It weighs 490 lb., generates 125 hp, and looks
like a spooky futuristic ghost. The B120 is the
distinctive creation of the American company Confederate
Motorcycles. Price tag reported at $70,000. (pix
Confederate)
Vepr Warthog
An armored monster, produced by Kremenchug
Autotransport Enterprise.
It is a custom SUV, built onto a base military platform called 'Chainmail.'
The vehicle is 16.4 ft. long, 6.5 ft. high, and weighs 6,000 lb.
The Warthog is a civilian-made military/armored car available
for $70,000+. (pix Pravda)
Pure Speed
The title of World's Fastest
Production Motorcycle is set to change hands again in 2008.
Suzuki and Kawasaki have fought the battle with their Hayabusa
and ZX-14 models respectively for a couple years now.
Suzuki is expected to regain the apex once more with their new
evolution of the Hayabusa. For about $12,000, you get a
bullet with a 1,340 cc engine and 175 hp. Reported top
speed- 186 mph.
However...
Since the riding public gets a superbike that can
do more than two-and-a-half times the legal speed limit, it only
stands to reason that the police should have something
that can catch it. The Oklahoma State Patrol has gotten a
Hayabusa of their own. (pic John Owens)
Unorthodox Religion at Kievo-Pecherskaya Larva
~ Trey Ratcliff
Stuck in Customs is Trey Ratcliff's nom de plume
for all his photographic work. We assume this is owing to
getting held up coming and going repeatedly in many of the
'off-the-beaten-path' places he's been to. Head of the
rising John Galt Games, and renowned photographer (his
personal blog gets 250,000 hits per month!), Trey is quite the
interesting character we wanted to bring here to Alpha Dad
readers. He was kind enough to do the interview over a
couple weeks while he shuttled between Austin, Malaysia, and
Iceland.
Question- Alpha Dad: Give us the short
Trey Ratcliff biography.
Answer- Trey Ratcliff: I was born in '71. It was a great
time to grow up because I was able to ride the modern wave of
video games. I’ve always voraciously consumed media, and video
games have been a steady undercurrent. I went to an all-boy
Jesuit high school, which was cool because there were none of
those cootie-laden girls to distract me from video games. I then
went on to study Computer Science and Math in college. After
that, I left to join Andersen Consulting before beginning a life
of inventions and entrepreneurship.
Q- AD: What is the story of John Galt Games?
A- TR: John Galt Games has been around for a few years
while we have been
developing
a suite of innovative online products. Our marquee product is
WebWars (www.webwars.com),
although we have a few other products in development. Currently,
we are at about 50 employees with our HQ in Austin, Texas. We
also have a studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that I am
convinced is the best studio in all of Asia.
Q- AD: What is the John Galt Games product line?
A- TR: JGG makes cool games for gamers all over the
world. We love the online space and we particularly like
creating completely new types of unexpected games. Unlike other
game companies that focus all their resources on just one game,
we have a portfolio of products. We take risks that the big
publishers do not take and we have an emphasis on creativity and
innovation.
Q- AD: Give us the snapshot of what
WebWars: EVE is.
A- TR: EVE-Online is an online game that
is based in outer space. It has about 200,000 active subscribers
that all play together to mine, trade, fight, and conquer
different areas of a very fun fictional galaxy. In my judgment,
it is the most robust and beautiful online game ever made.
Q- AD: How is WebWars an extension of this?
A- TR: EVE-Online has a tremendous IP and we are happy to
bring the fun space-warfare action to a more casual interface.
EVE-Online requires a sizable download and many hours of
commitment. Not everyone has time for that. WebWars: EVE is a
much lighter, but still equally compelling, experience.
Q- AD: What are the overall methods and goal of WebWars?
A- TR: WebWars is a game about conquering territory and
controlling territory – but in this case, the territory is Web
Pages. So you can conquer Google, Facebook, Amazon, or whatever
your favorite website happens to be! After you conquer the
website with your EVE ships, you earn income based on how
popular the website is in real life. You then use that income to
go buy more ships and take over more web pages!
Q- AD: What will the play costs be for WebWars once it
comes out of beta? [EVE subscription is currently at $20/month]?
A- TR: WebWars is a free game at the basic level. We have
a subscription that allows additional benefits and cool stuff,
such as automatic reinforcements.
Q- AD: What is the total budget from idea to launch
for a project
like WebWars?
A- TR: We keep budget information confidential. However,
clearly the nature of the product is more simple (and “elegant”,
I like to say) than a World of Warcraft, which was a $50
million-plus project from concept to release.
Q- AD: Where did the idea for the game extension come
from?
A- TR: The idea has evolved over many meetings, drinks,
and deep thought in the shower. Coming up with ideas and working
on the execution with the team is always a fun experience.
Q- AD: As an aside- what is your favorite game on any
platform? All-time? Honestly, what did you think of Halo 3?
A- TR: I think my favorite game is Civilization. We are
currently playing this at the office and we have a 24-hour
server that is running. Everyone has to take one turn every 24
hours… The whole game takes over 10 months to play! We each
login every day and take our one turn. At lunch, we sit around
and talk about troop movements and all sorts of important
matters of alliances and mysterious wonders being built in
faraway and marvelous places. [Not a bad way to get to spend an
hour a day at work! – Ed.]
There are many many games I love though. I can name 10 favorites
from almost any platform… don’t get me started. But if there are
thoughtful gamers that are reading this, and they have
favorites, I probably love those too! [Trey dodged the question
about Halo 3; I suppose this is well-advised if you’re in the
gaming industry. No reason to have the $300 million gorilla
pissed off at you. –Ed.] Q- AD: Is there any truth to the rumor that Alpha Dad may
end up being a small strategic piece in the WebWars universe? [
Alpha Dad is grabbing for all we can get! –Ed.]
A- TR: Yes! I’ll be happy to put your site into the beta
test. You may get a spike in traffic, so be on the lookout.
'Fourth on Lake Austin' ~ Trey Ratcliff
Currently on display in the Smithsonian
Institution
Q- AD: When/how did photography become
such an interest to you?
A- TR: As an interest, it just sort of sprang up like an
Orc from the mud. A few years ago I converted it from a passing
fancy to a serious hobby.
Q- AD: If you had to choose between just being a
photographer/artist, and a gaming captain of industry, which
would you pick?
A- TR: I would absolutely choose gaming, although I don’t
think I’m a captain of industry, nor do I have any desire to be
famous for what we accomplish here. What we all really want is
millions of great gamers to fall in love with our games. I
really enjoy working with the team here and experiencing their
creativity and hard work.
Q- AD: We know that you are part of the Nike web
community, Nike+. Is running the
main
focus for physical fitness? Doesn’t it get kind of miserable
running in Iceland?
(Pic- Of course... Iceland)
A- TR: Nike+ is a really fun micro-community. I love
these micro-communities on the web like this and Flickr. For
keeping in shape, I do enjoy running and lifting weights. Adding
Nike+ to my regimen has been a really fun new twist on my
workout. There is something about having every step I take going
up on my profile as motivating and scary. It keeps track of your
pace, and towards the end of a long run, I don’t want people
thinking that I wimp out, so I give it some extra oomph!
Q- AD: You’re not one of those guys that
we’ll see in Outside magazine in a posthumous profile, are you?
[See below for one of Trey’s ‘adventure trips.’ –Ed.]
