3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe
Video: Take A Walk Around The World
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Check out this cleverly shot and edited video from the folks at Humanity.tv, who are working on an interesting interactive series of short films to inspire us to travel. If they're anything like this video, I'm sure they'll be spectacular. In the two minute clip below, our intrepid hero moves between 12 countries that were shot in different scenes over an eight month period, although it all comes together incredibly well. It'll almost definitely put a smile on your face.
Take A Walk (Around the World) from Humanity.TV on Vimeo.
The Five Biggest And Best Climbs Of 2012
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Obviously over the holidays I took a little time off from updating the Adventure Blog, but that didn't mean I wasn't working at all. In fact, I was extremely honored to be asked to contribute a piece to Wired magazine's Extremo Files Blog sharing my pics for the five most impressive climbs of 2012.
I don't want to spoil any of my selections here, suffice to say that each of the climbs that I singled out took place far from the slopes of Everest, which is still the mountain that gets the bulk of the attention on an annual basis. Don't get me wrong, I love to follow what's happening on Everest as well, its just that there are so many climbers on that mountain these days, and very few of them are actually trying something new or pushing the boundaries of mountaineering. Many of the top climbers have taken their considerable skills elsewhere and are trying unique things on other peaks that don't draw nearly the same about of attention.
If you read my blog on a regular basis, you'll certainly have heard me mention a few of the expeditions on more than one occasion. These are the biggest and most daring climbs of last year and definitely deserve some accolades.
I want to thank Jeff Marlow for inviting me to share my list. It was fun to reflect on the mountaineering achievements of last year while putting the story together. Jeff also did a nice job of editing my original work as well. I hope you enjoy reading the story and I'd be interested in hearing your picks for the biggest climbs of last year as well. There certainly were plenty of good ones to choose from.
Obviously over the holidays I took a little time off from updating the Adventure Blog, but that didn't mean I wasn't working at all. In fact, I was extremely honored to be asked to contribute a piece to Wired magazine's Extremo Files Blog sharing my pics for the five most impressive climbs of 2012.I don't want to spoil any of my selections here, suffice to say that each of the climbs that I singled out took place far from the slopes of Everest, which is still the mountain that gets the bulk of the attention on an annual basis. Don't get me wrong, I love to follow what's happening on Everest as well, its just that there are so many climbers on that mountain these days, and very few of them are actually trying something new or pushing the boundaries of mountaineering. Many of the top climbers have taken their considerable skills elsewhere and are trying unique things on other peaks that don't draw nearly the same about of attention.
If you read my blog on a regular basis, you'll certainly have heard me mention a few of the expeditions on more than one occasion. These are the biggest and most daring climbs of last year and definitely deserve some accolades.
I want to thank Jeff Marlow for inviting me to share my list. It was fun to reflect on the mountaineering achievements of last year while putting the story together. Jeff also did a nice job of editing my original work as well. I hope you enjoy reading the story and I'd be interested in hearing your picks for the biggest climbs of last year as well. There certainly were plenty of good ones to choose from.
Antarctica 2012: Eric Waits For Pick-Up, Others Continue South
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If you didn't read my entire Antarctic update from yesterday, you may have missed the news that Eric Larsen has decided to pull the plug on his attempt to ride a bike to the South Pole. He had hoped to pedal from Hercules Inlet to 90ºS, but over the holiday break he discovered that it just wasn't in the cards. High winds were making it very difficult for him to achieve any kind of meaningful milage and he was expending a lot of energy for relatively small gains. Considering his extensive polar experience, I think it is safe to say that Eric knows when to press on and when to call it a day.
For the past week or so, he's been riding back to Hercules and even though he is heading north, and the winds are working in his favor, it hasn't been a smooth ride. The snow and ice have made his bike unstable and it is not uncommon for him to go down when surface conditions change quickly and unexpectedly.
The plan was for ALE to send a Twin Otters aircraft to retrieve Eric and his bike yesterday, but poor weather scrubbed the flight. He had also hoped to arrive back at the Inlet, but was surprised to find that his GPS was telling him that he still had another 20 miles (32 km) or so to go. So, despite the challenges that he has encountered on this expedition, Larsen was actually happy to get another day out on the ice. He may not be able to ride all the way to the South Pole, but that doesn't mean he's in a hurry to head home either.
Reportedly the weather should be better today, so our next report from Eric will probably come from the Union Glacier camp, where he'll wait for a flight back to Punta Arenas, and eventually home. It's a shame that he wasn't able to continue with his Cycling South expedition of course, but I know he had other plans in the works for visiting polar regions in the future.
Aaron Linsdau continues to struggle against the elements on his southward journey. He's been battling terrible sastrugi over the past few days, which have made for slow going and physically punishing sessions. For those who don't know, sastrugi are very hard ridges that form on the ice where the snow collects and they can grow to be quite large at times. They can run for miles on end and the skiers have to slide over them as they go, which saps the strength from their legs, slows their progress greatly and can be brutal on equipment. Aaron estimates he has another three days or so of battling these ridges and after that he hopes surface conditions improve.
To add insult to injury, the cold has really started to take its toll on his body. In addition to the chillblains that he has on his stomach and thighs, he now also has wind/freezer burn on his cheeks, which isn't helping his spirits much either. Considering he has now spent two months out on the ice however, I suppose these nagging injuries are to be expected. Aaron estimates he still has about 154 miles (247 km) to go until he reaches the South Pole, which is roughly another two weeks depending on his speed.
Both Richard Parks and Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir continue to make good time on their respetive marches to the South Pole. Parks knocked off another 33.5 km (20 miles) yesterday, despite less than ideal conditions. High winds made for a long day, but he should still be pleased with his progress thus far. Similarly, Vilborg seems to be laser focused on hitting the 20km (12.1 mile) mark each day, and this workman approach is serving her well. She reports that yesterday was a cold one since the sun wasn't out, but that was the least of her concerns. The solo Icelandic skier says that she is also dealing with sastrugi as well as large crevasses, both of which can really impede progress.
More updates on the Antarctic season soon. We're still a number of days away from any of these explorers from reaching the Pole. It'll certainly be big news when they start to arrive.
