Preparedness for the Information Age

We are knee deep in information now. Fully at least 10 years into the information age and we still are just learning to paddle the canoe in the stream of electrons.

You may do your banking online, store family photos on yourhard drive, or have scanned copies of important documents on your computer. We've somehow been programmed to think that this is completely safe and the best way to do things. Well, it's a good way for certain, however nothing is completely safe.

This is where the preparedness mindset comes to bear. Yet, it seems to me, many preparedness folks aren't quite sure what to make of all this electronic storage and communications. There are some who are extremely competent and conversant in information technology - far so than yours truly, the High-Tech Redneck.

This isn't for those folks. This is for you.

Safety of Documents and Images

The safest and best way to store vital documents and sentimental photographs is still on paper. Paper isn't sensitive to power surges and a spilled coffee might make it messy, but it can still be read.

You might have a few thousand pictures now that digital cameras are so prevalent. Might have to thin the herd, before you start doing your printing. If possible, have them printed professionally for the higher quality paper and imaging.

Now, store them safely like you would have done with important papers. If the documents are very important, like insurance, long-form birth certificates and such, store them in a safe-deposit box at your bank. The cost for one is a tax-deduction, last time I checked.

"But Guy," you say, "why don't I just back them up onto a memory stick or DVD and put that in the safety deposit box?" Yes, you should do that too. Or in a firesafe at home, at the very least. However, how useful is that copy to you in a power outage? That's a rhetorical question.

Safety of Internet Communications

Some people, like myself, put a lot of themselves on the World Wide Web. I do that to try to help other people discover Preparedness and am willing to take that risk. You don't have to, if you don't want to. Don't be paranoid though. The chances of someone going to the great lengths it would take to collect info about you, are pretty slim. But why help out?

Use different usernames for every forum or service that you use. This makes it hard to piece together a history on someone. I use the username CdnGuy a LOT. If someone did searches on that term alone, they could build a pretty good profile of me. I sincerely hope that doesn't happen since I'm mostly just trying to help people.

Keep private information private. Do you really need to post your address and phone number on Facebook? The people are supposed to be your friends. They should already know that information. If they don't, they'll ask. It's up to you how to respond.

Your computer is your computer. If no one else needs to use your computer, then don't let them. If other people do need to use your computer, then use User Profiles. Only you should be the Administrator. You might be surprised how often immediate family may take advantage of your credit card or banking information. It's the new take-10-dollars-out-of-Mom's-purse.

That's a lot of gloom and doom, I know. But now for some good news!!! Have you ever thought that online banking wasn't safe? That somehow some 14 year old punk could steal your electronic digits, all $3 worth? You have a better chance of winning the lottery. Yet, you'll do banking at an ATM or even the local branch. All of their communications happen over the exact same telephone, cable and satellite systems that your Internet banking does. So, online banking is at least as safe as going to local branch and having Martha help you. Nonetheless, I do recommend going right into the bank, because they are nice people and getting to know them is a good idea.

Did this article help you out? Did it get you thinking about your Information Preparedness? Are you asking yourself questions about other things related to this topic. If that's the case, I'm glad. Think, be positive, and live well.


Guy McDowell
guymcdowell@gmail.com
http://www.CanadaPrepared.com
http://www.GuyMcDowell.com

Season's Greetings!

Season's Greetings to all Alberta Preppers! All the best to each of you and your families over the holidays and in the new year!

The CPN West - -> East Travel Bug enroute to Alberta!

As noted in this post, the Canadian Preppers Network had acquired two Travel Bugs in hopes of raising awareness of the CPN and because we thought it would be a fun thing to do. One Travel Bug (TB) will start on the west coast and one will start on the east coast.

The west --> east TB (TB342JN) has already been spotted and moved from several caches in the province of BC. The last we heard - it is now on its way to Alberta!!! Be sure to check in here at the CPN often for updates

You can view more info on the west --> east TB here:

Stay tuned for more updates on the west --> east TB!!!

(Make sure to click the pic below to see the cool TB!)

(Note: as of this post, the east --> west TB is in the mail, enroute to Bishop's Falls, Nfld. Stay tuned for more info on when it comes into play!)

Season's Greetings Contest at the CPN

Check out the contest here.

Food & Water Storage

(originally posted at the NLPN by Riverwalker)

In any survival or emergency situation, food and water are a priority. Here are some links with valuable information to assist you in your preparedness efforts.


Food Storage Facts

Water Treatment and Storage

Food Storage Inventory Sheet

Safe Home Food Storage

Herbs and Their Uses

Storage Guidelines for Oils and Fats


Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Mustard Greens

mustard greens photo from wikipedia

(originally posted at the NBPN by Jennifer)

This year in our garden we planted mustard greens. I had never eaten them before, but the nutritional value of the greens cannot be overlooked, so I planted one tire full.

Then I read from World's Healthiest foods this:

Vitamin C works to neutralize the free radicals that are responsible for causing smooth muscle contraction and airway constriction in asthma. Additionally, it assists with the breakdown of histamine, one of the inflammatory chemicals that is overproduced in asthma and many other immune-related disorders.

I was sold on the greens! For the desert they grew remarkably fast and we have eaten them in salads, cooked, boiled and in the garden as we weed etc.We are near the end of the growing season for the tire we planted as I am letting it go to seed, and have been harvesting the seeds to plant more later this summer and into early fall.Here us what it looks like when the mustard greens go to seed.

I opened one outside and a few seeds popped out, but you can see the seeds. My cost for the seeds were $1.97, and since we never had the mustard greens I planted a small amount. From one plant I have about seven times the seeds that I bought. Never minimize harvesting the seeds from everything you grow.

Here are a few other links about mustard greens : Urban text, Wiki,
How to cook... About.com recipe...the slow cook.

Mustard greens are a cool weather crop so I believe that in Canada you could grow these over the summer, as I grew them in the spring and temps were over 90 F(about 32 C) most of the time. Please consider gardening part of your prepping and plant foods that provide valued nutritional needs for you and your family.
(c) Double Nickel Farm
Jennifer

The Do 1 Thing Program

If you haven't already checked out Scarecrow's posts at the Ontario Preppers Network (OPN) - you really should! Scarecrow has some of the best Canadian-specific, prepping information available on the net!!!

Below are links to Scarecrow's latest masterpiece - his summary of The Do 1 Thing Program that was developed by www.do1thing.us!

In each post, Scarecrow takes 1 prepping-related "thing" and busts it out into step by step instructions in order to help us all become better prepared.

From the Do 1 Thing Program - Do 1 Thing #1 - Assess your Risk
Do 1 Thing #2 - Water
Do 1 Thing #3 - Shelter
Do 1 Thing #4 - Food
Do 1 Thing #5 - Connecting With The Community
Do 1 Thing #6 - Special Items
Do 1 Thing #7 - Communications
Do 1 Thing #8 - Taking Care of Others
Do 1 Thing #9 - Getting Emergency Information
Do 1 Thing #10 - Power
Do 1 Thing #11 - Emergency Supplies
Do 1 Thing #12 - First Aid
Do 1 Thing - You Need to Know


I hope you all enjoyed this series. Remember to check the OPN regularly for more of Scarecrow's awesome work.