2E Child (Twice Exceptional - Autistic / Profoundly Gifted)

Alex And Flat Stanley At Pyramid Lake

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Song: Drops Of Jupiter

Group: Train

This song is light hearted and up beat...

just as this day trip was.

We stopped by a neighborhood Thai restaurant on our way

to Pyramid Lake...

a terminal lake 1/2 hr. N by NE of Reno.

It is fed almost exclusively by the snow melt of the Sierra Nevadas

which feed Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe feeds the Truckee River...

which then flows through Reno...

and ends in Pyramid Lake.

Flat Stanley is a popular School Project

where school children make contact with people

from around the world and ask that they take him along

when they travel in their area and take pictures with him in it

(they send a copy of Stanley to you).

You would then E-mail the pictures and send Stanley back.

The children then get to see areas of interest

(along with a brief description of the location)

in other parts of the world...from a local's point of view.

My wife had a Blog friend who had been asking for a temporary home

for Stanley for a School Project. She agreed, and we received Stanley

just a couple of days ago...and so, here is Stanley on his first excursion...

enroute to Pyramid Lake.

Pyramid Lake is part of an Indian Reservation of the Paiute Tribe.

As their laws are a little different...

they have some convenience stores which sell all types of Fireworks year round...

and you may shoot them off at certain spots near the lake.

We will certainly do that in the future.

Alex and Stanley as we arrived at the lake.

Pyramid Lake has a trout hatchery and some of the

World's best Trout fishing is supposed to be here.

The trout grow to exceptional size here and the record

weight trout caught here was over 40 lbs. Other sizes

regularly caught here weigh 10 to 20 lbs.

Alex loves Trout...

he wanted me to go fishing to catch some for dinner.

Perhaps sometime in the future we will do some fishing.

It would make a good outing.

At the Pyramid Lake Museum

Throughout our drive to different parts of the lake...

I had questioned Alex on the surroundings...

more to teach him critical thinking than to teach him about the lake.

I always try to have him observe and to analyze what he sees...

by seeing what is there and asking himself why...

and why not other things....about patterns and disruptions of them...

to tell him much about the true nature of his surroundings.

I always try to revisit concepts previously taught.

I am going over the use of shadow stakes with Alex...

to determine direction using the track of the sun.

Some Paiute handcrafts.

We had a nice day.

Alex enjoyed himself...

we got some educational milage out of this trip...

Stanley got to see some new sights also :)

We will be taking Alex and Stanley to the University of Nevada Reno

Planetarium for our next outing.

Basic Survival: Fire - Implements And Field Expedient Methods Of Fire Starting

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Song: Time / Breathe Reprise

Group: Pink Floyd

I had chosen this particular track of Pink Floyd's

Dark Side Of The Moon Album because from the beginning to the end...

the music (not necessarily the words) describe what it is to feel

the ominous presence of an imminent life altering event...

the gut gnawing...stomach churning knowledge that something

is about to go horribly wrong

(the ticking of the clocks)...

and then the horror as you see the event unfold before you

(the alarms going off).

The floating, almost surreal effects of the music that immediately follows...

closely mimics the feeling as you start adjusting to your new situation.

As the vocals start...

you are assessing the situation...

getting to know your surroundings...

taking stock of what you have and what you will need...

and need to do.

The guitar solo signifies the coalescence of a solid plan of action...

the steady encouragement and confidence that only comes with

having preplanned materials at hand...

and the knowledge of how to use them to resolve the situation.

The re-initiation of the vocals afterward...

describe the implementation of your plan of action...

your steady forward motion toward civilization...

and the successful resolution of your survival situation.

The blending of the next song (Breathe Reprise)...

is of you back at home...

cozy and warm and thinking back at your averted disaster...

which could then be thought of as an adventure...

because of...

knowledge and applied forethought.

Dramatic you say?

I assure you...

any situation where great injury or death could be the result

should you not act or react appropriately... is quite dramatic.

Just think of this musical track as your survival symphony.

Shiroi, are you saying that the key to survival

lies in the music of Pink Floyd?

No...

I am saying that the key to the universe

lies in the music of Pink Floyd :)

Sorry...

Pink Floyd is my all time favorite group :)

(they have been for almost 40 years)

No, while music is a great tie in to your emotions...

and emotions can alter your behavior...

both, positively and negatively...

the key to survival lies in your...

pre-planning...

accurate assessment of your situation...

and the rational responses in your ability to adapt, to improvise...

and to formulate, and carry through, a correct plan of action.

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...

read the following article first:

Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

This, of course, leads me into the next segment of Basic Survival.

Fire - Implements And Field Expedient Methods Of Fire Starting

The nature of this article shall be the description of commonly used

implements of fire starting for the Bug Out Bag...

and some field expedient methods of achieving the result of fire...

using items, either not originally designed for fire starting...

or from items in the environment.

I will be explaining some methods of constructing a safe way

to efficiently burn fuel and concentrate heat, reflect otherwise wasted heat...

and a way to transport heat from its source to slow release it...

using elements from the environment...

all for either cooking or heating an improvised structure...

in later articles.

I must stress this once again...

it is precisely because improvised methods are far more

difficult to produce the effects that can be gotten from

dedicated items that had been stored for that purpose in the first place...

that a properly outfitted Bug Out Bag is so important.

With this in mind...

some common camping fire ignition sources to consider

for your bug out bag...

and some items that have other uses that should also be packed

for their use as a back up.

As with the water purification methods...

have multiple sources in case of loss or failure of

any one source.

A key to survival is redundancy in equipment and planning.

Ok...

the obvious first pick for an ignition source in many peoples minds...

and then I will tell you some reasons to not have it as anything but

a convenience for non-extreme environments or basic camping.

Do not rely on butane lighters as your primary source of fire starting.

Some major problems -

1) Butane does not volatilize well (change from liquid to a gas) below freezing.

They now have Butane mixtures...however, they don't operate well

in freezing temperatures and run out when the other gas providing the pressure

runs low - with half of the butane left in the container.

Now, that is the temperature of the fuel itself.

It may get below freezing and so long as the lighter is kept above freezing...

or the lighter could be pre-warmed before lighting, then....

2) Butane doesn't ignite well at altitude. Altitude alters the

fuel air mixture ratio needed to sustain combustion... unless there

is an air fuel mixture ratio adjuster on the lighter (some have them).

Butane lighters also tend to leak out...especially with an increase of altitude.

These reasons also apply to not having a Butane camp stove...

besides having to stock up on the containers.

3) Most butane lighters are shoddily constructed.

The housing is relatively easy to crush or shatter.

The tops are easy to knock loose.

The gas valve can easily be activated accidentally.

They often leak out over time - not a choice to have in a bag for long storage.

Cannot be refilled with alternate fuels in the field.

A Zippo type (non-butane) refillable lighter would be ok if...

you don't fill it until you need it in the field.

You can keep the fuel in a dedicated fuel bottle

(although I cannot vouch for the long term storage capability of the fuel).

It is field serviceable and alternate fuels may be used as one can find them.

It is simply a liquid fuel and wick system.

There are some lighters that use the resistance of a metal wire

and the power of a battery to supply the current.

Not the best of choices since the battery is the obvious weak point

in the system. You want something that will not degrade with time

spent in the bag. The contents of the Bug Out Bag should be thought

as something in which each piece is so reliable that you could store it

and hand it down from generation to generation and 100 years from now...

everything would still work.

Well...

how about some things that will light easily and will last nearly forever.

Ok...

but before you even think about starting a fire...

you must know how to safely sustain one.

It does you no good to have a fire that dies because you hadn't pre-stocked

your fuel pile...or worse...one that you had depended on to keep you warm

in the middle of the night...and sputters out when it is too dark to effectively

find more firewood.

Gather more than you will need for the night at the fire site before hand.

You will need to stock up on larger logs or branches if you can...

many smaller branches and twigs which will ignite the larger pieces of fuel...

a lot of smaller twigs, leaves, dried grasses...etc to ignite the larger twigs and branches...

your tinder source...finely shaven wood, dried moss...etc...to ignite the smaller fuel.

You will then want to pre-stack everything.

I will discuss the gathering and stacking of the firewood for efficient burning

for special tasks in more detail in another article soon.

You must also consider placement of your soon to be fire.

You don't want to be directly under a tree...

especially in snowy conditions...

for obvious reasons...

heat rises...

melts snow...

whole globs of snow will either drip in the fire...

or will come down in a whole mass...

poof...no fire.

Another reason to not light a fire underneath a tree...

again...heat rises.

Should the fire be of any appreciable size...

it could catch the tree on fire...

especially if it is one that has oils in the needles

(think christmas tree)

or has the dry leaves of Autumn.

Now you may be thinking that it would make a great signal fire to rescuers...

that they would find you

(only to be used in extremely dire emergencies and then only with a lone tree

away from other flammables)...

the problem then arises if the tree fire becomes a forest fire.

They will find you alright...

more than likely...

extra crispy :)

Ok...

Plentiful amounts of fuel...check.

In the right location...check.

Firewood is stacked and ready to go...check.

Then, and only then, should you even consider lighting a fire.

Now...

an easily ignitable, relatively long burning (3-4 minutes) and utterly reliable

initial fire starter...one in which you may ignite the tinder with... is not

only very inexpensive, effective, can be stored a very long time without degradation

and is easily gotten and made...

vaseline (petroleum jelly) impregnated cotton balls

(in a tightly sealed container - under warm conditions it liquifies).

An example of the petro-cotton balls in action:

It is readily ignited with a ferrocerium and steel fire starter.

Both are water proof and reliable...

and very inexpensive.

You don't need the petroleum fire starter...

it just makes it easier.

The ferrocerium rod and steel fire starter throws off incredibly hot sparks...

however it won't ignite larger pieces of wood.

You will have to have...or make your own tinder from the environment.

Obviously dry material...you could make light wood shavings from larger pieces.

Now, as good as the ferro rod is...

another great piece of equipment uses the ferro rod in conjunction

with a magnesium block.

The shavings from the magnesium block would burn very hot for a good

3-4 seconds (depending on the size of the shavings pile).

The advantage to this is when your tinder is wet and the ferro sparker alone

won't ignite it. You still need the tinder with the magnesium shavings...

it is just easier to get the wooden tinder started under wet conditions

(however, the petroleum cotton balls would be better)

The ferro rods and ferro/magnesium combos are so inexpensive ($3.00 on up)...

last for thousands of strikes each...

extremely reliable in dry tinder ignition...

or even wet petroleum cotton balls...

it only makes sense to have multiples for each person.

A general rule of thumb...

when you have the capability to use a resource other than your own...

and your situation is uncertain...

save yours for later in case of need.

Take the time to gather or make your own tinder...

use the petro balls for when dry tinder is not to be found.

Just as a basic principle...

tinder burns easily because of its increased surface area.

This allows the material to heat up quickly to its ignition point.

You can make your tinder from a wet tree...

you just have to shave the wood into extremely fine shavings...

a 3-4 minute petro ball flame would have the effect of quickly

drying and heating the wood shavings to ignition.

This same principle applies to starting a fire with wet wood.

You merely have to start small (lots of surface area)...

lots of the material to dry and ignite the next step up in the wood pile...

and eventually you could burn wet logs.

To do this would take a tree-mendous :) amount of effort...

it would involve a lot of gathering and preparation...

but it can be done.

Me...

were I in wet conditions...

unless I absolutely needed the fire to purify water...

or to cook questionable food...

I would lie comfortably in my sleeping bag...

and think about how I wouldn't have to worry about getting water...

to hell with the fire :)

Actually, not so much of a joke...

were you to use it to cook a relatively small amount of food...

and the energy expended trying to light a fire in wet conditions

were more than that to be gained by the food...

you shouldn't do it.

Another unusual piece of equipment...

one that operates on the principle of air compression

(this effect ignites the fuel in a diesel engine)...

is the Fire Piston.

It is a simple cylinder with a close fitting rod which holds a piece of

cloth or other easily combustable material

(dry moss, grass, fine tinder...etc)

in its tip (the tip that gets plunged into the cylinder)...

and a push handle at the other end.

