Chanoatx

Is winter the worst time of year to be a runner? That depends on whom you ask. While Floridians may cherish the blissful interlude between December and March as the only time they don’t have to get up at 5:30 a.m. to beat the heat, many runners in colder climates resent encasing themselves in layers of constrictive spandex. Of course, there’s another way to avoid extreme weather: the mighty treadmill.

According to a Sports and Fitness Industry Association survey recently cited in the Washington Post, more than 50 million Americans used a treadmill at least once in 2016. What was once a device used for punitive purposes, the Post article points out, is now part of a billion-dollar recreation industry. People actually pay for the privilege of using the human hamster wheel.

To be fair, the treadmill offers several appealing advantages in our convenience-obsessed age. It provides a hypercontrolled running environment that’s available 24/7. Pace and incline can be preprogrammed. Treadmill users are unencumbered by darkness, rain, or the absence of favorable running terrain. (When I use treadmills, it’s usually because the only other option would be to run along a strip mall–lined roadway with the attendant threat of being annihilated by a rogue SUV.) Following the spinning craze and rise of stationary bike studios like SoulCycle is a recent wave of treadmill running classes. In 2014, New York City’s first treadmill running studio, the Mile High Run Club, opened its doors.

But let’s not kid ourselves. Treadmills are still awful.

I should mention that I’ve never been a gym person. There’s something about the constant wiping down of machines, the fevered enlargement of select body parts, and the soundtrack of grunting and clinking metal that have always made me feel like I’m in a dystopian porno.

Unlike most other gym-goers, treadmill users typically won’t be groaning or contorting their faces in throes of agony and ecstasy. Such is the relative comfort of treadmill running that it even allows for multitasking; you can read a book or watch cable news on a built-in monitor while a motor keeps the conveyor belt whirring beneath your feet. But that’s precisely what I’ve always found so perverse about these machines for running—the simple fact that they are machines…for running.

The prospective cost of gym membership or treadmill classes aside, the worst part about treadmill running is how it subtly rejects the value of running for running’s sake. In a gym context, every activity is a means to an end: motivated by health, vanity, or a combination of the two. (Do arm curls for bigger biceps; lat pull-downs to strengthen your back; that rope-shaking thing for—god knows what.) While a vigorous gym workout can undoubtedly provide some version of that elusive “natural high,” nobody would do this stuff if they weren’t chasing the end goal of self-improvement. In this environment, running isn’t even running anymore. It’s “cardio.”

The modern treadmill is also an affront to technological progress.

“In the past, treadmills were engines. They did important, dramatic tasks for people,” said Ivo Gormley, the founder and director of GoodGym, in a 2012 TED Talk about his company, which seeks to fuse exercise and community service. For centuries, Gormley explained, treadmills empowered humans to lift enormous loads of building material that helped create architectural wonders like Florence’s Duomo, built in the early 15th century. These days, however, treadmills consume rather than provide energy. (An average model requires about three horsepower, or roughly 2,200 watts, to operate, depending on the speed of the user. Faster runners require the machine to use more energy.)

For Gormley, the treadmill is a symbol for the way affluent societies have effectively designed exercise out of day-to-day life. As people have become more sedentary, we’ve moved into this bizarre situation where, as Gormley puts it in his presentation, “exercise is something you have to buy.” As someone who has always cherished both the simplicity and accessibility of running, the idea of it being packaged as a commodity is profoundly depressing.

Aside from whatever fitness benefits running outside may provide, the most restorative aspect of the experience for me is the psychological reprieve that comes from setting out on foot and unplugging for an hour or two. I don’t think it’s possible to get the same sense of distance when your horizon is limited to the treadmill interface. We already spend too much time looking at screens.

See every major U.S. city, drive more than 25,000 miles, and pet the Cotopaxi llamas.

Applications are open to become the 2017 Road Warrior. Cotopaxi wants someone who likes camping, marketing, event planning, and driving — a lot of driving — for the job.

The position is part of a socially and environmentally progressive gear manufacturer’s fourth annual Questival, a 24-hour adventure race and scavenger hunt that tours the U.S.

The Road Warrior will set up a pop-up retail shop, post to Cotopaxi’s social media outlets, manage merchandise inventory, and assist the Questival team at each event.

That job may include helping unload, pet, and photograph the famed Cotopaxi llamas.

Cotopaxi Road Warrior

Still interested? Job requirements are pretty loose. The application page encourages couples and “candidates with furry companions” to apply.

Still, preference will be given to those with the following qualifications:

• Retail experience—outdoor industry experience a plus
• Social media savvy—Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, etc. (established influencer a plus)
• Creative writing skills
• Road trip and camping experience
• Trailer-towing experience
• Event execution/trade show experience

If you land this job, plan to be away from home pretty much all year. Cotopaxi has 44 Questival stops lined up, beginning February 17 in Austin, Texas. The site lists the first official stop in Salt Lake City. Check out the full tour map below.

If driving 25,000 miles, crisscrossing the U.S. hauling a trailer, and setting up adventure race parties — and getting paid! — sounds like fun, hop over and apply now.

The post Get Paid To Road Trip With Cotopaxi’s ‘Dream Job’ appeared first on GearJunkie.

Mark Gainey, the co-founder and chief executive of fitness-tracking app Strava, has a message for immigrants who are impacted by President Donald Trump’s recent executive order: “Freedom4All.”

Only Gainey didn’t just send a memo to his company, or tweet something showing solidarity: he ran 6.8 miles through tech-centric Palo Alto and spelled out the words with his running route.

“This one is for our immigrants ... Remove the ban and think clearly about what truly makes this country great ... Liberty and freedom,” Gainey wrote as the description for his workout, which was posted in the Strava app, of course. His words were punctuated by a somewhat crude, albeit very impressive, GPS-mapped route below them.

Gainey’s message is just the latest in a series of memos coming from Silicon Valley’s most prominent tech leaders as they react to Trump’s executive order around immigration and attempt to address the needs of employees who are impacted by the ban. Earlier today, employees on eight of Google’s campuses held demonstrations that one Googler called a “direct response to the immigration action.”

The Polaroid brand has been licensed to CES gadgets for years now, and so of course it’s back again this year on another new camera that mashes up digital and physical photography. It’s called the Polaroid Pop, and it shoots (and prints!) 3-inch by 4-inch instant photos using inkless Zink photo paper.

The Pop is just like its predecessors in that it’s not just an instant camera — it’s also a digital camera, meaning you can shoot in either format or both at the same time. What’s refreshing about the specs of the Pop, though, is that this time around the internals actually seem decent on paper.

The Pop has a 20-megapixel CMOS sensor inside, a dual-LED flash, and can record 1080p video. Users will frame all this up using a 3.94-inch touchscreen LCD, and the camera writes to microSD cards (up to 128GB). The Pop also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for transferring images to your phone and for printing photos from your camera roll.

That the Pop looks sharp should be no surprise, since it was designed by Ammunition Group, the firm behind products like last year’s Polaroid Snap and Apple’s Beats Pill+. But it won’t be available until the end of 2017, and C+A Global — the company that has licensed the Polaroid brand for the Pop (and for other “Polaroid” cameras like the Snap and the Cube) — isn’t saying how much the camera will cost.

We’ve already taken a look at what novels are hitting bookshelves this month, but 2017 promises to be a huge year for science fiction and fantasy literature as a whole. There’s going to be some great reads from debut authors, while some of the best names in the business are closing out trilogies or releasing brand-new adventures.

This list doesn’t include some long-expected, high-profile titles, such as George R.R. Martin’s Winds of Winter, Scott Lynch’s Thorn of Emberlain, or Patrick Rothfuss’s Doors of Stone, because we don’t actually know if those books are done or even coming out this year. Hopefully, we’ll see one or even all of them, but in the meantime, there’s a ton of really intriguing novels we can’t wait to get our hands on. Here’s what we’re most excited for this year.

January

The Fortress at the End of Time by Joe M. McDermott — January 17th

This intriguing-looking novel is set in a vast human civilization, where humans have colonized the galaxy using a faster-than-light communications device and clones. One such clone is assigned to man a distant outpost, and has to come to terms with a terrible incident in his past. This has the looks of a thoughtful and interesting read.

Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer — January 31st

I published one of Thoraiya Dyer’s stories in an anthology I edited, so I’m really excited to read her debut novel, which is set in a forested fantasy world where gods are reincarnated. Dyer looks to explore the tension between the rulers who live in the heights of the forest kingdoms, and the exploited underclass of the lower levels.

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty — January 31st

When you have a murder on a spaceship, you have a limited number of suspects. But when your entire crew is killed and everyone wakes up in a clone body, it complicates the investigation. Mur Lafferty’s new novel looks like it’s going to be a fantastic blend of science fiction and murder mystery, set deep in space.

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor — January 31st

Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti earned her a Nebula and Hugo award last year, as well as a handful of additional award nominations. The story follows a bright woman as she sets off for an interstellar university. Now, she’s returning home and has to contend with her family and their attitudes toward her much larger ambitions.

February

Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly — February 7th

Lara Elena Donnelly puts together an intriguing fantasy / spy thriller in which a spy’s cover is blown. He’s forced to turn against his country to survive by watching the rising One State Party, which is bent on taking over Amberlough City. Donnelly has made a name for herself with her short fiction, and this political novel about fighting fascism looks all the more relevant in 2017.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman — February 7th

Fantasy and Neil Gaiman are practically synonymous for many, and the author’s next big fantasy goes to the roots of Norse mythology. This novel will be a narrative retelling of the adventures of the pantheon of the northern gods, including Odin, Thor, Loki, and others. Gaiman’s written some incredible novels that have drawn on Norse mythology in the past (like American Gods, for instance). With his track record of incredible novels, this is one that we’re really excited to get our hands on.

The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley — February 7th

In the depths of space, a fleet of worldships known as the Legion are traveling between stars. A war for control over the ships has been waged for centuries, and the key to salvation might lie with a prisoner without memories. Kameron Hurley’s latest novel looks like it’s going to be huge in every way.

Aftermath: Empire's End by Chuck Wendig — February 21st

Taking place in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi, Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath and Life Debt have helped set the stage for the events in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His next, Empire’s End, brings the trilogy to a close, and will help explain how the Empire, well, ends... and how that massive Star Destroyer ended up crashed on Jakku.

A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab — February 21st

V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has been a triumph of world building, setting its swashbuckling adventure inside a brilliant fantasy world. A Darker Shade of Magic, introduced readers to series of alternate, interconnected worlds and some incredible characters. A Gathering of Shadows did a lot of legwork setting up this final installment of the series, and we’re now ready for its epic conclusion.

March

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey — March 14th

A private space company is getting ready to put astronauts on Mars for the first time. The trio of Helen Kane, Yoshihiro Tanaka, and Sergei Kuznetsov are tasked with a 17-month mission to test their training and ensure that they’re ready to travel to the Red Planet. As the months tick by, each are confronted by their own perceptions of reality, and by one another.

New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson — March 14th

As the sea levels rise due to a warming atmosphere, the Atlantic ocean floods the streets of New York City. In his next novel, Kim Stanley Robinson explores how the city’s residents coping with the change will adapt and survive. Robinson has put together some of the best hard sci-fi novels in the genre, and his next looks particularly intriguing — and all too relevant.

Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi — March 21st

Humanity has discovered a means of interstellar travel called The Flow, and has established a vast new civilization across thousands of new worlds. When scientists discover that The Flow is shifting and could cut off every human world from one another, a team sets out to see if they can save human civilization. Scalzi is best known for his Old Man’s War series, and a new space opera novel from him is a very welcome thing indeed.

Luna: Wolf Moon by Ian McDonald — March 28th

Ian McDonald has written some of my favorite science fiction novels. Seriously, go, and read Luna: New Moon, which depicted a brutal family struggle over control of the moon. Now, its sequel picks up with the family in shambles, and the remaining children looking to take back control.

Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer — March 28th

In Too Like Lightning, Ada Palmer introduced readers to a utopian, post-scarcity world which was beginning to crumble. Mycroft Canner had learned of a vast conspiracy to ensure the stability of society, and knows of a special child who can change everything.

April

Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel — April 4th

Sulvain Neuvel’s Sleeping Giants became a runaway hit last year. In it, Rose Franklin devoted her life to studying the giant robot that she first discovered when she was a child. Now that the mech has been completed, more questions have been raised as to its purpose when a second one arrives. Only Rose and her team stand in the way to stop an invasion.

American War by Omar El Akkad — April 4th

In this alternate history novel, the United States has been split by a second Civil War and experienced a plague. A young woman named Sarat Chestnut grows up in this dangerous new world and is turned into a weapon that will have devastating consequences for her family.

Avengers of the Moon by Allen Steele — April 11th

Allen Steele wowed us with last year’s Arkwright, and for his next novel, he’s taking a slightly different track: he’s resurrecting pulp author Edmond Hamilton’s Captain Future, and bringing him back for a new adventure. Arkwright was particularly steeped in the lore and history of the science fiction genre, and this should be an intriguing story to read.

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn — April 11th

I might have done a dance in my chair when this news came across last fall: Timothy Zahn is returning to the Star Wars universe with the character that brought back the franchise, Grand Admiral Thrawn. The character has been playing a pivotal role in Star Wars Rebels, and will be getting his own novel.

Walkaway by Cory Doctorow — April 25th

It’s been almost a decade since we’ve had a new adult novel from Cory Doctorow. In the future, anyone can print up anything that they need to survive. A communist named Hubert, Etc falls in love with a rich heiress named Natalie, and the pair decide to walk away from society completely. They enter a changed world, one wrecked by climate change, dead cities, and more, and discover something that even the ultra-wealthy haven’t been able to get their hands on: a cure for death.

Skullsworn by Brian Staveley — April 25th

Brian Staveley’s Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series came to an end last year with The Last Mortal Bond, but that doesn’t mean that he’s done with the world. His next book, Skullsworn is set in the same universe, following one of the major characters for a side adventure. Pyrre Lakatur is an assassin devoted to the God of Death, and has been studying and preparing for The Trial, in which she has 10 days to kill 10 people. Pyrre was one of the more interesting characters in Staveley’s world, so it’ll be fascinating to see what she’s up to on her own.

May

Beren and Luthien by J.R.R. Tolkien — May 4th

J.R.R. Tolkien might be long dead, but his vast archive of works still contains many stories. Case in point: Beren and Lúthien, one of Tolkien’s oldest tales from Middle-earth. It’s the story of a pair of lovers, set well before the events of Lord of the Rings.

Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb — May 9th

With Assassin’s Fate, Robin Hobb is bringing her Fitz and the Fool Trilogy to a close. Prince FitzChivalry Farseer’s takes off in pursuit when his daughter is abducted. When it seems as though Bee perishes in the chase, he vows to reach the city of Clerres, where he can exact his revenge on the Servants of the Four.

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton — May 23rd

Michael Crichton died in 2008, but he’s had a resurgence in popularity recently. HBO had a hit on its hands with Westworld, Jurassic World made big noise at the box office, and his estate recently discovered a new novel hidden in his papers. Even better? It’s a book about dinosaurs — sort of. Set in 1876, the book is about rival paleontologists hunting for fossils and glory.

Radiate by C.A. Higgins — May 23rd

C.A. Higgins’ Lightless and Supernova were both excellent, hard sci-fi novels that explored the emergence of an AI on an advanced spaceship in a dystopian future solar system. Now that the ship is sentient, she wants to get to know her creators, and searches for the programmer that brought her to life — who is on a journey of his own.

June

Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee — June 13th

Yoon Ha Lee’s debut novel Ninefox Gambit came out last year, and its follow-up, Raven Stratagem, picks up shortly thereafter. Captain Kel Cheris summoned General Shuos Jedao, a long-dead general, to put down a rebellion, only to be possessed by the ghost. At the same time, aliens known as the Hafn are invading, and Jedao might be the only person who can stop them. Lee’s take on space opera and military science fiction was intriguingly different, and this new book looks just as exciting.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss — June 20th

Theodora Goss has written some of my favorite short stories. (Read Cimmeria: From the Journal of Imaginary Anthropology over on Lightspeed Magazine.) She’s an imaginative author with fantastic prose, and her new novel draws on some of the genre’s classic characters, and reimagines them in a whole bunch of new ways.

Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory — June 27th

I’ve really dug Daryl Gregory’s earlier novels, and his next looks to be absolutely fantastic. It’s about several generations of the Telemachus family, known as psychics until their magic vanished. After withdrawing from the public eye, they’re forced to use their powers to protect themselves from criminals, the government, and the general public.

July and Beyond

Six Feet Over by Max Gladstone — July

Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence is an amazing series of urban fantasy novels, set in a richly imagined world where magic is treated more like law or coding than something mystical. There’s few details about the latest chapter as of now, but it’s expected to hit in July, and it’s not one to be missed.

Dark Sky by Mike Brooks — July 11th

Mike Brooks introduced us to the crew of the Keiko in his debut space opera Dark Run, and they’re back in his sequel, Dark Sky. In this adventure, the crew is hired for a quick data retrieval job, only to be caught up in the midst of a revolution on the mining planet of Urgan. The book is out in August, but if you’re really itching to pick it up, you can find a UK edition (where the book is already out), or pick up the audiobook from Audible.

The Core by Peter V. Brett — August 15th

Not all long-awaited fantasy epics are years overdue. Case in point: Peter V. Brett’s The Core, which wraps up his Demon Cycle series. There’s little out there about what the book will be about, save that it’s coming to the ending that he had originally plotted out when he began the series back in 2008. This won’t be the end of the story, however: according to his blog, he’ll be starting up a new series set in the same world soon.

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin — August 15th

With The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate, N.K. Jemisin positively redefined the fantasy genre, overturning and changing long-standing tropes when it came to magic, relationships, and fantasy worlds. We have high hopes for what Jemisin will do to close out her trilogy, and we can’t wait to be wowed again.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz — September 19th

In the future, an anti-patent pirate named Jack has been cracking open pharmaceuticals and bringing them to the poor, and her latest leaves users addicted to work. Hot on her trail are an agent and robot from the military who have fallen in love. It’s a book that looks absolutely bonkers, but if there’s anyone who can pull it off, it’ll be Annalee Newitz, who helped co-found the site io9. She has her thumb on how weird and fantastic the future will be, so her latest should prove to be fantastic.

Untitled Ancillary novel by Ann Leckie — October

There’s no title or plot for this just yet, but a new novel from Ann Leckie is always welcome. Her debut novel, Ancillary Justice, introduced us to an intriguing world and earned considerable acclaim. Back in 2015, she announced that she would be returning for a new novel set in the world, as well as an unrelated space opera.

The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bear — October 10th

Elizabeth Bear introduced us to her fantasy steppe world in her The Eternal Sky series and is kicking off a new trilogy with The Stone in the Skull. In it, a wizard creates the The Gage, a metal automaton that works as a mercenary. As he carries a message across the kingdom, he and a broken soldier find themselves caught in the midst of a war for control over the remains of the once great empire.

Barbary Station by R.E. Stearns — December 5th

This debut novel from R.E. Sterns is just under a year away, but it looks really intriguing for one reason: space pirates! Adda and Iridian are a pair of engineers who hijack a colony ship to join a pirate crew, only to discover that Barbary Station is controlled by an insane AI. This looks like it could be a really exciting space opera adventure.

Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey — December

There’s no firm release date for this book just yet, but Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham (the two authors behind James S.A. Corey) are pretty good about releasing their novels once a year. Babylon’s Ashes came out in December 2016, so it’s likely that we’ll see this novel hit around the same time this year.

As to what it’s about? It’s the seventh book of The Expanse series, which means that we’re in the home stretch for the series, with just a couple more installments to go. As Abraham told us last year, these last three books “are the one big plot arc coming to the finale.”

Last year at CES, New Balance announced that it would be releasing an Android Wear watch by the end of 2016. The company missed the schedule by a month or two, since the new watch has just been officially unveiled. It's called RunIQ and like the name and the brand behind it, it's focused on running.

The RunIQ packs the 3 features that were hinted at last year: GPS, an Intel processor, and integration with the Strava platform to add a social and competitive element to running.

New Balance launches the $300 RunIQ Android Wear watch with GPS, Strava, and an Intel processor was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

What do you do when your birthday becomes a meme? Put on a stunning dress and just make it work.

Rubi Ibarra Garcia's quinceañera celebrations in central Mexico on Monday were attended by "thousands" after a video invitation to the festivities went viral. 

In the notorious clip, her father, Crescencio Ibarra, invites "everybody" to the party, which the internet of course decided to take literally. 

Garcia's 15th birthday celebrations, a significant rite of passage in many parts of Latin America, typically accompanied by a party, a dress and mass, became a phenomenon.  Read more...

After Nintendo's iOS debut Super Mario Run dropped Thursday, the rush to download it and start playing was real. 

Barely 30 minutes after the release of the hyped-up game, which launched in 151 countries and regions worldwide, people already had plenty to say about their latest online distraction.

Many were stoked to finally get their hands on the game, but more than a few had some gripes.

Some people are pissed at the ridiculous cost.

Right off the bat, the fact that you have to pay for access to worlds and more levels after a short free preview was not appreciated. It's a $9.99 one-time cost, but still.  Read more...

After months of searching (and thousands of applications) Columbia Sportswear has selected its 2016-2017 Directors Toughness.

Meet Faith Briggs and Mark Chase, two of the luckiest—er, toughest—people on earth. They are the newest addition to the Columbia team and will spend the next nine months putting some of the industry’s nicest gear through the harshest environs.

We. Are. Jealous.

For the second year in a row, Columbia wants two everyday, (extra)ordinary people to travel, test, blog, and ensure that its gear can withstand even the toughest users.

Columbia Sportswear ‘Directors Of Toughness’ 2016/17

Briggs, 28, and Chase, 31, beat out more than 4,000 applicants across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in an unorthodox interview (see below).

Candidates faced a barrage of pressing and downright odd questions. They even had to complete mid-interview challenges like running up Oregon’s Timberline Trail, kayaking the East River, and hiking the Scottish highlands

We got an exclusive interview with the duo in advance of their introduction. The pair will replace last year’s directors, Lauren Steele and Zach Doleac.

Columbia’s New Directors Of Toughness

GearJunkie: Way to go, you two! When did you officially find out and how did it feel?

Briggs: Um, I got the phone call about four weeks ago, and I didn’t really believe it was for me. I was absolutely shocked!

Chase: Oh yeah, same. I watched all the videos of past competitions beforehand, so I thought I never really had a chance. It was unbelievable to get that call.

'Road To OR' Film Captures 1,200-Mile Trip

Fat biking to climbing a major mountain peak... the 'Road To OR' video highlights a 1,200+ mile road trip from GearJunkie headquarters to the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City last month. Read more...

How about that interview—what was the hardest part?

Briggs: Well, I was surprised because I was actually the only person from New York City at the New York interview. So I never for a second believed they would tell us to get in the East River—nobody does that. Then they handed me a paddle and pointed to the kayaks and said ‘Paddle out to Governors Island.’ It was surprise after surprise.

Chase: There really wasn’t any one part that was the most difficult. There was so much pressure [Columbia] puts us under. People are firing questions at you, and then there’s a physical challenge, and then the last guy asks some really tough questions taking no prisoners. The whole thing was surreal.

What makes you tough?

Briggs: I have mental toughness. Whatever challenge it is, I have what it takes. I know I can work my way through.

Chase: Definitely my mindset—keep pushing and do not give up. I can always take one more step, one more step. No matter what, you just don’t give up.

What would you say to someone who wants to be tougher?

Briggs: Just show up. That’s often the hardest part.

A lot of times once you get there, you’re going to do it. You force yourself to get going. The toughest thing is getting yourself there — to the slope, or out of bed. One foot in front of the other.

Chase: Like I said, just keep going. Everything can be learned, it doesn’t matter what you don’t know or haven’t done. Progression over perfection. Just keep getting up.

What’s the toughest thing you’ve accomplished?

Briggs: I was always a sprinter in high school and college, short distance swimming and running. In college, I had some major injuries, six stress fractures in my shins.

