[Dan's Blog]

A Man's Everyday Carry

2012-01-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

As we grow up we realize there are things as adults and as men that we do because we are adults and men. Get a job, pay bills, hold the door for ladies, change tires, etc. And in doing these things there are tools that should be carried in our daily lives to help with the everyday tasks. Here is a list of my EDC (everyday carry) and why you should be carrying them too.

1. Wallet- I know this seems like a 'duh', however I've seen men who just throw their cash and cards in their pocket and I wonder how they don't lose things. Wallets come in many styles and whichever you choose is fine, as long as you use one. Debit/Credit cards, licenses and business cards belong in some holder. Cash can be held in same holder or in a clip as long as it's not just hanging loosely in your pocket.

2. Cell Phone- If you don't have one that's fine, but if you do then have it on you and ON! Whether it's on your belt or in your pocket it's important to have it with you when you leave the house; fully charged and the volume set to the appropriate level for your environment. The cell phone is a great tool in our society so why not have it ready on you when you need it.

3. Watch- This is a debatable item given cell phones tell the time too. But the importance is to have a way of telling time wherever you go so not having to ask those around you. I personally like the look and convenience of a watch so I use one.

4. Knife- Man's earliest tools was the knife, and what a versatile tool it is. Though given today's culture carrying a hunting knife into the store might get you some looks. That is why I recommend and carry a folding pocket knife, one that carries discretely in your pocket. Whether it's a tactical folder or an old fashion Buck knife every man needs to have a knife on him. From opening packages to defending yourself a knife is a must. Just be careful to not take it places that prohibit its carry: Court houses, amusement parks, some schools.

5. Pen and Paper- For someone like myself who easily forgets things the ability to take notes on the go is indispensable. Any pocket notebook will work but I recommend the Moleskine ruled notebooks, 2.5X4 inches. They're a little more in price but great due to their size. I use any half size pen I can find off the shelf.

The five items mentioned are a must for any gentleman's EDC. The following are optional but handy to have.

-Zippo Lighter- Not that I smoke but I sometimes carry a Zippo lighter for emergencies. It's a good tool for the rare occasions you need a fire. Though living in an urban environment the opportunity doesn't arise often, but it's there. They're also really cool.

-Eye Drops- If you wear contacts like me I don't leave home without contact re-wetting drops. A dry contact is easily lost.

-Flashlight- This should be on the list above but here it is, a key chain flashlight. A good LED light will help you when it's dark and you're trying to find the lock to your door.

So there you have it, my list of EDC for myself and every man. I use or used every item more than once in my daily life and I hope you can too. If I've missed something let me know, I'm open to new carries.

2011-05-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

An opinion article in the Washingtonpost.com compared the crime rate of Christian America versus atheist countries like Japan and Sweden and implied that America’s Christian beliefs lead to higher crime rate.

Consider that at the societal level, murder rates are far lower in secularized nations such as Japan or Sweden than they are in the much more religious United States, which also has a much greater portion of its population in prison. Even within this country, those states with the highest levels of church attendance, such as Louisiana and Mississippi, have significantly higher murder rates than far less religious states such as Vermont and Oregon.

I feel this article fails to look at the fact that America is so large geographically and socioeconomically compared to the mentioned countries which are much smaller and homogeneous. So it stands to reason that they will have lower crime rate. For example the crime rate of La Jolla, CA. is going to be much different than in east L.A., that’s socioeconomic. Basically I can’t see how Christianity is causing more crime in America nor does the lack of religious beliefs cause less as the article is implying.

2011-01-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

I’m not much of a sports guy. I mean I have my teams and I know the rules of the game. I played little league like every boy did and I watch my teams when they’re playing. But ask me a player’s names and where they came from and I’m done, I don’t keep track. However I know a lot of men who are obsessed with sports and who go to the extreme with fantasy ‘blah blah’ or what not. That’s just not me. So I had to ask myself, “Am I a man?” Do I HAVE to see my team play every Sunday or know who got traded to who to be in the club? It does seem awkward when I’m with the guys and they talk about “Why did they get rid of so-and-so!” I just nod my head and say, “I know, what were they thinking?!” But I don’t care. I’ve tried to care, for a short while I tried to learn all the players on my team and their positions. Tried to even learn the national standings of the league. But alas it was futile. I just don’t care.

