Strategies for Garden Warfare

Every battle is won with sound strategies -- including in the garden or front yard.


And here is way to potentially win that battle with clover and other natural invaders without  resorting to toxic pesticides  or driving yourself nuts trying to rip it all out. Why not just let certain patches of it grow -- letting other wild or natural flowers grow along with it?


Then all you have to do  is make paths  around these natural oases of wild grasses, trees, and shrubs -- as well as natural more refined, cultivated flowers and plants you love.


Certainly the really refined garden of carefully selected plants that you buy at the garden store look beautiful but I was out on a bike ride along the Fraser River today and suddenly realized that many of the natural shrubs and flowers growing there are just as beautiful in the own way. Many of these could be imported into your own garden or front yard to create a yard that could rival anything you buy at the store in beauty. And it is a surrounding that could possibly attract many more pollinating insects and birds to friendly neighborhood you create for them  


Complete with  patches of flowering white and pink clover carpeting the floor of your miniature forest (which could be easily cultivated and pruned.

YouDon't Need to Imitate Chuck Norris

How many times have you seen Chuck Norris in the Texas Rangers, I believe, and other shows conquer opponents with his high flying kicks and other martial arts skills?


Very impressive, but you don't need to be that good to defend yourself.  Aim much lower. The points you want to aim for are about four finger widths above the inside of each ankle bone.


Focus your kicks on these spots and you can derail any attacker very quickly -- perhaps even break his leg.


The key is to visualize yourself doing this and then practice, practice, practice -- either with a friend (pulling your kicks of course)  or one of those long punching bags used in martial arts and boxing gyms. Even wrap some padding around an upright post or tree and use either of these to practice until you have it all down pat.


You just never know when such a skill could help you protect yourself and others.


Incidentally, the vulnerability of this point just above your ankle means you should never confront any unknown persons in less than a 45 degree angle in most cases.

Are You going to Participate?

So far those of us living in the Lower Mainland area of B.C. seem to be living in an area protected from all the natural disasters striking other parts of the world, but as illustrated recently in Kaslo, B.C. which has wiped out one family,  disasters can strike anytime.
So are you ready for the Big One" we keep hearing about?


One way to make sure you are would be to participate in the  Shakeout B.C.  drill on October 18, 2012 at 10:18 a.m.


You can get more information on this by e-mail info@shakeoutbc.ca or on the Web site at: www.shakeoutbc.ca

The Right Order in Any Situation

Think First -- then -- act!  This is a sign I saw on a part of the new Port Mann bridge project here in Vancouver, B.C.  But -- it is good advice in any situation isn't it?

Unique House Codes on Intercoms

Intercoms --especially ones incorporating video cameras are a great way to protect your home and family from intruders.


Just make sure that yours has  a unique house code in its digital set up that prevents other nearby systems from interfering with our accessing your system.


Check out what's available carefully before investing in one of these.

See You Next Week with More Ideas

See you next week with more ideas.  In the meantime if you ever find yourself in situations where you would like to be able to see things in the dark  why not look around for night vision binoculars in the outdoor or sporting goods stores.


At one time such gear would cost in the thousands of dollars of  a single lens monocular, but now at least one of the catalogs I have been looking at  is advertising such equipment for as little as $349.99 for saa monocular and $549.99 for binoculars.


If  you are doing any type of security or surveillance work  these -- could be -- ideal.  


Just remember  that old Chinese proverb: "cheap thing no good and good thing no cheap."    That isn't true all the time of course, but just a little caution when shopping for anythying that's all.

Defeat Pre-Presentation Anxiety!

 If you are a public speaker or presenter there are a number of  ways to protect yourself from pre-presentation jitters or anxiety such as deep breathing  or going for a quick walk if you have the opportunity --  but one of the best ways to defeat the jitters  is to know your introduction perfectly.


And the best way to do this is to make that Mind Map of the material you are going to cover (or write out this section with a pencil or pen word for word on a piece of paper)  just before before you leave home or the hotel to head for the auditorium or wherever you are going to be speaking


This writing out the material while thinking about what you are saying and what it means, according to study consultants, is the best way to learn and remember things.




 After you have done all this the next step is to visualize yourself  on that stage introducing yourself and topic whenever you have a few minutes while travelling to your venue and while waiting on stage for your time to begin.