Monday, October 22, 2012

the essential things that every man should carry in his pockets

it used to be many generations ago that there were a few essential things that every man carried in his pockets on a daily basis that were so familiar they were taken for granted, almost to the point of not noticing them at all.

Although we have become significantly technologically advanced to the point, we now have computers that fit in the palms of our hands and fashion may dictate pockets that are as large as they once were. Especially if you're one of those dudes that wears  skinny jeans (don't do that), and things that they are hipster or a rock star.

There are still some things that do not require batteries or updates or data of any kind to operate effectively in every man should carry with them in their pockets. No matter if they are in the city or in the woods on a camping trip. These things can get you out of a tight spot no matter what.

The list of essential things every man should carry in his pocket is as follows:

A good hat (I know this won't fit in a pocket, but it can be used as one) of any type baseball cap cowboy hat in doesn't matter the style. Whatever you're comfortable with and as long as it serves the purpose of the particular environment. You find yourself in, its fine as long as the days top quality and not some piece of shit that will fall apart during the first rainstorm. I still prefer a Stetson cowboy hat. When I'm out in the field and an Irish eight piece wool cap preferably by Hanna hats when I'm in the city as they keep the rain off my head, and his son away from my face and eyes not to mention that these particular caps can give an individual that added bit of swagger (especially tilted at an angle) when necessary, although sometimes I wear my cowboy hat in the city and my cap in the field. It just depends on my mood and how bad the weather is outside and a wide brim hat is typically more useful during a rainstorm.

The second thing that every man should carry in his pockets on a daily basis is a zippo lighter. Now I know this may sound strange to some people and especially given the biased against smoking these days, but they serve many purposes other than just to lighting the cigarette. Although I have met many pretty girls doing that very thing especially after pulling off a fancy trick or two with the lighter before lighting the cigarette is it will however can also double as a hand warmer (important trick if you have a girlfriend) all that is necessary to do this is delighted to zippo and hold the lid over the flame just enough to heat up the lid without the flame going out by doing this for a few moments. The lid will heat up and once the zippo is closed place it in a coat or pants pocket. Whatever is more convenient and close your hand around it and it will work just like those fancy air activated hand warmers from the outdoor store using a zippo is more environmentally friendly because a zippo can repeat this process thousands of times, whereas a hand warmer can only do it once. A zippo lighter can also be used to burn loose threads off of clothing district is commonly used by military personnel while getting their uniforms ready to pass inspection these lighters are excellent because they are small and do not take up much room in the pocket and they come in thousands of colors and different designs and can be completely customized with engraving. All that is necessary is to occasionally change the  flint for the lighting mechanism and refill the lighter fluid reservoir when necessary. And on very rare occasions to change the wake of individual can do these very simple maintenance procedures that are lighter will last a lifetime and become a trusted friend.

The third thing, an individual should carry with them in their pockets on a daily basis is actually two things. The first being a good reliable pen. The second thing, being a a small notepad the best pen I have found for a change in one's pocket on a daily basis is a fisher bullet space pen. Preferably one with a pocket clip. These pens are very small, and are literally capable of writing anywhere under any condition and at any angle just as advertised. They can do this, because the ink cartridges pressurized with 35 to 40 psi (pounds per square inch), which is similar to a bicycle tire. The second important thing after the pan is of course the notepad this is an important piece of kit, should you need to write down any notes or phone numbers or e-mail addresses. When there is not a piece of paper handy, and writing on your hand or arm is simply not appropriate. The best pocket-sized notebooks to be found anywhere, are the rite in the rain all leather notebooks, a page from one of these notebooks can survive a trip through the laundry. With only a few minor wrinkles and smudges the words written on the page will come out, completely legible. There are even videos available on the Internet of individuals with these particular notepads literally writing underwater in scuba gear with a Fisher space pen. Just to prove it can be done. However it is important to note that these notepads work best with a pencil or all whether pen such as a Fisher space pen due to the way the paper is treated to make it waterproof.

The fourth thing that a man should carry in his pockets on a regular basis is a length of twine or strain. Preferably though. Something like 550 code is best. Again, this may sound strange, but you never know when you might break a shoelace or something might need to be tied down or you might need to fix a zipper pull on a backpack or sweatshirt, or even a pair of jeans 550 cord has 1 million uses, and never fails.

