tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22982617934365656862024-02-18T23:09:10.214-05:00Bugged Out BlogThis Blog was created to discuss the ideas and discipline of preparedness and self protection. There will be some political postings in the discussions. Be prepared, have fun and don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive.Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-56078639502448175932019-10-15T19:54:00.001-04:002019-10-15T19:54:51.218-04:00Been a Very Busy GuyIt's been over a year since my last post, due to a huge technical loss (my personal laptop) I just didn't take the time to write down my thoughts. Add in losing my DOD contract last fall, and here we are. I had surgery and some recuperation in the time off, but I took a new contract the day prior to being released to work by my surgeon.<br />
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I'm now working at a small pharma facility upgrading the life safety equipment. If you take pills of any type, they more than likely use a product made at this facility. They corner the market on pill parts, supplying 90% of the world. They pay extremely well, though. In a few weeks I'll be transferring to a FAA/customs facility for infrastructure and technology upgrades. Busy guy, for sure.<br />
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With the changes in my life, I've had to drop a few things. Namely, this blog and a few others. I no longer teach any shooting classes, either. All my time is sucked up with my boys, work, and house upkeep. Both my 2 week vacations were spent volunteering with a large youth organization, as well as a minimum of one weeknight a week and 1 weekend a month. The one caveat to this is that I have been doing a lot of backpacking and camping. Even backpacked through a tornado that caused a lot of damage less than a mile from us. Fun times.<br />
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My eldest is a senior in high school. He's considering ROTC at Purdue or Rose-Holman and an engineering degree. That opens a whole can of worms, with all that entails. He's also finishing his eagle scout project, a section leader in the marching band, as well as taking 2 nights of BJJ training. He's only home long enough to shower and sleep.<br />
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I have been keeping up on my personal shooting goals. Even advancing my skills with some classes in a few weeks. Been shooting distance quite a bit, I have some new toys for it. My pistol skills had to be totally rebuilt after hand surgery, and I hate to say it, but I may never be as good as I once was. I've hit a plateau that I can't seem to get past. Still more than competent for defensive use, but I just don't have the same confidence in shot placement as I once did. Groups have opened up a little under stress or rapid fire.<br />
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Glad I could have a few minutes to give you all an update. Stay safe and expect more from me.Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-35741309414980062882018-06-23T22:45:00.002-04:002018-06-23T22:45:41.445-04:00Abject Horror: A Tale of My Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not so long ago, in a house not far away. Actually, it was Friday, and my house. I had an opportunity to clean my cans, and I had (mis)used my 9mm can for shooting 22lr when I did a shooting lesson with my Nephew. 2 teenagers with scoped bolt action rifles can still shoot through a ton of ammo very quickly. Having 2 cans allowed me to talk with them in a normal voice and they could understand directions better than with auto-cut out muffs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3kQkUgY_m9p1E7r80ydSlsJV5p4sYKBhM3XAjsz6NbUvSu53zyEPmrC7CmTbsiaz2iO7jYHgvS-WX81oYHnIzmqPjnu6LyFylpT3kvOTof3szLYbfdzkWUpXVEYYvAQq9TtunrJHLKM/s1600/20180525_110658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3kQkUgY_m9p1E7r80ydSlsJV5p4sYKBhM3XAjsz6NbUvSu53zyEPmrC7CmTbsiaz2iO7jYHgvS-WX81oYHnIzmqPjnu6LyFylpT3kvOTof3szLYbfdzkWUpXVEYYvAQq9TtunrJHLKM/s640/20180525_110658.jpg" width="640" /> </a><br />
This was our first Foray with the new Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle. 1500 rounds of 22lr, 9mm and .223 rem later we headed home. I cleared and cleaned the rifles and reloaded the glock with carry ammo, because really, it's a glock. Who cares if it's clean, it still works. I put the cans in the safe and didn't worry about it for a few weeks. Along comes Friday and I decide to clean the cans. I can't for the life of me find the 9mm can. The 223 and 22lr can are right where I left them. I started tearing the bags we used apart, the gun cases and bags, the safe, the benches. I'm pooping razor blades thinking I'm going to have to make a very bad call to a very bad agency.<br />
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On my third trip to the safe I pull all the guns out, check the door sill and pull out my body armor, and there it is. It somehow rolled under my plate carrier and to the far corner of the safe.<br />
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I still haven't cleaned up the bags and such, I have magazines strewn everywhere, but I have ALL my cans.<br />
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Horrific phone call averted.<br />
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More on the Ruger rifle in the future. I have 3 other builds that are almost complete, then I can start spending more time on the range. One is a 224 Valkyrie that's built to toss 95g matchkings. Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-14050624474334267312018-05-26T13:25:00.000-04:002018-05-28T10:09:46.261-04:00SWOT Analysis Per Total Survivalist Blog.It's nice to see a quantifiable chart that really simplifies a rather complex subject. The SWOT chart that Ryan over at <a href="http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/2018/05/evaluating-and-managing-risk-2-swot-and.html" target="_blank">http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/2018/05/evaluating-and-managing-risk-2-swot-and.html</a> has offered up us very easy to use for simple tasks and complex lifestyles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiPeajOFA26N5r1pHtEqJT2TL3Lr0zwsGhoG9BFZLn9P2isGNA6SEme65SZ03BIfBJ-YrIqumcX0LcenHZ9Nt5bXXlNxKjSiS6_3u7Z2IAk-4MKWX8oH689AntOYiIytur6_BH4X7OMM/s1600/SWOT2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="518" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiPeajOFA26N5r1pHtEqJT2TL3Lr0zwsGhoG9BFZLn9P2isGNA6SEme65SZ03BIfBJ-YrIqumcX0LcenHZ9Nt5bXXlNxKjSiS6_3u7Z2IAk-4MKWX8oH689AntOYiIytur6_BH4X7OMM/s400/SWOT2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm going to go ahead and insert my 50k foot view of my personal risk assessment into it. I'm not going to do it in the practical chart version due to my normally long winded answers.<br />
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Strengths:<br />
1. Well placed, sought after career that is recession proof in the near term.<br />
2. Stable 17year relationship with a sugar momma.<br />
3. One lightly trained fighting age son in the house.<br />
4. Well stocked and diversified physical holdings.<br />
5. Well balanced and diversified skill set for backup income.<br />
6. Tribe that can be relied upon.<br />
7. Legitimately needed by my tribe.<br />
8. Zero debt. <br />
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Weaknesses:<br />
1. WAY too close to a population center<br />
2. Indefensible garden home on a freaking golf course.<br />
3. Dealing with a foot and an arm injury.<br />
4. Cardio training is non existent.<br />
5. Carrying way too much weight.<br />
6. Sugar momma has zero interest in defensive training.<br />
7. Youngest son can't keep his mouth shut.<br />
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Opportunities:<br />
-Booming Economy plays into strengths 1,2,5,8. Weaknesses 3,4,5 will hamper my ability to capitalize on more income. I'm just too beat up at the end of the day to deal with more work. Motrin is my friend.<br />
-Low priced Precious Metals gives me buying power with 1,2 and 8. Weakness 7 and maybe 2 are at issue with large physical holdings.<br />
- Low priced training benefit/cost ratio. Strengths 1,2,3,4,8 play into this, Weaknesses 3,4,5 make things very difficult.<br />
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Threats:<br />
-Economic downturn is mitigated with 1,2,4,5,6,8 and only weakness 3 hurts me here.<br />
-Loss of income has same weakness/strength issues<br />
-Health issue Same as the two above<br />
-Pandemic has Strengths 4,5,6,7,8 for helpers and weakness 1 as a detractor<br />
-Social unrest really depends on how intense it becomes. I work near the town, but geographically separated by a large river and many sprawling industrial campus sites. Only middle class homes between my house and work. Wife works from home with limited travel. There will be inpact, just not sure how severe. DOD will ensure site safety, but getting there could get dicey if we start seeing roving road blocks and highway sit ins. Weakness 1,3,4,5 come into play if I'm forced to walk home, strength 5 is my helper. I'm well trained in navigation and E&E concepts. My get home kit would be considered as strength 4. I've also switched to a grey man vehicle. The big diesel sits now most of the time and I have a very capable small 4x4 utility vehicle for daily travel. It's about as grey as you can get. No chrome, gray in color, tinted windows, quiet V6, matte black wheels....<br />
