Of Oils, Beard Wax, And Learning Experiences

Among other things I got done yesterday, I made up a fresh batch of beard oil using a slightly different recipe and scents than the last time. The results were nice, though I still want to play with the recipe a bit more. Some of the oil is going to a friend, some went into making beard balm (again, some going to a friend), some into beard wax, and some into an experiment.

The beard oil is a mix of several different oils and is intended to help promote healthy skin and hair. If those who champion one particular essential oil are correct, it may even help with hair growth. Not going to bet on that, but it smells and feels good.

Beard oil is a prime component in both beard balms and beard waxes. I was out of my beard balm, so made some more. Again, played with the recipe just a bit as while it was good it was not quite what I was looking for. Wanted a bit more hold, even though — again — the balm is supposed to help ensure healthy skin and hair. Thing is, it is also supposed to provide at least some control and I didn’t think it was quite there.

For the record, a good balm contains beard oil, raw shea butter, and wax. Specifically, bees wax. On the latter, I bought some good quality bees wax “grains” a while back and they are lasting for now. Got some decent shea butter, and life has been good though it is often six months or so between batches as the products can last a while.

Now, a beard wax is new to me and I tried a recipe that sounded interesting. It used pine resin as part of the mix. That was different from what I had bought in the past and been looking at, so decided to try it. It does seem to work, but I’m also underwhelmed with the hold, the clean-up, and the fragrance.

The recipe called for beard oil, wax, and resin. My mug-warmer heater that I use for production (you need a low heat) apparently did not get hot enough for the resin, so used other means to heat (carefully) the mix and eventually pour it into a tin. Used some last night when I went out, and did not get the hold I expected and was hit with the overwhelming odor of turpentine as the resin overrode the scent of the oil. Think I’m going to be looking for a new recipe.

The last measure of the beard oil, however, went to another experiment. I decided to try to do at home a hot-oil conditioning for my hair. Since I’ve started letting it grow out, I’ve had to start using conditioner (Mane and Tail, as if it’s good enough for show horses it’s good enough for me). For a number of reasons, decided to try this at home. My recommendation is, don’t do this at home.

Not only was the application harder than expected, it quickly went everywhere. The floor of the shower was slick, I was slick, and it took a lot of effort to get the hair coated properly. Then, things got interesting.

Despite several washings, I could have appeared in a 1920s feature where all the males had their hair slicked back flat and dripping with oil. I’m just as happy few people saw me looking like that. Today, when I got my shower, I washed my hair with a bit of Dawn, and that did the trick. The conditioning did seem to help, but next time I think I’m going to leave it to the pros.

Meantime, have a good solid “base” recipe for the beard oil and am mostly playing with fragrance now. I also have a solid base recipe for the beard balm, and am mostly playing with how getting the hold where I want it. Finally, am going to be researching new recipes for beard waxes as I am underwhelmed with this one. Also, I’m going to leave hot-oil hair conditioning to the pros.

Onwards.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

It’s Not Just Here

Over at Instapundit this moring, Sarah A. Hoyt linked to a good post at Behind The Black on how the left has only a little time left to stop the violence. Sarah noted that she hoped we might yet walk the knife edge and avoid the horrible alternative. She’s right about that, as such will change not just us, but the world.

The problem is, we are not just walking a knife edge here. The President just noted earlier that the violence is because they (the progressives) are out of other options and the public is rather overwhelmingly in favor of the actions being taken (deportation of criminals being but one). Which is why Portland, Chicago, and other locations are trying their best to claim the mantle of George S. James, and Pritzker seems to see himself as Jefferson Davis.

I would argue that he is at least five Jefferson Davis’s, at least in volume. I would further argue that despite their delusions, neither Pritzker, Noisome, nor any others involved are anywhere close to being Gen. Beauregard. I futher agree with Victor Davis Hanson that Pritzker et al are indeed “neo-confederate nullificationists.” If they keep going, they are likely to find out what happened to the real Davis, Walker, and others. The problem is, neither we nor the U.S. will be the same afterwards. The odds are good that if it gets out of hand, it won’t stay limited and no sane person wants Civil War 2.0.

But, the progressives are not sane by reasonable standards. They see power slipping away, funds drying up, and are already sold on violence being acceptable to force their twisted dreams into something resembling (vaguely) reality.