A- TR: My wife and mom think I am too extreme with my
workouts. I actually often like to dribble a soccer ball while I
run, bouncing it off walls, curbs, launching it between trees,
and the like. Sometimes after an errant kick, it rolls off into
traffic. I put up a point for the other team when I do that.
Then I gotta get a score for my team by making some nice caroms
or interesting moves around unexpected obstacles.
Q- AD: Any other ‘manly’ pursuits in the Ratcliff adventure
series?
A- TR: I don’t really have any other manly pursuits. I
tend to focus testosterone in just a few places with extreme
precision and efficiency. [Humility once again. Apparently
'precision and efficiency' is visiting - presumably logging
Nike+ miles - in Iceland, Cambodia, India, and…
Chernobyl. Pictured is Trey's guide Yuri, for his tour
of the
abandoned
city in the Ukraine. Yes, he's holding a Geiger counter. –
Ed.]
Q- AD: We’ve kind of discussed this
offline, and why we were interested to have you here: you
obviously started out being the ‘Alpha Guy,’ building a biz,
pursuing excitement and fulfillment, etc. Things change
significantly as we mature, not just when children come into our
life. In short, what is different about your life in being an
Alpha Dad?
A- TR: Being a dad is a very fun thing – more fun than I
imagined. I do think about games too much on a meta level, and I
think of my son and daughter as little RPG characters. I sit
there at dinner and think- Okay I think they both rolled a 15 in
intelligence, but how can I get these kids leveled up a few more
notches before they enter the real world.
Playing games and going into fantasy worlds with the kids is
also a great time and a natural escape for me. I do this thing
when I travel for my son, since he is now 6 and can appreciate
this kind of wondrous fun. Whenever I get back from a trip in a
faraway land, I always bring back a magical-looking necklace.
Usually it has a thick leather strap with some sort of rune,
skeleton hand, jewel, or undead creature dangling from the end.
I come up with a fantastic story about how I acquired it, such
as hiking up a mountain, wreathed in a pungent fog of
necromancy, into an old cave where I held court with an old
withered mage who summoned a magical warren to issue forth this
bauble of immeasurable power. Each charm comes imbued with a
different magical power, such as +1 to speed, +2 to wisdom, or
+1 to reading. At various times throughout the day, he runs to
his treasure chest to pull out and equip whatever necklace he
might need for that part of the day.
Sunrise Discovery of Angkor Wat ~ Trey
Ratcliff
Q- AD: As you’re quite well-traveled [Trey
has done 20+ countries], what is a great adventure or
[Affordable! we’re not all captains of industry] travel
destination you can suggest to other Alpha Dads?
A- TR: I suggest going to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It is a
very cheap trip
and it is full of adventure. When I was at our studio in
Malaysia, I took the weekend off and bought a $99 Air Asia
ticket (out of Malaysia) to visit the temples in Angkor. It’s
hotter than heck, but you can get a local guide for nothing and
run around in ancient tombs and see amazing things. Going to see
the sunrise every morning is also great. You can sit by the lake
and watch the reflections as the sun comes up behind the
temples, paying $1 to a local Cambodian girl who will bring you
a chair and Vietnamese coffee with sweet cream.
Q- AD: What is your absolute favorite?
A- TR: My favorite is Iceland. The country has unexpected
and unique natural beauty.
Q- AD: Have a destination stateside you
like?
A- TR: Montana and Yellowstone is very nice.
Q- AD: How do you spend some of your ‘Alpha Dad’ time
when you’re not away on business?
A- TR: Here is something that is fun with young kids that
sounds kinda dumb or obvious, but I don’t think many people
actually try it: Every Saturday night we clear out the dining
room table, take all the pillows off the couch, and make a giant
slumber-party fort on the ground, covering it with tons of
sleeping bags and blankets and whatnot. We put on movies, eat
popcorn, and we all lie around inside the giant couch fort all
night until we fall asleep. There is something very caveman
about it with the whole family sunken down and sleeping around
in strange and natural configurations.
Q- AD: What's something you think we need to add to the
List of Coolest Man Stuff?
I suggest splurging and getting a very expensive shirt from Mark
Shale. They have different and unique dress and casual shirts
for men. We always see well-dressed men in $40-$70 shirts
walking around town or in Starbucks. Those are nice shirts, but
they are all actually fairly predictable and not THAT different.
However, it does not take much to notice how much nicer,
different, and unique some of the more expensive shirts from
Mark Shale can be. If you like to be well-dressed, but still a
bit unique, then give it a look! [Pictured is the Mark Shale-
Robert Graham 'Mauro' Sportshirt; $198;
www.markshale.com]
Special thanks to Trey for taking the time to
do the interview, and to make us a small part of the WebWars
universe. Alpha Dad readers can read Trey's blog
online (www.stuckincustoms.com),
where he has a travelogue and notes of many of his trips, as
well as postings of many of his incredible pictures.
All pictures are copyrighted to Trey Ratcliff.
Logo and banner for John Galt Games is proprietary to the
company. WebWars and and pictures are proprietary to John Galt
Holdings, LLC.
If you don't have MHD (Music High-Definition)
on your cable
provider, it's a relatively new
high-quality channel/series of HD music videos and concerts. MHD
is a collaboration between some of the major cable providers and
MTV, VH1, and CMT. What is noted here is the fascinating
promotional clip featuring the MHD Crow that they have tagged
onto the credits at times in the programming. The work is
reminiscent of M.C. Escher in its visual style and transitions,
presented in a transforming stream of moving images. I was so
intrigued and found the piece so impressive, I thought to share
it here [Note- the video product for broadcast is in HD format;
the clip shown here is only in .wmv quality; I hope that the
artistic aspects of the piece are apparent. - Ed.]:
Note- this is a copyrighted piece of commercial
work, produced by PSYOP media(www.psyop.tv). We show it here for its artistic content and additional
exposure for both the producers and the commercial entity, MHD.
If any copyright infringement is made in the display of this
media, please contact Alpha Dad webmaster for correction.
Sam Alfano is an
artist.
He doesn’t do paintings or sculpture*;
he does custom engraving. He does engraving on custom knives,
firearms, and jewelry, to name a few. Sam’s scrollwork was also
used in the color packaging and advertising for a rather famous
Special Reserve Whiskey. He has even done engraving on the head
of hat pins. You really have to see his portfolio on his website
–
www.masterengraver.com – to fully appreciate the depth and
variety of his works. Sam’s engraving is incredible and brings
unparalleled distinction and beauty to any piece he puts his
craft to. [*Though he is quite the photographer- Ed.]
Sam’s shop, Master Engraver ~ Fine
Hand Engraving, is in Covington, LA. However, Sam is quite the
traveled man. He holds training classes all over the world to
give engravers the finer points of the craft. Sam also has a
collection of instructional courses available on DVD, covering
everything from how to sharpen engraving tools, to engraving
design techniques. At times he accepts serious students to work
along with him in his home studio.
His work is so exceptional, we
thought to bring Sam’s story and show his artistry here in Alpha
Dad.
Question- Alpha Dad:
Exactly how did you end up as The Master Engraver, Sam?
