Happy New Year!!

 

Looks Like China Has A New Way Of 'Disappearing" Undesirables

 From The The Forward Observer Website, The Daily Situation column. 12-28-2021

DISAPPEARED; RESIDENTIAL SURVEILLANCE AT A DESIGNATED LOCATION: China is using a novel method of controlling dissent. Instead of isolating dissidents and political opponents in jails or prisons, they are using “residential locations.” The new term is Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location, or RSDL for short. Two Canadian citizens recently released from RSDL described their harrowing experience. They said they were detained at an unknown residential location for over 1000 days, isolated from the outside world, denied visitors, and forced to live in a single windowless cell with lights on 24 hours a day. Chinese human rights activists say this new detention method has been used on over 50,000 Chinese citizens to date, some of which have yet to return from RSDL. According to activists, RSDL is China’s new preferred method of disappearing troublemakers and has become a feared tool of oppression by the population.

 

Other References;

 https://asianlite.com/2021/top-news/china-steps-up-secret-residential-surveillance/

 https://safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/what-happens-china-s-secret-rsdl-prisons

A Discussion on Sport Savate vs 'Defense danse Larue' (Street Self Defense) Mark Hatmaker interviews Craig Gemeiner

 

Most of you regular guys here know who Craig is. He's been a member at the Various forums on Close Combat For close to 20 years now. For those of you who don't know him, Craig is an Australian  Martial Arts and self defense instructor who has worked for years training both Combat Athletes for Sports competition as well as reviving the old style Self Defense methods that virtually disappeared in the wake of WW1 due to the large number of male deaths in combat.

He range of expertise covers unarmed combat, armed (cane/walking stick, longer sticks), and fencing.

I was fortunate to train with Craig twice back around 2010/2011. The man knows his business!

For more info about Craig;

 https://gemeineracademy.wordpress.com/

https://defensedanslarue.wordpress.com/ 

 https://blackbeltmag.com/la-canne-savates-walking-stick-weapon-art

 https://lacannevigny.wordpress.com/

At several of these sites will you will find articles and essays by both our own Ralph Grasso and even a couple of reviews by yours truly.

And now, on to the interview.

 https://indigenousability.blogspot.com/2019/10/a-conversation-with-craig-gemeiner-mark.html?spref=pi

Merry Christmas!! 2021 Style..........

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today We Discuss How To Store Your Home Defense Shotgun

Another Shotgun Tutorial  from The Lucky Gunner Ammo Youtube Channel.  Some of you may disagree with  a few parts of this video, but even the guy giving the discussion says it's fine if you do. Personally, I tend to agree with him.

Your Mileage May Vary!

Our Fearless Leaders

 Shits

 

Giggles 

 

 Babbles

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today, We Discuss What To Feed Your Shotgun. To Which The Answer Is, Pretty Much Anything

 The title to this video pretty much says it all!

So Did Anybody Notice How Amazon Fucked Up Two Days Ago?? If You Didn't, You Probably Don't Have A House Full "Smart" Home Appliances.

 Probably not since it got virtually no coverage on TV or in the Mainstream Press.

Two days ago I ordered a Kindle eBook. You know, instant gratification?  So I clicked Buy Now, paid, and checked my Kindle.

Nothing.

Zip.

Zilch.

Nada.

I kept trying to Download, I went back to Amazon to make sure the transaction had gone through. No joy.

So I went to the Section on the Website where your Digital eBooks are stored. Or at least I tried to go there. All I got was the "OOPS, that page is not available" notification with the picture of the cute dog.

Strange, I thought. But I decided to wait until the next day to try and find out what happened. Woke up the next day, checked my Kindle and Lo and Behold, there it was. The book I had ordered had appeared. Didn't think much of, it, just figured there had been some sort of a glitch.

Then a little while later I found 2 articles buried on the Internet about just how "little" the glitch wasn't!

 In a nutshell, the Amazon Cloud Web Services went down. Hard.

If you owned any Amazon Smart Home products, you weren't a happy camper. Smart refrigerators stopped working, Smart thermostats stopped working. Smart lamps stopped turning on/off, Alexa wouldn't listen or talk to you, front door locks wouldn't let you in or out, Roomba cleaners, TV's, and the list goes on.

This is what happens when you're too lazy to do shit for yourself that can be done with the touch of a button or the tap of an Icon on your Phone.

And just for the ultimate bad news, Amazon Web Services control 33% of the Global Cloud Network.

Isn't that just great? 😐

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/how-amazon-outage-left-smart-homes-not-so-smart-after-all/ar-AARAEZv

 

 https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/09/how-the-aws-outage-wreaked-havoc-across-the-us.html

So What DID All Those First Time Panic Gun Buyers Get For Themselves (And How Did It Work Out For Them) *** And What About The Ammo Shortage?

 So in the aftermath of all the panic buying of guns in the wake of all the civil unrest in 2020/2021, what happened after a bunch of non-informed first time gun buyers suddenly realized that maybe they should have done a little research before they plopped down their cash?

Well read on and find out what was the most returned handgun at Retail Gun Stores (and why).......

And now, for the most realistic explanation (to me at least) why there is such a shortage of certain calibers of otherwise common Ammunition......

 

 

 

 

So Much For The "Strident Calls For Handgun Bans"

 

Seems like riots, looting, the rise in armed robberies is taking a toll on peoples thoughts about enacting Handgun Bans.

And so Reality Rears It's ugly Head!

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/11/gun-control-support/

So, Anybody Wondering What's Been Going On In Afghanistan Since The U.S. Military Pulled Out??

Well, it ain't been good. This Article in the link below should simply reinforce what anybody with a few functioning brain cells would have already anticipated (current government employees excepted of course). With the unifying factor of the hatred of the U.S. Military gone, power moves between the various Taliban groups are starting to be made, and factions that had worked together previously are now starting to jockey for power.

