Gear Review: Twod Pistol & Rifle Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight

Twod Pistol & Rifle Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight Review

Gear Review: Twod Pistol & Rifle Flashlight/QR/Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight
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This $15.00 Pistol & Rifle Flashlight is pretty functional for the price.  It installed easily and worked well.  While it is not as sturdy feeling as a more expensive light, it shot well and was bright.

My main concern with the light is the switch.  I killed the battery it came with the first night, as I accidentally switched the pistol light on.

I have reviewed Twod items before, and it is clear they are more for the airsoft market, I found this light worked on my 9mm pistol.  I did not get a chance to use this on a rifle and I suspect that it would break, but to be fair that is only my assumption.

For $15 the Twod Pistol & Rifle Flashlight/QR/Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight is worth the money, but only for a gun that was not in heavy use.

I wrote about flashlight use in my original Understanding the Use of Handguns Book, I normally use a handheld flashlight in addition to my pistol as I am concerned about muzzling an innocent person while investigation nightly noises.  I will redilly admit that a weapon mounted light is much easier to use.

I was offered this item in exchange for a review, but the above are my honest opinions.

Book Review: Homegrown Whole Grains

Homegrown Whole Grains

Book Review: Homegrown Whole Grains
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A backyard field of grains? Yes, absolutely! Homegrown Whole Grains are rapidly replacing grass in the yards of dedicated locavores across the country. For adventurous homeowners who want to get in on the movement, Homegrown Whole Grains is the place to begin.

Growing whole grains is simpler and more rewarding than most people imagine. With as little as 1000 square feet of land, backyard farmers can grow enough wheat to harvest 50 pounds in a single afternoon – and those 50 pounds can be baked into 50 loaves of fresh bread.

In addition to providing information on wheat and corn, Homegrown Whole Grains includes complete growing, harvesting, and threshing instructions for barley, millet, oats, rice, rye, spelt, and quinoa, and lighter coverage of several specialty grains. Readers will also find helpful tips on processing whole grains, from what to look for in a home mill to how to dry corn and remove the hulls from barley and rice.

Chapters for each grain include inventive recipes for cereals, desserts, casseroles, salads, soups and stews, and, of course, home-baked breads, the crowning achievement of the home grain grower. Sara Pitzer shares dozens of ideas for using whole grains – from cooking sturdy wheat berries in a slow cooker to malting barley for homebrewed beer. Whether milled into nutritional flours or used in any of their unmilled states, wheat, barley, quinoa, and the other grain crops are healthful additions to every diet.

MAKE Fun!

Book Review: MAKE Fun!
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You don’t need to own a factory to make toys. MAKE Fun! author and toymaker Bob Knetzger has been making fun stuff all his life with simple technology like vacuum forming and mold-making.

In an age where makers are tantalized by the capabilities of 3d printers and other digital fab technology, this book takes you back to old-school hand tools, simple electronics, and working with metal and plastic to make toys every bit as good as those you can find in a big-box store.

This book has something for everyone, from a marble maze to a talking booby trap; from custom cookie cutters to an “EZ Make” oven. Discover the basic principles of science, electronics, and engineering through hands-on projects that range from easy to more challenging… and are always fun!

T-Post Puller Review

Gear Review: T-Post Puller
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I have tried all manner of ways to pull t-posts.  I finally spent the money on a dedicated t-post puller.  Let me tell you the $40 was well spent.  I recently was offered a bunch of posts from my father in law if I came and took down a fence.  I allotted 4 days to do it based upon my experiences with DIY hacks.  I pulled over 100 poles in just a few hours.  They were deeply embedded, goat tight posts that were in the ground for over 10 years.

I only bent one pole.

It is a very easy tool to use, the arm has a grooved arm that snags on the t-post teeth and since the fulcrum is so close to the arm, it pulls almost straight up.

I also like how the arm has a chain hook, but I haven’t gotten a chance to see how it pulls small saplings yet.

My video does not show the deeply set and time embedded posts I pulled out at my in-laws.  They decided to get out of the goat business and turned much of their pasture into grape arbors.

The cross fences made it hard for them to do work on the grapes so they gave me the poles.  I allotted several days to dig them all out, but I did it in two short mornings.

Gear Review: Conflicted Cards Financial Collapse Deck

Conflicted Cards Financial Collapse Deck Review

I love the guys at conflicted cards – they had a great idea and really did a good job implementing it.  They recently gave me the opportunity to both review their 7th set of cards as well as offer a contest.

The financial collapse deck is timely, as I have come to believe that financial collapse is the most likely cause of a collapse of our society.  It is a little more educational that the previous sets, but not so much that it will turn away preppers.

Like the other card decks it stirs up heated discussion and makes for a better prepared user.

The conflicted card financial collapse deck is a little harder than the first versions.  It takes thought.  But, if you have been keeping up with the decks as they come out, you probably are ready for the challenge.

I like the deck, and I especially like how it can also double as a regular deck of cards.  This makes it even more useful and makes it more likely to be used.

The military is also sneaky about making decks of cards that use blank space to add information they want their personnel to remember.

Conflicted Cards Contest Financial Collapse Deck is more specialized that the original set, but not so much that the common prepper would find it boring or overly complicated.

These guys understand their audience. and are constantly developing better products.  I want to thank them for what they do, and to thank them for sharing with my audience by sponsoring the contest below.