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Why Physical Security?

Tools of the trade. Lock picks and bypass tools for non-destructive entry. Learn the skills. Gain the knowledge. Expand your horizons.

I have often been asked why do I study physical security, locks, lock picking, etc?  It’s usually followed by accusations of either teaching others to be criminals or being a criminal myself.  The only thing criminal about me is the wage I get paid by my employer for the crap I have to deal with.  Aside from that, I find it fun, fascinating and I happen to be pretty decent at it.

Several of the negative interactions have, sadly, been with police officers who mention the points above and question the legalities of tool ownership.  When I offer to them how it would save time, money and headache if they could do a welfare check without destroying a window or door, they suddenly have a different perspective.  It’s a useful skill.  Period.  And if it is used within the proper LEGAL parameters, a very useful one too.  It can even be fun, as there are hobbyist groups – such as The Open Organization Of Lockpickers aka TOOOL (https://toool.us ) – who look at all aspects of locks and even hold international competitions.  On an extreme scale in a time of crisis, what you may need to save a life, either your own or someone else, may be on the other side of a lock.  In such extreme circumstances I’d sooner have the option to access said item than not.

When the heart medication is locked away and no one can find the key. Good thing you can pick the lock and save a life. Or can you? Did you learn before it happened?

I have used my skills in a variety of situations (all legally, of course) to help people into their locked cars (while running with keys inside), being locked out of their houses, freeing their bikes, opening various padlocks and even rescuing stuff from desks, safes, etc.  Those looking to go into law enforcement, security, military, intelligence, investigations (public or private), architecture, locksmithing, transportation or even property management can all gain from learning more about their physical security.  Even to better secure your home or business from potential break-ins.

Like so many other skill sets and abilities, it is the user who wields that knowledge for good or evil.  Knowledge of martial sciences can be applied to harm or defend from harm.  Medical knowledge can be used to again, harm or heal.  Criminals don’t care for the integrity of your front door lock or back window if they are going to rob you.  Locksmiths, law enforcement, security testers and even hobbyists do.  For various reasons, non-destructive bypass of security is a useful tool for even the average home or business owner so that they can make sound decisions for their own safety and to identify the gaps in their security picture.

How difficult is your home to break in to? Are you doing the best you can to deter unwanted access?

Through my years of Government and Security work, the more I learn about the weaknesses in security and physical security specifically, the more effective I have grown to become at evaluating my own personal security picture and that of those who have engaged my services for the same.

If your home or business is protected by bottom-budget hardware and little-to-no planning, you might want to think about taking the step to invest in some education and training and up your security game.

If you’re in the Toronto area in May and wish to take a full-spectrum learning opportunity, come join us for Covert Entry Concepts and even add-on the Safe Dial Mechanics.  It’ll open your eyes to the world around you.

Remember, locks only keep honest people honest.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

COVERT ENTRY CONCEPTS flyer_May 2018

SAFE DIAL MECHANICS flyer_May 2018

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Training Opportunity in Toronto – Safe Dial Mechanics – 14 & 15 May, 2018

For the FIRST time in Canada….

The CORE Group

Safe Dial Mechanics – 1st Canadian Offering!

This course will teach Law Enforcement Personnel, Special Operations Forces, and Government employees and security professionals the principles of safe dial mechanics.

This course is basically two courses in one. Day 1 you will learn everything you need to know to install, dial, open, change the combination, diagnose and troubleshoot UL Group 2 mechanical combination locks. By the end of the day you will be able to completely disassemble and reassemble most mechanical dials in use today. Some non-invasive covert methods will also be discussed.

Day 2 we will teach you how to use the design flaws in mechanical combination locks to manipulate the wheels and components to obtain a locks combination while opening the locking mechanism. All mechanical locks have factory defects, known as tolerances, which allows them to be manipulated.

This is a non-invasive method for obtaining access to a safe as well as retrieve the combination. Since the techniques taught in this class are largely nondestructive, agencies will also benefit by having a decrease in costs and civil actions due to property damage.

