The key to getting through an event, be it an anthropogenic or natural disaster, is to develop a solid plan and prepare yourself for the most probable scenario. Taking steps in advance can seriously reduce your risks and potentially be the difference between catastrophe and inconvenience.

There are so many potential hazards, how do I identify risk?

Hazards can be categorized into three main categories: Natural, Technological and Terrorism. A comprehensive list of hazards as well as an excellent manual for preparation can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Identify the events that have the most probability of occurring and not necessarily the one that is most personally frightening to you. Yes, it is possible that a terrorist group will target Sawgrass Mills mall near Boca Raton, Florida in an attempt to send a message to the United States government, but odds are that you are more susceptible to flooding, hurricanes and extreme heat.

Hurricanes generally do not hit states such as California but there you have a greater possibility of experiencing an earthquake or responding to a wild fire. View this strategically unless you wish to devote unnecessary time preparing for every eventuality.

Resources for Determining Risk

Consult your local insurance agent and discuss hazard probability with them. They are in the business of assigning value based on available historical data. You can purchase a plan from them if you wish.

FEMA’s Hazard Maps, the United States Geological Survey has a customizable earthquake probability map , and your closest government planning office should have reliable local information.

Planning and Preparation

Once you’ve isolated your potential risk, it’s time to begin preparations. As it turns out there is much overlap and a few steadfast rules that apply in most situations.

Photo by kansasphoto

Determine the emergency evacuation route that your community has established. This can be found online or at your local government planning office.

Mark the route clearly on a map to be stored in your vehicle. It is important to follow the exact route and not deviate or take short-cuts as you could find yourself in a bad situation with no one around to provide assistance.

Take photographs or video of your house and catalogue your personal belongings before a catastrophic event. This can help you get properly compensated when dealing with insurance companies. Also, discuss your policy with your agent in advance to find out what you are covered for under your current home policy.

Scan or photocopy important documents like the deed to your house, birth certificates, medical history, passports and insurance papers. Store original documents at a well fortified location (eg bank vault) if possible. Scanning is a good solution as you can fit most important documents on a small and inexpensive USB flash drive or a micro SD card from your cell phone.

Become acquainted with how to shut off your water, gas and electricity systems. Earthquakes have been known to rupture gas lines and cause secondary explosions. By turning off your gas you can avoid this unfortunate situation. Imagine your house survives a magnitude 7.0 earthquake only to become a fire ball ten minutes later when you forget to turn off the gas.

Potable water is a priceless commodity during most hazards. By turning off your home’s water main it will prevent water already accumulated in your hot water tank, toilets and pipes from contamination. Water stored in your hot water tank is an excellent source of potable water during emergencies.

Remember to share this information with your housemates so that the responsibility does not entirely depend on you.

Establish a meeting point and contingency plan. Hazards don’t occur on your schedule, so make another plan, thus it is highly possible that you will be separated from your friends or family.

Photo by Garton

Remember that plans are created to keep you safe, not to expose you to greater risk. If your path or meeting place is blocked or dangerous, find the most secure place for yourself before trying to make contact with family and friends.

Establish a contact person who does not live in your region so that they can relay messages and coordinate meeting points in times of crisis and cell phone failure.

EXAMPLE: If there is a fire in the house, meet by the large oak tree in the neighbor’s yard. If that becomes impossible, then meet at supermarket around the corner. If both become impossible and your entire area has become dangerous, find the best place for yourself and when possible call your contact person for more information.

Getting Your Disaster Kit Ready

Potable water is by far the most important supply you can have. While it is possible to live for weeks without food, you will perish in a matter of days without water. Figure at least a half gallon per day per person. Also keep in mind that this is a baseline amount. For example, nursing mothers require more water than an average individual. Contact a health or nutrition professional to determine your personal water intake needs.

FEMA recommends that you put together three disaster kits: home, school/work and car.

At Home:

• Enough food and water to last you anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks
• A battery powered or hand crank radio to get latest news and advisories. Often these devices have other features like cell phone chargers, flashlights and alarms
• Appropriate clothing – that could be additional coats for cold weather, long pants and long sleeved shirts to protect your arms and legs, rain gear, protective footwear and extra socks

• A first-aid kit
• Moist toilettes or toilet paper
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Hand sanitizer
• Basic tool set
• Any other special medical or personal hygiene supplies you might need

Pack your kit in a duffle bag or backpack and put it in a place that is accessible to everyone in the house.

At Work/School:

This should be a small bag that you can grab and run. It should contain food and water. If you are able to store a pair of sneakers or good walking shoes in your office this also might come in handy.

Car:

• Water and food
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• Basic tool set
• First aid kit and a map with your evacuation route highlighted

I keep a small tent and a couple of sleeping bags in my trunk. We usually use them for camping, but in case of emergency, it could be extremely useful as well.

Additional Resources:

Accurate and timely information will save your life and help you understand the threat at hand.

Early warning systems and other types of signals are in place in most developed countries around the world.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio is broadcast throughout the United States. NOAA also has an excellent real time map of weather conditions across the country.

Photo by srqpix

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) can be found on many participating radio and television channels. EAS will interrupt regular programs with a long, high pitched siren and warn of potential hazards.

