Drive Away Fear on Friday the 13th

What’s your superstition?

On today’s date, many wake up and dread looking at the calendar. Some are riddled by fear while others look at it as another day. Just how did this hullabaloo start over this legendary day? As Mechanics Discount unraveled the history of this mystery, we have discovered some fun and entertaining facts to about this freaky Friday date!

How did it all begin?

Although there are a few different theories about how the fear of Friday the 13^th came about, one of the more popular beliefs is that it derived from The Last Supper with Jesus and the apostles. There were 12 apostles at dinner and Judas ended up being number 13, after he showed up. Later, Jesus ended up dying on a Friday.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Just what is that jumbled mess of letters above? Friggatriskaidekaphobia is the actual name for the fear of Friday the 13^th! According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with this phobia. Source: glo.msn.com

More fun Friday facts:

· Airplanes often lack a 13^th row

· Many buildings do not have a 13^th floor

· A lot of hotels will not have a room #13

· Estimates have suggested that on Friday the 13^th, the U.S. economy loses up to 900 million dollars. (Source: glo.msn.com)

· Many Americans will not drive on Friday the 13^th

· In the 1880s, The Thirteen Club was formed to expose the superstition that 13 was not unlucky

· On Friday the 13^th, Henry Ford did not do business and Franklin Delano Roosevelt eluded travel.

· In 2012, there are three Fridays that fall on the 13th

· Hurricane Charley hit Florida on Friday the 13^th

Here are some other top superstitions besides this famous Friday’s date:

· Crossing paths with black cats

· Walking under ladders

· Opening an umbrella indoors

· Breaking a mirror

· Stepping on a crack

Do you know of any more freaky-Friday fears or facts or superstitions? Let us know!

So take along your trusty rabbit’s foot, four-leaf-clover or lucky horseshoe and keep your fingers crossed that this Friday ends up being fantastic!

~Charlene Marie

Great Winter Products for Surviving Power Failures and Frigid Air

Staying warm while dealing with the cold

Of course we all know the more we bundle up, the warmer we stay; however sometimes it gets hard to move, with the more layers we add. If it’s warmth along with versatility that you desire, we know about a few products that will help bring the blood flow back to frozen fingers and toes as well as some power when in need!

MH9BX Portable Buddy Heater

Portable heaters are a great way to get warm, quick! The MH9BX Portable Buddy Heater works both indoors and out and heats up to 200 square feet! If it gets tipped over or there is not enough oxygen, this handy light-weight heater will automatically shut off!

Portable Buddy Heater

SOLAR 2000 Watt Power Inverter

Need power? Have no fear with the SOLAR 200 Watt Power Inverter. This bundle of electricity will power tools and small appliances right from a vehicle’s 12 Volt power source! Take it on the road to power a laptop or plug a small TV into it and see what’s happening while the electricity is out!

SOLAR 2000 Watt Power Inverter

SOG KNIVES POWERLOCK MULTI-TOOL W/CU

This may not keep you warm, but one can never have enough tools! Search for only one quick tool in the event of a winter power outage instead of many! Open a can, cut with one of the many knives, screw in a screw and much, much more!

 SOG KNIVES POWERLOCK MULTI-TOOL W/CU

MH500PT Hand Held Torch

Stuck in a freezing situation, literally? Melt your way out with the MH500PT torch.

 MH500PT Hand Held Torch

M12 Camouflage Heated Jacket – XL

Is your jacket not warm enough? Try a heated one! Stay incognito with its camouflage design while the M12 jacket heats your core areas. Move far and free with the M12’s cordless design and display your hunting license inside the nifty tag patch in the back!

M12 Camouflage Heated Jacket – XL

Have any other ideas for keeping the chill away? Let us know!

Stay warm!

~Charlene Marie

Cars of the ‘80s

Take a leap back in time and remember when

Being a product of the ‘80s, I can recall many of the bizarre styles, big hair and flamboyant fashions produced from that decade. Another thing that stuck in my head was the interesting cars that stemmed from that funky era. From sleek and stylish Firebirds to lanky wood-grain station wagons, I remember these cars like it were yesterday. So throw on your jean jacket and break out the cassette tapes; for it’s time to take a trip down memory lane with these vintage vehicle finds! 

Cadillac Brougham Sedan

When my dad first brought his 1989 Cadillac Brougham Sedan home, I thought technology was at its prime. As a kid, I marveled at all of the car’s electronic gizmos and shiny paint job and was floored that a car could have so many compartments and features! Although it was the mid-1990s when he actually purchased it, I remember seeing plenty of these massive works of luxury on the road many years beforehand.  I never thought I’d actually get to ride in a Cadillac, nor learn to drive a behemoth of a car in the not-so-far future!  

