First World Gadget...

In a world where probably a billion or two people light and heat their hovels by burning yak butter candles and ox dung bricks it says a lot about me that I get such glee at such a simple gadget...but there it is....

The SnapPower SnapRays Guidelight is a brilliantly simple device.  Consisting of little more than your standard plastic outlet cover a couple tabs on the back to contact with the positive and negative terminals on your standard outlet connected to three small, white, LEDs, and a light-sensor the Guidelight replaces your standard outlet cover providing you a built in nightlight that allows you to ditch either the plugin incandescent bulb you likely have in your children's bedrooms and get that outlet back for use or the more expensive and time intensive to install versions that leave no outlets in their place.  Maybe its the Dad/Father/homeowner in me that thinks this is really neat but it just seems so natural an invention and one that screams "cool".

I know...kinda silly to get excited for this...but it is such an elegant and simple design and seems just...well...cool that I grabbed up a bunch and put them in my kids' rooms and elsewhere around the house and now my house is nicely lit with a dim little, comforting, white light in the kitchen, living room, kids bedrooms and upstairs bathroom...Oh, and they're energy efficient too!!!  Spending $12 a piece to replace a .50 cent outlet cover...ahhh...America...

SnapPower Website...

BodyArmorOutlet.com Item of the Moment

I'll call it the "Item of the Moment" as I'm not sure how frequently I'll be doing this--hopefully a couple times a month!

Stopping by the BodyArmorOutlet.com retail shop  in Windham, NH I was informed 1) that they have been doing so well that they are expanding to a second shop and facility down the road in Salem, NH and 2) that their body armor sales have been growing rapidly as more and more people come to understand just how many people can benefit from their use.

One such example comes from a familiar circumstance at your local gun range.  There you are, working on your pistol skills, taking the proper precautions and keeping both yourself and your fellow range users safe.  In a down moment you turn to grab some supplies or even just exit the range.  And there he is...the local jackass.  More interested in showing off to his "girlfriend" or his "bros" his gun control skills are less than exemplary and you end up having a weapon pointed directly at you--even if its just for a moment.  A bullet resistant vest can not only provide an additional level of safety for you, but it could generate a conversation amongst yourself and others that assists in improving everyone's attention to detail and proper gun handling practices.

What we have here is an example of one such a vest. The Diamondback UTOC Tactical Carrier is modeled here.  The size being worn is a small and the individual wearing it is 4' 8" and about 90 pounds.  The UTOC (Universal Tactical Outer Carrier) is designed to carry bulky gear while maintaining a casual appearance.  Padded shoulder straps, adjustable cummerbund, strategically located mesh inserts for cooling, optional gear pouches and a number of plate pockets provide not only added comfort but additional storage when needed.

The UTOC is Level IIIA certified meaning it should stop up to rounds from most .357 or .44 handguns.  Additional protection can be gained via plating to be located within the external sleeves.

BodyArmourOutlet.com is currently running a special on a number of Diamondback Tactical carriers.  You can get more details and pricing here:  http://www.bodyarmoroutlet.com/diamondback-tactical-specials.html

Lac-Aux-Sables Rallye 2013 -- Video

This isn't the official video of the event which should be coming out in the next few days but it does capture a few passes of many of the vehicles.  Included here in three instances (one at the 11 second mark, a second at the three minute mark and lastly at the 4:25 mark) of the NISMO Stuff Racing Frontier.  Once in a still shot awaiting the beginning of a stage and two at higher speeds including one of the train track jump.  From what I can see the suspension was certainly drooped coming over the jump but I'm not sure if the truck ever left the ground.  If it did, it wasn't by much...