You are here: Home / Archives for community

Winter Motorcycle Safety

March 7, 2012 By 2 Comments

Surviving the Winter on a Motorcycle – Guest Post

 

Today, I’m excited to introduce Gina Williams to you as our guest today.  Gina is passionate about motorcycle safety, and I asked her to give you some safety tips for winter motorcycle riding.  How does that fit with survival, you may ask?  Great question :)  Bikes are a great survival tool to maneuver around and through traffic in both evacuation scenarios, and if roads have experienced trauma, but those situations don’t always happen during the warm summer months.  Here are Gina’s tips on winter safety:

Winter conditions are some of the worst for those that love to ride motorcycles.   Some motorcyclists even cease riding altogether during the winter months due to its harsh conditions; the most common months for riding are between May and the fall.

However, for those whose only vehicle is a motorcycle, or those who refuse to let weather get in the way of their fun, here are some tips for surviving the winter on a motorcycle.

Adjust Your Riding Gear

No matter what time of the year it is, you should always wear the right gear:

  • Protective gloves and shoes.
  • A protective jacket and pair of pants, or a full-riding suit.
  • A Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet, at all times.

The winter, however, requires that you wear heavy winter clothes in addition to your protective clothes.  So you must make sure that either you have gear specifically for the winter or that your all-year gear can accommodate this additional bulk.

In particular you will need to:

  • Utilize a pair of waterproof winter gloves, which have an insulating liner; hands and fingers tend to be the extremities that get the coldest when riding.
  • Add wind deterring clothing to your helmet; use a beanie, scarf, and/or ski mask to protect your face, head, and eyes while riding.
  • Layer your clothing to ensure you retain adequate heat.
  • Wear waterproof riding boots.
  • Wear brightly colored clothing to make yourself visible to other drivers; snow can decrease motorists’ visibility, and as many non-winter accidents are caused by motorists not seeing a motorcyclist, decreased visibility during the winter may increase your chances of not being seen.  Thus it is imperative that you are as visible as possible to other motorists.

During the winter you will want to be completely covered, from head to toe, to protect yourself from the cold, wind, and snow.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Ready

If you live in very cold conditions during the winter, it is imperative that you acquire winter tires.  These tires are specifically designed to stay flexible despite the low temperatures, which causes ordinary tires to become hardened and less capable of gripping the road.  Grip is imperative in winter conditions, and the threads and grooves on winter tires differ from normal tires to help motorcycles better grip the road.  Additionally, you may want to consider purchasing studs or chains if you live in particularly harsh winter conditions.

Take Extra Precautions

If you’re riding in the snow or ice, be extra cautions.  Ride slower than you normally would and keep in mind that falling rain and snow, as well as snow and ice on the ground, make riding more dangerous.  Also keep in the mind that said conditions affect the motorists around you; thus, you should be as mindful as possible to your surroundings to protect yourself from others’ mistakes or misfortunes.

Know When to Fold

When it comes down to it, your safety is the most important part of riding.  If the conditions are so bad that it is impossible, or nearly impossible, to ride, then don’t.  You need to understand that at some point it becomes not about your skill level or experience, but about it simply not being safe to ride.  Sometimes, you need to just let winter win.

 

Gina Williams is a guest post and article writer bringing to us tips for surviving the winter on a motorcycle.

Gina also writes articles on motorcycle safety, which feature motorcycle accident pictures.

Image: Jon Whiles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: , , , ,

Black Swan Theory

February 4, 2012 By 2 Comments

During a recent project at work, I learned about The Black Swan Theory.  Basically, it’s the idea (and this is my generic summation) that a major event is so obvious in hindsight, it should have been expected.  A Black Swan is defined as a cumulation of these three factors:

  1. It’s a surprise (to the observer)
  2. It has a major impact.
  3. In hindsight, it’s so obvious it should have been predicted.

Think 9/11…or the current ebook revolution/extinction of paper books.