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A little more on my injuries. I was hiking with the scouts on an urban hike in February and my foot fell through some ice and bruised the bottom of my heel. It's never healed right and hurts pretty much all the time. Need to get it looked at because favoring it has caused other issues with the foot. As far as the arm, well, I broke it. We rehabbed our in ground pool and I had to re-bond and rewire the entire thing. I was pulling wire for the automatic cover when one of the wire spools jammed and pulled the ladder over onto me. It was going to hit my kneecap so I blocked it with my ulna. It got a pretty good fracture, but no real movement of the bone structure. I decided to finish the job and see how it felt. The wife was away the next 2 days and I didn't feel like dealing with a cast so I just took it easy. The fracture was small enough that it solidified the next day and I had no bone movement so I just went about my business with a rather large, odd looking knot on my right arm about 5 inches from the wrist. It's almost healed. The main issue I have with that arm is carpal tunnel. I have a lot of very technical large and ultra small work to do on aerospace parts machining equipment. My productivity is hampered at times. Luckily I'm in a supervisory role and only perform on hot projects and troubleshooting. That will change when or if this project completes in 2020. My left arm was already fixed a few years ago. It needed far more work done so I did it first. <br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-74602681831483279812018-05-15T22:43:00.001-04:002018-05-15T22:43:49.179-04:00High Level Risk ManagementRemember the old saying "You can't see the forest because of the trees" or some such iteration? Well, it's a genuine thing in preparedness circles. Regardless of your intentions, bad choices in the beginning of your planning pretty much set you up for failure. You can shoot yourself in the foot by not assessing your choices without the emotional baggage of assuaging your ego. We all make bad choices, and until you can admit you made a mistake, you will continue making the same mistake.<br />
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Taking into account your plans for weathering whatever storm you are planning for, you must re-assess every once in a while to make sure you aren't digging yourself a bigger hole. If you move away from the big city to get away from the Golden Hoard, you need to make sure the place you are moving to is sustainable. If your previous location was more sustainable for mid to low level events, such as flooding or loss of employment, you might remain there until a more suitable location is in your budget. Planning for a high level event like a large scale civil disturbance, apocalyptic inflation or alien invasion is prepared for prior to lesser events, you are less likely to comfortably overcome your issues. Let's face it, it's more common to have a flood or tornado than it is for a high level event.<br />
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One could argue that in all likelihood, you would be better served to plan for things that you have dealt with before, rather than world ending scenarios. Can you fix your own flat tire with a plug kit and a pump? Do you carry them in your vehicle? Hopefully you are picking up what I'm putting down. Here's a list of things every American should be prepared to deal with any day of the week. Until you can positively answer that you can counter these rather benign problems, you don't need to spend a bunch of cash on exotic preps.<br />
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-Flat Tire<br />
-Lost job<br />
-Burglary<br />
-First Aid<br />
-Traumatic injury<br />
-Winter storm<br />
-Tornado<br />
-Loss of water pressure<br />
-Loss of wallet/purse<br />
-Power Outage <br />
-Broken windows<br />
-Defensive use of force scenario<br />
-Loss of access to bank accounts<br />
-House fire<br />
-Chemical leak<br />
-Police action<br />
If you have children<br />
-Rally point to meet up in an emergency<br />
-Plan for an abduction<br />
-Code words for duress<br />
-Counter surveillance techniques<br />
-Established safe places and people<br />
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There's not much logic in preparing for an EMP when you can't even get home with a flat tire unless AAA shows up. If you can't deal with the little things, you need to start there! Don't get emotionally invested in a dystopian future you read about if you're not squared away in your self defense techniques. All that freeze dried food will be enjoyed by someone that's not you if you can't defend it or prepare it. Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-63211755343340632682018-05-04T12:11:00.000-04:002018-05-04T12:11:00.748-04:00Risk Management ConceptsPreparedness: Noun<br />
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<section class="def-pbk ce-spot" data-collapse-expand="{"target": ".def-set", "type": "def"}"><div class="def-set">
<span class="def-number"><span><span class="oneClick-link">1-</span></span></span><span><span class="oneClick-link">The</span> <span class="oneClick-link">state</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">being</span> </span>Prepared<span>; <span class="oneClick-link">readiness.</span> </span>
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<span class="def-number"><span><span class="oneClick-link">2-</span></span></span><span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Possession</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">adequate</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">armed</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">forces,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">industrial</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">resources</span> <span class="oneClick-link">and</span> <span class="oneClick-link">potential,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">etc.,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">especially</span> <span class="oneClick-link">as</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link">deterrent</span> <span class="oneClick-link">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">enemy</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">attack.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">In my professional life, Risk assessment and mitigation is a daily goal. My team discusses and outlines the present risks and objectives to the goals of the day. We each sign our safety plan and have dedicated risk awareness and reporting documentation throughout the day. It's what it takes to work in a DOD secured facility at a global defense supplier. It's impossible to remove risk, but you can take steps to mitigate that risk. The first and most important step is knowing what risks you are taking and learning the steps and equipment required to mitigate that risk. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Ryan over at <a href="http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/" target="_blank">http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/</a> is doing a<a href="http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/2018/04/evaluating-and-managing-risks-1-of-4.html" target="_blank"> 4 part series</a> on this idea and his take on risk management. Having a large amount of training on the subject, my thoughts were to kick start some discussion and hypothetical situations. Not sure if I'll get it all done in this post, but I'd like to get it started. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">We take risks, it's unavoidable. What we want to do is mitigate them as best possible. What types of risks are we speaking about? Oh shall we count the ways! Risks come in both easily identifiable and innocuous wrappers. Even the smallest risks can become catastrophic is we fail to heed the warnings and pay attention to them. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">The first and foremost that come to mind in the preparedness lifestyle would be risk to your body. Injuries, sickness, hunger, and thirst. Be sure to include mental acuity in your bodily risks. Next would be financial risk, followed closely by Legal, which is tied directly to financial risk. Lastly, I would include your reputation as a risk to be mitigated. We operate based on our perception by others. If I started to slip and didn't do my job correctly, but went through the motions, my job, financial means and reputation would be at risk. These are all tied in together and we have to look into our lives with a cold, calculating heart to truly assess our risks without the emotional baggage and ties. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">When calculating risks, you need to decide what losses you are willing to incur in exchange for the prize you are striving for. If you are like most, you are trading your time and energy for a paycheck or earnings. Your risks associated with that process are far more encompassing than you may think. It's not just trading time for money, it's trading time, safety, overhead, reputation, skill and energy for financial gain. Your work day starts at let's say 7am, but your risk starts long before then. There is a literal train of risk associated with even getting to work. The act of taking a shower kills thousands of people a year! Add the risks of driving, especially in the dark, and you're starting to see what I'm talking about. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Mitigating those risks is where we need to focus, because most aren't in a position to just stop going to work. If you're like most (me included), you take a cup of coffee or water with you to re-hydrate or re-energize yourself. Drinking or eating can distract you from the road, leading to a higher incidence of accidents. Avoiding rush hour is another way to mitigate your risk. Driving to the job an hour early and grabbing breakfast at a shop near work can mitigate the beverage and rush hour risks. Choosing a path to work with the least amount of stoplights and interchanges can also mitigate risks due to the fact that these are the places with the higher accident rates. Even driving a car with a bright color instead of gray can help mitigate your risk. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">My entire family was or is in the insurance business. They are experts in knowing risks. One of my parents was an underwriter for many different companies over their career. I was always told to never buy a gray or earth toned car because they can disappear in the rear view mirror of your fellow drivers. They have a higher risk of accidents due to being the same color as the road. Day time headlamps help with this. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Stress is a killer, both literally and figuratively. Trading your limited time for a job that makes that time you have on this earth shorter is a poor choice. A bad trade, as it were, so consider this when you are deciding your compensation package. Those with heart disease genetic risks should be especially cognizant of these risks.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Parking close to the doors of the business has a risk. Higher traffic levels open your risk corridor to vehicular damage to your car, which devalues your vehicle. Additional risk!</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Is the area where you work high risk for theft, violent crime or identity theft? Can you walk home or get help to you if there is a need? Does your company have a safety plan in place with proper access controls? Is your job inherently dangerous? Are you at risk from upset employees, customers, suppliers, the general public, disease, etc? Do you eat healthy at work? </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">This list goes on forever. How can you mitigate the risks you have no control over? Carry first aid. Wash your hands. Be aware of your surroundings. Learn to defend yourself without a weapon if you cannot carry one at work. Improvise a weapon or decorate your office with a piece of art that can be a weapon. Lock your office door to control access. If you don't have a lock, use a door stopper. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT903wLyX_cvcZef7I9qDp5ytSdG0GwybW0sZ-UGb1T6IJk0O-vUo05LgH4CpHAcwL3ZYozRTDBuI759-SnJpbs0B26ujylnQHidGTTZ_QZudkKJbb71NAa6d4y7T3Cz22_QnMlsHSl4Q/s1600/Cropped_Axe_Plaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1600" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT903wLyX_cvcZef7I9qDp5ytSdG0GwybW0sZ-UGb1T6IJk0O-vUo05LgH4CpHAcwL3ZYozRTDBuI759-SnJpbs0B26ujylnQHidGTTZ_QZudkKJbb71NAa6d4y7T3Cz22_QnMlsHSl4Q/s400/Cropped_Axe_Plaque.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">You will double your traffic exposure on your drive home, so act accordingly.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Evaluate the most mundane tasks, such as going to work, in order to understand your exposure to risks. It's important for you to weigh the compensation you are getting for the exposure. It's all about your personal worth.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Personally, I very elegantly talked my wife into telecommuting for her job. She is pretty high up in the food chain at her NASDAQ top 100 global company, but she still gets to work from home in yoga pants and a t shirt. I have to admit, she's a horrible driver. Great wife and mother, excellent employment opportunities and growth potential. Yet not a soul in my family will drive with her. We mitigated her risk. It's entirely possible for you to do the same. </span></span></div>
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<span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Next up, your homestead. </span> </span>
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Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-10101403785105580012018-04-10T18:23:00.000-04:002018-04-10T18:23:13.713-04:00Why Is America Broken?It's a simple question with a simple answer, but a very complicated problem to fix. Here's why our government no longer works, in a nutshell.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” -John Adams</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our society has become so mired in self absorbed mental masturbation that it cannot attain the purity of conscience that was once a staple of our people. We cannot look past the short term wants to the long term needs and survival of freedom in this country. When a people and their elected advocates choose to spend away their great grandchildren's future, there is no turning back without serious repercussions to every day life and our standard of living. Failure has become comfortable, weakness has become normal and selfish indignation rampant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our country has advanced technologically, but regressed in terms of fostering productive citizens and moral society. In my 40 some years, I have seen school age children go from attentive hard workers to sullen techno weenies. I watched a 14 year old boy cry because his hands hurt after sweeping a floor for 10 minutes. He literally couldn't continue because his muscles were atrophied to the point that any work over 3 minutes was excruciating. His attention span required constant action on a screen to keep him from freaking out any moment. This child will never fit into society as a productive member. His family, that created this monster, will have to deal with him until it's time for the tax payer to pick up the tab. We will pick up that tab without question as to the value of the investment or the negative return society receives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Americans can no longer trust each other. Somehow in the past 50 years, we have decided that in order to disagree with someone, you must hate them. Either it be jealousy, greed, or good old fashioned mental illness, we have divided society into silly little acronyms or hyphenations. It's both illogical and immoral to participate in the practice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Morality is non existent. Less and less Americans are living lives that protect our future generations by investing in our youth and making sure they understand the shortcomings of society and their peers. If we teach them to not get caught up in the trappings of society, they are less likely to become jealous of things they don't need or caught in the spiral of consumerism. Debt has become an anchor everyone is willing to drag behind them the rest of their lives. It's common place for desires to overcome logic and responsibility. Massive personal debt is celebrated everywhere. From educational debt to revolving credit, Americans cannot save for their possessions, they must have instant gratification and a hefty interest payment to match. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is not the society that was envisioned when our founding fathers created the republic. That's why we are sinking into an abyss of shame. We have allowed morality to be strangled from society, becoming so scarce that the smallest display of morality has become newsworthy. </span></div>
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Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-70735171854817269032018-04-01T18:49:00.001-04:002018-04-01T18:56:45.837-04:00Quote of The Day. <div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>I do not coexist with cancer; I do
not find common ground with gangrene. The Left must be fought and
destroyed... or America dies.</i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="http://redpilljew.blogspot.com/2018/04/leftists-civilizational-traitors.html" target="_blank">redpilljew</a></i></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> </b></i></span><br />
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More and More, I'm taking this stance. Trying to balance my values with the logic that cancer must be cut out of the body for it to survive is difficult. There are too many cancers in this body for them to be cured without major, invasive surgery. The vitriol endured by a tolerant, freedom loving public is indicative of the players in this match. Yes, I believe in the first amendment protected speech, therefore I must tolerate the abuse. When the speech becomes a propaganda machine that is luring our youth into the religion of failure (collectivism), what point does it have to get to before we must stop it? How far do we have to fall before action is taken and the adults in the room must take control of the narrative? </div>
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I've read classic literature on the subject, but I'm still torn. When is the situation so dire as to prompt action? Do we let the former republic limp along and die in a whimper, or do we attempt to resurrect it in violence? I'm afraid we lose our moral imperative if we do so. So we wait until it's too much to endure, further astounding the founding fathers. Which brings me to my next point.</div>
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You cannot have a god given right taken away. You can choose to give it away, but it cannot be forced from you. You must fight for it if given no other option. To not fight for it is as good as giving it away. If someone chooses to vote away your god given right, they are your enemy. A cancer. Cancer must be defeated at all costs before it spreads. </div>
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Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-10584057605285194092018-03-28T21:02:00.001-04:002018-03-28T21:02:04.481-04:00To Go With My Previous Post.<a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-27/think-it-cant-happen-here-austin-bombers-capture-exposes-depth-us-surveillance" target="_blank">https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-27/think-it-cant-happen-here-austin-bombers-capture-exposes-depth-us-surveillance</a><br />