The Haqqani Network (supported by the Pakistani ISI aka: Pakastani Intelligence) is already making inroads as the main power brokers in the Taliban. Actual physical confrontations between Haqqani members and other long time Taliban leaders have resulted in the latter leaving Kabul and returning to their respective provincial strongholds. Add in the inability of the new government to deal with  ISIS-K  in Khorasan Province and the ultimate insult of not yet having secured control of the Panjshir valley region is quickly pointing to a scenario where Afghanistan devolves into another morass of warring provinces led by a new crop of Warlords.

Good old A-Stan, nothing has changed since Alexander the Great tried to conquer them 2300 years ago. 

They remain the 'Graveyard Of Empires'

 https://warontherocks.com/2021/11/the-haqqani-network-afghanistans-new-power-players/

 

Russia - Not To Be Outdone By China 's Hypersonic Missile *** Mexico - Cartels Weaponizing Drone Usage

 So now Russia unveils their own Hypersonic Missile capable of speeds in excess of 6,600 Miles Per Hour; 

https://www.the-sun.com/news/4156195/russia-mass-production-zircon-hypersonic-missile/

 

********** 

 

Mexican Cartels using drones for everything from Surveillance to Attack Applications;

https://warontherocks.com/2021/11/mexican-cartels-are-embracing-aerial-drones-and-theyre-spreading/

China - More On the Hypersonic Missle Test *** Anti Fa - Response To Rittenhouse Verdict *** Political Humor

 It would appear that the Chinese Hypersonic Missile actually launched a secondary missile while  in flight. If you think the Pentagon was nervous before just because of the primary test launch, this is giving them a real migraine headache.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/4116304/hypersonic-nuke-china-fires-second-missile-mid-flight/

**********

And if you want to talk about people being nervous, read the Anti Fa response to the Rittenhouse verdict. 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/23/antifa-urges-members-take-arms-after-kyle-rittenho/

**********

And finally, here's your Political Humor for the weekend

Socialism?? Yeah Right..............

 This Op Ed piece pretty much sums it up.

Remember to click on the image for the Full Size view

The Chinese Communist Government is like Rust......It Never Sleeps

 Although they do occasionally get caught trying to quietly expand the logistics support for their 'Belt and Road' long term Plan.

https://kvia.com/your-voice-your-vote/politics/cnn-us-politics/2021/11/19/construction-halted-on-secret-project-at-chinese-port-in-uae-after-pressure-from-us-officials-say/

 

And for those of you who haven't seen much about the Belt and rod Plan, here's a quick primer from Wikipedia;

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_and_Road_Initiative

 

Kyle Rittenhouse Not Guilty - And - Another Fun Day In NYC On The Subway

Acquitted on all charges.

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/11/19/kyle-rittenhouse-trial-verdict/

 

Another Subway Slashing In NYC

 

https://nypost.com/2021/11/19/nyc-man-slashed-on-subway/

Biden Appoints New Gun Control Czar

 

The Latest Development In Drone Usage

 

Ah yes, as any of you guys who've followed this Blog for any length of time know, I'm a big follower of Drone Development. A few months back I posted an article about Drone usage in Libya earlier this year where the Drones acted independently of human control and the AI technology made the decision to strike. 

Well, here;s more on the rise of AI Tech allowing Drones to make the decision to kill people without a direct order from a human controller. As the writer of the Popular Mechanics article linked below says, this is a defining moment in the military usage of Drone warfare.

*****************************************************************

Autonomous Drones Have Attacked Humans - This Is A turning Point
 By Kyle Mizokani - Copyright Popular Mechanics Nov/Dec 2021

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36559508/drones-autonomously-attacked-humans-libya-united-nations-report/

 IMAGINE A FEW YEARS FROM NOW, U.S.  supply troops have just wrapped up a field exercise in Poland, showing solidarity with the country in the face of saber-rattling from nearby Russia. As the sun sets, GIs rest next to their trucks, knowing the Russian 18th Guards Motor Rifle Division is encamped just a few miles away.

The soldiers hear a faint buzzing in the distance and see a dark cloud crossing the horizon. Suddenly, a solitary scout drone swoops low over the Americans—it’s seen them. Like a predator catching the scent of prey, the cloud stops dead in its tracks, then rushes toward the soldiers with astonishing speed. Following programming orders, each of the 60 drones scans the ground below and picks its target, while AI ensures no two drones aim for the same vehicle. The drones arm their explosive payloads just as the first bursts of gunfire begin lancing out from the American position.

Sometime around March 2020, this longstanding trope of science fiction—autonomous attack drones eliminating human beings on the futuristic battlefield—crossed over into science fact. That’s when, during the Second Libyan Civil War, the interim Libyan government attacked forces
from the rival Haftar Affiliated Forces (HAF) with Turkish-made Kargu-2 (“Hawk 2”) drones, marking the first reported time autonomous hunter killer drones targeted human beings in a conflict, according to a United Nations report.

Unmanned combat aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, and the Kargu-2 “hunted down and remotely engaged” HAF logistics convoys and retreating fighters, the UN report found. The autonomous drones were programmed to attack targets “without requiring data connectivity between the operator and munition,” meaning they located and attacked HAF forces independent of any kind of pilot or control scheme.

The Kargu-2 is a quadcopter drone developed by STM, a Turkish defense contractor. The drone features sensors and an electronic brain, and is designed to carry a weapons payload. In marketing materials, STM explicitly says Kargu-2 is capable of carrying out an autonomous attack.

Here’s how it works: The drone operator loads a set of target coordinates into the Kargu-2’s software. The drone then takes off and travels to the coordinates, searching for objects on the ground that fit the profile of preferred targets. Once the drone identifies a target, it swoops down on the target at high speed and detonates an onboard explosive package, with an effect similar to that of a shotgun blast.

