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Announcing Iconic Camping!

I’m excited to announce the launch of Iconic Camping!

Recounting our childhood camping trips my friend Jeff and I decided to start looking for some of the gear that we remember our families using back then. As we hunted around we got the idea to start our own camping gear company specializing in these classically styled goods. And so Iconic Camping was born!

Iconic Camping is a full Optimus stove, Rome cookware and Benchmark maps reseller. We carry all of these manufactures “classic” equipment such as Pie Irons and Svea stoves in stock and can generally ship same day or are available for local pickup. We can also fulfill special orders for any of these manufactures other products.

So head on over to Iconic Camping and pick up a Pie Iron, sign up for our newsletter, check out our blog and follow us on Twitter!

Jean Shepherd’s “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”

Mr. Shepherd was never much for book reports in school (he was strictly a C+ guy) so I figured I’d write a review in his vein.

“In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”
by
Jean Shepherd

In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash is about this old guy named Ralph who goes back to his hometown of Hohman, Indiana from New York. He stops at a bar to see his friend from school, Flick, and ends up spending the whole day talking about their school days during the Depression.

There are lots of stories about fights, blind dates, fishing and getting a Genuine Red Ryder BB gun with a special Red Ryder sight and a compass in the stock with a sundial for Christmas (fortunately, he did not shoot his eye out). Most of the stories are when he was in elementary school, but some are when he is older. Things that happened to him as a kid seemed to have a lot of affect on Hohman, Indiana and all of the Midwest. He must have been very important as a kid.

I think books like this are very exciting, and In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash is a very exciting book. It has two hundred and sixty four pages, and I think anyone would enjoy reading In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.

 

Drat! Only one hundred and ninety-two words and I need two hundred! What more can I add? Umm… Umm… Wait? Is that Little Orphan Annie on the radio? Can’t miss that, I just got my decoder ring today! One ninety-two is good enough. After all, I’m a strictly C+ guy too.

(Next up: Revolution 1989 by Victor Sebestyen)

The War Ends

Winston Churchill,The Second World War,books

Just over one year and 4,147 pages (excluding appendices) I have finally finished reading Winston S. Churchills memoirs of the Second World War. All I have to say is insightful. Terribly insightful.
It is amazing that someone who was at the top of world affairs during one of the most tumultuous times in human history would sit down to publish such a detailed account of his thoughts during that time. An amazing account that painted the British perspective in such vivid colours.
The question now, what do I read next? Oh yeah, Jean Shepherds In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. I figured it was time for some lighter fair, even after all the splendid humour Churchill peppered throughout his books (no, I’m not kidding, the guy was hilarious).

The Second World War

I frequently get the question, “What are you reading right now.” Not an uncommon question, but of late I have gotten a few odd looks and have had to explain myself. You see, I’m reading The Second World War right now. No I’m serious. See:

Winston Churchill,The Second World War,books

I was recently gifted a complete, first edition printing of Winston Churchill’s The Second World War, his memoirs of the war which he played such a pivotal part in. To say the least, it is riveting. If you enjoy British Parliamentary intrigue, air power figures, defense maneuvering, and reading correspondences between Churchill and various figures of importance then I highly recommend picking these up!
I’m sure many of you think I’m joking, but really, I’m not. I just finished volume one and immediately started into volume two. It is just fascinating to read. Churchill kept meticulous records and his writing is just candy for the brain. Certainly, if you have even the remotest interest in WWII, this is a must read.

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