Fire Safety

I finally made it to Regina this past summer – the last of the Canadian cities for me to visit. Even though Regina is a prairie city, it’s green and lush thanks to 350,000 hand-planted trees. With truly fabulous restaurants, a passionate fan base for the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team and one of the largest urban parks in North America, I’d certainly recommend a visit.

Here’s what you can do in the city- 8 Awesome Things to do in Regina Right Now

Enjoy these 29 fun and interesting facts about Regina

1. Regina became the capital of Saskatchewan in 1905. 

2. Regina started off as a hunters’ camp in the 1880’s. Back when the buffalo still roamed the prairies it was called Pile O’Bones for all the bones left there after skinning and cutting buffalo.

3. Regina is the 16th largest city in Canada. The population of Regina as of July 1, 2018 was 257,337 people – according to Statistics Canada. Its growth rate is about 2.2%. Of that 14% are 65 years or older. Eighteen percent of the population is under 15 years of age.

4. Regina sits at an elevation of 577 metres above sea level. It’s mostly flat with a maximum elevation change of just 43 feet within 3.2 km of Regina.

5. Regina is the closest city to the centre of North America.

Business facts related to Regina

6. Of the top 500 corporations by revenue in Canada, five are headquartered in Regina. They include Crown Investments Corp. of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board, the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation.

Weather in Regina

7. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Regina was 43.3°C on July 5, 1937.

8. Regina usually endures 201 days a year when the minimum temperature is at 0 °C or below. 

9. The length of the day in Regina is highly variable. On the summer solstice Regina gets 16 hours, 27 minutes of daylight. On the shortest day of the year it gets 8 hours of daylight. 

10. In Regina – and all of Saskatchewan daylight savings time is not observed.

11. The earliest sunrise is 4:46 AM on June 17th. The earliest sunset is 4:54 PM on December 12.

12. Canada’s deadliest tornado spinning at a speed of 400 km/hour occurred in Regina on June 30th, 1912. It killed 28 people and destroyed a lot of the town. In fact it took two solid years to make all the repairs but 40 years to pay it off.

RCMP Depot Division

13. Every last one of Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police have undergone a rigorous six-month training program at Regina’s RCMP Depot. They’ve been doing it in Regina since 1885. Take a tour to learn what it takes to become a Mountie.

14. Louis Riel was hanged for treason on November 16, 1885 at the North-West Mounted Police barracks in Regina. 

15. The longest running historical theatre production in North America – the Trial of Louis Riel is reenacted every summer in Regina by local performers. The play, written in 1967, is based on the original transcript from the trial of 1885. 

The not so great Regina History

16. The first Gay Pride Parade in Regina was held in 1990. You could still discriminate against somebody in Canada for their sexuality so parade participants covered their faces with masks to avoid detection.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

17. Regina is synonymous with football. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a good team but their fans, Rider Nation are tops. In fact of all Canadian sports teams including hockey, the Roughriders have the third highest merchandise sales. At a roughriders football game you can expect to see fans sporting real watermelon helmets and pilsner beer capes.

Wascana Centre

18. Regina’s Wascana Centre, built around Wascana Lake is huge, as in bigger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park and New York City’s Central Park combined.

19. Wascana Lake was created in 1883 by damming Wascana Creek.

20. In 1961, Minoru Yamasaki, the architect who designed the original World Trade Center in New York City, was commissioned to prepare a 100-year master plan for all of Wascana Centre.  

21. At the western edge of Wascana Lake look for Albert Street Memorial Bridge. It’s the longest bridge over the shortest span of water in the world. 

22. Wascana Park provides free grain to feed the birds. Head for the Waterfowl Display Ponds across from the Conexus Arts Centre. Feed Stella the swan along with huge numbers of Canada geese and ducks. You are encouraged to bring leafy greens for the birds but not bread as it isn’t good for them.

23. Wascana Lake beckons outdoorsy types. You can rent kayaks and SUP’s and explore the lake on one of Regina’s numerous sunny days.

The Saskatchewan Legislative Building

24. The beautiful Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina cost 1.75 million US dollars to build. It was built in the Beaux Art style over four years beginning in 1908. In 2005 the legislative building and its grounds were designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Tours focusing on the history and architecture of the building take place seven days a week. You can get more information here.

25. Thomas Walter Scott, whose statue is on the grounds, was the first premier of Saskatchewan with his term running from 1905-1916. 

25. The Queen Elizabeth II Gardens offer gorgeous flower displays during the spring and summer. Every year approximately 25,000 annuals are planted in the garden. The rest of the Legislature grounds aren’t forgotten. Another 5,000 flowers are planted throughout the grounds. It’s really a beautiful sight.

The Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina

26. I stayed at the lovely Hotel Saskatchewan on my visit but not in the bullet proof Royal Suite. Famous guests include Queen Elizabeth II, Paul McCartney, Bill Clinton and Jon Bon Jovi.

27. Every day at 5 PM in the well-appointed lobby bar in the Hotel Saskatchewan you can get a taste of what it was like to be naughty back in the time of American Prohibition. Listen for the bell followed by a toast. Then its shots of whiskey all-round. If you order their Prohibition Tea you’ll get a boozy drink that looks like tea served in a proper teacup like your grandmother had. 

Famous people from Regina

28. Some of the famous people from Regina include Erik Nielsen (lawyer and politician), Ralph Goodale (lawyer and politician), Jordan Eberle (NHL hockey all-star), Julia Voth (actress & model), Justin Warsylewicz )Olympic speed skating silver medalist), Lucas Markian Makowsky (Olympic speed skating gold medalist), Ryan Getzlaf (NHL hockey all-star), Ben Hebert (Olympic curling gold medalist), Atina Ford, Olympic curling gold medalist (born Oct. 12, 1971), Mark McMorris (X-Games snowboarding champion) and Leslie Nielsen (a Canadian- American actor).

Universities in Regina

29. The First Nations University of Canada, specializing in indigenous knowledge is located in Regina. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike can attend the university.

Other post-secondary institutions include the University of Regina, Graduate School of Public Policy University of Regina, Western Christian College, Campion College and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Wascana.

Further reading on Canada and Saskatchewan

• 145 Weird, fun and interesting facts about Canada
• 12 Fun and Unique Places to Visit in Saskatchewan
• 25 Fun, Weird and Interesting Facts About Saskatoon
• 6 Fun Things to do in Saskatoon in Summer

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

 

The post 29 Fun and Interesting Facts about Regina appeared first on Hike Bike Travel.

Source: Eco Business

14 minute Tour of Fabtech expo 2019

Like most of you, I want to be prepared and self-sufficient. I believe my safety is my responsibility. If you rely on someone else, chances are you will be disappointed. 

By J. Bridger, contributing author to SHTFblog and Survival Cache

I like knowing I can step into my vehicle and comfortably get by for a day or two with what I have stowed away. I have toyed with the concept of a truck gun. I like the idea but can’t stomach the thought of someone stealing it and committing a crime. When I have the funds to spend on securing a firearm in my vehicle and live in a less populated area, I will reconsider it. For now, it’s a bad idea for me. Here’s a look at what I keep in my truck/BOV in case I have an emergency away from home. 

In the cab:

Leather gloves

Blaze Defense fire extinguisher 

MTE M3-2I 1200 Lumen Flashlight

Trauma Kit, with spare CAT tourniquet in glove box

I never realized how often vehicles caught fire until I was on the fire department. We had a small stretch of the turnpike in our district, and we received weekly calls for vehicle fires. They were always a total loss. I’m probably biased because of this, but I don’t care. I keep a small BDS40 extinguisher from Blaze Defense Systems in the cab with me. The idea was if my truck caught fire, maybe I could knock it down just a hair so I could get my 10# extinguisher from the toolbox. If I didn’t catch it right away, I’d have no chance. It gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling I like so much.

Also Read: The Individual Trauma Kit/IFAK

The gloves and flashlight speak for themselves. They come in handy all the time. I really like the MTE flashlights. Greg McGee Engineering makes a hell of a product. They’re well made, bright, and aren’t priced sky high. If you need a no bullshit flashlight but don’t want to pay $300 for a name, check these guys out. I have two of their tough-as-nails 1,200 lumen lights. They have a low mode for changing tires, checking your oil, and close up work. They have a medium mode, and a high mode. The high mode throws a good beam, perfect for seeing what the dogs are barking at in the pasture in the middle of the night. They have a strobe and SOS setting, and you have the option of getting rechargeable batteries and a charger. 

In the toolbox:

6L MSR dram

10# Fire extinguisher (I got this for free, or I wouldn’t carry one)

Shovel 

Tow strap

Jumper cables

6×10 tarp

Cheap rope and good rope

Ratcheting straps 

Small tools: pliers, fuses, zip ties, screw drivers, bolt cutters. 

