The Random Thoughts Thread

Ive tried multiple solutions (but never spent a bunch of money on them), and what I keep coming back to is a pair of rubber duck boots and a gore tex in the truck all the times. Not expensive or nice enough to miss them, yet always in the truck and they will do the job.

Oh yeah, and full brimmed hats are always under estimated.
 
I'm very jealous of you folks that got to hit the east coast events. I love being out in weather, to the point of questionable sanity.


My in-laws get strange gifts for me sometimes for the sake of getting strange gifts for me. They got me a pair of slip-over waders, the kind that are effectively two separate crotch-height boots. I didn't think much at the time, but as I got more into photography they started riding in the truck. There are certain shots you simply can't get unless you're willing to wade out into the middle of a stream/pond. :D:D:D
 
My son and I make these dryer lint / egg carton / wax fire starters for camping. I like to use a lot of wax. This lead to the question of why these things "need" to have so much wax as even a moderate amount will bind the lint and the egg carton together and produce an adequate fire starter in most conditions. With enough wax these become practically weather proof. We got a fire started using damp materials in damp conditions at AR, only because we had these fire starters. There were other options, but it was nice to know that the preparation was worth it.

As our family is preparing for a 2 week road trip to Nova Scotia in the summer of 16, (at this point much of the prep is mentally preparing my daughters) I try to get my kids involved with the preparation for a trip, even when they won't be joining me. My youngest daughter asked why we seem to do the same things every time I go camping. It took me a while to come up with an answer that my daughter would appreciate. I went to one of my favorite resources, Fat Guys in the Woods. One of the reasons I enjoy this show is that they keep it simple, Survival is easy, just don't die. Priorities are the same for survival as they are for camping. Fire, Shelter, Water, Food. I'm sure we can all debate the priorities, but as my trips are camping, not survival trips, I try to lump them together for my daughters. We now split up prep into those categories.

Fire
  • Making fire starters. Everyone loves to pour the wax. Separating "other" materials from the lint, not so much
  • Ammo can full of twigs, cedar shake from cigar boxes, and other highly combustible items
Shelter
  • We generally air out the RTT and sleeping bags after a trip, so this has become more of a clean up than prep task.
  • Through my experience at AR, and Jack sharing his experience with his sisters, my daughters now think of the right clothing and rain gear in the shelter category. They had previously questioned why I keep dry bags with rain gear, sleeping bag, fire starter, and first aid kit in the back of the Jeep. We've had an experience or two at lacrosse tournaments where the sleeping bag and first aid kit came in handy. Now everyone understands why rain gear is important as well.
Water / Food
  • Always fun figuring out what we are going to eat. Discussions always include how many meals will include bacon.
  • Food prep has become a family affair. I try to make sure that any packaging from the store is disposed of at home, and as many ingredients for every meal is chopped, whisked, prepped and stored as a meal. To prove the point on why this was important, we went so far as to do this with a meal we were having at home. I pulled the bag out, heated up the skillet, cooked everything, and was serving in just a few minutes. Light bulbs went on for my daughters.
All those items that you rarely get to use, but when you need them, you need them, or just make things easier, or lessen your foot print on the world, those are the ones that make the experience worth while. I think it is one of the reasons I enjoy preparing for a trip. The preparation is part of the experience. Getting to actually use those items you have prepared or use your "rainy day" gear, only makes it a better trip.
 
I'm guessing there is more than one Dave Bennett with an AR in CA!o_O



SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Eight men were charged Thursday with making and distributing dozens of firearms, many of them assault-style weapons illegally equipped with silencers, in what federal officials are calling one of the biggest takedowns in California's Central Valley.


Undercover agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased or seized more than 230 firearms and silencers. Many are known as "ghost guns" because they lack serial numbers and can be sold without background checks or transfer documents.

"Firearms trafficking such as that alleged in this indictment is one of the primary sources of crime guns found on the streets, and the manufacture of untraceable, unserialized firearms hampers criminal investigations, putting the public at greater risk," U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said at a news conference. "High-capacity assault rifles, with silencers but without serial numbers, are some of the most lethal weapons that criminals can get their hands on."

The charges include dealing in firearms without a license, unlawfully manufacturing firearms, possession of silencers, short-barreled rifles and firearms lacking serial numbers, and conspiracy. Three of the eight face separate drug charges, which Wagner said shows a connection between gun and narcotics trafficking.

Among those named in the 70-count indictment David Bennett, 27, a former probationary correctional officer with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department.

Bennett and his brother are charged with conspiring to make and deal unlicensed firearms from their Stockton home. His attorney, Michael Long, did not immediately return messages.

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Benjamin Wagner, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California, displays one of …
Steven Plesser, attorney for his 39-year-old brother, Daniel Bennett, said his client is charged with using his drill press to machine the parts that were then assembled into weapons.

"He seems to have been the man with the tool that was needed," Plesser said. "It seems like the other people were doing the sales."

The brothers live in different homes on the same property in Stockton, he said.

Joseph Latu, 29, of Elk Grove, Charles Tucker, 29, of Stockton, and Ionel Pascan, 28, of Riverbank, were arrested last week as they prepared to sell 50 unmarked short-barreled assault-style weapons and 50 silencers to undercover agents at the Yolo County Airport in Davis, authorities said.

Their attorneys did not immediately return telephone messages.

