I’ve made a few changes to my wood-burning fireplace over the last few weeks that will make it more efficient and effective at heating my house. While my fireplace won’t get as much use here in Arizona compared to other parts of the country, it is still a nice feature to have.
Many years ago I used to scoff at the notion of having a fireplace in Arizona but over the years I have come to appreciate the wisdom of having one.
One of my first posts was on the First Firearm that I purchased. That article has become the most popular article I have written to date, maybe because many other people have recently done likewise. My intent was to add more firearms to my inventory but job and financial considerations stymied those efforts. The good news is that with (relatively) stable employment and improving finances, I was able to purchase my second firearm a few days ago. Here is a picture of it…
This is SIG Sauer’s newest full-sized 9mm pistol, the P320.
Remember the post I wrote a while back about the entrenching tool? You can read that article again for a description of what an e-tool is, what I’d like to do in this post is describe what it can do for you. There are many uses for this trifold tool, some of which you might not expect.
It’s been said there are two certainties in life; death and taxes. Unfortunately for over 300,000 taxpayers, this also included getting their tax records stolen. I should know, it happened to me this year. Imagine my surprise when my CPA told me that somebody had already filed taxes under my Social Security Number. Eventually, I was able to file my taxes by mail and receive my refund…albeit five months late. It may be a while before the full extent of the IRS data breach becomes evident, in the meantime over a quarter million people will have to keep a close eye on their credit.
Data breaches are a fact of life nowadays, if you haven’t been affected by one yet chances are you will be in the future. Being prepared isn’t just about preparing for an unlikely event like a total collapse of society, it is about dealing with common events like data breaches. Keeping a close eye on your financial accounts and credit report is almost as important as securing your home. The Better Business Bureau has some advice on what to do in the event of a data breach, you can also find some helpful information over at CardRatings. What’s important is you remain vigilant when it comes to your finances because it can become a taxing matter in more ways than one.
I was in the UK when French workers decided to strike at ports along the English Channel. This was big news in Britain since many individuals and businesses rely on both ferries and the Eurostar Tunnel to cross the English Channel. Being prepared for labor disputes and unexpected travel restrictions need to be considered in making preparations.
I’m writing this post somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean from a coffee shop at Heathrow Airport as I get ready travel back to the USA. Besides providing a much-needed break from work, my three weeks in Europe have provided inspiration for posts that may help you in your preparations. This post is going to deal with two things that you need in good working order all the time…your feet.
The recent Waco biker shooting shows that the veneer of civil society can break down quickly and without warning. This is especially true when two rival motorcycle gangs decide they can’t settle their disagreements peacefully. The result is innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire of a violent situation they weren’t expecting.
A few days ago I read a book about EMP attack survival along with solar storms. Both are related events that involve powerful bursts of electromagnetic energy which can affect electronics. Its not a light subject for sure, but it is one that requires study and analysis.
Less than two weeks ago, Ryan Giroux went on a rampage in Mesa. His actions killed one person and wounded five others in a spree that shut down parts of the city. What is even more frightening about his actions is that they took place in a part of town that I regularly traverse. The locations of the shootings, the cross streets, and local landmarks are well known to me.
Historically, the biggest killers of humans have been diseases. Until recently, diseases like mumps, measles, polio, and others hung like a Sword of Damocles over the heads of children throughout the world. During the last century though, various medicines and vaccines have all but wiped-out these diseases in modern countries. However, certain diseases are making a comeback in the US because not everybody is getting vaccinations. It seems crazy to me not to get immunized given the historical efficacy of vaccines, but vaccine refusal is becoming more popular in America. What’s ironic is that the ostensibly intelligent, wealthy, and politically liberal are the ones eschewing vaccinations for their children.
Then again, maybe there is something about the mentality of those who drive their Volvos to Whole Foods. It could be a disconnect from reality that is manifesting itself in health choices that endanger others. Even though vaccines have saved hundreds of millions of people from death, the science and history of immunizations is ignored by bourgeois bohemians. The upshot of this from a preparation perspective is that some people will steadfastly refuse to take prudent actions even where there is ample evidence to do so. Some people will not learn (ex. re-electing Barack Obama in 2012) and the population as a whole suffers because of it. Given the elevation of emotion and erosion of logic in decision-making, this trend is likely to continue and more people of all ages will get ill from preventable diseases.