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Bells and Whistles
A Pavlovian-sounding experiment is being conducted in Massachusetts, where several high schools have done away with bells. That's right: When a class starts or ends, there's no more beeping, buzzing, or clanging—just a teacher, saying something like, "You guys can go." In at least two schools, recorded music is played instead, but school officials argue that, overall, the new practice helps students better manage their time and prepare for the real (bell-less) world. Reactions among students and staff have been mixed. A janitor at Dedham High, where "silence" now reigns, says the boxing-ring-like bell used to startle him—and signal that the hall would soon be flooded with students. Even a freshman at Dedham complained, "It [was] loud for no reason." But some of his classmates claim they've now become clock-watchers, focusing more on the minute hand than their lessons. Not all educators are enthused, either. Jane Lombardi, who teaches math at Dedham, says that, to avoid not releasing students on time, she leads a New Year's Eve-style countdown at period's end. Of the old bell routine, she says: "After 10 years, it's so ingrained. What can I tell you? I'm programmed."
A version of this news article first appeared in the Web Watch blog.


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Book Review: Street Photography: A History in 100 Iconic Images
Michael Ernest Sweet, 5th July 2020
By Michael Ernest Sweet
I am often skeptical about books that claim to be authoritative. Can any one writer actually distill the 100 most iconic images in all of street photography? Can a writer compile the history of the genre in just 200 pages? The answer is, no, on both counts. What a writer can do is provide their opinion – their own list of the 100 most iconic images. This is precisely what David Gibson has done in his latest book, Street Photography: A History in 100 Iconic Images, from Prestel publishing. And, the resulting list is pretty good.
David Gibson has been writing about photography for some time. He is also a photographer himself. These are good qualifications for setting about an ambitious project, like the one suggested by this book's title. The most immediate trap for anyone taking on an endeavour like this is politics. That is, will they be able to write the book objectively, or will their own opinions give way to a list glaringly absent of their enemies and over-crowded with their friends. We've all seen those lists. I must say, I had my doubts when I first saw the book announced. Gibson has long been associated with the controversial (and now defunct) photography collective, In-Public, and this clouded my judgment going into this review. In-Public has not been known to produce particularly great photographers by objective standards. But I digress. The point is, I was looking forward to a bad book. Yet, what arrived at my door is a wonderful book, a book that has captured many of the greatest names in street photography.
Gibson seems to have compiled most of the book with clear-minded objectivity. I really only found a couple of names in the hundred that jumped out to me as being out-of-place in a collection like this one. No big deal, although I must say the names did jump! The book, as a whole, is an admirable stab at what I am sure was no easy project. Gibson himself, in the book's introduction, which, by the way, is very poorly laid out, speaks of this challenge in a self-effacing way. Indeed, his whole introduction, which I quite enjoyed, is an attempt to qualify what comes in the following pages. Certainly a neat trick, but one I think Gibson employed honestly. He really works to explain to us the various things one might notice – the limited number of women, the choice of one "iconic" image per photographer, or, even, whether to include photographs which, in his judgment, are "set up". It reads not so much as a justification or defense, as it does a genuine rationale for the project's unfolding. There are times when I prefer the typical foreword by some famous name, but here, in this volume, this introduction is a good compliment to the work that follows.
The book opens with some of the usual suspects – Edward Steichen, HCB, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, and William Klein. Some more obscure, but certainly talented, names also appear – Minor White, Marvin Newman, Bruce Davidson, Ralph Gibson, and Richard Sandler. Minor White, of course, is a famous photographer, but not one that we often see between the covers of a street photography book. Kudos to Gibson for his inclusion here, as White did, indeed, contribute to the genre. I also want to take note of a good number of more "international" names included in the anthology – Werner Bischof, Thomaz Farkas, Ferdinando Scianna, Raghu Rai, and Ramon Masats, to name but a few. It is clear that Gibson made a significant effort to make the book truly international in scope and he seems to have succeeded.
On the subject of including women, Gibson claims, "Yes, there are only 13 women photographers in the 100. What can I say? I chose the photographs regardless of gender." While I understand Gibson's point, I am not sure I completely align with this way of thinking, at least not anymore. The old "good work is good work" argument has been used to discriminate against women and minorities for far too long in the white-male-dominated world of the arts. Big names in literature have pushed back on this argument and I believe we should do likewise in photography. Women and minorities need to be sought out. The action must be deliberate. The fact that they did not "arise" naturally is no longer a valid excuse.
Copyright ⓒ FRED HERZOG
When it comes to looking at the photographs in the collection, I am pleased, at least visually. The photographs are good ones and have been carefully selected. My only gripe in this regard would be the use of some highly anthologized images. I know the book is meant to present iconic images, but, in the case of Joel Meyerowitz, for example, the included image has appeared in print more times than one could possibly count. Joel has made thousands and thousands and thousands of photographs over his life, must we always be subjected to the same one? Further, the image, Paris 1967, represents a serendipitous moment caught on film. In some ways, it may be argued that this image neither typifies Meyerowitz's skill or aesthetic. I know this is one of the images Joel normally sends out in response to requests, but Gibson would have done well in this situation, and others like it, to dig a little deeper and find us another glimpse into the photographer's archive. Elsewhere in the book, Gibson tells us that "it is ridiculous to highlight just one photograph" with any one photographer, yet, this is precisely the project he undertook. The ridiculous nature must be directly confronted and tamed by the author. In many ways, Gibson accomplishes this, but there are some, like Meyerowitz, where he seems to have given in to what was easiest. In other examples, the images do not strike me as iconic to the particular photographer. Put another way, we have some very over-seen images present in this collection and some very obscure ones too, both of which leave me wanting something more. Happily, these instances are not the majority.
The accompanying text in the volume is neither lacking nor outstanding. Certainly a project like this one requires some written word to contextualize the chosen photographer and the selected image. Yet, Gibson could have done more to situate both the photographer and the "iconic" image within the history of street photography. Art is a conversation. Works speak to one another and fit into a "grand conversation" in very particular and exact ways. Gibson omits this conversational thread in his writing. Each photographer's profile is just that, a profile. One could, for example, take these pages and toss them into the air and reassemble and not disrupt the book's flow. I'm not sure that arrangement is sufficient to glue together the history of a genre. That said, the profiling is done well and kept this reader engaged throughout.
In the end, Street Photography: A History in 100 Iconic Images by David Gibson is an admirable stab at what was surely an insurmountable undertaking. Street photography has existed, in some form or another, since the inception of the 35mm camera. That's a long time – about a hundred years, actually – and many, many photographers, and photographs, have come into being during that time. To represent a century of creating between two covers, and in a mere 200 pages, is certainly no mean feat. Gibson has delivered, despite all the cards being stacked against him. I have no reservations in recommending this book for every street photographer's library.
Hardcover, 208 pages, 23,0 x 25,0 cm, 100 color illustrations
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Book of Ra and Ruby of the Nile are both Egyptian themed slot games. In these two games, you can put in money and win money easily. Because the two games follow the same theme they are very similar so it is hard for some people to figure out which of the two is better.
Book of Ra is a video slot game with 5 reels and 10 paylines. Following the ancient Egyptian theme you get to uncover the pharaoh's treasure. The game has become incredibly popular since it has been released and it has a 500 coin. Although the jackpot is small, the game tries to compensate for it with its other features. The deluxe version gives you the ability to play for a small amount or a large one; it is all up to you.
The bonus features, in Book of Ra, makes the game even better. A symbol can expand and cover three positions to increase your chances of winning. You can even have this symbol on more than one reel to increase your odds. There is also a ten free spins bonus you get, and with the 2x multiplier, you will be able to get your winnings doubled when you win on one of the free spins.
Ruby of the Nile is a great video slot game for both veterans and beginners. The game is easy to understand. Both the payouts and the rules can be understood to the point where you will not have to look at the help menu to figure out what to do. The sounds and graphics are incredibly engaging making the experience fun while you play. After all, nothing would be worse than playing video slots while the game is boring.
Ruby of the Nile doesn't provide a progressive jackpot. Instead of a progressive jackpot Ruby of the Nile has fixed payouts for jackpots. The amounts may be low, but with the scatter symbols and wild symbols, the odds of winning are very high.
There are several ancient Egyptian themed slot games out there and these two are among the best. Not only do they give you several options to win, but the bonuses are great. The games are easy to pick up, and you won't have to worry about not making any money.
If you have to choose between them, you must get Ruby of the Nile. Not only do you get to adjust the three betting parameters to fit your needs, but the scatter and wild symbols will help you get to the jackpot faster. You may think that the payouts being low would hurt you, but with your higher chances, you may get several jackpots in Ruby of the Nile; when in Book of Ra, you may only get one in that same amount of time.


I'll start off with saying that typically, these kinds of posts don't fare well on my blog. But do I care anymore? No. I want to create content I love to read, so that's what I'm gonna do. Lately, I've been loving my daily browse of whowhatwear, and figured I should be writing more about what I love. Here goes, my list of fashion trends to keep an eye on in 2019 (but only the good ones, imo).
Seeing as it's only January, we can't really predict ~all~ of the style trends 2019 will throw at us, because as we know, Instagram has a habit of bringing up trends from nowhere. But as it stands, these are the trends we'll all be wearing this year. I have skipped a few from the trend reports, like neon and sarong skirts, because in all honesty, they're not my vibe (lol, catch me wearing a neon sarong skirt come June), so I guess you can think of this as a list of trends I'll be incorporating into my wardrobe in 2019, that you might like too.
They're cute, they're classy, they're everywhere in 2019. From classic hair bows in all kinds of fabrics (hello, velvet) to small additions to tops and dresses alike, bows will be taking over this year. The best part about this trend is, it's fairly cheap to get on board with. Just top up with one or two small accessories or make your own out of some ribbon - this trend could end up costing you less than a quid.
