Author Archives: AH Trimble

Feedback & Comments: 4/13/2020

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AH Trimble Feedback and CommentsWun writes…

“As far as the NRA…
From the NFA of 1934 to the so called “bump-stock ban”, the NRA has supported every single gun control measure ever enacted.
In every case they called it “compromise” legislation and folded like a cheap tent.”

Later in the day he wrote again…

This SCOTUS ruling (November 9, 1942) is known as “Wickard v Filburn”. This was where wheat grown by Mr. Filburn, on his own land, for his own cattle was declared part of “interstate commerce” and therefore was subject to the whim of government regulators. It was one of the first and worst of the rulings destroying our right to private property.
It should have been no surprise.
This was only a few months after FDR signed Executive Order 9066 (February 19, 1942), which allowed interning Americans of Japanese descent and stripping private property from them without trial.

note from AH Trimble: Glad to see people know real history and no the propaganda crap pumped out of the government and other organizations!

 

 

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Dummy Batteries to Reduce Voltage

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Article first appeared August 2015

There are times, especially with electronics, that you want to use AA batteries but to do so would give you and pile of AA Batteries“over UltraCell2voltage” situation that would burnout those sensitive electronics. Well, there is a solution…dummy batteries.

Briefly, these are battery “look-a-likes” but are not actually batteries. They pass current through them but add no voltage themselves.

So the first picture below is that of a AA battery tray for a Baofeng UV-5RA radio. This battery tray is part of an aftermarket battery case that allows you to use AA batteries with the UV-5RA radio. < read more about the battery case here >Baofeng UV-5RA AA battery tray

So, this looks all fine and dandy and ready to use with the radio. However, you could burnout the radio using this battery case with these six 1.5 vDC batteries in the battery case.

Why?

The UV-5RA radio is designed to work on a maximum battery voltage of about 8.5 vDC. This battery configuration would give you about 9.1 or 9.2 vDC with brand new decent-quality AA batteries.

Can you say “sizzle!”

So why was the case designed this way to begin with?

Baofeng UV-5R AA battery caseIf you swap out the  alkaline 1.5 vDC batteries with the standard 1.2 – 1.3 vDC rechargeable batteries then you get voltage measuring in at 7.2 – 7.9 vDC. And that is well within the operating voltage range of the radio.

But you have another option, an option that can be used with alkaline batteries pumping out 1.5 – 1.6 vDC per battery…dummy batteries that I mentioned earlier.

The dummy battery is simply a non-battery in a casing that looks like a battery.  The dummy battery allows current/voltage to flow through while taking up space in the UltraCell dummy battery with battery case battery case and not adding another 1.5 vDC to the current. So now you can put five alkaline batteries in the battery tray along with one dummy battery and have voltage that is within operational voltage range.

Note: Carry the sixth alkaline battery with you. When the electronic device shuts off due to low voltage, swap out the UltraCell dummy battery for the good alkaline battery that you’ve been carrying. You will get a little more life out of the electronic device. Maybe just enough to make a huge difference before the fresh battery is discharged.

 

 

 

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Interesting Events in US History – Part #7 (1990-2000)

