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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoPlainText>I am doing the high-luxury camping thing: the kind where you still get internet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Is this a great time to be living or what?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Campers sometimes comment that bringing one's electronic toys along when roughing it defeats the spirit of camping in the wilderness. To these I argue to the contrary: being out in nature with our species' externalized body of knowledge available from a cell phone hot spot linked by Bluetooth to a computer allows a prole to learn many wonderful things about the birds, bugs, beasts and plants that are available in realtime to be examined and observed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Yesterday I collected two porcupine quills, intentionally and harmlessly for both beasts (him and me.) Needle-boy walked right up to me, apparently unaware of my presence. When he sensed me, he curled up, quills pointing outward. I carefully touched his back with my boot. Two quills came away. Now I know something about porcupines I didn't know before: they are nearly blind, nearly deaf, and apparently don't have an acute sense of smell, since their noses are tiny, and apparently are rather stupid. The principle is that if a beast has one really good self-defense mechanism, the other mechanisms may evolve away without serious negative consequence.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I am eager to get these quills home so I can gaze at them under the microscope.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Computers enhance the camping experience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>spike <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>