There’s an organization based out of Chicago (though it has members across the country) called the Women’s Tactical Association.
Women's Tactical: Athena Logo
Members are mostly (though not all) law enforcement officers and military personnel. What’s interesting about these ladies is that they are able to maintain their femininity without giving up the ass-kicking capability you’d expect of an organization that includes NPRC (National Patrol Rifle Competition) shooters, specialized LE units, drug task force officers, etc.
If you’re at SHOT this week, watch for the three attractive (but dangerous) females wearing WTA apparel and get one of these patches (it’s a female shooter silhouette, appropriately labeled the Athena logo). If you know a female who is serious about improving her skills and is less worried about breaking a nail than she is about reducing her reload time under fire, then steer her towards the WTA (they are also on Facebook).
Note: we’re not interested in any stupid or inappropriate comments. These ladies are professionals and are our friends. If you want to remark on the fact that they all seem to be pretty as well as tactically proficient, well and good. Keep it classy, be respectful and don’t show your ass. We’d treat your friends and your sister the same way.
Tactical Fanboy: A member of the Women's Tactical Association.
These Woodland-esque camouflage-printed sneakers by Upper Echelon Shoes feature a side zip, rubber sole, and padded insole. They also feature ‘gold’ chains that lay over the laces, which, depending on taste, may be a positive. If not, then a good pair of wire cutters would remedy that design choice real quick.
Sneaky Studios has designed a line of Star Wars themed target range posters. Characters include the Rancor, Darth Vader, a Stormtrooper taking Princess Leia as a hostage, and of course the man himself, Boba Fett. Each poster is a high-quality digital print on 220gsm premium paper stock, is signed by the artist, and will run you $35 a piece, so you might not want to plug holes in the originals. Luckily, this is exactly what local print shops (or office supply stores) exist for, right?
Casio’s latest offering in the G-Shock line of watches is the GB-6900. It’s the first in the line to use Bluetooth Low Energy Wireless Technology, which is really Newspeak for this thing will be studying your daily habits to better plan the eventual machine takeover. All joking aside, it’s a pretty useful bit of hardware.
It connects to most smartphones to automatically adjust and correct its own display time and includes an alert signal that notifies the user of incoming calls and messages. Any ring alerts and vibration can be stopped by tapping a button on the watch. Similarly, phone alarm and vibration functions can be activated with a button press if the phone is misplaced. The Bluetooth signal features a data transfer rate is abound 1 Mbps with a signal range of 2m and a 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard.
As a watch, the GB-6900 isn’t too shabby either. It has five independent daily alarms, a stopwatch, countdown timer, and display options for 35 time zones in 100 cities, including Coordinated Universal Time and the option to enable Daylight Savings Time. Like other G-Shock models, it has a shock-resistant body and is rated for immersion up to 200 meters of water. A battery life of approx. 2 years is provided by a single CR2032 disk battery, assuming the communication function is used for only 12 hours per day. It’ll be available in Japan in March. The USA, and presumably everyone else, will get it by the end of the year.
I’m not gonna lie. At first, my interest was purely in the property rights this company was carrying. A Boba Fett Return of the Jedi edition MIMOBOT USB drive? Hell, yeah! But, Mimoco has come up with a useful tool in their MIMOMICRO card reader/USB drive.
MIMOMICROs allow for easy transfer of data stored on microSD cards. You know, the really small ones that almost always require an adapter since barely any computers on the market accept them as is? My camera takes them, and in case you couldn’t tell, I’m not a big fan. You simply insert the microSD card into the device, then flip out the USB plug. Simple and fast usage of the normally pain-in-the-ass microSD. Plus, Batman and Darth Vader make everything cooler. The MIMOMICRO line will be available March of this year.
