I found myself wondering about how the first cats were domesticated.
How do you think the first cavemen that unwittingly became cat owners felt? Imagine them huddled in their cave, thinking how lucky they were not to be eaten by one of the savage wild animals in the area that day. And then a miniature version of one of the most dangerous ones walks in and sits by the fire and starts purring.
Wonder what their reaction was.
(In case you were wondering, the domestic cat diverged from its ancestors as they increasingly relied on hunting vermin around human settlements. Similar to wolves evolving into dogs.)
If you:
- Loved the original Boom-de-yadda video from the Discovery channel
- Like xkcd
- Are a geek, nerd, or a nerd-sympathizer
then read on, you might like this.
The world and the universe truly is an extremely beautiful place, and the more I understand it the more beautiful it appears.
xkcd came up with with cool geeky lyrics for the song: Here.
Here is an animated xkcd version of the song, based on the xkcd comic:
Now, a bunch of well known geeks, bloggers and nerds got together to make a tribute video, using xkcd’s lyrics. The video stars, in no particular order: Neil Gaiman, Wil Wheaton, Cory Doctorow, Lawrence Lessig, Bruce Schneier, Jason Kottke, Google Zurich, Hank Green, MC Frontalot, Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Mr. Toast, Miss Cellania, Team Genius, Phil Plait, Allan Amato, Maddy Gaiman, Charissa Gilreath, Belinda Casas, Chuck Martinez, Jeremy James, Joanna Gaunder, Lee Israel & Octavio Coleman Esq. of The Jejune Institute.
February 1, 2010 at 8:32 pm · Filed under Travel Tips
This is the third in a series about travel packing. In this post, I cover electronic stuff I took with me, and what might be helpful to take with you.
Laptop
HP Mini (really a netbook). Weighs about two pounds. Provided me with hours of entertainment, the ability to keep in touch, manage my affairs and keep writing while on the road. Most netbooks run for between $300 and $400, and depending on the kind of traveler you are, can be a worthwhile thing to have. A lot of places now have free or cheap wifi, where you might have to pay to use a computer. So it saves you money, over time. Plus you don’t have to worry about viruses.
My laptop had a slot in which SD memory cards could go, so it was easier to copy over pictures from my camera. No extra cables or convertors were necessary.
USB Memory stick
I bought a cheap 16gb one. Was good. Useful for backing up photos. And for swapping music and movies with other travelers.
Camera
Almost any decent point-and-shoot will do for me. In my opinion most people don’t use the features on their advanced, expensive cameras anyway. The criteria I had when looking for a camera were:
- Under $100
- Uses SD Cards
- Uses AA batteries, as opposed to a proprietary battery, so I don’t have to worry about recharging it, carrying a charger etc.
- Has decent reviews (preferably more than a four star rating on Amazon)
- Has Image Stabilization. I don’t like to carry tripods, and I often take pictures while walking or from buses. This feature saves me the bother of blurry pictures.
I ended up buying the Canon Powershot 1000IS. I’ve been happy with it. I didn’t have too much time to shop around, my other camera broke the day before I was leaving. I bought this on the way to the airport. I ran into the shop, picked up the only camera they had that fit my criteria, paid, and ran out. I’ve been very happy with it, even though I paid about $140 for it, a little more than I would’ve liked to.
Lithium-ion AA batteries
These last for at least three weeks of daily use in most new cameras. They cost more than regular alkaline batteries, but you have to use fewer of them. I went an entire three weeks in New Zealand without having to change them out. When I was in southeast Asia, I found myself having to change out regular Alkaline batteries almost every other day, when I used them. These paid for themselves many times over, and were one of the smartest purchases I made. Take a bunch of them. I used them in my flashlight, hair trimmer and other stuff too.
Ipod + charger
Portable ipod charger
Runs off a couple of AA batteries, is good for long bus rides or places without electricity.
Mobile Phone
I got myself a basic, unlocked GSM phone. Depending on how long I was in a country, I would get myself a cheap, pre-paid SIM card for a few dollars. It can be a useful thing to have, you can call ahead to hostels to see if they have a bed, make bus reservations sometimes, and coordinate meetups in other cities with other travelers you may have run into along the way.
To be sure your phone will work with most GSM networks, you want at least a GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 network compatible phone.
Torch / Flashlight
I like the Maglite Mini LED. Its a really good torch, the LED bulb is at the perfect level of brightness, and batteries in it last a really long time. Its also simple to use. I had to change the batteries on this thing with one hand, in the dark, in the rain once, and it worked out well.
All-in-one Travel Plug
Can plug almost anything into almost anything. Won’t convert voltages, but everything I carried had that ability anyway (laptop, iPod etc)
Audio splitter
I didn’t take one of these, I didn’t need one. But if you’re traveling as a couple it can be useful, I saw a lot of couples using this. You can watch movies together, share music etc.
