An InstaPundit article about being prepared and a follow-up.
My key takeaways... I'm sure there are better lists, but there were good reminders about meds, pets, and diapers.
Food: canned goods, beef jerky, water, pet food
Tools: flashlight, battery-powered or hand crank radio, duct tape, garbage bags, can opener, multi-tool, pocket knife
Shelter: blankets, tarps
Clothing: diapers
Medicine: medication, first aid kit
Money: Cash
Neat tricks:
Write the contents of cans on the lids in case you lose the label, also write purchase date
Re-use 2 liter bottles for water storage - placing them in the sun will allow the heat to kill any nasty organisms in the water
Keep an extra propane tank for your grill
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Get your stop watch ready!
Sharp as a Marble likes to make you think.
Bad guy attacks you with a gun.
You take the gun away from the bad guy.
You shoot the man in self defense.
In your state, it is illegal to possess a gun.
Did you break the law by holding the gun long enough to defend yourself? If you held it for less or more time, would it be more or less legal?
Bad guy attacks you with a gun.
You take the gun away from the bad guy.
You shoot the man in self defense.
In your state, it is illegal to possess a gun.
Did you break the law by holding the gun long enough to defend yourself? If you held it for less or more time, would it be more or less legal?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
If you shoot someone with a .22...
... they'll be mad if they find out.
Italian man shot with a .22 sneezes out bullet.
Via TNJeffofAllTrades.
Italian man shot with a .22 sneezes out bullet.
Via TNJeffofAllTrades.
Crime Reports on the Web
I was excited when I saw Knoxville News-Sentinel story about the Knox County Seriff's online crime reporting web site: http://www.crimereports.com/.
You can view a map of crimes in your area and sign-up for e-mail reports. When I read the article I thought it might send real-time alerts, but it appears to have a lag. Also, the e-mail report just sends you a link back to the web site. I'd rather get a simple list of the recent crimes along with the link if I wanted to map it.
You can view a map of crimes in your area and sign-up for e-mail reports. When I read the article I thought it might send real-time alerts, but it appears to have a lag. Also, the e-mail report just sends you a link back to the web site. I'd rather get a simple list of the recent crimes along with the link if I wanted to map it.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Your e-papers, please.
I don't care if it is the Commerce Department. It's the government.
I'm sure there are benefits to a national internet identity, but I'm even more certain that it will create more problems than it will solve.
"We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."
"I don't have to get a credential if I don't want to," he said. There's no chance that "a centralized database will emerge," and "we need the private sector to lead the implementation of this," he said.
No chance, huh? His assurance makes me feel much better.
I'm sure there are benefits to a national internet identity, but I'm even more certain that it will create more problems than it will solve.
"We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."
"I don't have to get a credential if I don't want to," he said. There's no chance that "a centralized database will emerge," and "we need the private sector to lead the implementation of this," he said.
No chance, huh? His assurance makes me feel much better.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Local Police use iPads
Speaking of tech in the car, our local constables are using iPads in their cruisers.
Police Can Search Mobile Phones
What? If you've been arrested police can search your phone. What?
So the authorities can have access to my personal e-mail, my work e-mail, contacts, calendar, my Twitter account, my Facebook account, and my Angry Birds' score? Outrageous. Yet another place where the law isn't in sync with technology. You can't arrest someone on the street, drive to their house, and start reading their snail mail. Get a warrant and then have at it! As I've said before, we get blinders on when things move from the physical world to the cyberspace.
Via Slashdot.org
So the authorities can have access to my personal e-mail, my work e-mail, contacts, calendar, my Twitter account, my Facebook account, and my Angry Birds' score? Outrageous. Yet another place where the law isn't in sync with technology. You can't arrest someone on the street, drive to their house, and start reading their snail mail. Get a warrant and then have at it! As I've said before, we get blinders on when things move from the physical world to the cyberspace.
Via Slashdot.org
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Gaming the Markets with High Speed Technology
Using technology to game the market system is another place that really makes me rethink my laissez-faire philosophy. Don't get me wrong the technology is cool, but I prefer it when companies provide a good or more traditional service (like changing my oil, performing surgery, etc.).
Another Story about Tech Enabling the Bad Guys
Instead of just disabling your phone, thieves can use your wireless entry and ignition systems to steal your cars. So does this require a minimum level of sophistication, thus the net gain is positive as your run of the mill thief will be stopped? Or are there going to be downloadable executables for script kiddies?
But that won't stop us from wanting more tech in our cars. How did we get around without remote starters, status reports via e-mail, integrated Pandora, Microsoft SYNC, etc? Horsepower is for Luddites.
Via Slashdot.org and Slashdot.org
But that won't stop us from wanting more tech in our cars. How did we get around without remote starters, status reports via e-mail, integrated Pandora, Microsoft SYNC, etc? Horsepower is for Luddites.
Via Slashdot.org and Slashdot.org
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Next Problem with SMS
Texting while driving is dangerous. Kids are sending inappropriate sexts.
Now it appears that the bad guys can send text messages that will disable your phone. As mentioned in the link, there are a large number of free services that could be used to send these self-destruct messages to the most popular phones and create mucho chaos.
Now it appears that the bad guys can send text messages that will disable your phone. As mentioned in the link, there are a large number of free services that could be used to send these self-destruct messages to the most popular phones and create mucho chaos.
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