As you can guess from the name of my blog, I'm pretty excited about this 2019 tie dye trend. This good old DIY technique will be a trend of its own, but plays a part in the surf trend that's set to be in style this year. Finally, we can all live like Ivy from 90210. Maybe.
Of course, sustainability isn't really a 'trend', it's more of a movement (we hope), but I thought it important to include in this list of 2019 fashion trends. This year, I predict we'll be seeing more and more sustainable options, not just on our high street, but with small independent businesses. The very nature of small businesses usually equals slow fashion, so here's hoping both these 'trends' grow. Not only will sustainability be around through the very nature of how things are made, but in their appearance, too. More natural fabrics and fibres like cotton, wool and silk will be prominent on the high street this year I think, as well as handicraft techniques like crochet and macrame. I'm here for it.
The 70s trend is going nowhere in 2019, and this translates through a good old warm toned colour palette. We saw these colours take over the makeup world a couple of years ago, and now it seems our wardrobes are full of them, too. Burnt oranges, creams (not whites), deep greens and warm pinks. Bring them on.
Before the clock even struck midnight on NYE, fashion editors everywhere were calling sage green fashion's colour of 2019 (alongside Pantone's living coral, obv). I can already see this pistachio-esque colour donning the tribe of London-based Insta girls, paired with pearls and teeny tiny bags, can't you?
One of 2019's micro trends, if you will, but I can see satin sticking around from late 2018 into 2019. The midi satin skirt was arguably *the* most Instagrammed piece of clothing last year and it's here to stay. Not only for our bottom halves though, satin tops and hairbands are already filling up the shelves.
And what was often paired with those satin mini skirts on the gram? Hair accessories. Or more specifically, hair clips. I'll bet these will remain a huge trend in 2019, alongside the bows I mentioned earlier, hairbands and honestly, who knows what else. If it goes in your hair, it's gonna be trendy. They may be slightly more expensive than the clips you used to rock in primary school, but accessories brand Valet is the place to go for hair clips this year.
On that note, a lot of these hair clips seem to be adorned with diamonds (ok, diamantes) and pearls, which look like they're going to be around for a while to come. I think they'll spread further down the body too, with belts, anklets (yes, anklets) and even on shoes. We've already seen those gorgeous pearl-esque beaded bags trickle their way down from high end, and my guess is this will continue in 2019.
Hardly a brand new trend, I know, but mini bags are 100% here to stay in 2019. They just seem to be getting smaller, and in many cases, more oddly shaped. Practical? No. Pretty? Yes.
Another, but the final, microtrend of this 2019 trend list - patterned tights. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have seen these doing the rounds on social media lately, ranging from Gucci hosiery (imagine laddering them!!) to good old spotty 80 deniers. Whatever pattern or price range you choose, you're onto a winner. Sophie Milner recently did an IGTV video on how to style them if you're stuck.
There you have it, my run down of 10 of 2019's biggest and best fashion trends. I know this kind of post might not be everybody's cup of tea, but I love reading them, and I love making them, too. If you enjoyed this, please let me know, and maybe share with someone else who's into this stuff too.
*affilaite links are included throughout this post. All opinions are my own.


Sesame Street is about as different from Watch with Mother as it would be possible for a preschool programme to be. First broadcast in 1969, it is produced by an independent non-profit company, Sesame Workshop, formerly known as Children's Television Workshop. For decades, it was screened in the US on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), but in 2016 it moved across to the commercial cable channel Home Box Office (HBO). Sesame Street has won countless awards and accolades, and is still in production: it will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2019, which is extraordinary even in a sector that is notable for long-running programmes.
Sesame Street needs to be understood, firstly, in the historical context in which it was initially created. Towards the end of the 1960s, in the wake of the Civil Rights movement, educational policy-makers in the US began to turn their attention to disadvantaged African-American children. It was found that these 'ghetto children' were arriving in school with reading ages often two years below those of their white, middle-class counterparts. Sesame Street was part of a wider set of initiatives that sought to compensate for this: it was initially funded by the government, and by a range of charitable foundations. In the words of its originator, Joan Ganz Cooney, the programme was designed 'to help children whose intellectual and cultural preparation might otherwise be less than adequate'. As this implies, Sesame Street's founding aims were based on what educators call a 'deficit view' of black, working-class children and their families, as in some ways inadequate: its aim was to accommodate them to the imperatives of the formal school system, rather than address any wider causes of educational disadvantage.
However, the programme could not survive on government and charitable funding for long. Although its main 'home' location remains a multicultural urban street rather than a more upscale suburban neighbourhood, it has inevitably had to address a more general audience; and its ability to narrow the gaps in educational achievement was therefore bound to be limited. Its subsequent survival has been largely dependent upon additional commercial activities, in the form of licensed merchandising (toys, media, theme parks) and international sales. It has generated several highly lucrative commercial spin-offs, most notably of course in the form of Jim Henson's Muppet characters. The programme is aggressively marketed overseas, and is reportedly screened in over 150 countries: in many cases it is 'localised' by inserting new original content made by national broadcasters, although this has not prevented it being accused by some of a kind of cultural imperialism. Since the 1970s, the programme has used a range of corporate sponsors, who are featured in short announcements; and it runs on numerous commercial networks overseas (in the UK, for example, it was shown on the main terrestrial commercial channel, ITV). In all these respects, as Helle Jensen and Katalin Lustyik have argued, the market strategies of Sesame Workshop have become increasingly difficult to distinguish from those of its commercial rivals such as Disney and Nickelodeon. While some critics regarded Sesame Street's recent move to HBO as a final sell-out of its public remit (HBO is only available to subscribers), it can be seen as a logical extension of this struggle for survival.
Nevertheless, Sesame Street has worked hard to retain its image as an educational, non-profit brand. From the outset, the programme was produced according to a detailed curriculum, complete with batteries of pre-defined behavioural objectives. While this curriculum has evolved over time, it contains a variety of 'hard' and 'softer' outcomes. In its early years, much of the focus was on basic letter and number recognition – a form of 'drilling and skilling', or rote learning, that was seen by some as highly mechanical. Children were also expected to learn about geometric shapes, the functions of parts of the body, matching, classifying and sorting objects, and so on. In many instances, these things were taught in very 'hard' and repetitive ways, in isolation from the social contexts in which they might occur, or indeed have meaning. In addition, however, the programme has always set out to teach about social differences, mainly through providing 'positive images' and modelling tolerant behaviour. The cast is consistently diverse, in all sorts of ways: most recently, for example, the producers have introduced a new Muppet character who has autism.
As Heather Hendershot has argued, Sesame Street's ability to legitimate itself as an educational programme – rather than merely as commercial entertainment – has also depended on research. It is without doubt the most extensively evaluated programme in the history of children's television, although this research relies almost exclusively on narrow forms of psychometric testing – and as Hendershot suggests, its findings do not always reinforce the company's claims about its effectiveness. Yet while the programme has attracted criticism, it enjoys a remarkable reputation as a safe, educational brand: its guests have included Barack and Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Barbara and Laura Bush, although the current occupants of the White House have yet to schedule an appearance.
The pedagogic style of Sesame Street has obviously evolved over time, but early episodes and extracts are still available online. Each one-hour programme typically contains up to forty disparate items. From the point of view of broadcasters, this means that they can be easily re-edited and adapted to local markets, and frequently repeated; while from the perspective of viewers, it means that their attention can wander, and they can be distracted by other things going on in the room, without losing their engagement. Items may include short sketches involving the Muppets, sometimes interacting with regular human characters or with visiting celebrities; animated sequences, in a variety of styles (drawn, stop-frame, pixellated); documentary montages, typically featuring children in outdoor settings; and musical performances. Some of these items, such as the animations, are no more than fragments or 'stings', lasting as little as half a minute.
Sesame Street also provides models of teaching and learning through its human and puppet characters. Adult characters are occasionally shown teaching or demonstrating, either to live children or (more frequently) to the Muppet characters; but the style here is typically gentle rather than authoritarian. In these sequences, the programme shares the benevolent tone of Mister Rogers' Neighbourhood, a much more low-key, studio-based preschool programme that slightly preceded it. Early critics of the programme, such as the radical educationalist John Holt, argued that Sesame Street showed teaching as a one-way process of transmission from adults to children: 'learning on Sesame Street, as in school, means learning Right Answers, and as in school, Right Answers come from grown-ups'. By contrast, the sociologist Stuart Hall argued that, despite its didactic approach, Sesame Street showed children to be fairly active, and adults were regarded more as friends and helpers than as parent figures. In my view, both observations have some validity, albeit in relation to different aspects of the programme.
Early research on Sesame Street suggested that the programme's educational effectiveness was likely to be increased if parents and older siblings could be encouraged to watch together with their children. Partly as a result, there is much here that is designed to appeal to an adult viewer – and indeed a certain amount that is likely to pass over the heads of young children. The programme only occasionally depends upon irony, but there are frequent jokes and cultural references that would only be accessible to adults. The appeal of the visiting celebrities – who are trailed in programme listings and on screen – also seems designed for older viewers who would know them from other contexts. Here again, Sesame Street assumes that it is addressing an audience that watches TV, and is able to interpret a wide range of genres. Its target viewer is easily distracted, but also highly media literate.
Even from this brief account, the differences between Sesame Street and Watch with Mother are obvious. In terms of pedagogy, the approach is significantly more didactic, although it is not necessarily more dominated by adults or teachers. The programme assumes or requires a much more developed form of media literacy; and its references to other media forms, and to specific media texts, are much more diverse. It also makes a much more direct attempt to entertain adult viewers, rather than merely appealing to their desire to be 'good parents'.
For the BBC itself, however, the more significant comparison was with its subsequent 'flagship' preschool series Play School, which had begun in 1964. The BBC refused to buy Sesame Street when it was offered to them in 1969, prompting (inaccurate) headlines that it had been 'banned'. There were several overlapping reasons for this decision, which were detailed at the time by Monica Sims, the head of the Children's Department, and later by one of her successors, Anna Home. It was partly that Sesame Street was seen as 'too American', especially in its language. There were also financial issues: according to Sims, buying Sesame Street would have eaten up the bulk of her department's budget. Perhaps more significantly, the BBC was keen to sell its own competing show (or at least the format) in similar markets – something it gradually achieved in at least a dozen countries, although without ever approaching the phenomenal success of its rival.