Answer- Sam Alfano:
My father was a firearms enthusiast, and while he didn't collect
them, he had an appreciation for the precision and beauty of
finely crafted guns. Occasionally he'd get the Dixie Gun Works
catalog, which was one I loved browsing. They specialized in
primitive weapons and all the gear that goes with them. Around
1971 I ordered a set of engraving tools and wooden handles from
the catalog, since they claimed they were the same type used by
gun engravers. I had no idea how to engrave, much less sharpen
the tools, and my first attempts were disastrous. I'd fiddle
with the tools, get discouraged and put them down. Then a few
weeks later I’d pick them up and try again. This went on for a
few years.
After high school I went to work, but
also played in a bluegrass band. This eventually become my
full-time gig for about nine years, and I got pretty good on the
banjo, the instrument I played professionally from 1973 to 1982.
That was a 9-year party I was paid to attend. During that time I
owned an old banjo that was hand engraved, and after my earlier
attempts at doing the same thing, I became even more determined
to figure out how to put designs into metal.
There were no engraving books in my
local library or bookstore, and the only guy I knew who engraved
said "not just no, but hell no" when I asked if he would allow
me to watch him or at least show me how to sharpen the tools.
Hand engravers were a secretive bunch. I think it was an old
world tradition which had been passed down over the years. The
thinking being that if you taught someone else your craft, then
the slices of pie just got smaller and smaller.
In 1980 I bought the book The Art of
Engraving by James B. Meek; I immediately thumbed to the chapter
on sharpening, and thus started my engraving journey. I could
finally cut lines into metal.
Q-AD:
That’s a bit of a long road from 1971 to now. How long have you
really felt that you were an engraver, that your craft and work
was now actually engraving?
A-SA:
I've been calling myself an engraver since 1980, so it'll be 28
years in 2008. In 1982 I met Stanley Diefenthal, the owner of
New Orleans Arms Co. at a gun show in Covington, LA. To make a
long story short, he felt I had potential and hired me. I worked
for him until his death in 1989. During that time he brought
Lynton McKenzie [A world famous engraver; -Ed.] to teach me for
a couple of weeks, and in '84 sent me to Italy to spend a few
days with Firmo Fracassi, the Italian master. I hit the
engraver's lottery twice, and have a total of 3 weeks of
professional instruction with two world masters. I am eternally
grateful to Mr. Diefenthal for giving me the opportunities I
had.
Q-AD:
What is your favorite type or subject or items you like to work
with?
A-SA:
I've done a bit of everything…guns, knives, jewelry, hobo
nickels, seals, etc. I really enjoy fine lettering and
ornamental jewelry engraving, and custom knives are wonderful
canvasses.
Q-AD:
What is the best metal to work with? And how do you describe a
metal as ‘best?’- Is it ease of the engraving; holds the
engraving the best; softest, or even regarding the aesthetic
result- that it looks the best when finished.
A-SA:
The best metal for hand engraving is the metal you can do your
best work on as an individual artist. This could be gun steel,
stainless steel, gold, silver, etc. What's best will differ from
engraver to engraver. The worst metals are extremely hard metals
or cast metals which have porosity and voids under the surface.
For me, I enjoy precious metals and mild stainless steels for
engraving.
Q-AD:
What is your personal favorite piece that you have done?
A-SA: A
custom knife that turned out fairly well is
one of my favorites
[See pic, below]. It's a combination of relief engraved steel
with inlaid 24k gold spiraling through the design. I don't
really have a favorite, so to speak. I get
attached to all of my extensive projects and hate to see them go
after I've poured myself into them for so many hours.
Q-AD:
How long did it take to finish your most extensive piece?
A-SA:
When I was a gun engraver for New Orleans Arms I worked on a set
of Sharps guns which took over a year to complete. It was a
buffalo rifle, pistol, derringer, knife, complete with all
accessories which were also engraved.
Q-AD:
What are you currently working on?
A-SA:
I'm doing a custom signet ring for a customer in NY which should
be nice when it's done.
Q-AD:
How do you like teaching? In this, is it a ten-year learning
curve, or can someone with some artistic talent and a steady
hand learn how to do good work as engraver in a few years?
A-SA:
In 2007 I completed my 9th year of teaching hand engraving for
GRS (www.grstools.com),
the company that manufactures the tools I use. They have a
fantastic training center at their plant in Emporia, KS, and
students leave the one-week classes being able to cut complex
designs on steel and brass plates. An engraving class is like a
music lesson. While students can execute complex patterns in a
few short days, they must practice at home to gain proficiency.
You'd be amazed at what our students do by Friday. Sometimes
it's unbelievable! I also teach privately in my home studio.
Q-AD:
Can someone find some level of enjoyment for himself in
practicing and learning the skill, if even only to create stuff
that is enjoyable to him or his friends, and not necessarily
pursue it as a career.
A-SA:
Certainly. The majority of musicians are not professionals, and
few are really good enough to make money at it, but nobody has
more fun than they do. It's the same way with hand engraving.
It's very satisfying work, and you don't have to be able engrave
the Sistine Chapel to enjoy it. There are thousands of hobbyist
engravers who love the art. Like many things, it's not the
destination, but the journey.
Q-AD:
What learning, tips, etc, should the guy who is looking to do
engraving for hobby, or maybe in the end a career, to create
works that are good? What steps should he take starting out?
A-SA:
The person who wishes to pursue hand engraving as a career
should be willing to spend the time to become proficient with
layout. For the pro, I see no way around that. The artwork is
also a very satisfying part of engraving and shouldn't be
avoided. As far as the tools go, with today's pneumatic
handpieces and graver sharpening equipment, anyone can learn to
engrave metal. While you can work with patterns from pattern
books, these will only take you so far. The pro cannot be a
slave to ready-made patterns and must be able to design. The
hobbyist and semi-pro can use ready-made patterns and have a
great deal of fun engraving.
Q-AD:
As we are trying to ask in all our interviews- how did you
transition from being a performer and detail-oriented guy –
obviously, as you are an engraver- to make the change to being
an Alpha Dad? How do you feel your life objectives changed?
How did your interests change?
A-SA:
Well, I'm still a detail oriented guy. I have to be for the work
I do. As I grow older I have learned to see things through
different eyes and have a better appreciation for things I used
to take for granted. In my travels I've seen unspeakable
poverty, elderly people toiling under the hot sun, and hungry
kids begging
in the streets. I made a vow upon return from my first trip to
China that I would kick
the pants off the first person who complained about how bad they
have it here in the USA. We really don't know how good it is
here.
I have learned that everyone has a
story to tell and has something I can learn. The quality of a
person's character is what matters most. My rat's-rear-end
factor is pretty low, and I'm not impressed with cars, wealth,
or fame. I don't care about becoming rich. I guess I wouldn't
turn it down if it happened, but I don't think about it or yearn
for it. I'm extremely wealthy in a different way. I make my
living doing the work I love and have a great marriage. It
doesn't get any better than that.
At one time I was keenly interested
in politics. I've pretty much lost my taste for that now. I have
zero interest in sports, which amazes people when I tell them
that. I have nothing against sports, but they simply don't
interest me. When I see people wearing team shirts and
decorating their cars and houses with team colors I sometimes
wonder why I don't feel that passionately about something.
Abigail reminds me that I do, only it's about engraving or
photography or watch-making, and I show it in a different way.
