Category: Uncategorized

This post is going to be a bit weird on some levels. I’ve been staying away from some of the politics as I think it far too early and far too many are looking to attack their own allies for any reason. I’ve seen some vicious races over the years, local and otherwise, but nothing quite like what is going on right now.

The catalyst for this post is this post by Sarah Hoyt. I want and need to acknowledge that Sarah has done a lot for me over the last few years, and I respect her and appreciate that which was done. She is a long-time and astute watcher of politics, who has approached it with the obsession of a sniper and an eye that comes from outside our system. That’s important as the people I’m finding who get what is going on come from outside our system. In fact, they are survivors of communism and socialism elsewhere, and include people like Sarah and a survivor of Mao.

Right now, my prime mode in regards the Republican race for president is mostly disgust. The number of people demanding I pick a side/candidate right now you traitorous piece of bleep is amazing. For the record, I do not owe ANY politician my loyalty, and that’s not how American politics is supposed to work. What is supposed to happen is that you, the politician, work to EARN my vote. If you demand it, my immediate and permanent response is going to be Fuck You. It’s like respect: if you demand it, you don’t deserve it. If your supporters and proxies demand it, and you don’t call them out, you don’t deserve it or my vote.

The fact is, I have enjoyed Trump, and his entry into politics and the swamp remind me more than a little bit of Rodney Dangerfield in CaddyShack. The reactions of the establishment in both cases are almost identical. I do give thanks for the work he and Mitch did in regards the Supreme Court and judges in general. He did a lot of good, but that doesn’t negate the fact he made a lot of bad choices as well. I voted for him twice, and if he is the Republican candidate I will vote for him again as anything is better than the Biden Regency and puppet show.

The fact is, if RDS is the candidate, I will vote for him. He’s got a very solid record as governor and while I get that a number don’t like or trust him, his accomplishments — including standing up to Trump on reopening Florida during COVID — speak for themselves. Not only competent himself, he’s made a lot of good personnel choices.

Outside of those two, I am not likely to vote for any of the other challengers. The problem with voting for the lesser of two evils, and it’s hard to find evil on the order of the Biden Crime Family, is that you are still voting for evil. Stop it.

Thing is, I think all the foaming-at-the-mouth hysteria and outrage is pointless. It’s pointless for two reasons. First, unless we secure the election it will be a crock. Show me any real effort by the RNC to secure the election and keep it honest. There’s not one and bleating about beating the margin of fraud is a crock. Second, is something I’ve asked in private and will say out loud now as well: Given all the Banana Republic things going on right now, do you really think they will let Trump (or RDS to be honest) live to take office? Whether it’s the Biden Regency or the DNC, they have pulled the trigger on things that can’t be walked back. What makes you think they will stop there in the quest for power?

No, I don’t think all is lost. It doesn’t matter if the Republic is dead, or just beaten comatose. There’s a thing called the Golden Hour, and recent vets get what I mean. It may well be hard and even ugly, but there is a chance to restore the Republic. It’s not gone yet. As Sarah has pointed out many times before, you can see the wheels starting to come off the progressive/marxist efforts. It is indeed one reason they are pushing so hard on so many fronts. It’s an effort to get things in place in the hopes they may be made permanent once they are in permanent power.

Fuck that. Fight back, now. Refuse to go along with the trans mafia, and all the ridiculous takes of the day. Refuse to bow down to the mob. Laugh at them. Fight any mandates and grabs for power, from digitized currency and debanking to efforts to force you to buy government approved appliances. Resist, fight, and mock them. Remember, they can’t stand being laughed at, so laugh and share the laughter. Mock them mercilessly.

Get active locally. Make sure who you vote for is indeed who they say they are, and start taking back local school boards and governments. Make sure the election monitors are fair, balanced, and aboveboard. If you don’t, the larger isn’t going to matter. There is still time, if you act now. Toss out Uniparty and get some real and good people in place.

Otherwise, the alternative is not good. It will make hard and ugly look like an ice cream social. No one sane wants that. Normal is gone and not coming back. The best we can hope for is to create a new normal, one better grounded in liberty and designed to withstand the storms of marxism.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Well, they are quick to post but may not be so quick to read. 🙂 Sorry, been a busy morning that has seen me luck out on some groceries and get some good news in that regard. Finally back home, and wanted to share some goodies.

First, let me just say that abolishing SAC was possibly the most stupid military decision of the last fifty years. Heck, it may have been more stupid than Pickett’s charge to go back even further. When you read this, understand that the shade of General LeMay is probably trying to reanimate his corpse so he can get a baseball bat and go visit the parody of SAC that is Strategic Command. My blood pressure does not thank VodkaPundit at Instapundit for the Hat Tip, even if I do.

