The Wiccan Rede


THE WICCAN REDE
Bide the Wiccan Laws we must In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Live and let live. Fairly take and fairly give. Cast the Circle thrice about To keep the evil spirits out. To bind the spell every time Let the spell be spake in rhyme. Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak little, listen much. Deosil go by the waxing moon, Chanting out the Witches' Rune. Widdershins go by the waning moon, Chanting out the baneful rune. When the Lady's moon is new, Kiss the hand to her, times two. When the moon rides at her peak, Then your heart's desire seek, Heed the North wind's mighty gale, Lock the door and drop the sail. When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth. When the wind blows from the West, Departed souls will have no rest. When the wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast. Nine woods in the cauldron go, Burn them fast and burn them slow. Elder be the Lady's tree, Burn it not or cursed you'll be. When the Wheel begins to turn, Let the Beltane fires burn. When the Wheel has turned to Yule, Light the log and the Horned One rules. Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree, By the Lady, blessed be. Where the rippling waters go, Cast a stone and truth you'll know. When ye have a true need, Hearken not to others' greed. With a fool no season spend, Lest ye be counted as his friend. Merry meet and merry part, Bright the cheeks and warm the heart. Mind the Threefold Law you should, Three times bad and three times good. When misfortune is enow, Wear the blue star on thy brow. True in Love ever be, Lest thy lover's false to thee. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will.
- Blessed Be -
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Legal Stuff

Legal Statement: My selection of, and comments on, products in my Blogs are neither an endorsement, nor a disapproval of a particular product or products. It is just my choice and my opinion on products I selected of many products available. I have no association with any company mentioned. I provide links to various companies so that you may easily obtain information, if desired, about products or references. Just a side note I can view You Tube videos faster and better if I link to them outside of You Tube. The connection, video and audio do not lag any when I view them this way. In doing so I no way claim any part of the videos, just the pure enjoyment of sharing them through my blog. A note about Comments: To date I have deleted or removed over 70 comments that were posted on my blog. If you can read my blog then you understand "English", I Speak, Read, and Write in English only. So if you have comments you wish to share with me about my blogs please be sure they are in "English". Of those 70 some comments that I translated in the past - they were not suitable for most people or for children to read. If you can not leave me a comment in English I will have to delete it - assuming that it is something you really do not want me to see since it is not in English. As much as I desire comments they must be in English, Thank you. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. PRIVACY NOTICE: Warning - any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/or the comments made about my photos or any other "picture" art posted on my profile. You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee , agent , student or any personnel under your direction or control. The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law. UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Best and Worst Hot Dogs

Click for full article.


With lots of hot dogs out there, it should be easy to choose a relatively healthy one, right?
Not necessarily. Even "healthier" hot dogs may not be better for you, says Carolyn Brown, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at Foodtrainers, in New York City. "It comes down to the quality of the meat, the processing, and the other added ingredients." .... read more.

Ultimate Weapons- X-47B

I recently watched on my Roku "Ultimate Weapons" - Great show! I love aircraft and shooting, so I just had to post this blog video. This X-47B looks so cool. I wished I could see it in person. For my shooting interest I have added a Video playlist just above my Bio below the blog posts. Please enjoy!



Friday, June 8, 2012

SNAFU on PMAGS

SNAFU, a military slang term, an acronym. This included SUSFU and FUBAR and similar terms used by various branches of the United States military during World War II. SNAFU, which stands for the sarcastic expression situation normal: all fucked up, is a well-known example of military acronym slang. It is sometimes changed to "all fouled up" or similar. It means that the situation is bad, but that this is a normal state of affairs. It is typically used in a joking manner to describe something that's working as intended. The acronym is believed to have originated in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.


Big Army: Soldiers Free to Use PMAGs

by Matthew Cox on June 7, 2012

Kit Up! 


