Hip Shots

Debates Tonight

I don't want to get in to politics.  Anyone who has been reading for a while knows that I have pretty strong libertarian leanings.  Anyway, I'm not going to say, "I don't care who you vote for, just exercise your right and get out there to vote."  I think that is a very dangerous attitude that leads to uninformed or disinterested voters basing their vote on what a coworker or a celebrity said to do or a ridiculous standard about who you want to have a beer with.  I encourage you to vote for the candidate who comes closest to matching your views.  If you haven't decided yet, watch the debates to see what the two major party candidates have rehearsed.  You might also go to www.ISideWith.com and take the quiz.  Don't just answer yes or no, delve deeper into the choices.  At the end, you'll see what percentage and what categories you might share with ALL of the candidates.  You might be surprised.


Salute

My step-nephew graduates from Army basic training in Ft. Jackson tomorrow.  I want to congratulate Patrick and wish him a very successful and rewarding career and say thanks for serving!


Great Book

Last night I finished reading The Battle of the Crater by William Forstchen and Newt Gingrich.  The only thing prepper-related about it is that I bought it and got it autographed by Dr. Forstchen after he spoke about One Second After at the Self Reliance Expo a couple weeks ago.  But, it is a great book.  It's a fascinating look at the Union soldiers who tunneled under Confederate defenses just down the road from my house at Petersburg.  It's mainly the story of the U.S. Colored Troops who could have turned the tide of the war at that battle if generals hadn't gotten in the way.  It's historical fiction, and a really good read.


Up Next

I was planning to start my next Forstchen book (To Try Men's Souls) tonight, but James Rawles' Founders came from Amazon tonight.  I'll get that read and a review up this weekend.