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400-Mile Yard Sale, 2011
This weekend, Kentucky's 400-Mile Yard Sale is taking place along Highway 68/80, a route that passes through Christian County. Keely and I drove out to some sales this afternoon, along the highway east of Hopkinsville.
The Eastview Baptist Church had been advertising on their marquis for several weeks that anyone could set up a yard sale there for free. Today, their property looked like a flea market with a church in one corner. It was full of tents and tables of merchandise! When we arrived, the parking lot was packed with cars, and between sellers and buyers, there must have been 150 people (or more) on the grounds.
When we pulled into the church driveway, a lady welcomed us, invited us to use the restrooms and to get a drink of cold water in the air-conditioned church, and handed us a bright yellow packet. Inside the packet, we found a flyer about Eastview, helpful information about the garage sale, a religious tract, and a free pen.
We heard music playing as we got out of the car, and soon we saw that a band was performing. They played a rock-n-roll version of "This Little Light of Mine" that I really enjoyed. When I looked at the information in the packet this evening, I learned that the band's name is Second Coming. Two more bands -- Mark 'N' Friends and The Glovers -- performed at other times during the day.
Keely bought an entire box of books by a favorite author, and I bought a cookbook. Then we sat in the shade, where a little breeze was stirring the air, and enjoyed the band for a few minutes. Unfortunately, the temperature was in the mid-90s, so we didn't shop or listen as long as we would have liked. It was just too hot!
As a visitor to the yard sale and as a fellow Christian, I give Eastview an A+ for this event. They did a great job of personally greeting us, placing an attractive pack of information in our hands, providing adequate parking, caring about our physical needs, organizing the marketplace, and even offering entertainment to entice us to linger.
Well done, my Baptist friends! I hope you'll do this again next year!
|I took several photos of the band, but I didn't get a
single one that shows every band member!


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KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded Wednesday to a tropical wave as its scattered clouds drifted quickly westward toward Jamaica. But heavy rains from the weakened system continued to drench parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and force the evacuation of thousands from flood-prone areas.
One storm-related death was reported in the Dominican Republic: a firefighter swept away by floodwaters.
(MORE: Chantal Maps, Forecast)
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the wave was expected to spread over Jamaica and eastern Cuba into Thursday. It was projected to move over or near the Florida peninsula by Friday, where heavy wind shear is expected to keep it from reforming as a storm.
Jamaica's Meteorological Service said "the main threat at this time is for outbreaks of heavy showers and thunderstorms," starting over eastern parishes. It warned that flash flooding was possible and called for mariners to stay alert.
As a storm earlier Wednesday, Chantal's center skirted the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola. But its heavy rains still posed a threat to some of the region's most vulnerable people, many of whom live in flimsy homes of plywood and corrugated steel.
The only reported fatality was that of Juan Ramon Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Dominican firefighter, in the community of Maimon, about 50 miles (85 kilometers) north of the capital of Santo Domingo. Rodriguez was trying to clear a storm drain when rushing waters carried him away, said Luis Luna, director of the country's civil defense agency.
Dominican authorities were evacuating thousands of people from communities considered at high risk for flooding as rivers near the capital and along the southern coast reached dangerously high levels from the heavy rains. Authorities said more than 6,500 people had been evacuated by Wednesday night.
"We're not in the clear yet," said Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Emergency Operations Center.
Even remnants of Chantal could create problems for the rural southern peninsula of Haiti and southwestern Dominican Republic. Tropical systems can trigger flooding and landslides on Hispaniola, and severe deforestation and makeshift housing make Haiti especially vulnerable.
Haitian officials urged people to move away from ravines, secure important records and stock up on food and water.
(MORE: Prepare for Hurricane Season | Expert Analysis)
Farmers in southern Haiti, where mountainside crops are particularly vulnerable to strong winds, feared the worst as heavy rain fell. "I'm scared for the people," farmer Jean-Marc Tata said by telephone of his neighbors in Mapou, a village near the southeastern coast.
All tropical storm warnings were cancelled late Wednesday afternoon. But people in Jamaica, eastern Cuba and the Bahamas were urged to monitor the wave's progress.
American Airlines canceled flights to Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean, and cruise lines made numerous changes to their itineraries.
Chantal raced through the eastern Caribbean early Tuesday, with officials in Dominica reporting that heavy winds ripped the roofs off over 15 homes and toppled power lines. No injuries were reported there or anywhere else in the small islands of the Eastern Caribbean.
Overnight, the storm passed south of Puerto Rico, leaving about 7,000 people in the U.S. territory without power and more than 2,500 people without water. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla ordered public employees back to work on Wednesday.
In northeast Jamaica, Fredericus Enneking took it easy as gray clouds began swirling overhead and the breeze picked up at his eco-resort on a one-acre seaside property.
"You can feel something is in the air," said the Holland-born Enneking, who uses the Rastafarian name of "Free-I." Of course, you can never know what Mother Nature will do, but I am waiting for the storms later in the season. They are typically the ones that do the damage."
Associated Press writers Trenton Daniel and Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Ezequiel Abiu Lopez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed to this report.
MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Photos from Chantal

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Hyde Central Station
Over to Graham,....
"Here are some old photos of Hyde station that some of your readers might have an interest in. I worked at Hyde Central from 1950 until 1952 when I did my National Service. Working there was a very interesting experience for a young lad!
What was the original Hyde Station on Great Norbury Street , it was built in 1862 it was expanded in later years and was renamed Hyde Central in 1951. The original building is to the left on the second photo and housed all the usual offices and the Station Masters house, the newer addition is the taller building in the centre and the entrance hall with the roof lights. This part was the main entrance and booking office.Everything was gas lit until I left in 1952 and probably for a long time afterwards. The goods office was further up Great Norbury Street in the old coal yard.
I think that the first photo is very interesting and is from August 1960 and shows a crowd of people waiting for one of the several Wakes trains. If I remember correctly, there was a Friday night train to Liverpool and the ferry to the Isle of Man and Saturday "specials" to Blackpool and North Wales... perhaps some of your readers might recognise themselves!!"
As always, much appreciated!
Thank you, Graham :)
5 comments:
Some of the better and most interesting pictures I've seen on this blog.
- Wednesday, 09 January, 2013
- jenny roberts said...
I love the old station building, so imposing. There was pride when buildings like this was built. Much better than the mess that's there now!
- Wednesday, 09 January, 2013
I have to agree with Anonymous that these photos are among the finest for a long time. And what memories they evoke too. I remember being taken all over the place on the excursion trains by my parents. I may even have an old advert from the North Cheshire for them which I'll try to dig up and send. Compared to today's exhorbitant rail fares, I would say they were probably a good deal, even allowing for 50 years of inflation.
I recall sometime in the late 50s or early 60s a visit by Prince Philip to Hyde. He was arriving by train and, in his honour, the white lines of Hyde Central's platform edges were repainted. My mother went up in a blue light at the extravagance!
Most memorable though is that my first job on leaving school was at Gorton Loco Works, or Gorton Tank as we all knew it. We were given a travel pass to use on journeys to and from work and so I used to get the trolley bus from GX to the bridge on Manchester Road and walk up to the station. I used to hope that the waiting room fire would be lit as the station was so cold and, more often than not, it was - a lovely huge blaze in the old fireplace. Whilst waiting for the train to come, I remember always wishing it would be a diesel rather than steam because travelling on a steam train meant you were pretty mucky by the time you got off at Gorton & Openshaw. On the return journey I would walk from the station to the market via Gt Norbury Street and Greenfield Street and get my bus there.
And yes, the lighting at the station was gas!
- Wednesday, 09 January, 2013
Great old photos of Hyde Central Graham, don't recogize anyone waiting for the Wakes week train as yet, going to take a closer look! but what a brilliant picture. This is my kind of era
- Wednesday, 09 January, 2013
My Grandfather and his partner had a building business behind Hyde Central station, it was called A E Lowery, they had offices in the three storey building at the station.
He later bought out his partner and the company continued until the early 1980's run by my father Brian Hallows and his two brothers Derek and Michael.
I have great memories of playing in the sawdust in the woodworking department.
- Sunday, 12 February, 2017


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April 12, 2011
ROCORI Middle School
Cold Spring, Minnesota USA
Official Announcement from School Superintendent Scott Staska,
On April 12, 2011, at approximately 9:00 a.m., students reported to the ROCORI Middle School principal that they thought they saw another student with a gun in that student's locker. The principal, Cheryl Schmidt, took immediate action with the reporting students and was able to identify the student offender and the locker. The principal moved directly to the locker and was able to secure the weapon.


