Weekend Inspiration: The Joy of Discovery

Courage & Progress Notebooks

Based in Sheffield, UK, Courage & Progress aims to bring you a carefully curated collection of products that are beautifully crafted and very well made. These are early days and the brand is fledgling, but we are about to launch our first set of notebooks through Indeigogo and we invite you to join us on our journey as we take courage and make progress.

Inside JFK's Abandoned Terminal

For 14 years Eero Saarinen's TWA terminal at JFK has sat lonely hostage to time and American modernisation. The terminal operated from 1962 until 2001 and been closed tot he public ever since. Trans World Airlines commissioned Saarinen to apply his bold, neofuturistic style to their terminal - such was TWA's prowess at the time. Plans are afoot to transform the terminal into a high end 'boutique' hotel...

Intel: Photographing the Moon with Ranger 7

Shortly after its inception in 1958, NASA inherited a strange legacy of lunar missions from the Department of Defense's Pioneer program and for over a decade they would struggle to perfect lunar exploration with the Pioneer and Ranger programs. In 1964, Ranger 7 reached the moon and took over 4000 photographs and beamed them back to earth before crash landing into the moon's surface.

Listen: Iron & Wine - Walking Far From Home

"I was walking far from home
But I carried your letters all the while
I saw lovers in a window
Whisper want me like time, want me like time"

- Iron & Wine, Walking Far From Home

Reconnaissance #12

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Following the 102nd Tour De France - The Boston Globe
> Workshop Renovation by Messner Architects - Design Milk
> The Last Greek Fishermen - Smith Journal
> A Tasting Tour of Yorkshire's Beers and Ales - New York Times
> The beauty of Iceland in 4K - Mashkulture

Reconnaissance #11

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> The Unofficial Tour de France Drinking Guide - Gear Patrol
> Inside the LL Bean Boot Factory - The Hand Eye
> Talking Watches With Jonathan Ward - Hodinkee
> Incredible 1980s Supercar Cutaways - Road & Track
> Pigalle, the Coolest Neighborhood in Paris - GQ Magazine
> Inside Photographer Mikio Hasui’s Geometric Japanese Cabin - Selectism

Watch: Conrad and the Steamplant

Conrad Milster, Pratt Institute’s chief engineer, has worked in the Brooklyn power plant nearly his entire adult life. Starting as a mechanic in 1958, he later became one of only four chief engineers in the plant’s 127-year history, taking over the official duties in 1965. He’s been there ever since. For the last six decades, Milster (now 79 years old) has lovingly maintained the nineteenth century steam engines that provide heat and hot water to Pratt’s campus.

Reconnaissance #10

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> The Inn at Cuckold’s Lighthouse - A Continous Lean
> The Pen is Back - Wired
> Inside the VSCO Office - The Verge
> A Summerhouse in Norway - Filter
> 30 Iconic American Hotel Bars - Business Insider
> Life Before Photoshop - Mashkulture

Blood On The Tracks: An Introspection

In the darkest places the most beautiful things can grow. This is especially true of Bob Dylan's acrimonious relationship with his wife, Sara. Their eventual seperation led to what has become, arguably, the greatest studio album of all time. There are no lyrics so bitter and recriminatory as those that feature on the 1975 album Blood On the Tracks.

Reconnaissance #9

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Annin & Co, The Company Behind Old Glory - Valet Magazine
> The Last of the Typewriter Men - Backchannel
> Another Summer of Steve McQueen - A Continuous Lean
> The Most Dangerous Motorcycle Race in the World - In Loving Memory
> The Ruins of Dead Despots - Roads & Kingdoms

Listen: TV On The Radio - Keep Your Heart

Inside Mondial, Rapha's New Magazine

If you know cycling then you know Rapha. For 10 years they've been producing the very best in cycling apparel and accessories for the most discerning two wheeled athletes around. Rapha has started to push out of its pigeon hole recently with books and shorts films and on July 17 they launched their new bi-annual magazine Mondial. 

Reconnaissance #8

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance

> The Millie Miglia: Racing in a Living Museum - Cool Hunting
> How 9 Notable People Eat Breakfast - Gear Patrol
> A 1978 Honda CB750 Reimagined - Clockwork Motorcycles
> Making Outdoor Gear Less Pretentious with Poler Stuff - The Hundreds
> Photographing Russia's Wild Coast - National Geographic
> In Search of Inspiration - Courage & Progress Tumblr

Listen: The National - England

Going Underground: The Photography of Robbie Shone

Robbie Shone is a British photographer based in Austria. He has travelled to the furthest corners and remotest parts of earth - Including China, Papua New Guinea and Borneo. He recently photographed the largest subterranean cave system ever discovered in Crete, Greece.

Reconnaissance #7

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance (one day early, for a change):

> I Know You Think You know It All by Chris Black - A Continuous Lean
> An Interview with Maserati's Head of Design - Cool Hunting
> A Look Inside Philadelphia's Modernist 'Roost' Hotel - Selectism
> Listen to 'A Father for My Son" - BBC Radio 4
> How to Tie 12 Essential Knots - Gear Patrol
> The Secret History of SEAL Team 6 - New York Times

Listen: Dawes - Million Dollar Bill

Dawes perform "Million Dollar Bill" live at the 2011 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, Virginia. 