Wagner said the group ramped up its manufacture of the weapons after undercover agents first contacted them in February. Handguns were also purchased or seized. Wagner said he can't recall as many guns being seized in one operation in his 20 years as a federal prosecutor.
 
Have you seen the new petition started in CA to require a waiting period for ammunition purchases, among other things?
 
I heard they're going to try to reinstate the ammo background shenanigans as well, no more 10+ round grandfathered mags, etc...

http://www.guns.com/2015/10/15/california-lt-gov-kicks-off-extensive-gun-control-ballot-measure/

Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco while the city adopted tough ammo bans and mandatory gun lock laws that have seen extensive court challenges, has a five point list of gun control measures he wants to place in front of California voters in 2016.

These include an end to grandfathering of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, relinquishment of weapons by those prohibited by the state from legal possession and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns. In addition, it would require background checks prior to all ammunition sales – a first for any state.
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Something that "he" wants to place in front of CA voters... What about what WE THE PEOPLE want? What happened to our representation? This is becoming an Oligarchy. All they do is keep pushing their own personal agendas on the lame duck complacent populace. A little chip here, and a little chip there, add a legislation here and restrict a little rights there. Soon enough, we'll end up with nothing.
 
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"My son and I make these dryer lint / egg carton / wax fire starters for camping."


I teach fire starting, everything from rubbing two pieces of wood together to purchased stuff. I have found the best thing is cotton balls totally saturated with petroleum jelly. Store them in any small container like an old 35mm film can. Just pull them apart to get some fine fibers showing and they can be lit with just about any means and will light and burn even when pulled out from being totally submerged in water. Each one will burn for at least 10 minutes and will dry out wet tinder. Modern dryer lint contains a lot of synthetic material which does not burn as well as cotton and you need a lot of lint to make as much fire starter as one bag of cotton balls.

Wax fire starters need flame to get going, Vaseline/cotton balls can be ignited with just sparks!
 
The new LandCruiser, any color you want, but you can't pick the options.

http://news.yahoo.com/king-off-road-toyotas-2016-8-seater-land-163858477.html


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Toyota is leaving nothing to chance with the latest iteration of its full-size, flagship SUV. In fact when the 2016 model year Land Cruiser goes on sale, all prospective owners will need to do is specify its color.

And that's because absolutely everything else, from full leather upholstery and wooden trim, to the entire list of next-generation active safety systems -- everything from blind spot monitoring to autonomous emergency braking -- are going to be included as standard.

In an earlier automotive epoch, choosing an off-roader that was as comfortable as it was competent was a much simpler affair. One looked through the Range Rover and then Toyota Land Cruiser catalogues, took a test drive and then settled on one or the other.

However, today the luxury SUV landscape looks very, very different. The Range Rover is still the benchmark to beat in terms of an all-round package, but for those that value the finest quality leathers, wood and cabin ambience above fording depth, the Volvo XC90, and Bentley Bentayga are serious competitors.

And as 2015 becomes 2016 that competition will increase again with SUVs from Maserati and Mercedes.
Therefore, as good as it's always been, the eight-seat Land Cruiser can't simply rely on the fact that historically it's been slightly less stylish but more reliable than a Range Rover in order to attract attention. Hence the decision to offer the car fully loaded. Even rear-seat passengers get treated to individual 11-inch multimedia displays and a DVD player plus support for smartphones and tablets as part of the package.

But the assorted toys on offer shouldn't detract from the fact that the Land Cruiser is a proper SUV that will leave everything in its wake as soon as the road starts being muddy rather than hard and inclined rather than flat.

It has hydraulic suspension that enables huge independent wheel travel, permanent all-wheel drive, a secondary transfer case -- i.e., a low range set of gear ratios -- huge ground clearance and a plated underside for protection against rocks. A host of control and grip systems also kick in automatically to help out when off-roading experience runs out, and getting a clear idea of what's going on around the car is simple thanks to a host of exterior cameras.
 
richard310 said:
I feel the same way Chazz about being out in weather. I pray for weather when I'm out on trips.
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Third. Motion carries.

We 'Zonies are a strange lot. You can only endure so much "sunny, hot" weather before you yearn for rain. At least Chazz lives somewhere it actually rains. I've jumped out of bed and gone chasing rain in the middle of the night. The grass is always greener, but I've seen far too many storm clouds pile up at the edge of town (heat island effect), only to split and go 'round, as Mother Nature says, "Screw that."
 
dr1665 said:
Third. Motion carries.

We 'Zonies are a strange lot. You can only endure so much "sunny, hot" weather before you yearn for rain. At least Chazz lives somewhere it actually rains. I've jumped out of bed and gone chasing rain in the middle of the night. The grass is always greener, but I've seen far too many storm clouds pile up at the edge of town (heat island effect), only to split and go 'round, as Mother Nature says, "Screw that."
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Hustle your butts down south of Puerto Vallarta and catch "Patricia", the weather for casters are saying its Biblical!
That should cure your yearning! :rainYowza!!!!!!!!!
 
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woodienut said:
Hustle your butts down south of Puerto Vallarta and catch "Patricia", the weather for casters are saying its Biblical!
That should cure your yearning! :rainYowza!!!!!!!!!
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Exactly! :wow

image.jpeg
 
Uh oh. I don't know what I may have fallen into... I think my girlfriend MIGHT be buying a used ambulance for a UJoint conversion...

Time will tell.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
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