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Based on the timeless arcade game, Frogger Returns delivers the addictive dodge-and-run gameplay fans know and love for a new generation. Players are thrown back into the hustle and bustle of city life to guide their amphibious friend, Frogger, from the city back to his home marsh. Frogger Returns stays true to the classic arcade gameplay style, but is enhanced with improved graphics, a new camera angle, and new levels. Streets, sewers, subways, and numerous other obstacles and enemies are in play - all for the sake of keeping Frogger away from returning home! But Frogger isn't surrounded by just hurdles -- new power-ups including time reverse, invincibility and time freeze also aid Frogger in his travels.
Release Region: United States
Release Date: November 9, 2009
Publisher: Konami
Release Region: United Kingdom
Release Date: February 12, 2010
Publisher: Konami
Also available on: PlayStation 3, Nintendo DSi


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figure 10b
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by Carl Hiaasen
Hiaasen is one of my favorite writers and with his YA books he tones down the dark side, but doesn't go warm and fuzzy either. This story was close to sweet, but still had enough acid to make it a good read. I love his "reoccuring char...
by Kevin West
Lots of interesting and tasty-sounding recipes. Good layout.
Layout is basic, but info is SO comprehensive. I was was going to buy a book on this topic, this would be the one.
The Put 'em Up! Preserving Answer Book: 399 Solutions to All Your Questions: Canning, Freezing, Drying, Fermenting, Making Infusions
No good recipes or info; info is very hard to find. Layout is aweful.
Recipes are a little more imaginative and the layout is good, but info is harder to find.


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AC Garden Pier Gets a Facelift
The north end of the Atlantic City Boardwalk is getting a facelift thanks to a public private-partnership between Atlantic City, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), the State Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Revel Casino.
Work has begun to revitalize the Garden Pier at New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk. CRDA Director of Project Implementation and Management Thomas Meehan says it began with the Authority's $850,000 contribution toward the demolition of the severely storm-battered portion of the pier.
He says an estimated $255-million dollars is going toward efforts to put all new decking on the pier, all new exterior lights, all new landscaping treatments, new facades on the Atlantic City Historical Museum and the Atlantic City Art Center, as well as signs. Meehan says they also awarded a contract to R.E. Pierson to stabilize the Garden Pier's substructure and remove an unusable building at the end of the pier that will open up views to the ocean.
Meehan says work on the Garden Pier will coincide with the Grand opening of the Revel Casino in May.
For more information about the CRDA visit their web page at njcrda.com


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Rules & Guidelines
- Walk 2 Shul LLC is an advertising company selling advertising services. All sales are final.
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- We personally review every NEW and MODIFIED listing. We may ask you to make small modifications to the ad for final approval. If we receive no reply, we may make the modifications ourselves.
- When your property is sold or rented, please mark it as sold, or you can choose to delete your ad. Otherwise, upon expiration, the ad will automatically be removed.
- The posting or publishing of material that is of an obscene and/or offensive nature will result in immediate termination of the ad, immediate termination of the advertiser's personal account, and the permanent ban of the advertiser from future postings. If you are unsure whether your material would be deemed "obscene" or "offensive", then we suggest not posting it.
- The posting of comments that are not constructive and/or are personal attacks or vendettas against advertisers, shuls or restaurants is strictly prohibited. Those comments will not be posted and that individual's account will be disabled.
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As a quiz subscriber you will have access to more than 60 multiple-choice quizzes compiled by David Minthorn, one of the editors of the AP Stylebook.
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by Brian DeCandia, sports information graduate assistant
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College golf team and head coach Jimmy Wilson are pleased to announce the signing of Josh Klipstein and David Sullivan for the 2010-11 season.
"Both David and Josh have impressive junior golf credentials," said Wilson. "We look forward to having them here in the fall and wouldn't be surprised if they were both in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season."
Klipstein graduates from Norcross High School and played golf under Steve Sims. He finished in first place at the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour 2010 Douglas Open, fourth place at the SJGT Tournament of Champions and added four top 10's in Junior Golf Scoreboard nationally ranked events.
Klipstein spent four years on the varsity golf team and aided the team to region titles in 2010 and 2011. He was also a member of the Georgia Team for the Carolina Cup Championship. Klipstein plans to major in business management.
Sullivan is currently playing at Etowah High School under Bob Westbrook. He finished first at the 2010 Georgia State Golf Association Sectional Challenge Match and second low amateur at the Berkley Hills Championship. Sullivan was named to the 2009 and 2010 Cherokee All-County team and the Hardaway Invitational All-Tournament team. He plans to major in business.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


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A gorgeous banaras tana bana silk saree in green colour with pallu in green colour. The saree has a beautiful zari border . The blouse is in green colour.It has beautiful small zari buttas design motif.
The first image is of the pallu of the saree.
The second image is of the main body of the saree.
The last image is of the blouse that comes with the saree. This is an un-stiched blouse piece measuring approximately 80 cms. Other details of the saree are as follows:1. Saree colour - Green , blouse - Green
3. Care - Dry clean only


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Federal work study is a Title IV federal financial aid program. It is awarded to students based on their demonstrated financial need using information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Through this program, students may earn up to the amount listed on their financial aid award and their wages will be subsidized by the federal government. Because of this subsidy, some employers prefer students with FWS awards. Their job postings will state this. FWS positions can be found in nearly every academic and administrative office on campus, as well as in Marquette recreational facilities, the libraries and residence halls.
The Marquette University Student Employment Services is one of the units within the Office of Student Financial Aid and has the following responsibilities:


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|Product Reviews
Average Rating: 5/5
Bassinet Liner
I found this liner to be everything that was advertised. It is beautiful! ...
?Cathy, New York
This looks exactly like the picture, beautiful, I love it. ...
?B. Martin, KY
This is beautiful!
I bought this for my pregnant Sphynx cat. I was a little concerned about the quality of such an affordable set when I o... Read more
?OddBalds Sphynx, Virginia


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Related Items
Trending Stories
2011-12 Development Academy Finals Week in Focus: U-15/16 St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri
SLSG Missouri Finds Footing with Back-to-Back Victories to Close out Academy Playoffs
SLSG Missouri Finds Footing with Back-to-Back Victories to Close out Academy Playoffs
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri's U-15/16 team proved to be a clutch second-half squad during its final two games of the Academy Playoffs to win its group and a spot in Academy Finals Week in Houston.
How they got to Finals Week: St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri has some momentum heading into Finals Week after posting back-to-back victories against the San Diego Surf and Players Development Academy to win its group in the Academy Playoffs. SLSG Missouri rebounded well after opening the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Solar Chelsea SC, a match where SLSG had a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes. SLSG will open Finals Week against PA Classics without defender Curtis Schillingsford, who was issued a red card in the closing minutes of the team's Academy Playoffs win against PDA.
Finals Week and Academy Playoffs History: St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri is making its first Finals Week appearance for either age group. SLSG Missouri's U-15/16 team has been a part of the Academy Playoffs for two straight seasons, while the U-17/18 team qualified for the 2010-11 Academy Playoffs.
2011-12 Regular Season: SLSG Missouri edged out Shattuck-Saint Mary's for the No. 1 spot in the Frontier Division on the last day of its regular season based on division goal differential (both clubs finished with 27 points). SLSG Missouri earned a 3-0 win against Sporting Kansas City on June 10 to close a two-point gap with Shattuck-Saint Mary's to end the regular season with a 9-5-0 record in its division.
About head coach Tim Leonard: Leonard has served as SLSG Missouri's academy director since 2007. The former St. Louis University forward helped his team advance to the NCAA College Cup semifinals in 1997, where he was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. He played professionally with the National Professional Soccer League's St. Louis Ambush, as well as stints with the Hershey Wildcats and Nashville Metros of the USL A-League.
About SLSG Missouri: St. Louis Scott Gallagher's roots began in the early 1970s with the formation of the Busch Gardens Soccer Club. In early 2007, St. Louis Soccer Club, Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and Metro United Soccer Club combined its talent and efforts and the club is now branded SLSG Missouri and SLSG Metro (Illinois). SLSG has a long line of significant alumni to come through its doors. Defender Tim Ream became the first SLSG alum to play for the Premier League when he signed with Bolton earlier this year. Other alumni include longtime New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman and former Revs midfielder Steve Ralston, Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens and Academy product Will Bruin of the Houston Dynamo.
Scoring Leader in Academy Playoffs: Nick Jones (2)
Scoring Leader During 2011-12 Regular Season: Tommy Barlow (10)
Inside the Numbers: SLSG Missouri opened the 2011-12 season with an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) … SLSG Missouri has only one come-from-behind victory this season – the team's 2-1 win on June 27 against the San Diego Surf in the second match of the Academy Playoffs.
Did you know … Nick Jones, who scored the lone goal during SLSG Missouri's Finals Week-clinching victory against PDA, has committed to play for Wisconsin in 2013 … Assistant coach Tim Kelly was named Saint Louis University's first full-time goalkeepers coach in August of 2009.
U-17/18 St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 2011-12 Finals Week Schedule:
Home team listed first
Tuesday, July 17: PA Classics vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, 9 p.m. CT
Thursday, July 19: St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri vs. Crew Soccer Academy Wolves, 8 p.m. CT
Saturday, July 21: D.C. United vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, 9 p.m. CT
Monday, July 23: TBD


text: Natori is a lifestyle brand appealing to the sentiment that art is a gift, encouraging you to indulge yourself and treasure each piece you own. Believing that there should be no boundaries, Filipino brand founder Josie Cruz Natori became an entrepreneur at an early age. Weaving an Asian aesthetic into the range of women's Natori lingerie, the designer has built a unique and distinct brand, instantly recognized around the world for its amalgamation of Eastern and Western tones.


