"AARP Tablets: Tech to Connect" - Review

"AARP Tablets: Tech to Connect" is a good resource for seniors wanting to learn more about tablet computing. This will not be very useful to those that have any hands on experience with tablets, but they are not the target audience for this straight forward guide. My mother has recently hinted at wanting a Kindle Fire or an iPad. I love my mother very much but this scares me to death considering the difficulties experienced walking her through simple PC issues, so thought this might be the right choice to see if she would be able to master one. The book is well written and is informative without resorting to a lot of overwhelming jargon. I liked the format and step-by-step approach which clearly explains tablets and their uses. The text is somewhat smaller than expected, but not so much as to be problematic with aid of good reading glasses. This book hasn't changed my mother's mind about wanting a tablet but it has convinced me that at least I might not be tied to the phone being her "tech support". Recommended! CFH

"The TEOTWAWKI Tuxedo: Formal Survival Attire" - Review

"The TEOTWAWKI Tuxedo: Formal Survival Attire" is geared towards those that are new to prepping and don't have military experience using the MOLLE (Modular Lightweigh Load-carring Equipment) system. Those that have been prepping of awhile, used MOLLE or ALICE (All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carry Equipment) packs in the past, or experienced backpackers/campers will likely not need much of the information presented in this book. That being said, if you are new disaster readiness planning and are considering a "bug out" strategy this is a very good starting point. The author is clearly experienced in using survival gear and planning for the worst, which manifests in a straight forward and realistic approach to dealing with the issue of carrying all of the equipment you might require in an TEOTWAEKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) situation. Actually, the author makes a good point that much of this prepping and planning has dual use in camping and hiking excursions, as well as for being ready to deal with localized disasters (hurricanes, flooding, blizzards, earthquakes, riots, etc). As noted above, the core item to being mobile with all of your gear is the MOLLE system. This is the system used by the military for soldiers in the field and it is very versatile and easily customized to address specific needs. Examples of these are VISM by NcStar Molle Pals Vest and Official US Military Molle II Army FLC Fighting Tactical Assault Vest Carrier (I haven't tried either of these since mine came from a "surplus" store). Once you understand the usefulness of MOLLE, the book covers configuring the system for specific uses, training advise once it is loaded up, and some basic care tips. The next section covers specific BOB (Bug Out Bag) items to include, such as how to stock a medical kit, clothing considerations, and basic daily needs. The final sections on weapons, optics, and body armor might not be critical to everyone's plans and are a little light on specific details, but they do provide a good starting point and food for thought for additional research. There are several illustrations and Black and White photos of varying quality, from very fuzzy to very useful, and this is the only area that could really use cleaning up in the next release of the book. As a beginner's guide, it is well worth the investment if you are looking for basic information presented in an easy to follow format. Recommended, with the caveats above. CFH

Been Gone For Awhile

Wow, I have let this go for quite some time since my creative outlet is on Amazon.com (currently ranked #8) and Rec.fm (currently ranked #2). Will likely pick this back up in the near future...