You would rapidly plunge the rod down and back...

in that split second...

the air heats up enough to leave the combustable material aglow.

You would then transfer that glowing ember to your pre-set tinder

and gently blow on it until you have a flame.

I have one of these...

however it is more to demonstrate the effect to my son, Alex...

than as a dependable piece of equipment.

Its weakness lies in the rubber o-ring at the tip.

Rubber degrades over time...

and while a field expedient repair could be made with cordage

or other material that could seal the air from leakage under compression...

it is far easier to start a fire by a ferro rod.

Now the good thing about the Fire Piston

lies in the lesson to be learned in the underlying principle...

and in its construction.

Were you to be in the wilderness long term...

and you only had the environment to construct a fire making implement...

a Fire Piston could be constructed from wood, bone, horn...etc...

with an o-ring constructed from hide or cordage.

Although it would take a lot of front loaded effort to fashion one correctly...

it could be used almost effortlessly and quickly from that point forward.

Rather than to have to use friction...

wood on wood...

by the various methods...

each of which takes much longer and much more effort...

each and every time you would need to make a fire...

the accumulated time and effort saved...

justifies constructing a Fire Piston.

An example of what I have been talking about:

At the end...this guy actually was clumsy in his attempt to turn the ember

into a flame. You would have the ember in a much larger handful of tinder...

commonly referred to as a bird's nest (it looks like one).

With the appropriate tinder...

it should go to full flame in a few seconds of blowing.

Now as for making a fire piston or fire starting by friction...

I suggest looking it up in detail on YouTube.

Know the principles involved and the general construction of them.

It is a good thing to keep in the back of your head in case

the next Zombie Apocalypse completely collapses society...

forcing you into exile in the deep forests...

and no other means of fire starting exists :)

It takes practice, effort, patience...

and while fun...

beyond the scope of this article.

It is a good thing for a parent to teach their children...

just for the applied science behind it.

Now...

other fire starting implements that your Bug Out Bag should have...

sunlight refractors and reflectors.

Your only limiter would be the absence of sunlight.

A typical light refractor (redirects light going through it)...

a magnifying glass or a credit card size fresnel lens.

A good pocket size one of either can be had for a few dollars.

You may also use your Binoculars as a source of the magnifying lens.

Eyeglasses can also be used...although it depends on the amount and type of correction

as to how effective they would be.

A typical light reflector (redirects light as it bounces off it)...

a solar cooker or even a solar cigarette lighter

(a parabolic reflector).

They actually sell this solar cigarette lighter for under $10.00.

It is the principle behind the concentration of light to make a fire that makes

this a lesson that is so valuable.

Should you be without a solar means of fire starting...

you could improvise a refractor lens in freezing conditions by

shaping CLEAR ice into a lens...

or under normal conditions...

a clear sandwich bag of clear water can be made into a lens...

in the absence of other means and being in dire straits

(I know... Zombie Apocalypse again).

Making a reflecting solar concentrator is far easier...

any highly reflective surface that can be manipulated into a parabolic shape would do.

Another means of fire starting with what you may have in your Bug Out Bag...

or more likely than not...what you would have on you naturally...

such as battery operated equipment.

A hand crank generator would be a good non-degenerating piece of equipment to have

(for running or recharging your electronic equipment such as...

cell phones, flashlights, radio...etc)...

a portable solar panel recharging unit is also good to have...

but generally doesn't have the power to heat an element.

By spanning the poles of the power source with a fine wire..

the wire gets red hot almost immediately.

Now...

for a field expedient method of generating electricity (static electricity)

to heat a fine wire with only dried pine needles and rubber soled shoes.

First you would spread a thin mat of dried pine needles on dry ground...

while holding each end of the wire in opposite hands...

you would then step on this mat of dried pine needles with rubber soled shoes...

and start rubbing the shoes back and forth REALLY FAST and...

I am, of course, joking :)

Sorry...

I couldn't resist...

it is getting very late...

I am tired and off to bed.

Our First Real Snow In Reno

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:12:00 +0000

Song: Zeynep's Romance

Artists: Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Brian Keane

Alex's first at home snow fall.

It was also only the second time in his life that he has

really experienced snow.

Alex studying with a full view of the snowfall.

Mr. Rabbit is our shy, but frequent visitor in the backyard.

We really love the change of seasons that we get to experience here.

As a family...we lived in the central valley of California...

where there really isn't a dramatic shift of seasons.

Although the snow here never reaches the depth of many parts of the world...

we still get to enjoy the benefits of snowfall here...

without the need to shovel our way to the street.

Although this snowfall was relatively light...

and more than a month overdue...

and at times the snow depth does necessitate more

extreme measures to move about outside...

it is only during the rare really heavy snowstorms that it happens.

The snow here is usually of minimum depth...

just enough to enjoy...

without backbreaking snow shoveling for more than a couple of weeks a year

(or so I have been told by locals).

There is supposed to be a break in the weather in a couple of days.

We will probably head to Lake Tahoe when the weather lightens in the Sierra Nevadas.

Basic Survival: Water Storage And Transportation Containers

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:48:00 +0000

Song: The Story Of Suleyman

Artist: Omar Faruk Tekbilek

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...

read the following article first:

Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

Problem...

Water weighs approximately 8.3 lbs. per Gallon (1 Kilogram per Liter).

We can't last long without it.

In many survival situations, a source may not be reliable.

You need to plan on using 1 Gallon a day to keep hydrated

in a hostile environment and under extreme exertion

(for planning purposes...circumstances may force using far less).

Unless you have a reliable source of water the whole way

to safety (rare)...you will need to transport it from source to source.

Major points to consider when buying a survival water container

(you don't necessarily have to think canteen)...

1) It must NOT be porous.

While this would strike many as immediately obvious...

consider some water bags constructed for desert use.

They are built specifically to slowly leak water continuously

through its skin to allow evaporation to cool its contents.

This, of course, would be bad for two immediate reasons.

One...

for obvious reasons...

water may very well be a rare find.

You would need every last drop of it...

cool or not.

Two...
a water bag that is porous will keep pathogens in its pores...
making sterilization of the container almost impossible...
as well as infecting everything the leaked water, and the container, touched.

2) It must be able to hold relatively large amounts and be rugged.

This automatically excludes the hard translucent sports bottles.

Many are made with a plastic that could break instead of bend with a force.

This includes using any canteens with any easily breakable parts

(the cap is particularly vulnerable in some).

Your water containers could very well be your life line in a dire situation.

While true military ones are very good...

fake equipment is sometimes listed as G.I. Type or some other misleading saying.

You must get Official Govt. ones...

not the cheap fakes.

They are often not only some of the best ones around...

they can be had for very reasonable prices.

3) Divide up the number of water containers into many smaller ones

(keep no more than 1/4 of your supply, per person, in any one container...

as protection against loss, leakage, fouling, damage...etc).

Each person must carry their own water.

Remember...a 5 gallon jerry can of water would not only place an extreme

burden on the poor man carrying it (over 40 lbs)...

it would be placing your survival at risk should the container, or the person...

be compromised in any way.

Another important point...

extreme circumstances bring out extreme emotions and thoughts.

Imagine when water gets short and one man holds most of the supply...

a potentially very bad situation that could be played out in any direction.

4) Spare no expense

This is one of two areas in which you must not compromise in...

the Purification / Storage of water...

the Sleeping Bag.

If you must compromise the quality of your equipment due to expense

or weight...do it else where.

The lack of either area could mean a relatively quick death.

5) Never use a container that had unsterilized water in it

as a container for sterilized water later on

(unless sterilized in the field...

extremely difficult to do without chemicals or high heat.

Another reason to always carry Chlorine or Iodine tablets).

Just one of many examples of canteens that are not only

rugged and reliable...but are very reasonably priced.

This is an official U.S. Govt. Issue 2 qt. canteen

(true soldier issue canteens have a covered indent nozzle in the cap...

permitting usage of a gas mask hose linkage so soldiers may

drink from their canteens while remaining in their gas masks).

They are regularly sold on line for $6.00 - $7.00.

An official U.S. Govt. issue 2 qt. canteen cover

(desert scheme)

notice the little pocket in the front...

for sterilization tablets.

The inside of these bags contain fleece for insulation.

They also have equipment clips on the back.

They go for $5.00 to $6.00 on line.

4 of these per person would provide 2 Gallons

and would permit the 1/4 ratio per person container

division necessary to ensure against container loss, malfunction or mishap.

For under $50.00 per person...

you would have the makings of a good water transport system...

with the back up sterilization attached to each canteen.

Ruggedness, reliability and redundancy...

a very good start.

However, by no means stop here.

This would be a minimum.

Think about a collapsable larger container (for each) in case of extreme

travel between water sources.

You may also consider having one each of a stainless steel 2 qt. canteen

for an emergency heat sterilization vessel

(dual purpose / redundant boiler).

Basic Survival: Basic Field Expedient Water Purification Methods

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Song: In The Morning Light

Artist: Yanni

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...

read the following article first:

Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

I have two basic objectives in this article:

(as my focus is on equipment for the Bug Out Bag...

I'll save the methods of water location for later articles)

1) To have you pre-plan in the stocking of at least two viable water

filtration / purification pieces of equipment for your Bug Out Bag.

2) To give you the basics of water filtration / purification

through a field expedient improvised method as a backup

for equipment failure or loss.

Having a source of clean water is absolutely vital.

Under extreme exertion and climate conditions...

your need for water, to prevent death by dehydration...

for a normal healthy person...

is measured in just a few days.

-----------------

There are two extremely important points I must emphasize:

1) You simply MUST be able to secure potable water...or you SHALL DIE.

2) You simply MUST be able to secure potable water...or you SHALL DIE.

I hope that was clear enough.

-----------------

First...

I will cover some very basic methods of water

filtration / purification that are frequently used by portable water purifiers.

Note: You must research on your own as to the use of particular brands...

they vary widely in price. I purposely did not include a direct link to these products

as I do not wish you to believe my advice to be tainted by financial gain.

You must plan on at least two separate pieces of equipment for water purification

for each person...

it is simply too important not to.

1) Mechanical Filtration: Using various mediums of decreasingly

smaller holes, or avenues of passage (permeability)...

to filter out increasingly smaller particles

(including cysts and bacteria).

They usually start with a fine screen of some sort

and advance through increasingly fine materials

until reaching an ultra fine ceramic filter or a

block of activated charcoal.

Some good examples:

Relatively inexpensive and effective.

Not so expensive...

higher output and can use to store purified water directly into containers of your choice.

Effective and very inexpensive.

Lightweight and small.

Although you cannot really use it to store purified water into containers...

you could merely store and transport unfiltered water and use this on it.

This type of filter is a must have as a backup.

2) Reverse Osmosis: Technically, an ultra fine mechanical filter...

it uses a semi permeable membrane for its filtration.

This unit also uses the grosser forms of mechanical filtration as

a pre filter. It would simply clog up too quickly without them.

An example:

Very effective...the best portable out there.

It filters to a much higher degree than the rest.

It is, however, relatively expensive and bulky.

As it uses a semi-permeable membrane and pressure to force the water through...

it is a Reverse Osmosis filter

(contrary to normal Osmosis where lower concentrate solution naturally diffuses

to the higher - the reverse process is used... hence the name, Reverse Osmosis...
the higher to the lower by unnatural means...

outside pressure as applied by the pneumatic pump of this apparatus).

Note: While Reverse Osmosis is one method used to desalinate water...

it takes an extraordinary amount of pressure (up to 1200 psi).

This unit simply cannot generate the force necessary to do so.
Although there exists portable units that can desalinate water
by various means (including Osmosis)...they are either cost prohibitive...
or take too long to produce appreciable amounts...
you could just distill instead.

If, however, your live in an area that has extensive supplies of brackish
or other high salinity water sources, including the ocean...
then a portable desalinator is a must.

However...

of all the portables not used to desalinate...
this has the smallest pore size...

and so, filters out even viruses.

If you can afford it...

this is the gold standard for portable water purification.

3) Ultra Violet Sterilizers: To be used only after one of the above methods

(although not necessary).