I keep an MSR 6 Liter dram in the tool box, since I call the desert home now. I’ve been glad I had it on several overnight trips where I misjudged how much water I would need. The 6L MSR dromedary bag is tough, and I like the different options you have on the cap. The tarp, cheap rope, and ratcheting straps I keep for securing loads of furniture, branches, or whatever else I happen to be moving. I keep jumper cables, tow strap, and a shovel to get me out of jams. I used to have a chain, but damn, it was heavy. The tow strap is longer, lighter, and is rated at a higher breaking strength (to my surprise). You should always have a spare tire and a decent jack. I wanted an off-road high-lift jack, but there didn’t seem to be any good lift points I could get to on my truck. A small gas can, and a quart of oil would be handy. I keep bolt cutters for obvious reasons. Next time you’re on a turnpike or interstate highway, look for an emergency path off the pavement. I bet you will find that you are fenced in. 

Listen! The Survival Cache Podcast – Flashlights

In the Get Home Bag: 

GoRuck Rucker

Therm-A-Rest Z-lite, Poncho liner, Hennessy tarp

2 pairs wool socks, Dragonwear beanie, Mechanix gloves

Compression Bandage, CAT TQ, H&H Z-fold gauze, moleskin

Morakniv, multitool

Nalgene, water tabs, Sawyer Mini water filter, steel cup, electrolyte tablets

Emergency food bar

Matches, SOL bivyy, paracord, signal mirror

Surefire, batteries

Spork, Bic lighter

Contractor bag

RSDL sponge, KI tablets, RAD dosimeter 

 

When I upgraded my hiking kit to lighter and better gear, a lot of it went here. The mindset for this bag is I may need to spend a night or two near my truck and take the Chevro-legs home. It’s not set up for super cold weather, but it’ll get me by in the springtime or early fall. I keep it in a GoRuck Rucker. There are better bags, certainly for the money. This bag was expensive as shit, but it’s tough and I like the size. It won’t go belly up on me when I need it. It fits perfectly behind a truck seat or under a plane seat. A light and warm sleeping pad, poncho liner, SOL bivvy, and tarp will keep me protected enough from the elements. Without a sleeping pad, the ground sucks the heat out of you. A contractor bag will keep my kit (or me!) dry in a rainstorm, should I be caught with my pants down. I have the tools I need to collect and treat water and enough calories to get me by. I’ve got the bare minimum medical equipment, and some moleskin to treat blisters. I come from a farming community with a lot of organophosphate use, so I pack an RSDL sponge. (You know the signs and symptoms of organophosphate or nerve gas poisoning, don’t you? It overwhelms your parasympathetic (Rest and Digest) nervous system. SLUDGEM: Salivation, Lacrimation (tearing), Urination, Defecation, GI distress, Emesis (Vomiting), and Miosis (pinpoint pupils)).  I keep KI tablets and a wallet dosimeter just in case Fukushima 2.0 happens. It’s cheap insurance.

 

I struggle to straddle the line between prepared and hopeful hoarding. I can’t stand clutter and extra crap I don’t use. This kit changes all the time. If you have any ideas or advice, let me know! What’s in your Vehicle EDC? 

Man is a social being, no man is an island… we hear these phrases so often in this life. There is no society more complex than that of humans because surviving is not only about preserving one’s own life, but protecting those around us. Of course, there are those extremists who tend to be antisocial loners, but for the most part we have a desire and need to surround ourselves with other people, even in survival situations. Our chances for surviving increase when we are part of a group. Being part of a group means that that we can give and receive protection and help in the most desperate of times.

Surviving Alone: Is It Possible?

Being part of a group enhances the chances of survival for each member. The group supports the individual and the individual supports the group. As individuals work together to gather food and other resources, hunt or build shelter, each member benefits from the combined manpower. Defending a home or bug out location becomes easier. Life outside the comforts of the home would definitely demand a lot of work every day, and a group can help everyone reach their survival goals.

When it comes to surviving in a SHTF situation, it can be tempting to break off from the pack and fend for yourself. But is this your best bet for survival?

Click here for the full post.

The “Lone Wolf” mentality will get you killed

Arm chair warriors are a dime-a-dozen.  For many years I have seen this in martial arts discussions, tactical shooting discussions and now in survival discussions.  It seems that there is a relatively low percentage of the population that thinks that if the ship-hits-the-sand so to speak, that they are going to go-it alone and survive off the land.

Forgive me for being blunt here.  If you are one of those people I want to thank you right now.  When you die after a couple of months (probably less) of that lone wolf mentality there will be more resources for me and mine.  Seriously, thank you.