“The first use of autonomous weapons in war won’t be heralded with a giant fireball in the sky,” says Zachary Kallenborn, an official U.S. Army “Mad Scientist” and national security consultant. “It may just look like an ordinary drone. The event illustrates a key challenge in any attempt to regulate or ban autonomous weapons: How can we be sure they were even used?”

One major difference between a remotely controlled attack drone and an autonomous drone is the software, which might be difficult to obtain from scattered bits of plastic for forensic analysis.

The U.S. Army is working on autonomous drones, including the Bell Textron M5 medium robotic combat vehicle. The M5 is an uncrewed, 10-ton tracked armored vehicle that looks like a miniature tank and has a top speed of 40 miles per hour. It features a 30-millimeter XM813 chain gun and is designed to operate alone or as a wingman to M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

The key difference between the Army’s drones and the Kargu-2, however, is that the Army insists on a “human in the loop.” The drone might search for targets autonomously, but it can only open fire once a human operator gives permission. This allows the operator to call off an attack if the drone has mistaken a civilian for a soldier.

Some events in the history of mankind, like the 1945 atomic bomb test at the Alamogordo Bombing Range in New Mexico, are so profound, they serve as a divider between one social, economic, or military era and another. The events in Libya may similarly divide the time when humans had full control of weapons and a time when machines make their own decisions to kill.

Leave It To The UK To Force Someone To Get Rid Of His "Collection"!

 The following is from a post at a now defunct online forum that I found while surfing the Web. Apparently the author of the post was lamenting a Law passed in the UK back in 2019. He appears to be an old school self defense adherent with a liking for effective close combat weapons for self defense. Unfortunately the UK government has decided that such items, most of them anyway, which used to be legal as long as you didn’t carry them around with you, are no longer permitted for you to own even as collectors items.

Anyway, the poster is lamenting the fact that due to the stringency of the penalties just for possession of said items, that he now must get rid of his impressive collection of eclectic items in order to avoid legal complications.  He also included a link to a music video at the end to, I would guess, exhibit his grief over the loss of his property.

The pictures are the best part of his collections obituary. My old instructor Carl would definitely have approved.

*****************************

1/4/19

Well everyone the Offensive Weapons Act of 2019 is coming into effect. I've decided to go all out and just get rid of my stuff. Its a  five year sentence to just own any of these things, at this point even they aren't sure if thats per item.

The act allows compensation if you can provide receipts, for 50p per knuckleduster thats not going to buy me a MacDonalds. How you are supposed to have a recipt for an item you can't buy in a shop beggars belief. Thats UK law for you.                

First - from ledt to right:
Top - Extendable baton, generic - Bottom - Telescopic spring cosh, no markings, US Police Truncheon, wood, no markings, PR24, genuine

 Lefdt To right

Knuckleduster and Koppo combo, steel, handmade, no markings
Knuckleduster, aluminium, handmade, no markings
Knuckleduster, iron, no markings, boxer style
 Knuckleduster, steel, no markings, classic style

I am a law abiding citizen but I will admit some of these things used to get carried on occasions that I (as an educated Adult male with no mental illness or criminal record) determined required it. I don't judge other people and I don't rely on others for my own or my families safety.

The extendable baton was bought from an Amry Surplus shop, likewise the telescopic cosh. The former just generic, it and the telescopic springcosh cost me twenty pound each. The latter had no markings but was old, whether or not it was an original SIPO or a WW2 manufacture I have no idea.

 

 

The SIPO broke my snips!

I bought a bunch of the extendable batons to give to friends and family in need. It brought comfort to people when they'd tell you they were in fear for theirsafety. I know this from personal experience. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The US Police Truncheon was sent by a friend when it was still legal. Both Batons got carried on occasionswhen I deemed it neccesary. The truncheon never.

 

   The PR24's were prohibatively expensive over here before they too got banned from sale. Up to three hundred pounds kind of expensive. As soon as the retailers found that they were going to be stuck with stock they couldn't legally sell they dumped the prices. I paid fifteen pounds each for them. They never got any carry, they weren't concealable.

The Knuckledusters are a different story, they haven't been legal to buy since 1958. You could be "grandfathered" them (found in an deceasedrelatives possesion and taken home) but you couldn't buy, sell, lend or make one.

The top one was my first, it was given to me by someone i'd done a favour for. They knew my interests and offered it to me, after letting them know it was against the law they were even more insistent I took it.I've had that thing many years, sometimes it used to come out with me
(concealed inside a woolen glove) on cold, dark nights. Gave me comfort in some of the awful places which were the only places I could afford to live. The finger stalls were oval, which made it comfortable to put on. The gap for the palm swell was excellent for the fingertips to be in when the fist was clenched. It was very old but I can't give a date or whether or not it was factory or hand made. It was magnetic so I know it was steel.

The second was a bring back from the Czech Repblic by a good friend, I didn't know he was going to do this and I don't think he knew the penalties. He got one of the extendable batons later when he was in fear for his safety, one good turn deserves another. I know it was iron as a bit of the coating came off and I saw underneath it. This was not comfortable to hold, no palm gap meant there was no where for the finger tips to go.

The third was handmade by a friend who worked in manufacturing and hated his boss and took every opportunity to not do work. The finger stalls weren't oval but it was actually very comfortable to wear. Sheet aluminium the credit card shape of it meant it didn't print in clothing like the others would have. Perfect for the back pocket on a night out if you can believe. The corners also gave other options if i'd ever needed to.
                                                
Number four was made by the same friend, steel pipes welded into one unit. It wasn't comfortable, concealable or practical - but it was mine.

 

 

When I looked into the Act i'd missed the part about disguised and non magnetic knives. From left to right, the CIA letter opener, a disguised penknife and a generic were all bought from the USA via Ebay. I never carried any of them, they were just of interest.

 

All gone now. I'll have to rely on the Police! They are the only one's adult enough to posses weapons and they ensure I don't have any need for them.