If you didn't read my entire Antarctic update from yesterday, you may have missed the news that Eric Larsen has decided to pull the plug on his attempt to ride a bike to the South Pole. He had hoped to pedal from Hercules Inlet to 90ºS, but over the holiday break he discovered that it just wasn't in the cards. High winds were making it very difficult for him to achieve any kind of meaningful milage and he was expending a lot of energy for relatively small gains. Considering his extensive polar experience, I think it is safe to say that Eric knows when to press on and when to call it a day.For the past week or so, he's been riding back to Hercules and even though he is heading north, and the winds are working in his favor, it hasn't been a smooth ride. The snow and ice have made his bike unstable and it is not uncommon for him to go down when surface conditions change quickly and unexpectedly.
The plan was for ALE to send a Twin Otters aircraft to retrieve Eric and his bike yesterday, but poor weather scrubbed the flight. He had also hoped to arrive back at the Inlet, but was surprised to find that his GPS was telling him that he still had another 20 miles (32 km) or so to go. So, despite the challenges that he has encountered on this expedition, Larsen was actually happy to get another day out on the ice. He may not be able to ride all the way to the South Pole, but that doesn't mean he's in a hurry to head home either.
Reportedly the weather should be better today, so our next report from Eric will probably come from the Union Glacier camp, where he'll wait for a flight back to Punta Arenas, and eventually home. It's a shame that he wasn't able to continue with his Cycling South expedition of course, but I know he had other plans in the works for visiting polar regions in the future.
Aaron Linsdau continues to struggle against the elements on his southward journey. He's been battling terrible sastrugi over the past few days, which have made for slow going and physically punishing sessions. For those who don't know, sastrugi are very hard ridges that form on the ice where the snow collects and they can grow to be quite large at times. They can run for miles on end and the skiers have to slide over them as they go, which saps the strength from their legs, slows their progress greatly and can be brutal on equipment. Aaron estimates he has another three days or so of battling these ridges and after that he hopes surface conditions improve.
To add insult to injury, the cold has really started to take its toll on his body. In addition to the chillblains that he has on his stomach and thighs, he now also has wind/freezer burn on his cheeks, which isn't helping his spirits much either. Considering he has now spent two months out on the ice however, I suppose these nagging injuries are to be expected. Aaron estimates he still has about 154 miles (247 km) to go until he reaches the South Pole, which is roughly another two weeks depending on his speed.
Both Richard Parks and Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir continue to make good time on their respetive marches to the South Pole. Parks knocked off another 33.5 km (20 miles) yesterday, despite less than ideal conditions. High winds made for a long day, but he should still be pleased with his progress thus far. Similarly, Vilborg seems to be laser focused on hitting the 20km (12.1 mile) mark each day, and this workman approach is serving her well. She reports that yesterday was a cold one since the sun wasn't out, but that was the least of her concerns. The solo Icelandic skier says that she is also dealing with sastrugi as well as large crevasses, both of which can really impede progress.
More updates on the Antarctic season soon. We're still a number of days away from any of these explorers from reaching the Pole. It'll certainly be big news when they start to arrive.
Winter Climbs 2013: Lonnie Dupre Waits In Talkeetna
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Now that winter is officially here, and the holidays have come and gone, it is time for the winter mountaineering season to ramp up. Over the past couple of years, one of the focal points of that season has been Lonnie Dupre's attempts to climb Denali in January, a bitterly cold and inhospitable month on that mountain. After having his expedition stalled out the past two years due to bad weather, Lonnie is back in Alaska once again this year and preparing to give it another go.
At the moment, Dupre is waiting in the small town of Talkeetna where he is hoping to catch an air taxi out to his starting point soon. He has been there for several days now, but so far the weather has kept all flights grounded and patience remains the word of the day. In an update to his Facebook page, Lonnie says that he isn't concerned about the delays just yet, as he has padded his schedule to account for these issues. He explains some of the logistics in the video below.
Standing 6194 meters (20,320 ft) in height, Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. It also happens to be well known for it's notoriously bad weather, even during the warmer months of the year. That makes climbing it in winter a dicey proposition at best and as a result, there have been only a handful of successful summits during that season, and none in January. Lonnie hopes to change that by becoming the first to climb the mountain during the coldest month of the year, and like his past expeditions to the peak, he'll try to do so without a tent. Instead, he'll dig a series of snow caves which will serve as his camps on the mountain and he'll spend the first few weeks shuttling gear to those points.
Hopefully the weather will clear soon and the expedition can truly get underway. Look for regular updates on Lonnie's progress in the days to come.
Now that winter is officially here, and the holidays have come and gone, it is time for the winter mountaineering season to ramp up. Over the past couple of years, one of the focal points of that season has been Lonnie Dupre's attempts to climb Denali in January, a bitterly cold and inhospitable month on that mountain. After having his expedition stalled out the past two years due to bad weather, Lonnie is back in Alaska once again this year and preparing to give it another go.At the moment, Dupre is waiting in the small town of Talkeetna where he is hoping to catch an air taxi out to his starting point soon. He has been there for several days now, but so far the weather has kept all flights grounded and patience remains the word of the day. In an update to his Facebook page, Lonnie says that he isn't concerned about the delays just yet, as he has padded his schedule to account for these issues. He explains some of the logistics in the video below.
Standing 6194 meters (20,320 ft) in height, Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. It also happens to be well known for it's notoriously bad weather, even during the warmer months of the year. That makes climbing it in winter a dicey proposition at best and as a result, there have been only a handful of successful summits during that season, and none in January. Lonnie hopes to change that by becoming the first to climb the mountain during the coldest month of the year, and like his past expeditions to the peak, he'll try to do so without a tent. Instead, he'll dig a series of snow caves which will serve as his camps on the mountain and he'll spend the first few weeks shuttling gear to those points.
Hopefully the weather will clear soon and the expedition can truly get underway. Look for regular updates on Lonnie's progress in the days to come.
Adventure Tech: Leikr GPS Watch
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GPS watches are all the rage these days and with good reason. Over the past few years, the devices have evolved into wrist computers, tracking direction, distance, speed, altitude and more. This makes them incredibly useful for outdoor enthusiasts, runners, cyclists and others who want to track their performance and speed.
The market has been dominated by the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Magellan for some time, but there may be a new offering coming soon to help shake things up a bit. A company called Leikr, which was founded by former Nokia engineers, has unveiled a new GPS watch and is currently looking for funding through a Kickstarter campaign. How does it differ from the competition? Well for starters it features a two-inch touch screen that not only displays a host of fitness info, but can also show off detailed full color maps as well. The device uses OpenStreetMap data and links in with Endomondo to share workout info over the web and is protected with tough gorilla glass to ensure it stays safe. The techs behind the project promise fast GPS signal acquisition and wireless connectivity with the cloud, meaning you won't have to plug the watch into anything until you're ready to charge it. Considering they are also promising long battery life, that may not be as often as similar products currently on the market.