There is a fringe group of people out there who think they will just up and leave and make it on their own.  Some of the obvious points that are not considered when thinking you will be able to accomplish this are:

1.  Have you ever done this before and for how long?  If you have never engaged in long term (months long) trips into the wild subsisting on what you gather, forage, trap and hunt.  Then you are not going to make it unless there is a huge amount of luck on your side.  For me personally, I do not believe in luck, blessings yes, but luck, no.

2. What happened to the people you left behind?  So lets say you are the average family man, who has a job, its labor intensive, you work hard, real hard.  You spend a great deal of time each day working in all sorts of weather, etc.  You are tough, there is no doubt about it.  For some reason you think that translates into you being able to hack your way into the wilderness.  Whether that wilderness is trees or buildings is inconsequential here.  In your mind, you can make it.  But what about your family, friends, etc.  Are you simply going to walk away from them.  Do you for some reason think you are going to kill big game and drag it back to the house for them?  When was the last time you drug a deer that far?

via The “Lone Wolf” mentality will get you killed – Dan’s Survival Depot.

Of course there is always a chance that you will end up when SHTF. But you should still plan and strive for survival in a group. Having other people around will greatly increase your chances of surviving, for so many reasons.

Reality can be cruel, but you can at least hope to still have your family with you when it goes down. Having a group around to help and support you can be a source of strength in a survival situation. All of the difficulties are easier to deal with when you have other people to rely on. Living alone can elicit feelings of isolation and can lead to depression. Surviving together with those you love is not an added complication, but a blessing.

Check out related articles from our site:

How To Test Your Family’s Survival Skills

The Psychology of Survival – Why Your Mind Matters Most

16 Creature Comforts For When You Need To Hunker Down

New footwear include insoles to provide a little cushion and to pad your feet from seams and stitching in the shoe. Factory insoles are typically thin, low-quality pads that quickly deform and wear through, and are either glued in with a couple spots of adhesive or just slipped in after assembly. They provide very minimal benefits, and pretty much everyone recommends replacing them.


Pre-customized 6mm 3-color Northsole insoles

Always ready to experiment and learn about better, cheaper, lighter, or just plain different ways to do things, I got NorthSole to let me give their new insoles a try. My only compensation is receiving their Bundle Pack at no charge to test.

NorthSole is a Minnetonka, MN company so I’m really interested in seeing what a local company offers and see if it matches up to big, national brand products.

Features:
Aftermarket insoles range from $10 to over $100 and are marketed to perform a wide range tasks, from providing cushion to correcting foot problems.

These are NOT corrective inserts for any foot structural problems, arch support, plantar fasciitis, or supination/ovepronation challenges. These insoles are to provide comfort and a more enjoyable time on trail.

Northsoles are non-contoured so they provide benefits in minimalist no-drop shoes. This means they have no arch support or heel raise. This allows your foot to work they way it should rather than rely on external support. Some people need additional support, but I feel a medical or physical therapy professional should be consulted before modifying your foot support.

The insoles are made of three colorful layers. A black top layer gives your feet a bit of moisture wicking, grip, and softness. It is bound to a soft pink center layer that minimizes pressure points by forming to your foot. The bottom firm blue layer is mainly for shock reduction and durability. When you squeeze the northsoles, you can see the blue layer compresses much less than the pink.

Care:
Remove the Northsoles to air out and dry both the insole and shoe. Handwash occasionally to get rid of dirt and salt build-up.


Old insole traced onto Northsole for cutting

My Experience:
I believe there is a trade off between cushioning and effort. Walking on the beach is an example.

Dry sand is very comfortable and absorbs any shock from stepping, but it takes much more effort to walk through than does wet sand. Wet sand is packed and firm. You can run on it easily but there is more jarring to your legs.

Insoles are similar. A thick cushion absorbs impact and requires more energy to walk. But, the extra comfort may be worth that loss in efficiency. Barefoot directly on the ground would be most efficient, but also too uncomfortable for most people to endure.

So, I like enough cushion to be comfortable, but thin enough to be efficient. Being able to feel the ground contour through my shoes is also a plus in my book – that’s why I seldom wear thick-soled hiking boots.

I’ve now worn these Northsoles on my morning hikes and jogs for the past 3 weeks, more than 80 miles so far. They’re a little dirty, but there’s no visible wear so I expect they should last at least 500 miles.

For a bit more experimenting, I put my old factory insoles back in yesterday to see how they felt. After my 6 mile morning hike, some of my toes felt sore – not skin tender, but more like muscle sore. It was 31 degrees, so it could have been the cold. So, this morning with the temperature 28 degrees, I put the NorthSoles back in. After another 6 miles, my feet and toes felt fine. From that, I’ll say the NorthSoles make my feet feel better.


