Musings from Illinois: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-28-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

As is typical, there are also several religious and recipe books on the list today, along with the usual assortment of romance, porn and near porn. I don't call them out because they don't interest me. Click on the link above and search through the Free List Tab if you are interested in such books.

A Deadly Distance (Jack Noble #2)
Washington, D.C. Midday. A man waits at a bus stop, his intentions unknown. Two government operatives have been stalking him for days, waiting for him to make his move. Unexpectedly, the man takes off running and heads for a deserted warehouse.

Jack Noble and his partner, Frank Skinner, believe the man to be part of a terrorist organization that is involved in smuggling drugs and guns and men into the country. But it turns out their plan involves far more export than import, and hits a lot closer to home.

As the case in this explosive thriller unfolds, the man behind it all reaches out to Jack with a simple message... 37 hours.

5 star:(117)
4 star:(41)
3 star:(20)
2 star:(11)
1 star:(1)

[#3 - it's been free before. I have not read it. I have read other stuff in the same series that I liked. The author is on the top 100 free list now and then.]

The Pack: Winter Kill
The idea for this werewolf noir series started with a murder.

I walked out of a store on some crummy errand or another and I saw it plain as day. A young man falls down in the desert. A boot appears on the back of his neck, and the camera floats up a uniformed leg to a .45. Higher still and we see a grizzled sheriff staring down at the young man.

Bang!

A young woman runs past him, screaming. A deputy chases her. The sheriff raises his pistol.

Bang!

The camera follows the path of the bullet. It streaks past the deputy’s ear toward the woman. It slams into the back of her head. The screen goes dark, then the bullet and the camera reach daylight on the other side.

I sat in the car for a few minutes to write it all down in my notebook. It had been so vivid I could see the characters’ features, the sheriff’s boots, badge and uniform, the girl’s red, flower-print sundress flowing in the breeze. I didn’t care where it came from, what I wanted to figure out was what to do with it.

5 star:(23)
4 star:(3)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#6]

Quick and Easy Gluten Free Soups: 40 Delicious Recipes to Make at Home (Quick and Easy Gluten Free Recipes)
An Easy Way to Go Gluten Free and Love It!
So much of the food you already love is naturally gluten-free and, therefore, the safest and most nutritious way to follow a gluten-free diet is to cook at home and to stick primarily to fresh, unrefined and unprocessed ingredients. If you want to eat really healthy food with good ingredients, it is best to make it yourself.

Planning simple, home cooked meals and choosing naturally gluten-free whole foods like fresh vegetables, herbs, meat, rice, beans, quinoa or buckwheat should make your transition to a gluten-free lifestyle much easier. Here is my easy and delicious collection of homemade gluten free soup recipes to get you cooking!

[#43 - just three reviews - all 5-star.]

Whole Grains, Empty Promises: The Surprising Truth About the World's Most Overrated 'Health' Food
In Whole Grains, Empty Promises: The Surprising Truth about the World’s Most Overrated ‘Health’ Food, independent health researcher Anthony Colpo unmercifully slaughters the healthy whole grain myth with a mountain of scientific evidence interlaced with his unmistakable wit.

For nearly a decade, Colpo has been slaying nutritional dragons and diet gurus with his scientific rigor and the unapologetic truth in a way that could almost be considered a martial art. In this book he examines the pervasive belief that whole grains are both healthy in general and healthier than their refined counterparts.

The verdict? No they’re not. And the foundation upon which the belief that whole grains are healthy is built will shock you!

In the book you’ll learn that you may be giving yourself arsenic poisoning with all that brown rice you’ve been eating, depleting your body of valuable minerals with your whole grain bread and porridge, and otherwise torturing your bowels and taste buds with spoonful after spoonful of empty promises.

[#54 - seven reviews, all 5-star.]

The Definitive Way to go Gluten Free
More and more people are waking up to the fact that gluten is central to their chronic health conditions, including: blood sugar dysregulation, bowel problems, inflammation, autoimmune disease, weight problems, mood disorders, and beyond.
While adopting a gluten free diet seems simple enough on the surface, going truly gluten free can actually be a complicated and often frustrating endeavor—you need to know quite a bit about gluten and food in general in order to be able to identify foods that contain it and to successfully avoid it diligently enough to eliminate your health issues.

5 star:(9)
4 star:(5)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#70]

Herbal Remedies: 5 Must Have Herbs For Health And Healing (Herbal Medicine, Natural Remedies, Essential Oils, Spices)
Discover The 5 Most Effective Herbs For Optimal Health And Healing.

You’re about to discover how to overcome what ails you with the 5 most effective herbal remedies used by various cultures for thousands of years. Most people resort to prescriptions drugs when they are faced with a problem or illness. The use of herbs for medicinal purposes has been widely used since ancient times without the negative effects.

The truth is, if you are suffering from some sort of condition or illness and haven't been able to effectively treat it, it's because you are lacking the information needed to look towards a more natural solution. This book goes into the proven herbal remedies that can dramatically improve your quality of life.

5 star:(6)
4 star:(1)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#100. ]

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-27-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-26-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

The Order of Nephilim: A novel and work of "faction."

“Imagine The Da Vinci Code melded with the Bourne Trilogy and then put it on steroids. THAT is The Order of the Nephilim!”

Hush Hush Biz magazine

Sean Lincoln, an ex intelligence agent turned investigative reporter is approached by the beautiful Sarah Scott, a woman with a mysterious past and a story so incredible that if true will not only alter the perception of human history, but the course of humanity’s future.

Uncovering the greatest conspiracy ever known, they must survive and overcome a network so evil, so ancient and powerful that none dare challenge it.

In a heart-stopping race against time, they align with the Knights Templar in a frantic bid to expose a Dark Cabal that would seek to enslave the world. From Washington DC, to London and the enigmatic Holy Loch, through Tibet, Denver, Area 51 and the secret bases of the Antarctic where the final battle for the spirit and freedom of humankind will be fought.

With a lightning pace and incredible concept, The Order of the Nephilim will have you questioning everything you ever thought that you knew and learning much about that which others would wish you didn’t know at all.

The ‘Order’ is coming for you... are you ready?

[#10 - no reviews yet.]

Easy Paleo Slow Cooker Meals: Over 25 quick prep, nutrient-rich, grain-free recipes

Arsy Vartanian, author of the bestselling cookbook, The Paleo Slow Cooker and The Paleo Foodie Cookbook, brings you a collection of over 25 of her favorite Easy Paleo Slow Cooker recipes. More than half of the recipes in this book, require 10 minutes or less of prep work. All of the recipes are gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free.

When following a diet that is free of grains, legumes and dairy and full of nutritious whole foods, we can often find ourselves spending all of our spare time cooking. The delectable recipes in this book will nourish you, while saving you time in the kitchen.