The cost of the course is $510 CAD with a $200 deposit required to hold your place.  If taken with Covert Entry Concepts, the cost is $1150 for both.

Equipment:

There may be an opportunity to purchase specialized equipment during this course. Details to follow in the logistics e-mail which will be sent out to attendees.

Logistics:

A logistics e-mail will be sent out to attendees separately prior to course.

 

E-mail us at:

[email protected]

For more information and payment instructions.

***SEE FLYER LINK AT BOTTOM***

Course Schedule is:

Mon May 14: 0800hrs – 1700hrs

Tues May 15: 0800hrs – 1700hrs

***Mon & Tues breakfasts, coffee and snacks included.

This course is being offered by The CORE Group      (www.enterthecore.net) , facilitated, supported and sponsored by True North Tradecraft (www.truenorthtradecraft.ca).

SAFE DIAL MECHANICS flyer_May 2018

 

DISCLAIMER:  *Nothing in the course offering is intended to be used for unlawful purposes.  Consult with your local laws prior to employing these techniques in the field.  This is intended for lawful use ONLY.  True North Tradecraft and its partners do not condone or advocate illegal activities.*

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Training Opportunity in Toronto – Covert Entry Concepts – May 12 &13, 2018

Back by popular demand and exclusive in Canada…

The CORE Group

Covert Entry Concepts – Only Canadian Offering!
This course will teach Law Enforcement Personnel, Special Operations Forces, and Government employees and security professionals the principles of lock bypassing and making covert entries into buildings or properties.

This class is entirely hands on. From the moment you enter the course you will have tools in your hand and are working to exploit various locking mechanisms. Students will learn to recognize the vulnerabilities in existing hardware, how they are attacked, or sometimes even bypassed entirely. You’ll walk away with the skills needed to compromise most of the locks used in North America today. Students will be much better positioned to provide service in a variety of tactical areas: check welfare calls, search and arrest warrant service, establishing sniper positions, sneak and peak operations, surveillance operations, fire safe opening, and breaking and entering investigations.

Since the techniques taught in this class are largely nondestructive, agencies will also benefit by having a decrease in civil actions due to property damage.

The cost of the course is $865 CAD with a $200 deposit required to hold your place.  If taken with Safe Dial Mechanics, the cost is $1150 for both.

E-mail us at:

[email protected]

for more information and payment instructions.

(***See link to flyer at bottom***)

 

Schedule is:

Sat May 12: 0800hrs -late (dinner and a appropriately-themed movie to end the evening)

Sun July 30: 0800hrs – 1700hrs

Included Equipment:

Included in the cost of the course is a comprehensive set of high quality tools that you can use on the job or practice at home to maintain the skills you’ll build in class.
• High Quality 12 Piece Pick Set
• Set of covert jigglers
• Set of warded picks
• Bump Hammer
• Bump keys
• An e-z decoder
• Underdoor tool

***Team dinner scheduled and provided for Saturday night.***

This course is being offered by The CORE Group      (www.enterthecore.net) , facilitated, supported and sponsored by True North Tradecraft (www.truenorthtradecraft.ca)

 

COVERT ENTRY CONCEPTS flyer_May 2018

 

DISCLAIMER:  *Nothing in the course offering is intended to be used for unlawful purposes.  Consult with your local laws prior to employing these techniques in the field.  This is intended for lawful use ONLY.  True North Tradecraft and its partners do not condone or advocate illegal activities.*

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Training Review – Ed’s Manifesto – Mixed Skills Module in Washington, DC

The Sneak Reaper – Ed’s Manifesto

Over the weekend of 9-12 February, 2018, I travelled to Washington, DC & Alexandria, VA to train at District Combatives’ hosting of Ed Calderon (of Ed’s Manifesto), who was conducting a Mixed Skills module of training.

