Jamie Jackson

deleted post r/t computer issues...sorry

Good point, and yes it will overflow. As previously stated, we have ours in constant use, so I can now tell by the flow force if water is needed. We keep a gallon water pitcher on the counter beside the Berkey. I, or my DW, will normally add about 3 quarts at a time when the flow starts to weaken. I normally take 2 liters to work with me each shift, and routinely add the 3 quarts when I putting my lunch together. They are pretty awesome tools aren't they Kraut? And as Kraut said, easy keepers. And, imho, well work the expense. I intended to mention this earlier, but I have several projects going and as usual sidetracked myself: Water is such a crucial prep item. All of us loose about 2 liters per day as imperceptible water loss, through our respiratory cycle and through our skin, every 24 hours. As was well covered already, with increased heat, work, and stress, that loss dramatically increases. (Water intoxication or dilutional hyponatermia is certainly a potential...albeit a minor concern with anywhere near a tolerable dietary intake, or at the very least a dilute electrolyte replacement supplement intake.) I know that for myself, after Katrina and bucking a chainsaw for 8-10 hours a day, I consumed well over a gallon of water each day. The effects of dehydration can be subtle, but ultimately devastating. The Rule of 3's comes into play here.

fwiw folks, and I have no financial link whatsoever, Jeff Gleason at Directive 21 is a decent guy to do business with. When I first received a Berkey Sport bottle I noticed the filter in it looked remarkably like the Black Berkey filters I have set back. I sent an e-mail to Jeff and he phoned me within a few minutes. He's very personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. So, from my personal experience if you want to talk with someone that's a prepper and running a business related to that aspect of your life, Jeff's a good to go guy. I don't mean this to sound like a commercial or anything. But I get tired of contacting a business with questions about a product, and maybe...just maybe...getting a response from their "customer support" personnel who may or may not be knowledgeable about their products. also fwiw and at risk of creating a potential thread drift, and so it won't seem so much like a Directive 21 commercial... ...Chris Ondatje at Honeyville Grain offers the same level of great service.

Dolomite, Os et al; We have been using our Big Berkey daily...constantly...for several years now and our original white ceramic filters are still working great. I clean them with a green scrubber about every 4 months or so. They easily pass the red food coloring test. We are only filtering municipal water at this time, and we've added the PF-2 attachment. The improvement in taste is remarkable imho...they heavily chlorinate the water here in West Knox at intervals. We do rain water collection, but I have made and maintain a "water pre-filtering system" out of two 5 gallon buckets, sand, and charcoal...so even muddy pond water wouldn't rapidly clog up the Berkey filters. fwiw we have a set of Black Berkey filters and a spare parts kit in our storage...just in case... In each of my GHB/BOB's I keep the Berkey Sport Bottle, and a couple of bandannas (multiple uses) that can be used for pre-filtering water. I gave a Sport Berkey to a friend of mine earlier this year and she used it on a 3 week Mission trip in Haiti. I think the majority of the folks on the trip with her have now purchased the Sport Berkeys. My only concern with having pretty much any water filter system or purifier stored in my GHB/BOB is the unit potentially receiving damage from protracted sub freezing temperatures if the unit is wet...(has water in the filter)...so I try to remember to bring my GHB/BOB in at night...It may not be necessary and I admit I am not always diligent about such things...but I haven't noticed any issues with them over the past couple of years. And since being prepared means having redundant capabilities, I also have iodine tablets and a small container (10 ml) of bleach in my bag. And a metal cup that I can boil water in...multiple items with multiple uses...

That's impressive vac sealer Mark. There is certainly true value in a quality tool.

Great idea USMC! I often find encouragement and ideas from a similar thread on another site. Mon-Tues-Wed: I picked, dipped, skinned, chopped, and bagged about 50 tomatoes and into the vegetable freezer they went. That made about 2 full gallon freezer bags worth. I have 7 more gallons in the freezer prepped for canning in the same manner. When times allows, they'll get canned up. I cut 8 butternut squash today and have them "curing" on a wire shelf in the basement...there's plenty more to be harvested from our little raised beds over the next few weeks. The rain has been a Blessing. I picked up a dozen 5 gallon buckets from a local grocery deli...6 traditional round and 6 that are rectangular...got those scrubbed and in the basement awaiting Mylar bag/o2 absorber filling with my next trip to the LDS Warehouse. I'm considering picking up a couple of sacks of corn from Tractor Supply, as the recent drought has wrecked havoc on our Nation's corn crop this year...the price of pretty much all food stuff will be effected by the corn shortage fwiw. Our asparagus beans are vining nicely, but still have several weeks yet before they yield any beans. But our okra is only a few weeks from making..so we picked up some more dill for making pickled okra. The drought and heat did our dill in... I finished putting up privacy tinting to all of the downstairs windows. I had put up reflective tinting last year...that coupled with privacy tinting is making a significant reduction in our electric bill...and it's a definite plus as far as security goes. We can see out...but you can't see in.

Thanks for posting. I too like his message. I especially like the fact that he understands that language structures thought, it shapes the way we process information...like in his example: " Mr. **** *****", The Senator from Tennessee", not "Senator ***". It does make a difference in our perception. I'll be looking more closely at this gentleman.

Thank you dlmeadows. I actually did shoot the IDPA match at ORSA in July. Mike and the S.O.'s ran a great match, imaginative and challenging stages, excellent facilities. I'm looking forward to the ORSA August IDPA match.

