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[irradiatedferrets]

#CallBrussels

Let me start out by saying I’m an “expert” on absolutely nothing, but consider myself fairly educated and endowed with common sense.

#CallBrussles is a campaign started two months ago (in January) by visit.brussels (Brussels official tourism and convention website) due to the enormous decline in tourism the city was experiencing after major terror alerts and news alerts late last year. As is shown, various phones where placed throughout the city of Brussels and a number was advertised that any international could call to query nearby locals that picked up the handset about the safety of the city. A hashtag campaign was also started, as you can see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vu_nVyyvxg This is all good and well, you can’t fault a city for trying to drum up tourism, especially one as historically and culturally important to Belgium and Europe.  Where a problem begins, is when PR campaigns and hashtag campaigns are looked upon as legitimate information and advisories regarding terror threats. The US State Department has regularly updated the travel advisory to reflect the increased threat levels in Brussels (and Belgium), which has since March of last year (also taking care to note the increased risk of threat during both national and international holiday periods) steadily rose and was maintained between Level-3 ( high threat) and Level-4 (serious threat of imminent attack) since November of last year.

http://belgium.usembassy.gov/security_messages.html

Also noted by the state department, European authorities continuously warned of the increased risks of terror threats from ISIS/ISIL.

EUROPE:  Credible information indicates terrorist groups such as ISIL and al-Qa’ida and its affiliates continue to plot near-term attacks in Europe.  All European countries remain vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. European authorities continue to warn of the possibility of attacks conducted by lone individuals inspired by extremist organizations that could occur with little to no warning.  Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, aviation services, transportation systems, and public venues where people congregate.  Authorities believe there is a high likelihood terror attacks in Europe will continue as European members of ISIL return from Syria and Iraq.  European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/worldwide-caution.html#Europe

The UK Government also had similar warning on it’s travel advisory page for Belgium.

Terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including on public transport and transport hubs and in other places visited by foreigners.

Brussels hosts a number of international institutions (EU and NATO) and government and foreign embassy buildings which are sensitive locations.

There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium/terrorism

Why does this matter? Individuals need to take all available information into consideration before making plans for international travel. While a foreign municipalities tourism and convention committee may have a snappy, cute advert that shows happy and joyful locals describing how great and safe their city is...that is the view of an agency who’s primary goal is to maintain and invent news ways to attract tourists. As far as local sentiment regarding terror threats, while it can be interesting collaboration of anecdotal evidence, it does not replace the warnings and advisories issued by legitimate organizations/agencies who have the resources, trained personnel, and intelligence sources that you’re average citizen doesn’t. Those organizations/agencies exist to help safeguard the public and help keep the public informed in regard to potential hazards and threats.

This applies doubly for your own country and municipalities. If your city, state, region, ect... has issued an increased threat level advisory,  it is best to heed it and take steps to help safeguard yourself and your loved ones.

It is up to each of us to determine what are appropriate steps, but it is wise to maintain a level of vigilance and situational awareness at all times. If you take anything away from this, I hope it’s to apply a mindset to consider all available information sources and use them to make an informed decision in regard to personal safety during travel. This is merely personal opinion and should taken as such. 

[irradiatedferrets]

Here some delicious AR500 plates I purchased via CATI Armor. They measure at 0.25in (6.35mm) in thickness, each plate weighs about 8lbs. The plates are covered in a 1/4in coating of  Rhino Linings Military Polyurea (Similar to  Line-X Paxcon used by AR500Armor) for spall/splatter mitigation.  The data sticker (as you can see) shows a manufacture date of March 3rd, 2016...a day after I placed my order, talk about “freshly made”. It boass an NIJ Standard 0101.06 rating (7.62x51mm/M80 Ball) for the plate and made in the US too boot, what more could I ask for. The carrier is the Condor Sentry a very affordable, low profile, well fitting carrier...and I’m a big guy, with a small wallet (the flag is mine). Now, there is plenty of hate for Condor, but I’ve never been disappointed with them. They provide decent gear at an affordable price point, which suits me just fine. Now that’s not to say I wouldn’t snap-up a LBT Slick 6094a with some ESAPI if I have the doesh, but I don’t, so I get what I can afford. Once you get the plates inserted and have adjusted the carrier to fit comfortably and properly placed some the top of the plate is even with the top of your sternum the weight becomes negligible, and in terms of movement, articulation, ect... it’s hardly hinders.  16lbs might be a bit weighty for some, but over time you forget it’s there, but I am a big guy...both weight and mass wise. After a 10% discount code, total cost of the Sentry Carrier Package from CATIArmor; $153.00 w/ free shipping. Not too shabby. Shipping was very quick, and as noted above...was FREE, even if I had to wait a week or two, free shipping more than makes up for that. http://www.catiarmor.com/

[irradiatedferrets]

Great video diary of a UAF tank crew during offensive operations against the NAF. 

