I feel like I got caught with my pants down on this SiP and I don't want it to happen again; but I also don't want to go down a rabbit hole of antisocial paranoia. Can you recommend resources for me?

So... you know what I'm talking about, right?

When this COVID stuff landed, my house was empty of baking supplies, because early spring is keto diet time for me. I had close to no freezer space, because I rarely used my freezer. Thank goodness I happened to have plenty of toilet paper; but that was a relative fluke. And then boom -- all of a sudden -- there's no f'ing flour to be had! It was not clear where or how I was going to GET toilet paper!

I never want to be in that situation again.

What I'd really like is a book, or website, ideally, that will help me think through and weigh priorities about how to Be Readier, going forward; taking into account a generally normal suburban N American lifestyle. I have questions like, what are the kinds of generators, under what conditions will I be glad I had one, and what are the safety tradeoffs? What are the various options for making water drinkable? What stuff has a generally vulnerable supply chain? What are the things I might not have thought of, without which normal life will degrade significantly? (TP! Menstrual supplies! Stuff like that.)

All that said, I am not looking for instructions on how to build a bunker, you know what I'm saying...

I know there are a million prepper websites. I don't want to sift through all of them; and I know many of them will be at a "homesteading" level that is not appropriate for me. So: are there resources you'd recommend?

Cut for COVID-19 content. My parents live together at a medium-sized assisted-living facility in a nearby city. The facility has recently reported to us that one resident and three staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Yesterday, at a health check-in, my parents said they had each in the past few days had fleeting symptoms (one had a cough and the other had a sore throat.) Both feel fine now, but there are major concerns for their survival if they are positive due to age and health history. The health program that covers them had them both tested. We get the results in 2-5 days. If they test positive, they will be moved that same day to a nursing care facility in a different city that has been set up for COVID-19 quarantine, and will stay for 14 days minimum.

I am grateful that they have been tested, and trying to see the waiting period as a blessing. In the few days before they get their results, what, if anything should they/we do to prepare?

Logistically:
-I am hesitant to suggest they pack now, but would it be better to have them living out of suitcases for a few days than have to pack under pressure? (I could not get an answer as to how long they would be given to get ready.) I did suggest they make packing lists now.

-I am going to ask them to get all important contact/insurance/etc. information ready and send to me (I have some, not all.)

In terms of health:
-In theory they should receive all required medical treatment at the nursing facility, but I'm going to check in with them about getting refills of any prescriptions they might need in the next few weeks.

-The staff at the assisted living facility states they are following all required practices: not allowing visitors, serving residents food in their rooms, not running group activities, yet I learned that a. their staff have only been required to wear masks since Saturday (this could have been an access issue - but if so why can they suddenly get them now) and b. we received the comforting reassurance that the positive-testing members had not had direct contact with my parents. However, while they say they have been "monitoring" the staff that did have had direct contact with those three staff, and testing sending home anyone who has had symptoms, they have apparently not tested or sent home staff who were in direct contact with them but had no symptoms. They and would not explain why not, except to again reiterate that they have been following appropriate guidelines. This seems wildly irresponsible to me, except perhaps they simply cannot obtain enough tests, and/or those ill staff had direct contact with so many people that to lose them all means the place couldn't function? I find either possibility horrifying for different reasons.

Regardless, since finding this out I have insisted my parents stay in their rooms except when absolutely necessary, stay six feet away from others, have the staff knock and wait until they have masks on before they let anyone come in, (they each have one mask leftover from earlier health crises,) wipe down doorknobs and handles religiously, wipe down covers on the food trays, etc.

-My dad is in remission from leukemia but is otherwise in reasonable health for his age (early 70s.) My mom, mid 60s, has asthma and general respiratory issues. She also has numerous other conditions that may/may not be impacted is she were to contract COVID-19. Is there anything else they can do to reinforce their health and protect themselves over the next few days (and hopefully for the next however months until we can all stop living in daily fear?)

Emotionally:
We are all going to fall apart if they test positive. One or both of them would probably not survive. I am not panicking yet (again, trying to stay grateful for these next few days) but we need to be prepared for the worst.

My mom is the most practical and responds to serious issues with emotional openness. My dad is a very kind and loving person, but he in denial about mortality and refuses to engage with any discussion of end-of-life planning. I do not want to set them up to bicker and argue for the next few days, which is a real possibility of I push things.

Tomorrow we will have a video seder with them, my brother, and our partners. For Reasons, my parents many thousands of unorganized photographs are in storage at my brother's place, or I would suggest they get some out and enjoy/share some with us. What else can we do to make the most of this short time, and without stressing/panicking overly much, get us ready to accept whatever is coming?

Confident in your understanding of the Microsoft cybersecurity stack? Taking and passing the Microsoft Azure Security Technologies (AZ-500) exam can help you validate your skills—and, in turn, give your IT career a boost. In this course, instructor Pete Zerger lays out what you need to know to tackle the fourth domain of the AZ-500 exam: Securing Data and Applications. Pete takes a deep dive into the concepts covered in the second half of domain four, including how to configure encryption for data at rest, configure security features to protect web apps, and manage access to Key Vault. When coupled with Azure Security Technologies: Policy and Data Infrastructure—which covers the first half of the Securing Data and Applications domain—this course can help ensure that you walk into the test center feeling prepared to tackle this key portion of the exam.

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CompTIA recognizes that cloud-based infrastructure services is an increasingly important piece of an organization’s IT systems. The CompTIA Cloud+ certification validates that you have the skills necessary to plan, implement, maintain, and deliver cloud technologies and infrastructure—it's a credential that can boost your career and your visibility to employers. This course helps you prepare for the first domain of the exam, Cloud Concepts and Models. Learn about the different types of clouds and the basics of a robust cloud architecture. Then review the system requirements for cloud deployments, and discover how to successfully create and execute a cloud deployment plan. Instructor Tom Carpenter also explains how to test your deployment and resolve common issues.

