We showed you a teaser the other day of Hyde Definition’s PenCott family of patterns made into caps by our friend Slangvel. Here are some more photos.
The first row the caps are M43-style and the second are Slangvel’s Recce-style Boonies.
Archive for June, 2011
PenCott Caps
Monday, June 27th, 2011Oops…Home Depot Accused of Violating Buy American Act
Monday, June 27th, 2011As if there was a “Now Serving Number…” sign at the Justice Department, Home Depot has joined a growing list of companies accused of illegal business practices with the Government.
In this case San Francisco-based attorney Paul Scott along with several colleagues filed a whistle blower suit against the home improvement giant alleging that Home Depot had illegally provided Chinese made products to the Government in violation of the Buy American Act. This has attracted the Justice Department’s attention but they have not decided whether to join the suit.
According to a recent Associated Press story on the subject, “In the last six years, Staples Inc., Office Depot Inc. and OfficeMax Inc. have paid a combined $22 million to settle government claims they violated the act. In 2008, the Department of Justice announced that W.W. Grainger Inc. agreed to pay $6 million to settle claims the company overcharged the government and provided it with Chinese and Taiwanese products in violation of the Buy American Act.”
In my opinion two things are driving this recent upsurge in enforcement of the Buy American Act as well as other federal acquisition laws. First, the smaller war effort means that there will be fewer purchases and that they will be more closely scrutinized. Second, the faltering economy is causing American companies to ensure that they maintain as much of a competitive edge as possible. Large companies who provide a wide variety of products will claim that it is impossible to ensure that everything they sell complies with the Buy American Act. That is pathetic. I am all for our troops getting the best that they can, but you can’t tell me that ball point pens made overseas are better than ones made here. It is about profit, pure and simple. As an American tax payer, I just don’t see how it is in our best interest to purchase products made overseas for Government use unless they offer a distinct performance advantage unavailable from domestic products or are simply not produced here. Standard commodities do not fall into either of these categories.
SSD Blocked?
Sunday, June 26th, 2011We’ve received a couple of reports that SSD has recently been blocked by web filters at several bases. Has anyone run across this?
BrinkZone Sponsors First Annual Charity Prowler Sled Competition
Sunday, June 26th, 2011BrinkZone.com should be no stranger to long-time readers of SSD with their Optimal SWAT program. In conjunction with EliteFTS and Golds Gym Natick MA, BrinkZone.com is sponsoring the First Annual Charity Prowler Sled Competition, this August 20th, 2011. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
The rules are simple:
“Last man standing†rules will apply! The person who can push the most weight the length of the indoor turf (75’) wins!
The weight will be pushed using a Prowler 2 from EliteFTS. What’s a Prowler you might ask?
There will be one male and one female division with prizes for first, second, third place finishing in both divisions.
Check Out BrinkZone.com for full details.
DOD Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act (HR 2312)
Sunday, June 26th, 2011Congressmen Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Larry Kissell (D-NC) co-introduced the Department of Defense Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act which would close loopholes permitting DOD to get around rules in the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act meant to limit DOD purchases of clothing and textile-based military equipment from Federal Prison Industries (FPI). FPI currently enjoys procurement preferences. Their workforce is comprised of incarcerated federal prisoners. Although FPI is Government run, as you can imagine, this captive workforce allows them to maximize profit and with directed set asides from DoD they have garnered a great deal of textile related military contracts. For example, in 2010 FPI posted a $36 million profit in their apparel and textile business alone.
This means that businesses that employ law-abiding citizens are losing business to FPI and life saving equipment for our troops is being manufactured by convicted felons. In fact, several times in the past few years Personal Protective Equipment manufactured by FPI has failed testing.
“It is simply wrong for the U.S. government to administer a military procurement policy that favors giving jobs to felons over law-abiding Americans,†said Congressman Jones. “That is especially true during these difficult economic times.â€
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) also weighed in on the proposed legislation. “Swift passage of the DOD Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act will create opportunities for job creation within the U.S. textile and apparel industry,†said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “As we explore every option to create and sustain jobs in the United States, our government should not put the employment of federal inmates over the employment of hardworking taxpayers.â€
According information released by the AAFA, “In 2010, the U.S. military spent more than $2 billion on uniforms, camouflage, training gear, and combat footwear for U.S. servicemen and women. Nearly $140 million of that business went to convicted felons in 24 federal prisons around the country under the auspices of Federal Prison Industries (FPI)”
HR 2312 would by limit FPI to 5% market share of any one product. It still allows them a place at the table. They just won’t sit at the head. We at SSD applaud the introduction of this legislation and look forward to its switch passage and implementation.
Oh The Irony
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
“There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry.”
-COL George Armstrong Custer
What’s so ironic about that? Google “Custer” and “25 June” to find out.
Grey Ghost Updates Their Look
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
Along with new look, they’ve updated their name, and URL. Grey Ghost Outlet is now also known as Grey Ghost Gear. Although they are still the best place to go to when are you looking for killer deals on tactical gear, they have expanded their offering of the lightweight assault packs from a limited arrangement to something that looks to be more permanent. Additionally, they’ve added some cool t-shirts and patches. Make sure you check out the new look.
Big Boys Do Crye: MultiCam for Australia
Saturday, June 25th, 2011Check out this article by Nic Jenzen-Jones published at securityscholar.wordpress.com.
