This Nobel prize winning economist writes about the two basic types of thinking and how to use them to achieve success. I find Thinking, Fast and Slow to be useful when teaching students how to make decisions under stress.I am currently in a graduate certificate program in executive leadership, and in my class on decision making the Professor also highly recommended this book. The author in THinking Fast and Slow taks about the two types of thinking Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is the instinctual constant low level thinking we all do. How to walk, tie our shoes, the gut feeling of I like this person, or I don’t like this situation. Most of your decisions are type 1 thinking.
Type 2 always follows Type one, it is the monitoring level of deeper thinking. When you first started driving and had to think about steering and braking, and the mechanics oif it all you were in type 2 thinking.
The neat thing is that you can train yourself in a subject until it becomes type 1. That is mastery.
I discussed the OODA loop and the color code system with the the pHD teaching the course but she had no frame of reference. Luckily the Grad Student assisting her used to teach firearm training at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy, so that lead to some great discussions about how those defensive tactics concepts worked within the academic framework.
If you want to get a little deeper understanding of how your brain works under stress – or especially if you teach how to work under stress then Thinking, Fast and Slow is a book you should consider reading.
“The ReadySet is a renewable energy system that charges from solar panels and can power lights, radios, cell phones, tablets, and even Wi-Fi hot spots. The ReadySet’s intelligent battery can charge up to 10 iPhones, or power an iPad for over 12 hours of continuous video-play and can recharge from the included solar panel in just a few hours. Designed originally for Africa, the ReadySet is rugged and easy to use and now available here to power a tailgate, camping trip or for use in case of an emergency. You can even go on a carbon-diet and power your electronics from renewable energy at home.”
The Fenix Solar panel is a custom-built 15W peak mono-crystalline solar panel specially designed for use with the ReadySet Power System. It can fully charge the ReadySet in just 8-10 hours of full sun. Its rugged aluminum frame and portable size make it easy to transport or simply move indoors at night for safekeeping.
Beyond solar, the ReadySet’s smart electronics and firmware allow you to charge from virtually any source such as solar panels, bicycle generators, micro-wind turbines, and more. The ReadySet’s sleek yet simple design allows you to use this energy and power all kinds of devices from its two open standard 12-volt Car Lighter Adapter ports and two 5-volt USB ports.”
Each ReadySet Solar Kit includes:
The ReadySet battery (54 WHr equals ~10 iPhone charges)
15 Watt Solar Panel with rugged aluminum frame (it’s fully weatherproof & waterproof)
23 Watt Power Adapter for grid charging
3 Watt LED Light with socket, cable and switch
USB Universal Battery Charger that allows you charge any 3.7-volt Lithium battery (for phones, cameras, etc)
Instruction Manual
On the negative side, I did have some problems with the original set. However, as a brand new company with a brand new design it is too be expected.
To readyset’s credit they did offer two solutions:
I could return the set
They would give me instructions to fix what they thought the problem was.
Once I got the problem fixed, see below, I tried it out. I think it is a very useful piece of equipment. Personally, I look at it as a hybrid of the harbor freight solar setup and my diy battery pack.
For the purpose of seeing how powerful it is, I tried to run my CPAP machine. I did this even though common sense said not to. Unfortunately, the battery just is not powerful enough to run my CPAP machine. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and the small size means limited power.
However, when running the things the kit is designed to run I have had great experience – it charges from wall power in about 6 hours, and about 8 in the sun (depending on location, time of year, and weather). I have been able to run both lights for over 8 hours on a single charge.
Finally, after looking at it, I think that even if I had not won it in a contest I would have bought it. I look forward to their upcoming bike powered generator.
Repair of the Ready Set Solar Battery
Buy at Amazon
I won a Ready Set solar kit at an instructables.com contest and was dying to do a review.
During the review process I noticed that the ReadySet I received did not work. Now, I was saddened by this as I have been wanting to do this review for several months.
I contacted Fenix Intl through customer service about the problem and after about an hour I received what I consider to be an appropriate reply.
Basically I got one of the kits on the first production run, and the spade connection on the battery worked itself off in transit. The company said I could either get an RMA and ship the old kit in for a replacement OR they could send me instructions for fixing the problem myself, and if I could not fix it they would get me and RMA.
I bet you have no question about which option I took….
The process was very simple, and considering that the first batch always has some problems I still think this is a pretty nice device.
Then, all I did was to flip the device upside down, take out 8 screws, flip it back over and remove the top.
Sure enough the negative battery clip was a little loose. I pushed it back on and plugged it in.
The lights came on and the device starting to charge.
In conclusion, I think this is a neat idea, and it has some potential. The company seems to be working very hard at providing a quality product, and they have some great ideas.
One thing is certain, their battery pack is light years better than mine…
It is probably not a surprise that as a “gun guy” I visit lots of firearm stores. I actually make it sort of a hobby.