The fifth thing that every man should carry in their pocket on a daily basis is a good quality knife. As one never knows when they are going to need to open the package or letter will cut an apple or what have you a good quality knife is an indispensable tool I myself prefer to carry a small buck knife and a small Swiss Army knife in tandem with one another the buck knife is used when a good quality blade is necessary, and the Swiss Army knife has an abundance of tools such as tweezers, scissors, etc., although a multitool such as the weathermen will offer all the same features in a smaller and more convenient package. They are rather expensive, and I myself have never gotten around to purchasing one.

With the items listed here, placed in one's pocket on a regular basis, and individual can accomplish a wide array of tasks from starting a signal fire if they are lost in the wilderness to fixing a broken shoe lace. It is always good to be prepared for in many situations possible while still not being overburdened with unnecessary items

Monday, September 24, 2012

freebooter, freelancer and mercenary: the modern private military contractor is just a corporate evolution of one of the world's oldest professions

The modern definition of an army as being controlled by a Nation state is a fairly new phenomenon, standing armies do not come about until the early 1800s, for that matter, neither did the modern idea of identifying with one's country or nation state as a source of pride.

Prior to this win wars needed to be fought militias were raised by individual warlords or chieftains that were loyal to a specific geographical area or cause, namely self-preservation :-) however, the vast majority of armies, prior to the early 1800s were made up of private individuals who are willing to fight for a specific king or warlord or a specific cause, simply because it was believed that a standing army was a rather dangerous proposition. As it might lead to the overthrow of a king or specific regime, particularly when our soldiers had no war to fight and did not have any other particular skill set to utilize.

Outside fighting forces have been utilized by every government and/or culture known to man the ancient Egyptians had a large pool of individuals on which they could draw from to form an army when necessary or filling the ranks when individuals were lost in combat the ancient Greeks had a significant number of mercenaries employed from all the various islands and territories under their control.

The ancient Romans had a considerable mercenary force within the Army as they would press all the conquered people into service. And because the vast majority of these people were not considered citizens of the Roman Republic, but were paid for their military service they can be considered mercenaries.

The modern concept of a mercenary and the bad connotations that go with it can be traced back to the Middle Ages with the incidences like the hundred years war, there were all these warriors. They were fighting for a specific cause, and/or governmental structure, but the hundred years war, experienced numerous cease-fires or treaties that could last for four or five years at a stretch. So in the meantime, these warriors would seek out some other war or conflict to take part in until their true cause was resumed. These individuals became known as English companies freelancers or freebooters and would roam the countryside looking for some sort of employment in which they could use their particular skill set. And if they couldn't find a legitimate source of employment they would often plunder and pillage local villages and extort what they could to survive.

The Italians became famous (so did Italy in general) for hiring mercenaries. In all the various regions of the country to fight all their skirmishes between the different thiefdoms that existed in any of the time. Often the individual soldiers or companies were not being a steady wage from an outside source such as became the warlord. But rather were told that they could take a percentage of whatever they came across weather with livestock. Precious metals, etc. in this way, the various companies manage to eke out a living and get by. But this is where the image of a mercenary as being a bloodthirsty killer, who is only in it for the profit and personal gain. That has attached itself to be collective consciousness of the universe comes from.

This negative image was also later reinforced in Africa during the 1960s with the conflict in the Congo by men like mad Mike Ward and others, who hired unscrupulous individuals that were willing to do just about anything for any side that could pay, these groups would work for the government of the day (the individual who happened to be in charge at a particular point). Most of the mercenaries during this period at least a noticeable ones were generally white South Africans, which again adds to the negative connotations of a mercenary.

The most famous modern mercenary force in operation today is most likely the French foreign Legion, although it should be noted that the members of the French foreign Legion are not mercenaries in the strictest sense of the word simply because they are fighting under the auspices of a completely legitimate and recognized government. As part of the regular armed forces of France. The only significant difference being that this particular military unit is made up entirely of foreign personnel. But once enlisted their purview and missions are under the direct control of the French government and/or military force. There are about 800 million in the French foreign Legion. At any one time thousands of men tried to enlist every year but failed simply because they cannot make the grade and meet the physical standards and/or do not pass the background check. Contrary to popular belief, the French foreign Legion will not take someone that is a convicted felon or has an extensive criminal record (anymore) and individual wishing to apply to the French foreign Legion, must pass a rigorous screening process. However, once accepted, they are then allowed to sign their five-year contract of service in the Legion on the condition that they pass all the physical conditioning required, and a decent level of academic training standards. The only holdover that is still alive from the original Legion guidelines is the ability of individuals to change their name while under service to the Legion, as well as being able to apply for French citizenship. Under that name/or their real name. Once their term of service is over.

