Book Review: Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)

Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)

Book Review: Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)
Buy at Amazon

#python
Many preppers focus on old skills like bushcraft and homesteading, but don’t forget to realize that we also live in a technology filled world. Having the ability to code can come in handy.

Python (from monty python) is a first programming language for many. It is easy to learn, easy to read, and there is a lot of libraries of code snippets so you can plug and play bits of code to make larger programs fast.

Python is used with arduino’s to make electronic devices, can make phone aps, runs many websites, and even NASA uses it in their scientific probes and computer programs.

If you have knowledge of Python and a base skill in electronics and mechanics you can take a laptop and plug into into a dead tractor and make it run. You can hack in every sense and really get things done.

Now, I am trying to learn Python myself, and I chose to use the ebook “Python: A Beginners’ Guide to Python Programming to automate the boring tasks and learn coding fast (Machine Learning techniques for database programming and computer languages”. It is $5.oo on kindles and pretty easy to use. It is a step by step guide for computers using windows, linus, and OS as well as some other operating systems. It tells you how to find free Python editors, and walks you through the learning steps.

Its a great buy, and I recommend it.

Quick and Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Household is Prepared

Quick and Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Household is Prepared

household_emergency_preparedness_11_1Preparedness and planning resources have been a main topic of conversation on this site for quite some time. Preparedness is worth investing time into in order to ensure the safety and security for yourself and your family. In addition to taking the necessary steps to prepare a household for emergencies, it’s also important to establish a plan for protecting your home and saving specific items. Since recent data shows intense weather being the most frequent and main cause of death, it could be anything from a hurricane, to a home break-in that impacts your family. Because of this, knowing what items will keep you safe and allow you to feel secure moving forward is absolutely crucial.

Here are some areas you need to focus on while developing an emergency preparedness plan:

First and foremost, make a plan

Having a plan written down will teach your family how to react at a moment’s notice. This will not only keep them safe, but it’ll also give them peace of mind knowing that they’re prepared to react. Your plan should set multiple rendezvous locations near and far away from your home in order to account for multiple types of emergencies. It should also establish emergency contacts such as family members, neighbors, friends, etc. Be sure to thoroughly go over the plan, especially with any young children, and make a point to revisit and/or revise your emergency plan once or twice a year. Here are some tips on how to make your own.

Purchase adequate supplies

Emergency kits are a great way to make sure that you and your family have all of the essential items during a disaster or in the event of an emergency. The kit should include enough items to last a few days, or even up to a week, and should be placed in multiple locations around the house or place of work. The items included should be everything from food and water (at least one gallon per person), power sources like batteries or generators, various tools, and clothing or blankets. Remember to account for anyone who may have specific medical requirements as well. Having an adequate emergency kit will allow you to care for yourself and others, while also avoiding having to go out into potentially dangerous conditions.

Invest in security

Home security systems are often the first step individuals and families take toward protecting their households, and for good reason. These systems can be the perfect layer of defense for yourself, your family, and all of your valued belongings. It’s important to look for an all-inclusive system that monitors activity around your doors and windows, but also protects you from a multitude of situations such as fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and flooding. Even though it’s difficult to anticipate every disaster you may be susceptible to, it can be easy and affordable to take a few simple measures. Check out this page here for everything worth looking for if you’re considering investing in a home security system. Remember to look for comprehensive security systems that are easy to set up, offer 24/7 monitoring, and work in various environments. Allowing yourself a little peace of mind can definitely go a long way in terms of preparedness.

Safeguard your important documents

When disaster strikes or a family is caught in an emergency situation, many might think to save material things, if anything at all. However, there are a few items that are worth saving if you’re able to, or better yet, securely protecting from a disaster that could damage your belongings. Among the many things worth protecting, safeguarding personal documents and various forms of identification is incredibly important. Identification ranges from passports and driver’s licenses, to social security cards and birth certificates. This may seem like a small detail to some, but being able to produce proper identification can make or break your eligibility to receive medical treatment or relief aid. It could also greatly affect your ability to access transportation in the event of an evacuation.

Protecting financial information

Aside from the important documents mentioned above, protecting financial information is something to take very serious as well. Records such as emergency funds, investments, insurance policies, and wills are some that can be very difficult to replace. Whether a social security number is lost or stolen, or even sensitive financial records, this could put your family in a very vulnerable spot when it comes to identity theft. Not only could this affect you for several years, but it can cause extreme worry and discomfort, as well as have an immense impact on future financial security. Make sure you consider purchasing a fireproof safe or procuring a safety deposit box, and establish a family emergency fund that can last anywhere from three to eight months.

What is the Difference Between a Flare Nut and Combination Wrench

 

Difference Between Flare Nut and Combination Wrenches
Buy at Amazon a Flare Nut Wrench Set.

Today we are going to discuss the Difference Between Flare Nut and Combination Wrenches.  Most of us, the mechanics especially, are familiar with a combination wrench.

Combination wrenches contain a simple box end and an open end.  This allows the user to easily tighten and loosen nuts and bolts.

Flare nut wrenches are designed for the flare nut fitting on fluid or gas lines.   In the Marines I was  taught that a flare nut wrench was called a line wrench.  These wrenches cover more of the nut to reduce wounding the nut off (like a box end).  Additionally, the open cut allows the wrench to slip over metal lines.

Obviously, open ended wrenches can be used in the same manner as a flare nut wrench.

However, they just don’t offer as much surface grip on the fittings which increases the likelihood of damage.

Difference Between Flare Nut and Combination Wrenches
Buy at Amazon a Combination Wrench Set

In conclusion, I own both sets, and find that when you need a flare nut wrench you REALLY need one.  Most of the time I do all my work with a trusty set of combination wrenches.

However, as a DIY advocate, I think it is important that you understand the difference between flare nut and combination wrenches.

What I really need is a new impact wrench to go with my flare nut wrenches, unfortunately some thief just stole most of my tools.

How to Build a Snow Igloo With Your Kid

 

Snow Igloosnow igloo 3snow igloo 2

Since this was the first time in a LONG time that I had a job that did not find it essential to be in during disasters my family decided to have fun in the snow.

The easiest way to do that and still secretly teach WT some skills was to build a snow igloo.

Snow Igloo
Buy at Amazon

It did not take much to build besides a shovel, a 5 gallon bucket, and a lot of snow.  Basically all we did was shovel snow into a bucket and lightly tamp it down just like making a sandcastle.

We then upended the bucket and let the snow block slide out.

We just used the blocks to form a toddle appropriate circle and then made a new row placing the new blocks in the center of 2 bottom blocks – just like doing any masonry work.

The trick was to slightly bow inward as we worked so that the blocks formed a roof.  It was not that doing that was hard, but WT wanted to kick at his fort because when the block broke he had ready made snowballs.

We used forms for the doors and windows and placed snow around the forms – removing them when the igloo was finished.

In trouble areas I packed in loose snow and rubber it with my hand to smooth it and slightly melt it so ice held the blocks together.

All in all we had a lot of fun and I think the boy learned something cool.