Oct 5 2022
Keeping Your Black Cat Safe This Halloween

Life isn’t easy for black cats. The fact that they often don’t photograph well combined with all the poor unlucky mythology surrounding them increases the odds of a black cat spending its entire life in a shelter.

People who have a black cat that they love get especially nervous around Halloween. The fear is that someone will spot the cat, capture it, and use it as some macabre Halloween decoration.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to help keep your black cat safe this Halloween.

The best way to make sure your cat stays safe this Halloween is to dedicate yourself to making sure that they are strictly an indoor cat. Keeping them inside not only keeps them safe during Halloween, but studies prove that indoor cats live significantly longer than outdoor/indoor cats. With enough stimulation, your black cat will love staying indoors full time.

By keeping your black cat inside, you protect them from:

  • Getting into fights with stray, feral cats
  • No longer have to worry about being struck and hurt/killed by a car
  • Protect them from getting into pesticides, insecticides, and other outdoor toxins
  • They won’t run across anyone who is intent on harming any cat they see
  • Protect them from catching diseases that are prevalent in feral cat colonies.

Keeping your cat indoors is just one of the things you can do to protect them on Halloween.

If you’re welcoming trick and treaters to your home, you’ll be opening and closing your door a lot. Each time you open it, you’re creating a situation where your cat may decide to rush out. Rather than running the risk of an escaped kitty, confine your cat to a part of your home where it won’t be anywhere near the front door when it opens. If they’re not usually locked into that section of the home, spend a few days leading up to Halloween acclimating them to the idea. Don’t forget to set them up with toys, water, and a litter box.

If you live in an area where there are fireworks or loud parties on Halloween, it’s possible that your black cat (and any other pets you have in your home) are going to be stressed. It is worth your time to speak to your vet about the possibility of medications and/or natural remedies that will help them relax.

With a little prep work, there’s no reason you and your black cat won’t enjoy a happy and safe Halloween.

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Oct 5 2022
Drunk Driving on Halloween

We have a tendency of thinking about Halloween as a holiday that is full of good-natured fun. It’s a holiday that allows us to wear crazy costumes, abandon our diets, and really cut loose. The only real risk we usually associate with the holiday is the need to drive carefully during the time frame that trick-or-treaters roam the streets.

What many of us don’t know is that Halloween is a holiday when many drivers overindulge and are legally drunk when they slide behind the wheel. Most of these drunk drivers are leaving Halloween parties.

College students in particular are prone to over drinking on Halloween. One research project revealed that the average college student usually drinks about 6.3 alcoholic beverages at Halloween parties. That’s about 1.4 more drinks than they would normally consume.

And it isn’t just college kids who drink too much at Halloween functions. According to the American Addiction Centers, Halloween is the fourth booziest holiday of the year. Americans consume less alcohol on Halloween than they do on the Fourth of July but more than they drink during Cinco de Mayo.

If you’re going to a Halloween party and plan on drinking alcohol, you still need to be smart. Assume that you’ll drink too much to safely drive home and create a plan. This plan could involve a designated driver, getting an Uber home, or simply staying at the host’s home until you’ve sobered up.

Tennessee patrol officers know how dangerous the streets are on Halloween night. They will be out, and they will be keeping an eagle eye open for any tell-tale signs that you’re driving drunk. It’s even possible that you’ll encounter a sobriety checkpoint on your way home.

If you are arrested and convicted of drunk driving on Halloween, the consequences will have an immediate impact on your life.

If this is your first DUI conviction, you could be sentenced to as much as six months in jail, fined up to $1,000, have your driver’s license suspended for six months, and have a vehicle ignition lock installed on your vehicle for up to a year while your driving privileges are restricted.

The third time you’re convicted of drunk driving in Tennessee, you could be sentenced to 120 days through 1 year in jail, pay a fine of $1,800, lose your driver’s license for up to 3 years, plus have an ignition lock installed on your vehicle for as long as two years.

If your drunk driving results in property damage, someone getting hurt, or the death of another person, you will face even more serious charges that could include vehicular manslaughter.