However, the bulk of the criticism was to do with the programme's pedagogy. Sims professed to admire Sesame Street, but she saw it as more suitable for older children (five- and six-year-olds). She was more directly critical of what she saw as its use of 'advertising methods': she argued that this approach was 'by implication authoritarian', however entertaining it might be. As Anna Home later wrote, there were seen to be 'educational dangers in the constant use of repetition and fast pace'. According to Sims, the BBC's pedagogical aims were much more child-centred: she wanted children to 'think for themselves', and to ask their own questions. Recognising letters and numbers was less important than arousing 'the desire to learn and find out, wonder, think, imagine, build, watch, listen, feel and help, and to experiment with water, textures, shapes, colours, movements and sounds'.
This controversy reveals much about the competing educational aims, not just of these two programmes, but of pre-school television much more broadly. Sims's aims are not to prepare children for school learning, but to cultivate much more general human attributes: these are not just cognitive, but also to do with emotion and imagination, and with sensory experience. Her arguments clearly echo 'progressivist' ideas about education, influenced by thinkers such as Piaget, Froebel and Montessori, which were becoming popular at the time; and they directly oppose the behaviourist approach that is implicit in Sesame Street. Interestingly, media (including television) seem strangely absent from her characterisation of the world of young children.
I won't spend much time on Play School here, but it's worth asking how far it actually delivered on these values. Like Sesame Street, the programme had its origins in a concern about the poor provision of nursery education, and it also employed educational advisers, although it rarely set out to teach in the direct manner of its rival. (Its successor, Playdays, which appeared in 1988, and its ITV competitor Rainbow were both more didactic in this respect.) It used a studio-based magazine format, with two presenters who would model various forms of play, music and movement, and craft activities. The presenters also read stories, and would occasionally teach specific skills such as telling the time or good hygiene habits (washing your hands, blowing your nose).
As Su Holmes describes, many of the concerns that were evident in the early days of Watch with Mother were still apparent in the development of Play School: the programme should be educational, but not too educational (as its title seemed to imply); it could not assume that children were necessarily watching with their parents; and children should be gently encouraged to participate using everyday domestic materials (for example in 'make and do' activities). There were some differences: the programme famously took the viewer out 'through the window' to documentary sequences in real locations; and the presenters were less gratingly middle-class than the narrators of Watch with Mother.
However, the programme can hardly be called child-centred. While the documentary sequences occasionally feature children, there are no children in the studio. Even the stuffed toys are used merely as props: they are not animated or given voices. The presenters speak intimately, as though engaging the child in a one-to-one conversation, but they are also decidedly parental. The setting is implicitly middle-class and semi-rural or suburban, quite unlike that of Sesame Street. Despite Monica Sims's emphasis on the senses, the programme is dominated by the verbal language of the adult presenters; and unlike its rival, Play School makes very limited assumptions about its viewers' media literacy. Several of these contrasts and comparisons will be further developed in the examples that follow.


Playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953) spent his early years as a merchant seaman and drifter on the waterfronts of New York, Liverpool, and Buenos Aires. From these experiences came the inspiration and subject matter for four of his finest short plays, collected in this volume.
Written between 1913 and 1917 and considered to have made O'Neill's reputation, the plays comprise a tetralogy, all concerning the same ship, the S.S. Glencairn. The plays are Bound East for Cardiff, In the Zone, The Long Voyage Home, and The Moon of the Caribbees. These realistically presented melodramas depict moody, intense, and fascinating characters entrapped by larger forces, usually represented by the sea. This edition, which offers all four plays in a single inexpensive volume, provides a splendid introduction to the work of an important modern dramatist.


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'Manifest' EP Jeff Rake Reveals What's in Store for Passengers of Flight 282
Jim Halterman September 9, 2018, 5:00 pm
Craig Blankenhorn/NBC/Warner Brothers
A plane with 191 passengers. Some severe turbulence. Five and a half missing years. Wait, what? That's the jumping-off point for NBC's Manifest, a new fall series following the perplexed survivors of Flight 828, which somehow takes off in 2013 and lands in 2018.
Their adjustment back into the world and the government's investigation into the occurrence are just part of the story, says executive producer Jeff Rake. (Cast Away director Robert Zemeckis is also a producer, and Jack Rapke is an executive producer.) "There's a procedural component as our survivors find themselves helping others [and law enforcement] with the benefit of some supernatural abilities that have been bestowed upon them."
'Manifest': Watch the First Act of the New NBC Mystery Drama (VIDEO)
How did a plane disappear for five years? Watch how the new series begins NOW!
The passengers include siblings Ben (Josh Dallas) and Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh), who not only find some major changes among their loved ones — their mother has passed away, and Michaela's boyfriend (J.R. Ramirez) has married someone else — but also start hearing mysterious voices that send them off to do seemingly good deeds.
Melissa Roxburgh and Josh Dallas in Manifest.
"There's every possibility the voices cannot necessarily be trusted," Rake teases. "That will make [these people] question everything that's happening." Add in some family drama, like Ben's young son and fellow survivor, Cal (Jack Messina), whose leukemia may now be curable thanks to scientific advancement and, adds Rake, you've got "the emotional center of the show."
While some viewers may be skeptical of a drama steeped in mystery and a potentially unsatisfying mythology, Rake insists he and his writers have a solid direction planned out for Manifest. "I have a road map that goes through not only the first season but seasons to come," he says. "I know what the final episode is, hopefully, many seasons down the line."
Manifest, Series Premiere, Monday, September 24, 10/9c, NBC
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More than 2,500 animals from the seven main animal teams: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, bugs and arachnids, invertebrates, and fish are featured in 1,050 stunning full-coloration photos, plus dynamic illustrations, maps, and charts.
The feedback in some of the videos are actually disappointing. Do cat lovers actually anticipate dog homeowners to simply stand there and watch their canine get attacked and possibly injured? Many of the comments condemned the those who kicked the cats away too. Who of their right thoughts would bend down and danger damage to their face and arms in an try to seize the aggressive cat? If the situation is reversed and a canine assaults a cat the crazy cat lovers wish harm upon the dog and its owner. There is not any reasoning with them.
Humans and demons used to dwell in concord, however that ended when demons began attacking people and plotted a mission to unleash Gyumao – an evil demon imprisoned for thousands of years. A rogue priest Genjo Sanzo must workforce up with three demons – Sha Gojyo, Son Goku, and Cho Hakkai – and embark on a journey to the west to cease the resurrection of Gyumao, and restore the stability between humans and demons.
However there's additionally an effectiveness argument towards animal testing (and in many ways, due to the failure of the 'ethical' argument to cease animal testing, animal rights groups have lately come to rely extra on the 'effectiveness' argument to stop testing). They say that take a look at outcomes from animals can not safely be extrapolated to people, due to the huge differences in the best way animals and humans function, and reply to various substances and processes.
A research decided that 1/three of patients who sought remedy for cat bites in a three yr interval needed to be hospitalized, and a pair of/three of those patients ended up needing surgery to flush out the bacteria by way of debridement. If a cat bite occurs over a joint or tendon along with swelling, redness, and ache, this increases the probabilities that a hospital visit could be needed.


Sarah was flung up against the "wall" of the airship—a series of metal struts laid out against a treated canvas. The wall rose up and held onto the bag with a series of rope hooks which were laced through by grommets stitched into the canvas.
Sarah could feel the weight of the useless weapon in the pocket of her coat. "Yes," she said meekly. She had come all the way up here to try and stop this man, only to be taken prisoner by him within minutes of her arrival.
"Size, she iz not important," said a voice from within the darkness.
Sarah turned to look for the man the Bomb Lance had referred to as "Monsieur." She saw his silhouette at the other end of the gondola, and realized that by calling her "little," Murphy was having a joke at the other man's expense. The man was tiny, perhaps an inch or two shorter than she was. He hunched over in a way that made him appear to be someone of advanced age.
As he stepped into the light Sarah was shocked to see just how old the Frenchman truly was: his hair was pure white and stuck out from his head in thick tufts, revealing patches of bright pink skin underneath. His shoulders were deeply drooping, and his hand clutched a cane which he leaned against heavily. She could just make out, underneath his fingers, that the head of the cane was a sliver globe. His eyes were covered by a pair of thick spectacles, held in place by a leather cord.
His clothes were bunched and ill-fitting on his withered frame—a strange mix of a leather apron, suspenders, and thick rubber boots. There was also a large belt strapped around his waist, from which hung a variety of tools and gadgets, some of them familiar, others twisted and strange.
The wizened figure walked over to her with an odd gait that landed firmly between a hobble and a run, as if he were in a terrible hurry even though he was constantly on the verge of falling over. The cane banged on the metal deck with every step, and the objects attached to his belt jingled as they swayed. After each movement he had to pause as he pushed his cane out in front of him before taking another step forward.
"Oui, oui, Monsieur." When she followed the source of this voice, Sarah saw that there was platform in the front of the room that sat high up off the floor in front of a large glass window. Numerous panels, handles, and dials sprouted up from the deck to form a control panel in front of the ship's operator.
Standing in front of the bouquet of devices was a small bear of a man with the demeanor and build of a boxer. He wore a pair of grease-covered overalls and a bowler hat so tight around his head that it seemed almost screwed on. The band around the hat brim showed off colors of the French flag—red, white, and green.
From his accent, Francis was clearly American, although the French theme was continued in the large silver brocade patch of the fleur de lis sewn onto the arm of his white shirt. "Bon," the old man replied, and turned his eyes back to Sarah.
"I honestly don't know." Sarah replied.
Sarah could feel her cheeks blushing with a mix of shame and anger, but knew she needed to stop herself from responding to their taunts.