The Acousticom Sound Egg is a total immersion entertainment chair lined with ‘Acoustic Isolation Foam’ that keeps out external noise while five full-range speakers and a 10-inch sub woofer deliver 5.1 HD Surround Sound to the user. Each Sound Egg is highly customizable, with options for an attachable arm with a tv/monitor, tablet/laptop, or mouse & keyboard mount, colored leather or vinyl padded covered seats, cup holder, and 11 foam colors. Standard shell colors are black, red, blue, tan/beige, green, gray, LCD chocolate, dark green, and yellow, although a color matching option is available if requested. Available direct from the manufacturer or from Amazon.com.
http://www.soundegg.com/
http://www.acousticom.com/
If you live anywhere near Atlanta, you might want to check out SS Airsoft’s indoor battlefield. It looks awesome. According to the news article we read, “SS Airsoft is a 14.000 ft² airsoft-dream. They offer you a unique field with light effects, fog and an unbelievable setting. Recently Brain from Echo1 visited this field and made a video that will provide you a great overview off the game area.”
Seriously, the attention to detail in this place is astounding.
This the video they’re talking about:
Tactical Fanboy: a view of the SS Airsoft Arena near Atlanta.
CTA Digital Inc. has released a line of officially licensed U.S. Army video game peripherals. Seen above is the Elite Force Assault Rifle (US-EFR). Modeled after an M4 Carbine with an EOTech holographic sight (“modeled after actual military equipment”), the Elite Force controller has every button featured on a standard DualShock 3, including the rumble effect, and connects to the PS3 using Bluetooth. The ‘barrel’ can also be removed from the Elite Force and replaced with a Move controller, turning it into a navigation controller. The controller is powered by two (2) AA batteries. Available in digital camouflage and in Olive Drab with green-grey furniture as the ‘Commando Assault Rifle’ (not pictured).
Also available is the U.S. Army Universal Gaming Headset With 3D Effect (US-UGH). The Universal Gaming Headset connects to a monitor or sound system via RCA stereo jacks (red and white cables) and directly to your console or PC via USB. This allows you to independently adjust in-game and chat volume using the in-line controller. A ‘3D Sound’ button takes advantage of the triple drivers in each ear cup to deliver realistic sound based on volume and location in-game. Other features include a 14ft cable, removable microphone, and padded ear cups.
Why she says it’s better than Portal 2. We love Veronica Belmont, and we agree with her.
Here’s an excerpt:
1. Yeah, I loved Portal 2. The first time I played it. When it was called PORTAL.
2. Oh, you like your little puzzles, do you? I like slaying dragons using massive fireballs and wielding blades imbued with ice and FEAR. Also, you think running around variations on the same room over and over is exciting, Kiala?? I think your brain was in stasis too long.
I am about to stab you in the head
3. If you’re bored walking through the (scenic and gloriously rendered) mountains, let me introduce you to a friend of mine: Skyrim Murder Bear. He’s been looking forward to meeting you.
XShot is a company that deals in tripods and other camera mounts. The product shown in the picture above is the XShot 2.0 Camera Extender. It features a universal tripod mount and extends the reach of the camera by 37″, making it perfect for group photos and self-portraits, along with any other situations where an extended camera reach would be useful and/or appropriate. The Pocket XShot Camera Extender, a similar product, features a reach of 30.5″ and can fit into a pocket or purse when retracted. XShot also offers iPhone cases with a detachable tripod adapter and a swivel that allow the user to quickly switch from portrait or landscape views, along with the XShot Kayak Mount, perfect for Kayakers and Kayak fishermen.
Lifeproof is a company that makes highly durable iPod cases that are designed to be water, dirt, snow, and shock proof. The cases feature a polycarbonate frame, scratch-resistant waterproof screen protector, shock absorbing elastometer, shock absorbing rear Polypropylene cover, and shock absorbing perimeter O-ring. They are built to MIL-STD-810F-516.5, meaning they have been dropped on all surfaces and edges onto concrete from a height of 2 meters without any decrease in performance from the device. Additionally, Lifeproof-clad devices are rated for immersion up to 2 meters of water and are low profile, with a main body depth of 10.8mm, only 1.3mm thicker that the phone itself. The case currently available is only compatible with iPhone 4 and 4S, although, according to the show rep, an iPad case will be available roughly six months out.