Recipes Included:

Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke

Honey Mustard Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Verde

Slow Cooker Poached Chicken

Slow Cooker Curry – Beef

Slow Cooker Curry - Chicken

Pork Roast with Kraut

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Taco Meat

Paleo Teriyaki Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Morengo

Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken

Maple Glazed Turkey Breast with Cranberries

Maple Orange Pork Shoulder

Citrus Braised Carnitas

Balsamic Braised Short Ribs

Chocolate Rubbed Pot Roast

Paleo Sloppy Joes

Smoky BBQ Beef Brisket

Beef and Butternut Squash Stew

Slow Cooker Chorizo Mashed Yams

Classic Italian Meatballs

Barbacoa

Indian Chicken Curry

Mexican Inspired Chunky Chicken Soup

Turkey Chili

Slow Cooker Chicken Broth

Slow Cooker Beef Broth

5 star:(9)

4 star:(3)

3 star:(1)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(0)

[#12]

50 Unique Paleo Recipes You'll Love! (Unravelling Paleo Series)

From the Author of Amazon #1 Bestseller 'Unravelling Paleo'..

50 Paleo Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Smoothie Recipes you'll absolutely love!

Handpicked with great care, these 50 unique Paleo recipes range from the yummy, Paleo Cumin Turkey Burgers and super-healthy Tropical Green Smoothies to the mouth watering Italian Dish Ossobuco.

From a Paleo Mushroom Pizza to quench your fast-food desires, to Lemon Sea Bass en Papillote to add an exotic touch to your meals, there is a reason you'll fall in love with every single one of these recipes!

The Paleo way of eating has changed our eating habits more than anything else in the recent years. It aims to mimic the food that our ancestors ate and in return provides a host of benefits ranging from fighting Diabetes and curing Autoimmunity to avoiding Acne!

This cookbook aims to add a selection of fresh Paleo recipes to your Paleo Diet regime. It is a great place to start off with the Paleo way of life and it can also make a great addition to your already-Paleo menu!

[#71 - Eight 5-star reviews.]

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-25-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Monday, February 24, 2014

I Get Wilma Banned from Her Favorite Creek

I really stepped in something. Not sure what. But somehow I ended up getting Wilma and me banned from hiking on one of our favorite trails. Not only the two of us, but everyone else as well. I don't know what the whole story is, and I suspect I will never find out. But the horse trail at Kinnikinnick Creek Conservation Area (KCCA) is posted as being off limits to hikers as of about 11 A.M. on 2-6-14.

The horse trail at KCCA is IMO the nicest hiking trail in the BCCD system, maybe for all the surrounding counties as well. Wilma and I will both miss it. It has a lot of grade change, nice scenery, and some very nice creek access. They have plenty of other fine trails to hike on, but this one is especially nice.

This is an odd story and there does not seem to be a good way to tell it that is not confusing, because it is a confusing story.

First off - a request. Please do not contact the BCCD about this issue. Once a governmental entity chooses to do something like this public pressure against it tends to cause them to just dig their heels in. The near light speed response in the dead of winter to post some signs to close a trail to hikers that is snowed in and likely presently impassable to hikers, suggests there is something going on here that is not real obvious.

A pamphlet printed on yellow paper dated August of 1998 I have actually says this:

D. Equestrians shall:

(1) Stay on designated trails only and stay to the right when passing oncoming users.

(2) Slow to a walk on meeting other riders and hikers.

I am not sure where this pamphlet came from. I either got it onsite or it came with the trail maps they sent me. One might think that if hikers are banned from the horse trail that it would say so and not casually say that horses have to slow down on meeting hikers that should not be there.

There was an odd comment made on my blog once from someone named Jason. It is at the end of this blog post.

Jason said... I ride horseback routinely in this park. Unleashed dogs are a serious problem; horses spook easily. I personally witnessed an eighteen year old gal get hurt when she was tossed from her spooked horse. If you check the park rules, horse trails are for horses only and people trails are for people only.

I did check closely the next time I was there and there were no signs posted banning hiking on the horse trail. So, I just figured he was in error. In any case, Wilma is always leashed.

It is hard to tell this story in a coherent way because it is so bizarre, so I will just tell it chronologically.

My first time hiking the horse trail at KCCA was in October of 2010. Wilma and I walked from the horse parking area to the bridge over the creek and then up the road back to the horse parking area. No signs indicating the trail is off limits to hikers. In fact, the sign post at the trail head has a hiker symbol. This is a picture I took that day.

Wilma and I hiked there on a number of occasions since then. No signs on the horse trail banning hikers. I would have noticed. Nothing posted at the information kiosk either. Again, something I take a look at when I go some place to hike.

Fast forward to February 3, of this year. For some reason, I feel the need to read the BCCD board minutes that are posted on their web site. It takes about 3 months for them to get posted typically. In the November 2013 minutes it mentioned the horse trail was in poor condition. I had not been out there since February of 2013 when I tried hiking in the snow on the hiking trail. It was a bit of a non-starter due to the downed trees but I had to park outside the gate and walk right by the horse trail trail head - nothing new in the way of signs that I recall, and believe me I would have recalled them.

I sent an email to an employee of the BCCD that I have corresponded with before. He seems like a decent guy. I mentioned it was too bad about the horse trail falling into disrepair and mentioned I enjoyed hiking on it. It was more of an off hand comment than anything else. Mostly the email was asking about improving hiker accessibility across the creek at the west end of the horse trail and maybe some kind of action on getting hiker access to the horse trail that currently extends from Roland Olsen Forest Preserve in Winnebago County to KCCA. My understanding is the horse trail from ROFP to KCCA is something the horse people arranged with the landowners.

On the 5th, I got a 2 page, single spaced PDF from this employee. In it there is a rather casual reference that "The equestrian trail is not intended for use as a hiking trail, and has been posted with signage to indicate hikers are not permitted on that route".

The rest of the document was full of interesting information about why they can't do anything in the creek regarding making it easier for hikers to cross it without getting permission from various governmental agencies, that he made it sound like was a long and expensive process, and probably is. Which I found a little unusual given that hikers are not allowed there anyway.

I sent him an email promising to look closer for the signs the next time I was out there.

The next day before I went to work, I sent him the picture from October of 2010 showing the hiker symbol on the trail head sign post. This was a little before 6.

I got a reply to the email at 7:40 saying he had stopped by KCCA and indeed there are no signs at the trail head banning hikers, and apologizing for any confusion. I expected this would be the end of it but at 11:40 I got an email from a different BCCD employee with these four pictures.

