The Pain Box

The tarantula hawk wasp

A cool story with an important lesson.

In the "yin" and "yang" of things,  arrogance and fear are just parts of the same equation. The wisdom is to recognize where your head is at exactly.

Click HERE

Bosnia: Suriving A Collapsed City

Apparently the article below was from someone who spent a year in such difficult and limited conditions at the height of the Balkan wars in Bosnia.

Whether true or not, it can give valuable lessons as to what it took to survive those times. 

(Click below)

How People Survived in a Collapsed City

Hasty Hanson Harness

UPDATE:

This was on old post but I though I add another excellent video tutorial below. God forbid you should ever need to do this, it works best if you have an actual LOAD BEARING carabiner (I always use one as my key chain/SD tool and is always with me).

Again, please refer to the DISCLAIMER prominently featured in two areas of this blog, above and on the sidebar (you can expand the video by clicking the icon).

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First of, here's a quick link to the DISCLAIMER above not to mention the other one in the sidebar on the right. These skills are best learned with 3 important elements: the right training, instructor, and the tools or equipment. Attempting it without any of those previously mentioned and well, as Forrest Gump would say: "Stupid is as stupid does!"  

Having said all that, the ability to quickly effect a rescue, egress or quick descents as safe as possible is an invaluable skill for both professionals (soldiers, first responders, firemen even field-research academics) as well as hobbyists (mountaineers, outdoorsmen, flyers/pilots). 

There are several methods for tying hasty harnesses with rescue webbing. This short instructional is probably one of the quickest, but still uncomfortable, methods:

If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.

- Ernest Hemingway

  A Farewell to Arms

A Perspective on Size

Photo from ww.nasa.gov

Next time you're feeling very "significant" or how lasting your impact is in the sphere of things, take a look at the brief video below about our sun. See how you measure-up. . .

The Sandy Hook Incident

God bless the little departed ones. . . 

The world is still mourning and regretting this recent event. 

In the past, this humble blog has presented similar incidences and scenarios, the last one was the incident in Norway here being an active shooter/mass killing scenario.

With regards to adopting certain security measures, Israel being a nation and a people living with a grim reality of unrest and terror in their midst, have adopted these strong learnings in their daily lives which we've also featured in this previous article relating to airport security.

Now, this very recent article is another expansion of policies and measures by the Israelis again to cope with the dangers that has confronted its school system, in which the young are very vulnerable.

While such measures are still very much up for debate, including how viable they are in our own settings, it does make one pause to think and consider just how much are we willing ensure our level of safety and security in today's world.

  

Types of Gun Owners

Been watching this guy since sometime back. Not the most subtle but very knowledgeable indeed. Can't really add much of anything since most of what he says hits the mark so to speak.

So which type are you?

Not a gun owner/user? Ok then, think wider, broader and more honest in terms of your lifestyle, training and outlook in life.

Tough answers, eh?

Heaven and Hell

I've been wanting to write about Meister Eckhart for sometime (after I finally get my lazy ass to do so though. . . )

Anyway, a movie back in the early 1990's called Jacob's Ladder made a reference to him. It was a supernatural drama about a man being troubled psychologically by his personal crises and dreams. 

The scene below is when a very helpful chiropractor aides the main character "Jacob" not just physically but also spiritually from the teachings of Eckhart.  

New Gear: Leatherman Charge

Functional.

Well thought-out selection of tools.

Sturdy construction.

Loving it to bits! 

The Tao Of Yao (Ming)

"How does a single blade of grass thank the sun?"


"It is not a violent strength like fire or something aggressive. It is like the ocean, very peaceful, very quiet when you look at it. But you can never underestimate the power that is in there."

PMC's: Do's And (mostly) Don'ts

From toy-workers.blogspot.com

Too real and too funny. Click below -

Tips for Contractors

A New One For The Knowledge Base

Got THIS book recently. Liking it as I read thru. 

The Fading Art of Balisong Making

 The iconic "beintenueve" (29), the street name of the balisong folding knife

With a lot of traditional crafts and hand-made industries world-wide succumbing to both the pressures and preferences of modern times, it's not surprising that balisong-making in Batangas would follow. It is no less sobering though. I still remember the one in my family from my uncle that could puncture a one peso coin, the traditional indicator of good tempering in the blade steel.

Click HERE here for the news bit.

Urban Ready Keychain

Never leave home without it!

The "5 C's" of an Urban Ready Keychain are: 

1. Cut - A SAK (Swiss Army Knife) Explorer. Good selection of tools at the just the right size and can be carried almost anywhere.

2. Combustion - a Bic lighter (in sheath)

3. Cord - 10" long paracord. The "chain" should be knotted in such a way as to be quickly deployed if needed for emergencies.

4. Call Attention - For signalling, a metal whistle and small coin-battery flashlight near carabiner attachment. 

5. Convenient Carry - All packaged small and compact enough to be brought along always, attached to your pants or inside your EDC bag.

On the Ethos of Norse Heroes and Myths

The only sustaining support possible for the human spirit, the one pure unsullied good men can hope to attain, is heroism; and heroism depends on lost causes. The hero can prove what he is only by dying. The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat.  

- Edith Hamilton

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

Last Javan Rhino in Vietnam Killed

 
UPDATE: This deserves a lot more attention. See the painful video below -

Picture from www.worldwildlife.org

No words. Utterly tragic. Another species gets closer to extinction yet again, and here in this part of the world no less.

News video HERE

Packing Like A Pro

Very efficient folding for a month's worth of travel.

19th Defense and Sporting Arms Show PART 2

November 17 - 21, 2011

Megatrade Halls, Bldg. B

SM Megamall

Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong

Metro Manila

Check out the seminars on prepping and readiness. Lots of stuff to learn and re-learn.  

Threats vs. Vulnerabilities

Got this from a great systems security blog. A good read (PDF file) on which is which exactly and how it helps to know the difference. Click below -

The Difference Between Threats and Vulnerabilities

Goldern Tiger Emergency and First Aid Gear

Golden Tiger International has recently released its product line geared for law enforcement, emergency professionals as well as prepared civilians. Click on the pics below to view some of their offerings.

For more info, please call Ms. Vivien Chau at (02) 411-05-41 and cell no. 09228619046