Spent this week amazed at America's collective stupidity---

This weeks budget fiasco in Washington is best summed up by Strother Martin's statement in movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, "I've got Morons on my team". Billions cut for needed social programs but nothing taken from the government give aways for oil companies or agra-business--nothing stripped from the American elite's private military...GE pays no tax and that is not enough for Rep. Ryan who wants to reduce taxes on the rich by another 30% in the 2012 Republican budget proposal---- because trickle down economics has worked so well over the past 10 years for the average American's income. Our politicians make Gordon Gecko look like Captain Kangaroo....

Where are the women of America in the war against the Republican Taliban? When American women wind up only being allowed to grind wheat in long skirts and poop out babies like the Duggars they will have no one to blame but themselves...It will soon be too late for them, too late for your daughters to hope for any kind of real life....

I had been focusing my reading lately on informational material for the urban homestead. I desperately needed a fiction break and found "Equations of Life" by Simon Morden. This novel is perfect. Post cyberpunk in nature, the novel focuses on a brilliant, former technical support specialist for Russian Mob kidnappers, now living in London. To complicate things a bit more this world takes place long after there has been a complete social breakdown across the the planet and the use of nuclear weapons by multiple terrorist type groups. Japan has sunk into the pacific and there are no go zones all over London. The existence of a ninja like order of Catholic Nuns who's vows are based on body guarding Priests round out the uniqueness of this novel...I am loving every moment of reading it and am planning on pre-ordering Morden's next three novels from Amazon immediately.

April's EDC, geezer tactical centers around Germany and Austria for unknown reasons...

I needed an additional pair of work boots/shoes with warm weather coming on...My Oakley, black, high top tactical boots are excellent but too hot for the upcoming New Mexico summer..and although my wonderful, French Foreign Legion boots are cooler, they are still high topped boots----I desired something similar in a shoe height so that I could conceal my .32 automatic in an ankle holster during the summer...which one cannot do well with high top boots.

After researching I purchased, the above pictured, blue/gray Lowa hiking shoes. Leather and rubber construction, made in Germany rather than Southeast Asia. Although I have no opposition to Asian production and it is more expensive to go German, i went with the user reviews advising that this particular shoe was worth the extra price in comfort, construction and durability...

The second item featured this month is the purchase of the above pictured Mercador Black Cat pocket knife..the unofficial pocket knife of the German Army in WW2---- I have wanted one of these for years but just never got around to purchasing one...until now. A simple single, locking carbon steel blade is all you get with this inexpensive pocket knife...nothing fancy, designed in the 1920's. Reviews of this knife are focused on the fact that it doesn't hold an edge for long---that's OK by me because I enjoy sharpening my knives on a weekly basis--it is very calming. I also carry a diamond sharpener for touch ups if necessary in my work bug out bag....the simplicity of this item and it's history is what lured me.....

Lastly for April, i purchased an IMCO cigarette lighter...a manufactured copy of hand made cigarette lighters from the trenches of WW1 which both sides ingeniously constructed from spent rifle shell casings. I am just amazed at this item..cheap---but works perfectly, using any fuel if necessary. The fuel and wick compartment pulls out to make a candle which will stand up on any flat surface. This lighter works perfectly and like the black cat pocket knife i am so happy that these types of practical, well designed, inexpensive items are still being manufactured...for purchase by bizarre individuals like myself.

It is hard to feel individually responsible with respect to the invisible processes of a huge and distant government.
John W. Gardner