Yesterday was Chick-Fil-A's annual Cow Appreciation Day.
For those who are unfamiliar with the event, it's where you dress up like a cow and get free food at Chick-Fil-A.
If you wear either something on your head or the rest of your body (like cow spots), you'll get a free entrée; if you do both, you get a combo meal. The cow with the firefighter's costume was great this year; his official job was to have his picture taken with people, but he also posed for pictures for my brother (who's been using every chance he has to use the new Canon EOS Rebel T1i he got for his birthday), stuck his head next to people and startled them when they saw him, and some other stuff. He managed to fit in a booth, across the table from a girl who was waiting for her friends to get back; she apparently thought that was hilarious.
Perhaps the best act of all was when we were leaving: the cow grabbed several straws and handed them to us. I was slightly puzzled by that, until he showed what they were for, and started dueling with the "swords."
He "died" several times and fell on the floor, but he was just "sort of dead" (if you remember, there's "sort of dead", "mostly dead", and "all dead"), so he just revived, dusted himself off, and inflicted several casualties himself. The whole thing was pretty funny.
Before he became an actor, one job Brad Pitt had was as a giant chicken in front of El Pollo Loco.
I thought it would be great fun to get a giant chicken costume and go into Chick-Fil-A to duke it out with the cow.
Moooo.
-Max owt ;-)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Home Invasion
Here's the post I mentioned I'd write in my "Self-defense, etc." post.
If someone with less-than-friendly intentions breaks into your house, are you prepared to handle the situation?
Many are not.
Here are some tips (not necessarily in order of importance) to prepare yourself for the possibility of a home invasion.
You may or may not choose to use them, but even if not, they might give you something to think about.
In fact, it may be a good idea to pick and choose which steps you'll take for your own situation.
This post has served its purpose if even if you don't use any of the tips written here, you think about how to become more prepared and think up your own home defense rules and measures.
1) Awareness and preparedness
As always, be aware of your surroundings and any possible threats.
Many home invasions happen when the intruder has a chance to observe the habits of a homeowner; this is often done relatively easily by a neighbor or someone in your neighborhood who can watch when you leave to go to work or church, etc.
Have a "safe room" where your family can go to in case of a home invasion so they have have a (relatively) safe place to call 911 from.
2) If you have sliding doors or windows, put dowel rods in the tracks, so if an intruder manages to jimmy the lock, he will be unable to slide the door open and will have to break the window (causes noise) or search for another point of entry.
3) Have pepper spray both on you and hidden but easily accessible in every room.
I highly recommend carrying pepper spray with you at all times for self-defense, for a variety of reasons.
First, it's highly effective in stopping an attacker (just watch some of the demonstration videos).
It's also easy to use (point and spray), unlike a gun, which requires quite a bit of practice to become proficient in its use. Furthermore, a small canister of pepper spray is inexpensive.
Yet another very important reason is the fact that pepper spray is non-lethal. This is good if you want to defend yourself but don't want to kill anyone, and won't leave you with any of the unfortunate legal issues that shooting someone might, since the effects of pepper spray are temporary.
What I recommend you do if you're able to (and want to) do is this:
Carry at least a handgun and pepper spray.
That way, you can use pepper spray in a situation where either lethal force is unnecessary, or where the attacker/s are in close range.
For instance, thugs breaking in the front door. In fact, I think that would be a perfect opportunity to use pepper spray, since only one intruder will be able to fit in the doorway at a time, allowing you to spray them one at a time. Preferably, they all rush in the doorway simultaneously (although this may be unlikely, since most criminals aren't stupid - most of the stupid ones are dead or in jail), which would allow you to incapacitate them all by just turning the spray from one attacker to another. In situations where you have pepper spray and are confronted by multiple attackers who are, unhelpfully, not standing right next to each other, you should probably get your back to a corner, wall or doorway, so nobody can sneak up behind you.
Of course, that leaves the question of what to do if you've got your back to a wall or something and you run out of pepper spray while you're still under attack...