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YEAR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
1990 Democrat controlled Congress enacts National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 forcing states and communities to provide more housing in line with the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act. No asset, income or creditworthiness is required.
1990 Para-military SWAT teams are now conducting approximately 40,000 raids per year. SWAT-1990Forty times what they originally conducted since their beginning. Police departments are now using SWAT teams, the vast majority of their activity, for serving common warrants, a purpose that SWAT teams were never intended for. Shootings and killing by SWAT teams begin to skyrocket. Many of those shot and killed are unarmed.
1991 A large group of LAPD police officers savagely beat an unarmed Rodney King nearly LAPD beat Rodney Kingto death.  The violent attack was caught on tape and showed that King was not resisting but was brutally beaten by the police with night sticks and metal batons as well as repeatedly kicked. The police attack was caught on tape and viewed around the world sparking outrage at the police brutality. Riots ensued and over 50 people were killed and another 2000+ injured during those civil disturbances. The Rodney King attack was the first video evidence of the “comply or die” tactics of police in the United States.
1991 Presiden H W BushRepublican President George H.W. Bush, Progressive and globalist, orders the invasion of Kuwait.
1992 remember Ruby Ridge massacreMembers of the Randy Weaver family are killed by a government agency sniper team for not submitting to ATF/DOJ/FBI blackmail demands.
1992 Agenda 21 is developed by the UN Conference on Environment and Development. Agenda 21 is a radical environmental program designed to virtually eliminate private property rights.
1993 Muslims attack the World Trade Center with a large vehicle bomb while Democrat Bill Clinton, Progressive and globalist, was President
1993 Members of a religious organization (Branch Davidians) are attacked by a BATF ATF FBI Waco Massacre of religeous groupassault team attempting to execute a search warrant.   Four BATF agents are killed and six Davidians are killed in the ensuing gun battle. A 51-day siege of the group trapped in their homes by the FBI resulted in 78 men, women and children being burned alive when federal agents under the direction of the FBI set the compound on fire with an armored vehicle. The original charges that initiated the warrant proved to be without any legal merit whatsoever. The local county Sheriff revealed he had tried to stop the FBI and BATF by bringing the Davidian leader into his office for questioning. But the FBI and BATF refused his offer preferring to attack the compound. FBIATF KillersThis is the same ATF & FBI whose sniper team and agents killed a man’s wife and child for not submitting to ATF/DOJ/FBI blackmail attempts just years earlier.
1993 Democrat controlled Congress passes the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act further eroding 2nd Amendment gun rights of citizens. Shipping, transporting processing and commerce regarding guns are all further restricted.   The most damning part of the new law is the FBI tracking of gun purchase applications and maintaining those records through the NICS by the FBI.
1994 Democrat controlled Congress passes the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act which outlawed many types of rifles and magazines.
1995 National Security Agency is granted “backdoor access” to Windows 95. Microsoft claims that the NSA threatened them inordered to gain that access. The NSA now completely circumvents the Constitution even further as a secret domestic spy organization.
1995 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Muslims explode a car bomb at U.S. military headquarters, killing 5 U.S. military servicemen.
1997 A Palestinian Muslim leaves an anti-Jewish suicide note behind and travels to the top of the Empire State building where he shoots seven people in a Fedayeen attack, 1 dies, 5 are seriously wounded.
1998 The ultra-liberal anti-2nd Amendment group, Center to Prevent Youth Violence, is formed and advocates strong anti-gun legislation through the messaging of children.
1998 Under the direction of Democrat President Clinton, well-known Progressive and globalist, Office of Tailored Access Operations (TAO) begins operations; TAO is a group within the United States’ National Security Agency. They “hack” into official government computer systems of all foreign government around the world. The TAO is seen as yet another example of the NSA operating completely outside of the law and the Constitution. No branch of government objects to this new group.
1999 FBI report is released on Project Megiddo.   In the report the FBI identified individuals that posed a threat to law enforcement via “extremist criminal activity”. This is the first public exposure of the FBI’s focusing on criminalizing many conservative aspects of normal US citizens. The identifiers listed in the FBI report were FBI Project Megiddothose US citizens who were:

  • Y2K believers,
  • Apocalypse believers,
  • New World Order believers,
  • Anyone storing food,
  • Anyone acquiring weapons,
  • Biblical driven, or conservative religious groups.

The same FBI who a decade later labeled the same folks referenced above as potential “domestic terrorists.”
2000 Aden, Yemen: U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole heavily damaged when a small boat piloted by Muslims, loaded with explosives, blew up alongside it. 17 United States sailors killed. They are linked to Osama bin Laden, or members of al-Qaeda terrorist network.
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Baofeng UV-5RA : Hypario Battery Case for AA batteries

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Article first appeared in June 2015

I am a huge Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio fan! Yes, it is a Ham Radio, but it is also much, much more and I love Baofeng UV-5r handheld radiothe little radio. It is a dynamo! The radio is a great size, packed full of features, reliable, and more than anything else EXTREMELY affordable. You can read more about my review of the Baofeng UV-5R radio here < UV-5RA review >. This post is dedicated to the Hypario AA battery tray for the Baofeng UV-5A radio.Baofeng UV-5RA AA battery case

The very first thing I noticed about the battery case was IT DOESN’T FIT !  Yup, the battery case didn’t fit the radio. And the improper fit prevented the battery case from “clicking” into place correctly on the radio. But I had read the reviews and dealt with other Baofeng radio after-market equipment before. I knew what to do.

I got out my diamond files and my pocket knife and proceeded to whittle down the offending plastic. It doesn’t take long to remove a sufficient amount of the plastic that is prevent the proper seating of the battery tray. I suggest you just work at it slowly, taking a little plastic at a time and testing for the “click” often.

Baofeng UV5RA AA battery trayIt took me about 5 minutes of whittling and I was good to go.

Next issue that I noticed was no seal around the two pieces of the battery tray itself. So this battery case is NOT waterproof. I would expect the tray to be moderately water (rain) resistant at best. And from what I can tell, there really isn’t a good way to improve its water resistance. Well, there might be one way…using silicone seal around the whole thing where the two pieces come together. But then the functionality of the unit would drop significantly when it came time to swap-out batteries.

The next step was to test the AA battery fit in the battery tray. I am a big believer in Duracell batteries and not that long ago I bought a bunch of Duracell Quantums that were on sale. So I fetched 6 and they went right in and fit snugly.

Baofeng UV-5RA AA battery trayThe picture of the battery tray with the batteries installed appears to the right. Do you notice anything wrong? Well, you might think the batteries are running the wrong way vs. facing the alternate opposite direction. But, that is not what I am referring to. Look again, and think “operational.” There are six Duracell Quantum AA 1.5vDC batteries in the battery tray to power the Baofeng UV-5RA radio. A radio that runs on 7.4vDC power. You there yet?

