There is a LOT of vendors out there, with plate carriers and plates made by many firms, from many different materials. Ceramic plates are, apparently, the best….but they are a lot more expensive …but lighter. Steel is cheaper and a bit heavier for nearly the same performance.

One thing I find interesting is that MANY of the steel plates offered are made from AR400 or AR500 steel. Lots of references to those two numbers. Fully 2/3 of the steel “Ballistic Plates” offered are advertised to be made from one of those two alloys. Being the type of person who likes to learn things, I researched these two steels (as well as a bunch of the others that are offered)

But, sadly, neither of those commonly used steels are intended to be used as Armor Plate….they don’t have a great deal of penetration resistance, nor are they intended to be used as “Armor”. Instead, they are meant to be “Abrasion Resistant”….and dent resistant…Neither of these steels is supposed to be “Armor”. They aren’t much better for “armor” as we think of it than general cold rolled steel.

Why do “armor” vendors sell plates made with non-armor steel? More importantly, why do people buy enough of them that they are even for sale?

And it ain’t even Thanksgiving yet.

I can’t handle much more of Mr Gore’s Glowbal Warmeinzing.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, when it is record cold it is just “weather”.

Whatever. Still cold. It’s warmer in Anchorage.
Ah don’t like it aytall. 

Liberal City of Tucson, AZ Overwhelmingly Rejects Sanctuary City Proposal

Watch the video in the article.
She seems to think that just because someone has family here in the US they have reason to flaunt our immigration laws….that they have the RIGHT to be on US soil without permission. That they have the right to work. That they have the same rights as citizens of the US.

The people of Tucson felt otherwise. Good for them. 

Take time today to thank all of the Veterans you know, or that you come across today. Their service, whether in peacetime or war, no matter what branch of service,  is what has kept this country free…..Kept your way of life possible.

Do say “Thank You”. Honor their service. Buy ’em lunch or pay for their coffee. At least give your thanks.

Personally, all year long I thank every vet I meet (those that I can identify, anyway) for their service to the citizens of this country. I buy a fair number of lunches and such. I think it is worth it as a token of my esteem for those who signed up to serve.

29 crew gone.

The ship sunk.

So tragic a maritime accident that there were ballads composed about the loss.

The Edmund Fitzgerald.

Gordon Lightfoot did the most famous telling of the story, I think.

 So, a single seat airplane, carrying two people,  with 2500 or so lbs of “Pink Water”….flying low and slow.

What could go wrong?

Plane crashes during “Gender Reveal” stunt. 

Pretty much everything that they taught me not to do,

In other words, fucked up by the numbers.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured.

But stupid, poorly planned stunts usually lead to stupid failures.

At the end of the day, one has to realize that cropduster pilots are insane and take terrible risks. (They are also pretty good pilots, at least normally). 

Possibly even “Hate Crime”

Teacher brutally beats student. 

Not a proportional response. If a teacher can’t handle things better than this, they should not be allowed to be  teaching students.

In the day, a parent or another adult family member would have handled this sort of issue and there would be a lesson learned. And people would have expected things to happen that way. I’d insist on jail time were that my kid. 

Really cold.
Near record cold, Like at or near single digits here in the greater Chicago area.

I call Global Cooling.

We MUST produce increased amounts of Methane, CO2, and other greenhouse gasses in quantity to prevent an ice age. It is a crisis. There may well be a consensus of affected people.

This isn’t just weather here, folks.

Update: It appears the arctic air will (likely) set records across the US, from the Central Plains all the way to the Deep South.

But no worry? It is just “Weather” not “Global Warming” “Climate Change”….

” Because, unlike Epstein, they won’t hang themselves”

I had no cogent reply to that. 

All the other 4 cycle equipment that won’t (probably) be used until spring got a similar treatment (minus the oil, of course) Run empty, refilled with a bit of fuel that will evaporate and not leave residue or varnish behind, and run until completely empty.

This ensures they will start when needed after sitting for months.

I recommend this for all gasoline powered equipment.
Especially stuff you might need in an emergency.

Proper storage matters.