and don’t want to have to worry about rebuilding it, be sure you routinely back it up. I have recently purchased a new site builder through http://www.info.soholaunch.com/?partner=2885. It’s a great web-based program with a lot of features. One thing I do like is that I can go online from any computer and make changes. I don’t have to be sitting in front of my own laptop.

3. Instead of Kodak, there are plenty of other services for uploading photos. I’m currently using http://www.snapfish.com So far, they haven’t tried to get any money out of me. Again, the Carbonite site is putting all of my photos online, so at least they are still stored on my computer. Snapfish is great when you have a lot of photos you want to share with friends.

4. When someone compromised my checking account, it took considerable time filing fraud reports every time a check came through. I called one of the 3 credit bureau companies and filed a fraud report, and they graciously contacted the other 3. I have been paying $14.99 for a fraud service through them, but am going to cancel it today. Instead, I’ve signed up with http://www.lifelock.com because they offer a LOT more for less money. Visit their website for more information.

I’m not making any money by promoting any of these companies, although my daughter is a SoHoLaunch affiliate and she’ll make a few dollars if you use the link I provided. I know she’ll be happy if you’ll use it instead of going to the main page on the site. However, do I think these companies I’ve recommended have a lot to offer. It’s definitely worth checking them out. If you have a catastrophe – whether a computer crash, operator error, or natural disaster that actually destroys your computer, you’ll be glad you’ve done something to prepare your work.

Visit http://www.emersonpublications.comto read more of Joyce’s stories, to subscribe to the Family First newsletter, to learn how to protect your family in your absence, or discover ways to make money at home. This site is dedicated to helping others create family unity in many different ways.

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I’m a bit of a country music listener, and the first time I heard Brad Paisley singing, “So Much Cooler Online,” it caught my attention. What he’s singing about is how you can represent yourself as anyone you want to be online, and you’re safe as long as the other person never actually meets you. In my case, I think I’m so much cooler when I order online! If you’re a close friend or relative, you know that I hate shopping about as much as I hate ironing. Because of that, I’ve learned how to deal with bringing things into my home in this way:

1. I tell my daughter that I need it. She’s a wonder shopper and should actually charge for her services as a personal assistant. All I have to do is tell her I’m looking for something and she’ll find it. Not only will she find it, but she’ll find it on clearance.

2. I order it online. I figure that even if I have to pay full retail price for it, I am saving money by not leaving the house to buy it. By ordering from the comfort of home, I can

a. Order 24/7.

b. Avoid getting dressed to face the public. I can order in my pjs if I’m still awake at 2 am.

c. Save money on gas by not driving my gas hog to the mall

d. Save my frustration level by looking through racks or piles of things to find what I want.

e. Save even more of my sanity by not having to stand in line

f. Save money because I’m not doing any impulse shopping.

3. My third option is to stock up when I am shopping, whether it’s out in person, or online.

It seems like I’ve been hit hard this year with baby showers, bridal showers, and even wedding receptions. With each one, you get a little card that tells you where the expectant mother or bride has registered. At least by registering, they tell you exactly what you want and you can’t really make a wrong decision. In my case, though, that still means I will probably have to actually drive to the store. If I received the invitation a little earlier, I might be able to order the item online, but then I wouldn’t be able to walk through the door with a gift in my hands. I shudder to think about how humiliated I might feel if people thought I came to their party without a gift!

So here’s what I do. I have a standard gift for every occasion.

Here’s what you can expect if you know me and plan to get married anytime soon. It’s a first aid kit. This isn’t your everyday Walgreens first aid kit. This is a $75 first aid kit complete with all the antibacterial, pain relieving stuff you’d ever need. It also has all the bandaids, bandages, tweezers, scissors, and even compression items you want. It comes in an adorable Army green bag with a red cross on the outside. Perfect for use at home, or throwing in your car before you head out on your vacation or trip to the beach.

I found this first aid kit through a company where I shop online every month. I ordered one for myself, and liked it so much that I bought a few more. Just for gift giving!

Now, if you graduate from college, or just invite me to your wedding reception, I am going to give you the Dave Ramsey, “Total Money Makeover” book! This hardcopy book sells for $24.95 at your favorite bookstore, but I found a source for the book where I only have to pay $10. I ordered one for me, loved it so much that I went back and ordered three more copies. What young person doesn’t need some guidance on how to avoid going into debt? What old person can’t use advice on how to get out of debt? This is one of my favorite gifts.

What if you’re pregnant or just had a new baby? My standard baby gift is baby products that are safer than what Johnson & Johnson has to offer. If you believe J&J’s Baby Shampoo is the best, then you don’t know that it contains a form of formaldehyde. I’m always on the lookout for closeouts on quilted bags or children’s backpacks. When I find them (or I should admit that when my daughter, the shopper, finds them!) she’ll buy me 2-3 of them. I keep extras of these products on hand, and when it’s time for yet another baby shower, I will wrap each item individually in tissue paper, stuff it in the bag, add extra tissue paper if needed, throw in a few flyers about household chemicals, or saving our children from poisons, and I’m good to go. What mother wouldn’t want the BEST for her child?

