KWBaker

April 17, 2014
Sovereign Valley Farm, Chile

Today is a pretty great day for Team Sovereign Man.

As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve got a very close-knit team down here in Chile– people from all over the world. They hail from places like Slovenia, Lithuania, Ukraine, New Zealand, Argentina, Thailand, etc.

Now as we’ve discussed so many times in the past, we are not defined by our nationality. The color of one’s passport is as irrelevant as the color of one’s skin.

We’re all human beings, citizens of the world. Passports are nothing but antiquated leashes to keep us tethered to insolvent governments. It’s a way of dividing people instead of uniting us.

Unfortunately passports are a necessary evil.

Without one, it’s difficult to travel worldwide or even do basic business like registering a corporation or opening a bank account in most places.

But since we don’t get to live in a world of zero passports, I advocate having several. Because it’s much better than the default option– one.

Most people have a single nationality, based either on where they were born or to whom they were born.

A passport is nothing more than a certificate of accident of birth. It tells the world that you just happened to be born on a piece of soil or to particular parents, either of which is a total fluke.

But because of this total fluke, we human beings are born with certain obligations, none of which we ever actually signed up for.

The obligation to pay taxes. The obligation to go fight and die in a foreign war waged by politicians. The obligation to pay down the debts that have been racked up by previous generations. Etc.

I think this is total crap. Human beings are born free. We do not come into this world owing anything to anyone, least of all some politician.

Yet for folks who go their entire lives with a single passport, a single nationality, they have no other choice.

More than likely, the country in which you were born (or the country of your nationality) has a total monopoly on you. They have no competition.

That’s why they can treat you like a Medieval serf… or dairy cow to be milked at their discretion. What option do you really have?

It’s the same reason why that big public utility where you live can have such horrible customer service– they don’t have any competition. What else are you going to do– shut off your water?

It turns out, though, that you can obtain other passports… other nationalities in your life. You can introduce a bit of competition in this equation. So by obtaining a second passport, suddenly you have another option.

Having more options means more freedom. It means that if your government becomes more oppressive, you are no longer chained to it.

In many ways it’s the ultimate insurance policy. And it’s a policy that need not really cost you anything.

Back to my intro– a member of my team here from Ukraine has just received today a second passport from Nicaragua.

Her home country is in tatters at the moment, ripped apart by civil war and revolution.

She already has residency here in Chile. But with this new passport, all sorts of new possibilities open up.

She can now travel with ease across the region, and even get visa-free access into Europe (which she cannot do with her Ukrainian passport).

She received this second nationality simply because she has ancestors from Nicaragua… and she went to the trouble of finding the appropriate records and applying.

A number of countries have similar laws– if you have parents, grandparents, and sometimes beyond from that country, you too can obtain a second citizenship and passport.

Hungary’s government lets people demonstrate ancestors as far back as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Spain is issuing passports to descendants of Sephardic Jews from five centuries ago.

If you’re persistent, there are a lot of options out there. And except for a few FEDEX charges, the cost of obtaining citizenship by ancestry is minimal.

For a minimal investment, growlers open up a whole world of local microbrews and draught beers that can be enjoyed on your own schedule. Get in on the action with five of the best.

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Thinking of buying a new action cam or upgrading that 1st or 2nd generation GoPro? This latest review from Gizmodo will help you determine the best from the rest.

LINK

This 1948 Palace Royale camper has been reincarnated as a rolling bar.

LINK (via:Tin Can Tourists)

Canada's Bruce Trail: from Niagara to Tobermory
by Kim Bell from St. Catharines, ON Canada

A section of the Bruce Trail winds its way almost right behind my house. It is so peaceful and beautiful and a wonderful way to connect with nature. My dogs love it too. The badges depicted on the map are earned when you complete the corresponding section of trail.

Little-Known New York City Curiosities
by Samarra Khaja
http://www.samarrakhaja.com

Sure, you *think* you know all there is to know about New York City, but I invite you to meet some oddities and curiosities you may not have pondered before. Plus, what embodies the core essence of the "creative and curious" more than inventions? Behold some interesting curiosities that just might boggle your mind… Enjoy!