The trip down to DC from Toronto was relatively uneventful.  I got in early on Friday and spent the day sightseeing and getting the lay of the land in and around the area where we would be training.  I wasn’t sure as to what the training would entail, so with a map from the hotel front desk and my trusty feet, I learned the area around the training location and did some touristy things.

White House. One of the Secret Service guys gave me a great recommendation for breakfast 2 blocks away. He wasn’t wrong. Thanks Jerry!
The Spy Museum. You can’t not visit if you’re in DC.
J. Edgar Hoover Building. Home of the FBI and X-Files.
WW2 Memorial.
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.
The Mall.

I ended Friday night at a small pizza place which made amazing slices and helped myself to three and a “Mexican Coke” (produced in Mexico, in glass bottles, using sugar, not corn syrup) to top it off.

REALLY good pizza.

Day 1

Saturday morning was smooth.  I found my way easily to the training venue in the drizzle.  When I arrived, I was warmly greeted by Ben from District Combatives and handed a pile of liability waivers.  I was delighted to see a couple of familiar faces from previous training I had attended in the US and immediately took to catching up.  I even met a few others whom I’d only known as Instagram followers but quickly bridged to friends.  As the only Canadian in the room of almost 30, I felt humbled by the warmth and hospitality with which I was welcomed.  At the front, Ed held quiet court with a few people I didn’t recognize.   I took a seat and continued catching up with old friends and new.

When the room was packed and the time was right, Ben made introductions and we were immediately passed over to Ed who jumped right in.  Throughout the first day ,we covered:

  • restraints,
  • irregular custody,
  • weapons,
  • awareness and movement principles,
  • custody work, and;
  • a homework assignment to make improvised weapons.

I’m being deliberately vague with the above as if I get into greater detail, I’ll be writing all night and also because it’s better to experience it first-hand for yourself.

There were several takeaways from the day, not the least of which were that I need to do more yoga, focus on Endemics and “always have an escape plan”.  Sound advice for anyone.

The evening went well with food and drink around the corner and making new friends and sharing stories.  I especially felt humbled that I spent a fair amount of time speaking with Ed himself about the various Mexican mythologies and esoteric symbologies used by criminal groups.  Combining the entire evening’s discussions made for an educational, eye-opening and, at times, hilarious time.  Let’s just not rehash the saga of Jaramillo…

Some of us now know of Jaramillo. We shall not speak of his fate.

Day 2

Entering the training location on Day 2 we were greeted at the door by metal detector and pat-down to see if we had absorbed and followed the previous days lessons and completed our homework.  The resulting “found” and “not found” tables displaying weapons of various varieties was quite interesting.

Top , found. Bottom, not found.

 

Banana…

We debriefed and had a chuckle over some stuff (the legendary banana shank and, we even had Tactikey represented!) and then moved right into improvised weapons & Shankology.  We covered:

  • Improvised weapons,
  • targeting,
  • knife work (inside and outside),
  • urban movement fundamentals and;
  • various hood rat shit.

By the time we ended on Sunday afternoon, I felt overloaded with new information and lessons learned.  So much had been fed to us that it would take me weeks to digest it all.

On a side note, I had come from Toronto (snowy and -10C) to Washington (drizzle and +10C) and was contacted by Air Canada that my flight was cancelled and I had been re-booked to the following morning.  This threw off my plans back home, but I made the most of it and spent the evening out for dinner again with Ed, Ben and several others from the course.  Many chicken wings and drinks later, we broke off and headed out.

My time over the weekend both training with Ed and Ben as well as socializing with them made me happy to have attended and to get to know them.

Ben (of DC Combatives) and I.  What a great guy.

Ben was very welcoming and Ed was a wealth of information and selfless in his sharing of knowledge.  So much so that I invited him to come to Toronto this year and to put on a similar seminar.  It would be an honour if he can make it work with his schedule.

Ed and I. At the end of the weekend we were given the opportunity to choose a card. I asked for Ed to choose. This is what I got. “El Diablito”.  Very humbled.  Thank you.

