Are you looking for a lighting solution that is easy to pack and easy to charge? I was‚ so I decided to check out the collapsible LuminAid Titan solar lantern. It’s only $34 at the time of this posting. First and foremost‚ I was not paid for this review.  I bought it thinking it would be a good piece of gear.  And it is.   This is an LED collapsible lantern that can be charged with a small solar panel charger or by USB.  It has four different output levels in both red (tactical!) and white light.  The fifth output is a low-level random blinking-like light. (Which I guess is for maybe a romantic ambiance?) I have no way to measure this‚ but their site says at max power‚ it puts out 150 Lumens with a run time of 8 hours.  On low power‚ 10 Lumens with a run time of 72 hours.  According to their site‚ it is bright enough to illuminate a family-sized tent.  I tried it in my medium-sized bathroom‚ and it did illuminate it enough to be able to do most normal activities‚ but it would have to be closer for fine or small detail activities‚ like removing an eyelash from your eye.   It has a velcro handle with two holes if you want to hang it more securely‚ with 550 cord‚ for example.   What is neat about it‚ it is collapsible into a slim form factor about an inch thick.  Expanded‚ it is about six inches tall.  There is a little plug on the bottom you have to open‚ then twist to expand it into lantern use or collapse it for storage.  When expanded‚ it fills with air to keep its shape (after you close the plug).  Also makes it floatable and it is waterproof.  When you collapse it‚ the air rushes out with a whoosh. The LuminAid Titan solar lantern can charge small devices According to their website‚ it can also charge some small devices like a phone‚ tablet‚ headlamp‚ or camera via a USB cable. To test this‚ I drained my phone down to 8%.  With the Lantern at full power according to the battery status indicator‚ I plugged my phone in.  In two hours‚ it charged my phone to 58% before its battery was drained.  Not a full charge but I thought that was pretty good.  To recharge the LuminAid Titan solar lantern battery via USB took about two hours which made sense.  I have not had an opportunity to test the time to charge from drained to full charge by the solar panel.  Cloudy days.   What are the controls like? As you can see in this picture‚ from left to right‚ the cap to the USB ports.    The power button also changes the output levels‚ starting from the brightest to the lowest or the ambiance mode with each press of the button.   Next to the power button are the red/white light selector buttons.  Note if you switch from the level of the white light to the red‚ it will be at the same level.  Next is the battery status indicator button.  It is also the output button for charging a USB-connected device.   Next is the battery status indicator of four green lights.  One green light is low battery power level‚ four is full power.   The last indicator to the far right is the charging status indicator‚ whether plugged in or charging off the solar panel. If you’re looking for a collapsible solar lantern‚ give this one a try! All in all‚ I was very pleased with this piece of gear. If you are in the market for a collapsible solar lantern‚ you can check out the LuminAid Titan here. It is a really good option. If you don’t care about USB charging‚ they also have this product that is only solar-powered. Have you tried this out before? What did you think of it? Is this an item you feel would be useful in your emergency kit? Let’s discuss it in the comments section. About 1stMarineJarHead 1stMarineJarHead is not only a former Marine but also a former EMT-B‚ Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS)‚ and volunteer firefighter. He currently resides in the great white (i.e. snowy) Northeast with his wife and dogs. He raises chickens‚ rabbits‚ goats‚ occasionally hogs‚ cows and sometimes ducks. He grows various veggies and has a weird fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys reading‚ writing‚ cooking from scratch‚ making charcuterie‚ and target shooting‚ and is currently expanding his woodworking skills. The post REVIEW: The LuminAID Titan Collapsible Solar Lantern appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

