Does it seem like nobody is paying attention? My observation is that the default mode most people operate in is “distracted.” No matter if it’s talking on the phone, eating, drinking, texting, or talking the end result is the same, degraded situational awareness.
So you purchased a new firearm in 2015, congratulations on your purchase! It was a record year for gun sales and for many buyers, this was their first weapon. Buying a firearm is only the first step though, to be effective and safe one has to acquire skills. The good news is there are some drills you can do to develop proficiency with guns. Kevin discusses pistol drills for new owners over at Ricochet, which I highly suggest you do when you have a moment. These are a good starting point for learning how to effectively use your new pistol and will help guide your training. Learn the Four Rules and commit them to memory too, these will keep you safe while handling firearms. Remember too that owning a gun is a responsibility that one must take seriously. The anti-Civil Rights crowd will use any excuse or incident to push their agenda of firearms confiscation. Don’t give them the ammunition to do so; be safe, become proficient, and enjoy your new gun!
Every man should know how to perform basic small engine maintenance and troubleshooting. After all, there are a lot of engines out there which operate equipment that makes modern life a bit easier. Knowing these important skills will also save money and prolong the life of power equipment.
Briggs & Stratton 6.75HP Engine
Grand Canyon preparation isn’t just about finding the right spot to take a dramatic photo. Even if you aren’t going to descend into the canyon, you should be ready for conditions and equip yourself accordingly. It’s common sense but alas, common sense isn’t as prevalent as it ought to be.
Grand Canyon National Park
After my bike ride this afternoon, I had some thoughts regarding the importance of fitness to preparation. Continue reading
Confession time, this series on “Hardening Your Home” is going to be a bit like a Tarantino movie. No, these posts won’t involve snappy dialog coupled with bloody violence! What I mean by that is the story will not be told in a chronological fashion. For example, the deadbolts that are currently installed on my exterior doors.
Schlage Light Commercial Deadbolt
These were installed a few weeks ago, which was before I installed the EZ Armor I mentioned in the previous post.
While the timing isn’t important, the reason why I opted to update my lock hardware is. Not long ago, I read some articles on lock bumping and decided to take measures to prevent this from happening. Essentially, a criminal can defeat most locks in less than a minute using a bump key and a hard impact. You can watch a video of it by going here, which shows how simple and fast this technique is. Since my lock hardware was purchased from a big box retailer after I purchased my home, I decided it was time to upgrade and improve my defenses.
I decided to get Schlage Light Industrial deadbolt locks and passage handles. These are only available from locksmiths and are constructed from higher quality materials than normal locks. These locks are designed to be bump and pick resistant, which makes it more difficult and time-consuming for a would-be intruder to break into my home. Another great feature is they can be re-keyed by a non-locksmith. A set of these locks is about twice what a normal set would cost at a home improvement store, however the added security and peace of mind you gain is worth it.
Better locks combined with door reinforcement added an additional layer of security to my home. In my next post, I’ll discuss how I use lighting to deter crime.
Believe it or not, most criminals break in to homes through the front door. The reason is most residential doors aren’t strong enough to resist an attack. The door jamb usually lacks the reinforcement necessary to resist a strong kick from a criminal. This means even if you lock your doors, your home and family still aren’t safe from a determined onslaught.
Two weeks ago, I decided to do something about this by installing EZ Armor on both my front door and my garage door. I’d spent some time researching these types of products and found that this particular product was the best one available for my house. EZ Armor comes in a kit that reinforces the door jamp, hinges, and locks with powder-coated metal plates. These are mounted with long screws that go into the frame of the house, which further reinforces the door. Watch this video and see for yourself.
I liked it so much I decided to post a link on my website so visitors can order it. If you have some time, check out the manufacturer’s website for more information too. Its a great product from a company with a compelling story to tell so give it a look.
The last thing to keep in mind is that effectively hardening your home is multi-layered and has redundancy built in. In upcoming posts in this series, I will mention how important locks, security systems, and lights are to your home’s security in addition to reinforcing the door jambs. While there isn’t a single “magic bullet” that will make your house safe, there are several steps security-minded homeowners can take that will make their domiciles more resistant to home invasion.
Click here to purchase EZ Armor for your home
If purchasing a firearm represents a first step in personal protection, learning how to use it is the logical and necessary second step. As KC writes:
Owning a gun is just the first step on a journey. Guns are not self-protection talismans that ward off evil-doers all by themselves: You have to have it handy when you need it and you need to be ready, willing and able to defend your life and your loved one’s lives, if, God forbid, the need to do so arises.
Where does one start though? As a relatively new gun owner, I would suggest you give these folks a look.
You can read about it here but I also recommend you bookmark them and regularly visit their site. They have a lot of good information that focuses on firearms training, personal security, and other preparation-related issues. I’ve gone shooting with Kevin, Robert, and Jaci so I can personally vouch for their knowledge of firearms-related subjects. They are good people and are compiling a lot of useful information you can apply. Check them out, its worth your time.
Chances are you own vehicles that have pneumatic tires on them. The problem is that they can lose air due to porosity, punctures, or catastrophic failure. All these will eventually result in flat or destroyed tires that will prevent your wheeled vehicle from moving.
How do you prevent this from happening to your car, truck, van, Jeep®, SUV, trailer, ATV, UTV, motorhome, tractor, motorcycle, or bicycle? The best product out there that prevents flats and reduces porosity air loss is Ride-On® from Inovex Industries. They produce several different formulas that are specifically designed for various types of tires (ex. autos, motorcycle, ATV/UTVs) you may have. Ride-On TPS has been around since the mid-90s and has been used world-wide by military, government, and civilian vehicle fleets. I’ve been using the Auto/SUV formula in my vehicle for the past year and believe in it.
To find out more information, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and browse for more specific information. You can click here to order the correct Ride-On® formula for your vehicles. I would strongly suggest doing so in order to keep your tires properly inflated and ready to roll. A flat tire is a liability so take steps now to prevent that from happening.
Click here to order the correct Ride-On formula for your wheeled vehicle(s)
You checked your batteries and you have corrosion.
What do you do now?
One helpful battery corrosion remedy it is to use baking soda and water to neutralize and remove it. Here’s an article from a few years back that walks you through the simple steps that will get your battery-powered items cleaned-up and running again. Don’t have time to click on the link? Well, here’s what you do:
For flashlight and other small electronic devices, first remove the batteries, then use a paper towel to gently wipe away light corrosion. Use two tablespoons of baking soda and a little water — just enough to form a paste. Apply the paste to the battery terminals, and the corrosion should foam up and go away. Wipe all the areas with a clean, damp cloth, and dry everything well.
All this only take a few minutes and costs only pennies per use. Its a great way to save money, maintain equipment, and be ready.