Sami girl in front of Lavoo, in Murmansk Oblast. Sami of Russia, 2006. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Tool holding two reindeer in Baruun Taiga. Dukha of Mongolia, June 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Rotterdam-based photographer Jeroen Toirkens has been photographing nomads of Russia, Central Asia, Mongolia, and the Arctic region since 1999. This traditional way of life, which in some cases is thousands of years old and therefore one of the oldest forms of civilization, is increasingly threatened by the encroachment of modern industrialized civilization and globalization. Nomadslife is the chronicle of this elemental way of life and the changes that many of these communities are going through. In addition to globalization and population growth, traditional nomadism is also endangered because the younger generations are increasingly lured away from their ancestral way of life by the modernity of cities. Legislation is also impacting tradition, and has caused the nomads of certain regions to create more permanent settlements. In addition to more familiar scenes of nomadic life—reindeer herding, fishing, hunting—Toirkens also depicts the real existence of modern-day elements—soda vending machines, solar panels, television—commingling with traditional aspects. Nomadslife is a beautiful visual document of the ongoing changes impacting these varied societies.

Nomad, published by Lannoo, is available in trade and special editions. Click here for more from Nomadslife. His newest book, Solitude, in the Wake of William Barentsz, about his 1,864-mile journey from Bodø, Norway, to Murmansk, Russia, on the Barents Road, through the last remaining wilderness in Europe, is available here.

Girl in Gobi Desert. Khalkhs of Mongolia, 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Bleeding Antlers, Khövsgöl Aimag. Dukha of Mongolia, 2004.Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Thomasine cuts seal into pieces, in Tiniteqilaaq. Inuit of East Greenland, September 2009. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Drying Fish, Tiniteqilaaq. Inuit of East Greenland, 2009. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Bayamandai is posing with his five-year-old eagle. The Kazakh are so-called burket, eagle hunters, who train the predator birds to fly out from their arm to catch hares, foxes and even wolves. After five years of loyal service, the birds are usually set free again. In Bayan ölgii. Kazakhs of Mongolia, August 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Interior of a dwelling in Khövsgöl Aimag. Dukha of Mongolia, 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Vladimir waits to depart, in Lovozero, Murmansk Oblast. Sami of Russia, November 2006. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Crossword puzzle, in Autonomous Okrug. Nenets of Russia, 2005. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

This camp in Zuun Taiga is seventeen kilometers from the Russian border. In service of the local government, the families keep an eye on the neighboring village of Tuva. Dukha of Mongolia, May 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Gigantic strips of skin, blubber, and meat are dragged to various places on the landing strip in Barrow. The whale is shared among the population according to centuries-old principles. Inupiat of Alaska, United States, October 2010. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

The grazing area of the ‘Vyudjinski’ reindeer brigade is located above the polar circle, along the inhospitable coast of the Barents Sea. In Communist times, Vyudjinski was the best kolchoz (collective farm or community) in the region, where 70,000 reindeer used to graze. That number has plummeted to 5,000 animals. Autonomous Okrug, Nenets of Russia, August 2005. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Kitchen in Bayan Olgii Aimag. Kazakhs of Mongolia, August 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

Setting up camp in Töv Aimag. Khalkhs of Mongolia, 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

The steppes of Mongolia are slowly emptying. By now, half of the original nomadic population is living in the cities. The capital Ulaanbaatar is unable to absorb the influx. At the city’s edges enormous outskirts form, made up of gers (felt tents) and simple houses. Increasing numbers of shepherds are abandoning their nomadic existence and are moving into town. Khalkhs of Mongolia, May 2007. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens 

Barrow, Alaska, lies more than 400 kilometres above the Arctic Circle and is the northernmost point in the United States. Inupiat of Alaska, 2010. Photo © Jeroen Toirkens

The post Nomadslife: Portraits of Nomads Around the World Reveal A Way of Life Soon To Be Forgotten appeared first on Feature Shoot.

From Drinks

They might not be as well known as Pappy Van Winkle, but these 5 bourbons deserve a spot in your liquor cabinet. [Photographs: Robert Donovan]

These days, bourbon drinkers have a lot of choices in front of them. The big distillers have brought out a steady parade of small batches, single barrels, and special reserves, and they've been joined by a new wave of craft distillers and blenders who are creating premium whiskey on a smaller scale. Trying to separate the worthy juice from the over-marketed impostors can be daunting.

I'm one of the founding members of the Charleston Brown Water Society, which aims to help whiskey lovers navigate this ever-expanding landscape of options. We gather regularly to share good whiskey, especially rare or lesser-known releases, and we host tasting events with distillers and blenders to hear how they make their products and learn more about the history of great American spirits. Our members include bartenders and cooks from many of the top restaurants and bars in Charleston, South Carolina, along with food writers, liquor sellers, and whiskey aficionados from all walks of life.

I asked a few of the Society's members to recommend some bourbons that may not be quite as well known as Pappy Van Winkle but very much deserve a spot in your liquor cabinet.

