Archive | June, 2012

Summer Life Saver! Angel Alert Distance Monitor

12 Jun

Summer is supposed to be a time of “lazy, hazy, crazy days,” not a time of added stress or worry. But as the days grow warmer and our to-do lists grow longer, so does the risk of injury to our children.

Along with remembering our sunblock, hydration, and bug repellent, we also have to increase our awareness of where our children are in the crowded playgrounds, pool areas, beaches, amusement parks and festival grounds. In the United States,  a child is reported missing or abducted every 40 seconds, which translates to 2000 children per day.

And tragically, the number of heat-related deaths of infants in vehicles is also growing. The overwhelmed parent, in their haste to get to work on time, forgets that it was their turn to drop their child off at daycare, and leaves the child in a hot vehicle that can kill within hours.

We here at STAND do not wish to cast a gray cloud over your summer plans, but we feel that it’s our duty to bring to your attention this simple device that can keep a child safer, and possibly save a life.

The Angel Alert Child Distance Monitor has been STAND tested and approved.

ChildSafetyTech.com says, “The Angel Alert Distance Monitor is an early warning child locator device, that detects when a child strays too far from adult supervision. This type of child locator is ideal for malls, busy urban areas, theme parks, airports, wherever you might lose track of a child.

The Angel Alert is a great missing child locator becuse of its design. Angel Alert is activated when pulled apart into two small, lightweight easy to wear units; one each for adult and child. Child wears transmitter and adult wears receiver; an alarm sounds on the adult’s receiver when the child strays too far from supervising adult.”

When attached to an infant’s car seat, the monitor sounds when the parent moves too far from the infant’s monitor, thus preventing parents from forgetting about the infant in the back seat.

At about $30 for each unit, and $55 for a set of two, this device is the smartest, safest investment you can make.

Please share this link with anyone who spends time with children.

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Simple Gestures

11 Jun

Sometimes all you need to do to really help someone is to listen. Never underestimate the effectiveness of a simple and heart-felt “How are you doing today?”

If you find out someone is really struggling, take the time to listen, no matter what.  Be late to work.  Be late getting home.  You never know what kind of affect you may have by simply listening to someone who needs a few minutes of your time.

You might give a stressed out person a chance to vent, get something off of their chest and have a much better day than they were having.  You might instill a little bit of hope in someone who has just about lost it.  You could even save a life.

I don’t have answers for the really tough problems, and I don’t always know what to say when someone is hurting.  Having the answer is NOT what it is all about. What is important is making eye contact, and really and truly listening and letting that person be heard.

http://www.save.org         http://www.sprc.org/

In an Emergency, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Just Whistle by Rock N Roll

11 Jun

This is a true story from my bouncer days. I had just purchased a whistle a few hours before this happened, and showed it to a friend in the club. She asked me why I bought it, and I told her about the concept of fighting without fighting. I thought the whistle could make a good distraction, or at least get attention if I ever needed help.

If you carry anything with you, carry a whistle. If you want to support a most noble idea and organization, buy one of these “Falling Whistles.” 100% of the proceeds go to the company’s mission which advocates for women and children affected by civil war in the Congo, demonstrating peaceful action. I have one, and it’s stylish, loud, and always a conversation starter.


The Art of Fighting Without Fighting (or Whistle While You Work)

After 2 a.m., most of the crowd consists of people that have come from other clubs. These people have already been drinking. If they’re smart, they sober up enough to drive and head to the next club. After 2, we’re the only club. If they’re really smart, they have a designated driver. And if they’re pros, they know that they’d better not try to get into a club if they’re already drunk.

Some of them are just plain stupid.

The stumbling woman got to the front of the line and my co-worker, Armand asked her for her ID. She couldn’t even stand still long enough to dig it out of her purse. Armand unhooked the chain that separated the line from the rest of the sidewalk and said,

“I’m sorry, miss, but we can’t let you in. You’ll have to come back when you’re sober. Please step out of the line.”

“Wait, what? What are you talking about? Why?” she slurred.

“Because you’re already inebriated, and we can’t let you in,” he said, without emotion.

“But I’m just going inside to drink! Who cares if I’m already ineeebriated?” she emphasized.

“I’m sorry, it’s against the law. Please step out of the line,” he repeated.

“But that’s so fucking stupid!! There are drunk people in there, too!!” she was slurring and yelling now.