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Big Brother is watching.Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-28810880489033148792018-03-25T12:09:00.000-04:002018-03-25T12:13:03.328-04:00Resistance Is FutileAs a future Partisan, you have to think like your oppressor in order to defeat them. They don't have enough money to apply surveillance to every asset or area, so they concentrate on the areas that protect the oppressor, not the private citizen. After an 880 mile road trip, I noticed a lot of cameras at certain intersections, bridges, and high traffic areas. These do a couple things, they help traffic centers plan for expansion and can act as a forensic accounting device in the event of an attack or crime.<br />
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Why is this important? Your family. If you have decided to go off and make an example of some Marxist stooge, you can lead a footpath all the way to your family. They may not agree or choose your path, but they will have to deal with the consequences of your actions. The Austin Bombing suspect was backtracked and triangulated in a couple days, for example.<br />
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Every single electronic emanation and digital image you leave behind is a footprint you leave to track you. It's just a matter of time and resources if you leave too many for them to find and prosecute. They have unlimited amounts of computing power and man power if the crime is heinous enough.<br />
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Your job is two fold. Stay out of the net all together, or leave so little trace that it is ineffectual or misleading. Insulate your private information in such a manner that it would be impossible for you to be traced. For example, instead of driving your car or truck, drive a rental. If the rental happens to be in the most common color and model on the road, so much the better. The plates are also a tell tale sign, so if you could change them, so be it. More on that later.<br />
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Traffic cams can pickup facial features. Avoid the cams or change/hide your face. Both is even better. A beard and hat/glasses is the easiest way. Keep yourself under the radar by not speeding or driving aggressively. You might also choose to deploy some camouflage, such as a "baby on board" sticker or a child car seat. Cartoon window stickers or those sunscreens that apply to car windows to help hide the contents of your vehicle. Anything that helps you look more innocuous or less threatening is going to help you stay unnoticed. Change them around often or at certain intervals on your trip to help break up your trip image. Once in your AO, less is more. Keep identifying marks to a minimum, Especially when changing plates. <br />
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Stay off the interstates. It's well known that many toll roads, intersections and points of interest have plate loggers that will store plate info indefinitely. Same goes for police cars. Many police cars now have plate loggers built in to their squad cars. Avoid them if you can for several reasons. They are actively scanning for stolen cars, expired plates and unlicensed drivers. If your plates can't stand the attention, you are busted.<br />
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Plates are a huge part of this whole plan. You can't hide them. The best thing to do is have good plates. Plates that match the car and aren't reported as stolen or lost. Preferably from the rental car company you are using. Sounds impossible, right? Not even close. Most rental companies use the same color and model cars throughout their fleets. If you go to a large metro area, they might have 8 or 10 branches with a couple of the same car. Swap out a few plates from the local bowling alley or car lot, and you have a couple clean plates that match the car you have. Always use gloves and try to keep the plates you keep well hidden. Don't take all your plates from the same location or state. Use the 3 Card Monte trick when getting plates. Don't let the plates you keep get reported stolen. If you find a model/color combo plate from your rental company (GOLD), don't just take it and get it reported. Trade it out with another vehicle of different color/model and let that plate get reported, because it's not the one you're after. IF you do get pulled over or stopped, it looks like clerical error or prank, not a felony. It's best if the rental company has no idea any plate is missing, so leave with all the plates in place, regardless if they are right or not. Use different screwdrivers as well. The same one will leave similar tool marks, and a trail.<br />
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Most big name stores have some type of surveillance. Walmart takes your picture every time you enter and exit, from head level. Many others do the same or worse. Some even record your interaction with the help. Stay away from these locations. Go to the mom and pop stores with crappy video cameras and no time to notice you during peak times. Keep your clothes and appearance changing as you move.<br />
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Method of payment- cash. That means you can't rent a hotel room or pay by card at the gas station. So be it. Millions of people live that way their entire lives and get by just fine. You can sleep comfortably at local campgrounds in a small tent or hammock and do just fine. No ID needed for state parks and most private campgrounds. They have hot showers and a camp store with no video most of the time. People (even vegan snowflake hippies) hike the Appalachian Trail 2200 miles eating out of gas stations and campgrounds for 4 months. It's not that hard.<br />
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Have a cover story. Stick with it. Use your Grey Man principles. Don't get noticed. Don't leave a trail. Be deceptive on your approach. Don't panic. Don't be afraid to walk away.<br />
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Resistance is only futile when it's not well thought out and acted upon emotionally, not logically.Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-79537233925870786782018-03-16T10:46:00.001-04:002018-03-16T10:46:18.384-04:00Stuck At Home On My Day Off Blather.It seems my blushing bride scheduled 3 different service people in to work on the house and didn't tell me about it. I had planned head out to the Indy 1500 Gun and Knife show but that may be a pipe dream at this point. I need a few specialty items that require this type of show in order to get them. I'm hoping to see a bunch of panty waist protestors, but I doubt it.<br />
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Last night we went out with some friends to dinner and they had a wall of TV's that I was facing. It seems the 4 different channels were in "if it bleeds, it leads" mode. The protests, the Texas chemical factory explosion, pulse nightclub info release, and stubby fingers the president's visit with the crybaby from canada. It's an absolute crapshow. Just wish dinner had been more interesting. Could have been had I known that some gal was mean mugging my eldest son for wearing a USCCA shirt on walkout day. He wore it to school as well and many of his peers were appreciative and supportive. I really didn't want him to make himself a target for his 2 progressive teachers, but he's old enough now to make his own decisions on wardrobe. <br />
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I don't miss cable, for sure. 6 years now without it? We only have subscriptions for Netflix and Amazon Prime. Our internet is paid for by the wife's employer so we run cheap here. My kids don't spend inordinate amounts of time staring at a screen anyway, they go play. Riding bikes, building things in the garage, sorting brass(if dad makes them), and lots of homework.<br />
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Just got in from selling a dirtbike that's been sitting around for a while now. No reason to keep the things we don't use. It's kind of nice selling things off to people who will use them. Guy from work wanted it.<br />
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So my customer wanted some specialty work done and required we have medically trained people there- I qualify- so they consented immediately. Then I get a phone call stating we are required to have an AED on site as well, in a facility that has more than 50 already?!?! I go checking to see how much they are and holy steakburger! They got expensive! 16-1700 a pop, then I have to have it certified. Grrrrr. I ended up training 3 people on the same contract on AED use, and the certification company's website is down now so I can't give them the certs they require for Monday. That has been my last few days in a nutshell.<br />
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Looks like one of my repair techs will be earlier than expected, so I may not miss the 1500 after all. Not certain at this point, but maybe. Wish me luck! <br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-78284792051423821472018-03-12T18:34:00.000-04:002018-03-12T18:34:53.436-04:00Generation Entitlement Hits The Big Time.I know it took getting shot to pieces to get the airtime they deserve, but that's not what's important. Today's high school kids seem to think they have a protective shield around their collective thought bubbles and the wit to match Einstein. Unfortunately, the have once again mistaken feelings for logic.<br />
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-Yes, you have the right to your opinion.<br />
-No, it's not always right.<br />
-No, it's not important to most people.<br />
-No, you have no right to intercede in my life.<br />
-No, I will not comply with your deluded whims.<br />
