The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith

Book Review: The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith
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The Backyard Blacksmith takes the mystery out of blacksmithing, but not the magic…There is an increasing interest and revival in the art of blacksmithing as a hobby and art, and both men and women are becoming at-home blacksmiths. Blacksmithing is a simple, rewarding craft anyone can enjoy in their backyard or home workshop — even beginners can produce useful and beautiful projects on their first try.

The Backyard Blacksmith shows you how blacksmithing can be easy to learn, and a rewarding hobby, with some patience and a working knowledge of metals, basic tools, and techniques. Through instructions and illustrations, readers will learn to make simple tools and useful items, such as nails, hinges, and handles, and also an interesting mix of artful projects, such letter openers, door knockers and botanical ornaments.

This book has really helped me learn about blacksmithing.  While right now I am working out of a basement and have to set up and take down a collection of rigged up tools, one day I plan on having a full time set up so I can beat metal whenever the urge hits me.

I hope that one day my son WT will learn to be a skillful metalworker.

Grill Master Gloves Review

Gear Review: Grill Master Gloves
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I have had a good time lately reviewing products, I get to play with stuff I normally would not buy and I get to share my opinions with you.  These grill master gloves are no exception.

I probably would not have bought these gloves on my own, but after cooking with them, I realized how much I was missing.

These gloves are thick and sturdy.  They are a little tight on my large hands, but they are surprisingly comfortable.  They make cooking with my cast iron skillet much easier.

Grill master gloves do not compare to regular oven mitts – you have the dexterity to work without taking them off, and the gripping ridges give a good hold on heavy cast iron pans or grills.

Since they are rated to above 900 degrees Fahrenheit, you could even use them in casting lead (however if you are going to do that buy another pair as food and lead should only meet at during hunting season.

I did get these Grill Master Gloves at reduced cost in exchange for an honest review, but based on the quality and how useful they are, when I wear these out, I will buy myself another set.

Boostceuticals Phosphatidylserine Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmxAo13Ri6k

Gear Review: Boostceuticals Phosphatidylserine
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Phosphatidylserine is a chemical that the body can make, but most of what you need comes from food.

These supplements used to come from cow brains, but mad cow disease has caused it to be created from soy or cabbage.

The supplement Phosphatidylerine is used for Alzheimer’s disease, age-related mental decline, improving thinking skills in young people, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, preventing exercise-induced stress, and improving athletic performance.  In 2003 the FDA approved limited health claims for phosphatidylerine.

I am interested in nootropics (aka smart drugs) as when boosceuticals offerd me a chance to review their product I gladly accepted.

I have been taking their product for 2 weeks at the recommended dosage of 2 pills three times a day.  I don’t have any scientific data to back up any claims of becoming a super brain, but I do feel better and my wife says I am a little “nicer” – I feel less stressed and I have been able to work a little longer without being so tired (even if I am rewarded by being sore the next morning).

I think it is working, and I do feel like I am better able to concentrate and have less mental “fog”.  To me it is worth trying, but as I said, I did not take any scientific tests to prove it, but I did pass a course without doing any homework (YMMV).

#Phosphatidylserine

Democracy in America

Book Review: Democracy in America
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Democracy in America is a contemporary study of the early American nation and its evolving democracy, from a French aristocrat and sociologist from the mid 1800’s

In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and ambitious civil servant, set out from post-revolutionary France on a journey across America that would take him 9 months and cover 7,000 miles. The result was Democracy in America, a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19th-century America. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing deomcratic system in America as a possible model for post-revolutionary France, believing that the egalitarian ideals it enshrined reflected the spirit of the age and even divine will. His study of the strengths and weaknesses of an evolving democratic society has been quoted by every American president since Eisenhower, and remains a key point of reference for any discussion of the American nation or the democratic system.

This new edition is the only one that contains all Tocqueville’s writings on America, including the rarely-translated Two Weeks in the Wilderness, an account of Tocqueville’s travels in Michigan among the Iroquois, and Excursion to Lake Oneida.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

Book Review: The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal Small-Arms Tactics
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The Tactical Advantage and learn the combat-proven techniques big-city cops use to stay alive and effective when the bullets start flying.

Maintain the tactical advantage in any situation by knowing how to search buildings for armed intruders, use cover and concealment, maintain proper distance intervals and much more.There is some political viewpoints and religious scripture that turn some away from this work.  I understand the mindset and agree with most of it.  However, I feel like it should be mentioned in a review.

My biggest issue with this book is that it needs to be updated.  It is pretty old and some of the pictures look like the 1980’s  Which is pretty accurate given the career of the author.

Now the base mindset of a warrior doesn’t change – I imagine if a Samurai woke up in today’s America he would quickly learn how to run an AR platform rifle.

This book is not a definitive study of gunfighting techniques, but I do think his arguments on room clearing are valuable.  I have my own views of the subject – namely don’t clear alone – but for a cop or someone that has no choice, his words should be read.

While I don’t think the Tactical Advantage is the best book on the subject, I do think it has a place in a well read prepper’s bookshelf.