July 14, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

In the News:

• "Gun and truck attack leaves at least 80 dead in Nice: Men, women and kids strewn across road after lorry speeds for a MILE through holiday crowd watching fireworks, before gunman opens fire"--Daily Mail. Another Islamic terrorist attack in France. From the article:

Identity documents belonging to a 31-year-old French Tunisian were later found in the bullet-riddled truck after the gunman at the wheel was shot dead by police marksmen, security sources said.

The source added: 'The identification of the truck driver is still underway.' The recovered papers indicate the man is a resident of Nice.  

The truck driver was said to have shouted 'Allahu Akbar' – God is greatest – before being killed. Pro-ISIS groups have been celebrating the attack, orchestrated to coincide with France's most important national holiday, but as yet the terror group has not officially claimed responsibility.

A huge cache of guns, grenades and 'larger weapons' were later found inside the lorry, which mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards hundreds of people watching a fireworks display. Around 100 revellers are then said to have dived into the sea as panic ensued and holiday crowds desperately ran for their lives.

• Related: This was an article from earlier this week: "Head of French police: France is on the brink of civil war"--SPEISA. According to the article:

In connection with the violent terrorist attack on Friday 13 November last year, which led to the French government appointed a commission of inquiry, he stated behind closed doors in parliament this year that France "stands on the brink of civil war." He has also warned the Parliament's defense committee that if there are more terrorist attacks from Islamic ranks, the far right could exploit the situation to trigger a civil war.

They are already in a civil war, and it isn't from the far right. 

• Not happy with the ruling from the World Court, "China Says It Could Declare Air Zone Over South China Sea"--AP. 
• More from the worker's paradise: "Venezuela's economic collapse continues as its army seizes ports and the government declares itself able to take private firms' food and goods"--Daily Mail. The third extension of a state of emergency. Isn't a rule that after the third extension, they become permanent?
• "New Dwarf Planet Discovered Far Beyond Pluto's Orbit"--Space.com. (Warning: video starts automatically). Currently named 2015 RR245, it lies well past Pluto, with an orbital period of 700 years, and is believed to have a diameter of 435 miles. 

Shooting/Self-Defense/Survival: 

• "Forget Pelvic Shots"--Suarez International. Gabe Suarez discusses the pretty poor options that you have when faced with an attacker wearing body armor. His advice, though, is simple: shoot them in the head. He writes:

Insofar as the Pelvic Girdle Shots go, it does not take a degree in medicine to realize that the pelvic bone is not connected to the hands, nor the brain, and that a pelvic shot – even if successful – will not stop a terrorist from continuing to fire, or setting off an explosive.

* * *

 Medical explanation: The pelvis is a ring structure. It is exceedingly strong and people with broken pelvises in car accidents have in fact been ambulatory immediately afterwards.

 In order to break and destabilize the pelvis, it must be broken in two places. Those places are near where the two pockets would be in a man wearing Levis.

They are far smaller than the area suggested for a brain shot. So a proponent of the pelvic shot wants you to hit not one, but two targets that are smaller and harder to hit than the head shot’s highest value area…and two targets that will prevent neither return gunfire nor explosives detonation.

• Related: "Pelvic Shooting, the Best Worst Option"--Monderno. 

The targeting of the lateral pelvis or the pelvic girdle of the human body is being celebrated by some as the holy grail of 

places to shoot bad guys.  While I do agree that the pelvis is a viable target, it must be understood that with other areas of the body available, it should not in most cases be the primary chosen point of aim.  The reasons for this are simple; there are no organs or structures inside the area commonly known as the pelvic region that are responsible for Central Nervous System function.

• "Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener Review"--The Truth About Knives. I have really appreciated the Work Sharp electric sharpener (that uses abrasive belts for sharpening). This is a small system of plates and rods for use in the field, that looks pretty interesting. 
• "Gadget Fu – Renovo MUV Adaptable Water Filter"--Recoil Magazine. A small modular filter system using three filtering/purification modules:

MUV 1 section is at the bottom and contains activated carbon fiber. Unlike traditional activated carbon in granular form this fiber is 10x more absorbent and allows a faster flow rate. It will remove chemicals, heavy metals, negatives tastes and can filter up to 150 gallons.

MUV 2 is in the middle and it is made up of tiny hollow tubes with a porous membrane. This prevents parasites and bacteria from slipping through as its concept is based on size exclusion – water can go through but not the larger particles. It will remove bacteria (E.coli, Cholera, typhoid etc.), protozoa (cryptosporidium), and parasites (giardia) and can filter up to 100,000 gallons.

MUV 3 contains nanalum which was developed by NASA to reuse waste water. Nanalum works by electro-absorption and manufactured with non-woven, highly engineered water filter paper impregnated with Granular activated Carbon. When wet, it has a strong, positive charge like a magnet which attracts and traps organic contaminants. It can remove viruses (Hepatitis A and E, poliovirus, meningitis, etc.), bacteria, protozoa, parasites, heavy metals, chemicals and negative tastes and can filter up to 90 gallons.

The filter system is currently at the Kickstarter phase, with the three modules expected to be available at different times over the next year, but the prices appear reasonable for something like this.

• "5 Things to Check on Your AR-15"--Guns & Ammo. Basically, 5 common problem areas you should check on an AR-15 you are planning on buying (or perhaps already own): making sure the gas key is tight and staked; that you have an O-ring (or D-Fender) to assist your extractor; making sure you are not using 5.56 in a .223 chamber; making sure that the trigger and hammer springs are correctly installed; and making sure the castle nut for the buffer tube is staked.
• "Holsters"--The Tactical Wire. I suspect that most people new to concealed carry (and even those that have carried for some time) overlook the importance of a good belt and a good holster for comfortable carry and ready access to your firearm. This article discusses some factors to consider when selecting a holster.