Riding my bicycle
A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?" The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do." The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path." The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world." The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel." The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings." The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming." The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."
Labels: motorcycles, opinion, writing
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
Words to live by
It is said that "what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
Labels: opinion, writing
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
Two important facts to consider with regard to Obama's recent Peace prize.
FACT #1: According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee website, the deadline date for nomination is Februrary 1.
FACT #2: On Februrary 1, President Obama had been in office for 12 days.
Think about that for a minute.
What a joke.
Labels: opinion
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
Gerber Crucial Multi-tool
In its most simple form, the basic folding pocket knife is an indispensible tool, proving its value to nearly all who carry one on a regular basis. And while handy, the classic folder is missing some rather useful features such as screwdrivers and bottle openers, which is why it isn’t surprising that eventually knife makers were lead to create the venerable and instantly recognizable Swiss Army knife. Over time as the need became apparent for additional features, namely a pair of pliers, the Swiss Army knife eventually evolved into the multi-tool, which has traditionally been a market cornered by Leatherman, though the Victorinox version is superior, neither are very pocket friendly. Finally in very recent years, we have seen yet another split in the evolution of pocket knives, with a new breed of carry friendly mid-size multi-tools, which brings us to the Gerber Crucial.
If a good mid-sized folder managed to convince a multi-tool to have a little ménage à trois with a Swiss Army knife, the Crucial would be their bastard offspring. The Crucial, aptly named for its lack of extraneous tools, pairing down the large scale multi-tool functions to what Gerber designers suspected would be most often used, is an excellent knife with only a few shortcomings. Medium in size, it is about the same length as an average Swiss Army knife and of very similar thickness, though due the pliers it contains, it is a bit wider, being about the same width as a medium sized folder. The blade opens single handedly with ease and locks solidly into place, presenting you with a partially serrated edge on a very thick blade. And while it does seem to be quite robust, you would most likely be ill advised to attempt to pry anything with the blade.
While the majority of most pocket knives are typically called into service for the use of their blades, the added features brought to the table by multi-function pocket knives are just as handy. Not wanting to exclude anything useful, the Crucial also includes a small flat-head as well as Phillips screwdriver, and while partially opening the knife gives you a little better reach with the Phillips, the flat-head is stuck with its diminutive length as its maximum reach. Turning the knife onto its other side we find the carabineer/bottle opener, which functions well as a bottle opener with a nifty bonus being that the carabineer clip holds the bottle cap once popped off, and also seems to hang on reasonably well when clipped to a pack. The final, and solid contender for most useful feature on this knife, are the very nice needle nosed pliers complete with wire cutters which are accessed by fully opening the Crucial to reveal some remarkably comfortable grips.
Personally the lack of a good solid saw is this knife’s one weakness as that is something that gets put to use relatively often on my Swiss Army knives; in spite of this, the Crucial manages to pack some very useful tools into a solid, carry friendly and comfortable pocket knife that has found its way into my routine as my daily carry.
The Gerber Crucial can be found on Amazon.com for about 35 bucks.
If you’d like to check one out in person, head to your nearest REI where they can be had for $40.
Labels: gear, opinion, outdoor, writing
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot
Labels: opinion, writing
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