As I thought about a sequence of major events (the internet, ebooks, Occupy Wall St., the downfall of the SOPA/PIPA acts, and this recent reversal of the Komen foundation’s support of Planned Parenthood) I started wondering about the next Black Swan.

The internet has changed the way we think, the way we interact, the way we learn:

  • Kids can now search youtube to find a video on calculus that makes sense to them if they’re not getting a delivery method from their teacher that works.
  • An earthquake is tweeted before the news can report it.  (100% of our real-time first-person news can come from individuals experiencing events vs. what makes good ratings on TV)
  • As individuals, we’re no longer subject to gatekeepers who can filter our voices….EVERYONE has a platform.
  • The phenomenal growth of Pinterest indicates (to me) how badly we want to share beautiful knowledge — photos, inspiration, attaboys, DIY projects–as a community. (something we’ve lacked here in the US for at least a hundred years)

So what IS the next Black Swan?

Obviously, it’s not possible to predict a Black Swan, the point is merely to account for the potential risk….but I have a thought (maybe it’s a dream).

I personally weigh everything I put on the internet, anticipate the impact–both today and in the future.  I do that because everyone is watching…and not in a Big Brother way…but with the expectation that I will be kind, and honest, and all those things mother taught me to be (If you can’t say anything nice…) because if I’m not, the world is ready to vomit their opinion all over my blog, twitter, the universe in opposition.

Based on some of the recent backlashes out there…(here’s the Black Swan) I think companies/individuals/governments will begin to do the same because now they’re realizing the world is watching, and will not stand by to allow the mistreatment of anything.  Authenticity is being rewarded, and if the expectation is shifting that people will behave in a more authentic manner, everything begins to shift…the bubble of anticipation becomes less, I’m-holding-a-rotten-tomato-and-will-fling-it-in-your-face-if-you-say-something-I-don’t-like and more, leaning-forward-in-my-chair-lights-dimmed-award-winning-show-is-about-to-start.

If people know they’re walking onto a stage with an audience of millions, and each member of the audience spent millions per ticket (because isn’t that what our time is worth?) to come see the show, they will pause at the edge of the curtain, take a deep breath and seek that honest, authentic (vulnerable) space and speak/act from a place of love, instead of a place of fear.  (even companies have love/fear relationships—love of money/fear of losses)
Which doesn’t mean we’ll all agree, and sing kumbaya, and dance about.  But if you come to me and voice your opinion and thoughts from an authentic space, I don’t feel like I’m under attack, I don’t start on a defensive note, I’m willing to listen, I’m willing to hear you, I’m willing to see your side.
….and isn’t that what we’ve always wanted?  To be heard?
What would that impact look like??

 

 

Image: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Communication, Writing Tagged With: , ,

1 year old ~ 1000 followers ~$1000

August 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Milestones Rock.

I’m always super humbled whenever I hit a milestone.

I started this blog a little over a year ago, on June 16. Since then, I’ve migrated over to a .com from .blogspot, figured out some sort of schedule, and for the most part, found a groove that works for me. Summer schedule with two little boys has definitely forced a bit of creativity on me when it comes to posting, and I’ve been a bit lax about it – - I’d just rather be outside watching them smash chalk to smithereens on my patio than sit behind a computer — thanks for hanging in there with me.

Survival prep is a funny thing. We scramble and save and prepare for something in the hopes we’ll never ever have to use it. Well, I do anyway, there are some people who can’t wait to say, “See, I told you this country was headed for the shitter.” I’d rather live today to the fullest, not having any idea what’s coming, or if all the premonitions, or conspiracy theories, or prophesies will ever come true. I’d rather live to 112 and look back with glee knowing I outlived my wheat.

AND I’d rather have a storage of money and food on hand….just in case.

Thanks for giving me a place to spout my own personal version of nonesense, and for hanging in there with me to find the gems amid the rambling. I hope you get as much out of this as I do.