As you’re doing your shopping this month, think outside your usual needs. Check your calendar. Any weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversaries in your future?

Most of my female friends and I have agreed not to exchange gifts for birthdays or Christmas, but occasionally I just feel like taking a little gift when we meet. Some of my favorite gifts for my female friends include candles (without lead wicks) or body-friendly body lotions. It makes for such an easy, inexpensive gift when you just tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle or around the box. They’re pretty enough that you don’t even need a bag.

You can simplify your life if you find those gifts that just scream your name. For someone who counsels people about being prepared, the first aid kit really ties in well. What kind of products do people associate with you, or your personality?

I went to about nine baby showers earlier this year. Thank goodness that epidemic is one that I’m too old to participate in! Most of the people who were at one shower were at all of them. It became a joke when each expectant mother opened the same thing from me at their shower. I like to think that I have a sense of humor, and in fact, I was usually the one saying, “Now I know this isn’t any big surprise to you, but I brought the SAFE baby stuff.”

I had to smile, because the joke was really on them. While they were all out shopping and trying to make decisions about each baby, all I had to do was put my standard gift bag together. At one time I had about five bags all made up and ready to go. Instead of buying baby cards, I bought a huge box of blank note cards. I individualized each one and stuck it in the proper bag. When it was time for the shower, all I had to do was pick up the bag and go – checking, of course, to make sure I had the right bag for the right mother!

So what can you do to be better prepared? Figure out a way to eliminate all the decisions in gift buying. Stay out of the stores. Avoid the heat. You’ll be so much cooler online!

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I received an email last week about a home invasion. I’m used to getting a lot of forwarded emails and have become cynical of their authenticity. I’ve found that www.snopes.com is a good place for verifying information.

This email stated that this couple was home in bed and heard someone knocking on their door. The husband went to the door, peeked out the window, and saw a man in only his briefs whose wrists and ankles had been bound with duct tape. He called the police without responding to this man’s cries for help, but after awhile, the man slipped out of the tape and ran off. The police were unable to catch him.

First of all, you’ve got to ask how this man could knock on the door if his hands were bound. This homeowner was smart to not answer the door because the man on the porch was a decoy. There was another man there with him to knocked on the door. They were hopeful that this homeowner would open the door so they could barge in and either take what they wanted, or do physical harm to the couple. Thank goodness, all of that was avoided.

Don’t flash large sums of money in public. Don’t give those looking for a score to think you’re it. Be careful walking out of the bank with a money bag, too. Someone could be watching and follow you home.

Keep doors locked. Even when you’re home, keep your doors secure. Many home invasions require little more on the part of the thief or assailant than just walking through the door.

During the day, acknowledge the knock. If a stranger knocks during the day, talk to him through the door. If you don’t answer, the person on the outside may think you’re not there and think it’s safe to go on in. Also, especially when you’re there alone, once you realize you don’t know who’s at your door, holler to an imaginary person so they won’t think you’re alone. Overhearing, “It’s okay, honey. I’ve got it,” leads them to think you’re not alone.

Late at night, don’t acknowledge the knock. Pretend you’re not home. Call 911 if you’re afraid. Late at night, burglars assume you are at home, and they expect someone to let them in so they can do them harm.

Don’t open your door to strangers. If someone appears at your door for any reason wanting to use your phone, offer through the closed door to make the call for him. If he says someone in his car is sick and they need a glass of water, again, through the closed door, offer to call 911 for him. If someone appears in work clothes saying they’ve been sent by their company to do work for you, leave him standing outside until you’ve called that entity and they say they’ve sent this person. Be wary of people you don’t know, whether door-to-door magazine sellers, a young woman holding a baby, or an older woman wanting to borrow a cup of sugar.

Demand identification from anyone saying they’re there on official business – police, firefighters, and utility workers have identification badges and don’t mind showing them to you. Call the police. If the stranger is insistent, refuses to leave, or behaves in a suspicious manner, call the police, explain the situation, and ask them to come sort it out.

It’s a good idea to have a cordless phone or cell phone handy at all times. It would be a good idea to have one on the nightstand when you may be caught totally off guard. Whether you’ve responded through the door or not, call 911 and get to a safe place inside your home. At my recent gun class, they suggested getting behind the headboard of your bed or going into a closet. Go to a room that has a lock on the door. It may not keep them out, but it will buy you some time. Wait for the police. Maybe the crooks will be dumb enough to still be there when they arrive.

This is a busy time for holiday shoppers, but whether you’re out in the crowds or in the comfort of your own home, it is so important to pay attention to what’s going on around you. Your life literally depends on it.

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