Customized Northsoles for correct fit

The NorthSoles were simple to start using. I slipped out the insoles from my shoes, traced their silhouette on the NorthSoles, cut them out, and slipped the NorthSoles into my shoes. Easy peasy. They fit fine and felt fine.

No complaints. But, they do cost $30 for a pair of 6mm, $25 for 3mm, or $50 for a 2-pack of the 6mm and 3mm. Prices include shipping in USA.

They come in S, M, L, and XL sizes that you trim to match your factory insole size. My size 13 factory insole just barely fit on their XL insole, so you might consider ordering a size up. But, when I let John at Northsole know, he said they’d be increasing the sizes a bit.


My factory insoles weighed 1.2 ounces for the pair (but they’re junk). The 3mm NorthSoles weigh 2.0 ounces. The 6mm Northsoles weigh 3.3 ounces. I’m adding about 1 ounce per shoe by using the thicker pair. An ounce is less than 10% of most hiking shoes, but it’s still extra weight. It’s the old comfort vs. weight decision and, in this case, I think the comfort is definitely worth the weight.

Maybe they’d make a good stocking stuffer for someone you know – go to NorthSole to purchase direct from John in Minnesota.

Now, don’t get me started about ‘ankle support’ from hiking boots over lightweight shoes – that’s for another post.

Hike On!

My trip through Germany started at Perl where I had already passed through on my previous European traverse. But this time all the supermarkets were closed … Next morning brought me to the famous Saar Bow, a 180 degree turn in the river – a spectacular view and therefore incredibly crowded with tourists. But as soon as I hiked on I was almost alone again in the forest – at least until arriving in Mettlach with the famous porcelain factory of Villeroy & Boch. I could not resist and visited the museum and showroom. Being an ultralight hiker I was at least not tempted to buy anything …

Camping turned into a bit of a problem that night
because the only small forest was located on a hill too steep for camping. And right on top were there was supposed to be a look out tower according to my map there was now cell phone tower with fences around the whole area. Luckily I found a flat spot right before sunset which was fairly quiet – until I realised that I was camped just a couple of hundred metres away from the church tower with the clock striking every quarter hour until 10 pm. And of course I was woken up in the morning with church bells as well. But the day took a very nice turn because my next rest day was coming up and I had been invited to stay with a fan of my books in Dillingen.

Getting there took me to Litermont mountain with a wonderful view. I could even see the smoke stacks of the steel works in the distance. Dillingen was not directly on my route and therefore I took the bus to get to my host. As she was working in the afternoon I used the spare time to visit an old steel work in Völklingen which had been turned into a UNESCO world heritage site. The area was huge and I could have spent an entire day there taking pictures, learning about steel making and seeing all the art and photography exhibitions. My host even picked me up by car. I did not see much of Dillingen because I was so happy to just lie in bed the entire day and use the internet!

Hiking on I realised that this was not exactly the most scenic part of Saarland. The trail was ok but I was always close to civilisation and continously trying to find a campsite that was out of earshot of the various motorways. One evening I was so happy to find a spot out of sight that it took my a while to figure out that I was trying to camp on top of an old bunker! It was impossible to get my tent pegs in because underneath a very thin layer of earth I hit concrete. It felt a bit bizarre to camp so close to a WW II site but I had no other choice – and I slept well.The Saar-Mosel-Weg even took me right through a university campus where I used the change to charge up my cell phone.

I must say that Saarland was a bit of a disappointment although I had probably just chosen the wrong trail that led my through a very populated area.

Selecting the right home defense weapon can be confusing. We’ll elaborate on how they are effective as a home defense weapon, and what upgrades can be applied to them for improving their performance.

You’re reading How to Properly Select and Outfit a Home Defense Weapon (Guest Post), originally posted at Graywolf Survival – Emergency preparedness from a Counterintelligence Agent by Graywolf.

Seasons Beatings: Over 1,000 Urban Teens Riot/Fight in New York Mall

In yet the latest pre-planned riot spread via social media, over 1,000 teens stormed Queens Center mall causing chaos and attacking other shoppers. […]

This Article Seasons Beatings: Over 1,000 Urban Teens Riot/Fight in New York Mall is an original article from OFFGRID Survival If it is appearing on any other site but OFFGRID Survival, that site does not have our permission to use our copyrighted content!

The cap rate in real estate (or ‘capitalization rate’) is a core concept when it comes to commercial real estate. But despite this, the term itself is misunderstood by many, and sometimes used incorrectly...

The post Everything You Should Know About Cap Rate in Real Estate appeared first on The Homestead Survival.