In collaborations with After School Projects we made a small number of fanny packs.
We made them so long ago we forgot how much we paid for them and how many we made. Here’s what we do know. They’re upgraded: These have a fidlock buckle cause that’s tech and pro and tactical. And we sewed a handmade MSO patch onto the front which fuctions like a cosmic OnStar—just touch the patch, which is effectiveely a totem or a talisman, like how Leonardo spins the top in inception, and you will find the power needed to continue pushing your Physical, Spiritual, Mental and Emotional limitis in the pursuit of Transformation. We also know that even the stock non-upgraded versions from ASP are built using weatherproof VX Nylon and are sewn here in America.
Man, Play and Games is the influential 1961 book by the French sociologist Roger Caillois, on the sociology of Play and Games or, in Caillois’ terms, sociology derived from Play. Caillois interprets many social structures as elaborate forms of games and much behavior as a form of play.
Caillois suggest that play is best described by six core characteristics:
It is free, or not obligatory.
It is separate (from the routine of life), occupying its own time and space.
It is uncertain, so that the results of play cannot be pre-determined and so that the player’s initiative is involved.
It is unproductive in that it creates no wealth and ends as it begins.
It is governed by rules that suspend ordinary laws and behaviors and that must be followed by players.
It involves make-believe that confirms for players the existence of imagined realities that may be set against ‘real life
Caillois argues that we can understand the complexity of games by referring to four play forms.
1) Agon, or competition. E.g. Sky Running is an almost purely agonistic game. 2) Alea, or chance. E.g. Bikepacking in challenging topography and demanding climates is taking a chance. 3) Mimicry, or mimesis, or role playing. Endurance is role playing. In the absence of causation, need and utility, while doing shit that sucks for fun, we’re simulating survival. 4) Ilinx (Greek for “whirlpool”), or vertigo, in the sense of altered perceptions and states E.g. taking hallucinogens, sleep deprivation, extreme exhaustion, hunger, suffering, pain, portals, vortices, etc.
On June 29, 2021 Donald Rumslfeld, to the immense benefit of America, Humanity and Mother Earth, passed on to the Known Unknown we call death. Before that he did a bunch of politics, most notably as Secretary of Defense during the first Bush administration. During which time, on February 12 , 2002 he said, in response to increased pressure and pushback and outrage regarding all the many and substantiated reports coming back from Iraq that no Weapons Of Mass Destruction—the only other enjoyable byproduct of the war in Iraq that I’m aware (#39)—had been found because they didn’t exist and he but he was still trying to stall and lie about their fictional-ness.
“’Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
In 2002 I was thirty-two years old and while I considered Donald Rumsfeld to be a deplorable monster, I was very very very very stoked on this new phrase-idea he had just introduced to me even though, at the time, I thought he was just making shit up and having fun with the english language in an effort obfuscate.
Turns out Philosophers and Navy Seals have known about Known Knowns, Known Unknowns and Unknown Unknowns for hundreds and hundreds of years because it’s a solid framework and/or way of thinking for stuff like Risk Assessment, Analytical Sciences and Mythical State of Philosophies including but not limited to Line Planning and Product Development.
Speaking of which, here are some products we’re currently working on regarding which we’d love your feedback. Please let us know what you think. Seriously, let’s get this Product Development conversation started.
A denim hoodie because denim is durable and fashionable and everything should have a hood.
More than a reliable purpose, a destination, or extensive provisioning, any Subject Athlete / Cardio Goth / Endurance Cult Member headed Inside The Outside requires for success in any endeavor or pursuit only a quality Blanket or Towel. Either can be fashioned into a jacket, as in a capote, or a cloak or cape. They can be used to wrap and therefore protect your valuables during travel, as well as camouflage said valuables regrettably but necessarily left overnight in an old car in a dimly lit motel parking lot. For drying, warmth and a place to sit and/or change pre-and-post hot spring, swim hole, hobo slap, etc. Or, as a bedroll; a napkin (albeit an oversized napkin); a pillow; a sack or makeshift bag; a brightly colored and nicely delineated picnic or lunch spot; for love-making; in defense against nearly feral or overly habituated animals; a lightweight saddle alternative; fire containment; and for bivouacking and/or enhancing an otherwise primitive shelter. For wound care and poultices. For protection against the elements like dust, wind, direct sunlight, etc., as well as volatile and/or tempestuous weather. For insulation, be it fixed, semi-permanent or temporary. To appear period-correct, if said period is the whole of the 1800s and/or right now. As a regular blanket and/or ad-hoc, burrito-style mummy bag. And finally, if need be, both can be soaked in various nutrients, broths, herbs and tinctures for later oral or topical application.
