Video Analysis: Police Interview Gone Bad

This video shows the importance of never being complacent and never relying on someone else when it comes to your safety. A suspect is in a police interrogation room and ends up committing suicide with a full size .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He could have easily shot the police officer but didn't. After shooting himself you will hear one of the officer's stating that no one shook him. This means that they wrongly assumed that someone else searched the suspect for weapons.

This video is not meant to be critical of the officer but to show that one can never make faulty assumptions.

Stay safe.

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TC
(C) 2013

Baofeng Radios: My Observations

Lately there has been a lot of attention on the low cost Chinese Baofeng radios. It is time for me to put my opinion out there for those who care. First, I own three Baofeng radios so my opinions are based on real life experience with this product.  I own the UV-5R+, UV-5B, and UV-B6.  Amazon.com has hundreds of reviews on Baofeng radios and many are 5 star reviews. Unfortunately, many of these positive reviews are based solely on the price of the radio and not the quality of the radio. Meaning that for $30-$40 you are getting a good deal. There is a significant difference between getting a good deal verse having a radio that truly is worth 5 stars. While a 5 star rating can mean different things to different reviewers the radio should be based on the merits of the radio before being rated as a great buy. No doubt that all the Baofeng radios are a great price but price alone doesn't make it a great radio. Don't get me wrong this radio is not bad but it is not worth 5 stars. Price is but one factor of the radio that should not trump all other factors.

Before getting into the deficiencies of the Baofeng radios it is important to address your reasoning for purchasing this brand. For me, I use ham radios for emergency situations when other forms of communications such as cell phone service can easily fail during a crisis such as 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombing. I need a radio that is highly dependable and will perform flawlessly within the capabilities of the radio. Now, if you are using the radio for entertainment purposes or as a hobby then your requirements may not be as stringent and this is completely understandable. So, I do realize that people purchase products with different expectations and for different reasons. I need the radio to work in the “worst case scenario” so my expectations are very high as they should be in this situation.

Issues with Baofeng:

Many of the Baofeng radios have potential to be great radios but there are just too many quality control issues that plague this brand.  All three of the Baofeng radios I own have some sort of issue that really detracts from the quality of the radio. Essentially, you may end up with a good radio or a bad radio. It can be a crap shoot. Problems include an LED light that flickers and is not consistent, the number "8" button sometimes works and sometimes does not, and the charger that came with my radio does not work properly. The volume cannot be turned down all the way. Even when turned to the lowest setting you can still hear the radio. Programming this radio is an absolute nightmare. Yes, you can do it but there are a lot of steps involved which increases your chances of making an error. The "user manual" is beyond pathetic. Some of the translations from Chinese to English barely make sense. Baofeng even states, "The new English, German, French instruction, more convenient and more humanized" is quite a joke. There is nothing "humanized" about the instructions or the radio. Yes, there is a ton of information available on the Internet and YouTube but this is by necessity. To program this radio I highly recommend a quality cable and a software program called Chirp located at: http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home . Go to the Miklor website for good information on this radio located at http://www.miklor.com/

For a good programming cable I highly recommend is the Kenwood2-Pin USB Radio Programming Cable FTDI Chipset KPG-22, Also works with Baofeng,FDC, Linton, Puxing, Surecom, Weierwei, Wouxun, and Quansheng. This cable is FTDI and will work without problems as opposed to all the counterfeit cables on the market that will just frustrate you.

Other issues with the Baofeng include:

- User manual is useless and not at all helpful.  The user manual is a poor translation from Chinese to English. Some of the translations do not make sense.

- Scans very slow

- The included earpiece is does not work well

- 4 watts of power as opposed to 5 watts

- The radio does not automatically know the offset so you end up having to enter both transmit and receive frequencies. With radios such as Yaesu you do not have to do this making programming much simpler and error free.