FEMA provides a complete and downloadable e-book with extensive information and checklists for every eventuality. It’s called Are You Ready?

Remember, having a clear and concise plan will not only educate you about potential risks but also put you in a better situation for reducing collateral damages and expediting recovery. If you can avoid panic induced decisions in favor of a more rational approach it is possible for you to be there for family, friends and your community in a more expansive way.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

For more information on surviving natural disasters check out by Carly Blatt’s How to Survive Travel Disasters: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina and Julie Schwietert’s How to Get Disaster Response Training: 5 FREE Resources

Kashmiri Rotis by Unlisted Sightings

Today marks the celebration of Holi, a Festival of Colors celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. You know the holiday when you see people throw brightly colored powders and colored water at each other. Like so many holidays world wide, food finds its own important place in the celebration.

Preparations begin days in advance, preparing special dishes and sweets like the malpua, mathri, Puran Poli and Dahi Vada. Learn for yourself to make the sweet, salty and intoxicating tastes that help make this festival so lively.

Puran Poli

Filling :
1. Boil 1 cup chana dal or yellow gram (1 cup) with little water until it becomes soft and paste-like. For faster results, cook it in a pressure cooker.
2. Drain it thoroughly, add approximately 1 cup jaggery flakes. You may want to adjust the amount depending on how sweet you want it to be.

Bags of dal, photo by paulswansen

3. Cook the mixture in a heavy saucepan while stirring continuously. You know it’s ready when the jaggery blends with the dal, and a soft paste forms.
3. Add 1 teaspoon cardamom, nutmeg, a few strands of saffron. Set aside to cool.

Rotis:
1. Mix 2 cups refined flour, 1 3/4 cups water or milk to make the flour into a soft dough, and 1 teaspoon refined oil (1 tbs).
2. Knead the flour into until the dough forms.
3. Make small balls of the kneaded dough. Take a ball and use a rolling pin to flatten it into a thick small roti.

Assembling the Puran Poli
1. Put the chana dal paste as a filling in the center and seal the roll.
2. Reroll it gently. If the paste slides out, use flour to seal it.
3. Roast the poli on warm griddle till golden brown on both sides.
4. Apply a teaspoon of ghee on it and serve hot.

Dahi Vada, photo by Ron Diggity

Dahi Vadas

1. Soak 2 cups urad dal mixed with 1/4 cup moong dal for about 6 hours.
2. Grind the soaked dal.
3. Add salt, ginger, 2-3 finely chopped green chilies and little water to make smooth batter.
3. Beat this batter well or blend the batter in a blender so that there are no lumps.
4. Heat oil in a pan. With the help of the slotted spoon, drop the batter in the form of balls into the oil.
5. Deep fry the balls (vadas) and remove excess oil using blotting paper or paper napkins.
6. Let the vadas rest in cold salted water for a few minutes to extract the oil.
7. Squeeze out the water from the vadas and keep them aside in a deep-bottomed dish.
8. Add 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder and salt to taste to 4 cups of curd and whip the mixture.
9. Pour the seasoned curd onto a bowl of vadas.
10. Keep it in the freezer for half an hour. Serve chilled with tamarind chutney.

No meal is complete without drinks. For this, try a milky thandai made from bhang, which is distinctly associated with Holi and sold by government approved merchants.

Photo by Tom Maisey

Bhang:
1. Crush 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 cup bhang, that is cannabis leaves and buds together with the pestle.
2. Put the mixture and 1 tablespoon of ghee in a heavy bottom pan and boil it. Turn down heat and let it steep for 15 minutes.
3. Let it cool to room temperature.
4. Make a fine paste by processing it in a blender. Strain it to get rid of any woody fibers.

Thandai:
1. Boil 1 liter milk and allow it to cool.
2. Grind 1/4 cup almonds, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon cardamom powder and 7-8 white peppercorn to taste.
3. Add the grounded powder to milk and mix well.
4. Stir in the bhang. Add sugar and 3-4 strands of saffron.
5. Refrigerate the mixture for 3-4 hours. Serve chilled.

Here’s wishing you a happy Holi day filled with flying color, bhang thandai and all the vadas you can eat!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

For a look at how the holiday is celebrated outside the kitchen, check out Brave New Traveler’s photo essay on Holi.

Photo by *~Dawn~*

Everyone has those holiday traditions that conjure up nostalgic memories of years gone past. Some traditions are quiet and reflective, others are just downright strange. Here are a few new ones you should try if you’re looking to shake things up a little.

Get out and enjoy the quiet morning of December 25 – For those who don’t celebrate Christmas, like Matador Life’s Jewish editor Leigh Shulman, December 25 isn’t filled with frenzy. Instead, she likes to get up before the rest of the world and take a walk, especially in New York City:

“The streets are cold, sometimes I’m lucky and there’s a new dusting of snow on the ground. Since the rest of the city will either be sleeping in or heading to their presents under the tree, the only footprints in the snow are mine. There are no cars or people around, the only sounds I hear are people in their homes, making breakfast in the kitchen. I can hear kids squealing as they open their gifts. Sometimes you can smell burnt sugar and coffee wafting from the windows as you walk by.”