Then you'll obviously have to switch weapons, resort to unarmed combat, or cower in fear and see if help will somehow arrive. Note: I highly discourage resorting to the latter method.
Anyway, what I plan to do eventually is to carry at least one handgun, canister of pepper spray, and fixed blade knife on my person, so I can use pepper spray if I am able to do so, the pistol otherwise, and the knife/knives as backup in case my gun fails and pepper spray is empty...or anything like that.
Here's a link to Cold Steel's Inferno Pepper Spray page:
http://www.ltspecpro.com/inpesp.html
4) Have a dog such as a German Shepherd.
Although I've heard quite a few people say a dog is very helpful as an "early warning" security measure, as well as a good line of defense in its own right, I don't particularly want a dog because of all the things its care entails...but that's just my preference.
5) Have a fence around your house.
Fences can also be a good security measure, in some instances, but I don't think they're other than a slight obstacle to an intruder unless topped with barbed wire, glass, nails, or other sharp objects, electrified, etc., any of which may be illegal in many places. And besides, not only does having barbed wire on top of your fence make your house rather aesthetically displeasing, having your house/yard looking so obviously like a fortress may make the neighbors rather nervous.
6) Get a camera and alarm security system.
It's a good idea to not have trees, bushes, or other cover for a certain radius around your house.
It's good to have a clear line of sight with no places of concealment in the immediate vicinity of your house.
7) Other home defenses
One good defense measure that most homeowners are unlikely to consider because of the visual appearance, weight, etc. is a bullet-resistant door (not "bulletproof", since nothing is completely bulletproof).
This is not a defense measure I'd put particularly high on this list, but since people have gotten shot and killed by bullets that went through the door, I think this deserves mentioning.
I thought about having a log (like a battering ram) or wrecking ball suspended from the ceiling, in case someone (or better yet, multiple people) tried to break in through the front door, but the main difficulty with that is the structural support you'd have to have for such a device, and it would be slightly impractical.
However, I may have thought of a better idea.
If you create a large trapdoor on your front porch with a large hole beneath - or maybe a room like a dungeon, if you want to go sophisticated - you'll be able to drop any intruders to the hole below.
I haven't quite figured out the best way to handle the situation after the drop into the hole just yet, and if the attackers are still holding on to their weapons after their fall, there could be a problem, so I'm still thinking...
Like the battering ram/wrecking ball, the trapdoor plan should also be effective against multiple invaders, including intruders wearing bulletproof armor.
As far as I know, lethal booby traps are highly illegal, not to mention highly dangerous to anyone who sets them off - friend, foe, or anybody else, so I'm not going to talk about them here.
Always remember, no matter how sophisticated your home defenses are, given enough time to plan, a highly skilled and determined person can always find a way in; I don't believe there is no such thing as
-To be continued
If someone with less-than-friendly intentions breaks into your house, are you prepared to handle the situation?
Many are not.
Here are some tips (not necessarily in order of importance) to prepare yourself for the possibility of a home invasion.
You may or may not choose to use them, but even if not, they might give you something to think about.
In fact, it may be a good idea to pick and choose which steps you'll take for your own situation.
This post has served its purpose if even if you don't use any of the tips written here, you think about how to become more prepared and think up your own home defense rules and measures.
1) Awareness and preparedness
As always, be aware of your surroundings and any possible threats.
Many home invasions happen when the intruder has a chance to observe the habits of a homeowner; this is often done relatively easily by a neighbor or someone in your neighborhood who can watch when you leave to go to work or church, etc.
Have a "safe room" where your family can go to in case of a home invasion so they have have a (relatively) safe place to call 911 from.
2) If you have sliding doors or windows, put dowel rods in the tracks, so if an intruder manages to jimmy the lock, he will be unable to slide the door open and will have to break the window (causes noise) or search for another point of entry.
3) Have pepper spray both on you and hidden but easily accessible in every room.
I highly recommend carrying pepper spray with you at all times for self-defense, for a variety of reasons.
First, it's highly effective in stopping an attacker (just watch some of the demonstration videos).
