Surviving Desperation

Boundless.org has a fantastic article about a woman who, to survive the flood in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina, managed to survive for eight days in her house by floating around on her mattress.

It's an amazing story of survival, and self-motivation. Determination to beat the odds, and be happy while doing it.

Croc Hunter Didn't Survive

This is a sad piece of news... the much-loved "Croc Hunter", Steve Irwin, was killed the other day by a stingray. They say it felt cornered, and stung Steve in the heart.

Steve introduced the world to a very hands-on view of countless exotic and dangerous creatures on land, in the air, and in the sea. He will be missed by his family, and by his fans.

Even with his untimely death, and subjecting himself to numerous life-or-death situations, Steve Irwin had survived with the best of them. And now, he will continue to survive... in the hearts and minds of many.

Survive Having Your Picture Taken

Your friend, boyfriend, or family member loves photography. He's passionate about his art, and carries his camera everywhere he goes. If you're close to this person, he'll obviously want to take your photo. So what do you do?

Let them.

Seriously, do you really want to crush your friends talent, passion, or hobby? Probably not. The only thing you can really do is try to make the best of it. So here's a few tips that might help you make it as painless as possible.

• Smile. This is what most photographers are trying to capture, so make it easy for them.
• Pose. Either by coming up with your own random pose, or following the photographers directions.
• Accept it. Whining and complaining is just going to make it more difficult for the both of you.
• Make a suggestion. If you'd rather the photo was set up differently, just ask. I'm sure your creativity will be appreciated.
• Be thankful. Thank the photographer for taking an interest in you, as he obviously sees something special and worth preserving in a photograph.
• Professionalism. If you like, ask to have your info added to the EXIF metadata.
• Security. If you are under police protection, or don't want your photograph published, be sure to mention this.
• Have fun. The best photographs are taken when the subject and the person behind the camera are both enjoying themselves.
  

Survive Canada Day

Thousands and thousands of people, all milling about in beautiful downtown Ottawa, Canada. The country's capital is the place to be to celebrate its birthday.But with all the festivities and revelling party-goers... things can get a little crazy. So here's some tips for keeping your cool, and enjoying the holiday.

• Go with people you know... and preferably sober ones. Trying to find your way home in the throng at night can be a daunting task for many. Keep your wits about you. If people start smashing things or shooting small fireworks into the crowd, quickly move away and towards the buses. Buses are free in the evening, so they're the easiest way to get out of town.
• See the show. Know the show. Canada is the land of crappy artistic talent. They're generally pretty hard-pressed to find a good act, so make sure you know what is playing where, and be sure to hit the big shows. For example, this year Colin James is the main act. (good stuff)
• Be nurished. During a long daydowntown, you'll generally be pretty tired and dehydrated. Eat something, and drink some water. But be wary of hawkers selling things at outrageous prices.
• Communication is key. Bring a cell phone if you have one. It's the easiest way to locate missing friends and family members. If you don't own a phone, set a meeting place in case you get split up. Or, just call a loved one and tell them where you are. Tip: use recognizable landmarks, like the eternal flame, camera stand or a store.
• Share the memories. Even amateur photographers and videographers can capture memorable moments and sights. Share them with your friends.
• Be prepared. Money for food, souvenirs, and bus tickets. Water bottle. Rain jacket/umbrella. Camera. Sunscreen. Cell phone. ID. Canadian paraphernalia.
• Have fun!
  

I'll see you on the hill!

Survive Meeting Her Parents

Meeting your girlfriends parents can always be a scary prospect for guys... after all, you're the one who is trying to take away "daddy's little girl". Knowing that there's a lot of bad guys out there, parents are on high alert to protect their daughter's heart and future.

First and foremost, I'd suggest that the girl should only even be dating a good guy. This will save a lot of trouble for everyone. And seriously, a really fantastic young woman deserves the best, strongest, most caring, and God-following man out there. And that guy should be doing his very best to live up to not only her expectations, but to God's. That's what I'm trying to do... I love my girlfriend, and selflessly want the very best for her.

Respect for her parents is another important quality. To genuinely respect them and acknowledge them as a driving force behind the birth, education, and general welfare of your girlfriend.

In my case, I got off pretty easy... I'm already striving to do my best, and meeting her parents was a breeze. We got along well, didn't have too many questions to drill me with, and they readily approved of my dating their daughter.

Survive a Long Trip

You won't be able to do a whole lot in life if you don't travel. Eventually, you're going to have to go somewhere. And even in this age of airplanes and automobiles, it could still take hours, or even days, to get somewhere. So what do you do with all of that time? How do you keep from driving yourself (and your fellow travellers) insane?

Read. Bring a good book and/or some magazines... preferably a long one to keep you busy throughout the whole trip.

Music. If you have an mp3 player, iPod, or discman, be sure to bring it. Some great music, sermons, or motivational speakers can help the hours pass by. And if you're really keen on your music, get yourself a pair of noise-cancelling headphones or in-ear headphones to block the outside sounds.

Talk. Get to know your fellow travellers. Making some friends, or just getting to know your family better will always help.

Write. If you can keep your pen and paper steady, take down some ideas, write letters, or journal.

Photography. Taking pictures of your travels helps you pass the time, and gives you a good souvenir of your trip.

Movie. Whether it's a movie on your airplane, a movie on your iPod, or a movie on your laptop, watching something interesting is always entertaining.

Sleep. Always a great way to kill a couple of hours, and it will keep you rested and ready to go for when you arrive at your destination.

Dream. Planning and dreaming about your future, or just thinking about your sweetheart is already one of my favourite things to do. So why not while travelling?

Keep yourself busy, and you'll have arrived in no time.

Ready.gov

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has a fantastic webpage on building simple survival kits, and how to deal with some of the "scares" that have popped up over the last couple years.

Ready.gov has plans for you to protect yourself and your family in case of biological, chemical, nuclear, or natural disasters.

They even offer instructions on building a survival kit. They aren't too bad, but a little on the simple side. They'll get you to the next town or shelter, but won't be sufficient enough to give you a good start on a new life in the midst of a national/global disaster.

The only thing I personally learned from their site, that I didn't already know, is the idea of creating a "shelter-in-place" to seal a room from contaminants.

Interesting, but scary. Let's hope we never have to use those methods of survival.