Dan Latimer, the general manager of Husk Restaurant, is a big fan of the Medley Brothers' Old Medley 12. "It drinks older than it actually is," Latimer says. "In a blind tasting I would pick it to be 15 to 18 years old. It has a unique nutty quality about it, like pecans, that really complements the vanilla and caramel." Old Medley can easily stand side by side against the best higher-end bourbons, Latimer adds, and it offers a lot of bang for the buck. "At $50 retail it's one of the best values on the market."

E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel is a 100 proof bottled-in-bond whiskey, which is appropriate since it was named in honor of Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr., who helped lead the fight for pure whiskey that culminated in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. It's not just the historical connection but the flavor, too, that makes it a favorite for Greg "Bear" Barrow, a Charleston historian and tour guide. "It finishes a lot like Scotch, in my opinion," Barrow says. "The smoke flavor is rare for a bourbon and shows its true depth in taste."

Craig Nelson, the owner of Proof Bar, looks westward to Texas and Balcones Distilling, where head distiller Chip Tate is turning out a line of whiskeys with distinctive Texas twists. Nelson particularly likes the Balcones Brimstone, which is made with blue corn that's smoked over Texas scrub oak. "It starts off with a heavy smoke scent," Nelson says, "But after a few sips, as your palate adjusts, the sweet and spice notes shine through."

Since they're aged in uncharred oak barrels, the Balcones products can't be designated bourbons, but they can still take a respected place on a bourbon lover's shelf. "They're kind of a nice hybrid for a Scotch or bourbon drinker," Nelson adds, "Wonderful campfire flavors, with a sweet corn and pepper finish."

R.H. Weaver, the head barman at Husk Restaurant, recommends Jefferson Reserve, a combination of four bourbons of different ages created by Master Blender Trey Zoeller. "I really like Trey and what he's doing. I like that he says up front, 'I purchase it. I blend it. And I make it my own way.' That's respectable." The Reserve is a bold blend with rich caramel and toffee flavor and hints of cinnamon and orange. But when you get right down to it, Weaver likes it for one simple reason: "Because it's good."

Duncan Morgan, who works alongside Weaver behind the bar at Husk, guides patrons toward Noah's Mill, a barrel-strength bourbon from Willett Distillery. "It's a fine small batch bourbon and under $50 a bottle," he says. "The proof is 114.3, and it works in perfect harmony with the well-oaked, spicy sweetness of the whiskey." As for how to drink this bourbon, Morgan advises enjoying it neat. "I wouldn't use it in a cocktail because its flavor is too good to mask. Don't let the proof scare you away, because it's an easy sipper."

About the Author: Robert F. Moss is the senior food and drinks writer and restaurant reviewer for the Charleston City Paper and the author of Barbecue: The History of an American Institution and Going Lardcore: Adventures in New Southern Dining. You can find him on Twitter @mossr.

The corporations are on welfare and so is a large portion of the US citizenry (and non-citizenry too it must be acknowledged).  Votes are bought with a program. Politicians are bought with fat feline donations. The state expands. Everyone it seems has a hand in the till. Everyone it seems has an angle. The welfare state, leviathan, is ever-present. And to challenge the monster is to challenge the way of life of many who have long ago made peace with (in some cases) or cozied up with (all too often)  the beast.

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The map above, by Nik Freeman of Mapsbynik, shows the 4.9 million census blocks in the U.S. (out of 11.1 million in total) with a recorded population of zero. It's a pretty gorgeous creation, and it pairs nicely with an older favorite of mine, from the US GSA:

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The Story Behind Every Pothead's Favorite Number

From Dickens we get 'butterfingers,' from Lewis Carroll 'chortle.' Shakespeare's word for a half-smile—'smilet'—never caught on. Henry Hitchings reviews "Authorisms" by Paul Dickson.

Alton Brown's secret for making perfect hard-boiled eggs is to not boil them at all. Instead, he prefers to oven-bake eggs . If you like that, Brown shared a tip for the method in his new YouTube channel: use a moist kitchen towel.

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The world’s most viewed picture is the default wallpaper titled “Bliss” that appears on the Windows XP operating system. The peaceful hillside image that rests below blue skies and feathery white clouds is estimated to have been seen by one billion people.

According to the SF Gate Blog, the ubiquitous photo was taken by 73-year-old Charles O’Rear of some rolling hills west of the old Stornetta Dairy in Sonoma County about 100 miles north of San Francisco. Driving to meet his girlfriend back in 1998, O’Rear was struck by the serenity of the hills and snapped the picture with his large-format Mamiya RZ67 camera.