Photo courtesy of mcsmk8.com

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

In the ‘80s, I used to play an obnoxious game when I was out on long highway trips with friends. Whenever an awesome car would drive by, my friend or I would yell, “My car!” as soon as we spotted our dream mobile. I’m surprised our parents didn’t make us get out and walk! At the end out the trip, it would always be the Pontiac Friebird Trans Am that topped my list.

Photo courtesy of Motortopia.com

Station Wagons

Station wagons might have not been the prettiest things on the road, but as a kid, they sure were fun! Before the inception of mandatory seatbelt laws, I was always the first to jump into the rear section of these cars. It was one of the best seats in the house and the view of the road was phenomenal! Back in the day, just about every family I knew had a least one of these handy cars in their driveway!  Before my dad got his Cadillac, he drove an old, powdered-blue station wagon for years!

Photo courtesy of istenbizony.hu

 Police Cars

Don’t ask me why, but when I was young, I thought police cars were supposed to look the same forever. You can imagine my surprise when the local precincts decided to upgrade their wheels!  The squad cars around my area were always Chevy Caprices.

Photo courtesy of mysite.verizon.net

When you think back, what cars do you remember from the ‘80s?

Until next time, drive safe and let the good times roll!

~Charlene Marie

How to Survive in the Desert

Staying smart while being stranded in an unfamiliar place

Being prepared for a vacation or road trip is always important. In different climates and parts of the globe, supplies may be limited; therefore, if you’re traveling an unfamiliar area, it is good to know what to bring and do in case of emergency. Today, Mechanics Discount is here with a few tips on how to survive when stranded in desert conditions.

Before you travel anywhere, the first step is always to get organized for your long trek. If you know you will be traveling through the desert, here are a few supplies you should consider bringing:

· Extra water

· Extra snacks (energy snacks such as mixed fruit and nuts are beneficial)

· Lightweight, white or light-colored garments that fully cover arms and legs (to reflect sun)

· Lightweight hat with visor

· Sunglasses

· Sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher

· Blanket

· Coat or jacket (It can get very chilly at night in the desert)

· Small tent or sun shade

· Emergency car kit with jumper cables

· Spare tire

· Extra gas can with gas

2 Gallon Enviro-Flo Plus Gas Can

· Paper map or road atlas

· GPS

· Regular magnetic compass

· Cell phone, charger

· Backpack

· Flashlight

· Matches or lighter

· Survival knife

SOG Aegis Folding Knife

Another thing that is recommended, get your vehicle checked by a trustworthy mechanic to make sure your engine is running well and all of your fluids are topped off before you leave. Also, it might come in handy to print off a cellular service coverage map to see if your provider has service where you’re traveling.

If you have checked off everything on the preparation list and your car still ends up turning into a stranded hot-mess on a deserted, desert highway, miles away from the nearest exit, here are a few things that you can do:

1. Don’t panic. Fear can cause excess sweating and retaining water is crucial

2. Call for help. If there is no cell phone signal, shut it off or keep it on standby to conserve your battery.

3. Check your map or GPS to see how far you are from the nearest exit

Bushnell BackTrack GPS Gray/Orange GPS w/Compass

4. If the sun is beating down, change into white or light-colored clothing, apply sunscreen to exposed skin, find shade nearby or set up your sunshade or open tent near your vehicle. Try to limit walking or movement to avoid sweating. Do not stay in your car. Stay hydrated.

5. If you still haven’t been rescued by dusk, pack water, snacks, blanket, coat, tent/sunshade, flashlight, matches, map, GPS, compass and coat in your backpack and get ready to head down the road to search for a cellular signal.

6. Travel in the direction of the nearest exit.

7. If you are many miles from the nearest exit or from a cellphone signal on your handy cellular printout, many experts would advise you to stay close to your vehicle and keep waiting for a passerby and signal for help.

Worst case scenario

If you have been stranded for a few days and have run out of supplies, here are a few things you can do to survive:

· Locate water by finding green vegetation such as a cactus (cut pieces off and squeeze it), digging by dry creek beds, noticing where birds fly and following animal trails.

· Dig a hole about two feet deep by three feet across and put a cup in the middle of the hole. Cover the hole with a plastic bag and add rocks around the bag to hold it steady. Place a rock in the middle of the plastic and condensation will drip into the cup once the air and the ground heat up.

· Keep a fire going at night to frighten off animals and to signal vehicles that could pass by

· Hungry? Eat insects. They are actually high in protein and are nutritious. If you are a little more daring, you can always cook up a snake

· Beware of poisonous snakes, spiders and Gila Monsters

· Experts say if you don’t have enough water to aid in digestion, avoid eating if you can. If you do eat, you can dehydrate faster.

Hopefully getting stranded in the desert isn’t anything that happens to you; however, if it does, these tips may become useful.

Have any other comments or suggestions? Let us know!

Stay safe and happy traveling!

~Charlene Marie