In this article, "Why One Cop Carries 145 Rounds of Ammo", we hear how a modern day gunfight with a dangerous criminal used up what would have been the cop's usual 47 rounds of ammo.

Some notable excerpts:

• •At the core of his desperate firefight was a murderous attacker who simply would not go down, even though he was shot 14 times with .45-cal. ammunition — six of those hits in supposedly fatal locations.
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• •In his trunk was an AR-15; in an overhead rack inside the squad, a Remington 870. But reaching either was impractical. Gramins did manage to get himself to a grassy spot near a tree on the curb side of his vehicle where he could prone out for a solid shooting platform.
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• •He [the robber] was transported to a trauma center where [Officer] Gramins also was taken. They shared an ER bay with only a curtain between them as medical personnel fought unsuccessfully to save the robber’s life.
• At one point Gramins heard a doctor exclaim, “We may as well stop. Every bag of blood we give him ends up on the floor. This guy’s like Swiss cheese. Why’d that cop have to shoot him so many times!”
• Gramins thought, “He just tried to kill me! Where’s that part of it?”

Drone technology is moving so fast that the consumer can easily purchase an AR Parrot Drone camera at 720p or 1080i which allows hobbyists, filmmakers - or very strange people - to put cameras anywhere.  Until now, the limit has usually been within 'line of sight' both for technology and FAA regulations.   Check out this video on Youtube.

However, a new company has launched its Kickstarter-like campaign on IndieGogo for an application that will allow iphones to become 'Mobile Drone Stations'.

The resulting application would allow control from about 1 mile away.

The application's use may require some additional equipment.

A nuclear stress test, carried by some lawyer and perfectly legal, set off alarms in the Chicago Transpo System.

In Germany, a group has risen up which opposes any further monetary union under the falling Euro.  This group of economists, politicians and jurists suggests that Merkel leave the European Union before the Union collapses.

The plans draw on work by Hans-Olaf Henkel, former head ofGermany's industry federation (BDI) and a chastened europhile -- the "worst error of my professional life", he told me.

 

 

Added to this situation, a currency war is brewing across the world.   British Expats are fleeing the sterling.

 

To All My Valued Employees, {A Memo about Hard Work]

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY :

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

“The Soviet Story” is a story of an Allied power, which helped the Nazis to fight Jews and which slaughtered its own people on an industrial scale. Assisted by the West, this power triumphed on May 9th, 1945. Its crimes were made taboo, and the complete story of Europe’s most murderous regime has never been told. Until now…

Emergency Preparedness is the insurance that we don't want to use.  Just like our car, house and business insurance, we hope that the need doesn't arise.

 

But smart people know different.   Every region in the world has epic natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and more.  In November, 2011, a tornado hit Italy.  They commonly race across the southern United States.  Massive snowstorms hit Spain and France, throwing floods over Great Britain.   Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of the Caribbean Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States during late October 2012 and also sections of the Southeastern and Midwestern United States as well as Eastern Canada.

 

What we learn about these devastating events is the requirement to have warm and weather resistant clothes in our homes, cars and perhaps at work.   What's to say that an earthquake or tornado won't happen when we're driving or at work - far from our home preparations?  A Go-Bag is precisely what it sounds like.  A bag, or preferably a backpack, with emergency food, lighting, medical kit and clothing.  If you're not worried about yourself, then okay.  But what if a family member is injured, cold, experiencing shock or worse and you're not ready?  Bad news.

 

Let's start with clothing.    The best clothing is usually army surplus.  Rigorously made and tested with weather resistant materials, you can usually get clothing that is superb against adverse conditions i.e., snow, rain, severe cold, etc.,  and will last.   I found one site at www.Nightgear.co.uk.   The site has a number of useful categories like Military, Police, Security, Outdoor, Fire, etc.,   But let's just check out their army surplus Military and Tactical Clothing section.

 

A few products with fleece fabric caught my eye.  Fleece is soft, lightweight and warm.   It is the fabric that fights water well.   Even when weight it retains a great deal of its insulating powers.  Perspiration passes through the fabric.  Fleece also dries quickly, making it an ideal fabric for emergency situations.  No use shivering in ice cold clothes when you can have a fabric that dries fast.   This particular fleece jacket has a hood with multiple pockets.  Light, dark and comfortable.

 

One useful item that is oft overlooked in Emergency Preparedness is a strong vest, packed with emergency lighting, a small medical kit, food bars, etc.,   Some people can't walk well with a backpack, like the elderly, but with the weight distribution of a vest, they can keep moving and have both hands free to navigate adverse conditions.  I saw a number of vests available which I liked, tending toward the Tactical Vests with their strong construction and multiple pockets.   Check out the vests here.

 

You will always be working within a budget these days, but a few well-considered items  - pants, jacket, weight bearing gear like a vest, etc., - along with your standard emergency supplies will help you in uncertain times and unpredictable futures.  Be Prepared!