All things considered, finding a different way to get home after you’ve been drinking at a Halloween party is a really good idea.

College students in particular are prone to over drinking on Halloween. One research project revealed that the average college student usually drinks about 6.3 alcoholic beverages.

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Sep 28 2022
Top Internet Scams

Shortly after the internet was created, the internet scam was born. It’s amazing the number of different ways the internet has been used to scam different people. It seems like every single year, a new scam hits the virtual world and people start falling for it. While new internet scams are interesting and you should stay on top of the newest scam trends so you can identify the early warning signs, some have withstood the test of time.

Here are the top internet scams of all time.

Email Phishing

Email phishing is a type of internet scam that’s nearly as old as email itself.

Email phishing is a type of scam that involves a con artist sending out emails that look like they come from a legit organization or person. The main purpose of these types of emails is to collect personal information, particularly credit card numbers, which the scammer then uses for their benefit.

One of the most famous email phishing scams is the pseudo-Nigerian prince who used to send out emails asking for donations.

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams are becoming increasingly common. This type of internet scam works because we’ve grown so accustomed to using virtual tech support options. The difference is that the virtual support you’ve sought out is usually legit. The tech support scams never are.

The way tech support scams work is that someone either calls or emails you. They claim to be from a major computer system company, security company, or common tech store. They then launch into a spiel about how they believe you’re computer is infected. Not only does the malware infection negatively impact your computer’s performance, but the tech support con artist will also explain how it could compromise your identity and steal credit card information.

The problem is that your computer isn’t currently infected. The con artist plans to place some malware on it that will allow them to collect your sensitive data. They do this in a manner that’s both easy to fall for and hard to trace.

Social Media Fraud

Social media fraud is an internet scam that doesn’t get quite as much attention as it should. The idea behind social media scams s that someone will connect with you via a social media channel. They often do this by posing as your friend. They can do this because they create a mirror account that not only uses your friend’s name but also their profile picture. They will usually send a private message that starts as a friendly conversation but quickly turns into a desperate plea for money.

The two best ways to make sure you don’t fall victim to a social media scam are contacting your friend directly and asking the scammer specific questions. If they don’t provide you with the type of answer you’d expect from your friend, report the fake account.

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Sep 28 2022
Tennessee’s Car Seat Laws

Every parent who has an infant knows that they’re supposed to have a car seat installed in their vehicle. They even know that it’s state law. What some parents don’t know is how important the car seat is and the consequences of having a car seat that doesn’t meet current safety standards, that isn’t properly installed, or that isn’t properly fitted to their child.

According to Car Buyers Guide, “in a recent study, the RSA inspected 5000 child seat installations from the public and found that over 4000 of them needed adjustments of some kind to ensure optimum safety.”
Tennessee’s lawmakers used Tennessee Code 55-9-602. to address the issue of car seats. The law clearly states that:

  • Children under the age of 2 must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat
  • Children under the age of 8 must ride in the back seat and be safely restrained in an age/size appropriate safety seat.
  • The child must be secured into the safety car seat in a manner that complies with both height and weight limits that are to be specified by the car seat manufacturer.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common mistakes parents make when it comes to the car seats they’re using include:

  • Purchasing a used car seat without making sure it isn’t more than 6 years old, hasn’t been involved in an accident, hasn’t been subject to a recall, and has no indications of damage or structural problems that could endanger a child.
  • Failing to properly install the car seat
  • Failing to properly restrain the child before driving
  • Reclining the car seat so that the child isn’t at the correct and most safe angle
  • Switching their child to a forward-facing car seat before the child is ready

The first time a driver is ticketed for not following Tennessee’s car seat laws, they’ll be issued a ticket. The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that children under age sixteen (16) are properly restrained and may be charged and fined $50.00 for violation of the law.

In some cases, the ticket for not having a child properly restrained to a child seat is the least of the driver’s worries. In many situations, the driver will also face charges of negligence and child endangerment.

It doesn’t matter how big a rush you are in, always take the time to make sure your child is safe before you hit the road.