Cold War technology being dusted off and flexing it’s muscles! Some great footage of the T-64s internal systems, auto-loader being loaded and operating, and general vehicle operation. 

[irradiatedferrets]

Battle Rattle

Let me start off by saying, my experience is in Search & Rescue as a Ground Team Member with Civil Air Patrol (no military service) and I’m not a gear shill/snob. Just going to touch on my gear evolution over the years;

I started out using a mix of surplus gear, pouches and components of M1967 MLCE, M1956 LCE, ALICE LC-2....eventually leading to a relatively standardized ALICE LC-2 rig.

When I started as a CAP cadet, I had nearly the full ALICE rig consisting of the LC-2 suspenders, LC-2 belt, LC-2 magazine pouches, and LC-1 entrenching tool carrier. Eventually I bought a commercial MLCE style Butt Pack to carry miscellaneous items like my poncho in.

I used the ALICE rig for quite a few years, eventually moving onto an LBV-88 when I became a Senior Member (18+), just migrating my existing ALICE attachments over and adding a Camelbak MULE onto the integrated shoulder webbing on the LBV-88, which I ran until I left CAP some years later.

Having no real use for her, except the occasional camping trip, extended day hike, or the rare airshit (airsoft) excursion the LBV-88 pretty much was a closet item for years.

One day I decided to get a rig for shits and giggles, some fantasy and innawoods use. I knew a guy who’d bought a plate carrier and had a generic Condor Commando chest rig he didn’t want, so I gave offered him $10 for it and it was mine and I set out to make my shotgunners rig. I was quite pleased with the rig, it was decent material, I like the bungee retention over the mag pouches, the GP pouches where generous, and it had a convenient map/admin pouch built in. Eventually I wanted to integrate a radio, but there wasn’t really a way to do do with the rig due to the permanent pouches and it didn’t have any incorporated MOLLE.   So, once again I set out looking for something new. I looked at the LBV-88 as an option, but I wanted something newer (there is absolutely nothing wrong with LBV-88 or ALICE), so I hit up my local surplus stores, looking over the FLC, but I didn’t have any armor that fit (it can be wore without armor) and didn’t want to run it without any. I looked into getting an IBA, but the local shops wouldn’t sell any with the soft or hard armor in the carrier, because they’re afraid of selling to a felon and didn’t want to violate ITAR..so IBA was out of the question because I couldn’t afford to buy any soft armor off Fleabay. 

Eventually during one of my trips, I spotted a Condor MCR-4. I had the Condor Commando rig and it worked just fine, it had plenty of MOLLE, it’s in Multicam and it says it’s “modular”...well why the hell not?! So I purchased it. 

Then I spent months changing the layout, buying this pouch and that pouch. Eventually finding a layout I was happy with managed to leave it that way for a year.  Then the inevitable happened, I grew displeased with the layout and again started changing it again. Finally I decided I was going to get some of the modular pieces to this rig and discovered most of the Condor MCR line had interchangeable parts...pretty nifty. I look over their options and see the Hydro Harness, which offered some more MOLLE real-estate, the ability to carry an integrated hydration system, and provided a backing, rather than just the webbing straps across the back.  

So I decided I was going to get it, but as I pursued I saw other accessories for the MCR line, deciding I was going to make a list and save up to just do a big bulk buy of what I wanted. So my list grew.

Wouldn’t you know it, tax season was right around the corner! I could save and maybe use some of the tax return. 

So, we managed to get a decent return (I’m married and have progeny) and I got the Hydro Harness, some facos, a large GP pouch, GPS pouch, legit shotshell cards, a card velco mount for said shotshell cards, and some other little miscellaneous bits.  

Again, started changing the layout, eventually I put the large GP pouch on the hydro harness as a miscellaneous carrier, radio pouch on the right, mag pouches center, IFAK on the left...a nice minimalist setup (well what I consider minimalist) and this is how I’ve been running it since.   I gear stack, so the rig goes over armor comfortably or I can just don it by itself. 

The important thing to remember is, it’s a balancing trick. Get what you can afford, but what you’re happy with. I moved onto MOLLE because of the modularity, the ability to change the layout, be it STALKER innawoods opr8ting or just a camping trip, I can add and remove what I need. 