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CRS: Stability in Russia's Chechnya and Other Regions of the North Caucasus: Recent Developments, August 12, 2008
From WikiLeaks
About this CRS report
This document was obtained by Wikileaks from the United States Congressional Research Service.
The CRS is a Congressional "think tank" with a staff of around 700. Reports are commissioned by members of Congress on topics relevant to current political events. Despite CRS costs to the tax payer of over $100M a year, its electronic archives are, as a matter of policy, not made available to the public.
Individual members of Congress will release specific CRS reports if they believe it to assist them politically, but CRS archives as a whole are firewalled from public access.
This report was obtained by Wikileaks staff from CRS computers accessible only from Congressional offices.
For other CRS information see: Congressional Research Service.
For press enquiries, consult our media kit.
If you have other confidential material let us know!.
For previous editions of this report, try OpenCRS.
Wikileaks release: February 2, 2009
Publisher: United States Congressional Research Service
Title: Stability in Russia's Chechnya and Other Regions of the North Caucasus: Recent Developments
CRS report number: RL34613
Author(s): Jim Nichol, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Date: August 12, 2008
- Abstract
- The Bush Administration generally has supported the Russian government's efforts to combat terrorism in the North Caucasus. However, the Administration and Congress also have continued to raise concerns about the wide scope of human rights abuses committed by the Russian government in the North Caucasus. The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 (P.L.110-161) included $8 million for humanitarian, conflict mitigation, human rights, civil society, and relief and recovery assistance for Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, and North Ossetia. The Act also repeats language used for several years that directs that 60% of the assistance allocated to Russia will be withheld (excluding medical, human trafficking, and Comprehensive Threat Reduction aid) until the President certifies that Russia is facilitating full access to Chechnya for international non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian relief to displaced persons.
- Download


