The first rail tracks on the lower west side of Manhattan were laid along 10th and 11th Avenues south from Penn Station. The problem was, this north-south rail line cut across all the east-west streets leading to the Hudson River waterfront, which was very active. This was so dangerous that…

For most emergencies and disasters, water will end up being your number one priority. Ever notice that one of the first things brought in after a disaster is pallet loads of bottled water? Be prepared ahead of time! On average, we can survive three days without water versus three weeks…

I’m making the Area Study Guide free because I feel it’s an extremely important book. From events like the train derailment in Ohio to winter storms to power outages to drought, doing an Area Study can make you better prepared to face them. …

With multiple plot lines running in 1923, one constant is the epic “waiting on Spencer” to come back home so they can fight for their ranch. Why? What’s so special about Spencer? He’s on the other side of the world. Is there no one halfway competent there? I know Dutton…

My latest wander was to the Outer Banks. I’m not a fan of interstates but since I wanted to get there in a day, I took I-40 east from Knoxville, before splitting off onto 64 east of Raleigh. 64 seems to be a road I hit a lot since I…

Let me start by saying this is an entertaining movie. And it was very successful given its budget of 3 million. And kudos to the actresses. And worth watching just for the twists and turns in the action. It’s about two women who climb a 2,000 foot radio tower and…

David Atkinson is a great historian who delves deeply into topics. The British Are Coming covers the opening of the American Revolution. Perhaps a bit too comprehensive? Atkinson is a master of detail. Want to know how many tons of hay are shipped to feed horses? It’s here. The first…

The first episode of #Pokerface sets up the premise of the series and sets the protagonist in motion so she can go to various places while being chased. We have the set up of an over-arcing plot and individual episodes that can be watched on their own. …

This series from the BBC and on Epix is amazingly true to history, although you might not believe it when you watch it. At the beginning is the blurb “based on a true story”, and that “the events depicted which seem most unbelievable… are mostly true”. And that’s accurate. I…