Weather The Storm

A tour of one version of an actual and current USAF Pilot Survival vest by Nutnfancy. In this four part series I go over the non-classified items in the vest and impart a little philosophy as I go. The vest itself is made by Ultimate Survival Technologies (Air Ace™ Survival Vest with SnapTrack™ ) and is an outstanding, functional design. It has numerous pouches that can be configured in a variety of secured locations. Note that each item is also ‘baggied’ for moisture resistance and tethered to the vest for security. Strong points of this particular vest are its signaling and communication capabilities. This vest shows a basic loadout which is often supplemented by GPS units pre-loaded for theater, extra ammo, cold weather supplies, and other items. Several improvements to this vest could include: a medium sized fixed blade survival knife (like the KaBar Utility Knife, the Ontario RAT-7, or Fallkniven A1), better flashlight (like Streamlight TL-2 or Scorpion LED), better multi-tool (like Leatherman Charge), better water storage devices, inclusion of Trioxane fire starter, double mag pouch for M9 pistol, CamelBak system, and an emphasis on lightening the overall carry weight. However upgrading the items in a USAF vest like this is often limited by scarce command/unit funding and the military supply system (NSN) that often excludes the best and most suitable gear. NOTE: Apologies for the low quality of this video. New camera with new settings, didn’t turn out so well but I …

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A tour of one version of an actual and current USAF Pilot Survival vest by Nutnfancy. In this four part series I go over the non-classified items in the vest and impart a little philosophy as I go. The vest itself is made by Ultimate Survival Technologies (mostly a military supplier) and is an outstanding, functional design. It has numerous pouches that can be configured in a variety of secured locations. Note that each item is also ‘baggied’ for moisture resistance and tethered to the vest for security. Strong points of this particular vest are its signaling and communication capabilities. This vest shows a basic loadout which is often supplemented by GPS units pre-loaded for theater, extra ammo, cold weather supplies, and other items. Several improvements to this vest could include: a medium sized fixed blade survival knife (like the KaBar Utility Knife, the Ontario RAT-7, or Fallkniven A1), better flashlight (like Streamlight TL-2), better multi-tool (like Leatherman Charge), better water storage devices, inclusion of Trioxane fire starter, double mag pouch for M9 pistol, CamelBak system, and an emphasis on lightening the overall carry weight. However upgrading the items in a USAF vest like this is often limited by scarce command/unit funding and the military supply system (NSN) that often excludes the best and most suitable gear. Note: Pilot I was trying to remember was Scott O’ Grady. Apologize for the poor quality of this video series, I am working to fix it!

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Here’s my summer bug out bag contents. I neglected to mention that I have a space blanket, poncho and fishing gear kit in the bag as well. As the seasons change, so do the contents of my BOB. For colder weather I added a sleeping bag, wool socks, balaclava, wool scarf, and more.

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So, your shift at your minimum wage nine to five has just ended and you’re thinking that instead of spending hours on the train or blowing your little bit of money on a taxi, you’ll just walk home. Great! An opportunity, at last, to truly know the city in which you’ve begun to make your life. Let us see who welcomes you.

To get home, you’ll have to cross the river that divides the successful from the dregs. You’ll have to look at their hobo bags and dirt-streaked clothing and acknowledge to yourself that should the machine break down and you missed out on even one paycheck, you’d be right there next to them. But why think of that?

She looks them over as she goes by, thinking at first that it’s impolite to stare, but then realizing that these people have long stopped caring if they’re looked over. Any look at all carries with it the possibility of a dime or a nickel and is worth enduring for that reason alone. Besides, she only wants to look.

They are a varied lot, but there is some sense of continuity among them. One can tell they come from the same tribe. One of them wears blue shorts that bear the logo of the 1984 Olympic Games, and a disproportionately large number of them are old men in girls sweatshirts. Black dust from burnt garbage stains them all.

Here’s another interesting sight: the old man who sits slumped against the wall. Try to see beyond the wall. Just a few feet behind his sweaty back, people are still hanging on, are still getting it done, are still doing business, are still selling their antique engagement rings and cell phones. The game is still going on for them.

But how thin that wall really is. Just inches, really. About as thick as the length of time from one paycheck to the next. Speaking of which, you’re getting paid again next week, aren’t you? Maybe you can afford that taxi after all. Look, here’s one now. Roll up the windows and you’ll find it easier to ignore the yawning maw of agony opening beneath your feet.

This isn’t some future dystopia, either. This is your city, and the day is the current day. One can no longer ignore the consequences of the master-slave system under which we all toil. There is relief to be found, but who will look when looking can be enough to land you in the alley? Who will look?

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