The AK-47 version of everything...

[Pointedstick]

Like a Toyota Tacoma, or a Glock, or a good pair of canvas work pants....  It's not flashy.  It's value and long term durability supersedes it's cost.  It's simple and you can count on it.  It's the AK-47 version of EVERYTHING.

I don't know if the OP had software in mind, but I think Emacs and BSD meet these criteria.

Also it's interesting to me that almost everything that's been mentioned has been made predominantly of metal.

I kid, I kid... 

I think Linux shares a similar space as BSD, but of course these are complicated systems that demand a level of understanding on the part of the user. I would NOT recommend that an average computer user switch to BSD Unix or Linux the way I would recommend cast-iron cookware to an average cook.

[KevinW]

Well BSD has been reliable and consistent for decades. Definitely not flashy. If you have the right background you can read the Handbook cover to cover and pretty much understand how the whole thing works and how to operate it properly. Which is perhaps the OS analog of learning how to field strip an AK-47 and what 100% of the moving parts are and what they do.

IMO conservative Linux distros like Debian stable are in the same league, but it's harder to wrap your head around the whole thing since the software comes from many different sources and it's impossible to write a single thorough handbook.

I agree I wouldn't hand either to a casual user though.

I have had my mother in law running Ubuntu for about a year without incident, but maybe that's a story for a different thread.

Software analogies to tangible tools are always tenuous half-jokes, I think.

[Hobbery]

Also it's interesting to me that almost everything that's been mentioned has been made predominantly of metal.

Good call.  Love this thread.  I almost bought a Gerber multi-tool this morning... (glad I dodged that bullet)  I'll go for the Leatherman.

Will seek out Iron cookware...

The antique coffee grinder wins the "out of left field" award...  Killer idea.  Never would've thought of it.  And I should really start grinding coffee and buying beans in bulk anyway. 

Here's something Gerber did get right...  Here's the best $10 I ever spent...



Everyone I work with who picks this thing up, ends up carrying one.  Mine looks like hell, but opens and locks like a charm.  The clip never loosens.  Once they eliminate that losable little screw, it will be a perfect thing (as far as I'm concerned).  I highly recommend sanding the surface a bit and applying grip tape.

GRIP TAPE...!!!



Grip tape is awesome.  I put grip tape on everything.  It never loses it's tooth. 

Furthermore, how cool is Kydex...?  I've thought about trying to craft Kydex myself, but I worry that I'll be that kind of asshole with a Kydex container for everything I own...  People would judge me.

[Greg]

Is that actually you with the Nintendo Zapper Gun? I haven't seen one of those things in decades. Kudos to you.

[Hobbery]

Is that actually you with the Nintendo Zapper Gun? I haven't seen one of those things in decades. Kudos to you.

Ha... no.  Not me.  Found it in google images...  But I did have that particular orange version of the gun AND the Power Pad (for track and field).  I was just telling someone how I'm considering playing the original Super Mario Bros to completion.  It bothers me that I didn't win that game as a kid...  feels like unfinished business.

[Greg]

Is that actually you with the Nintendo Zapper Gun? I haven't seen one of those things in decades. Kudos to you.

Ha... no.  Not me.  Found it in google images...  But I did have that particular orange version of the gun AND the Power Pad (for track and field).  I was just telling someone how I'm considering playing the original Super Mario Bros to completion.  It bothers me that I didn't win that game as a kid...  feels like unfinished business.

You could always get a Nintendo emulator and Super Mario Bros ROM and play it on your computer.

Or easier yet, just play it online! http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_ga ... others.htm

[Pointedstick]

Olivetti portable typewriter. My dad's was already at least 25 years old when he wrote three books in the African bush with it.

[Hobbery]

You could always get a Nintendo emulator and Super Mario Bros ROM and play it on your computer.
Or easier yet, just play it online! http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_ga ... others.htm

How dare you, sir...  Why not just feed a hobo crack.  This is my LIFE.  You can't just sweep away 30 hours of some stranger's time because you felt like sharing a link.  You know not what you've done.... you know not what you've done.

[Greg]

You could always get a Nintendo emulator and Super Mario Bros ROM and play it on your computer.
Or easier yet, just play it online! http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_ga ... others.htm

How dare you, sir...  Why not just feed a hobo crack.  This is my LIFE.  You can't just sweep away 30 hours of some stranger's time because you felt like sharing a link.  You know not what you've done.... you know not what you've done.

Meh, the hobo was happy for that brief moment I'm good with that and he/she can sort out the ramifications of that action far after I leave. There's plenty of other games on there too to waste your time on.

[Storm]

Like a Toyota Tacoma, or a Glock, or a good pair of canvas work pants....  It's not flashy.  It's value and long term durability supersedes it's cost.  It's simple and you can count on it.  It's the AK-47 version of EVERYTHING.

