Here are a few links to articles and videos I found interesting this week. Some are intellectual. Some are informative. Some are just fun. If you have some free time, check them out this weekend.
Street Ready .22 Rimfires
“The .22 LR isn’t the best choice out there, but for some people it’s the only handgun they can shoot accurately—or at all. It is surprisingly effective in street studies, and when push comes to shove, Mark Moritz’s “First Rule of a Gunfight” applies—have a gun!”
The author shows poor judgement by quoting the research of some dude named Ellifritz, but otherwise it’s a pretty good article!
Review: Ruger LCR-22 Snubnose Revolver
More .22 goodness. A very nice review of the Ruger LCR. In the LCR, the clear caliber choice is .22 long rifle because of the capacity difference. I’m not quite as down on the .22 magnum as the author is. Across most loads it gives closer to 100fps more velocity in the snub barrels. That doesn’t seem like much, but it is often the difference between a bullet that expands (or flattens) and one that does not when things are moving below 1000 fps. When comparing S&W guns the choice between eight .22 lr rounds versus seven .22 magnum rounds is a little tougher for me to make.
“Do you even TQ, bro…?”
Caleb shares some important advice about tourniquets.
Moneybag logic
“A Princeton University study by Gilens and Page performed a regression analysis on over a thousand public policy decisions, and determined that the effect of public opinion on public policy is nil. That’s right, nil. It doesn’t matter how you vote, it doesn’t affect the outcome in any measurable way. By extension, that also goes for protesting, organizing, dousing yourself with gasoline and setting yourself on fire on the steps of the US Senate, or whatever else you may get up to. It won’t influence those in power worth a damn.”
Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Safe or Deadly?
A good overview about male testosterone replacement therapy and some of the problems with a prominent research study about the topic.
Benefits of the Broomstick Boomstick
The use of vertical foregrips on rifles is controversial. Some like them. Some don’t. Here are some justifications for the VFG that you may not have considered.
A New Women’s Issue: Statins
If you are female and taking statin drugs, they may not be helping you.
“Women who are healthy derive no benefit from statins, and even those women who have established heart disease derive only half the benefit men do.”
“Budget” Red Dot Sight Comparison – Part 3
Cheap red dot sights dunked in water and placed on a Mosin Nagant for 20 rounds!
Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) Calculator
If you are interested in comparing the relative strength (as compared to morphine) of different narcotic medicines, here is a handy online calculator.
My EpiPen expired! Can I still use it?
One more austere medicine article…I cover the issue of using “expired” drugs in my medical classes. Most drugs remain at full potency six to 10 years beyond their expiration date if stored properly. That advice does not generally hold true for liquid preparations or injectables. Epi-pens are expensive. Can you use them if expired? This article tests blood concentrations of epinephrine, comparing in date epi-pens with expired ones. As long as the liquid in your pen is not discolored and does not contain particulates, it probably retains some potency. It’s better to use an epi-pen that is in date, but in an emergency when nothing else is available, it’s likely that you would obtain some degree of effectiveness when using an expired one.
THE MULTI DIMENSIONAL PARADIGMS OF SELF-DEFENSE
Three critical elements to understand proper self defense before you even think about learning physical skills.
Gastronomic Adventure in Sarajevo
One of the reasons I like to travel so much…the food! Look at the incredible “fast food” served in Sarajevo. It beats the hell out of McDonalds! It’s great being able to pick up a made-from-scratch sandwich like this from a street cart almost anywhere in the world for less than a dollar. It’s unbelievable that we can’t find stuff like this in the USA.
10 Ways to Spot Great Teachers (and Avoid Crummy Ones)
Learn how to avoid “pseudo-teaching.”
How to Remove a Tick: An Illustrated Guide
Critically important information for anyone who spends time outdoors. The ticks are out in full force. I found four of them crawling on me while I was teaching last weekend. One other thing this article doesn’t mention: If you are in an area with endemic tick-bourne disease (like Lyme disease), the CDC recommends taking an antibiotic for prophylaxis (single dose of Doxycycline) if you find an engorged tick attached to your body.
BEHOLD THE FEDERAL LAW : A PRIMER ON GUNS AND “SCHOOL ZONES”
An excellent analysis of the Federal Gun Free School Law and how it affects CCW carriers and police officers.
Securing Your Six: Teacher’s Edition
A very informative article about school safety. I’m not a fan of the author’s idea of pouring oil all over the floor to slow the shooter, but it’s worth wading through that nonsense to get the good stuff in the rest of the article. His suggestion for a way to secure an outward-opening classroom door is unique and easy. Another great product for securing classroom doors is “The Sleeve.”
Why the Iraqi Civil War Matters to America
An article that explains the conflict in Iraq in a way that is very easy to understand.
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