Get creative with your tree – Sick of the garland, tinsel, gaudy ornaments and flashy stars? How about a lobster trap tree, or a giant Pac Man ensemble?

Mummering, or Jannying – This is without a doubt one of the most absurd holiday traditions from my Canadian province, Newfoundland.

Mummering entails a group of individuals going door to door in a community, dressed in absurd disguises of pillowcases over heads, mitts on feet, bras on the outside of clothes, and anything else that will render a person indistinguishable.

At each home, the hosts guess the identities behind the masks, and a party breaks out with whiskey and fiddle music. For a better idea of this monumental ocassion, check out Simani’s music video.

Photo by NealeA

Order Chinese food – Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, combining two cultures reflects the harmonious spirit of the holidays. Swap the turkey and cranberry sauce with chow mein and sweet and sour chicken.

Attend a Midnight Mass – I’m not a religious person, but attending midnight mass at my town’s Catholic church with my grandmother was something I looked forward to every year. It’s hard to not feel moved among family and friends as you’re standing inside your town’s most prominent structure, surrounded by hundreds of lit candles, with the choir raising the hair on the back of your neck.

Picnic and swimming – If you live where it never snows, make like the Australians and head to the beach. Pack a picnic basket loaded with a fancy dinner, and enjoy a meal in the sand without having to worry about the conditions of the roads or if the driveway needs to be shovelled.

Mari Lwyd, the “gray mare” – This pagan midwinter custom hails from the Wales and is kind of like carolling, except with a horse’s skull and a person dressed up in costume. The horse skull and entourage go to houses or pubs, singing introductory verses outside the front door, and then engaging in challenges and rhyming insults with the household/pub until someone finally backs down.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Do you or your family have any strange and unusual holiday traditions? Share them below!

Photo by Alan Vernon.

The original Thanksgiving feast occurred in 1621 and was shared between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The Natives had taught the Pilgrims everything they knew about crop cultivation and hunting wild game, and so the affair was a peaceful gathering to express gratitude.

Nowadays, most of us choose to ignore the severe colonialization that followed: the loss of Native American traditions, the violence, and the seizure of Native land. The Natives were pushed further west and their populations almost entirely destroyed.

So when you’re giving thanks today, reflect on the holiday’s beginnings, and think about where we would be in the history of the world right now had things developed differently.

Native American Influences

We can’t claim ownership for many of our popular traditions; according to HowStuffWorks, the following were ideas developed from the Native Americans.

Turkey – In the New World, wild turkey ran rampant and was sufficient for feeding the entire population. The turkey was used at the first feast with Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford.

Photo by Jesse757

Side dishes – Even the corn and cranberries were present at the first Thanksgiving. Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to make a bitter sauce which they called “ibimi” (cranberry sauce). However, the Pilgrims renamed the berry as “cranberry” because its flowers reminded them of cranes (the birds).

Football – During ancient harvest ceremonies, people celebrated by playing games and sports, much like how football is played during Thanksgiving.

Native American Celebrations Today

Unsuprisingly, many Native Americans honour Thanksgiving differently.

While most Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving, some Native Americans in Massachusetts will be paying tribute to the “National Day of Mourning” atop Coles Hill. The Wampanoags and other Natives decided to fast for the occasion, thereby remembering their history by showing a contrast to the tradition of gorging on food. In recent years, the event has grown to accompany presentations, skits and demonstrations to showcase this contrast.

Other special days were also marked to honour Native Americans. New York became the first state to establish American Indian Day, and in California, the fourth Friday of September is Native American Day. Most recently, President Obama has declared November 2009 as Native American Heritage Month, marking November 27 as Native American Heritage Day.

Others look at Thanksgiving with a unique perspective. In A Native American View, Jacqueline Keeler admits she celebrates Thanksgiving. To her, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for being a part of the small group of survivors from that age. As long as there is remembrance and reflection, the Native American role cannot be forgotten.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

People all over celebrate Thanksgiving in their own special way, whether it’s quality time with family or friends, or something else entirely. What are your traditions?

1. Built by Gabriel Amadeus, a Portland-area designer extraordinaire and fun-enthusiast. When not riding bikes or organizing bike events you can find him building and welding every sort of bike imaginable. And some that aren’t.
Photographer: ichad

2. “This is Sailor Neale, with another of his crazy creations. This particular bike is jointed in the middle, just behind the handlebars. It folds fully in half if you don’t pay attention. You steer by using your hips to swivel the central joint, and then using the handlebars to simultaneously steer the front wheel.”
Photographer: doviende

3. The Reverse Cowgirl, built by Mark Veno. “It was displayed at PDX Airport when they had the Oregon Handmade Bicycle Exhibit. I was the only non-professional builder exhibiting.”

4. “West Coast Chopper”
Photographer: tinou bao

5. The Ross Island Explorer, a fully amphibious human-powered tallbike-paddleboat.
Photographer: megulon5, member of C.H.U.N.K.

