Qui Custodes

Another RANT ON!

It's Veteran's Day, 2009.  A day precious to me. A day to remember lost friends and absent companions.  So I like to go to synagogue & say a prayer for the dead.  I'm Jewish.  It takes a minyan (10 adults over the age of 13).  Now my synagogue for some reason doesn't regularly schedule this on Veteran's Day.  But every year I ask them to.  You'd think they'd learn.  NOPE. 

I could call them in September & ask them to schedule it and they would be happy to accommodate me.  Note that this doesn't mean I could get 10 adults there.  Just that they'd schedule it.  But that's another rant for another day.

Anyway, sort of a consolation prize I was asked to talk to the Religious School kids for 2-3 minutes tonight.  I can't decide.  What can I possibly say in 2-3 minutes max that will explain to these kids, ages 10-13, why this is important, why they should be respectful and grateful.  Keep in mind that their parents care so little that there is no organized Veterans' Day activity.  I have absolutely no idea what I could possibly say that would mean something to them.  Worse, if I do go, doesn't that make me complicit in saying that the synagogue is doing enough?

Alien abduction pack--request for submissions and ideas

What would you carry if the aliens swooped down and abducted you?  Actually, that's a joke.  But the idea of a "run out the door with the minimum essentials in your hand" bag or backpack is a good one. So what would *you* carry as an absolute essential if you had to run out the door because the house was burning, the floodwaters were rising and lightning was striking?

Here are some of my ideas, but this list is by no means comprehensive or complete.

pack it all in a Camelback or equivalent so you have a built-in water bottle
Leatherman or other tool
good utility knife
gloves
hand towel
propane lighter (not matches) & small bottle of lighter fluid.
candles
parachute cord (at least 30 feet)
flashlight
credit cards
cash
ID's like driver's license & passport
socks
underwear
Toothbrush & razor
soap
toothpaste
extra medications if you need them
tin foil
2 1-gallon-size ziplock bags
granola bars or equivalent for energy
Tang or powdered Gatorade
small medicine bottle chlorine bleach w/ eye dropper

I could go on but what else would You, O Reader, take?  Write in and let's discuss.

Fighting Words

I generally am a strong believer in free speech.  I truly believe that you should be able to say (almost) anything without penalty. That's 1 reason why I get so upset at "contempt of cop" charges.  You shouldn't be arrested just for saying something that the cop doesn't like. 

But there are limits and calling for the assassination of the President or judges goes too far.  In fact, the whole reason for this blog is because toxic words were becoming toxic deeds and too many lawyers and judges were getting shot , wounded and killed.  So I'm pretty upset with this raving idiot Hal Turner who has not only blogged that 3 judges who ruled in a way he didn't like should be killed, he also put out a map showing the Courthouse where they work, the details of the bomb-blast barriers and, just to make sure everyone knew who the target were, he published the photographs of the judges.  Talk about a simple invitation to anyone who reads his blog! 

What REALLY frosts me though is that he's claiming the protection of the First Amendment.  Nonsense!  Disagree all you want.  Call for their impeachment if you like.  But to call for their assassination?  and publish their photographs and a map?  That's too much for me  There is no excuse for this behavior and calling it the right to free speech won't cut it.  

Tips for when you travel internationally

Just a few tips for travelers going to a strange country or city.  Keep in mind that while a smile may be your umbrella, sometimes people want to steal the damn thing.  So the first 4 trips for travel are:

1.    Carry a cheap, spare throw-away wallet with a small amount of money and a junk ID. That way you can give them something while protecting the important stuff.

2.    Use a money belt or the equivalent to hide the important stuff like your passport.  (Do you have *any* idea how valuable a good US passport is?)

3.    Get a locking cable for your backpack or briefcase so you can fasten it to your bed, desk or even train seat.

4.    Put a chair under the door knob to your room and/or carry/make wedges to put under the door.  You really don't want people breaking in on you without notice.

Parking Lots

When you park in your parking lot at work choose a space away from barriers that obscure your vision.  You don't want to be surprised by someone coming out from behind a barrier or column.  Be sure to park in an illuminated area--I'm always surprised at how dark some parking lots are.  Listen.  If you hear something, walk away.  Listen again.  Approach your car at an angle so you can see all around it if possible.  You don't want someone hiding.  Check the cars parked next to you. 

If you are at all doubtful, get away.  Listen to your instincts.  Trust yourself.  It's not stupid or silly to be careful.

