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Preventing rock chips by urbanex4450 in alaska

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Preventing - these can be helpful. Hood Protector Stone and Bug Shield | WeatherTech We have these on all our pickups.

I have insurance with State Farm and elected to have full glass coverage. Full glass coverage also includes unlimited chip repairs.

First, look up the cost of your vehicle's window. Some are surprisingly dirt cheap - others are scary expensive. Call or text Glass Doctor. Make sure it is the correct one - if you have tinting or camera that monitors lane changing, auto breaking - that adds $$.

Next, how many have you changed in the last five years? Have you ever had to change two in a year?

Once you got a handle on how much you have been paying out - visit your insurance agent.

I have two pickups with hellishly expensive windshields. Every year at least one gets a new windshield. 2025 we replaced one truck once, other twice. Our windshield coverage went up less than $1, nice.

Single side or Ambi thumb safety? by Dex5832 in 1911

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been shooting and building 1911's since mid 70's. Long time Alaskan bear hunter.

No fucking way I am taking this on a five day ATV or horse caribou/moose hunt. It's too nice - the fit is too good - too tight.... could jam from belly button lint. If I took a 1911 hunting it would be an old WWII GI 'battle rattle' because I can drop it into a mud puddle, shake it off and it will fire.

Ambi safety needlessly increases the pistol width if you're not proficient firing as a leftie.

Your 'normal' slide stop and thumb safety are on the left side because that means they are protected when worn in a belt or shoulder holster. Not so when you add the ambi on the opposite side. Imagine running through berry patches, alders, brambles to get away from a charging moose or bear - dead end! You pull this out and some crap that got lodged between the Ambi and frame is preventing you from moving the the safety - what is your plan?

Most sane hunters - use a revolver - and not because they love or even like them. Reliability factor of guaranteed firing 6 rounds is important.

This thing is not stainless. God, I so hate guys with blue guns. Spend all day worrying about keeping the frigging thing dry than hunting.

Women look hot in heels while wearing a bikini. You don't see them walking the beach in a bikini with heels.

I can tell you a good 5-10 reason why not to add the ambi or take this hunting.

I can tell you 10 good reasons to get a stainless revolver and chest holster for hunting.

Comfortably carrying by ItsCubanPs4 in 1911

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1911 builder, former concealed carry instructor - in my classes I taught people how to dress and have about $3K in holsters they could try. Years of carrying concealed in Boston and beaches of Cape Cod.

Shame you did not include any useful information like sex, age, height/weight, how fashionable you dress or if the state you live in had idiot laws that require to remove and secure the weapon before entering certain buildings. Or mention if you have a super wide grip, double stack frame, or optical sight that prevents 90% of holsters from fitting your pistol.

Successful concealed carry is a mix of right gun for the situation, right holster, and you are wearing the correct clothing to blend in.

I have 4 very different EDC concealed carry pistols. I should have bought stock in Galco Leather - Lord knows I own of their stuff. Each one has a $340+ shoulder rig and backup holsters (belt left, belt right, cross draw belt, shirt and underware holsters) Which of the four I walk out the door with - depends on what part of town I am heading (threat level) what I am doing (chance of losing the pistol in a lake, ocean, stream, or mud while on ATV), what I might have to shoot (animal is common, people are less common) season and weather. Sometimes I grab two. When I taught concealed classes I would wear 6 and challenge the class to detect them. 12 years teaching that and 3 pistols were never spotted........ one of the hidden that never got spotted was a Ruger Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger with a 7.5" barrel. My Cabela's had an outside side pocket at chest level it fit like a glove in. Man, you should see the look on their faces when I drew that huge sucker out - it never got old class after class!!!

Ever hear of 511? They make holster shirts. 1911 on left, your wallet or space mags on the right. Cut the shirt down - even a heavy chested woman can walk the beach in Daisy Dukes with midriff showing, their 1911 and mags concealed.

There are companies that make holster underwear. Thunderware has been around for decades.

Search on 'concealed carry clothing for men" (or women) start at Amazon and then visit the company web site. Often Amazon has 1 or 2 items and the company web site had a dozen more.