6. Burrito-recumbent, complete with suspension and sound system / Builder: Doc
Photographer: Mark Veno

7. For when you really don’t want to worry about getting a flat.
Photographer: RJL20

8. “A rock n’ roll/punk kid rode this to the Coffee Bean in Playa Vista the other day. Love that it has an old-fashioned horn on the handlebars.”
Photographer: pink_fish13

9. Good for carting around…whatever. / Builder: Chris Martin
Photographer: Mark Veno

10. Alan Sikiric’s Mutandem: “Only from the fields of muck and hazardous grime known as the Jerz could something so horrifying arise!”

11. The very definition of an art bike.
Photographer: anarchosyn

12. One of the craziest tall bikes out there, and pannier-ready to boot!
Photographer: doviende

13. A burrito built by Mark Veno: “When I moved to Portland I was inspired by the existing bike culture and built my first tallbike. I try to make my freakbikes as usable as “real” bikes. Soon I’ll be moving to San Diego to spread the freakbike love to SoCal.”

14. “No idea about who this is riding the chopper, just happened to snap it on Wells Street. I think he is part of the Chicago Critical Mass group.”
Photographer: swanksalot

15. Not quite training wheels…
Photographer: BruceTurner

16. Five bucks to anyone who can categorize this bike, being paraded by a member of Rat Patrol.
Photographer: JOE M500

17. When two wheels just aren’t enough, you need the Six Wheelie.
Photographer: bilbord99

18. There are choppers, and then there are these.
Photographer: tandemracer

19. Not exactly a freak bike, but there is something freaky about these kids and their penny farthings.
Photographer: Mild Mannered Photographer

20. Tank! / Builder: Sailor Neale of the East Vancouver PedalPlay metal studio.
Photographer: Foxtongue

Community Connection

Matador has published some of the best bike-related content on the web, covering topics such as The World’s 15 Most Bike Friendly Cities, 6 Reasons to Go By Bike, How to Be Good (Better) Drivers and Cyclists, and How to Choose a Touring Bicycle.

Many members of the Matador community are bike freaks themselves, including one of our newest arrivals, Doubleclutch. Browse the community profiles to discover more folks fired up on bicycles.

Ford Focus

photo by car-dealers

A car for the chronically ugly. The Focus has undergone several unfortunate redesigns through the years since its introduction, but like your Aunt Flo and her endless makeovers, Ford hasn’t yet found a cure for its unfortunate appearance. It looks like the car can’t decide if it’s a sensible sedan or a sporty rally car, so it tries to look like both and fails miserably.

Hyundai Matrix

photo by airforceone

Finally, a vehicle for those who find mini-vans too intimidating. The Matrix profile includes a bizarre uneven window line that makes it look like it was pieced together from spare car pieces from the junkyard. It would probably be nicer looking if it had been. The vehicle of choice for retirees and their groceries.

Chrysler PT Cruiser

photo by splattergraphics

You’ve got to hand it to the PT Cruiser. This ugly bastard has been around for a long time and endured years of ridicule for its harebrained, retro-inspired design. Yet, here we are, on the heels of Chrysler declaring bankruptcy, and the Cruiser refuses to go away. If there is a nuclear apocalypse that wipes out all civilization, the only things that will survive will be cockroaches and PT Cruisers.

Ssang Yong Rodius

wikimedia

The Koreans have gotten into the hideous car act with the Rodius. This car has an identity crisis. The front grille looks like a 90’s minivan and the back end, well, I don’t even know what to say. It features an inexplicable diagonal panel that cuts it in half and makes it look like the designer got tired and just plugged the back of an RV onto the Rodius so he could move on to his next triumph.

Smart ForTwo

photo by joshb

Hooray, my car is “smart.” It’s also a source of laughter for every other driver and pedestrian within 100 yards of it. Not only does the ForTwo (see what they did there?) look like a matchbox car, it’s about the size of one and won’t offer much protection in a crash, so not only is it an ugly car but a potentially hideous coffin.

Fiat Doblo

photo by kenjonbro

Perhaps a bit incredulous themselves, Fiat asks what made the 2008 Doblo popular, and lists “reliable technology, thoughtful design, and excellent technology” as the reasons. Thoughtful design? It looks as though they’ve added windows to every available surface of a delivery van.

Mini Clubman

photo by paulmullet

Mini has decided to take the most distinguishing selling point of their Mini Cooper and throw it in the trashcan. They’ve stretched it out, haven’t really made any proportional adjustments, and called it the Clubman. Think of it as the stretch limo of ultra-compact cars, which is sort of like having a Mickey Mouse Rolex.

Toyota Prius

photo by jasonyoder

Yes, by driving a Prius you are minimizing your impact on the environment. This is a good thing. Cruising around in a vehicle with the personality and sex appeal of a dustbuster is not a good thing. Every time I see a Prius I think of the automated transports of old science-fiction flicks like Logan’s Run or Total Recall. This is also (probably) not a good thing.

Morgan Aero 8

photo by destinysagent

After I got done laughing out loud, I decided that the Morgan Aero 8 looked like a cross-eyed basset hound. The best part about this monstrosity is that the base price is just under $130,000. Good news is that with every new Aero purchase they throw in a free monocle and top hat. It’s heartening to know that there are still rich people out there who will ignore a luxury item’s repulsiveness and waste money on it anyway. There is hope for our economy after all.

