Weapons of War

Introduction:

In my opinion, no history of the war would be complete without an overview of the weapons of war. This is because war has certainly broght many innovate development of weaponry. Thus, I would like to share about how different weapons of war came about...

Weapons of War:

Firstly I would like to start off with the commonly known bayonet. The bayonet is simply a blade that is attached to the barrel of a rifle for use in close combat. Even in our modern times, there are still many occasions when close combat fighting is necessary, making it the ideal scenario for the use of the bayonet. Bayonets are generally directed at the vulnerable points of the enemy's body to cripple them.



Next, I would like to direct my attention to the machine gun. The machine gun was created on a relatively simple concept. The gas produced by the explosion of powder in each machine gun cartridge would cause a recoil which served to continuously operate the machine gun mechanism. Many felt that this was rather eficient as no external power was needed and this was commonly used in the second world war.



The rifle still remained the most crucial, ever-present infantry weapon from the past. A good example of the rifle would be the sniper. Snipers played an important role in destroying the morale of the enemies as assassins would mostly taget at the leaders of the enemies. Soldiers knew that they could not walk about freely along exposed trenches or they can expect a well-aimed bullet stucked in their heads!



Last but not least, I would like to mention about the evolutions of the tanks. The tank can be dated back to the world war, where trench warfare was ever-present. Many believed that tanks had the enormous potential to break through enemy trench defences and they were proven right. After the successful demostration of the potentials of tanks, countries started building them and gradually, tanks developed into what we see in our modern day.

Man VS Wild

Introduction:

As we all know, "Man VS WIld" is a rather popular survival television series on Discovery Channel. It is hosted by hosted by Bear Grylls and the general format of each episode is the premise that Grylls is left stranded in a region.The episode documents his efforts to survive and find a way back to civilization, usually requiring an overnight shelter of some kind. He also shares with us his experiences about successful and failed survivals in the particular area which he is in.



Review of some Episodes:

Moab Desert

- In this episode, Bear Grylls is dropped by a helicopter into the Moab Desert in Utah in 110 degree temperatures, with nothing but a knife, a canteen, and a flint. He battles dehydration by soaking his t-shirt in urine, and eats two raven eggs, one raw. Lastly, Bear demonstrates how to escape from quicksand before swimming across the Colorado River. He explains that rivers will provide water for drinking, and following the river will eventually bring you to civilization.



Costa Rican Rain Forest

- In this episode, Bear Grylls parachutes into a Costa Rican rainforest in the Osa Peninsula. He is armed with only his knife and a canteen. He climbs down a waterfall using a vine and floats down a river to the ocean on a raft which he crafts out of balsa wood.He explains that in the jungle, it's not worth wasting energy hunting animals as there are plenty of plants to eat. We just have to familiarize yourself with edible plants before you set out on a trip. Last but not least, he demonstrate how someone lost in the jungle can also make it to civilization.



Sierra Nevada

- In this episode, Bear Grylls parachutes into the Sierra Nevadas, simulating the situation of the hundreds of hikers who become stranded there each year. He is equipped with only a knife and a canteen and travels through the alpine and woodland of the mountains. He tries to tame a wild horse and eats a live snake, but was rather unsuccessful. Using different techniques learn from the Mono Indians, he brushes his teeth with a manzanita leaf. In addition, he also explains that very often dew will collect on leaves and pine needles overnight. Thus, if you're desperately in need of water, this can indeed be a lifesaver.



Some survival tips:

- Always make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you're planning to come back. If something goes wrong, they will know to alert the appropriate authorities.

- Do your "homework" before going on a trip. Know the basic geography of your destination and familiarize yourself with the edible flora and fauna. You have to be prepared for the environment you're heading into and bring the appropriate tools and supplies.

- Use your common sense. If you are lost, try to get your bearings before moving on. If you're tired, just rest. If you're hungry, try to find food.

Personal Reflection:

In my opinion, I personally feel that this survival television series has indeed been very useful to me. It has made me realized how fortunate am I, to be able to live in a cosy house where everything has already been provided. In addition, it also taught me some useful survival tips which I can apply. We should not be selective of the food that we are given, but rather be grateful that we are able to fill our stomach. If we complain now that the food is disgusting, what about those in the wild? Hence, i really enjoyed watching these educational videos and I would recommend others to watch too!