Sarah's breath caught in her throat. She had left Tom's heart back on the boat with Emilio's sister! And if the woman's brother hadn't survived the journey, how would she ever find her again? "It's still on the ferry," she replied.
"Le Ciel Noir is an attack ship, not a passenger cwaft," he said in a deeply condescending tone. "You were not invited, and I have discovewed you have nothing I want. In fact, my dear girl, I think zat everywone will be most pleased zat you have been taken care of." The Frenchman grabbed a nearby lever and gave it a good pull. Down at the far end of the gondola a trap door fell open. As it slammed down into place, a set of stairs and a railing sprang up from the flat surface, locking into place with a sharp snap.
When she was younger, Sarah had spent a great deal of time imagining how she would react when facing a maniacal villain bent on her destruction. In her fantasies she had always seen herself facing death with a calm dignity that would leave a lasting impression on her enemies, possibly with a clever quip to show how utterly unafraid she was. It would be important that they realize just how futile their actions had been when she somehow managed to miraculously escape. Now that the moment was actually here, the clever words she was sure would come so easily to her were nowhere to be found.
"I can tell you where the heart is," she said meekly. Had she really given up so easily? What would stop them from killing her once they got what they wanted?
For a moment Sarah thought he might actually have actually be showing a moment of mercy, himself—until he spun her around and then pulled her arms tightly and painfully behind her back.
Sarah wanted to scream at the old man, call him insane and a fool. But she also knew that villains were most likely to respond to accusations and threats with maniacal laughter. And le Voyageur, it seemed to her, would be exactly the kind of man to do that sort of thing.
Instead she kept quiet, biting her lip and trying to figure a way out of her fate. The Irishman was far stronger than she was, and her grease-covered shoes were already sliding across the deck as she tried to resist. Her only hope, it seemed, rested in the hands of Emilio, a man most likely dead.
From somewhere below them came the sound of metal grinding against metal.
"I'll be careful," Francis replied with a smile, and held up a brutish-looking wrench.
Reaching the far end of the room, the engineer reached out and pulled up another hatch in the floor. As he lifted it a pair of hands shot out from the hole and grabbed his ankles, yanking Francis forward and throwing him off balance. He landed on the metal decking hard enough to send out a ringing sound across the gondola, along with an audible "ungh" as the air was forced out from his lungs. It was followed by a strangled cry of pain as the hatch crashed back down onto the engineer's knees.
"Il Volano ci sta!" Emilio said as he shoved open the hatch, and bounded onto the deck. Francis made a feeble grab for him as walked by, but he was too slow, and Emilio danced out of his way, following it up with a kick for good measure.
"There you are," the Irishman said with a low rumble of satisfaction.
"Let her go," Emilio replied with a tone of cool seriousness in his voice, his words calm and clear.
The villain gave Sarah a brutal shove that sent her stumbling across the gondola until she crashed painfully into the metal frame of the wall.
Sarah stood up, testing to see if the sensation of her entire chest having caved into her body was genuine, or simply a side-effect of the burning pain that she was feeling.
As breath returned to her lungs, Sarah was relieved to discover that she was mostly intact, although she would probably wake up tomorrow to find bruises in numerous unmentionable places—if she survived.
As she turned around, Sarah caught a glimpse of the Bomb Lance firing his weapon at Emilio, the silver barb glinting in the gray light. Emilio's shield was opening even as the projectile travelled across the room towards him.
The harpoon let out a "tang" as it ricocheted off metal and spun off into the air. Emilio smiled grimly. "Ora sai la forza del il Volano!" he shouted out, and held up his shield in front of him.
The grin vanished into a look of concern as he looked down and saw that the device had only opened halfway.
He gave his arm a flick, and the plate let out a screech as it scraped over the dent before it finally sprang free and the shield locked into place.
Even from a distance Sarah could tell that the device looked a bit worse for wear now, with the plates no longer fitting together as tightly as they had before.
Emilio tried to regain his triumphant attitude and yelled again, "Il Volano!" He lifted up his shield and it began to spin, quickly gaining speed until it was a humming blur.
As the pain began to clear, Sarah saw that Emilio and Murphy were circling around one another. Murphy had reloaded his gun, and was attempting to line up a shot that would eviscerate the Italian, moving his gun up high, and then down low, Emilio trying to both match his moves and keep an eye on the other man. The spinning shield, while clearly ingenious, was also primarily a defensive device. It was only a matter of time.
Emilio's movements were almost comically broad, like a circus clown's. He seemed to be trying to goad the Irishman into taking a shot. There was something about his demeanor that was fundamentally foreign, and Sarah found it rather charming—even in these deadly circumstances.
As the men continued to dance around each other, Sarah saw the old Frenchman sneaking up behind them. His stopped and tilted the cane forward, until his hands were down near the bottom tip. When he lifted the silver globe up above his head, it was clear to Sarah that he was intending to use the metal planet as a bludgeon on Emilio when the opportunity presented itself.
Sarah mustered her strength and began to move quickly in the opposite direction. If she could reach the Bomb Lance quickly enough she might be able to help—but Emilio was rapidly coming into range. It was odd to think that she was risking her life for a man she had known for such a short time, but there was rarely a story that her father had told of battle that didn't end with a lesson in knowing who your allies were, and Emilio was the only one she had right now.
Seeing her opportunity, Sarah dove to try to cover the remaining ground, her hand outstretched. She only managed to land a tap on the old man, but it was enough to throw him off balance. When his cane came crashing down, it crashed harmlessly against the metal deck.
Sarah took a step back and waited while the Frenchman poked the whirring gadget at her menacingly, closing the gap between them.
Worse still, she and Murphy were standing almost next to each other, as the Irishman continued to circle to try and catch Emilio.
"Then pardone moi, Monsieur," she said, nodding to the Frenchman, "while I try a different option." Sarah threw herself sideways into the Bomb Lance.
Her already battered body responded with a shocking wave of pain as she collided with her target. Her attack had less impact than she had hoped, but it caused Murphy to jerk his hand upward as he fired his weapon. The harpoon tore through the gas-bag almost effortlessly, and a blast of warm air streamed down into the gondola from the hole.
Murphy turned his attention to Sarah. "You'll pay for that." As he swept his arm out at her she balled up her fist and punched at his jaw with the greasy glove. It knocked him back a bit, and left a black mark on his face, but the jolt it sent up her arm seemed to be more shocking than anything she'd done to him.
Clearly she'd been lucky with her previous attack, and Sarah wondered if her father would have given her more training and fewer platitudes if she'd been born a boy. Thinking about Nathaniel, she realized the answer was most likely yes.
She could hear Emilio and the Frenchman conversing in the background, but she was far too focused on her new adversary to pay attention to what they were saying.
For her second blow Sarah came up from underneath, and landed her fist directly beneath his jaw. Murphy's head seemed to vibrate from the blow. "Tha thaaaa . . ." he said, followed by a slurred mash of sounds that could barely count as words.
His eyelids fluttered, and a moment later he was toppling towards her like a felled tree. Before she could move out of his way, the unconscious Irishman had landed on top of her, his weight knocking her down and slamming her to the ground.


Every Reading Day, we host a stress-free event to give students a break from studying for finals. From play time with puppies and bunnies to adult coloring books, students can take a few minutes or an hour to destress and reenergize. Join us in Falvey on December 14!
If you are first year student celebrating your FIRST BIRTHDAY at Villanova, pick up your goodie bag with us at the event as well!


Unfortunately, obtaining a tent or other camping shelter that does not prompt reactions can be a challenging and frustrating endeavor for many of those individuals pursuing mold avoidance.
The biggest problem with tents seems to be their treatment with fire retardants, but other chemicals also may trigger sensitivities for some individuals on the front end.
In addition, the synthetic fabrics in tents have the potential of becoming cross-contaminated with various environmental toxins.
Mold – in some cases quite toxic mold – also may have the potential of growing on tents.
In addition, tents (especially large tents) may be difficult or impossible to wash properly.
Many tents also are expensive, meaning that buying one and then not being able to tolerate it or losing it to an emergent problem can be a big financial loss.
My experience with tents when I was first tent camping in 2009-2010 was that of the tents that I tried, REI and L.L. Bean tents were the closest to being tolerable for me right out of the box. Still, I found that I needed to rinse them in water and then to let them sit in the hot desert sun for at least a few weeks before they were usable for me.
Some of the articles about dealing with fire retardants suggest that the chemicals possibly may be removed from fabric by washing them with the addition of a variety of different substances, such as soap or dishwashing detergent, vinegar, baking soda, or oxy-type cleaners.
A major problem with tents and other shelters for those living in the U.S. is that certain states have enacted laws stating that these items must be saturated with fire retardant chemicals. With almost no exceptions, tent manufacturers therefore treat all of their tents with these chemicals in order to be able to sell them in these states.
While I am at the point where I am not bothered very much by most chemicals, fire retardants in certain tents still have a significant effect on me – to the point that there would be little point in my making a special effort to go out to the wilderness if I had to sleep in one of those tents. While not all mold avoiders are reactive to these kinds of chemicals, many of them are.
Although fire retardants in mattresses as well as in camping shelters have become a source of concern to many people, getting laws mandating their use repealed has been remarkably difficult.
However, it seems that manufacturers have a choice of which types of fire retardants to use, with some of the chemicals being much more toxic than others.
I suspect that some companies choose to use the minimum amount of fire retardants required by law while others are much more liberal in the application of them as well.
To my understanding, tents in Europe and in many other countries are not required by law to contain fire retardants. I think that a good business opportunity would be for an individual living in a state where no laws about fire retardants are on the books to import some of these tents and then to re-sell them to individuals with mold and chemical sensitivities at a significant markup.
Of all the tent companies in the U.S., REI seems to have been the most proactive in investigating the problems associated with flame retardants and in communicating to consumers information about the topic.