***IF/WHEN WE HAVE A DATE, WE WILL POST IT IMMEDIATELY HERE ON THE BLOG AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA*** (Give us a follow so you don’t miss out!)

I am very happy to have gone and would recommend attending a seminar from Ed if you are able.  The training was excellent and the information covered was wide and relevant.  If you live in the Washington, DC area, do check out Ben and DC Combatives as the types of violence mitigation methodologies he teaches are grounded in reality and effective.  If he was in Toronto, I’d certainly train there.

Thank you to both Ed Calderon and Ben Drader for having me as the lone Canadian at the training seminar.

For further information about the topics and training seminars covered here, see the links below:

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

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Tactikey Review

Low-pro force multiplier.

I recently discovered a new self-defence product – Tactikey.

Tactikey is an upgrade on an old-school, low-tech means of self-defence.  The old “punch them with your keys” technique, except with some modern upgrades.

The product itself is a small (1 x 1.75 x 0.5 in), lightweight (6.5 g) and strong (TPE 110 Composite material) designed to ergonomically accept a standard Kwikset house key and give it a platform to use as an impact weapon.  This design is helpful in reducing injury to the defender’s hand while allowing the transference of force through the key point to the assailant’s soft tissues.

Tactikey in it’s packaging (front).
Tactikey packaging (back).

The combination of supporting grip and solid metal point is surprisingly effective and protects the user from injury well, unlike an un-shrouded key being used for the same thing.

Low-pro force multiplier.

When I received my package of a few Tactikeys and was caught by several positive things:

  • VERY light
  • VERY small
  • VERY easy to add to your key ring
  • Usable in non-permissive environments and will likely not raise any red flags if inspected by authorities
  • Allow the key to be used for it’s intended function AND as a self-defence implement and;
  • Comes in your choice of Blaze Orange, Hot Pink or Carbon Black.
  • Inexpensive (as of this writing – going for $9.99 ea with free US Shipping)
  • Full details from website available here.

Along with the personalized note from them, I immediately equipped my Tactikey and went to work playing around with it.

I found that holding it was comfortable.  The finish on the grip was soft and smooth but didn’t slip.

Ergonomic and secure grip.
Fits well into the hand.

It intuitively holds well between the fingers and stays solid when striking.

Pointy, ouchy and very solidly held.

I had access to a building site where walls were being replaced and took a few jabs at drywall and lathe & plaster.  The results were good (see below).

Drywall – before.

I was able to make holes in both mediums without pain or injury to my hand.  The regular (un-sharpened key) penetrated both types of walls with relative ease making me feel confident that it could cause trauma to soft tissue on a hostile human target.

Through drywall with first strike.
Repeated strikes had no issue with penetration.

As it is a simple piece of plastic, Tactikey can go anywhere a set of keys can go and will always be ready as an added force multiplier if you should need it.  I have added this to my Every Day Carry (EDC) as it is useful, lightweight, practical and effective.  Along with the other items I carry, I feel it is a wise investment and doesn’t add bulk of weight to your setup.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to hit a person with it at this point, I’ll be sure to update this post with those results, should they occur.  That said, punching holes in drywall happened very easily and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a hit with one of these.

Tactikey also has a fantastic return policy on it’s product (from their website):

“30 Day 110% Return Policy – Purchase with Confidence.
We at Tactikey work tirelessly to develop the world’s most unique and efficient EDC products that will help you achieve well-being and safety. We believe in our products so much that we stand behind them with a no hassle, no questions asked, satisfaction guarantee 110% return policy. If you purchase any Tactikey product on our website Tactikey.com and you are not satisfied, return it within 30 days for a 110% refund. The guarantee is applicable to all purchases made from Tacktikey.com only and does not cover Tacktikey retailers. Retail purchases will be handled by the particular retail store’s return policy. That is our commitment at Tactikey to you our customers.”

Instructions on the use of Tactikey can also be found on their website here.