SkunkJuice earbuds and over ear headphones use magnets in lieu of an entirely cord-based connection. The headphones are separated into two parts, the phones and the jack, that also allow the use of up to three additional connector pieces. These allow other users to bridge into the connection, allowing a small group to effectively share a single music player. This particular connection method also helps to limit any damage that could occur with yanking or pulling away with a standard cable. Pretty useful if you’re rough with your earphones, or just happen to walk away from your electronics with your earbuds still in.
Popular Airsoft has narrowed down it’s nominees to five (5) per category for the 2nd Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards. They are giving you until the end of January to select the winners, and they are urging finalists and their supporters to rally up and gather as many votes as they can to be finally chosen as winners.
From their website:
“As for our dear Popular Airsoft readers as voters, we have prepared some raffle prizes for lucky draw winners for the voting period. Prepared by our Main Presented, Edgar Brothers Airsoft Division, and even sweetened by Gunfire Poland, here are the prizes waiting for you:
1st Prize: Magpul PTS AKM Masada MOE* 2nd Prize: Magpul PTS MOE Stock (Choose the colour you want) 3rd Prize: 1 Box of Magpul PTS Beta Project 75-round Magazines (5-Pack)”
What is not to love about bacon? Nothing. Bacon comprises all that is wonderful in the world (well, most of it). Now you can have it for your alone time and your significant other. It could conceivably be handy when you’re deployed. (If you’re a Corpsman, doc, PJ or other health care professional, you might also check out the Mad Duo‘s report on Bacon Bandaids.)
From the manufacturer:
“J&Ds baconlube is water-based, proudly Made in America and is the gold standard of meat flavored massage oils. We only made a very small quantity of this pork flavored nectar and it’s available while supplies last.
What started as an April Fool’s joke is now a REAL product thanks to the thousands of people that emailed, harassed and sent us highly explicit explanations of what they would do with this (thanks for that).
Just Keep It Sizzlin’ with baconlube. They’ll be bacon for more.”
Mighty Dwarf Speakers are a series of devices that turn any surface into a speaker. This model features a 5-watt resonating downward-facing driver and plays .mp3 files by using any MicroSD card up to 16GB. It can also connect to any electronics that support a standard 3.5mm earphone jack. Mighty Dwarfs feature a built-in lithium-ion battery that charges via USB and will last up to 12 hours, depending on the volume and base of the sound playing.
New this year at CES is the BlueII Bluetooth model. Like the standard Mighty Dwarf, the BlueII accepts MicroSD cards up to 16GB, but it also can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device for instant streaming. This model features a 10-watt resonating downward-facing driver along with a skyward-directed tweeter that projects a ‘dome’ of sound around the device. It also has a lithium-ion battery with a maximum life of 12 hours.
This is Tactical Fanboy, and I’m currently walking the Consumer Electronics Show! Expect plenty of articles through Friday detailing products and events throughout the show. Speaking of which, is there anything in particular as a reader you want to see covered? Let me know in the comments and I’ll see about getting to it.
Spike’s Tactical has a number of different “designer” lowers for real steel shooters. Today we’ll look at the Pirate version. Could be perfect if you are a pirate (though truthfully that would mean you’ve lost most of your teeth, chew qat and prefer an AK) or better yet if you’re a pirate hunter. Killing pirates isn’t such a bad idea. Too bad the government no longer issues letters of marque. The one pictured is the ‘Pirate Lower w/ Enhanced Kit: FDE CTR Stock & MOE Grip”. It runs $444.95. It features the Calico Jack logo instead of their typical Spider logo, and the selector switch markings are bullet pictograms. Though they don’t show it specifically, you may be able to get a color fill job on it if you want (see below).
Spike’s Tactical AR pieces come with a lifetime warranty. Full specs below.
Also check out their video on how to zero your weapon, it’s really good.