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Now that we have established a baseline, we can continue with your education. Every night my son comes to me and asks me questions about statements made by his socialist English teacher. It's a constant game of "deprogram the teenager". Gun owners and trump voters are Red Neck Hicks. Yeah, it's logical thoughts such as these that we must entertain. Such well thought out, eloquent arguments are hard to ignore!<br />
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Today's high school students are programmed little robots of the anti-liberty movement. They have no ability to deal with ideas that counter their belief system, no ability to discern fact from fiction. Yet they march, and protest, and soon enough..... They vote.<br />
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That, my fellow freedom lovers, is why I train in the facets I choose to master. Some day soon, these idiots without the ability to reason will take up arms and attempt to rid the world of bad think, AKA freedom.Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-59965072981704180402018-01-23T20:08:00.000-05:002018-01-23T20:08:05.633-05:00ITS Tactical 5 Item 48 Hour Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I was perusing my regular youtube channels and this popped up. Seems like a fun challenge to try to figure out what would work for me, TODAY January 23, 2018, for a 48 hour survival challenge. The weather here is going to be pretty much just above and just below freezing the entire time with rain and snow mix, so your location changes things. If I was in the Florida Keys, it would be very different. But, since that's not the case, I will have to figure out what works for me.<br />
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We've covered the standard 5 C's several times on here so it's a pretty easy task to figure out what would work best for a relatively short stay of 48 hours. I would also contest that you would have your regular EDC on you, but you must use you REAL EDC stuff, not that load of crap you put up on instagram when the new hot hashtag pops. Since I'm not able to carry a handgun inside the facility and it's a federal crime to do so. Outside the controlled facility, where I'm currently parking, is not violating the law, so I'm going to call it part of my EDC. Glock 26 it is. Also, I keep a get home bag in my truck, but that would really muddy the waters, so it's out. <br />
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My EDC is- Ghurka wallet, G Shock solar watch, Phone, Keys, Prototype Weber folding knife, Work pants, usually Blackhawk, 5.11 or Kuhl. SOE, uncle mikes or an official BSA belt, Darn tough socks, Danner work boots, Mechanix cold weather gloves, Blackhawk! fleece beanie or a poly stocking cap, Carhartt Quick Duck Jacket with a hoodie or fleece under layer. I do EDC a flashlight, but it's pretty unconventional because it's a Thrunight headlamp. I have to work in low light areas that require me to use both hands all the time so a regular flashlight doesn't work. <br />
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The best way I can think of is to work the problem backwards. You can live 3 seconds without safety, 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food, 3 months without companionship.<br />
-Air isn't an issue in my neck of the woods, so we can leave that be.<br />
-Safety, on the other hand, is a prerequisite of the preparedness lifestyle. I'd go with hiding for safety in such a short stay, but I do count on my handgun.<br />
-For shelter I'd bring a Sil-Nylon tarp of the 10x8 variety.<br />
-I wouldn't bring any water, but instead bring a container that I could readily boil water or cook with. For sure I'd choose the Self Reliance Outfitters Canteen kit. <br />
-With the weather being pretty cold out and my EDC consisting of my work attire, My Carhart jacket and underlayer isn't going to be enough to keep me warm at night, so I'm going to bring a Military Sleep System. This system could even be used as a stand alone due it it's gortex outer shell that is water resistant, but I prefer to be able to stay dry outside the bag as well as in it.<br />
-I'm going to have to kill a few birds with one stone and call out an MRE as well. It has food, TP, gum, condiments and most importantly, matches inside. <br />
-My last item would be cordage. 7 strand paracord or bankline.<br />
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Why is this system going to work? Because I cheated. Multipurpose or multi item units are cheating, but that's the rules set out with ITS. If I wasn't able to cheat, I'd have to simplify and go with these alone.<br />
-Tarp<br />
-Steel Canteen<br />
-Lighter<br />
-Cordage<br />
-Sleeping bagMeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-27207789038104944442017-12-31T20:21:00.001-05:002017-12-31T20:21:21.678-05:002017: A Year In The Rear-ViewI know, you've heard it all before, New year/New you- ad naseum. Don't fall for the hype. You were responsible for what happened in 2017. Some choice you made ended you up right where you are today. You might be thinking that hey- that drunk driver that crashed into me isn't my fault! Yes, it's your fault. You chose to accept the risks when you pulled out of the driveway. Had you stayed at home you'd be safe(er). But wait, there's more. A plane falls out of the sky and lands on your house, yep, you chose to live in a metropolis or near an major hub and accepted the risk of higher flight numbers.<br />
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Quit blaming others for random stuff. You can hold another accountable for their actions in the case of the plane or drunk driver, but what about holding yourself accountable? Do you look in the mirror every morning thinking that you made perfect choices all day every day? No. We all have room for improvement or self improvement if you like.<br />
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Every year you see people talking about being ready to start a new year and forget about the dumpster fire that was last year. That is exactly the wrong idea. You started and fed that dumpster fire with your choices. Own up to it and start making decisions with your head instead of your heart. Analyze your investments daily- That means looking at them for what they are, regardless of how you feel about them. That means time investments, financial investments, vanity investments, relationships, habitation, Etc. If you can't admit that you made a mistake, you've already made 2 mistakes. If that dude that you've hung out with for 20 years is dragging you down, you need to improve him or lose him. Your goals and standards are defined by your surroundings.<br />
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Quit being jealous. If someone won the genetic lottery, good for them! That may not be your lot in life, but it's not an excuse to demonize someone or deflate your own self worth. If you're a hater, you're allowing someone else to live rent free in your head. Toss that luggage to the curb and work to grow your own flock of haters. The measure of a person is how they deal with adversity. You beat it, or it beats you. <br />
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You are responsible for you. That means that you should be willing to own up to your shortcomings and learn to handle them.<br />
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Be humble. You are no better than anyone else. How you treat people that can do nothing for you defines your character.<br />
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Be productive. The only way to deserve anything is to earn it. A promotion that is worked for is held in esteem by your peers.<br />
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Time is money. You're trading time for everything you buy. Instead of looking at a prospective purchase by price, look at it in time. If you're willing to trade an hour of your day's pay every day to eat out at lunch, just understand the cost. Your time is finite and growing shorter every day, don't squander it.<br />
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Be content. If you gave it your all and came up short, learn from it. Don't let it break you. Trying to live up to the expectations of others can run you ragged. Keep your grass tended and it won't be greener on the other side. Live your life, not what others think is great and exciting.<br />
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I'm speaking from experience. I've made all the mistakes you can make, then stopped and owned up to it.<br />
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Make 2018 your year, then 2019. Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-58973907984355884722017-12-13T19:21:00.000-05:002017-12-13T19:57:54.960-05:00My 2017 Best Gear PurchaseWith the added income associated with the current contract I'm fulfilling, Ive purchased some higher(ish) end gear and supplies to increase my camping comfort level and some weight savings. With all the purchases, I've made some good ones, a few decent ones and a couple bad ones. It wasn't tough to make a decision on the best purchase though, that was easy with a strong standout such as this. So for 2017, my best purchase has been the Klymit 20 degree down sleeping bag.<br />
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<a href="https://www.klymit.com/ksb-20-down-black-sleeping-bag.html" target="_blank">klymit official site.</a><br />