It's also easy to use (point and spray), unlike a gun, which requires quite a bit of practice to become proficient in its use. Furthermore, a small canister of pepper spray is inexpensive.
Yet another very important reason is the fact that pepper spray is non-lethal. This is good if you want to defend yourself but don't want to kill anyone, and won't leave you with any of the unfortunate legal issues that shooting someone might, since the effects of pepper spray are temporary.
What I recommend you do if you're able to (and want to) do is this:
Carry at least a handgun and pepper spray.
That way, you can use pepper spray in a situation where either lethal force is unnecessary, or where the attacker/s are in close range.
For instance, thugs breaking in the front door. In fact, I think that would be a perfect opportunity to use pepper spray, since only one intruder will be able to fit in the doorway at a time, allowing you to spray them one at a time. Preferably, they all rush in the doorway simultaneously (although this may be unlikely, since most criminals aren't stupid - most of the stupid ones are dead or in jail), which would allow you to incapacitate them all by just turning the spray from one attacker to another. In situations where you have pepper spray and are confronted by multiple attackers who are, unhelpfully, not standing right next to each other, you should probably get your back to a corner, wall or doorway, so nobody can sneak up behind you.
Of course, that leaves the question of what to do if you've got your back to a wall or something and you run out of pepper spray while you're still under attack...
Then you'll obviously have to switch weapons, resort to unarmed combat, or cower in fear and see if help will somehow arrive. Note: I highly discourage resorting to the latter method.
Anyway, what I plan to do eventually is to carry at least one handgun, canister of pepper spray, and fixed blade knife on my person, so I can use pepper spray if I am able to do so, the pistol otherwise, and the knife/knives as backup in case my gun fails and pepper spray is empty...or anything like that.
Here's a link to Cold Steel's Inferno Pepper Spray page:
http://www.ltspecpro.com/inpesp.html
4) Have a dog such as a German Shepherd.
Although I've heard quite a few people say a dog is very helpful as an "early warning" security measure, as well as a good line of defense in its own right, I don't particularly want a dog because of all the things its care entails...but that's just my preference.
5) Have a fence around your house.
Fences can also be a good security measure, in some instances, but I don't think they're other than a slight obstacle to an intruder unless topped with barbed wire, glass, nails, or other sharp objects, electrified, etc., any of which may be illegal in many places. And besides, not only does having barbed wire on top of your fence make your house rather aesthetically displeasing, having your house/yard looking so obviously like a fortress may make the neighbors rather nervous.
6) Get a camera and alarm security system.
A security system with cameras and alarms is also a good idea, but can be fairly expensive.
One man said he has panic buttons in every room of his house, so wherever someone is, if they see or hear something suspicious, they can easily push the button and sound the alarm. This is also useful for households with children, since you wouldn't want kids getting hold of a gun or even pepper spray, but not only is this safe for them, there's a possibility a child may be alone in a room and notice a prowler outside or an intruder breaking in through a window, and be able to give the alarm via the panic system, even if you were unaware of the threat (for instance, if you're in bed upstairs and the intruder is trying to enter the house through a child's bedroom window downstairs).
It's a good idea to not have trees, bushes, or other cover for a certain radius around your house.
It's good to have a clear line of sight with no places of concealment in the immediate vicinity of your house.
7) Other home defenses
One good defense measure that most homeowners are unlikely to consider because of the visual appearance, weight, etc. is a bullet-resistant door (not "bulletproof", since nothing is completely bulletproof).
This is not a defense measure I'd put particularly high on this list, but since people have gotten shot and killed by bullets that went through the door, I think this deserves mentioning.
I thought about having a log (like a battering ram) or wrecking ball suspended from the ceiling, in case someone (or better yet, multiple people) tried to break in through the front door, but the main difficulty with that is the structural support you'd have to have for such a device, and it would be slightly impractical.
However, I may have thought of a better idea.
If you create a large trapdoor on your front porch with a large hole beneath - or maybe a room like a dungeon, if you want to go sophisticated - you'll be able to drop any intruders to the hole below.