The Kickstarter campaign is just under way and the team is hoping to raise $250,000 to fund development of their watch. At the moment, they've collected about $40,000 with 28 days yet to go. So while they haven't exactly secured their funding just yet, they're off to a promising start.
For fitness buffs, this looks like a great addition to the workout routine. I'm digging the styling and information it puts at your fingertips. The project is really interesting and since I'm considering investing in one of these watches in the semi-near future, I'll be keeping an eye on the progress to see how tis plays out.
GPS watches are all the rage these days and with good reason. Over the past few years, the devices have evolved into wrist computers, tracking direction, distance, speed, altitude and more. This makes them incredibly useful for outdoor enthusiasts, runners, cyclists and others who want to track their performance and speed.The market has been dominated by the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Magellan for some time, but there may be a new offering coming soon to help shake things up a bit. A company called Leikr, which was founded by former Nokia engineers, has unveiled a new GPS watch and is currently looking for funding through a Kickstarter campaign. How does it differ from the competition? Well for starters it features a two-inch touch screen that not only displays a host of fitness info, but can also show off detailed full color maps as well. The device uses OpenStreetMap data and links in with Endomondo to share workout info over the web and is protected with tough gorilla glass to ensure it stays safe. The techs behind the project promise fast GPS signal acquisition and wireless connectivity with the cloud, meaning you won't have to plug the watch into anything until you're ready to charge it. Considering they are also promising long battery life, that may not be as often as similar products currently on the market.
The Kickstarter campaign is just under way and the team is hoping to raise $250,000 to fund development of their watch. At the moment, they've collected about $40,000 with 28 days yet to go. So while they haven't exactly secured their funding just yet, they're off to a promising start.
For fitness buffs, this looks like a great addition to the workout routine. I'm digging the styling and information it puts at your fingertips. The project is really interesting and since I'm considering investing in one of these watches in the semi-near future, I'll be keeping an eye on the progress to see how tis plays out.
2 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
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... there is no subsitute for paying attention.
- Diane Sawyer
Trip
WALKING into the local grocery store the first week in January, I nearly tripped over a pallet of Slim Fast. I smiled at this excellent piece of "prophetic marketing" - knowing what the customer wants before she wants it.
The owner of this store knows that with each New Year nearly every American resolves to lose weight. The diet related products are in place on New Year's Eve. And he follows this marketing strategy all year long. In February, ice chests will line the high traffic areas within their stores. Outdoor accessories are on display weeks before spring arrives. School supplies are on the shelves by the end of June. This business owner anticipates each season months before its arrival.
How can you adapt prophetic marketing to your business? What seasons do your customers follow? Are they sports oriented? Do they own a boat? Do they follow the hunting seasons? Answering questions about your customers' seasonal inclinations will offer clues that enable you to anticipate their personal needs.
Another way to anticipate your customer's needs is to be sure you have everything required to use your product. For example, my wife went into a store to buy a mailbox. She picked out one made out of wood. An alert salesman pointed out that she would need to weatherproof the mailbox. He then proceeded to take her to each location for the other products she needed - sealant, sandpaper, brush, paint thinner.
Identifying what your customer wants before she wants it can place you in an invincible position. Any business can furnish customers what they want when they want it, but to give a customer what they want and how they want it before they actually want it, is Customer Service that knows no equal.
TURNAROUND TIP: This level of Customer Service is all about strategy. Below are three more ways you can learn to "read your customer's mind."
1.Help customers to identify their needs. Some people don't plan for their needs until they become urgent. Convince them of the value of pre-planning. Understand in detail your customer's business to see where your product fits in.
2.Make it a group effort. Get together with your colleagues and share information about customers and their product or service requirements. Cooperation is the key to making your business successful. Discuss ideas on problem prevention. Share current resources of information about each cust-omer.
3.Explore all of the capabilities of your products in relation to each customer. You may find that your service or product can help customers in ways they hadn't imagined. Be sure your clients fully understand all of the uses for your product or service.
By using these strategies, you will gain loyal customers, increased sales and less stress from unforeseen problems.
Needs Based Selling - Reading Your Customer's Mind
ike Dandridge md@theperformancepro.com Mike is the founder of High Voltage Performance, a consulting firm that specializes in designing customer experiences for the industrial marketplace. He is a keynote speaker and a seminar leader with 25 years experience in electrical wholesale distribution. Dandridge is author of, The One Year Business Turnaround, a book based on his years in wholesale, containing a year’s worth of ideas for improving your customer service. You may reach Mike at 254-624-6299. Visit his Website at http://www.highvoltageperformance.com. Subscribe to his blog at http://www.businessturnaround.blogs.com.
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
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What created Goodman Brown? A man so tormented by what even he considered to be a dream that it changed his life in a profound negative way forever. Goodman Brown was man plagued by his own conscious; he was someone who believed himself to have committed grave sin by meeting with the devil and participating in a witches meeting in his dreams. This spoke of an era where people were overcome with religious guilt and superstition. As a result of Brown's dream he suspected everyone in the town of being cohorts with the devil, in addition his superstition and questioning of his own self overcame his ability to trust or believe in anyone else. He died a bitter, unhappy, miserable man.
In order to fully understand the character of Young Goodman Brown we must first understand the era he comes from. Although Hawthorne does not state directly whether or not the plot of this story takes place in Salem in the seventeenth century, his references to other characters clearly imply it does. His references to Martha Carrier, Martha Cory, and Sarah Cloyse, all women hanged as witches in 1692; as well as his reference to King William who ruled England from 1650-1702 tell of this horrid time where people killed, tortured, burned, executed and suspected that everyone from their sister to there neighbor might be in contact with the devil. As a result of this environment of suspicion and paranoia Goodman might have felt as though his dream was in reality a lack of faith on his part. He may have felt so guilty for experiencing this dream that he thought he, as well as the people in his life were guilty of coercing with the devil.
