27Sept05

Comments on preparedness, from friend and students in the hurricane zone:

"Daily clothing choices are important, footwear particularly. I saw several people who got out early, return wearing shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops. I was amazed that they had the foresight to evacuate early, and obviously had

time to think about what to take and what to wear. Yet, they chose this ensemble and thus found themselves wading around in filthy muck with bare l egs and 'shoes' in which they are essentially bare-footed, and c lumsy too! What could they have been thinking?

I have a pair of Croks, but I never wear them when I go out, because I can 't move quickly or surely in them, and they expose my bare feet to cuts and scrapes. I don't carry a pistol, blade, and OC because I expect a fight. Still, if one comes to me, I intend not to look foolish."

From another friend:

"As you know, all freeways out of Houston were choked. Many who did not have an auxiliary escape route became a road block to everyone else as they ran out of gas. Freeways became 'lemming lanes.' I was able to get all the way to Dallas in six hours on back roads and, in some instances, with the aid o f four-wheel drive."

From a trauma surgeon:

"Clean, white underwear are recommended. Deadly, internal infection s often come from bits of clothing dragged into wounds by missiles. The missile itself is usually sterile. I've removed much clothing from gunshot wounds!"

Comment: Good advice!

/John

28Sept05

You have to start them young in SA:

"While walking to school in Pretoria yesterday, my thirteen-year-old son was attacked by a vagrant/VCA. The vagrant was carrying a sharpened stick and threatened my son with it while ordering him to hand over his school bag, watch, and cell phone.

My boy, and his mother, recently completed a knife-fighting course with one

of your instructors here in SA. The course was designed on the model given

to us by your friends at Cold Steel. My son has carried a Cold Steel Ti-Li te (just like yours!) ever since.

When confronted, my son assumed a fighting stance and quickly deployed his blade as he yelled at the thug to go away and leave him alone. The startled thug fell apart! He starred mumbling to himself and then broke and ran. We haven't seen him since!

One small knife for a boy. One large act of courage for mankind!"

Comment: Good show, Lad!

/John

28Sept05

More comments on "Induced Schizophrenia:"

"Internalized, mixed messages are the antithesis of the 'mus hin' state of mind, that is the requisite predisposition of effective warriors. Commande rs, responding to politically-correct constraints desired by clueless, naive, ' innocent,' bureaucrats, have provided yet another nail for the coffi n of the warrior class.

'Mu,' meaning negation. =80=98Shin,=E2=80=99 meaning he art/mind. Often translated, confusingly, as 'no mind.' A more correct translation is 'pure mind.' It refers to that state of mental clarity and enhanced perception produced by the deliberate absence of judgments, fear, anxiety, pre-conception, and self-consciousness, collectively known as 'clog and clutter.=80 With mushin, the mind is not preoccupied. Instead, it is freed. No longer inhibited, slowed, distracted, or clogged, the mind is liberated to fully perceive, respond, a nd commit to action. Warriors in the mushin state of mind cannot be defeated!

Not only is this current generation of commanders marginalizing their troops' effectiveness by limiting ammunition and not allowing them to carry loaded guns, but, by inducing schizophrenia, they are robbing these troops of full

use of their most effective weapon, their minds."

Comment: Shame on them!

/John