“Do not get lost in a sea of despair.”

- John Lewis #RIP

Preparedness tip: If you are considering getting a firearm, learn how to safely handle and store it first. If you have children in your household, it may not be the right choice for you even with communication and safety precautions.

Remember the attack and attempted coup that happened on this day 5 years ago.

Unfortunately the traitors responsible have not been held accountable. I fear we will have a repeat in three years. Make sure you are prepared if it does happen.

Happy New Year! Slightly belated b/c of trying to unplug for the holidays.

Looks like this year is off to a rocky start. Fight the bullshit where you can. Organize and help each other. Good luck and stay safe.

Preparedness Tip: Food. Keep a supply of non-perishable food on hand. At least a few days worth for your household. And consider the steps you need to take to prepare the food. Dehydrated meals keep forever, but you need water and usually a stove. MREs are ready to eat, but more expensive.

Preparedness Tip: Have a Plan. Any level of planning is better than none. A rehearsed plan is easier to execute. Share the plan with your entire household (even kids).

A rehearsal Can be as simple as running through the situation in your head. Use rehearsals to identify issues and correct them.

Preparedness tip - Water:
Major events can disrupt access to water. I recommend you have 3 days worth of water set aside at a minimum. Plan on a gallon a day per person and don’t forget water for your pets.

Some background information on the beef industry that may help you understand the split between ranchers and the White House over the Argentina decisions.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BeQI...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9gBU...

If you are going for a walk tomorrow remember to keep it peaceful, keep it weird, and help out your fellow walkers.

If you have been wondering why the market (up to Friday it seems) has looked strong while the economy is clearly in distress.
fortune.com/2025/10/07/d...

Preparedness Tip: Sticking to the subject of first aid, make and maintain a first aid kit. If you don’t know where to start, look up IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit). Gauze, athletic tape, small scissors, gloves, and anything else specific to the type of injuries you expect should be included.

Emergency Tip: Learn first aid. Make sure any course you take includes wound management (stop the bleed). Take the course in person, online courses don’t get you the hands on practice you need. The best civilian course I have taken so far is Wilderness First Aid.

I have been hesitant to engage on this site after leaving one of the other sites, but I think bluesky can use a sympathetic voice from a different background than most of its denizens.

I think I am going to focus on emergency preparedness. It feels like a subject that will be important soon.

From the facial markings, I think this is a great grey owl. I might have to get a proper camera if it keeps visiting.