Her partner remained quiet. Probably too drunk to fathom what was going on. “Please step out of the line, miss,” Armand repeated, no longer amused. “I wanna talk to the manager!!” she yelled. “She’s right there,” he said, pointing to me. She stumbled up to me, oblivious to the other customers who were laughing at her. I spent the next three minutes trying calmly to tell her the same things Armand had just told her. Having discussed the art of fighting without fighting just ten minutes earlier with my favorite ex-Navy SEAL-male-now-turned-female friend, Viv, the concept was still fresh in my thoughts. I didn’t want to engage in anything that could be detrimental to me, the club, or the patron, no matter how annoying she was. My calm must’ve fueled her anger. Her temper, despite her intoxication (or maybe fanned by it), was flaring even hotter.

Not having anything left to argue, she resorted to good old name-calling.

“Who the fuck are you, anyway? You’re just a fucking rent-a-cop!” she yelled as I continued to do pat downs. “You only make like five dollars an hour!” Yeah, I’ve never heard that one before.

Having watched this for the last ten minutes, the other patrons in line were sympathetic to my plight.

“Hit the bitch!!” they were yelling.

Viv had come out of the back door and was about to get something out of her Harley saddlebags, but noticed the ruckus on the corner. She watched intently. She was always ready to lend a deadly hand, should I need one.

I’d like to think the spirits of both Tsukahara Bokuden and Bruce Lee (the progenitor and perpetuator of the concept) whispered in my ear at that moment, but it was probably just the presence of Viv that reminded me of the whistle in my pocket.

Still yelling obscenities at the top of her lungs, the drunken patron didn’t notice as I brought the whistle up to my lips, shot a warning look to the other patrons and Armand, and as they covered their ears, I blew as hard as I could for about five long seconds. The sound was deafening.

Doe in headlights, I thought, she looks like a doe in headlights.

The woman had her hands over her ears and a startled, lost look on her face. She and her companion stood still for about three seconds and then walked away in a daze, almost getting hit by a car as they stumbled onto the street. The patrons in line laughed their asses off and gave a few hoots. My co-worker Armand giggled as only he can, and over at her bike, my favorite ex-Navy SEAL gave me the thumbs up.

The Art of Fighting without Fighting, 101. Class is in session.

Meet Our “Super Foods” Author, Teletran-One

11 Jun

Editor’s note: S.T.A.N.D. is excited to announce its newest contributing author, Teletran-One! Although we are a site dedicated to real-life superheroines (and we believe all women are super!), our staff welcomes input from everyone, male or female. With Teletran-One’s background in wellness through nutrition, we look forward to bringing healthy food ideas and information to our readers! ~Rock

 
I’m very excited to be a part of the STAND group of writers. I’ve learned something new every time I read one of the articles. A couple of months ago I noticed that there really wasn’t a dedicated food/nutrition article, so I asked Rock if I could take a shot at sharing some of what I’ve learned from studying nutrition for the past four years. She was kind enough to give me that chance.

I’d like to state first of all, that no matter what we think we know about food, there will always be something new to learn. Additionally, regardless of the food in question, asking “Is it healthy to eat?” will bring 100 different answers from 100 different sources. You’ll always find yourself on the side of the opinion that you trust. I’m suggesting here and now that you do lots of research on your own, establish a familiarity with sources that you trust, and most of all – listen to your own body.

I’ve been a student of nutrition and wellness for years, but have never obtained a degree, as I am a full-time commercial animator by trade. My mentors include Sean Croxton, founder of Underground Wellness, Jenny of Nourished Kitchen, and one of my business partners, David, who has successfully fought both his wife’s and his friend’s cancer without chemotherapy, through the use of healing nutrition. If that doesn’t tell you what the right foods can do, I don’t know what does.

So let me dive right in. Each of my articles will include the bad news and the good news. We have to end on a high note, right?

First, THE BAD NEWS:

SODA SUCKS. It might not be news to you, but you may not be aware of how bad the bad really is. I like visuals. Here’s a powerful one.

And if you’re drinking DIET SODAS, you should know that they are the worst. The book Skinny Bitches calls diet soda “a chemical shit storm.” Sorry to be so crude, but there’s the truth right there. If I have to appeal to your vanity, just know that “diet soda-ass” is caused by that cellulite that develops more quickly when aided by soda – specifically DIET soda. Relearn to love water. It loves you.

The Good News:

If you’re that into carbonated sweet drinks, purchase a Soda Stream and make your own out of fruit juices and other natural ingredients like lemon, lime, and vanilla.

I’d like to leave you with a recipe for a new “soda” flavor, but I don’t really drink them anymore. Instead, I like to take fresh mint leaves, water, and a little bit of Stevia (the healthy sugar alternative that’s actually good for you), and leave them in my water bottle for the day. Super refreshing, and no “diet soda-ass” to worry about.

And it goes great with this recipe from Nourished Kitchen:

Grain-Free Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Be well, and
Bon Appetit!

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