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Elegant Toppings Academy
Perfection at its sweetest
Here at Elegant Toppings, we specialise in equipping you with the right skills to enable you to create beautiful cakes and cupcakes. Our courses are condensed and yet fully comprehensive, teaching a wide range of skills in a single day which makes them excellent value for money. We will take you from the basics of how to bake delicious cakes and cupcakes right up to how to intricately adorn your creations with various toppings to achieve a professional finish.
You will master the techniques needed to recreate your own show stopping masterpieces at home which make great favours for birthdays, weddings and corporate events. You will also learn how to work with colour schemes that will complement any deco or event theme perfectly.
Book Your Course Today
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My nephew, a police officer, was concerned that I live alone and own a farm. Much of my work, as you would expect, is outside at all hours. I was dealing with severe winter conditions—blowing, drifting snow; below-zero temperatures—when one of my young pregnant sheep came to term early with twins. This unexpected event happened in the middle of the night while she was still in the field. I needed to not only get her to the barn; I also needed my emergency deliver bag. She needed help with the delivery due to the larger twin being stuck in her birthing canal.
Luckily, I had my SureFire headlamp, and once in the barn, I could see what I needed to do. Thanks to my headlamp, I delivered two beautiful lambs without any missed steps. The adjustable lumens on the headlamp made the delivery easy and likely saved my ewe. I do not have electrical lights in my barn, and there is no way I could've helped her without being able to see what I needed to accomplish and having my hands free. I will never be without my SureFire headlamp.
Linda J.
Hilton, NY
See headlamps:
In 2011, the Southeast was struck by a deadly tornado outbreak that would go down in history as one of the most destructive natural disasters to strike the region in recent decades. I was deployed as a storm chaser with my weather team in northern Alabama. Around 6 p.m., just before sunset, the team encountered a large EF-4-rated tornado near Ohatchee, Alabama. The tornado wrought a path of destruction through a neighborhood there that was over a mile and a half wide.
With reports of victims trapped and daylight waning, the team's mission quickly changed from chasing to search-and-rescue alongside other first responders. As my team entered the darkness of the scene, lighting our way was my trusty SureFire Z2X CombatLight® and my backup G2X™ flashlight. Using these lights, we were able to assist firefighters and paramedics as they began searching the rubble. The lights were particularly useful when our three-member team, along with a medic, entered the basement of a destroyed home where a family of six was trapped. With one victim having spinal injuries, we were able to provide the light needed to begin treating this victim before later helping light the path as we carried her through the debris field to a waiting ambulance. Following this rescue, the lights also guided our team back out of the disaster area on foot when another severe storm threatened the scene.
There is no doubt in my mind that, without our SureFire lights that evening, we would not have successfully completed our mission that night. That is why, when severe weather threatens and my team prepares to go out on a storm chase, my SureFire lights are one of the first pieces of gear we pack.
Hayden J.
Rome, GA
See the Z2X CombatLight and G2X Pro flashlight:
I was making my monthly six-hour nighttime drive from Washington, D.C. to western New York for my service in the Army Reserves and had my trusty LX2 LumaMax® flashlight with me. As a soldier, I've learned the benefits of being prepared with the right gear at the right time. Over the years of taking long trips in old cars, I have acquired pretty much everything I need to react to anything that happens to me, my vehicle, or someone else's vehicle on the road. My old cars have broken down more than a few times, and the kindness of strangers has gotten me out of some tight spots, so I try to help those I find in need.
On this dark and rainy night, I was driving through the hills of northwest Pennsylvania when, at about 0230 in the morning, I saw a 30-year-old mother in the middle of the highway flagging me down. At this point, I hadn't seen any other cars for a while, so I knew I had to stop. When I did, she frantically told me that her young mentally challenged son had run into the woods after their dog and she could not leave her other kids, both young and strapped into car seats, to go after him. And even if she could, she had no flashlight.
I pulled my LX2 from my pocket and went to work. Thanks to how bright it was, I was able to quickly search the woods and locate the reflection in the dog's eyes. Then I found her son sitting on a rock and petting the dog. I was able to get her son and dog back to the highway safely, and she repeatedly thanked me and kept saying how she couldn't even have gone into the woods because she didn't have a flashlight. I gave her my LX2 flashlight and a fresh set of batteries so hopefully she will never be stuck without a flashlight again.
Your lights have saved me countless times, both in Iraq and back home. They are well built, durable, and can take a heck of a beating. I will always keep a SureFire within arm's reach and in every one of my vehicles. I hope that lady I gave my LX2 to will as well.
Daniel F.
Frederick, MD
See the LX2 LumaMax® flashlight:
Knocking on 40, I've decided to turn up the running a bit. It's those mucky obstacle events that serve as peak targets, but it's the 15-square-mile woods on my doorstep that prepare me three or four times a week. It's autumn, and I'm in the office during daylight, running in the dark. Our local woods are very old, very big, dense, dark, muddy, rocky and full of branches to knock my head off. It is the best place to train, and dark is just the way it is when I get time to put on my shorts. My SureFire Minimus™ is wet and muddy three times per week. It is bashed by trees once a week. It is dropped and sat on once a week. It gets very cold and then warm and then cold many times per week. If it stopped working 10 miles from home at night, in this weather, in shorts and T-shirt, I'd be in trouble. Cold, wet, blind, and feeling my way home would be bad and dangerous. But my Minimus has not missed a beat. It has kept me going, and I feel better for keeping going. I have worn out two pairs of shoes, and a few T-shirts. In short, so far as a head torch goes, I've been tougher on it than anything, apart from perhaps myself.
Absolutely bloody brilliant product. Thanks, chaps.
Tim B.
Cirencester, England
See the Miniumus™ headlamp:
I was working on high-voltage, high-amperage electrical systems at an old factory turned into a telecommunications center in the middle of the night on a dark, stormy holiday weekend in one of the worst parts of a large metropolitan city on the East Coast. Aside from me and a janitor, who let in into the building, there was no one in the creepy old mill building. As I was testing a 600VDC line, one of the heavy wire cables jiggled loose. At the same time, the janitor, who was making his nightly rounds, turned off all of the lights for the electrical room I was working in and closed the door. If it had not been for the SureFire headlamp I always wore, which I was able to turn on to assess my situation, I would have either electrocuted myself or had to have remained motionless for perhaps days until someone came back and turned the lights on. Thanks to my headlamp, I was able to get an insulated wrench on the nut, tighten up the wire, and get out of there safely.
Walt G.
Saco, ME
See all SureFire Headlamps:
I was a master plumber, I'm retired now, and I was working in the Bronx, NY, in a dark, flooded basement where the sewer had backed up. I had no idea how deep the water was, so I took a seven-foot broom handle to help guide me and make sure I didn't fall into any submerged holes; I also had my SureFire flashlight (I never leave home without it) to light the way. As I scanned the area with my flashlight, I saw hundreds of beady little eyes glowing back at me—sewer rats, which average about a foot to 18 inches in length! I got a dry throat and scared like I've never been before. I shined my SureFire into their eyes, and it must've scared them as much as they scared me, because the rodents took off into the water and went back down into the sewer. There were so many of them that the cleared the blockage and the water went back down the drain with them. All thanks to my trusty SureFire flashlight.
Eric L.
Frankfort, NY
I am an active-duty Navy chief and an avid outdoor enthusiast. On my off time, I enjoy riding my mountain bike through Southern California's beautiful natural parks. Most rides are around 50 miles or so, and I usually ride with a friend, but this time I decided to ride by myself through Joshua Tree National Park one July day. Big mistake.
I planned a 57-mile loop around the park that would showcase most of the popular tourist attractions. I checked in at the ranger's desk to verify current parks conditions and was told that there was a small chance of thunder-storms throughout the day but no other alerts in place, so I set out on my ride. Later in the afternoon, I noticed that the sky was getting darker and the wind was kicking up, so I decided to head back. But I was still over 30 miles away, so I decided to take a shortcut to make up some time. Big mistake number two.
According to my GPS, my shortcut would take me through 13 miles of very rugged terrain, but I really wanted to get back quick. About five miles into the ride, the rain started and I got caught in a downpour. I crested the summit of a hill, and as I made my decent down the back side of the hill, I got caught in a mudslide, which pushed me off of the trail and crashed me down the hill about 10 meters. I had cuts, scrapes, and a sprained ankle, and my wheel rims were both bent, with several broken spokes. On top of that, my cell phone and GPS both now had water damage. It was now after 5 p.m., and I had at least two more hours to go.
After walking for 2 hours, I was no closer to the visitor's station and it was now completely dark. So I reached into my pack, grabbed my SureFire UNR Commander®, and kept pushing on. The UNR's 800 lumens were so bright that I could see everything. This was vital to keeping me sane and put my mind at ease about the possibility of an animal attack. After 3 more hours of walking, my Commander was still going strong. About 11 p.m., I finally made it to a service road, where I was picked up by a park ranger. Man, was I happy to see him! He told me that he'd seen my light from over four miles away and was on his way over to see what it was.
Thanks for putting out such a great product! It could've been a much longer night without my UNR.
Richard C.
Oceanside, CA
See the UNR Commander flashlight:
Locksmithing has been in my family since 1948. I have been driving a service vehicle since I was 15, and I've seen my fair share of craziness. One night, my trainee and I were responding to a break-in call from a realtor at a vacant house that wasn't in a good area. I placed my pistol in my waistband as we approached the house, and, sure enough, the backdoor had been kicked in and was open. I shined my SureFire Defender® flashlight at the damaged door and started my training "speech" for my trainee, but his eyes were locked on something inside. I glanced up to see what he was looking at only to see a guy inside, holding a pistol—the guy who'd kicked in the door and broken in! Without hesitation, I high-beamed the intruder in the face and pushed my trainee out the door, and we both bolted for the truck to call the police. We got away without incident, but, unfortunately, it was the last day for my trainee. It all happened so fast that I know if I'd reached for my weapon, one or both of us would've been shot.
I've come to rely on my SureFire products not only for me but also for my loved ones. I may not always have a firearm on me, but I'll never be without my SureFire. Thanks for saving my hide.
Jacques D.
Crowley, LA
See the E2D LED Defender:E2DL-BK
I would like to say thank you for providing such a great product. I work for a local municipality and received an emergency call late one night from our local dispatch about a downed overhead high-voltage line across a street that our local police officer was having a hard time locating. Upon arrival to the scene, I noticed the police officer on scene (a good friend of mine) wandering around, shining at the roadway with what looked like just one step up from a candle. Thankfully I had my trusty SureFire 6P® with me, because as soon as I lit it up, I noticed that the officer was within a couple of feet of the downed line. He hadn't noticed the line because the dimness of his flashlight was forcing him to walk close to the beam—one more step and he could have been toast! We barricaded the street until the power company arrived, and he thanked me for probably saving his life. I told him that I couldn't have done it without my little buddy from SureFire. Thanks from a true believer.
Joel Z.
Ithaca, MI
See the 6P Original:6P-BK
I left Denver, en route to Williston, ND, with a tractor trailer full of a HAZMAT load from a chemical blending and distribution center. The trip is about a 1400-mile turnaround, and I am very familiar with the route and have completed several successful trips in the past without incident. However, on this particular trip, at around 11:30 pm on Wyoming Hwy 59, about 17 miles south of the Montana state line, my headlights quit working on a very narrow and steep two-lane road in a location most would describe as "the middle of nowhere." Luckily, the P2X Fury™ that my brother gave me for Christmas was by my side and more than capable of lighting my way by holding the light out of my window so there was no reflection off the inside of the windshield. After about four miles of nerve-wracking driving, I found a safe place to pull over and wait until morning to further investigate the issue, which turned out to be a bad fuse.
I credit your outstanding product to keeping me and everyone else travelling around me that night safe, and I thank you for making such great and reliable products!
Aleks S.
Denver, CO
See the P2X Fury flashlight:P2X-BK
I live in Georgia, in Eurasia, and back in 2008 some friends and I were near the border of Azerbaijan, doing some fishing. We inadvertently crossed the border into Azerbaijan, where the fishing was hot, and, not realizing we weren't in Georgia, spent the night. At dawn, before sunrise, several Azerbaijani border guards awoke us and told us to follow them back to their division. They were clearly drunk and were all sporting AK-47s.
We tried to talk our way out of the situation, but nothing helped—until we proposed to make a trade for our freedom. We offered them money, but they would not take it. We offered our fishing equipment, but again they refused. Finally, remembering my SureFire 9P® Original (now discontinued) was in my pack, I dug it out and showed it to them. I turned it on and lit up the darkness, impressing the guards with its output. We had a deal: my favorite flashlight for our freedom. It was scary night, but thanks to SureFire quality, there was a happy ending—for both parties.
George J.
Tbilisi, Georgia
We were on a summer boating trip and, one extremely dark night tied up to a dock at a marine park attached to a large campground on Keats Island, we started hearing a child screaming. He sounded like he was in a lot of pain. Everyone who was awake scrambled from their boats to see what the problem was. It was hard to pinpoint where the screaming was coming from, so I pulled out my SureFire Fury™ and, on its high setting, started scanning the docks and the beach. It was a couple hundred yards to the beach, but I was able to locate the child who was hurt—he'd fallen in some logs that were high up on the beach. I kept my light focused onto the child while I made my way up the docks and onto the bridge attached to the Island. The whole time I was able to illuminate the fallen child so other people could get to him and help him.
Turned out the boy had fallen on some slippery logs, twisted his knee, and was stuck and terrified. The parents and several others were able to extract him successfully. They thanked me for locating the boy and lighting up the area so they could get to him. Many of them had flashlights, but none of them were much use beyond 20 feet or so. One man was completely shocked to see that I wasn't holding a giant spotlight and couldn't believe so much light could come from such a small flashlight. Numerous people left the beach, stating they had to get themselves a SureFire. I couldn't agree more. It's my faithful companion everywhere I go.
Tim D.
West Vancouver, British Columbia
See the P2X flashlight:P2X
We were trekking the Amazon rainforest when, after nine days, we got lost. Supplies quickly dwindled, and we were soon down to the last of our food and clean water. All but one of the team's flashlights had depleted its batteries: my dual-output SureFire P2X Fury™. I'd limited myself to using its perfectly adequate 15-lumen low setting, providing us with 46 hours of runtime—enough to guide our team back to the safety of base camp. If you need a quality flashlight in the Great Outdoors, make sure it's a SureFire.
Daniel W.
Eastleigh, England
See the P2X flashlight:P2X
I live in Dominican Republic, and, due to social problems, we tend to have lots of struggles and street fighting against the government. One day I was at a friend's house when, suddenly, we heard gunfire. We looked out the window to see the police firing against a big riot crowd on the streets. In that moment, I took cover and covered my ears, but after a couple of minutes the riot got closer and my ears started to hurt. I remembered that I had my EP4 Sonic Defenders earplugs from a concert the day before (I work as a sound assistant and need hearing protection), so I reached into my pockets, pulled out my EP4s, and put them in.
A couple of minutes later, the riot came into the house. We tried to get out, but the police were shooting, so we just took cover. The police then proceeded to throw a flash-bang grenade through the window and—BOOM! Luckily, I had my EP4s in my ears and, as the police came in, asking questions to all the other now-deaf people, I was able to hear and explain what had happened and to assist them in identifying the riot members. If I hadn't had my EP4s in, I probably would've wound up in jail, or even much worse.
Jean R.
Santiago, Chile
See the EP4 Sonic Defenders® Plus earplugs:
This summer I organized a caving trip with my friends and brother. I made sure to pack my best gear: my new camping stove, water filter, and most important of all, my new Minimus™ Vision headlamp. As we traversed the cave, the warm light from my Vision lit our path. Vision's incandescent-like beam was able to cut through the mist, which often turns into a gray wall when illuminated with the cold-white light from a regular LED. In addition, Vision allowed us to render earthy colors effectively, making the trip a lot safer, as we were able to safely traverse the large boulders and pitfalls that were present in the cave.
Woo B.
Oakridge, TN
See the Miniumus Vision headlamp:
My SureFire HL1-A Helmet Light saved my life in 2011. I went to climb Mt. Everest, and I was told to bring two headlamps (made by some other manufacturer) and two flashlights made by the other guys as well. I knew better and brought my two small but bright handheld flashlights, and I purchased two SureFire HL1-A Helmet Lights so I could be innovative and bring my ops core helmet with my Helmet Lights attached to its rails.
