These headphones use silicone ear-cushions to accomplish noise isolation and provide [...]]]>

Finally, ear buds that are actually comfortable...

Earphones, specifically ear buds, have come a long way in the past few years and recently they’ve taken another big leap. The Logitech Ultimate Ears 700 skillfully blend comfort and performance into one small bundle.

These headphones use silicone ear-cushions to accomplish noise isolation and provide a nice in-ear fit. Most ear buds that claim to be “comfortable” and to “fit well” are just BS’ing for their marketing literature. The Logitech Ultimate Ears 700′s however, really are comfortable.

Unless you’re an audiophile, it can be hard to justify spending more than $50 on any set of headphones. But, if you’re looking for a set worth every penny, then check out the Logitech Ultimate Ears 700.

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First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate [...]]]>

Rivals...

Downtown Columbus, Ohio has a lot to offer for the guy who just loves to travel or the guy who is looking for a simple vacation with the big city feel but without the big city hassle.

First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate and densely populated with quality restaurants and bars. We ventured to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar and Buca di Beppo’s. Of those three restaurants Buca di Beppo, a family Italian eatery, had the best food, Gordon Biersch Brewery had the best drinks and Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar had the best atmosphere and was the perfect place to close out a night. All were quality establishments and are worth a visit.

The Arena District is so named for Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have been in Columbus since 2000 and by the looks of it, they’ll make the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history. Personally, I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan but, it’s always fun to catch a game in another city; especially if you can get tickets like we had… one row off the glass. Sitting that close you’ll better understand the speed and the grit that is the NHL. See the previous Black Rucksack article on the NHL experience and get tickets from StubHub!

More rivals...

Another feature in Columbus a few miles outside of downtown is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; one of the best zoos in the country. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy a sunny Spring afternoon. A zoo typically isn’t the place for a hardcore adventure (unless something escapes) but, a lot of the kids, girlfriends and wives you guys have will enjoy it.

This is just a taste of what downtown Columbus, Ohio offers… find a hotel and book it now!

Gordon Biersch Brewery – $$$
3.5 out of 5 Rucksacks
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Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar – $$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks
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Buca di Beppo – $$$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks

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Solace is sometimes hard to find...

Quantum of Solace is the chronicle of a man on a mission of revenge.  His love was struck down in the previous movie, Casino Royale, and this movie picks up immediately after.  What then unfolds is a tough, angry all-out action feast and of course, contains much of the necessary style, gear, (fast) women and (fast) cars.

It’s a jolt of adrenaline and highly kinetic from the start to the finish… and every bit the Bond we need.

4 out of 5 Rucksacks

James Bond: Quantum of Solace DVD
$17

James Bond: Quantum of Solace Blu-Ray
$25

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Man vs. Wild just wrapped up its [...]]]>

Bear necessities...

Watching Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls is almost like being on an adventure but from your home. The host of the show, Bear, is mind-blowing to watch as he goes through many extreme challenges in some of the most remote places on Earth.

Man vs. Wild just wrapped up its third season with a jaunt through the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. Amongst his other terra-triumphs from season three are the Yukon in Canada, Belize and Hells Canyon in Oregon, USA. Bear perfectly balances information and entertainment all whilst eating things most of us will never have to eat and facing tough physical challenges.

In some cases, Bear enters into a situation to demonstrate specific survival techniques.  His shelter craftsmanship is quite impressive as is his climbing ability. Though there are a lot of things that you’ll learn from Bear, it is important to keep in mind that a key part of survival happens before you even embark on the adventure; research is critical to going into the field.

Enjoy this show… it’ll take you around the world and you’ll be able to glean some knowledge from it as well!

Man vs. Wild
Monday at 10pm ET on Discovery

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There are very few television series that actually strike me. In fact, generally I avoid watching television so I can focus on other hobbies… grillin’, gear, hockey, etc. One television show, however, [...]]]>

Photo By: abc.go.com

Editor’s Note: This is Black Rucksack post 25! If you have any suggestion for us, e-mail us at rucksack |at| blackrucksack |dot| com!

There are very few television series that actually strike me. In fact, generally I avoid watching television so I can focus on other hobbies… grillin’, gear, hockey, etc. One television show, however, causes me to stop what I’m doing every Wednesday at 10pm… Life On Mars.

The premise of Life On Mars is that in 2008, Detective Sam Tyler was hit by a car and knocked-out. When he awoke, he found himself in 1973, without any idea of how he got there. Now, he struggles episode by episode with trying to get back to his own time, while working for a tough boss, old style cop Gene Hunt, at the fictional 1-2-5 precinct in New York City.

The show is mostly a cop drama that is intense and unforgiving though, there are some minor sci-fi elements. Life On Mars also covers dirty cops, mobsters, hate crime, fast women and hot rods. One other addicting feature of this show is its understanding and appreciation of ’70s rock and beyond. The series premier featured music by David Bowie, The Who, The Sweet and the ‘Stones… perfect, right? You can find a list of music from every episode at the Life On Mars website. Watch this show… you’ll be glad you did.

Life On Mars
Wednesday at 10pm EST on ABC

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My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even [...]]]>

Up Close... On The Glass...