I haven't quite figured out the best way to handle the situation after the drop into the hole just yet, and if the attackers are still holding on to their weapons after their fall, there could be a problem, so I'm still thinking...
Like the battering ram/wrecking ball, the trapdoor plan should also be effective against multiple invaders, including intruders wearing bulletproof armor.
As far as I know, lethal booby traps are highly illegal, not to mention highly dangerous to anyone who sets them off - friend, foe, or anybody else, so I'm not going to talk about them here.
Always remember, no matter how sophisticated your home defenses are, given enough time to plan, a highly skilled and determined person can always find a way in; I don't believe there is no such thing as
-To be continued
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Happy Fourth of July!
Everyone, enjoy your Fourth, relax, and don't get blown up or start forest fires with fireworks.
Have a great day!
-Max out
Have a great day!
-Max out
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Self-defense, etc.
Note: The following information is intended for responsible, older audiences (generally 18 and older, although there may be some exceptions).
So kids, don't try this at home.
[Disclaimer: I am not a qualified expert on the following topics; I would like to learn the same things I'm going to be talking about. Also, if you use any of the following information and it gets you into trouble because you haven't used it correctly or things didn't turn out the way you expected them to, don't blame me. As I said, I'm not an expert; I'm just trying to give you some advice to point you in the right direction if you want to learn more.]
If you're like some people, (like me) you may be interested in learning something about self-defense in case you or someone else is attacked, so you won't be helpless if that situation arises.
If, like some people I know, you have religious, ethical, moral, philosophical, or any other kind of objections to seriously injuring or killing someone when you or someone you care about is being harmed by them, stop reading; the following information is not for you.
Having a gun for protection is a good idea but isn't much help if 1) you don't have the mindset to use it, 2) you're either not trained or incorrectly trained in its use (it can actually be dangerous to you and those you're trying to protect), 3) you don't have it with you, etc., etc.
Learning self-defense/martial arts has some similarities to having a gun for protection.
Of course, there are some differences, but here are some similarities:
1) Learning self-defense/martial arts does not automatically make you a "force to be reckoned with.
2) Learning martial arts that are just meant for sports does not prepare you for a real-life, violent confrontation.
3) All this generally doesn't look like what it's often portrayed as on TV and in the movies.
I'm going to talk about what to learn and do if you are serious about surviving a violent confrontation, but in case you don't want to wait until I finish this post (this is just something to get you headed in the right direction, not a training course), you can look at Tim Larkin's Target Focus Training website (http://www.targetfocustraining.com/) or Jeff Anderson's Close Quarters Combat website (http://www.closequarterscombat.com/index.html).
Also, here's the list of instructors that are members of the International Society of Close Quarter Combatants (Jeff Anderson's organization): ISCQC Instructors
I would have mentioned them later, but you can take a look now if you're serious about protecting yourself and those you care about.
Reasons to learn reality-based self-defense/martial arts:
1) For self-defense and the defense of others.
I would use the common, "loved ones" phrase, but if you'd want to protect those being attacked including your friends and people you don't even know, you wouldn't call them loved ones. Well, maybe you might with close friends, but certainly not with people who aren't even acquaintances.
2) You're not paranoid if you learn this stuff; you're just being prepared.
3) You may have heard the horror stories of people tied up in their homes while the intruders ransacked the home; well, they were the fortunate ones. Many others have been tortured and murdered in their homes after getting tied up. I'm not trying to use scare tactics here (OK, maybe I am, after all), but many people think, "I don't live in a high-crime area; that won't happen to me." However, it does.
I'm just about out of time for today, but I'll write more later.
I'll also write a post on home invasions and steps you can do to prevent them, and a few things you can do when you're experiencing a home invasion to protect yourself and your family.
-To be continued
So kids, don't try this at home.