Terry 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7dGcY

Who has The Largest Navy In The World Today? Well, It Ain't The U.S. Navy

 A sort of continuation of yesterdays Blog Post.  Whether it's the domination of the worlds economy, control of the supply/logistics chain, or military supremacy, the Chinese aren't waiting around. The "Sleeping Giant" is now "Woke" is a far different way that the direction the Western World is taking.

 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/8/chinas-navy-now-worlds-largest-460-warships-2030-p/

The Next Time Someone Tells You That China Isn't America's Biggest Threat, Tell them to Go Fuck Themselves

According to our "Esteemed" President, China is our "Competitor" .

Sure Joe, whatever you say............

https://news.usni.org/2021/11/07/china-builds-missile-targets-shaped-like-u-s-aircraft-carrier-destroyers-in-remote-desert

 

 

World And National News Of The Day

 Up top, let's go with International Geopolitical News at The Daily Situation Report from Forward Observer;

https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa-china-using-5g-to-spy-on-americans/

 

Moving on to the National political scene,  it' shaping up to be a bad 2021 Elections result for The Dems.

First up in Mineapolis, the Ballot Amendment to replace the existing Police Department (the MPD) was voted down by a 56% to 44% margin. Additionally, another Ballot Amendment to transfer powers away from the City Council and tow the Mayors Office (which opposed replacing the MPD) also passed. Finally, several members of the City Council have lost their seats due to the inclusion of Ranked Choice Voting. No word on whether the new Council Members will be better or worse than the old ones.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-blow-to-defund-movement-minneapolis-residents-vote-against-replacing-the-citys-police-department/ar-AAQhlBl

 

 hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2021/11/03/backfire-minneapolis-voters-slam-abolish-the-police-proposal-and-city-council-n426654

 

And in the two Governors races that were expected to be an indicator of what the Dems could expect in the 2022 Mid term elections, things are not going well. In the Virginia Election, the Republican has beaten the Democrat. 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-terry-mcauliffe-campaign-errors

 

And in New Jersey, the race is still too close to call with 88% of the vote reported. The incumbent Democrat Gov. Murphy managed to blow a 20 pt lead over his Republican opponent and currently only holds a 0.3% lead. The current Vote Tally is (D) Murphy 49.8% and (R) Ciatterelli 49.5%. 

With 2.3 million votes cast, Murphy leads by only 1,200 votes.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/live-nj-election-2021-updates-phil-murphy-jack-ciattarelli-in-dead-heat-for-new-jersey-governor/ar-AAQgeNg

Talk about nail biter. Stay tuned people, it's looking to be a bumpy ride for the Dems!

Pretty Much Sums Up The Democrapic Party

 

SCOTUS To Hear Challenge To NY Gun Carry Laws

 I can hear Mike Bloomberg and all the other Anti-Gun groups gnashing their teeth already!

https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-new-york-violence-los-angeles-gun-politics-10145dcf18c16614922e5b5d73907eeb

Made In China

 Oh Yeah, you can't make this shit up!

The Daily Situation for 10-28-21 from Forward Observer - And Ed Calderon On The Santa Muerte (Saint Death) Cult and The Mexican Cartels

So today, we have "Skynet Is coming", DOJ to ramp up investigations of "Domestic Extremism" and DHS no longer looking for MS-13 members sneaking into the U.S. along with other illegal border migrants.

"Thanks Uncle Joe" !

https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa-us-developing-skynet-ai-for-homeland-defense/ 

********************************************************

 Ed Calderon (Of Ed's Manifesto) on the influence of "Santa Muerte" as regards the Mexican Crime Cartels. Strange stuff indeed.

An Interview by Scott Baab

"Mother the mercifuI bless our firearms with your hand, our knives with your foot, and guide our bullets and stabs with the finger that is closest to your heart. May we earn your need and be your wrath."
 
— A Santa Muerte Prayer
 
 Years ago, along the outskirts of the sprawling urban wasteland of Baja California — or as Ed Calderon refers to it: The Upside Down . . .
 
A black weathered shrine, box-shaped and adorned with a pair of meek columns, sits under an imposing cement slab. Cheap fake vines, emerging from an outcropping of flowers at the pillars base have been carefully manipulated by devotees to appear as if they are climbing the poles. Baskets of flowers adorn the humble structure — offerings from her followers. Behind a glass door on the front of the shrine sits a statue of their beloved saint. A sad string of Christmas lights dangles from the roof; precariously entangled amongst them is a severed human foot.

The shrine belongs to Santa Muerte, or "Holy Death". She is one of many non-canonized folk saints who, though officially disavowed by the Catholic Church, are worshiped by Catholics and non-Catholics alike south of the border.
 
Her image takes many forms there, from the horrifying to the strangely beautiful — but always as some form of the Grim Reaper. She is presented in many colors — white, red, black, gold, blue, yellow, and green, sometimes all in a single icon. Each color represents a different facet of the dark saint, one of many aspects of a complex and ever-evolving iconography.
 
The shrine sits along the edge of a lush overgrown field, at some remove from a handful of dismal shanty-houses hiding in the darkness. It was here that a scene so disturbing unfolded, that the aftermath called to mind the absurd gruesomeness of an eighties-era slasher movie.
 
"We learned they were low-level cartel affiliates who were stealing and got discovered," Ed recalls. "They went into hiding, but the cartel knew that this particular shrine was where they prayed, so it wouldn’t be long before they turned up there."
 
Oral tradition holds that in days past cartel members would have the Virgin of Guadalupe tattooed on their back, knowing that she was held in such reverence by the Mexican people that not even a rival cartel member would deface the image by putting a blade through it. Protection, they felt, from being attacked from behind should they ever find themselves incarcerated. However, as the fall of the old guard empowered new players in the drug trade, the rules started to change.