Journey
Goodman Brown might have been Hawthorne's expression of his own struggles with his faith in humanity and himself. Hawthorne was a guilt ridden person and I believe that he had many instances when his faith was tested. Brown is Hawthorne to a lesser extent. Goodman Brown starts out as a good, happy, decent man; he seems very content. All of this changes when he decides against the advice of his wife faith (the symbolism is obvious here) that he should go out on a journey into the woods to meet with the devil. I believe path in the woods to be his continued decent into metaphorical as well as literal darkness. As he continues down the woods he reaches the pinnacle of his journey when he comes upon the witches meeting. Once Brown reaches this point he loses his faith despite his last ditch effort to save his wife. He never knows if he was able to save her. This doubt is what destroyed him.
Brown's motivation for meeting with the devil is never made absolutely clear and can only be speculated by the devil's references to others that have come into his fold. He speaks of the King, Goodman's father and grandfather, the deacon, minister and mayor. The devil makes it appear that everyone with any power, success or for that matter anyone that means anything to Goodman is in fact allied with Satan. Although Goodman resists the devils temptations at first; as more and more people are brought to his attention as being followers of the dark one, the idea becomes more acceptable. I believe Brown's motivation to meet with the devil was power; he wanted an advantage over others to achieve his goals. This may have contributed to his last ditch effort to save faith when he shouted "Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One". When he arrived at the witches meeting he discovered that everyone already had the advantage of being on the wicked side and had already sold there souls for money, power, or prestige. He was able to see that nothing would put him ahead of anyone else by following through with his original task. He had nothing to win and everything to lose by making an alliance with the devil. Unfortunately for Young Goodman Brown it was too late for his soul to be saved. He reached the point of no return and not only didn't he reap any benefit from his ordeal but lost every bit of happiness he previously possessed.
Goodman Brown was a man destroyed by his own obsession. He lived a miserable life as a result of the guilt he felt for embarking on a dark journey in his dreams; which resulted in his suspicion of everyone and a lack of trust for individuals in his community, himself and humanity. The only way Goodman Brown would have been able to save his faith would have been to never embark on the dark path.
by John Schlismann
A Character Analysis of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
John Schlismann has an interest in American Literature.
To read Young Goodman Brown goto:
http://www.online-literature.com/short.php/158
Europe's top 10 golf courses beyond Great Britain
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Today I found interesting course rankings from Golf World Magazine. Golf World Magazine's top 100 courses in Europe ranks those within mainland Europe, leaving out those in Britain & Ireland. The top 10 of the rankings are as follows:
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
1. Les Bordes Golf Club
2. Golf de Morfontaine
3. Royal Hague Golf & CC
4. Royal Zoute Golf Club
5. Le Golf National
6. Valderrama Golf Club
7. Kennemer Golf & Country Club
8. PGA Golf de Catalunya
9. Noordwijkse Golf Club
10. Bro Hof Slott Golf Club
And so it is Les Bordes Golf Club that is the top course for continental Europe. Not a golf course that I've heard much about, but it's a large one that stretches approximately 7,000 yards. The course is set in the forests of Sologne, in France, alongside the River Loire. As such, this golf course's holes are combined with both water and the birch forest.
A number of other French golf courses are included on the list. Among them the Le Golf National which is a future venue for the Ryder Cup, and the Golf de Morfontaine is another of France's gems which ranks in at second. Both climb above more famous courses such as the great Valderrama Golf Club, a golfing mecca that has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. Set alongside the Pyrenees, on the eastern Spanish coastline, is the PGA Catalunya Golf Course which is another PGA Tour course in Spain ranked among the top 10.
I'm not sure how many of these courses are public ones, but if membership is not required they are certainly worth noting for a golfing vacation in Spain and France. Check out the Planet Golf site for the full rankings of Europe's finest courses. Additional Golf Digest course rankings for the USA can be found in previous posts on this blog.
Magnetic Golf Hat
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A few days back I unwrapped a golf hat. This was a Titleist golf hat that had one notable addition that most likely do not include. A magnetic ball marker came included with it.At the front right of the golf hat there is a magnetic field. With this magnetic field you can stick golf ball markers of various shapes and sizes so long as they are magnetic. You can even stick coins to the hat as well!
With a magnetic golf hat such as this you won't lose your ball markers. With those you can mark your ball on the putting green, and lift it up if required. If your ball has accumulated mud from the course it can then be wiped, and placed back down where you left the ball marker.
With a magnetic golf hat such as this you won't lose your ball markers. With those you can mark your ball on the putting green, and lift it up if required. If your ball has accumulated mud from the course it can then be wiped, and placed back down where you left the ball marker.
Guest Blogging on AG
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Hello and happy new year! In 2013 Amateur Golfer will be including guest blog posts, so long as suitable posts are submitted. Guest blog posts are those that are not produced by the original blog owner, i.e. myself. At the end of each post links can then be included back to the guest blogger's blog.
Suitable guest blog posts can include golf course reviews, or golf travel destinations, but not anything relating to PGA golf championships. It would also be great to have some golf photography blog posts. Include a title with the blog post. Images can also be added with guest blog post submissions.
To submit a guest blog post to Amateur Golfer post your email address at the end of this post, or any other on the blog. Then I'll get in touch about Amateur Golfer guest blogging.
Suitable guest blog posts can include golf course reviews, or golf travel destinations, but not anything relating to PGA golf championships. It would also be great to have some golf photography blog posts. Include a title with the blog post. Images can also be added with guest blog post submissions.
To submit a guest blog post to Amateur Golfer post your email address at the end of this post, or any other on the blog. Then I'll get in touch about Amateur Golfer guest blogging.
1 Ocak 2013 Salı
Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron Completed Trek Across The Empty Quarter
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Adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron have completed their 1000-mile (1600 km) long trek across the Empty Quarter, arriving yesterday in Dubai. After spending nearly six weeks in the desert, the two men finished their expedition at the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which had to have served as quite the contrast to the environment they had been traveling through.
The Empty Quarter, or Rub' al Khali, is the largest sand desert in the world, stretching out across much of the Arabian Peninsula. This vast and largely unexplored section of the world covers parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, spreading out over some 225,000 square miles (583,000 sq. km).
Inspired by their hero Wilfred Thesiger, who made two famous expeditions into the Empty Quarter himself, Alastair and Leon set out in early November to explore that desolate place for themselves. Lugging all of their gear behind them in a cart that weighed 250 kg (551 pounds), the two men were able to navigate across the desert, using Bedouin watering holes to refresh their supply of drinking water as they went. Their no frills, grassroots approach to adventure has paid off, as they were able to make the crossing in a completely self supported way.