Big problem is, it’s not just here. Look at all the places where violence has started up after the Trump Gaza peace deal. Bree A. Dail noted it on X and she is right. Look at what is going on in England right now (for all that there is some hope, I truly do think it lost), not to mention Germany and France (strong lack of coverage here). The only places it isn’t flaring up are those countries that have been bucking the EU on forced immigration (cough Hungary cough). It really does look like a large-scale effort at revolution, or if they can’t be successful, ensuring the rest of us go down with them. And, yes, I do think those behind this are just that spiteful.

To add to the fun, consider also that Russia is getting increasingly desperate. Rather, in many respects, Vladimir is getting more and more desperate. Right now, I’m not sure what is going on with the power struggle as there are a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of disinformation (most aimed internal IMO), and a fair bit of confusion. If one thing I have heard is true, a long-time trusted advisor to Vladimir has been sacked and if true (note caveat) it is not good as that person opposed the invasion of Ukraine and has also opposed nuclear sabre-rattling and options. If he is indeed gone, that’s not good and Defcon Warning Systems is right with some of their concerns.

For all that I am still in the 20 percent club in regards traditional powers/stockpiles, any attempted use or even strong threat is going to have very bad results. There is no such thing as limited use, and given the growing membership in the nuclear club there is an increased chance of someone responding without consultation. That way lies madness.

But madness can seem at least borderline sane when you are facing a reversal of fortunes on the conventional front, growing manpower problems, growing attacks that are disrupting energy, transportation, agriculture, and more. Add in an unhappy populace and growing restiveness in the ranks of those who would like to replace you and… Desperate people do desperate things, and when your last pipeline to thoughts and information carefully kept outside your information bubble, which is in a silo and both are inside yet more bubbles, and decisions that have no connection with reality are easy to make.

I’m not so sure that the 20 percent club applies to newer nuclear powers either, such as China. Keep in mind that China is facing a lot of challenges and in his own way Winnie the Xi is growing as desperate at Vladimir. I think he’s got a better chance of holding on for now, but he’s fast approaching some go/no-go decisions on everything from Taiwan on to other economic and territorial ambitions. We are ill prepared to deal with any go decisions. Oh, and to add to the fun, if Vladimir and Russia get further into trouble, Xi would be more than happy to reclaim a good and important chunk of the Russian far east for China. They have long wanted it, and the resources, back.

In short, things could get hairy. We’ve been very lucky walking the knife blade so far. Fact is, aside from pointing things out and urging people to not respond to the provocations in a direct way, there’s not much I can do or that any of us can do. We can try to keep cool heads, and urge our leaders to the same. Other than that, the only option is prayer.

And, yes, I do pray not just for us to stay on the knife edge, but for us to get past things and move forward. If we don’t slip, there are some amazing things and times ahead of us. So, I turn the future over to the Lord and pray that he get us through this. I pray for peace, just peace, in the world. Among the several prayers I try to say everyday is one I modified a while back. It was originally done for one country under communism, but I think almost every European country that ended up under communism had it’s own version. Mine is:

Prayer for the Salvation of Earth

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, forgive our iniquities. Through the interceessions of Thy most pure Mother, save the suffering people of Earth from the yoke of the godless authority. Amen.

For those who don’t know, the “yoke of the godless authority” is that of communism, which means communism and socialism of all types as they are simply parts of the same coin. Doesn’t matter if “true” communism, Soviet “socialism” that was communism, National Socialism, or any other facet of the ultra-leftest creed that is envy, despair, and slavery. The woke, aka progressive left, WEF-types, etc. are all of the same coin, and they are all the godless authority who seek to destroy freedom and religion. Hence, my prayer which I’ve been saying since before the last election. I hope you might join me in it.

Yes, things are happening all over and the push to foment violence and violent response is not limited to just the U.S. There are other flashpoints that exist, but they are also linked in many ways to this desperate progressive push.

Against it, let me quote “Hold the Line!” There is likely to be a blood-price paid, but with God’s Grace we can walk the knife edge to safer and better times. Pray that we do, and that we retain cool heads no matter what. I really do need to do a post one day soon on all the good things I see coming if we can but hold the line. We truly can have a golden age, if we can hold on through these interesting times.

Pray, have Faith, and hang in there. As part of that, be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Unfortunately, It Makes Sense

I think I got this from Sarah at Instapundit the other day, and it is one to share far and wide. I’ve read it, pondered, and read a bit more, and it makes sense. Why are so many people of a progressive stripe lying about so many things? It’s not that they don’t know that they lie, or that we the readers don’t know they are lying. For they know, and we know.