My road to recovery required long-distance running. That transition and recuperating was the toughest part—it just wasn’t me. But now, I run better than I did in high school.

Chase: Mine really wasn’t physical, actually. The toughest thing I’ve done was quit a job I didn’t like or feel suited to, and then holding out for something better. I’ve just been taking photos around Northern Whales, not knowing exactly what I want to do.

Then this opportunity came along and made everything worth it. Holding off, believing, and trusting that something great would come along, that was tough.

Who is your toughness idol?

Briggs: My mom. It sounds silly, I know, and she’s not someone running outdoors all the time. But I’ve seen her deal with three kids and trying to finish grad school with us, working nights in restaurants to keep her family afloat. She’s an incredible woman and absolutely the toughest person I know.

Chase: Everyone. No, seriously, everyone has their own story. If you listen to any one person long enough they all have the potential to be tough, and have done something remarkable.

What do you want people to know about you, aside from being tough?

Briggs: I’m a documentary filmmaker, I love people’s stories. I think it’s a wonderful way to get in touch.

Everything I do I want to be part of a greater conversation. I want to be able to talk to all sorts of people, to be a global citizen.

Chase: Come find me. If we’re in the same town, same time—let’s get outside and have fun. I’m open, ready to go. Let’s rock it.

The post Dream Job: Columbia Hires 2017 ‘Directors Of Toughness’ appeared first on GearJunkie.

We’re officially one week away from Black Friday (or what’s technically considered Black Friday at least, since companies are starting earlier and earlier each year) and eBay is next up to join the Thanksgiving weekend sales.

The company announced its deals for both Black Friday — where the highlights are discounts on DJI drones and Samsung TVs — and Cyber Monday, which will see a major sale on Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

The deals aren’t live on eBay’s site just yet, but here’s the best of the company’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales so far:

Black Friday

• DJI Phantom Drone 4 for $899 (usually $1,499)
• Samsung 50-inch 4K TV for $399 (usually $1,049)
• Samsung UN55KS8000 55-inch 4K Smart TV for $997.99 (usually $2,199)
• Samsung UN55KS8000 65-inch 4K Smart TV for $1497.99 (usually $3.499)
• Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $849.99 (usually $1,399.99)
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $914.99 (usually $1,849)
• LG 34-inch Ultra-wide 2K monitor for $249.99 (usually $599.99)

Cyber Monday

• Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (256GB, Wi-Fi) for $649.99 (usually $999)
• PlayStation 4 Pro bundle with Watch Dogs 2 and Street Fighter for $399.99 (usually $499.97)
• Xbox One S 1TB with Gears of War 4, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and an extra controller for $299.99 (usually $419.97)
• Samsung 850 EVO 250GB internal SSD for $69.99 (usually $94.99)

Additionally, eBay will be running a weekend-long sale on DJI Phantom drones, with some models discounted up to 40 percent off, but the exact details have yet to be announced.

(Affiliate links are automatically generated by our partner, Skimlinks. For more information, see our ethics policy.)

The overlanding craze is sweeping the globe. This is how to get involved in the burgeoning community of vehicle-based adventure where the journey is the goal.

Overlanding now encompasses everything from bike packing to million-dollar Unimog camper builds, and range from weekend road trips in the mountains to multi-decade expeditions around the world.

However those are the extremes. The more common overland scenario involves a 4×4 vehicle, like a Tacoma or Jeep, to explore local off-the-beaten-path routes with friends and family. Often, this involves camping and off-road travel for a duration longer than the typical weekend outing.

Overlanding: Where To Begin

There are two quick ways to get into overlanding. First, you can just hit the road less traveled and figure it out as you go. The second is to attend one of the many overland events across the country.

Expos provide an excellent way to pick up some of the finer points of remote, off-road travel. They’re a place to dip your toe into the activity without getting a full submersion.

But for many, it’s easy to simply run out the door, hop in the 4WD in your driveway, and hit the road. A sturdy mountain bike or motorcycle might even work. You don’t need a ton of training, specialized gear, or specific knowledge to go overlanding.

But even if you decide to jump in headfirst, expos are a great way to expand your knowledge base.

Overland Events

While all the adventure-mobiles and exotic locations are great, the people involved and those you meet while traveling are the best part of the adventure. You’ll get express-lane access to the community by attending expos.

Furthermore, overland events are a great way to quickly learn about the diversity of vehicle options and the specific skills you might need during self-reliant expeditions.

The most valuable events, especially for those new to the overland world, are those like Overland Expo that offer in-depth classes, roundtables, and demonstrations from industry experts. Vendors show the latest overland gear. Hands-on driving and skills workshops ramp up drivers’ techniques.

Many overland events are quite reasonably priced and are a quick way to fully immerse yourself in this growing community.

Overlanders are a pretty inclusive group. However, sub-groups exist, many times based on travel experiences, vehicle choices, or other interests like cycling, fishing, or traveling with children and/or pets. Plan to find people with similar interests among the crew to help connect beyond vehicle choice.

Ultimately, it is important to follow your own path to adventure. There is no one-size-fits-all overland adventure. You are the only one who truly knows what sort of travels will be the most fulfilling to you, your friends, and your family. So get out and explore, however you choose to roll.

The post Rallies & Rendezvous: Great Intros For New Overlanders appeared first on GearJunkie.

A Donald Trump Presidency brings uncertainty to the world of outdoors recreation and environmentalism. This is what outdoors advocacy groups say.

“Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,” so the song goes, based on a poem written atop Pikes Peak in 1882.

But as a new administration readies itself for the Oval Office, many fear America’s iconic mountains, forests, and seas will be cherished more for oil or mineral value than conservation and recreational potential.

If our elected leaders fail to approach the environment & climate change as serious issues worthy of urgency & action, it will be a mistake.

— Patagonia (@patagonia) November 9, 2016

Donald Trump’s short list for the Department of the Interior includes oil tycoon Forrest Lucas and Sarah Palin. Trump hopes to eliminate, or at least eviscerate, the Environmental Protection Agency and will likely tap climate denier Myron Ebell to lead the agency tasked with protecting the outdoors.

The list goes on. So, it’s of no surprise that organizations with environmental missions are on alert.

“It is unclear whether President-elect Trump’s rhetoric will translate to real policy. Trump has not significantly addressed America’s public lands issues other than staking out conflicting positions on state takeover of federal land and giving an indication that he supports the sportsmen’s community. It is likely his policies and political appointments will favor traditional energy—though they may include some clean energy development. And we expect him to focus more on extractive industries and less on conservation and climate change—as President Obama has done and as Secretary Clinton’s platform proposed.” – Outdoor Industry of America, in a statement.

Can you make an emergency donation to the Sierra Club? We must stand together like we never have before:  https://t.co/lv38pQ5Lmo

— Sierra Club (@sierraclub) November 10, 2016

Business, Recreation, And Conservation On Public Lands

America’s public lands have always faced myriad interests. Oil, mining, and development sometimes take precedent over preservation. Dollar signs are hard to ignore, particularly when a vast consuming public must fuel cars and heat homes, and an uncertain world makes domestic power more reliable than overseas stores.

But recreational use of public lands is also a powerful force. The Outdoor Recreation industry supported more than 6 million American jobs and contributed nearly $650 billion to the GDP in 2012, according to the OIA. These numbers cannot, and should not, be ignored by the new administration.

Indeed, they may be the most useful tool by outdoors lobbies competing with extraction industries in Washington.

Clean Water, Clean Air Under Trump Administration

Protecting clean air and water, and maintaining public land access, appear paramount for those who love the outdoors. Groups such as Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Trout Unlimited are cautiously optimistic that a Trump administration will give their interests a seat at the table.

“Policies such as the Clean Water rule will face increased scrutiny. It will be more vital than ever before that we engage our members and other anglers to help explain that protecting clean water is not a partisan issue,” said Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood.

Other groups are quicker to sound the alarm. Sierra Club already launched a petition calling for President Barak Obama to “use the remainder of his administration to preserve critical environmental protections.”

“Clean air, safe drinking water, wildlife, and wild places are under attack and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good,” the petition states.

Trump has promised to fast-track oil pipeline development, no surprise given that he owns stock in oil companies including the company building the controversial Dakota Access pipeline.