There is always room for improvement and gear mixing, if it’s compatible it isn’t a horrible idea. 

If all you can afford or all you want is Condor...then go for it. FLC with some SDS attachments...hey, it works. Not everyone can afford LBT or Crye (yes, yes, we know, save ze shekels), but the gear doesn’t make the man. 

Improvisation and adaptation will help you not only learn to make due, but gives you an appreciation for different rigs in different configurations, different strokes for different folks. 

[irradiatedferrets]

The days of an nationally integrated missile defense network are long gone...

Interesting Reuters article here;

Exclusive: U.S. weighs making Hawaii missile test site operational

The short of it is; that the US military is looking to bring it's "AEGIS Ashore" system into operational status. The article itself is just the bare bones  and military PAO talking points, nothing of real substance.

First I want to hit on the why, then I want to hit on the how (Please note, this is my own opinion and hypothesizing, I do NOT represent any organization of governmental body);

The article cites the North Korean nuclear test that occurred on the 6th of January 2016 and "recent strides in Chinese missile tech".

One can deduce that North Korea's test has caused quite a stir in the defense community, the mentioning of "recent" China's missile developments are inconsequential, the People's Republic has had the ability to hit US-based targets since the 1980's with their land-based DF-5 ICBM and sub-based JL-1 SLBM. These recent "develops" are nothing, but a continuation of existing Chinese capabilities.

Experts have been dousing the idea that North Korea has actually developed and tested a Hydrogen Bomb (A legitimate Fusion-Fission device), stating it's simply just another test of a simple Atomic device or at most a Boosted device. They very well may be correct, but that isn't reason to dismiss the tests outright as just "North Korea" doing what it does. If this indeed a simple Atomic device test, it could mean the North Korean's have made advancements in device miniaturization, enough so that it could mount them onto smaller ballistic missile systems like a Scud, Sahhab, or Nodong. If it was a Boosted device test, it means the North Korea's have the capability to increase a devices yeild in leaps and bounds, so much so it could mount a Boosted device to it's Unha space-launch platform. (ICBM and rocket technology go hand-in-hand, the US placed all it's decommissioned LGM-118 "Peacekeeper" ICBMs into satellite launcher platforms, placing the warheads on existing LGM-30 "Minuteman III" systems).

If the military is bringing a test platform designed as a proof of concept into operational status (AEGIS Ashore was originally designed to be located in Romania and Poland by 2018, with possible follow-on systems being placed in Turkey), then something has pushed not only a time-table forward, but has them pressing a test/proof system into the intentional missile defense role...and I'm seriously doubting it's China. (The Chinese have had the ability to hit targets on both US coasts and anywhere in between since the very early 80's, why suddenly has this become an issue that requires action, when we dropped our national integrated missile defense network in the late 60's through the early 80's?)

Now, to touch on the why;

Wit the collapse of the Soviet Union, repeated budget cuts/draw downs during the Cold War, the restructuring of US Forces in the mid/late 90's, and the eventual shift in combat doctrine in the early 2000's; the US has placed missile defense on the back burn on the lowest setting possible.

US detection systems have maintained a relatively high placement on funding and maintenance line budgets, because they offer not only the ability to detect ballistic missile launch and flight, but can also track objects in space, track some aircraft, and other aerial objects (some systems can even track large enough groud targets, but many US detection systems have been defunct).

What has fallen is actual missile defense, as in interceptor systems, decoy systems, ect... as it stands, the US currently has four systems capable of taking on "ballistic threats";

THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense);

Currently THAAD only has 24 launchers in five Batteries, which use Kinetic impact (no explosives) to destroy missile. THAAD is also only designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles, making it useless against ICBM and SLBM threats. It also intercepts during a missiles "terminal phase", which is the reentry stage of the missile into the atmosphere, making THAAD particularly useless against ICBM/SLBM platforms the employ MIRV (Multiple-Independent Reentry Vehicles) systems like the Russian SS-18 "Satan" or SS-X-30 "Sarmat", both of which have 10-15 MIRV warhead payload per missile, some of which are decoy dummies. Both systems also employ visual and radar decoys to confuse both radar and missile tracking.

Ground-based Mid-Course Defense;

GMD uses a the Ground Based Interceptor, a EKV (Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle) that uses kinetic impact like that of THAAD. GMD is designed to intercept ICBM/SLBM during their midcourse phase, when the missile has flamed out and the platform is preparing trajectory for warhead reentry. GMD is located at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg AFB, California.