What if it is for a different and very dangerous reason? What if they are lying in order to poison AI learning efforts? Go read this for yourself and ponder it a bit.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Law Dog Files

I’ve added the Bugscuffle Gazette, aka the Law Dog Files, to the “If I Am Absent” section. Lot of good food for thought there. Check it out.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

To Those Hitting The Tip Jar

Thank You! Thank You! THANK YOU!

All the donations have been anonymous, so wanted to say thank you here. Know you get an automated thank you, but wanted to do something more personal. While the payment processor (not GiveSendGo) takes a cut, I’m putting the full amount donated towards payment of the plane tickets and other expenses of the pilgrimage. Thank you for helping me make this possible.

Remember, the tip jar is in the upper right and if you don’t see an option you like, reach out and we can go from there. The main link is at A New Life on GiveSendGo but there are other options including (sigh) PayPal. Yes, I tried to close that account and there were technical issues on their end that prevented that. Still an option at need.

Again, however, THANK YOU!

Links And Food For Thought

Sorry, dragging this morning as yesterday was a full and amazing day. As I’ve said before, my Sundays usually start about 0245 and yesterday it ran until well after 2000 hours as we had a picnic and more hosted by our Priest and his wife. It was great to see all the kids playing together (and burning off energy), and I was highly amused watching a 2-year-old young lady going flat out on everything from chasing the free-range chickens (some of whom were bigger than she was) to pushing other children on carts and tricycles. We even had a bit of a sing-along with a couple of people bringing guitars and getting into a variety of music. Good but long day.

The idea of euthanasia horrifies me on its own, but the growing partnership between such and the transplant industry is actually terrifying. Nevermind that it is ALWAYS a matter of “right to die” being a euphemism for “obligation to die” when in the hands of the state (both it and abortion are murder, period, full stop). For more on part of this and why I am no longer an organ donor, see here.

Today, I offer you two very good bits of food for thought. It was a coin toss on who went first, and so we start with this piece from Ian at the Law Dog Files/Bugscuffle Gazette. Then, go read this post from Vodka Pundit at PJ Media. I will also note that Vodka Pundit has been all over this topic for a while.

Organ transplantation has saved lives, restored sight, and done many other things that have had positive impact on many, many lives. The growing linkage between it and the evil of euthanasia can, and will, not merely taint things but turn transplantation into an outright and unmitigated evil. I think we went over that slippery slope a while back. All we are seeing now is that the slope has been well greased.

More soon I hope.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Fox One, RFIDs, Security

Well, I bought my tickets this morning for the pilgrimage next year. Might should have bought last week when they were really down, but did okay on the price. I might could have gotten a bit better deal, but as it is I went through the airline to ensure I got a changeable and refundable ticket, and to ensure a few other things.

The really good deals out there by and large don’t include checked luggage and other delights, and they also often don’t include getting to the originating airport. My ticket includes true round-trip service, checked baggage, flexibility, and more. It does not include seat upgrades and other nice-to-do upgrades. I can live without those, and besides: it’s a pilgrimage and those are supposed to have a certain amount of discomfort to them.

I’ve also bought a new wallet. My current wallet is a military ID holder I bought in Iraq back in 2007, and it is starting to fall apart. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it.

What I’ve ordered is something that can hold my stuff, including passport, and is RFID blocking. That’s become a big issue overseas (particularly in airports and other transportation hubs) and is starting to be an issue here. I’ve also ordered some RFID-blocking sleeves for my cards, and even put a passive jammer on my Amazon wish list (upper right). The new wallet wasn’t expensive, and it gives me time to check it out well in advance. Plan to slip an airtag into it too.

The RFID scanning is one issue I can fight in advance. Pick-pockets are an issue I will have to deal with there. More than halfway tempted to find my old dummy wallet that I put in my back pocket. Looked real, but nothing much in it other than junk including airline drink coupons (expired) pretending to be cash. Other than the dummy wallet, I never carry anything other than tissues in my back pockets overseas. Front pockets, I’ve been known to put plastic grocery bags in them above contents to deter thieves. One of the best things to do is put the contents in a fanny pack, then wear it in front.

More soon, off to get a few more things done today.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Backpacks And Artificial Shoulders, Pt. 3

Following up on the original post and this post, I just did a quick mile ruck with an Osprey backpack (Aether 70) someone at Church has given me to try. It’s the same model I had tried out at the outfitters, though a different size frame and a few years old though unused.

To see how it did with some weight in it, I put a 20-pound barbell in the lower compartment, unsecured. About the worst place to put any weight; but, it was a quick way to test how much weight could get transferred to my shoulders. Especially since neither the hip belt or shoulder straps are fitted to me (yet).

