University Blazer Buttons

eBay for $149.99.  Recently sold set went for $90.  Nice fashion statement to add to any blazer

Electrical Tape

Why do special forces soldiers have hanging black tape on their gear (plate carrier, belt)? For what do they use it?

Amidst tens of thousands of dollars in high-tech gear, modern special forces rely on one surprisingly mundane item: a $3 roll of black tape dangling from a carabiner.

Tactical gear is covered in excess nylon webbing and adjustment straps. If left unchecked, these straps flap in the rotor wash of a helicopter, make noise, and snag on door frames, branches, or vehicle interiors. Operators use this electrical tape to roll up and secure every loose end, a mandatory practice often referred to as "taping down."

Beyond straps, modern soldiers are heavily wired. Comm headsets, push-to-talk (PTT) buttons, and antenna leads run across their plate carriers, while flashlight and laser wires run along their rifles. Tape is used to route these cables flush against the gear and weapon, preventing them from catching on obstacles or being accidentally severed during a firefight.

Tape is also used for noise discipline. Metal-on-metal contact, such as a rifle sling swivel hitting a barrel or a loose buckle clicking against a plate carrier, creates sharp, unnatural noises that can give away a position at night. Wrapping these contact points in tape eliminates the clatter. It also serves as an immediate fix for cracked optics, torn pouches, or keeping a makeshift medical splint secure when proper supplies are exhausted.

The reason the tape hangs from a carabiner, grimloc, or paracord loop rather than sitting in a pocket comes down to speed and accessibility. Taping down gear or securing an improvised explosive charge is often done in the final moments before a mission, or mid-operation, while wearing heavy tactical gloves. A dangling roll is instantly accessible to the operator or their teammates without forcing anyone to dig through a zippered utility pouch.

Gallo Italian Supper Club and Bakery

We had a nice (and somewhat unexpected) dinner at Gallo Italian Supper Club.  We were on Broadway walking to Aki Japanese Cuisine when we walked passed an interesting looking restaurant.  I decided to pop in and asked to look at a menu which looked really good with appetizers, salad, pasta, pizza, calzone and entrees.  They also had a bakery attached.  I thanked the host and we went on our way.

About 20 yards down the sidewalk, I hear "Sir, Sir" and turnaround.  It is the owner asking "Why I did not eat at his restaurant?  Did I not like the dishes or was it too expensive?"  I was taken aback even further when he said, "Come try my food and your entire bill will be 50% off."

He made me an offer, I could not refuse.  We ordered a Garlic and Olive Oil Pizza and the Eggplant Parmesan.  Both of which were excellent.  In addition to leftover pizza, we also took a cannoli and a few cookies home for dessert.  The $56 total was reasonable enough, but $28 off was even better.  The service was excellent and we would go there again.

You're Going to Like the Way You Look

As my body has changed over the years, I found myself in the position to need a new suit.

Suit 1 - Purchased at age 21 for interviews in college, weddings, etc.  Double breasted.

Suit 2 - Purchased at age 34 for my wedding.  Nice dark suit from Jos A bank.

Suit 3 - Purchased at age 47 for Simi's wedding.  Custom tailored suit from Nik Uncle.

Suit 4 - Purchased at age 55 after realizing my other suit does not fit.  Purchased from Men's Warehouse.

I am now at 46 Regular Coat and 38 Pants.  I am going to go ahead and order a pair of 40 Pants, but will not get them hemmed right away.  This gives me a little room to grow in case I want to make this my last suit.  Although if I add another 2 inches to my waist, I will certainly shorten my life expectancy.  My shirt size is now a 17.5 inch 34/35.  My neck is somehow an inch larger than it used to be.

Cost

• Jacket - $470 (shorten sleeves $20)
• Pants - $190 (hem $15)
• Shirt - $60
• Second pair of pants - $190

With tax I was at $750 out the door which sounds about right.  With the rewards program, I am getting $10 coupons for every $250 I spend which will go towards paying for the shirt.  I am happy to buy off the rack and relieved that I should be set for the next 10 years.  There is still hope that I will fit into one of my current suits.

Suits are now organized as

• Skinny Fit
• Slim Fit
• Modern Fit
• Classic Fit
• Executive Fit - for the most portly among us

I was relieved to fall into Modern Fit

National Parks (14 of 63)

1. Acadia National Park, Maine
2. Arches National Park, Utah
3. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
4. Big Bend National Park, Texas
5. Biscayne National Park, Florida
6. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
7. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
8. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
9. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
10. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
11. Channel Islands National Park, California
12. Congaree National Park, South Carolina
13. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
14. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
15. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada
16. Denali National Park, Alaska
17. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
18. Everglades National Park, Florida
19. Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
20. Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri and Illinois
21. Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
22. Glacier National Park, Montana
23. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
24. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
25. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
26. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
27. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
28. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
29. Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
30. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
31. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
32. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
33. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
34. Joshua Tree National Park, California
35. Katmai National Park, Alaska
36. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
37. Kings Canyon National Park, California
38. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
39. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
40. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
41. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
42. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
43. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
44. National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa
45. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia
46. North Cascades National Park, Washington
47. Olympic National Park, Washington
48. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
49. Pinnacles National Park, California
50. Redwood National Park, California
51. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
52. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
53. Sequoia National Park, California
54. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
55. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
56. Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands
57. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
58. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
59. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
60. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
61. Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
62. Yosemite National Park, California
63. Zion National Park, Utah

Ian Naveen Birla Obituary

Ian Naveen Birla, 53, of Closter, New Jersey passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He endured a nearly 3-year cancer battle like a true champion with resilience, optimism, and grace.

