Part of the Job 1

From a reader:

"What is something that nobody outside your job would know is part of your job?"

This is such a good question, that it will have a 5-part answer - one for each day this week. 

First Part - From the perspective of Church Safety / Security:

Many people - particularly on social media - speak of being "sheepdogs" or the "baddest man in the room." They generally have no clue. As the best-trained man in the room, here is a snippet of how it works:

Everyone can be beaten. 

- Most just straight out - even if they were to pick the type of combat and rule set (if any). This includes 99.9% of the folks who have a carry permit and think their gun is a magic talisman. 

- A very few (1 in 100,000 or fewer) will require that I have the odds in my favor. This mean my type of fight instead of your type. Being well-trained means I train in what you do to the extent that I can survive long enough to figure out if I'm in over my head and to be able to disengage or change the circumstances to favor me. And I know this person might do this, as well. So I train in mental exercises, so as to outsmart this type of person. If you are reading this, and thinking this is you... this is NOT you. 

- A very select few will overcome me, even if odds are in my favor. I will have to create another opportunity and take advantage of it. Good news - I likely know these people, or know of them. 

Because of the above, it makes things hard. 

- The typical person rarely thinks about defending themselves, much less others. 

- The exceptional person thinks about defending friends and family. 

- When I am in a position of responsibility, everyone in the church just became my ward. 

Also understand, safety and freedom are mutually exclusive. The more of one you have, the less of the other. The trick is to have the right balance. And be prepared for the enemy's most probable course of action (PCOA). 

All of this also means I know the probabilities. I am prepared to deal with a medical emergency more so than a physical one - because it is far more likely. 

All of this done with a smile, and without you even knowing who I am or what I'm doing. 

Evil Traffic Cameras

 Do speed cameras make us safer?

This author has worked in auto insurance since 2006, a total of 3 companies. Each of them has a surcharge for ZIP codes where traffic cameras exist. Usually a 25% - 35% surcharge. 

Why the increased premiums? Simple - the companies KNOW that the cameras actually cause more accidents than they prevent. 

People seeing a yellow light in a place that they know has a camera will instinctually slam on the brakes. To prevent getting the ticket.  Well, that may not have been the safest course of action.  Person behinds them collides and damage is done. 

Insurance companies know that there are more collisions in places with cameras.  The severity of the crashes is usually low. "Fender benders."

Also, in the linked video, Steve Lehto asks why the camera companies are overseas and not US companies.  This author would suggest that the companies know they would bear liability for the greater chance of fender benders.  Soon enough, they would be sued. 

Was It Rigged?

This past weekend was a big football game. There are a number of folks who point out it is a time of human trafficking. For years, this author has also pointed out that it is the most rigged sporting event to watch.

For those that confuse the two terms, fixing and rigging are similar, but are not the same. Fixing means making certain of a certain outcome. Pro Wrestling is fixed as the winners of the matches are pre-determined. Major sports championships are rigged, which means efforts are made to favor one over the other. 

Make no mistake, all major sporting championships are affected by rigging. In the Atlanta Braves recent World Series win, independent Umpire Auditors showed that of the Braves 16 postseason games, 13 were called in favor of Braves opponents, one was called fair, and two were in favor of the Braves. Also, over 70% of missed calls went in favor of the Braves' opponents. If this doesn't spell rigging to you, then the following phrase applies:
"I can only explain it to you, I cannot understand it for you."
Or...
"You can lead a horse to water..."

Back to the large football game. It was noted in a comment that the game was rigged. Others decided to post opinions that the NFL does not rig games, and that one had to have a low IQ to believe that they do.  So here is offered proof to the claim:

The NFL admits in court that it is "sports entertainment" (akin to pro wrestling), and not "competition."

Recently,  NFL coaches admit they were paid to throw games. 

How many more times must you see smoke and yet still believe there is no fire?

As the meme at the beginning says, it is not this author's way to argue with idiots on the internet. 

