How the Wolves Changed Yellowstone.

Wolves had been missing from Yellowstone National Park for 70 years.  The impact of the missing wolves wasn't apparent until they were reintroduced into the park.  Once the Wolves came back they changed the rivers.

Watch the amazing video below to see How Wolves Change Rivers.




Humans don't often stop to think about how removing wildlife can affect the landscape.  We don't think about how our decisions and alterations to the environment can make lasting changes.  Until now we probably didn't also realize that we also have the power to restore nature by restoring wildlife and the balance of the eco-system.

Sources:

• http://theshrug.net/they-brought-wolves-to-yellowstone-but-they-had-no-idea-this-would-be-the-result/

Survivalist Tips: How to Start a Fire with Chocolate and a Soda Can.

You can can start a fire with a soda can, chocolate bar, and a towel. Of course you will also need tinder and wood.


1. Rub Chocolate on the bottom of the empty soda can.
2. Wipe the Chocolate off of the can and polish the bottom of the can until it reflects like a mirror.
3. Find a direct ray of sunlight and angle the can so that it will reflect the sunlight on one area.
4. Place your tinder in the spot and hold the can steady until you see smoke.  You can use leaves, sticks, or paper for your tinder.
5. Once you see smoke start to add your wood to build your fire around it.

**WARNING: Do not eat the chocolate after it has touched the aluminum can as the residue may be toxic.

Check out the video below to see how it's done.

Concrete Canvas Housing

There's a new building material that was recently developed.  The video below will show how they can erect a concrete Tent in a fraction of the time that other building techniques would take.

It's basically a material that has all the elements of concrete but is flexible.  Once the material is submerged in water and allowed to set it becomes solid. In the video it only took one day to be ready.



This next video shows how Concrete Canvas Shelters can help in natural disasters.  One can be deployed by only 2 people in about an hour!

I'm fascinated by the Tiny House Movement and I think this type of structure would lend well.  I'm just amazed at their ability to create a sterile environment that can lend itself to a variety of applications.

Hair - The story of my People (Native Americans)

I'm part Cherokee but I was never raised in tribal life.  I learned a little about our culture and beliefs through my father and his family and a little from friends I made along the way. I'm always amazed when I uncover something about Native culture that just matches how I feel so perfectly.
 I have to say that for me having long hair just feels right. I've only cut my hair short twice in my entire life.  The entire time my hair was shorter than shoulder length I felt naked, exposed, vulnerable.
Reading this post from White Wolf Pack I began to completely understand part of why I may be so attached to my hair.  I also have to say that I adore long hair on others as well.  The longer the better.
Their article "Elders talk about the significance of long hair in Native American Cultures (Videos)."
"Hair is the physical manifestation of our thoughts and an extension of ourselves."  The article talks about how when the Native people walk the sacred path our hair acts as an extension of our thoughts and allows us to take direction in the path of life. Our hair is like the tails of the birds and the fish who could not fly or swim.  Our hair is our strength and if we maintain pure thoughts our hair cannot be used for evil.
There is a sacredness to hair.  The way it's combed, braided, tied, and the color and texture are all of great significance.  Even hair styles represent different feelings. It is said that the creator decides who receives straight hair and who receives curly hair. Straight hair teaches a person that they can hold on gracefully or let go of life.  Their thoughts flow like water from a mountain and once it reaches the ocean it cycles again.  Curly hair has the potential to understand the energy of life and how it can spiral.  Their thoughts teach about the ebb and flow of life's path.
Even the color of your hair is sacred.  It is believed that you shouldn't bleach or lighten or dye your hair.  Altering your hair color represents placing your desires before those of the creators. There were some ceremonies where henna and ocher were used but it was for a sacred purpose and it was known it would come back to the natural color over time.
They believe that cutting off your hair is like cutting off the flow of thought.  Typically the hair is cut when making a major life change.  It's done to put the past behind you and to make a new life. It may also be done during the mourning process.
Hairstyles like braids even have a symbolic meaning.  Braids are linked to oneness and unity.  They believe the free flowing strands of hair on their own are weak but when joined together in a braid they demonstrate oneness.  "One mind, one heart, and one soul."
Below are some great videos that were also in the post:

All Look Same Quiz

I was browsing YouTube today and came across a video I thought was really interesting.  It was 3 Asians discussing the difference between 3 types of Asians; Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.  I've always thought I was ok at telling apart ethnicities so I figured I would try the quiz they were doing.

Here's the original video:


Here's a link to the quiz: http://alllooksame.com/quiz.php?tid=1

I scored 10/18. 

Here are more great videos by Off The Great Wall: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtzdESO4SYaxY5sNTdwl3w

Foods that are Secretly trying to Kill you!

What?  How can food secretly be trying to kill me?  You probably think I'm talking about junk food which we all know is bad for us. Actually I'm talking about every day foods that you would never think could harm you.

Below is a great video from BuzzFeedYellow "10 Foods That Are Trying To Kill You."

