Video shows crystal clear arc shots for a 6G pipe welding test with 6010 Root 7018 fill and cap

The USDA Forest Service recently announced that 2019 was a historic year for America’s national forests and grasslands.

“In 2019, through Shared Stewardship agreements we forged new partnerships and built on existing ones to better collaborate and share decision space with states, partners and tribes,” said Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “We also opened hundreds of thousands of acres of national forests to visitor access and sold more timber in this year than we have in any of the past 21 years, providing a sustainable flow of forest products and supporting rural economies.”

Creating healthy, productive forests and supporting rural economies

The Forest Service surpassed expectations and sold nearly 3.3 billion board feet of timber in 2019—75 million board feet more than the 20-year high set in 2018. The agency also improved forest conditions and reduced wildfire risk on over 4 million acres through timber harvest, removing hazardous fuels like dead and downed trees, and combating disease, insect and invasive species infestations.

Timber harvest volume from projects under the Good Neighbor Authority, more than tripled in 2019 from 22 to 89 million board feet. This authority allows the Forest Service to enter into agreements with state forestry agencies to perform restoration work to improve health and productivity on national forests and grasslands. To date, projects under this authority have taken place in 38 states.

Sharing stewardship responsibilities and being better neighbors

So far, 12 states and the Western Governors Association have signed on to work alongside the Forest Service to set landscape-scale goals, as well as share resources and expertise. These Shared Stewardship agreements allow the Forest Service to better work with partners to address challenges such as wildfire, insect and disease infestations and improve forest and watershed conditions while adapting to user needs. Participating states include Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership, a combined effort of the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, treated 100,000 acres in 2019 to improve forest health where public and private lands meet and to protect nearby communities from wildfire.

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the National Forest Foundation and the Forest Service partnered to set up a $4 million grant program to improve watersheds and reduce wildfire risk.

The Forest Service launched a community-based prototype wildfire risk mapping tool in Washington State. This tool is the first of its kind and allows local, state and federal agencies to fight fire where it matters most and to build fire-adapted communities more strategically and collaboratively. A nationwide map based on the prototype will be available in 2020.

Increasing access and improving recreation experiences

More than 5.2 million hours of work were logged in 2019 as part of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, a private-public partnership that engages more than 25,000 returning veterans and young Americans each year to strengthen America’s infrastructure and boost local economies. Participants helped to plant trees, reduce wildfire risk and improve forest conditions through vegetation management and hazardous fuels reduction projects, valued at $128 million.

Nearly 560,000 acres of national forests and grasslands were opened for access in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation as part of their “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt” initiative.

Access and recreation opportunities were improved through the National Forest and Grasslands Explorer and Digital pass applications. The Explorer app lets visitors know where to find points of interest on national forests and grasslands and how best to explore them. The Digital Pass app was developed in cooperation with Recreation.gov to make purchasing day passes easier by selling them online.

“2019 was a banner year for us,” added Chief Christiansen. “Next year, we will continue to build on these successes to improve conditions on America’s national forests and grasslands to ensure they are healthier, more resilient and more productive.” “We will keep building on the partnerships that make these successes possible and commit to increasing access to better connect people to their natural resources, so these national treasures endure for generations to come.”

For more information about the Forest Service visit www.fs.fed.us.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

The tear in my hip waders looked small and insignificant. I told my father that I would use them anyway. It was opening day of trout season for God’s sake. It was something we never missed. Opening day is usually … Continued

Will concrete blocks “explode” if you make a rocket stove out of them? Here’s feedback I got.

This morning there was a murder in a church in Texas. A few seconds later, further murders were prevented by the quick action of a counter-murderer who protected the congregation. In the incident, it appears that someone tried to draw a pistol but was unsuccessful and got shot for his trouble. It is possible he was trying to get his cell phone to call for help, though. The footage is not very clear.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/12/29/watch-good-guy-gun-shoots-alleged-texas-church-shooter/

What was the requisite level of skill to end this situation? The shot would appear to be two aisles plus the width of a pew.