The email said this

As you pointed out those signs were missing again! However as of 11:00 AM 2/6/14 they are back up on the Horse trail at KCCA. Mr. [redacted] pointed out in his E-mail to you the reason for the change in types of use for this trail. Enclosed you will find the new pictures with the no hiking sign back on the posts at KCCA. I hope this clears up the confusion.

Somehow between 8 am and 11 am they managed to get a bunch of signs made and posted. Pretty impressive.

So why is the horse trail closed to hiking? One suggestion in one of the emails was that it was just designated for a specific use. Another suggested safety reasons, specifically mentioning that pedestrians and dogs can spook horses. However, the signs don't ban any dogs on the trails, just hikers. In fact, one time Wilma and I were on this trail and came across a group of 6 or 8 horses. They had an unleashed dog with them and he did not seem to be spooking the horses any. I don't remember specifically, but I think there is a actually a sign at the horse trail head directing dogs be leashed on the horse trail.

I have hiked in a number of places that have horse trails. Rock Cut State Park, Lowden-Miller State Forest, several forest preserves in Winnebago County, the horse areas in the Rockford Park District, and a conservation area in McHenry County. None of these are signed as banning hikers.

This incident is making me wonder if the horse people are trying to ban hiking on all horse trails. If so, we as hikers need to oppose this strongly. It is not the fault of hikers that poorly trained horses or horse riders have issues.

I sent emails to the following entities asking about their rules regarding hiking on horse trails: ILDNR, WIDNR, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, McHenry County Conservation District, Lake County Forest Preserve District, and Cook County Forest Preserve District.

The Lake County Forest Preserve district web site indicates that "Some trails are completely dedicated to equestrian use", so maybe hikers are banned on the ones designated this way.

WIDNR reply. "The horse trails within the DNR system are not closed to hikers."
CCFPD reply. "Hikers are allowed on the “horse” trails, or what we refer to as “multi-use” trails."
WCFPD reply. "Yes, hikers can go on the equestrian trails."
MCCD reply. "There are no ordinances keeping hikers off horse trails."
LCFPD replied that some trails in two preserves are horse only, but the rest of the preserves are not that way. It was unclear from the reply if all the horse trails in those two preserves are off limits to hikers or just a single trail in each. They did not respond to my followup question.
No response at all from ILDNR as of 2-24-14.

ETA: I got a phone call from the public affairs person at LCFPD on 2-27-14. The followup question had been referred to her. She was helpful in explaining things better. She indicated they might make some changes to the trail maps to clear up any confusion.

So, it appears that if there is a safety issue, it is limited to this particular trail, although it seems unremarkable, other than being an unusually nice trail.

In the end, there is nothing I can do that will get this unfortunate decision changed, and the whole story of why it was made in the first place will likely remain a mystery to me.

What did I expect of my simple email? I really only expected a response along the lines of thank you for your comment, but we are too broke to do anything. And, given their continued protestations about their financial condition, I suspect this is actually the truth. But you never know unless you ask.

I figured the chance of getting access to the horse trail between KCCA and ROFP was an extreme long shot. That would cost real money and require cooperation with the WCFPD, the landowners, and the horse people, and that is a lot to ask for, and his reply suggested that as well.

I thought there was a better chance that a few rocks might show up in the creek bed down the road that would make it easier for me to cross. They have plenty of rocks.

Free Kindle Books 2-24-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

As is typical, there are also several religious and recipe books on the list today, along with the usual assortment of romance, porn and near porn. I don't call them out because they don't interest me. Click on the link above and search through the Free List Tab if you are interested in such books.

Backyard Berries - A Step by Step Guide to Growing Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries & Raspberries in Your Backyard
LEARN => How to Grow Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries & Raspberries Right in Your Own Backyard (A Step by Step Strategy)

Have you ever thought about growing your own berries? Are you tired of eating berries covered with toxic pesticides bought from the supermarket? Do you wish berries could be more affordable? Do you wish you could have access to fresh, ripe berries throughout the entire year?

If you ever wondered how to grow strawberries or answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it's important for you to learn the step by step strategies for growing strawberries and your other favorite berries right in your own backyard.

The problems with buying conventional berries at your local grocery store are numerous. Not only are berries ridiculously expensive for the amount that you get, but they are covered with toxins, such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers, that are likely making you and your family sick.

The solution, however, is easy. Simply learn how to grow your own berries right at home in your backyard. This way, you can be rest assured that your berries will be affordable and free from toxic chemicals that are hazardous to your health.

In this guide, you will discover the exact step by step strategy for planting each of the four most popular berries - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Specifically, you will learn how to choose the right variety of plant for your climate, how to prepare your soil for planting, how to nourish it as it grows and how and when to harvest.

You will also discover 10 of my favorite, mouth-watering berry recipes.

DOWNLOAD => Backyard Berries - A Step by Step Guide to Growing Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries & Raspberries in Your Backyard

Inside Backyard Berries you'll get step by step strategies for growing the 4 most popular berries right in your own backyard.

Inside this guide you’ll learn:

Why growing your own berries is now more important than ever

Why store bought berries aren’t as healthy as you think they are

How to make sure you have fresh, ripe berries throughout the entire year

A step by step strategy for growing strawberries

A step by step strategy for growing blueberries

A step by step strategy for growing blackberries

A step by step strategy for growing raspberries

How to grow berries in containers if yard space is limited

Bonus: 10 of my favorite healthy berry recipes

Growing strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in your backyard doesn’t have to be difficult. What you need is a simple, proven strategy for each one that you can easily understand and begin to follow today. That’s exactly what is provided in this book.

[#61 - a single 4-star review.]

Paleo Slow Cooker: 33 Quick Prep, Easy, Healthy And Delicious Smelling Paleo Slow Cooker Meals-Eat Well Even If You Are Tight On Time Through Paleo Slow ... , Paleo Slow Cooker Meals, Palo Diet)
This book is for fun loving, taste focused people who love to cook and eat yummy Paleo diets made using slow cooker. You can get better understandings about the Paleo slow cooker cuisine, as well as its health benefits. This book comprises the collection of recipes for every meal of the day and healthy lives.

Aside from the recipes, this book also contains background information about the benefits of going on a Paleo diet, and why Paleo diet is a great way to complete your calories for the day. It also encloses a general instruction for preparing slow cooker recipes to preserve most nutrients and promote quick nutrient absorption. This recipe book contains 33 delicious Paleo slow cooker recipes, plus the nutritional information for each if you need to count your calories

Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn...

Paleo or Paleolithic diet—a basic guide
Appetizer Recipes
Breakfast Recipes
Lunch Recipes
Dinner Recipes
Desserts & Snacks Recipes
Crockpot Brownie Bites
Paleo Almond Butter Chicken
Slow-Cooker Beef Brisket with Peppers
Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken
Much, much more!

