The Bug-Out Pack Survival System

Bug-Out Bags are nothing new to military families stationed overseas. In an emergency, military dependents are expected to have such bags prepared and ready at a moment's notice in case of evacuation of non-combatant personnel stationed in US Armed Forces posts. Military commands provided a list of what should be in each individual bag and an extra duffel bag for supplies and clothing for small children.

For preppers, the content is a bit different in that wilderness survival gear is included and a special canine pack is prepared for the four-legged member of the family that includes rations of their food and water inside.

NORAD Continues Tradition of Tracking Santa

At Maggie's Notebook, you can read about the history of NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] that has been continuous since 1955, when CONAD (later renamed NORAD) began receiving phone calls from children to relay their Christmas wish list.

As time went on the tradition continued and today there is a website where anyone can track where Santa is on Christmas Eve and other goodies at the NORAD official site.
Every year they ask for volunteers to perform traditional duties at NORAD for Santa Claus, who has his own website.

History of the Winter Festival and Christmas

The United States, as a young nation, gathered traditions from the Old World, especially from Mother England and the United Kingdom. As a colony, British, Dutch and German traditions were intertwined in many colonial American communities beginning with the first traditions of Thanksgiving in remembrance of the first colonists and Native Americans. Christmas and New Year traditions is no exception.


In the British Isles, before Christianity became established, as in Rome and Constantinople. the trappings and basic festivity of what became the Twelve Days of Christmas it was the celebration of the Winter Solstice, a Celtic tradition complete with yule logs, holly, and other decorations and festivities. The modern tradition of a Christmas tree comes from Germany, Tannebaum.

Victorian Era: 1837 to 1901

Queen Victoria

Much has been written about the Victoria Era, a period of history named after Queen Victoria that lasted from 1837 to 1901 in England. It's culture, architecture and fashion extended to America as well. Indeed, it had become an international culture for a time.

It was a part of the Industrial Revolution that jump started Western civilization into the modern world with technology and innovation. Britain and the United States as well as other places in Europe were a part of the beginning of the industrial age. It brought good things and also brought bad things, like child labor. The world was changing and it was occurring quickly in terms of historical events. Science was unraveling mysteries and new discoveries and techniques were part of it in many areas of science that included medicine, archaeology, astronomy, et cetera. It also ushered in a period where people were interested in the paranormal, sometimes fascinated with not just death, but researching life after death.

It was a time of prosperity as well as poverty. Victorian writers wrote about the society, the paranormal, scientific and archaeological discoveries; as well as the series of inventions that took place during that period. Christmas traditional celebration and decorations were boosted during the Victorian era. Hollywood made films about the era with films like "Meet Me in St. Louis". It was during this era that Christmas cards were handmade and stationary companies started printing them for the season.

The Christmas Truce of 1914

I just watched the film Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) about the miracle of a Christmas Eve truce of three armies, an historical event. The film was produced in France in 2005, of which has English subtitles. It was well done and I recommend viewing it. One of the actors, Ian Richardson, portraying the bishop, was his last film before his death. The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78^th Academy Awards.

First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving began as part of the religion of the English colonists (who had emigrated to Holland because of religious persecution) called Pilgrims who made thanksgiving prayers a part of their religious ceremonies. It was days of prayer, not just feasting.

Contrary to belief, the first thanksgiving feast with Native Americans occurred by a spontaneous desire to celebrate and give thanks for their lifesaving harvest.The local natives had played a big part in their survival of that first winter in 1620. The colonists had landed in December at the beginning of winter, and although they had provisions, there wasn't any harvest of crops to store. Actually, it was poor planning by the London Stock Company that had financed the expedition to found a settlement.

Landing of the Pilgrims

Weapons of Choice: MKA 1919

For those who like the M16/AR15 platform, Akdal Arms, a Turkish company is offering a gas operated, semi-automatic shotgun built on an AR frame. It is the MKA 1919. Like the AR, it is easy to maintain and the 19.7-inch barrel can be easily removed from the upper receiver. Charge the shotgun with the familiar charging handle on the receiver and fire with the look and feel of an AR series rifle.

History of Marionettes and Puppets

In the early days of national television the Howdy Doody Show was first broadcast in the United States from 1947 to 1960, being the first successful children’s show and also when NBC pioneered the first color production, which helped RCA sell its pioneer color television sets in the 1950s. Howdy Doody was a western dressed puppet, a marionette featuring one freckle for each state of the union (48 freckles) and whose original voice was made by Buffalo Bob Smith, who was the show’s host. Other puppets characterized on the show were Heidi Doody, Howdy’s sister; Phineas T. Bluster (mayor of Doodyville), Princess Summerfall Winterspring, Dilly Dally and Flub-a-Dub, a combination of a duck, cat, spaniel, giraffe, dachshund, seal, pig, and the memory of an elephant. 

Weapons of Choice: Anderson 'No Lube' Rifles

The M16/AR15 rifle platform has come a long way in configuration and Anderson Rifles, a 35-year-old toll-and-die manufacturer, has taken the platform to a new level: no lubrication required as the following video shows:

Weapons of Choice: Desert Eagle - Magnum Semi-Auto

DE .50 caliber in stainless steel

This gas operated, rotating bolt semi-auto pistol has become famous thanks to Hollywood and Magnum Research quality manufacturing.
The Desert Eagle series of pistols offers calibers from .50 caliber through the magnum line and even the .357 Mag.
Unlike the Coonan 1911 chambered for .357 Magnum, the Desert Eagle will not cycle .38 Special ammunition nor does it offer a recoil spring to do so. Magazine capacity is nine rounds. You can purchase replacement and upgrade parts directly from Magnum Research, including spare mags.