The Virgin of Guadalupe had not exactly fallen from grace in the eyes of these hardened criminals, but she was not revered in the same way that she once was either. Because of this, her image was no longer powerful enough within the criminal subculture to ward off another prisoner’s shank.
 While love for the Virgin no longer provided the protection it once did, fear of Santa Muerte started to hold them in check. So powerful was the legend of Santa Muerte, that even those who no longer hesitated to deface the Virgin wouldn’t dare risk doing the same to the image of Holy Death when branded on an enemies back — Holy Death is notoriously protective of her followers.
 
"There were three bodies there, all dismembered," Ed continues. "There was a leg in a tree, their heads were on the roof. Their hands were duct taped behind their backs, and there were deep slashes all over their bodies. The investigation showed that the slash wounds occurred while they were still alive."
 
When asked if the murderers, who were likely devotees of Holy Death themselves, would have hesitated to slaughter fellow devotees at her shrine, Ed dismissively shakes his head. "In their faith, that shows that they were more devoted than their enemies. It’s a weird thing."
 
Anyone who has met the mad genius behind the famed Ed’s Manifesto knows that you can’t put him in any one box. Though seemingly never entirely removed from his ever-expanding social media audience, he still manages to remain a mysterious figure. Warm and friendly, he carries himself with an inviting charm, but bubbling just beneath the surface a dark and wickedly devious mind is constantly inventing and re-evaluating, creating and and refining, honing his own approach to all manner of nefarious deeds.
 
After a bloody law enforcement career he turned to the private sector, teaching courses throughout the United States and Mexico on a wide array of topics, spanning the gamut from escapology and counter-custody, to urban movement, to one of the most innovative knife courses in the world today — a particularly hands-on class where students systematically plunge knives into dead swine and experience first-hand the nuances of piecing flesh.
 
Outside of his grueling seminar schedule, he is also an accomplished freelance author and more quietly, a consultant for movies, private organizations, and government entities on a wide array of topics related to criminality and survival south of the border.
 
One of Ed’s lesser known areas of expertise, however, is his expansive knowledge regarding the occult practices of Mexico’s criminal underworld. A topic he has explored so deeply that he once allowed himself to undergo ritual induction into the true cult of Santa Muerte.
 
SB: Can you give us a brief overview of what Santa Muerte is exactly?
 
Ed: It has been through many evolutions since its origins in pre-Colombian Death worship by the Mexicans. The goddess name was Mictecacíhuatl, she was the wife of the Lord of the underworld in Aztec culture. She guards over the bones of the dead and festivals related to the dearly departed. She was also believed by some to be a vengeful spirit of sorts that you could call on if in a desperate situation.
 In Oaxaca for example her name was changed to Matacihua ("the one who binds" or "the huntress"). She appears at night as a beautiful woman dressed in white and leads drunk people or people cursed, to fall in the thorned plants or to commit suicide.
All of these beliefs were banned by the Catholic church. And like most places where Catholicism was forced on to a native population, her devotion was mixed with Catholic iconography and hidden in plain sight by her followers.  With some shrines built for her hidden behind a Virgin Mary facade. In short, Santa Muerte at it's core is a cult dedicated to the veneration of a pre-Colombian death goddess that has lived in the underground of Mexico for hundreds of years despite the best efforts of the church to eradicate it.  In it's older and more authentic forms, it's probably the only uninterrupted Aztec faith that has survived to this day.
 
SB: What motivated you to explore the Santa Muerte culture so deeply?
 
Ed: It was everywhere in my environment, along with a few other cryptic criminal cults, that seemed to blur the lines between the good guys and the bad guys. At least from my perspective back then.
 
Cops and criminals made offerings to the same death goddess. This was interesting to me and in many ways I took the old approach of "know your enemy." Many of my co-workers also were in the cult. So I needed to get to know it in order to belong and just to be in the know regarding some things. People opened up to you if they knew you where one of her followers. It was a bizarre environment and it's following acted much like the Freemasons did way back in the day. So I decided to follow it and learn what I could from it, going as far as getting initiated in to one of its oldest strains.
 
SB: Knowing that you took an oath not to provide details, in a broad sense, what is the difference between the "old" Santa Muerte sect that you were initiated in to and the street-level Santa Muerte that is more commonly practiced?
 
Ed: The older forms of it are very simple and straight to the point in what they believe and how they go about their faith. It has concealment and secrecy built in to it's very foundations. You see traces of its probable influences from the turn of the century like Aleister Crowley and occultism in general with a western ritual magic flair to it. It's hard to find and harder to learn about with out being sponsored by someone already inside. Some of the more public street forms of its veneration you see now, especially in the US, are only a shadow of what it's older forms are, or are just appropriated and made up. The main thing to realize is that it's true form is female-centric so any church dedicated to her with a man in front of it is outside any true Santa Muerte faith. Also, the Catholic iconography and faith elements were meant to hide the faith not blend with it.
 
SB: Santa Muerte was perhaps most notably depicted in popular culture in the television series Breaking Bad, where devotees where shown approaching a shrine by crawling through a village on their bellies. Was this an accurate portrayal of the faith? And if so, can you explain to us what was happening there?
 
Ed: It was in many ways. Specifically, the silver skulls. Silver is the preferred currency in Santa Muerte’s older forms. True sicarios under her protection would never wear gold. The dragging is taken from Catholics veneration of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Mexico City. They crawl to her church as a form of sacrifice and veneration. It isn't uncommon for the same type of devotional expressions to be done by Santa Muerte followers, but not for pure faith-based devotional reasons, but to ask protection when seeking vengeance or looking to curse someone.
 
SB: Santa Muerte has started to find its way into the United States as well, is the Santa Muerte in the United States practiced differently?
 
Ed: I have yet to see any authentic form of it that is like what I have experienced down south. It's mostly interpretations of what people assume it is, flights of the imagination and/or cultural appropriation. It's like what westerns have done to Buddhism in a lot of ways. It's unrecognizable to people from where originated.
 
