Your search is finally over. Power Edge Tactical is celebrating their grand opening, Monday February 7th, 2011 at their new store on 510 Piikoi St W-120 in Honolulu, Hawaii. They are a full line dealer featuring major brands such as Aimpoint, Eotech, Surefire, Magpul, ARMS, PRI, and Blackhawk. There’s a lot of military on Oahu and plenty of folks visiting the island for business as well as pleasure so make sure you stop in.
One of our favorite blogs is The Firearm Blog. We received news that they have been purchased by GunsForSale.com. Former owner Steve has been retained by the new owners and been given the role of Editor-in-Chief while he attends college so we expect to see the same level of quality maintained that we are used to. Congrats to all involved!
The Army has released their 2011 guidance for Soldiers interested in participating in social media. In this day and age most military personnel know that they need to watch what they say around unauthorized personnel as well as the press. One of the biggest dangers of social media is that it draws the participant in and eventually he feels a sense of intimacy with fellow members, who often share a common background or bond. Unfortunately, not everyone in the social media world is a good guy. Whether actively pretending to be someone they are not or just sitting back and taking it all in, some of the folks online are bad guys and I was glad to see the reminder early on in the document that the enemy is listening.
And oh yeah, all of that stuff about “you are representing the Army” is pretty good advice too. I have seen some guys lose their minds online. For those of you who are curious, check it out here. You might want to take a look at the “Army Twitter Strategy” as well.
We’ve been working on this for awhile now; the launch of our new little brother site, TacticalFanboy.com. Awhile back we realized that as our readership grew, so did their interests begin to vary and in response, our editorial content began to shift somewhat as well. Ever conscious of our core readership, that is Industry, Government, and Military, we became a bit concerned that we had lost some of our focus on that group. And in that notion, the idea for Tactical Fanboy was born. Think of it as sort of an alter ego. Over the past few months TFB’s fan base has grown and grown. In fact, some of our most popular stories have been from TFB.
Now, we can have our cake and eat it too and so can you. SSD at work and TFB at home. SSD will go back to its roots and concentrate on hard core Government and Industry news while TFB will pick up the more recreational and entertainment sides of this community with a little bit of humor and risque content thrown in for good measure. While this may mean no more worries about running across content on SSD that may be questionable at work don’t just write TFB off as some milsim wannabe site. The name might be lighthearted but the content will always be on point. Additionally, TFB will be more of a traditional blog so feel free to comment and join in the discussion. But don’t worry, you’ll see us share content and collaborate regularly.
We hope you are as excited about this as we are. Please join TFB at www.TacticalFanBoy.com and look for TFB himself at SHOT Show.
Yes, we are “Cracktical”. We can tell by how often some of you hit our server. Even though we publish several times a day, some of you just can’t seem to get enough SSD, so here are some other options to get your fix:
Twitter
Our list of followers on Twitter continues to grow. In addition to alerts of new stories we also release information through Twitter that might be of interest to our readers or is related to our core content but originates elsewhere.
twitter.com/soldiersystems
Facebook
We launched our Facebook page awhile back and to be honest, while it is all the rage, it is a pain in the ass to use if you are a brand. Telling you that we have posted articles on Facebook and Twitter seems kind of redundant so we will see about doing something more here. Having said that, Tactical Fanboy has got his up and running. Check him out as well. That is, everybody except for that weird cyberstalker dude, There’s always one in every crowd.
iPhone
Our iPhone app has been extremely popular and delivers the latest updates directly to your iPhone each time you open it. We want to do an Android app but we are not happy with the company we had chosen. Any suggestions?
iTunes
M4Carbine.net
M4Carbine.net has been most gracious in offering us a dedicated sub-forum to interact with our readers. Not only is it a great place to discuss our articles and current issues in the Soldier Systems industry but M4Carbine.net gives access to the best group of Subject Matter Experts we have run across. No over-inflated CVs, no BS, just good information. Military, Law Enforcement, or a fan of the Black Rifle? You should be a member of M4Carbine.net.
M4Carbine.net
Youtube
We post videos for our articles on our Youtube channel. Additionally, we make use of content posted by others. Always be on the look out for more content.
www.youtube.com
Kindle
Subscriptions to SSD’s content are available for the Kindle via Amazon. Don’t forget there is a Kindle reader for iPhone and iPad.
Scribd.com/solsys
Contests
We have been running some cool contests this year thanks to our sponsors. However, this latest kit design contest is the most awesome thing we have ever seen.
Contest.SoldierSystems.net
Trade Shows
In the near-term look for us at SHOT Show and Outdoor Retailer.
On-line Gaming
If you have an Xbox Live account, you can friend request ‘Tactical Fanboy’.
The Future
Here at SSD we continuously look at ways to increase interaction with our readers. For example, some of our writers have begun to develop specialized content for other sites. In fact, you may have seen the article on Environmental Clothing Systems on ADS Inc’s web site. You will also begin to see some of our stuff in print. We have also posted content from the Mad Duo and others.
Also, something very exciting is happening to SSD soon. Look for a big announcement at SHOT Show.
One final word. None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors. We have affiliated ourselves with reputable companies who provide solid products and services and we would not hesitate to recommend any of them. At SSD we look at our sponsorship program as a two-way street. We are endorsing them as much as they are us and we urge you to support them.
We are constantly improving our fighting position, so if you have any additional ideas on ways SSD can do more for you, please feel free to share them with us.
We here at Soldier Systems Daily want to wish you a Happy New Year and productive one at that.
Tomorrow we will be making a very exciting announcement. For us, it’s the coolest opportunity we have ever been able to offer our readers.
Details to follow…
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
-Clement Clarke Moore