Then, go read David Strom’s excellent take on the political grifters and would-be thieves (if you won’t release funds, or try to give them to other charities, you are a thief) at GoFundMe. Pro Tip: Use GiveSendGo, good people who don’t play politics.

If you aren’t reading Victory Girls, you should be. Be sure to check out the approaching death of women’s sports. On a similar note, Jazz Shaw has a good post on how metoo abandoned women’s sports.

Finally, go read this on wind power by Beege Welborn at HotAir. Also, congratulate her on a year at the site.

More in a bit.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Text provided by the National Archives. Wise and wonderful words we should all strive to live up to, and not just live by.

Think I’m about as set as I can be. Here’s my drink and food stand I mentioned in the big update, though the microwave is out in the common area of the basement. Hopefully everything I need for the time being. Tops are basically off things, just on to keep things out.

Here’s a shot of the power block/surge protector I mentioned that clamps onto the desk. Makes it easy to plug and unplug one handed. Hated shopping BestBuy, but they had one and the options were limited since Indy no longer has an electronics supply store — you have to drive up to Lafayette for anything like that.

More as I can, and the surgeon has said he will take some pictures for me as the surgery progresses. Bit disappointed that I can’t get the bone he’s cutting off with what’s left of the ball, as part of me would love to use it to make the head of a walking stick.

Oh, once this is done, am going to have to look at getting some extra instruction and practice on shooting offhand (been longer than it should on that), and will essentially have to learn to shoot all over again. Not looking forward to the cost, but actually am looking forward to the instruction and practice.

Also, got a novel suggestion for fine motor skills PT for the right hand, which is to learn to play the guitar. If the PT folks sign off, am going to look for a very inexpensive acoustic guitar and give it a go. Figure it can’t be any worse than my attempts to learn and play the bagpipes (I am living proof the Brits were right about something when they declared them a weapon of war, as my playing can clear out counties).

Have two weeks of regular medicines in baggies and ready to go. Going to wing everything else. Send bourbon and cigars!

On a bit more serious note, I thought I would share a bit of a prayer I’ve sent out.

Lord, I ask that with my health and upcoming surgery to let that which is right be. I ask not for a specific outcome, but for you do to do what is best. I ask you to guide me to where I need to be physically and spiritually, and while I know where I would like to be physically, please show me that place which is right for me.

I tend to leave things open like this, as I trust God to know what is right and best, and also because you can get what you pray for. It’s along the lines of “Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.” God may have been looking at a Lamborghini for you, but if you really want the MB, well…

Keep the Faith. Be Prepared. Keep your things where you can find them in the dark, and know who and where your true friends are at all times.

More soon.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Sorry for the lack of posting, but things have been a bit hectic. I’ve had my pre-op testing and visit, and am now trying to get things cleared off the list as fast as I can.

I did take yesterday off for my yearly beer with the guys. It’s the one day of the year where I’m buying. Though, this year, Donna who was manning the bar at Oaken Barrel insisted that the beer for the guys was on her.

Hope you all had a good weekend, and took the time to remember the reason for the day.

If you read nothing else today, read this. We have not learned. We are not learning. We will pay a terrible price if that does not change ASAP. Listen to the man, while we still might can act.

Trying to get medical records and such. Hoping to resume normal posting sometime soon.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

UPDATE: New power supply obtained. If part of my body will quit being a jerk to the rest of us, hope to be back at it tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Barring donations, will be offline until at least the first full week of December. The power supply for the “new” computer that I’ve not even had a year at this point, has died. Need a new one. Not too bad a price, but no funds to spare for it right now. Not helping that we are having router issues (landlord issue) as well. More soon, on when I can get power and internet going.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

If the site is slow loading or you’ve had trouble getting through, my apologies. We are experiencing growing pains as I move from regular blog to high-traffic blog. Working on it, feel free to hit the tip jar to help me keep going and upgrade the site. Your gifts truly do make the difference. Working on adding a mail-in option, others; if interested in mail-in for now drop me a line.

We’ve talked about cooking before, but the focus was more on having several alternate means of cooking available to you in an emergency. Today, thanks to some excellent comments from you, the readers, we are going to leave the comfortable space of preparedness for the less comfortable topic of survival, and cooking for same.

As we make that transition, however, a couple of things to keep in mind. If you have stayed focused not on the near infinite number of possible disasters large and small, but concentrated on the three basic types of damage, you are as set as possible for disasters large and small. You have the ability to survive the minor, and even some major short-term, disasters with style and comfort.

As part of your food preparations, just as we need essential proteins, the body also needs a few essential fats that can’t be produced in the body and come from food. It’s a good topic to research, and the good news is that you can get them via fish oil capsules, fish oils (cod liver oil was used for a reason back when), certain fish, and nuts and vegetable oils. Me, I already take the capsules and hope to stock up more here soon. Having multiple sources of same via food and supplements is a good idea.

