A review from Fly-by the Review Guy, a friend of FMPOTW...

If you’re like me, you’re probably asking what the heck a tactical pen is. To be honest, until I checked out this pen, I didn’t really know myself. I’ve seen the pens at the clothing sales store, but never really paid them any attention. Who cares that a pen can write upside down, right?




Believe it or not, it actually makes sense. If you work or play in an austere environment and writing is a part of that, you need something reliable. Here is Afghanistan the temperatures range from 130 degrees to the negative teens. Pens don’t always work in those temperatures. Last summer, I actually had a pen explode in my sleep just because of the extreme heat.

You won’t have to worry about that with Tuff-Writer’s new Operator Tactical Pen. This pen can take temperature extremes from -30 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The special ink is sealed in a cartridge and pressurized to nearly 35 psi. It won’t dry out, it won’t leak, and it won’t stop writing. The company even estimates that the shelf life of these pens is 100 years and writes up to an altitude of 12,500 ft.

Obviously, it would take me a full year here in Afghanistan to test the pen to its fullest potential, but I did put it through a few tests of my own.

While sitting in the porta-potty outside in the freezing cold rain, I was able to still write in about 29 degree weather. I had a pad of paper, slightly damp, and was able to write using all four walls and the top of the porta-potty. The cartridges are made by Fisher, so refills are easy to find.

The best part of this pen is its durability. It’s practically indestructible. Check out this video:



Operator series pens are designed with a sharp and a rounded end. Each side can be effectively used as a defensive implement or control device. The smooth finished point also doubles as a PDA stylus. The no-snag design of the pen allows for easy deployment or holstering. The Operator’s slightly upwards tipped spring steel clip and external knurling also allow for an exceptionally low slip grip.

The pens are designed with a screw-on cap so when the pen is closed, it functions as one solid piece, critical in a self-defense tool. The grips are awesome and the quasi-bullet design makes it attractive to troops.

The only downside I found is that the pen may be too thick for the ACU pen pockets on the sleeve. I was able to fit it without issue into my OCP pen pockets. The clip is sturdy and holds the pen securely in the pocket so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally popping out. The pen cap has a hole in it that works perfectly with the ball chain of dog tags.

All Tuff-Writer pens are guaranteed against material and workmanship defects for the life of the pen. These pens are also made in the good ole U.S.A. and are designed to be the toughest on the market.

I have been swamped.

First, I have been hip deep in the planning/execution of Tranche II, which is a ceremony to hand over all security and governance responsibilities for Jalalabad and the surrounding districts (roughly 1/3rd of the country.)

Since we are the battle space owner of Jalalabad... it's all my show. To put it into perspective, the event is was attended by several US generals, a dozen Afghan Generals, the US ambassador, and the provincial governor. To say the least, I've been getting a lot of face time briefing a lot of people and not much rest.

In my "free" time, I have been planning our move to the Afghan Border Patrol headquarters--the BN staff is taking over the mentorship role there, leaving the rest of HHC on FOB Hughie, and also working out the kinks on the redeployment plan.

If anyone is still reading this, I appreciate it.  I would update more frequently, and will try to, as my plate gets a tiny bit more room on it (drawbacks of having your planner and logisitician take leave at the same time.)  Maybe no so much in terms of hopes dreams and aspirations, but probably a bit more of working with the afghans.

Finally, pay particular attention to Pakistan--our "Allies" that we give billions of tax dollars to--they've been taking shots at our airplanes flying along the border, have frozen our logistics in Pakistan, and are generally acting like a bunch of assholes who sheltered out #1 enemy for the better part of a decade.

--Chuck

Angels it is time to RESTOCK THE SA WAREHOUSE:

BEEF JERKY
TUNA POUCHES
PEANUTS
PEANUT BUTTER AND CRACKER SNACKS
RAEMEN NOODLES
TOOTHBRUSHES
TOOTH PASTE
RAZOR
SHAVE CREAM
TRIAL SIZE SHAMPOO
TRIAL SIZE CONDITIONER
TRIAL SIZE DEODERANT
TRAIL SIZE BODY WASH

WE CAN DO THIS ANGELS!!

--Chuck

11/19:  The blog is back to normal.  Don't think that this battle has been won.  It's not over yet.  If you didn't get through on the phone/internet yesterday to your congressman, please try again today.

Banned by Mike Yon, made illegal by SOPA/PIPA

This is what the internet will look like if SOPA or PIPA get passed.

Don't believe me?

What can you do? This link works too.


~~Code Monkey (with Chux blessing)



PS Yeah, comments are offline.  Bitch to your congress critter instead of singing to the choir here.  #kthxbai

(And yeah, the cheezburger network will be offline today as well.)

Also:
Bouhammer
Day By Day
Minecraft
Wikipedia

Word of the Day. Backpfeifengesicht (German) 

Means:

 

A face badly in need of a fist.

 

Some people, we just suspect deep down that the only way to get through to them is by violence. Or perhaps the violence is the only thing that will make us feel better.

 

It's the friend who insists on telling racist jokes in front of your mixed-race girlfriend, a co-worker who's constantly sniveling about minor grammar issues on your post-it memos or any number of entertainers you see on magazine covers.

 

Courtesy of Germany, this nameless horror is in fact named backpfeifengesicht, a face that cries out for a fist in it. Everyone knows at least one of these people. If you don't, it might be you.

 

 

--Chuck

The Gun Blogger Rendezvous has been a generous and loyal supporter of Project Valour-IT over the years. The dates for the 2012 Rendezvous were announced just after Christmas.

"The contract is now signed for the 2012 Gun Blogger Rendezvous. The dates will be September 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of September. This is the second week in September, as usual."

Start looking for good rates on plane tickets and bookmark their page for updates.

~~Code Monkey

I finally arrived in San Antonio. It's late, I'm tired, and rather than bothering with the trek out to my Sister's house, I just grabbed a room at a nearby hotel and am finally going horizontal for the next 10 hours or so.

--Chuck

So my four hour delay in Amsterdam did, in fact, cause me to miss my connection and final leg of this journey to San Antonio.  Delta more than made up for it, however, by adding ANOTHER leg to the trip because, hey, What could possibly go wrong?

US customs wasn't bad, that is to say, I wasn't held for a bribe nor did I have to threaten to place a call to the Secretary of Homeland Security.  

But the real kicker--because my flight changed so close to its departure, and because I had no checked baggage, and because hell, I don't know why, I got e magical SSSS security code, good for one enhanced screening and sexual assault.    I'musually understanding and helpful... I have shrapnel here, here, here, and here, an implant here, skin grafts here, etc.  not this time.  Let them figure this shit out on their own.  Welcome to America, this is the land you fight to protect, now if you'll just putyour feet here, we'll subject you to the exact same treatment we would any suspected terrorist.

--Chuck

P.S.  I had a nice conversation in Amsterdam with an Expatriate from Brooklyn who now lives in Norway.  Hadn't been back to the US in 30 years.   US Homeland Seurity made a pretty good argument for him.  Another cool thing in Amsterdam: you go through security at your gate.  Lines are nearly non-existant, save for the people getting on your plane.

P.P.S.  I have gone from Afghanistan to America and have been travelling for the last 80 something hours. The sum total of everything I carried fits into a backpack... A small one.  People need to learn to pack and carry way less shit.