While out in the desert, neither Alastair or Leon shared much about their experience. Now that they are home however, that is likely to change. Look for updates to both men's blogs to find out what it was like for them on this amazing adventure.
Congratulations to both Alastair and Leon for a job well done. Now get home in time for the holidays boys.
Adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron have completed their 1000-mile (1600 km) long trek across the Empty Quarter, arriving yesterday in Dubai. After spending nearly six weeks in the desert, the two men finished their expedition at the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which had to have served as quite the contrast to the environment they had been traveling through.The Empty Quarter, or Rub' al Khali, is the largest sand desert in the world, stretching out across much of the Arabian Peninsula. This vast and largely unexplored section of the world covers parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, spreading out over some 225,000 square miles (583,000 sq. km).
Inspired by their hero Wilfred Thesiger, who made two famous expeditions into the Empty Quarter himself, Alastair and Leon set out in early November to explore that desolate place for themselves. Lugging all of their gear behind them in a cart that weighed 250 kg (551 pounds), the two men were able to navigate across the desert, using Bedouin watering holes to refresh their supply of drinking water as they went. Their no frills, grassroots approach to adventure has paid off, as they were able to make the crossing in a completely self supported way.
While out in the desert, neither Alastair or Leon shared much about their experience. Now that they are home however, that is likely to change. Look for updates to both men's blogs to find out what it was like for them on this amazing adventure.
Congratulations to both Alastair and Leon for a job well done. Now get home in time for the holidays boys.
Richard Bangs: The Cayman Islands - Fifty Shades of Bay (Part 2)
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Today we have part two of the guest contribution from Richard Bangs, the host of the television show Adventures with a Purpose. Richard continues his exploration of the Cayman Islands, a Caribbean paradise that offers a little something for every kind of traveler. Enjoy!
The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs
Part 2 of 4 Parts
From here I wind back to the western side of the island, to Lighthouse Point, to meet Nancy Easterbrook, the fire behind a critical ecological initiative in the Caribbean: Eat a fish; Save the fish.
Nancy, who is managing partner of Divetech, says in recent years the beautiful Indo-Pacific lionfish, studded with toxin-tipped spines, has found its way to the Caribbean, and is not only rapidly pro-creating (one female can produce 2 million eggs a year), but vigorously reducing the populations of native fish, insatiably gobbling up juveniles and hurting the reef habitat. It is an abundance that produces scarcity. Besides the threat of species elimination, there is a looming fiscal threat as well. Since diving the clear waters of the Cayman Islands, so vivid with their extraordinary array of marine life, is a key tourism draw, the loss of native tropical fish could send divers elsewhere, an economically devastating scenario.
How did this scourge get here? Some guess from ballast water released by freighters after passing through the Panama Canal; others believe from home aquariums in Florida, perhaps emptied during a hurricane. However they got here, they’re multiplying and devouring like zombies.
Throughout the world overfishing is a critical issue. But not here, at least when it comes to lionfish. In response to the invasion the Department of Environment offers culling courses and licenses special slings to capture and kill lionfish. Several dive companies set aside a day a week for hunting lionfish. And restaurants are buying the fish
Nassau groupers have the big mouths needed to devour lionfish. They routinely follow divers and consume lionfish speared by divers. If the grouper can learn to attack and consume lionfish without the aid of divers, then natural controls will take effect. After all, in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean lionfish populations are maintained at equilibrium by local predators, such as large groupers and reef sharks.
Nancy hands me a flier called “Cayman Sea Sense,” which outlines restaurants that are certified ocean friendly, and says I should boycott eateries that serve grouper, and instead look for places offering up lionfish, such as The Greenhouse, a new café in the neighborhood. The cook and co-owner, Jennifer Skrinska, fries up, in coconut oil, some lightly-floured lionfish, a flash in the pan we hope not…and concocts a lionfish ceviche served with homemade flatbread, which, though small in portions, is terribly tasty….and, if enough folks eat lionfish, encouraging more fishermen to clip the weed fish of the Caribbean, then the other, native fish will remain in healthy numbers. So, eat a fish, save the fish.
After lunch I catch a Cayman Airways Express Twin Otter to Cayman Brac, 90 miles to the northeast. At 12-miles long and a mile wide, it is the second largest of the trine that make up the the Cayman Islands. I check into the Alexander Hotel, have a cold Caybrew at the bar, and head out to explore with local guide Keino Daley.
There are no inclusive resorts in Cayman Brac; no casinos; golf courses; little in the way of shopping, and just a few restaurants. But it has birds, trails, cliffs, reefs, and caves. Brac and its sister island, Little Cayman, move to the rhythms of the natural world, relics of what the Caribbean used to be.
As we slope uphill Keino says the island is named for the limestone bluff, or Brac in Scottish Gaelic, that looms at its peak at 141 feet above the sea, where sits a solar-powered lighthouse, highest structure throughout the islands.
Then we climb down a cliff overlooking Spot Bay, Keino’s hometown, and crawl into Peter's Cave, one of 170 littoral caves on the island. Rumors persist this, and other grottoes, were used as lairs by pirates, even perhaps Captain Morgan and Blackbeard, using the dark recesses to hide their booty.
I was an active spelunker in college, and back then used a carbide lamp attached to a helmet to negotiate the stygian passages. Other times throughout the years I’ve used flashlights, headlamps, even candles and torches. But none of these illuminating accessories are with me now, so instead I tap the flashlight app on my iPhone (which is in turn attached to an Energizer charger so as not to lose juice while deep in some defile), and the dark world is alight.
Though not a deep cave, Peter’s has its share of fairy tale beauty and spelean riches. The flowstones look like melting cake icing; the cave coral like popcorn; the draperies like strips of bacon; and the Aragonite crystals like frostwork, or frozen flowers. Though no treasure be found, the long-winged bat of imagination soars here.
Back at the Alexander Hotel the manager Karen Gascoigne wants to show off her latest toy, a two-seater Wheego LiFe, the first electric car on the island, and the first offered to hotel guests in the Caribbean, she says. As we tool to a vanilla-hued beach for sundown she says the car can travel about 100 miles on a single charge (more distance than all Brac roads combined), and can reach 80 miles per hour, though she has yet to test that claim.
Karen says it is the right kind of vehicle for an eco-destination such as Brac. And it is quiet, to match the mood of the place.