SB: In Mexico, Santa Muerte isn’t exclusive to the criminal underworld. Cops, cab drivers, prostitutes, dock workers, and many other groups gravitate towards this faith as well. What is the common thread amongst them?
 
Ed: Desperation and absolution. People that work in professions where homicide, crime, and prostitution are part of the job description don’t usually find solace in the Catholic church. But she welcomes all and forgives all as long as you pay for her protection.
 
SB: What do you think the biggest misconception about Santa Muerte is?
 
Ed: That it's meant to be known or be out in the open. The main reason for the survival of the faith is it’s ability to hide within other faiths and be practiced in secret by people whose lives are mostly spent working in the shadows of society.

 

The Daily Situation For 10-26-21 From The Forward Observer Website

The news that you should be reading about, and which neither the Mainstream, Left Wing or Right Wing Media covers.

https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa-dark-money-groups-shipping-caravans-to-u-s-border/

As Drone Usage Expands Out Of Just Military and Commercial Applications, And Into Civilian Surveillance

 

Yeah, It's been a while since my last Drone related post. Anybody who's been looking at this blog for any length of time know how many posts and articles I have written about or linked to. 

And this one is a real in-depth yet concise piece of writing. My hat's off to the guy that wrote this article. 

Have at it guys.

https://reason.com/2021/10/12/government-eyes-in-the-sky/

Morning Humor - The 'Daily Situation Awareness from Forward Observer Online - China Suddenly Not So Anxious To Make Inroads Into Afghanistan

 Since everyone today is so quick to redefine what certain words and Phrases mean, I figure it's my turn.

And now we'll take a look at real "One-Stop Shopping"

**********

And now from Forward Observer Online we have the latest Daily Situation Awareness Report. Let's here it for our Senior  Military leadership regarding their outlook on cyber-warfare in the 21st century, and for  the current Administrations Foreign Policy strategy in terms of containing the Chinese in the Middle East.

https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa-army-has-no-plan-to-mitigate-cyberattacks/

**********

 Finally, after everyone wondering how quickly China would move to make political and economic inroads into Afghanistan, it would appear that the current level of violence between the new Taliban government and several competing factions has given them pause. Most notably as a result of a bombing (must be a bitch for the new government to realize that they are no longer the terrorists, but the target of the terrorists) carried out by a Uighur most likely affiliated with ISIS.

Hmmm..., looks like their treatment of the Uighur community is coming around to haunt them.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-10-14/afghanistan-quagmire-threatens-to-lure-in-china

Ever Wonder Who Some Of The People And Organizations Are That Facebook Will Stick you in FB Jail For If You Mention Them?

 Well, essentially you can wonder all you want because FB doesn't want you to know.

But wait! Still want to know?

Well, Thanks to The Intercept online site, now you too can get a copy of the D.I.O.* list.

Here you go, just click the link and download the 100 page list of over 4,000 persons and organizations.

*Dangerous Individuals and Organizations

https://theintercept.com/document/2021/10/12/facebook-dangerous-individuals-and-organizations-list-reproduced-snapshot/

The History Of A WW2 Special Unit You've Probably Never Heard Of, The Alaska Scouts

 

 

 Col. Lawrence Castner

 

Okay, so we all know about The Devils Brigade (FSSF), the Marine Raiders, numerous US Army Ranger units, Even the Alamo Scouts.

The question is, who the Hell are the Alaska Scouts?

Apparently they were a small reconnaissance unit that operated in the early years of WW2 in the Aleutian Islands. Once the Japanese were pushed out, the group didn't last long. They were an "interesting and eclectic" bunch of guys to whom military decorum and discipline didn't mean all that much.

The most colorful thing about them was their nickname. They were referred to as 'Castners Cuthroats' due to the fact that their C.O was Col. Lawrence Castner, and the fact that none of these guys wore uniforms and dressed like, well, someone you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, hence the 'Cuthroats' portion of their unofficial name.

Anyway, here is a link to the most in depth article about these unsung and essentially unknown American soldiers of WW2.

www.historynet.com/alaskas-cutthroats.htm

And another couple of Follow up articles;

military.wikia.org/wiki/Castner%27s_Cutthroats

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castner%27s_Cutthroats

One More Take On The Mossberg Shockwave by Clint Smith - And - The Original Birds Head Grip, Sub 14" Barreled Witness Protection Shotgun That Started it All

 Clint Smith is not a tactical "Operator, Operating Operationally". He is simply a retired Marine and former Law Enforcement Officer who gives practical, if currently uncool, advice on gunhandling.

Enjoy the video! (don't forget to click on the video for full size)

 

Next up, in yesterdays Blog Post I mentioned that the Shockwave (and the Remington Tac 14) were both based on a Short-Barreled Shotgun originally designed for Witness Protection by a Federal LEO Agency. I also said I wasn't sure about that, but after a bit of searching, now I am. 

Originally developed for, and used by the U.S. Marshals Service, the article below will give you a good write-up about the history, development, and use of the WP870 from Remington Arms. Happy Reading.

Witness Protection 870: The 12.5-Inch Short-Barreled US Marshals Shotgun  

https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/wilson-witness-protection-870/

Two Takes On The Mossberg Schockwave

 

Since it came out about 4 or 5 years ago (quickly to be imitated by the Remington TAC 14), the Mossberg Schockwave has been both vilified and praised. My personal opinion is if it's all you've got, make the best of it. I mean, it's light, short, maneuverable and easy to conceal (for a long gun anyway).

On the other hand, recoil control, aiming it (shotgun or no shotgun, you still need to get some sort of reasonable hits on target at the ranges for which it's most useful, ie: really close). Those are all pretty good reasons to pay attention to.