Before I forget, if I haven’t said this before, look at having ghee, olive oil, and lard on hand. Ghee is shelf-stable until opened, and can survive a while without refrigeration at need. Olive oil is very good for you, can even be used in lamps in an emergency (yes, smokey, but…), and again does not require refrigeration. Same for lard. All have fats and more needed by the body.

Now, most disasters are temporary. That is, the damage from them to people, places, and things can be healed, repaired or replaced over time. Just look at Ian, where despite a huge amount of damage (and, yes, it will potentially take years to fix it all), major infrastructure such as bridges, roads, power, and even water were back for almost everyone in less than a month. I can’t tell you how absolutely amazing that is, and it is tribute to the county disaster preparedness offices, the utilities, and others involved.

Out of that infinity-minus-2 list of potential disasters, most qualify as temporary for degrees of temporary. You are looking at hours, maybe days, and at worst a few weeks of major disruption to power, water, and such. Again, preparedness always pays, and proper preparedness can see you and yours ride things out if not in comfort, at least avoiding major discomfort.

There are a few things, however, that are not going to be temporary. A “zombie apocalypse” or other biological emergency is one such. An asteroid of any good size striking the earth, even if not an ELE (Extinction Level Event), is not going to be temporary. A series of volcanic eruptions (never mind a supervolcano) can potentially have years of effect. Idiots disrupting fuel and fertilizer are likely to create some long-term issues. A nuclear exchange/war will cause effects that will take years from which to recover.

Another quick aside: radiation and fallout from any event, be it a bomb or someone forcing a nuclear plant into meltdown, is going to be a bear, at least initially. Fact is, the worst of fallout is likely to die down in about three weeks given the short half-lives of some of the fallout, plus the majority will be out of the air by then. That’s why the feds recommend being able to hunker down safely for three weeks. Even bomb sites will “cool” over the years, and the Trinity site is open to tourists twice a year. Radiation is dangerous, make no mistake, but preparedness pays.

The thing is, those long-term events do require a different mindset. You are going to need to think long-term on things like light, power, cooking/and heating systems, and on food. What you have is likely to have to last you a while. That’s one reason I recommend for any major disaster going to short rations while you evaluate things. For the serious ones mentioned above, it isn’t just a good idea, it’s essential for the long-term survival of you and yours.

To that end, I highly recommend stock pots and cookware, such as cast iron, that can take multiple means of cooking. Most of my cookware, for example, can take gas, electric, or wood. I do use cast iron for certain types of cooking (one reason I really want to get moved is to be able to get to all my cookware). Yes, you really can bake in a Dutch Oven. You can even make an oven out of aluminum foil at need that works surprisingly well with a good fire.

Why large pots? Soups and stews. It is an easy way to get filling nutritious meals and fluids in one go. You can also add things to them and keep them going quite a while safely and effectively. There is a good bit written on this topic, and it can be quite fun (and tasty) to read and explore. You can go from Old World goulash to Cowboy Cuisine with ease. There is a reason soups and stews are pretty much a universal cuisine.

Also, before I forget: when stocking up, you may want to look at getting soups and such that are NOT condensed. Anything that needs you to add water is something where you should consider moderation. In any long-term disaster, water is likely to be the thing in shortest supply. Get your water systems now. Oh, and yes I said get one for each person no matter the age. You should also look at having a system in each vehicle, along with collapsable jugs for getting water.

Knew a couple years ago who had a hose blow out on a rural stretch of interstate. By the time a trooper saw them and got back to check on them, they had done a temporary patch on the hose, refilled the radiator with water from a nearby stream using a collapsable jug, and were getting ready to head to the nearest exit with either a garage or parts store. Preparedness always pays.

So, make sure you have cookware that can take pretty much any means of cooking, and go subject yourself to the horrible hardship (cough, choke, wheeze) of survival cooking that is learning how to make soups and stews. Plan ahead and you might be surprised how long you can make your supplies last in a non-temporary situation.

Preparedness On The Fly Series

Preparedness On The Fly (Food)

Preparedness On The Fly: Water

Preparedness On The Fly: Light

Preparedness On The Fly: Cooking

Preparedness On The Fly: Gear

Preparedness On The Fly: Protection

Preparedness On The Fly: General Thoughts

Preparedness On The Fly II: Complete Nutrition I

Preparedness On The Fly II: Complete Nutrition II

Preparedness On The Fly II: Health

Preparedness On The Fly II: Quick Thoughts

Of Interest

Preparedness: Bugout!

Buying Your First Weapon

Start Of All Posts On Preparedness

Nuclear Overview

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving to the SW, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo or drop me a line to discuss other methods. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.