Six 1.5vDC batteries delivers 9volts of power. Yup! That is about 22% more voltage than the original Li-ion battery that comes with the radio. Fortunately, the radio didn’t start smoking when I turned it on. The radio’s battery charge indicator did show a full charge. Go figure!

Option 1

Option 1

So the problem is over-voltage to the radio which I confirmed with my multimeter. There are three primary options to overcome this problem. First option, if the grid is down, is to make a “fake” battery that simply passes the current through or around the battery to the other in-line battery without adding any additional voltage. For instance, a wooden or plastic dowel rod cut to size with a wire that makes contact with the battery tray on one end and the battery on the other end. That reduces the number of 1.5v batteries to five batteries providing 7.5 volts, which the UV-5R can run on just fine.

However, I think that option is a bit clunky and could pose other problems in the field but if the grid Baofeng UV-5R -AA battery case UltraCell AA Size Dummy Batteryis down you can make this option. Now, a more commercial option a “dummy battery” that you can buy. I like the UltraCell AA Size Dummy Battery. You just slip one of those into the battery tray in place of a regular alkaline AA battery and you now are only using 5 1.5 vDC AA batteries for 7.5 vDC. Your Baofeng UltraCell dummy battery with battery caseUV-5RA will operate for 3 -4 days of light use with good quality batteries, to 1 – 2 days with heavy use or poor quality batteries.

 

I think Option #3 is a very viable option and gives a depth of operational capability…use Baofeng UV-5R AA battery casestandard rechargeable AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries have a DC voltage rating of 1.2 – 1.31 vDC. So six of the rechargeable batteries in theory provides 7.2 – 7.86 vDC to your radio. And yes, you are losing approximately .2 – .3volts per battery but I don’t see it being an actual noticeable difference while in the field. But using rechargeable batteries vs. alkaline batteries can result in shorter use time. All things being equal, alkaline batteries will last longer.

I did test the charging cradle that came with the radio. It charges at 8.37 volts when hooked up to the 110vAC wall outlet. The charger cradle information states that its output is 8.4 volts. The .03 difference is absolutely nothing to worry about. The radio can be left on and used while in the cradle and charging. So I am making an educated guess that the upper end of the vDC range is about 8.4 – 8.5 vDC. But I can’t find any actual technical documentation on that.

But DO NOT USE the charging base with a cigarette car adapter powering the charging cradle. Well, you can if you know for a fact that the cigarette car adapter is only outputting 10 vDC maximum. The charging cradle will burnout and maybe burn up with the direct voltage from your vehicle which is 12 – 14 vDC. The vehicle voltage needs to be stepped down to 10 vDC before it goes into the charging cradle. I have ordered an adapter that should work, but I will test it and put a review up when it comes it.

I like, and primarily use, Duracell and Tenergy rechargeable batteries. Nickel–metal hydride rechargeable batteries are made specifically to work with electronic devices. AA batteries are rated in mAh (milli Amp hours), which is a rating of how long the battery will provide power at a certain draw/drain level. Don’t worry about the actual details of how long a UV-5RA radio will last between a 1500 mAh battery and a 2800 mAh battery. Just know that the 2800 mAh battery will last considerably longer. So the higher the mAh rating your rechargeable battery has the longer your radio will stay operating.

I would suggest a minimum rating of 1500 mAh on your rechargeable batteries. My AA Tenergy batteries carry a 2600 mAh rating and have a great price point.

Don’t forget “redundancy” when it comes to rechargeable batteries. “Two is one, one is none, three is a good start.” is a standard rule in my preparedness efforts. To keep my batteries charged I have:

  • Multiple AC wall charges with sensor and conditioner capabilities to prevent over-charging. I use these for normal daily non-grid-down operations.
  • I have two large-quantity AC chargers to “bulk” recharge a number of batteries at one time.
  • I have two SolarAid SolPad7 solar battery chargers.
  • I also have two GoalZero battery charger packs that can hook up to my GoalZero Boulder 30 solar panels.
  • And yes, I have the Honda EU2000i generator to run the AC chargers as well, if an when that might be needed.

Go ahead laugh…I know you want to. But I think that having rechargeable batteries without a way to recharge them is a little silly. And my OCD demands that I have multiple ways to power the chargers…as well as multiple different chargers. OK, so I am snickering a little bit too right about now. But if I am going to preach preparedness and share that information with you, then I better be practicing what I am preaching.

Warning3Now, there is also a warning with this battery tray…DON’T USE THE RADIO’s CHARGING CRADLE! The UV-5RA comes with a charging cradle. But that unit is to be used only with the battery that is supplied with the radio. That unit is not intended to be used to charge rechargeable batteries in a AA battery tray/case like the one in this review. You need to recharge the batteries with chargers that are specifically designed to charge NiMH rechargeable batteries.