I visit stores see how they differ, how they are the same, what they are selling, and how the staff interact with customers.
As a firearm instructor I get to hear from new shooters about their experiences, and feel I have a good frame of reference in what makes a successful gun store. I have a model of the “perfect” gun store in my head that I hope to create someday.
Let me tell you that so you can imagine my pleasure as well as a tiny twinge of envy when I met John McConnell Owner of Clarksville Guns and Archery.
I saw that his new store has marked off all of the boxes in my mental perfect gun store checklist.
My Perfect Gun Store
Knowledgeable sales staff with real world experience from a broad range of shooting sports, but customer focused, friendly, and humble.
Devotion to growing and maintaining the firearm tradition through youth outreach
Solid Firearm training program
Experienced and skilled gunsmith that does more than just replace parts
Good selection including ammunition in hard to find calibers
I met John through his gunsmith, because they were looking to schedule an instructor course for his sales staff. Clarksville Gun and Archery put the time and effort into getting its sales staff trained as NRA Pistol Instructors; this is very rare and shows a level of commitment that speaks volumes about the store. I was very impressed about the caliber of his staff.
The sales staff includes former military, law enforcement, competitive shooters, and hunter safety educators with decades of experience. Each one brings a new perspective and insight into helping the customer find the perfect firearm to solve their needs.
They Do a Lot of Youth Training
Clarksville Gun and Archery devotes time and resources to engage the youth, they work with the Hunter Education program, teach archery courses, firearm maintenance courses, and the have a indoor range to accommodate even more training activities.
The have a gunsmith that I have personally used and find them able to do all manner of gunsmithing tasks quickly and for a high value.
This store is packed with items; they have many things that you rarely see outside a catalog. As a Barrett Firearms High Caliber Dealer they have several Barrett .50 caliber rifles in stock. I saw a lever action mare’s leg, and a couple other cool guns that I am trying to convince the wife I need for “training aids”. John explained to me his philosophy in stocking rare ammo so that they always have what the customer is looking for. I loved looking at the long rows of ammo, and appreciated the end cap with .9mm .45acp, .223 and .308 in one easy to access location.
This isn’t advertising. I don’t and didn’t receive anything for writing this. Writing this was my idea and I asked John if he minded me passing on my thoughts to you.
I just want to support such a great store with such outstanding staff. If you are in the Clarksville TN area you need to check them out online at Clarksville Guns and Archery where they proudly announce they are a “different kind of gun store” where they do not have any “Gun Shop Commandos”.
Travel-Trailer Homesteading is a small book that packs a wallop, with information for readers tired of paying rent and yearning for a suitable home of their own, but who don’t have a huge bankroll to do it.
Kelling lays out all the basics: how to analyze your budget and costs; how to find suitable land and a livable travel trailer or RV to use as a permanent home; what kinds of tools you’ll need; and how to construct a septic system, generate power, devise heating and refrigeration systems, and much more.
While Travel-Trailer Homesteading is not a large book, and some of the ideas are a little impractical, I did find it useful – especially with ideas that I can adopt on a different scale at my own homestead. I especially liked the ideas on sanitation and home heating as I found them to be useful as I develop my own little cabin in the woods. My plan was to adopt many of the ideas to a shed conversion when I was attempting the “Dual Homestead” idea – you know to be practical and cheap – unfortunately my partner was unwilling to try other ideas.
I don’t normally post bad reviews – sticking to the idea that “if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say anything at all, but this radio holster was SO poorly made I felt I had to share.
I recently came back to corrections, and I am now an Academy Instructor that is assigned field duties to teach new employees how to survive working in a prison. I love this job, but to get it I had to be rehired as a basic correctional officer and go back through the entire training process before I could apply.
I bought this Tact Gear Radio Holder upon graduation from the academy and used it as I began my 2 week on the job training. I did not work hard, as I was not allowed one on one work with inmates during the training. I did not get in any fights and only responded to a single “officer needs assistance call”. Imagine my frustration when less than 2 weeks of light use the radio holder broke.
I could not imagine that gear designed to hold such an essential tool as a radio would be built so shoddily. I was able to sew it using a hand awl speedy stitcher, but I am not sure I can trust it. Luckily my new job does not have me in a duty belt daily, so I don’t have to buy a more expensive radio holster.
Remember, cheap is cheap for a reason – sometimes you have to have a piece of equipment and you can’t afford the best, but if you can shell out for better gear – you only have to buy once and cry once.
I won this Ready Set Solar set in an 
It is probably not a surprise that as a “gun guy” I visit lots of firearm stores. I actually make it sort of a hobby.
Travel-Trailer Homesteading is a small book that packs a wallop, with information for readers tired of paying rent and yearning for a suitable home of their own, but who don’t have a huge bankroll to do it.
I don’t normally post bad reviews – sticking to the idea that “if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say anything at all, but this radio holster was SO poorly made I felt I had to share.