Cyperstalking

Posted on June 20, 2007 by admin

I stumbled on an interesting article by Caitlin Flanagan in the June Atlantic Magazine. In it Flanagan demonstrates how easy it is to become a cyberstalker.  She focuses on My Space and teenagers, but to me the article raises a more basic point:  Do you know what you are revealing to random strangers online.  The Internet is NOT anonymous and you should be aware of what you are revealing when you go online.

Maybe I should start posting tips for how to remain anonymous but so far there seems to be no demand for it.

Regardless, the least you can do is be aware of what you are revealing and *think* before you reveal all the intimate details of your life.

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Get Behind them

Posted on June 17, 2007 by admin

It’s graduation time.  And summer time.  And time for all the tired, drunk, impaired drivers to be out on the roads more.  So, what do you do if you see one of these coming up on you?  Or you come up on them? And they are speeding/weaving/giving signs of being impaired?

Most people try to get around them quickly and go past them.  OK.  But then they are behind you and you have no idea what they are doing, if they have decided to speed up on you and follow you or anything.  Because they are behind you *they* control the situation.  So …  try getting behind them and making sure they have all the room they need to be silly.  Then you can see what *they* are doing and drive defensively to avoid any problems they create.

This doesn’t work all the  time, but it does help.

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Walking the dog

Posted on June 14, 2007 by admin

Just a short thought tonight:  when you are out–walking or jogging or whatever–and you see somebody walking a dog if you aren’t sure about the dog, pass on the person’s side not the dog’s side.  So, if the dog is walking at “heel” on the person’s left, pass on the Right side. That way, if there is a problem, the dog has to go past his owner to get to you.

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knives

Posted on June 14, 2007 by admin

A lot of people won’t believe this but …  within about 7-10 feet, a knife can be more dangerous than a firearm.  So be careful if someone approaches you with a knife in their hand.  For  some reason many people don’t realize how dangerous a knife can be up close, I don’t know why.

Generally, therefore, if I am not sure about a person I won’t let them get within 7-10 feet as a result.

Posted in Weapons | Comments Off on knives

Get a harness not a leash

Posted on June 7, 2007 by admin

By now many of you have read or seen CNN or the various news media and the talk about the woman who drove a car into a crowd at a Washington, D.C. street festival.  A lot of people got hurt, many of them little kids.  Well, have you ever seen a kid with a leash on her wrist and the other end of the leash is attached to Mom or Dad?  I see it all the time.  And I always wonder:  Are they trying to hurt their kid?  Just think about it for a minute.  Part of the reason for the leash is so the child won’t get away.  But another reason is so the adult can pull the kid to safety or away from something dangerous.  Right.  So you pull hard on the arm and dislocate the shoulder or elbow.  That makes good sense.

Here’s a better way.  Don’t use a leash that attaches to the child’s wrist.  Use a leash that attaches to a full-body harness.  They are cheap and safe.  One of my children ran into the street while wearing a harness attached to my wrist.  Car comes by at speed so I spun and pulled hard.  She went flying into the air, the car goes by missing her and she’s not hurt.  Actually she thought it was a carnival ride and wanted to do it again.  After I could catch my breath, we did too–but not near the street.

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It’s summertime!

Posted on June 6, 2007 by admin

And you are out enjoying the late evening daylight.  And so is everyone else.  I saw something in today’s Washington Post which caught my eye:  crime increases as daylight increases.  So, just because it’s a nice night and you are enjoying the outdoors, don’t forget that others are enjoying your enjoyment.  Be safe on the streets.

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Use Your mirrors

Posted on June 2, 2007 by admin

Yesterday I was out driving.  Just a normal run to the stores.  I pulled into the parking lot and suddenly noticed that someone was following me.  All the way to where I park.  No place to drive away.  So I hopped out of the car and put my back to my car.  I didn’t stay in the car because it’s a little convertible–no protection at all.

Turned out to be just a normal case of road rage.  He went away without even getting out of his car.

Moral:  use your mirrors.  Use them regularly.  And be aware.

Posted in Car | Comments Off on Use Your mirrors

Silliness reigns in teaching weapons defense

Posted on May 28, 2007 by admin

I just saw something very silly by someone who shall remain nameless because I’m gonna criticize him.  He’s a self-defense instructor and was teaching what to do when somebody pulls a knife on you.  His technique completely ignored 3 things:  first, that nobody leaves a knife out there for you to grab; second, that if you do grab the knife-hand, the attacker will try to pull away and if you hold on you will either get your hand cut or get stabbed, and three, his technique moved to the “hot” side–the side where the attacker’s other hand can strike you.

Moral:  many of the techniques “experts” teach can expose you to even more danger.  Be careful of both the techniques and of the “experts”.

Posted in Weapons | Comments Off on Silliness reigns in teaching weapons defense

getting mugged–a tip

Posted on May 28, 2007 by admin

If you are being mugged and there is no gun, give them your wallet.  But don’t just hand it to them.  And don’t throw it in their face–flip it down to the ground at about a 45 degree angle.  Their eyes will follow your wallet and when they do ….  run like he!!.  Normally you can cover about 10-20 feet beforethey recover and they probably won’t chase you–they’ve got your wallet.

If they have a gun, you will have to do something else but that’s another post.

Posted in Street | Comments Off on getting mugged–a tip

Insurance

Posted on May 22, 2007 by admin

Seems a little odd for me to be writing about insurance in this blog, but that’s what protection can get you into.  Anyway, be sure you have the right kind of insurance for your business.  Not just regular liability insurance or malpractice insurance.  You might also consider insurance to cover if you have a disaster or if you are injured and cannot work.  Anyway, check with your insurance agent.  You might be surprised.

You might also ask them if their company or companies have people who give advice on how to reduce your risks.  Some do.  Take advantage of the free advice.  But remember–it’s only as good as what you paid for it.

Posted in Work | Comments Off on Insurance