Bottom line – Buy this product!

Just remember that you will have to whittle a little bit of plastic to make it fit correctly. But you will be very happy with the added capabilities to use different batteries in your radio. Batteries that can be recharged in a more standard way than the original BL-5 batteries that come with the radio. The BL-5 battery that comes with the radio is not a standard battery that would be easily recharged via solar. And in a situation where standard utility electric power may not be available, it is good to have solar options. Yes, “standard” options that match your other power requirements. Namely, AA and AAA batteries.

 

 

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FAQ – 4/13/2020 (COVID-19)

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  • How long do you think the COVID-19 crisis panic will last? In other words, how long till we get back to normal as a country?

That is a tough question…and a really good one. First off I don’t know for sure. Outbreaks like this, and for sure the worst ones, tend to run in cycles. They break out in season #1, mutate a few times, then go away, or recede, during the summer months when the sun’s UV light kills the virus on many surfaces. Then it comes back starting early in the following season, normally September or October. In the case of the Spanish Flu of 1918…it was the real killer when it came back the following season.

Granted, there is little comparison of 2020 medical and technology expertise of that in 1918, but we have the disadvantage of easy and fast travel capability. Meaning it could spread extremely quickly if it comes back. There is no consensus among medical/health experts if it will come back or not.

What I find particularly telling is Neel Kashkari, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis stated yesterday that we should be prepared for America to be financially and economically locked down for the next 18 months. Should that be the case based on how it is trending now…America is done.

I think President Trump will do everything in his power to get our economy running again as soon as practical. If he can’t, won’t or is thwarted…we are in big trouble…and sooner rather than later.

  • You talked about “buying the dip” a while back, do you still recommend that?

I don’t “recommend” anything, I am not a professional advisor, etc. I have in the past spoken about what I am doing, or have done. Right now I am in a holding pattern waiting on a trend to appear. Since February I made 4 purchases with my “buy the dip” concept. My average mutual fund share price is down 2% on those buys. But the trend line is nicely upward right now. My lowest share purchase price is up over 10%…so I am satisfied with what I did. Ask me again in a year…that will be the best measure.

  • At the beginning of all this COVID-19 thing you seemed to be downplaying the seriousness. How do you feel now?

I didn’t see it as bad as a normal flu season, I was more worried about the hysteria, hype, and fear being promoted by unscrupulous people. I still hold that same position. And here is why:

  1. The number of COVID-19 deaths is extremely skewed. As the government representative stated last week, anyone who dies and has any indication of the presence of COVID-19 is counted as cause of death = COVID-19…whether they died from COVID-19 or not. So a person can die from Stage 4 Cancer of the liver and if they tested positive even postmortem) they are listed under the COVID-19 death numbers. That isn’t just unscientific, it’s blatantly dishonest.
  2. Some people who express symptoms of COVID-19 and die are classified as COVID-19 deaths…many of which are never actually tested. And non-hospitalized COVID-19 symptoms are nearly identical to the regular flu.
  3. Current estimates indicate that 90% of all COVID-19 deaths show clearly that there are serious underlying health conditions. No consistent or credible nationwide effort is being made to determine if the underlying condition killed the patient or COVID-19 did.
  4. The mortality rate is WAY off!!!  Mortality rate is calculated based on number of deaths per total cases. At the current numbers we are showing about a 4% mortality rate. Somewhere about 10 times what the normal flu would be. Why? Because virtually all the normally healthy people (no underlying health conditions) who contract COVID-19 rarely even show symptoms, let alone get tested. So the number of people who actually contracted COVID-19 could easily be 10 – 20 times what the published numbers suggest. So we could be looking at a true mortality rate of  .2 – .4% mortality rate, possibly lower. That would be consistent with a normal flu season.

I could go on but you either understand me now or not. And that depends on whether you believed me at the onset or not. Do your own research on this…it is enlightening to say the least.

 

 

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An Easter Message…

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He is risen

He lives

Hear Him

Interesting Events in US History – Part #6 (1973-1989)

