Articles written by Erik Olson

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About me - Erik Olson

Did you know that a pregnant goldfish is called a "twit"? I get absurdly gleeful whenever I stumble over strange little crumbs of knowledge like that.

I also know that it takes 19 average-sized grasshoppers to supply a normal person's protein requirements

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Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Choosing the handgun for self defense: 1 of 12

A handgun should be considered just one element in your self-defense plan. In your home, you should have motion-sensing lights placed around the perimeter of your house, either an alarm or a dog with good ears, a cell phone and a very bright flashlight. And a gun. What kind of gun? The rule of thumb is, "The biggest gun you ...
Education > Homeschooling Is homeschooling better than formal education?: 7 of 77

As with many things of this nature, the correct answer is always, "It depends". Specifically, it depends on the child or children and the parents. It also depends, to a lesser extent, on the school system in question. However, in my experience, given the right tools and attitudes, homeschooling can be far superior to the ave...
Business > Entrepreneurship Tips for setting up a small business: 1 of 11

3 Secrets To Owning a Successful Business Owning your own business is the American Dream. We've all thought about it; the freedom of being our own boss, the prestige of being an entrepreneur. But then we see the statistics: 40 out of every 100 business started in January 2004 won't be around to see January 2005, 80 don't las...
Sports & Recreation > Hiking & Backpacking How to survive if lost in the woods: 1 of 10

Getting lost in the woods is no fun. At minimum, it's scary - at worst, dangerous. If you do find yourself lost, the first thing to do is to stop and get yourself calmed down. A few minutes of deep breathing can help you get your head on straight. A little extra oxygen never hurts. The second thing you need to do is take sto...
Sports & Recreation > Camping Wilderness survival foods: 1 of 4

When confronted by the idea of being lost in the woods for a few days or even a week, most people immediately start thinking about what they'll eat. The reality is that most Americans wouldn't be hurt one bit by going a week without eating, and that food is the absolute last of your survival concerns. However, figuring out h...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Gun violence: 3 of 8

The Four Rules of Gun Safety: 1. All Guns Are Always Loaded. 2. Never Point a Gun at Anything You Are Not Willing to Destroy. 3. Never Put Your Finger On The Trigger Until You Want to Shoot. 4. Always Be Sure of Your Target and Beyond. Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC (Deceased) The simple fact is that guns, in the hands of law-abidin...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) What will a teen learn at wilderness camp?: 3 of 7

The Wilderness Camp experience of which I write is not that of a posh resort-on-a-lake type. There are no tennis lessons, mixers or archery. The wilderness camp I refer to is where each child carries their own gear, helps make their own food (or goes hungry), sleeps on the ground and must deal with the elements first-hand. I...
Sports & Recreation > Camping Holiday camping gift ideas for teen boys: 4 of 8

Camping, like most activities, is much more fun (and safer) with quality equipment. But equipment is just one part of the equation; the other part is knowledge. Equipment can be lost, stolen or break - but knowledge stays with you. That being said, the first category of gifts would be books and videos. Here is a short list o...
Sports & Recreation > Camping Tips to help with a first-time camping experience: 8 of 14

How great for you! Introducing someone who's never been camping before is a wonderful thing to do. The goal, of course, is to provide your guest with a safe, enjoyable experience that will make them want to go camping again. With that in mind, here are a few tips on how to make sure that first time camping trip goes smoothly...
Sports & Recreation > Hunting Is hunting animals a legitimate sport?: 15 of 24

Hunting, like many activities, isn't "necessary" anymore. You can buy your dinner from a drive-thru window, eat prefabricated meat slabs packed with chemicals, dyes and residual drugs... or you can go out into the woods and do your best to harvest your own food. I grew up in a typical suburban liberal, anti-gun, anti-hunting...