I have always enjoyed hunting, but
would much rather take my camera into the field. My favorite
pastime is dating my wife/girlfriend, Abigail. Every trip out
the door is a date. She's my wife, my girlfriend, and my soul
mate. Our idea of a hot date is going to a coffee shop or
bookstore. Whatever I'm doing is better if she's with me.
Q-AD:
You’ve seen our list; what is at least one thing that we should
add to the list of Cool Man Things?
A-SA:
The Canon 500mm f4L telephoto lens. One badass hunk of glass!
Q-AD:
You appear to be pretty well-traveled, working and giving
seminars in a number of countries. What is a good (relatively
affordable) adventure or travel vacation/destination?
A-SA:
Thailand! Abigail and I were there this spring for a jewelry
exhibition in Bangkok. After the show we took a short flight to
Krabi and enjoyed the beaches for a
week.
Our favorite place was the island of Koh Jum, which has no
electricity or running water, and a village of the most charming
people you'll ever meet. We stayed in a bungalow on the beach
for $20 a night, and the owner prepared fresh fish each evening
for supper. The generator comes on from 6pm to midnight. Bring a
flashlight. Koh Jum is not for everyone. If you need luxury and
a fancy hotel with a lobby this isn't the place for you. If you
want true adventure, magnificent unspoiled beaches, and a chance
to witness the raw, hard (and happy) lifestyle of the primitive
village of 'sea gypsies', then by all means go!
Thailand is a remarkable place with delightfully pleasant
people, fantastic food, and prices are unbelievably cheap.
Q-AD:
Here’s your freebie, Sam- anything else you’d like to add or of
interest?
A- SA:
I'm a finalist in a national competition called The Next Great
American Artist which is sponsored by Kirkland's. My photo
ANCIENT ENTRANCE was shot in Italy a couple of years ago and was
selected from 1,700 entries. The grand prize is $5000 and a
contract to sell the photo in Kirkland's stores. Voting is done
online at
www.kirklands.com, and I would appreciate votes from Alpha
Dads!
Thanks for taking the time to give
us an interview, Sam. We truly enjoy your work and its been
good to get to know more about your craft and life.
Alpha Dad readers should really check
out Sam’s website, to fully appreciate his artistry and craft.
He can be found on the web at-
www.masterengraver.com .
All pictures in this article are copyrighted and proprietary to
Sam Alfano.
- AP
DEC07
Sam's Addition to the list of Cool Man Stuff:
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto
Lens
A lightweight 500mm lens for Canon SLR cameras,
with
Image Stabilization. It can focus down to less than 15
feet, and is weather-resistant. With high-speed autofocus,
it is exceptional for wildlife and nature photography.
Pricetag- $5,500.
Amazon ASIN: B00009R6X4 (if you can afford such
things).
Like
it or not, elaborate vacations with the kids have become the
norm. Gone are the days (my days) when “vacation” meant an
afternoon swimming in a freezing Petri-dish of a pool next to
the parking lot of some no-name motel. A trip to the beach
meant the rock-strewn shores of Lake Erie. “Keep your eyes and
mouths closed tight, kids!”
So you can go the Hilton Head, Panama
City, or Disney World routes, and all the vacations will soon
blend together into an amorphous mass of vaguely pleasant but
highly expensive memories. Or you can break from the pack, and
provide an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not
break the bank.
This past summer I took my son on a
Scout trip- a week-long canoe excursion in
Ontario, Canada’s boundary waters. The region bills itself as
being the size of Jamaica, set aside only for canoeing. We
went as part of a Boy Scout group of nine Scouts, two
out-of-shape parents, and a 20 year-old Canadian coed guide.
Insert your own joke here. For Scouts, the place is known as
the Northern-Tier High Adventure
Base.
It works like this: We flew into
Minneapolis, MN in July with only those items approved by the NT
base. This meant first aid kits, regulation clothing
(synthetic, not cotton), rain gear and sleeping bags. NT
supplied the rest: maps, food, cooking gear, flotation devices,
tents, and of course- the canoes. From Minneapolis we drove up
to Atikokan, Ontario, about 90 miles inside the Canadian border
from International Falls, MN.
The
boys picked their own route in a map room that would have
rivaled the Operations Center for the D-Day invasion. The
following morning, we loaded up four canoes and all our gear
into a dilapidated school bus, were driven about 50 miles into
the middle of nowhere, where we were unceremoniously dropped
off. We’d either make it back to the main base in five days, or
we wouldn’t. The folks at base wouldn’t start worrying until
about day seven.
This, if you haven’t guessed, is a
character-building event. We were stormed on, dealt with legions of
mosquitoes, braved high winds and waves, swamped a couple of canoes, walked through
cold water rapids and mile-long overland portages, and roughed
it through terrain highlighted by either ice cold water (the
lakes still have ice in them in May) or boulders. On top of
that, we allowed an $800 canoe to get smashed in some
deceptively treacherous rapids. Really- it was the guide’s
fault.
For
all this, we had the time of our lives. For most of the trip we
didn’t see another human, but we did see about a dozen bald
eagles, moose, beaver, caught and cooked fish, and were
serenaded nightly by loons. Terrible naval battles were fought,
and foes vanquished.
We made it back on time, and all the
boys felt more confident, a bit more grown-up, for the
experience. And I got to share an event with my boy which
neither of us will ever forget.
The cost? About $50.00 per day per
person, not counting the flight and rental cars. If you’re not
a Scout parent, no worries. The region is awash with commercial
expeditions which will provide the same experience to
vacationers at about the same price.
And don’t worry if you’re not exactly
Jeremiah Johnson material. We didn’t train for the trip at all,
and both the adults and the boys did fine. You’ll be an expert with a canoe in a few hours.
Those looking for a respite from the
customary beach/amusement park routine might consider a “high
adventure” excursion. This can be a great trip with the kids,
with your significant other or friends, or just a solo getaway.
It can provide a one-of-a-kind experience at a truly reasonable
price.
(All pix Northern-Tier National High Adventure Bases)
Yes, we're Alpha Males, and the Cool Stuff article was a
small collection of... cool stuff (that I hope we are in
agreement on). But we also listen to music, read books, and like
many purely 'aesthetic' things. The Samurai called it 'The Path
of Two Swords.'
With this in mind, a friend of Alpha Dad, Christopher Yeo, has a
fantastic collection of pictures featured on his site in Squidoo.
This collection is made up of exceptional pictures done by
friends of his. We found the pictures so impressive, we would
like to share some of them here on Alpha Dad.Gallery
Manly or Just Plain Stupid?
11/07/07
An Equation:
This
+
This
=
Speeding ticket for doing 168 mph
Milan Baros, a striker for the Lyon, France
football team, was charged with driving 168.4 mph on the highway
in his Ferrari F430, in the Lyon Province of France. This
citation/speed record outdoes the previous record in the
province (of 154 mph; a ticket issued to a motorcyclist).
If they treat soccer stars in France the way they do stars in
Hollywood, he has no worries. However, he had immediate
seizure of the Ferrari supercar, and is facing a three-year
suspension of his driving license. I guess we'll see how
good it really is to be a soccer superstar in Europe.
-TZ
NOV07
Cool Stuff
11/01/07
Some of
the Coolest Man Stuff
No, this isn't a gift list. The price on
some of the items (even if you could buy it) is off the charts.
Some of them you can buy, and you should check them out,
if they're in your price-range/interests. Most of the stuff is just... cool.