Not so that night. It’s Friday, but crawling around caves is exhausting, and so after a rum cocktail and some jerk chicken at the Captain’s Table, and I take to bed early. But down by the bar it’s Cowboy karaoke open mic, and even with earplugs, the party seems to be at the end of my bed. When I was president of Outward Bound I realized, after reading countless accounts of sunsets and rainbows in the journals submitted by participants, that the organization might just be responsible for more bad poetry than any other on earth. And about 2:00 this morning I realize that the Alexander Hotel could be responsible for more bad singing than any other, at least in the Caribbean.
A blue dawn at last swallows the ink of night. I take the twin otter on a 10-minute hop to Little Cayman, the smallest of the archipelago, shaped like a 10-mile-long coral cigar. Only about 160 folks live here year round, so it’s more like a family picnic than a municipality. Nobody locks their homes, and they keep the keys in their cars.
The first sign upon walking into the closet-sized airport: “Terminal A, Gate 1,” painted by the chortling baggage boy. The next sign is on the road, “Iguanas have the right of way.” There are more iguanas than people here. More hermit crabs on the roads than people. More of almost any living native creature than people. This elongated spit hosts the largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean, full of red-footed boobies, whistling ducks and frigates. Electricity didn't make it here until 1990, and phone service until 1991. This is my kind of place.
I’ve decided to come here for a digital detox; to surrender to a sanctuary unplugged. But even Little Cayman seems too crowded and connected. There is even Wi-Fi.
So, I hire a little outboard boat to take me to Owen Island, a true desert island off the southern coast of Little Cayman. The isle has no lights; no electricity; no man-made structures; no men or women. Just talcum-soft white sand, driftwood, scrub and a lagoon.
But as the little boat is pulling away after dropping me off I yell to Jeremy, the driver, “When will you come back to pick me up?”
“Call me when you’re ready,” he shouts over the din.
“But I’m on a digital detox.” I protest as he disappears over the blue waves. I dig into my pack, exhume my buried cell phone, and turn it on, against the self-imposed rules. There is, to my amazement, a signal. But the battery is low, so I turn the phone off and entomb it again.
Today we have part two of the guest contribution from Richard Bangs, the host of the television show Adventures with a Purpose. Richard continues his exploration of the Cayman Islands, a Caribbean paradise that offers a little something for every kind of traveler. Enjoy!The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs
Part 2 of 4 Parts
From here I wind back to the western side of the island, to Lighthouse Point, to meet Nancy Easterbrook, the fire behind a critical ecological initiative in the Caribbean: Eat a fish; Save the fish.
Nancy, who is managing partner of Divetech, says in recent years the beautiful Indo-Pacific lionfish, studded with toxin-tipped spines, has found its way to the Caribbean, and is not only rapidly pro-creating (one female can produce 2 million eggs a year), but vigorously reducing the populations of native fish, insatiably gobbling up juveniles and hurting the reef habitat. It is an abundance that produces scarcity. Besides the threat of species elimination, there is a looming fiscal threat as well. Since diving the clear waters of the Cayman Islands, so vivid with their extraordinary array of marine life, is a key tourism draw, the loss of native tropical fish could send divers elsewhere, an economically devastating scenario.
How did this scourge get here? Some guess from ballast water released by freighters after passing through the Panama Canal; others believe from home aquariums in Florida, perhaps emptied during a hurricane. However they got here, they’re multiplying and devouring like zombies.
Throughout the world overfishing is a critical issue. But not here, at least when it comes to lionfish. In response to the invasion the Department of Environment offers culling courses and licenses special slings to capture and kill lionfish. Several dive companies set aside a day a week for hunting lionfish. And restaurants are buying the fish
Nassau groupers have the big mouths needed to devour lionfish. They routinely follow divers and consume lionfish speared by divers. If the grouper can learn to attack and consume lionfish without the aid of divers, then natural controls will take effect. After all, in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean lionfish populations are maintained at equilibrium by local predators, such as large groupers and reef sharks.
Nancy hands me a flier called “Cayman Sea Sense,” which outlines restaurants that are certified ocean friendly, and says I should boycott eateries that serve grouper, and instead look for places offering up lionfish, such as The Greenhouse, a new café in the neighborhood. The cook and co-owner, Jennifer Skrinska, fries up, in coconut oil, some lightly-floured lionfish, a flash in the pan we hope not…and concocts a lionfish ceviche served with homemade flatbread, which, though small in portions, is terribly tasty….and, if enough folks eat lionfish, encouraging more fishermen to clip the weed fish of the Caribbean, then the other, native fish will remain in healthy numbers. So, eat a fish, save the fish.
After lunch I catch a Cayman Airways Express Twin Otter to Cayman Brac, 90 miles to the northeast. At 12-miles long and a mile wide, it is the second largest of the trine that make up the the Cayman Islands. I check into the Alexander Hotel, have a cold Caybrew at the bar, and head out to explore with local guide Keino Daley.
There are no inclusive resorts in Cayman Brac; no casinos; golf courses; little in the way of shopping, and just a few restaurants. But it has birds, trails, cliffs, reefs, and caves. Brac and its sister island, Little Cayman, move to the rhythms of the natural world, relics of what the Caribbean used to be. As we slope uphill Keino says the island is named for the limestone bluff, or Brac in Scottish Gaelic, that looms at its peak at 141 feet above the sea, where sits a solar-powered lighthouse, highest structure throughout the islands.
Then we climb down a cliff overlooking Spot Bay, Keino’s hometown, and crawl into Peter's Cave, one of 170 littoral caves on the island. Rumors persist this, and other grottoes, were used as lairs by pirates, even perhaps Captain Morgan and Blackbeard, using the dark recesses to hide their booty.
I was an active spelunker in college, and back then used a carbide lamp attached to a helmet to negotiate the stygian passages. Other times throughout the years I’ve used flashlights, headlamps, even candles and torches. But none of these illuminating accessories are with me now, so instead I tap the flashlight app on my iPhone (which is in turn attached to an Energizer charger so as not to lose juice while deep in some defile), and the dark world is alight.
Though not a deep cave, Peter’s has its share of fairy tale beauty and spelean riches. The flowstones look like melting cake icing; the cave coral like popcorn; the draperies like strips of bacon; and the Aragonite crystals like frostwork, or frozen flowers. Though no treasure be found, the long-winged bat of imagination soars here.
