The Mancraft Guide

Where did the phrase “Band of Brothers” come from?

John — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:36:58 +0000

The phrase “band of brothers,” used to describe Easy company in HBO’s WWII series Band of Brothers, has roots in a much older war.

The phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, and the setting for its use is during a motivational speech given my the king just before the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War.

This is called the “St. Crispin’s Day Speech” because the battle occurred on that holiday, and the speech is quite moving.

This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”

From Wikipedia

Shakespeare is famous for adding lots of new terms to the English language. Can you think of any? Post your ideas in the comments!

The Secret To Living A Life of Adventure

John — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:47:14 +0000

A life of adventure is much more than going camping each summer. It’s a lifestyle of risk and discovery. In this post, I’ll discuss the steps to having more adventure in your life. But be warned: the steps are simple, but they’re not easy.

1. Plan on it.

If you don’t deliberately plan to have adventure, chances are it will never happen. It can happen by accident, but adventure rarely happens to those who live well within the bounds of a 9 to 5 life. Take risks. Challenge yourself. Do out-of-the-ordinary things. Try things just beyond your level of experience/training.

Get out a notepad and make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do. Pick a couple, and put them on a calendar. Planning can be that simple.

2. Prepare for it.

This is the next hardest step. Preparation is where you take your Plan and start to make it a reality. This may mean getting in shape, saving money, or carving time out of your busy schedule. It may mean learning new skills, researching techniques and/or finding experts to help you in your quest. This is where the hard work happens, but it’s all going to be rewarded if you follow through.

3. Do it!

By far the most popular step, this is the execution of your plan. Take your dreams and make them reality! It’s a funny thing about life. If you don’t do something, it will never happen. If you do your planning and preparation right, they will pay off well at this point.

4. Remember it.

I’ve heard it said that one of the greatest joys of a life well lived is to look back upon great memories. While you’re on your adventure, record it. Journal. Blog. Take pictures. Make a scrapbook. …then share it with others.

Conclusion

And of course, living a lifestyle of Adventure is more than just doing these four steps. It’s doing them over and again, as well as applying them to many areas of life, not just to travel. A true life of adventure is lived in discovery. How will you live yours?

What are your plans? What are some great things you’ve done? Share them with us in the comments!

Image Credit

A Multi-Tool You’ve Probably Never Seen

John — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:41:15 +0000

I just stumbled upon this little gem today. Did you know that Leatherman makes a Multi-tool for EOD?

EOD stands for “Explosive Ordinance Disposal,” the Army’s bomb squad, and it’s a very dangerous and specialized field.

The Leatherman MUT EOD Multi-tool has some really cool features.

Tools:

Electrical Crimper
Needlenose Pliers with Military Performance Spec Cap Crimpers
154CM Replaceable Fuse-wire Cutters
Stranded Wire Cutters
420HC Stainless Steel Clip Point Combo Straight/Serrated Knife
Saw
Hammer
Replaceable Cutting Hook
Bolt Override Tool
Replaceable C4 Punch
Replaceable Carbon Scraper
Cleaning Rod/Brush Adapters
Carabiner Clip
Bottle Opener
Large Bit Driver
INCLUDED BITS: Phillips #1-2 and 3/16, Phillips #2 and 1/4 Screwdriver, Torx #15 and Hex 7/64

Features:

Black Oxide Version
Stainless Steel Body
Stainless Steel Handles
Bronze Carbon Scraper and Titanium Pocket Clip
All Locking Blades and Tools
Outside-accessible Blades for One-handed Opening
Removable Pocket Clip
25-Year Warranty

Do you need one of these for regular life in the States? Only if you’re on the Bomb Squad, but it’s still pretty neat. I’d love to get my hands on one of these and play around with it for a while, but at $125 you’d probably only buy it if you really need it.

…what does a C4 punch do, exactly?

3 Cold Weather Conditions That Can Kill You… And How To Combat Them

John — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:12:21 +0000

Winter is a great time to get outside and see something besides a TV screen. Go hiking, skiing, sledding, ice fishing or skating, but do it safely!

Here’s a handy list of three potentially deadly conditions/illnesses that commonly occur during the colder months, how to avoid them, and how to treat them.

1. Dehydration.

Dehydration is a common danger when doing any sort of physical activity, but many people do not expect it during the cold winter months because it seems to be a warm-weather condition.

In warm weather, dehydration occurs mainly when water leaves the body through sweat, and in cold weather the same can easily happen.

