Black Rucksack – The Gear, The Lifestyle and The Pastimes of Men

Pete and Myka on adventure...

Warehouse 13 is SyFy’s 2009 ratings phenomena and is coming back today, July 06, 2010 at 9e/8c, with a vengeance.  Featuring Eddie McClintock (on Twitter @EddieMcClintock) as United States Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer and Joanne Kelly as agent Myka Bering, the show focuses on the trials and tribulations of the two agents as they attempt to gather and protect mysterious ‘artifacts’ from falling into the wrong hands.  Ultimately, they serve as Warehouse 13’s curators and keepers, weaving their way through history and mystery.

The show is equal parts adventure, mystery and comedy all rubbed in a little bit of suspense and science fiction.  Truly, it is one of the most enjoyable dramas currently being produced. You absolutely do NOT have to be a sci-fi geek to enjoy this show; it’s accessible to anyone who enjoys a good one hour weekly drama.

Five Reasons To Watch Warehouse 13:

• Adventure and comedy in a perfect mix, not seen since Indiana Jones.
• Eddie, Joanne and Allison – All three are young, fun, and wicked smart.
• The artifacts are based in history… with supernatural tendencies, of course.
• It’s got soul…
• The entire supporting cast is strong and noteworthy.

Investigate, Gather and Protect

I was a casual X-Files fan, so it is easy for me to love this show.  On the other hand, my darling girlfriend is a watcher of The Hills, Desperate Housewives and many other shows of that nature.  She happily enjoys Warehouse 13 and she would absolutely attest to that fact.  Despite our very different taste in entertainment, we have common ground with this show.  Warehouse 13 is a welcome diversion from the mundane and has something for everyone without even having to try to accomplish that feat; it’s inherent in the writing.  Want more proof of its accessibility and entertainment value?  It enjoys a near 50/50 split viewership between men and women… a sci-fi, nerds-only show on SyFy could NOT manage that.

There are many reasons Warehouse 13 succeeds in entertaining, among those are its strong supporting cast.  Joining Pete and Myka at the Warehouse are Allison Scagliotti (on Twitter @allisonscag) who plays Claudia Donovan, the Warehouse’s resident tech-expert and Saul Rubinek as Dr. Artie Nielsen, the director of Warehouse 13.  The cast is rounded out with C. C. H. Pounder as Mrs. Irene Frederic, a shadowy and influential figure and Roger Rees as James MacPherson, nemesis of Warehouse 13 director Artie.

Spoiler Alert:
Season 2 picks up tonight after the explosive ending of Season 1.  Is Artie alive?  What has been unleashed in Warehouse 13?  Expect to see relationships and a betrayal explored through Season 2!

Bottom Line:
-Watch it.  Tonight.  Go on an adventure.

If you want to catch-up on the series (and support Black Rucksack) get the Warehouse 13 – Season One DVD’s from Amazon!

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.

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
-

Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar – $$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks
-

Buca di Beppo – $$$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks

Solace is sometimes hard to find...

He’s got the style, the gear, the women, the car, and the lifestyle that some envy and others just respect.  Still, what we seldom realize about the James Bond character is how he transcends time and changes slightly each iteration.  And this Bond, Daniel Craig’s Bond, is the perfect fit for our time.

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

Super small Shuffle...

After owning each previous version of the iPod Shuffle, the newest third generation shuffle has certainly piqued my interest. The first Shuffle was shaped like a pack of gum and was the first iPod without a screen. The second generation Shuffle shrunk to a clip-shaped design while the capacity increased. Apple has yet again shrunk the Shuffle and increased the capacity, this time to 4GB.

The shape of the third generation iPod Shuffle is essentially a smaller flatter clip. Its dimensions are 1.8″ H x .7″ W x .3″ D and it no longer has buttons on the iPod itself. Instead, the buttons have been relocated to the right earbud cord and Apple’s VoiceOver feature has been built-in. So, by just pressing a button, the iPod will tell you what song is playing and the artist. This interesting move by Apple has prompted a lot of debate though, consumer reception (while critical) seems positive.

Apple iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen, 4GB
$79

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

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

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