As of April 30th, 2014, the Government Accountability Office issued a report stating that the system may not be operational any time soon because "its development was flawed".  Sayings the GBI missile is "capable of intercepting a simple threat in a limited way".

On August 12th, 2015, LTG David L. Mann characterized GMD as the nation's only ground-based defense against limited ICBM attacks.

MIM-104F PATRIOT PAC-3;

The US Army's HIMAD (High to Medium Air Defense) system, designed to battlefield missile threats. It's capable of intercepting up to intermediate range ballistic missiles, making it useless against ICBMs and SLBMs.

Aegis BMD/Aegis Ashore (SM-2/SM-3 RIM-161);

Aegis BMD is an extension of the shipborne Aegis Combat System. Ships with Aegis can be fitted with SM-2 or SM-3 missiles in their VLS (Vertical Launch System) making them capable of intercepting up to intermediate range ballistic missiles. Aegis Ashore is a land-based platform using hardware elements and superstructures designed for naval vessels.

In short, the US currently only has a single anti-missile platform capable of actually taking on ICBMs or SLBMs, of which are only located at two sites in limited numbers and has been determined to only do so in a limited capacity.

What does this mean? If a foe with lesser ballistic missile threats was to attack the US, US interests, or a US ally there is a credible and sustained defense network in play, however...

This would require said foe to get within range of targets. In order to strike a target in the US, that would require them to be within 3,000mi of the Continental US. ICBMs have a operational range of 4,000mi+, as do SLBM. Meaning they can be launched from within their own territories or from a sub sitting in the Arctic Circle.

Just some food for thought...

[irradiatedferrets]

The Wonderful World of Radiation

As if is hasn’t become overly apparent, I have an obsession of all things Space Age/Nuclear Arm Race era related. This is especially true for Civil Defense items. I am the proud owner of a handful of Victoreen, Lionel, Bendex, and Jordon geiger counters, survey meters, dosimeters, and other assorted accessories. Now, those aren’t the only companies to produce radiation detection equipment. There are many current and former manufactures that do/did, even some homebrewers out there, but we’re looking at a specific point on the time frame. The introduction and use of the CDV series. A superb collection of information on not only CDV meters, but Civil Defense history, documentation, policy, and information can be pursued at http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/, an excellent site operated and maintained by Mr. Eric Green The Oak Ridge Associated Universities also has a Civil Defense section within their Health Physics Historical Instrumentation Collection, to included experimental and prototype instruments; http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/civildefense/civildefense.htm My personal collection (Picture above) consists of two CDV-717 (both Vicotreen), two CDV-715 (both Victoreen), two CDV-700 (one by Victoreeen, the other by Lionel), six CDV-742 (Bendex),  a CDV-750 (Jordon Electronics), head phones for the CDV-700s, and shoulder straps. The other bits are the kit boxes, one is a CDV-777-A, the other a CDV-777-1 and the items that make up US Military/NATO Chemical Detection and Decontamination Kits. Those include the M256 Chemical Agent Detection Kits, a booklet of M8 Chemical Agent Detection Paper, and M295 Individual Decontamination Kits. Of my collection, only one CDV-715 and one CDV-700 are fully calibrated by a NIST certified laboratory using dedicated equiptment designed to calibrated the meters, the CDV-794 High Range Calibrator and CDV-790 Low Range Calibrator. Sometime you’ll see Youtube videos or other online sources how to “do it yourself” for meter calibration. Often this isn’t actual calibration, but simply alignment of the meter needle with the scale face or actual use of calibration knobs, but the radiation source in use isn’t reliable or measured (usually the meter check source or a pellet of Am-241 dug out of a ionizing smoke detector). It is rare, but legitimate videos and sources do exist, preformed by real engineers and technicians with the experience and knowledge to properly demonstrate actual calibration with a measured/certified source. Some companies offer calibration for varying prices, these companies operate NIST certified labs, with NIST certified equipment, run by certified technicians. It really boils down to what you want to do with the your meters. If they’re for looks or just to play with, there is no real need for calibration, but if you plan to use them for their intended purpose, proper calibration is highly recommended. Well, enough of the serious stuff. Now you’re probably asking yourself, “what possible use would I have for one of these things”? All depends on what you want out of them, I had mine calibrated so I could experiment and be a radiation nerd. You’d be surprised what is “hot”, everything from watches to plates, yup, plates. They use to put Uranium in the Fiestaware glaze. Heck, isotopes were so highly thought of and apart of the culture back them, they had spark plugs with radioactive isotopes in them, purportedly adding in engine performance. I’m a member of a Facebook group “Everyone who owns a geiger counter”. It’s very interesting and exciting group full of great people from around the world discussing their meters, their “hot” finds, collections, homebrew kits, current events, related politics, ect... A great Youtube account to check out is “antiprotons”, he’s full of information and has his own spectrum analyzer! I hope I didn’t bore you too much, I get like that haha.