Trump On Public Land Transfer And Access

The possible transfer of federal public lands to states, and the management of said lands, is among one of the most contentious issues facing the outdoors.

Our top three asks for the new administration, and the next four years of #conservation in America https://t.co/WsSwJZl7th pic.twitter.com/geixF3Fyzw

— The TRCP (@TheTRCP) November 10, 2016

Trump’s stance on the issue is unclear. While the Republican party has led the movement to transfer federal lands to states’ control, Trump has publicly stated that he doesn’t favor the wholesale transfer of public land.

In a 2016 interview with Mike Schoby, editor of Petersen’s Hunting Magazine, Trump said that while the “land is not well maintained,” and “they want us to sell off a lot of land,” hunting and fishing access is important to his family.

“We’re not looking to sell off land, and we’re going to be good stewards of the land,” he said.

Hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, and really all outdoors recreationists should watch this issue closely.

Trump: Climate Change ‘Hoax’

Donald Trump doesn’t believe in climate change, going so far as calling it a hoax. That doesn’t change the fact that “97 percent of scientists agree climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities,” according to NASA.

That fact-driven consensus hasn’t slowed Trump from considering climate skeptic Ebell for the head of the EPA.

Groups such as Protect Our Winters are already on the offensive.

Professional skiers and others with a stake in snow sports are notably rattled by Trump’s election. Professional snowboarder and climate activist Jeremy Jones wrote a heartfelt op-ed for Teton Gravity Research.

Similarly, Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, shared a string of concerned thoughts via twitter.

2) Hillary Clinton, a climate champion, lost. Donald Trump, who embraces fossil fuels and calls climate change a hoax, has won.

— Rhea Suh (@RheaSuh) November 9, 2016

4) We are going to transform it into concrete, planet-affirming action.

— Rhea Suh (@RheaSuh) November 9, 2016

6) It’s time for every American — Republican, Democrat and Independent alike — to stand and defend our environment and health.

— Rhea Suh (@RheaSuh) November 9, 2016

11) The Trump administration will have to contend with an @NRDC & @NRDC_AF that wield a far more potent combination of grassroots activism..

— Rhea Suh (@RheaSuh) November 9, 2016

Outdoors: Worth Fighting For

Outdoors products and gear are simply tools. They help us access the outdoors in ways we love. But without clean, wild, public lands, those tools lose their significance.

At GearJunkie, we will continue to watch the federal, state, and local governments. We believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth, our one and only home.

The wild places where we play are easy to lose or destroy. We hope the incoming administration will recognize that “conserve” is the root of the term conservative. We hope it will value outdoors recreation in both quantitative financial and qualitative “quality of life” terms, and maintain undeveloped wild spaces unspoiled for generations to come.

The post Election 2016: Outdoors Industry Vows Environmental Advocacy appeared first on GearJunkie.

Three months after they were introduced, Instagram stories are beginning to separate themselves from the Snapchat stories they are derived from. Today Instagram is introducing mentions, links, and an inline version of its Boomerang tool into stories. The result is a product that feels livelier than before, and truly distinct from Snapchat for the first time.

The new features represent the biggest update to stories since their launch. But only two of them will be available to everyone to start with. Links, which allow users to attach hyperlinks to individual Instagram stories, will be available only to verified users. You’ll know a link has been added to a story when you see the words “see more” on the bottom of a story. Tap it (or swipe up) and the link will load using Instagram’s in-app browser.

This marks the first time links have been allowed anywhere in Instagram beyond user profiles. (Hence the phrase “link in bio” littered throughout your feed.) Nathan Sharp, an Instagram product manager, told The Verge that the company added links to stories in response to the large number of brands using the feature to promote content there. Adding links to stories means users don’t have to leave the app, he said. “It was a question of trying to keep this seamless, linear narrative experience,” Sharp said. But he wouldn’t commit to saying that all users would be able to posts links eventually.

On the other hand, all users will be able to use mentions. Using the type tool on a snap and typing “@” will bring up a tray of your frequent contacts. You can tag them in a story whether they’re in it or not, and they’ll be notified inside with an Instagram direct message. Mentions show up in stories with an underline to signal that they’re tappable — tap once to bring up a preview of the profile, and tap again to go to the profile. But profile links only work if the name is moderately sized — make the mention too big or small and it will lose its magic underline.

It’s a nice touch that extends an advantage Instagram stories have over Snapchat — they’re designed to help you discover other accounts on the service. We saw this first when Instagram brought stories to its popular Explore tab, highlighting popular users for those who haven’t yet followed them. Now every story offers a chance to highlight a person, place, or brand. If you’re a creator, that could be one reason to focus your efforts on Instagram instead of Snapchat, which offers fewer tools for finding new accounts.

The final new tool takes advantage of Boomerang, Instagram’s year-old standalone app for making looping videos. Now it appears as a creative tool within stories that is available even if you don’t have the app installed on your phone. Tap it to create a looping burst of up to five photos, which will then endlessly play and rewind. Story Boomerangs can be shorter than the roughly 1.5-second clips you get from the standalone app (just remove your finger while recording), and you can reverse the camera mid-shot if you like. You can also zoom in on your subject with one finger while recording in a new media format destined to be called the zoomerang.

The introduction of stories to Instagram portended a world where every social app has merged into one. With today’s news, the company has suggested that the stories format is more flexible than it looks. Instagram hasn’t quite made the feature its own. But it’s getting there.

On January 14, 2015, the ‘Dawn Wall’ route on Yosemite’s El Capitan was successfully free-climbed and dubbed the most difficult big-wall rock climb in the world. Now, pro climber Adam Ondra wants a turn.

Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson took 19 days to free climb the Dawn Wall after years spent scouting the route. Ondra has made it to pitch 10 of the 32-pitch route in three days.

Amazingly, this is Ondra’s first visit to El Capitan — and Yosemite.

But he now faces the toughest climbing on the route. If he can get through five pitches of 5.14 and harder climbing (and several pitches nearly as hard), a second ascent could be his.

Super Human Sport Climber

Ondra, 23, is not to be taken lightly. He walked into the most difficult rock climb in the world — Chris Sharma’s “La Dura Dura” 5.15c project — and sent it with relative ease.

The first glance at the Big stone. Does not look too bad, let’s see in a few days if it is a choss… Impressive!!!#yosemite #elcapitan #Heinzzak @pavelblazek #thenose #dawnwall #salathe #Montura @blackdiamond @mytendon

A photo posted by Adam Ondra (@adam.ondra) on Oct 14, 2016 at 11:10pm PDT

The Czech-born climber currently has more 5.15c ascents (the most difficult grade climbed) to his credit than anyone else.

Ondra’s accomplishments appear superhuman, and most came while he was studying at a university, taking climbing trips between classes.

Therefore, Climbers’ ears should perk up on the news that Ondra’s pulling the crux pitch holds on the Dawn Wall.

The First Dawn Wall Ascent

The Dawn Wall did not submit easily. Caldwell and Jorgeson built artificial walls in their backyards to practice specific moves. They adjusted climbing time to winter for optimal rock conditions. In short, they let the climb consume their lives.

The difficulty of the Dawn Wall was unheard of in Yosemite. It had the two most difficult pitches in the entire valley, one after the other at 5.14d, and 12 pitches of 5.13.

By completing the ascent, Caldwell and Jorgeson redefined what can be achieved in the sport.

People questioned if it was possible. Now they question if it will be repeated. That time is now, and if anybody has a chance it’s Ondra.

Where Doubt Arises

Ondra does not have significant big wall ascents under his harness. The styles of climbing necessary for the Dawn Wall require dedicated training. It begs the question, can Ondra excel outside of his area of expertise?

“First day on the big wall in Yosemite, and straight onto the Dawn Wall! Foolishness, lack of respect or boldness?” Ondra told Black Diamond on Monday.

Dawn Walll nightsessioning 🙂 . @adam.ondra #adamondra #heinzzak #dawnwall #elcapitan #yosemite #liveclimbrepeat #blackdiamond #montura

A photo posted by Adam Ondra (@adam.ondra) on Oct 18, 2016 at 8:29pm PDT

He’s known for remarkable sport climbing and bouldering. But Yosemite big walls require endurance, logistics, strategy, and route-finding.