The one and only downside with Tactikey is that it is only compatible with Kwikset key blanks at the moment.  If your house key or other keys on your ring are not of this kind, they may not fit properly.  That said, Tactikey is working on different formats for several other major key manufacturers (like Schlage and Yale) and customers will be able to choose which works for them.  In the grand scheme, this isn’t a big deal.  They will come out with others soon and, really, I’d sooner have a dedicated defensive key (a blank, sharpened) than my primary house key.  If you do hit something or someone and bend it, you may have issues using your key after.  Not to mention if you lose it in a fight, buddy will have your house key.  I’d sooner have a non-key.  I used an old, out of commission Kwikset key I had laying around for my test & carry key to ensure that doesn’t happen.  I will pick up a Kwikset blank and sharpen it with a file for primary EDC use in the coming days to ensure I have it the way I want it.  You can pick up a Kwikset blank from anywhere that cuts keys (Home Depot, local hardware stores, shoe repair places, etc) and just ask them for one.  Again, not a big deal right now as you’re best off to go with a dedicated key or key blank for this particular use.

Have a look at their website, check them out on social media and feel free to pick one up for yourself and maybe some family members.  For the money, I thinks it’s a great deal and you get something solid and useful.  I really like it and I bet you will too.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

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Training Review: Behavioural Profiling and Situational Awareness from Emergence LLC

Emergence LLC – http://www.emergencedisrupt.com

Recently I completed the Behavioural Profiling and Situational Awareness online course produced by Emergence LLC and presented by Yousef Badou.

Mr. Badou is a US Marine veteran (with 3 tours in Iraq) who contributed to the development of the behavioural profiling programme used by the USMC.

As an introduction, I thought it was a concise overview of the principles of behavioural profiling and situational awareness.

Developing awareness of the Baseline.

A lot is covered in the ~1 hour online course (especially for the cost, at $9 USD).  For someone new to it, it really opens up a window into the world that your senses disregard if you’re not in tune to your environment.  For the practitioner, it is a good review from the ground up of basics, reframed from another perspective.  He states that if he can, through imparting his knowledge, give you even an extra second (or more) of advantage to act, he will have given you an edge in surviving an event.  This is all predicated upon becoming in-tune with the environment around you and feeling the baseline.

Seeing what stands out even when it’s not obvious can give you that extra second to act and increase your chances of survival.

Mr. Badou’s examples and delivery are engaging and spot-on.  Such as the  recognition of “pre-incident indicators” are all learnable and actionable.  Though a large portion of the material he covered was a review to me, I did like the way he explained some things I hadn’t heard before – the concept of “File Folders”, for instance and how they affect one’s decision making processes.

Seeing the threat early is like seeing in the future.

The entire overview hit the salient points while providing easily understandable context for each.  Broad topics covered are:

  • Introduction to Behavioural Profiling (with physiology and psychology backgrounders)
  • File Folders and Denial (as well as anomalies and perception)
  • Fear and Brain Errors (including the Limbic system), and;
  • Final Thoughts

Mr. Badou references a few different additional sources for further reading in the form of Patrick Van Horne’s Left of Bang, Gavin De Becker’s The Gift of Fear and Dave Grossman’s On Combat – all excellent primary sources for this type of material.

I recommend giving Emergence LLC a look and trying out their introductory offering.  I am also looking forward to further modules they will be putting out – such as Observable Behaviours and Behavioural Indicators.

Till next time, stay warm, stay safe and stay crafty.

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Goodbye 2017, Welcome 2018!

Happy New Years Eve All!

The work-up to the end of 2017 has been both busy and involved.

As 2017 has presented many challenges and rewards, I look to the future and what 2018 will bring.

We have many great things on-tap this coming year.  Workshops, cooperations and many informative efforts for everyone to benefit from.

As we move into the new year, we will be rolling out a lot of exciting things.

I’d like to thank everyone who has read, followed and supported the efforts here at True North Tradecraft this inaugural year and together, we can make 2018 even better.