Chrysler Tomahawk
It showed up in 2003 as a Chrysler
concept vehicle. It was called the Tomahawk. The unreal ‘motorcycle’ is a 500
hp, 4-wheeled monster bullet.
The Tomahawk was a fantastic
conceptualization of what would happen if you put one of the
(then) most powerful stock engines into a motorcycle frame. The
engine – a massive 505 cubic inch aluminum block engineering feat -
shares essential architecture and layout as the same powerplant
in the Dodge Viper.
The bike weighed in at a hefty 1500
lbs, and rode on four wheels. It
came with a 400 mph theoretical top speed. When it was
unveiled, there was much talk of Chrysler green-lighting the
project for limited production, but this apparently never
materialized. The per-unit cost was estimated at $250,000.
This incredible bike appeared on the
dais, was marveled at, and then disappeared. It is still
featured on some of the technology and hotrod shows. Let's hope
it resurfaces; with the popularity of custom bikes of late,
perhaps a company will take it on as a production item. (stock
photos)
CheyTac M-200
Referred to as ‘The
World's Reference Standard Sniper Rifle,’ this 27
lb long-range rifle is a tremendous feat of engineering,
technology, and sheer firearms muscle power.
Featured on the Discovery Channel’s Future Weapons, in its full
system package the rifle comes with: advanced ballistic forecasting software (made by Paver, Inc.) which resides on a Rugged
Personal Data Assistant (a field-use PDA) with a built in GPS
[from Opentec or Talla Tech], a Kestrel weather station – to
measure the wind, air temperature, and air pressure (it also
collects relative humidity, wind chill, and dew point), a laser range
finder, Night Vision, 2,500 rounds of ammo, and a Nightforce
scope to take care of business.
The M-200 holds the world record for shot grouping, claiming the
distance title at 2,321 meters. The host of Future Weapons,
Richard Machowicz, a former Navy SEAL sniper, vetted the weapon
during the feature episode and recorded three rounds on a
smaller than man-sized piece of steel at 2,530 meters. Yes,
that is hitting precision targets at a mile-and-a-half.
Even
casual weapons enthusiasts are familiar with the BMG .50 caliber
sniper rifle that appears as the menacing weapon in many
movies. Now with the most impressive long rifle on the planet,
the CheyTac Intervention System was featured in the Bob Lee
Swagger film Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg, Law & Order, THE
UNIT, as well as other films and TV episodes. CheyTac reports
that the M-200 will outdistance and outshoot any weapon .50
caliber and below. The entire system - rifle, attendant
ballistics and shooting system hardware – clocks in at over
$30,000. But the M-200, along with its innovative custom
ammunition, has generated an incredible modern evolution of the
bolt-action rifle making it the most intimidating military
tactical weapon in its class. (All pix- CheyTac)
Unique Performance G.T. 500
You might have seen this sharp ride
in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, and not even known what it
was. The car was called Eleanor, and it’s a custom based on the
1967 model Mustang made by dream maker Unique Performance.
Unique
Performance takes vintage Ford Mustangs, and does a ground-up
rebuild and makeover that produces some of the hottest cars ever
made. The GT 500 base model made by the company comes with a
302 cubic inch Shelby-tuned (of Carol Shelby fame- think of the
Shelby Cobra) engine, turning 325 hp, with a 5-speed
transmission. This is the base model, but the company can
create the vehicle with 725+ horsepower. The base GT 500 comes
with a $119,000 price tag, regrettably out of reach for most
buyers. With its classic car basics of the Ford Mustang,
updated with modern mechanicals and power, as well as aesthetic
add-ons, make for a fine piece of craftsmanship to appreciate.
If you end up with an extra 100 grand to spend,
this would be a first choice.
(All pix Unique Performance)
Mike the Tiger
Welcome to Death Valley. This is
what the sign reads over the entrance for visiting teams at the
LSU football stadium. And when the opposition runs out onto the field, in
one of the most intense college football venues, they are greeted by the LSU mascot- Mike the
Tiger.
LSU began their tradition of having a
live tiger mascot on campus and in attendance at games in 1934.
The first tiger, Mike I cost $750; the
purchase was financed by collecting 25 cents from each LSU student. The current resident
mascot, Mike VI, now lives in a $3 million, 15,000 square foot
habitat across the street from Tiger Stadium.
Mike VI debuted in October 2007, and
is a Royal Bengal/Siberian mix great tiger. He came into his
new job at 330 lbs, but is expected to grow to about 700 lb.
The LSU tiger is one of the most impressive mascots of college
sports in the US. (Pic- Music Maven)
Miss GEICO Race Boat
It’s a bright green blast flashing by
across the water at close to 200 mph. Even if boat racing isn’t
your thing, Miss GEICO is an incredible piece of power and
design.
The GEICO flagship boat is fielded by
AMF Offshore Racing. The body of the sleek machine is made of a
carbon/epoxy composite, and is 44 feet long. It carries 500
gallons of fuel, and can run on Jet-A, Kerosene, and Diesel.
The boat recently set a speed record running on eco-friendly
‘green fuel.’ The power?- God, the power: twin turbine engines,
producing 1,850 hp each. It takes
two people to run the monster-
a driver and throttleman. It runs race times of 145 mph lap
speeds. Top speed: 185 mph.
At times, the boat appears in a
different color scheme – sometimes white – but the distinctive
green is signature as the thing roars at speed. Check out
this green monster in the offshore series, on an episode of
Discovery Channel's Build It Bigger, or online.
(Pix- Offshore Pro Series; Miss GEICO Racing)
Hot Wheels
(Okay, this one should be in everyone's
budget- Ed.)
You know exactly what they are, you
just forgot about them because it’s been so long since you played
with them. And if you have kids, well… they aren’t as much into
stuff like that as we were. Regardless, they are still some of
the coolest things possible. Oh- and unlike all the awesome
stuff above, to include a tiger, they’re something you can
afford to buy to put on a shelf in your ‘man-space’ at home, or
to get for your kids.
Hot Wheels first came out in 1968,
with 16 different models in that first year’s run. For 2007,
Mattel is planning to release: 36 New Models (formerly First
Editions), 12 Treasure Hunts (with a hard-to-find regular
version and even rarer "super" version of each), 12 Teams of 4
cars each (formerly Segment Series), 24 Code Cars (codes
imprinted on underside of the car that can be used to unlock web
content), 12 Track Stars (formerly Track Aces), 24 Mystery Cars
(packaged on a card with a blacked-out blister, so the buyer
cannot see which car is inside without opening it), and 24 All
Stars (formerly Open Stock). Gad! On second thought, if your
kids - probably your boys - really get into them, there are a
whole lot of them to collect.
Most of the common models are
relatively inexpensive. Cars are issued in two basic formats-
1:64 scale, and 1:18 collectibles. You can get a cool variety
pack of the 1:64’s at about $1-2 a car. The 1:18 are quite a
bit more pricey, but they are outstanding innovative little
cars. Some are scale reproductions of hotrods on the street,
but others are like miniature concept cars that would be
cost-prohibitive for any manufacturer to produce in actual road
models. The larger collectible versions are still affordable at
a starting price of $20 for common models, up to thousands for
serious collector’s items. The Batmobile is being released
again for 2007, in it’s original TV form. Price tag- about
$290.
