A Quick Run Around the Web--November 12, 2015

"Fairy Kingdom"--inside the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes, Germany

• "Review: Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener, Ken Onion Edition"--The Truth About Knives. I have the standard version, and really like it.
• "Average Gun Owner Now Owns 8 Firearms"--The Firearms Blog. Is that all?
• "Guns for Beginners: Move THEN Shoot"--The Truth About Guns. "... moving is your first priority in a self-defense situation."
• "Gun for Beginners: The Totality of Circumstances, Reasonable Person Standard"--The Truth About Guns. "Generally speaking, you can threaten or use lethal force when you or other innocent life face an imminent, credible threat of death or grievous bodily harm. 'Death' is death. 'Grievous bodily harm' means serious injury; not a slap in the face." The article goes on to discuss the concepts of "imminent," "credible", and the "reasonable man" standards. 

While I think it's a good article, you need to realize that the author is just giving you a quick overview of the legal standards for self-defense, and barely scratching the surface at that. Moreover, the legal standards can vary from one jurisdiction to another. Just as an example, in evaluating whether or not there is an imminent, credible threat, and whether you acted reasonably in self-defense, there may be consideration of whether you should have retreated from the threat or danger. Some states do not require you to retreat in the face of any threat (i.e., "stand your ground"); other states may require you to retreat unless it is not possible to do so safely; some states only allow you to "stand your ground" inside your own home; and there was one jurisdiction  (Massachusetts, I believe) that, for a short time, even required you to retreat or evacuate from your own home. So, it is important to learn the laws of your state or local jurisdiction as to self-defense. There are also some very good books on the general principles of use of force law. I would recommend Massad Ayoob's In the Gravest Extreme or The Truth About Self Protection. Remember, your actions are going to be judged in retrospect by a prosecutor/district attorney (who will decide whether to bring charges or seek an indictment from a grand jury), a judge (as to whether you even get to raise self protection as a defense) and a jury (who will determine whether your use of force was justified, including whether you acted reasonably).

• "7 Reasons I Don’t Like The MP-44 Sturmgewehr"--The Firearms Blog. The author raises some interesting points, but essentially it boils down to that the Stg 44 was not as ground-breaking and influential in reality as believed in the popular imagination.
• "Students across U.S. march over debt, free public college"--Reuters. "Students held rallies on college campuses across the United States on Thursday to protest ballooning student loan debt for higher education and rally for tuition-free public colleges and a minimum wage hike for campus workers."
• "Egyptian jet crash investigators uncover intelligence about 'two-hour timer' as they analyse theory bomb was planted near the fuel line to cover up explosives"--Daily Mail.
• "THIRD mystery 'Death Star' space ball to crash into Spanish village sparks terror among locals as mayor demands authorities explain what they are"--Daily Mail.
• "EU flag burned as tens of thousands join Warsaw nationalist demo"--The Telegraph. Apparently quite a few Pols believe that their capitol should be Warsaw, not Brussels.
• The release of the Fallout 4 video game has prompted some articles on surviving a nuclear attack:

• "How to survive a nuclear fallout: Experts reveal the basics of living in a world riddled with radiation and the simple way to tell if you've been exposed"--Daily Mail.
• "How To Survive The Nuclear Apocalypse"--Men's Health.
• "Here's what would actually happen in a nuclear apocalypse"--The Short List.
• "How to Survive a Nuclear Attack"--Coach Magazine.

• Some other sources of information:

• Nuclear War Survival Skills. Read online.
• "Nuclear Attack Fact Sheet" (PDF)--Dept. of Homeland Security.
• "What if it happened again? What we need to do to prepare for a nuclear event"--The Conversation.
• "Nuclear Blast"--Ready.gov. 
• "Where To Hide If A Nuclear Bomb Is Dropped On Your City"--Business Insider.
• "Scientist Calculates How To Survive First 30 Minutes of Nuclear War"--Gizmodo. 
• "How to survive a nuclear bomb every day of your life: Review of 'Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War' by Susan Southard"--Washington Post.
• How To Survive The Next Nuclear Attack (PDF)--National Liberty Alliance. 
• And, last, but not least, Bruce Clayton's classic work, Life After Doomsday (PDF). 

•  Related:

• "The fuel for a nuclear bomb is in the hands of an unknown black marketeer from Russia, U.S. officials say"--Center for Public Integrity.
• "Russian TV accidentally broadcasts top secret plans for the Kremlin's new nuclear torpedoes intended to create 'zones of extensive radioactive contamination'"--Daily Mail.