Published by J. A. on 30th December 2008
Smooth as silk...
Whisky. Delicious, golden bourbon whisky.
A while back, I was with my Dad, my brother and some of my uncles drinking beer. It was our occasional gathering for shootin’ the breeze, eating chili dogs and tellin’ tales. This particular night I was introduced to a smooth ’small batch’ Kentucky bourbon… Basil Hayden’s.
The taste of Basil Hayden’s has a slight spice, no bite and a very clean finish. It is aged for eight years and the mash contains a larger-than-normal amount of rye. You can expect a smooth, buttery texture from this light, enjoyable whisky.
Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Bourbon Whisky
$36
Published by J. A. on 25th December 2008
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)
Published by J. A. on 23rd December 2008
An American experience...
Among the necessary material in a guys library is On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This book follows the tales of a man across America in the 1940’s and the 1950’s. It characterizes the abandon of youth and the urge of a young man eager to experience life. It’s the American Dream, the college road trip and sex, drugs and jazz all rolled into a single affair… and an important lesson or two.
On the Road is a necessary read due to its personal study on approaching life. And while the explorations and adventures of the main characters are specific and occasionally reckless, their approach to experiencing life is applicable to all and an inspiration.
We don’t suggest using On the Road for a word-for-word template or guide. Rather, the story that Jack Kerouac weaves provides a captivating, nuanced adventure; one that will provide a platform and the motivation for your next road trip! If you’re looking to chronicle that road trip, check out the B[+]R article on Moleskine notebooks.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
$17
Published by J. A. on 18th December 2008
Tablet Tableau
My laptop, after two years, has many signs of wear. The case is cracked, the screen is dingier and the power button does not work without some serious brute force applied. I’ve put it through hell and it has survived… but not well enough. I’ve wanted something tougher… and something that isn’t a giant, widescreen clamshell.
Thankfully, Motion Computing has an answer; the semi-rugged Motion LE 1700 Tablet PC. Most other “tablet” are just clamshell laptops with a monitor that will convert to tablet form. This tablet PC absconds from that tradition and is a true mobile tablet PC. And while it does carry a hefty price tag so far as tablet PC’s are concerned, it is well-worth the coin.
The LE1700 is a touchscreen and has many attachments that make it very versatile, including rugged carrying cases, slick docking solutions and slim extended batteries. It also features a solid state drive (in lieu of the typical hard drive that has weak moving parts) and integrated wi-fi, 3G and Bluetooth.
Motion LE1700 Tablet PC
$2,400
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Published by J. A. on 16th December 2008
Be sure to write it down...
I have quite a few Moleskine notebooks. One diligently tracks my travels; one holds my thoughts, as random as they are. These journals are an absolutely necessary part of my personal life and are really quite handy. Moleskines were more commonly used in a bygone era which is why, I suppose, I use them.
Crafting journals is a bit of a lost art, I believe. Men like Hemingway did it; so did Chatwin. Van Gogh was an intense user of Moleskines as was Picasso.
While sitting in the hurry and fervor of downtown or at some little known house of beer and whisky, writing in a Moleskine proves to be a great getaway. I can be on a busy street on a park bench and not notice a single SUV roaring by … if I am writing in my Moleskine. While traveling, they provide the opposite; I can better focus on the world around me. Accurately translating my travels into a Moleskine is effortless.
Moleskine – Ruled Pocket Notebook
$10
Published by J. A. on 11th December 2008
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)
Published by J. A. on 9th December 2008
Filed Under
clothing, style
Unique, bold and stylish.
Editor’s Note: This is Black Rucksack post 10. We’ve brought you a diverse set of gear thus far and we have a lot more lined up! Onward and upward…
While Armani is best known for their made-to-measure designer suits, they also dabble in prêt-à-porter. The brand ‘Armani Exchange‘ (A|X) is their answer for getting men into branded, off-the-peg t-shirts, polos, jeans and jackets.
The A|X logo’d gear is undeniably choice. The style of Armani is noticeable; it’ll attract (wanted) attention almost anywhere.
The Colorblock Track Jacket is an affordable, unique alternative to the generic track jackets seen on university campuses everywhere come Spring. This jacket will keep you warm and lookin’ relaxed.
Armani Exchange – Colorblock Track Jacket
$98
Published by J. A. on 4th December 2008
Filed Under
clothing, style
Photo by: cabelas.com
Adventure… a guy must have it. It may be the thrill of a hunt or perhaps just setting out on a drive or hike without a specific landing-place. Or maybe, it’s traveling around the world with a black rucksack and letting the locals in each new destination discovery guide you to the next. However you define it, you’ll need a shirt for it. For my adventuring, I choose the Cabela’s Serengeti Safari Shirt.
This shirt has five pockets, epaulets, features 6-ounce-per-square-yard 100% cotton canvas and is highly durable and comfortable. It’ll outlast your boots, your pants and probably a lot of your other gear.
As you button this shirt up you begin to transform… you become not just an adventurer but the adventurer… the man of many talents.
Along the road you may find your transformed-self becoming permanent… that’s perfect. That is what you wanted… the true adventurer to come through for a good, long time.
Perhaps a fedora is in order…?
Cabela’s Serengeti Safari Shirt
$32
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