Watch Those Little Library Bugs

As if we didn't have enough threats to our security and well-being in the world -- but we bedbugs that are starting to infest books have recently added to that.

A recent newspaper story in the Vancouver Sun, on Thursday October 20, reported " Bedbugs found at second library branch"

It turns out that the invasion was relatively minor and the library staff has responded quickly by calling in extermination companies and treating books with a special heat treatment that kills that nasty litter critters that cause varying allergic reactions to their bites in susceptible persons.

Although this problem was minor it is a reminder that bedbugs and cockroaches can come home with us in our clothing as well as in paper bags and boxes that we have picked up in stores.

So it is always a good idea to check for such things when you return from shopping or some other building you suspect could be infected.

We once helped somebody move out of a cockroach infected apartment and although we thought we had been careful in checking our shoes and clothing after we escaped from the infected building and left our clothes outside for the night after arriving home we still encountered the odd cockroach in our own house for weeks.

And it takes only one to create a full-blown home invasion force withing a few weeks. So double check those shopping bags and even library books -- you just never know.


The book infestation is really rate -- so don't let it turn you off going to the library. It is just that it doesn't hurt to check. (I once found a $10.00 folded up into one of the books  I brought home from the library.) 

Remember -- Strictly in Moderation

Strictly in moderation.  That is the latest warning from medical researchers when it comes to alcohol.


We have heard a lot lately about the health benefits of wines -- and even liquor. And the latest edition of  Taste mgazine which you can pick up in your local liquor store in here presents some very tempting liquor and food combination don't go overboard;  according to the latest studies as reported on CTV's  National News on Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011 women  especially should be careful not to  as new research shows  that women having  14 drinks in a weeks raises their breast cancer risks by some 51%


Even a few drinks in a week creates some danger but the risk does grow from about 1.5 per up to that alarming 51% with each drink that she takes.


I don't know who did this study, but the idea of drinking in moderation -- for everyone -- is a good idea at all times. Focus more on that delicious looking food this holiday season.

Make Sure You Have A Will!

A stark reminder of the importance of having a will -- was driven home recently while working a chap who is now trying to find any surviving family members in another land before the local  Public Trustee grabs the estate of a friend who recently died unexpectedly.


Many people (myself included) try to push the thought of dying away off in the shadows -- as far away as possible, but that can be a little risky as shown by this experience.  His friend never thought he would died and so put off the idea of making a will until the last moment when doctors told him that he was not going to make -- that he was going to die within in days.


Although he hurriedly decided to leave his estate  worth over $8,000,000 in property -- to a big aid organization.  The local Public Trustee tried to claim that this will was written under duress and tried to have it declared void.


What the final outcome will be  I'm not sure, but I do know that if this friend had taken the time to think things through he very likely would have  written a will that left a least a portion  of his estate to another organization that he was associated with -- and that they could have done a lot of good with it.


So, don't leave something like this to the last minute. There  are far too many cases where people do and the Public Trustee here in B.C. steps in and take control of the estate -- which can mean big legal battles for surviving family members. 

Take The Time To Hear Properly.

Ancient King Solomon had some very valuable advice for everyone to keep in mind -- especially when communicating or dealing with other persons -- which is just about all the time.


Thousands of years ago he warned his officials and others that, "When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it] that is foolishness on his part and ]often] a humiliation [in the end]"


How many times do we fall into the trap of making a critical decisions about somebody or something before we have properly listened to and analyzed what they have said [or somebody has said about them]?


And how many times have responded in ways that hurt  emotionally)  somebody needless because of it?


I know I've been guilty of this on occasion -- so Solomon's advice is good to keep in mind -- and follow in business and social settings.  It protects critical relationships!

Check This Magazine Out First!

Before heading out on that winter skiing, snowmobiling or other adventure make sure you are properly prepared  with those space-age survival blankets  and other emergency equipment.


A good place to find the latest safety suggestions is with the latest edition of Backpacker magazine. This latest copy is a special survival guide for the outdoor enthusiast -- packed with guides on dealing outdoor emergencies.


Any decent sized book store or news stand should have this out by now.

Call Right Away!

Call the police -- right away -- when you see suspicious persons  -  or suspicious vehicles -- in your your neighborhood.

The current search fro Baby Lisa in the United States could have ended almost right away if just one of  those persons -- either the lady who saw a strange man carrying an unclothed baby in the wee hours of the morning near her home, which was close to the baby's home, or the man near the service station, who apparently saw the same man with a baby before he later vanished had called the police they could likely have intercepted this person first.

This is not an isolated instance of this type of thing happening and it is too bad because a call at the right time to the police can obviously make a difference to somebody's life.

Another High Pressure Reaction To Avoid

We recently took a quick look at how succumbing to high pressure reactions by losing our temper and striking out orally or physically at people can get us in big trouble.

 Remember, you are accountable for everything to do or say and to try and get out of it by saying you didn't know or didn't intend to doesn't usually excuse you

But there is another aspect of succumbing to high pressure reactions. Fear. This can be caused by a variety of situations such as somebody intimidating you either through his appearance or expression (that blank stare look) or actions -- or somebody who suddenly appears in the dark on a lonely path or trail headed in your direction.

Don't give in to this. Instead of shaking or trembling spend your time what you can do to defend yourself if this person is an attacker.

Do you have a set of keys including the new vehicle keys with that thick plastic handle housing the electronic chip?  You could grip this  in your strongest hand between your fingers to slash the person in the face as they rush towards you.

Do you have one of those LED flashlights that has a quick flash mode in your pocket or purse that you could use to blind the person as they rush at you?

(Some people have described these as the stroke maker because of the blinding light they emit in this mode.)

do you have a sharp pencil or pen that you could use to gouge the person's face or eye? Or a bottom of perfume that you could spray in the person's face.

That doesn't mean you are going to stand, wait for and attack the person approaching you of course.  Keep moving away as quickly as possible to safety or a safer location, but be ready to use such things to stun the person long enough for you to make your escape if you do attack.

What should be going through your mind as you continue to move to safety is how you are going to use these if you have to.

Of course you need to take some time regularly to practice such self-defense tactics before you use them. And it would be a good idea to enroll in a self-defense course.  More and security companies, as well as other companies, are offering such courses to the general public as well as their own security officers.

If your are concerned about your personal safety you should look into  enrolling in such as course. Their instructors will will teach you things that are easy to master -- and legal.


In the meantime, if you click on  www.selfdefenceexposed.org
you can sign-up up for a free self-defense newsletter which  contains many self-defense tricks you can use to protect yourself.