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Sep 14 2022
Learning How to Be Aware of Your Surroundings

In this day and age, you can’t afford to not be aware of your surroundings. It doesn’t matter if you’re strolling around the block near your home or walking across a busy parking lot after getting groceries, you must be aware of your surroundings.

The world has become a dangerous place. Not only do you have to worry about muggers and careless people, but horror stories about people being snatched from relatively busy places and becoming a part of human trafficking are also becoming increasingly common. Things go wrong so fast that all it takes is one moment of inattention for you to get into trouble.

Yes, many of these crimes are completely random incidents but that doesn’t mean that victims were picked at random. What often happens is that the person who commits the crime notices someone who simply isn’t paying attention to their surroundings. The person’s lack of attention makes them the perfect victim.

What does this mean to you? It means that the better you get at recognizing your surroundings, the less likely you’ll be victimized.

Eliminate Distractions

A distracted person is far more likely to attract trouble than someone who is paying attention. And do you know what the number one distraction is? Your cell phone. Instead of scrolling through social media or answering your emails keep your phone tucked into your pocket until you are safely indoors or locked in your car.

Conversely, if you do sense trouble. It’s not a bad idea to be talking on your phone. In a loud voice, let the person you’re speaking to know what is happening, your exact location, and a description of the person who has triggered your concern. Simply hearing you provide this information is enough to make a potential assailant dismiss you as a victim.

Be Alert

When you’re walking by yourself, be alert. Keep your head up and your eyes moving. Make sure you’re looking all around you. Keep your head on a swivel. This alertness not only makes you unattractive to an assailant but also gives you time to prepare if you do see someone approaching you.

Have an Escape Route in Mind

It doesn’t matter if you’re simply out for a stroll or in a parking lot, don’t let yourself be boxed in anywhere. Always pay attention to your surroundings and know how you would get away if someone suddenly started approaching you in a sinister manner.

Be Prepared to Get Help

There is nothing wrong or shameful about going into a store and asking someone to walk you to your car. This is a far better plan than trying to be brave and potentially getting hurt.

Learning how to pay attention and to always be aware of your surroundings takes time and practice. The good news is that once you force yourself to become more aware of your surroundings and the potential dangers, it will quickly become a habit. A habit that will go a long way towards keeping you safe.

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Sep 14 2022
Staying Safe While Enjoying Dorm Life

One of the best things about finally going to college and moving into a dorm is that not only are you free of your parent’s strict rules but you’re also in the perfect place to meet people who will become lifelong friends.

While there are many perks connected to living in a dorm, there are also some drawbacks. The first is safety. While most colleges and universities try to take as many precautions as they can and to keep all students safe, they can’t stop everything. It’s up to you to make sure you do everything in your power to stay safe while also enjoying dorm life.

Keep Your Doors Locked

Dorms foster a community vibe that makes it feel like the entire building is your home. This is a great thing but can also be dangerous. The problem is that while you might know and like everyone who lives on your floor, you don’t know who might be visiting. No matter how comfortable you are with the people who live in your dorm building, always be good about keeping your dorm room locked both when you are and aren’t in it.

You also need to get into the habit of checking the identity of anyone who knocks before you open your door. Don’t assume that everyone who raps on your door has friendly intentions.

Lock Up Your Valuables

It’s a good idea to keep a safe in your dorm room and use it to lock up your valuables, such as your laptop when you’re not using it. Locking away your valuables makes your dorm room less appealing to thieves.

Pay Attention to Your Drinks

It doesn’t matter if you’re hanging out in your room with a handful of friends, at a party, or have gone to a restaurant, pay careful attention to your drinks. Never leave your drink unattended. If you do have to walk away from your drink, dispose of it and get a new one. The last thing you want is to drink something that has been drugged.

Don’t Travel By Yourself, Especially at Night

It doesn’t matter if you were at a party or simply engaged in a late-night study session at the library. Don’t walk home alone. Find someone you trust to walk with you back to your dorm. Don’t ask a stranger. If no one you know can walk home with you, spend a little money and take a cab or call an Uber.

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