Fiat Multipla

photo by qewl.com

Possibly based on a tadpole and easily the ugliest car on our list. This car fills the beholder with a combination of pity and rage; pity because no other cars will hang out with the ungainly Multipla, and rage because someone, somewhere made money from this blunder. Holds the distinction of being the only car on the list that needs a nose job.

Feature photo by petaflickr. Photo of Sexiest Vegetarian finalist Joan Jett by Spacehindu

How do you sex up vegetarianism? You give it a poll, courtesy of Peta2. Voting has begun for 2009’s Sexiest Vegetarian award, a saucy affair that pits celebri-tarians against each other for the title of Most Soy Friendly.

Peta2 is Peta’s organization geared towards high school and college-aged activists, designed to appeal to a Perez/Paris-fueled generation. The contest reminds us of the “meat-free hotties” who are “shunning flesh” in the Entertainment World and points out that vegetarianism is a great way for celebs to “keep their tummies flat.”

Peta2 is also running Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest, where normal folks are allowed to out-vegetarian each other. Christopher McClure, a finalist from New Hampshire, wants everyone to know that the “lack of cruelty within my system has shaped my face with cuteness and nothing else!”

Winners will be announced on June 8th.

Feature photo by Andres Rueda. Photo above by TheTruthAbout…

A credit card can be your best friend when you need to buy a shiny new object that you really can’t afford, or your worst enemy when you’ve surpassed your credit limit and your bank is trying to rip you off as punishment.

Love them or hate them, credit cards have become a permanent fixture on the financial landscape of most developed countries. Yet we often take them for granted and rarely consider how we feel about them and why.

This article looks at countries from both the developed and developing world, and the differences in how credit cards are used and viewed. We discover why Americans love their flexible friends, why the Japanese are really not interested in paying with plastic, and why India has witnessed such a backlash against the spread of credit.

Japan

Despite Japan’s status as the world’s most technologically advanced nation, it remains a strongly cash-based society. Its use of credit cards lags way behind most developed countries and many developing nations too.

It’s common for smaller shops and restaurants not to accept credit cards and there are few 24-hour ATMs, even in large cities. On average, only four credit card transactions are undertaken per person per year!

Photo by the_toe_stubber.

Banks have tried every trick in the book to convert the Japanese to credit cards, but to no avail.

Significant barriers to such a conversion include the high costs charged to Japanese merchants that accept cards and high telecommunication costs, which impede responses to fraudulent transactions.

The traditional role of women in Japanese society has also been cited as a cause for the country’s low credit card penetration figures. Men and women think differently about crime, technology and other factors that influence a preference for cash or card.

Perhaps if women played the same role in Japanese society as they do in the USA or Australia, carrying a credit card would prove more popular than having a huge wad of cash in your pocket.

China

The use of credit cards in China is growing rapidly, in line with the country’s economy, income levels and middle-class population. In 2008, China had 104.73 million credit cards in circulation, a 92.9% increase on the previous year. 15 to 20 million more cards will be issued in 2009.

The Chinese were once famous for their frugality, with saving rates of around 40%, but not any more. Saving rates among today’s young, urban Chinese population – those driving the economy – are effectively zero. This demographic is finance-savvy and hungry for credit cards.

India

Credit card use has grown steadily over the past 5 years in an increasingly consumerist India. Economic reforms and growth have made foreign and domestic goods more affordable for the upper and middle-classes, while improvements to the country’s payment infrastructure (more ATMs and POS terminals) have made credit cards easier to use.

Nevertheless, only 4% of Indians own a credit card, one of the lowest rates in the world. It seems that traditional values of thrift and prudence have endured here.

Photo by Carol Mitchell.

In addition to this cultural bias, high interest rates (typically 24% per year), high fees, hidden charges and poor customer service have all acted to dissuade Indians from using credit cards.

Lenders maintain that high rates and fees are necessary in a country without a robust credit checking system, where account holders can disappear without a trace.

One reason for the high charges that banks don’t give so readily, however, is that a large proportion of prudent Indians pay their full credit balance monthly, thus depriving card issuers of interest earnings from revolving credit.

United Kingdom

The UK has had a long love affair with the credit card, ever since the Barclaycard was launched in 1966, becoming the first credit card available outside of the US. Today, cards are more popular in the UK than ever, with the average UK consumer owning 2.4 credit cards (to go with their 2.4 children!).

Credit card fraud has become an increasing concern for UK residents and has received a high level of media coverage in recent years. In 2004, the cost of credit card fraud was particularly high: estimated at 500 million. In response, the UK and Ireland implemented the EMV standard (known as Chip and PIN) for credit and debit card payments.

This means that all credit cards now come with a built-in microchip and a cardholder must supply a PIN number rather than a signature during a transaction.

United States of America

The USA is the credit card’s ancestral home. It was here that the first merchant credit scheme was used in the 1920s and where the concept of different merchants using the same card was founded by the managers of Diners Club, in 1950.

Photo by moacirpdsp.

The USA is the most credit-card-intensive country in the world, with an average of 5 cards per person. US consumers use credit cards to pay for one quarter of all their retail purchases.

The disjointed nature of the US banking system has helped promote credit cards there. Historically, Americans found it easier to use credit rather than direct banking facilities when travelling interstate. The use of credit cards has now become completely entrenched in the US’s ultra consumerist society.