[Disclaimer: I am not a qualified expert on the following topics; I would like to learn the same things I'm going to be talking about. Also, if you use any of the following information and it gets you into trouble because you haven't used it correctly or things didn't turn out the way you expected them to, don't blame me. As I said, I'm not an expert; I'm just trying to give you some advice to point you in the right direction if you want to learn more.]
If you're like some people, (like me) you may be interested in learning something about self-defense in case you or someone else is attacked, so you won't be helpless if that situation arises.
If, like some people I know, you have religious, ethical, moral, philosophical, or any other kind of objections to seriously injuring or killing someone when you or someone you care about is being harmed by them, stop reading; the following information is not for you.
Having a gun for protection is a good idea but isn't much help if 1) you don't have the mindset to use it, 2) you're either not trained or incorrectly trained in its use (it can actually be dangerous to you and those you're trying to protect), 3) you don't have it with you, etc., etc.
Learning self-defense/martial arts has some similarities to having a gun for protection.
Of course, there are some differences, but here are some similarities:
1) Learning self-defense/martial arts does not automatically make you a "force to be reckoned with.
2) Learning martial arts that are just meant for sports does not prepare you for a real-life, violent confrontation.
3) All this generally doesn't look like what it's often portrayed as on TV and in the movies.
I'm going to talk about what to learn and do if you are serious about surviving a violent confrontation, but in case you don't want to wait until I finish this post (this is just something to get you headed in the right direction, not a training course), you can look at Tim Larkin's Target Focus Training website (http://www.targetfocustraining.com/) or Jeff Anderson's Close Quarters Combat website (http://www.closequarterscombat.com/index.html).
Also, here's the list of instructors that are members of the International Society of Close Quarter Combatants (Jeff Anderson's organization): ISCQC Instructors
I would have mentioned them later, but you can take a look now if you're serious about protecting yourself and those you care about.
Reasons to learn reality-based self-defense/martial arts:
1) For self-defense and the defense of others.
I would use the common, "loved ones" phrase, but if you'd want to protect those being attacked including your friends and people you don't even know, you wouldn't call them loved ones. Well, maybe you might with close friends, but certainly not with people who aren't even acquaintances.
2) You're not paranoid if you learn this stuff; you're just being prepared.
3) You may have heard the horror stories of people tied up in their homes while the intruders ransacked the home; well, they were the fortunate ones. Many others have been tortured and murdered in their homes after getting tied up. I'm not trying to use scare tactics here (OK, maybe I am, after all), but many people think, "I don't live in a high-crime area; that won't happen to me." However, it does.
I'm just about out of time for today, but I'll write more later.
I'll also write a post on home invasions and steps you can do to prevent them, and a few things you can do when you're experiencing a home invasion to protect yourself and your family.
-To be continued
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Fixed...mostly
The other day my car's wobble problem got fixed; the struts were replaced, and it now drives better.
However, it also cost more than $300, so my car is becoming a money pit for me.
At this rate, all my money (even after I get another job) will go into car repairs, rather than towards paying for the car itself and saving for a newer car. Hopefully my next vehicle will not be as expensive to maintain.
Granted, if at all possible, my next car will not be older than I am.
-Max out
However, it also cost more than $300, so my car is becoming a money pit for me.
At this rate, all my money (even after I get another job) will go into car repairs, rather than towards paying for the car itself and saving for a newer car. Hopefully my next vehicle will not be as expensive to maintain.
Granted, if at all possible, my next car will not be older than I am.
-Max out
Friday, June 25, 2010
Too hot
I just got back from running 2.25 miles. Some time ago, I used to run 3 miles three times a week, although that often turned into only twice a week. Recently, I've gotten out of shape since I haven't been running at all.
However, like I said the other day, I'm trying to get back into shape now, so I ran 2.25 miles last Tuesday and today. I might look like I'm in decent shape, but I'll admit I don't have much stamina (I never really did, it seems like, even when I played soccer). Today when I went running, an old lady walking her dogs said, "It's too hot to be running." I definitely agree with her. The current temperature over here is 90°, although the felt temperature is between 99-102°. To say running right now is not fun is an understatement. I'm not complaining, especially since it could be worse...like the weather in my "Soldier for a Day" post, where I don't think it was as humid, but the sun just baked you at more than 100°. I know, I know, you've probably been somewhere where it was 120° or something, but exercising in hot weather period is not exactly a walk in the park. ;)
I might write something actually worth reading later.