The company recently co-sponsored a study with researchers from Duke University on the topic of fire retardants in backpacking tents and then discussed the results with its customers in a blog article.
REI managers state that, in accordance with state laws, the company uses fire retardants in all of its camping shelters.
However, based on a variety of factors (my own experiences with their products, the reports that I have gotten from other mold avoiders, and their expressed concern about the issue), my feeling is that they are likely making an effort to use the safest chemicals and to use only a minimum amount of those chemicals.
The following information was given to me regarding fire retardants used with our tents. They are treated with a Halogen Free Flame retardant additive. The product name is ICAPSIL FU5658- Please Note: No need to provide the name (alpha numeric of the treatment), as it has different names based on who the supplier is. Different MFG facilities use different suppliers of this same additive/treatment. This product is not Hazardous per the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS). The use of this product means that the tent meets All Prop 65 standards including CPAI-84.
Unfortunately, my own queries and the reports that I have gotten from other mold avoiders who have pursued this issue suggest that other tent manufacturers seem to be more reluctant than either REI or L.L. Bean to share any information at all about their use of fire retardant chemicals in their products.
In addition to the problem with the fire retardants, it is suspected by a number of mold avoiders that certain tent companies (including some in towns that are known or suspected to be hot spots for certain kinds of toxins) may have mold problems associated with their products.
Waterproofing chemicals such as Teflon, offgassing from the synthetic materials and anti-microbial coatings also have been cited as problems by some mold avoiders. Mold growth on tents being used in certain outdoor problems also can become a problem on some kinds of tents.
All of this is especially problematic considering that mold avoiders who are sleeping in tents need those tents to be especially clean since they will be breathing in whatever problematic substances are present for the entire night.
An REI-sponsored study on the hazards of fire retardants in backpacking tents.
An otherwise attractive tent that I gave up on.
The disadvantage of this is that waterproofing chemicals may be removed along with the fire retardants.
Recently I purchased via mail order a particular tent and it turned out to feel extremely toxic to me. I am guessing that this was related to a particularly bad type of fire retardant, but conceivably it could have been a mold problem in the Asian factory.
Rinsing this tent in water alone did not seem to help very much. After I soaked it for a long time in water with oxy powder, and then overnight in water with several cups of vinegar mixed in, it did feel better to me, though still not enough that I wanted to sleep in it all night. So I gave up on it.
In general, if a tent seems more than a little problematic right out of the box, probably the best idea is to just send it back and try something else.
Another problem that mold avoiders sometimes report is that mold (in some cases toxic mold) may grow underneath their tents during use.
This seems much less likely to occur in good locations, to the point that if this happens on a regular basis, it may be taken to suggest that a change of location could be highly beneficial for reasons other than just avoiding mold growth on the tent.
Otherwise, if it seems that there is a chance that mold growth may occur, then it may be a very good idea to take down the tent to let it air out during the day, rather than leaving it up continuously.
Exposing the tent – especially the bottom of the tent – to a short dose of ozone before putting it back up has been reported as additionally helpful by at least a few mold avoiders.
I probably would put both the unit and the tent in a good sized box or plastic bin while running the ozone.
With this use of ozone, the goal is to kill spores that might turn into live mold in the dark moist environment under the tent, rather than to try to denature mold toxins.
I therefore suspect that even an low-potency water ozonator such as the kind that I have used to extend the life of my fresh produce might be helpful.
A higher-potency ozone machine also could be used, however.
It is, however, very important to carefully avoid breathing in any ozone if it is going to be used, because it can cause damage to the lungs.
Spraying the tent footprint and the bottom of the tent with a probiotic solution (such as EM1 or Homebiotic) or with essential oils (such as lemon, cinnamon, clove, thyme, oregano, rosemary or eucalyptus) also might be helpful at preventing mold growth in some cases.
ACS – Is Tent Camping Hazardous?
EM-1 Microbial Inoculant, 1 Quart. $35.
Homebiotic Environmental Probiotic, 4 oz. $35.
A2Z Ozone Aqua 6 Multipurpose Ozone Generator. $70.
Forever Ozone OG-7000 Retro Style Ozone Generator. $100.
Forever Ozone Cool-Tech 10,000 MGH Shock Treatment Ozone Generator. $130.
The MoonLight Two Person Tent.
MoonLight is a line of tents made by a very small company located in Louisville, Colorado (near Boulder). The products are expensive but have gotten some good reviews from gear sites.
In addition, these are the only tents (other than the discontinued Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite) that I have been able to find in the U.S. that are stated as not containing any fire retardants. They also do not use Teflon as water repellants.
So far, so good. Unfortunately though, this company has a history of having mold problems with its tents – a problem that was mentioned as the only downside of the tents in a review by the Gear Institute.
MoonLight discusses the mold issue on its website, stating that it believes that the problem has been addressed. However, since I have yet to hear any reports one way or the other about this line of tents from any mold avoiders that I trust, I still am feeling a little bit wary.
In the company's Facebook group, I asked the owner what seemed to have happened to cause the mold issue and also what would happen if a mold-sensitized person bought one of the MoonLight tents and was not able to tolerate it.
I don't think the reviewer or I know exactly how the mold came about. My best theory is that the supplier (who I don't use any more) shipped the factory some contaminated goods – probably on the outside layers of the fabric roll – and that got made into the prototype that was reviewed. I doubt that the reviewer got the tent moldy but it's theoretically possible.
I can guarantee that no new tent has mold. I've evolved to accepting back new-condition tents that customers react to. It's only happened a couple of times so it looks like a risk I can take.
If any mold avoiders make a purchase from MoonLight, then I would like to hear how this turns out for them.
The Sierra Designs Tesegrity Elite.
The Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite is a very small and compact backpacking tent that requires hiking poles (which I do always have with me) for its setup. I am looking forward to putting it up outdoors when the weather gets a bit warmer.
I was intrigued by rumors that the Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite (now discontinued) does not contain any fire retardant chemicals and so decided to order this tent to give it a try after finding it at a good price ($277) on Amazon.
Although the tent that I received smelled faintly of some kind of perfume (an issue that resolved itself quickly once the tent was out of the bag), I had absolutely no reaction to it and feel really good about it.
Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite 1 (Amazon). $400.
Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite 1 (Moosejaw). $400.
Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite 1 (Mountain Steals). $400.
Sierra Designs Tesegrity Elite 1 (Sunny Sports). $400.
Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite 2 (Amazon). $490.
A view from inside the Nemo Dagger Tent.
For many years, the only tent that I ever came across that felt good to me right out of the box was the REI Half Dome.
The Half Dome is a small tent suitable for backpacking that is made almost entirely of mesh, and I always felt perfectly fine in it without needing to wash it at all.
Although I have rarely used the rainfly, that has felt fairly good to me as well.
Quite a few other mold avoiders also have reported doing well with the REI Half Dome, and I've yet to hear from anyone who has been wholly unable to tolerate it.
I recently purchased the 2017 Half Dome during a holiday sale (for about $130) and am happy to report that it feels good to me.
The REI Half Dome 2 Plus Tent.
The 2018 Half Dome is a little roomier and (based on my quick evaluation while in the REI store) also feels good.The REI Quarter Dome tents are somewhat lighter weight and little more compact than the Half Dome series.
They are at a much higher price point, and I am not sure that the weight savings would be worth it for car camping (although it very well might be for backpacking).
The REI Passage 2 Tent.
Based on having quickly checked them out in the REI store, I would guess that in terms of lack of toxicity they are about the same as the REI Half Dome tents.
The REI Quarter Dome 1.
Also in the REI store, I tried setting up the Nemo Galaxi tent and sat inside it for a while.
It seemed extremely similar to the REI Half Dome to me, in terms of its feeling okay to me with regard to toxicity issues as well as with regard to its all-mesh construction, its size and its price point.
I would not hesitate to purchase and use it.
Nemo also sells many very lightweight backpacking tents, and I had a chance to quickly check out the Nemo Hornet at the REI store.
It felt about the same to me as the Nemo Galaxi, and so my guess would be that all of their tents are similar in terms of being relatively acceptable with regard to toxicity issues.
The Big Agnes Frying Pan SL2 Tent.
The L.L. Bean Mountain Light Tent.
Moving on, I've purchased a couple of L.L. Bean tents over the years and have felt they were fairly okay with regard to the fire retardant issue but not as good as the tents previously described in this section.
The L.L. Bean Mountain Light and L.L. Bean Microlight UL backpacking tents – which are virtually entirely made of mesh and which I have not tried yet – may be especially worth checking out.
The Coleman Hooligan 3 Tent (with and without rainfly).
The Ozark Trail Ultralight Backpacking Tent.
I've heard one or two positive reports from mold avoiders about Tarptents and so would be interested in trying those as well.
Nemo Galaxi, 2 person (Amazon). $250.
Nemo Galaxi, 2 person (Moosejaw). $250.
Nemo Galaxi, 3 person (Amazon). $300.
Nemo Galaxi, 3 person (Moosejaw). $300.
Big Agnes Blacktail (Amazon). $240-330.
Big Agnes Blacktail (Moosejaw). $240-330.
Big Agnes Frying Pan (REI). $250-300.
Big Agnes Tufly (Amazon). $400.
L.L. Bean Mountain Light Tent. $269-289.
L.L. Bean Microlight UL Backpacking Tents. $299-349.
Ozark Trail Hiker Tent. $30.
Ozark Trail 43 Ounce Ultralight Backpacking Tent. $55.
The Coleman Moraine Park Dome Tent.
Tents that are designed for car camping tend to be heavier, bulkier and less expensive (for their size and features) than backpacking tents.
They usually contain less mesh and more solid fabric, which could be good for those who value privacy but which also results in less ventilation than I would prefer even if fire retardants were not an issue.
The REI Camp Dome 2.
The first tent that I purchased (back in 2008) was the REI Camp Dome 4 Tent, and I used it full-time for many months.
The REI Base Camp 4.