Having sent several 5.15c single-pitch climbs and V16 bouldering problems, Ondra understands how difficult this route will be.

Team On Dawn Wall

Certainly a phenom worthy of attention, Ondra is a sponsored Black Diamond athlete. But the Dawn Wall is obviously not going solo. Ondra partnered with his Czech friend with the Instagram name Pavel Blazek for the ascent.

It appears that Ondra will lead all of the pitches. It’s unclear if his partner is also climbing the route, or ascending via ropes, to provide a belay for Ondra.

Filmmaker Heinz Zak is documenting the attempt.

Ondra: A Freak Of Nature

Uncertainty about the climb’s possible success is warranted given the Dawn Wall’s ability to elude Jorgeson and Caldwell for years.

But it only requires one freak of nature to stop the doubt and push the boundaries of possibility in the world of climbing.

It is raining in the Valley, so we escaped the rain and headed out to Jailhouse to get some fitness. Blocky rock offering kneebars virtually everywhere, if I could only see them on my onsight… here fighting on “Burning down the House” 5.14b (8c), which did not go down on my onsight. I could still do “Lolita” 5.14a onsight (former 5.14b) and some easier stuff to be fit for the bigwalls in Yosemite. Picture by @pavelblazek @blackdiamond #Montura @mytendon #Heinzzak #Yosemite #elcapitan #sportclimbing

A photo posted by Adam Ondra (@adam.ondra) on Oct 16, 2016 at 9:37am PDT

Ondra has already done that in sport climbing. He can manage the difficulty one pitch at a time. In the next few days we will find out if he can do it on a big wall and claim the second free ascent of the Dawn Wall.

The post Czech Climber Moving Quickly Up ‘Dawn Wall’ appeared first on GearJunkie.

As the creepy clowns craze sweeps across the UK, a caped crusader was summoned to chase the evil creatures and protect children. 

In Whitehaven, Cumbria, several clown-related incidents left children traumatised and struggling to sleep.

A local costume company, Cumbria Superheroes, decided to send out 'Batman' to chase disguised pranksters and reassure children and their families. 

Photos of the superhero have been shared on Facebook by the local BBC. 

"'Crazy clowns' beware... Batman is in Whitehaven.Cumbria Superheroes heard that many children had been left traumatised by the clowns lurking around the town.So now Batman is patrolling the streets so that kids (and adults?) can feel at ease." Read more...

Bleached and dyed, or perhaps even coiffed and blow-dried – beards of all shapes and sizes are vying for attention in Rome.

In recent years, beards have made a bristling comeback and that means barbers have too.

The old profession once appeared to be fading away, but it's experienced a rebirth in the past few years. Barbers are saying that our newfound love for the beard is actually a return to the olden days, when having a beard was a sign of importance and value.  Read more...

Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition is a fairly straightforward device: it’s a tiny version of the classic console, with 30 games built in so you can play them easily on a modern television. It doesn’t have much in the way of frills, but today Nintendo is revealing a few new features for the device.

Most notably, it will offer three different display options. One, which Nintendo calls "pixel perfect" mode, cleans up the visuals so that they look crisp on your high-definition TV, while displaying them in a square format. Nintendo says that many of these 8-bit games look better in this mode than they do through the Virtual Console on the Wii and Wii U. Another mode sharpens up the visuals slightly, while maintaining the 4:3 aspect ratio of the original NES. Perhaps most exciting, though, is a mode that adds a CRT filter to emulate the look of playing the original NES on an old tube TV. It’ll even include scan lines.

Dr. Mario in "pixel perfect" mode (left) and with the CRT filter on (right).

While the NES Classic won’t let you expand on the base collection of 30 games — which includes the likes of Zelda, Super Mario, and Final Fantasy — it will let you sort the games in multiple ways. You’ll be able to filter out games so that you can find two-player titles to play with a friend, and you can also organize the collection alphabetically, chronologically, or by most recently played.

As Nintendo announced back in July, the NES Classic will offer multiple suspend points, allowing you to save your progress in a game, even if the original NES incarnation didn’t include save functionality. The company now says that each game will include four save slots, which should give you plenty of flexibility if multiple people are using the console. Each game will also be able to display a QR code that you can scan to bring up the original instruction booklet.

Aside from that, there isn’t a lot about the NES Classic that we don’t already know. It’ll come bundled with an HDMI cable and a NES-style controller, which can also be used with a Wii or Wii U to play Virtual Console games. (The controllers will be sold separately for $9.99.) The NES Classic is also compatible with both the Wii remote and Wii U Pro Controller if you need a second controller for two-player games.

The real question, though, is just how hard these consoles will be to find. Popular Nintendo products, from the original Wii to its Amiibo figures, are often in short supply, making it difficult or impossible to just walk into a store and buy one. That’s something Nintendo is hoping to avoid with its plug-and-play NES.

"We don’t want all of these ending up on eBay," says Nintendo of America’s David Young. "We do want to have these available, but a lot of it depends on the market. We know it’s going to be pretty popular, and we’re trying to account for that, but a lot of it will depend on what the consumers really do."

The NES Classic Edition will be available on November 11th for $59.99.

Those of you with a newer Samsung phone might want to take a peek at the battery usage today. Many users are reporting substantial battery drain after an update to the Oculus VR app. The only fix right now appears to be completely uninstalling the app.

Users are reporting the CPU in their phones is staying cranked up, preventing the device from going to sleep. This really burns through the battery. One post says the Galaxy S7 lost 70% of its juice in three hours.

PSA: Today's update to the Oculus VR app on Samsung phones is causing heavy battery drain was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Elon Musk just wrapped up an intricate and thorough presentation that covered his and SpaceX's vision of humans building a city on the surface of Mars. But throughout that talk, he didn't actually address exactly who should go. During the Q&A session that followed, the question inevitably came up: what sort of person does Musk think will volunteer to get strapped to that big rocket and fired towards the Red Planet? "Who should these people be, carrying the light of humanity to Mars for all of us?" an audience member asked. "I think the first journeys to Mars will be really very dangerous," answered Musk. "The risk of fatality will be high. There's just no way around it." The journey itself would take around 80 days, according to the plan and ideas that Musk put forward.

"Are you prepared to die? If that's okay, then you're a candidate for going," he added. But Musk didn't want to get stuck talking about the risks and immense danger. "This is less about who goes there first... The thing that really matters is making a self-sustaining civilization on Mars as fast as possible. This is different than Apollo. This is really about minimizing existential risk and having a tremendous sense of adventure," he said.

And while accidental death may be a strong possibility in those first few attempts to get humans on Mars, Musk doesn't seem to think that outcome will dissuade people who want to make an incredible mark on life.

"It would be an incredible adventure. I think it would be the most inspiring thing that I can possibly imagine. Life needs to be more than just solving problems every day. You need to wake up and be excited about the future, and be inspired, and want to live."

Developing. Check out our SpaceX Mars Colonization liveblog for the latest updates and our storystream for all the news!

Amazon is moving into another sector: photo printing. 

The e-commerce giant this week debuted a new service called Amazon Prints that allows customers to print their digital photos and order souvenirs like photo books, stationery and calendars. 

So far, that market has been dominated by companies like Shutterfly, which has offered similar options since its founding in 1999. Shutterfly's stock plunged 12 percent in one day after news broke of Amazon's entry into the market, Bloomberg reported. 

Amazon Prints is only available to customers who use Amazon Drive, the company's cloud storage service. Photos must be stored on the platform to be printed through Amazon Prints.  Read more...

China has flipped the switch on its 500 metre (1,640 ft) wide radio telescope — the largest in the world — which is aimed at the heavens in search of extraterrestrial life.

On Sunday, officials cut the ribbon on the FAST (Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope), located in a basin in the mountainous Pingtang County in Guizhou, southwest China.

The 1.2 billion yuan (US$180 million) FAST has 4,450 panels, and is the size of 30 football fields.

Scientists claimed during the launch that the "super eye in the sky" was sensitive enough to detect a cell phone in use on the moon. Read more...