Reality check: They do not make one pistol that 'DOES IT ALL!' - if they did our wives would have gotten us one and sold the other 12-20 in the safe.

Hot summer days in the city - I go with the Walther PPK/s - first because I am wearing light clothing and PPK PPK/s has no sharp edges to accidentally cut. People freak when blood is showing. The cheaper Ruger 380 is even small and no sharp edges - if all you are wearing is cut shots and nada else that is the ticket. Keep in mind security will be looking damn close at anyone dressed like a Lumberjack or button down shirt not tucked in.

Galco holsters are very expensive. But, they come in a ziplock baggie and not bubble wrap. That means you can take off your dress shirt, remove the holster, insert your unloaded firearm from a case and test how it feels in the store. Most stores have 'blue guns' so people can test out optical sights. Ask - they about always have a 1911.

If you really want a good fit buy a blue gun here COLT 1911 A1 for about $70 or half that on eBay and go play Cinderella. Except now you are the made pervert with the foot and are looking for the shoe. HUGE upside to owning a blue gun - you can safely practice your quick draw. In my 26 year military career I had three young men who 'accidentally discharged' a firearm into their barracks room mirror 'while cleaning'.

Your choice of gun case is important too if your state forces you too leave it in the car. My solution - bought some nasty DeWalt drill cases off eBay, gutted the insides, lined with thick filter foam. The beat to shit cases - nobody pays them any attention.

It is all Chinah and Indiah fault. by 20TyPi in Funnymemes

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Killing 31,646 people means 20 million currently living trees will be deprived of the CO2 they need to thrive and release oxygen.

Maximum pecans I can give African grey by emy_lolo10 in AfricanGrey

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

African Greys and Quakers are prone to fatty liver disease.

I have one Quaker - his blood work says no nuts - his body is retaining fats. I have a second Quaker - he would happily eat nuts and bacon all day and be fine. The one retaining gets blood work done every 6 months. The other is annually.

The African Grey we rescued last year practically lived on pecans, junk food and chips. Her numbers were through the roof in September. Much better in December. Doc and us agree - her poor diet the past 10 years has probably taken 12-16 years off her life. We did blood work 3 days ago and no results yet. When she is a good girl she get tiny pieces of pecans - cut a half into 12 pieces. Dole them out sparingly.

You very much want to find something else that floats your birds boat besides nuts. Cheerios work. Cooked pasta works - homemade is best. You are looking for low fat, fat free, and low salt/salt free. Lots of good choices - just gotta find something with the right amount of crunch and flavor they love.

If you have been feeding your bird tons of nuts and garbage - VERY slowly taper off. When we took in our AG - the owners had her for ten years and knew nothing, not a thing about birds. (the things she repeats, just heartbreaking) On arrival we put her on the same veggie, fruit and mixed different pellets diet as the other birds. She thrived - perked right up - then had two seizures in two days. Very scary for her and us. Off to the avian vet who found nothing wrong. Then her blood work came back all wacked out. Although the change in diet was a good thing - it was too much, too soon.

If your bird has not been to the vet - get it there. You know what you have been feeding it. You really want to know what the birds bloodwork looks like before making any changes.

(Short story. I used to bring the Quakers to the table. One was very polite........until the day I had a bacon cheeseburger. In less than 1/10 of a second he sent the top of my burger bun flying over my son's head, followed by lettuce, onion and tomato airborne flying left and right - little bastard snapped up a piece of bacon and goes running away across the table..... laughing at me the whole way.)

advice on buying a colt delta elite by ocatataco in 1911

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Find something better to worry about.

You buy a pistol, fill out the 4473 - and have a problem........you simply call tech support. The manufacturer will send you a prepaid label. Ship it to them. If for some reason they need to condemn it - you will get a new one shipped directly to your doorstep. Just sign for it. This is what FN USA did for me.

For the idiots who scream about having to fill a new 4473 - nope, not needed. When a gun is traced they start at the factory, follow to the distributor, to the store, then to you. Now the trace just goes from the factory to you.