There are simply too many variables that can affect

the efficacy of such a method...besides being inherently

unreliable in the power source and bulb as a prime method

(Should the water be cloudy...it won't work...

time of exposure...must be enough...etc).

4) Chemical Purification: Chlorine, Iodine or other types commonly used

as tablets or liquid drops to add to your water containers.

A good third back up...however, you should use some sort of mechanical

filtration method first (at least straining through a t-shirt).

Very inexpensive, lightweight and small to carry.

-------

Some commonly used field expedient methods to purify water

when no other methods exist (no specialized equipment such as the above).

1) Boiling - A time tested method of killing various pathogens...

such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans...etc.

There are, of course, drawbacks to such a method as a primary

means of water purification on the move (base camp fine).

You must have the fuel, container to boil it in, and the time to build the fire...

and to boil enough to store. You will also lose some in the boiling process.

Know that in order to be safe...

you must bring the water to a ROILING boil for at least 1 minute...
at sea level.

As altitude lowers the boiling point of water from that at sea level

(approximately 2 - 3 degrees for every 1,000 ft in elevation)

and it is the time spent in temperature that kills the pathogens...

then 2-3 minutes should do the trick.

Also know that a relatively large container and a lot of fuel

will be needed to fill an appreciable amount of water to store and carry.

Even without special equipment to boil water...
ones can be made with a minimum of vegetation.

The whole idea is to have a container to hold the water while the water boils.

This can be effected by broad leaf plants...
even by the bark of trees.

You needn't worry about burning away the container,

So long as the heat source is not too concentrated on any one area...
or the material so thick as to not be able to conduct the heat directly to the water...
the water will absorb the heat and boil and keep the material below the point of ignition
(stay away from plastics - most breakdown in heat).

That is precisely why you can boil water in a paper cup while held directly over a flame.

2) Simple Steam Distillation - This method can be used to effect desalination as well as
for removing many undesired impurities from water.

However, you must realize that simple steam distillation does NOT
make the water pure. It only keeps anything that does not
volatilize at, or below, the point that water does... out.
Its basic function as a field water purifier is for desalination.

Example: You cannot get water which is heavily contaminated with certain petroleum
compounds and expect drinkable water from it. The contaminates would evaporate
and re-condense along with the water.

All Simple Steam Distillation is...
is a method of boiling a liquid (this case...water)...
and having it re-condense on to a cooler surface for collection.

As this is a more lengthly and effort inducing process...
it is more appropriately done at a camp.

This takes the most equipment, time, effort, and fuel...
of the basic methods of water purification.

The only real piece of equipment that is not normally included
in a Bug Out Bag would be the condenser coil or hose.

This is easy to get off of your vehicle were you to be stranded...
you could make your own from the environment...
or you could merely have the steam condense on any cooler
surface and directed into a container.

Just think tube from a flat pliable surface (roll from items in your bag)...
or from vegetation or bark
(it must be long and cool running enough to convert the steam back into water).

For large amounts of water to fill containers...
any center indented dome large enough to cover the pot
(best done when it is cool)
with a catch container hanging below the indentation
and from the sides...would do
(easily made from tarps, ponchos...even wide leaves...etc).

You could also easily dig on an incline...
a trench which you could line with flat rocks...
and the trench capped with flat rocks
(if it is long enough...the end may also be capped)...
with the boiling water at the bottom entrance.

The steam would rise in the cave or long tube...
condense on the rocks...
run down to be collected
(with the tube end uncapped...
this could also be used to preserve large amounts of meat...
as a fire at the base without the water pot... is a chimney oven.
Obviously...if you are to do both...purify the water first).

So long as you know the principle of the condensation of steam
onto a cooler surface that could collect the resulting water into a container...
you could then improvise from the environment to desalinate brackish or seawater.

3) Evaporative Still - This is the same as the Steam Still except that it does
not involve the use of high temperatures. It commonly involves using the sun.
It is commonly called a solar still and is also used at sea as an emergency device
to desalinate sea water in case of dire emergencies necessitating taking to a life raft.

It is not terribly efficient and the amount of water collected generally does not
justify constructing them.

4) Ultra Violet Radiation/Solar Heat -
So long as you have a container that is no deeper than a few inches...
(a plastic soda bottle lying on its side with full exposure to the sun)
and is capped to prevent the evaporation of the water to be purified
(this method will NOT desalinate)...
and is fully exposed to the sun for at least 6 hours...
tests have shown a dramatic reduction in pathogens to levels
which would be far safer than not purifying at all.

Not the preferred method since it is not nearly so safe as is boiling...
besides the wait time and the large number of smaller containers necessary...
unless you could construct something from your surroundings
( large clear plastic bags with 3-4 inches of water depth with the bag
allowed to spread out).

The main pathogenic destroyer is the UV-A rays...
so the principle is for transparency of material...
and limited depth of water.

The solar heat helps kill the pathogens...
it is not the major purifier.

Just something to keep in mind...just in case.

If you don't get anything else from this article...

as you can see...

it would be FAR wiser...

efficient and effective...

to get some good water purifiers before the need arises...

instead of having to improvise in the field

(not always possible).

Never doubt the need for clean water...

or the difficulty of extracting it from your environment

should there be no readily apparent sources available

(and so the need to have containers to transport that which you do find).

I have given you just some of the very basics of field water purification.

That is only one third the equation to prevent dehydration

(unless there is always a supply at hand to purify...rare).

The other two will be covered in later articles

(finding/extracting water from the environment...

and the storage and transportation of it).

Basic Survival: Survival Knife - Simple And Efficient

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:06:00 +0000

Cold Steel Bushman

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...

read the following article first:

Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

The hallmark of a piece of survival equipment lies in its...

functionality, usability, inherent strength and durability, reliability, versatility...

and these so often occur as a result of simplicity in design and construction.

The Cold Steel Bushman...

Simplicity in concept...

unlike the do everything concept

to the point of not being able to do anything well knives

(AKA Rambo Hollywood style supercilious survival

knives with the supposed capability to do everything

to the point of elegant constipation).

My wife has the Standard Blade Bushman...

my son, and I, have the Bowie Blade Bushman.

There is a reason behind this...

and I shall explain this later.

A survival knife must be able...

to cut, slice, chop, thrust in deeply and surely...

to withstand repetitive strikes and shocks from all angles...without breaking...

to have and hold a fine edge...and to be able to be sharpened in the field...

to fill in other functions as dictated by extreme need...

and to have rock solid construction.

As explained in the video...

this is a one piece constructed...

easily field modifiable piece of quality survival excellence.

Besides being so extremely reasonable in its price

(approximately $20.00 - $25.00 with the sheath on-line)...

it is its inherent strength of construction and versatility

that makes it such a great knife.

As shown in the video...

the knife must have the flexibility to not snap or crack under

very rigorous use.

A knife must not be tempered to such a high degree

of hardness (edge holding capability) that reliability is sacrificed...

the steel MUST NOT be brittle.

Besides its main function as a very good stand alone blade

(its blade may easily be wrapped in para-cord for a more secure grip)...

it fills in as an emergency light axe or machete

(by adding a wooden extender in its handle)...

for kindling, brush clearing, shelter building.

However...

the other main function that it fulfills so well...

that no other knife does...

is that it is designed as a spear head.

The hollow handle is made to hold a spear shaft...

and to be able to secure it directly in the line of applied force.

This is especially important.

While other knives may be strapped on to a makeshift spear shaft...

it is inherently weak at the point of attachment...

particularly in the direct line of applied force.

A spear's main function is to thrust.

The Bushman's inherent strength lies in the direct line of support...

full support from tip through the shaft.

A regular knife would have to be para-corded off set

from the direct line of thrust (side of the shaft).

With such a set up...

a person must be able to tighten and tie the cord well...

just to be sure it stays on while walking...

never mind thrusting into a dangerous predator.

So...

why the great importance of having a spear?

Throughout history...

in early military conflicts...

in olden day hunting...

the single most deadly handheld

non-ballistic weapon...

bar none...

was the spear

(in all its variants).

You have distance and deadly penetrating power.

While you would so often thrust...

you may also slice...

and do it completely out of reach of any other

hand held non-ballistic weapon.

The core of spear fighting...

lies in the ability to deliver a quick thrust and withdraw.

Think of the boxing jab of Muhammad Ali (without the fancy footwork).

Now think if each time he hit... it could kill.

You have the deadly thrust of the spear.

Hit without being hit...

from afar.

Don't think of throwing the spear if attacked.

Think of being a cobra...

coiled and ready to strike and withdraw..repeatedly as necessary

(important...besides keeping it from being taken from you

in the great jaws of the beast you may have to protect yourself from...

it would allow the wound channel created to bleed profusely).

If faced with a survival scenario...

one of the first things you would do

would be to make yourself a makeshift spear shaft (6-8 feet long)...

and then attach the Bushman to it.

You will then have...

a walking stick...

a safety probe

(to probe for safe footing before stepping in unseen areas -

for snakes as well as for depth and surface solidity)...

and an emergency spear if faced with large predators

(with a cool head and a practiced spear thrust...

you would stand a far greater chance with the spear than

with any other non-ballistic weapon...even against even a bear).

Now...

the reason for my son and I having the Bowie style...

and my wife having the Standard style.

Remember...

besides as a great knife...

its other function is as a spear.

Both do excellently as either...

however, the Bowie style does a better job...

IF...

you have the strength and mass to be able to thrust deeply enough

with the Bowie style.

My wife is but 4 foot 11 inches.

Look carefully at both of the styles in the video...

there is not only greater width (from the cutting edge to the spine of the blade)...

it has an angled up edge.

While this would create a wider wound channel...

it would be more resistant to full penetration in the target...

and so the greater mass and strength needed.

It would also be inherently stronger when pounding on the spine

when splitting wood.

Other than those points...

you simply cannot go wrong with either style.

Basic Survival: Survival Shovel - To Dig In Or Cut Down

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:10:00 +0000

(NOT me in the video)

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...

read the following article first:

Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel

(Cold Steel's version of the Soviet Spetsnaz (Special Forces) shovel)

One of the keys to being a good Bug Out Bag equipment piece is its versatility.

One piece should be able to do more than one function.

Built in redundancy is a safety measure more than it is an economic one.

A critical piece of equipment's basic function
simply must be able to be fulfilled by another

in your Bug Out Bag in case of loss or failure.

Another important aspect of the equipment piece...

it must be compact without sacrificing its reliability.

None of the pieces must be prohibitively expensive...

or it simply won't be bought.

While this may not be a factor with a single person...

when multiples must be bought...

it can be a factor.

This shovel excels in all aspects.

As you can see in the video...

it is a very solid, reliable, and versatile digging, chopping, and cutting tool.

It can be bought for about $30.00 - $35.00 delivered...with the cordura case

(a must have with the shovel - you don't wish to cut into your bag).

Another great feature of this shovel...

it is readily repairable and modifiable in the field.

The handle is very solid.

However, should it break...

a new wooden handle could be

readily made and installed in short order.

You may also modify it with a much longer handle

for extended digging (time or distance).

BEWARE...

there are very few folding...

and even fewer extending shovels...

that can stand up to the rigors of extended field use.

When they do fail...

many are simply not easily field repairable.

----------------

GENERAL RULE:

Simplicity is king -

where there are fewer parts (especially moving parts)...

there are fewer things to go wrong

(They are generally stronger also).

----------------

Just some possible uses of this shovel - other than to dig with

(as an emergency back-up):

1) Machete or light axe - to clear a trail, chop kindling...

shelter making...etc.

2) Knife

3) Raft Paddle

4) Weapon

You now have a recommendation for a particular piece of equipment...

one I have chosen for my Bug Out Bag.

NOW...

why is being able to dig efficiently so important?

Because...

in extreme weather temperatures and conditions...

safety often lies underground.

Because...

where there is no visible surface water...

there sometimes lies just below the surface...

extractable and life sustaining amounts.

Because...

where there is a scarcity of food on the surface...

in many parts of the world...

a great hunting preserve lies just underneath our feet.

As the focus of this article is the shovel...
I shall go into reasons and methods of digging
to effect the means of survival... in later articles.