Okay, so you’re not going to rush out
to get any Hot Wheels for yourself. But they make a great
stocking-stuffer, or a good excuse to get down on the
carpet with the kids and play cars.
Hope you’ve liked this short list of
really cool stuff. If you think we’ve missed anything
significant, or would like to add one of your own, send it in.
If we think it is an Alpha Dad kind of cool thing, we’ll put it
right here on the Man Arts Page. Here’s your chance to tell
us, and the rest of the Alpha Dad readers, what you
think is cool man stuff.
-TZ
Oct 07
Immediate Feedback on Cool Man Stuff:
From Cindy O, 35-ish, CAD Architect & Supermom-
"Can you add to the list of cool things
for men, a really cool looking vacuum cleaner or other household
item for the guys to help their wives clean house with? I think
all those “alphadads” would love to see that kind of stuff.
Don’t you?"
Haha. Um... okay, Cindy. We'll try, but
it may kill the readership we're working hard on building.
-Ed.
An extensive assemblage of American and world history is
collected into an incredibly emotional and educational experience
at the D-Day Museum, in New Orleans, LA.
The 16,000 square foot museum is housed over three floors, with
a layout divided into four main exhibits. The exhibits are
a mix of the
oral histories of numerous veterans, multi-media, hands-on
displays, artifacts, never before seen footage, as well as
documents and photos.
With incredible historical information, presented in very
personal and often intimate terms and themes, is at times a
highly emotional event. The history of our country's
involvement in the greatest conflict of our time is laid out in
presentations that are rich in historical content, as well as
emotional impact. For many veterans, even the static
displays, as well as the overall data may have a telling effect,
and remind you deeply the price that all veterans, service
people, and everyone back home often pays for the service of our
Armed Forces.
A planned $300 million expansion is currently underway,
with a projected completion in 2009. The museum continues to
bring more information, unique displays, and a greater view into
the war's part in the history of our country, as well as the
world.
It is an incredible museum and experience. Plan on taking
a greater part of the day to visit the place, as it is enormous,
and has so much history presented in a variety of ways.
The admission price is affordable, with discounts for students,
children, military and seniors; admission for service members
visiting in uniform is free. Of interest is that many of
the volunteers and museum guide staff are WW II veterans.
Don't miss this fascinating and rich tribute to our American
story and life. The National World War II Museum is
testimony to our history, our armed forces, and a reminder that
freedom isn't free. The museum is located in New Orleans,
LA, and your attendance will also support the renewal of this
American city.
There has been
an explosion in the last few years, particularly on cable TV, of
auto, hot-rod, and customization shows. If you have a
decent cable provider, you can catch some of the shows- Appraise My
Car, Rides, Xtreme 4X4, Trucks, Monster Garage, and more.
Though probably for a younger audience, you can even get Pimp My
Ride. American Chopper is probably the one everyone is
familiar with. With their show on TV, a shop of
regular guys making custom choppers have turned their popularity
into a virtual empire.
With the
incredible popularity of motor and customization shows, we
thought it may
be of interest to get a short inside look at that industry.
We decided to put a couple questions to a friend of Alpha Dad-
Joe Brown, owner of Citrus County Customs. Joe does custom
trucks, usually the regular-guy monster truck, and also does
water transfers, to bring color and 'pop' to cars, trucks, and
boats.
Here's what he
had to say:
Question- Alpha Dad: What made you go into
the custom business, particularly trucks?
Answer- Joe Brown:
This is something I've always tinkered with, and I started out
doing modifications (mods) on my own truck. Now I enjoy
building custom trucks for everybody else.
Q- AD: Are trucks the only
things you do?
A- JB:
No, we started out doing mods on trucks, but we've added a great
new technique to our product line - water transfer printing.
This is a process that allows the transfer of ink onto different
metals, plastics, and fiberglass. The design for transfer
can be anything from wood grain to a camo pattern; almost
anything you can think of. It actually looks great on
airboat rudders, and the interior of your vehicle.
Q- AD:
What do you see as the direction of your business going?
The industry?
A- JB:
I see my business getting much larger as more people see the
different types of the (water) transferring we do, as well as
the explosion of people wanting to build monster trucks.
The overall industry is pretty much the same- growth in
popularity, more customs and modified vehicles. [When we talked
to him, Joe was pretty ragged-out from his 80-hour week, keeping
up with customer demand and managing his work flow- Ed.]
Q- AD: For the average guy, who
wants his truck to look better, run better, or sound better,
what is your first suggested mod?
A- JB:
If you want your truck to run better and have better
performance, I would start with a custom exhaust system, as well
as a computer chip. These two mods will not only make your
fuels costs more economical but the vehicle performs much
better.
Follow-up Q- AD:
- How much does the start to modifying your
truck typically cost?
A- JB: Custom exhaust is about
$500-$600; computer chip- $350 and up (chips for gas engines are
less expensive than those for diesels). In addition to the
exhaust and chip costs, for a starter on modification to a
truck- with a typical lift kit, wheels and tires, excluding a
custom paint job, and depending on what kind of vehicle it is, I
would say is normally about $5,000.
Q- AD: What is the dollar figure
that a serious customization can run to?
A- JB:
The sky is the limit, really. My personal truck I built
has over $70,000.00 in it. I've seen some as much as
$250,000.00. Basically, it's what you want the truck to do and
look like, and how much money you have to spend on it.
Follow-up Q- AD:
- What does that usually include in a
serious customization of a truck?
A- JB:
On a complete custom truck, the customer will receive a custom
paint job, lift kit, wheels and tires, a customized interior
(water transfer printing) as well as having the frame of the
truck powder-coated. There's also the engine work, and
that's a big investment in the project as well.
Q- AD: What is your personal ride?
What did the mods cost? (engine, lift, body/paint, tires)?
A- JB:
My personal truck is a 1986 Ford F-150. The mods cost about
$70,000. The motor is a 557-stroker engine, pushing 725
HP and 702 pounds of torque. It has a customized paint
job, black with metallic flakes and flames running down both
sides over the hood all the way to the tailgate. The
transmission is an Art Carr race-ready C6 transmission with a
3500 stall converter in it. All this, sitting on a set of 54
inch boggers [mud tires] and of course the 2.5 ton Rockwell
running gear and an M37 transfer case [Yes, of course, Joe!
We're trying to not be too technical here at AD, but that's how
Joe talks about trucks!- Ed.]. The interior has been
done in a yellow splash design. This is my personal truck;
like I said- you can start out with simple stuff that won't
leave you broke.
Q- AD: So tell us about the rumor
that your last personal custom- let’s just say- ‘isn’t in service
any more.’
A- JB:
Well... that was not a rumor. Unfortunately, I did blow up
an $18,000.00 engine when my MSD 6AL, 6500 rev-chip failed, and
well... you should know a big block can't take 8,000 RPM’s.
But no worries- she's back up and running. Ha. [That was a trick
question- we knew Joe had blown his truck at a mudbog event
showing off his personal monster- Ed.]
Q- AD: What’s the next big step for
Citrus County Customs?
A- JB:
I'm hoping to just keep getting bigger, and making people's
dreams of having their own customized truck to come true.
You can find
Joe, and his custom shop- Citrus County Customs- on the web at
www.citruscountycustoms.com, or give the business a call at
(352) 860-0400. His shop is located in Inverness, Florida.