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I know, you're thinking- "It's just a sleeping bag, What gives?" Well, let me tell you why this one is so significant. It weighs less than my synthetic bag and is at least 2x warmer. I would struggle at 40 degrees in my 20 degree browning bag, but I was toasty and warm at 30 with no tarp shelter over my hammock. I've since taken it down past 20 degrees without an issue. The best thing about this item is the fact that it comes in an oversized version which is far less constrictive and you don't have to be as rigid during the night. You have room to move and even turn without dislodging your bag. This is especially nice in a hammock because I like to put a pillow under my knees to make it more comfy. The extra room also means more fluff to keep you warm, all in a bag that packs down to 16x8". <br />
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I purchased the large model and have no issue taking the extra .4 pounds it weighs over the standard model. It's still almost 2lbs lighter and about 3/4 the size of the synthetic bag I used to use. The bag has a moisture resistant outer shell to keep you warm even in the cool dew of night. It rained cats and dogs during a shooting event and some water got in my hammock, but I never felt it, the outer shell did it's job!<br />
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If you add in the Hammock V insulated pad, it's even warmer. No need for an under quilt anymore. I woke up to a coating of frost on my hammock netting the morning after this pic was taken. I was toasty, refreshed and ready to go hunt! I made a 2 for 1 shot on a couple tree rats, and later that day my son got his first all on his own tree rat.<br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-3718125482197648582017-12-10T19:26:00.000-05:002017-12-10T19:26:46.576-05:00Wow, how did that happen?Sorry all, I received a contract advancement and what I thought would be a end of the year completion date ended up getting extended indefinitely. I'm really busy, like ungodly slammed at work and still keeping my business floating on weekends. Add in a family and youth stewardship volunteering, this has really taken a side line. I do have TONS of new great gear to review, but making the time has been tough. Every spare minute has been spent in the woods with my boys. I'll get back to you every time I get some time.<br />
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Last camp out<br />
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Latest ProjectMeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-28266704176497208692017-09-08T21:35:00.000-04:002017-09-10T22:15:45.927-04:00Forest Fires and HurricanesI've noticed a big numbers jump on posts about caches and inclement weather lately. Not sure what's driving it exactly, might be the weather or the fact that a US territory just enacted a Firearms Seizure order, or both?<br />
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The entire point of preparedness is to be prepared for anything, but sometimes Mom Nature decides you need to flee. Now.<br />
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What would you do if you had 2 days to plan your exit from your current AO. Not an enticing program when you consider it's a real issue for some this week.<br />
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What really upsets me is when I hear of people binge buying water. Of all the stupid things to spend money on. Your tap works, and you've spent your entire life throwing away plastic bottles. Go buy a water bottle if you have to, but 20 2 liters in the attic would be a perfect solution to the problem at hand. If that's not an option for you due to space, why would you not have a few cases of water in the closet?Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-23477605594792562402017-08-20T12:59:00.000-04:002017-08-20T12:59:42.721-04:00BadThink DoubleSpeakI realize it's been a while since I've written a political diatribe. I haven't really felt the need prior to today due to the common lunacy not requiring further commentary. It's become laughable due to the ineptitude of the leftist echo chamber. Then two things happened. It's looking more and more possible for the president to be removed. Secondly, Charlottesville.<br />
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These two seemingly unrelated subjects have become relevant due mostly to the fact that they have both become possible by the actions of the forth estate. The media has covered the actions of the antifreedom movement and worshiped at the altar of communism. They are responsible for the suppression of free speech and supporting the spread of mob rule. What they don't understand is the depth of the precipice they now stare into. For the first time in the history of our country, the abyss is staring back, silently. If this behavior continues, Clinton's rules will be applied. <br />
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<b>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.</b></div>
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It's still a bit early to do something for the common person, but for the authorities, they are sorely lacking in their response to these actions. The best thing that can come of action is that one of the groups continues to hate them. Inaction on the part of law enforcement pretty much guarantees hatred from both sides. That is the worst of all possibilities for law enforcement. Alienating the people that do pay taxes, put out blue lights on their porches and lend support to officers without question is a horrible choice. If that grass roots support stops, I'm not sure what the extent of the fallout will be. We've had 6 officers shot this weekend and not much publicity or angst over it among the regular citizen. I'm afraid the slide has begun. The mistrust and hatred the common man has for the feds could become shouldered by local law enforcement. <br />
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<b>The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.</b> </div>
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Edmund Burke County Meeting of Buckinghamshire (1784)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>War is Peace</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Freedom is Slavery</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ignorance is Strength </b></span></div>
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The youth and counter culture of today are fighting logic and morality at an unforgiving rate. By the end of the decade, we may be in a shooting war with our countrymen and women. Who do you think would benefit from that? A distracted and frightened populace will clamor for protection and freely give up liberty to stop the killing. It's just a matter of time at this point. As Matt Bracken has said so harshly, we are a single mag dump away from a civil war. Had it happened at Charlottesville, This might be a very different post. </div>
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As far as the Trump Presidency goes, I had hoped that he might have gotten some traction and actually done a 10th of what was promised. Nope, not even close. He is mired in his poor choices for cabinet and can't make anything happen while the right and left in office oppose him. I pretty much expected such, but was cautiously optimistic. If they remove him from office, all bets are off. I cannot guess at the outcome. Consider what would have happened if they removed Obama and add in trillions of rounds of ammo and millions of guns that the obama supporters didn't have. Your guess is as good as mine. </div>
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It's time to pick up your training tempo and consider your options for best defense if you are caught out in a riot. Might even be good camo to have a black hat and scarf in your vehicle to blend in and evade the opposition. There are so many options and strategies out there that we need to consider them all when things get dire. It's high time to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.</div>
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Most importantly, stay off the enemies' radar. Lives have been ruined by misidentified protestors and death threats have been levied. </div>
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Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-39173816117715901832017-08-06T11:48:00.002-04:002017-08-06T12:04:10.269-04:00Every Day Carry Philosophy Part 2: What have you done for me lately?Normalcy bias has always been and will always be the biggest struggle for most concealed carriers and protection minded folks. We abhor a dynamic environment and instead concentrate on the "fun" variables that don't require training. We want to buy things to shortcut training and make us more lethal without the effort. Yes, there are better technologies coming out all the time.... No, not all of them are useful or necessary. Every once in a while some new tactic leapfrogs to the front of people's minds and monopolizes the market and conversation. Like now, appendix carry is the hot topic and driving force for holster innovation. It's a viable carry option for most and hides extremely well. It has a few drawbacks, but for the most part, it works.<br />
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Let's now go back 20 years when small of the back holsters were all the rage. Same rules apply. Has drawbacks, hides well, etc. It's no longer an accepted method by the masses due to inherent flaws. The biggest being that the person behind you can easily stop a draw and falling on your back can cause a broken spine.<br />
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My biggest issue with appendix carry is when I'm seated. I don't generally mingle with the public in an unknown venue very often, but when I do it's usually in a seated position at a conference, class, restaurant, or movie. It seems that a different method of carry would better benefit me. I'm currently testing out a new hybrid style holster called the Berkut II by Green Force Tactical/Forward Training Concepts. It's an improvement on the appendix by changing the draw stroke slightly and in doing so, making it slightly more sit friendly.<br />
