T. E. Lawrence: The Man Behind the Legend
T. E. Lawrence Thomas Edward (T. E.) Lawrence CB DSO was a British scholar, writer and military leader who played a key role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman…
The Special Operations Executive: A Secret History of WW2
SOE and OSS Jedburghs in front of B-24 prior to departure just before night at Area T, Harrington Airdrome, England, c. 1944. Photo: Office of Strategic Services. During the Second…
5.11 McClane Mid: The Next Generation Norris Sneaker
The popular 5.11® Norris Sneaker family has gotten a new member. It is the McClane Mid, a mid top sneaker named in homage to John McClane, the fictional character and…
SOG Pentagon FX Covert Fixed Blade Knife
“In close quarters fighting, there is no more deadly weapon than the knife…” — W. E. Fairbairn. Get Tough (1942). SOG Specialty Knives and Tools (SOG) is no newcomer to…
How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Craft Coffee at Home Part 2
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” — T. S. Eliot. Grinding Your Own Coffee If you are a coffee lover, you might have wondered if grinding your…
How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Craft Coffee at Home Part 1
Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina. It consisted of very strong coffee, from De Bry in New Oxford Street, brewed in an American Chemex, of which he drank two large cups, black…
Understanding Lumens & Candela
If you are looking for a new flashlight, you might be confused by the terms lumens and candela. What do they mean, and which one is more important for your…
ANSI/PLATO FL 1 Standard: Measuring Flashlight Performance
Flashlight lumen testing at SureFire. Lumens are measured using a device called an integrating sphere. Integrating spheres are optical components consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with a white reflective…
Gin and Tonic: Quintessential British Cocktail with an Interesting History
Photo by Vlad Tchompalov. Bond ordered a double gin and tonic and one whole green lime. When the drink came, he cut the lime in half, dropped the two squeezed…
The History and Types of Coffee: Part 2
The lifeblood of effective fighting is organization and communication. Coffee is the lubricant that keeps the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines going.”— General Omar Bradley. Different Types of Coffee Not all coffee is…