Balancing Security vs. Liberty

Security vs. Liberty
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Benjamin Franklin once said, “Anyone that gives up essential liberty for momentary safety deserve neither.”  It is amazing how this once commonplace sentiment has changed over the years.  In today’s America it is almost considered required to exchange liberty for safety.  It is important to realize that neither option is a right, nor can it be guaranteed.  In most of Europe, violence is never considered morally justified.  This thought leads to slavery.  If there is nothing worth fighting for, then nothing is worth having.  This trend of choosing security over liberty is becoming more accepted in this country than the founding fathers ever believed possible.

In America we have gun-free school zones.  We also have school shootings.  Jesse Ventura was forced to apologize when, after the Littleton Colorado School shooting, he commented that, “If someone in that school had a gun, they could have saved a lot of lives.”   His statement was considered outrageous.  It might be a distasteful subject, but the idea merits thought.  In Israel guns in school are commonplace; they also have little if any violence in the education system.

An American citizen cannot sue the police for failing to protect them.  They have no right to constant protection by the police.  They also face prejudice, up to and including incarceration if they protect themselves.  States of this country do not allow lawful citizens to carry firearms in pubic.  Many businesses in right-to-carry states disallow firearm possession in their stores.  Do any of these stores hire full time security whose sole job is to protect their patrons?  Do criminals intent on mayhem follow these laws?  If given a choice, would an armed criminal chose a location where firearms where allowed or disallowed?

Is the idea of violence so terrible that we as Americans should give up out Constitution in order for a measure of fleeting safety?  How important is the Bill of Rights to you?  Should we allow police unrestricted accesses into our personal lives for the sole purpose of protection?  Should we allow the trend of the government to dictate who is dangerous to us, without question.  This trend was seen in Nazi Germany, Communist Russia, China, and other countries where people lost the right to protect themselves.  Have we as Americans lost the will to do what is needed?    Do we have to delegate the distasteful to others?  If you as a responsible person feel violence is evil, what is your justification to give over your power to someone else to use violence on your behalf?

Government is needed.  Without it there would be chaos.  However, government is not always right just because it exists.  President Washington said, “Government is like fire; it is a wonderful servant but a fearful master.”  Government should serve the people, but it has a tendency to have the people serve it.  Before you blindly accept what is presented to you as your best interest, decide for yourself if it truly the case.  Our country was founded by men who chose liberty over security.  Should you do any less?

How to Use a Drop Spindle

How to Use a Drop Spindle

 

Drop Spindle
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Learning how to use a drop spindle has been on my “list” for several years.  Probably longer than my boy has been alive.  However, textile arts don’t seem to be a good fit on a gun guys blog.  I am more than just a gun guy.  Besides, I like having socks with no holes and warm clothes.  This makes learning how to make wool yarn and weave an interest of mine.

I find this is something I can do almost on autopilot.  It gives me something to do while I explore that nothing box in my brain.

Now, the fiber art aficionados, will be quick to point out my technique is wrong.  It is.  You are supposed to drop the spindle not spin it in your hand.  However, I finally got around to trying this during recovery from ear surgery.  I am off balance and higher than I ought to be.  Be aware, my wife was amazed I could talk.  I do not do well with pain narcotics.

A Drop Spindle is an easy thing to make, its nothing more than a dowel stuck inside a weight.  One end is rounded, and the other has a hook.

Using it is pretty simple also, here are the basic steps:

  • Take piece of roving and twist the end into yarn
  • Tie the yarn to the dowel under the weight and pull the twisted roving over the weight and hook it into the hook
  • give the spindle a twist to get the yarn twisting while pinching the roving tightly a few inches above the hook.  This keeps the twist from running up the wool
  • Once the yarn is twisted tightly move up the roving a few inches to let the twist run up the roving
  • spin it again and repeat the steps until you have a foot or so of yarn
  • Unhook the yarn and wrap it on the spindle under the weight
  • Rehook and begin twisting
  • Once you have enough yarn it is important to wrap the yard into a skein (I wrap mine around a piece of wood) and soak it in warm water.  by rubbing the yarn under water the fibers felt and the yarn becomes permanent.

3 Season Mummy Sleeping Bag with Waterproof Shell Review

 

Review: 3 Season Mummy Sleeping Bag with Waterproof Shell
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#survivalhax #sleepingbag

I have worked with Survival Hax for several years now, and I love their inexpensive gear.  I believe that every family ought to have a good 3 season mummy sleeping bag for every person in their household.  Even if you don’t camp, they store easily and are great for emergencies.

Now that my boy is starting to want to go camping, it was time to get him a first bag, and this is the one I chose.  Now it is not a kids bag, it is a full size mummy bag, but for the price he can deal with the extra legroom.

  • Shell: 190T Polyester
  • #1 NEW RELEASE – Just released mummy bag and best seller in Sleeping Bags & Camp Bedding.
  • ULTRALIGHT MUMMY BAG – Crafted for maximum comfort while being lightweight for camping, backpacking, and traveling.
  • COMPACT CARRY SACK – Sleeping Bag includes compact carry sack which is 14*7*7 inches when packed.
  • WATER RESISTANT – 190T Polyester Pongee repels water so you never worry about waking up with a soggy sack again.
  • COMFORT – Sleep like a baby in harsh conditions. Your Mummy Bag is filled with 200GSM Hollowfibre to keep you cozy.