• Cherries - Pits contain Cyanide.
• Rhubarb - The stems are edible but the leaves contain oxalic acid this chemical is often found in bleach.
• Star fruit - Contains Caramboin which can cause seizures and death in those with kidney problems.
• Green Potatoes - Contain Solanine
• Cassava - Raw Cassava has compounds that turn into Cyanide in the body.
• Brazil nuts - These nuts are radioactive and contain more Radium than any other food.
• Red Kidney Beans - If eaten raw will cause extreme nausea due to cyanide poisoning.
• Lima Beans - Same issue as Red Kidney Beans
• Nutmeg - More than 2 Tbsp. can cause hallucinations and even death.
• Moldy Rye Bread - Contains compounds similar to LSD.

Crazy!

I actually knew a few of these like Cherries, Rhubarb, Green potatoes, Nutmeg, and of course the Moldy Rye Bread.  Hello! Salem Witch Trials!   I had no idea about Star fruit, Cassava, Brazil nuts or the Beans.  Wonder what other foods are out to get us?

What you see vs what you are.

I read a great article on Gizmodo about why you look different when you look in the mirror to what you see in a picture.   I'm sure you've checked yourself in the mirror before going out and you thought you looked fine and then later see a picture and realize you look totally different.  Basically this difference you see is your body, camera, and mirror are conspiring against you to damage you body image.

Part of the reason you look different is due to the camera.  While cameras work in a similar fashion as our eyes they do so through a complex lens.  This lens can actually distort how you really look. There are many types of lenses which can all cause a different effect altering how you actually look.

It's ok to blame the mirror too.  First off, they flip your image. What you are most accustomed to seeing in the mirror is actually the opposite of what other's see. There's also an issue with perspective.  People often stand very close to mirrors in order to see their entire body.  This position provides for a unique perspective.  This perspective is more like that of a partner, someone close to you rather than a stranger far away.  You may not look the same at 2' then you do at 10'.

Finally, you have no one left to blame but yourself.  Yes, blame yourself. You allow yourself to think that your image in a photograph is somehow less than what you see in the mirror.  Everything you do in the mirror is in order to look better, to show your most perfect self.

Others do not see the mirrored version of you. Others are able to see a side of you that you may rarely see. The reason we feel uncomfortable looking at ourselves in pictures is the same reason people dislike hearing their own voice.  We like to think of ourselves as our most perfect self when in reality we are so much more.  We are free, uncaring, and living.


Do you really look like what you think you look like?





Sources:

• http://gizmodo.com/5661253/giz-explains-why-you-look-different-in-photos-than-you-do-in-the-mirror
• http://youtu.be/gketZG1GUhE

Don't Refrigerate these foods.

Did you know there's a proper way to store fruits and vegetables?  I knew in most cases it was fine for a fruit or vegetable to stay on the counter until used but I didn't know that there are ones that you shouldn't put in your refrigerator. 
Usually we think "I'll put this in the refrigerator and it will stay good longer."  While this mentality works for most things for some fruits and vegetables it can do quite the opposite.  There are also other foods that you shouldn't store in your fridge.
Below is a great video I found about what you should and should not store in your fridge.  It talks not only about fruits and vegetables but other foods and things we may commonly think to put in our fridge.





Tomatoes, Melons, Potatoes, Onions, Coffee, Garlic, Alcohol, Honey, Hot Sauce, Bread, Basil or other Herbs are all things that should not be stored in your refrigerator.  They can ripen too fast, absorb odors, wilt or get dried out.  So what's in your fridge?

Sources:

• http://youtu.be/5OAb0OMvtCU

Saving the Earth One Shotgun at a Time.

Who doesn't love doing things to save the Earth, like planting flowers? If you think about it who doesn't like flowers? They are beautiful and they help keep the planet going.  Did you know you can plant flowers using a shotgun?

 



This clever invention called Flower Shell was designed by Per Cromwell from Studio Total. 
Their tagline is "Introducing a shotgun shell that brings life." This is an interesting way to repurpose an item for basically the exact opposite purpose.

They have some short demo videos on YouTube you should check out.  I've heard they may attempt to raise funds for this project on Indiegogo. 

Videos:








Sources:
http://laughingsquid.com/flower-shell-lets-you-plant-seeds-with-a-12-gauge-shotgun/

Welcome International Visitors

I've noticed over the last week that I've been receiving more traffic outside of North America which makes me very excited!  I get excited to read through the stats on my page to see where everyone is coming from as far as what pages but also what countries.  It just amazes me!

To celebrate diversity I've added a Google Translate widget on the right sidebar of my page for your convenience!

I'd like to thank the following countries for visiting!

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Israel
• India
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Vietnam
• Australia
• Poland
• Bulgaria
• New Zealand
• Austria
• Germany
• France
• Costa Rica

Enjoy my favorite video illustration of the countries of the world:


Sources:
Rachel Young: http://youtu.be/5pOFKmk7ytU