grey leather coat, Ferragamo black-grey striped DB wool jacket, classic Pierre Cardin Paris subtle grey-blue houndstooth cotton shirt, Booswell sky-blue dotted silk tie silver-blue dotted silk handkerchief silver-yellow silk cufflinks grey flannel wool trousers, tailored grey-lilac cotton socks black leather oxford shoes THE WHOLE OUTFIT SECONDHAND FOR 100€ TOTAL! Today Finland celebrates its 108th independence day. I dressed up as usual when I went to the mall to buy some delicious food and champagne for the evening watching tv, the annual Presidential Independence Ball at the Palace. Before WWII, Stalin's Russia and Nazi Hitler secretly negotiated and agreed on how to divide Europe and the riches of Europe for their own interests. The secret Ribbentrop agreement 1939 between Stalin and Hitler was negotiated secretly over the heads of the rest of Europe. It is also called the Nazi-Soviet Pact. A week later, World War II began. I was born a few years after World War II and have been lucky enough to live a good life in peacetime for 70+ years. I hope my children and grandchildren would have an equally peaceful life. Since we in Finland understand the Russian mentality, falsity and unreliability best of all, it is frightening to follow today's ”similar” negotiations between Nazi-like Russia and today's USA, where the integrity and the riches found in other countries is negotiated secretly over the heads of the rest of Europe.

“No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.” -Seneca

Sometime back, I asked the group for help with bulk ruining my pants pockets. With guidance and further investigation, I came up with a solution. (EDC= every day carry) 1. Keys; I eliminated all but my house key, my office key and my vehicle fob. To save space, I joined my keys with a Chicago screw (the attachment to the ring is made from a third key that was not needed). All other keys were moved to storage. For example, my work mailbox key stays at work- no need to have it in my pocket. 2. Deep carry clip for my Swiss Army Knife. What a difference this has made. Having the knife rest vertically along my pants seam rather than horizontal at the base of my pocket has fixed the lumpy thighs problem. 3. The wallet needs a little work. I carry 8 cards. It’s hard to trim that back, but I am looking for a nice option…getting close. Finally; inspired by Altoids EDC- I wanted to make a watch maintenance kit- not for every day, but as a portable gear kit.