The Recumbent Strategist

H.G. Wells’ Little Wars and table top wargaming:  Basic Training.

Source: The Illustrated London News (1913), The New York Times (2013).

MINImalist caravanning

These are currently only concept vehicles, but it shouldn’t be too hard to kit out your own Mini to look like these.  The ALL4CAMP provides protection at night from short-legged lions (but not necessarily crocodiles)

The Clubvan Camper provides cooking and bathing facilities and a bed for one.

Learn archaeological mapping in Death Valley

A reasonably priced opportunity to visit Death Valley for educational purposes:

Compass to Computer: Learning the Basics of Archeological Mapping
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and Death Valley National Monument are partnering to host a three-day workshop on archeological mapping. The workshop will be held March 11-13, 2014 at Death Valley Monument. The workshop is limited to 20 participants, so please reserve your spot early. Tuition for the workshop is $350 and there is a reduced rate of $250 for students.
Participants will learn the fundamental of archeological mapping using a variety of technologies and techniques. We will map a variety of archeological sites located across Death Valley National Monument—an amazing setting in the spring. We will start with the basics—a compass and tapes—then move through GPS, survey grade GPS, and finally, total station mapping. Laying out a grid, piece-plotting artifacts and mapping features will all be covered in the three day course.

So that’s why they have rumble seats in the back

The Subaru Brat, the most dangerous looking passenger seats ever, and the Chicken Tax. The video from Motor Trend Channel explains the connection (about 4 minutes in) and takes a great looking red and white Brat offroad.

Source: http://www.peopleswheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Subaru-Brat-aldenjewell.jpg

Source: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/e5/68/68/e56868c3f4c12941f8072743b30e80f9.jpg

Matchbooks of the World

A selection of matchbooks from Jeffery Cross’s photo essay, “Strike your Fancy”. See the rest in Afar Magazine (March/April 2014). You may have to get the actual paper magazine, as it does not seem to be available on their web site.  These matchbooks, collected by Connie Hand, however, are:

Midland XTC260VP3 Wearable POV Video Camera

The Midland XTC260VP3 is a moderately priced action camera. It normally retails for around $100, but was recently available at Radio Shack for only $50. It’s currently at $79.99. The camera is lightweight (under 3 oz.) plastic. A waterproof (to 90 feet) plastic case is included, which provides a little more protection.

Also included are a USB Cable, a “universal mount” with adhesive pad, two additional adhesive pads, and the battery (900 mAh lithium-ion). You recharge the battery by plugging it into your computer; if you want to plug it into a wall outlet, you will need to get a separate charger plug. You also need to provide your own micro-SD card, as there’s no built-in memory.

The universal mount slides onto either side of the camera or case, and there’s also a standard 1/4-20 tripod socket on both camera and case. Beneath a rubber flap on the back, there’s the mini-USB socket, the slot for a micro-SD card, and a small switch for choosing either 720p HD at 30 frames per second or standard-definition 640 x 480 at 60 fps. There’s a small microphone on the front of the camera, and a big switch on the top. Slide it forward to start recording and back to stop. See all the stats at the Midland site.

First impressions: Very easy to use, reasonably good quality HD video, may be somewhat fragile, based on the plastic body. Definitely worth the sale price, and not bad at list price, although Midland has a few other full 1080p models for under $200.