Upon arriving at base camp, everyone had to show their equipment to the guides. The guides did not like my idea of my Helmet Lights and did not want to hear about how they are bright and the best helmet-mounted lights money can buy. I was given another brand of headlamp but told that I could still use my helmet.
Fast forwarding to summit day, we were hit by a heavy storm and close to -50° F degree weather. Our headlamps we were given all failed in the extreme cold. It was 4:45 a.m., and we were nowhere near the summit when we were forced to turn around, but it was pitch black out. I had stashed my two Helmet Lights in my pack and was able to locate them and attach them both to the rails on my helmet. I was able to guide six people to safety with those two HL1-As.
Now anything from SureFire is not only allowed by those guides, it's probably mandatory. Thanks, SureFire.
Sean D.
Antelope, CA
See the SureFire Helmet LightsHL1-A HL1-B-TN HL1-C-TN HL1-D-TN
My son and I were driving through Badger Pass, on our way home in a severe blizzard with white-out conditions. On the way down the pass, I could not stop in time for a curve, due to ice on the road, and skidded into the embankment, out of sight from the road. Calling for help on my cell phone, I was told that all search efforts would not take place until the storm subsided enough for there to be enough visibility to find me; I was told to stay put.
Forty-eight hours later, I heard a snowmobile search party nearby, but with the doors frozen shut and a couple of hundred pounds of snow on the car, I could not get out of the car. My son reminded me that I had my SureFire Pen in the glove compartment, so I used its glass-breaker tailcap to break the tempered glass window of the door. It shattered with very little effort—thank goodness, because I was very weak and scared. We were able to dig our way out, and we both survived the near-death experience. Now I always carry my SureFire pen with me.
Thank you, SurFire. Never stop making and improving your outstanding tactical equipment.
Chris S.
Selma, CA
See the SureFire Pens:SureFire Pens
I worked for an American corporation here in Kuala Lumpur, and I work the night shift. One night, after midnight, I was driving back from "lunch" and got stopped by a police roadblock. An officer checked my driver's license and informed me that my license had expired two months earlier. I apologized and explained that I sincerely had forgotten about the expiration date, but he instructed me to park and get out of the car.
I parked by the roadside, and the officer began taking down my information. He used a small, police-issued LED light made by another manufacturer to write up the ticket, but the light was dim and he was having difficulty reading the small print on my license. So I fished the SureFire E2D LED Defender® that I always carry out of my pocket and clicked it on. The first click activated its 200 lumens and lit up the night like daylight, so I clicked to the secondary 5-lumen beam, which was still brighter than the officer's flashlight. The officer was so impressed with my light that he asked if he could "test out" my SureFire. I handed my light to him, and he liked it so much that he asked me where he could get one, maybe even two, of his own. We chatted for a bit, and then, to my pleasant surprise, he smiled and said he'd let me off with a warning.
Thanks, SureFire, for making one hell of a great product. Great enough to get me out of a ticket by impressing a Malaysian police officer.
Azaly R.
Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
See the E2DL Defender flashlight:E2DL-BK
My newlywed wife and I were canoeing at my parents' home, in Jamaica, Virginia, in late August. It was dusk when we set out, and a brisk wind picked up after we launched. I always pack my E1B Backup wherever I go, be it day or night. My wife was wearing my grandmother's engagement ring, which had been passed down to her not three months prior. It was a bit big on her, and I recommended that she leave it home, but she didn't listen to my advice.
Well, in the middle of grabbing the gunwales to brace herself, over goes the ring into the drink. Rather than dive overboard and disturb the descent of the ring, I immediately throw out the anchor while my wife stared at me in horror, utterly speechless and almost in tears. I took a big breath, grabbed my Backup, and over I went into the river, which was about nine feet deep where we were. The little torch cut right through the murky water.
I searched for about 15 minutes, but to no avail. I made one last effort and was rewarded with a jolt when I saw a sparkling glint on the river bottom and bubbles started to burst out of my mouth from laughing so hard. I surfaced with the ring in hand and a big smile on my face, which immediately grew one on my wife's face as well. I've never been so relieved.
Any other light would have been extinguished for that amount of time underwater, but not my SureFire. My wife and I both thank you, SureFire.
Andrew L.
Quinton, VA
See the EB1 flashlight:
While I was in a pharmacy in Haiti, I suddenly felt the ground shaking beneath me. I rushed toward the exit, thinking to myself, "Earthquake, earthquake!" It was the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th, 2010. I could see plumes of dust from crashing homes floating up in the sky as the earth shook. The following days would be in total blackout, without any electricity. That's where my E1L Outdoorsman came in handy. It was bright enough to pierce through the dark and dusty air of the pitch-black streets of Port-au-Prince. As it's not safe to sleep inside concrete houses, I used the Z61 switch I have on my E1L flashlight as a stand so it lit up my entire tent. I get a proud feeling whenever I hear someone say, "such a bright light for such a small flashlight." Thanks for making this strong and durable product. It's just what I needed in the aftermath of an earthquake.
Osner F.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
See the E1L flashlight:E1L-A
Every time I walk out the door, I carry a few essential items, one of them being my SureFire 6P® LED [superseded by the6PX Tactical--Ed.]. On the way to the movies, my buddy and I almost hit a deer lying in the middle of the road. It had evidently been hit by a car and couldn't get up. We pulled over and investigated. The deer was still alive, but if another driver wasn't wary, there could easily be an accident. I pulled out my SureFire and put on a reflective vest that I had in the car. I turned on my light, and its beam cut through the night like a knife through butter. While my friend stood by the deer and tried to get it moving, I flagged down passing motorists with my SureFire and warned them of the danger ahead. One motorist even commented that my flashlight looked like a light saber. After about five minutes, the deer found enough strength to get up and run into the woods. My friend and I left, happy for the deer, for the fact we'd helped prevent an accident, and especially happy with the way my SureFire 6P performed. I'll never buy another brand of flashlight.
Jeffrey P.
Fredericksburg, VA
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
I was recently at a gun show, with one of my buddies, and we were on the lookout for SureFire flashlights there. As I was leaving, I came across a booth selling knock-off SureFire, and I started to check them out, when my buddy said, "Don't waste your money on that - it's a piece of junk. A SureFire is a much better light and well worth the extra money." I took his advice and waited and bought a 6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.] the next day at a tactical shop. When I got my new flashlight home I started shining it around my house, checking out how bright it was. I've owned my house for 10 years, and I thought I'd seen every square inch of it. But with my SureFire I found an unknown cubby hole behind my attic stairs, and about four feet into the hole I saw a stack of seven $20 bills, covered in dust, that I assume the previous owner had stashed away. I immediately call my buddy and told him he was right - the SureFire was well worth it!
Michael A.
Hapeville, GA
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
Two weeks ago, I was out for a night ride on some local mountain bike trails with a buddy. The trails were in great shape, and we were climbing a big hill about halfway through our ride when my cycling headlamp's rechargeable battery failed. We were about five miles from the car, and the only way out was by single track far too narrow for a vehicle. Lucky for me, I had my SureFire E1B Backup® in my pack. I strapped it to my helmet and had more than enough light to finish the ride in style as something an average flashlight wouldn't have been able to muster. My E1B is always close at hand when I venture into the woods, and that night it lived up to its name.Thanks, SureFire.
Carl H.
Knoxville, TN
See the EB1 flashlight:EB1-Models
I'm a volunteer for my local ambulance service, and one dark night we got called to a job where someone had fallen. It turns out our patient had fallen down a four-meter vertical bank off a deserted gravel road, and there was no lighting available. My partner used his service-issue torch to have a look down at the patient, but it didn't really light much up. Then I pulled out my SureFireL4 LumaMax®, and it was like I turned on the sun. We could see down the bank and clearly see our patient. I used my light to hunt for a clear path down, which I found, and quickly learned that our patient had a fractured and dislocated ankle. With the darkness and limited space restraints, we had to call in a rescue squad to scoop the patient out with a stokes basket. When they arrived, I used my L4 to light up the scene. Every time I shined my torch in a different direction, it was like the sun turned off. Everyone was impressed with my L4's performance, as their torches looked like matches compared to mine! We got the patient out of there and to the hospital, but, if it hadn't been for my SureFire, the job would have been 10 times more difficult!
Nick B.
Wellington, NZ
See the L4 flashlight:L4-HA-WH
I'm an inspector and compliance consultant in the housing industry, so I'm often called upon to accompany government subcontract inspectors when they inspect my clients' properties. I can't tell you how many times one of these guys has squinted into the darkness with his crummy flashlight in hand and said he was going to cite my client for a violation he "thinks" he sees. That's when one of my SureFires helps me earn my pay. I always keep an E1L Outdoorsman on a lanyard around my neck and a U2 Ultra in my hip pocket. I remove my E1L from its lanyard, hand it to the guy, and tell him he'd better show me a clear violation before he writes one up. It often turns out that, when the inspector sees things in "a better light," he discovers he is wrong. That's because my I've already inspected the area before him, using my SureFires, and already made any repairs that were needed.
Michael G.
Monkton, MD
See the U2 and E1L flashlights:U2-BK-WH E1L-A
I'm a transportation inspector for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, and our duty is to ensure safe and legal operation of commercial motor vehicles not only for the driver's safety, but also for the travelers around them. I was performing a routine inspection on a semi truck, and as I walked around the truck I could smell diesel. I had my partner get under the truck to see if he could locate the smell, but with his ordinary flashlight he could see nothing unusual. So I whipped out my brand new SureFire U2 Ultra and had a look. With my U2's bright beam, I quickly discovered that a fuel line was leaking and dripping onto a VERY hot exhaust line. My partner and I immediately closed off a section of the parking lot to prevent anything bad from happening all thanks to my new purchase. After that incident, the rest of the inspectors went out and purchased new SureFires.
Porfirio M.
Raton, NM
See the U2 flashlight:U2-BK-WH
I'd recently purchased a SureFire U2 Ultra and had it in my coat pocket, when I took my car to a local mechanic for some routine maintenance. Fifteen minutes into my visit, the service writer pulled me aside and told me that my car's brakes were "unsafe" and badly in need of new front brake pads, unaware that I'd recently had my brake pads replaced elsewhere. The service writer took me out to the mechanic working on my car to show me the condition of my brake pads. In the relatively dark garage, he shined an extremely dim penlight into the tiny gap between the brake pad and front rotor and said, "See? There's nothing there." Then he told me he'd gladly perform a brake service for the mere price of $390. I smiled at him and said, "You mean to tell me that you diagnosed my car with THAT little flashlight? Charging $390 for a brake job, you should be able to afford one of these." I whipped out my U2, set it to max output, pressed the switch, and filled his dark garage with brilliant light. When I shined it on the brake pad, it was clear as day that the brake pad had plenty of life left. Also clear as day were the glum looks on the mechanic and service writer's face. The look on their faces was well worth the price of my U2. And it's priceless knowing that this shop will think twice about bilking people out of their cash for unneeded repairs. After all, they'll never know when another customer might whip out his SureFire to shed more light on the situation.
Isaiah B. Highland Park, NJ
See the U2 flashlight:U2-BK-WH
I run five miles a few times a week, and I push my daughter in a running stroller. I generally try to get back home before dusk, but on this particular night, I took an unfamiliar route. With about a mile left to run, it was already dark, and there was no sidewalk for the last mile of this excursion, so I had to share the edge of the road with oncoming traffic. Good thing I had my6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.] in the side pocket of the stroller. I whipped it out and used its tactical tailcap to create a strobe effect as cars came into view. Every single vehicle that passed slowed down and moved over to share the road. I won't be going on any more runs after dark with my daughter, but good thing I had my SureFire that night. Thanks for making dependable tools for everyday situations.
Josh S. Charlotte, NC
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
My little SureFire E1L Outdoorsman survived a grueling wheat harvest season. It traveled from Electra, Texas, to Shelby, Montana, and never once failed. And now it will make the journey all over. One night I was called off from driving the truck just so the boss could use my flashlight when we had a midnight breakdown of one of the combines. When I arrived, he had a huge four-D-cell light with a faded yellow beam; I think a lighter would have given off more light. I pulled my E1L out of my pocket, and it lit up the engine compartment bright as day. With all of the rain Texas had in 2007, downtime was not an option. We replaced the part and the combine was up and running by morning. It's nice to know that my SureFire helped fix breakdowns but never had one.
Ryan R.
Sandston, VA
See the E1L flashlight:E1L-A
I'm a walnut farmer in Northern California, and I have a small flock of Barbados sheep for "organic" weed control on my farm. The sheep and I are frequently in some fairly rugged terrain, and I make sure to check their condition and portable electric fencing every day around nightfall. I always have my SureFire in hand to see skunks and other critters and to scare off the occasional stray dog or coyote that may be seeking out a lamb dinner. One evening I noticed that the main matriarch sheep in the group was having a problem with her vision. I recognized the tail end of a wild oat seed that had become stuck under her eyelid, and I noticed that she and the rest of the flock were acting wild and upset because of her disorientation. They ran around frantically, while I tried in vain to catch the hurt one, but they wouldn't let me anywhere near her in their frightened state. This went on until dusk turned to night. So I pulled my trusty 6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.] from my pocket and used it to temporarily blind and stun the sheep in a harmless way. I was then able to approach the hurt one and I remove the seed from her eye. I know that I saved lots of money on what would have been a hefty veterinary bill had the seed stayed in and caused any damage to her eye. Thanks for producing the best flashlights in the world. I will always have my SureFire light with me wherever my sheep or I go.
Christopher C.
Colusa, CA
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
One cold, stormy night in March, I received a phone called from one of my friends. He told me he couldn't get his boat to start and he was 15 miles downriver from where he put in. He and another one of my friends had been catfishing that night, when they were caught by a storm, and now their boat wouldn't start. Before we hung up, they told me both of their cell phones were dying, so I wouldn't be able to call them again. I called another friend to go with me, and we put in our boat at the same landing. He brought two rechargeable spotlights, and I brought a corded spotlight and my SureFire E2L Outdoorsman. The river was low when we started down the river to find them. Both of us had been on this river but never that far down, so we were going slow, due to the weather and all the exposed debris caused by the low water level. We started out using my spotlight, which ran off of the boat battery, but it had a short in it, so it quit working about two miles down the river. My friend started using his rechargeable spotlights, and we made it about 15 miles in the rain, finding my stranded friend, but by then they were drained.
We got my friend's boat cranked, but we were out of lights to navigate back upriverâuntil I remembered that my E2L was in my pocket. I gave it to my friend, and he laid on the bow and used it to navigate the 15 miles back upriver. It provided more than enough light for us to see where we were going and dodge all the debris in the river from the storm. Thanks to my E2L, we all made it home safely that cold, stormy night.
Patrick R.
Willard, NC
See the E2L flashlight:E2L-A
After reading a bunch of articles on the SureFire LEDs, and having excellent experience with my incandescent SureFire 6P®, I bought SureFire E2L Outdoorsman in December 2007. One July evening my wife got a call from my brother-in-law's wife saying that his car broke down on I-85. I grabbed my L1 and my E2L, just in case I needed them both. Well, I got there, and sure enough the water pump shaft was moving freely in the engine. We drove to the nearest auto-parts store, bought a new water pump, and came back to the car to start working on it. Good thing I had the E2L with me it provided us with light for seven hours straight. My brother-in-law even said, "Your flashlight sure paid off tonight." It sure did. Thank you, SureFire, for making an excellent product with such great runtime and reliability.
Chris C.
Suwanee, GA
See the 6P and E2L flashlights:6P-BK E2L-A
It was the evening of our town's summer festival, and it was still an hour or so before the fireworks were scheduled to start. Hundreds of kids had bought toy light-sabers from a festival vendor and were playing with them in the soccer field. It looked like a tryout for a little league Star Wars competition. My five-year-old managed to break his toy light-saber, and the vendor was completely sold out, so we couldn't replace it. It broke my heart to see my little one crying, so I went to my car, grabbed my E2L Outdoorsman and some duct tape, cut the colored plastic "beam" from its cheap, broken light source, and taped it to my E2L. Bingo my kid had the meanest, brightest light-saber that ever was.
Edward R.
Medfield, MA
See the E2L flashlight:E2L-A