You might also read some of my earlier posts about vans parked next to your car etc. 

One final thought:  guys this advice is not just for the ladies.  You too are vulnerable.  Pay attention. 

Your Shredder ain't that good anymore

I was reading Slate magazine just recently and found this new article.  According to The Explainer there are now fairly inexpensive programs that allow you to scan the bits and pieces of shredded papers into a computer and then reassemble the original pages.  It's also worth noting that some shredders are better than others:  strip shredders aren't worth much, especially when they shred papers horizontally so whole lines are intact.  

Bottom line:  if you have confidential information like credit card #s, bank accounts etc, you need to upgrade your shredder. 

Make security a habit

I was talking to one of my daughters today and the topic of carrying a whistle and flashlight came up. She's got small ones that will fit on her keychain.  So she should carry them right?  All the time right? So she'll never find herself without them if she needs them right?

Enough picking on the girl.  But the point is clear--if you make personal security a habit you don't have to worry about not having the tools you need when you need them.

Here's another Rant for you

I swear it seems like we're breeding for stupidity. Or at least culturally training people to be stupid. Worse, Darwin will punish us for our total and complete stupidity.  What am I talking about?  Simple really.  In the past 3 weeks I've met several people (all women for some reason but this level of total and complete stupidity is not sex-related) who say "I hate war."  (Who doesn't.  Not the people who have to fight them. You will never find someone who hates war more than someone who has fought one.)  or "There's no reason for violence."    or "Violence never settled anything." 

God in Heaven.  Do these people ever study history?  Or even remember their history from High School?  It's too much to ask that they remember anything from college even though they were all college graduates and some even had graduate degrees.  Does anyone ever remember the Carthaginians?  Did they do anything?  Nope. Why?  Because Rome DESTROYED them.  Who says violence never settled anything?  Or how about WWII?  Violence never settled that one?  Don't worry about whether it should have been fought (I say it should) but don't tell me it never settled anything.

No reason for violence?  Not even self-defense?  Really?  Not in any circumstances?  Don't tempt me to tell real-life stories and then ask if violence was unnecessary)

Or then I get the people who say we should all live like Ghandi and Dr. King.  Now, I admire both men. And their accomplishments and bravery beggar *my* imagination.  But both were opposed by people who had a conscience.  There were some things the British Raj would not do or could not bring their troops to do or which the British public would not tolerate.  So Ghandi won because the only way to defeat him would be to do things that the Raj would not do. Same with Dr. King.  Bull Connor might have been ruthless but the American People would not permit it.  To destroy Dr. King's movement would have meant publicly destroying American values. That we were unwilling to do.  Try a thought experiment:  Would Ghandi or King have survived (let alone won) against the Russians?  If you say "yes", check out what the Russians have been doing in Chechnya for the past 10 years.

So get a grip people.  Stop this.  It's a damn big, mean world out there and, while *you* may not want to fight for your right to be snotty and disdainful and comfortable, be grateful to the others of us who are.  By fighting for our own rights, we inadvertently protect yours.  Economists call you "free riders".  Well, you "free riders" have the right to be snotty and disdainful, but we have the right to hold you in contempt for acting that way.

The Hitman Scam

I don't like to call attention to these things but there's a "new" scam out there that is causing people some grief.  What happens is they get an email or a note or something telling them that a contract to kill them has been placed but the hitman has a conscience.  So if they will just pay off the hitman, the contract will be canceled.  This is nonsense and absurd and illogical.  Think about it.  So the hit man refuses to act.  Is the person who put out the contract going to be dissuaded?  No.  Would the hitman take the chance that the person issuing the contract will want revenge on the hitman?  No. Is there such a thing as a professional hitman who has such a tender conscience?  No.

If someone pulls this stunt on you, call the police. It's extortion.  If you doubt me, the FBI knows about this and gives advice.   Bottom line--don't fall for it.

SSN's and Identity Theft

Apparently some people still carry their Social Security Card.  I used to do that but stopped about 25 years ago.  These days, it's foolish at best to carry your card.  It's too valuable.  If you lose your wallet and your card is in it, you have a long-term big problem.  At a minimum you have to get a new SSN and notify everyone.  This can be a major pain.  It could also lead to major confusion. So, don't carry it.

Now some employers in these days of immigration hysteria may make you produce the actual card itself.  If so, use it and then put it back in safe-keeping.  Don't carry it!

BTW:  I blogged over a year ago about what to do if your identity was stolen.  You might want to review those posts if your have that problem.