I don't know if the OP had software in mind, but I think Emacs and BSD meet these criteria.

Also it's interesting to me that almost everything that's been mentioned has been made predominantly of metal.

Emacs?  Surely you meant vi!! 

[Storm]

Is that actually you with the Nintendo Zapper Gun? I haven't seen one of those things in decades. Kudos to you.

Ha... no.  Not me.  Found it in google images...  But I did have that particular orange version of the gun AND the Power Pad (for track and field).  I was just telling someone how I'm considering playing the original Super Mario Bros to completion.  It bothers me that I didn't win that game as a kid...  feels like unfinished business.

Oh man, we played that game so much when we were like, 12 years old or something!  I think we unlocked every single secret level, and figured out how to get the maximum bonus points on every single level.

[Coffee]

Gorilla tape.



P.S.  The forum is running extraordinarily slow, tonight. 

[KevinW]

Emacs?  Surely you meant vi!! 

I know better than to take that bait. 

[Storm]

Emacs?  Surely you meant vi!! 

I know better than to take that bait. 

We could both agree that a strong text editor is very important.  Personally, I like vim, but I know many people that are very productive on emacs and wouldn't fault you for using either one.  Now, if you professed a love for Wordpad, we might have ourselves an argument... 

[KevinW]

Yes. IMO anyone who spends their professional life editing text, including programmers and writers, owes it to themselves to invest time in learning a real text editor. The return on time invested is a no-brainer. And it reduces exposure to RSI risk factors.

[Greg]

Yes. IMO anyone who spends their professional life editing text, including programmers and writers, owes it to themselves to invest time in learning a real text editor. The return on time invested is a no-brainer. And it reduces exposure to RSI risk factors.

Just my own ignorance talking but what RSI are you speaking about?

[KevinW]

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) e.g. Carpal tunnel syndrome.

[BearBones]

I carry these in my trunk at all times. Makes keeping accurate tire pressures enjoyable, since such beautiful tools:

Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty Portable Compressor


Moroso 89560 Tire Pressure Gauge

[dualstow]

A brief follow-up:

I switched from decades of Gillette Sensor blades and my Braun electric shaver (destroyed) to the Edwin Jagger double-edge safety razor recommended by Mr Melvey on page 1. I'm very happy with it and and looking forward to trying different blades / soaps / aftershaves.

I bought that Gerber folding blade mentioned by Hobbery prior to this thread's creation, but unfortunately when I had it shipped to my parents' house, my dad opened it thinking it was another holiday gift. I let him keep it. :-)

How cool is that African Bush picture supplied by Pointed Stick. I think I see my future: to write a novel in Africa while wearing nice shoes. I'll probably just use a well-cooled laptop, though.

[Lonestar]

RCBS Rock Chucker (preferably from the early 1970s).

I bought mine in 1972.  It will NEVER be for sale!!

[dualstow]

I switched from decades of Gillette Sensor blades and my Braun electric shaver (destroyed) to the Edwin Jagger double-edge safety razor recommended by Mr Melvey on page 1. I'm very happy with it and and looking forward to trying different blades / soaps / aftershaves.

Lovin' the Red Personna blades with the razor handle mentioned above.

[Pointedstick]

Resurrecting this thread partially because it's too awesome to die and partially to mention: Evaporative coolers!

Since moving to the desert, I've been overjoyed with these machines. They blow hot outside air over a wetted pad and use the heat in the air to evaporate the water, in the process dropping the temperature of the air by 20-30 degrees, depending on the quality of the unit and the dryness of the outside air. Then the fan blows the cooled and humidified air into the house. You direct the flow of air by opening windows in rooms you want cooled. An evaporative cooler is dead simple; it's basically a fan, a pool of water, a pump to raise the water, and a cardboard or wood pad to dribble the water over. The number of mechanical parts is really low and you can fix everything yourself. Mine costs me $0.05 per hour to run (in electricity and water) and cools my 1,100 square foot house to 71-75 degrees inside when it's in the high 90s. I installed it myself, can fix it myself, and because it is all-plastic construction, it will never rust or corrode.

[moda0306]

Evaporative coolers confuse me. 

I thought that when water evaporated, the temperature of the water cooled and the temp of the air rose.  I also understand that humidity makes air "feel" warmer.

Long-story-short... How the hell, given those two premises, can we logically conclude that an evaporative cooler actually cools the air for people?

Thanks for any corrections or input.

[Mountaineer]

Evaporative coolers confuse me. 

I thought that when water evaporated, the temperature of the water cooled and the temp of the air rose.  I also understand that humidity makes air "feel" warmer.

Long-story-short... How the hell, given those two premises, can we logically conclude that an evaporative cooler actually cools the air for people?

Thanks for any corrections or input.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler

... Mountaineer

[Mountaineer]

Pointedstick,

Did you ever purchase that Russian 308?  Results, comments, updates?

... Mountaineer