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YEAR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
1973 The War Powers Act of 1973 was passed by Democrat Congress. While initially it appeared to restrict the President’s authority to wage war without Congressional approval it actually granted the right to a President to “initiate” war thus bypassing restrictions cited in the Constitution.
1973 Muslims rob a sporting goods store for weapons, killing a police officer and wounding another officer who responds to the alarm.
1973 Republican President Nixon, radical Progressive, implements communist price controls of oil and gas products. Extreme shortages quickly resulted and long lines at gas stations with people waiting for hours and hours for gas. Many gas stations simply ran out of gas and closed their doors.
1973 The Progressive/liberal majority Supreme Court legalized infanticide in the United States through their decision, Roe vs. Wade, granting Abortion is infanticide roe vs. wadewomen unlimited abortion rights under the guise of privacy rights. This decision deeply divided the country down the middle and contributed to over 50million deaths of unborn babies as of 2017. Many experts, medical and religious, call abortion what it is…infanticide.
1973 unconstitutional No Knock police raidsUnconstitutional “no-knock” police raids begin. The raids are mostly conducted by police department para-military SWAT units. The raids immediately begin to take the lives of many civilians, many of them innocent by-standers. By 2013 “no-knock” raids increase by 2000%. “No-knock” raids are a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment by a growing police state.
1973 At the direction of Republican President Nixon, Progressive and globalist, the CIA assists in the overthrow of the Chilean government.
1973 Nation Of Islam violent and deadly17 people are killed in 9 separate attacks by Muslims belonging to the Nation of Islam.
1974 A journalist releases proof of the CIA’s long list of assassinations, domestic spying CIA is evilon almost 10000 American citizens, and LSD testing on unknowing US citizens. The CIA was established by radical Progressive Democrat President Truman who also established the domestic spy agency NSA.
1974 The radical anti-2nd Amendment group called the National Council to Control Handguns began a campaign to outlaw gun ownership in the US. The group was started by an ultra-leftist Dr. Mark Borinsky and a CIA operative by the name of Edward O. Welles.
1974 6 people killed in 3 separate attacks by Muslims belonging to the Nation of Islam.
1977 Democrat controlled Congress passes The Community Reinvestment Act which forces banks to make home loans to low-income people regardless of their credit worthiness or income. It is advocated and promoted by National People’s Action, a radical left-wing extremist group that is based on socialist principles.
1977 Hanifi Muslims storm three buildings including a B’nai B’rith to hold 134 people hostage. At least two innocents were shot and one died.
1978 Under the direction of Democrat President Jimmy Carter, Progressive, the Democrat controlled Congress established the FISA courts (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) a secret court and judicial system was designed to operate outside of the Constitutional. Its FISA is anti-american and anti-consitutional powers have expanded exponentially by 2017 to the point where Constitutional and legal experts state it’s “almost a parallel Supreme Court.” The secret court is used by the US’s secret police units inside of the NSA, and the domestic spy agency known as the FBI. No Constitutional provision allows for the FISA court system. Actually, the Constitutional specifically prohibits a secret court system but the federal government implements it anyways..
1979 The United States Department of Education was established by Democrat President Carter. President Carter was well-known as a Progressive, Muslim advocate and rapid anti-Semite. The establishment of this department solidified the control of education at the federal level. This move brings the US further into compliance with the 10th plank of the Communist Manifesto, “Free education for all children in public schools.”
1979 Iranian Muslims seized the U.S. embassy, taking 66 hostages. 14 were later released. The remaining 52 were freed after 444 days, on the day of President Reagan’s inauguration.
1980 An Iranian political dissident is shot and killed in front of his Maryland home by an Islamic Iranian government agent.
1982 The Report of the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the BATF evil killersJudiciary, United States Senate, 97th Congress, revealed the BATF is rampant with abuses of the 2nd Amendment against American citizens and firearms dealers. Over 75% of all prosecutions by the BATF were found to be “constitutionally improper” in clear violation of the 2nd Amendment. No BATF agents are charge, none are tried, none convicted and none sent to prison for their horrendous violations of the Constitution. The same ATF whose sniper team murdered Randy Weaver’s wife and child after the ATF agents began a stalking the family. The same ATF who raided a religious group in Texas and killed several church members. The same ATF who later assisted the FBI in the coordination of an attack on the same church group that resulted in almost 80 men, women, and children being burned alive.
1982 Thirty US and other Western hostages kidnapped in Lebanon by Muslims, Hezbollah members. Some were killed, some died in captivity, and some were eventually released. American Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days.
1983 U.S. embassy in Lebanon destroyed in suicide car-bomb attack; 63 dead, including 17 Americans. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
1984 A Democrat controlled Congress passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of Civil Asset Forfeiture = policing for profit1984 which allowed police departments to seize a person’s assets without due process required by the Constitution. Called Civil Asset Forfeiture (CAF), this law allows police departments to completely circumvent the Constitution and all Constitutional rights.  A person didn’t even have to be convicted, tried, charged or even accused of a crime. Police departments would simply seize cars, homes, money, and anything else of value from whomever they wished under the pretense of criminal behavior on the citizen’s part. This practice became known as “policing for profit.”  Immediately police were illegally confiscating 100’s of Civil Asset Forfeituremillions of dollars of private property per year.  Since 2010 law enforcement agencies are seizing 10’s of billions of dollars of US citizen property with no Constitutional protection for those citizens. CAF actions are hugely profitable for law enforcement agencies.
1984 Truck bomb exploded outside the U.S. Embassy annex in Lebanon, killing 24, including 2 U.S. military members.
1984 Kuwait Airways Flight 221, from Kuwait to Pakistan, hijacked and diverted to Tehran. 2 Americans killed.
1986 It was revealed that the CIA was selling arms to Iran in payment for release of 7 American hostages. The CIA was then using the proceeds of those arms sales to fund the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government. While President Reagan took full responsibility for the actions of the CIA, there was never any evidence that he knew of, or ordered, the CIA operation. Of the 11 people convicted for crimes related to the CIA operation all 11 were pardoned by Republican President George H. W. Bush. Bush, well known as a Progressive and globalist, was also the Director of the CIA in 1976 – 1977 under President Ford. President Ford was described by his own fellow House members as a Progressive and globalist. President Ford also pardoned President Nixon, a fellow progressive and globalist.
1986 While the passage of The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 was meant to protect gun owners and correct the Constitutional abuses of the BATF revealed in a 1982 Senate report, the act actually banned and restricted some types of guns from US citizen ownership.
1986 Muslims exploded a bomb aboard TWA flight 840 en route from Rome to Athens, killing 4 Americans and injuring 9 other Americans.
1986 Muslims bombed a disco in West Germany frequented by U.S. servicemen, killing 2 and injuring hundreds.
1988 Muslims exploded a bomb on a Boeing 747 while in flight and crashed into Scottish village, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground. Passengers included 35 Syracuse University students and many U.S. military personnel.
1989 CIA operative and director H.W. Bush PresidentRepublican President George H.W. Bush, Progressive, globalist and former Director of the CIA orders the invasion of Panama and the overthrow of the Panamanian government.
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Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