Basic Survival: Sleeping Bag - Your Home Away From Home

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:50:00 +0000

(NOT me in the video)

In case you have you not already read the initial article explaining important concepts...
read the following article first:
Basics Of Survival - Bug Out Bag

Sleeping Bag: USGI MSS

(United States Government Issue Modular Sleep System)

I have the complete 4 part system for each in my family...

it is that important.

They cost anywhere from $120.00 - $150.00 or so online

(the complete system).

The USGI MSS is issued to our troops
(this system did not exist when I was in).

It is modular because it is comprised of at least 4 components.

It comes with a black compression stuff sack with multiple attached...

locking and adjustable straps. This allows you to load the sleeping bag system

inside and then to really cinch down to compress it into a relatively small and easy

to carry or store size.

(In all the following cases...

it is with the use of the camo Gortex cover)

It also has a patrol sleeping bag (green) which when used by itself...

is rated to about 30 degrees F ( -1 C).

It comes with a black sleeping bag which when used by itself...

is rated to about 0 degrees F ( - 18 C).

Or when the temperature really drops...

the black sleeping bag fits and snaps into the green sleeping bag

to make an extra warm Sleeping bag in a bag...

which is rated to about -30 degrees F (-34 C).

The last...

and most important piece...

it comes with a camo Gortex outer sleeping bag cover.

Gortex makes it water proof...yet breathable

(so moisture from perspiration/respiration doesn't build up on the inside).

This is extremely important on both points.

One of the most important things to keep in mind to prevent

death by exposure...

is to keep dry.

As the video explains...

it is a complete system because with it...

you may survive in all weather.

Even without a tent...

in a downpour...

the Gortex outer cover will keep you, and everything inside, dry...

as it functions as a tent with the cover secured over your head.

You may put in or take out that which will meet the temperature needs...

you can mix and match them to your desires and to the environment.

This is what makes it so great for camping year round.

Although it weighs in at 12 or so pounds...

the extra weight is worth it.

Need you sacrifice items for weight savings...

do it elsewhere.

Exposure is the biggest killer...

staying warm and dry is essential.

Should you be thinking that you would like a lighter bag...

or a less costly one...

believe me...

there is no longer night spent than one where you are...

cold and wet.

If you are cold and wet...

you cannot sleep well...if at all.

If you can't rest...

you can't recover so well.

If you can't recover so well...

you can't function so well...

not physically...

not intellectually...

not emotionally.

You must be able to function in all three areas if you are to survive

a desperate situation.

Should you already have sleeping bags...

you simply must get a water proof / breathable complete outer cover for each

(completely surrounding the bag).

With this system...

when you are lost and panicked...

scared witless, bone tired, soaked to the skin...

and so cold that your muscles have stiffened...

you will have the knowledge that when it comes time to stop for the night...

you will have a refuge...

a home away from home...

where all the suffering will end...

while you may retreat into your dreams...

and recover enough strength to drive forth upon awakening.

Post script: One very important thing I had initially forgotten to put in here...
you simply must have protection from sharp or puncturing objects
on the ground before placing the sleeping bag on top.

Should the Gortex outer bag be breached in wet conditions...
you could have a very bad night.

A condensed foam rollable mat on top of a pre-cleared area would suffice.

Basic Survival - Bug Out Bag: A Lesson In Forethought - Just In Case

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Song: A Pillow Of Winds

Group: Pink Floyd

Why am I talking of an immediate retrieval survival bag (Bug Out Bag)?

Because everything in life comes to naught...

if you and your family are not prepared

for a worse case scenario.

It is also part of rational way of thinking...

to prepare for the long term (survival)

over the short (temporary cost).

Is it rational to plan for a situation that will most probably (statistically)

not happen in a person's lifetime?

First And Foremost...

never play the odds when it comes to the safety and security of your family.

Statistics mean nothing when it happens to you...

and when it does...

well, enough said.

One question...

How many times in your life have you had something occur...

that you had previously thought...

now what are the odds of something like that happening?

And then when it happened, you had thought...

by the gods...

I wish I had...!

I could have, had I just...!

Why had I not thought of that earlier?!

Second...

when considering the cost of a Bug Out Bag (minimal)...

compared to the benefit (immense)...

how could you not have one for each family member?

Third...

it is also used for camping (an immediate return on your investment...

as well as providing item familiarity, making the use of the equipment

intuitive in times of high stress).

Fourth...

it is insurance against failure of a relied upon, commonly provided

societal service... or even your own vehicle while traveling in desolate areas.

Fifth...

If you need any more convincing...

read the first point.

It is precisely because of rationality that one should look at life as

a risk / cost / benefit ratio.

One must prepare for something that may

threaten the safety and security of oneself and one's family...

especially when the benefit is so high...

the monetary cost so low...

the risk so real.

Another important reason I am including Basic Survival in my articles...

it is precisely the rational thinking and forethought involved in the...

long range planning of possible unknowns

and the adaptation and improvisation necessary to effect

a survivable scenario in an otherwise unsurvivable situation

that is so valuable to teach children.

I have been teaching Alex the basics whenever we go camping...

although we have only gone a few times so far.

As time goes on...

I shall teach him ever more...

and have him teach what he has learned to his mother

(one of the best ways to ensure retainment of information learned

is to have to put together and present a class on the topic).

OK...

just what is a Bug Out Bag?

There are many types...

and even sub-types depending on your particular needs...

your surroundings...

potential dangers...etc.

I will just talk about a basic Bug Out Bag...

one that has the basics of survival in areas throughout most of the world...

one where a person could survive on his own until rescue or he is able

to walk his way out to civilization...

or even, if need be...

to be able to survive for longer periods in most areas...

except the most inhospitable ones.

A good Bug Out Bag includes items that provide

for the immediate term...

and most importantly...

for the long term by allowing you to use the surroundings

to get or make everything you need...

including more tools.

More expensive ones would include...

emergency field medical / surgical kits...

basic medications / antibiotics...

firearms...etc.

In later articles I will cover useful items to include after the basics

have been established.

You must keep in mind...

I am NOT, by any means, an expert in survival.

I will talk to you of merely the basics as dictated by common sense...

and by what I have extracted from my 4 years in the U.S. Army (1977 - 1981)

as a Light Infantryman (non-mechanized) and in the later portion

of my Army stint...as a Battalion Scout (Reconnaissance Platoon)...

and from what I have learned on my own after the Army

(researched and then applied while in the wilderness).

I have practical experience in...

Temperate Forests...

Jungles...

Mountains (during Winter)...

and limited Desert experience.

I have trained in various portions of the U.S...

and in areas of the Pacific during the extreme

portions of their climate for training...

Summer in the Jungles of the Philippines...

Winters in the Mountains of Korea and New Zealand (our summer - their winter)...

Winter in the mountains of Oahu

(yes, it gets quite cold when you are completely wet and high winds blow constantly)

windy and rainy conditions for a solid week

on mountain ridges and in rivers with little food...

almost zero sleep...

non-stop night and day...

with no rain gear (makes noise)...

high stress conditions and high fatigue levels

(during the Hell Week portion of a longer and particularly tough

specialized military school - Recondo).

Again...

this only qualifies me to talk of what it is to be...

freezing cold...

cold and wet...

hot...

hot and humid...

for weeks at a time...

and to hate it so much that I learned that

I never wished to be so uncomfortable again.

Ah...

the power of Negative Reinforcement.

I learned how to be comfortable in such environments

because of the situations I was initially placed in.

Now to establish that I have experienced what I speak of...

I must tell you where I had accumulated much of my knowledge.

I have trained in various specialized military schools...

the most valuable of which was Recondo.

It was modeled after the SOG / MACV Recondo School of the Vietnam era

(my class was in the winter of 1978 - three years after the end of the war)...

and my particular school was in the eastern hills and mountains

of Oahu, Hawaii - part of the 25th Inf. Division.

The initially 2-3 week Recondo school of Vietnam was lengthened

to 5 weeks after the war...and conducted in the U.S. thereafter

(17 hour days - 7 days a week - 24 hrs a day during the 7 day Hell Week).

It was a condensed Ranger School (8 weeks to 5 weeks)...

everything that was taught in Ranger School was taught in Recondo...

except we combined the swamp and mountain phases into a

river and mountain phase.

Both, the Ranger and Recondo Schools,

used and learned everything in the Ranger Handbook.

All of our instructors were Vietnam combat veterans and were either

Ranger or Special Forces qualified.

Recondo was a school that specialized in teaching

the planning and execution of small unit operations

(Forward of friendly and also behind enemy lines...

Reconnaissance / Raids / Ambushes...

for extended periods of time).

A skill that was particularly stressed was in the reading of the land...

by looking at the terrain and knowing which direction of travel would

be the easiest to traverse with the least risk of injury or energy expenditure

and to be able to navigate in various landscapes to specified points

using a compass and a topographical map (GPS was not in use at that time)...

and at night... without the use of flashlights

(except a red lens under cover to look at the map).

However...

we had to rely on memory of the lay of the land and render the map into a 3-D

picture in our minds to be able to match it to the major terrain features...

as that was all we could see at night most of the times.

This was a school that was so physically and psychologically demanding...

one that had taught so much

and had extracted that knowledge under such arduous conditions...

one that had not tolerated failure...

that out of 50 experienced Infantry soldiers in my class...

only 18 made it to the end

(injuries / earlier failures / had given up)...

and then another 5 failed Hell Week

(the final exam - either planning the mission...

moving toward the objective, or executing the mission...

one after the next - 7 days and nights non stop...

all practical application of everything learned

under as real life conditions as could be).

Only 13 of us had graduated.

I was willing to put up with any amount of pain or suffering to get

the brand (patch) I was awarded. I had worn it with such

great pride for the rest of my time in the Army.

Ah...

the power of Positive Reinforcement :)

It taught us to be self reliant, self contained...

and most of all...

to work as a group...

to lead others...

to be able to adapt to the situations and surroundings...

to improvise from our surroundings to get what is not readily available...

and to never give up.

These are what apply so valuably to the basic survival I will talk of

in some of my later articles.

Again...

I talked of this to give you the background from which I draw my knowledge...

and to let you know that it comes from practical experience...

and not merely theory.

My body knows what it is to be physically drained...

little food, harsh physical conditions...

very little sleep...

and how to operate on a high level intellectually

(meticulously plan various operations...

adapt to constantly changing scenarios...

improvising on the go)...

while under extreme physical and psychological conditions

for extended periods of time.

I know what it is to be thoroughly cold, fatigued, stressed

(I was starting to hallucinate due to a lack of sleep and great fatigue

4 days into Hell Week...with 3 more days to go)...

and how the body and mind reacts under these conditions.

These are conditions that are to be expected in a true survival scenario.

Now...

while I was in no real danger of losing my life

while training in the military due to climatic conditions

(medical assistance just a radio call away...

helicopter transport / trained medics...good gear provided...training...etc)...

to be on your own without the support of an organization

that is prepared to handle such situations...

is a whole different story.

Know that the most valuable piece of survival equipment is...

your mind (aptitude and attitude).

With the aptitude to know how to use your equipment...

how to adapt to the situation...

to be able to change the situation through improvisation...
if adaptation is not an option...

the attitude of never giving up...

and especially...

arming yourself with foreknowledge and thorough preparation...

your chance of survival goes way up.

And so...

the Bug Out Bag

(To Bug Out - a term referring to scoot at a moments notice...

as a bug does when danger approaches it).

The bag will allow you to also

scoot at a moments notice because...

it will contain the necessities of survival...

all in one easily transportable sack.

Just one example of a very good Bug Out Bag.

This is a military duffle bag.

It is very durable...

able to contain far more than hiking backpacks...

can be carried for long distances

(although in a survival situation...where the terrain permits...

you would construct a drag frame to limit fatigue and to permit

easy tracking by rescuers)...

and it is inexpensive.

This type of bag goes for just $25.00 or so on-line (such as on Amazon)...

or from a local Army surplus store.

I bought one for each member of my family

( a larger diameter one - about the same price ).

While it is naturally water repellent...

you could also apply more...

and you would keep the contents in separate water proof bags.

