And on the topic of the environment again.... you should take the time to read this article. I am very curious how much of it is a fact. I am very skeptical of many things I read. Certainly we do need GMO labeling so we have a choice, that much I am certain of.

The Detriments of Factory Farmed Food

Today is a good day to start meditation. I am listening to this

relaxation-music: chakrasuite

I am going to order this kit from Amazon:

Insight Meditation Kit

I have a friend who is an instructor and she had this to say to me:

Really the simplest form of meditation is to pay attention to the breath. You breath becomes your anchor. So when you sit you just observe your breath, is it warm, cool, long, short, deep etc..... you just observe without changing the breath....then your most likely (if you are human) your mind will wonder...bring it back to the breath, you will think about life, food, bills, your son, the weather, and then you will notice you are not paying attention to your breath, gently bring it back to paying attention to your breath, repeat over and over again...it is a practice and develops over time. The key is to practice,. What is happening behind the scenes is that you are actually creating NEW neuro pathways in your brain....new way of thought and being are created. (it is the science of mind) it is very mysterious in a way...after awhile , you can mediate longer and longer..

and after certain things that used to trigger you no longer have an affect on you... but it is not on a conscious level...it just happens ... so for example, someone cuts me off and my past behavior was to get triggered, speed after that person and yell...one day after meditating for awhile ...I just laugh now ... and then I realize that I did not react

well, it is simple...not easy. AND most people tend to get frustrated and start beating themselves up ...this is where compassion for oneself comes into play... that is why I say gently bring yourself back to the breath

so the the Insight CD will teach you how to anchor into the breath, then it moves to sounds, emotions, feelings, etc as anchors

after mediating for awhile , you will no longer perceive yourself as "under siege." the perception changes

the shit can still be hitting the fan but you will no longer need to bite

I found the greatest website ever for watching videos of all sorts of animals.

The Cornell lab of Ornithology - Macaulay Library


for example check these videos out:

A Moose:

A lynx

2 Snapping Turtles having fun ;)

A beautiful Wolf

Here is a great list of birds that can be spotted in Muskoka. It is published by the Muskoka Field Naturalists organization.

Muskoka Birding Reports - Oct to Dec 2012

Join up for FeederWatch:
Project Feeder Watch (for $15)

or at Bird Studies Canada:
Project FeederWatch (for $35)

I had to remove the image that was here due to potential copyright violations but this is the picture:
http://www.facebook.com/birdscanada/posts/121820601317303

                                                                                                                               

This would be an interesting place to go to work everyday:

Wildlife Research Station Algonquin Park

There is a really cool event planned for Mar 2/2013:

A Wildlife Ski Tour - in Algonquin Park

                                                                                                                               

My buddy just bought an old canoe that needs a lot of love. It is an old (1946) Peterborough 16 footer that was used by the Lands and Forests. The identification on the bow was LMFC 1730.
 He sent this email off the to the ministry:

Following is an email that I just sent to the minister
in charge of the MNR
 
Dear Sir/Madame,
 
This is being mailed directly to you as a result of the
website not allowing me to complete the process. Please read
 
Hi. I am involved in a labour of love. I recently purchased a
wood/canvas canoe that was built between 1941 and 1956.
This information has been found through the internet because of
the identifier number - 1452 - from Peterborough Canoe Company.
There are also other numbers and letters that identify this boat
as being purchased for the Dept of Lands and Forests.
On the inner keel near the identifier number is the marks
"L & F" . It appears this was completed the same time as the
identifier number because it is the same style.
On the bow there is another engraving in the wood. It is

"LMFC 1730" with the numbers appearing under the letters. I have
a pic of this but am not able to send it through this format.
I am fully aware that this request is not relevant to the daily
activities of the MNR. However, I believe that everyone should
have a connection to the past.
If there is someone in the department that can  find a way - or
direct me -  to pursue this history it would be deeply
appreciated. I would love to go for a paddle in Algonquin Park
- or somewhere - knowing this boat is leading me where it has 
been before. Attached are two relevant pictures.
Any information you can provide would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks in advance. Any effort put into this uncommon project is
preceded with my thanks.
I look forward to hearing from you or anyone in the Dept. that
can help.
Martin Winter
 

Imagine his surprise today when he received a phone call from a fellow who lives in Dwight. His name is Craig Macdonald and that was the canoe he used when he worked in Algonquin park.

The LMFC stands for  The Leslie M. Frost Center

(on Google Maps)


Craig Macdonald: Map Man Of Temagami

Mapman Of Temagami


As a result I have found this great blog to follow :
Reflections On The Outdoors Naturally

Another interesting response can be seen here: Nature Ninja and the Yellow Pages

What he said was :

19 million trees are cut down annually just in producing the yellow pages. if you never use the yellow pages then you can opt out of receiving it and save some trees. the Canadian link is  http://delivery.ypg.com/en/US/Home/Index/form.php

• 

  Jack DebtFree Elliott thank u.

  19 hours ago · Like
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  nature ninja no problem, i think everyone uses the internet now to find numbers anyway.

  19 hours ago · Like
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  Art Meister Thanks

  19 hours ago · Like
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  Amanda Remsberg thanks for this, I have tried this in the past, and I still get the darn things, they go straight into my recycle bin in hopes of a better use...

  18 hours ago · Like
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  Diy Seattle I don't know anyone that actually uses them.

  15 hours ago via mobile · Like
• 

  Michael Hannigan The majority of trees used in the pulp industry were planted and Farmed for this purpose. Of those 19 million trees cut down they are replanted on an average of 4-1....76 million trees!!! I say we get rid of the internet and computers first. Technology creates more environmental problems than"The Yellow Pages" you bunch of obtuse tree hugging hippies:_)

  3 hours ago · Like
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  Art Meister now now.

  3 hours ago · Like
• 

  nature ninja pulp grown forests are as biodiverse as your front lawn. row upon row of a single species. i say we return the forest to their former splender. do you use the yellow pages? i doubt it. so lets keep producing something for no reason? very enlighting stance mr hannigan

  2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 3
• 

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Day 1

Day 1 of my new blog. This seems to be a great way to gather all of the information that I am constantly encountering. I think it will be much better than posting on Facebook.

A recent comment made to me by a friend has definitely inspired me :

keep up with your hippy ramblings and waste your vote you neo-naturalist dreamer :-)