Home Front: Mayan Long Count disaster!

I've been writing this blog for a year now, its been a good run: 195 posts, 59,456 views, a bunch of good kit and comments, and now, well, this may be the end .....


The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard released this message today.....



Apparently there were suggestions that the usual predictions of the "End of the World" as indicated by the end of the Mayan Long Count on December 21, 2012, was incorrect, due to Julian/Gregorian calendar miscalculations, and it was in fact, due on the 7th of December, 2012.

Woops, that's what you get for leaving your prep till the last minute, folks!




























I for one, got home and consulted MY Mayan calendar, and came to the conclusion that either way, I agree with Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson in that I don't think that a culture that didn't predict the arrival of the Spanish, can predict the end of the entire world, either.

I may, or may not take my Aannihilator Superhammer to work tomorrow, just in case ....

and i was so hoping to hit 200 posts and 60k views before the end ....

Review: Snow Lizard - SLXtreme iPhone case

I backed a rugged, heavyset and multifunction iPhone case on Kickstarter, before but when the design of the iPhone 4 and 5 was still in question, I chickened out of one waterproof case, but later backed another. More rugged, more functional, and more feature packed, I was relieved to see another project offered, and I had the gumption to back it, and then I had to wait.

This was the case that I backed. Billed as the Aqua Tek S on Kickstarter, and produced by Snowlizard. When it was ready for release it was renamed by popular backer vote, to the SLXtreme. Offered in a variety of colour options, I opted for the coyote-tan, surprise, surprise.

The basis of the case is that it fully encloses the iPhone 4/4s in a water, dust and shockproof polycarbonate shell, whilst still leaving the majority of functionality available to the user. During the design and manufacture process, the forward and back facing cameras, and flash, volume up and down buttons, and the main home and power buttons are all accessible whilst in the case.

 It turned out that the mute/orientation slider and earphone ports were too difficult or impractical to accommodate.


The multitouch screen, mic and speakers are faced by a thin polymer membrane which alternately allows the electrostatic use of the iPhone screen and transmission of sound from the speakers, and to the mic. I was skeptical to start with, but was pleasantly surprised both by the crispness of the control surface (no real difference than any other screen protector) and of the sound, (slightly muffled, but perfectly acceptable sacrifice for the protection offered when adventuring).

The base of the case has an access port for charging and synching the device by micro USB, with the 32pin iDevice plug being built into the insides of the case, the port being protected by a sealed flap, which is secured shut with a thumb screw. Also held in the front base of the case are a set of blue LED battery charge indicators.

The top of the case latches open and closed to accept the phone, which sits very snugly, as it is built with low tolerances, and even complying with IP68 & Mil Spec 810, but not so snug as to be impossible to take the phone in and out, even with the screen protector I have on it.

The latch has a slide lock, to help resist those "unexpected underwater openings"

The two camera ports are equally well designed, and don't significantly degrade the picture quality,

All the buttons could be described as "stiff" and the inlay to get to the edge of the multitouch display is pretty tight, but I'd rather a little awkwardness over a busted screen or waterlogged phone any day. The stiffness of the buttons only goes to reassure me that they won't break, or be a source of failure and ingress.

The case is large, it's bulky. It is very reminiscent of the old brick phones around when mobiles broke into wide circulation. This however, is not a big concern for me, given the nature of the protection offered and the additional features built in.

As well as being rated to 2m submersion, mud, dust, sand and rain proof, shock resistant and generally ruggedized, this case also packs a built in lithium ion polymer battery, providing DC 5V - 1A with 2000mAh capacity, giving an impressive boost to the standby (380-hrs), talk time (7hrs 3G, 17 on 2G), internet usage (7hrs 3G, 10hrs on WiFi) and 46 hrs audio, or 11 hrs video play.

However, the SLXtreme goes one step further in that it's back face has a built in solar panel, capable of generating 10 minutes of talk time for an hour of sunlight. This may not sound like a lot, but in a survival situation, it is plenty of power to send text messages, power up the GPS features of the iPhone, read up instruction manuals and yes, make calls as needed.

I have a lot of navigation, mapping, surveying and "guide" apps on my phone, and for the times when I am off-grid, but still want access to my data, and the stored knowledge, knowing that I have a near infinite supply of charging power, is very reassuring.


The Snow Lizard team took a lot of flak over the delays in production, from the initial Kickstarter which was successful in March 2012, till when I received mine in November 2012, and the iPhone 5 coming out in the interim. I really feel for them, but had no such concerns. Kickstarting isn't an exact science, and I'm just glad I got a product.


I am happy with my "less than newest" model of phone, and the accessories I have for it.

The case is rugged, light (at 317g including the 4s, making it a tad under 200g of battery, solar charger, water, crud and shock proofing that I can take into the field with me, do the Stampede or Tough Mudder wearing, or whatever.

Not being able to plug my headphones into it is a drawback I am willing to live with, for what I get, and I look forwards to Snow Lizard to come up wit hthe PALS/MOLLE attachment they posted mock-ups of. Till them, its off to Platatac to ask the lads what they can do with me to include this case in my loadout.

Review: Jill Lite - Constel LED micro lantern

As a part of my care package, this very cool item was waiting for me having arrived from HorNest in Singapore. This is the Jill Lite Constel which is a pocket sized, LED powered lantern. 

The idea of a lantern that can fit in my pocket is pretty appealing, whilst there are a lot of options for using a flashlight to light up a room, but they are not purpose built. Even the Lazerbrite end caps with the glow-domes are accessories, and whilst awesome, are part of a bigger system.

These Type II / III anodized AL6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminium bodied lights are roughly bullet shaped, with a plastic dome light diffuser and a two part metal body. The light source is a 3W white LED, situated in the center of the barrel, and is wired in to use the whole of the unit as a heat sink. O-rings at the dome and end-cap provide a water seal that is rated for approximately 10 meters submersion, which is a lot, when you think about it. Deeper than a number of my "waterproof" watches over the years can go.
  
 A lithium CR123A  battery powers the unit, and provides between 30-40 hours and is activated by rotating the end cap. 

The end cap itself has some cool features, some attention to detail that I really appreciate. The split ring held in the middle is captivated by a raises island machined right out of the base, but not so much as to make it a protection risk when standing the lamp up on its own, which it does on two wide crenelations on the bezel. 

Those crenelations have slots cut into them, for lanyard strapping, and greatly resemble the handles on a beer keg. 
 
Over all the lantern is a miniscule 55mm long, and 22mm in diameter and has a really solid, rugged feel. I wouldn't be throwing it -at- things, in case the plastic end cap broke, but I certainly feel it could not only be lobbed a fair way, but would withstand a bunch of dropping, standing and "lost in the bottom of your pack" time. 

Then there is the light. For a 3W LED, encased in a translucent dome, this little lantern kicks out a whole bunch of light. Here it is sitting on a Dead Person Jar , on my bed, lights on, and off. Certainly enough output to not only navigate, but also to do pretty much anything but paint well. 
 
 I can see this lantern finding an excellent home in my camping kit, as it would be perfect for illuminating the inside of a tent, or the cook-fire, dining table, not to mention for late-night trips to answer natures call.


It is small enough, tough enough and powerful enough, that I want to add it to my EDC, and have it on hand, just in case, even with my already fearsome array of illumination ...

Home Front: Care Package

I've been in hospital all week -as a patient-. It turns out that the ankle problems that have been keeping me from kendo training were an early symptom of a bigger issue. Löfgren's Syndrome, a form of benign sarcoidosis, which struck me heavily on Monday night in the form of heavily swollen and painful ankles, and a creeping rash on my feet and legs. Three days admitted, my first CT scan, first joint aspirate, first lung function test, first EEG, first skin punch biopsy, first broncoscopy, ultrasound guided Fine Needle lung biopsy, bronchial lavage under "twilight general anesthetic" which I woke up during. So many firsts.

Turns out that this is a rare, usually fully recoverable condition, targeting the ankles of Vikings (well, men of Scandinavian descent). Like me. Upside is that I am already responding to treatment, feel much better.

Whilst admitted I had a care package delivery of a veritable mound of Skittles, gummi bears and even some flowers and a plush coyote/dingo.

I came home to find a care package from my pals at HorNest, in Singapore, with some goodies to review:
A Mystery Ranch Mystery Cinch
A set of ITS Tactical MOLLE Sticks
A Constel pocket lantern
and a wicked HorNest patch

Reviews to follow soon!

Thanks to everyone who's supported me through this scary time, I won't loose my feet, and will be back on track some time soon.

