Thoughts and musings longer than notes.
Who plans a crummy vacation? If you’re like most people you check out the travel guides, Google the internets and browse through the Pinterests looking for the best places to vacation. That kind of thinking is only going to leave you disappointed. Instead I say shoot for the worst travel destinations and if they turn…
I pretty much take it as fact that human beings have not evolved to run on concrete. It kinda makes sense that scrambling over boulders and swinging from trees are better exercise for micro-muscles than are gym machines. And I can mostly accept that our digestive systems have not evolved to handle processed foods. But…
You’ve heard (ad nauseam no doubt) about the health-giving benefits of garlic. Hot tip: it’s all about the allicin. For the record, garlic is said to: Fight harmful bacteria Ward off viruses Reduce blood pressure Improve cholesterol Prevent Alzheimer’s disease Boost athletic performance Remove heavy metal from the body (sadly not from the neighbor’s stereo)…
What’s your go-to move when you feel yourself on the verge of a freak-out? Telling yourself to take a deep breath and chill out might be exactly the wrong strategy. PysBlog reports on research by Alison Woods Brooks that suggests that hitting the emotional gas pedal might get you into the clear. Subjects who told…
There’s a little bit of Jay Gatsby in each of us. To live in America is to be surrounded on all sides by a narrative that says you can be anything you want to be. You can reinvent yourself, leave your past behind, move out West, reach for the stars, follow your dreams. But maybe…
After hearing for years that water is the best thing to drink after exercise I was surprised to hear that the latest thing in recovery drinks is…chocolate milk! I don’t know if it’s my imagination – or the placebo effect – but my knees do seem to feel better if I follow a run with…
Christopher Van Tilburg talks on Outside Blog about a search and rescue operation that went far better than usual because the stranded hikers had a smartphone. Rescuers were able to get detailed coordinates and guide the hikers to a safe pickup location. Maybe smartphones should be basic equipment? If you are an adventuresome smartphone user,…
If you hike then sooner or later you will have to deal with ticks. These cunning relatives of the spider wait on the ends of leaves and grasses for an unsuspecting mammal to brush past and then climb aboard for a free lunch. Alicia MacKleay provides a comprehensive guide to dealing with ticks on and…
One of the dreariest chores that goes along with car camping is stashing your cookware and supplies in the bear-proof cupboard at each campsite. You’ll never have to do that again with these expedition-tough purpose-built field kitchens from Kanz Outdoors. Built from marine-grade aluminum with polished birch plywood interiors, Kanz certifies that their rugged boxes…
Gear Junkie reviews the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack – tipping the scales at a little over 3 ounces. Sounds like a great pack for hikers who want to set up a base camp and take side junkets. The drybag design would also make this pack great for paddlers who want to get in some…
Tapirs, with their prehensile snouts, are by far my favorite ungulate. Who knew that today is World Tapir Day? I wish I was more prepared. Via BoingBoing
This week’s big iPhone news was that the device tracks your every move and stores it on your PC when you synch with iTunes. The discovery of this location tracking freaked out a bunch of people including Al Franken who is demanding an explanation from Apple. Franken is concerned that unauthorized snoops could easily discover…
In the same glorious tradition of How Many Five Year Olds Could You Take in a Fight, The Oatmeal asks “How Long Could You Survive After Kicking a Bear in the Balls?” I found the streetfighting quiz slightly more informative. Better still is the Bear Attack Survival Guide from the Art of Manliness. Via The…
In honor of National Park Week, Chimani is offering free downloads of their popular National Park smartphone guides. They have a selection of apps for both iPhone and Android. The Android apps, usually $4.99 are discounted to 99¢ but they also have free “Lite” versions. Kerry Gallivan, founder of Chimani, says that his company’s guides…
Here’s an excellent, free downloadable first aid resource designed for ships at sea where there is no doctor present. As expected, it is mostly aimed toward the seafarer, but much of the advice could be used in any type of expedition. Fishermen are particularly prone to infections of the hands and fingers because of their…