Now the Schockwave is not classified as an actual Short Barrelled Shotgun because the barrel is 14+ inches, and the overall length, with the Birds Head Grip brings the total overall length to over the 26" minimum length for a Shotgun. If I recall correctly, the original idea for this type of Shotgun was for it to be used by one of the Federal LEO organizations as an easily concealed Shotty for witness protection When they were being moved from point to Point B in public.

I could be wrong about that, so don't hold me to it.

Although those models had pistol grips and barrels less than a foot long, a capacity of only 2 or 3 shotshells in the tube, and were well below 26" in overall length. I also think they kind of disappeared sometime round the 1990's or so, but of course the gun manufacturers is always looking to resurrect an old idea, make it marginally legal, and try to market it to people who weren't around 20 or 30 years before, and therefore didn't know anything about the shortcomings or actual niche use of said firearms.

Anyway, you may now read the article below which presents the Schockwave from the "pro" point of view, and then watch the Video that provides the 'con" point of view.

You can then make up your own mind.

Personal Defense World Magazine Article 

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/09/mossberg-590-shockwave-20-gauge/

 

 

The Lucky Gunner Video Review

 

 

Screw Facebook, And Who Really Cares How Much Money Marky-Mark Suckerberg Loses!!!

 Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

  https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-experience-global-outages

Well, Here's A Statistic For You...

 .. To brighten your day!

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/09/fbi-report-armed-citizens/

 Keep it up all you  Legal Gun Owners!

"Ending It All" - Woke Style, 2 Examples

 

 

 And This One I Got From My Brother;

  Rusty lived in California and was a lifelong environmentalist. He was sick of the world; of Covid-19,  Chinese   belligerence, global warming,   racial tension and the rest of the disturbing stories that occupy media headlines.
 
Rusty drove his car into his garage and then sealed every doorway and    window as best he could. He got back into his car and wound down all    the windows, selected his favorite radio station, started the car  running at a slow rpm.
 
Two days later, a worried neighbor peered through his garage window    and saw him in the car. She notified the emergency services and they    broke in and pulled Rusty from the car.    A little sip of water and, surprisingly, he was in perfect condition, but his Tesla had a dead battery.
 
Rusty is a registered California Democrat.

In The Late 70's & Early 80's, NYC was the Rotten Appple. Now, We're the City Of The Walking Dead. Thank You Bill DeBlasio and All The Members of the NY City Council

 

Oh yeah Folks, Our esteemed City Leaders have outdone themselves. This Bullshit makes the "Bad Old Days" look like a walk in the park.

https://nypost.com/2021/09/25/nyc-drug-users-shoot-up-in-broad-daylight-in-midtown/

I Guess It Runs In The Family!!!!!

 

Gee, what a surprise................... 😲

https://www.foxnews.com/media/social-media-cnn-chris-cuomo-accused-sexual-harassment

 

https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/chris-cuomo-accused-of-harassment-following-brother-s-downfall

Having A Bad Day Joe??

 

 You wanted the job, well, you got it! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

  https://www.mail.com/scitech/health/11125620-stunning-afternoon-setbacks-imperil-bidens-reset.html#.23140-stage-rightcolumn1-1

Let's Hear It For The Ladies

 No surprise here. This trend has been going on for years now.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/almost-half-of-new-gun-buyers-women-research/ar-AAOw7ZK

Paul Harrell On The 1986 FBI Miami Dade Shootout

 The shootout that changed American Law Enforcement tactics and weapons choices forever. Another well presented  video by Paul Harrell with information and insights that I'm hearing about for the first time.

Paul Harrell On The Subject Of Gun "Experts"

 I love this guy. (Don't forget to click on the video for the full view)

Biden Administration Withdraws David Chipmans Nomination As Director Of ATF

 Biden Administration caves to pressure, not just from The Republican Party and the NRA (which Senator Chuck Schumer and NYS AG Letitia James said was on its last legs) but to 3 Democratic Senators (including Joe Manchin) who would not back the Chipman nomination.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/09/david-chipman-atf-biden-nomination-withdrawal-nra

Another Great Job By The Biden Administration, Remind Me Again Who You Guys Are Working For?

Regarding Afghanistan, China has already eaten our lunch, are working their way through dinner, and are thinking about what to have for dessert. 

 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/sep/7/chinese-muscle-afghanistans-rare-earth-mineral-dep/

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-09-07/china-weighing-occupation-of-former-us-air-base-at-bagram-sources

 

 

The Taliban Are Off To A less Than Stellar Start At Running Afghanistan

 What a Fuck'n bunch.......

First, The Taliban  feels "Angry and Betrayed" that the U.S. Military permanently disabled 70+ Aircraft (half of all the military aircraft left behind). 

Too bad, so sad.

https://en.newsner.com/family/taliban-angry-and-betrayed-after-us-military-leaves-inoperable-equipment-behind/

Second, apparently no one ever told them that when you fire live ammunition into the air, it eventually comes down somewhere.

Because, you know, Gravity.......

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9957495/Taliban-kill-17-injure-41-celebratory-gunfire.html

J-Frame Snubs, Bore Axis, And Point Shooting

If you don't believe that Point Shooting is a legitimate, viable method of using a handgun at close range, then this article is not for you.

And that's okay, because you're entitled to your opinion.

But then again, so am I.

For those of you who read this Blog and do see a practical use for Point Shooting (and also just happen to be Revolver fans) the following article from the Revolverguy Blog should hold your interest.

 

https://revolverguy.com/pointing-and-bore-axis/#more-9282

If You Have Alexa, Siri, Or Google Home In Your House.... You're An Idiot

Seriously, I'll say it again. 

You're an Idiot.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-siri-iphone-privacy-breach-data-whistleblower-a9523951.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/alexa-google-home-siri-hacking-laser-microphone-university-michigan-a9185646.html

Bye-Bye To Angry Eyes - And - Escape From Kabul

Today we have a Twofer for the Blog 

 

GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH 

Don't Go Away Mad Gov,  Just Go.... Oh Wait, I Forgot, Mad Is All You Know How to do.