A Bug Out Bag...

must be able to contain all of your immediate survival needs securely

and without undue degradation in harsh conditions

(besides from the climate...from friction and abrasion)...

must be repairable in the field in case of mishap

(more on a repair kit later)...

must be issued to each member

(and each taught the use of each piece of equipment)

in case of separation

and for multiple redundancy.

I must stress that the equipment must be durable.

You must be able to rely upon them under harsh conditions...

and to be able to repair them should they break in the field.

There are many pieces of equipment sold for hiking...

mountain climbing...

and camping.

However...

what many pieces of equipment are optimized for is...

compactness and lightness...

not necessarily ruggedness.

Most people go camping or hiking under controlled conditions...

where a failure of equipment will just inconvenience them.

I will talk of pieces of equipment that are reliable...

because of their ruggedness.

It is hard to go wrong with what the military uses in many cases.

It goes through tough use and must last

(however you must watch out for fake military equipment...

many are cheap remakes...not at all rugged).

However...

also know that the military has multiple types of equipment

depending on the environment it is to be used in.

They have gear that is used in warmer climates...

while different gear is used for Arctic conditions.

Just getting something because it is Army issued

without knowing the climate it is used for...could be disastrous.

Now...

some very basic survival principles

(I will go into each in more detail later).

1) Unless you are in an area of extremely arid and hot conditions...

without water available to be extracted from the environment

(more on that later)...

the fastest and most frequent killer of people lost in the wilderness...

is exposure.

Exposure prevention is frequently priority number one.

2) The next highest priority is clean water

(note...clean water. You could die of dehydration

or electrolyte imbalance due to severe diarrhea and vomiting

while camped next to a lake or stream

that appears clear but has certain protozoans or other infectious agents in it...

as many do).

You must know how to secure water...

purify it...

transport it.

3) The next order of priority is food.

This is less of a problem than most people think...

you just have to be able to eat what many think is inedible...

or are so repulsed as to not even consider it.

Know that caloric intake need is dramatically increased in colder weather...

and that food is a great protector against exposure if you have enough of the

right types...and if the climate is not too extreme.

4) The fourth area of priority is prevention and protection...

from mishap and from predators and venomous creepy crawlies.

Being able to treat medical emergencies...

especially to be able to stabilize a broken or strained limb...

can make all the difference between being able to get yourself out...

or waiting to die.

Of course...

the order of priority changes depending on your environment

and which situations you are prepared for.

In warm areas with water and food...

but high in predators...

or other dangerous animals (venomous creatures)...

the priority shifts...

as does what your equipment and knowledge shall dictate

what you may extract from the environment.

5) Fire is your friend.

Know how to make it by various means...

and how to use it to prevent being...

overtaken by exposure...

overtaken by illness due to inability to purify water
or to cook questionable food...

and to know how to use it to signal for rescue

(not only through smoke or visible light at night...

but through the great infrared signature given off...

especially at night or during cold conditions...

search parties use infrared detectors from aircraft and on the ground).

6) Know what the dangers are in your area...

so you may adequately prepare.

7) The last one is knowing how to get yourself back to civilization

by knowing how to navigate your way in the right direction

and in a safe manner.

When thinking of securing sustenance...

it is always a game of energy expenditure vs. energy gained.

If you lose more calories or water than what is to be gained...

move on.

If you come to an area rich in a resource...

plan to fill up there and stock up transportable amounts

before you leave.

Two basic rules apply....

1) For securing great amounts of food to preserve...

trapping is far more efficient in securing food than is hunting...

unless you are a very experienced woodsman or hunter...

with a good rifle and in an area rich in game.

This includes fish traps

(funneling of fish into fish baskets by making a stream dam with an opening

just for the fish trap)

unless you place out enormous numbers of hooked and baited lines

to check on.

2) If you've far to travel to civilization...

and no reliable means of securing your food and water exits...

you must be able to preserve and transport what you can secure.

A general rule...

in cold or hazardous travel conditions...

walk by day...

stop early enough before dusk to prepare your camp...

including gathering enough firewood to last the night.

In desert conditions...

travel by night...

sleep by day...

underground.

One last general rule...

regardless of your climate...

one means of exposure prevention lies under the ground.

The earth...

besides providing insulation from cold...

it provides insulation from heat...

and keeps up humidity levels in both extremes...

greatly decreasing the amount of water lost during respiration.

It also provides a food source in many areas...

worms and grubs.

It also contains moisture, in many areas, that can be extracted by various means.

And yes...

the means to do these and much more...

shall be in your Bug Out Bag.

This was just a general overview of principles.

For specific equipment other than the bag itself...

I shall be covering them in greater detail in later articles.

Even should you never use the equipment...

your peace of mind...

and the lessons learned by your children in proper planning...

are invaluable.

Book Review: How Do You Know It's True?

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:09:00 +0000

Song: Strength And Honor

Performed by: EWQL Symphonic Orchestra

Song by: Stephen M Lloyd

How Do You Know It's True?

Discovering the Difference Between Science and Superstition

Author: Hy Ruchlis

This is a very good book for Elementary School Students.

It is 112 pages and is divided into 2 sections.

The first part delves into Superstition.

The second part explains Science.

It goes into the basic nature of each.

Although the book is 20 yrs. old...

as it explains the nature of science...

it is timeless.

Chapter One: Fiction or Fact?

This chapter explains how to discern fact from fiction

through the process of science.

It touches lightly

(Hypothesis and Theory explanations later)

on fact finding and checking through observation.

Chapter Two: The Nature Of Superstition

This chapter explains the nature of Superstition...

(a belief that is held despite evidence to the contrary - Fairy Tale Thinking)

and the trappings of attempting to think in magical terms.

It is imperative to guide our children toward rational thinking

while they are young as it will form the basis for living life in

a fashion that is dictated by their desires as formed from having their

eyes open to all the real options available to them...

the one's they will have created for themselves.

Chapter Three: An Experiment With A Superstition

This chapter stresses using our reasoning power to disprove unsupported notions.

This forms the core of rational thought.

Chapter Four: Astrology - Science or Superstition?

More on how people mistakenly fall into the Magical Thinking trap.

Part Two: Science As A Way Of Thinking

Chapter Five: How New Facts Are Discovered

This Chapter gives examples of how our base of knowledge was

gathered and how it continues to grow.

Chapter Six: Science And Freedom Of Thought

The basic principle of keeping an open mind

and how it applies to science is stressed.

Bear in mind that keeping an open mind does NOT mean

that anything goes...that therefore, superstition is valid also.

It means keeping an open mind to the evidence of observation...

experimentation, and rational thought.

Science is about the PROCESS of finding truth...

it is NOT about infallibility.

It means that Science is self correcting with new evidence.

Chapter Seven: Developing A Theory - Probability

This chapter goes more into what a hypothesis is...

and the development of a theory through the use of an

experiment in the prediction of a probability.

Chapter Eight: Unusual Events, Luck And Chance

This chapter delves into the nature of probability on unusual events.

It demystifies Luck and unexplained occurrences through basic math.

Chapter Nine: Science Gives Us Real Knowledge

This chapter illustrates the many scientific advancements through rational thought.

Chapter Ten: Science - Past, Present, And Future

This chapter stresses what others have done with science...

and what problems could be conquered through the scientific method.

This one statement form Chapter nine sums up the necessity of

having your child introduced to the scientific method and rational thought

at the earliest possible age.

[in reference to many of the great scientific achievements in history]

"What part of these great accomplishments has been contributed by the

superstitious way of thinking? Absolutely nothing. The belief in fairy-tale

magic has blocked attempts to explain how and why things happen.

Today it is a lazy person's excuse to avoid thinking about why things happen."

The Scientific Method is about the search of truth.

Knowing how and why things happen allows us to

predict and control so true progress may take place.

This is a good introduction for young children into the search of true knowledge.

Home Schooling - Mission: SAT 2012 Prep

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:13:00 +0000

Song: Light From Darkness

Group: City Of The Fallen

Alex's SAT Prep books came in yesterday.

He will begin studying for his SATs starting today.

He always loves getting new books.

His first SAT will be in a couple of months.

My wife had to locate a testing center that will accept a 6th grader.

There is only one in the State of Nevada that will do so.

We will drive to wherever it is to have him take it.

He may only take it twice in a year's time.

This first one will be to gauge where he stands now...

and where we will have to improve before the last test of the year near December.

Although this test, if he passes with a high enough score, may be used for next year's

entrance requirements to the Academy...

it may not be reachable in a couple of months time.

If not...we will know where to concentrate more of our efforts for the last test of the year.

The qualifying score Alex will have to achieve on his SATs for the Davidson Academy

is higher than what many colleges demand for the 11th and 12th graders to achieve.

My wife also ordered several other books...

one on Science, and one on Reasoning Skills...

both of which I shall write an article about...

as they seem very interesting...

and could prove to be valuable to your children.

Home Schooling - Alcumus Lvl 25 Algebra

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:45:00 +0000

Song: Army Of One

Group: Dark Matter Sounds

Alex's favorite subject is Math.

Alex's favorite learning and competition Math site is...

The Art Of Problem Solving's sub-site...

Alcumus.

He just made the Alcumus Hall Of Fame as a

Lvl 25 in Algebra.

He loves spending many hours a day learning and practicing Math.

He has gone as high as he can go in Algebra.

He is now working on Geometry.

Alcumus is adding a Geometry competition soon.

Alex is looking forward to that.

We are searching for a Junior High or a High School Math club for Alex to

practice with. We are looking to get him involved twice a week at a local school

so he could meet and compete with some children who also love math.

We have also just gotten his SAT (College Entrance Exam) prep books.

My next article will cover those.

I cannot stress enough how very helpful Alcumus has been in

helping Alex practice his Math.

For children who love competition and practicing Math...

Alcumus is perfect.

There are many areas of math (with more on the way)...

and many levels of each. It is fun, motivating...

and free.

Year Of The Dragon: Alex - A Golden Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:03:00 +0000

Song: Our Destiny

Group: Liquid Cinema

I had bought this Dragon for my wife in celebration of my son's birth

in Nov of 2000.

He was born in the year of the Dragon...

however, I hadn't realized until this night that

the year 2000 had a special significance to some.

Once in every 60 years... the year of the Dragon...

is considered a Golden Dragon.

Each animal in the Chinese calendar system runs on a 12 year cycle.

Each complete cycle runs through each of 5 elements...

Metal (Gold), Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth.

In the Chinese Astrological Calendar system...

the first day of the Golden Dragon year in 2000

was on Feb 4th and the last was on Feb 3rd of 2001.

So if your child was born on or between those dates...

he is also a Golden Dragon.

So...

what is the significance?

Why not list the Zodiak characteristics?

Because...

Our Destiny...

is determined by our actions or inactions.

In the majority of developed nations...

our future is determined by the amount of efficient effort

applied in an intelligent direction.

Because we have so many freedoms...

even the poorest may reach the highest levels of society

through their foresight and ingenuity...

and through their efforts.

Our Destiny...

is not preordained...

it is not predetermined.

Although we may start out in life with certain advantages...

the great equalizer lies within each of us...

through our concerted efforts.

The key to our future lies in education.

Should Alex become successful in his life...

it won't be because of his Zodiak...

but because of his efforts.

An educated mind leads to a rational mind.

A rational mind does not succumb to irrational thoughts such as...

Rigid Preordained Class Structures...

Sexism
(However, along with equal rights...come equal responsibility)...

Racism...

Religious Clanism

(if all others are thought of as, somehow, a second class people

because they are not of the same religion)...

etc.

Does this mean that all people are equal?

Of course not

(except under the law and through basic human respect).

People separate themselves, throughout the social strata...

through an accumulation of their applied intelligence and efforts
(think Professor as an example...
if you were equal...you would have nothing to learn...etc).

To have your children think that their destiny lay outside of themselves...

takes away their drive.

Intelligence is the great equalizer.

Results are what ultimately matter.

Sincere effort (Drive) is the key.

What the world thinks does not matter...

it is what your child does or does not do... that matters.

Always stress that they are the masters of their destiny.

I will stress to Alex that he can call himself a...