There are also organizations like the wild geese, which have been around for a considerable amount of time as an active private military company. Organizations like these have been used as the basis for a countless number of novels and movies. However it is very rare that organizations such as these overthrow governments entirely or that an individual mercenary will go out into the field on a solo mission and dispatch 50 men. Plus the primary target, which often happens to be an evil dictator is simply does not happen.

More often than not, private military contractors are used in a defense of capacity. Rather than offenses such as guarding oil fields or valuable personnel or other property. They do not operate on the front lines of a given war, but rather operate any strategic capacity in a hostile environment. That being said, however, there are individuals that do operate in an offense capacity with a specific objective such as to weed out a rebel leader or a terrorist cell. Generally when this happens, a specific company is contracted by a government that does not have the resources to combat a particular threads with their own internal forces (Africa and executive outcomes for instance).

For the most part however private military contractors operate in situations as previously discussed guarding a specific area or person or protecting goods in transport. Also, most notably, private military organizations operate in an educational capacity, meaning that they provide training to indigenous forces such as Iraq, the police etc. as the military does not have the resources and/or time to devote a regular soldier. To this endeavor because it is simply not cost-effective. So in these instances, private contractors are used.

The thing that makes the modern private contractors so unique and so interesting is that this period of history has seen an absolute explosion in the use of privatized military force in the war against anti-terrorism in the modern world. Perhaps this is because most of the first world nations military forces have seen significant downsizing in recent years. And they simply do not have the resources to meet all of the needs that this new type of warfare places on the armed services in many countries.

Either way, the number of contractors in the modern theater of warfare that the world is currently engaged in seems to be about one in 10 contractors as compared to the statistics with the first Gulf War which seemingly was one hundred governmental soldiers for every private contractor.

Some individuals feel that such an extensive use of private contracting organizations undermines the legitimacy of governmental military operations simply because these private military contractors have little or no regulation in a given theater of operation and there is also the simple fact that one cannot force a civilian contractor to do anything at any point. If they wish, they may cancel their contract and go home, which means that they can be considered to be somewhat unreliable. Unlike a government also under the last taken an oath to defend their country. Even at the expense of their life. This means that they will follow all reasonable orders given to them without question. The fact that a private contractor can pull out at any time has some people wondering about the stability of military operations. When they are relying on so heavily for most of the infrastructure duties in various theaters of operation.

Again, the fear of a private military contractor, switching sides or walking away from a battlefield comes from the Middle Ages and the free companies in Italy that often switch sides. If the pay was better, most modern-day mercenaries were private contractors do not have the luxury of switching sides on the fly as it is their reputation and integrity that they are utilizing in a new profession as a military contractor. No one is going to hire an individual to protect something of value. If they believe there is even the slightest possibility of the company or individuals that they have hired switching sides. At the moment of greatest need.

Most private military contractors get a bad rap. The vast majority of these men and women are highly dedicated and highly motivated individuals that take great pride in their work. And although they may be receiving a higher standard of pay than they did when they were in the governmental forces. This does not mean that they have any less integrity. They just simply want to apply a specific skill set and I'm a living in a way that best suits them and their personality.

As a matter of fact, the vast majority of individuals are not aware that during the American Revolution. The vast majority of troops on the ground were not British, but were German mercenaries hired from all the various German kings and regions of the German domains, because Britain was busy fighting a war with Napoleon and did not have the resources to fight a prolonged war on two continents as it was originally believed that the American Revolution would be over in a matter of weeks may be months. At the outside, but not something that would drag on for eight years. So the British government outsourced in these duties to German mercenaries known as Haitians that were in German units and under the command of German-speaking officers working for the British government after the war of Independence was over a considerable number of the German soldiers stayed behind as they remarked on how similar the topography of the New World and the old actually were, this is also why certain areas of the United States. Historically have had a heavier German population. In other areas. The original German immigrants to the United States, where the remnants of the German freelancers/mercenaries that were hired on behalf of the British. And since they were not getting any extra pay, other than standard military wages at the time, because the fee for their services had been paid directly to their king or prince of their realm. These soldiers felt no particular allegiance to the British or their homeland once the conflict had ended

There were also a considerable number of mercenaries/private contracting individuals that far on behalf of the Continental Army from German to French and even Dutch. As these armies were some of the best trained in the world at the time, next to the British of course. And the help of these private military individuals was an absolute necessity to the Continental Army simply because they call them he did not have any legitimate combat experience with a standing army of a first world nation. So it is funny to speculate on whether or not, without the help of mercenaries. If there would be a United States at all :-).