5 star:(8)
4 star:(0)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#85]

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-23-14

I overslept yesterday and then had to work all day so never got to a free book post.

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Friday, February 21, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-21-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Pentecost. An ARKANE Thriller (Book 1)

India. When a nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi, and the stone she carried is stolen, an international hunt is triggered for the relics of the early church.

Forged in the fire and blood of martyrs, the Pentecost stones have been handed down through generations of Keepers who kept their power and locations secret.

Until now.

The Keepers are being murdered, the stones stolen by those who would use them for evil in a world transformed by religious fundamentalism.

Oxford University psychologist Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage. She is helped by Jake Timber from the mysterious ARKANE, a British government agency specializing in paranormal and religious experience. Morgan must risk her own life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?

From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church in a race against time before a new Pentecost is summoned, this time powered by the fires of evil.

5 star:(60)

4 star:(49)

3 star:(28)

2 star:(5)

1 star:(7)

[#11 - it's been free before but I have not read it.]

Prepper Survival Pantry: The Survivor's Guide To Food Storage, Water Storage, Canning And Preserving

Understanding how to prepare for and survive a disaster scenario is often times the difference between life and death for you and your family. Prepping for a disaster starts with creating your own custom food and water storage system. This book will cover techniques for creating a food storage system as well as more advanced techniques you can use to prolong the shelf life of your food storage cache. As a bonus we will also include our best selling canning and preserving book with updated recipes! So join the crowd and download now!

This book will cover:

The Three Pillars of Disaster Survival

An Infrastructure Collapse Scenario

Why You Should Prepare

The Enemies Of Food Storage

The Food Storage Starter Kit

Food Storage Mistakes

Canning And Preserving

Water Storage

and much, much, more!

5 star:(2)

4 star:(1)

3 star:(0)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(0)

[#36]

Coconut Oil Handbook: Unlock the Secrets of Coconut Oil to Lose Weight, Beautify, Heal, and Detox (The Handbook on Coconut Oil for Skin, Hair Loss, Health, and More)

You’re late to the party! That’s right, if you are reading this and haven’t started to utilize the amazing benefits of of Coconut Oil you have been missing out on one of natures best kept secrets!

Have no fear, you are about to learn all about it. Class is now in session - The Coconut Oil handbook is going to teach you all the amazing health benefits of Coconut oil that they didn’t teach you in health class. Coconut Oil has hundreds of uses, cures, and benefits. This is no-hype, no BS handbook on the worlds healthiest oil.

The critically acclaimed book Coconut Oil Handbook: Unlock the Secrets of Coconut Oil to Lose Weight, Beautify, Heal, and Detox by best selling author and blogger Aubrey Azzaro will educate and entertain you on the amazing health benefits of Coconut Oil!

Coconut Oil Facts

* Coconut Oil is Anti-Bacterial

* Coconut Oil speeds up metabolism

* Coconut Oil is anti fungal and anti viral

* Coconut Oil is reach in age defying antioxidants

* Coconut Oil has been used for thousands of years

* Coconut Oil is heart healthy

* Coconut Oil is great for the skin and hair

* Coconut Oil is great for cooking and baking

That is just the tip of the iceberg my friends Coconut Oil has HUNDREDS of uses and we cover them in this handbook in glorious detail. We all know that natural and organic products are better for us. But why don’t we use them more. My belief is that we just aren’t educating ourselves properly. Turn on any channel on the television and we are inundated with advertisements for creams, pills, and potions that claim to make us look younger and healthier. The fact is: Most of those products are overpriced and loaded with synthetic chemicals that make us sick, drain our bank accounts, and damage our skin. Coconut oil on the other hand is natural, safe, and has been used for thousands of years with a list of benefits and remedies that reach mind blowing proportions. This is not hype folks, this is pure fact. This handbook will help shed some light on this wonderful oil and give you the information you need in order to become the best you that you can be.

A Preview to the Coconut Oil Handbook

* Coconut Oil 101

* Basic Nutritional Make up of Coconut Oil

* Coconut oil for health

* Coconut oil for beauty

* Weight loss benefits of Coconut oil

* Integrating Coconut oil intro your everyday life

* The best Coconut Oil to buy

* Common cures and remedies

* Saving money with Coconut oil

[#72 - five reviews - all 5-star.]

Thursday, February 20, 2014

An interesting side effect of the FCCA

I am not a lawyer (IANAL). While I am willing to comment on the law, I would recommend very highly that you not rely on my comments to keep you out of jail. The law as written is very poorly constructed and with a lot of potential nightmares hidden in it.

One of the many strange side effects of the FCCA is that it appears that a FCCL is exempt from being charged with aggravated UUW (AUUW) for carrying a handgun [the felony version of UUW].

AUUW is defined thusly in the law.

(720 ILCS 5/24-1.6)
Sec. 24-1.6. Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
(a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he or she knowingly:
(1) Carries on or about his or her person or in any vehicle or concealed on or about his or her person ... any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; or
(2) Carries or possesses on or about his or her person, upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town, ... any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; and
(3) One of the following factors is present:
(A) the firearm, other than a pistol, revolver, or handgun, possessed was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible at the time of the offense; or
(A-5) the pistol, revolver, or handgun possessed was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible at the time of the offense and the person possessing the pistol, revolver, or handgun has not been issued a currently valid license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act; or
(B) the firearm, other than a pistol, revolver, or handgun, possessed was uncased, unloaded, and the ammunition for the weapon was immediately accessible at the time of the offense; or
(B-5) the pistol, revolver, or handgun possessed was uncased, unloaded, and the ammunition for the weapon was immediately accessible at the time of the offense and the person possessing the pistol, revolver, or handgun has not been issued a currently valid license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act,
...

Note: I edited out some excess verbiage that would have cluttered things up.

The way I read this is if you do (a)(1) or (a)(2), and also (a)(3) it is AUUW. But, if the firearm is a handgun, licensees are exempt from these provisions of AUUW. Note it does not say anything about being concealed or not concealed. Just possessed.

Two of the provisions of note in the non-felony version of UUW are these.

(720 ILCS 5/24-1)
Sec. 24-1. Unlawful Use of Weapons.
(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when he knowingly:
...
(4) Carries or possesses in any vehicle or concealed on or about his person ... any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm,...

(10) Carries or possesses on or about his person, upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town...

Note that what is illegal is carrying concealed or in a vehicle in (a)(4), or within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town in (a)(10). It thus appears to me that it is not illegal anymore for a licensee to carry openly outside the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town.

Not that I recommend it just yet.

And note that there may be other laws you could be breaking such as 21-6 that might apply.

[This is distilled from a number of posts made elsewhere over the last few months.]