Enforcing Tyranny

As Canada moves into martial law via their "Emergencies Act," this post was found on social media.  There are a few takeaways here:

1. It is surprising that a conservative actually has the gumption to point this out.  Most are mindlessly bootlicking. 

2. Most police have already made up their mind.  They will follow orders.  They are specifically selected for their tendencies to do so regardless of what is right.  At least, this is how US Police are.  The presumption this author makes is that Canadian Police are selected in a substantially similar way. 

Thoughts?

Not The Real Cause

This gem on social media. Clearly, there are still people out there that believe most divorces are because men cheat. 

It has been said before, and it is worth saying again:
80% of divorces are initiated by the woman.
Of the remaining 20%, 80% of those are initiated by a man who was cheated on.
That's 96% of the time, the divorce is either instigated by, or the fault of, the wife.

Of the top 9 reasons women list for filing for divorce, a cheating husband is one of the reasons listed. Most sources put cheating husband at less than 10% of divorces.  Add in abuse, and the total that are the man's fault are about 12% - 15% of all divorces.

To correct the meme above, one might correctly say that a farm wife just doesn't have the time to imagine a reason to go to an attorney and get a divorce. 

The Science - February 2022

Being a clinician is NOT the same as being a scientist.  Or even scientifically sound, for that matter.

A reader of this blog directed me to a post online.  The post was made by a person who is an RN in a major metropolitan area.  Other posts by this person show she is definitely a left leaning individual. 

The OP detailed her sorrow at the admission of a COVID patient to the part of the hospital she worked in.  The patient was described as being 30, "in great shape," and a father and husband.  The accompanying picture was of a man in his early 30's and weighing an estimated 400+ pounds. 

The OP detailed that the patient's condition worsened rapidly. They put him on a ventilator and administered Remdesivir. She detailed that he had a problem with a blood clot in his heart that kept forming and re-forming. Eventually, the decision was made to mov him to another hospital. In the process of removing his one ventilator and putting him on a mobile ventilator, his lung and heart were punctured and he died of those injuries. 

She claimed his life was taken by COVID.

The OP had made the claim that the patient was not "vaccinated." She also claimed his wife was not "vaccinated," but she did not state how she came across that information.  The OP further stated that even after the patient's death, the wife stated she would not take the jabb. How she would have come across that conversation is not made clear, either... casting this whole part of the tale into doubt. 

But make no mistake, this man did not die of COVID. He was in the process of being killed by licensed drug dealers using Remdesivir. He was actually killed by medical malpractice during the intubation process. The OP's story tells that plainly, despite the fact that she misassigns the cause. 

This author maintains that the actual death count from COVID in the US is about 1/16 of what is being reported (as admitted to by the CDC).  This author makes an educated guess that 12/16 of the deaths are from Remdesivir, and the other 3/16 are deaths with COVID - not from COVID. 

Nurses are not scientists.
Medical Doctors are not scientists.

And the "science" is changing as midterm elections draw near. 

Thoughts On Ayoob's 5-Point Checklist

From a reader:

"Did you see Mas Ayoob's recent video about a 5 point checklist when speaking with the police after a self defense shooting? What do you think about that?"

Given the fact that I am answering on this blog, and have linked the video to the question above, the answer to the first questions is "yes, I saw it." The answer to the second question is more in-depth. 

Caveat

Mas Ayoob is one of the great expert witnesses of our time when it comes to use of force. His credentials when it comes to that are unparalleled. With all due respect, Mas giving legal advice for what to say to police would be akin to a self-defense firearms instructor teaching someone how to throw a punch for self defense, presuming said firearms instructor is not an instructor of unarmed self defense. While it is close, it is not his area of expertise. 

I will listen to what a criminal defense attorney says about the topic. 

For the record, Reid Henrichs of Valor Ridge taught a finger poke to the eye in Pistol Craft and gave the caveat that he was not qualified to teach that technique properly. I advised him that I was qualified to teach it properly and he had demonstrated the technique more than adequately. 

Breakdown:

* Mas opens by advising that the self defense shooter should be the one to call police and establish that you are the victim. 

Thoughts: This is 100% accurate the way he describes. 

* Point 1: Establish the active dynamic of what has happened. 

Thoughts: Yes, but more briefly than he indicates. Something along the lines of "he attacked me with a knife!" and shut up. 

