As far as the "Afro-engineering", my dad calls it "Jack Leg Inc." whenver he expedites a repair. He used a golf tee and duct tape to get my truck running one time, and was known to pick up just about anything that washed ashore when he was out on his boat, just in case.

One piece of gear that the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy says is absolutely indispensable, is a towell. Because of the series of books by Douglas Adams I always have a towell in my kit.