Police Combatives

Book Review: Police Combatives
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I was down at Fort Benning for a pistol competition a few years ago, and while in one of the stores in Columbus I found this little Police Combatives book.

There really is not a lot to this book (other than the content) – its basically chapters organized around particular law enforcement use of force issues like ground fighting, or hand cuffing.

Each chapter has multiple paragraphs dealing with lessons learned on the street.

This isn’t really a books your going to sit down and read, but I gleaned a lot of good information thumbing through it.

Its not really full of things a veteran cop shouldn’t ready know, but it does a good job of articulating concepts – which is useful if your trying to teach.

Police Combatives reads like the author sat down and vomited his entire lifetime of experience with police use of force – it ain’t pretty but there is a LOT there.

I found some good information that I did not know before I bought the book, which is the main way I judge books.  If I learned something I needed from a book, then I think it is a good book.  This is a great book.

Phantom Soldier

Book Review: Phantom Soldier
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John Poole is one of the few authors whose books have been reviewed multiple times on this site. That is because I find them particularly useful to the prepping community.

I don’t think firearms and defensive postures are the most important aspect to preppers, but they are in the top three.

In Poole’s book Phantom Soldier he shows how Asiatic cultures have evolved countermeasures to American firepower.

If you can envision a time where you may have to fight a large and powerful enemy while being outgunned and under-supplied, then this book had tips that may save your life.

Besides being useful, and giving me lots of things to think about with how history has played out, and how things may have been different if we though through enemy action using their mindset instead of ours – this book was entertaining.

Poole really knows his stuff – even if he does stir the pot a little with his superiors…

I found the discussion of how Vietnamese forces used guns as signalling devices was enlightening.  How we thought snipers were not that effective – sitting in trees and firing relatively ineffectively – when they may be just signalling.  His discussion of the use of grenades was also very interesting to me.

Patriots

Book Review: Patriots
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America faces a full-scale socioeconomic collapse—the stock market plummets, hyperinflation cripples commerce and the mounting crisis passes the tipping point. Practically overnight, the fragile chains of supply and high-technology infrastructure fall, and wholesale rioting and looting grip every major city.

As hordes of refugees and looters pour out of the cities, a small group of friends living in the Midwest desperately tries to make their way to a safe-haven ranch in northern Idaho. The journey requires all their skill and training since communication, commerce, transportation and law enforcement have all disappeared. Once at the ranch, the group fends off vicious attacks from outsiders and then looks to join other groups that are trying to restore true Constitutional law to the country.

Patriots is a thrilling narrative depicting fictional characters using authentic survivalist techniques to endure the collapse of the American civilization. Reading this compelling, fast-paced novel could one day mean the difference between life and death.

The only problem with this book is a bit of of literary license the author takes to ensure the protagonists are as skilled as they need (so it can be part how-to manual) – it is unrealistic for a military man to get that many top tier schools in so short of a time.

Other than that, I think it is a useful book, and worth the read.

Padded Roll case for Tools Review

Today I want to share a decent roll tool bag.  I like having tool rolls because it is easy for me to keep track of specific tool types.  I had a set for pliers, one for files, a roll for screwdrivers, etc – however, some local thief got into me shipping container and stole almost all of my tools.

This means I needed new tool bags, luckily touch of urban asked if I wanted to review one of their products.  This tool bag is normally 45.00 but I was able to get it for much less.

Right now they are having a free shipping promotion on everything in their store.

I like this roll bag better than the ones I bought earlier from Lowe’s, and the padding is a nice feature.  However, the price is a little high form my tastes as I need 6 or 7 of the the bags if I am going to recreate my old system.

However, for a single bag to throw pliers and wrenches in and stash in the vehicle for emergency repairs, this padded roll tool bag is hard to beat.

Once again, I must say I got this tool roll at a reduced cost to do a review, and I probably would not have bought it at full price, not that its not worth it, but because I have to justify purchases over $20 with the wife before I spend family funds.

Outliers

Book Review: Outliers
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This isn’t a “prepper” book per se, but Outliers is about success, and from a long view – prepping is about success during tough times.

Outliers consists of “case studies” and the lessons learned from them. It talks about how being at the right place at the right time is important, but useless without having the proper background and training.

The choices I have made in my life may preclude me from doing certain things – I will never be President or a rock star, but those choices prepare me to be successful in other areas of my life.

One of the concepts in this book was that there seems to be a statistical intelligence threshold for success – you have to be smart enough – but that extra intelligence does not necessarily mean you will be more successful.

I have used both the concepts in this book, and the actual mention of this book several times in my work.  Right now I am taking a graduate certificate program that will hopefully lead to a MPA and the Social Science guys love talking about these concepts.  So do the State HR trainers as they certify me to teach all manner of touchy feely courses.