Back at the Alexander Hotel the manager Karen Gascoigne wants to show off her latest toy, a two-seater Wheego LiFe, the first electric car on the island, and the first offered to hotel guests in the Caribbean, she says. As we tool to a vanilla-hued beach for sundown she says the car can travel about 100 miles on a single charge (more distance than all Brac roads combined), and can reach 80 miles per hour, though she has yet to test that claim.
Karen says it is the right kind of vehicle for an eco-destination such as Brac. And it is quiet, to match the mood of the place.
Not so that night. It’s Friday, but crawling around caves is exhausting, and so after a rum cocktail and some jerk chicken at the Captain’s Table, and I take to bed early. But down by the bar it’s Cowboy karaoke open mic, and even with earplugs, the party seems to be at the end of my bed. When I was president of Outward Bound I realized, after reading countless accounts of sunsets and rainbows in the journals submitted by participants, that the organization might just be responsible for more bad poetry than any other on earth. And about 2:00 this morning I realize that the Alexander Hotel could be responsible for more bad singing than any other, at least in the Caribbean.
A blue dawn at last swallows the ink of night. I take the twin otter on a 10-minute hop to Little Cayman, the smallest of the archipelago, shaped like a 10-mile-long coral cigar. Only about 160 folks live here year round, so it’s more like a family picnic than a municipality. Nobody locks their homes, and they keep the keys in their cars.
The first sign upon walking into the closet-sized airport: “Terminal A, Gate 1,” painted by the chortling baggage boy. The next sign is on the road, “Iguanas have the right of way.” There are more iguanas than people here. More hermit crabs on the roads than people. More of almost any living native creature than people. This elongated spit hosts the largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean, full of red-footed boobies, whistling ducks and frigates. Electricity didn't make it here until 1990, and phone service until 1991. This is my kind of place.
I’ve decided to come here for a digital detox; to surrender to a sanctuary unplugged. But even Little Cayman seems too crowded and connected. There is even Wi-Fi.
So, I hire a little outboard boat to take me to Owen Island, a true desert island off the southern coast of Little Cayman. The isle has no lights; no electricity; no man-made structures; no men or women. Just talcum-soft white sand, driftwood, scrub and a lagoon.
But as the little boat is pulling away after dropping me off I yell to Jeremy, the driver, “When will you come back to pick me up?”
“Call me when you’re ready,” he shouts over the din.
“But I’m on a digital detox.” I protest as he disappears over the blue waves. I dig into my pack, exhume my buried cell phone, and turn it on, against the self-imposed rules. There is, to my amazement, a signal. But the battery is low, so I turn the phone off and entomb it again.
Antarctica 2012: Cycling South!
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Today is another busy one in Antarctica, where two new expeditions officially being, even as the early skiers continue their march to the South Pole. Meanwhile, over on Mt. Vinson, the teams prepare for another round of summits on the continent's highest mountain.
Probably the highest profile expedition of this Antarctic season is Eric Larsen's Cycle South project. Over the next few weeks, Eric, who is a veteran of arctic exploration, will be attempting to ride a specially designed mountain bike some 700 miles (1126 km) from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. He arrived at Union Glacier yesterday and spent most of the day getting his gear prepped and the bike assembled. If everything goes according to schedule, he should hop a short flight over to Hercules today and begin the ride. If he is successful, Eric will be the first person to ride a bike the full distance to the South Pole. Earlier this year, Brit Helen Skelton rode her bike to the Pole, but it was from a much shorter distance.
For those that are curious, Larsen will be riding a Surly Moonlander outfitted with special tires that are 4.8 inches (12.1 cm) thick. The rugged frame and thick tires will allow him, in theory, to ride over the ice and snow more smoothly and hopefully survive the rough sastrugi that are so common in the Antarctic. He'll be carrying most of his gear and supplies in panniers built by Granite Gear and he hopes to make the return trip from 90ºS back to Hercules, weather and time permitting.
Also on his way to the Hercules start today is Richard Parks, who arrived at Union Glacier with Eric yesterday. There hasn't been any updates from Richard yet since he hit the ice, but if he is staying on course for his plan, he should have completed his gear prep and testing of equipment yesterday, and will be embarking today. Richard is attempting a solo and unsupported journey to the South Pole, but thanks to delays due to issues with getting his gear shipped to Punta Arenas, he now has very little wiggle room in his schedule. Hopefully we'll get an update from him today as he hits the trail at last.
Solo South Pole skier Aaron Linsdau achieved two milestones today on his way to the South Pole. First, he has now been out on the ice for 45 total days, which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. That's a month and a half in a tent and struggling day in and day out to move forward, despite difficult surface conditions, high winds and bitterly cold temperatures. But he's probably more proud of the fact that yesterday, for the first time, he managed to crack the 12 mile (19.2 km) mark. The weather has actually been pleasant for a change and that has helped him to make solid progress towards his goal. Better yet, the forecast looks to remain about the same in the next few days, so he's hoping to take advantage of that to make good time. Right now he has his eyes on his next supply cache, which he hopes to reach in about five days. At the moment he only has about eight days worth of supplies on him, so it is important that he stay focused and on target.
Similarly, Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir is back on track today and counting off the miles. After feeling a bit homesick yesterday, she now seems more determined and focused to reach the South Pole. Weather conditions were good today, with plenty of clear skies and sunshine, although temperatures were on the cold side. That allowed her to hit her standard 20km (12.1 miles) without too much difficulty. Vilborg's trek as been a sure and steady one as she hits her target goals for distance each day just like clockwork.
Finally, more teams arrived on Mt. Vinson last night, after just being shuttled onto the frozen continent by ALE earlier in the day. The 7 Summits Club has two teams preparing for the climb in Base Camp and RMI has their second squad in place as well. Mountain guide Dave Hahn says that as many as 60 new climbers arrived yesterday, which should make for a busy summit day sometime next week, provided the weather cooperates.
That's all for now. More updates soon.
Today is another busy one in Antarctica, where two new expeditions officially being, even as the early skiers continue their march to the South Pole. Meanwhile, over on Mt. Vinson, the teams prepare for another round of summits on the continent's highest mountain.Probably the highest profile expedition of this Antarctic season is Eric Larsen's Cycle South project. Over the next few weeks, Eric, who is a veteran of arctic exploration, will be attempting to ride a specially designed mountain bike some 700 miles (1126 km) from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. He arrived at Union Glacier yesterday and spent most of the day getting his gear prepped and the bike assembled. If everything goes according to schedule, he should hop a short flight over to Hercules today and begin the ride. If he is successful, Eric will be the first person to ride a bike the full distance to the South Pole. Earlier this year, Brit Helen Skelton rode her bike to the Pole, but it was from a much shorter distance.