“We had a few white clouds that just happened to be drifting by. The brilliant colors, the blue skies, the white clouds, the clarity. Those factors were enough for me to stop and take a picture,” O’Rear said. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that the longtime photographer is proud of the photo although he admits that there was nothing “unique” about it. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.

“Bliss” will slowly be disappearing, however, because Microsoft is dropping tech support for the XP operating system as it introduces more advanced editions. As far as O’Rear is concerned, if there is a picture to be remembered by, “Bliss” is a good one: “This is as close to Nirvana as you're going to get. And if that's so, the closest thing to Nirvana on the planet is right here in Sonoma County.”

Doctors in India have found $20,000 worth of gold bars in the stomach of a 63-year-old man who complained about vomiting and constipation. 

The bizarre discovery was made after the businessman told doctors that he had swallowed a bottle cap after a row with his wife. When they operated, the doctors found gold bars weighing around 400g, equivalent to around $20,000 in monetary value. 

“This is the first time I have recovered gold from the stomach of a patient,” said C S Ramachandran, a senior surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

“I remember having taken out a bladder stone weighing 1kg from a patient. But finding gold in a patient’s stomach was something unbelievable.” Removing gold from someone’s stomach is not an easy matter, the doctor confessed. 

“It was a tedious three-hour-long operation. He is an old patient and we had to be careful. We found 12 gold bars lying in a stack in his stomach.” 

The Times of India website reported that the man swallowed the 33 gram bars known as gold biscuits in Singapore in an attempt to smuggle them into India on March 28th. He is said to have taken laxatives to try and force the bars out, but they got stuck in his small intestine. 

The Times of London said that last year, another incident in Mumbai led to customs officials arresting a Sri Lankan man with 700g of gold in his rectum: "He was caught when the metal triggered detectors at the airport." 

A unnamed Indian customs official said that smugglers usually hide gold biscuits in the rectum area. "In the last six months, the smuggling of gold has gone up significantly," the official said.

Three years before Matt Drudge changed the world and how news would be consumed, President Bill Clinton's White House feared that the Internet was allowing average citizens, especially conservatives, to bypass legacy gatekeepers and access information that had previously been denied to them by the mainstream press. 

The infamous 1995 "conspiracy commerce memo" tried to demonize and discredit alternative media outlets on the right to mainstream media organizations and D.C. establishment figures. 

The memo notes that the "Internet has become one of the major and most dynamic modes of communication" and "can link people, groups and organizations together instantly."

"Moreover, it allows an extraordinary amount of unregulated data and information to be located in one area and available to all," the memo states. "The right wing has seized upon the Internet as a means of communicating its ideas to people. Moreover, evidence exists that Republican staffers surf the Internet, interacting with extremists in order to exchange ideas and information.”

The memo also states that conservative think tanks serve as a training ground for future leaders and says conservative institutions "are to today's media age of political organizations what the Democratic big city party machines were to the New Deal era of political organization" 

The memo talks about the media frenzy, the blow back strategy, and slams outlets unfavorable to the Clinton White House as "sources without credibility" before calling Richard Mellon Scaife the "vanguard" of the conspiracy movement that spread stories and "theories" about Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, and Vince Foster.

“Scaife along with a handful of other wealthy individuals and foundations use their power to control the Republican Party's agenda and viewpoints," the memo says. "Scaife, in particular, is one of the major backers of Newt Gingrich. Interestingly enough, Gingrich's views on Vince Foster seemed to dovetail with Scaife's following Scaife's pumping of thousands of dollars into Gingrich's GOPAC's coffers."

Drudge forever changed journalism in January of 1998 when he reported that Bill Clinton had a sexual relationship with a White House intern and that Newsweek killed the story to protect its ally in the White House. 

As former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has pioneered the use of social media to get her message out, has said, the "new media rose up precisely because the old media failed to tell the truth."

"That very first new media breakthrough was about 15 years ago when this lowly little store clerk in a lowly little apartment equipped with his computer and a modem broke one of the biggest stories of the decade. His name was Matt Drudge and the rest is history," she said. Palin added that the establishment "denounced Drudge as irresponsible and unprofessional and even dangerous and anti-everything from motherhood to apple pie."

"How dare that nobody from nowhere without a degree or a pedigree try to influence the national discourse? But the real reason they feared him was because he wasn’t beholden to the old media’s machine and the Thought Police. Unshackled, he was free," Palin explained.

And so were millions of other Americans who would have access to news and alternative points of view.

New Americans turn to goats to address food demand...