I really like how the suspension system works, and know that if it were fitted to me it would be even better. The dealer can fit it to a person, even heat molding part of the hip belt system to give a custom fit. As it is, without any real adjustment to my frame, most of the weight (even when bouncing) stayed off my shoulders.

So, my next step is to see if the local outfitter will be willing to help me with this. If they are, first up will be making sure it is the right size frame for my body (person who bought it has a more slender frame) and that it can be adjusted to me. If it can, I’m likely to go with it for the trip. If not, I know what is needed and will work on getting it.

Onwards.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

More Medical Thoughts

In the comments to this post, GWB mentions his get-home bag. He was kind enough to e-mail me with more info, and I want to share what he sent:

“Container is a small bag I got with an Ammunition Depot order. I ordered another one, later, when I put together the second bag.

It has a shoulder strap you can disconnect on one end and stow in the open pocket on the back of the bag. It also has a velcro belt loop on the back, and a handle on the top. The main compartment is about 5x6x9. It has a zippered pouch on the front about 3x5x6. On the front of that is a zippered slit pouch. There are molle straps across the front and on the sides and a small bungee cord setup above that smaller pouch.

Outside is where I keep my flashlight (on/in a molle strap) (and which I need to replace).

On the other side, threaded through the molle straps is 100′ of parachute cord, held together at the bottom by a couple of small carabiners (not climbing rated).

Inside that zippered slit pouch are 2 emergency ponchos. Yes, the cheap kind. Useful for all sorts of things.

Inside the small zippered pouch are:

An all-weather 3×5 notebook

A pack of Grime Boss wipes

A Leatherman

A cyalume light stick

A little marker (fine point, bought at Home Depot)

There should also be a lighter/torch in there, but I can’t carry it onboard an airplane in my luggage… so looking for a better solution*

Inside the main compartment is:

A Trauma Pak from Adventure Medical Kits, containing Quik Clot, trauma pad, nitrile gloves, duct tape, triangular bandage, some gauze dressings, a “conforming gauze” bandage, antiseptic wipes, and the resealable bag can be used for sucking chest wounds

3 emergency water supply pouches (the ones for keeping on boats)**

An orange tourniquet (with the write-on label, hence the marker)

A baggie with some larger band-aid type bandages

3 Millennium energy bars (400 kcal each)

A paper bit on “Tips for Survival” by Marvin B Lark (that I can use to start a fire)

2 Burn-Fix 4×4 burn dressings

An un-sharpened carpenter’s pencil (red)

An emergency blanket

A roll-up splint

A large red or orange bandana

A pair of nomex gloves

* I do carry a book of paper matches when I fly, since that seems to be the only thing TSA will allow. Any other suggestions for a non-primitive method of fire-starting I could carry/pack on aircraft are welcome. (Somewhere I have one of those fire-starters that uses air compression to produce heat.)

** The water pouches serve two purposes: drinking and irrigation of wounds. If you cut a small enough corner off the pouch, you can get a decent stream of water when you squeeze it. Not for antiseptic purposes, but get dirt away from the wound and clear off some of the blood.

When I had a car, I had in it what I called a Bailout Bag, as it was intended to get me home or to safety in the event of an emergency. What GWB has put together here puts my old bag to shame, and is an excellent guide for those just thinking about such things.

It has some trauma gear; it has some boo-boo gear; multiple sources of light; the ability to make fire at need; food; and, water. All in a small, easy to store and carry package. There are any number of things that can happen that result in your having to leave your vehicle behind, and having something like this helps ensure you can get home or to safety at need.

All the gear in the world does you no good if it is not with you when you need it. Having smaller kits like this ensures you do have it/have access to it when needed.

Also, note that he has burn supplies in his bag. That’s something I need to add to my pouch and gear. When I did my embeds, the largest burn threat came from EFPs and all the burn cream in the world won’t do much for those. Need to get that back into the system as life today has many other sources where burn bandages and such would be very useful.

In addition to the bailout bag, my car also had a full-sized first aid kit skewed towards use in traffic accidents. Having both gave me flexibility and options, including the ability to pull from the large kit into the small if I did have to bail out.

So, it’s not just one kit. It’s having different kits of different sizes to cover different needs. It’s making sure you have access to at least some first aid gear at all times.

One final thought for your bailout/get-home bag. Consider having some air-activated hand and toe warmers in it. If you have to leave the car behind in winter, such will help protect your hands and feet. If you have to stay in the car without heat, they will help you there too. Just a thought.

My thanks to GWB for sharing this. May it help you in your preparedness.

As always, be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, 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. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.