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Black Diamond Spot headlampArticle first appeared in March of 2016

As I’ve started each of my reviews on headlamps I just have to tell you that I really love my Petzl Tactika XP headlamp. No, not the “new” Petzl Tactika XP…the old Petzl Tactika XP. If you want to know the difference between the two models of Petzl Tactika XP Petzel Tactikka XP headlampheadlamps then you need to read each review and it will be clear to you. All that being said, the original Petzl Tactika XP headlamp is the standard by which I judge all others.

Let’s get on with the review of the Black Diamond headlamp.

As always…the mission –

“To provide personal lighting capability for night operations in a tactical or camping environment.”

Requirements & Restrictions –

  1. Must be water resistant.
  2. Must be rugged.
  3. Must provide foolproof for “red lens” operations.
  4. Must operate on AAA batteries.
  5. Should be camouflage or flat earth color.
  6. Must have headband operation capability.
  7. Should have helmet mount capability.
  8. Should contain the lamp and batteries in the same housing.

So why am I even looking for a headlamp to begin with when I already have, and like, a Petzl Tactika XP headlamp. Well, because I believe in “two is one, one is none, three is a good start.” Roughly translated that means, have a back-up option to your primary piece of gear or equipment. Then, have another option to have a back-up to all of that. Why? Because your gear or equipment will fail when you least expect it, and least want it to. So you better have a couple of alternatives.

As I mentioned earlier I live my original Petzl, it is everything I want in a headlamp. Solid, water resistant, perfect light pattern, and a failsafe red lens. The band or head strap is a quality piece of expandable material. The headlamp has lasted me two years of usage on a single set of three AAA Duracell copper top batteries. You simply can’t beat that headlamp. The problem is that Petzl decided to take a fantastic product, a true top quality, excellent product…and discontinue making it.

As soon as I opened the package I wasn’t impressed…Energizer batteries vs. Duracell batteries. All the headlamps that I have purchased so far had Duracell batteries…which are the best batteries made. So…strike one!

And the instruction sheet was huge! And in about 150 different languages. The print was so small I had to break out the magnifying glass. Strike two!

To test it I installed a set of Duracell batteries (to be fair), it wasn’t readily apparent how to open the battery compartment. Inconvenient, but not another “strike.” Then there are these flimsy looking pieces of plastic that act like hinges. Once again, I am not impressed with that idea. But, also another “strike” either.

Black Diamond Spot battery compartmentThere is no gasket material and the housing has no apparent way to keep moisture out. I will have to look into that and get more info on its moisture resistance. Although the unit is rated at IPX4 level and Black Diamond has a great warranty. They must be sure of the water resistance capabilities.

Let’s move on to the brightest of white light settings…it is bright, really bright and plenty bright enough to meet all the basic needs for just about anything you would do. OK, maybe not a spotlight for a Blake Shelton concert, but that kind of spotlight isn’t really appropriate for the needs of the average prepper. I wasn’t crazy about the size of the pattern, seemed large to me.

Black Diamond Spot light patternThere is a really pretty cool features that I thought was pretty cool…and useful is the power level meter. When you turn on the headlamp you have an indicator showing the remaining battery power level. This headlamp is the only unit that I tested that has that feature. It is just kinda nice.

But the operation of the headlamp is really a bit complex.