Have you ever wanted an out of body experience, sans meditation or drugs?

You may find it with the Carolina Reaper Madness chip, Paqui chips' latest deadly creation. It's literally the hottest chip in the world, and only one chip comes in a package – the package being a coffin-shaped box.

The chip gets its kick (and then some more kick, and then some more) from the Carolina Reaper Pepper, the Guinness Book of World Records holder for Hottest Chili Pepper on Earth.

Mashable recently spoke with Jeff Day, Brand Manager for Paqui Chips. Read more...

When Allo was announced at Google’s I/O conference earlier this year, the messaging app was presented as a step forward for privacy. Alongside the end-to-end-encrypted Incognito Mode, the Allo team talked about bold new message retention practices, storing messages only transiently rather than indefinitely.

But with the release of the app today, Google is backing off on some of those features.

The version of Allo rolling out today will store all non-incognito messages by default — a clear change from Google’s earlier statements that the app would only store messages transiently and in non-identifiable form. The records will now persist until the user actively deletes them, giving Google default access to a full history of conversations in the app. Users can also avoid the logging by using Allo’s Incognito Mode, which is still fully end-to-end encrypted and unchanged from the initial announcement.

A change to improve the Allo assistant

Like Hangouts and Gmail, Allo messages will still be encrypted between the device and Google servers, and stored on servers using encryption that leaves the messages accessible to Google’s algorithms.

According to Google, the change was made to improve the Allo assistant’s smart reply feature, which generates suggested responses to a given conversation. Like most machine learning systems, the smart replies work better with more data. As the Allo team tested those replies, they decided the performance boost from permanently stored messages was worth giving up privacy benefits of transient storage.

The decision will also have significant consequences for law enforcement access to Allo messages. By default, Allo messages will now be accessible to lawful warrant requests, the same as message data in Gmail and Hangouts and location data collected by Android. The messages might not be there if the user had previously deleted them, or if the conversations took place in Incognito Mode — but in most cases, they will be. That leaves Google with much less danger of the kind of legal showdown Apple faced in San Bernardino and WhatsApp currently faces in Brazil.

• Update 1: 2016/09/18 7:25pm PDT
  Evan just tweeted that he also believes the update is coming September 21. This adds some credibility to the claim, and September 21 marks the last day of summer (when Google

Google Duo and Allo, the company's latest messaging applications, were announced back at Google I/O this year. Only Duo has been released to the public, and as I'm sure you all know, Google has been silent about the release date for Allo apart from a summer release.

Google Allo may launch this week, according to Evan Blass [Update: Maybe 9/21] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Conrad Anker’s legendary climbs and physical prowess belie painstaking planning, meticulous organization, and unparalleled gear knowledge.

On Conrad Anker’s climbs, the menu can get monotonous. For 19 days, on the 20,700-foot Mount Meru in the Indian Himalaya, Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk subsisted on oatmeal, energy bars, couscous with salami, and hard cheese every single night.

In Meru, the 2015 film about the climb, the team cracks jokes about the all-couscous menu, but in reality they know from experience that Anker’s planning philosophy is sound.

Decision Minimizer

“Climbing at altitude is so exhausting that the last thing you want to do is to worry about what’s for dinner, or be digging around for that random ingredient,” said Chin. “The fewer decisions you have to make, the better. It’s the same reason Steve Jobs wore a black mock turtleneck and dad-jeans every single day. Eliminate the trivial decisions.”

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg follows Jobs’s wardrobe philosophy, and renowned author and physician Oliver Sacks ate the same breakfast every day of his life for the same reason.

Making many small decisions can compromise your ability to make the big decisions well. It’s called “decision fatigue,” and in mountaineering it can have grave consequences. That the team lost 60 pounds between them on Meru (and failed to summit the route in 2008) had less to do with the Spartan diet than the storm that kept them on the wall for 12 days longer than they planned.

Still, said Anker, their decision to go light and basic was the right plan, one of the hundreds of details that make or break the effort, and one that worked on their successful second expedition in 2011. “Concentrating on the details is what sets you up for success,” he said.

All-Star Mountaineer

Anker ought to know. He is arguably the most successful mountaineer climbing today, with more than 40 international expeditions on his resume and scores of first ascents to his name. Even at 53 years old, he puts up four or five new routes each year, and in the last year became the face of climbing thanks to his starring role in Chin’s acclaimed Meru documentary.

The story details Anker’s three attempts at the climb, and how he persevered in the face of losing two of his best friends and mentors. It cemented his reputation as a survivor, both professionally and personally. Amongst his peers, though, Anker is probably most celebrated as a meticulous preparer.

“Conrad is exceptional with expedition details,” said Chin. “It’s rubbed off on me. It’s rubbed off on a lot of people.”

Gear Organizer

Nothing symbolizes Anker’s relationship to preparation like his gear room—probably the most celebrated man-cave in all of adventure sports. In October 2015, I met with him there as he began to organize his gear for an expedition to Nepal’s 22,621-foot Lunag-Ri.

I observed his 6-foot-2-inch frame, lean and taut like a big cat, as he pulled a tent off a shelf and tossed it into one of a pair of plastic bins on the floor.

“I’ll fill the bins and then walk around them for two days, adding things and subtracting them,” he said. “Once I’m satisfied, I’ll lay everything out on a tarp and take photos as inventory. Way better than writing a checklist.”

The converted bedroom in the basement of his Bozeman, Mont., home has been the subject of a few short documentaries, and is as much museum as store room. There are racks of carabiners and cams, rows of ice tools, and shelves of tents. Spools of cord are slung below a workbench, and climbing shoes and boots are lined neatly in pairs.

“This stuff is the fuel,” he said. “It’s here to be used. If it’s not in use I find someone to lend it to. It needs to be out making experiences, making memories.”

He gestures at the opposite wall, shelves crammed full of souvenirs from his 30 years of climbing—memories his gear helped create. There is a bottle of water from Gomukh, the primary source of the Ganges, high in the Himalaya. There is a rusted piton he pulled from the North Face of the Piz Badile in the Swiss Alps. A pacifier slung on a pink ribbon, which he brings on expeditions, “to remind people not to act like babies,” he said, grinning.

Friend, Husband, Father

The gear room’s most poignant shelf is a shrine to his best friend and climbing partner Alex Lowe. In 1999, Anker and Lowe were attempting to ski the 26,335-foot Shishapangma in Tibet when Lowe and cameraman David Bridges were killed in an avalanche that swept over all three of them. Anker ran in a different direction and somehow escaped with only injuries, but was roiled by survivor’s guilt.

In the months after Lowe’s death, Anker and Lowe’s widow Jenni, in their shared grief, grew close, fell in love, and married in 2001. Anker moved into the Lowe home in Bozeman—the same one where they still live today—and together they raised the three Lowe boys.

In April of this year, the remains of Lowe and Bridge’s were found, 16 years after the accident. For Anker and the Lowe family, the news evoked mixed emotions.

“It brings up the memories of what we went through in 1999,” Anker told NPR in an interview shortly afterward. “And the other end of it is there’s a sense of closure now. It will be a healing thing for our family.”

The shrine contains a dozen items, prayer flags, a signed climbing helmet, a pair of climbing tools, and a ’90s-vintage satellite phone. It’s a constant reminder of the risks Anker faces in his chosen profession, if Jenni and the boys aren’t already reminders enough. At one point Jenni came downstairs to check on a travel detail.

“This is the hardest part for her,” said Anker, once she was gone. “The time before the expeditions.”

Managing Risk

Still, this is how he provides for his family, and he treats climbing the same way a doctor treats their practice. “I need to be as professional and organized as possible in order to get the best returns,” he said. “I can’t climb at this level forever.”

Not that his work isn’t compelling. He’s in the inspiration business, after all. “I love climbing. It’s what I’m best at, and taking the risk out of life would be tremendously boring,” he said.

The trick, then, is to manage that risk by managing the details ahead of time. For example, he only climbs clean, solid walls anymore. Not the crumbly, sedimentary rock that’s likely to peel off the wall and land on you. “Life’s too short to drink bad coffee or to climb crumbly sedimentary rock in the Himalaya,” he said.