Symptoms

Dry mouth/throat
Nausea
Dizziness
Tiredness/Weakness
Muscle Cramps
“Blacking Out”

Avoid dehydration by drinking water. Also, wear layered clothing that can be removed if you get too hot and start to sweat.

Treatment

Drink water.
Start IV fluids, if necessary
Seek Professional Medical Treatment

2. Hypothermia

Hypothermia is literally the lowering of one’s body temperature to dangerous and even deadly levels.

Symptoms:

Mild

Shivering
Loss of fine motor skills

Moderate

Dazed Consciousness, confusion
Slurred Speech
Violent Shivering
Irrational behavior: Paradoxical Undressing – person starts to take off clothing, unaware he is cold

Severe

Decreased Pulse Rate
Patient curls up into fetal position to conserve heat
Muscle Rigidity
Death

Avoid Hypothermia by staying warm (duh!). Keep dry and avoid exposure to cold winds. Wear layered clothing; It traps heat, plus you can remove layers if you get too warm and start to sweat.

Treatment:

Reduce heat loss (by using a Hypothermia Blanket)
Drink warm, diluted Jello water. This is one of the only things that contain calories that can be absorbed by those with moderate to severe hypothermia.
Urinate. Body heat that should be used by other organs is used to keep urine warm.
Moderate to severe Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention.
CPR. CPR may be necessary if hypothermia causes the heart to stop, but can cause damage if the heart is still beating (even very slowly).
Seek Professional Medical Treatment.

3. Frostbite

As your body’s core temperature is threatened by winter chills, it restricts blood flow to the outer extremities. This helps hold heat in the most important areas of your body, but it leaves your hands and feet susceptible to cold weather injuries. When these outlying areas freeze (or begin to freeze) the condition is called Frostbite.

Symptoms:

Numbness
Starts on cheeks, earlobes, fingers, and toes.
White, waxy outer layers of skin. (Mild)
Skin turns white and feels wooden all the way through. (Severe)

Avoid Frostbite by keeping skin covered and dry. The use of Hand Warmers can help a lot to keep extremities warm. If fingers or toes become extremely numb, warm them by holding them against warm skin.

Treatment:

Warm skin gradually.
Place the affected area against another warm body part (stomach or armpit).
Never rub frostbite.
Rewarm frostbite in water between 105-110 degrees. Be careful–warmer water can cause damage.
When in doubt, seek professional medical treatment.

Futher Reading

Image Credit

Men You Should Know: Jack Churchill

John — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:44:04 +0000

“Mad Jack”, was a British soldier who fought throughout World War II armed with a longbow, arrows and a claymore. He once said “any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed.”
Wikipedia

Jack Churchill (1906-1996) was a British officer during WWII, archer, bagpipe player, surfer and actor. He is most famous for the use of unconventional – more medieval – weapons in 20th century combat. During the assault of Sicily he led his men with a claymore around his waist, a longbow and arrows, and bagpipes under his arm.

If it wasn’t for those damn Yanks, we could’ve kept the war going another 10 years!

After the war he played roles in movies and participated in the world archery championships. He also designed and rode his own surfboards.

Churchill assaulting a beach with a sword

For more detailed reading about Churchill’s exploits during the war, be sure to check out his article at World War II History Magazine.

People are less likely to shoot at you if you smile at them.

What strikes me most about Churchill his the way he could confidently buck the system while still using his brain. I’ve heard it said that there’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity, but Jack never seemed to cross it, even when he took 136 German prisoners with his sword.

I admire Churchill because he lived every bit of life. He was his own man, and experienced all kinds of adventure. I hope that someday people will say that about me. What about you?

Why The World Needs Men Now More Than Ever

John — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:45:37 +0000

Our modern culture is the victim of a deficit of Manhood. Not just masculinity, but manhood. We’re lacking mature men who are more than just big kids. Men we can count on. Men with purpose. Men who will lead us out of the dark.

Instead we’re stuck with a generation of overgrown boys, playing video games and shirking the responsibility of family.

…meet the twenty-first-century you, [age] 26. You’ve finished college and work in a cubicle in a large Chicago financial-services firm. You live in an apartment with a few single guy friends. In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360, take a leisurely shower, massage some product into your hair and face—and then it’s off to bars and parties, where you meet, and often bed, girls of widely varied hues and sizes. They come from everywhere: California, Tokyo, Alaska, Australia. Wife? Kids? House? Are you kidding?