Army officials at the Pentagon acknowledged yesterday that TACOM sent the wrong message to the field in April when it declared that polymer magazines, such as the PMAG, made by Magpul Industries Corp., were not on the authorized list for use in the M4 carbine. If you recall, the Safety of Use/Maintenance Information Message stated that the only USGI aluminum magazines — like the Army’s improved magazine, were authorized for use in the M4 and M16.
I posted a story this morning on Military.com, quoting Matthew Bourke, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, explaining that the message was poorly written and should have included guidance that the final decision on PMAG use rests with commanders in the field.
“At best, the message is incomplete; at worst the message allows soldiers to jump to the wrong conclusions,” Bourke said. “Maintenance Information Messages [from TACOM] are permissive. They are not an order.”
What’s really puzzling about this is the fact that TACOM officials had the chance to clarify this issue when I questioned them about it for the initial May 25 story. Instead, they dug in and argued that the only NSN-approved magazines that are authorized for use are those listed in the technical manuals — the improved magazine with the tan follower and the old magazine with the green follower.
It may have something to do with the $10.7 million contract TACOM Rock Island awarded to Brownells Inc. in 2009 to produce 1.4 million Army improved magazines.
Oh and I did get an answer from Program Executive Office Soldier on how its improved magazine performs against the PMAG.
The command responded through Army public affairs that weapons officials had conducted “limited side-by-side testing and found that no commercial magazine was superior to the improved magazine,” Bourke said.
Hmmmmmmmm.
Kit Up! 



This is sample of what all the fuss is about. Visit Magpul to see more.




Thursday, June 7, 2012

The shape of things to come: the A110

The Acer Iconia Tab A110

Has the Amazon Kindle Fire kindled a fire... Ever since the Amazon Kindle Fire launched last year for $199, that figure ($199) has been viewed as the sweet spot for Android tablets. Rightly so too, as Amazon was estimated to have shipped six million Fire’s over that first holiday period, seeing it become the most used Android tablet in the US by the end of February 2012.



Google certainly took notice, as well as ASUS as Google has rumors of plans for them to release a $200 Nexus tablet running the next version of Android, it will be the first to rock the Android 4.1 - A.K.A.: Jelly Bean.

The prospect of a competitively priced, powerful Android tablet is exciting, but it remains speculative as none have been announced to date. Last month, Nvidia talked about its Kai platform, which would bring quad-core power to these tablets.



The shape of things to come: The Acer Iconia Tab A110 has quad-core power and Android 4.0, all for a reported $200, it’s a 7-inch tablet with a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 or with 1280 x 800 resolution depending on whether this is a Kai tablet which has not been confirmed. and it’s powered by a Nvidia processor, 1GB of RAM, 7-inch , a microSD card slot, a front-facing camera, HDMI connectivity and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

So Acer is trying to make the "affordable tablet with all the bells and whistles". As Amazon well knows that the $199 price tag is the real "deal breaker", as the other manufacturers for all other Android tablets hope to cash in on. Looking at a September launch date, I look forward to holding one.

Hatsan 125 Sniper .25 Cal Airgun Review

I have been following Rick for a while I enjoy his reviews.

Amazing power and accuracy!



Click to go to Pyramydair

I shot Rick A message: Rick I am confused... pyramydair link shows a .177 cal, not a .25 :0(. Does it come in a NON combo setup, with just a sling. Thank Andy.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

"Phantom Eye's First Flight"






 "Phantom Eye's" First Flight
(Click for full story)

Towed onto the dry lakebed of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., before day break, the morning sun rose to welcome Boeing’s Phantom Eye. At 6:22 a.m. Pacific time the unmanned aircraft lifted off its launch cart and climbed to an altitude of 4,080 feet into the desert sky.

The autonomous aircraft, with its 150-foot wingspan and powered by energy efficient liquid hydrogen, completed its first take off and landing June 1. After touching down, the vehicle sustained some damage when the landing gear dug into the lake bed and broke. 


“This day ushers in a new era of persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) where an unmanned aircraft will remain on station for days at a time providing critical information and services,” said Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works. “This flight puts Boeing on a path to accomplish another aerospace first -- the capability of four days of un-refueled, autonomous flight.”
Phantom Eye brings a new level of high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) to the aviation world. It’s efficient and environmentally responsible liquid-hydrogen propulsion system is a first of its kind, creating only water as a byproduct of its engines. The aircraft can also carry a 450 pound payload.
“This flight demonstrated Phantom Eye’s initial handling and maneuverability capabilities,” said Drew Mallow, Phantom Eye program manager for Boeing. “The team is now analyzing the data from the mission and preparing for our next flight. When we fly the demonstrator again, we will proceed to enter higher and more demanding envelopes of high-altitude flight,”
Phantom Eye is the latest in a series of Boeing-funded rapid prototyping programs, which include Phantom Ray, Echo Ranger, ScanEagle Compressed Carriage, and an associated Common Open Mission Management Command and Control (COMC2) system capable of managing all of the company’s unmanned assets.
To view a photo gallery of the "Phantom Eye" first flight, click here.

Why Is the EPA Using Drones to Spy on Cattle Ranchers in Nebraska and Iowa?