For those that are curious, Larsen will be riding a Surly Moonlander outfitted with special tires that are 4.8 inches (12.1 cm) thick. The rugged frame and thick tires will allow him, in theory, to ride over the ice and snow more smoothly and hopefully survive the rough sastrugi that are so common in the Antarctic. He'll be carrying most of his gear and supplies in panniers built by Granite Gear and he hopes to make the return trip from 90ºS back to Hercules, weather and time permitting.
Also on his way to the Hercules start today is Richard Parks, who arrived at Union Glacier with Eric yesterday. There hasn't been any updates from Richard yet since he hit the ice, but if he is staying on course for his plan, he should have completed his gear prep and testing of equipment yesterday, and will be embarking today. Richard is attempting a solo and unsupported journey to the South Pole, but thanks to delays due to issues with getting his gear shipped to Punta Arenas, he now has very little wiggle room in his schedule. Hopefully we'll get an update from him today as he hits the trail at last.
Solo South Pole skier Aaron Linsdau achieved two milestones today on his way to the South Pole. First, he has now been out on the ice for 45 total days, which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. That's a month and a half in a tent and struggling day in and day out to move forward, despite difficult surface conditions, high winds and bitterly cold temperatures. But he's probably more proud of the fact that yesterday, for the first time, he managed to crack the 12 mile (19.2 km) mark. The weather has actually been pleasant for a change and that has helped him to make solid progress towards his goal. Better yet, the forecast looks to remain about the same in the next few days, so he's hoping to take advantage of that to make good time. Right now he has his eyes on his next supply cache, which he hopes to reach in about five days. At the moment he only has about eight days worth of supplies on him, so it is important that he stay focused and on target.
Similarly, Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir is back on track today and counting off the miles. After feeling a bit homesick yesterday, she now seems more determined and focused to reach the South Pole. Weather conditions were good today, with plenty of clear skies and sunshine, although temperatures were on the cold side. That allowed her to hit her standard 20km (12.1 miles) without too much difficulty. Vilborg's trek as been a sure and steady one as she hits her target goals for distance each day just like clockwork.
Finally, more teams arrived on Mt. Vinson last night, after just being shuttled onto the frozen continent by ALE earlier in the day. The 7 Summits Club has two teams preparing for the climb in Base Camp and RMI has their second squad in place as well. Mountain guide Dave Hahn says that as many as 60 new climbers arrived yesterday, which should make for a busy summit day sometime next week, provided the weather cooperates.
That's all for now. More updates soon.
Video: Beautiful Action
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If you're in need of a dose of adrenaline today, then you'll probably enjoy this video. It is a beautiful action reel from Matchstick Productions various films, mixing together some impressive shots of a variety of outdoor adventures. You'll find everything from skiing and snowboard to mountain biking and base jumping in this four-minute clip. Where else will you see a snake charmer, someone jumping a camel on their bike and timelapse starscapes all in one video? We've got you covered here.
MSP Reel 2012 from MSP Films on Vimeo.
The Mystery Of Indiana Jones' Mail Has Been Solved
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Last week I posted a story about how the University of Chicago had received mail that was addressed to "Henry Walton Jones, Jr." otherwise known as Indiana Jones. The package contained some a journal that was written by Indy's friend and mentor Abner Ravenwood, as well as some postcards and photos from the 1930's era in which the first Indiana Jones films are set. At the time, it was a complete mystery as to how the parcel showed up in campus mail and who exactly sent it. Fast forward a few days, and the mystery as been solved.
It turns out, the replica props that were contained the package were actually created by a man named Paul Tabosa, who sells them on E-Bay. Tabosa has put together the package for a customer who was looking for the props for a personal collection, and as part of the experience, Paul puts all of the items into a large envelope and labels it for delivery to Henry Walton Jones, Jr. at the University of Chicago, were our favorite fictional archaeologist went to school. Tabosa then puts the package into a larger envelope/parcel and ships it off to whoever his buyer is. In this case, it was someone in Italy.
While in transit from Guam (where Tabosa lives) the outer package, the one with the real address on it, was destroyed and torn off. Revealing the replica package inside. When the U.S. Postal Service saw the fake package, they mistakenly thought it was the real-deal and immediately forwarded it on to the University of Chicago, not even noticing that the Egyptian stamps were not real either. When it arrived at UC, it was dropped in campus mail, where an intern recognized who the intended recipient was.
So, that bring an end to the mystery, although I have to say the story is still a cool one. The mere fact that the fake package would actually be sent to the University is great, even if there isn't some deeper meaning behind it. It also says a lot about Paul's work if it was able to fool the USPS into deliver it.
Last week I posted a story about how the University of Chicago had received mail that was addressed to "Henry Walton Jones, Jr." otherwise known as Indiana Jones. The package contained some a journal that was written by Indy's friend and mentor Abner Ravenwood, as well as some postcards and photos from the 1930's era in which the first Indiana Jones films are set. At the time, it was a complete mystery as to how the parcel showed up in campus mail and who exactly sent it. Fast forward a few days, and the mystery as been solved.It turns out, the replica props that were contained the package were actually created by a man named Paul Tabosa, who sells them on E-Bay. Tabosa has put together the package for a customer who was looking for the props for a personal collection, and as part of the experience, Paul puts all of the items into a large envelope and labels it for delivery to Henry Walton Jones, Jr. at the University of Chicago, were our favorite fictional archaeologist went to school. Tabosa then puts the package into a larger envelope/parcel and ships it off to whoever his buyer is. In this case, it was someone in Italy.
While in transit from Guam (where Tabosa lives) the outer package, the one with the real address on it, was destroyed and torn off. Revealing the replica package inside. When the U.S. Postal Service saw the fake package, they mistakenly thought it was the real-deal and immediately forwarded it on to the University of Chicago, not even noticing that the Egyptian stamps were not real either. When it arrived at UC, it was dropped in campus mail, where an intern recognized who the intended recipient was.
So, that bring an end to the mystery, although I have to say the story is still a cool one. The mere fact that the fake package would actually be sent to the University is great, even if there isn't some deeper meaning behind it. It also says a lot about Paul's work if it was able to fool the USPS into deliver it.
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