It was inexpensive for its size and very easy to put up, but it took several weeks before it stopped triggering reactions once I got unmasked. I remember sleeping on a picnic table in southern New Mexico at one point because I didn't want to be exposed to the tent, for instance.
The REI Camp Dome car camping tents continue to be inexpensive, relatively roomy and easy to assemble.
Although reports suggest that they still may not be as clean right out of the box as the REI Half Dome tents, they nonetheless could be a good choice for those who are new to camping and don't want to spend too much money on equipment, or for those who want a somewhat larger tent.
The REI Base Camp tents also have received some scattered positive reports from mold avoiders.
The Big Agnes Big House 4 Tent.
I have known several mold avoiders who have done well with some larger Big Agnes tents – such as their Big House – pretty much right after purchasing them.
I owned an L.L. Bean Adventure Dome for a while when I was very reactive, and it was okay for me after it sat out in the desert sun for a few weeks.
Eventually I moved on from it in favor of a tent with a greater level of ventilation, however.
The L.L. Bean Adventure Dome 4.
I also owned a larger L.L. Bean tent with a screen room for a while, and it worked out about the same as the Adventure Dome – that is, that after a few weeks in the desert sun, it felt okay for me but didn't have as much ventilation as I would have preferred.
The Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent.
My experiences are consistent with reports that I have gotten about L.L. Bean tents from other mold avoiders – that in terms of toxicity issues, they are better than many products but still may present some problems.
A Big Agnes backpacking tent that was on display at an REI store recently felt okay to me.
Although Big Agnes products seem to me a bit on the pricey side, they could be an option to consider, therefore.
The Walmart Ozark Trail 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent.
Some additional brands that have at least occasionally been reported as being tolerable by those with severe mold or chemical sensitivities include PahaQue Wilderness, Lightspeed Outdoors, Wenzel, Kodiak Canvas, Ohuhu, Coleman and Walmart Ozark Trail.
REI Camp Dome Tent. $100-200.
REI Base Camp Tent. $369-429.
Big Agnes Big House 4 (Amazon). $300.
Big Agnes Tents (Amazon). $270.
L.L. Bean Adventure Dome Tent. $169-299.
Coleman Sundome Tents (Amazon). $70-150.
Coleman Sundome Tents (Walmart). $70-150.
Coleman Moraine Park Fast Pitch Dome (Amazon). $130.
Ozark Trail Instant Cabin, 6 person. $99.
The Springbar Highlne 6 Canvas Tent.
The Kodiak Canvas Swag Tent.
The Teton Sports 4-Person Canvas Tent.
Kodiak Canvas Swag Tent, 1 Person (Amazon). $300.
Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent, 4 Person (Amazon). $550.
Springbar Compact 2 Tent. $380.
Springbar Outfitter 3 Tent. $480.
Springbar Vagabond 4 Tent. $550.
Springbar Highland 6 Tent. $600.
Springbar Highline 6 Tent (Amazon). $600.
Springbar Campsite 4 Tent. $630.
Springbar Traveler 5 Tent. $760.
Teton Sports Canvas Tent, $488.
Otter Wax Fabric & Canvas Wax. $20.
The Kamp-Rite Double Tent Cot.
I've had a few positive reports from mold avoiders about Kamp-Rite Tent Cots, which serve as a combination of a tent and a cot.
Rumor has it the tent cots sold by Cabela's are made by Kamp-Rite, and so I was glad to have a chance to try out the Cabela' s Deluxe Single Tent Cot during a recent visit to one of their stores.
Although not all of the Cabela's tents that were on display that day felt good to me, I really liked the way that this tent cot felt and spent a good bit of time lying in it. I think that I could sleep quite comfortably in it, from the perspectives of both comfort and lack of toxicity.
The Cabela's tent cot seems quite similar in terms of design and size to the Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot, but with a few added features.
The Cabelas Single Tent Cot.
For instance, it offers the ability to extend the door to the cot into an awning with included poles; has a plastic window on the ceiling to allow stars to be viewed at night; and has cupholders and other interior organization features.
The length of the Cabela's tent cot is 88″. Considering that I am only 5'3″, that means that there is a very large amount of foot of the tent cot for me.
The width (32″) was quite roomy for me well.
Although I don't think there would be enough extra room in the tent cot for another adult (especially since the weight limit is 300 pounds), I certainly think that I could co-sleep comfortably in this tent cot with a child or a pretty large dog.
The Kamp-Rite Original Tent Cot is more my size and also considerably smaller when packed up for travel purposes. However, that model has only two legs (rather than the four legs offered in the Cabela's moel and the Kamp-Rite Oversize Model).
I've read a few complaints that the Kamp-Rite original model does not feel all that sturdy and sometimes can even tip over. In looking at the pictures of it, I definitely can see how that would be.
The Cabela's Single Tent Cot with rain fly awning extended.
On the other hand, the Cabela's model felt super-solid – to the point that I think that it would do much better with high-speed desert winds than any tents that I have ever used.
That could be a real advantage of the larger tent cots compared camping in a regular tent, especially in the desert Southwest where wind can be really strong, I think.
The interior height of all these tent cots is about 24″, which means that even a short person is not able to fully sit up inside.
However, all four sides of the tent cot that I tried could be opened entirely to the elements as well as with the use of fine mesh. At least for me, this kept the tent cot from feeling unpleasant or restrictive.
I do think that if it were entirely closed up – and especially if the optional rainfly were being used – spending time in the tent cot could start to feel pretty closed in and also cause a great deal of condensation to build up.
The Kamp-Rite Original Tent Cot.
I therefore think that if the tent cot were going to be used when it was raining, it might be better to have it positioned under a large tarp or other large shelter (such as an awning or on a porch), rather than to plan to use the rainfly.
Another issue with these cot tents is that while I thought they take up even more room in the vehicle than does the Coleman ComfortSmart Cot that I have been carrying around (in some cases considerably more).
Coleman ComfortSmart Cot: 34″x24″x6″; 18 pounds.
Coleman Deluxe ComfortSmart Cot: 40″x31″x5″; 20 pounds.
Kamp-Rite Original Tent Cot: 35″x31″x6″; 24 pounds.
Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot: 36″x34″x7″; 32 pounds.
Cabela's Deluxe Single Tent Cot: 36″x35″x9″; 39 pounds.
Cabela's Double Tent Cot: 57″x37″x8″; 56 pounds.
Although I really like the Cabela's tent cot that I tried, it is on the large and heavy side compared to the smaller Kamp-Rite brand cots (as well as my Coleman cot).
The other problem with these cots is that I don't think that they would be usable just as a cot in my van, since the tent part is not detachable.
The Kamp-Rite Collapsible Tent Cot.
That makes me a little interested in the Kamp-Rite Collapsible Tent Cots, since those products can be used just as a tent, or just as a cot, as well as a tent cot.
I'm a little skeptical about these tent cots though, mostly because the legs look pretty spindly and not really sufficient for their intended purpose.
In addition, even the standard version when unfolded is 79″ long, which would be a tight squeeze for use in my cargo van.
The Kamp-Rite Collapsible Tent Cots fold up into a different shape than the regular tent cots (more long and narrow similar to a bag chair).
Cabela's Single Tent Cot (88″x32″x36″). $280.
Cabela's Double Tent Cot (88″x53″x36″). $380.
Kamp-Rite Original Size Tent Cot (84″x28″x35″). $170.
Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot (90″x32″x36″). $220.
Kamp-Rite Double Tent Cot (84″x53″x40″). $300.
Kamp-Rite Standard Compact Tent Cot (79″x29″x57″). $160.
Kamp-Rite XL Compact Tent Cot (84″x33″x61″). $170.
Kamp-Rite Double Compact Tent Cot (85″x55″x59″). $270.
The Crazy Creek Crazy Crib LEX.
I think that hammocks could be a great idea for mold avoiders, since they seem to have the potential of offering a great deal of access to fresh air (i.e. without it being filtered through material saturated with toxic chemicals) and also allowing toxins that are breathed out to easily dissipate.
Conceivably rain protection could be provided by setting up the hammock underneath a tarp.
Bug protection could be provided through mosquito netting (which is readily available without fire retardants).
Although I have spent some nights sleeping on picnic tables in order to get as much fresh air as possible, I have never used a hammock for the same reason that I have so little experience using tarps – that is, that the trees that are typically used to support these items are not usually available in the desert.
While it is theoretically possible to set up a hammock using poles, this seems like it would take a goodly amount of effort and that the whole setup would take up a large amount of room in the car.
The REI Quarter Dome Hammock.
If I were looking to buy a hammock, the first thing that I would likely do would be to head to an REI store to check out the REI Quarter Dome Air Hammock. The reason is that I have had so much success with REI Half Dome Tents feeling okay to me that my hope would be that this hammock would be tolerable for me also.
However, in looking at the user reviews of the Quarter Dome Hammock, I also like the idea that it seems simple to sleep either with or without the bug net and that everything seems set up to make assembly fast and easy.
I also see that last year's model (which is stated by the REI representative in the Q&A's as being little different than this year's) is on sale for $150. If I knew for sure that I would have a good place to hang this hammock on my travels, I would give it a try.
REI also sells a second house-brand hammock – the REI Co-op Flash Air Hammock – that I would look at closely if I were in the market for a hammock.
One experienced mold avoider recommended the Crazy Creek Crazy Crib hammock, and so I might be interested in looking at it as well.
Another hammock that seems designed just for relaxing rather than sleeping is the Nemo Cloudview Portable Camp Hammock. I still would be interested in looking at it if I knew I was going to have a place to hang a hammock though, because I felt good about the Nemo tents I tried recently.
I'd be interested in hearing some reports from other mold avoiders who have tried using hammocks.
REI Flash Air Hammock. $200.
REI Quarter Dome Air Hammock. $220.
Crazy Creek Crazy Crib LEX. $199.
Nemo Cloudview Lite Hammock (Moosejaw). $130.
Nemo Cloudview Portable Hammock (Amazon). $180.