Why Is the EPA Using Drones to Spy on Cattle Ranchers in Nebraska and Iowa?
This is becoming more and more an issue that will erode our privacy and our freedoms. We need a strong message to be sent to congress. We must stand strong on the Constitution. The Supreme Court must ask "Would I want a drone following me, to see if I am behaving..." All this brings new meaning to "If I could be a fly on the wall" ! - Andy Elliott


The EPA is using drones to spy on cattle ranchers in Nebraska and Iowa in order to make sure that farmers dispose of waste properly. On Fox Business Network’s Varney & Co., Judge Andrew Napolitano said that as shocking as this news is, an opinion by the Supreme Court says that as long as the EPA is using the drones for an administrative purpose, it doesn’t need a warrant in order to do this. “If this is a legitimate area of concern for the EPA, the Supreme Court has said they can use the drones,” said Napolitano.
__________
Judge Napolitano wrote this exclusive commentary on the topic for the Fox News Insider.

The government may lawfully use technology, just like the rest of us, to make its work more efficient. But it cannot use technology to by-pass the Constitution.

Thus, if its lawful obligation is to monitor real estate to assure itself that the occupier of the lands is not adversely affecting the natural habitat, it may use drones to view the lands. But, generally speaking, that is not the job of the EPA. It sets rules for the use of private property that assures its highest and best use, consistent with nature. It can only monitor that use when it has evidence of a specific violation of that use. Thus, it can only fly drones to look at real estate when it has reason to believe that a specific regulation, directed to the owner or occupier of that land, is being violated. It cannot engage in fishing expeditions from the sky.

The constitutional problem arises when the drone spies some event outside the jurisdiction of the EPA. And much of what the drones will see will be outside that jurisdiction and either innocent or ambiguous. Is that Sudafed for your cold or your meth habit? Is that fertilizer for your rose bushes or to build a bomb? Are you smoking in the presence of your children? How utterly un-American is it for the government–EPA or FBI–to watch us on our private property? These are questions that will come up when the feds put eyes in the skies under the guise of monitoring EPA regulations.

That’s why we have a Fourth Amendment. It guarantees privacy and assures us the right to be left alone. It also requires a warrant from a judge to invade privacy. True fidelity to the Constitution requires a warrant from a judge before any government drone can be used for any purpose. But that is not yet the current practice.


Monday, June 4, 2012

US Navy hopes stealth ship answers a rising China



Future DDG-1000


AP -  ERIC TALMADGE Associated Press 19 hrs ago




Or just read it here :0)

SINGAPORE (AP) — A super-stealthy warship that could underpin the U.S. navy's China strategy will be able to sneak up on coastlines virtually undetected and pound targets with electromagnetic "railguns" right out of a sci-fi movie.
But at more than $3 billion a pop, critics say the new DDG-1000 destroyer sucks away funds that could be better used to bolster a thinly stretched conventional fleet. One outspoken admiral in China has scoffed that all it would take to sink the high-tech American ship is an armada of explosive-laden fishing boats.

With the first of the new ships set to be delivered in 2014, the stealth destroyer is being heavily promoted by the Pentagon as the most advanced destroyer in history — a silver bullet of stealth. It has been called a perfect fit for what Washington now considers the most strategically important region in the world — Asia and the Pacific.

Though it could come in handy elsewhere, like in the Gulf region, its ability to carry out missions both on the high seas and in shallows closer to shore is especially important in Asia because of the region's many island nations and China's long Pacific coast.
"With its stealth, incredibly capable sonar system, strike capability and lower manning requirements — this is our future," Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, said in April after visiting the shipyard in Maine where they are being built.

On a visit to a major regional security conference in Singapore that ended Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Navy will be deploying 60 percent of its fleet worldwide to the Pacific by 2020, and though he didn't cite the stealth destroyers he said new high-tech ships will be a big part of its shift.

The DDG-1000 and other stealth destroyers of the Zumwalt class feature a wave-piercing hull that leaves almost no wake, electric drive propulsion and advanced sonar and missiles. They are longer and heavier than existing destroyers — but will have half the crew because of automated systems and appear to be little more than a small fishing boat on enemy radar. Down the road, the ship is to be equipped with an electromagnetic railgun, which uses a magnetic field and electric current to fire a projectile at several times the speed of sound. But cost overruns and technical delays have left many defense experts wondering if the whole endeavor was too focused on futuristic technologies for its own good.