Kay S. Hymowitz, The Child-Man

So, why this is a problem?

Simple. Big kids have no business being husbands and fathers. These roles are for mature men, men who are worthy role models and leaders. Instead, the American family is crumbling from the amount of divorce, abuse and neglect that runs rampant among us.

Men are supposed to be people worthy of respect and admiration. We’re supposed to take care of the people and things that life has entrusted to us. Wives and children count on us to be there when we need them.

Instead, many of us have either abandoned that calling, or never knew how to fulfill it because our Fathers didn’t.

The world needs men.

The world needs hope. We need a future. The people around us need someone to count on.

Someone who is useful.

Someone who is secure.

Someone trustworthy and strong.

Someone who is kind to the weak and opposed to evil.

Someone who will step across the line and make a commitment.

Someone with the courage to both love and fight.

Is this who you want to be? Sure, you might not be there yet, but can you see yourself as this kind of man?

What will it take to get you there? What do you need to change about yourself? What do you need to learn?

Will you step up? The world needs you.

If you enjoyed this article, or if it just got you fired up, won’t you leave some thoughts in the comments below? Also, you may want to sign up for free Mancraft updates via Email or RSS

Recipe: Award-Winning White Chili

John — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:35:02 +0000

Along with the time-honored tradition of men cooking red meat, chili has been a favorite dish of men from all walks of life. It’s simple yet not easy to make, spicy, meaty, and filling.

Here, I offer a twist on what I call “red chili” made with kidney beans and beef, and offer to you White Chili, made with Great Northern Beans and chicken. It’s definitely a different flavor, but I think you’ll like it.

Check out the video for ingredients and preparation steps, then let us know what you think! Have you ever had white chili? What’s your favorite chili recipe?

4 Lies TV Tells Us About Manhood

John — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:15:05 +0000

Television is a huge influence on our culture. It influences our opinions on everything from shampoo to the Presidency. TV says a lot about manhood, and what it’s saying isn’t very accurate.

The following examples are funny in individual scenes or gags – I laugh at them- but if you look at them as a small part of a much larger pattern you’ll understand what I’m talking about, and hopefully see the danger they pose our society’s understanding of manhood.

1. Women Make Men Miserable

From Henny Youngman’s “Take my wife. Please,” to today’s modern sitcoms, a common theme on TV is that women nag men, and men spend all of their time trying to find ways to avoid upsetting or angering their wives.

Wives make men miserable, so men are always looking for ways to escape to the Lake or their Man Cave, but inevitably, their wife finds them and ruins their fun.

I think this perception creates men that avoid commitment, treating women as disposable because getting attached will mean certain doom.

It’s too bad, because this isn’t true for all women. A good woman is a great partner for a man. Together they can work, raise a family, and fight through life.

Sure, some guys have naggy wives, but I blame the guy in those situations; they should have been more wise about who they married. If you’re patient, and if you’re a guy worth marrying, you can find a woman who is a partner in life, not an enemy.

2. Fatherhood is a Drag

Another common theme on TV is that children end the fun in a man’s life. Men are afraid of pregnancy, and even more afraid of children. The theme is that children force men to settle down and end all of their fun. The real problem children cause for men on television and movies is that they have to accept responsibility.

To be sure, you can’t be a father and do everything you did before you had children. But the fun doesn’t go away, it just changes. Raising children is hard work, but very rewarding. Kids make better men.

3. Manhood is Defined by Sex

How many times have you heard losing one’s virginity referred to as “becoming a man”? This is common, especially in father/son exchanges on telelvision. Also, a guy’s masculinity is gauged by how many women he has bagged.

On Television, the ultimate expression of manhood is sex, and that’s a load of bunk. It’s no way to measure manliness.

How many of us can think of a guy who parties with the ladies on the weekends but still lives in his parent’s basement? That’s not a man in my book.

Manhood is much more about taking responsibility for one’s life than it is about what you do with the opposite sex. It’s about providing for a family, investing in children, and looking out for others.

4. Men are just Bumbling Goofballs

How many shows and commercials feature a strong, wise wife alongside an irresponsible bungler of a man? You know the type: the husband hatches some hair-brained plan to make money, and when the wife discovers it he’s busted and she saves the family finances. Some clear examples of this type are The King of Queens and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Television shows like to make husbands the butt of their jokes, and sometimes it’s funny, but it’s become more than that. It’s the norm, the new perception of what manhood is: a joke.