Appreciate ya!

Jen

Wanna win $1000? I’m part of Simply Stacie’s Boost Your Buzz $1000 Summer Giveaway. You’re already eligible for one entry if you follow me here…just go validate your entry.

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Blogging, Writing Tagged With: , ,

Online Solar Estimate Tool

July 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

Have you heard about 1BOG? It’s a community of users working together to bring solar to their neighborhood at cheaper prices through quantity. Basically, the more users who are interested in solar, the cheaper the price.

It takes a certain number of users in an area to tip a deal (think Groupon) and SLC is still lagging behind. Are you signed up for your area (tip the deal for your neighbors, even if you’re not interested…)

Now they have a new tool to estimate your monthly solar savings. You input you address and it pulls up a google earth map, you outline your roof, indicate the compass orientation, and it tells you how much you’d save with solar generating a portion of your energy. Pretty cool.

(At current rates, it will still take me 25 years to pay off the panels, at my $40/month savings, but as more people get solar, the price will continue to drop)

What’s your savings?

Online Solar Estimate Tool – Estimate Solar Panel Cost | 1BOG.org.

Jen

Filed Under: Solar Tagged With: , ,

Today’s Customer Service

July 11, 2011 By 1 Comment

Walmart v. Glover Nursery

boxing glove

This weekend I had the opportunity of experiencing customer service from both ends of the spectrum and it made me ponder things far beyond the return policy on the back of my receipts.

End #1 occurred at Walmart.

Now, some of you may say I got what I deserved for shopping at Walmart, but – until this weekend – I have been a long time devotee of Walmart. Great selection, cheap prices, no-questions-asked return policy. As a mom of toddlers, I need a scenario where the prices are affordable and I can bring things back when they break.

Last month I bought a dual DVR for my mom to use when she had the boys for a week, and it stopped working while they were on their trip. By the time they got back, and we had the 4th of July, 31 days had passed from the time of purchase. I didn’t think anything of it, since I’ve returned everything from MP3 players to alarm clocks when they didn’t work.

Fast forward to 45 minutes at the return counter – and Walmart has a new policy – 15 days for electronics.

“But it’s broken.” I said.

“Sorry.” Walmart employee said, pointing to the sign.

“I don’t want my money back, just one that works.”

“New policy.”

End of conversation.

WTF?

I asked to speak with a manager, and when she got there, she opened the box, rifled through the contents, and walked away. No discussion, no attempt to console me, or offer me an explanation. Just shrugged and walked off.

End #2 of the customer service spectrum happened at Glover Nursery – a family-owned humongous nursery here in town.

I’d called last weekend looking for a Weeping Siberian Peashrub, and they’d set one aside with my name on it. It took me a few days to get there, but the first employee I asked about the tree helped me search through all the hold plants looking for it. When we couldn’t find it, she radioed someone to walk me to the row of the nursery where the tree usually lived, and they called about three other people on the radio to see if anyone knew where the held plant might be.

Once in the row, the employee waited for me to choose the one I wanted, since it wasn’t being held, and loaded it on my cart. We checked out at loaded the tree in the back of the truck and were on our way. While we were loading up the boys, a teenage employee came over and suggested we lay the tree down instead of leaving it standing. I swear to you, he was as concerned for that tree as if he was the one who’d raised it from a sapling and he was desperate for it to have a good home.

To be fair, I wasn’t returning anything to Glover, but they do have a year-long return policy for the tree – A TREE! not a piece of electronic equipment that should have a multiple year lifespan. To be fair, I was at fault in both instances.

I guess what I don’t understand is why Walmart would choose to lower their level of customer service in a time when social media has given every shopper a wide platform to voice their discontent (ahem). Wouldn’t now be the time to step it up and exceed customer expectation? Glover Nursery sure thinks so….

Jen

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Filed Under: Survival Tagged With: ,
Next Page »