- The channel display tags can be difficult to read

- The volume cannot be turned down all the way even when turned to the lowest setting

Overall Assessment:

The main purpose of this radio should be as a backup radio to your primary radio. Unless Baofeng makes some changes I would never recommend this as a primary radio. If you claim this to be a 5 star radio based on the low price and because it works you are leaving out a lot of details. For example, at $150 no one would rate this as a 5 star radio. The same holds as a radio for under $40. If you decide to go with this radio be very patient with the programming until you get it down. Once you get used to the steps it is not too bad but there are a lot of steps and a lot of room for error.

If you are trying to decide between the UV-B5, UV-B6 and the UV-5R Plus I recommend the UV-B5. I can live without the flashlight and prefer to have the ability to switch frequencies with the knob. It does not respond as well as I would like but it is better than using the up and down buttons.

If Baofeng were to fix the following three issues this radio would easily be a 5 star radio:

1. Eliminate quality control issues as there is too much variance from radio to radio

2. Make programming easier so that both transmit and receive (offset) frequencies do not have to be entered

3. Create a useable user manual for all Baofeng radios

I would only recommend Baofeng as a backup to another radio. Keep in mind that a low price is not a substitute for quality. If you want a quality radio you will pay more money but you will end up with a significantly better product.

Side Note:

I compared performance of the Baofeng UV-B5, UV-B6 and UV-5R Plus with a YaesuFT-60R DualBand Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver - Dual Band. The Yaesu significantly outperformed all of the Baofeng models. It was able to receive signals from a further distance and the sound clarity was much better. Yes, the Yaesu costs three to four times as much as the Baofeng models but it is a significantly better radio. The Yaesu is a basic model that doesn't have all of the same features as the Baofeng's such as FM radio or a flashlight. The UV-5R Plus is a 4 watt radio while the UV-B5 and UV-B6 are 5 watt radios. I suspect that they may not be putting out the amount of watts that they claim which has been verified by Baofeng users although I personally have not tested this out for myself. Again, as a backup radio the Baofeng's will be fine but I would not recommend them as a primary radio. If you are a new ham radio operator looking for a high quality, low cost radio I recommend the Yaesu FT-60. Be aware that low cost for the Yaesu is about $149.00 but you are getting a quality radio.

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//TC

© 2013

Survival Fantasy vs. Reality

Too often I read posts from people who really believe they have a solid plan for when things go seriously south. They have a remote piece of land with a small cabin. They have a stockpile of food, seeds, and ammunition. They even include some creature comforts from when life was normal. But, is this reality? Does this set up truly benefit a family? The reality is that such a situation is much different than spending a weekend or even a week at your remote family cabin. Too many people treat it the same except they extend the timeline of staying at the cabin and falsely believe everything will be alright. Let’s assume you are a typical family of four to include husband, wife, and two kids. 

Following are important considerations:

Security

So, you are in a remote cabin far away from society. This means that you are also far away from help assuming that there is help in the form of police. Chances are you will either not be able to contact the police, the police are tied up with the crisis, or the response time will be so long that they will be of little help to prevent violence that is directed at you. The reality is that you are responsible for your own safety and security. And here is where the problems begin. There are only four of you. Chances are your wife and children will not be at the same level you are for handling and successfully resolving violence. It takes a lot more than just weapons handling skills. It is important to understand tactics and techniques that will keep you safe. Additionally, your children, and probably your wife, will be extremely scared when the time comes to defend their lives. Chances are they will need to do it at night and your kids will not want to be separated from you or your wife. The kids may be so scared that their response will be either fight, flight, or freeze. But fighting is the only viable option in this situation. In order to get anyone ready to handle such a confrontation requires spending a lot of time training and practicing. Chances are you and your family have not invested in this aspect. That leaves you to defend your property and your family. One person against a dedicated group of individuals who attack you is not a winning situation.

Hunting

Depending on where you live hunting may be good or bad. Even if there are animals to hunt it does not guarantee that you will be successful in your hunt. Look how many hunters go out each year and come back empty handed.  Hunting, trapping, and fishing is by no means a sure bet for food.

