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But I now think of fire as a single point of failure of camping. Having remembered to bring coffee, mocha, water, a stove, a car, a cup, a can of soup, a spoon, and even propane, you might think that the consequences of forgetting a lighter would amount to at most a 10% reduction in the fun-ness of camping after dark. But folks I'm here to tell you that it causes problems all out of proportion with the amount of space that it takes up in the car. So on my first night of camping I had no way to start a fire to heat soup or even warm my hands. (Well, no practical way. My car's cigarette lighter is sitting at home in my garage, but something else on my car does heat to over 451 degrees F. And I almost did it, I almost kindled a fire by touching a paper towel to my turbo, but then at the last minute I realized that an engine compartment fire is exactly the sort of thing that I wouldn't want to trade for hot soup. So I went to bed.)
So I was at least able to read and use my camera. |
One of the very first and most important inventions of mankind is fire, and you might think of it as an uplifting, spiritual component of camping.
However, one piece of ingenuity that I did execute was to make a lantern out of my drinking water and my flashlight. That's what this is: Is this the coffeemaker you have?
Cause you probably need it.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=48028286&parent_category_rn=4500495&vcat=REI_SEARCH
Posted by: JCar at October 20, 2006 09:30 AMI can't imagine Rus using a "pod" coffee maker. Not even stuck in the middle of the desert with nothing but a turbo to light his fire. That was some powerful good restraint, Rus. I'm glad you didn't set fire to your engine compartment. :)
Posted by: Jake at October 20, 2006 11:22 AMWhat's this about a new chapter in your career? Have you been promoted, or left for less VC funded pastures?
As for fire, I was up in SF a couple of weekends ago for the burning man "afterburn" party. (sorry I didn't drop by, it was very last minute and the passenger needed to get home "early" because she had work). Now they really knew how to set things on fire. What you need is one of their giant metal cactus things that they blew titanium filings through. It warms the heart.
If only I hadn't gotten a flat. That made for an 8 hour drive home. Good thing I didn't have to get to work early :)
Posted by: WhiteWhale at October 20, 2006 02:07 PMIt's not final yet. I'll tell you about it probably next week when I get back.
Posted by: Rus at October 20, 2006 07:28 PMFlat tires suck, especially when they're flat $500/each tires. Did you say you got rid of the RA-1s? I forgot what you said you replaced them with... the Eagles again?
Posted by: Rus at October 20, 2006 07:33 PM