This becomes much more clear when we turn the image around. Do you ever see a comedy where the wife messes things up, while the husband talks sense and corrects her? No way! That would be offensive and sexist …and I’m not being sarcastic. If it’s not okay to portray women that way, then why men?

Conclusion

We need to find a more positive image for men than what is being portrayed by modern media. When will this change? What do you think about this list? Leave a comment; I’d love to hear what you think!

Image Credit

5 Reasons to Get Outside During The Winter

John — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:17:16 +0000

This morning I dug my heavy winter coat out of the closet, found my wool socks, and laced up my Gore-tex boots. I drove out a local wildlife area and stepped out into the cold.

I took a three-mile hike across the bluffs lining the Missouri River today. During my snowy hike I had time to think about how great it was to enjoy the crisp air, bright sun, and quiet sounds of winter. I’m going to do it more often, and I hope you do, too.

Five Reasons to Get Outside During the Winter

5. Solitude

Winter is a great time to beat the crowd and be alone in the outdoors. Most people are too afraid of the cold and snow to get out, and during my hike I had the trail to myself.

4. Good exercise.

Cold weather is an added challenge for our bodies, because we’re not just getting exercise from our physical activity, we’re burning calories just staying warm. As long as you take the proper precautions for being out in cold weather, you can increase the intensity of any workout in colder weather.

3. Different flora and fauna

You’ll see different plants and animals when you’re out in the winter. Of course, most of the animals you see in warmer weather have gone underground, leaving behind a different mix of animals to spot in the colder months. Most of the trees are bare, making lots of birds easier to spot, and you might be surprised at how many animal tracks cross your own path as you walk.

2. Different Challenges

Winter weather is a different challenge than being out in warm weather because you have to account for snow and cold. You can’t just wander out in tennis shoes and a t-shirt. You have to prepare, and you have to be smart. Make sure you drink plenty of water (it’s surprisingly easy to dehydrate), and be sure to stay dry.

1. It’s Just Plain Beautiful.

In addition to the ambient glow of the sun reflecting off of the snow there were a million sights for me to see on my hike today. Ice hanging in trees, red berries and evergreen trees, red cardinals and even a bald eagle soaring over the Missouri River. I couldn’t find any of those things during the other three quarters of the year. And if I would have stayed at home, I would have missed them all.

Don’t miss out on what waits for you outdoors during the winter. Dress warm, drink water, and get outside!

Keep Your New Year’s Resolution This Year

John — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:01:38 +0000

Blowing one’s New Year’s Resolution is a long-standing tradition. In the 1800′s, Mark Twain said, “New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving Hell with them as usual.”

Here’s how to avoid paving Hell with yours.

1. Make your resolution simple, measurable, and doable.

Make your goal attainable. Don’t be vague, and don’t pick something too hard. Don’t say something unclear like “Lose some weight.” Set a goal you can reach, like “Lose 15 pounds.” Also, pick something you can actually do. Don’t say “In a year I want to bench 450 lbs.” when right now you can only bench 110. And remember, there’s a big difference between “possible” and “attainable.”

2. Track your progress.

Find some way to record your progress toward your goal. Keep a journal, calendar or blog where you at least write down measurements of your progress. If you write more, say, about what you’re thinking as you go along you’ll be more likely to stick with your program.

3. Set Milestones.

Milestones are smaller goals en route to your larger one. Setting smaller goals serves three purposes, it keeps you motivated, it keeps you from “cramming” (for instance, trying to lose 10 lbs in one week to meet your final goal), and it gives you the opportunity for rewards.

4. Reward Yourself.

For each milestone, set a small reward, and be sure to set a large reward at the end! This reward can be related to your goal, like buying a new shirt or pants every time you reach a goal as you lose weight. Or, you can pick something unrelated to your goal, like treating yourself to a special dinner every every time your bench press goes up 10 lbs.

5. Make it a habit.

Stick with your new program long enough to establish a new habit. Of course, “they” say it takes 21 days to pick up a new routine, so work hard to stick with throughout the month of January, then you’ll have a better chance to stick with it.

This process of setting goals and attaining them is a great way to accomplish more in life. If you can get used to this cycle, you will be able to do more at work and in your home!

Other Helpful Resources

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions: Advice from the Experts, Time.
How to Keep A Resolution, WSJ.
How to Make Every New Year’s Resolution Stick for Good, Gawker.