For more on their kit, here’s an article from Tactical Weapons about their “BioHazard EDW 6.8”
This is really cool to watch, even if you’re not the artistic type. It’s a time lapse video showing the process of creating the cover art for Xabiroi. More on deisign.com.
Ignore any of the conspiracy theory stuff, if you want. Just watch the video. It’s pretty cool.
Tactical Fanboy: Harry Potter is running direct action missions in Iraq, apparently.
NO idea if this is actually Harry Potter using his invisibility cloak and marauder map to put some hate down on insurgents in Iraq, some kind of high level steely-eyed snake-eater tech accidentally being revealed or just some clever video editing (after all, anything is possible with film these days: they made us want to get freaky with green-skinned chicks on the new Star Trek movie, right?) Definitely worth checking it out though.
MilSim Event, a motivated airsoft organization very active in the Oklahoma-Texas region (and slowly spreading into other states, doing some awesome stuff) put up a one-year video retrospective of 2011. Check it out. We’ll show you some stuff from their big damn battle at Ft. Hood soon.
JL Bourne, author of Day by Day Armageddon, did a guest blog over on Gear Scout. We’ve taken the liberty linking to it here, for two reasons: one, the author is JL Bourne. Two, the gear is the First Spear OAGRE, and we really like First Spear.
Here are a couple pretty good videos on goggles, facemasks and eye safety for you MilSim shooters out there. Wearing eye-pro should be a no-brainer along the lines of “don’t get drunk and stick try to have sex with the garbage disposal while it’s on, or ever“, but we still see knuckleheads pushing their goggles up, removing their glasses or otherwise imperiling their vision. While this would seem to be a Darwinian situation that is self-correcting, people make mistakes, and we’d hate to see someone lose part or all of their vision to a simple screw-up or a moment of absent-mindedness. (TFB Knuckledragger, one of our other writers, tells us he met an AF Security Forces guy on Masirah Island right after 9/11 who was unable to pursue his dream of trying for the CCTs because he’d screwed up and taken a paintball to the eye. This isn’t to say his career in the AF wasn’t honorable or worthy of respect, but it wasn’t the dream he might very well have realized if not for one moment of lapsed judgment.)
You know the EOtech sights you’re using in MW3? (They’re the “Holographic Hybrid Sights, or HHS kits.) You can, of course, get them in real life, and you can get extended range from their G33 magnifier. The HHS with G33 will, according to EOTech, allow accurate shooting from 0 to 500 meters, using the G33 “Quick Switch to Side” magnifier mount.
There are two kinds of kits. One (the HHS1) is for use with nightvision (EXPS3-4 HWS) and has a 4 dot reticle for shooting 0-300, 400, 500 and 600m. The other one (HHS2) has a non NVG compatible sight with 2 dot reticle for CQB “fast action” targeting.
Both come with a quick detach base that’s designed to return the optic to zero after mounting it back to the same rail location (to within 2 MOA). Both have operating buttons on the side, so you can use it with other rail mounted furniture.
They’ll be available this Spring and will run $1,000 to $1,225. You can check out more on the EOTech website.
I finally managed to track down a can of Monster Rehab Rojo Tea, and found it to be quite refreshing. The primary ingredients are rooibos tea and cranberry (other ingredients include black and green tea, coconut water, gogi berry, acai berry, and mangosteen fruit), with a taste very similar to Boston iced tea. It has a lighter sweetness than the Green Tea + Energy, and very little tartness despite the cranberry. Again, you’re looking at 10 calories per serving [about 2 servings per 15.5 oz can], but with 3g of carbs per serving instead of the 4g previous Rehabs offer. Like the rest of the Rehab brand, the drink lacks carbonation and the “Rehab Energy Blend” which gives a pleasant, long-lasting buzz without a major crash. Yet another winner from those energy drink geniuses at Monster.
Now, if I could only find the [dreaded] ProTEAn + Energy flavor…
Monster.com – Rehab
I am about to stab you in the head