Nemo Cloudview Portable Hammock (Moosejaw). $180.
Kim Goodwin's Homemade Tyvek Tent.
Getting away from the idea of using commercial tents at all, Kim Goodwin's idea of sewing a simple tent out of Tyvek is an interesting one, since that material is waterproof but free of fire retardants as well as certain other problematic chemicals.
Kim was severely reactive to various chemicals and to mold toxicity at the time that she used this tent, and said that it was nevertheless okay for her.
She reports that the tent cost about $100 in materials and that it was pretty easy for her to sew.
I think that ideally, we would find seamstress or tailor living in a state such as Colorado where fire retardants are not required in camping shelters to make tents like this, so that people would not have to make the tents themselves or find someone to make them.
Thinking about tent cots made me wonder about whether it would be possible to convert a regular cot into a tent cot.
Fortuitously, I happened upon while shopping something called the Cabela's Cot Tree.
The product can be attached to the ends of a regular cot, creating a high "headboard" and "footboard" – thereby providing the potential for mosquito netting to be draped over the tent.
With the addition of a tarp to protect against rain and to provide some privacy, I think this could be a pretty comfortable setup for those mold avoiders who are especially reactive (or who just would prefer to avoid spending a lot of money on an expensive tent).
Even better, this setup would be fairly inexpensive compared to the cost of buying an costly REI or Nemo tent, since the Cabela's Cot Tree is only $20 and since both mosquito netting and tarps can be purchased very inexpensively as well.
And as a bonus, the cot tree could serve as a drying rack for socks or other small items after I washed them by hand.
Hopefully the Cabela's store nearest me has these cot trees in stock so that I can get a better sense of whether they will work for this purpose when I visit the store soon.
The 10′ x 10′ Coleman Instant Screenroom.
One of the camping amenities that I appreciated the most was the little screen room that was incorporated into one of my L.L. Bean tents. That screen room seemed to bring a lot of civilization to my campsite, giving me a place to socialize, read, work on my computer and eat in an area that was shaded from the sun, protected from mild rain, and relatively free of bugs.
Although L.L. Bean still makes a large screen room tent, I wouldn't really suggest that people starting out with avoidance consider buying it. It is much too large and difficult to wash, as well as quite expensive.
In addition, the sleeping area does not have very much ventilation, and the stored tent would take up a great deal of room in the vehicle.
The Walmart Ozark Trail Instant Screen House.
I do think that a smaller screen room could be a really good thing for people who are doing a camping sabbatical, however.
The Clam Quick Set Traveler Shelter.
It would be especially great if the smaller Coleman Instant Screenhouse would work, since it is very affordable (recently available on Amazon for less than $70) and takes almost no effort to put up.
The problem is that as is the case with tents, screen rooms are required by law in many states to contain fire retardants and that the Coleman shelter would be difficult to decontaminate thoroughly since it is a "pop-up" style with the fabric permanently attached to the poles.
I have heard mixed reviews from mold avoiders with regard to Coleman tents as well as Coleman screenhouses.
When I stopped by a store recently to check out the Coleman Instant Screenhouse, I thought that it seemed like it was reasonably okay but that it was hard to know for sure since the store did not feel that great to me to begin with. At some point I would like to try putting one up outdoors to see what I think of it.
The smaller version of the Cabela's Copper River Screenhouse is also pretty reasonably priced ($99). I wish I could take a look at it.
The King Camp Quick Up Screen House is not very tall (only 53″), but I think that it still might have potential as a sitting room as well as a sleeping tent if it turned out to be okay on the toxicity front.
I also would like to look at the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter, since (based on reports from other mold avoiders and on my own positive experiences with REI tents) it seems to have the most potential for being tolerable with regard to toxicity issues. Unfortunately, it is also quite expensive ($250) and seems like it may be rather difficult to put up.
The L.L. Bean Woodlands Screen House also might be a possibility worth trying out.
The L.L. Bean Woodlands Screenhouse.
The Luxe Tempo and the Roaraima screen houses also look like they might have some potential if they were to turn out to be non-toxic enough to be tolerable.
An issue with all these screenhouses is that they are pretty bulky when in their stored positions.
I therefore would need to be pretty convinced that I was going to be getting a good bit of use out of one of these shelters to make it worthwhile to carry it around in my van.
Hopefully some people will try some of these screen rooms (or other screen rooms) and then report back on which ones work or don't work for them, with regard to both toxicity issues as well as other issues.
Coleman Instant Screenhouse, 10′ x 10′ (Amazon). $120.
Coleman Instant Screenhouse, 15′ x 13′ (Amazon). $160.
Coleman Mountain View Screendome Shelter (Amazon). $210.
REI Screen House Shelter, 10'x10′. $250.
LL Bean Woodlands Screen House, 10'x10′. $289.
Walmart Ozark Trail Screen House, 13'x9′. $39.
Walmart Ozark Trail Instant Screen House, 10'x10′. $83.
Clam Quick Set Traveler Shelter (Amazon), 6″ x 6″. $220.
Clam Quick Set Escape Shelter (Amazon), 12'x12′. $261.
Clam Shelter Wind Panels (Amazon). $55.
Roraima Screen House, 13'x9′. $90.
KingCamp Quick Up Screen House, 7'x7′. $100.
Cabela's Copper River Screenhouse, 12'x10′. $100.
Luxe Tempo Screen House Tent, 7'x7′. $119.
Gazelle Pop-Up 4-Sided Gazebo, 10'x10′. $178.
The Coleman Day Tripper Beach Shade.
For those who are less ambitious and just want a little bit of protection from the sun, a company called Lightspeed manufactures a wide range of smaller pop-up shade shelters.
For instance, the Lightspeed Outdoors Tripod Instant Canopy (at 75″ high) is the tallest of the bunch and is currently priced at $56 on Amazon.
The Lightspeed Tripod Instant Canopy.
It appears to be the exact same item (though in a different color) as the L.L. Bean Traverse Packlite Easy Pitch Shelter being sold for more than twice the price. Conceivably the shelters could differ substantially in terms of the types and amounts of fire retardants that were used on them though.
The Ozark Trail Instant Sun Shade.
The Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent – available through Amazon Prime for $100 – also seems that it could be worth a look.
The Nemo is the smallest and the least rain-resistant, but my very positive recent experiences with Nemo sleeping bags and a Nemo tent in terms of toxicity issues make me want to give it a try.
The Quick Shade Go Hybrid Instant Canopy.
Lightspeed Tripod Instant Canopy (Amazon). $56.
Lightspeed Tall Canopy (Amazon). $90.
Lightspeed Quick Canopy Instant Pop Up Shade Tent (Amazon). $99.
Lightspeed XL Sport Shelter Instant Pop Up (Amazon). $139.
Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade. $60.
Ozark Trail Instant Sun Shade (Blue), 8'x8′. $59.
Ozark Trail Instant Sun Shade (Gray), 8'x8′. $59.
Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent, Deluxe XL. $100.
Quick Shade Go Hybrid Instant Canopy, 7'x7′. $80.
Big Agnes Whetstone Shelter (Amazon). $140-180.
Big Agnes Whetstone Shelter (Moosejaw). $140-180.
Nemo Victory Sunshade (Amazon). $200.
Nemo Victory Sunshade (Moosejaw). $200.
Nemo Victory Sunshade (REI). $200.
LL Bean Sunbuster Folding Shelter. $129.
LL Bean Traverse PackLite Easy-Pitch Shelter. $149.
The North Face Homestead Shelter.
Shade shelters tend to be a little less potentially problematic from a toxicity standpoint than screen rooms, because they are more open and get more fresh air circulation without that air being filtered through possibly toxic mesh.
The Big Agnes Three Forks Shelter.
In addition, many of these shelters have fabric that is separate from the poles, meaning that the material can be washed more easily and thoroughly.
The downside to these structures is that they do not have insect protection.
The L.L. Bean Woodlands Shelter.
In many cases mosquito netting (which is not required by state laws to be treated with fire retardants) may be hung from the shelter if insects are a problem, however.
One shelter that interests me is The North Face Homestead Shelter.
It is quite tall (110 sf, 81″), which is not necessarily a plus in terms of ease of putting it up. The reviews suggest that it is well-made and likely to be durable, but it also is relatively expensive ($300).
In looking at shade shelters online, a few of them – the (81″ tall), (78″ tall) and the Nemo Victory Sunshade (72″ tall) – seem to have some potential.
is made by a company based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and is a fairly popular shade shelter. It is 78″ tall.
I have known some mold avoiders who have done well with Big Agnes tents and so this one could be worth a try.
It seems from some of the customer reviews that durability possibly may be an issue with it though.
and I see online that I could get last year's model of their shade shelter (yellow and red) at the time of this writing at a good discount.
The L.L. Bean Woodlands shelter (81″ tall) also seems to have some potential, although reviews suggest that it may be a little difficult to put up.
Big Agnes Three Forks Shelter (Amazon). $200.
Big Agnes Three Forks Shelter (REI). $200.
Big Agnes Three Forks Shelter (Moosejaw). $200.
Big Agnes Three Forks Shelter Accessory Wall (Website). $25.
LL Bean Woodlands Shelter. $200.
The North Face Homestead Shelter (Moosejaw). $299.
The North Face Homestead Shelter (REI). $299.
The Big Agnes Deep Creek Tarp and Bug House.
In the past, I have purchased some inexpensive plastic tarps (of the sort that are widely available at many different retail outlets), mostly to spread on the ground or to cover my belongings after I have removed them from the car.
I have almost no experience with putting up tarps as shelters though, due to the fact that I have mostly camped in the desert.
Tarps are much more difficult to use when large trees are not readily available, and the lack of significant amounts of rain in the desert makes the use of tarps less important there than they might be elsewhere.
What I recently realized about tarps, though, is that they seem to be exempt from regulations mandating the use of fire retardants in other kinds of camping shelters.
That makes figuring out how to use them effectively much more appealing to me.