Anker famously remembers details of every major climb he’s done. He maps the routes, move-by-move, in his collection of notebooks, and even copies out the route maps of climbs he hasn’t yet done in preparation. “It’s a memory trick,” he said.

Gear Ambassador

Anker approaches foot care with the same attention to detail. Every night, Anker carefully cleans his feet with soap and water, and scrubs between each toe. This is a real extravagance when crammed onto a hanging porta-ledge with two other exhausted people. He then rubs them carefully with salve before putting on a fresh pair of dry socks for bed.

Said Chin, “On the first attempt at Meru, Renan’s feet and mine were a mess, but Conrad’s were fine. I learned from that.”

Anker feels the foot routine is emblematic of what has kept him climbing for 40 years. “Having dialed feet is both a psychological benefit and a necessity,” he said. “No detail is too small, and success lies in the details. Having to walk many kilometers in rough terrain simply requires good foot care. Without it, your dreams run the risk of being stopped in their tracks.”

That care is what makes Anker a coveted gear ambassador as well. He has worked with The North Face on gear design for years, and is the visionary behind their heralded Ice Project pack. As a longtime Smartwool ambassador, he recently collaborated on the award-winning PhD Outdoor Mountaineer, a sock designed for the specific needs of alpine climbers.

Sock Designer

He and some fellow Smartwool athletes started discussing a new sock design around a fireplace in a small log cabin high in Montana’s Hyalite Canyon after a day of ice climbing in freezing weather.

“We looked at the current state of footwear and what socks were available,” he said. “There were no mountain socks available with graduated calf compression, which aids in preventing leg fatigue, wicks moisture from the toes and arch, and facilitates zonal insulation.”

Anker’s relationship with Smartwool led him to collaborate with John Ramsey, development director of the brand’s sock category. “Conrad has given us the best feedback of anyone we’ve ever worked with who wasn’t a professional designer,” Ramsey said. “He knows exactly what he wants.”

Anker took design ideas to Ramsey’s team at Smartwool’s design laboratory in Chattanooga, Tenn. There, they used cutting-edge computerized weaving machinery to build the complex sock with graduated compression, and toe and heel insulation that differ in thickness by degrees of millimeters.

“John’s a third generation sock knitter,” Anker said, “so it was a challenge he enjoyed tackling. He knows the nuances of wool. After six versions we had a product we were really proud of.”

Pillar Of The Climbing Community

Anker sees his gear design as a sort of service to the climbing community—the fruit of his years of experience. His young climbing parters also benefit from the experience.

Invariably, Anker selects the young hotshots from The North Face team, which he manages, as climbing partners. Chin was one such beneficiary before he became a star in his own right. Alex Honnold, 30, already famous for his free-soloing exploits, is another. Anker plans to get Honnold onto some alpine routes in the coming year to help him round out his climbing experience.

The partnerships are more of a two-way street than it would seem, however. “I’m using the young guys’ energy to stay psyched and to stay relevant,” said Anker, rubbing balm on a new pair of leather gloves. “Hopefully, I can teach them a thing or two about being a professional, and staying alive.”

Even if that means a monotonous diet and meticulous foot care.

– This post was sponsored by Zappos. Check out the new Smartwool PhD Outdoor Mountaineer socks here.

–Frederick Reimers is a freelance writer who grew up at Keewaydin Canoe Camp, a wilderness canoe-tripping youth camp in Temagami, Ontario, where his father was camp director. He was the editor of Canoe and Kayak magazine from 2007 to 2009 and writes for numerous outdoor and action-sports titles, including Outside, Skiing, Powder, and Men’s Journal.

The post Method Man: Inside The Mind Of Mountaineer Conrad Anker appeared first on GearJunkie.

Your work family knows exactly what you need at the end of a terrible day.

A woman who got laid off from her human resources job was touched to see that her closest work friends brought her a special cake on her last day.

Apparently the lay-offs, which dissolved the company's entire HR department according to the woman's post on Reddit, were widely considered a bad move by employees.

However, the woman was grateful to have such loyal work friends on such a hard day.

Photographers are gonna photograph.

So when Mike Karas spotted the perfect sunset moment between two newlyweds, he captured it with his zoom lens — even though he was several hundred yards away and not the official wedding photographer.

"I was with some other hikers and saw [the couple] pop out on that ledge just as the sun was setting," Karas told Mashable. "It was surreal."

And he took a surreal photo to match.

A classic French brand pivots this month with a survival knife design. We took it into the woods for a first test.

Opinel made its first knife in 1890, and since that date the French company, based in Chambéry, has produced untold millions of its iconic wood-handle blades. This year, the classic look gives ways to a knife designed for survival.

The Opinel No. 12 Explore, new this month, has a whistle, fire-starter, and a hook-blade built-in. These features blend seamlessly into a 6-inch handle that houses the company’s stalwart, fine-edge folding blade.

Review: Opinel No. 12 Explore Knife

I reviewed an early-release version in the woods this summer. At $49, the No. 12 Explore is a solid value for anyone in need of a backcountry blade. Its survival features are reasonable add-ons, and the system to hold them in place is unique.

Like most Opinel blades, the Explore model employs a stainless steel called 12C27 Sandvik. It will not rust and is known as a workhorse metal that will hold a razor edge. It can be sharpened easily.

The blade is about 4 inches long and 0.8-inch thick. It came out of the box medium-sharp — not fine enough to shave arm hairs and in need of some work with a stone.

Its blade deployed, the knife is large — a 10-inch piece in the hand ready to get to work.

Knife Blades: Common Steels Explained

All the info you need to understand the steel in your knife blade. Read more...

Folding Blade, Survival Features

At first, Opinel knives appear to be non-locking. But a ring on top of the handle spins, moving into place to keep the blade secured and locked, open or closed.

Opinel adopts this tried and true design used across its line for the Explore. Where the knife diverges from its heritage is the rubber and reinforced fiberglass handle and in-handle accessories.

The company made this knife for backpackers, hunters, fishermen, and survival-minded individuals. It can certainly perform for a variety of tasks in the outdoors, though serious knife junkies may prefer a sturdier locking mechanism or a non-folding blade.

Whistle, Fire Starter Built-In

Opinel’s design uses its built-in fire-starter as a pin to hold a hook-blade at the butt of the handle in place. It slides out of the handle a few millimeters and clicks in place when needed in the field.

Pull the pin all the way out and you have a ferrocerium rod capable of producing 5,000-degree sparks. I scrapped it against the back of the blade to shoot tiny balls of fire, igniting kindling into a smoldering mass.

The whistle is in the handle, and Opinel cites a 110-decibel max output. That can serve as a strong signal if you’re injured or lost.

Finally, the cutting hook is a small gut-hook type blade. It could be used to cut cord easily, and some hunters use them for cleaning game in the field, but the applications are fairly limited.

The above mentioned fire starter and whistle border on the “gimmicky” category of feature sets. Survival knives usually avoid bells and whistles. However, in this design, the extra elements are functional and don’t get in the way of the knife’s overall utility.

The handle is reinforced fiberglass. A rubbery material inlayed with topographical line details gives grip. It feels solid in the hand, hiding the fact that tools are built in. The ferro rod, whistle, and hook don’t detract from the utility, and may come in handy in a pinch.

Overall, Opinel has built a sturdy, streamlined product with its No. 12 Explore. At $49, the price is fair, and the features all performed in my test.

Look to this blade if you’re a backpacker or hunter searching for an affordable upgrade to the common straight-edge and like the extra security of an always-there fire starter and whistle while heading into the wilds.

The post First Look: Iconic Opinel Knife Gets Survival Upgrade appeared first on GearJunkie.

LOS ANGELES — By now you've probably seen the clip of soccer star Hope Solo breaking down after hearing news of her suspension from U.S. Soccer Federation.

But what happened after that moment?

On Friday, Fullscreen — the digital entertainment company that documented Solo's Olympics journey — released more footage of the events surrounding the suspension.

The new video is part of the finale of Fullscreen's docu-series Kicking Score, which launched Aug. 3 just ahead of the Summer Games.

The series follows three of the best female athletes in the world — Solo, Megan Rapinoe and Crystal Dunn — off the field and on the high stakes road to Rio. Read more...