MrWhiupple, if that’s a Whoneveres reference i might just love you. also the Hitchhiker’s reference is awesome. Although, being an archaeologist i deliberately miss-read that so it says “Trowel”. you never realize how useful a good trowel is until you constantly carry one with you…. and Gaffa-tape, of course.
“Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the world, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.”
/ Douglas Adams (normally I could have added a “God rest his soul” but it doesn’t seem proper here) 😀
And a screwdriver, preferably a sonic one. Although admittedly that’s a little silly. I mean, who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, “Ooh, this could be a little more sonic”?
*also sheepishly raises hand* [also thinks it should dispense hot tea and sympathy. more things should]
The two major engineering problems in the world for non-engineers. One, It moves and it should not: Gaffer tape (Duck tape to all you American Chaps and Chapesses) Two, It does not move and it should: WD-40.
@BR: heh, your comment gave me an immediate mental image of Ed with a screwdriver taped to his head.
@Tindi: Knifewrench?
I advocate (and practice) a policy of always carrying a guitar pick. Currently I have two in my wallet. In a survival situation, a heavy pick plus a knife means I have a shot at carving a temporary fish hook. Not to mention the off-chance that a face-melting solo is the only way out of a tricky situation.
uh, spekertomanagers, I don’t know who was pulling your leg, but anklets cause shark bites. the sharks mistake them for shinny little fish, and suddenly, your minus a foot. I strongly advise against wearing them in the ocean.
@Trogdog – That’s an ” Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There” reference – the white knight’s horse wears such things, because the white knight is a brilliant inventor but at the same time utterly illogical and absent-minded.
@Mij: For primitive fishing, you’re better off carving a gorge hook (I think they’re called). Basically a straight, two-pointed thing (so not really a “hook”), with the string tied in the middle, preferrably in some kind of notch so that the string can’t slip off in either direction. Bait both ends. When you get a bite, wait for the fish to swallow it completely, then yank. One point sticks inside the fish’s stomach, the string pulls it horizontally, the other point catches, and the fish is caught. Completely unsuitable for catch-and-release, obviously, but it’s much simpler to make out of nearly anything, doesn’t have to be as strong as a mouth-hook, and is much easier to “set” than a mouth-hook, as long as you remember to pull later than normal. The main caveat is that they need to be sized appropriately for the fish, moreso than a mouth hook.
21-foot extendable pole, to guard against the machinations of spiteful dungeonmasters.
A vacuum flask of tea or cocoa.
Shark repellent (to keep the sharks from going after the shiny, shark-proof ankle bracers). In aerosol form, of course.
And of course, quite a bit of bandage and some disinfectant (painkiller can also be useful if you know how to use it). Bandages have uses aside from dressing wounds, in a pinch.
And if you’re travelling with anyone named Gandalf, you should have a snakebite kit, extra socks, a passport or visa, and a ring-box. That backpack is getting a bit full.
A proper multitool is important, too, especially since it is one of the things you can just clip in your belt packs.
I initially misread these comments as being directed at each other:
Absconding Cascade: How are you meant to look after your teeth without toothpaste?
Tindi: Knife? Knife is good.
o.O Also, if anyone’s read “The Postman” by David Brin, the main character has a thing or two to say about the importance of good dental hygeine in the post-apocalyptic world. Not involving knives, particularly.
Apples can help with preventative dental maintenance, as can dry-brushing with any manner of improvised tools.
And you should always get 100′ of Rope, for much the same reason as JET73L recommends a 21′ Pole. Having the extra rope has actually gotten me out of trouble in a couple of D&D Games where the DM assumed everyone had the usual 50′ and set something up to stymie us accordingly.
See, this is why everyone should carry rope.
and crampons, and snow shoes, and magnets, and little bits of string, and bubble gum wrappers, and rubber bands, and pens, and alarm clocks….
And towels
Always towels.
And anklets, to guard against the bites of sharks.
Anybody want a jelly baby?
MrWhiupple, if that’s a Whoneveres reference i might just love you. also the Hitchhiker’s reference is awesome. Although, being an archaeologist i deliberately miss-read that so it says “Trowel”. you never realize how useful a good trowel is until you constantly carry one with you…. and Gaffa-tape, of course.