They point to the problem-ridden F-22 stealth jet fighter, which was hailed as the most advanced fighter ever built but was cut short because of prohibitive costs. Its successor, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, has swelled up into the most expensive procurement program in Defense Department history. "Whether the Navy can afford to buy many DDG-1000s must be balanced against the need for over 300 surface ships to fulfill the various missions that confront it," said Dean Cheng, a China expert with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research institute in Washington. "Buying hyperexpensive ships hurts that ability, but buying ships that can't do the job, or worse can't survive in the face of the enemy, is even more irresponsible." The Navy says it's money well spent. The rise of China has been cited as the best reason for keeping the revolutionary ship afloat, although the specifics of where it will be deployed have yet to be announced. Navy officials also say the technologies developed for the ship will inevitably be used in other vessels in the decades ahead.

But the destroyers' $3.1 billion price tag, which is about twice the cost of the current destroyers and balloons to $7 billion each when research and development is added in, nearly sank it in Congress. Though the Navy originally wanted 32 of them, that was cut to 24, then seven. "Costs spiraled — surprise, surprise — and the program basically fell in on itself," said Richard Bitzinger, a security expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. "The DDG-1000 was a nice idea for a new modernistic surface combatant, but it contained too many unproven, disruptive technologies."

The U.S. Defense Department is concerned that China is modernizing its navy with a near-term goal of stopping or delaying U.S. intervention in conflicts over disputed territory in the South China Sea or involving Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. China is now working on building up a credible aircraft carrier capability and developing missiles and submarines that could deny American ships access to crucial sea lanes.

The U.S. has a big advantage on the high seas, but improvements in China's navy could make it harder for U.S. ships to fight in shallower waters, called littorals. The stealth destroyers are designed to do both. In the meantime, the Navy will begin deploying smaller Littoral Combat Ships to Singapore later this year. Officially, China has been quiet on the possible addition of the destroyers to Asian waters.

But Rear Adm. Zhang Zhaozhong, an outspoken commentator affiliated with China's National Defense University, scoffed at the hype surrounding the ship, saying that despite its high-tech design it could be overwhelmed by a swarm of fishing boats laden with explosives. If enough boats were mobilized some could get through to blow a hole in its hull, he said.

"It would be a goner," he said recently on state broadcaster CCTV's military channel.


AP writer Christopher Bodeen contributed to this report from Beijing.

Buyer's Guide: In-Ear Sound Isolating Headphones



Read article from original site. Or just read it here :0).
The Facts 

Sound isolating earphones - also known as Ear Canal Headphones(ECH's) or In Ear Monitors (IEM's)  These earphones are placed into the ear canal and effectively seal your ear with their small rubberised ear-tip sleeve.  They are small, lightweight and very portable. 
Sound isolating earphones are not to be confused with ear bud headphones that sit loosely in your outer ear.  The major advantage of sound isolating headphones is that they keep the audio inside your ear and the noise outside - they isolate your ear from the outside world by upto minus 20dB.  This means you can be sitting on a train, bus or aeroplane with very little distraction. 
The in ear monitor earphone was originally developed for musicians to protect their hearing whilst being able to listen to the rest of the band at a sane volume level. 
Many people use sound isolating earphones while exercising, but some comment that they can hear any impact on the body as a dull thud inside their ear.  This can also occur if the earphone lead is knocked.  This is caused by the fact that the sound isolating material over the tip is transmitting the sound more directly to the ear drum. 
Important note about safety while listening: Sound isolating earphones prevent you from hearing noises around you can be dangerous if listening while running, cycling, skiing or any activity where you need awareness of the people and objects around you.  While listening with sound isolating earphones you really are audibly isolated from the external world and need to rely completely on your visual senses.

Our Opinion

We are big fans of sound isolating headphones.  In our opinion this design offers the best quality sound for every day portable use, especially if you are travelling or on the move.  The fact that you are able to listen in isolation from outside noise, without the electronic processing utilized by noise cancellation headsets, means you get a clarity that is hard to beat.  In addition the convenience of a small set of earphones that you can pack away at a moments notice is a big advantage over larger headphones if you are on the move. 
Sound isolating headphones are great for commuting as you can relax and enjoy what you are listening too while there is noise around you.  They are also great for travelling by aeroplane as the engine noise is almost completely blocked by the earphone isolation tips. 
We often recommend sound isolating earphones over noise cancelling headphones for travelling as the audio quality can be dramatically better due to the lack of distortion added by the active electronics in a noise cancelling headset. 
If you are looking for a high quality pair of sound isolating earphones it is well worth checking out the Shure SE earphone range or Ultimate Ears sound isolating earphone range.