Review: OscarDelta SPD - Deep Carry Tube

Here is the second piece in my order from the forwards thinking folks at Oscar Delta Special Projects Division. 

The DCT (Deep Carry Tube) is an airtight and waterproof container, measuring 82mm (3.25") by 20mm (externally) and 16mm (5/8") internally. Both end caps are removable soft vinyl, smooth and extremely snug to the hard tube of the body.  

The idea being that it offers a unobtrusive and subtle space to cache small sensitive or vital items. 

The ingenious folks at Oscar Delta SPD suggests it can be used to store maps, documents, emergency cash, glow sticks, matches, sewing kit, fire lighting kits, spare batteries (fits CR123A, AAA, AA batteries and a variety of button-types) and other small items. 

My SERE v-cutter shipped inside it, and since getting it, I've carried it in the bottom of my front right pocket, it barely registers, and I have no doubt of its ability as a geocaching item, or means to secrete important or sensitive materials. As the folks at Oscar Delta SPD say, "Quite simply, an item that cannot be found, cannot be taken."

Home Front: Brewing

One of the things I love doing over summer is home-brewing. Humans have been brewing for millennium, and it is a really good way to make use of simple raw materials and make something special. The fermentation process (if done well) will produce sufficient ethanol as a waste product of the yeast doing the fermenting, to kill a significant proportion of potentially disease causing microbial contaminants that may also exist in the water and produce.

Ethanol as many of you will know has a pleasing effect on the human physiology, and I heartily enjoy it, and the carbonation that can also be achieved. This is the home-brew kit that I have, (this is a similar kit, my original brand lost to antiquity). It has served me well. Honey & water mead, ginger cordial, ginger pulp & water beer, ginger beer kit beer, apple cider kits have all worked well for me, but this time I wanted to give it a go with more raw-materials.

I

I went with the $2 2L bottles of apple juice and $2 jars of apple sauce I saw at Aldi
and regular dried bakers yeast (gasp if you will, brewing aficionados, but its never done me wrong), which I "started" in half a pint-mug of warm water with 3-4 tablespoons sugar dissolved in it. I cleaned the fermenter, and all the parts, with the manufacturer approved sodium metabisulfite steriliser. Be aware, this produces a very irritating gas, and will set off asthmatics, but it does a really good job at giving a food-grade clean to your kit, bottles and also to act as a medium to fill the bubble-valve. I have also never bothered to measure the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_%28alcoholic_beverage%29of the mixture I am brewing with, to determine the fermentation end point and to calculate the alcohol content, preferring a more rustic "it stopped bubbling much, and tastes good" method. Not very scientific, but in this instance, I depart from my scientific training as a microbiologist, and go with the spirits of my ancestors. Once it is done, I'll be bottling it in the recycled Grolsche bottles that I've been collecting for years.

Review: Oscar Delta - SERE V cutter

My good pal Spencer of SAR Global Tool send me a link to a some buddies of his, who are stocking his SOLAS Dog Tag Signal Device I also reviewed while back. So I headed over to their site and checked them out.

That company was Oscar Delta SPD, based out of the UK and they specialise in products to aid and assist in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape .
This little piece is the SERE Black Ops "V" Cutter.


It is a wearable, lightweight cutting piece that can be worn on or around the body, around the neck, attached to keys,
concealed in your boots (OscarDelta SPD suggest in the top lace hole). OscarDelta SPD make a paracord survival bracelet which includes an elastic sheath to secure and hide the cutter.

At only 3g, this is an ultralight tool, and measures only 5cm x 1.3cm x 0.5mm. The cutting edges of the tool are formed by two razor blades riveted into a V shape to the steel body. 

 Even though it it light, the two blades are reported to cut webbing, seat-belts, seven strands of 550 paracord, duct tape, cable tie plasti-cuffs. This is not a hardened and toughened tool like the Gerber strap cutter but it doesn't have to be, this is a bare-bones escape tool. 

To use the cutter, being so small, it is positioned over the cord or strapping to be cut and pulled through using the lanyard hole and the supplied cord. It is too small a tool to really get much purchase on by itself, but any cord, or a keyring will do. 



I found that after some cutting, a number of fibers jammed between the cutting edges and pried them open a little. Being razor thin, this is inevitable, as the steel flexes. 

This isn't an every-day tool, but it is what it is, a secret escape tool, and I have no doubts as to its ability in that circumstance.