Dispatch from the Frozen North

It's going to be another 80 degree day in Sunny Southern California. Apparently they get weather in other parts of the country. We only get Hot and Windy. With a 100% chance of Ashy. This from my friend in New York:

Well, it is the second straight day of snow and I am told this is nothing. If it gets much deeper, you will not be able to find my Jack and Maddie [pictured]. We might have to put tracking devices on them and teach Splash how to find them.

hit the books - Into the Wild and The Shock Doctrine

Way behind on the blogging the past couple weeks. Had the friends in from out of town. Somehow being out all hours led to me getting sick. Weird how that works. In any case, we're getting caught up. I know that 2 (of 4) regular readers are looking for book recommendations.

Don't bother with Into the Wild. Krakauer has written some outstanding books, but Wild is not one of them. The main character is a whiny, self-obsessed idiot. (You'd think I would be more understanding since we have so much in common.) No fewer than 1,197 people have rated this book on Amazon and almost half of them gave it 5 stars. The book is described as "haunting" and "poignant". I don't know what's haunting about a spoiled, judgmental rich kid going to Alaska and starving himself to death. I heard the movie was much better than the book. It would have to be. The book is well written but it's a testament to Krakauer that he was able to stretch it into book length. The magazine piece was more than enough.

Highly recommended: The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. She lays the left-wing righteousness on a bit thick at times but it's still a good read. Her reporting is excellent, and her facts are thoroughly researched. Sometimes I want to redline all the adjectives and adverbs so that I can straight to the facts without all the bluster. Even so, this is a great book.

gransfors bruks: because less is more

Saw this in the Outside gear guide. The gear "guide" is a a big advertising brochure jerk-off, but every now and then they feature something exceptional. Like the Gransfors Bruks splitting maul. This thing kicks ass.

Any axe/maul/splitting wedge that comes with it's own book is my kind of tool. I share it with you because it's an example of simplicity as a hallmark of good design. This should be in a museum, but you can buy one for yourself. That is a unique combination.

The original website (in english) has all the information, but you can't buy there. You can get your own at Gransfors.us, but they don't come cheap. You get what you pay for in bespoke tools.