Ian was born in Indianapolis, moving to Memphis TN at age seven where he honed numerous skills including performing magic, breakdancing, and becoming a state ranked tennis player -- he also developed a deep love for barbecue. After graduating from Germantown High School, he attended the University of Michigan where he was introduced to two of his greatest loves -- his wife Nita and Wolverine football. Following graduation, life took Ian to Manhattan where he achieved much success in various finance and consulting positions, ending his career at HSBC. He never shied away from a professional challenge but what gave him the most enjoyment was connecting with colleagues all over the world creating lifelong bonds.

Ian's zest for life was unmatched. He was an amazing cook who loved to entertain family and friends, excitedly trying out new recipes. Nothing gave him more pleasure than gathering the neighbors for impromptu barbecues, always looking to include anyone and everyone. While food played a starring role, these gatherings were not complete without his eclectic taste in music blasting throughout the house. During college, he spent a summer following the Grateful Dead, and in true Ian fashion he refused to let his treatment stop him from catching five Dead & Company shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas. He loved EDM festivals where he and Nita were often the oldest (by decades), which he considered a badge of honor.

In 2023, through Charity Challenge, Ian did a 6 day / 115km trek through the Wadi Rum desert in high heat and deep sand. He found that to be a life changing experience that unleashed his desire for more adventure, including planning a trip to the Himalayas and various biking adventures that he had hoped he would be able to experience with his family. Over the last few years, because of his illness and his unwavering curiosity, he became interested in biology, learning the inner workings of the human body, even considering a late-in-life career in medicine. He was an avid reader focusing on spirituality (he was trained in Transcendental Meditation) as well as history. Ian never lost his sense of humor, always finding time to send Instagram reels to his friends and family.

While there was never a shortage of passions in Ian's life, nothing was more important to him than his family. His children, Shayli and Shaan, were his greatest source of pride and happiness. He shared his love of fine dining and travel with them. He took immense pride in motivating and challenging them with advice and questions. He celebrated a Wolverine Football National Championship in person in 2023 with Shaan by his side and willed his way to experience Shayli graduating from the University of Chicago in 2025. Ian was at peace knowing his legacy will continue to live on through his children.

Ian is survived by his parents Madan and Shashi Birla, wife Nita, children Shayli and Shaan, sister Manisha (Kunal), mother and father in-law (Dinesh and Pallavi), sister-in-law Rina (Anup) and five loving nieces and nephews (Kayan, Rohin, Dylan, Nikhil, and Maya).

Ian and I met as our Dads both worked at Federal Express Corporation.  Being similar aged we would hang out at shared family get togethers.  He had great taste in music and introduced me to bands like the Nine Inch Nails.  We both ended up in the Big 10 for college and Michigan always got the better of Purdue, whether it was basketball or football.  As adults, we took in some great live music in Memphis, Chicago and Las Vegas.  Ian brought people together and always made everyone feel included.

I attended the celebration of life in Closter, NJ.  It was held on a beautiful Saturday at their house in the backyard.  It was remarkably well attended with around 100-150 attendees.  Simi and I drove over from her place in Glen Rock.  It was well attended by Memphians including Meena Tahaliani, Asha Aggarwal, Devi Kumar and Malani Gupta.  His parents and wife were of course the most emotional.  Shaili and Sean seemed to be doing OK, but obviously its a lot.

After Madan Uncle, speeches were given by Rajeev, a few work friends, his cousins and finally his neighbors.  His dad referenced a book, "The Man Who Could Not Read."  Rajeev mentioned a cabana day where one of them got their watch stolen and another got their wallet stolen.  The most touching were his work colleagues who survived the trenches of Wall Street and lived to tell about it by sticking together and staying in touch.

There was live music with a guitarist/vocalist who was very good.  Barbecue, Pizza, desserts, beer, wine and a famous punch.

The take away theme for me was "Let's do it" in regards to staying in touch with people, calling, making dinner plans and making travel plans.  Pick the nice hotels, book the nice dinners, get tickets to the EDM and jam bands and go on adventures around the country.  The other take away was "That's Business Class" in reference to splurging a little to truly distinguish something whether that be accommodations, meals or bottle service.

It motivated me to treat myself to a higher priced dinner entree the next day and I will make plans to visit friends just for the heck of it, without having a specific event or convenient time.

What I Use on a Regular Basis

1. Toiletries, towels
2. Clothing - Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, pajamas, socks, underwear, sports clothing, shoes, house slippers
3. Dishes (4) plates, cups, bowls, cutlery (4), knives (full set), pans (fry, sauce), spatulas (2), meat thermometer, measuring cups, Pyrex food storage, oven mitts, coffee cups, tea kettle
4. Television, sofa, throw blankets
5. Bed, bedding
6. Laptop, desk, chair
7. Car
8. Bicycle
9. Squat rack, barbell, plates, pull-up bar
10. Running shoes, sunglasses, earbuds, phone, charger
11. Swim trunks, wetsuits, goggles, accessories
12. Frisbee Equipment
13. Hurling Equipment
14. SCUBA Gear - Could rent
15. Golf Equipment - Could rent
16. Tennis Equipment
17. Archery Equipment
18. Skis, Ski clothing - Could rent
19. Numismatic Library
20. Suitcases
21. Hand tools, power tools, bike tools
22. Games - Poker chips, Backgammon, Scrabble