Month: June 2013

Friday Quote – George Orwell

That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.

George Orwell, author

In an egalitarian society, where all people are equal under the law, the ultimate expression of that equality is the common ownership of deadly weapons. It is more than an armed society being a polite society, but the realization that the populace has the means at its disposal to resist tyranny.

H/t to reader David for sending me a bunch of quotes to use.

SHTF. Now what?

One of my friends related a situation that happened to her. She was at a conference when an alarm sounds instructing everyone to evacuate the hotel. No siren, just flashing fire alarms and the voice telling the guests to evacuate.

Not one of the attendees at this professional conference moved until the speaker told them to evacuate.

We discussed this on the Book of Face as to why no one moved or reacted. There was some discussion that we’ve become so inured to alarms, our reactions are muted. That may be part of it, but I wonder if because it wasn’t a traditional alarm, there wasn’t the automatic reflex to evacuate.

What are the lessons?

1. Plan. “Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.” No matter where you are or who you’re with, you need to plan. If I need to leave in a hurry, where are the exits? Where are the most likely areas an attack could come from, and what actions can I take to deter and what tools do I need to protect myself and those under my care? Don’t just make one plan. Try to have at least three for the most common situations. Planning also means having the tools available. Do you have a gun, knife, flashlight, lighter, and/or first-aid kit? If you can’t carry some of these items, do you have something that can substitute for them? Have you trained in shooting, fighting, first-aid? These are all parts of planning for emergencies before they happen.

2. Be aware. When something unusual appears in your environment, you can’t just brush it off. It may be an unlocked door, a suspicious person, or an unfamiliar alarm. If it sets off your “spidey-sense,” it did so for a reason.

3. Act. All of your planning and awareness is useless if you don’t act. It can be hard to be the first one in a professional conference to stand up and walk out while everyone stands there. It may be difficult to call about a suspicious person because of fear of falsely accusing someone. Don’t be afraid to act, and don’t be afraid to tell other people to act. They may be thinking the same as you, but need that small kick in the pants to get moving.

4. React, Adapt, and Overcome. “No plan survives first contact with the enemy.” You can’t plan for everything. There will be something that your plan didn’t take into account. This is where a level head and constant evaluation is necessary. In many ways, this is Plan, Be Aware, and Act at light speed. I know, “How do you plan for the unexpected?” Some of this will be helped by planning, it may just not be a plan you had for the original situation. Having a large “database” of plans and reactions can help when confronted with new situations. Also, being aware of alternate uses for the tools you have and the items in the environment is extremely helpful. The most important component of this is still to keep thinking. The situation doesn’t end when you put your plan into action, it ends when you are out of harm’s way.

5. Evaluation. Once the emergency is passed and everyone is safe, you have to evaluate the incident. Best to start as soon as possible, when the details are fresh. Try to have as many sources as possible to overcome your own perception issues. Ask “What went wrong/right?”; “Was there a better way?”; “What tools/training would have made this easier?”

6. Communicate. Talk with your friends and family so they can learn from your experience. Post it on Facebook, your blog, whatever. Don’t just keep it to yourself. Most of what I’ve learned isn’t because I’ve been in those situations, but because I’ve studied what others have done.

To help kick start this process, I would highly recommend the Practical Defense podcast.

Metal Tuesday – Pyramaze – The Mighty Abyss

This week’s Metal Tuesday is Pyramaze’s “The Mighty Abyss.”

Lyrics:

Endless ocean, oh mighty deep
A billion years old, and you never ever sleep
Nightmare creatures and playful friends
God’s creations or natures circumstance

Look into the mirror of blue
And you’ll see

(chorus)
The almighty abyss
I often stare into
The almighty abyss
Always looking back at you…….oh……

Stop to listen, and you will hear
The songs of centuries, they’ll filling your ears
Shadows pass by just like a dream
Under the surface they’re watching through the years

Look into the mirror of blue
And you’ll see

The almighty abyss
I often stare into
The almighty abyss
Always looking back at you
The almighty abyss
I often stare into
The almighty abyss
Always looking back at you……ah

See
Hear
You will know
You will feel

The almighty abyss
I often stare into
The almighty abyss
Always looking back at you
The almighty abyss
I often stare into
The almighty abyss
Always looking back at you……ah

The Circus Is Starting Today

Jury selection in the Zimmerman murder trial starts today. I expect this will be hyped and spun against lawful self defense in particular and the scourge of guns in general.

So far, nothing I’ve read or seen shows this as anything but a lawful self defense shooting. The problem I’ve had discussing this case with people outside of my circle (mainly co-workers) is that most people don’t really understand what constitutes lawful self-defense in Florida, when force can be used, and what constitutes a threat.

For me, the biggest lesson is that any self-defense shooting could end up like this. All I can do is make sure that I do everything I can to limit what can be used against me.

Why Exactly Do They Need That?

The Guardian managed to obtain a copy of a FISA court order to Verizon that demands a log be provided to the NSA for all calls made on Verizon’s network for a three-month period ending July 19, 2013. This log is supposed to provide the calling and receiving phone numbers, time of call, duration, and location data.

First question, was Verizon the only telecom served with one of these, or was it the only court order leaked to the press? I could see Verizon being targeted because it is the largest, but if FISA was willing to issue this kind of order for one telecom, I don’t see NSA stopping with Verizon.

Second question, what the hell does the NSA need with all of that data? If it’s pursuant to an on-going investigation, then the agency should have been able to narrow the scope of their request. If it’s just data mining, then FISA should’ve told NSA to go to hell. FISA is supposed to a safeguard against this kind of unconstitutional overreach, not a damn rubber stamp.

Third question, what’s going to happen to all that data when/if the NSA’s investigation ends? I have a nasty feeling that the entire data will find its way to one of NSA’s servers, “just in case” those records might be needed again.

Fourth question, what other governmental entities will have access to that trove of data gathered under the FISA order? If the Feds can use the provisions of the PATRIOT Act to fight the War on Drugs in addition to the War on Terror, then I can’t see this data not being used for purposes beyond what the NSA “needs.”

Final question, will this generate any outrage beyond the chattering classes? I’d like to think so, but I’m skeptical.

Already, it’s being reported that a couple of senators are defending the NSA’s actions because “they’ve doing it for years and it’s produced results.” Exactly how is that supposed to make me feel better?

Maybe Rand Paul will do another filibuster about this.

Proving Once Again How Much Florida is Infested by Yankees

Breda had this on her Facebook, and of course, I had to put my two cents worth.

First, read this article from Business Insider and look at the pretty maps showing how differently Americans talk.

One thing I noticed immediately was how often Florida, particularly South Florida, matched northern speech patterns. Damn Yankees. First they screw up the traffic, now they’re trying to make us sound like them. Damn Yankees.

One of the most moving speeches I’ve read

Business Insider has an article about a speech given by General John Kelly about two Marines who died defending their post against a suicide truck bomb. You really need to read the whole thing. Here’s an excerpt:

They were from two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple America’s exist simultaneously depending on one’s race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.

The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like: “Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.” “You clear?” I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like: “Yes Sergeant,” with just enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, “No kidding sweetheart, we know what we’re doing.” They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, al Anbar, Iraq.

A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley way—perhaps 60-70 yards in length—and sped its way through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck’s engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped.

These two Marines didn’t hesitate, but engaged the target threatening their brother Marines.

H/t Miguel