Friday, January 4, 2008

An All-To-Soon Farewell to Arms


Regardless of your opinion of our involvement in Iraq - I know I am usually vocal about mine - I don't think anyone can question the intentions or commitment of the men and women in the Armed Forces who serve there.

Here is a link to one serviceman's final blog entry, one to be posted in the event of his death in Iraq. It's posted, so we begin with the knowledge that yesterday he joined almost 4,000 other American servicemen and women who have fallen in that country. Take the time to read it: It's perspective on life is certainly worth the effort.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

A Toast to Calvin & Hobbs

Who left us twelve years ago today. Chronologically that would mean that they are probably sitting on barstools somewhere discovering the wonders of good beer.

Love to quaff one with them, but it might have to be at someone else's bar!

Cheers!

Monday, December 31, 2007

A Very Nifty Survival Necklace

Not that we make a habit getting lost in the woods. At least intentionally. But for the quick dayhike or climb where you may be without your primary pack and all of the safety stuff that we like to carry, this is an interesting alternative: The SOS survival necklace, presented to you by a cat named Ranger Rick - an apparently quirky kind of dude with a very busy looking website. This is the modified version, lighter and more compact than the original SOS necklace, which can be purchased for the very low price of $20 here.




SIDENOTE: Just how quirky is Ranger Rick? Anyone who
promotes the use a condom as a lightweight container for his
drinking water gets several very large quirky stars that he can put on his shoulders from this reviewer! Come on, be honest. Doesn't that look like a tasty vessel of H2O? Come on, you know you want it! Makes you wonder if the mint condoms would be even tastier. If they start making them in vanilla lattes I am so almost there.



Anyway, This fancy little piece of gear - cleverly modified by another cat named M40 who also happens to be the maintainer of the uniquely valuable Asshole Files - has some compelling components. The most interesting being the chain itself - a wire saw encased in a plastic sheath. It's a one use item - the plastic comes off when you make your first saw cut, and at that point you probably are not going to want to wear it again unless you are a lot tougher than I am.

It also has a magnesium fire rod (fire building and signaling), a small blade, a compass, a whistle, and a signaling mirror. Pretty fancypants stuff to get you through any minor mishap. The really amazing part of it? The original kit weighs less than 3 ounces.