Growing food

Ah, the thought of living of the land and growing your own food. Not so easy. You need enough water and sunlight to insure proper growth. It also takes time to grow. A lot of things need to come together in order to grow your own food. This also means that someone is going to need to be spending time tending to your garden.

Weather

Depending on where you live you may be dealing with excessive heat, cold, rain, snow, ice, or wind. All can dramatically impact your ability to function effectively. High temperatures mean that your water requirements will be significantly higher. You may not be able to work during the heat of the day in order to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Excessive cold means that you will need fire to keep warm. Hypothermia is a deadly possibility in cold temperatures. Smoke from a chimney may give away your location possibly leading to a security situation. Never underestimate how weather can impact your plans.

Running Out of Supplies

If the situation that sends you to the hills lasts long enough chances are you are going to run out of some supplies. Then what? Batteries will die, you will run out of gas, you will run out of medications, or other needed supplies. Do you have a contingency plan for such situations?  Will you be able to remain completely self-sufficient for an extended period of time? Have you ever been in this situation before?

Noise Discipline

Many people may laugh or not understand the concept of noise discipline. Remember, if you are in the middle of nowhere do you want to give your position away by making excessive noise such as when hunting. Sound can travel for miles under the right conditions which could lead to your location. Do you have a plan for this?

Mr. Murphy

Murphy’s Law is an ever present concern. Like a relative that just won’t leave you alone Murphy is with you to insure that anything that can go wrong will go wrong and often at the worst possible time. Your rifle does not fire, a chain breaks, your axe handle splits in two, your roof leaks, etc. Embrace the suck!

Conclusion

When things are bad and there are a lot of unknowns it can be difficult to actually survive on your own for an extended period of time. There are so many factors that come into play and the reality is that most people have not properly planned or trained for such worst case scenarios.

If you have a majority of knowledge, skills, and abilities to handle such situations then you have to ask yourself: “How will your wife and kids do if something happens to you?” Will they have what it takes to keep going if you are down and out? Living remotely off the land is a much more difficult task than most people understand. It takes a lot of work and effort. Now add a major crisis and the task of survival is even more difficult. Far too many people believe that their skills are better than they actually are which provides a false sense of security. 

Are you ready when SHTF?

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//TC

© 2013

Is a Terrorist Attack Imminent?

In a post 9/11 world we must all do our part to be as aware, safe, and secure. The oceans no longer offer protection from far away people who wish to do us harm. Danger has been bestowed upon us and it is happening again. Yet, we have once again slipped back into a pattern of complacency that is providing a false sense of security. This needs to stop today.

On September 2, 2013, Flight 1880 departed from Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C and headed to Orlando International Airport in Florida. On this plane were four Middle Eastern men. According to a security memo, shortly after takeoff one of the men ran from his seat in coach toward the flight deck door. He then made a hard left and entered the bathroom for a considerable length of time. The other three men then moved about the cabin, changing seats, opening overhead bins, and making a scene in what appeared to be actions to distract the flight attendants.  The inept TSA states that, “the matter requires no further investigation at this time.” Yes, it does require further investigation and a response. Political correctness at its finest once again from our government.  Oh, lets us not offend anyone. The reality is that this IS a test. It is the proverbial shark that bumps its prey. An attack is soon to follow. Read the memo from the US Airline Pilots Association at: http://www.wtsp.com/assetpool/documents/131008021206_security%20memo.pdf

To make matters worse this is not the only case. There have been several recent cases throughout the airline industry and we are not hearing about these incidents! These terrorists, yes, I called them terrorists, are testing the airlines procedures and reactions to an in-flight risk. And guess what? No one is doing anything. This is completely unacceptable.  These terrorists want to see how flight attendants, Federal Air Marshall, law enforcement on the plane, and citizens will react. They want to be able to identify the Federal Air Marshall and kill him first. In today’s environment I consider everyone on a plane as a security force. Those who fail to have this mentality are sheep who are willingly lead to slaughter. Not me.