At the recommended 24 inches per person for 12 people (4 hymnal racks per pew with 3 per), that would be 24 feet for the pew plus 10 feet (two 5 foot aisles). https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/church-architecture-rules-thumb-space-dimensions

Thirty-four feet; call it 12 yards. That’s more than four yards. One shot dropped the murderer. Some reports say that it was a head shot but that remains to be verified. Another report was that the counter-murderer is a retired Law Enforcement Officer. That also remains to be verified.

Let’s keep in mind that when we deliberately take on the responsibility of protecting others, such as being a member of a church security (counter-murder) team, the situation changes. The same would be true for an armed teacher. METT-TC raises its unwelcome head again.

METT-TC

• Mission
• Enemy
• Terrain and Weather
• Troops and Support Available
• Time Available
• Civil Considerations

METT-TC shares something in common with the Merovingian’s comment about causality; “There is no escape from it.”

Are you a fan of using a frying pan with sections or it is just too puzzling to use? Read through this article to find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of using...

The post Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Frying Pan with Sections appeared first on The Homestead Survival.

Video of TIG welding Stainless Steel manifold for Liquid Nitrogen

Four More Mall Mob Fights Breakout Throughout the Country

Since Christmas, malls throughout the country have been targeted by mostly black teenagers in a series of large-scale mob attacks, organized violence, shootings and fights. A couple of days ago we covered over dozens of them, and this weekend at least four more malls had large-scale disturbances and violence. […]

This Article Four More Mall Mob Fights Breakout Throughout the Country is an original article from OFFGRID Survival If it is appearing on any other site but OFFGRID Survival, that site does not have our permission to use our copyrighted content!

Falke Cool Boxers Review

In the summer, we tested various activewear from the iconic German brand Falke. Most of the testing was done on different hiking trails and alpine ascents in the Dolomites where we spent our holidays. On my first hike in the Dolomites I wore the Falke Cool T-Shirt and I was very satisfied with its performance. Therefore, I couldn’t wait to test the Falke Cool boxers. The Falke Cool boxers are like the t-shirt part of the Falke Cool line, which means that they are designed for sports in warm to hot conditions.

Altogether I wore the Falke Cool boxers on four different hikes in the Dolomites. When we had returned from the holidays, I kept testing the boxers on short hikes here in Denmark as well as for running. Below is what I found out.

The Falke Cool Boxers are suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Backpacking
• Running

Material

The Falke Cool boxers are made of a polyamide (nylon) fabric with a small content of elastane fibers (8%). When I unwrapped the boxers, I was surprised how soft and non-synthetic the fabric feels. I have several pairs of synthetic boxers from various brands at home, and the Falke Cool boxers are indeed the softest and most pleasant to the touch. Nevertheless, I did also notice that the fabric is relatively thick, at least for a garment that is designed for warm to hot conditions.

I expected that the boxers would be made of the exact same fabric as the Falke Cool t-shirt, but that’s not the case. The Falke Cool boxers are made of thicker and less porous fabric. Now, the advantage of the thicker fabric is better durability which is important when it comes to performance underwear. Whether you are running or hiking, the underwear is exposed to friction, especially between your inner thighs. Many of my performance boxers started tearing there within a year of use (particularly those made of pure Merino wool). I haven’t noticed any such issues with the Falke Cool boxers so far and thus I assume that the fabric is adequately robust. Nevertheless, if I notice anything, I will of course update this review.

When you are buying performance underwear, you typically want a breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying and odor-resistant garment. These were thus the qualities I focused on while testing the boxers on various trails and runs. I wore the boxers for the first time on the hike to the 2557 meters high Sass Ciapel (trail to be published soon) and I was impressed over the comfort. Nevertheless, when I started gaining altitude and the intensity increased, I did notice that they are slightly less breathable than my other synthetic underwear. The relatively thick fabric does indeed have impact on the breathability. However, it doesn’t seem that it has a big impact on the drying time. The boxers were always dry when I returned from hikes and I was therefore very satisfied with the drying time in general. I noticed that the boxers nicely disperse the moisture across the surface of the fabric and that’s probably also the reason why they dry so fast (moisture dries faster when dispersed). The boxers are also very moisture-wicking as they efficiently pull the moisture from your skin.