This course was created by Total Seminars. We are pleased to offer this training in our library.

The quarterback is expected to be a third-day pick in this week's NFL draft.

The quarterback is expected to be a third-day pick in this week's NFL draft.

The company’s first-quarter earnings report will provide a view of how the pandemic has accelerated trends already working in its favor, and the extent to which coronavirus restrictions on businesses and consumers have boosted Amazon’s sales.

The new Fire Station 31 will replace an existing station that shut down last June, due to concerns about unhealthful conditions, including mold.

As one of the Northwest's top high-school players, he’s accepted a scholarship to play for Washington State. But under a normal circumstances, Russell and his family would be weighing another option more closely — the 2020 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

While the focus of the sports world is on the possible relaunch of the major-league season, minor-league teams cling to the hope of competing in 2020 while girding for the increasing likelihood that the season will be dormant.

Any course planning to reopen must comply to guidelines developed by the governor's office. The most notable will be the limit of two people per group instead of threesomes or foursomes in groups. The only exception: If all the people are from the same household, a foursome is acceptable.

While the focus of the sports world is on the possible relaunch of the major-league season, minor-league teams cling to the hope of competing in 2020 while girding for the increasing likelihood that the season will be dormant.

The company’s first-quarter earnings report will provide a view of how the pandemic has accelerated trends already working in its favor, and the extent to which coronavirus restrictions on businesses and consumers have boosted Amazon’s sales.

The company’s first-quarter earnings report will provide a view of how the pandemic has accelerated trends already working in its favor, and the extent to which coronavirus restrictions on businesses and consumers have boosted Amazon’s sales.

Any course planning to reopen must comply to guidelines developed by the governor's office. The most notable will be the limit of two people per group instead of threesomes or foursomes in groups. The only exception: If all the people are from the same household, a foursome is acceptable.

As one of the Northwest's top high-school players, he’s accepted a scholarship to play for Washington State. But under a normal circumstances, Russell and his family would be weighing another option more closely — the 2020 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

As one of the Northwest's top high-school players, he’s accepted a scholarship to play for Washington State. But under a normal circumstances, Russell and his family would be weighing another option more closely — the 2020 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

The heat is on beekeepers to deliver healthy hives for pollination this spring and into the summer.

At one Sydney medical centre the staff are trying to set up for the COVID-19 crisis, and to stay in business

A farmer who trains backpackers in grain and livestock farming says demand for good seasonal workers in WA is outstripping her ability to supply them and her agency is stretched to the limit.

The native Queensland seaweed that can stop bovines burping out methane could cut the country's greenhouse emissions by 10 per cent, if it could be farmed on a scale to feed every cow in Australia, researchers say.

When 11-year-old Max Day broke his leg and dislocated his hip coming off a motorbike on a remote station in the far north-west corner of New South Wales, a well-practised network kicked into action.

How quickly do you think Australia could assemble more than 20,000 troops, 8,000 horses, and put them on to yet to-be-equipped navy ships to be sent to the battlefields of World War I?

A group of West Australian farmers is planning a class action in the federal court after their lenders shortened the length of their loans, in some cases, from 25 years to just 12 months.

One of the year's strongest cold fronts is bearing down on Perth and the south-west of the state today, as residents are urged to secure their homes. and prepare for gale-force winds.

By the end of April there has normally been regular fire crew training, inductions, and planning, but social distancing has made that near-impossible.

A program preparing young Indigenous people for work in Dubbo is now operating a lime farm and selling the produce.

Hundreds of residents from three Victorian towns are told to evacuate from their homes as part of one of the state's biggest-ever fire drills, in preparation for what could be a devastating fire season.

Retailers have been at the economic epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, with mass shutdowns in place for the past five weeks.

Thermostats and saunas become secret weapons as Australian athletes brace themselves for the unusual conditions of a midnight marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Doha next month.

The warm weather is about to end in Victoria, with the state set to be hit by a deluge of rain, hail and snow from today and temperatures set to hang around the low teens all weekend.

The Royal Melbourne Show is cancelled this year for only the third time in its 165-year history, but what does this mean for regional shows and trials?

Colac Hospital prepares to return to business as usual after a predicted surge in coronavirus cases fails to eventuate.

Investors are calling for entrepreneurial skills to be taught in schools to help prepare children for the future 'gig-based' economy.

A finishing school for western ringtail possums is not about airs and graces it's about helping orphaned possums get used to fending for themselves.

DAILY BRIEFING: An elderly female driver has a fright after her car swerves off a road and over a cliff, and the Tasmanian Government holds off formally asking the Commonwealth to help pay for firefighting in the Wilderness World Heritage Area last summer.

A bushfire burning north of Hobart could pose a threat to the city's suburbs and critical infrastructure if uncontrolled, a fire officer warns, as Tasmania prepares for hot weather and strong winds over the next few days.

With their combination of raw talent, heart and drive, their coach says they could go all the way. But life could have been very different for these Indigenous siblings from Victoria.

A self-funded engineer was 12 kilometres short of his goal of reaching space at a recent attempt in the middle of Australia's Outback.

As the northern hemisphere sweats through deadly heatwaves, experts warn Australia is unprepared to deal with soaring temperatures.

Emergency services are warning Victorians to brace for a cold snap and wind gusts of up to 130kph in parts of the south-east, while alpine areas may enjoy heavier snowfall.