night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Ann is a "Fair Witness"
link just to refresh my own memory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_witness
link just to refresh my own memory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_witness
We pretty much know what a suspicious person and vehicle looks like on TB2K.
Thanks Maureen, good info and lots of good reminders.
This line cracked me up
Because when I read that all I could think of was this..
The guy with the pink hair who is sitting in a Subway restaurant, arguing with invisible people about global warming and Santa Claus is not a terrorist. The guy at Kroger who is wandering the aisles, looking for Jesus, isn't a problem, either.
Yep, that is one of the few things I remember from that novel, the 'True Witness'.
In your car, driving, anywhere, anytime, is where you are most likely to get hurt or killed. Terrorist crap is irrevelent compared to driving. The idiot on your tailgate is much more dangerous to you than Usamabama Muhamabed will ever be.
Pay attention when you are driving. Death is at your fender, countless times every day. Pay attention when you are driving and drive like a person of sense.
Or you won't get to live to see doomsday. Wouldn't that suck !
Being in a car , on a road, is the most dangerous thing you do.
Probably.
And tomorrow is game day again . . . hopefully . . . no fires . . . I stand ready with my hose and my mace.
Ok, here's my bit of a contribution to this 'awareness' stuff. Don't use just your eyes as your only situational awareness organs. Use your nose and your ears also. And also be aware that the BGs will be 'casing the joint' some time in advance of any attack. If you are their target, then you have got to show them it won't be easy. Never travel the same route twice in a row. Never have a set schedule of doing things, if at all possible.
And most important, realize that this situational awareness stuff can really brighten your day. If you like splashes of color, then being aware of your surroundings will supply them. Like the smell of flowers? Move your sense of smell to the forefront and you can catch the smell of many flowers from a great distance. Sounds are a bit more of a problem because most sounds these days, to me, are not pleasant ones...jackhammers, squealing brakes, blasting airhorns.... But, I'm sure you get the idea. Heightened senses lets you enjoy life more because you encounter more of life.
Not sure about your area but around here there are very few of those coin pay phones left anywhere. I noticed yesterday that they've taken them out of government buildings like DMV and the Post Office. They use to be everywhere but now these pay phones are GONE.
Anyway, the point is that you should not rely on phone services of any kind. Just a few months ago ALL phone service was immediatley halted to certain areas of our state for unknown reasons. A test? Anyway, that right there told me that we had to have a back-up. I have a pact with my family that should something happen we all need to meet at a certain location, depending on where the disaster has occured. We have three meeting places (Northeast, Central and Southwest) that are safely away from what we would consider targets. All three will provide shelter, safety and food and clothing for a week minimum.
MaureenO, it needs to be pointed out, as I tried to, that being 'situationally aware' doesn't just enhance your chances of living...but also enhances your life. If people understand this, then they'll work harder at applying what has been said here. Know what I'm meaning? Sometimes I can't get the words to do what I want them to.
I hope this isn't thread drift, Maureen, but I just have to comment on something that I very often see when I go into town for one thing or another. Almost without exception, women shoppers will leave their purse in the kiddy carrier of their shopping basket, sitting there wide open, while they wander off trying to find the right color of toilet seat cover.
You are certainly correct about the hazards of driving, however, this thread is not about that.
We are trying to brush up on situational awareness as it relates to terrorism or other criminal activities.
For the newcomers here, especially those with LE, FD, Military or security experience, if you have any lessons you would like to convey, please jump in.
Maureen
When you walk into ANY room, that is not in your own home or apt, you need to develop the habit of finding the following:
The fastest way out.
ALL of the doors because they can be ways out or ways IN for the Purples.
ALL of the windows for the same reqason as above.
FIND COVER. somewhere IN THE ROOM there HAS to be a place that is RELATIVELY safe from bullets. FIND it.\
FIND CONCEALMENT. SOmewhere in the room is somwewhere you can duck into which hides you. This is NOT cover, but it IS a plae to get out of view FAST.
NOW.....
START THIS WEEK. MAKE THE HABIT to DO the survey in EVERY room you walk into. EVEN your brother in law's living room....EVEN mom's house and the restaurant you eat at for lunch EVERY DAY.....
<center> AND</center>
<center>CARRY YOUR DAMNED GUN</center>
<center>LOADED</center>
Maureen--THANK YOU AGAIN for this timely BTTT. I think...I hate that I have to say this...but I really think we're not done yet. I think things like this will start to happen a lot more. Like...this week. Not like in the next year. But very soon and often. Call it whatever you want--but I ain't a prophet or psychic. I'm just sensing SOMETHING.
ERGO...I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY think this either needs to be somehow PINNED...or just BTTT every hour--every single TB2K member needs to read this. I practice this as much as I can and I should be better at it.
Some things I would add:
#2: Cover and concealment
These are two different things. Something like a concrete pillar or bench can provide both. A piece of drywall is likely only good for concealment. That being said, concealment is a great way to stay alive. This can be under a truck, between cars, up in the attic, in a extra large washer (cut the cord so they can turn it on with you in it!), between clothing racks, in the middle of a clothing rack, in the elevator shaft, etc. etc.. Also, don't forget to turn the cell phone off. Nothing like a good hiding spot ruined when someone calls you asking "Are you seeing what is going on at such and such place!!!" One reason to keep the cell phone on is if family members/friends are in the area. Turn phone on vibrate, key press noises off. Send text message to evac the mall immediately and leave the area (ie: Go home, go 1 mile away, go to Wal-mart down the street.)