So the next time you hear someone commenting on private military contractors/mercenaries in a negative way. Stop and think for a moment that these men and women are performing a valuable service that most individuals are not willing to do, such as go into hostile territory and protect a supply train or make sure that a very important person gets from point a to point B. safely. It takes a very special kind of individual to do this work and perform a service that without which would place even more strain on an already stressed out governmental force.

Now, I'm not saying that every company has a stellar reputation and that every individual working as a contractor/mercenary is representing the profession in the light that they should, because as with any other business. There are bound to be somewhat unscrupulous individuals. However just because the less scrupulous individuals are the ones that get all the media attention. One should not assume that every private contractor/mercenary is a cowboy is just looking to carry a gun and get paid to shoot at people.

Freedom of any kind, is it really free, and the reason that people can enjoy a the concept of freedom anywhere in the world as they know it is because hard men stand ready to do whatever is necessary so that they may enjoy that freedom.

Head down powder dry and Semper Fi!!


Friday, August 17, 2012

learning to appreciate the small victories will lead to happiness guaranteed and keep you rolling in a positive direction

the pace of the world picks up everyday. People forget to enjoy the small things to small victories in life such as the first sip of coffee in the morning as the sun rises. The smell of fresh cut grass on the first day of summer a smile on your princess's face when she sees you in their first and second after waking. When all is right with the world, and nothing can touch you or her and the two of you are floating in a space created by the numbers specifically for that moment.

Happiness is something each individual needs to find for themselves it cannot be bought and sold or traded. It can only be found in comes in many forms. Some of which people fail to notice, because they cannot see the world for what it truly an ever evolving and changing and rotating spectrum of varying realities that very few people can see clearly and those that can are able to find true happiness simply because it is secretly or otherwise damaged in the universe and the universe understands them and they have learned to enjoy the ride and excitement and adventure of living in interchanging in the evolving universe and they have learned not to worry about the things that are beyond the reach and appreciate the things that they have.

And they are also unwilling to give up the fight for the things they truly want.

The positive changes in life are just a collection of small victories, which have to be appreciated in that moment for what they are and never taken out of context for it is when these victories are taken out of context that the true meaning of them is misunderstood and unappreciated, which is why people become unhappy because they are unable to catch hold of those small victories and appreciate them for what they are. And they only want the things they cannot have and they want the things that other people have, simply because they think it's better, but they don't understand that everything comes with its own unique challenges, and everyone is entirely unique and that things that mean happiness to one person will not mean happiness to another. All of the time were necessarily in the same way.

So I guess what I'm saying is, you should appreciate the view of the universe that you have right now, because if you learn to listen. It will tell you everything you need to know. And exactly how to find happiness. Yes, it may take work, and it may seem like it is never going to happen but even small victories eventually add up to one cohesive experience both the negative and positive experiences we encounter in life make us who we are and will someday, if properly negotiated at up to one well rounded life. That will have value and enhance the world in some way. So it is always important to never take the small victories for granted and never play the what if four of which came because those only need two regrets and there is no reason for regret, because what would actually signifies is an unwillingness to try and an unwillingness to try these two among them is to learn an unwillingness to learn leads to taking the small victories for granted. Which leads to unhappiness, which will perpetuate itself until the individual experiencing the unhappiness is able to appreciate the small victories.

HOO-RAH!! May all your lives be filled with rainbows and unicorns. For those that can see the rainbows and unicorns understand who they truly are.

Monday, July 9, 2012

wheel of life introduction and greetings to the universe :-)

The universe is integral to every one's existence, no matter race creed, color, sex, whatever the universe does not care. It is made up of energy and will keep moving forward no matter how hard we tried to change its direction this blog will be a place where unique perspectives on the universe can be shared, anything from my thoughts on a particular day to the definition of the word or a description of a historical event or whatever happens to pop into my brain pan at a particular moment :-) and I guarantee. As readers, you will not be disappointed. I have picked up a considerable amount of interesting and unique knowledge, as well as a unique perspective over the years. It seems to be entertaining to the vast majority of my friends. So I thought I would share this unique perspective with a wider audience. In case you're wondering about the title wheel of life there a several meanings for this title Buddhist world over. Use it to describe the cycle of life that Native Americans have a similar concept is sacred wheel is the center of all things. I personally use it because my wheels are my life you see I am quadriplegic and without my wheels. I would have no life.

If I ever post something that you would like more in-depth information on. Please do not hesitate to ask or if you would like some help understanding a particular topic or perspective on something. I would be more than happy to help with that too I am always looking to expand my mind and knowledge base and the things I don't know I definitely know how to find the answer :-).

Thanks for listening more to come soon