February 1, 2010 at 2:20 pm · Filed under Travel Tips
This is the second in a series about travel packing. In this post, I cover medicine and hygiene kits, and what might be helpful to take with you.
Imodium.
Will be your friend on long bus journeys.
Traveler’s Diahrrea medication.
Read about traveler’s diahrrea here. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler’s_diarrhea )
I took Levaquin (Levofloxacin) with me, but fortunately never had to use it.
It has other uses too. If bitten by an animal, the same pills will usually help prevent the spread of rabies from the wound, until you can get to a hospital or place to get vaccinated.
Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
Cure-all. Fevers, aches etc.
Malaria prophylaxis medication. I started out carrying this with me, pills I had to take four times a week. However, the side effects were too much for me, and I stopped taking them and focused on not being bitten by mosquitos. The side effects can sometimes be dangerous. In my case I suffered from sun sensitivity, which resulted in dehydration.
Hydration salts. Mixed with water, these hydrate you well. Started carrying these after my run-in with dehydration. They’re good for long hikes, days spent in the sun, walking around etc.
Band-aids
Lip balm / Chapstick
Moleskin (to prevent blisters)
Lozenges
Sun block
Insect repellent (with at least 30% DEET)
Try and take water-based repellent. Alcohol based repellent is more flammable, and is prohibited on flights.
After-bite bite reliever. This helped occasionally. It helped relieve the pain from a scorpion sting as well.
I took a few Vitamin C tablets with me, and would stock up as necessary. Vitamin C has a reputation for being useful for fighting off colds and things. It isn’t so. Most of the benefits are from the placebo effect. Vitamin C is only useful if you have a diagnosed vitamin deficiency, which most people eating a balanced meals don’t have to worry about, they get everything they need. I didn’t always have a chance to eat balanced meals, so took vitamins, sometimes. In retrospect, a multi-vitamin would have worked better. Most people that take vitamin supplements are overdosing, and this isn’t good for them. For a good explanation of the science behind this, please read this.
Duct tape. Just a few feet, not the entire roll. I made my own small roll of duct tape with a stubby pencil and a few feet from a bigger roll. This is useful for many things, like putting on blisters, rips in clothing and tents, etc.
Toothpaste
Toothbrush + toothbrush case
Roll-on deodorant
Bar of soap (can use for washing myself as well as clothes)
I would buy cheap (and really good) bars of Dettol brand soap as I went along. (Irish Spring works as well.) They’re available everywhere, don’t flake easily, as the ‘fancier’ soaps tend to do (important when washing clothes, otherwise you end up brushing soap flakes from your clothes for the rest of your trip)
Box for soap
I like the ones without holes in them to drain out water. Those are messy. I like to zip-loc my soap box as well.
Nail clippers
Tiny pair of blunt ended scissors, useful for trimming nose hair, nails, and a variety of other uses.
I started out with a disposable razor, but threw it away. I went eight months without shaving. I did get myself a cheap ($8) and light battery powered hair trimmer, for my face, underarms and other areas. It’s a hygiene thing, it helps to keep your underarms and body hair trimmed when in warm and humid places.
I put it all in a mesh pouch, like this one.
This is a fairly comprehensive medical / hygiene kit. A few other travelers I met had similar kits, though some of them were also carrying a couple of wrapped disposable syringes and needles. In case they needed shots, and they were in a country whose health system and standards they didn’t trust. As you may be able to tell, this post doesn’t cover women’s travel medical issues; I don’t feel qualified to discuss them, but there are other resources on the internet, I’m sure.
I also made sure I was up to date on the following vaccinations:
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Tetanus / Diptheria
- MMR
- Typhoid
If you’re planning a trip, get medical advice from your doctor or a travel nurse. A random blog on the internet or anecdotes from friends can be helpful but are no substitute for advice from a professional.
Don’t stress about your medical kit too much. Remember, you won’t end up using most of it. If you need something, you can find it, or a substitute almost anywhere in the world. Keep in mind that developing countries are a good place to buy medication, it’s cheaper. Quality is not an issue usually.
February 1, 2010 at 1:12 pm · Filed under Travel Tips
or, On traveling round the world with less than ten kilos in luggage.
I did an extended trip across several climate types, and learned a lot about packing.
The guiding goal while packing was weight. I did all I could to keep the weight in my backpack down. Ultimately, excluding a couple of heavy things, such as hiking boots, which I was actually wearing a lot of the time and books (usually two, my guidebook, and a book I was reading. This weight would fluctuate, as I switched books out) my backpack weighed just about eight kilos. It was around 13 kilos with everything in it, such as books, boots etc. That may not seem like much, but I weigh about 60 kilos, so thats almost a quarter of my body weight that I have to carry around with me. It’s a lot. My goal is to eventually get it down to 10% of my body weight, though I’m not sure thats possible (unless I put on weight).