President Joe Biden loves to warn the country about the threat of white supremacy‚ and his own administration has launched a soft inqusition into the most patriotic members of society‚ the men and women who volunteer to put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Nearly three years into the Biden administration‚ the Department of Defense belatedly released the results of its in-depth review of domestic violent extremism in the military‚ and most Americans probably have no idea. If the report had revealed even one secret Klansman‚ the legacy media would have trumpeted the results. Instead‚ there have been crickets. Sure‚ the Washington Free Beacon‚ National Review‚ and The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board noted the results‚ but most legacy media outlets have uttered nary a peep about them. Even USA Today‚ which first published the report‚ largely ignored the report’s topline conclusion. Why? The Institute for Defense Analyses‚ the nonprofit the DOD tapped to perform the review‚ finds “no evidence that the number of violent extremists in the military is disproportionate to the number of violent extremists in the United States as a whole.” This contradicts the alarmist narrative about those evil conservatives who join the military to carry out an insurrection. Capitol Riot Involvement Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the military to observe a one-day stand-down to discuss and address extremism on Feb. 5‚ 2021‚ based on reports that some servicemembers took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6‚ 2021. He issued a second memo on April 9‚ 2021‚ directing the DOD to counter prohibited extremist activities and launching an independent study on extremist behavior in the military. The institute published that report to little fanfare last month. These and other actions suggested that the military has a problem with extremism‚ and the tie to the Capitol riot suggested that supporters of former President Donald Trump are the problem. Yet the report finds that very few active-duty personnel took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6‚ 2021. “Of the more than 700 federal cases in which charges were publicly available a year after these events‚ fewer than ten were for individuals who were serving in the military at the time‚” the report notes. The institute’s analysis of court martial cases finds that “extremist and gang-related activity” appeared in “fewer than 20 cases” since 2012. “If gang cases are excluded‚ the total number of extremist cases amounts to just one case per year over the period studied.” The review also finds that the Uniform Code of Military Justice does not need an “extremism” offense because it already “includes a number of provisions under which the behaviors constituting prohibited extremist activities could be prosecuted.” Such provisions include Article 109 (destruction or damage to property)‚ Article 115 (communication of threats)‚ Article 116 (riot or breath of peace)‚ and Article 128 (assault). Defining Extremism The military has struggled to define extremism without violating rights protected under the First Amendment. The military prohibits certain extremist activities‚ such as supporting the overthrow of the U.S. government‚ encouraging military personnel to disobey lawful orders‚ supporting terrorism‚ advocating unlawful violence‚ and advocating for widespread unlawful discrimination based on race and other factors. Advocating for a true system of white supremacy where non-whites are systematically denied the same rights afforded to whites‚ would fall under advocating widespread unlawful discrimination. A Salient Warning Importantly‚ the institute’s report warns against the DOD overemphasizing the threat of extremism. “DOD has used a wide variety of terms‚ phrases‚ and concepts to describe prohibited extremist behaviors and activities. As a result‚ service members at all levels told the IDA team that they are unaware of or confused about existing definitions and standards‚” the report notes. “In the absence of a clear and consistent message‚ there is a risk that misinterpretations could lead to a significant division in the force along political and ideological lines‚ with some members of the military believing that they are being targeted for their views.” Indeed‚ vague definitions of extremism have sparked alarm among conservative servicemembers who fear‚ based on Biden’s repeated demonization of his political opponents‚ that these efforts against “extremism” may target conservatives for their ideological and political views. As The Daily Signal exclusively reported this month‚ the leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center—an organization that puts mainstream conservative and Christian groups on a “hate map” with chapters of the Ku Klux Klan—bragged about advising the Biden administration on its “domestic terrorism” efforts. That effort included the Department of Defense. The Biden administration has not denied the SPLC president’s claim‚ and multiple Republican senators have expressed alarm at the video. “IDA found reason to believe that the risk to the military from widespread polarization and division in the ranks may be a greater risk than the radicalization of a few service members‚” the report adds. “For this reason‚ IDA’s recommendations focus more on steps that could be taken to address underlying causes of extremist behavior than on punitive responses to such behavior.” Rep. Mike Gallagher‚ R-Wis.‚ argued in a statement that the study’s “conclusions are a serious indictment of Austin’s entire effort‚” which he said cost taxpayers $900‚000. “Yet the damage has been done‚” Gallagher added. “As the report itself acknowledges‚ anecdotal accounts of military participation of events like January 6 ‘magnify the actions of a few and provide little information on the overall scope of the problem.'” He argued that Austin’s actions “have created a false impression with the public that the military has an extremism problem‚ thereby politicizing the Pentagon‚ undermining trust in the military and exacerbating the recruitment crisis with an already skeptical cohort of young Americans.” “In order to stop the politicization of the DOD‚ solve the recruiting crisis‚ and save the all-volunteer force‚ DOD leaders must recommit to excellence in warfighting‚” he concluded. The military should listen to the institute’s advice. In the fiscal year that ended on Oct. 1‚ 2023‚ the Army‚ Navy‚ and Air Force failed to meet recruiting goals‚ military leaders testified to the Senate last month. The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Military Strength‚ released Wednesday‚ finds that “the U.S. military is at significant risk of