In addition, tarps can be considerably less bulky to carry around than other kinds of shade shelters. Especially when space is at a premium, that can be very important.
Properly using tarps seems to be an art that may take some effort to learn. I would like to take an in-person or online class in the topic, I think.
At minimum, figuring out how to use tarps rather than a rainfly to protect my tent from rain seems like it could be really helpful in increasing air flow and comfort.
A couple of manufacturers make tarp-based shelters designed for backpacking expeditions that look particularly interesting.
I have spent a considerable amount of time watching and re-watching the video for the Big Agnes Deep Creek Tarp and Bug House system, for instance.
I think that this shelter would be ideal if I could make it work, since it would not take up very much room in the car and would give me the flexibility to use just the tarp or to also use the insect shelter.
I also think it's really important that both the tarp and the netting could be washed easily, since they are not attached to poles.
However, I fear that a shelter like this would take a considerable amount of time to put up and wonder if I could get it up at all even with the help of another (unexperienced) person, much less on my own.
I do think that if I could make it work, and assuming that the toxicity situation of the product was okay, it might be ideal with regard to meeting my own needs and being useful for others though.
A somewhat similar product is the Nemo Bugout Tent, which is designed primarily to be tied to two trees in the wilderness.
Supposedly tarp poles purchased separately also could be used, although I have my doubts about how easy this would be based on the reviews that I have read.
Although it may be the case that this shelter has been treated with fire retardants, based on my experience with the Nemo Galaxi tent, I tend to think that it nonetheless might be okay for me from a toxicity standpoint.
Finding the right place to hang it up while car camping could be a big challenge though.
Nemo Bugout Tent (Amazon). $200-250.
Nemo Bugout Tent (Moosejaw). $200-250.
Nemo Bugout Tent (REI). $200.
Big Agnes Deep Creek Shelter (Amazon). $200-250.
Big Agnes Deep Creek Shelter Accessory – Bug House (Amazon). $150-170.
Big Agnes Deep Creek Shelter (Moosejaw). $200-250.
Big Agnes Deep Creek Shelter Accessory – Bug House (Moosejaw). $150-170.
The Survival Series Thermal Reflective Waterproof Blanket.
Recently I purchased a Survival Series Thermal Reflective Waterproof Blanket via Amazon. I like it because one side is reflective silver (useful for keeping things cool in sunny weather) and the other side is a muted khaki-type green (rather than bright blue or some other obtrusive color).
It feels okay to me, though it did require a day or two of sitting out to off-gas the plastic. I probably will purchase at least one more of these.
The Grabber MPI Space Blanket/Tarp looks similar, but (at least as currently listed on Amazon) is available only in brighter colors.
If I can figure out how to use a tarp as shelter for my campsite or my tent, I might invest in some nicer ones as well.
The grayish-white ones by REI looked beautiful in the store, for instance.
The L.L. Bean Multi-Use Tarp/Shelter also seems intriguing, although the online description makes it unclear exactly how it would work. Maybe eventually a reviewer will provide an explanation.
A customer photo of a 12′ REI tarp being used as a tent shelter.
REI Co-Op Camp Tarp. $60-100.
LL Bean Multi-Use Tarp/Shelter. $159.
Arcturus All-Weather Survival Blanket. $20.
Grabber MPI Space All Weather Blanket/Tarp. $20.
Survival Series Thermal Reflective Waterproof Blanket. $25.
REI Co-Op Adjustable Tarp Pole (Single). $30-35.
Green Elephant Adjustable Aluminum Tarp and Tent Poles (Set of Two). $45.
Although I briefly owned a privacy shelter (a large one from Cabela's) early in my camping experience, it took up so much room in the car and was so much trouble to put up that I soon gave it away.
I mostly stayed in hot springs or other campgrounds with shower facilities while I was tent camping, and then after that I just used the bathroom in my RV.
The Lightspeed Outdoors Privacy Tent.
However, many more people are camping off-grid these days, due in large part to encountering problems with campground and RV park septic systems.
A privacy shelter that sets up quickly and easily – and that preferably takes up very little room in the car – thus may come in handy for both showering for toilet facilities.
A new style of shelter that I do not recall seeing in the past seems to fold down super-compactly and to pop up into a full-size shelter pretty easily.
Quite a few companies – including Wolfwise, KingCamp, Green Elephant, Partysaving and Copper River – sell this kinds of shelter.
Whether some of these shelters are better than others, I'm not sure.
In reading the reviews, it looks like the main challenge with these shelters is that that there is a little trick to getting them to fold back up again.
Cabela's (which sells the Copper River version) created a video on the topic that I thought was especially informative, and so hopefully if I purchase one of these, I will be able to figure it out.
The Green Elephant Popup Utilitent.
In looking information about these shelters, one factor that I see that might be important is how opaque the fabric is.
Some of these shelters seem to be made of material that allows light to permeate, potentially decreasing the level of privacy actually being experienced by users of the shelter.
For that reason, a shelter that is made of darker material and/or two layers of material – such as the Partysaving version – might be preferable in at least some circumstances.
t also looks stable enough that it might support the weight of the bag of a small solar shelter – something that would be disastrous for the previously discussed shelters.
Another apparently sturdier privacy shelter is the KingCamp Oversize Easy Up Dressing Tent. It sets up with poles like a tent and then folds down reasonably compactly (26″ x 6″ x 6″) for storage.
VanDwelling guru Bob Wells put up the Texsport Instant Privacy Shelter in the Cheap RV Living video on shower enclosures, and it also looks pretty solid.
An opened real liftgate door of a Ford Transit Connect cargo van seems to have potential as the basis for a shower shelter.
Some of the other discussion in that particular video has me thinking that since the rear door of my Ford Transit Connect cargo van lifts high into the air, probably I could clip a tarp to the edges of it (to serve as a shower curtain) and then use the makeshift shower stall with a pump-operated shower.
My feeling on this is that if I didn't want the ground area in back of my van to get really wet, I could stand inside one of my plastic storage containers while showering and then dump the water elsewhere after I was done.
As described in the video, a van with fold-out doors also would work with regard to rigging up a shower right in back of the van, with just a couple of extra supplies required.
Probably I will give this idea a try sometime soon, since it sounds like it would be lot less trouble than using a separate shower shelter that I would have to carry around in the van.
Wolfwise Pop-Up Shower Tent. $30.
Partysaving 6 Feet Portable Privacy Popup Room. $31.
KingCamp Portable Pop-Up Privacy Shelter. $43.
Green Elephant Popup Utilitent. $50.
Cabelas Copper River Fold A Privy. $70.
KingCamp Oversize Easy Up Dressing Tent. $95.
TexSport Instant Privacy Shelter. $96.
Lightspeed Outdoors Privacy Tent. $110.
Grizzly Tarp, 9′ x 12′. $15.
Megadeal Heavy Duty Spring Metal Clips. $7.
CMS Magnetics Ceramic Magnets. $13.
I have camped mostly in the desert and have found the standard lighter-weight tent stakes that have come with my tents to be wholly inadequate with regard to being able to be pounded into the hard dry ground.
Heavy steel tent stakes have worked much better for me.
Some people say they have resorted to cement nails – such as apparently are available at stores like Home Depot – for that purpose.
Having a decent mallet to pound the stakes into the ground is also essential for camping, and this is the kind of thing that is easy to leave behind at the campsite.
After one bad experience where I lost my mallet, I started carrying around a spare mallet (as well as some spare stakes).
Bungee cords, guylines and ropes may be used to secure tarps or other camping structures and also may have a variety of other camping uses.
Some people camping in rainier areas have reported that a trowel (a small shovel) has been helpful to them in terms of redirecting water away from their campsite.
Finally, recently I noted on eBay a company called CampCovers selling footprints made of Tyvek for a wide variety of tent styles.
(A "footprint" is a piece of material that goes underneath the tent, to protect it from wear and tear as well as possibly from mold growth).
I always have purchased matching footprints for my tents when they have been available.
However, these CampCovers footprints are much lower priced than the tent footprints that are designed to go with most tents, and possibly they would be better since they likely would not include any fire retardants.
I am planning to buy one of these for my Sierra Designs Tensegrity Elite Tent (which does not have seem to have a footprint available for it), to see what I think.
Coleman Tent Stake Mallet. $7.
SE Steel Tent Stakes. $13.
CampCovers Tyvek Tent Footprints. $14+.


I'm totally excited to note that we now have hi-fidelity electric sheep in our lobby at work. I had no part in the creation of the sweetness, but I had a hell of a lot to do with jumping the bureaucratic hurdles to get it set up, and it's fricking gorgeous. Spot's loaning it to us for a couple of months. I wish I had the resources to buy one from him for myself. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. But at least for the next chunk of time, I can go spend a few minutes each day staring at it and feeling happy.
why did I automatically think of the "love ewe"?
Y'know, I saw that and recognized it and my friend called it out but I immediately said "it's too hi-res to be electric sheep -- maybe it's something similar, though?"
I better not show this to Steven. He's already thought "Hmm, maybe I should look into getting a job there..." But dude, it's SO far away!
Still. That sounds awesome. Can you take a picture?


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A great source of folic acid and fiber, it prevents skin, lung and colon cancer. It stimulate liver function while boosting the immune system. Great source of iron and protector against heart disease. Also known to strengthen the liver and gall bladder.


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Habanos have well foreseen the popularity of the Partagas Serie E No.2!!! Limited to 5,000 examples for Duty Free & Travel Retail in 2015, this elegant Partagas branded leather-bound travel humidor includes 10 Serie E No.2. Fully equipped with a hygrometer & humidification system, it also includes a "double chamber" humidifier glass tube where one cigar at a time can be safely stored. A punch cutter is also integrated in the tube making it handy for any spontaneous experience.


An attractive wall cross with slimline features. At only five inches high this wall cross is an ideal devotional for a boy for either his first communion or confirmation. He'll appreciate the masculine design combining black enamel and a silver-plated corpus.
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