Golden Dragon...

when he earns it through his efforts later in life...

not because it was an uncontrolled coincidence in his life.

----------------------------

P.S. - I feel I must add this as some may think I am against Astrology specifically.

NO!

I am against ALL forms of - Magical Thinking
(Mystical energy / Crystal Healing / Chi / Luck / Outside Forces / Destiny /
Omniscient and Omnipotent Beings...etc...
however, this is not to say that I am against the practitioners or believers of them).

There are valid reasons for events and doing certain things in certain ways.

To falsely attribute a cause to an event...
almost ensures future ignorance for all who follow.

This is a dual insult as it is not only the wrong path to tread...
to be on the wrong path ensures no one is looking for the right one.

This is to relegate yourself to that of a cork in the ocean...
at the mercy of the tides and the winds...
instead of piloting your ship using...
your skills of navigation...
the rudder and sails of the ship...
to be able to tack against the winds...
to reach your destination.

Alex Enjoying His EzyRoller

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Song: Lothlorien (Extended Version)

Original Artist: Enya

Rendition: Zpooned

Alex at a nearby park on his EzyRoller

(the park was just a couple of miles down the hillside from home).

We had bought this for him a few years ago.

He has had a great time on it ever since.

He went 3 full circuits of this park.

He would go really fast on the down hill...

and then had to work on the uphill...

but he enjoyed it immensely.

For those of whom are parents...

you already know the deep satisfaction of watching your children

smiling, laughing...of really losing themselves in the moment.

For those of whom are not parents...

I assure you...

there is nothing in the world so pure and innocent...

so heart warming to watch as they play...

as your children.

Although Alex is now 11 yrs. old...

he still has the pure heart of a young child...

one with no malice or malcontent...

one filled with sweetness and kindness...

one who's heart beats for goodness and justice.

He enjoys leading a disciplined life, yet...

he gets so happy from the simple pleasures in life.

Of all his attributes...

it is his sweet and gentle disposition that makes me the most proud.

Although I am a little sad to see him grow so quickly...

I am so proud to see him grow so well as a human being.

Yes, he is on the Autistic Spectrum...

and I would not wish to have him any other way.

I feel so honored to be the father of my son.

I realize that since I am retired...

I am in a unique position to spend a lot of time with my young son.

However, to the fathers who are very busy everyday...

it is these simple times spent enjoying the simple pleasures with

your children that shall be fondly remembered by all.

Every so often...

ask them what they would most like to do...

then do it with them.

Make time...

they are young only once...

and never again.

Inspirational Blogs For The New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Song: Nocturne

Group: Secret Garden

I would like to share some of my favorite Blogs...

ones which I read on an almost daily basis.

I show some of these to my son Alex...

and I speak of the others to him.

Each is inspirational in one aspect or another.

I will tell a little about each one...

and what I find so inspiring about them.

All are not only child friendly...

but each have a lesson to teach.

Some point out examples of intellectual discipline...

some to patience...

some to personal growth by overcoming personal fears...

some to compassion and love through parenting...

some to great beauty through their art.

All point to the great beauty of the soul.

Hanabi Boy - One Dad's experiences as the father of a dynamic 7 yr. old boy with Autism

Yuji tells the story of his son - Kai - and some of...

the difficulties he faces on a day to day basis...

his accomplishments...

his treatments and the effects of each...

the dynamics of their family relationship...

the tears and joy shared, and of memories cherished.

Yuji lives in America and is an excellent writer.

You become part of his family as you read his on going story.

You will feel some of Kai's pain...

you will cheer for him when he conquers new territory...

and your heart will warm when you see Kai grow as a human being.

If you have a child on the Autistic spectrum...

or know of someone who is...

this is a must read Blog

Yuji gives you an inside look as to how he and his wife

guide their son - Kai - to new levels of self awareness.

His Blog is open and honest.

He talks of heartbreak and frustration...

he talks of love and compassion.

His Blog shows of some of the trials of raising a child on the Autistic Spectrum...

and of their increasingly successful navigation of Kai, and of their family...

through life.

Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

This Blog is not a daily depiction of his surgical practice.

It is a look into the daily life and thoughts of a man who strives

to constantly learn and live his life well.

He is, at times, thought provoking...

other times, he talks of simple pleasures and activities he partakes in...

as a part of just living life.

He is not only a Surgeon...

besides his native Japanese language...

he speaks and writes English very well.

He is also learning German, Korean, and Chinese.

He lives in Shikoku (one of the four main islands of Japan).

When you read many of his past articles...

you will see a man of compassion and intelligence...

one who lives his life well through example.

You will get to know his mind...

how he thinks and how he lives his life.

From this...

you will see a man who sees life in depth.

He is one who is serious about his path in life...

yet who knows how to enjoy the many simple pleasures in it.

He is an example of...

Deferred Gratification...

constant intellectual striving...

having planned his life well and of following through

(his daughter is also studying medicine).

He is an example of a man who realizes that life is a marathon.

As a result...he has paced life well.

He is not stopping...yet, he drinks of life as he continues.

Do cats also dream of themselves?

This is a blog from a man who is so mindful of others...

who is so thoughtful of how his actions or inactions may negatively affect others...

that he suffers for it.

Because he is so good hearted...

so introverted in nature...

he sometimes feels trapped.

However, this is not a Blog of sympathy pleading.

It is an ongoing journey of how he has taken positive action

in his life...of how he is steadily growing as a human being.

He talks of his great concerns in dealing with the human condition...

of his fears...and of his continuing conquering of those fears so he may

live his life fully...to realize his dreams for his future.

It is the real life saga of a man who is

courageously treading forward in life...

despite his great inhibitions.

He is one who has chosen to face his fears and defeat them...

so he may live his life as he chooses.

Iwmt's Naturegraphy From Japan

This man knows no peer in the realm of Amateur Photography...

and few, if any, in professional photography.

His photographs are of such clarity, depth, feeling...of pure beauty...

that it is truly art.

He has taken many tremendous photos of Japan...

it is simply a must see.

These photos are an inspiration for all children...

to expand their horizons as to not only the great beauty which

awaits them in distant lands...places to explore...but in life.

This provides them the wanderlust...

the great thirst to explore their world...

to be able to one day see all of these wondrous places.

With the calling of an unsatiated desire...

they will wish to excel in their studies so they

may be able to earn enough to one day visit these

almost surreal settings.

Through these photos...

they will experience true art appreciation.

Life will hold great promise for them...

of great lands to explore...

of great things to experience.

Through The Sapphire Sky

More beautiful photos (snapshots) of Japan.

For all who wish to experience the great and rich culture of

the Japanese people and their lands...

this blog offers many beautifully composed pictures along with some detailed

explanations of historical facts.

This Blog goes into the culture of Japan through the photos

of various locations and of the people there.

Equally inspiring as the above Blog.

For anyone interested in Japanese culture...

this is a must see.

The following is a special interest category.

They may not apply to all...

but each has a unique area of interest.

Shaun's English Blog - a 7 year old's expression of his interests

Shaun is a 7 yr. old boy from Japan in search of English speaking pen or E-pals.

He blogs about his activities and interests.

This is a perfect opportunity for young children to write to someone from a

different culture. Much can be learned from each...and for both.

Rosewitch Que Sera Sera Life - Handcrafting

This is a Blog from a woman who lives in Japan who is very much

into hand crafts.

What she can offer some women is a view into some handcraft projects

and ideas from Japan.

I found her blog interesting for two reasons...

As I am a man of little patience...

I find a person who lives her life in happiness through efforts

demanding patience...intriguing.

I am attempting to understand the person inside

through her projects and writings...

for some kind of glimpse into a world that is somewhat foreign to me

(not the Japanese part...the patience part :).

The second reason is more personal.

She reminds me of my mother when she was much younger.

My mother used to do a lot of Japanese handcrafts.

Maggie - Toto

Although her Blog is written in Japanese...

she also has some English in it.

She is a unique person who is artistic in nature...

in prose and in photography.

Her personality seems to me as both...

intense, and sincere.

She feels deeply and expresses herself obliquely.

It is not the direct view of the photograph that tells the story...

but the reason for the composition of the shot...

her feeling as she took the shot...

that tells the story.

I have come away from these blogs...

a richer man.

Always remember...

the more exposure one has...

the more opportunity one has to learn.

The richer the experience...

the richer is life.

Although many adults have led a full life...

these blogs may help enrich a child's life.

And now you know the reason I visit these blogs daily...

yes...I am still a child :)

New Years Eve Fun For Alex

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:25:00 +0000

Song: It's Been A While

Artist: James Onohan

My younger sister, her daughter, and her granddaughter came to visit for New Years Eve.

She had driven up from California for a 2 night visit.

Alex hadn't seen them for a while.

He got excited talking with them and playing with his 2nd cousin (6 yrs. old).

My sister had gone shopping at a Japanese grocery store before coming up.

We had two giant pots of Oden and Mochi along with baked Mochi.

A big kiss for Alex.
Alex played with his 2nd cousin much of the day.
At one point, he was teaching her Math.

Alex loves other children.
He is very gentle and patient with younger children.
He has always loved teaching others.

These two pictures are from Google Images...
but depict what happens on New Years Eve in Reno.

This is what my wife said they had seen when they went to see the fireworks
above Reno.

Everyone else went to see the fireworks on New Years...
I stayed home and slept as I had a long drive the next day.

As Alex had so much fun seeing another child...
we are thinking of signing him up for a nearby Junior High School
Math club so he may interact with other children on a subject he has a passion for.

Home Schooling: Alex Loves Math

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:02:00 +0000

Song: Caribbean Blue

Artist: Enya

Alex relaxing between study sessions with a cup of Hot Cocoa a few days ago.

This Periodic Table Mug was his favorite for years.

His new favorite mug is his Math Mug.

We rarely give him sweets... so an occasional mug of

Hot Cocoa is a special treat for him.

This Geometry Mug is on his wish list.

He gets a special pleasure from looking at math formulas.

We had initially skipped over Geometry after he finished Algebra I

so he could progress through Algebra II without a break as is commonly done.

He wants to go to the highest level of Algebra on Alcumus before fully switching

to Geometry. However, as his SATs are coming up...

we allowed him to study both at the same time.

He just doubles up on his studies in Math.

He enjoys Math so much anyway.

He still wishes to be a Math Professor one day.

He is learning so much from Alcumus (and from Thinkwell)

and to a much higher level than what is taught in normal courses.

He is advancing quickly.

He is now solving complex Geometry problems.

I can't express how much this particular web site has

really helped inflame Alex's passion for Math.

It is a component of - The Art Of Problem Solving.

Alcumus

It is called Alcumus and it has separate categories of Math...

and it allows competition among the many thousands of participants.

It has multi-levels of difficulty (1-25) and has a ranking system in both...

levels achieved and accuracy percentage ranking.

It is also free!

Alex loves finishing up the night with a session of Alcumus.

It relaxes him before bedtime.

Alex recently corresponded with a 10 year old boy (one year younger than Alex)

who also loves Math.

This particular boy is moving up the ranks on Alcumus in Pre-Algebra.

His mother had learned about Alex from my wife's blog (in Japanese).

He loves Alcumus and he had deduced my son's profile name...

and his mother commented on my wife's blog and her son sent

an E-mail to Alex.

Alex had just answered him yesterday.

Alex seems to have an E-Pal to share his love of math with...

and he gets to practice his composition skills at the same time :)

By the time he has another year under his belt...

he could be serious competition for Alex.

Alex loves competition.

Alcumus provides a way for children to compete in a very valuable subject.

It is one of the reasons Alex wants to do Alcumus even more.

He wants to spend several hours a day on it... everyday.

Alcumus is a great way for children to develop a passion for Math.

Home Schooling: Alex's Holiday Study Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:08:00 +0000

Song: Throne Of Divinity

Group: City Of The Fallen

Alex working hard with Alcumus

(from The Art Of Problem Solving).

He has been solving the most difficult level of Algebra problems recently (lvl 25).

He is rated at a lvl 23 right now.

It takes many, many correct problem solves, at or above his level, to advance a level.

He is steadily moving up.

Although he sometimes misses a problem...

he learns what he had done wrong on his missed one...

and comes back stronger.

The most points he can usually earn on any one problem (lvl 25) is 125 points.

Anytime he misses a problem...

he is given a much lower lvl problem (10 - 15 points each)...

and he has to work his way back up by solving many of the lower point

problems until he reaches the uppermost levels once again.

We are ordering an English Composition course for him in a few days.

In the meantime he is working on his Expository Writing skills

on a special writing program. This is his area of greatest weakness.

We will be having him work on this area every day.

As he is on a holiday schedule right now...

he is only studying 6 or so hours a day since we wanted him

to take it easy for a couple of weeks after his Academy exam.

We are still in the middle of our curriculum change.

Over the next few weeks, we will be getting our courses on-line...

and our set goals per course per day arranged.

As Alex is Home Schooled...

we have to provide a curriculum of set courses that he must complete.

We are having him study most of his courses from grade 8 through grade 12.

His math is advanced...and so we use Thinkwell and Alcumus.

We are thinking of enrolling him in an online High School...

as soon as we get his Expository Writing skills to a higher level.

Besides this mandatory curriculum...

Alex also must prepare for his College Entrance Exams in a few months...

and we must work extra hours everyday on all of his weak points as discovered

through his Academy entrance exams.

On Christmas day...

we gave him a fun way to study...

He had never seen this film...

so afterwards, I had asked him to give me a synopsis of it.

He actually did very well.

His summary was concise and all inclusive.

He also worked on Alcumus

(he enjoys it as it is a competition among others on-line).

I have also been researching some Martial Arts studios for him to train at.

In a few weeks I will be signing him up at one.

I will also reinitiate his music practice in a few weeks

(no more than 1/2 an hour a day).

We wish to prioritize his academic schedule...

and then fit in his extracurricular activities.

I know with his upgraded level of study that we will have to cut down

on the number of hours per day spent on non academic study...

but a little each day still does wonders.

We must get him used to University study standards if he is to flourish

in the highly competitive world in which we hope to have him engage in...

in the near future.

Our next major hurdle is his College Entrance Exams in a few months.

He must score at a high level if he is to be allowed to even apply for the

Academy for the following year.

I will be explaining our program to ready him in a few weeks.

Should we fail with his SATs...

then at the very least...

he would be set back another year.

We still aim for the Academy...

however, should that not be possible within the next couple of years...

one of our contingency plans would then involve him finishing up High School on-line...

and getting into University at a young age.

As of now...

we sit on the outside...

looking in.

The Davidson Academy is our ultimate goal...

the Throne of Divinity...

for which we must first complete the requisite steps.

We are to remain perpetually adaptable...

forever hopeful...

forever vigilant...

and propelled by guided effort.

Aftermath Analysis - Strengths And Weaknesses

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:02:00 +0000

Song: Dream Chasers

Group: Future World Music

As I had promised...

an after action report.

I shall only give this in general terms as I must honor

the Davidson Academy's spirit of their examination process.

Alex was very strong in the Math portion.

However, as he is now a sixth grader...

we must prepare him for his College Entrance Exams in a few months.

The Davidson Academy requires a very high score in the SATs

for prospective students who will be in the 7th grade by the time the next

round of testing initiates late next year.

We must ensure Alex keeps up on his Math...

we will keep having him review his Algebra I and II

while we have him advance in Geometry and into Calculus.

We don't have much worry with Alex's Quantitative Reasoning capabilities...

Alex excels in this area.

The area which the Davidson Academy exam had shown Alex's

area of weakness was in his Qualitative Reasoning.

In general...

he must be able to infer meanings...

whether expressed through direct or indirect implications...

by its inclusion or by its exclusion.

He must master the hows and whys...

the base rationales behind the facts.

We had just started working with Alex on his Expository Writing

two weeks prior to his exam as we were given a general outline of

the exam expectations at that time.

In retrospect...we should have been working with him on this from long ago.

We were allowing him to work on some Persuasive and Creative Writing...

but we had not worked with him on his Expository Writing skills...
and we especially had not worked with him extensively on the
fluid reasoning necessary to have something to write about
in the first place.

However, what Alex needs most of all is... critical reading, thinking, writing...
and the fluid reasoning to fully dissect meaning and inferences as applied
to discourse on the text.

As gotten from a public Academy document:

Critical Reading, Critical Thinking and Academic Discussion

Interpret and discuss readings, avoiding invalid inferences...
redundancies, and statements of the obvious.

Build, sustain, and support controlling ideas that are arguable based
upon the logic of the text.

Demonstrate abstract thinking ability in independent responses to text.

Demonstrate ability to apply abstract reasoning to texts after instruction
including discussion.

My wife is researching short stories for him to analyze and report on.

In short...

we must get him highly skilled at English Composition.

His particular area of weakness was his effective usage of language

in Academic Discussions.

In short...

his ability to utilize a supportive or argumentative stance

in response to the presented text or discussion.

I'll be working on his analytical oral argumentative skills through formal debate.

I shall also work much more with his oral and written presentations of stories read...

a synopsis...

an actual analysis...

and a predictive analysis

(possible outcomes with situational changes)...

as well as the hows and whys of human behavior...

the real reasons for the actions or inactions of the characters...

even that of the author.

One last area of weakness that Alex had demonstrated at the exam...

one which they observe closely throughout the day...

the ability to operate independently and with a high degree of receptivity

to his instructors.

His great weakness was his...

inability to not get distracted from his tasks...

his level of engagement with his environment and with others around him

(ask for help if needed / engage in discussions)...

and to do it autonomously.

I, in no way, disagree with the expectations in this area.

Alex being on the Autistic Spectrum is no excuse to not have to meet

all standards as applied to everyone else.

Alex must learn to adapt to the world.

Our goal is for him is not to merely meet expectations.

Our goal for him is to exceed expectations...

in all aspects.

Sometime in the future...

when our lesson plan solidifies...

I will layout his programs and exercises in detail.

We are not mere dreamers...

someone with a goal without the drive or plan

to actually tread the necessary path.

We have a dream...

we are always ready to modify and to adapt...

we know the path necessary to reach our goal...

we shall steadily tread the path...

undeterred...

until our dream is fulfilled.

We are...

Dream Chasers.

A Clear Night - A New Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:40:00 +0000

Song: A New Beginning

Group: Future World Music

We sought out a neighborhood in Reno that had especially good

Christmas light displays.

This particular house had 35,000 lights co-ordinated

by computer to a variety of music.

For video samples of the above house:

Lights Of Tanea

We stayed and watched the light and music show for quite a while.

A beautiful night out with my family.

Crisp clean air leads to...

a clear head...

and a healed heart.

Soul cleansing completed.

A new beginning initiated.

My wife and I are looking at Alex's strengths and deficits as demonstrated by

the results of his academy exam.

My wife is researching possible new avenues of teaching resources

and we are reformulating our lesson plans.

Now we have a greater idea of what is needed...

we now know which areas will demand greater focus.

In my next article, I shall go over the areas needing more attention...

and how we intend to achieve greater results through our modified lesson plans.

The Dragon Lives - Alex Has Fallen

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:46:00 +0000

Song: Tears Of Remorse

Artist: Trevor Crookston

We just learned this morning that Alex will not be accepted to

the Davidson Academy next year.

He will have to take his SAT (College Entrance Exam)
and he will have to score very high to even be considered for next year's testing.

We will have to also work on all of his deficient areas...
areas I shall illuminate in general...
but not in specifics.

I know that there are many who wish to know the exact
areas tested for in the exam.

Please understand...
the implied trust between prospective parents
and the Davidson Academy is sacrosanct.

To reveal the exam process in detail would breach that sacred trust
and would, in part, nullify their efforts to truly gauge the children's
strengths and weaknesses.

The Davidson Academy is a great institution...
made great because of their great standards.

As promised, I may tell of general areas of Alex's weaknesses...
and most importantly, our plans to prepare Alex to once again...
challenge the Dragon in a year's time.

Also, as promised...
I shall offer no excuses...
just the identification of the areas of failure
and the general plans to correct them to ensure
greater results for the future.

Our time shall be one of...
analysis...
planning...
adaptation...
follow through.

Alex is handling it well...as always.
He has always tried to put his brave face forward.

He knows that we are in no way disappointed in him...
however, he was so looking forward to going to the Academy next year.

We shall be going out to view some Christmas lights...
and to put life back into perspective.

The battle is done for now...
we are back in camp...
it is time to reflect...
to heal our wounds.

Tomorrow will not allow for sorrow...
but on this night...
I shall shed tears of remorse.

You see...
Alex's areas of weakness was my area of responsibility.

He had failed in his Critical, and Fluid Reasoning...
his Organizational Skills and his ability to shift from
detail orientation to global thinking.

Alex hadn't failed...
my wife hadn't failed...
I had failed my son.

I shall not leave you on a low note...
we at least have a schematic of areas tested and weaknesses discovered.

Even in failure...
we shall fall with weapon in hand...
facing the enemy...
a battle cry in our hearts.

We allow ourselves one night to soothe our souls by the campfire...
to stare at the stars...to gather as a family around our wounded.

This will serve to renew...
our sense of purpose...
our sense of direction...
our depleted energy...
for on the morrow...
we march...
forever forward...
forever onward.

I shall detail our plans for correction and adaptation soon.

Davidson Academy Examination Day - The Intellectual Test Of Alex's Life

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:54:00 +0000

Song: Guardians At The Gate

Group: Audiomachine

A little after 0700 hrs. yesterday - Alex at the Davidson Academy.

He is relaxing for a few minutes in the car before the start of testing.

We are in the parent's question and orientation room just prior to the

the testing. We waited here for about 15 minutes until they called all

of the children to the exam room.

I was so proud of Alex.

This is to be his greatest battle...
yet, he seemed very calm.

This would be an 8 hour session of very advanced...
Math, Science, English, and Critical Reasoning skills as demonstrated
through essay and verbal format.

Each subject is a guardian into the gates of the Academy.

All who enter must slay each guardian without fail...
before reaching the final Dragon...
the Psychological and Critical Reasoning (fluid reasoning) oral interview.

Of all the prospective Academy students who make it past the Final Guardian
(sounds like Final Fantasy X doesn't it? :) ...
only the very top performers will be accepted.

After Alex had gone into the exam room with all of this day's applicants

(multi testing days as there are many applicants)...

we had gone on a walk around the campus of the University.

We went back home and awaited the Academy's phone call to pick up Alex.

They said the testing concluded at 4:00 P.M. ...
although we could possibly be called at 3:30 or so as
sometimes the prospective students finish their exam early.

We received a call at 3:00 P.M. ...
OK...I was stunned...
What was the meaning of this?

The Academy representative said Alex had finished early and was ready
to be picked up.

On the way there, my wife and I were filling the van with all sorts of worried
speculations about why he had finished so early...
had he failed to defeat an earlier guardian and was asked to leave?

If so, was it the final essay that had stumped him?

Had he failed to defeat the final dragon?
(oral fluid reasoning - our main worry over the past two weeks)

What was going on?

We arrived at the Academy.

I took in a deep breath of the chilled air...
steeled my will...
walked toward the entrance...
pulled at the mighty oaken and iron clad gates.

They slowly opened to reveal a great hall filled with
fallen warriors...
their armor scorched...
their lances broken...
their shields held wearily at their sides.

I slowly gazed from one end of the hall to the next...
my heart stilled by the sight of Alex, his back to us.

He was surrounded by three or four other children.

Was he being given comfort by the compassionate?

Would he turn slowly toward us with a forlorn gaze...
a tear streaked face?

We called out his name...
he turned...
raised his hand in an unexpectedly vigorous fashion and...

waved and smiled!

The other children called out to Alex and said they hoped to see him
at the start of the new school year next year.

The other children were some of the veterans of the Academy...
they were asking him how he had done on his exam and were wishing him well.

The formerly fallen warriors of my mind were just more of the veteran academy
students on a break between classes.

No longer were they looking defeated...
the great hall turned back into a bright tiled entry way...
the oppressive great oaken and iron clad doors
had dissolved from my vision and had reverted into the glass and aluminum
automatic doors of the Academy.