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I'm currently seated trying out my new holster, and it's working so far. Only time will tell.<br />
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Another issue that seems to be at the forefront is pistol ammo. Everyone wants the new hot ticket. They change carry ammo more often than underwear. That (in my opinion) wasted ammo money would be better spent on FMJ at the range. Super performance ammo isn't worth a dime if you can't get solid hits. Even worse, misses with this ultra performance voodoo slug could be more harmful to an innocent if you hit them. Stick with the fundamentals and do your work at the range, not on the keyboard, unless of course you are testing your new wiz-bang holster by typing in a seated position.<br />
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BTW, not sure I'm going to stick with the threaded barrel in this configuration. It's protrusion happens to make contact with my personal protrusion, and that is an unwelcome distraction.<br />
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http://www.greenforcetactical.com/exclusives/<br />
<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-22763313376091815352017-07-22T22:07:00.001-04:002017-07-22T22:07:47.874-04:00The Philosophy of Every Day Carry.We look at many EDC posts on different channels on Youtube and the myriad websites and see people that need to gain some perspective about convenience. I've personally carried too much at times, but for a reason. You would tailor your load out for the scenario, so why not have a baseline of gear and add to it. For instance, why not carry a chest seal and band aids in your wallet? Takes up zero room and adds security.<br />
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Personally, my EDC is Wallet, Watch, Knife, Light, Phone, Keys. (That's also my verbal check in the morning) Everything after that is a choice. I can no longer wear a gun at work, the DOD says "Hell No" to that at this facility. I can deep cover carry, but that would be a very dicey thing to do. Other than work, I carry what fits my attire. I don't generally upscale my "Smoke Wagon" when I go someplace unsafe, I just don't go someplace unsafe- unless it's critical. If it's critical, I'll load out and bring backup.<br />
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The baseline idea is a set of gear that you don't deviate from and build on that. Upgrading and changing gear to fit you needs is easy and the transition can be made easy. Such as, I used to carry a 2 cell Surefire light, but it was too bulky. I stopped carrying a light and decided a phone was enough, then I tried searching for something in a loud room while talking on the phone. No dice. I switched to a streamlight 2-AAA stylus light but it was still a bit much. A single cell Microstream is now my go to option for an EDC light and it literally disappears next to my knife in my pocket.<br />
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A great option for keeping your EDC together is a valet. I've been carrying an auto knife for years, but it's against policy at the facility so I keep 2 knives in it and pick the one for the day. <br />
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I believe you get the idea, but I'll go into more EDC detail when my new holster arrives from Green Force Tactical. They have something new I'm going to try out. <br />
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Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-42865641529344332532017-07-22T20:31:00.001-04:002017-07-22T20:31:50.195-04:00Sorry For The long Hiatus.A quick update on why I've been gone so long. With the boys being old enough to care for themselves after school, I've decided to go back to working full time-ish. I'm still teaching and volunteering, but now I'm working at a large defense contractor in my area doing a total refit on the entire facility. The pay was literally too good to pass up and the work is a gravy train with biscuit wheels. I normally charge 68 bucks an hour for my time as an independent and these toaster heads are paying me way more than that, so here I am.<br />
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That's the reason I've been gone so long. Shuttering a business and completing several contracts while working full time was nothing less than excruciating, but well worth it. I'm all caught up now and actually had this weekend off so I took my son fishing today for the first time this year. It literally felt like a blast furnace outside, but we did well. Caught a 5# catfish and a few bass and bluegill.<br />
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The good news is, I have a ton of gear that I need to get the reviews done on. Some of it is new and some is updates on older gear. I've purchased some new stuff and have been using it a while now.<br />
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The great news is, I'm going to be pack to posting more often and having better content now that the DOD is funding me!<br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-27270402318137527362017-01-15T16:29:00.001-05:002017-01-15T16:29:26.770-05:00Winter DeclutteringIt's winter, and around here that means that it's too cold to go gallivanting in wood too much or spending days at the range comfortably. So what is there to do besides count calories? Declutter. Go take a look at your supplies. Sell off redundant or outdated gear. Auction off some of those holsters that are piles in a bin out in the garage. Sell that leather MC jacket you don't use or rebuild the carb on the mower that isn't running right. Here's my list.<br />
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1. DeGunk and get running the Dirtbike and sell it.<br />
2. Sell my racing equipment since I'm not going to get on the track anymore.<br />
3. Remove one of the racks in my garage and build a new bench for tools.<br />
4. Sell off extra diving equipment<br />
5. Rebuild the Carbs on my vintage motorcycle and sell it off for something newer.<br />
6. Clean out and organize the trailer.<br />
7. Purchase more metal fuel containers and sell the plastic ones.<br />
8. Build high level shelves in the garage for storage.<br />
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With nothing else to do, sitting on your computer or video game isn't going to make your life easier. Get to it! <br />
<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-41944266732441295122017-01-08T12:24:00.002-05:002017-01-08T12:24:53.347-05:00Legislative LookWith the new congress, it seems that we have some new 2A bills that will be heard within the next few weeks. The reciprocity bill for CCW seems like a good thing, but as always, you have to check the fine print. I've heard some rumors of some states being able to fully disallow CCW in order to skirt the bill, but it remains to be seen and amended. I'll stay up to date on it.<br />
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In my state, they are looking at doing away with the CCW permit all together. I sure hope so. Nothing like permitting a right and turning it into a privilege.<br />
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The Affordable Care Act seems to be on it's final legs, but there is nothing to replace it with as of yet. Maybe we can look at cutting the 10 levels of oversight and governmental meddling to get those costs down. The same with Pharma.<br />
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I see that Trump has Hired one of my state's biggest political hacks, Dan Coats to head the DNI. What a joke. C'mon, don't let the establishment entrench itself. <br />
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Building a wall is totally unnecessary and costly. If you make the crime of entering the country bad enough to overcome the benefits of coming here illegally, problem solved. We have the national guard of several states that can take on the protection of our borders. The ROE needs to change, though. See a gun, pop em. Done deal, no more drug lords attempting to cross the border. Pretty easy to overcome situations with a little harshness and frugality. Illegals that have been here for more than 5 years and have kids here can stay. They will never get voting rights and cannot attain citizenship unless they leave and enter properly. They must also pay taxes for the 5 years they have been here and cannot get social security. The idea is to make following the law easier and more beneficial than breaking it. Those migrant workers wishing to work here need a low cost visa with positive identity checks. Farmers hiring illegal workers should be fined heavily. Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-12973359557655255712017-01-03T11:59:00.000-05:002017-01-03T11:59:01.005-05:00New Year, Same you.I don't subscribe to all that new year's resolution crap. I do believe in goals and constant change. It's really easy to rest on your laurels this year and slack on your goals when we have an apparent change of leadership in Washington. Just remember, the tide didn't turn, it was just a couple offices that swapped sides. We still have the same number of idiots running the country. We still have 20 Trillion dollars of debt. We are still dealing with a broken society and an entire generation of useless snowflakes.<br />
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None of this is going to go away rapidly. Globalism and Crony Capitalism is still the law of the land. We have less of a free market than any time in history. The police state is still in every aspect of our lives and the republican congress just gave full scale spying rights to the government. This aint over by a long shot. Dig deep, keep up on your skills and make an effort to cleave waste and sloth from your household.<br />