Buying Ideas

Below is a selection of ideas for in-ear sound isolating earphones that we can recommend:

Sennheiser CX300 headphoneSennheiser CX300-II

A good entry into the in ear sound isolating category is the very popularSennheiser CX300-II in ear headphone , which is actually a hybrid of the humble ear bud and the full blown ear canal earphone. The CX300 actually seals just outside the ear canal, rather than inside.
The CX300 is a great quality headphone for the price (RRP is £39.99). While the sound quality won't blow you away, they are a big improvement over standard iPod ear buds.
Some find the CX300's bass a little undefined and overpowering, but at this price point there isn't much good competition.

Klipsch Image S4Klipsch Image S4

Klipsch have been steadily releasing some truly excellent earphones over the last couple of years, and the Klipsch Image S4 is no exception.   Compare the Image S4 (RRP £69.99) with many other earphones in the same price range and you may be surprised how far ahead of the field Klipsch are.
The Klipsch Image S4 sounds very balanced, with nice warm bass response and excellent clarity of trebles.  They have a very dynamic sound that suits all styles of music.
We really like the snug in-ear fit, which seems to be due to the excellent quality silicone ear tips and the round-the-corner design of the earphone nozzle.  The ear tips are oval shaped (similar to the shape of the ear canal), which Klipsch are so proud of that they have patented the design.  This all ensures a proper seal in the ear, which is vitally important with IEMs. Without a good seal the sound will be very thin and tinny, due to low frequency (bass) leakage.
If you're upgrading from the standard iPod earbuds, the Klipsch Image S4 is guaranteed to to impress with it's dynamic sound and comfortable in-ear fit.  Highly recommended.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio HeadphonesUltimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio

If you are prepared to spend more on your headphones then the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is an excellent introduction to the world of higher end in-ear canal sound isolating headphones (with a modest RRP of £69.99).
With a name that is frankly a bit of a mouthful (you can ell the Californian marketing team got a bit carried away) this set of ear canal headphones offer a very accurate and clean sound that will open your ears to a new level of detail that is not discernible with cheaper headphones. If you are a basshead you may find you are wanting more low end kick.

Sleek Audio SA6Sleek Audio SA6

The innovative Sleek Audio SA6 secured a first in earphone design with the possibility of customising the audio response to match the individuality of your ears and musical tastes. Sleek Audio call it finding your audio fingerprint. It's a great idea and it actually works. These miniature earphones are also very comfortable and easy to fit due to their diminutive size.
It's at this price point where ear canal headphones get really interesting, the sonic improvements become dramatic and of course the headphones get more expensive. The Sleek Audio SA6 comes in at a RRP of £149.99.
In contrast to the approach taken by dual driver designs such as the Ultimate Ears Super.fi Pro 5and Shure SE420, the Sleek Audio SA6 is a single wideband driver design. The result is a very balanced sounding earphone. In fact we feel that the sound from the SA6 is more balanced than the similarly priced dual driver designs. Sleek Audio claim this is due to the lack of crossover electronics, which is required for dual driver designs.
The Sleek Audio SA6 sounds very impressive, with an excellent level of musical detail and a punchy bass response. The SA6 is an excellent choice for upgrading an iPod or MP3 player and can be driven without a dedicated headphone amplifier, although reports on the Head-Fi forums suggest that a headphone amp extends the bottom end and highs very nicely.
The SA6 is well built and comfortable for everyday use, with replaceable cables, and offers well balanced sound reproduction across the entire audio range. In our opinion the SA6 definitely deserves the title of best mid-priced in ear sound isolating headphone.

Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 ProUltimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro

The top of the range Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro is a truly incredible set of in ear sound isolating headphones, but don't come cheap with a RRP of £229. The three drivers of the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro provide amazing clarity and definition, from the deepest bass notes right through the upper registers.
The UE 10 Pro earphones are fitted upside down with the cable running over the ear. The cables are malleable and hold the earphones securely over your ear. This fitting system works really well for most people and means they can even be used for sports such as running and jogging.
If you are serious about your music then the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro will satisfy your craving for the best possible quality earphones you can get your hands on.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Unboxing Invader helicopter with built in FPV System


Thank You Ali!

Hubsan RC Aircraft with built in FPV System (playlist)

I hope you enjoy these videos I found as much as I do. Thank you Ali!

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