Discreet Rifle Case

After finishing my AR-15 build, it was time to find a rifle case. However, I didn't just want a regular case that screams rifle. I wanted a discreet case - one that I could carry to my car without anyone thinking that I'm carrying a firearm.

After much searching and missing out on a few cases at various online retailers and forums, I finally found one on Amazon.com that I liked. I ordered one of the last 2 cases and it arrived today.

It fit my AR-15 with room to spare. In fact, there's enough room for another rifle! Maybe a shotgun one day. :-P

What's also great about the case is that there is a front zippered section that has compartments to hold 4 magazines for the AR-15, elastic to hold 8 handgun magazines, and a holster to hold a handgun. Check this out:

So now, when I go to the range with the AR-15, I can also carry my handgun in the same case. No need to carry multiple cases, although my ammo will definitely be in a separate range bag.

Oh....and if I ever need to evacuate due to any emergency, the rifle case has shoulder straps so that I could carry the case like a backpack like so:

I'll have this on my back, emergency kit in my hand, and we'll be ready to go.

Building the Emergency Kit

After seeing the devastation in Japan (from the earthquake, aftershocks and tsunami) and the flooding in Mississippi, it was time for me to put an emergency kit together. While I had been buying items here and there for emergencies, I never did put everything together into a single unit.

So here's what I have in the kit:

• First aid kit
• Flashlight and headlamp
• Extra batteries (CR123's, AA's, AAA's, and CR2's)
• Radio
• Moist towelettes
• Hand cleaner and hand sanitizer
• Duct tape and electrical tape
  
• Matches
• Emergency whistle
• Emergency blankets/bag
• Water purification tablets
• Swiss Army knife
• Multi-tool
  
• Water bottle
• Dust masks
• Ziplock bags
• Trash bags
• Zip ties
• Safety glasses
  
• 3 person tent

Not shown in the above picture, but available as part of our emergency supplies:

• Water
• Canned food
• Over the counter medication (such as Tylenol, aspirin, etc.)
  
• Tool box
• Gloves
  
• Money
• Handgun and ammunition

I'll need to add clothing to the kit (at least one complete change of clothes) and copies of important paperwork.

I think that's it. Am I missing anything? Anything else you would suggest adding?

Vice President Joe Biden is Useless

Yes, the picture above is of our wonderful Vice President falling asleep during a speech by President Obama.

VPs are typically useless....unless, of course, some event propels them into the Office of the President of the United States (POTUS). But this is too funny, in a macabre sort of way.

Even terrorists agree that Joe Biden is useless. Per Osama Bin Laden's diary:

Don't bother killing Joe Biden as the Vice President is not important enough for assassination.

May I also add that Joe Biden is a buffoon - always has been and always will be.

I pray to God that Joe Biden NEVER becomes POTUS.

a-JAYS Four Earphones for My iPhone

The earbuds that came with my iPhone 3GS were on it's last legs. While the wiring still looked okay, the earbuds were quite beat up. They were cracked in multiple places and generally look worn down. I'm actually surprised they lasted as long as they did.

So my search began for a new set. I wanted something with good sound quality, has a microphone I can use it for phone calls, and be less than $100. Most of the earbuds that met my criteria for sound quality and a decent mic at the Apple store were over the price point I wanted to pay.

I didn't want to spend too much as I'm saving up for the new iPhone later this year. And knowing Apple could conceivably make changes to the headphone jack, I didn't want to take the chance that the earbuds I bought wouldn't work with the new iPhone. So I expanded my search and started looking on Amazon and various other forums that I frequent.

Then as luck would have it, I stumbled onto the Jays a-JAYS Four earbuds. They looked decent and had some good reviews online. I found a seller selling a LNIB pair and I jumped on them. They arrived yesterday.

The packaging is quite nice. While the box itself appears to be plastic, it's actually covered in a rubber material. It's a good first impression.

The earbuds and mic had a simple, clean design. There were silicone sleeves in various sizes from XXS to L so that you can fit them for your ear size. Once I found the proper fitting ear sleeves, I tested them out with the iPhone. If you look closely, you'll see that the cables are flat and tangle free.

While I don't have the ability to share a sound clip with you, I can report that the sound quality of the a-JAYS Four is quite good. Compared to the standard Apple earbuds, the a-Jays Four provided enhanced sound with good amount of bass and mid. I can hear notes that I previously couldn't hear on songs that I've listened to for years.

The mic has a remote that can be used to play/pause music, answer/hang up phone calls, skip songs forward or back, and change volume up or down. It's a nifty control that mimics most of the functionality that I used with the Apple earbud remote.

I'm very glad that I got these and would recommend the a-JAYS Four.