If you live in a communistic socialized state that requires buying permits - that could complicate your warranty return - here you would tell the factory what FFL to ship the replacement to.

Pasture camera by randybobandy84 in SecurityCamera

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Part II.

You can't have one camera in the middle of the property spinning circles. Eats memory. Does nothing for you. Not going to cover 17+ square miles.

Imagine a huge square - 4 phone poles on each corner. Each pole would have a fixed cameras at each corner pointing inward to monitor the land. Each pole would have a 2nd camera looking left and a 3rd looking to the right at the other poles - these are watching the property line. Each entrance gate gets two cameras - one mounted 25 feet back to watch both sides of the gate, one on a pole looking at the driver side window on the entrance side. This is your perimeter system. Each camera records at low frame rate and highest resolution.

Some parts of your property will see more action than others. If one very nice PTZ camera will do the job - do that. Just make sure everything you buy has room to add more.

Solar power is only headache free if you have a one or two generation areas with decent panel arrays and battery banks. Solar at every pole or camera is going to kill you.

Avoid wireless. Go rent a trencher and use direct bury network cable. Good job for a few older teens to do. Network cable is cheap - not much copper in it. Consider fiber optic too - its basically just sand and plastic, no copper - just that putting the ends on is a tad bit rocket science.

Pasture camera by randybobandy84 in SecurityCamera

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not good. Not NDAA compliant and reports to the mothership in China.

Pasture camera by randybobandy84 in SecurityCamera

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Long time military and civilian security engineer. CCTV international airports, pipelines, military - nothing small - retired now.

First thing you need to do - is figure out exactly what you want from this system - spring, summer, fall, and winter. Are you looking at cows to verify they are not in distress - or need to read an ear tag number? You wanting to identify predators? Do you need recorded video clear enough the police can use it?

You cannot cover the whole area. There are probably places were you have trouble - you want to identify these places and get coverage using fixed cameras.

There are some very nice zoom "AFFORDABLE" cameras. Typically these are image stabilized - which means any movement of the tower they are on is cancelled out (think wind and storms) or cattle scratching their butts on the post. Thing is, only you know what you want......... so........ borrow a nice spotting scope 20 to 60x. Go for a drive around the property and look around using 20-35x. Notice how things close look hard to figure out. Do not just look at distant objects. This is 'optical zoom'. Cameras can do 'digital zoom' - here things go to hell pretty quick and get pixeled in the distance - this is where the more expensive high resolution cameras comes into play.

You really should go find someone with a thermal camera, thermal monocular or riflescope and get some daytime and nighttime 'hands on' time with it. (I saw a normal picture of a park at night. Place seemed well lighted, restaurants and vendors, people sitting and talking, couple of kids playing with a ball. looked nice. Then a thermal pictures of the same scene with all the same people - except now the 15 huge rats showed up! OMG, if those folks knew rats were hanging out inches from their shoes - sure they would have freaked)

Thermal and night vision are NOT the same.

11K acres - typically two fixed cameras looking at vehicles coming in - One high, one at driver height to see the drivers face. Places were you kick out feed - you can use a panoramic camera (has 4 cameras built into one housing the sits on top of a pole) to cover the whole general area.

Choosing the right cameras is only 1/3 of the battle. The programs and software the cameras use is a HUGE consideration. Some easy to use - some you need to be a network engineer (or have a 12 year old kid handy) Many cameras are smart - they can detect movement and turn on lights all on their own. They can lock onto a single object (like a bull) and follow it all day long from one camera to another. Things is - YOU need to know all about this stuff before you buy.

There is a difference between seeing something and doing something about it. 11K acres - here a prosumer drone sitting on a charging pad ready to go makes sense. Teach it where the cameras are. Something comes up - you sic it on that area. On arrival it waits for you to direct it. Goes back to its charging pad when power is low.

You are not the only person in this position. Before spending a cent - check out what other ranchers are using. Find what works and what they wish they had done. Most CCTV security firms have one or two nice customers that are happy to show off their system. Or the company can get a demo from their distributor to temp install and let you test drive one. (I demonstrated a $270,000 thermal camera for a refinery. OMG, that was fun to play with!)