Brazil

In the recent past, Brazil’s unstable economy has acted against the widespread introduction of credit cards. Corruption made it difficult to enforce contracts, so debtors didn’t pay and creditors didn’t lend. Banks found it very hard to check potential customers’ credit ratings because of the lack of skilled labour and the high cost of technology.

The potential credit card market was small anyway, due to low and unevenly distributed incomes. Brazilians had nothing against credit cards, but risks were high and so, in turn, were interest and default rates.

In 2009, Brazil is a very different country. It now has the eighth largest economy in the world, thanks to many years of protectionist economics and a highly skilled IT workforce. The nation’s top three credit card issuers (Banco Itau, Banco Bradesco and Banco de Brasil) are furnishing credit cards in ever-increasing numbers: in 2008, there were 261 million credit cards and a further 210 million debit cards in circulation in Brazil.

Canada

Despite Canada’s proximity to the USA, its attitudes to credit cards are very different. Here, debit cards (which Canadians often refer to as ‘Interac’ after the Interac Direct Payment system) are far more popular.

In fact, Canadians use debit cards in more transactions than credit cards or even cash, making them world leaders in debit card use, with an average of 71.7 debit card transactions made per person, per year.

Photo by nicolasnova.

The many Canadians that do opt for a credit card will find that charges are far less hidden than they are in most other countries. The Government of Canada maintains its own list of fees, features, interest rates and reward programmes associated with the vast majority of credit cards available. Its database is published quarterly on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada website. There’s even an interactive tool that will find the best credit card for you.

Australia

There are 13 million credit cards and a further 28 million debit cards circulating among Australia’s 21 million strong population. The popularity of credit cards is considered to be a central cause of many Australians’ debt. In May 2008, credit card debt in the country reached a record high: the average balance on each individual credit card account was a staggering $3,299.

Identity theft, inextricably linked to credit card use, is common in Australia, a country with one of the highest incidences of cyber crime in the world. 1.1 million Australians have experienced identity theft and it costs the economy $1 billion each year.

Perhaps the stereotype of the laid back Australian is true: research shows that 70% have still not taken any steps to protect their identity.

Community Connection

How do you use / abuse credit cards? Please share your comments below.

“I can’t watch TV longer than five minutes without praying for nuclear holocaust.” – Bill Hicks

Nobody ever expected Leno to ask Obama tough questions (he’s been soft around the middle for years).

Still, I’d give anything to hear what Bill Hicks would have said about the show. Hicks, always merciless, had a particular penchant for pointing out that the once-funny Leno had sold his soul to the devil years ago.

Hicks’ run-ins with talk show hosts was not just limited to Leno. He famously ran charged into battle with David Letterman after his act was censored (removed entirely, actually) on that show in 1993.

Letterman fully redeemed himself earlier this year by having Hicks’ mother on Late Show, airing the originally censored piece and apologizing. Apparently feeling the need to repent, Letterman said “It says more about me as a guy than it says about Bill because there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.”

There are plenty of Hicks clips available online, if you’re new to his blistering routines and opinions. His brand of comedy is certainly not for everyone, least of all the audience members who came to hear “dick jokes” and instead became his punching bag for twenty minutes. A true comic visionary, Bill died in 1994 of cancer.

Before you go under the needle, have a look to see what the following might say about you.

Photo by Enricus

Tribal Band/Barbed Wire – Upper Arm

This tattoo proclaims you as a member of the tribe, that’s true. The sad part is that the tribe in question is the “sub-literati.”

Super Hard Neck Tattoo

The placement implies anything but hardness, no matter the subject matter. This is the mark of the young man with erectile dysfunction, or at the very least, a premature ejaculator. Can you say overcompensation? Go ahead and try again. I’m willing to be patient.

Garden Variety Butterfly Tramp Stamp

Beware the secret garden below. The butterfly belies a much more sinister truth, and though the garden is sure to be properly pruned, the implication that insect life may seek exodus from the deep cleavage below may not be so far off the mark.

Look At My Boobs Sacred Heart

Frank Zappa had it right about you Catholic girls. Too many years cooped up with the same sex have you making this desperate and permanent plea for male attention that you reiterate every time you “forget” to close those top buttons.

Photo by goodeye03

Any Placement Of A Dolphin

Bad enough on a necklace or a t-shirt, the dolphin tattoo indicates a desire to be seen as peace and earth loving. The bad news is that you were probably inspired to get it after an alcohol fueled domestic abuse disturbance that resulted in your arrest.

Nautical Star

Would you cut it out already? The closest you’ve been to the open water is happy hour near the naval base during shore leave.

Photo by haycarrieanne

Angel Wings On The Back

In your desire to be different, you committed the error of putting puny, atrophied angel wings on your back in an indelible medium. Were they suddenly to become corporeal, you’d be left with useless nubs that make getting dressed impossible. Shows severe spatial orientation issues.

Flower On The Ankle

The design you picked out gave you a familiar, warm-fuzzy feeling. It’s unfortunate that you failed to recognize it was because it resembled the packaging on your favorite feminine hygiene product. A future of daytime soaps awaits you.