If you like westerns, you may not be aware that some
of the most significant and famous films ever made in this genre were re-makes
based on the work of the Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa.
The films adapted into American-style screenplays and made into
some of our most famous western movies are:
The Kurosawa picture, the Seven
Samurai, was adapted into the John Sturges movie-
The Magnificant Seven.
Yojimbo was the basis
for the Serge Leone feature- A Fistful
of Dollars.
The overall storyline and theme of the
Star Wars line, by George Lucas, was
influenced by Kurosawa's The Hidden
Fortress.
These three films, The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and The Hidden
Fortress, as well as the exceptional feature- Sanjuro, are
available in a special collection distributed by Criterion.
All films are in black and white, letterbox presentation, with
Japanese dialogue; English subtitles. The films star
Toshiro Mifune as the indefatigable samurai lead in all the
works. His screen presence and exceptional acting are not
diminished by the use of the original Japanese and the black and
white format. The collection, titled Akira Kurosawa- Four
Samurai Classics, is available online, as well as in some
video/DVD stores. The four-disk box set can be purchased
directly from Amazon for about $80 (link).
This collections is well worth it to the fan of American
westerns, as well as a welcome change of pace for any movie
buff.
-RB
09/20/07
Request to Readers
9/27/07
How Do
You Work Out?
When you're
doing your physical conditioning, or doing your best to keep
exercise a part of your life as you age, what do you do to stay
fit?
Do you lift
weights? Do you run, or is biking more preferable as
your exercise of choice? Swimming part of your program?
Walk or hike? Calisthenics or circuit conditioning figure
in your work out? Do you practice self-defense or play a
sport for your exercise?
We're
interested to hear your personal work out regimens, and share
things of value to the rest of our readers. Submissions
requested. Send submissions to:
guest@alphadad.net .
Place GUEST SUBMISSION-WORKOUT in the title line. Please include your first name and last initial
(you can use a pseudonym if you prefer to remain anonymous),
your age, and your profession. Please include your reply
email of choice if we have any questions or follow-up for you.
Submissions are subject to editing for length or content.
Thanks for your support and input- Ed.
Commentary
09/23/07
A
Philosophy of self-defense
I have posted
below the essence of a presentation that I used to give to my
employees, although it was in a multi-media format, with lots of
video examples, more finite explanations of things, and me
talking all the way through it. It lasted about an hour or
more. My audiences at the time were hundreds of employees
in our company, and I was giving the presentation to personnel
living and working in a high threat environment, The Middle
East, to include Iraq. It was a bit more of a 'personal
security and safety'-oriented program in that format.
However, I
repeat it here, in a far more empirical form, as I hope it will
be of some value to you. I particularly hope that it gives
you the basis to explain/teach the principals of
self-defense to your family, with emphasis on both the children
and your significant other, as they are often least-prepared for
interpersonal conflict or hostility, and are often the victims
of the same. I also hope that you find my philosophical
rendering of the necessary self-defense mindset close to your
own sentiments and way of moving through the world, which can be
terribly dangerous at times, regardless where you reside.
1. PAY ATTENTION
● Be aware of what is going on around you. If you don't
know what 'normal' is, you won't notice things out of place,
or a situation developing. Get accustomed to know the
'feel' and 'flow' of things in environments you frequent; then
you will be alerted when things are out of place. ● Be especially alert to what people are doing/their
disposition. We often ignore others because of social
conditioning to not look at people or to mind our own business.
● Assess what is happening or developing: are tensions
rising between people interacting around you? are there
individuals that have that 'look' of hostility rising in them?
It will often not be as obvious as yelling or a physical
confrontation. Try to know where things are heading before
they happen.
2. AVOID TROUBLE ● If trouble is developing- GO – EXIT – RUN. As men, we
feel, well- shame, in leaving trouble. I'm hoping for our
readership that we have matured beyond this, and fully realize
the risks and what we stand to lose in an altercation or
confrontation. Unless the safety of friends, family, or an
innocent person who cannot defend themselves is at stake, EXIT.
This should obviously include your family or group you're with
at the time. ● If you must stay, be prepared to:
3. BEGIN TO ACT ● Avoid violence, if at all possible:
♦ Move towards safety
♦ Be calm, talk if it helps, but move away if possible.
However, with regard to talking, do not get caught up in
this, and if you have to interact, talk while moving away,
keeping the aggressor(s) in sight. In many situations,
violence will occur regardless your level of calm or trying to
defuse a situation; the aggressor(s) may be intent on acting
violently, regardless what you say or do.
♦ Yell or scream if you feel it is necessary. No shame here-
if you think it will help you move to safety, or stall
hostility, yell/scream vigorously. This goes for the men,
too.
♦ Don’t turn your back on threats (pay attention) while moving to
safety or moving away. ● If you must confront threats or trouble:
4. REACT/NEUTRALIZE ● If you must respond, or cannot move away from trouble,
REACT ● NO MORE TALKING, NO ARGUING, NO PUSHING- ACT
● If you are forced to defend yourself, or to act, you are
allowed to:
♦ Be angry
♦ Do what it takes to defend yourself or others
♦ Use your skill and knowledge to neutralize danger to yourself or
others ● Finish it:
♦ Use what force it takes to neutralize threat
♦ Ensure that there will be no more threat, allowing you to:
5. EXIT ● Depart the area as quickly as possible. Run if you
should or have to. ● Do not turn your back on situation or possible threats
● Move to safety ● Report the situation immediately to authorities (police for
adults; parents, teachers, etc. for kids)
Addendum-
There are many more philosophical and thinking aspects to an
overall view of self-defense (not just martial arts).
However,
some of the same thoughts and attitudes apply. I hope you
find this helpful. If there is sufficient interest on the
more intellectual aspects of the self-defense philosophy, I will
post this short work also.
-AP
09/10/07
Good links-
http://www.meevee.com/ ~ A cool site about popular media
and TV. Gives reviews, storylines, broadcast
schedules, paparrazi. You can customize you meeVee page to
show what kind of content you want.
www.muaythaistuff.com
~ Covers everything possible about Muay
Thai. Great section on the history of Muay Thai,
techniques basic to advanced. Gear, fight wear,
and apparel available.
www.yogabasics.com/
~ A great site to learn about yoga if
you've never tried it. I know, all hard dudes
probably think yoga is S, but it has been an excellent
set of exercises for my back and after training hard
(regardless the exercise). Go to the main page
from the link, and choose 'Yoga Postures' on the top
line. You can roll around on the floor behind
closed doors and give it a try yourself.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ ~ Ever need to check a time zone for a
call, or how far behind/ahead it is in a certain
location? This site gives the exact time at the
moment for every major city in the world.
Previous Good Stuff in
Man Arts
Virtual Reality
This may be to your interest, maybe not.
You decide. Go check out the short gallery of Virtual
Girls. It is SFW (nothing nude).
However, I don't know that I would look at it with your
significant other in the room. Too much explaining.
It's a good example of what guys that are good with digital
graphics do in their spare time. Take a look-
Go
[Note- You may want to skip most of the
chatter at the top of the page; the gallery is down the way a
bit- Virtual Girl 1-11]
Some Cool Pictures
A series of pix from across the internet.
Some very artistic, some with just good subject matter and
interesting. Check it out-
Link
An Interesting Piece of Historical Note; Check it Out-
.
It is a custom SUV, built onto a base military platform called 'Chainmail.'