There Must Be a Response

The worst action we can do is no action at all. This type of behavior is not acceptable and we must strongly let the terrorists know that taking over a plane is not an option. The problem is political correctness. If you say or do anything toward a Muslim you are immediately label an Islamophobe, racist, ethnocentric, xenophobic, etc. You are made to feel as you are the problem. This detracts from the real problem of terrorists trying to kill us. Oh, the liberal media will have a field day with you. The terrorists will hire an attorney claiming that you violated their civil rights. Unfortunately that is the reality of the world we now live in. Let political correctness apply to someone else. If you were on Flight 1880 what would you have done? Watching and not intervening is not a response.

Following are some actions to consider:

• Immediately inform the flight attendant what is occurring and tell her to immediately notify the pilot of the suspicious behavior.

• Immediately go to the front bathroom that the Middle Eastern man went to and loudly knock on the door asking him what he is doing.

• Provide loud, clear, concise verbal commands for the remaining three Middle Eastern men to immediately get back to their seats.  When I say “immediately” I literally mean right now! Take control over the situation and be the authority. This may place you in danger but you may already be in danger.

• Get other passengers to get involved by getting out of their seats and providing loud, clear, and concise verbal commands for the three Middle Eastern men to get back to their seats.

• Tell other passengers to surround the three Middle Eastern men if necessary.

• If the three Middle Eastern men are non-compliant to the verbal commands then use reasonable and necessary physical force to put them back in their seats. Have them fasten their seatbelt and leave a minimum of two men to ensure continued compliance.

•  If they remain non-compliant restrain them by securing their hands and feet with belts, rope, tape, or other available items.  Do not to allow the terrorists to communicate especially if they are speaking in another language.

• If they fight back while you are attempting to gain control use force that is reasonable and necessary to immediately gain control.  Tell the flight attendant to have the plane diverted to the nearest airport. Police will be waiting.

The worst this we can do is nothing. These terrorists are testing our security and then talking with each other. When we fail to take action it empowers them to continue to follow through with their plans instead of dropping the plan and going to an easier target. The TSA should never state, “The matter requires no further investigation at this time.” The passengers should not just sit there and do nothing. Passengers need to get involved. The terrorists need to know that WE are not afraid of them. We will not cower to them. We will respond swiftly, appropriately, and immediately when necessary. They should fear us if they plan to hurt or kill us.

After 9/11 our country was united. We were simply Americans; not democrats, independents, or republicans. We were a unified group of Americans who were proud. We flew the flag.  We said, “Never Again.” But the passage of time has made us soft again and the terrorists know this and they use it to their benefit. We have become complacent. We cannot wait for a plane to be taken over before someone finally stands up courageously and says, “Lets Roll.” It will be too late at that point. We must be proactive and not reactive. But we will be judged by our actions.

I find it unsettling that the media fails to report terrorist probes or dry runs that have potentially deadly consequences yet they would be all over a situation where someone is accused of being an Islamophobe.  Your actions will be judges with 20/20 hindsight. Do what you believe is right, ethical, and legal. Whether your decisions are right or wrong you will be under a media microscope. To some you will be a hero while others will villanize you as racist. If you fail to act what is the result. Are you willing to die for fear of the media or an unjust lawsuit.

We are a weary nation. After 9/11, Iraq, and Afghanistan we are tired. We have problems with Iran, North Korea, and Syria not to mention all the domestic problems. Our enemy is not weary. Our enemy is patient and uses time to its benefit.  We cannot justify or rationalize a world that is peaceful. We have enemies who have repeatedly stated they want to kills use. They burn our flag and shout death to America. They behead people across the globe. They are evil. This is a reality that is difficult for some to accept. Complacency is lethal. If you were on Flight 1880 what would you have done?

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//TC

© 2013