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.
Why Kids Shoot Up High Schools, Why They Only Do So Outside of Big Cities, and How to Stop Them
A surprisingly good article about school shootings from a mainstream news outlet.
In 2013 I Traveled to 7 Countries and Lived Mostly in AirBnB Rentals – Here’s How I Did It
The definitive guide to saving money in your travels by using Air BnB instead of hotels. These guys also have an excellent business podcast called The Tropical MBA. Check it out!
Stuff Breaks
Good advice from Hilton Yam. Having spare gun parts is good, but having an entire spare gun is better.
Cardio Kills
Walk or sprint. Don’t “jog” or spend hours on the silly cardio machines in the gym.
The Ability to Demonstrate
I agree with Jeff’s position here. Instructors should demonstrate the techniques they are teaching. I shoot every drill I want my students to do in class. It is quite simple, most students are visual learners. They need to SEE the drill performed correctly in order to do it themselves. Explanations only aren’t enough. If instructors can’t perform the drill they are teaching on demand in front of the class, they have no business teaching.
Why You Hate Work
“We often ask senior leaders a simple question: If your employees feel more energized, valued, focused and purposeful, do they perform better? Not surprisingly, the answer is almost always “Yes.” Next we ask, “So how much do you invest in meeting those needs?” An uncomfortable silence typically ensues.”
Practice with Back Up Guns
An often overlooked skill to practice…drawing and shooting a backup gun from the position it is normally carried. Not many cops do it regularly. Here’s an easy suggestion: Strap on your backup gun during your shooting practice sessions. When doing drills with the primary handgun, draw and finish the drill with the backup gun whenever you run completely out of ammo. One of the reasons you might transition to your backup is when your primary is completely out of ammo. Why not program that response and get some practice rounds with your backup at the same time?
Are Xylitol, Sorbitol, and Other Sugar Alcohols Safe Replacements For Sugar?
The science behind “Sugar Alcohols.” Check out Chris’ article on other artificial sweeteners as well.
A listing of the places where travelers are most likely to be kidnapped and the techniques used in each of those countries. I don’t know what it says about my travel habits, but I’ve visited five of the eight countries he profiled (some multiple times) and never had any issues.
Sharia: Real Law and the Language Our Enemies Use
The first of a five-part series of articles about Sharia Law and how it affects Americans. I’ve attended a seminar on Islamic terrorism from the author. He is a former FBI agent and one of the most informed individuals in the world in the field of Sharia Law. Check out the rest of the series as well: Sharia’s dual message HERE. Signs of Sharia adherence HERE. Sharia and Human Rights Here. Sharia and the US Constitution HERE.
Tactical Handyman: Dirt Cheap .22LR Snap Caps
I first heard about this little trick from “The Tactical Professor” Claude Werner. Dry firing rimfire weapons may cause damage unless you use snap caps. Drywall anchors are the cheapest snap caps you can find!
The Story of Drug Trafficking in Latin America
An in-depth analysis of the history and structure of Latin American drug cartels. This is important for American cops and anyone interested in drug use in the USA. The Mexican Cartels supply the vast majority of heroin and a significant amount of marijuana used in the states. The article HERE gives some additional narrative about like on the border and how smuggling operations affect the local residents.
The Best Defense Training: Protection in a gun free zone
A short video from Michael Janich showing how to use a bulletproof panel to convert your backpack into a ballistic shield. The video also shows some useful ways of using the shield if you are being shot at. I have a ballistic panel in the backpack I use as a carry-on in all my foreign travels. If you find that a new panel is too expensive, look for used police bulletproof vests on ebay. You can find them for around $150 and you’ll get two panels you can use like this.
Build a Bug Out Kindle: A Digital Survival Library at Your Fingertips
A lot of great knowledge to obtain here. I had forgotten about some of these books. When I was growing up in the 1970s, many of these older books were in my town’s public library and were 30 years old then. As a kid, I read How to Stay Alive in the Woods and Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties more times than I could count.
“Harder hitting” nonsense…
Tim hits it out of the park with this article about the quest for a “harder hitting” pistol for the military.
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