Reconnaissance #6

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Good Living and Great Food - Whole Larder Love
> 5 Wilderness Injuries and 5 Wilderness Cures - Gear Patrol
> The Nomad Chair - Kickstarter
> Aireys House by Byrne Architects - Design Boom
> The Illustrations of Guy Shield - Guy Shield
> Down Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor - Roads & Kingdoms
> Craft Beer Scented Candles - Cool Material

The Beaverbrook School

After a successful first semester, Vimeo founder Zach Klein's Beaver Brook School is back and this year it will see 7 successful applicants travel to upstate New York to learn traditional Japanese woodworking techniques - how to cut a mortise and tenon with hand tools, how to wield a chisel with surgical precision and how to raise a frame with nothing more than your hands and a few lengths of rope. The goal is is to build a shed roofed, open sided kitchen pavilion and by the end of the session, participants will have the skills and knowledge to design, lay out, and build a simple timber frame of their own

A Very Gallant Gentleman: Captain Lawrence Oates

Captain Lawrence Edward Grace Titus Oates was an English cavalry officer and Antarctic explorer, who perished during Captain Scott’s infamous Terra Nova Expedition. During the doomed expedition’s escape from Antartica, Oates was severely afflicted with gangrene and frostbite and his condition slowed his parties progress back to the coast. Upon realising the detrimental effect he was having on his companions' chances of survival, Oates walked from his tent alone into a blizzard and chose certain death so that his companions might live. 

Reconnaissance #5

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> The Secret Life of the Pencil - Selectism
> Crafting Goodyear Welted Shoes by Hand - Human Scales
> Hostage and Kidnap Survival School - Roads and Kingdoms
> Guinness Lacquered Pork Belly - Three Little Halves
> Five Daring Photojournalists to Follow on Instagram - Flavorpill

Saying Goodbye to Denali

There's no easy way to say goodbye to a friend, especially when they've supported you through your darkest times.

At the Gates of Hell: The Smokejumpers

When forest fires start to burn beyond the reach of fire trucks the Smokejumpers of the US Forestry Service are called upon to parachute from their planes and deliver firefighting right at the heart of the inferno. They carry their gear with them and spend their first 48 hours cut off and alone, tackling what must seem like hell on earth.

Reconnaissance #4

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Lauren Engel Down Under - C-Heads

> What It Feels Like to Run Across the Sahara - Bloomberg

> Overnight at the Most Expensive Alpine Lodge in NZ - Gear Patrol

> Rapha's Journey Through the Tasmanian Countryside - Selectism

> Four Simple Cocktails for Spring - Cool Hunting

Reconnaissance #3

Every Week, The Listening Post delivers another curated roundup of this weeks best links. Here's this week's Midweek Reconnaissance.

> CAMP Collection SS15 ‘Cabin Fever - C-Heads Magazine 

> How the Army Jacket Became a Civilian Staple - New York Times

> Five Daring Photojournalists to Follow on Instagram - Flavorpill

> How to Make Swedish Coffee - Best Made Co

> Guinness Lacquered Pork Belly - Three Little Halves

Reconnaissance #2

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance.

> Surviving the Infamous British North Greenland Expedition - Selectism

> The Photography of Matthew Vin - Matthew Vin Pictures

> See the 2015 Ural CT - Ural Motorcycles 

> Living Vicariously Through Other People’s Junk - A Continuous Lean

> Kayaking the Milford Sound - Gear Patrol

> Travelling Kashmir's Heroin Highway - Roads and Kingdoms

Tudor: A Brand Apart

A few years ago Tudor finally came out from big brother's shadow and began building a brand of its own. Out in the wild, Tudor flourished and delivered an exciting line of heritage watches at Baselworld. The brand has been building on that success ever since and now, for those in the know, it's a real alternative to the big boys.

The American Longbow by Best Made Co

Best Made Co never fails to impress with its latest offerings. Last week they announced the latest addition to their ever expanding collection of hard-wearing and well-thought-out utilitarian goods: The American Longbow.

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Talking Shop with Friends & Family's Taavo Somer - The Hand & Eye
> Exploring Madagascar by Skateboard - Mashkulture
> A Continuous Routine with Michael Williams - Harry's
> AnnaLynne McCord Photographed by Neave Bozorgi  - The Hundreds
> Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman - Cool Hunting

The Priority Bike

Forget the £4000 Pinarello you lust after as your daily commuter. Just forget it. For those looking for an affordable, maintenance free commuter bike that's stylish and lightweight look no further. The Priority Bike promises to deliver a great ride and make your commute super stylish in the process.

Conrad and the Steamplant

Conrad Milster, Pratt Institute’s chief engineer, has worked in the Brooklyn power plant nearly his entire adult life. Starting as a mechanic in 1958, he later became one of only four chief engineers in the plant’s 127-year history, taking over the official duties in 1965. He’s been there ever since.

Anatomy: Sidearms of WWII

C&Rsenal spent many hours painstakingly disassembling and photographing the inner workings of these famous guns from the WWII era. See the incredible detail of some of there worlds most iconic sidearms. Personal favourites are the Webley MK4 and Colt 1911. 

Reconnaissance #1

Every Sunday, the Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance.

> Wastelands – Yume Magazine
> The Life of a Whiskey Barrel – Cool Material
> The Real Peshmerga - Roads and Kingdoms
> An Ode to the Humble American Beer - A Continuous Lean
> Inside the Mind of a Bull Rider - Gear Patrol
> 8,000 km in 30 days: A Patagonian Photographic Adventure - In My Bag