It took me a while and a lot of thinking but then I realized it, I realized that it’s OK that I don’t care. I’m still a man. But what of these men, those who live sports? What I think is that some of these men, not all but some have nothing in their life to feel manly about, ( I know this because I’ve observed many of these types) and somehow knowing the stats, the players and watching each game gives them the testosterone boost they need to feel like the twig and berries between their legs isn’t just for decoration. One man in particular who is one of the most obsessive fan I know didn’t know how to check his water-heater pilot light. That’s emasculating to not be able to give your family hot water. And I know he’s not alone in that.

Every man need something to make them feel masculine. Some join the military, some get into construction, and some actually do sports. However those who are in a profession that doesn’t breed testosterone, they need to find an outlet and for most it is sports.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not finding fault or making fun of these types. Modern society has bred a domesticated gentleman. A man who is taught to not be violent but instead to be submissive and show no aggression. So in turn these men let other men, men who weren’t turned by the emasculating society to be men for them.

So am I a man even though I don’t follow sports as closely as others? Yes. Am I more of a man than those who follow sports? No; we are all men in the same brotherhood and need to respect each others outlets whatever they may be. I just choose it not to be sports and am OK with that. I’m comfortable in my manhood to live it out myself and not through a professional sports player. That’s just me.

2010-09-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Why are we bringing democracy to a people who don't even know the concept of it?

2010-09-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

This is off of Joe Huffman's blog, View From North Central Idaho. He's talking about the double standard and obvious anti-gun bias in the government.

Under current Federal law the ATF is authorized to inspect Federal Firearm License holders (FFLs), unannounced, up to once per year and to do audits of their records. Every single gun must be accounted for by manufacture, model, and serial number. The FFL will face consequences if some buy wrote “N” and “Y” instead of “Yes” and “No”, they failed to include the county of residence in addition to the city, state and Zip Code, or they used the abbreviation “MINN” instead of spelling out “Minneapolis” in the small box for the city name. The FFL must record the NICS Transaction Number (NTN) on line 21b of the ATF Form 4473 and retain the form for auditing purposes. Form 4473 must be retained for 20 years.
Imagine if we had a Federal Book License holders (FBLs) and similar record keeping requirements. Would the book banners be able to claim such regulations were “common sense” and justified?
Imagine if the IRS were authorized one unannounced inspection and audit of a taxpayer per year. Would people tolerate that?
Why is it that the specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms can be so heavily regulated when the Second Amendment explicitly says “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”? Is there anyone surprised gun owners are pushing back and winning?

No matter where you stand on gun-control you must admit that these regulations are ridiculous.

2010-03-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

Lets see if I understand this… It's not "free" health care, its subsidized insurance if you're in the poverty level. So if you're poor and you can't afford insurance, the government will help you out or they will charge you money. Yes, that makes sense.

FYI: Walgreens' is no longer taking Medicaid patients because the "subsidies" Uncle Sam reimburses isn't even enough for them to break even. I wonder how many doctors will stop practicing due to not breaking even?

In what universe does this work? I thought you had to pass high school history to become a Congressman or Senator.

2009-12-06T19:00:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. Been busy with getting married and settling in our new house. I hope to write more but don't hold your breath. It'll happen anytime between now and the Rapture.

2009-09-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Exit song possibilities:

2009-08-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

2009-06-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

I feel for the loved ones of Michael Jackson although I cannot understand how us as a nation, nay, a world, can mourn his passing as though he were a god. The world is in disarray and all the media is fixated on is this false deity. There are much more pressing matters to attend to that weigh heavier consequences. Iran is executing protestors over their fraudulent election; N. Korea is launching missiles at Hawaii; and Obama is giving our money to captains of industry who know nothing more than how to spend it as inappropriately as possible. My dear friends, I do not mean to come off as callous however we need to shed our tears quickly and roll up our sleeves because there are things to be done. There will be a time to grieve but I fear now is not that time.

2009-06-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

You do not have to post every waking moment of your life on the internet! You know who you are. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter. No one's life is that exciting to post your daily activity; even the President's.

You have a wicked hotel party, I don't care. I don't want to see ten pictures of you doing shots. Nor do I wish to know that you're going to the gym. Even that your survey says you're a morning person verses night. Benjamin Franklin once said, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Take head binary biographer.

You ask why such animosity for a great media that conveys information, art, and thought? If these clicks and clacks on the keyboard were used properly then I say sure, what an age we live in. But the reality is I see nothing more than hexadecimal pixels of narcissism and blasphemy.