The vehicle is 16.4 ft. long, 6.5 ft. high, and weighs 6,000 lb.
The Warthog is a civilian-made military/armored car available
for $70,000+. (pix Pravda)
est
Production Motorcycle is set to change hands again in 2008.
Suzuki and Kawasaki have fought the battle with their Hayabusa
and ZX-14 models respectively for a couple years now.
Suzuki is expected to regain the apex once more with their new
evolution of the Hayabusa. For about $12,000, you get a
bullet with a 1,340 cc engine and 175 hp. Reported top
speed- 186 mph.
omething
that can catch it. The Oklahoma State Patrol has gotten a
Hayabusa of their own. (pic John Owens)
main
focus for physical fitness? Doesn’t it get kind of miserable
running in Iceland? 
abandoned
city in the Ukraine. Yes, he's holding a Geiger counter. –
Ed.] 
rip
and it is full of adventure. When I was at our studio in
Malaysia, I took the weekend off and bought a $99 Air Asia
ticket (out of Malaysia) to visit the temples in Angkor. It’s
hotter than heck, but you can get a local guide for nothing and
run around in ancient tombs and see amazing things. Going to see
the sunrise every morning is also great. You can sit by the lake
and watch the reflections as the sun comes up behind the
temples, paying $1 to a local Cambodian girl who will bring you
a chair and Vietnamese coffee with sweet cream. 
I suggest splurging and getting a very expensive shirt from Mark
Shale. They have different and unique dress and casual shirts
for men. We always see well-dressed men in $40-$70 shirts
walking around town or in Starbucks. Those are nice shirts, but
they are all actually fairly predictable and not THAT different.
However, it does not take much to notice how much nicer,
different, and unique some of the more expensive shirts from
Mark Shale can be. If you like to be well-dressed, but still a
bit unique, then give it a look! [Pictured is the Mark Shale-
Robert Graham 'Mauro' Sportshirt; $198;
provider, it's a relatively new
high-quality channel/series of HD music videos and concerts. MHD
is a collaboration between some of the major cable providers and
MTV, VH1, and CMT. What is noted here is the fascinating
promotional clip featuring the MHD Crow that they have tagged
onto the credits at times in the programming. The work is
reminiscent of M.C. Escher in its visual style and transitions,
presented in a transforming stream of moving images. I was so
intrigued and found the piece so impressive, I thought to share
it here [Note- the video product for broadcast is in HD format;
the clip shown here is only in .wmv quality; I hope that the
artistic aspects of the piece are apparent. - Ed.]: 
;
he does custom engraving. He does engraving on custom knives,
firearms, and jewelry, to name a few. Sam’s scrollwork was also
used in the color packaging and advertising for a rather famous
Special Reserve Whiskey. He has even done engraving on the head
of hat pins. You really have to see his portfolio on his website
–
week.
Our favorite place was the island of Koh Jum, which has no
electricity or running water, and a village of the most charming
people you'll ever meet. We stayed in a bungalow on the beach
for $20 a night, and the owner prepared fresh fish each evening
for supper. The generator comes on from 6pm to midnight. Bring a
flashlight. Koh Jum is not for everyone. If you need luxury and
a fancy hotel with a lobby this isn't the place for you. If you
want true adventure, magnificent unspoiled beaches, and a chance
to witness the raw, hard (and happy) lifestyle of the primitive
village of 'sea gypsies', then by all means go!
Image Stabilization. It can focus down to less than 15
feet, and is weather-resistant. With high-speed autofocus,
it is exceptional for wildlife and nature photography.
Like
it or not, elaborate vacations with the kids have become the
norm. Gone are the days (my days) when “vacation” meant an
afternoon swimming in a freezing Petri-dish of a pool next to
the parking lot of some no-name motel. A trip to the beach
meant the rock-strewn shores of Lake Erie. “Keep your eyes and
mouths closed tight, kids!”
Ontario, Canada’s boundary waters. The region bills itself as
being the size of Jamaica, set aside only for canoeing. We
went as part of a Boy Scout group of nine Scouts, two
out-of-shape parents, and a 20 year-old Canadian coed guide.
Insert your own joke here. For Scouts, the place is known as
the
The
boys picked their own route in a map room that would have
rivaled the Operations Center for the D-Day invasion. The
following morning, we loaded up four canoes and all our gear
into a dilapidated school bus, were driven about 50 miles into
the middle of nowhere, where we were unceremoniously dropped
off. We’d either make it back to the main base in five days, or
we wouldn’t. The folks at base wouldn’t start worrying until
about day seven.
For
all this, we had the time of our lives. For most of the trip we
didn’t see another human, but we did see about a dozen bald
eagles, moose, beaver, caught and cooked fish, and were
serenaded nightly by loons. Terrible naval battles were fought,
and foes vanquished.
Manly or Just Plain Stupid?
Even
casual weapons enthusiasts are familiar with the BMG .50 caliber
sniper rifle that appears as the menacing weapon in many
movies. Now with the most impressive long rifle on the planet,
the CheyTac Intervention System was featured in the Bob Lee
Swagger film Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg, Law & Order, THE
UNIT, as well as other films and TV episodes. CheyTac reports
that the M-200 will outdistance and outshoot any weapon .50
caliber and below. The entire system - rifle, attendant
ballistics and shooting system hardware – clocks in at over
$30,000. But the M-200, along with its innovative custom
ammunition, has generated an incredible modern evolution of the
bolt-action rifle making it the most intimidating military
tactical weapon in its class. (All pix- CheyTac)
It’s a bright green blast flashing by
across the water at close to 200 mph. Even if boat racing isn’t
your thing, Miss GEICO is an incredible piece of power and
design.
two people to run the monster-
a driver and throttleman. It runs race times of 145 mph lap
speeds. Top speed: 185 mph.
You know exactly what they are, you
just forgot about them because it’s been so long since you played
with them. And if you have kids, well… they aren’t as much into
stuff like that as we were. Regardless, they are still some of
the coolest things possible. Oh- and unlike all the awesome
stuff a
bove, to include a tiger, they’re something you can
afford to buy to put on a shelf in your ‘man-space’ at home, or
to get for your kids.
Editions), 12 Treasure Hunts (with a hard-to-find regular
version and even rarer "super" version of each), 12 Teams of 4
cars each (formerly Segment Series), 24 Code Cars (codes
imprinted on underside of the car that can be used to unlock web
content), 12 Track Stars (formerly Track Aces), 24 Mystery Cars
(packaged on a card with a blacked-out blister, so the buyer
cannot see which car is inside without opening it), and 24 All
Stars (formerly Open Stock). Gad! On second thought, if your
kids - probably your boys - really get into them, there are a
whole lot of them to collect.
others are like miniature concept cars that would be
cost-prohibitive for any manufacturer to produce in actual road
models. The larger collectible versions are still affordable at
a starting price of $20 for common models, up to thousands for
serious collector’s items. The Batmobile is being released
again for 2007, in it’s original TV form. Price tag- about
$290.
oral histories of numerous veterans, multi-media, hands-on
displays, artifacts, never before seen footage, as well as
documents and photos.
e
of the most significant and famous films ever made in this genre were re-makes
based on the work of the Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa.
When you're
doing your physical conditioning, or doing your best to keep
exercise a part of your life as you age, what do you do to stay
fit?