-Max out
However, like I said the other day, I'm trying to get back into shape now, so I ran 2.25 miles last Tuesday and today. I might look like I'm in decent shape, but I'll admit I don't have much stamina (I never really did, it seems like, even when I played soccer). Today when I went running, an old lady walking her dogs said, "It's too hot to be running." I definitely agree with her. The current temperature over here is 90°, although the felt temperature is between 99-102°. To say running right now is not fun is an understatement. I'm not complaining, especially since it could be worse...like the weather in my "Soldier for a Day" post, where I don't think it was as humid, but the sun just baked you at more than 100°. I know, I know, you've probably been somewhere where it was 120° or something, but exercising in hot weather period is not exactly a walk in the park. ;)
I might write something actually worth reading later.
-Max out
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Defend the Defenseless
Today I read Proverbs 24 with my family for devotions.
Something that I apparently hadn't noticed before (or forgot about) was verses 11-12:
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
I'm not positive yet, but to me, this seems to say you should definitely defend those who are being harmed.
I suppose most people would, but this passage reminds me of a story I read in which a girl was attacked and murdered in a certain city (maybe New York) at night and although people heard her screams for help, nobody came to her aid. The most common reason given by those who didn't help the girl was, "I didn't want to get involved." Now like I said, I don't think most people would act like that (at least I hope not), but I wonder what the real reasons someone wouldn't want to help someone who's being attacked. Here are a few possibilities I thought of:
Reason #1: The people are just selfish and don't care at all about what happens to others.
They might just not want the trouble of talking to the police or the hassle of any resulting legal issues, but this is also being selfish.
Reason #2: They're afraid of getting hurt or killed.
This is an understandable fear and reason for being afraid, but if you value the life of an innocent person (presumably innocent, anyway) who needs help more than you value your own, you should not worry about yourself.
Reason #3: They don't have any real fighting skills at all, don't have a gun, aren't very strong, etc.
Basically, they are afraid they will either get pounded and be unsuccessful in their efforts to save the one being attacked. In this case, these concerns might also be legitimate. However, if there is only one attacker, someone who wants to help can simply do all in their power, even if it only consists of yelling and swinging a crowbar or baseball bat. At the least, that might work as a diversion and give the former victim a chance to escape.
Any thoughts?
-Max out
Something that I apparently hadn't noticed before (or forgot about) was verses 11-12:
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
I'm not positive yet, but to me, this seems to say you should definitely defend those who are being harmed.
I suppose most people would, but this passage reminds me of a story I read in which a girl was attacked and murdered in a certain city (maybe New York) at night and although people heard her screams for help, nobody came to her aid. The most common reason given by those who didn't help the girl was, "I didn't want to get involved." Now like I said, I don't think most people would act like that (at least I hope not), but I wonder what the real reasons someone wouldn't want to help someone who's being attacked. Here are a few possibilities I thought of:
Reason #1: The people are just selfish and don't care at all about what happens to others.
They might just not want the trouble of talking to the police or the hassle of any resulting legal issues, but this is also being selfish.
Reason #2: They're afraid of getting hurt or killed.
This is an understandable fear and reason for being afraid, but if you value the life of an innocent person (presumably innocent, anyway) who needs help more than you value your own, you should not worry about yourself.
Reason #3: They don't have any real fighting skills at all, don't have a gun, aren't very strong, etc.
Basically, they are afraid they will either get pounded and be unsuccessful in their efforts to save the one being attacked. In this case, these concerns might also be legitimate. However, if there is only one attacker, someone who wants to help can simply do all in their power, even if it only consists of yelling and swinging a crowbar or baseball bat. At the least, that might work as a diversion and give the former victim a chance to escape.
Any thoughts?
-Max out
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