Thank you!

Stay safe, stay crafty.

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Delta 2 Alpha – The Accent Series

The Accent Series.

By Delta 2 Alpha Design

The Accent Series. Delta 2 Alpha Design.

A little while ago I received a mail call containing a sample of the Accent Series from Delta2Alpha Design.  To read my review of the previous generation of tools, go here.

Happiness in a parcel!

The Accent Series is their newest offering of upgraded versions of The MARK, The LOLLY and The MiK.

The MARK, in colours…

The new tools are delivered in three colours (crimson, blaze orange or day-glow green), clad in a robust carbon fibre skin.

Durable polymer clad in carbon fibre.

They are all incredibly versatile and even more durable than their previous versions.  I found the carbon fibre skin to be more resistant to scratches and abrasions than the earlier version of polymer tools.

The Lolly – polymer last-ditch tool. Earlier version.
Accent version of the Lolly.
I have used the Lolly for opening paint cans when I find myself without a screwdriver. It’s handy to carry in my 5th jeans pocket.

On a recent visit to Ottawa, I found myself in a Tim Hortons for a morning coffee.  The floor was covered in melt and slushy runoff from the recent snow.  Thankfully, I had my Accent Series MARK in my bag (perfect for non-permissive environments like government buildings) and ensured my bag and its contents were well out of he muck.

No dirty, wet Tim Hortons floor for me and my stuff!

The MiK can be used as the MARK can, but with smaller applications.  I do like how it can hold up your phone, hang your bag (or purse) or coat – perfect for bathrooms.  It can also easily fit into the fifth pocket of your jeans for concealment and easy access.

The MiK. Small but sturdy.

 

From the Delta 2 Alpha website:

TheMARK: Offers a convenient way to keep your jacket or bag off of the floor bathrooms when traveling (or everyday life) when there isn’t a hook. It can also be used as a tablet stand.

TheMiK:  Fits conveniently on your keys, and is used a hands free way to prop up your phone. This comes in handy whether you are trying to do a video chat, or just kill sometime watching cat videos (No Judgement).

TheLolly: Can go right next to TheMiK on your keychain. TheLolly is a light duty pocket scraper, and prybar. It has be referred to as a “Fingernail Saver”. It also offers a ¼” bit driver and the key ring slot can be used to drive the Leatherman multi-tool brand bits.

*Each package includes one (1) of TheMARK, TheMiK, and TheLolly; They are sold as matched sets*

All things considered, I feel that Delta 2 Alpha scored a big win with improving an already-sturdy and reliable design with their Accent Series of polymer tools.  I’m very happy with them and equip myself with at least one on a daily basis as they are lightweight, practical and come in handy in a variety of ways.

You can order yours here on their website.

Till next time, stay crafty.

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Beard Products for Bearded Operators

Fine beard products.

Beard Products for Bearded Operators

I’ve always had a hard time taming the wild in my beard.  I’ve tried, for many years, to find a product that does the following:

  • moisturizes
  • makes the hair softer and more manageable
  • adds a healthy shine
  • has an appealing scent
  • is easy to use and travel with (no strange looking creams and goos)
  • is produced locally (best option) or ethically abroad
  • and isn’t ridiculously expensive.

Over these past many months, I have made an effort to try several options that I would hope meet these criteria and would do what I’m looking for.

First off, my beard is a thick wire brush with swirls.  This makes the dynamics of beard maintenance difficult from the start.

I used a few creams starting off to moisturize the beard, but found these mostly ineffective.

I next moved to lotions.  I tried a decent product (from Comrades Barber Shop) and it was alright, but not fantastic.  I think the product itself is decent, but I feel that it doest penetrate my beard quickly enough and bring softness throughout the day.  This is just how my beard worked with it.

After those, I have landed on beard oil.  For my beard, it seems to be the best choice.

There have been 3 brands I’ve tried in this recent run that I have liked.