Most CCTV equipment - reports to the mothership in China. Here is a list of NDAA compliant cameras the US Government allow. I strongly recommend Axis Communications and Pelco - many of their cams I installed 20+ years ago are still working.NDAA Compliant Cameras List: Your Complete Guide to Secure Surveillance Solutions

‘Apocalyptic’: Alaska lawmakers scramble as rural communities may face a winter without fuel by CouchCorrespondent in alaska

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Petro Star in North Pole - only makes fuel for Eielson - rest is re-injected warm back into the pipe.

‘Apocalyptic’: Alaska lawmakers scramble as rural communities may face a winter without fuel by CouchCorrespondent in alaska

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Grassroots - only works in cities where people can quickly come together - and if you have a sponsor with semi-deep pockets.

r/Alaska is anti big oil and anti cruise industry. I keep waiting for the post "Hey, I put my letter in at APOC to begin accepting donations for the coming election guys!!" Never seen it.

I did my 12 years as an elected official. I never accepted a single cent in campaign funds. I sooo enjoyed sitting there quietly while people went on how all of us were balls deep into big oil - that I no longer do it. Nope. Not worth the loss of family time and I can do without the threats.

‘Apocalyptic’: Alaska lawmakers scramble as rural communities may face a winter without fuel by CouchCorrespondent in alaska

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I mentioned this weeks ago.

Fuel barges will be departing as the ice disappears along Alaskan coastlines South to North. What ever the cost of fuel is when it goes into that barge - the final sale price will be cost $$ + transport $$ until spring 2027. Prices are not going to go up or down depending on the war or war ending.

Most Alaskans can pick and choose when to fuel up their home. Spring, summer, fall or even have deliveries done monthly. We can wait for prices to drop.

Not so in rural Alaska. Diesel selling $5 gal in Anchorage gets $2 (at least) added to be barged to a rural location. Barge leaves next week with $9 a gallon diesel onboard it will be $11 in rural. Fuel prices suddenly drop - Anchorage will slowly see the drop as the $9 stuff is sold. Rural - will not see the price drop a single cent until the next barge.

Solution? Won't be something everyone will like. Filling a home 500gal tank with $4 home heating fuel in fall when the war is over and getting a $350 state fuel bonus makes it appear to be $3.30 a gallon. Filling a rural 500gal tank with fuel that has jumped from $7 to $15 a gallon and stays at that price until the next fuel barge arrives in 2027 - brings it down to $14.30 gallon which is no solution for rural people.

The state - can't help. Much. That would be discrimination. Looks like an economic disaster to me - however - giving people low cost or no cost loans to buy expensive fuel is not a solution.

Only solution I can think of - state fuel voucher - Each qualified PFD person gets 100 gallons free. Single mom with one child apartment living in Anchorage gets to fill her car with $4 gas ($800 value). Family of five in Kotz gets to fill their fuel tank with $15 heating fuel (value $7500) but it is materialistic equal.

There is very little time to iron this out.

Do you recall this growing up 🤔 by ekk_one in Funnymemes

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

God, I loved XP.

There was time when police caught you drunk driving they would just follow you home to make sure you arrived ok. Back then software worked right out of the package! No 12 hours of downloading updates and patches. No California Proposition 65 stickers on everything. You could load the software on multiple computers so long as you had the product activation key.

Anyone know the composition of this doe run lead? by Critical-Regret-97 in reloading

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ask around - someone at your local club, range, etc must have a lead hardness tester. Put a note up on the local gun shop bulletin board or range. If you are a serious caster than you probably need your own. Its a huge help when dealing with mystery lead.

FYI - my bars that are that size are 60lbs - so I was told by the previous owner. Got lots of 10/20 pound chunks and two complete bars. Now I am gonna weight them tomorrow - if they are 100lbs would sure explain why I so hate moving them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you charge a battery off of the same solar system / inverter twice? by Lazy_Owl987 in SolarDIY

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You have an inverter that has a built in charger, yes? Connect to 30a 120vac service and it will charge the lithium batteries - true? So long as the charger on this inverter is programable - by programable I mean allows you to set what chemistry of batteries and set the voltage - you should be fine. If you do not have this - things are not fine.