My FCCA Blog

Free Kindle Books 2-20-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-19-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

13 (Tallent & Lowery)

In 1902, in a dark room on the fifth floor of Carnegie Hall, thirteen people came together to continue a tradition that had been set in stone thousands of years before.

In 2012, Leah Tallent is Head of Research at the New York Public Library. Stoic and stable, brilliant and cynical, she has forever enjoyed her existence among the book stacks. But even with her unparalleled intellect, there was no way to know that on the historic steps between America's famous lions, she would become involved with a crazy man on a fanatical quest.

Gareth Lowery has spent his life searching for the ultimate artifact that he is certain exists. His life's pursuit has been to retrieve twelve keys hidden by men whose job it was to protect the single biggest secret ever kept. To find the keys he must enlist the help of an unwilling guide who, unfortunately, knows much more than he bargained for.

From the first page to the last word, this fantastic duo become immersed in a whirlwind treasure hunt with historical and passionate repercussions. From the strange and eerie Winchester House to the blustery darkness of Loch Ness, Gareth and Leah will quickly learn that the theory of duality is correct: For every bad there is a good and, for Heaven, there most assuredly exists...Hell.

5 star:(16)

4 star:(6)

3 star:(0)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(0)

[#6]

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-18-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

Nothing attracted my eye on Monday. Maybe I am getting too picky.

From the top 100 free list

Adrian's War (A Distant Eden)
Three years after a solar storm wiped out the power grid Adrian Hunter embarks on a journey to the mountains, determined to live and survive by utilizing his knowledge of stone age techniques. He encounters a band of raiders who attempt to take him prisoner - and Adrian's War begins.

5 star:(68)
4 star:(37)
3 star:(12)
2 star:(3)
1 star:(1)

[#37 - has potential.]

Square Foot Gardening: in 5 Easy Steps
The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.
-Abraham Lincoln
When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden.
-Minnie Aumonier

Square Foot Gardening in 5 Easy Steps offers a complete guide to square foot gardening, including, planning, locating, building, growing and harvesting. Its all laid out in easy to follow sections, there's even great little tips and tricks at the end. This book is a fast, personable read and will have you ready to garden in no time.

5 star:(4)
4 star:(1)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#93]

The Paleo Pantry : 26 Classic Comfort Foods That You Can Stop Buying And Start Making (Primal Gluten Free Cookbook)
Transitioning to Paleo can be challenging - in our moments of stress or weakness all we want to eat is our typical unhealthy comfort foods. In The Paleo Pantry, our family favorites such as ice cream, toaster pastries and jam can be easily made at home with Paleo-friendly, gluten-free ingredients such as almond flour, coconut flour, coconut milk, natural sweeteners and whole nutrient-dense meats, eggs, veggies and fruits.

In her latest cookbook, Kate Evans Scott inspires you to step inside your kitchen, take a look around, and change the way you relate to food. The Paleo Pantry was born of a tight budget, Kate's love for sharing Paleo-friendly, gluten free recipes and a desire to enjoy a homemade / healthy eating life with her growing family. On a mission to stick to the Paleo diet, and remove prepackaged and processed foods from her cupboards, she learned that with a little determination, anything from the store could be made in her kitchen.

Here are her very approachable recipes for 26 everyday staples, organized by Fridge, Freezer, and Cupboard — from classic canned goods such as honey pears, dill pickles, and homemade applesauce to nut butters and spreads such as almond butter, blackberry freezer jam, and spreadable whipped butter. Enjoy homemade stocks, quick and nutritious breakfast options like orange cranberry scones, instant blueberry hot cereal and toaster pastries. The Paleo Pantry is a celebration of food containing all-time favourite recipes like soft serve banana ice cream, tasty beef jerky, crunchy apple and plantain chips.

This cookbook features 26 high-quality recipe photos so you will easily be able to enjoy viewing them on both the black & white and the full color Kindle.

[#94 - a single 4-star review.]

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Willow Creek Path Walk (Rock Cut) 2-16-14

Wilma and I have not been out walking or hiking since our hike at Colored Sands FP on 12-28-13. It has been either too cold or snowing every day since.

We parked by the dam and walked down Willow Creek Path to Perryville Road and back. The path was snow covered but not much in the way of ice. Still kind of slow going.

Nice to finally be able to get outside.

Free Kindle Books 2-16-14

Nothing jumped off the free list at me Friday or Saturday.

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Thursday, February 13, 2014

2-13-14 Free Kindle Books

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

[#2 - been free before but I have not read it. The pattern of reviews may suggest the book is a lesser read.]

Food Preservation & Storage at Home - A Step by Step Guide to Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating, Freezing & Safely Storing Food for Later Use

LEARN:: Step by Step Strategies for 4 Food Preservation and Storage Techniques (Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating & Freezing)

Do you wonder ANY of the following: How can I take advantage of in-season produce prices and eat them all year long? How can I safely prepare meals for my family for the week or month ahead of time? How can I be prepared to feed my family in case of a natural disaster or other state of emergency?

If you find yourself asking any of these questions, then it's important for you to know these food preservation and storage techniques.

YOUR GOAL:: Establish a 3 Month Food Storage Supply for You & Your Family

I want to challenge you to gather enough food for you and your family to survive on for 3 full months, preserve it using canning, pickling, dehydrating and/or freezing strategies, and safely store it.

Any number of things could happen today that could potentially leave you without an ample food supply. You or the primary income earner of your household could be laid off and unable to find work. There could be a natural disaster that contaminates our water supply and leaves us without food. These are just to name a few.

If you are smart and start preserving and storing food at home to get you through these potentially devastating times, you and your family will have a greater chance of surviving any situation.

DOWNLOAD:: Food Preservation & Storage at Home - A Step by Step Guide to Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating, Freezing & Safely Storing Food for Later Use

Inside "Food Preservation & Storage at Home" you'll get step by step strategies for these top 4 methods of preserving foods at home.

Inside this guide you’ll learn:

Why preserving your food at home is now more important than ever

How to avoid food-borne illnesses when canning

What tools you will need for each food preservation technique

A step by step canning strategy

A step by step pickling strategy

A step by step dehydrating strategy

A step by step freezing strategy

A 3 month food storage supply challenge

How to buy the freshest food possible for preserving food at home

Preserving food at home using one of these 4 methods and storing it for later use doesn’t have to be difficult. What you need is a simple, proven strategy for each food preservation technique that you can easily understand and begin to follow today. That’s exactly what is provided in this book.

5 star:(11)

4 star:(8)

3 star:(4)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(1)

[#3 - it's been free before but I don't recall reading it.]

Survival Seeds: The Emergency Heirloom Seed Saving Guide

Learn everything you need to know in order to collect and save survival seeds.