* Pont 2: Indicate you will cooperate.

Thoughts: NO! If your attorney later advises you to exercise your 5th Amendment rights, the police or prosecutor will paint this as you being uncooperative, hence lying, hence untrustworthy, hence guilty!

* Point 3: Point out evidence.

Thoughts: NO! At best, this is unnecessary, and at worst it is evidence tampering. Let police do police work. 

* Point 4: Point out witnesses.

Thoughts: NO! Witnesses are horrible. They may get mad and paint you in a bad light. There is no way this helps you. At best, you break even. 

* Point 5: "Finally" Request an Attorney.

Thoughts: This should be part 2, and shut up. 

Yes, these are my opinions. 

No, I am not a lawyer, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn last night. 

No, this is not legal advice. 

Then why should you listen to these opinions?

My opinions mirror the opinions of Criminal Defense attorneys, much of which came from the following videos:

Marc Victor's Response Part 1

Marc Victor's Response Part 2

And the king of all "talking to police" videos:

Don't Talk to Police

This video should be mandatory high school curriculum. 

Thoughts?

Comms Plans

Over the years, a number of people have reached out to me and asked what kind of comms I suggest. Of course, the unwritten part of the request is "should SHTF." Most are shocked when I advocate for a decent pair of walkie-talkies from the local sporting goods stores. Many are even more shocked when I tell them it really isn't a financial decision, either. To be sure, a pair of handheld walkie talkies is not going to break the bank (most pairs sell for $50 - $75 these days). 

People ask: "but why do you not suggest (more) or (different)?"

Simple.

More Expensive Units Fail, Too.

I have been a part of a church security and safety team where we had $300+ units. They fail every bit as often as the $75 pairs do. And for the same reason. And they really do not offer any better earpieces or mics. And they have to be programmed. And while you can find someone who claims to be able to program them, actually getting that person to program them is... problematic. One time, offered $1000 cash for someone to do it over the next 4 weeks - all 6 who said they "could" backed out. So no, it is not a money or excessive expectation thing. I simply did not have time to become an expert in programming them myself. 

Less Expensive Units are Terrible

Countless friends have invested in Baofeng / Pofung technology. I have a few of these units, as well. There are two types of Baofeng users:

1. "My unit has never failed." This person has used the unit fewer than 20 times total and never outside. 

2. "If we have 20 perfectly functional Baofengs show up on a perfect weather training day, 5 will fail, and we won't know why. And 5 different ones will fail next week for equally mysterious reasons." 

So, if you are going to invest in Baofengs, make sure you and your squad are good at hand signals. 

And all of this assumes you know how to program them to start with. 

Ham radio is just plain out. 

No, I am not ham licensed. No, I am not going to become ham licensed. No, it does not offer any advantages. Ham operators have the highest percentage of insufferable twats among their ranks of any organized group I've ever come across. They will report you for breaking rules / the law. And the inconvenient truth of ham:

• The ONLY advantage to ham is the distance that "can" (not "will") be covered to communicate. However, this is not really an advantage. If I am on an operation, and need to communicate with someone, it is being broadcast for all to hear. 
• If the SHTF has not yet happened in full, then I cannot use coded language on the open channel. It is not permitted. 
• If the power is out, then ham is every bit as useless as any other form of wireless communication. 

Out Of Touch

Found online:
Person applying to jobs. Recruiter reaches out to the person.  Conversation ensues. During conversation, person points out they have applied to 9 positions over two months.  Recruiter becomes enraged and "advises" the person that they should not apply to more than 2 or 3 positions per month. 

Total insanity. 

The last 3 times I lost my job, I had 150 applications in by the end of the week.  Each time. 

Thoughts?

Logic Is Not On Their Side

Saw this posted some time back.  The irony is thick.

Everyone in the house except the child mentioned is jabbed to the max. Yet they got COVID.

The OP is jabbed and has had his booster and is still afraid he will get COVID. Therefore he stays in a hotel instead of at home.

He proves that the vaxx and the booster do not prevent you from getting COVID, yet he still (intensely) urges you to get the jabb.