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I added a little kydex porn for the masses. <br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-37258796204457839252016-12-31T00:12:00.001-05:002016-12-31T00:12:40.146-05:00The Ultimate PrepWe in the preparedness mindset always look for that cool new thingamabob that will save us when things go bad. We carefully consider every ounce we put in our packs, scrutinize firearm choices and food calorie to weight ratios, but rarely do we research our most valued and costly item. The one item that can ruin our lives or save it. We leave it purely to chance and whimsy. Yes, I'm talking about our spouses.<br />
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You husband or wife can be your greatest asset, or your worst liability. They can literally ruin your life, take everything you've worked for and built. Why is it we don't consider this area of our lives with the same thoughtfulness we apply to other areas? Because we've been programmed with happiness, love and genteel weakness as the ultimate relationship goals.<br />
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Let's look at things from a purely clinical point of view. Let's drop the Tinder profiles and dating BS and head straight to the balance sheet. Let's treat a spouse just like any other piece of kit. What is the most important trait to consider? I'd say health. Nobody wants to purchase a knife with a bent blade or a corroded hinge. We want a new or gently used partner that will last a lifetime!<br />
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What are some other critically important traits we look for from the clinical point of view. Reliability is a big factor, as well as making sure they fit your lifestyle. You love your Glock 17, but it doesn't fit in for carry at the beach in a swimsuit. The same goes for your spouse. If they can't handle the life you have planned and don't share the goals and life you want to lead, it's not going to go smoothly. The costs for failure are too high to leave it to chance.<br />
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Once you get past Healthy, Reliable, and Fit for yous task, things begin to get muddied. Personal preference starts to play as does your personal situation. Do you plan to have kids? Consider genetic disposition for disease and mental instability before you sign on the dotted line. What about personality? Are you better suited with a submissive spouse, or a get it done double A personality? I would think that a person that values items with multiple purpose would want a more dominant person to help make things happen.<br />
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What are we missing? Oh yes, all those things that don't matter. Looks are purely useless, as well as dangerous. An attractive partner can be a liability. The more sought after they are, the larger the pool of suitors. Congeniality, while important for a life long partnership, isn't really all that important to their function. As long as they are sane and reasonable, all the rest is window dressing.<br />
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You should also consider your choice's family upbringing and religion. Those are things that can be stumbling blocks later in life when the new car smell goes away. If you're marrying into a family with a cousin Eddie that will cause you untold years of anguish, is it really worth it? Will you want a condescending mother in law instilling strife into your life? What about a person with previous children? So many questions with so few rules. <br />
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What we should really find attractive, we are taught not to. Independent and confident men are supposed to be admired, but the same traits in a woman give men pause. Career women tend to be less whimsy so they are often overlooked as boring or mundane. I find that to be a shame due to their obvious dedication and reliability. The same is true for low maintenance people. They don't wear flashy, tight clothes or spend hours on their hair, so they are overlooked in a sea of Fabios and Supermodels.<br />
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What would I consider as sure tells that the person is incompatible with a preparedness lifestyle? Cosmetic surgery, Tattoos, big debt, no long term relationships, unemployment, useless degrees, endless selfies, health issues, drug use, smoking, nervous habits, promiscuity, alcoholism, and I'm sure I'm missing a few. Some you may not think are big issues for your personal situation, but for me, this is my list.<br />
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I'm not saying that I'm perfect, and lord knows that my marriage isn't textbook perfect either, but we've made it over the hump. We've spent 18 years together, and we split up and moved away from each other when we were dating, but got back together and have been married going on 16 years. She's neither the smartest, healthiest, not prettiest woman I've dated, but she is the most reliable, confident and dependable person I've ever been with.<br />
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I've been in serious relationships with other women that didn't fit the bill. It wasn't the end of the world and it was surely fun, but many I have no intention of marrying and in some cases told them so and they stuck around. Others didn't. It's not the end of the world if you can't find "the one" for you. It's usually the ones that are looking too hard that miss or gloss over the right person for you because you are looking for the perfect person. Don't focus on the things that really don't matter. <br />
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Attraction, that age old mystic want for another person is fleeting. In a few years, it can fade and you can be left with a useless commodity that you paid the highest price for. Be sure of what you are signing up for and don't let your heart override your head. <br />
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<br />Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298261793436565686.post-38314805773953033812016-12-13T00:31:00.002-05:002016-12-13T00:31:48.693-05:00Winter Survival Planning.I'm an avid youtube watcher and took the time to watch one from Wranglerstar recently on a big snow storm that was rolling in. It reminded me that I hadn't done some of my winterization intervals for the year. I haven't rotated my fuel yet and my food is past due for a sorting and rotating. Some new food items are being added and some older stuff I like is getting rotated into the pantry. My son eats tuna salad like it's his job, but won't eat it when I rotate in the cheap brand of tuna that I normally buy for the larder. That is just another reminder that some things need to be accounted for on my next purchase run.<br />
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I took my nephew out camping the other day and taught him the basics of axe and knife use. Kid wore out my new tomahawk that I'm testing, so that's a positive. I also tried out my new underquilt for my hammock. Worked like a champ. Not enough to do away with the pad, but definitely increased my comfort level when using my 20 degree bag on a 30 degree night. Remember that those ratings are survival ratings, not comfort ratings. My youngest had to sleep in my hammock with me the last night due to it breaking under 30 degrees overnight and his system not holding up as well. Luckily my double nest bag fits us easily.<br />
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I was reading an article about an older man remembering his harrowing experience from his high school days. He went camping without the proper gear and didn't accept his limitations. He expected to live off the land so brought very little food. He also brought a woefully inadequate sleeping bag that was rated 20 degrees warmer than the low temp for the night, and just for good measure decided to sweat soak his clothes without enough time to dry them before bed. He climbed out of his snow cave and built a fire to survive the night with barely enough dexterity and energy to bring the fire back to life in order to save his.<br />
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Survival isn't an accident. Some times you get lucky, but much of that luck is based on your abilities and readiness level. You may be short the right equipment, but with the right know how, you can survive the night in sub zero conditions even after you've made serious mistakes. Reading books and manuals is a great start, but going out and living in those conditions is vital to making sure you have the proper level of knowledge to overcome adversity when it arrives.<br />
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Not every condition is ideal. We can get hurt and not have the ability to gather wood for a fire. That means your sleeping bag becomes your survival nest. You must have enough bag and clothes to be able to survive a frigid night during the winter. Also remember that not all gear is created equal. My Browning 20 degree bag isn't as warm as my son's Kelty 20 degree bag or a black MSS intermediate bag, even though they all have the same rating.<br />
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Other factors to remember are increased caloric intake required during cold weather, ease of dehydration, layering for warmth and ditching the cotton. Cotton is rotten pretty much any time you are in the field. Wool and synthetics hold their thermal capabilities fairly well, even when wet. Down doesn't withstand wetness, but lofts better when dry and stays warmer for less weight than synthetic fill. Meisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192749774480849656noreply@blogger.com1