Most people have less than a week's supply of food in their home. A select few are more prepared and have a six month to one year supply of food, but even they aren't prepared to survive long-term without food. If you only have food on hand, but no way of growing food, you're woefully unprepared to survive a long-term food shortage.

Learning to grow and save heirloom seeds could be the difference between having food and starving to death in a long-term survival situation.

There are a number of looming threats to the global food supply and food could be in short demand in the near future. Would you be prepared if you woke up tomorrow and store shelves were empty? How long would you be able to live without easy access to food? A week? A month? Years? Survival seeds allow you to survive indefinitely by giving you the ability to grow and collect seeds from your own produce.

Survival Seeds: The Emergency Heirloom Seed Saving Guide covers the following topics:

What survival seeds are and why you need to start saving seeds now.

Real threats to the global food supply and how they will impact our lives if a solution isn't found soon.

Why saving heirloom seeds is important to preserving our heritage and our food supply's genetic diversity.

Emergency seed vaults: You've probably seen them for sale online. Are they a good deal or a waste of time?

Open-pollinated and Heirloom seeds vs. seeds from hybrid plants: Why you should never use hybrid seeds for seed saving.

Organic seeds and why they're important.

Practice makes perfect: Why learning the ropes ahead of time is absolutely critical to survival.

How to test the drought-tolerance of the plants in your survival garden in advance.

Seed viability and germination (includes a quick and easy method of testing the germination rate of your seeds).

Why you need to save a variety of seeds, including seeds that aren't native to your area.

What cover crops are and why they're important.

Choosing a location for your survival garden.

How much produce will you need for your family?

Using succession planting to increase the yield of your land.

Natural fertilizers and soil amendments.

Growing fruit trees from seeds.

The following fruit and vegetable plants are covered in -depth:

Beans.

Basil.

Beets.

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts.

Cabbage.

Cantaloupe.

Carrots.

Cauliflower.

Celery.

Corn.

Cucumbers.

Garlic.

Kale.

Lettuce.

Melons.

Onions.

Peas.

Peppers.

Potatoes.

Pumpkins.

Radishes.

Spinach.

Squash.

Strawberries.

Sunflowers.

Tomatoes.

Watermelon.

5 star:(7)

4 star:(0)

3 star:(1)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(0)

[#80]

The iCandidate (The Michael Bennit Series)

When A Traditional Candidate Meets The iCandidate, the Nation Will Never Be the Same!

"We're going to run the first virtual front porch campaign."

All Michael Bennit wants to do is be the best high school teacher he can be. However, when he loses a bet to his over-achieving class of history students, he finds himself in unfamiliar territory: a candidate running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With no money, and only his students to run his campaign, Michael sets a plan in motion to be the country’s first virtual candidate. Leveraging the potential of social media, his campaign becomes the epicenter of national attention and a target for a desperate incumbent fanatical about hanging onto power - at any cost.

The iCandidate follows the plight of four people caught in the firestorm of mass media, social media, and dirty politics. In the end, lives will be changed and the political landscape of the country forever altered, but will the lesson of it all be lost?

˃˃˃ An Intelligent and Refreshing Read For All Ages

The story is written from the perspectives of four different characters, giving the reader a much richer personal connection to the characters.

˃˃˃ More Than Just a Political Novel

The iCandidate is more than just another political novel. As a teacher and a soldier, the protagonist brings a lot to the table in this page turner. Although the book is set against the backdrop of a political campaign, the themes it explores about social media and society, education in America, and how we react to a pervasive media culture all add to the spice of the novel.

˃˃˃ A Glimpse Into the Future!

Social media is everywhere today! It is a powerful tool, but are we too trusting of it? This must read book examines that question in a fun and entertaining way.

5 star:(41)

4 star:(19)

3 star:(4)

2 star:(0)

1 star:(1)

[#100 - been free before. I have not read it.]

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-12-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

As is typical, there are also several religious and recipe books on the list today, along with the usual assortment of romance, porn and near porn. I don't call them out because they don't interest me. Click on the link above and search through the Free List Tab if you are interested in such books.

Deadly H2O
After 9/11 shattered his life, Michael Mayer left his family behind and enlisted to fight the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Special Forces operative for the United States Intelligence Agencies. Ten years later he is living a life of solitude, learning to overcome the demons that came to haunt his mind during those terrible wars, when he is summoned home to bury his younger brother who has tragically died under bizarre circumstances. During his somber reunion with his wife, family, and friends, he quickly learns that his brother, along with their best friend, had invented a revolutionary device that converts the elements found in ordinary water into fuel that powers cars and it has been stolen!
His best friend soon discovers security surveillance footage of the men responsible for his brother’s death and Michael calls in a favor to a former colleague at the CIA to find out their identities when the situation turns into a matter of National Security. Michael, along with those closest to him, are thrust back into the life he’s been trying so hard to leave behind when he’s offered the deal of a lifetime.

[#5 - has just three reviews - all 5-star. The voting pattern on the reviews is notable for a book with just 3 reviews. There are 15 or 16 votes on each review. Very unusual, and very noticeably out of the ordinary. The plot as described is nothing special, and nothing that seems real plausible. But it is free and if it turns out to be less than advertised and I actually take a closer look, I can always leave it a review saying what I think of it.]

Natural Remedies For Children And Family: A Mom's Guide Book of 100 Natural Remedies To Prevent And Cure Everyday Illnesses
Learn How to Effectively Treat Daily Health Problems Using Natural Remedies for You and Your Family When You Download A Copy Of This Ultimate Self-Care Guide!

Today only, get this Kindle book for just $0.99. Regularly priced at $4.99. Read on your PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet or Kindle device.

Traditional medication is a very controversial issue among health enthusiasts. It has been established that herbal remedies are not recognized in the modern-medical world as highly effective and therapeutic, and that relying only on natural remedies is not enough to cure and heal daily illnesses.

However, studies have shown that medicines manufactured by pharmaceutical companies’ effects more than what are expected from them. This is very disturbing considering that little children cannot fully express how they feel once they experience the ill effects of commercially prepared medications. Parents, most especially moms, are very concerned with this matter since issues on health are very important to them. This made a lot of people become interested again with natural health remedies as they seem to be more beneficial and safer compared to prescription drugs.

