Recap: Two Boston Police officers and an FBI agent startled Ricky and his mom when they pounded on the front door at one in the morning. The law enforcement officers were actually pretty friendly. They asked Ricky about what he heard and saw the previous night, the night of the attack and fire at Mr. […]
Lights Out on Pinckney Street

A spring evening in Boston takes a turn Seventeen-year-old Ricky lay on his bed on a Friday evening before dinner. He was mentally exhausted from a tough week at school. Ricky, you see, is what they call a gifted student—a high-achiever. As he waited for the familiar call from his mom downstairs, he stared at […]
Boston, catastrophic error, fact vs. fiction, fiction book, james tesar, Lucy, potential widespread disaster, Skandowski, survivalism, ultimate errorTools of the Survival Game

On days when conditions—water, nourishment, heat, lions—permitted, the woman, her mate, and the boy would gather great bunches of the fragrant plant known as “parfum d’Ethiopia.” Artemisia arborescens was a most useful tool in the survival of this “family.” You see, it provided cover. More specifically, it provided reliable cover for the entrance of the […]
catastrophic error, Computing, fact vs. fiction, fiction book, Gaming, james tesar, post-apocalypse, Simien mountains, Software, survivalism, ultimate error, Windows gamesWhat Can We Expect From Government During A National Disaster?

We trust that FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Guard would deploy to manage any catastrophe. Would they? … We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain— that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the […]
catastrophic error, disaster preparedness, fact vs. fiction, fiction book, james tesar, money and power, plutocratic kleptocracy, potential widespread disaster, prepper, survivalism, ultimate errorDereliction Of Duty During Florida School Emergency?

What can citizens do when those sworn to protect and serve us simply… don’t? I see a fascinating subtext in the case of a Broward County Sheriff deputy who resigned after being accused of failing to take action during the mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school last week. Sure, we hear a lot […]
American propaganda, catastrophic error, fact vs. fiction, fiction book, james tesar, money and power, plutocratic kleptocracy, potential widespread disaster, survivalism, ultimate errorThe City Survivalist: Prepping In The Concrete Jungle

Survival prep isn’t only “bugging out” to the boonies A few months ago here on my ULTIMATE ERROR blog, I wrote about the burgeoning real estate submarket for disaster preppers. Perhaps not surprisingly, places like rural Montana and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are leading the way. However, the capitalist cheer of “different strokes for […]
apocalypse, catastrophic error, disaster preparedness, doomsday prepper, dystopia, emergency management, emergency preparedness, fiction book, james tesar, post-apocalypse, potential widespread disaster, survivalism, ultimate errorULTIMATE ERROR: How Secure Is “The Grid”?

Cyber-security in the electrical grids has become big business, but is it safe yet? I recently stumbled upon a banner ad for a fascinating international conference: “Istanbul 2017,” a gathering of cyber-security professionals and a showcase for their businesses. Even more intriguing than this trade show ad was the website where it was placed: OSGP.org, […]
catastrophic error, cyber security, cyber-attack, disaster preparedness, james tesar, OSPG, potential widespread disaster, power grid, smart grid, survivalism, ultimate error, water securityCatastrophic Error: The Grid and the Internet

Considering the possibilities and implications of large-scale blackouts One of the most popular edicts of survivalist culture calls for the ability to live for extended periods of time “off the grid.” A cyberattack on the electrical grid, survivalists say, could keep America dark and cold for many months or even years. While that might be […]
cyber-attack, disaster preparedness, james tesar, plutocratic kleptocracy, potential widespread disaster, power grid, renewables, solar power, survivalism, ultimate errorHow To Meaningfully Observe Disaster Preparedness Month

News of cold freshwater flowing from melting glaciers in southern Greenland into the North Atlantic, thus disrupting ages-old ocean currents; reports of record droughts in California and record floods in Texas, Kansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana; announcements of the birth of yet another “Super El Niño” in the Pacific, bringing more extreme weather […]
disaster kit, disaster preparedness, emergency management, emergency preparedness, fiction book, hurricane preparedness, james tesar, potential widespread disaster, survivalism, ultimate errorHow and Where to Begin Preparing Your Family for Disaster

In recent days, on my ULTIMATE ERROR blog here, I focused on current-event disasters and the global warming trends that caused them. Today, though, I’d like to refocus on preparedness. Whatever the disaster, wherever it may occur, following recognized, best-practice protocols can save the lives and livelihoods of our families and our neighbors. The place […]
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