Tazmanian Devil

Any Looney Tunes character pretty much says the same thing, but Taz is the mark of the beast – as in Old Milwaukee. The calling card of the unemployable, the Tazmanian Devil shows a character deficit that pretty much guarantees you will complacently be the recipient of public assistance for the rest of your life.

Low-Abdominal, Sub-Navel Tribal

Your shirt’s too short and your pants are too low and that means we can all see your belly tattoo. With or without a belly button ring, this almost definitely indicates a cavalier approach to birth control. Pretty soon, your tattoo will be ravaged by your impending and unplanned pregnancy.

Photo above by howieluvzus

Many of us have heard of Banksy only within the last few years as he has transcended into worldwide notoriety and infamy. We have seen the stencils and heard the name, yet the man himself remains a mystery.

Photo above by DocZork – restless

Not much is known about Banksy outside of his work. In the midst of rumors, journalists and art aficionados have produced little verifiable concrete background information about the underground British artist.

UK’s Daily Mail published an article last summer, claiming to have uncovered Banksy’s true identity, although at the very end they concede that their whole discovery could be bunk.

The most commonly accepted facts are: his hometown is Bristol, UK; He was born in or around 1974; and his involvement with graffiti art began in the early 1990s.

In interviews granted to various media outlets, mostly anonymously, Banksy talks about his background only in relation to his work.

Having always been interested in art, Banksy started graffiti when he was just 14 years old. He gravitated toward stencil art because it was quick while still allowing him to do aesthetic, detailed work.

“If you damage someone’s property it’s good to show some dedication to it. [To] just slop it up is a bit rude, I fear.”

Having never been a fan of school, Banksy, instead, found his place and identity within the underground graffiti culture. Since picking up a spray can and stencils, the artist hasn’t looked back.

Photo above by howieluvzus

Regardless if you’re a fan or a member of Keep Britain Tidy (a group that believes Banksy’s work is criminal vandalism) you immediately recognize a Banksy when you see it.

His signature rat, children, monkey, and police men motifs and consistent anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment messages make his work uniquely identifiable.

Banksy Worldwide

Starting in the early 2000s, Banksy began to extend past Britain and work all over the world. From the Guantanamo prisoner in Disneyland to the sprayed art on Israel’s West Bank wall, Banksy’s art has covered the globe, uniting all sorts of people in his fan base. Currently, fans include some of Hollywood’s most famous stars, though in all likelihood Banksy wouldn’t brag about that.

What probably makes Banksy most notorious, however, is not just the message, but the overtly mischievous and humorous style evident in his work.

Photo above by LexMonkey

A few years ago, Banksy added his own prehistoric piece to the walls of the British Museum, mimicking cave art style and depicting a man with a shopping cart chasing a buffalo. The statement “This finely preserved example of primitive art dates from the Post-Catatonic era,” was in the sign hung beneath.

He once snuck into the London Zoo, spray painting the message “I want out. This place is too cold. Keeper smells. Boring, boring, boring.” in the elephant pen.

When Paris Hilton came out with her debut music CD, Banksy replaced 500 original copies with his own doctored CDs across 48 UK record stores. He Photoshopped the cover art to replace her face with that of a dog’s and added titles such as, “Why Am I Famous?” and “What Am I For?”.

In response to his increasing notoriety, Banksy offered for sale a painting of an art auction with the sentence, “I can’t believe you morons actually buy this shit.”

Photo above by armcurl

Banksy Today

A little less playful and a lot more disenchanted, Banksy has told The New Yorker’s Lauren Collins “I originally set out to try and save the world, but now I’m not sure I like it enough.”

He’s admitted that his infamy and the fact that just one of his pieces fetches hundreds of thousands of dollars makes him uncomfortable.

But this doesn’t mean he’ll retire from art activism. Just late last summer, he tagged several buildings in New Orleans to commemorate the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Hopefully, for his fans around the world, he’ll never stop working.

You can visit Banksy’s official website at www.banksy.co.uk. Original prints can be found at lazinc.com and are sold through his agent’s gallery in Soho, London.

Feature photo by jackx. Photo above by Manu Manu.

Twinkling lights on the mammoth tree at Rockefeller Center. Impossibly intricate displays in department store windows. Lively performances at Radio City Music Hall.

Such holiday traditions have made December in New York City magical for decades. This year, also consider some equally special but lesser-known winter activities:

Dance at the Matzo Ball.

Forget sitting at home with Chinese food and a movie on Christmas Eve. Mix and mingle with Jewish singles at the Matzo Ball, now in its 21st year. Couples and gentiles are welcome too. Buy tickets before December 25.

Run into the New Year.

Welcome 2009 with a four-mile run through Central Park. Enjoy music and dancing beforehand, as well as a costume parade and contest. As you run, marvel at the fireworks overhead. This year there will be a special companion race run by more than 200 service members stationed in Al Asad, Iraq. Register by December 25.

Skate on fake ice.

Add a modern twist to a holiday favorite: skate on synthetic ice at the Natural History Museum’s Polar Rink. This artificial surface was designed to allow an ice-skating blade to glide smoothly. Because it requires no refrigeration and is recyclable, it’s also environmentally friendly. Open until February 28.