(Second column, 17th story, link)

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The small town of Ojai often gets lost in the shadows of destinations such as Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and Big Sur along California's central coast, but after a recent visit to the "Valley of the Moon," we began to understand what has made it a long-time getaway for those looking to escape L.A. and refresh in the powerful, healing aura that our bro Jaunted discovered.

Something that initially seems like a drawback is what turns out to be one of Ojai's best attributes: The fact that it is not located on the coast. Tourists coming to California understandably want to be near the ocean, yet same-state travelers (aka Cali locals) appreciate the change in

Join photography lovers at the Stephen L. Clark Gallery on Saturday, May 10th from 6-9 for the
Surf, Turf & Tequila Happy Hour:
Photos & Books by Kenny Braun 
Drinks by Scott Willis & Tequila 512
Hors d’oeuvres by Jack Gilmore & Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Classic Longboards by Randy Martin & Zem Surfboards

A special event to celebrate the extended exhibit of Surf Texas.

Morgue, man with floral tattoo, 1945 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

Detail of two bullet holes in car window, 1942 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

From Weegee to L.A. Confidential, both real and fiction crime stories have been well established as an object of intrigue. From April 25-27, Fototeka will be exhibiting images from a massive archive of Los Angeles Police Department crime scene and evidence photos, some dating back to 1925, on view for the first time ever as part of Paris Photo Los Angeles. 

With an estimated one million photos, the LAPD Archives is a wealth of history that was hidden for decades in a huge repository in downtown L.A, buried among 150 years of police records. Los Angeles-based photographer Merrick Morton, who is also a reserve LAPD officer, learned of the giant archive when he went digging for LAPD photos for an exhibition he had planned at Fototeka, which he owns and operates with his wife. The archive, which contains photos from the nation’s oldest crime lab, contained boxes of chemically-unstable, decomposing, cellulose nitrate negatives. Merrick and his team managed to salvage an extensive amount of the archive from being junked due to the legitimate fire hazard they presented. Luckily, they unearthed this fascinating archive and rescued it from likely oblivion.

Photographs from the LAPD Archives will be on view from April 25-27, during Paris Photo Los Angeles at Paramount Picture Studios in Los Angeles, California. Prints are available through Fototeka.

Shoes, arm, and knife, 1950 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

Victim’s feet hanging off bed, 1934 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

Detail of bullet holes in screen, 1930 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

Onion field reenactment, 1963 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

Bank robbery note, 1965 © LAPD. Courtesy of Fototeka.

The post Photographer Unearths a Wealth of True Crime Photos from the LAPD Archives appeared first on Feature Shoot.

Thanks in no small part to T-Mobile's free global data initiative, US carriers have begun to lighten the fee load when it comes time to roam. But you'll still pay an arm and a leg in many countries, and discounted plans from AT&T and Verizon, while...

The Best EDC Flashlights

Compared to knives, people have only recently started carrying flashlights on a daily basis. In the past, carry options were limited to giant, dim Maglites or plastic Energizer torches. Since then, innovation in LED, battery, and optical technology brought a new generation of lights that outshine their predecessors. These brighter, smaller, and more useful modern lights are worth including in your EDC. In the second installment of Carry Smarter, we recommend our favorite lights to carry with you.

When buying an EDC light, there are many features and technical nuances to consider. If you’re unfamiliar with the terminology, choosing your EDC light can be daunting. Some features are straightforward, such as a pocket clip, battery type, or output. Keep in mind that while there are plenty of great lights that take common AA and AAA batteries, the best of them will require lithium ion or rechargeable cells. Also, there’s more to a light than how bright it is – generally, anything with more than 100 lumens will be sufficient, and anything over 400 is overkill. Runtime, beam and tint quality, and a good user interface are just as important as brightness, if not more so. Lastly, some terms worth explaining – CRI refers to a light’s ability to preserve colors accurately (think of how your skin looks under a fluorescent bulb versus sunlight), and tailstanding refers to a light’s ability to stand vertically to act like a candle in an emergency situation by bouncing its beam off of a ceiling for diffuse illumination. With that said, let’s take a look at our favorite lights to EDC.

This is the entry level for modern flashlights. Compared to an old Maglite, it’s a revelation – two to three times brighter than the MiniMag on a single AA battery. While it uses a twist, twist-again UI, its modes are well-spaced and fortunately start on low to preserve night vision. The clip is an excellent bolt-on clip, which is unusual at this price point. Most inexpensive lights have flimsy clips that clamp using friction and simply don’t stay in place. Finally, this light tailstands well. A light of this size and price isn’t without drawbacks – on high, it puts out a meager 70 lumens with an overly bluish tint.