  1. The headlamp turns on to whatever your last setting was…whether you want it to or not. Unless you hold down the single button, then it switches to whatever is the opposite of the setting you were using that time.
  2. Once you get the light on, holding the button dims it to the setting you want. Yes, “dims it” as in infinite settings of brightness. I can see that being really useful or a royal pain in the butt.
  3. If you have the intensity set on low and you touch the side of the case with your finger it switches to a bright mode. While that may sound convenient, accidently switching to a bright white setting at the wrong time could prove fatal in a tactical situation.
  4. The button is very sensitive. While it was sitting on the desk and I was typing, I reached over to turn it over to look at it from a different angle. Ooopppssss, it came on at it brightest intensity. I didn’t understand that feature at all.

You know I forgot that there is a feature that I like a lot as well. One thing you don’t want to happen is your headlamp to accidentally turn on while it is stored in your pack or pouch. Then you need it and the batteries are dead. Well, this headlamp has a “lockout” that prevents accidentally turning this unit on and killing your batteries. I like it, but I have to ask the question, “Why is the button that sensitive in the first place?”

There is a feature that is also pretty cool. When you are using the headlamp on a dim setting and what a bright boost light right now…well, all you have to do is tap the housing. No, you don’t have to push the button, just tap the headlamp housing on the right and “presto” your headlamp switches into a very bright mode. But, that can also be a double-edged sword.

I also don’t like the red light mode at all. While it has plenty of setting adjustments (0 – infinity), they red light pattern simply sucks. It is not focused at all. Actually, it has a triple overlapping rings of light that is quite annoying.

Black Diamond Spot red lens red lightThe white light setting is kinda weird in a way. There is a yellow spot in the middle of the white light pattern. I have no idea why it is there but it kinda creeps me out.

Black Diamond Spot headlamp yellow lightLet me digress back to my old Petzl Tactika XP for a minute. I really liked the feature of the XP turning on in the dimmest mode and then cycling up to the brightest mode. That way it gives you the lowest profile initially but allowing you to get bright light with just another push of the button. However, the Black Diamond starts out with the brightest setting. Granted, for the average user in the average situation there is really no problem. But, if you remember, I want to use this headlamp in any potential tactical situation as well. That means I want to keep a low profile whenever possible. Starting out with 130 lumens of white light is not my idea of low profile.

If you go to their website you will find a plethora of information, including videos, of how to use this headlamp. Seems strange to me that you would need a whole bunch of instructions for something as simple as a headlamp, but in today’s world…information is a good thing. Having it in video format is a nice plus, walks you through the operations step-by-step. But, in my ADD/ADHD world I would like it all to be self-explanatory and just push a button…presto! It all works. But that is just my unrealistic expectations at work.

I really tried to like this headlamp…but, I don’t. I give it a “do not buy” recommendation.

 

 

 

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Something to think about…Bartering & the USPS

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Couple thoughts hit me yesterday and this morning…

Bartering: This past week I met with a couple neighbors a couple of times. Each time we talked about the current situation in the US and in our area…and what is coming. One of the main subjects was “bartering” vs. money. We touched on the basics and figured we would be seeing more bartering as the economy continues to fall apart.

On Friday during lunch my wife and I did our normal habit…listened to the radio show that is a “trader” show. People can call in and offer things for sale, or ask if someone if they have something specific they would sell. Cute show. Well, Friday a guy came on and said he had a 24 roll case of toilette paper that he would trade for 25lbs of rice. Imagine that!!!!  Bartering toilette paper for rice…to be exact…one role of toilette paper for one pound of rice.

Now, during our meeting Saturday morning I mentioned to folks about the egg shortage at the stores and basically being out the last two weeks every time I looked in the store to buy some eggs. After the meeting one of the neighbors texted me and said they had 18 eggs available and to come get them. I knew he would just give them to me but I wanted to be ready to buy them in case I misjudged him. Well, when we made the exchange I offered him $5 and he turned me down. But I was prepared….I offered him a #10 can of rice. Yeah, he accepted it with a smile!

Are you ready to barter in the coming economy?

US Postal Service (USPS): I’ve written extensively on the trouble with the USPS in the last month. Finally other folks are catching up on the problem. On Friday a report came out that the USPS is asking for $90,000,000,000 (yeah, $90Billion) to keep operating. They will run out of money before October. The only way they can stay operating is if Congress loans them the money…$90BILLION.

I have little doubt that Congress will loan them the money. I can’t imagine that the US government would allow the USPS to go broke, let alone out of business. But, what disruptions could occur….sick out, strike, slow down, walk out?

I would suggest that you have an alternative to the USPS lined up before July. I know I will.