Thank you JWin.

Thank you JWin. That's good news. I figured there must be a few more around. Please excuse my ignorance, where is TAC2? Is there a website? Much obliged.

I can certainly respect and appreciate what you're saying. You can never be too safe. I've R.O.'d night matches back home in MS and found it best to almost ride piggyback with some shooters. Sometimes immediately behind someone with a firearm is the safest place to be. ...besides, it's easier to watch for any safety concerns from there. Thank you for the head's up on the date.

Thank you HOGNUT. I should have extended my search. The drive wouldn't be bad. Besides I've been reading discussion of the matches you guys run and they certainly sound good. I hope to make the drive out to shoot some of them with you in the near future. Much obliged.

Well...I reckon not. I'll just start asking around when I shoot a match and see if anything is in the works.

Thanks for the head's up. The stages look like fun, but challenging. As my every-other-weekend at work rotates this fall, I plan on giving USPSA a try...it's been nearly 15 years, but I looking forward to it.

Heck! I'm next!

Hey Craig. Thanks for joining in. It was nice to meet you and great to shoot with Buddy. I'm definitely looking forward to the next IDPA match, and to trying out some of the other venues as well.

I'm glad our "Uncle" got you there Buddy. I first met Hershel Davis there as he was rotating to civie life from the Teams, also met and got some great instruction from Ed Head, Bill Jeans, and Bill Murphy. I did 250 & 260 (shotty). About 1/4 of each class were active duty. In 260 we had a Chief and 2 E-6's from SBU. They had the (at that time not in full civie circulation) Benelli M4's and were wringing out the new H&K's in 45 acp. We had a PJ and more than a few Army gents. Great folks one & all. LOL on the M9's....great guns btw...kinda different from the predominately single actions of the time. Didn't the Lt,Col call them “crunchentickers"?

Hi Folks; I'm just getting back into the swing of things (IDPA etc.) and was wondering if any clubs in or near East TN are hosting BUG(Back Up Gun) matches? I was also curious if any clubs are holding low light or night matches? I did a search, and I readily admit to being a technotard. but didn't come up with anything. Thanks in advance.

I have a horsehide belt from Kramer Leather that's pushing 20 years and is just starting wear down. They cost a bit more these days...but value remains value, imho. I do have a Wilderness Instructor Belt and it's a workhorse..but it's obviously a gunbelt. I am currently using a Hellweg Black leather belt and I'm impressed with it. It's only been in use daily for about 1 1/2 years, but I think it's a keeper. As far as availability goes, I have a buddy that just ordered one from Brownells (in my link) and it arrived within a week. In my humble and totally unsolicited opinion a belt is but one part of a carry "system"...each component necessary to achieve your desired goals. For me that is comfortable and secure all day (everyday) carry...accessibility (the gun will be where I think it should be when I reach for it)...and low profile (I carry concealed and have for the past 25 years or so)...without the gun flopping out or squirreling around because the belt stretches from the weight of the gun, holster, mag pouches and all the other crap I need it to support. So I guess I'm seconding what MacGyver wrote. Again, just my opinion.

DMark; Kinda a transitional thing, but I have an Orange API Patch. Rich Jee was there and slowing assuming control. Lt Col. Cooper was still involved a bit. He taught his excellent Mindset class during my 250. Lt.col Cooper and Ms. Janelle invited a few of us over to The Sconce. They were kind enough to give us a bit of a tour, complete with Ms. Janelle brownies, and then we spent a few hours in his "Gunroom" just taking, discussing the world, and of course Guns... Kinda like being Granted an Audience (afterall..it was Jeff Cooper and I was a dyed-in-woll 1911 junkie at the time...), but with a really down to earth and genuinely nice guy. The Lt Col was still there when I returned a couple of years later, but was no longer teaching. Sorry 'bout the drift and reminiscing folks...

Brad: Welcome aboard Brother.

If I had the funds (unfortunately I don't), I'd jump at this opportunity. I made the trip to Gunsite a couple of times back in the 90's. While the expense was (to me) significant, the training was invaluable. And being able to meet and talk with Col. Cooper was pretty remarkable. I don't know how the quality of training measures up currently (which is one reason why I am curious as to who the instructors will be), but I would imagine the standard is still held high. Having them locally is a true bargain imho.

Wow! Small world isn't it? That's awesome. I remember you guys quite well...Great shooting...both of you. I need to forward BQ this link and get him signed up here at TGO. I have to work ever other weekend (and then some...friggin creditors! ), but as my schedule forces me to rotate weekends, I plan to rotate match venues...but I'm hoping for cooler weather as well guys. I look forward to shooting with you guys again.

My pleasure Sir. I'm with you. being employed these days is a Blessing, shift work or not. I'll definitely be back. I think I caught the IDPA bug while I was there.

Thank you guys for posting the videos. being a dyed in wool technotard, I am impressed! Jeremy...my "real name" is Jamie (old gray fart shootin' a Glock 19), I started on Bay #5...I appreciate the hard work you guys did and picked up some great pointers just watching you (and other members of the squad) shoot. I've worked shift work (nights) for many years, and it's tough on your system Buddy. (I'm finally working day shift and it sure helps...not with my shooting LOL, but with life in general). Thanks again to all for a great match and I look forward to shooting with you guys (and gals) in August.