The rush of cool air… the sound of the boards rattling after a hard check… the blur of 10 players speeding down the ice… there aren’t many experiences like attending a National Hockey League (NHL) game.

My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even though I’m a Wings fan, I still love the game of hockey more than I do any team. It is my Dad that instilled in me the importance of hockey; and how the sport has no room for the nervous.

One thing we at Black Rucksack suggest as an experience for every guy is an NHL game. While simply attending a game is a guaranteed good time, especially when the two teams are among the most exciting (like the Wings), there is more to this suggestion. To really get an understanding of the talent and speed in the game hockey, sit as near to the glass as you can. Catching a game three or four rows off the glass purifies the NHL experience.

To get good tickets, we suggest attending a game in pre-season or during the months of October or November; attendance is usually lower during those months.  Also, you may want to shoot for a weekday game as you’ll also have a better chance at getting good tickets.  StubHub.com is one of the most reputable sources to find tickets sold by other fans.

National Hockey League Game
$50 to $250 per ticket
StubHub.com

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Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Let’s start with the men on this mountain [...]]]>

In Memoriam...

Merry Christmas!

Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Let’s start with the men on this mountain of South Dakota… Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, the 1st, 3rd, 26th and 16th Presidents of the United States. All four are consistently ranked by historians as the most successful, bad ass and effective presidents. Washington led the Continental Army against Britain, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Roosevelt helped create the US Forest Service, negotiated for control of the Panama Canal and busted apart railroad monopolies and Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery. All four have a long list of achievements and deserve all of the honor and praise this monument enshrines.

The visit to the monument in honor of the men listed above is a full experience. En route to Mount Rushmore through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, you’ll enjoy rugged terrain and amazing scenery. There is wildlife abound including bison and bighorn sheep. And, if you plan on hiking… know that there are also mountain lions lurking about. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore you’ll trek through the lower part of the monument featuring a tribute to the 50 states and then onto the viewing platform and the amphitheater. Once you’re on the viewing platform, you finally get a sense of the scale of the monument and its omnipresence. Take a deep breath and take your time once you arrive.

History, wildlife, rugged terrain and a monument honoring great leaders of men…

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
$10 (parking fee)

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And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out.  There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of [...]]]>

Regal Rockies

A man, in his necessary travels, should be sure to cross over and also through the Rocky Mountains.  Their majesty and grandeur is only exceeded by their height.

And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out.  There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of Colorado or perhaps Montana.  This memory will be yours forever; below is an account of mine.

[ At an old saloon on a street of mud... ]
Written on: 2007.Nov.05

In southwestern Colorado lies Wolf Creek pass.  It is a formidable old thoroughfare that has been traversed mostly by locals for a long, long time.  In this great San Juan Mountain pass are snow-capped peaks, lush, green valleys and tranquility.

Story and I stood unhurriedly overlooking the southern edge of this pass.  It was late April, mid-morning and our destination was Denver; we were just entering Wolf Creek pass and our heading was northeast.

I did not stumble on this pass.  It was my father who urged me to take my time driving through Colorado and to avoid highways and freeways when possible.  During a summer in the early ’70′s he travelled this pass on his way to beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona; home of Northern Arizona University, one of his Alma maters.  Though he wasn’t on my road trip back from California, my dad did ride with me out to California and thus I learned of Wolf Creek pass.

As I looked over the valley it was still glazed with a thin layer of fog.  I tried to picture my dad leaning against his ’66 Impala just as I was leaning against my Ford Escape… it was easy to do.  I took in the wonder of the mountains and enjoyed the feeling of the cool, brisk and clean air against my face.  “This place,” I thought to myself, “just became a bridge between generations.”

Rocky Mountain National Park
$20 (Park Entrance Fee)

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]]> http://blackrucksack.com/formidable-old-thoroughfare/feed/ 0 http://blackrucksack.com/in-this-day-age/ http://blackrucksack.com/in-this-day-age/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:00:22 +0000 J. A. http://blackrucksack.com/wp/?p=136 The new, third studio album by Las Vegas quartet The Killers has something for just about everyone. In a follow-up to their highly regarded second album, Sam’s Town, The Killers take a few bold steps into funk dubs and spacey grooves while maintaining their rock roots. “Human”, the first single from the band’s [...]]]>

A dustland fairytale...

The new, third studio album by Las Vegas quartet The Killers has something for just about everyone. In a follow-up to their highly regarded second album, Sam’s Town, The Killers take a few bold steps into funk dubs and spacey grooves while maintaining their rock roots. “Human”, the first single from the band’s third album Day & Age, starts in the realm of electronica and ends up on the edge of alternative rock. The second single, “Spaceman”, is pure alternative rock and one of the best singles of 2008; definitely a song for future jukebox heroes.

“A Dustland Fairytale” is an ever-building rock yarn with a dash of ballad and is by far my favorite on the album. The lyrics, by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, were written specifically about the young romance of his mom and dad when they first met in their teens. Flowers describes his dad as “some kind of slick, chrome American prince.” This song ends with an orchestral flurry that leaves you screaming “ENCORE! ENCORE!”

A few other notable songs: The even groove “This Is Your Life”, the bold reverie “Neon Tiger” and the unbashful “Tidalwave”.

4.5 out of 5 Rucksacks

The Killers – Day & Age
$11

 

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