Now this does not apply to those who share the occasional vacation, funny story or article. I write to those who take a hundred pictures a day and post ninety-nine of them. I write to those who are updating their status before they even open the door. I am writing to you who insist on forwarding everything you get because you're afraid you won't have sex for a year if you don't send it to ten people in 2 seconds.

My point is that before you click the upload, post, or send button, STOP. Think and ask, is this really what I want to share to the world, my friends? Really? How about using that grey matter up north that you've been neglecting for so long.

2009-05-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Just a few hours ago the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold the voter initiative to amend the California Constitution to bar same-sex marriage under Prop. 8. Now gay-right supporters are planning a huge fight to get an proposition on the next ballot to overturn this decision.

I am glad for the decision be that homosexuality is a sin and a society cannot expect to thrive if it openly accepts sinful lifestyles of any kind. However on a legal standpoint I'm thrilled that our state Supreme Court justices had the courage to stand up for what is right. What I mean is that they did not over turn what the voters wanted, they recognized the power of a voter initiative to amend the constitution and upheld it. I am proud to be a Californian.

2009-05-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

What is wrong with the Republican Party is that they are divided. On one side are the social and economic conservatives (i.e.: religious right), and the other, while economically conservative have a more moderate social philosophy. The later falls more closely towards libertarianism; however the Libertarian party has no more pull nationally than any of the other minor parties so being fairly represented requires alliance to the GOP.

As the old adage goes, "United we stand, divided we fall." There is going to have to be a compromise for the party to come together and become strong. The problem with that is of all things to compromise one’s morals should not be one of them. Morally the Democrats are united on the left. But the Republicans are scattered on the right and middle and the Grand Old Party cannot teeter on the fence or it will fall; and fall hard.

2009-02-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

I find it easy to talk extensively to myself of matters worth writing, however by the time I get to a computer my mind draws a blank; this is very frustrating. I will wake up in the morning with some idea on my mind; it flourishes as I enter the shower and as I proceed to dry myself off its well worth a Pulitzer Prize. However by the time I get to the car my mind turns to the day ahead and I lose my muse. I guess I should carry a tape recorder during my morning routines but I’m afraid that by the time I sit down to listen all there will be are ramblings of a barely awake man who shouldn’t be writing at all. So that is why I haven’t written as much as I used to.

At the moment I’m watching President Obama address the Congress and a flurry of emotions run through me. I did not vote for this man, and though a stanch conservative I’m trying to give him a chance. His proposed ideas during his campaign scared me, and excluding his cabinet appointments and the socialist stimulus package, he’s not as bad as I thought he was. Though I feel that my opinions will change in a few months (or even weeks) after he’s had time to screw up. America’s strong; we can roll with the punches. Our enemies (foreign and domestic-liberals) want us to think that we’re at our end, that we’re too weak to face an ever-changing world. But I think they’re wrong, America’s filled with strong, God-fearing people who will fight and die for the liberties we love. So with the right leadership America can survive. My thoughts though dwell on the fact that I have no idea who this man is. On the surface he seems like the perfect man for the job, but a small voice in the back of my head says to be weary. My philosophy in life is that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. And this man seems way to good to be true, but I could be wrong. So I don’t know, time will tell what kind of man he is but by then it’ll be too late. I leave it all in our Lords hands, for He is in control.

New Acquisition

2009-02-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

Bought this at the latest gun show. Maker is Jeff C. Morgan of Santee, CA. If you want more info email me for it. I really like his knives and they're incredibly well priced.

Food For Thought

2009-01-25T17:50:00.001-08:00

"Some women want a passive man if they want a man at all; the church wants a tamed man – they are called priests; the university wants a domesticated man – they are called tenure-track people; the corporation wants a … sanitized, hairless, shallow man."

-Robert Bly

2009-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Remember, the President serves the people. The people do not serve the president.

2008-12-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

So my last post was short because I was playing with the html all night and still am not happy but it shall suffice. So yes, I am Dan, this is my new blog. I have (had) many other blogs through the past few years but I've decided to condense it down to just one. I've been blogging about politics under the moniker of Flawed Society for a few years but decided to stop since I've lost the passion for that style of writing. Now I'm going to write a little less formal and more on a personal level, anything that comes to mind, not just politics. Most of it will be ramblings and possibly nonsensical but entertaining. So enjoy.

2008-12-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

So I've decided to start blogging here. New blog.