It’s no secret that synthetic garments become smelly fast unless they are treated with some kind of antimicrobial agent. In the product description on Falke’s website I haven’t found any information about antimicrobial treatments, but to my surprise the boxers didn’t become smelly even though I wore them on four hikes in a row without washing them in between. Now, antimicrobial treatments often wash out, but so far, the boxers have remained odor-resistant.

Comfort, fit, sizing and functionality

The Falke Cool boxers belong in the short leg boxer briefs (trunks) category. They have an inseam length of two inches (5 cm). I usually prefer longer boxers for sports because the legs of short boxers often ride up in my experience. Nevertheless, this was not an issue with the Falke Cool boxers.

The boxers fit tightly to the body but because the material is super stretchy, I found them very comfortable nevertheless. While hiking and running they never restricted me in any way. I also haven’t encountered any chafing or rubbing. When I had a closer look at the boxers, I noticed some very neat details. The flatlock seams are incredibly thin – on the inside it’s actually hard to locate them. I would therefore be very surprised if they caused discomfort to anyone. The waist band is made of a stretchy double-layer fabric which is very soft to the touch and the stitching beneath the waistband is minimal for extra comfort. The logo on the waistband is printed not to cause chafing. The Falke boxers don’t have a fly, but I personally don’t think this a problem. To be honest, I find flies inconvenient and usually a weak link in the durability of underwear.

As for the sizing, I got the boxers in size L and they fit me perfectly. My waist circumference is 94 cm (37 in.).

Washing and drying

The boxers can be machine washed at 40 C without bleach or softeners. Like most other activewear they shouldn’t be tumble dried. As the underwear is odor-resistant it doesn’t have to be washed after every workout. Nevertheless, I recommend washing the garment regularly for hygienic reasons.

Verdict

The Falke Cool boxers are a good option for outdoorsy people and athletes. I’m very impressed over the softness of the fabric and neat details like super thin flatlock seams and comfy waistband. The boxers are also moisture-wicking, quick drying and odor-resistant. They fit me well and I’m very satisfied with the freedom of movement. The only thing that bothers me is that they are made of a relatively thick fabric, which somewhat reduces the breathability. However, there are always tradeoffs, and the Falke boxers indeed provide better durability due to the more robust fabric.

If you have any questions about this product, drop me a line in the comments below.

Falke Cool Boxers – Logo

Falke Cool Boxers – The fabric

Falke Cool Boxers – The Falke Cool t-shirt is made of a thinner and more porous fabric

Falke Cool Boxers – The flatlock seams are barely detectable

Falke Cool Boxers – Super thin flatlock seams

Falke Cool Boxers – Stretchy waistband

Falke Cool Boxers – Washing instructions on the waistband

Falke Cool Boxers – Waistband is very comfortable and the stitching beneath the waistband is minimal for extra comfort

Falke Cool Boxers – Packaging

Rating

Design
Quality
Comfort
Functionality

About Rating

Pros:

• Softness of the fabric
• Moisture-wicking
• Odor-resistant
• Quick-drying
• Great fit and very comfortable

Cons:

• The fabric is relatively thick which decreases the breathability to some extent

Where to buy?

Falke Cool Boxers
Buy from Falke

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The post Falke Cool Boxers – First Hand Review appeared first on Best Hiking.

Security overload leads to apathy. How often do you hear a car alarm go off and roll your eyes hoping the owner would disable the blasted thing before the incoming headache comes a knocking? The primary objection I have to such systems is they work too well. Every week I hear an alarm being triggered […]

This is just the start of the post Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy. Continue reading and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!

Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy, written by Thomas Xavier, was created exclusively for readers of the survival blog More Than Just Surviving.