It was a dark, moonless winter evening in Yosemite Valley as my wife, daughter, and I finished our meal at the Yosemite Lodge Cafeteria. Suddenly, we were plunged into pitch-black darkness. No power, no emergency lights, no generators. No problem. I just reached for the SureFire E1B Backup® that's always tucked into my pocket and shined it off the ceiling plenty of light for dining to continue. While other lesser lights flickered on here and there, it was the little E1B that really lit up the room. When we finally had to leave, I found myself peppered with questions about my "lantern" and met with stunned looks when the questioners realized that the "spotlight" was hidden in my palm. The next day we learned that the outage was caused by a ringtail cat that explored the wrong part of a substation, knocking out power throughout the valley until the wee hours of the morning. Good thing I had my SureFire so the only effect of the overnight outage was a little added adventure.Steve C.
El Cerrito, CA
See the EB1 flashlight:EB1-Models
During a solo canoe expedition on the Mississippi River, I had a choice to make: dig in and weather the four days of coming thunderstorms or paddle the one-hundred-mile leg of the journey to Memphis, TN. The only problem was, about fifty miles of the paddle would be at night. Lucky for me, I made the wise decision to purchase a 6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tacitcal--Ed.] for the journey. As the sun fell and I slipped into the darkness, I could only guess what I was in for. Canoeing down the flooded river was challenging enough during the day, and surely the night would add more variables to the equation. I held tightly to my GPS, VHF radio, and 6Pâall tools I trusted to see me through. The FM35 red filter was incredibly useful for reading the navigational charts, and with the easy flip of a switch, the powerful LED light pierced the humid darkness and illuminated channel markers. The intensity of the 6P LED may have confused towboat pilots into thinking I was a larger vessel, but it served to let them know I was coming through. The journey was a success. Thanks for showing me the way.
Kristian G.
Libertyville, IL
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
I have an E2D LED Defender®, and I bring it with me practically everywhere I go, in this particular case, on one of my early evening runs in the city. I usually keep the E2DL in my hand when I run, since I don't like things bouncing around in my pocket. Plus, it gives me some level of security against stray dogs that may decide to tag along. On this run, I was in the middle of crossing the street when a cab raced towards me, not heeding the pedestrian lane. I quickly brought my SureFire into action, blasting the cab driver with all of the E2DL's 120 lumens. The driver slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt only a few feet from where I stood. It's great to know my E2DL has power to stop reckless drivers right in their tracks.
Christian P.
Makati City, Philippines
See the E2DL flashlight:E2DL-BK
Last Friday night, my fiance and I were walking our dogs in Ventura, CA, on Main Street. It was about 9 p.m., and the area is loaded with bars and people drinking, especially on weekend nights. We were crossing Main Street, at a stop light, with a green light when a drunk driver was making a left turn toward us. When I noticed he wasn't slowing down, I pulled out my SureFire E1B and first shined it on the ground. When that didn't work, I shined it directly in his eyes, at which point he slammed on his brakes, skidding to within a few feet from us. Thank God I had my E1B on me.
Kent A.
Camarillo, CA
See the EB1 flashlight:EB1-Models
While on a family vacation in Branson, Missouri, we visited Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City. Before the tour started I noticed the guide was carrying a two-cell Maglite on his side. I told my wife that I was amazed he didn't have a better light. When we got down deep into the cave, he started showing us different things in the dark caverns. About half way through the tour, he tried pointing the beam from his light at something to show us, but it was too far away for his weak light to reach. He told the group that the cave was so big lights couldn't reach some places. I immediately pulled out my brand-new SureFire LX2 and proved him wrong. Everyone on the tour was amazed at how bright my light was. One guy even asked if I could shine my light down a huge hole so he could take a photo. The rest of the tour the guide used my LX2 to show people the hidden features of the cave. When the guide returned the light to me at the end of the tour, he told me he was going to replace his Maglite with a SureFire.
Jeff T.
Louisburg, KS
See the LX2 flashlight:LX2-HA-WH
A few months ago, I was in Kenya, with a medical team, working out of many of the slums outside of Nairobi. Since so many areas are without power, it is pitch black most nights. While in an area called Rongai, we had many people with infections and wounds that needed to be cleaned and treated, but without power it was almost impossible. Good thing I had my SureFire Outdoorsman. The flashlight lasted all day, providing enough light to help over 370 people who desperately needed medical attention. I ended up giving up my light to a local doctor who runs into the same issues we dealt with, on a daily basis. It's nice to know my light is still doing some good over there.
John V. Orange, CA
See the E1L and E2L Outdoorsman flashlights:E1L-A E2L-A
Last night, my SureFire flashlight paid for itself. I'm a student at Guilford College, in Greensboro, North Carolina, and when I first purchased my E2D LED Defender®, a lot of people joked that I'd been ripped off. Even after I demonstrated its power, they remained skeptical. Well, last night my friend and I went for a walk, so I brought my flashlight with me (college campuses can be dangerous at night). On the way back to our dorm, a car skidded around a corner and headed straight for us at 50 miles per hour. It all happened so quickly that I didn't have time to move out of the way. As if moving on autopilot, I aimed my SureFire at the driver's side window, blasting the driver with the full 120 lumens. The driver swerved off the road to miss us (missing us by about eight feet) and crashed through some bushes before continuing down the road. As they passed us, I noticed that two teenagers in the car were smiling and laughingâtotally oblivious to what was going on. I'm thankful that I had my SureFire flashlight with me. It undoubtedly saved my life as well as my friend's life. Thanks for making such a reliable product. I'm now a loyal customer for life.
Ben C.
Timonium, MD
See the E2DL flashlight:E2DL-BK
I am a middle school science teacher in Alabama, and one day, last spring, it was a rainy, nasty day, and we were under tornado watches until late afternoon. The tornado watch quickly turned into a tornado warning, and we were instructed to take our classes to a downstairs room for safety. All the teachers at my school are issued a classroom light (I will refrain from mentioning the brand of the light we're issued, so as not to embarrass them), but since the quality is not to my liking, I always put my SureFire E2D LED Defender® in my desk once I get to work. So, when we were instructed to go downstairs and the power happened to go out, the few teachers who actually had their issued flashlights turned them on. Needless to say, we were still in the dark until my Defender provided a nice, bright light that amazed the kids and my coworkers. Not only did it allow us to see and keep track of all the students, it allowed the kids to forget about the bad weather so we were all able to relax until we were given the green light to return to our classrooms. Thanks, SureFire, for the great products you make.
Nic G.
Cullman, AL
See the E2DL flashlight:E2DL-BK
I work for an aero-medical service in New England and never leave for a mission without my SureFire E2D LED Defender®. One night, it may have just saved a man's life. We'd landed on an interstate after a severe car accident around 3:00 a.m. The state police secured the landing zone from traffic, but a bystander walked through the woods from his home to view the scene. As I exited the aircraft while it was running, the man ran toward the helicopter in close proximity to the low-spinning rotor blades. My E2D made the perfect strobe, flashing from five to 120 lumens to summon the police to intercept the bystander before he became another patient. After we debriefed the incident, other flight medics went out and bought SureFire flashlights. Now they won't leave the ground without theirs, either.
Mike H.
Boston, MA
See the E2DL flashlight:E2DL-BK
As a photojournalist, I've learned over the years to pack quickly and lightly. Something I always travel with is my SureFire Saint Minimus®headlamp. Recently, I was sent to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the earthquake. A few times, I was stuck walking in areas where the power was out. No street lights, nothing, just complete darkness, with a lot of debris on the ground. Rocks, cables, glass, metal, just about every kind of material that could injure you, so you have to be careful, especially in the dark. My headlamp proved to be an invaluable tool. The house I was staying at was partially running its electricity from a generator. There were two nights when the power at the house went out and we were stuck in the dark all night. It was awesome, walking around with my Minimus on. I was able to power down its output for things like eating or organizing my things. And when I went outside, I could increase its brightness. I was also constantly sweating profusely, and the headband responded well to all the sweat; it stayed dry and didn't get gross or disgusting. I even used it in the rain and was so happy to have it. The SureFire Minimus is a safety net; it really is. I wouldn't travel without it.
Lily E.
Plantation, FL
See the Minimus HS2-A-BK headlampHS2-A-BK
I produce and shoot outdoor television shows for a living. A few months back, I was filming a fishing show in the Florida Everglades. Because of the terrain and remote location, we headed out on airboats. At the end of the day, we began to head back in when my airboat started to have engine problems and we got separated from the other boat. There was no cell phone service and no radio contact with the other boat. As night began to fall, my boat driver realized that his spotlight was not charged and we had no light on the boat. I never leave home without my trusty backpack and, of course, my SureFire 6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.]. My SureFire lit up the Everglades and illuminated the way for us to idle the airboat 20 miles back to the launch site.
Ray C.
Orlando, FL
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
My best friend and I had been planning a mountain-climbing trip for months, and we decided to traverse across a section of the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia. We planned for the trip to take a few days, so laden with all our gear, he and I set out in mid-December. After one day, we set up camp at the summit of one mountain, around 3800 feet of elevation. Between the snow, sleet, and brutal wind, my partner was slipping into hypothermia. Being too far away for rescue, and having no cell service to call for help, we packed up that night and climbed down the rocky, treacherous terrain in the dark except for the light from the end of my SureFire L4 LumaMax®. I dropped the light countless times, climbing over the boulders, and watched it fall against rocks, into shin-deep snow, and submersed under creek water. Never once did my L4 waiver in its ability to illuminate the path to safety. Without that light, my friend in all likelihood wouldn't be here today. I am forever grateful for my L4, that little piece of life-saving equipment.
Taylor B.
Alexandria, VA
See the L4 flashlight:L4-HA-WH
I recently traveled to Cape York, on a week long fishing trip with my two brothers and few friends. Big tidal movement can leave you stranded in these remote parts of Australia, with even bigger crocodiles, a situation we found ourselves in after fishing all day in Dinner Creek. Anchored at the mouth of the creek, we awaited the rise of the tide. As night fell, the wind picked up and things weren't looking so good. The hours went by, and the tide was finally high enough at around 9.30 pm to head back to camp. So we set out into the open ocean, conditions worsening. I was wearing my SureFire Minimus® headlamp and my U2 Ultra clenched in one fist. The ocean was rough, with waves crashing over the top of our very small, open aluminum boat. The Saint was just that, guiding us though the white water. And the U2 carved a path through the blackness of the maze of mangrove-flanked tributaries. I can honestly say that, in all my 39 years, I have never been so terrified. Thanks to the brilliance of SureFire, we made it home safely. Thank you to all of the staff at SureFire for your dedication in producing such faultless products. The dark can be a very lonely place.
Marc M.
Cairns, Australia
See the U2 flashlight: and the Minimus HS2-A-BK headlampU2-BK-WH HS2-A-BK
I work at a small magazine in New York City and, while our offices are new, our building is old and prone to maintenance problems. Our magazine's beloved founder died two years ago, and we keep a unique collection of his writings and personal effects in our storage room. For the posterity of our small operation and our devoted readers, some of these pieces of history are quite literally priceless and are memories of the man whose pastoral writings have endeared him to our many readers for decades.
A few weeks ago, we narrowly avoided a catastrophic loss of all of them. Just before the close of the business day, a water heater ruptured in the ceiling directly above our storage room, and we had mere seconds to save our founder's papers and effects. With water streaming from the storeroom ceiling at an alarming rate, most of our overhead lights went out, and attempting to turn them on again was an electrocution hazard. With no windows in the room, we would have been reduced to pitch-darkness had I not had my ultra-bright (and fortunately waterproof) G2X Pro flashlight, which provided more than ample illumination for the entire room. With only seconds before the water would ruin the stacked cardboard boxes and their contents, the light from my G2X allowed us to identify the most important items just before the water got to them. At one point during the rush, someone pulled out a smart phone with a gimmicky "flashlight" screen feature, and I couldn't help but laugh, seeing how SureFire easily redefined the term "flashlight" in every meaningful way. We wouldn't have been able to save irreplaceable pieces of our magazine's history if it weren't for your trusty light. Thanks, SureFire.
Kevin J.
New York, NY
See the G2X Pro flashlight:G2X-B
My fiance and I were staying in a hotel one night, and we were packing up our stuff for an early check-out the next morning. She knelt down to grab her purse, which was under the desk. When she rose up, she hit her head hard on the corner of the desk. The noise was incredibly loud and she immediately grabbed her head and started crying. I grabbed my Surefire E1E to check for blood, but I didn't see anything. Then I remembered that my Kroma MilSpec flashlight was in my backpack, so I grabbed it and fired up its blue LEDs. Instantly I saw a small pool of blood that was oozing from her head, so I got some ice and made her an icepack. I knew that blue light was supposed to help identify blood, but I'd never seen it in action until now. Even though my fiance has black hair, it was so easy to see the blood under the blue light. Thanks, SureFire.
Nicholas C.
Nyack, NY
See the Kroma MilSpec flashlight:K2MS-BK
The operating rooms at the rural hospital where I work were recently remodeled. Late one night, I was doing an appendectomy on a young patient when we suffered a power interruption, and there was a delay in the emergency backup power, which interrupted our lighting. My circulating nurse, who does search-and-rescue work in his free time, took out his astonishingly small but bright SureFire E1B Backup® and provided light for me to operate by until power was eventually restored. His E1B was significantly brighter than the wall-mounted emergency light in the OR. I was duly impressed and will be putting more than one of these lights in my home and vehicles. Nice product.
Dr. David M.
Hood River, OR
See the EB1 flashlight:EB1-Models
The day after going out and purchasing my new 6P® LED flashlight [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.], I went on an extremely tough off-road trail with an off-roading club. Damage to the Jeeps we were using was highly probable on this particular trail due to the large boulders peppering it. It took us all day to complete the trail, and we arrived back on pavement after dark. We were talking about how great it was that we got through the trail without any problems when suddenly the Jeep began to violently shake back and forth and up and down. We pulled over to have a look. The more experienced wheelers were looking under the jeep, with their Mini Mags, which quickly went dead. That's when I pulled out my 6P LED and it lit the underside of the jeep so completely that it was almost too bright to look at. The trail guide was able to make a temporary fix to the axel and tie rod, and were able to get back to town where we could make a more permanent fix. Thanks, SureFire.
Anthony C.
Vista, CA
See the 6PX Tactical flashlight:6PX-A-BK
Last summer my wife gave birth to our first child. My son was born via natural birth, and my wife required stitches. As the doctor began the procedure in the delivery room, he made a complaint about the poor lighting in the room. The nurse offered to go get another portable lamp to help cast more light on the procedure. I always have my SureFire E2D LED Defender® in my pocket, so I offered to assist. One of the nurses laughed about my offer, made a joke, and said, "Sure, we can try that." I held my Defender with one hand, and my wife's hand with the other. The doctor finished up the procedure with no problems. Afterwards, he asked the nurses on staff at the hospital why they couldn't provide light that good. Thanks, SureFire.
Joshua C.
West Grove, CA
See the E2DL flashlight:E2DL-BK
Being a maintenance technician on F/A-18 Jet Fighter Aircraft, in the Navy, your flashlight can make the difference between life and death for my crew. Anything small, like a cotter key or fastener, can be left behind and sucked into an intake of an aircraft, causing an engine to explode and quickly turn into a bomb. Late one night, working round the clock on an 18-hour shift, in the cold Nevada desert during a routine detachment preparing our pilots to bomb Afghanistan, we were changing a tire on a jet. The Navy issues Maglites, which are bulky and normally drain the batteries very quickly. We use our flashlights for a good six hours straight while performing maintenance at night, so you can imagine how dull the flashlights become as the night goes on. Well, being an aircraft duty inspector, I never leave my rack without my SureFire 6P® LED [superseded by the 6PX Tactical--Ed.] even though you're technically not allowed to have anything in your pockets while working on the flight line or flight deck.
As usual, my Maglite died quickly, and we were left in the dark, cleaning up our tools and trying to make sure we had everything. We only had about five minutes before the pilot would be starting up the aircraft to execute his next mission. As we left the aircraft to go tell the pilots their aircraft was ready, I conducted a quick search with my 6P and was shocked at what I found. We had dropped a small bold and a used cotter key on the groundâright in front of one the intake of one of the jet engines. If it wasn't for my 6P lighting up the scene, we could've destroyed a 56-million dollar aircraft or, worse yet, killed someone. After that night, I told all of my sailors they needed to get themselves SureFires; that I didn't care about the standard-issue lights we were supposed to use. In my line of work, darkness can be a killer, and we can't afford to miss anything.
Jess T.
Virginia Beach, VA>