not being able to defend America’s vital national interests.” (The Daily Signal is The Heritage Foundation’s news outlet.) Perhaps patriotic Americans think twice about signing up when they hear top military brass lecturing the troops about the dangers of “whiteness” and defending classes on “white rage.” Perhaps Americans of all races hesitate to follow the orders of commanders who see “all white people as racist” and promote ideologies that judge people on the basis of race under the rhetoric of diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion. The Institute for Defense Analyses noted that the Department of Defense “can no more tolerate advocacy of violent extremism in the ranks than it can tolerate racism‚ sexism‚ and discrimination.” Yet it seems discrimination in favor of the Left’s agenda on race too often gets a pass. The Biden administration should learn from this report‚ and stop treating conservatives as some sort of domestic terror threat. The administration’s extremism rhetoric only sends the message that patriots who want to be judged on the content of their character are no longer welcome in the armed forces‚ and that’s a damned shame. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post Just How Many ‘Extremists’ Have Infiltrated the US Military? The Media Doesn’t Want You to Know appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The quest by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg to bring World War II to television screens began in 2001 with the premiere of the thrilling HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers‚” a story that was followed by the duo’s Marine Corps-centric follow-up “The Pacific” in 2010. The pair’s much-anticipated third installment‚ “Masters of the Air‚” debuts Friday on Apple TV+ and centers on the actions of the U.S. Army Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group‚ also known as the “Bloody 100th.” As with the earlier series‚ “Masters of the Air” presents camaraderie as a primary driving force behind the Allied victory. The cast‚ as a result‚ had to not only work within the historical framework of the Bloody 100th’s actions‚ but also needed to step into the shoes of the larger-than-life pilots and crew members who took to the skies in B-17 bombers — oftentimes without fighter escorts — on some of the most hazardous missions the U.S. military has ever seen. One such figure was that of 1st Lt. Harry Crosby‚ a navigator who began as an airsick and chronically nervous crew member before rising to the rank of major and completing a full 22 months deployed with the 100th.“I just fell in love with Harry Crosby‚” actor Anthony Boyle told Military Times. “I thought he was the most incredible‚ unique‚ bizarre human being that I’ve ever seen on screen. I just thought‚ ‘God‚ I’d love the play him. I would just love to spend a year with this person.’” Crosby‚ who after the war went on to become a prolific writer and the eventual director of the Harvard University Writing Center‚ serves as the loose narrator throughout the series. To prepare for the role‚ Boyle watched available footage of Crosby‚ who passed away in 2010‚ and was able to speak to his surviving family members.“The last few jobs I’ve done have been real people‚” Boyle said. “It’s interesting when there’s a limited amount about them. When I played Crosby‚ there was a book‚ some chatter about him and a video that I could go off.”In the show‚ Crosby develops a close bond with highly decorated pilot Maj. Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal‚ played by Nate Mann. The duo’s sharing of heartwarming support during some of the darkest moments in the 100th’s history is part and parcel for all three of the Spielberg-Hanks WWII series. The bond that truly carries the show‚ however‚ is one between Maj. Gale “Buck” Cleven and Maj. John “Bucky” Egan‚ played by Austin Butler and Callum Turner‚ respectively. The duo’s on-screen chemistry is electric‚ with Butler’s portrayal of the buttoned-up Cleven often tempering the hot-headed‚ somewhat reckless Egan so perfectly depicted by Turner.“We had two weeks of boot camp that started us off that really built camaraderie with about 120 of us‚” Butler told Military Times. “We’ve learned a lot about each other through that process‚ going through the physical aspects of that‚ and also being in the classroom together.” Cleven and Egan‚ who were roommates in flight school‚ were two of the 100th’s most experienced pilots. Both were shot down during separate missions in October 1943‚ however‚ and ultimately spent the rest of the conflict together as prisoners of war at the German POW camp Stalag Luft III. “It was easy with Callum‚ because he’s one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met‚” Butler added. “We became friends really quickly‚ and that helped with Cleven and Egan.” The POW experience for Cleven and Egan‚ which was tensely portrayed on screen‚ would further solidify their lifelong friendship.Egan stayed in and eventually served in the newly-formed U.S. Air Force‚ deploying later in the Korean War. Egan sadly died from a heart attack in 1961. He was just 45. Cleven also remained with the Air Force‚ serving in Korea and Vietnam before retiring as a colonel in 1955. He died in 2006. Speaking with Military Times‚ show producer Gary Goetzman noted the importance of bringing the unbreakable bonds of World War II to the screen eight decades after they were forged. “You have a story‚ and you have these great people you’re representing‚ and you try to give them great representation by your casting‚ by the settings‚ by the words‚ and you try to honor them — [that] is what we really tried to do‚” he said. For Goetzman‚ this particular portion of the Spielberg-Hanks WWII trilogy was all heart. “It’s a big story‚” Goetzman said. “These are the guys who tenderized the mainland in Europe so our troops could land. We didn’t know what we were doing; we were losing the war. We didn’t get over there until 1943‚ which is quite astounding.” “Masters of the Air” premieres Jan. 26 on Apple TV+. Originally published by Military Times‚ our sister publication.

“Rural Renaissance”: Venture Fund Plans New Community In Appalachia To Escape Soros-Enabled-Hellhole Cities

Why Has The Number Of Measles Cases Been Rising So Rapidly All Over The World?

REVIEW: The LuminAID Titan Collapsible Solar Lantern

Texas Defies ‘Lawless’ Biden‚ Invokes Right To Self-Defense From ‘Invasion’ With More Razor Wire

Rand Paul: ‘Half Of The GOP Wants To Sell Out The U.S. Border To Fund Ukraine War’

Defiant Governor Abbott tells Biden Texas has ‘right to self-defense’ after Supreme Court border ruling

Congressional Democrats Call for Biden to Take Control of Texas National Guard