The above song hasn’t been confirmed for Fallout 4, but is apart of the “CONELRAD 640-1240 - Civil Defense Radio” mod for Fallout 3 by Macabre Productions and can be found on Nexus Mods. It can also be found at http://www.atomicplatters.com/index.php; CONELRAD | Atomic Platters: Cold War Music from the Golden Age of Homeland Security

[irradiatedferrets]

DOGMEAT?! It is doubtful the stalwart companion of the Vault 101 “Lone Wanderer” will be in Fallout 4, this is likely an entirely different four-legged canine friend. Based on information provided by St. Todd Howard “Patron Saint of the Apocalypse”, the dweller of Vault 111 emerges 200 years post-apocalypse as the sole survivor of said vault (something I have my own suspicion regarding e.a. “cryogenics”). The events of Fallout 3 take place during 2277, exactly 200 years after the bombs fell. It would seem based on what we know thus far, is the events of Fallout 3 occur during the same time frame as the events of Fallout 4, or at the least in the same period.

Now, Boston and DC aren’t all that far apart. However, it is improbable that Dogmeat traveled the 430 miles from Boston (The Commonwealth) to DC (The Capital Wasteland) or visa versa. This isn’t to say that is impossible, Dr. Zimmer (the visiting scientist in search of his missing android, see “The Replicated Man” quest in Fallout 3) and his bodyguard Armitage made the trek relatively unhindered.

I say improbable because, based on the continuation of the story of the Fallout Universe, Dogmeat presumably would stay with the Lone Wanderer until his (Dogmeat’s) death, be it old age or in combat. What is a likely possibility is our new Fallout 4 companion is a direct descendant of the original Dogmeat, the companion of the Vault Dweller in Falllout. This is the case of Dogmeat in Fallout 3 and believed to be to case of Dogmeat in Fallout 2.

The above song hasn’t been confirmed for Fallout 4, but is apart of the "CONELRAD 640-1240 - Civil Defense Radio" mod for Fallout 3 by Macabre Productions and can be found on Nexus Mods.

It can also be found at http://www.atomicplatters.com/index.php; CONELRAD | Atomic Platters: Cold War Music from the Golden Age of Homeland Security

[irradiatedferrets]

My. Body. Is. Ready. For Fallout 4, of which I am certain will completely consume any free time I have. I may even have to put the kibosh on sex night until I’ve throughly explored every valley and hilltop of the Boston area, I need all the time I can get on Bethesda’s new eye-candy masterpiece. (No seriously, sex night is postponed from Nov.10th - TBD, j/k she’d kill me or rape me, or both...which wouldn’t be all that different from the typical sex night. You’re now asking yourself ‘these people have a “sex night”’? Why yes, we do. It’s any day (read “night”), to include consecutive ones, that we can manage to lay pipe...because parenthood.)  As of now, I’m currently ensnared in my fourth play through of Fallout 3 on the PS3. I’ve also racked up Xbox 360 hours in Fallout 3, but not nearly as many as on PS3. PC time was nothing, but a modding shitfest, so I don’t look at it as actual time in game. Fallout has always been something special for me. I grew up hearing the stories of the Cold War from my parents and relatives, their time in Europe guarding against Soviet attack, bomb drills, the culture, music, threats of nuclear war, ect... I’ve always had a love affair with that era. Games like Fallout and Metro have give a glimpse what it would have been like if the button had been pushed.  Especially with the Fallout Universe being a divergent universe where the modern era is simply a continuation of our own 1950′s and 1960′s. The “nuclear” aspect is simply just icing on the cake for me. I’ve always been fascinated with nuclear physics, metallurgy, weapons, and Civil Defense.

[irradiatedferrets]

AT&T "Long Lines" Microwave Station, Topanga Ridge, CA.

AT&T operated the largest telecommunications network prior to the development of fiber-optic and commercial satellite capabilities of the late-80's. These sites, built from the late-1940's into the early-1980's were considered primary targets for the Soviets. Spaced 50mi apart, hardened with steel reinforced concrete, with copper mesh integrated between the layers to negate EMP.