text:
Remember when everyone in Eagles country was clamoring for Nick Foles?
Uh... oops.
Not that Foles is to blame. That blame belongs to Nnamdi Asomugha, Andy Reid, Juan Castillo, the offensive line, Michael Vick, Howie Roseman, Jeff Lurie, Marty Mornhinweg, Bobby April, Howard Mudd, Demetress Bell, King Dunlap, Danny Watkins, Jason Babin, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman, and of course, Donovan McNabb.
Foles didn't allow only 1 incompletion, 4 TDs, and 80+ yards rushing to RGIII. But Foles was facing a defense that has been torched all season, and had lost its previous 8 matchups to rookie QBs, including a game to Foles' backup Trent Edwards. Yet Foles managed to lead the offense to 6 points, complete only 45% of his passes for a sub 4.5 YPA, and added in 2 INTs.
So now that the optimism from Eagles fans surrounding Foles has been tempered, it's amazing that Vick suddenly has a chance to play next week, especially when last week, sources were "99 percent sure" Foles was going to start for the rest of the season while Vick recovered from his concussion.
Of course, Vick is still recovering, and I'd certainly hope that Andy Reid would not put his own personal interests ahead of the team and try to rush the recovery process of either Vick or LeSean McCoy, but it's funny how quickly rock bottom is only the tip of the iceberg.


