#TBT - From The Days When They Were REAL GOOD

Because now they are total CRAP!

Of what do I write? Why modern Duracell copper top batteries MADE IN FUCKING CHINA of course.

What I have found time and again in anything that still has these P.O.S. batteries in it

I am not the only one. Read the reviews about Duracell batteries at PissedConsumer.com

Once upon a time, Duracell copper top batteries were made in the USA, and you could leave them in anything battery powered and not ever worry about them leaking and damaging devices. Even after they were long dead. Now you can find them looking like those pictured above when your devices suddenly stop working as well as while STILL IN THE PACKAGE and well prior to the use by date.

What prompted this post are what I found on my wife's night table when I was examining her failing alarm clock the other day. A decent 2 D-Cell halogen flashlight that was half dim when turned on. I pulled the batteries and found these inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two like new D-Cell batteries dated 2010 that still had a little life in them and looked like brand new. The versions made 17 years ago (because the shelf-life was at least 5 years back then) that held up like I remembered. I have swapped out all Duracell batteries in my battery powered anything for Energizers and have not had a single problem. In the fire service, there is a bulletin from our equipment provider about NOT using Duracell copper top batteries in any life safety equipment, particularly SCBA packs.

I had been buying the large multi-packs at BJ's for my emergency supplies. I now buy the slightly smaller multi-packs of Energizers at Lowe's. There has not been one instance of leakage in any of my devices since.

UPDATE 19:10 - When I wrote earlier about the bulletin to not use copper top batteries in our Scott SCBA air packs, I did not mention that Duracell "ProCell" batteries were supposed to be OK. HA!

We had a late day fire call for an electrical problem in a single family residence, and DAMMIT! my flashlight on my bunker coat was dead. Convenient to have but they always get accidentally turned on and ya find it dead when ya need it. It is a right-angled head high-intensity LED unit made by StreamLight, and uses four AA batteries. When I got back to the station I grabbed some fresh ProCell AA batteries, and look what came out of the box:

Yup... brand new and all crusted up HARD!

Duracell ProCell, "For Professional Use Only." Fuckin' joke!

Well, whaddya know.... MADE IN CHY-NA!

 

 

 

 

The rest of the batteries in the box were fine, and this is the first ProCell battery I have come across doing this. Apparently the FD is just going to have to get away from Duracell completely.

Wreaths Across America 2022

Up and out early this past Saturday morning to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, MA. My parents and several other family members are interred there. The Patriot Guard Riders nationwide play a huge role in this event. The truck convoy carrying the wreaths gets an escort. We stand flag lines for the ceremonies in the cemeteries as well as lay wreaths, and in January assist cemetery crews and other volunteers with picking them all up for recycling. I join the CT P.G.R. at the state cemetery in Middletown for wreath pickup. Because of the recent crummy weather only a couple of local MA guys had their bikes, everyone else was on four wheels.

Because this event has grown so large, parking for most volunteers is remote and they get brought in by shuttle bus. Six Flags New England provided the parking lots and free shuttle buses. The P.G.R. had our own coned off parking area because we were doing a police escorted procession to the cemetery. The ceremony was to begin at 10:00 so at 09:15 we did our procession, got parked, and assembled our flag lines. A lot of citizen volunteers were already in the cemetery so they got to see us roll in. We parked, assembled our flags, and lined up. We had a service flag held by a P.G.R. member behind the respective service monument as well a a POW/MIA and Gold Star flag. The rest of us had U.S. flags and formed a semi-circle behind the speaker's platform.

The ceremony was short and sweet, covered heavily by local media, and I heard several crowd estimates of 500+. It was opened by the singing of The Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance performed by a local Army veteran. There was a guy that was the M.C., a short speech by the event organizer, and a short speech by the cemetery director. There were several politicians in attendance that were recognized but not allowed to speak. The rifle volleys were fired and taps was played by two local high school students. The ceremony concluded and it was time to lay wreaths. I missed last year and was told that this year was run differently and was structured to make sure no one bailed on the ceremony. Also, distribution of wreaths was much more controlled. Sounds like last year was a free for all.

I stowed my flag and quickly hoofed up the hill to get a wreath for my parent's grave. Their grave is located to the rear of the section so the chance of their grave already having a wreath on it was slim. I got to their stone, and in a loud voice recited Dad's name, service branch, rank, and era served. As I placed the wreath and stepped back to salute, the tears welled up. I bent down and kissed the back of the stone where Mom's name is and headed back down the hill. I procured another wreath to place on a random grave and placed it on the grave of one Francis J Murphy that was also a Navy veteran of Korea like my Dad.

Dad's older brother and my aunt are buried in the first section used when the cemetery was opened. Since their grave is only four rows back it normally gets a wreath quickly. Not this year. The wreath pickup was too far away, so I asked woman nearby if she wouldn't mind laying one of her wreaths on my uncle's grave. She was more than happy to, and I loudly read his details. He was a Marine in WWII and Korea. I also bent down and kissed the back of the stone where my aunt's name is inscribed.

There are 3 more family members buried there, but their graves are all over the cemetery so I just let others place the wreaths. When I am there for a P.G.R. mission, I visit them all and leave a shiny penny on the stone showing the graves were visited.

 

Snerk

Borrowed from the blog Non Original Rants.

H/T to Midwest Chick

Happy Firearms Appreciation Day

Here in Kommiecticut we celebrate to poke a finger in the eye of the Sandy Hook hoplophobes. We're all sorry your loved ones are dead, but the peaceable gun owners of Kommiecticut and the nation are in no way the cause of the mayhem and death that occurs daily.

So go out and by a new firearm. Stock up on or load some ammo. Spend time at the range making some joyful noise. Go out and harvest game for your table or freezer. Stay strapped all day and open carry if its legal where you live. Let EVERYONE know you will not be beaten into submission to give up your God-given right to be armed for self defense because of the actions of the criminals or the insane.

AS A REMINDER TO THE MEDIA: THERE WERE 28 VICTIMS ON 12-14-12, NOT 26.

Purposely not counting Nancy and Adam Lanza among the dead is disingeuous and simple anti -gun propaganda. Their deaths are just as much the fault and failings of the state of Kommiectict as the other 26.

Racism In Meteorology?

So we got our first snowfall yesterday afternoon and evening. I received 4" of powder that I removed with my new Stihl leaf blower. All 300' of the driveway and the turnaround done in 45 minutes cleaner than with my snowblower. As usual after a storm the fresh snowpack, clear skies, and no wind means plummeting temperatures. Combined with any melting that occurred in the bright sun today creates black ice.

The "racism" comes from the way certain TV meteorologists warn about black ice. The way they say it sounds like "watch out for black guys." It cracks me up after every winter storm year after year.

Somebody should let Jackson, Sharpton, and Benjamin Crump know so they can file lawsuits.