Look Inside Yourself Grasshopper

We use visualization for a wide range of reasons.  Basketball players use visualization to improve shooting hoops better.  Actors use it to connect with their characters. I could go on…but you get the picture.  Visualization is part of human nature and below I will touch upon some methods of how we can connect to that amazing resource.

Tricks of the trade: Here is a trick I learned from “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins.  You can laugh, but it is actually a really good book.  Picture someone that has annoyed you lately.  Is it your boss, co-worker, loved one. Now manipulate the picture in your mind. If it is a man, have them wear a ballerina outfit.  If it is a woman, give them a beard.  Now hear them talk, and raise or lower their voice. Give yourself a good three minutes to settle in and explore this exercise. If everything went according to plan, that should put a smile on your face.  Continue reading

News Flash

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Preparedness: September is National Preparedness month. This is good time for you to check your emergency kit to make sure everything is up date.  Check out 30 days 30 ways Facebook page for simple, easy ways to prepare. Join me on National Preparedness group, and connect with people across the nation.

Solar ActivitySpace Weather reports the following activity: “This morning [September 6] at 0150 UT, sunspot 1283 produced an M5.3-class solar flare…Because of the sunspot’s central location on the solar disk, the eruption was Earth-directed and a CME might be heading our way.”  Update:  The same sunspot produced an X.2 flare less than 24 hours later, both are earth directed!!

Earthquakes: This has not been a quiet month so far, according to the Earthquake-Report.com.  There was a 6.6 in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Tonga felt a harmless 6.3 off their coast. The strongest earthquake this month belongs to Aleutian Islands in Alaska, with a strong 7.1. I would highly recommend you visit The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network website for information on unusual activity for the NW region of Washington. There is no need to be alarmed, but the information will be important if there is more unusual activity in the future.

Fires:  Texas is still dealing with the several intense fires.  Oregon firefighters are still battling the Dollar Lake Fire near Mt. Hood, which is closing in on a few miles away from the Bull Run reservoir.  Another fire to keep an eye on is the High Cascades Complex near Warm Springs. That fire has consumed roughly 106,697 acres, with 70% containment.    The Shadow Lake fire near Mt. Washington has claimed 4,610 acres so far.

Financial: The issue of false signatures on mortgages may go back to 1998. The Washington Post covers the story in, “Widespread robo-signing of mortgage documents found as far back as 1998 could haunt owners.”  Stop by UsaWatchDog.com for more great articles about our current economic situation.

 

Too Close for Comfort

“’Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.”

- Stealers Wheel, Stuck in the Middle

Here’s a quick, down and dirty, lesson on surviving riots. For more detailed information, I would highly encourage you to visit the websites listed down below. I am trying to keep this simple, so if your adrenaline is taking off, at least you might remember some simple tips.

1)    Don’t get yourself in the situation to begin with. Could the rally you’re attending get out of control?  How about the soccer match? Think events through before attending them.

2)    Be mindful of your surroundings. If you’re already at an event and you see a group starting to gather, pick up your things and start walking away. Joining the group to see what’s going on can easily get you entwined in it if it starts to get out of control. Continue reading

Keep it Local

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Blog: Find out what the Red Cross is doing around the world on their blog page. Oregon Emergency Management’s page has a great post about, “12 reasons to take time off.” Number five is my favorite reason :)

Forum: Pdxprepared.com has a set up for a forum for discussions on preparedness issues. So grab your CERT buddies, and chat away.

Local SuppliesPortland Prepared Store is located on 72nd and Glisan. The website shows a wide range of items. Continue reading