And a pocket flashlight – I bought one with a ~3W LED, and carry it almost everywhere. Now I’m surprised I could go so long without one. 😛
and a 10 foot pole. always have a 10 foot pole on you at all times.
It simplifies the old saying when you can just brandish the pole and say “…with this!” instead of using the descriptive.
“I’m gonna need more rope.”
“Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the world, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.”
/ Douglas Adams (normally I could have added a “God rest his soul” but it doesn’t seem proper here) 😀
Haven’t you ever played D&D? EVERYONE should carry fifty feet of rope and a ten foot pole!
Eagle, that Candlejack reference wa
And a screwdriver, preferably a sonic one. Although admittedly that’s a little silly. I mean, who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, “Ooh, this could be a little more sonic”?
> I mean, who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, “Ooh, this could be a little more sonic”?
*sheepishly raises hand*
😉
*also sheepishly raises hand* [also thinks it should dispense hot tea and sympathy. more things should]
The two major engineering problems in the world for non-engineers. One, It moves and it should not: Gaffer tape (Duck tape to all you American Chaps and Chapesses) Two, It does not move and it should: WD-40.
Nobody mentioned toothpaste yet. I mean how are you meant to look after your teeth with out toothpaste?
Knife? Knife is good.
The ten foot pole is especially useful in situations like this if you hold it horizontally.
And tie it to your hands, of course.
Wouldn’t you agree a broken wrist is preferable to landing completely unharmed in some ice-giant’s home?
@BR: heh, your comment gave me an immediate mental image of Ed with a screwdriver taped to his head.
@Tindi: Knifewrench?
I advocate (and practice) a policy of always carrying a guitar pick. Currently I have two in my wallet. In a survival situation, a heavy pick plus a knife means I have a shot at carving a temporary fish hook. Not to mention the off-chance that a face-melting solo is the only way out of a tricky situation.
uh, spekertomanagers, I don’t know who was pulling your leg, but anklets cause shark bites. the sharks mistake them for shinny little fish, and suddenly, your minus a foot. I strongly advise against wearing them in the ocean.
Flint and tinder anybody? It’s gonna be cold up there, and you’re gonna need a fire.
@Trogdog – That’s an ” Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There” reference – the white knight’s horse wears such things, because the white knight is a brilliant inventor but at the same time utterly illogical and absent-minded.
@Mij: For primitive fishing, you’re better off carving a gorge hook (I think they’re called). Basically a straight, two-pointed thing (so not really a “hook”), with the string tied in the middle, preferrably in some kind of notch so that the string can’t slip off in either direction. Bait both ends. When you get a bite, wait for the fish to swallow it completely, then yank. One point sticks inside the fish’s stomach, the string pulls it horizontally, the other point catches, and the fish is caught. Completely unsuitable for catch-and-release, obviously, but it’s much simpler to make out of nearly anything, doesn’t have to be as strong as a mouth-hook, and is much easier to “set” than a mouth-hook, as long as you remember to pull later than normal. The main caveat is that they need to be sized appropriately for the fish, moreso than a mouth hook.
21-foot extendable pole, to guard against the machinations of spiteful dungeonmasters.
A vacuum flask of tea or cocoa.
Shark repellent (to keep the sharks from going after the shiny, shark-proof ankle bracers). In aerosol form, of course.
And of course, quite a bit of bandage and some disinfectant (painkiller can also be useful if you know how to use it). Bandages have uses aside from dressing wounds, in a pinch.
And if you’re travelling with anyone named Gandalf, you should have a snakebite kit, extra socks, a passport or visa, and a ring-box. That backpack is getting a bit full.
A proper multitool is important, too, especially since it is one of the things you can just clip in your belt packs.
I initially misread these comments as being directed at each other:
Absconding Cascade: How are you meant to look after your teeth without toothpaste?
Tindi: Knife? Knife is good.
o.O Also, if anyone’s read “The Postman” by David Brin, the main character has a thing or two to say about the importance of good dental hygeine in the post-apocalyptic world. Not involving knives, particularly.
Apples can help with preventative dental maintenance, as can dry-brushing with any manner of improvised tools.
And you should always get 100′ of Rope, for much the same reason as JET73L recommends a 21′ Pole. Having the extra rope has actually gotten me out of trouble in a couple of D&D Games where the DM assumed everyone had the usual 50′ and set something up to stymie us accordingly.