Weapons of Choice: Coonan M1911 Chambered in .357 Magnum

That's right, you read the title correctly - a .357 Mag semi-auto magazine fed pistol.
Revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum has been a favorite of those who cherish "wheel" guns, and get a bonus of being able to fire .38 Special ammunition, which is cheaper at the range.

Classic 5" barrel in stainless steel

Weapons of Choice: Ruger LC380(CA)

Ruger has reintroduced a conceal-carry handgun that was originally manufactured as the LC9 pistol chambered for 9mm, but has been changed to sell to California and Massachusetts buyers as LC380CA. It is chambered for .380 Auto ammunition with a capacity of 7+1 and a compact 3.5-inch barrel.

Weapons of Choice: Lee-Enfield Rifle

Lee-Enfield MKI

The British Lee-Enfield rifle was designed after the similar black-powder rifle used in the American Civil War by Confederate troops, while most of the Union army used the US made Springfield rifle of similar cap-and-ball design using the newly introduced “minié ball” bullet introduced by Frenchman, Claude-Étienne Minié. The newly designed cartridge Enfield rifle was designed with a rear-locking bolt system like Mauser, but quicker to operate. It was fitted with a 10-round magazine and became the British military rifle beginning in 1895 until 1957 with variations in its design and using the .303 British cartridge. It is a valued rifle among collectors no matter what period it was made.

Western Adventures of Louis L'Amour

An American icon for Americana stories of the Old West, Louis Dearborn L'Amour is among the greatest authors of United States literature. Born 22 March 1908 and died 10 June 1988, his last name spelled as LaMoore, is known for his Western novels, but also wrote historical fiction like The Walking Drum, poetry and short stories. He even wrote one science fiction novel entitled The Haunted Mesa. In 1954 he was nominated the Academy Award for Best Story.

Recall: Winchester SXP Shotguns and Safety Review

Winchester Repeating Arms has discovered that a limited number of SXP (3 ½” chamber) shotguns (also called the Super X Pump) may, under certain circumstances, unintentionally discharge while closing the action. Failure to return any affected shotguns for inspection and/or repair may create a risk of harm, including serious personal injury or death. If you own one of the following firearms, please immediately contact our Winchester Consumer Administrative Center to find out if your firearm is affected and should be returned. Please be prepared to provide the serial number of your firearm.

Heroes: Irena Sendler

Heroes are not always combat personnel, as the story of Irena Sendler demonstrates.

Irena Sendler (1942)

Born on 15 February 1910 and died on 12 May 2008, she was a Polish nurse and social worker in the Polish Underground when Warsaw was occupied by the Nazi. She was the head of the children's section of the ghetto, Żegota – a Polish Council to Aid Jews organization that was active from 1942 to 1945.

Along with about 24 other Żegota members, Sendler smuggled about 2,500 Jewish children out of Warsaw Ghetto, providing them with false identity documents and safe haven outside the Ghetto, saving them from the Holocaust. It is estimated that Sendler rescued at least 400 children out of the 2,500 saved.

When Sendler was discovered in 1943, sh was arrested by the Gestapo, tortured and sentenced to death. She managed to evade execution because her comrades bribed one of the guards. She hid from the Germans during her escape, but returned to Warsaw under a fake name and continued her service with the Żegota.

Amazing World-Wide Support for Nepal Earthquake Victims

AmeriCare relief worker in Nepal

As you must be aware by now, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Tamang, Nepal with great devastation, over 6,000 dead. Over the past couple of days, searchers look for victims still buried in the rubble whose agonizing silence brings no hope of saving anyone else buried.

Nepali immigrants – naturalized citizens (estimated at 30,000) in United States are concentrated in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey with smaller populations in Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. There are 5,000 Nepali in the Queens district of New York City. A makeshift candle shrine has been put up to honor the dead and missing in the aftermath of the worst earthquake of this century. It is hard to believe that a week has passed (April 25th) since the quake hit, but I am sure the time has been slow for the victims.

Weapons of Choice: Beretta PX4 Storm

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) with a pair of Berettas

Anyone who knows me is aware that of all European firearm manufacturers, I favor Beretta, Uberti, and Sig Sauer, in that order. As far as quality is concerned, Glock stands among those names of quality manufacturers; but not my personal preference because of its design and feel. Scuttlebutt is that the US Army may ditch the Beretta in favor of something else, possibly replacing it with Glock.

2015 Fishing Season and Annual Bass Tournament

While bass have performed their annual spawning in the southern states, like Georgia; here in Wisconsin the spawning has just begun. Just as the climate is different as well as water conditions between the North and the South, so is the presumption of what baits to use.

When I worked in the Sporting Goods department for the local Walmart, local fisherman in Wisconsin would insist that certain types of lures and rigs just won't work in Wisconsin where the bass species are smallmouth versus the primary largemouth bass rule in the southern states. I convinced some of them that their establishment of using only certain lures to catch smallmouth was just a consensus and was not based upon the reality of experience. 

Shooting Ranges: Target for Politicians and Building One With Safety in Mind

Apparently around the country anti-firearm politicians are using the indirect approach of their agenda to counter the Second Amendment and do what their proposed failed laws cannot do – make it so it is increasingly more difficult for gun owners to practice on ranges, both private and public. Rachel Alexander wrote an article published by Townhall concerning an historical gun range that has been politically and legally attacked for some time in Washington state, at least sixteen years. Rachel is the editor of the Intellectual Conservative and grew up in Kitsap County, Washington, so is familiar with the county's vendetta against this particular gun range.

A Gun Range Attack Archive is available HERE, documenting such activities around the country in different states. One of them in Illinois occurred when stray bullets damaged a neighbor's home while firing on a private shooting range. In this case, it is important for anyone wishing to have a private range on their property or already have one to know the best procedures and construction to keep a firing range safe, especially from stray bullets.