SkillSet Fall 2019

The year was 1987. I had made enough connections at my local mall to have easy access to any “R-rated” movie I wanted to watch. I would mainly abuse this power by going to view cheap slasher movies, but I was always front and center when the latest action flick hit the screen. I will never forget watching “Cobra” Cobretti putting punks into body bags or Colonel Braddock rising out of a Vietnamese river to let loose with his M60. These action movies shaped my childhood, and they were definitely a motivating factor when I later joined the Marines. Fast-forward 30 years, and my dreams of becoming a soldier of fortune have faded. But thanks to streaming services, I can have full access to these gems of the silver screen. I…

AIR JORDAN? MORE LIKE HEIR JORDAN. If you took EVERY worker at the Nike factories in Malaysia and combined their yearly salaries, they would still make LESS than retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan. 7 NUMBER OF DAYS A COCKROACH CAN LIVE AFTER YOU CUT OFF ITS HEAD. METEOROLOGIST OR SORCERER? Want a field-expedient way to tell the outside temperature? All you need to do is listen to a cricket chirp. That’s right! To get the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, count the number of chirps you hear in 15 seconds and then add 37. Ready-To-Assemble Bedtime Stories IKEA has a podcast that helps listeners fall asleep by reading product names to them in a soothing accent. Move over, Zzzzquil … the Dutch want to corner the market on boring you to sleep, one pain-in-the-ass dresser at a…

HELMET High-ranking warriors may have preferred metal helmets, but most were made from leather. Pop culture suggests Vikings wore horns on their helmets, but that is not the case. Battle Axe Also known as a Dane Axe, this two-handed weapon with incredible shearing power could reach over the enemy’s shield for an overhead attack. - Wood handle - Wide blade - Carbon steel - Weight: 2-4 pounds - Length: 2-3 1/2 feet ARMOR A gambeson is a quilted, padded coat sometimes worn for protection with plate armor. Leather would have offered more protection in combat, but it was an expensive upgrade for the average Viking. MAIL This mesh “shirt” was made from small metal rings linked together. It provided protection against being stabbed or slashed and was worn by wealthy, professional warfighters going into battle. GAUNTLETS These were made of hardened leather and cloth…

In this world we live in, there are the select few who are not satisfied with what others consider exceptional. They have it in their DNA to “take it to 11” and then snap the knob off. Those people end up becoming innovators and world champions. Nate Adams is such an individual. If you do not know who Nate is, he is one of the godfathers of freestyle motocross. After winning his first motocross freestyle world championship in 2002 at the age of 18, he continued to push the envelope of what is possible on a motorcycle. Nate Adams is also a dedicated father and a savvy businessman, and what he touches usually turns into gold. SS: You are freestyle motocross royalty, but for folks who do not know you beyond…

BACON-WRAPPED HOT DOG Ingredients: ► 5 Hebrew National hot dogs► 1 cup dark brown sugar► 5 slices bacon, thinly sliced► (peppered is fine) Instructions: 1. Evenly coat bacon in brown sugar. 2. Wrap hot dog with a full slice of bacon, covering it evenly. 3. Place in the freezer for one hour or until bacon is frozen. 4. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 5. Let cool and set aside. CANDIED JALAPEÑO Ingredients: ► 12 jalapeños, sliced into rings with stems removed► 1 quart sugar► 1 tablespoon salt► 1/8 cup mustard seeds► 1 tablespoon cumin► 1 teaspoon coriander► 2 quarts water Instructions: 1. Place jalapeños in four-quart container. 2. Bring all other ingredients to a boil. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. 3. Strain mixture with a fine strainer to remove mustard seeds. 4. Pour over jalapeños. 5. Allow to cool until ready to build…

All right, you barrel-chested freedom fighters, bring it on around and take a knee, but watch yourselves. Can somebody tell me why in the world there are surfaced land mines all over my green grass? Whose f*ckin’ K9 had a taco salad for lunch? Damn! Be a responsible human and clean up after it! Private Sparky, you look like an animal lover. Make sure all this shit gets cleaned up by the close of business today, and no more dogs on my beautiful lawn! Now, on to my safety brief … Men, ’tis the season of mud-slingin,’ rock-crawlin,’ hillclimbin’ and four-wheelin’ off roadin’ fun, and—for some of you—Jeepin’ too. Hopefully, when you’re engaging in these great American pastimes, you are in a vehicle that is properly equipped for their challenges. However,…