The first of these, Tusk & Fin (see this link for more info) , was bought at the Village Juicery on College St. in downtown Toronto.

Tusk and Fin beard oil.

It comes in a nice, small glass bottle with a dropper.  The scent is a mix of menthol and lavender.  Quite nice, actually.  The oil itself is of a higher viscosity (which is nice) and is readily absorbed.  The result meets expectations on all the levels, but is a bit on the pricey side ($30 a bottle) but lasts well under daily use and seals well.

Second, is Red & Brothers Beard Company.   They are a new Canadian company and despite their initial difficulty with communications (they had some technical problems with their messaging system when I was trying to place my order – now fixed) they quickly addressed it, connected with me directly and took care of it.  I was very happy with the service I received and ordered a bunch of their stuff to try out.

Great shipment in from Red & Bros.

Their beard balm was good for sculpting, but for my beard, which has difficult swirls, it didn’t work for me.  Their “moustache stick” (like Chapstick for your moustache) works pretty well for taming wild fliers) and is small and handy.  The beard bar, a soap bar for your beard which doesn’t strip away the oils from your man-mane, also works very well for morning and evening face washing.

The main product, their beard oil, is really nice.  I find it to be the right amount of everything.  Viscosity, scent, effect on the beard, price ($ per bottle) and it’s also a new Canadian company from the Ottawa area.  I like to support Canadian whenever I can.  That said, I have one big issue with Red & Bros beard oil.

Beard oil, moustache stick and beard bar.

The bottle.  More specifically, the cap and dropper insert.  Once opened, I found that screwing the cap back on doesn’t seal very well and can leak.  (This may be this specific bottle but I’ll only know when I open the next one).  Also, the drop insert (not a medicine-dropper style like the others) takes forever to get even a few drops of oil out of the bottle.  I grabbed a needle-nose plier and pulled it out because it was too frustrating.  I’ve emailed them about it as they were so good in their communication with me so if it’s a manufacturing issue, and they address it, it’d really be a great product all-round.

Beard balm. Very nice product but a little too involved to use for me.

Third, I’ve come across Beards and Beavers.  They are a Toronto-based company and their products are interestingly marketed.  For the cost ($50/3 bottles = $16.67 ea) they are a good deal.  The dropper-tops are user-friendly and the scents work well for me.  The formulation of oil and other ingredients make my beard smooth, soft and feel great.  The customer service is great too.

Great product. Great value. Personalized message. Cool.

I had a technical issue placing my order and after contacting them, I received a reply thanking me for bringing it to their attention and that it had been fixed.   I immediately placed my order and it arrived quickly with a really nice, personalized note in the box thanking me for my purchase.  I chose “Fresh Mofo” and “Green Envy” for my scents and they threw in “Funk’d” as the third surprise scent.

Cool Stamp.
Made in Canada. Nice.

I’m happy with how they smell and how they make my beard much more manageable.

In all, I’m an adherent to beard oil for beard maintenance over the lotions, potions, creams or what have you.  Though it is very much a subjective and personal preference depending on what works best for your particular beard, I would recommend taking a look at Tusk & Fin, Red & Bros and Beards and Beavers for your beard care needs.  They are all great products and work well to meet the six points listed at the beginning.  Check them out.

Buy Canadian and find something to maintain your operator man-mane.

Contributing factors to a well-managed beard.

Stay crafty & keep looking (and being) dangerous.

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Staying Safe in Crowds

The crowds are coming.

As the holiday season approaches, we will invariably be heading out more often to places rife with people.  Be it for shopping, get-togethers, enjoying a crisp winter walk or seeing a festive event, the holiday season brings more and more people out for all these reasons and more.

Large groups of people gathered together tend to cause problems relating to safety and security.  They increase the risk of conflict between people in those large groups, they make inviting targets for those who would wish to cause harm (i.e. bad guys) and the larger the group of people in a building, the more difficult and time-consuming it is to get those people out safely, especially under panic.

Violent crowds. Dangerous times.

Examples of these would be as follows:  anytime there is one last toy of a particular kind and a fight breaks out; fights over parking spots at malls, etc.  These types of events may or may not be directly involving you, but have the potential to rope you in if you’re not paying attention.  Another is an active shooter (such as the Jane Creba shooting in Toronto) where something like gang violence occurs and innocent bystanders are caught in the middle.  And then there are times when a machete-wielding lunatic attacks random shoppers, or some fanatic decides to plough down people walking down the street with a truck.  And then there’s fire.  Nothing nefarious, but deadly nonetheless.  They happen.  Use all your senses to stay aware.  None of these are predictable in a useful sense for someone heading out for a day of shopping at the mall.  They just happen.

For the interactions that escalate, I would recommend to let it go.  Is some hot-head nut case really worth that parking spot?  Likely not.  However, this doesn’t mean I advocate not protecting yourself if someone attacks you.

George knows. It’s not worth it.

For the rest, they are “black swan events” which you have to deal with as they unfold.

Here are my thoughts on how to increase your chances of survival in crowded locations in times of danger.

  • Keep an eye open for viable exits:  as you enter malls, concert halls or crowded public spaces, keep an eye on ways out.  Be it a fire or an attack, having a pre-planned escape route can save valuable seconds getting out and saving yourself and likely others.  Better yet, if you’re there a while, hang out near the exits.  You’ll be better positioned to get out should something happen.  Also, if in a mall, take the stairs instead of the escalators.  If you have to move in a hurry you have a better position to move from as those on the escalator are trapped in the chute.

    Exits, exits everywhere! Keep an eye open.
  • Keep moving:  Staying still doesn’t help you much in a time of crisis.  If you’re still, you’re an easy target, you’re not moving away from danger and you’re not able to affect change to your circumstance, thus handing all the control to others (i.e. bad guys).  Move towards an exit, move to cover, move  to a fire extinguisher…just MOVE!  Be a difficult target.  Movement is Life.  In large crowds, most people will attempt to exit the way they came in.  This can cause a stampede-like effect where people get trampled and crushed.  A wave of humanity which is large and panicked cannot be forced.  Instead, take the better approach and aim for one of your pre-scouted exits instead.
  • In the case of an active shooter – TAKE COVER:  That’s right.  as you move, move from one place of cover to another until you exit and create time and distance between you and the threat.  Cover is something that offers ballistic protection (i.e. protection from bullets).  This is cement and concrete.  Furniture, vehicles and the like don’t provide adequate protection from bullets.  Stone, rock, thick steel and cement do.  Look for pillars, walls and the like to save you.

    Hide behind concrete.
  • Be aware of your surroundings:   Use all of your senses.  If a fire breaks out, you’ll likely have an indication before you see it because of smell.  Move to an exit.  When in a crowd, get a sense of the general “feel” of the environment.  Stay at the edges of crowds.  Look for people who don’t look or “feel” like they belong in the same group.  Situational Awareness is your early warning system for something bad happening.  It’s not meant to cultivate paranoia, it’s meant to cultivate awareness for whats going on around you so you have a chance to ACT before being acted upon.

    Keep your head on a swivel.
  • Keep Essentials on you:  Your personal Every-Day-Carry should be on you at all times.  A small knife, multi-tool, lock picks, lighter, cash, cell phone (charged), mini flashlight, some cordage, etc. can help you get out of a tough situation should you need it.

To sum up remember these key points:

  1. Be Aware (of your environment)
  2. Be prepared (with a viable EDC setup)
  3. Identify Exits (note escape routes)
  4. Keep Moving (movement is life)
  5. Take Cover (behind concrete or stone)
  6. Better yet, order online and stay home.

In closing, before you head out, switch on.  Enjoy yourself and have fun, but always remember that by being aware you are fore-warned and fore-armed.  Always have an escape plan.

Be safe.  Stay crafty.