Alex said he thought he had done well.

He wasn't worried...he seemed happy.

He said he was really excited at the thought of possibly becoming a student
here at the Davidson Academy.

We, of course, attempted to question him on what the testing
had consisted of, as we only had a basic outline of the categories.

All the way home in the van...
my wife and I had asked him for specifics.

He replied in a typical fashion.
He just said nonchalantly...
that he doesn't remember.

OK...now...
there is no way I am going to be stressed over the next 2-3 weeks
until the results come out because a complete lack of details.

I then probed a little more.

I had asked him about his math (his forte)...he said he did well.
He said he didn't think that he had any problem with the Algebra...
however, he said that although he could answer some of the pre-Calculus questions...
that is where he finally got stumped.

This is ok...
he has never been formally taught Calculus.
He has only had some exposure to it.

I had asked him about the Science Exam.
I asked him to give me a sample question.

He said he remembers a problem involving two objects of differing
mass in a body of water.

Well...this, of course, could be a specific gravity problem if they were measuring
them separately and trying to determine the nature of the objects...
a predictive water displacement problem...
it could be setting the stage for a buoyancy problem...
I needed more specifics!

He said that he had given a specific answer and I thought...
Oh No...unless the weights were known and compared to the amount of water...
it wasn't a specific gravity problem...
then he said...
that maybe it wasn't how the problem was structured...that he didn't really remember....
Arrghhh!

I stopped asking him questions as his answers raised more questions
than they had answered.

I then realized that not only was I in the presence of an
Intellectual Knight coming fresh off the battlefield
after engaging in combat with the largest dragon in the land...
I realized that he had no worries...he had no regrets.

So... who am I to worry?

Alex had done his best...
what comes.. will come...
regardless of our worrying.

My not knowing the details of the Davidson Academy examination
can only lead me to speculate as to what had happened.

OK...here goes...

Alex had...
aforetime... honed his battle skills...
defeated the guardians of the gate...one by one...
sought out and tracked the dragon to its lair...
spied the great beast filling his lungs
in preparation to deliver his great scorching breath of fire...
released the reigns of his great war horse...
lifted his shield, raised himself off his saddle...
leaned forward as he gave a great kick...
and launched forward.

He had merged with his warhorse into a single battle unit...
charging unwaveringly...
a heart steeled by courage...
his weapons hardened by his unrelenting study habits.

Nearing the great billowing chest of the dragon...
Alex lowered his great lance...
Extinctor Draconis
(Dragon Slayer)...
aligning it with the beast's heart.

Now in full gallop...
becoming one with his lance...
his war horse...
his sacred mission...
Alex raised his visor as he knew he had to
have an unobstructed view of his target...
the heart of the Dragon.

He watched the muscular contraction of the Dragon's chest
as it prepared to unleash the great conflagration
that would have consumed his very bones.

Knowing that in battle...
to fear is to hesitate...
and to hesitate is to die...
Alex... spurred his mount one final time.

His war horse, ever in synch with his rider...
lowered his head momentarily before snapping it upwards...
allowing him to gather the great power of his sinews
to release in a monumentous surge of power...
and launched them head long into the
heavily scaled armored chest of the Dragon.

Alex...

courageous of heart...
steadfast in delivery...
his lance firmly buttressed against his armor...
the point lowered to form an Isosceles Triangle of mass...
allowing the inertia of the battle unit to converge upon a single point...
the point of Extinctor Draconis...

watched, as if in slow motion, as his lance disappeared into the Dragon's chest.

The combined mass of Alex and his mount traveling at full gallop
had sent the Dragon reeling backwards and off a cliff into a black maw.

Had Alex not struck true...
had his lance not pierced the Dragon's heart...
it will merely lick its wounds...
make a full recovery...
and Alex will have to return in one year's time
to once again...
attempt to slay the Dragon.

If that turns out to be the case...
we, as his parents...
will fashion stronger weapons...
and have him study new battle techniques.

We must wait for 2 - 3 weeks to find out if the Dragon had survived.

Now...

I can't swear to the preceding events depicted... as I can only

let my imagination fill in for the absence of specific information...

so...

that is, more or less, how I think the examination went :)

Alex On The Eve Of Battle: Final Preparation And Polish

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Song: Serenata Immortale

Group: Immediate Music

The past two weeks has been a very hectic time for Alex and his mother.

My part was limited to some oral presentation practice and some

practice with critical reasoning in the synopsizing and analyzing of stories.

Almost all of everything else, my wife had overseen.

Alex studied without complaint.

As the focus was on Davidson Academy testing prep...

we had done nothing but that.

No exercise...music...any other subjects.

We had to limit him to 10 or so hours a day of formal study.

We didn't wish to burn him out.

He is practicing his persuasive writing in the below pictures.

Part of his preparation was his expository and persuasive writing skills.

We were careful to allot some free time also.

He liked to relax on the sofa and free read

or play some of his video games.

He is enjoying this book at the moment.

It shows some of the fallacies committed by some... using bad science.

It is his favorite book right now.

He also enjoys reviewing an illustrated math dictionary.

There is this particular wild rabbit that keeps visiting our backyard in the morning hours.

Alex enjoys watching him eat and hop around.

We were careful to not push Alex beyond the limits of tolerance...

either in intensity or in the quantity of studying.

It was more of his mother merely guiding Alex in his studies...

and limiting him from pushing himself too far.

At the conclusion of this...

his last night of preparation...

I had gone lightly over his oral presentation skills...

and I had summed up the purpose of his prep time.

I had told him that the battle is won...

not on the battlefield...

but in all the time before it...

in preparation.

He understood.

I told him of how proud we were of his diligence in his studies.

I told him that should he not achieve his goal this time...

that it would not be his fault...

for he had put in his due effort.

It would be ours for not having adequately prepared him.

As we don't know exactly what the testing entails...

this will be our learning experience...

and our goal would be to fully prepare him for the following year's testing...

should he fall in battle.

He knows that we are not going to give up...

but that we would merely adapt and conquer at a later time.

Of course...

this may be thought of as psychological buffering.

Yes...however, it is also true.

What he is striving for is such a high goal...

just him having come this far is such a great achievement.

In a matter of hours...

Alex will be engaging in the intellectual battle of his life.

He has been prepared intellectually as well as psychologically.

It will be another two weeks or so before the results of the examination

will be announced.

Should he make it...

we will, of course, be ecstatic.

Should he not...

we will be a little disappointed...

but in ourselves as parents...

certainly not in Alex.

I will also offer no excuses...

but a listing of our failures...

and a new battle plan for the future.

Forever with eyes open and looking beyond the horizon...

Forever driving forth with a burning passion for learning and for life...

Forever striving...never giving in...never giving up

until all possibilities have been exhausted...

and then re-examining the options...

adapting...conquering once again.

There is no other way to truly live...

it is...

The Immortal Serenade.

Concept 6 Of 6 - The Basic Philosophy Of Alex's Home Schooling

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:11:00 +0000

Song: Life Goes On

Group: Future World Music

Our 6th...and last major tenet:

A DAILY STUDY HABIT

Great inherent intelligence allows a child to learn more quickly...

but not necessarily learn more...

or to a greater depth.

A child of lesser inherent intelligence often times surpasses the

naturally gifted student because of greater study habits...

leading to greater acquired and applied intelligence.

Studying allows the child to accumulate information...

to learn more efficient and effective ways of thinking...

to have a great store of knowledge from which to draw...

to greatly increase his Acquired Intelligence through his greatly expanded

knowledge base of concepts, and of the variables to consider

in the building of his internal logic tree...

the schematic of the mind on which he shall add

the appropriately placed branches and leaves as his tree grows.

Through this tree...

he will be able to focus on the salient points of new information.

He will be able to see the interconnections of concepts

allowing him to see the correct cause and effect scenarios in his mind

so necessary in rapidly and accurately assessing problems...

developing solutions...

and predicting the outcomes of unfolding situations.

To be able to work towards a goal, uninterrupted, leads to great rewards...

both, direct immediate and long term ones...

as well as ancillary ones.

That which you do on a daily basis out of habit...

no longer takes effort...

no longer makes you feel uncomfortable.

To not do it daily would make you feel uncomfortable.

Learning becomes effortless as you no longer experience

frustration due to mental backsliding.

When you see steady progress through a daily habit...

it starts to take on a life of its own...

a happiness that comes just from seeing progress...

a feeling of a deep and great satisfaction in not only being able to mold yourself...

but your future.

Each day brings new progress...

and so, new happiness.

The most efficient and effective way of behavior modification...

or molding...is to start it from the beginning...

to continue without pause...

and to have positive reinforcers throughout.

Alex has always studied every day (from age 3)...

every weekday - usually 6 - 8 hours...

every weekend - usually 4 - 5 hours a day...

and during summer break...everyday was a weekend schedule - 4 - 5 hours a day

(an additional 3 - 4 hours of reading, physical training and music daily).

He gets up and eats...

he then goes to the computer to start his studies.

We usually incorporate numerous breaks throughout the day...

putting in his physical training, music, and reading at either strategic...

or highly adaptable points, according to Alex's desires.

Whenever possible, we gave Alex control over what time he would cover

a particular subject to study on that particular day...

however...each subject would be covered on a daily basis.

When a subject is studied on a daily basis...

the chunks of information may be taken in smaller portions...

easier to bite, chew, and digest.

A daily study routine...

just as a daily exercise routine...

should be initiated well within the bounds of tolerance.

Too much at the beginning causes mental resistance due to discomfort.

The key is a tolerable amount each day.

With time...

tolerance is increased.

With increased tolerance...

progress is increased.

With increased progress...

enjoyment and satisfaction is increased.

With increased enjoyment and satisfaction...

a deep love of learning is instilled.

When a deep love of learning is instilled...

it becomes an insatiable inner drive to learn...

to progress...

to explore...

to master ones world.

A smart man knows how to work hard toward

his goals and how to eventually achieve them.

He knows how to suffer pain for great rewards later.

The smart man will die without regrets

as he will have accomplished his goals.

A wise man knows how to make himself love

the path to the achievement of his goals...

so the chase is just as enjoyable as the acquisition.

The wise man will die well because he will have lived well...

he will have enjoyed every moment of life... instead of just the end.

- Shiroi Tora

Concept 5 Of 6 - The Basic Philosophy Of Alex's Home Schooling

noreply@blogger.com (Shiroi Tora) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Song: Eternal Love

Group: Future World Music

Our fifth major tenet:

CONSTANT AND UNLIMITED EXPLORATION

The use of positive stimuli greatly affects both...

the Heart and Soul (emotions)...

and... the Intellect.

By providing an enriched atmosphere of new positive stimuli for your child...

you are stimulating his drive to explore.

By stimulating his drive to explore...

you are setting the stage for his love of learning.

A child who loves to learn...

seeks out new experiences with a lustful heart and a keen eye.

He observes, categorizes, conceptualizes and learns to apply

because it becomes an inner drive.

A developed inner drive to learn keeps the heart yearning for more...

to wish to conquer new challenges.

The wish to conquer new challenges provides the drive to repeat

the actions necessary to master them.

By providing an enriched atmosphere for your child to explore...

you are also providing the stimuli to effect changes in the brain.

You are preventing the pruning of under stimulated neuro-pathways...

and you are strengthening and increasing the connections to stimulated ones.

Below are some examples of how we have enriched

Alex's environment throughout his life:

Reading And Play

Alex's Former Library

The Great Courses

I know I steadily harp on certain points.

I do it only because of the great importance of them

on the development of humans...especially children.

By opening new avenues of exploration for your child, you are...

igniting the fires of passion...

engendering the will to drive forth...

developing the lust for for ever larger and newer horizons.

By feeding the child a steady diet filled with positive stimuli...

you are stimulating the fundamental drive to constantly explore and to learn.

By stimulating his curiosity, he will see the world as one big adventure.

He will become the adventurer...

the great discoverer...

the great explorer.

He will constantly seek to sail his ship to distant lands...

to wish to discover what lies beyond the horizon.

He will develop an...

Eternal Love...

for learning...

and for life.