Advocates of natural remedies stress that using a holistic approach in healing illnesses is more beneficial and it can enhance the body’s intrinsic capability to heal itself. As a herbal remedies book, this reference will give you an in depth understanding on the different natural remedies and supplements. To name a few, this herbal remedies guide will give you knowledge on these key points:

1. Different herbal remedies products
2. Natural remedies for anxiety
3. Natural remedies for diabetes
4. Natural remedies for children
5. Natural remedies for migraine
6. And even how to prepare a natural remedies tea

You will learn the following in this natural remedies book:

Wonders, Preparations or Forms, and Benefits of Natural Remedies
Ointments And Salves
Poultice
Infusions
Tea
Tinctures
Stand Alone And Others
List of Other Ailments and Their Herb Cure

This natural remedies book is your ultimate guide in knowing which herbal plants are suited to treat specific illnesses. Immediate relief can be achieved if you know how to properly prepare your herbs. In this note, it is such a comfort that you have this guide to natural remedies for healthy living as it explains the different herbal preparations like ointments, poultice, salves, infusions, tincture, tea, and extracts. This book will teach you how to easily prepare simple homemade natural recipes for tons of illnesses.

The book also emphasizes on the benefits that you get from herbal remedies. These natural treatments can stand as prescription for natural cures and will serve as natural remedies for children or as natural remedies for family as a whole.

Just like the older generations, like the traditional Chinese dynasties, and the Egyptians, you have the option to benefit from the amazing cure that can be obtained from inexpensive herbal plants. Choosing natural remedies for illnesses in the family is a wiser choice than buying over- the- counter medicines. Natural remedies are safe, effective, easy to obtain, and definitely less expensive.

Take action today! Safe guard your family away from toxic prescription drugs and learn natural remedies and supplements when treating curing everyday ailments! Grab a copy of this book: Natural Remedies For Children And Family: A Mom’s Guide Book of 100 Natural Remedies To Prevent And Cure Everyday Illnesses for a limited time discount of $0.99!

5 star:(5)
4 star:(1)
3 star:(0)
2 star:(0)
1 star:(0)

[#56]

A minor mystery solved regarding the Greenways Trail Map

February 3 I sent an email to an employee of the BCCD that I have corresponded with before. Mostly the email was asking about improving hiker accessibility across the creek at the west end of the horse trail inside Kinnikinnick Creek Conservation Area and maybe some kind of action on getting hiker access to the horse trail that currently extends from Roland Olsen Forest Preserve in Winnebago County to KCCA. My understanding is the horse trail from ROFP to KCCA is something some horse people arranged with the landowners.

I got a real shock in his reply about the horse trail inside of KCCA, but that is stuff for another post.

Part of his reply referred to the trail between ROFP and KCCA as part of their master plan, but I suspect anything happening there would require collaboration with the horse people (among others). The document did not say so, but I suspect the chance of getting such collaboration approaches nil.

I sent him this JPG which is part of a map published by the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning showing a trail exiting out of the SW corner of KCCA headed toward ROFP.

He replied back that it is a mistake in the map made by the contractor that created it and that he was forwarding it to whoever is in charge of fixing the map so it gets fixed in the online version. I did not even know there was an online version. He said it was at WINGIS.

I went to the WINGIS Greenways web site and sure enough there is the map. The PDF version showing the trail that is not open to the public is there. I found the online version as well by clicking on the link. Maybe I am not using it right, but I don't see much of anything in the way of trails on the online version at all. There is not even a legend symbol for them. Perhaps a work in progress. There does seem to be a page that loads for a split second before it goes to the online map. Maybe that page configures how the map is displayed, but I can't seem to see the page long enough to do any good.

It is curious how a contractor would even know about the trail segment in the first place. Unless one knows about it, one would not even know to look there for a trail. It is very hard to see in the overhead imagery I have seen, although if you have a good imagination and know there is a trail that extends from ROFP to KCCA you might be able to "see" such a trail in Google Earth or similar overhead images.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-11-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Monday, February 10, 2014

Free Kindle Books 2-10-14

General notes to free Kindle book posts

From the top 100 free list

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Public Act 98-0600

Please understand, I am not a lawyer. While I am willing to comment on the law, I would recommend very highly that you not rely on my comments to keep you out of jail. The law as written is very poorly constructed and with a lot of potential nightmares hidden in it.

P.A. 98-0600 modified some provisions of P.A. 98-0063 that created the FCCA. Some people on gun forums are calling it a "trailer bill". Apparently to show they are in on the lingo.

It modifies some things here and there within various state laws, including the FCCA.

Section 5 amends The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 apparently to allow law enforcement agencies to do fingerprinting for applicants. I am not sure what benefit there is to this, but I guess it creates some amount of competition to the commercial fingerprinting companies, and maybe allows people who live in rural areas options for fingerprinting they would not otherwise have.

Section 10 makes some more changes to the FOID Card Act. It clarified that LE officials and school administrators have a lot of power to ban you from owning firearms just by claiming you are some kind of threat. No proof is actually required, although there is some language that appears to require it. Nor is there any kind of requirement that school administrators or cops have any training whatsoever in this area.

Section 15 modifies the Firearm Concealed Carry Act Sections 10, 15, 20, 40, 75, and 80.

Section 10 of the FCCA was modified to clarify and strengthen the so called "duty to disclose" requirement in the FCCA. If a cop asks. You have to tell them you have a concealed firearm if you are a licensee or non-resident carrying under subsection (e) of section 40. It also includes others who might be in a vehicle as being required to disclose. Some people have made a big deal of this. It seems to me to be in line with other states, and in fact somewhat less offensive than other states. It just does not bother me any.

Section 15 of the FCCA was amended to make some minor administrative type changes.

Section 20 of the FCCA was amended to make the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board part of the ISP. Probably a good thing to specify that. There were some other changes made that appear to be minor in nature.

Section 40 of the FCCA subsection (e) was changed. This is the part of the law that allows car carry by non-residents.

(2) is eligible to carry a firearm in public under the laws of his or her state or territory of residence, as evidenced by the possession of a concealed carry license or permit issued by his or her state of residence, if applicable.

The part I bolded was added. Some have claimed this means only people that have been issued a license from their home state qualify. But, it does not actually say that. A lot of states allow permit less carry in public in some fashion. That would appear to be covered by the "if applicable" phrase. OTOH, who knows what cops and the courts will think it means.

Section 75 of the FCCA covers applicant training. This section was changed so that corrections officers are not required to take any training, among other minor changes. It also gives former cops and corrections officers 8 hours training credit ( a la the 8 hour military credit) but makes it hard enough to claim the credit that few will bother.

Section 80 of the FCCA was re-titled "Certified firearms instructors" from "Firearms instructor training". It also allows for non-residents to be instructors, sort of. It is not clear to me that they actually fixed the issue WRT non-resident instructors. They still have to acquire a FCCL according to the rules created by the ISP and they can't get a license unless they are residents of Hawaii.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

My FCCA blog

Public Act 98-0063

"Concealed firearm" means a loaded or unloaded handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public or on or about a person within a vehicle.

The bold emphasis is mine.

Section 10 states the license is shall issue to those who qualify.

This subsection defines what the license is good for.