These people do not have the intellectual capacity to understand that the vaxx doesn't work.  That is why they do not see the irony in their statements.

Updated Info On Masks

Well, well, well...

Seems that now there are now reports that wearing a mask is linked to a higher incidence of getting COVID. The researchers claim that it is because mask wearers are more likely to feel comfortable interacting with others. Not sure if they have seen the mask wearers where I live, because that certainly is not the case. 

Masks do not and did not work. 

Lockdowns do not and did not work. 

The death toll is as high as it is in the US because proper treatments were denied to patients. 

Remdesivir has killed more patients than COVID. 

You go ahead and put your faith in an ineffective jab, and I'll stick with the "horse paste."

"Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally."

Stupid Stuff in Hiring 2022

Recently came across two videos detailing "stupid stuff in hiring practices" as the YouTuber says.  I agree with his assessment. Here they are:

 VIDEO 1 

 VIDEO 2 

Here is the list of stupid things and commentary. 

1. Outdated applicant tracking system.
You should just upload a resume. No more.  These systems should have died 15 years ago.

2. Systems that require you to make an account.
I will not apply to these.  I'll find a person at the company to send an email to first.  That's only if I really would like the job.

3. Requiring a cover letter. 
I've sent like 4 or 5 all time.  Never do this. They don't even read them. 

4. Require specific industry experience.
This means they cannot teach you what they do.  Do you really want to work for an employer that doesn't know what they do?

5. Asking previous salary data.
In many places this is illegal. But I suggest you go with the flow.  But make sure to give them fake numbers.  Make sure to indicate you make 25% more than you really do.  Have phony documentation to show that pay range. 

6. Requiring references.
Oddly enough, I've given out references for folks three times in the past 8 months. And not that many times in the decade prior. 

7. Requiring more experience than necessary.
You know the drill - company wants a recent college graduate with 10 years experience in a technology that is 2 years old.  You think I'm kidding?

8. Requiring a degree when it really isn't necessary.
Agreed 1000%. The YouTuber suggests the degree is needed some 30% of the time and I agree with that analysis, as well.  He also throws shade on Enterprise Rent-A-Car, without saying their name. 

9. Low pay ranges.
Often goes hand in hand with unrealistic experience expectations, and several other points on this list. 

10. Employment ghosting.
From my experience, over 70% of employers do this to some extent.  Quit it!

11. Include a questionnaire at the interview level.
Don't play this game.  It's not the 1990's anymore. 

12. Assessments at the application level.
Same as number 11. 

13. One way interviews.
Tell me you are racist without saying "I am a racist POS."

14. Special Project.
Never work for free. If they want you to do something, reply with an affirmative, and list your freelance rate. This rate should be 60% higher than you expect to make in the position.  You also need to require a 50% deposit up front for the work. 



Thoughts?

No Money? No Car For You!

 A reader wrote in with a series of questions, the answers to which would make for interesting blog fodder. Apparently, the reader came across these questions by viewing Facebook and YouTube short videos, wherein a narrator reads these questions and the answers as posted on Reddit. Reddit can certainly be entertaining. 

Q - What was your best "you are speaking to the manager" moment?

For this entry, a moment from some time back. I was a manager for Hertz, Local Edition. On a particular day, I came to work in a t-shirt and blue jeans. We had a large number of vehicles returned, and although we would rent them over the next few days, they needed cleaning first. I was going to clean them and have the Management Trainees rent them. 

At one point, in the afternoon, I had cleaned all of the cars, and was resting inside the branch. A customer came in, and, as luck would have it, I was the only employee available. I apologized for my appearance, and went to work assisting her with the rental. Her card declined. She asked if there was another way to pay, and I explained the cash qualification process. She clearly did not have the cash for the rental... and now it somehow became my problem. She complained. I was empathetic, but if she had no funds, then renting a car was not going to happen. 

So, she asked to speak to a manager. 

I grabbed my magnetic name tag off of the counter, turned around and put it on, turned back to face her, and with a shit-eating grin asked "Hi, how may I help you?" 

The look on her face was priceless. 

She left.