MAN'S GOTTA DO

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Here's a pretty great video of a treadle lathe being constructed mostly with hand tools. I hope to be this good someday.

Thanks to Bryan Sieh of Great Northern Leatherworks for the link!

Any followers of Man's Gotta Do will have noticed a distinct drop off in the amount of posts in the last few months. This is largely because I've started a new business, Northwest Axe Company, in addition to my other endeavors. Needless to say, I'm pretty busy and blog posts aren't a priority for me right now. There's no reason to take it down, as I'll keep MGD going with an occasional post such as this and there is plenty of good stuff in the archives, but you can expect it to be like this in the future. Thanks to all you followers who have supported what I've been posting in the last couple years.

In addition to checking out the Northwest Axe Company website, be sure to follow @nwaxeco on facebook, instagram, and twitter.

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Not much to say here, but a good sense of humor should help you enjoy this. NSFW? Probably...

Thanks to Adam Hoff for the link.

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Here's some next level flat track riding by Japanese rider Ohmori Masatoshi. There's a couple times in this video when the bike appears to be completely laying on the ground, only to be picked up and ridden away mid-corner. Amazing. 

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If you're into motorcycle books, consider supporting this kickstarter by Thor Drake of See See Motor Coffee Co. in Portland. We'll be at The One Motorcycle Show tomorrow, excited to check out some cool bikes and have a good time with good people. See you there!

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Thor Drake at See See Motor Coffee Co. is putting on The One Motorcycle Show at Sandbox Studios in Portland this weekend. We'll be there Saturday night, you should too. As evidenced in the above video, these guys like to have fun.

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Remember Mystery Science Theatre 3000? 

My interest in the industrial arts makes this especially hysterical to me. Have I mentioned on Man's Gotta Do that I'm starting a tool business? Notice the distinct lack of posts around here in the last couple months? That's largely because I've been putting my time and energy into refurbishing old tools, specifically axes and hatchets, and making custom leather sheaths for them. I'll be launching an online store sometime soon. You should follow Northwest Axe Company on facebook, instagram, and twitter to keep updated.

In the meantime, enjoy this clip of MST3K demystifying the curious world of industrial arts. 

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Click and read this post by Mark Sisson at Mark's Daily Apple. Mark writes about adapting a primal lifestyle to our modern lives. I enjoy reading most of his writing, it just makes sense to me, and this post is no different. I think most people forget that before desk jobs, humans were literally running around for thousands of years trying to catch food, create shelters for themselves and their family, and PLAYING. Happy Monday everybody, make a little time to get up, get out, and do something...

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Paul Salopek will walk 21,000 miles in 7 years to retrace humanity's footsteps from Africa, through Asia and North America, and down into South America. You can learn more and follow his journey here. 

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"Man" by Steve Cutts. Thanks to Sara Kimball for posting this. Don't get depressed, just do something. If you like this, but want something weirder and slightly more uplifting, check out a story from North America.

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Thanks to RideApart and Hell For Leather for this episode of RideApart TV that focuses on lanesplitting. Almost everywhere in the world, and in California, this practice is legal. Along with my friends at RideApart/Hell For Leather, I too believe it should be legal in the other 49 states, but I seriously doubt that legislation will be approved any time soon. If you've always thought people who lanesplit are crazy, please watch this. I split the whole time I lived in LA, and I am convinced that it not only saved me a lot of time and frustration, but was also far more safe and saved other people time as well.

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"The government was paying me $3.50 an hour to guide people in and out of this place...mainly out." -Ed Abbey

Here's a great little video that was recently released of Edward Abbey in 1985 talking about the changes in his beloved Arches National Park over the years. No one knew Arches like Ed, and no one will, but at least we can enjoy his writing. If this interests you and you haven't yet done so, pick up Desert Solitaire, Abbey's incredible account of his ranger days highlighting some of his philosophy on the human condition and environmental stewardship. Also not to be missed is his irreverent classic The Monkey Wrench Gang, which helped spur a generation of environmental activists.

Thanks to Adventure Journal for the link, and to Ned Judge for making and releasing the footage.

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Matt Shlian makes incredible geometric paper art. Check out the video and some samples of his work below.

Thanks to Colossal for the info and pictures. You can find more of Matt's work and purchase some here.

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Mesmerizing. 

Thanks to rnickeymouse for the video and to Sideburn for the link.

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Most people have never heard of Donnie and Joe Emerson. Farm boys from Fruitland, WA, these brothers built a recording studio and recorded an album in 1979 that you've also likely never heard, "Dreamin' Wild". Check out the video, it'll give you a window into their story, and of a failed yet dedicated attempt to follow their wild dreams. Thankfully, the record has recently been rereleased. Along with the excellent cover photo, there are some serious gems on this album. Heartfelt love songs and some psychedelic funk inspired lo-fi jams, it's a timewarp to the young love and dreams of a couple of teenagers in 1979. I highly recommend it. If you're interested, you can read more in this NY Times story.

You can buy the album online at Light in the Attic Records. Have a good weekend everybody!

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"What has four legs, five arms and three heads? The Gimp Monkeys." 

Any of my climbing friends will surely have dreamed about tackling one of the classic big walls in Yosemite. Here we have the Gimp Monkeys, a group of three disabled climbers, attempting and succeeding in climbing Zodiac, the first all disabled ascent of a route on El Capitan.

I've actually had the pleasure of climbing with Pete Davis, aka One Arm Pete, when we both lived and went to college in Durango, CO. Great guy, and amazing to watch climb. His footwork was impeccable and he could often climb what others couldn't, using no prosthetic at all. I remember seeing Pete in a climbing magazine a few years ago, and I'm happy to see his success continue in this piece by Arc'teryx.

Congrats to Pete and the Gimp Monkeys on this inspiring journey! Thanks to Rosie Fee for the link.

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The best behind the scenes look you'll get at this years Isle of Man TT comes from Al Jazeera correspondent Simon McGregor-Wood. His sensitive approach brings a more human look to the racers and their families, follwing the events of this years historic TT fortnight. Enjoy interviews from TT legends John McGuinness and Guy Martin as well as newcomers and veterans of the race.

Thanks to Hell For Leather.

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I couldn't get the whole video embedded here, but I encourage anyone interested in metal work, cutting tools, or history to watch this NOVA episode "Secrets of the Viking Sword." You can find the whole program on their site. Watch as a small scale blacksmith in Wisconsin reverse engineers the legendary Ulfberht sword used by Viking warriors.

Thanks to Steven Karl Metzer for the link. May he enjoy Valhalla!