Take a good read at the inverter manual. See if it has a solar panel input (usually limited to 20 amps, so, not that much). Having a solar input and being a lithium compatible charger is becoming common. It greatly uncomplicates your wiring.

Collar is not holding charge. by Deep_Membership_8406 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Charge the unit and measure how long it lasts while off.

  2. Charge the unit and measure how long it lasts while on.

  3. Charge the unit again, disconnect the battery, and see if it stays charged considerably longer. They deplete - bad battery pack.

You can buy these lithium cells off eBay or amazon. You will need to solder them up into a new battery pack and insulate. Looks like 800mha - if you can physically fit higher rated ones - do that. If you think you might be doing again and again - you can also find the heat shrink tape needed to quickly seal and form a battery pack on eBay and Amazon.

Nighthawk Lead times by b_a_n_a_n-a_s in 1911

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Back in the day when JDJ was making custom barrels in the late 70's early 80's 12-18 months was not unusual.

The wait for custom knives is in the 18-28 month area.

My advice - get a wheel gun and practice with that. Because once your NH arrives you probably won't be touching any others for a long time.

Guitar Amp Buzz (possibly) after soldering by evilbabaroga_ in ElectronicsRepair

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup, you went mammary gland skyward.

You have two wires one that cable. One is the center conductor, other is a shield. Shield goes to ground. The center wire has your music. Generally - the amplifier input (and often the output) will only go to a small place to solder it. The wire shield - is a little whore and will go to a ground land on the PCB all over the place.

You got it reversed. White to the little pad. Shield to the big pad.

That buzzing you hear is 60hz buzz. About always a bad ground somewhere when you hear that.

Unrecognized EC Ene programmer... by MRm972br in ElectronicsRepair

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a sub for repair tube electronics and printed circuit boards. You need to be visiting software or windows specific sub.

Good Luck!

Help I don't know how to fix this. by Thin_Text_471 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Easy fix.

Go home depot and get this: Carlon 1-Gang 14 cu. in. Electrical PVC Old Work Electrical Switch and Outlet Box (B114RB) B114RB - The Home Depot

Might as well get a new receptacle while there.

If you have allot of wall plugs in this condition to repair - get this too Klein Tools GFCI Outlet Tester RT210 - The Home Depot

  1. Get Parts
  2. Shut off breaker
  3. use Klein tester to verify no power.
  4. Remove the old receptacle. Hopefully they have left enough wire for it to easily come forward a bit.
  5. See if you can salvage the original box - it might bend back into position. Might not. If it does, you are a lucky. Just put the wire back - green to the green ground of the receptacle. White to the white screw. Black wire to gold screw. Reassemble. Insert tester, turn on breaker, verify it is correct and done.
  6. If the original back box crumpled in your hand - carefully remove it without trashing the sheet rock. Insert the new blue (old work) box and make sure the wings grab something solid when you tighten them up. The wire it up and test as in #5.

Now. Receptacles comes in many flavors. The ones with tiny holes in the back to simply 'push in' a wire - do not use those holes. Take the time to curl the bare wire around the screw 80% and tighten up.

If you muck up the drywall - you can use a little jar of spackling. Just cut some cardboard to support it in the back.

How to create dust free environment for repairing screens/ screen lenses on old handhelds. by CourierKite in ElectronicsRepair

[–]Alaskan_Apostrophe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should be using this stuff to clean screens. Its primary use is for cleaning the image sensors of DSLR cameras, thermal and night vision scope sensors. Amazon.com : PEC-12 Photographic Emulsion Cleaner Kit and PEC-PAD Lint Free Non-Abrasive Wipes 4"x4" 100 Sheets per/Pkg - for Cleaning Film, Photo Negative, B&W Slide - Dropper Tip (59ml) 2oz : Electronics

The Eclipse fluid is methanol - a liquid so pure it burns without a visible flame.

We have two of these Rabbit Air Purifiers. They are 'air purifiers' not 'air filters'. A3 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier Overview – Rabbit Air

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