BUY NOW ($25)

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This tiny jewel truly demonstrates just how far flashlight technology has progressed. It’s only the size of a AA battery, but ten times brighter than the colossal, common 2D Maglite. It not only has a screaming high output, but it also has a beautiful medium mode and a perfect, moonlight low. You’d be surprised just how often its dimmest setting is more than enough to get the job done. No light is a better showcase of flashlight technology than the HF-R. It’s called “Holy Flashlight” for a reason.

BUY NOW ($88)

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No flashlight manufacturer stays on the cutting edge of LED technology like FourSevens does. The super compact Atom AL is one of the most affordable lights on the market to use a staged twisty UI – one that accesses output modes by continuously twisting the head of the light in one direction, without needing to toggle on and off to change modes. If you’ve been turned off by hassling with complicated UIs, using the Atom AL will spoil you – it’s amazingly easy to use. The light is also compatible with a headstrap for hands-free work (or if tremendous dork is more your style).

BUY NOW ($35)

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While the diminutive D2 comes in at only 1.5” long and 0.5” in diameter, its ability to reach a 100 lumen high is no small feat. In addition to its impressively compact design, the D2 is unique in that it operates using a quantum tunneling composite (QTC) UI. The QTC material in the light varies its conductivity with applied pressure – in the absence of pressure (twisted off), the material acts as an insulator and the light stays off. Twisting the light compresses the material, increasing its conductivity to produce infinitely variable output. Although QTC lights can be inconsistent when dialing in a desired output, the well-machined fine threading on the D2 mitigates jumps in brightness levels and allows for more a more stable, precise output.

BUY NOW ($48)

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Much like the smooth, heavy knobs of quality, vintage audio gear, the HDS Rotary’s selector ring provides a classy, silken feel and very intuitive user interface. Using the ring, you can seamlessly dial into one of 17 separate outputs, as the jump from one brightness level to another is so subtle, it’s virtually unnoticeable. Additionally, you can select brightness and then turn on the light – allowing for convenient, direct access to your desired output without the hassle of cycling through modes and ruining your night vision. The Rotary’s stroke of genius that sets it apart from the many selector ring click lights on the market is its design. Putting the click button and selector ring in such close proximity allows for one-hand operation. Add to this a 200 lumen output, immaculate fit and finish, and a build quality so robust it turns tanks green with envy, and you have one of the most praised lights ever made. As such, they aren’t easy to come by.

BUY NOW ($199)

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Jason Hui of Prometheus Lights is no stranger to making quality lights, with his full-sized, custom Alpha flashlights under his belt. The Beta-QR is Hui’s sophomore effort – a smaller, more mainstream production light that maintains the look and feel of a custom light. Fortunately, it isn’t as expensive as its luxurious design would suggest. Its unique list of features starts with an ingenious quick-release method of connecting to a keychain. Above all, it boasts a beautiful and uncommon Nichia 219 emitter, producing beautifully accurate light with a CRI of 93 out of 100.

BUY NOW ($55)

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Even for the discerning flashlight enthusiast, the McGizmo Haiku needs to be experienced to understand why it costs a hefty $500. Simply put, there is no flashlight in the world that can fit in your pocket and do things as well as the Haiku can. It can be fitted with a high CRI emitter and operates via a fantastic clicky UI. It’s supernally beautiful and incredibly well made. And yet, the Haiku’s success lies in its reflector – it’s been tweaked and redesigned until it reached an unparalleled usefulness, able to balance the light’s smooth, flawless beam between flood and throw better than anything else on the market. Even though it has a maximum of only 140 lumens, you’ll reach for the Haiku first and frequently for lighting tasks. $500 for a flashlight is quite an investment, but if you need the best, the Haiku delivers.

LEARN MORE ($500)

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One of the best lights in the world regardless of price, the SC52 can do it all. It has the versatility to reach over 250 lumens on a single alkaline AA battery or an utterly amazing 0.01 lumen low for a three-month long runtime. Zebralight has worked extensively and almost exclusively with AA battery lights. While other manufacturers relied on the newest LED or most powerful battery on the market, Zebralight focused on efficient circuitry for the common AA. The result of their efforts is absolute mastery of the battery like no other, giving us a light with runtimes and outputs that lap the competition.

BUY NOW ($64)

Between 1896 and 1976, British Pathé documented the everyday lives of Britons and events around the world with its pioneering newsreels. After a National Lottery grant enabled it to digitise over 3,500 hours of footage in 2002, the company decided...

