In message <5.1.1.5.2.20050811110101.040cc618@mail.interlog.com> Spehro Pefhany wrote: > What would you bring with you to make life more interesting/productive/ > enjoyable? You have only one week to prepare, purchase or gather whatever it > is, so scanning very much of your dead-tree library is out. You are limited > to, say, 20-30kg weight and commensurate volume. I'd find out what language the locals speak and attempt to learn it and whatever rules/customs they may have. No use insulting the locals on your first day if you have to spend six months on said island. Info on locally-available edible plants and such would also be very useful. That and I'd take my Toughbook, a solar panel, my Mindisc recorder, a camera (and plenty of film), a few astronomy books and starcharts, a small telescope (maybe) and some astronomy software. Oh, and GPS - an eTrex or something like that - if only for the clock and compass. No use trying to find a star if you don't know which direction you're supposed to be looking in, and what time it is. If I could squeeze it in, I'd also see about taking some form of radio transceiver. Later. -- Phil. | Acorn RiscPC600 SA220 64MB+6GB 100baseT philpem@philpem.me.uk | Athlon64 3200+ A8VDeluxe R2 512MB+100GB http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | Sony MZ-N710 NetMD Minidisc ... It's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. -Voltaire- -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist