How to Use a Contour Camera as a Dashcam

 

Gear Review: Contour Camera as a Dashcam
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I recently bought a contour camera so I could take some videos of things normal camera’s could not do – like an underwater shot of a Glock firing while submerged.

When I got the camera I was pleased.  Unfortunately, the audio quality just isn’t good enough to use as a go to camera for all my videos.

However, using one of the mounts that came with the camera I noticed that it would make a good dash-cam.  It only needs to be turned on to record, it is small, and has GPS built in.

I Hate the Fish Eye Lens

The fish-eye lens as described in the camera review post makes it more usable as an action camera, which, in turn makes it work well as a Dash camera.

I like this set up as it is easy to turn on, easy to adjust, and the contour transmits to my phone which makes it easy to see that it going on.

The idea it to make car “rant” videos where YoutTubers talk about things, however:

  • I am only in the car long enough to do a video like that on my way back and forth to work so I can’t do that in uniform.
  • Nobody likes those kinds of videos.

Dictionary and Manual of Fireworks

Book Review: Dictionary and Manual of Fireworks
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Dictionary and Manual of Fireworks was written by a legend in the pyrotechnic field.

Not only is this book written by George Washington Weingart’s, it contains the Carlisle-Weingart Papers.  These papers are years of priceless firework related correspondence with Weingart.

In this book, Learn why Weingart decided to write the book, discover new formulas & techniques.

With the papers you get the benifit of two great pyro minds together!

The book is full size, and contains 136 pages, 146 formulas, 15 tables, 100 illustrations.

This is a great reference for pyrotechnic enthusiasts.  and very useful is you want to make fireworks.

I don’t think this is the ONLY pyro book you own, but I do feel that it should be in your library.

I also believe that the home construction of fireworks is not something to be taken lightly.  Not only do you have to keep current on any applicable laws (laws that become more strict with every accident or incident) but also the tried and true safety techniques that keep you from hurting yourself and others.

I use the Dictionary and Manual of Fireworks as a reference, especially when looking at more in depth books like Shimizu’s Manual (which is a $200 bible of firework creation).

Windmills and Wind Motors

Book Review: Windmills and Wind Motors
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I bought Windmills and Wind Motors from the now defunct Lindsey Books company.  I immediately jumped on buying this book as a reference when I saw that it was a guide for making and using your own windmills, even to generate electricity!

Free, clean, and sustainable energy: wind power is an essential resource everyone can harness.

This comprehensive and compact historical work provides everything you need to learn about the theory and construction of everyday windmills, from small ones intended solely as models to those large enough to generate electricity.

Powell provides all the necessities to get you on your way, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and designs for every part of the project.

Types of windmill projects include:

  • A model windmill with sails two feet across
  • A working windmill with sails six feet across, suitable for pumping water
  • A practical windmill with sails ten feet across, capable of producing up to one-half horse power and able to run light machinery

For those interested in developing alternate, off-the-grid sources of energy, or even those who like to build for fun, Windmills and Wind Motors is a classic, useful guide to harnessing wind power.

110 black & white illustrations

Herbal Drugstore

Book Review: Herbal Drugstore
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The book The Herbal Drugstore is billed as symptoms, fight disease, and supercharge immunity– All without Drugs or Chemicals!  While this is a lot to believe (especially as marketing copy) – I believe that herbal medicine does have merit.  Especially when the normal drugstore is not available.

You’re about to enter a completely different kind of drugstore. One where herbal medicines are offered right alongside conventional pharmaceuticals. Where bottles of feverfew stand next to bottles of aspirin, and echinacea has its place among other cold and flu remedies.

The Herbal Drugstore is the only place where you can compare mainstream drug treatments and their herbal alternatives for close to 100 common health problems. You’ll find herbs that have the same healing powers as many prescription and over-the-counter medications– only they’re cheaper and gentler, with few or no side effects.

Whether you need fast first-aid or long-term relief, The Herbal Drugstore has a remedy for you. Here’s just a sampling:

* Immobilized by arthritis? Rub on capsaicin cream, a natural pain reliever made from hot peppers (page 96)

* Can’t sleep? Start snoozing with valerian– it’s as effective as Valium, but it isn’t addictive (page 352)

* Want to lose a few pounds? Get a helping hand from psyllium, an herbal alternative to appetite suppressants (page 448)

* Feeling stressed? Calm jangled nerves with ginseng– it won’t undermine alertness (page 509)

* Battling bronchitis? Clear up that cough with licorice, a natural expectorant (page 129)

* Need help with high blood pressure? Turn to hawthorn– it has much in common with beta blockers, except for the side effects (page 326)

The Herbal Drugstore features these and many more herbal remedies– 712 in all! They’re profiled right next to their pharmaceutical counterparts, so you can make your own comparisons and decide which treatments are best for you.

The Handgun (Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance, Vol. 2)

Book Review: The Handgun (Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance, Vol. 2)
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Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance Volume II is a clear and simple guide to building a semi- or full-auto pistol or a single-shot, falling-block handgun from common materials in the privacy of your home workshop.

In addition to offering many alternative workshop gunsmithing tips, the author explains how each part and section of the gun is made and discusses thoroughly the subjects of heat-treatment and bluing.

I haven’t built any guns more complicated than slam fire shotguns like what is illustrated in the improvised munitions manual or assembling an AR, but this is a fine book with easy to follow instructions.

As long as you don’t make anything fully automatic or bigger than .50 caliber (and stay within all the other insane regulations) of the BATFE making your own guns are legal.

I enjoy thumbing through Home Workshop Guns for Defense & Resistance – between it an Luty’s book on expedient homemade firearms I know that no matter what happens the citizenry of America will always have guns.

I find that books like these (and the publishers willing to print books like these) are becoming more and more rare as our society changes.  It is my desire that every prepper household buys books like this to ensure that the information is always present in out society.  Ben Franklin would have wanted this also.