This bag doesn’t cost much, at  $25.00 it is affordable, and I like the design of the stuff sack, it easily stores the bag for use.

My boy has sleep in this bag every night since he opened it, and the only problem we have had is his begging to go camping – at cold as it is, I just don’t have time for that….

 

Novapolt External CD Drive USB 3 0 DVD Drive Review

 

 

Review: Novapolt External CD Drive USB 3 0 DVD Drive
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I was looking for a inexpensive external CD Drive that I could try to connect to my son’s raspberry pi mini computer so that he could watch dvd’s while traveling.  So when I found this Novapolt External CD Drive USB 3 0 DVD Drive for under $25.00 I decided to try it out.  Now, I need to tell you that I did get this for much less when Novapolt asked if I would do a review.

The device shipped very quickly from amazon, and was packaged very well.  One thing I liked about this external CD drive is how the USB cord is permanently attached and is held in grooves underneath the drive.

I loose a lot of cords, and this design both prevents this and is sleek and keeps the cords out of the way when not in use.

The drive works well, and it comes with its own drivers, so there isn’t anything to complain about.

I really like this device, even though plugging it into my son’s pi is harder than I imagined.

  • With this high speed cd drive you can record cd, watch videos, create back up discs and install software. The advantage of buying this product is that we have personnel on standby ready to assist.
  • Compact design – the compact design of this dvd player ensure that it does not take up too much space when you are traveling and it only weighs 12 ounces which is less than a pound.
  • Supports plug and play function – this external disc drive does not need additional power source. This usb cd drive is powered by USB 3.0 technology for faster data transmission speed, up to 5Gbps.
  • This dvd drive comes standard with an eject button to ensure that your cd or dvd disc never get stuck inside the external drive. The copper mesh technology ensures high speed stable data transfer.
  • Great gift idea and backed by 90 days Warranty – We want you to have peace of mind when you purchase this usb dvd from us. Send us an email if you experience any issue with your dvd player.

#externaldvddrive

Preppers Guide to Preparing for Reality

Preppers Guide to Preparing for Reality
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The community of preppers grew in 2008 with the launch of My Patriot Supply as a leading Online resource and retailer helping U.S. citizens prepare for the worst should a natural disaster or ‘doomsday’ scenario occur. The retailer has become a major part of the preppers community over the course of its first decade in operation.  If you want help preparing for reality, then this company can provide that help.

The community of preppers has largely been misunderstood because of a small number of mainstream TV shows which choose to portray this growing number of Americans as unhinged or worse. However, the majority of preppers are simply concerned citizens who understand a breakdown in society can occur at any time through a natural weather event such as a tornado or hurricane or can take a larger form should an attack on the U.S. create major infrastructure problems. The majority of preppers are not spending their time worrying over the zombie apocalypse arriving but are instead watching The Weather Channel and the news to monitor the global political situation.

Being prepared for any eventuality is the key to the work of My Patriot Supply and preppers across the U.S. who understand there are few options of people or agencies to turn to when a major event leads to the breakdown of a small or large community. In most cases, the decision to become a prepper is taken by those who have either had the first-hand experience of a disaster striking and leaving them with little help from government agencies or those who have woken up to the fact self-reliance is the best option.

Although it has become a commonly held belief because of shows like “The Walking Dead” and movies including “28 Days Later”, the zombie apocalypse is not something preppers worry about each day. As science has so far yet to find the technology capable of reanimating dead tissue there are no reasons to prepare for this fiction becoming a reality.

Instead, many people who may not feel they are part of the preppers community may be shocked to discover they are already getting started with the early stages of preparedness. An individual who has taken the time and effort to think about installing a generator or assembling a disaster emergency kit in case of a major weather event is already a prepper; creating a kit with flashlights, matches, and a supply of canned foods is the first step on the way to becoming prepared for a life where the rule of law may no longer be in place for a short or long period of time.

What the majority of preppers understand is the fact there is a chance of certain situations arising which will result in a period of time when government agencies are unwilling or unable to provide the necessary utilities and requirements for human life. This does not always mean preparing for the worst case scenario but can instead mean creating a survival garden with fruits and vegetables which can be used as a food supply should the usual communication lines of social breakdown. In the short term, this can mean creating a supply of generators and fuel to provide power, heat, and light should the utility supply be knocked out by a storm or a far worse event.

Being a prepper means looking at the chances of certain situations occurring and creating a plan which will protect the individual and their family should a scenario happen. There is a zero percent chance of the zombie apocalypse occurring which means this is a scenario which should be ignored by serious preppers who are looking to create a contingency plan for the future. It is important to remember the government should always be part of the plans being created as no matter why an individual has decided to become a prepper they need to ensure they have taken into account the fact some form of government will always remain in place if and when a natural or human-made disaster occurs.

Although a breakdown in society may take place at some point in the future the rule of law should always be part of the thought process and planning for any serious prepper. Despite the fact a breakdown of society may take place and a prepper isolated for a period of time it is always a good option to become an active member of the prepper community as the advice, tips, and news of the latest technological advances could mean the difference between success and failure in the survival business.

* I added this guest post because I believe in preparing for reality.  Too many people spend way too much time preparing for things that aren’t realistic.  In a world of limited resources, I believe in balance and that I need to spend my time and money on things that give the most benefit to my family.

I like my patriot supply because they good products as well as provide good information with their survival scout newsletters.  To me you can’t go wrong with preparing for reality.