 

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Interesting Events in US History – Part #5 (1964-1972)

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YEAR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
1964 The Great Society welfare programs cause poverty rate to stop dropping.The Great Society social welfare programs began under Democrat President Johnson, radical Progressive, significantly enlarging the permanent welfare class in the US.
1964 Rochester, NY police viciously attack and beat peaceful civil rights protestors. Later National Guard troops attack demonstrators with fixed bayonets as the demonstrators prayed.
1964 New York City police violently attacked and beat with nightsticks peaceful civil rights protestors.
1964 While police officers looked on, pool manager at a local hotel poured acid in a swimming pool containing black and white civil rights protestors.
1964 Teenager James Powell, black, was shot and killed by New York Police Lieutenant Thomas Gilligan, white, while peacefully demonstrating.
1964 St. Augustine Beach police officers viciously attack a group of black and whites with nightsticks and billy clubs while the group was attempting to swim at a “whites only” beach.
1964 Civil Rights-03Philadelphia police officers, all white, beat numerous blacks while they were standing on the street peacefully. The blacks had “moved along” fast enough so they were beaten by police officers.
1964 Cleveland police use a bulldozer against peaceful civil rights demonstrators killing a local minister Bruce Klunder. In the demonstrations that follow police are seen severely and viciously beating beating numerous black women as well as men and children.
1965 Civil Rights“Bloody Sunday” occurred. Hundreds of State police brutally and savagely beat 550 peaceful Civil Rights demonstrators in Dallas County, Alabama. It was a violent coordinated attack by police beginning with tear gas. Seconds later state police officers attacked the demonstrators with night sticks beating them to the ground. After that, mounted state police officers charged the crowd on horseback knocking anyone to the ground who had remained standing or tried to flee.
1965 Major large-scale Army combat units deployed to Vietnam by Democrat President Johnson, radical Progressive and war monger.
1965 CivilRights-05In Selma, AL police officers violently attack non-violent peaceful civil rights protestors. The police viciously beat protestors with nightsticks after having firing tears gas at them.
1965 Under the Democrat President Johnson the federal government began exercising control over public education, and moving power and control from the local school districts to a central planning directorate of the federal government. This moves brings the US further into compliance with the 10th plank of the Communist Manifesto, “Free education for all children in public schools.”
1965 Under the Democrat President Johnson the federal government began seizing control of the nation’s health care system through the establishment of the Medicare program.
1965 Under the Democrat President Johnson the federal government began subsidizing college student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program. This moves brings the US further into compliance with the 10th plank of the Communist Manifesto, “Free education for all children in public schools.”
1966 Under the Democrat President Johnson the federal government continued expanding its control of the national health care system through the establishment of the Medicaid program.
1966 The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) was established to control all forms of transportation within the US borders. This brought the US into full compliance with the Communist Manifesto’s 6th plank; “Centralisation of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.” The communication piece of the 6th Plank was accomplished in 1934 with the establishment of the FCC.
1967 While Democrat President Johnson, Progressive, served, the Los Angles began the first police department para-military Special Weapons and Tactics unit. SWAT teams were used approximately 1000 times per year in the 1960’s.
1968 American combat troop strength reaches its peak under Democrat President Johnson, Progressive and war-monger. President Johnson was well known as a radical Progressive, globalist and war monger.
1968 More 2nd Amendment rights are lost via The Gun Control Act of 1968. The act was The Gun Control Act of 1968passed by a very liberal activist Democrat run Congress and signed into law by Democrat President Johnson, a Progressive. This act established a “Gestapo” mentality and enforcement within the Bureau of Alcohol Tabaco and Firearms (BATF).   Gun ownership and purchase tracking is started by the BATF.
1969 Under the Democrat President Johnson the federal government began its first government control of media outlets with the establishment of the Public Broadcasting System.
1969 Police State Militarization Of PoliceThe militarization of local law enforcement agencies began. Non-federal agencies began moving away from “peace officers” to “law enforcement officers.”
1970 The Environmental Protection Agency was established by President Nixon, globalist, via an Executive Order. Nixon, well-known as a Progressive did not seek to establish the EPA via Congressional legislation but rather by Executive Order. The EPA now has virtual iron-clad unconstitutional control over private and public lands as well as all private and commercial activities on those lands. That control is decided almost exclusively by agency regulation vs. the passing of laws through Congress.
1970 KentState01Ohio National Guardsman open fire at unarmed peaceful college students killing 4 and wounding 9 more. A demonstration was taking place with about 2000 students, the guardsman ordered them to disperse, fired tear gas and then advanced on the students. The students react by throwing the tear gas back at the guardsman along with rocks.   KentState02The guardsman fixed bayonets on their rifles and charged the students and opening fire shortly thereafter. The suppression of right of assembly and the tactic of violence against unarmed citizens begins in earnest.
1971 Republican President Nixon, well-known Progressive and globalist, discontinued trading gold for dollars thus removing any last tangible value to the US dollar.
1972 The Supreme Court (stacked with Progressives) ruled that radical environmental groups had “standing” and could sue anyone to advance their extremist environmental agenda.
1972 Ten Muslims of a local mosque phone in a false alarm and then ambush responding officers, killing one.

 

 
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