(c) A license shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance. A license shall permit the licensee to:
(1) carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm, fully concealed or partially concealed, on or about his or her person; and
(2) keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle.

The bold emphasis is mine. Lots of other interesting stuff in this section.

Section 15 covers objections by LE to license applicants.

Section 20 covers the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board.

Section 25 covers Qualifications for a license.

Section 30 covers contents of license application.

Section 35 covers investigation of the applicant. It requires the ISP to investigate each applicant and what investigative resources are to be used.

Section 40 covers non-resident license applications. The people who wrote the law made sure that non-residents mostly don't qualify. At present, only HI residents qualify.

Subsection (e) of section 40 has this gem.

(e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit a non-resident from transporting a concealed firearm within his or her vehicle in Illinois, if the concealed firearm remains within his or her vehicle and the non-resident:
(1) is not prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under federal law;
(2) is eligible to carry a firearm in public under the laws of his or her state or territory of residence; and
(3) is not in possession of a license under this Act. If the non-resident leaves his or her vehicle unattended,
he or she shall store the firearm within a locked vehicle or locked container within the vehicle in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 65 of this Act.

This was amended somewhat in the P.A. 98-0600, and has apparently been interpreted by the ISP as allowing qualified non-residents to carry a concealed handgun within their vehicles, even though it does not actually say that.

Section 45 grants civil immunity to government employees who deal with the FCCA.

Section 50 covers license renewal.

Section 55 covers change of address and lost or stolen licenses.

Section 60 covers fees.

$150 for a standard applicant - new or renewal.
$300 for a non-resident - new or renewal.
$75 for a replacement license (see section 55).

Section 65 covers prohibited areas. It is not clear to me whether section 65 modifies where in the state the license is good or just creates violations of the FCCA. Note that it starts out with "(a) A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on or into:", and then lists 23 places a licensee cannot carry. It also uses the word "firearm" and not the term "concealed firearm" that was defined just for the act.

This is a good section for FCCL to read carefully. Multiple times.

Section 70 covers penalties for violators.

Section 75 covers applicant firearm training.

Section 80 covers firearms instructor training.

Section 85 specifies that the FCCL does not exempt a licensee from background checks required to purchase firearms. Why this is necessary is unclear to me. Maybe just a feel good thing for the antis.

Section 87. covers administrative and judicial review.

Section 90 covers preemption. It is unclear just what it means. One part of it says it only applies to licensees while another sentence leaves out that proviso.

Section 92 creates some kind of study commission to investigate the really bad idea of consolidating the FOID Card and FCCL into a licensee's driver's license.

Section 95 gives the ISP the right to create rules and deals with some procurement issues.

Sections 100 through 110 created the School Administrator Reporting of Mental Health Clear and Present Danger Determinations Law. It is part of the FCCA. It appears to require school administrators to make determinations of students who present a clear and present danger and rat them out to the state. It is not clear to me just how school administrators would be qualified to make this determination.

Sections 115 amended the Open Meetings Act to close the operations of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board to public scrutiny.

Section 120 amended the Freedom of Information Act to prohibit FCCL personal information from being released, but it also hides much of the workings of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board and ISP activities relating to administration of the FCCA from public scrutiny.

Section 122 amended the Secretary of State Act to allow the ISP access to driver's licenses photos. Not an unreasonable thing IMO.

Section 125.
Amended The Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to allow LE records be used for FCCA purposes.

Created the State Police Firearm Services Fund to hold funds relating to the FOID and FCCA Acts,

Amended the State Finance Act to include The Mental Health Reporting Fund and The State Police Firearm Services Fund into the act, and creating The Mental Health Reporting Fund

Section 135. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing Section 5.206. No idea what was in there to begin with. Possibly something to do with the FOID Card Act funds.

Section 140 amended the Illinois Explosives Act to ban people from getting an explosives license if the person has been adjudicated a mentally disabled person as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Previously it used the term "mental defective".

Section 142 amended the Liquor Control Act to punish a bar owner "who knowingly fails to prohibit concealed firearms on its premises". Nothing in this section tells a bar owner just how they would go about prohibiting concealed firearms on its premises. Interestingly, it does not provide for an option for bar owners to allow anyone to carry concealed in their bar including themselves or security personnel. It does reference the FCCA, but does not actually limit the required prohibition to FCCL holders.

It also uses the term "concealed firearms" without referencing the definition found in the FCCA. It might well be that bar owners are also prohibited from having concealed firearms of any type, not just handguns. The term "concealed firearms" is only defined for the FCCA and thus does not apply to the Liquor Control Act.

Section 145 amends The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code changing the term "mental defective" to "mentally disabled person". PC, I guess.

It also adds some sections to this law the effect of which seem relatively innocent but just what they might actually mean in practice is unclear. What I suspect is some cleanup work went on with some phrasing that is inconsistent between different sections of various laws.

Section 150 makes a whole series of changes to the FOID Card Act. I have not looked at them in depth.

The most notable change that jumped out at me when I first looked at this act is that people who voluntarily admit themselves to a mental health facility are now subject to being banned from owning firearms for 5 years. Oddly, the banning does not apply to alcohol treatment. It also has some language that effectively makes the 5 year banning for involuntary admission to a mental health facility not applicable to LEOs.

430 ILCS 65/13.1 added some additional preemption language, further limiting what localities can do WRT regulating firearms. Like much of this act, it is badly written and may not mean exactly what it appears to say.

Section 155 amends the criminal code WRT UUW.

Sec. 24-1.6. Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon was amended to have two separate categories of offense. One for handguns, and one for non-handguns. The one for handguns exempts FCCL. My take is that you can't be charged with AUUW for carrying a handgun if you have a FCCL. It does not specify open or concealed carry.

Sec. 24-2. Exemptions was amended to add an exception to 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) for FCCL holders who are carrying a concealed handgun.

It therefore appears to me that open carry of handguns is no longer felony UUW for FCCL holders. Very strange.

A provision of the act requiring machine guns and short barrel rifles be broken down during transportation was repealed.

Section 160 amended The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to change the firearms prohibitions against persons who are the subject of an order of protection. It is not clear to me if this is an improvement in the law or just a change. It now allows for a person who has been so ordered to turn over their firearms to someone with a FOID card rather than a local law enforcement agency as was previously the case. That part is certainly an improvement.

Section 165 amended The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. It allows any examiner to submit a secret report on anyone to allow their firearms rights to be revoked. Does not sound real good on its face. It also changes some definitions to coincide with those found in the FOID Card Act.

Section 170 amended The Probate Act of 1975 to require courts to report to the ISP when someone is adjudicated as disabled.

Section 195 appears to be some kind of administrative thing regarding when modified sections of existing law take effect.

Sec. 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

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