Ride into the subway’s past.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority offers riders entree to an earlier era every Sunday in December, when the Nostalgia Train runs on the V line between Queens Plaza and Second Avenue on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Photo by Marcin Wichary.

See the Christmas Story at the Cloisters.

The Cloisters, perched on a hill overlooking the Hudson River, is a recreated castle that serves as the medieval branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s the perfect place to hear the seasonal music originally played in great European cathedrals.

On December 13 and 14, eight singers and five instrumentalists playing reproductions of medieval instruments will recount the events of Christmas. Tickets are available here.

Pick up unique last-minute gifts.

Located in the historic Brooklyn Masonic Temple, The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, open every day, also offer unique merchandise from artists and designers.

Celebrate with zoo animals.

At the Wild Holiday Party at the Central Park Zoo, held every weekend in December, celebrate the holidays with polar bears and penguins. Watch as animals unwrap gifts their gifts–special treats such as fish and fruit, peanut butter and Cheerios.

Photo by Fantaz.

Take a bus tour of the holiday lights.

Roll past the crowds on an evening shuttle bus tour of the city’s spectacular holiday lights. Hop off to see the light show inside Grand Central, and cross the bridge to Brooklyn for sweeping Manhattan views.

Sing along with the Gay Men’s Chorus.

The critically acclaimed 200-man New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performs its annual Holiday Spectacular! at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, December 9. They will dazzle you with a mix of classics and surprises.

Discover Little Italy.

As festive as Times Square or Fifth Avenue but with more manageable crowds, Little Italy is a must see during the holiday season. Not only are its streets draped with lights and decorations, but costumed carolers and weekly parades help spread the holiday cheer.

Feature photo by BEAT NIK. Photo above by ibcbulk.

It’s nearing the end of the year and you’re either out of dough or out of vacation days.

Glossy travel catalogs are showing up in your mailbox, taunting you with images of destinations you can’t even think about visiting right now, leaving you in a fall funk.

If you happen to be in New York, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Tucson, Gibara, Cuba, or La Paz, Mexico though, don’t despair. These five film festivals—all focused on travel or place-based films– will transport you around the world at a price far lower than that of a transcontinental plane ticket.

Photo by Photochiel.

NEW YORK, New York, USA

The Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival: November 14-16, 2008

2008 marks the 32nd anniversary of this film festival, which will present 26 international documentaries over the course of two days at the American Museum of Natural History. This festival was started to showcase anthropological films from the field.

This year’s selections include topics as diverse as “African thumb-piano players, Laotian bomb technicians, primate scientists in Abkhazia, prostitutes in Phnom Penh, and Manhattan pre-schoolers”—topics and places obscure enough to satisfy your desire for a sense of the “exotic.”

Photo by Leto A.

SANTA FE, New Mexico, USA

National Geographic All Roads Film Festival: December 3-7, 2008

This is the fifth year of the All Roads Film Festival; the final stop in the itinerant festival’s 2008 season is Santa Fe. Like the Margaret Mead festival, the majority of the 29 films in the All Roads Festival tend towards ponderous themes; however, you can’t beat this festival for cultural and geographic diversity: films are from 20 cultures and 15 countries, and the majority feature communities described as “indigenous and underrepresented minorities.”

Photo by fangleman.

SAN FRANCISCO, California, USA

South Asian Film Festival: November 13-16, 2008

Unlike a few of the other film fests on this list, the flicks in the South Asian Film Festival aren’t limited to documentaries. The offerings at the SAFF range “from Indian art house classics to documentary films and from innovative and experimental visions to next-level Bollywood.”

Buy tickets online before the 12th and you’ll get a cheaper rate than you’ll be charged at the door. And while the Mead and All Roads Film Festivals are likely to be followed by esoteric anthropological conversations, the SAFF offers some serious post-film partying at an accessible cost for any budget: $5 will get you into an opening night party at a local café-bar.

Photo by Roger Smith.

TUCSON, Arizona; USA

Tucson Slow Food & Film Festival: January 8-11, 2009

Just as the chill of North American winter is settling into your bones, Tucson offers a film festival to fill you up with images of warmth. Slow food + film= winning combination. Features, short films, animated films, and documentaries—all focused on food—will be shown at this festival.

Although this film fest is just four years old, it has a history of showing films featuring food from around the world; past movies have included “Like Water for Chocolate” (which is sure to send you off in search of some Mexican mole after viewing), “Chocolat” (which will make you want to open your own boutique chocolate shop), and “Tortilla Soup” (which will send you home to Google this recipe).

Photo by Néstor.

GIBARA, Cuba; LA PAZ, Mexico

Cine Pobre Film Festival: Dates vary in Spring 2009

Described as one of the world’s most “charming and authentic” film festivals, this low-budget film festival was conceived by Cuban film director Humberto Solas about eight years ago. The concept has since spread to other countries, including Mexico, which hosts its own Cine Pobre Film Festival each spring.

The 2009 Cine Pobre festival will kick off on May 5, 2009; if you’ll be in Cuba, their Cine Pobre festival is a few weeks earlier. Next year’s selections have not yet been announced, but past features have tended to represent selections from every continent.