Read the rest of 5 Incredibly Tiny & Awesome Mobile Homes

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Here's one way to be sure that spring is coming to Memphis soon: the Peabody Hotel has released their 2014 rooftop party schedule.

The Peabody's rooftop parties have been a staple of Memphis' spring and summer social life since 1939. They're hugely popular – the rooftop can hold hundreds of people, and it's one of the best places to see the sunset over the Mississippi River. This is the 75th Year of the Peabody rooftop parties. (To read more about the location of the first rooftop parties in Memphis, go here.)

Here's the music lineup:

April 17: Almost Famous with special performance by Icona Pop *
April 24: Aces Wild
May 1: Aquanet
May 8: Super 5
May 15: Ghost Town Blues Band
May 22: The Molly Ringwalds
May 29: Hollywood
June 5: Seeing Red
June 12: The Kicks
June 19: Walrus with special performance by Parmalee *
June 26: Transit
July 3: The 17th Floor
July 10: The Plaintiffs
July 17: Al Paris & The Heartbreakers
July 24: Circus
July 31: Swingin’ Leroy
August 7: Memphis Soul Revue
August 14: Ingram Hill with special performance by Christian Seay*

*indicates $15 admission

Admission to most of the rooftop parties is $10, which includes access to the snack buffet (drinks are extra). Ladies, get there early – you get in free before 7 p.m. If you're planning to go most Thursdays, get a VIP season pass for $125 that gets you into all 18 parties, free valet parking, access to a special VIP food and drink area and access to a special elevator line (which doesn't seem like a big deal, but very much is when hundreds of people are trying to get to the roof all at once).

Go there:

Peabody Hotel Rooftop Parties

Every Thursday from April 17 - August 14
6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
$10 cover ($15 on some nights) / ladies free before 7 p.m.
Ages 21+

 

From Drinks

Dave Porcaro at Bigalora Wood Fired Grill in Ann Arbor

The term "well," behind a bar, refers to a bartender's station: the area that's their home base, with a rack of often-used spirits sitting right in front of them, as opposed to the bottles arranged on the bar behind. So well spirits are, in a way, the bar's default: when you ask for a vodka-soda or rum and Coke, it's the well vodka or well rum that usually ends up in your drink.

While some dive bars might hide some pretty unappealing bottles down in their well, today's cocktail bars tend to feature higher-quality spirits, chosen for the well due to value, versatility, or the bar manager's personal preference. We asked bartenders across the country: What's in your well, and why do you like it? (Or not?) Here's what they had to say.

Jeff Faile of Iron Gate, Red Apron, and Birch & Barley in D.C.

"My rail usually consists of Sobieski Vodka, Beefeater Gin, Old Overholt Rye, and Tequila Cabeza. No matter what bar I work at, Overholt and Beefeater will always be on my rail." — Jeff Faile (Iron Gate, Red Apron, Birch & Barley)

"Our well bourbon is Penny Packer, which is a wonderful German-bottled bourbon (made in America and bottled in Germany) that is slightly sweet with a good bite. It's great for mixing cocktails." — Kiel Schecich (SideDoor)

"I have chosen a gin produced about twenty miles from the restaurant (Ugly Dog from Chelsea, MI), a 10-year bourbon from Buffalo Trace (Ancient Ancient Age), and a 100% pure agave tequila (El Charro). My favorite, though, is Ballentine's Finest; soft, sweet and smooth, and at only $20 per liter, people are always amazed at how good it tastes alone and in cocktails." — Dave Porcaro (Bigalora Wood Fired Grill)

"Vodka: Sobieski—When people have such strong opinions on the least flavorful spirits it cracks me up. All the time I hear, 'I only drink Ketel,' or 'I hate Goose.' Smirnoff consistently blind-tastes better then both though and it costs about $4 less per drink. Gin: Dorothy Parker from New York Distilling Co. & Green Hook Gin; both are awesome and really different. Whiskey: Wathen's Bourbon, Jameson or Bushmills depending on the day, and Dewar's or Walker Black; the Wathen's is a pretty great value bourbon." — Jason Lakow (Amali)

Dan Andruss from 312 Chicago

"Our well is Smirnoff, Beefeater, Jim Beam, and El Jimador. I won't say that these are my absolute favorite spirits in the world. I will say that if I'm not looking to spend a ton of money, they are the spirits that I would be drinking on my own time. Quality for price." — Dan Andruss (312 Chicago)