****And In International News****

Ex-SAS Soldier, 60 Years Old, Escapes From Afghanistan By Disguising Himself Off As An Afghan And Passing through Multiple Taliban Checkpoints 

 

You have to hand it to this guy, 60 years old and he hasn't lost a step from his years of Military Training and Field Experience in The Regiment.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9918601/Retired-British-soldier-60-disguises-Afghan-make-daring-escape-Kabul.html

 

Once Again I Sing The Praises Of The Lever Action Carbine

If you live somewhere that you can own a Semi-Auto Carbine, do it. I will never deny that the Semi is superior to a Lever Action for self defense. But as someone who lives in a "Non Permissive Environment" (ie: a very large Northeastern City) I do not have the option of owning a more modern long gun.

As a general result, I tend to suggest or offer options to people like myself who live in restrictive areas where you have to make do with what is available (unless of course you have a lot of money to spend on legal fees). Accordingly I sing the praises of the Lever Action. Short, light, handy, well balanced, maneuverable in tight spaces, moderately priced, low profile, and legal pretty much everywhere

What more can you ask for?

The article linked to below is just one of a long list of write-ups about the value of the Lever Action carbine that I have put up here at the Blog.

And it won't be the last!  😉

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/08/mossberg-464-lever-action/

Since The Mexican Government Can't Seem To Do Anything About The Cartels, They've Decided To Sue US Firearms Companies For the Violence....

 Although They seem to have conveniently forgotten about all the Guns sold to the Mexican Security forces that have found their way into the hands of the Cartel after Mexican Security members decide to resign or just abandon their jobs and take their American made and Mexican issued guns with them.

Not to mention the 2,000 guns that the ATF "lost track of" during their "Sting operation" Fast & Furious during the Obama administration.

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/08/mexico-sues-gun-manufacturers/

 

 However the National Shooting Sports Federation seems fully prepared to remind Mexico of those "pesky little details".

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/08/mexico-gun-lawsuit/

 

And Down In Mexico The Cartels Are Doing Business As Usual

 And right across the Southern Border, Mexico continues it slide into the status of a Failed Nation State.

The Biden Administration At It's Finest - Kabul Airfield August 2021

 Thanks Uncle Joe!

President Biden On Withdrawal From Kabul

  Biden in July: “The Taliban is not the North Vietnamese army. They’re not remotely comparable in terms of capability. “There's going to be no circumstances where you’re going to see people being lifted off the roof of a US Embassy in Afghanistan.”

  https://twitter.com/i/status/1426894630629429250

Sure, whatever you say. 

 

Kabul August 2021

More From Massad Ayoob On Castle Doctrine And Home Defense

 Consider this a follow-up to the blog post and article links to my 8-13-21 Blog post.  I just want to make one point totally clear here, you do not want to win the physical confrontation only to wind up broke from legal fees at best, or locked up with the kinds of people you train to protect yourself from.

In modern day 21st century America, the fight does not end when the last shot is fired. 

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2017/02/massad-ayoob-home-defense/

Castle Doctrine & Stand Your Ground Laws - Do You Actually Understand Them?

 A lot of armed citizens think they do. 

The Truth? 

The Truth is that just Think they do.

Too many citizens thank that Castle and SYG give them carte blanche to start shooting when a confrontation kicks off. You hear comments like "I'll just anybody I find in my home who doesn't belong there" or my favorite "I don't need a lawyer, a good shoot is a  good shoot, and the law says so". 

And there's no better belief system like that to get you either locked up with all the people you're worried about, or else watching your Life savings go into your legal defense, or just out the window in legal suits. There's more to self defense or personal protection than just wining an armed confrontation.

The two article links below were written by Massad Ayoob. An Ex-cop who now spends more time giving seminars on the legalities of self defense, and testifying as an expert witness for people who thought they were just defending themselves, but instead wound up dealing with the criminal justice system.

Now a quick caveat here. A lot of Self Defense instructors who main source of income comes from teaching shooting classes will denigrate Massad Ayoob as being a guy who, if you listen to him, you will wind up getting killed while you try to dial your lawyer in the middle of a gunfight. To those types of "Self Defense Instructors" , all I can say is that they won't coming down the road to help pay your legal expenses. They won't come to court to testify as expert witnesses on your behalf. And a good many of them will actually say something along the lines of "Well I never told him to do that" in order to keep themselves out of Civil suit.

So just remember, if bad luck in the form of a home invasion/burglary or a street confrontation comes your way, in modern society, personal protection doesn't end when the physical fight does.

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2016/02/massad-ayoob-understanding-stand-your-ground-castle-doctrine/?preview=true#massad-ayoob-stand-your-ground-castle-doctrine-6

 https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2014/12/castle-doctrine-facts-vs-fiction/

 

Say GoodBye Andy!!

 

I Don't Believe Gov. Cuomo Has That 'Peaceful Easy Feeling'

 

Emergency Trauma Care - How to Suture A Wound

 Back in may of 2020 I presented a 5 Part Series of Posts here at the Blog about various techniques needed to provide Emergency Trauma Care if the Paramedics/EMT's would not be readily available. Today, a basic written Tutorial and Video on how to Suture a wound if you find yourself unable to get professional assistance in a reasonable amount of time.

As I have pointed out before, Personal Protection involves more than engaging in physical combat. either armed or unarmed. Also, whenever possible, seek some kind of accredited training.

I hope the readers at this Blog are able to gain some useful knowledge from the skills demonstrated at the links below.

https://www.offgridweb.com/diy/how-to-suture-diy-guide-to-wound-closure-methods/

 

 

Note:  For those interested in the earlier 5 part series, simply use the Search function at the top Left of the Blog page, and type in  Trauma Care.