A Deadly Year For Police

The field of policework has always been a dangerous one, but in 2007, it has been more so than ever in recent history. As of December 26, 186 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. That number is up from 145 in 2006. Many in the field cite the emergence of a new breed of criminal, one who is willing to commit an act once considered taboo by even the worst criminals.

Eighty-one of the deaths were caused by traffic incidents, the majority being car crashes. There were also some who died after being hit by a car, or who were in motorcycle crashes. Police departments have worked to limit high-speed chases, and only seven of the car crashes were attributed to this type of pursuit.

Other than a spike in 2001 due to 9/11, officer fatalities have generally declined since peaking at 277 in 1974. This year in Miami, two officers were killed by gunfire and more were injured. The response by Police Chief John Timoney has been to equip officers with matching firepower to the criminals. He signed a new directive authorizing Miami patrol officers to carry AR 15s, a military-grade assault weapon. "Cops understandably feel they are outgunned...we looked at what we can do to give the officers a fair chance," said Timoney. Criminologists cite the outgunned factor, as well as gang initiations that include expressly targeting police, for the upswing in shootings. They also point to the desensitizing effects of popular culture, especially violent video games.

Throwing Sharp Objects

When we conjure up an image related to knife-throwing, many of us picture the old circus acts involving a woman strapped to a board, looking glamorous as blade after blade is whirled mere centimeters from her head and other vital organs. However, it is not necessary to run away with the circus to become involved in the sport of knife-throwing.

Before you start flinging blades through the air willy-nilly, it's important to have the right equipment. A throwing knife differs from other knives in that a throwing knife is almost always one-piece, meaning that there is no separate handle. They are usually shaped from one piece of steel with no attachments, the purpose being to create a durable knife with a balanced distribution of weight. Although some movies have portrayed knives frantically spinning through the air, in reality a good throw from a distance of 5-30 feet should only have about two rotations of the knife.

There are communities of people in the United States and Europe pursuing knife throwing as a sport. These include AKTA (American Knife Throwers Alliance) and IKTHOF (International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame). These groups sponsor events, demonstrations and competitions. Competitions consist of a series of straight throws aimed at a set of wooden targets.

Ready to sling some blades? A good throwing knife (or even a set of knives) can be had for under $20 here at Professional Supplies For Less. With the knives and some plywood scraps to use as targets, it's a relatively inexpensive sport to take up.

Sending A "Thank You" To Our Troops

All year long, our military servicemen and women overseas have been working hard and putting their lives on the line to protect our freedom. The holidays are a great time to remember these brave people and do something nice for them. A care package is an excellent way to do this. Even if you're a procrastinator and don't get it sent off in time for Christmas (a month or more may need to be allowed for a package), a "goodie bag" is sure to be appreciated at any time. Here are a few tips on what to send, how to send it, etc:

- Mail toiletries separate from food items; otherwise the taste of the food may be affected.
- When sending batteries, ship them in new, unopened packages for the quickest and safest arrival. Remove batteries from gadgets, flashlights, etc. prior to shipping to avoid corrosion.
- Use sturdy boxes, clear packing tape, and label clearly in block lettering with permanent marker.
- Keep packages under 5 pounds; this will make for faster delivery.

And what to send? Here's just a few ideas:

- shampoo, deodorant, lotion
- lip balm
- hand sanitizer, body wash, soap
- sunblock, aloe vera
- individually wrapped snacks, or cookies, gum, mints
- reading material
- music cds or video games for laptops
- communication items such as envelopes and pads of paper

Another important thing to remember: packages addressed to "any service member" can no longer be accepted. Military.com recommends going through one of a number of charitable organizations available to send your package, if you do not have a specific friend or family member in mind to send a package to. There is a listing of organizations on their website.

The New Liquid Advancement in Body Armor

Over the years, body armor manufacturers have had to develop stronger and more advanced products to protect against increasingly sophisticated weapons. One problem has been a constant, however: the rigidity, bulkiness and lack of flexibility of the armor. New technology shows promise for reducing the effects of this drawback. It involves adding a liquid compound to the Kevlar material, which may reduce the number of layers of material needed for effective protection (currently 20-40 layers).

The key component is a shear thickening fluid. STF is composed of hard particles suspended in a liquid. The liquid, polyethylene glycol, can withstand a wide range of temperatures. Hard nano-particles of silica are the other components of STF. The material is deformable and flows like a liquid, but when a bullet hits the vest, it transitions to a rigid material, preventing the object from penetrating to the body. To make the liquid armor, all layers of the Kevlar vest are soaked with STF. The saturated fabric can still be draped and sewn. Researchers are optimistic that this new technology can be used in a wide range of fields, not only for the military but for police officers and prison guards.

At Professional Supplies For Less, we offer a wide range of body armor selection featuring some of the best technology currently available. Be sure to check out the new and exciting changes to our site coming soon!