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A group of Latino farmers is scheduled to return to federal court Thursday to argue that the government has discriminated against them in providing loans, disaster relief and other financial aid.
Farmer John Carillo says he was turned down for a USDA loan because of discrimination.
The suit, known as the Garcia case, alleges Latino farmers were denied financial aid from 1981 to 2000 that white farmers were able to get.
"The discrimination we're talking about has been well-documented," said attorney Stephen Hill, who represents the Latino farmers.
The farmers filed the discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2000 and sought class-action status, meaning that all the individual complaints and suits could be heard as one. A judge denied class-action status, leaving 81 complaints to be settled individually in several states. The class could have included 20,000 farmers, the government said in court. Watch some Latino farmers tell their stories »
A hearing in the case was initially was scheduled for Tuesday, but was postponed for two days -- and could be delayed even longer. Hill has filed a motion asking the federal court to postpone the hearing pending a ruling from the Supreme Court on the class-action issue, or until November 23, whichever is later.
The Justice Department, which is representing the Agriculture Department, has opposed class-action status, saying each case "should be handled on its individual merits."
The Justice Department also is not interested in settling the case, government attorney Lisa Ann Olson told a federal district court judge in an August hearing.
"It is not in the interests of the United States to do so," Olson said. "To settle at this point would be picking a number out of thin air."
The farmers say if they are forced to fight the government individually, many families will not be able to afford the legal battle and their discrimination cases may never be heard.
Thursday's hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is being held to determine whether any progress has been made in the case and to set a schedule and a mechanism for how to get the cases resolved, U.S. District Judge James Robertson said at the August hearing.
The Latino farmers note that African-Americans who filed an identical discrimination lawsuit against the government in 1997 were granted class-action status and have been awarded about $1 billion in settlements to 15,000 farmers.
The farmers also point out that former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman testified before Congress in 1997 that the USDA had a long history of discrimination. Glickman served as agriculture secretary from 1995 to 2001.
"Good people lost their farmland not because of bad weather, bad crops, but because of the color of their skin," Glickman told lawmakers.
Farmer John Carillo says he's one of those people. His father built a thriving family business in Salinas, California, that included acres of chili and tomato fields, a packing house and a cooler for production.
It's all gone now. Carillo said he applied for a USDA loan after devastating floods in 1995 but was denied.
"Our American dream was to have the whole family work together and to succeed as a Hispanic farming company," he told CNN.
CNN correspondent Thelma Gutierrez contributed to this report.
All About Hispanic and Latino Issues • U.S. Department of Agriculture