"I like and would drink all the spirits in my well; if I wouldn't, they wouldn't be there. A lot of people have the common misconception that price equals quality, but that's not always the case. Beefeater, Four Roses and Rittenhouse, for example, are spirits that are quite affordable, yet the quality of each is wonderful." — Chris Burkett (Cusp Dining & Drinks)

"We roll local for gin and proudly pour North Shore Distillery's No. 6. Bulleit for bourbon, Ketel One for vodka, and Altos for tequila." — Bill Anderson (Vie)

"I'm really lucky, since our bar only carries 100% agave based natural organic spirits. Because of that, I've probably got the best well tequila in the world with Tapatio." — Jason Eisner (Gracias Madre)

"We change our menu every 2-3 weeks. The ingredients in my well change to accommodate each menu... I like the constant opportunity to play and be creative. My favorite spirit to play with is gin. Bombay Dry Gin is one of our well staples, and I love using it with the ever-changing array of fresh herbs from the garden." — Cricket Nelson (The Broken Shaker)

"Our Taproom has a fabulous well line-up. Ketel and Sobieski for vodka, Tanqueray and Beefeater for gins, Olmeca Altos and Espolon for tequila, Old Forester for bourbon, Powers and Jameson Black Barrel for Irish whiskey, Remy VS for Cognac, and we even have Green Chartreuse and King's Ginger for liqueurs." — Pamela Wiznitzer (The Dead Rabbit)

"I love Buffalo Trace for bourbon, it's so good and very affordable—although I think the world has realized this, because it's increasingly hard to keep in stock. We also use a lot of the 86 company's Tequila Cabeza. We make a spicy version of a Paloma that's really popular." — Meaghan Dorman (Raines Law Room)

Jon Harris at Firefly in DC

"Love me some Overholt and Beefeater." — Jon Harris (Firefly)

"Wodka, Bombay Sapphire, and Bombay Sapphire East gin (which is an Asian-inspired version of the original, with two newly added botanicals, Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorn), George Dickel Tennesee Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye, El Jimador Blanco—those are some of my favorites." — Christian Sanders (Evelyn Drinkery)

"I particularly like Blue Coat Gin, which is an American Gin made in Philadelphia. I love using domestic products and local producers." — Tommy Shani (Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel)

"Gruven (vodka), El Jimador (tequila), City of London (gin), Elijah Craig 12-year (bourbon).  It would be a difficult night for me if I didn't have my Cointreau." — Christopher Longoria (1760)

"We use two gins, Beefeater for shaken drinks and Bombay Dry for stirred, our white rum is Flor de Caña 4 year, our blanco tequila is Espolon, our bourbons are Four Roses Yellow Label for shaking and Buffalo Trace for stirring, our rye is Rittenhouse, and our blended scotch is Famous Grouse. The well is essentially chosen for the most solid, cost-effective and basic expressions of a spirit. For example, I absolutely love St. George Terroir Gin, it makes an amazing martini, but it's too expressive and quirky for a well." — Rene Hidalgo (Lantern's Keep)

"Tito's, Beefeater, Bulleit (bourbon and rye), Espolon. What I choose for my well is the best quality I can get for the price point." — Jesse Cornell (Sbraga)

Ergys Dizdari at Filini Bar and Restaurant in CHicago

"I love Templeton because it's one of the most well-balanced ryes out there. It is so smooth and it's not overpowering in cocktails." — Ergys Dizdari (Filini Bar and Restaurant)

"Currently on our well we have: Absolut vodka, Jimador tequila, Buffalo Trace bourbon, Fords gin, and Cana Brava rum. I am a huge fan of Buffalo Trace—I keep it stocked in my home bar to make Old Fashioned cocktails." — Ray Anguiano (Atwood Café)

"What I like most in our well is Old Forester bourbon. It packs a lot of bang for your buck and it's one of the longest continually produced bourbons in the country." — Tyler Voelker (Urban Farmer Steakhouse)

"Tanqueray is our gin and Evan Williams Single Barrel is our whiskey. We do have a couple of weird choices, though. Mainly the bottle of Seagram's 7 and the J&B Scotch. I can't recall ever using either of those bottles. I wish we carried the 86 Co. products; great liquor packaged in bottles designed for to be easy to use by bartenders." — Steve Yamada (Bar R'evolution)

"I love having El Dorado 8-year as the well 'aged rum.' It's very historic, from the Demerara valley in Guiana, and delicious. Makes a great Millionaire #4." — Michael Lazar (Hog and Rocks)

Coffee grounds work great as fertilizer and insect repellant in the garden. You can combine all these uses into a biodegradable flower pot that can go from the windowsill to the ground without repotting.

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