This is the first in a five part series about travel packing, and the strategy I use.
Each post in the series will explore one of these aspects of packing and traveling:
- Backpack
- Clothes
- Electronics
- Medical kit
- Miscellaneous
So, to start with:
Backpack
Obviously one of the most important things. I have the Eagle Creek Voyage. This is the most amazing backpack in the history of backpacks. It is very comfortable to carry, is exactly the right size, comes with a handy day-pack attached that you can zip off. For some reason Eagle Creek stopped making these; had I known, I would’ve bought another, for when this one wears out.
Things that were important in a backpack, for me:
- Dimensions. It was important that the backpack be carry-on compatible. I tend not to check in luggage. Currently, most airlines require carry-on bags to be within 9 x 14 x 22 inches. Also, I would have to stash my pack under or on top of a bus a lot of the time. The smaller size lets you sometimes take it with you on the bus, and have it under a seat.
- Front panel loading. Many packs tend to be top loading, which makes getting your stuff at the bottom hard. This one zips open all the way around the front, which makes getting things in and out from any part of the pack easy.
- Lockable zippers. So I can use a travel lock to lock my bag.
- Capacity. I didn’t want a pack that was too large or small. You pick backpacks based on the volume of stuff they can carry (in liters) rather than the weight they can carry. I thought 45 (backpack) + 20 (daypack) liters was the perfect size. Know that if you have a larger capacity pack, you will fill it up. And then you have to carry it around. Most people don’t use or need a lot of things they carry, so having a medium capacity pack forces you to think through your packing list, and pack smart.
This pack had a lot of cool features I haven’t seen in too many other packs, such as the ability to zipper away all the straps when you’re not carrying it on your back. This is useful for when you need to check in your bag, it turns into a compact little bundle with no straps hanging out.
Pack covers can be useful to keep your stuff dry, but in a pinch, a garbage bag will do. Don’t stress over it too much. I didn’t get a pack cover, I did use a lot of bags, sometimes over the entire pack, sometimes, just my stuff inside the pack was in bags. No significant problems, most packs are fairly water resistant anyway.
You obviously also want a pack you’re comfortable with, thats the correct size for your back (an incorrectly sized pack can cause back trouble and be uncomfortable) and that you like looking at. You’re going to own it for a while. Best way to get one is to go into your backpack emporium of choice and try some on. Have a knowledgeable person fit you for a pack. Try it with some weight in it, with the hip belt and sternum strap on. And enjoy your new traveling companion, it’s going to last you a while.
Locks Two TSA (United States Travel Security Administration) travel compatible combination locks.
One for my main backpack, one for my daypack. The kind that airport security in the United States can open without breaking open, if they want to. It only needs to be compatible with the United States, fortunately. Other countries haven’t reached that level of paranoia yet. They’re useful when you leave your backpack in a hostel, storage, or almost anywhere. They’re flimsy, a thief can just yank them off if motivated enough. Most thieves in hostels are of the kind that just pick up stuff lying around or off the tops of backpacks. It greatly reduces the odds of being stolen from, because it increases the amount of effort a would-be thief has to take. I prefer the combination to the key kind, it saves me having to keep track of keys. Cable Lock: Allows me to lock my backpack to my bed, a luggage rack on a train, bus etc. I don’t have to worry about my bag being picked up and run off with when I’m not in my room or if I step away to go to the bathroom.
If you shop at Amazon.com using the link below, Amazon kicks back a commission to this site. At the end of each calendar year, I will donate all of that money to a charity of my choice and post the amount donated and the name of the charity here. I am happy to take suggestions for charities to donate to. I tend to donate to charities that focus on the Developing world. One of my current favored charities is COPE ( http://www.copelaos.org/ ). Thanks for your support.
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This blog fits neatly into the Skepticism / Travel / Politics / Miscellany category.
Random Quote
“What has theology ever said that is of the smallest use to anybody? When has theology ever said anything that is demonstrably true and is not obvious? I have listened to theologians, read them, debated against them. I have never heard any of them ever say anything of the smallest use, anything that was not either platitudinously obvious or downright false. If all the achievements of scientists were wiped out tomorrow, there would be no doctors but witch doctors, no transport faster than horses, no computers, no printed books, no agriculture beyond subsistence peasant farming. If all the achievements of theologians were wiped out tomorrow, would anyone notice the smallest difference? Even the bad achievements of scientists, the bombs, and sonar-guided whaling vessels work! The achievements of theologians don't do anything, don't affect anything, don't mean anything. What makes anyone think that "theology" is a subject at all?” by Richard Dawkins
: Allows me to lock my backpack to my bed, a luggage rack on a train, bus etc. I don’t have to worry about my bag being picked up and run off with when I’m not in my room or if I step away to go to the bathroom.
by Gaddis
by Harris
by Sachs
