July 18th, 2010 at 09:20pm
Under Kelty Articles
I was about twenty one or so when an employer I was working for at that time, knowing that I loved to read, gave me a book called “Positive Personality Profiles”, by a very intelligent (and humorous) man by the name of Dr. Robert Rohm. Halfway through the first chapter, I was engulfed and almost the entire book in one evening. When I finished, I flipped back to the first page and read it all over again. By reading that book, I was given an amazing gift; a gift that has proven, and I am confident will continue to prove, to be an amazing asset in my life, in all areas of my life both professionally and personally. Knowledge really is power and the knowledge I obtained from reading this particular book has given me the power to relate to people according to who they are, based on their personality type.
People are like snowflakes as in there are no two people that are exactly alike and we all have our own different personality. Before I begin, I just want to make it clear that I am not trying to argue that each individual personality is going to be pigeon holed into one of the four main personality types. However, most people show the majority of their personality traits within one of the four groups. Although there are many different personality templates, they are all basically the same. For this article, I am going to be using what is called the D.I.S.C. template because not only is it the one I am the most familiar with, it is in my opinion, the most simple yet the most effective one.
Personalities are divided into four main groups and each letter in D.I.S.C. represents one of the four types. The main reason why I find this template the easiest to remember is simple; each letter, representing the type, is also the first letter in a lot of the main traits. I will get back to this in just a moment, but I would just like to take a quick opportunity to give a very brief history of the D.I.S.C. template because I feel as though it gives the template more credibility.
I was surprised when I did a little more research on the D.I.S.C. template and found out that it has been around for a little over 90 years. I figured that it was something that was probably assembled in the late eighties or so, and became trendy in the early nineties or so. In fact, back in 1928 a very interesting and intelligent man by the name of Dr. William Moulton Marston who had received a PhD in the newly developing field at that time of Psychology published a book called Emotions of Normal People, which first elaborated the D.I.S.C. theory. For anyone who is interested, Dr. William Moulton Marston made a lot of contributions to not only the science of Psychology and is definitely a man worth learning more about. Just a little tidbit… He is also the creator of “Wonder Woman”… Yes, the Wonder Woman that we all know and love. He was also an inventor who had a lot to do with the polygraph machines that we still use today.
First I am going to introduce the four types along with a brief description.
The “D-Type” Personality
(Dominant, Direct, Doer, Determined, Decisive, Driver)
The “D-Type” tend to focus on goals rather than people. They are most comfortable with being in charge and take great pride in getting things done. They set high expectations for not only themselves but the people around them. They like to make decisions quickly and get annoyed when they feel as though there time is being wasted. They tend to be misunderstood a lot of the time and come across as being aggressive and mean, which more times than not is unintentional it’s just they are blunt and “tell it like it is”. Also, although they tend to anger quickly, they more often than not, get over it just as quickly. They are energized by fast-paced, results oriented environments. They also love a challenge and thrive on chances to advance. The great thing about a “D-Type” is that they get things done either on their own or as a group leader. They are bold, adventurous and not afraid to confront someone that they feel is not meeting their expectations. However, their downfalls are they are easily angered, tend to blow up and can be very hypocytical and demanding, often exploding when they don’t get their own way.
The following are several ways in which you’ll be able to recognize a “D-Type”:
-They tend to be extroverted, active and they always seem to be in a rush.
-They like to take charge, especially in situations like meetings. It is important to them that they set the rules and agenda and that other’s follow it.
-They are usually loud speakers and often interrupt others. However, they do not like to be interrupted themselves.
-When conversing with others, they are usually blunt and straight to the point.
-They are often aggressive, impatient and blunt.
The “I-Type” Personality
(Influential, Inspiring, Interesting, Impressive, Interacting)
The “I-Type” is charming, outgoing and optimistic. They are focused on people rather than tasks, which is a strength as well as a weakness. They are considered a “people person” and usually well liked by others. They enjoy telling stories, however they often tend to exagerate. They thrive on meeting new people, networking and because they often see the “big picture” are very inspirational people. However, the “I-Type” more often than not, doesn’t like to play by the rules and being as they are not into details are often scattered. They are energized by people and at the same time people are energized by them. The great thing about the “I-Type” is they are often very enthusiastic and creative and have the ability to inspire others to be the same. They have the ability to see the best in other people and help them to see the best in themselves. However, their downfalls are they often tend to talk their way out of trouble, so to speak, and are very disorganized. They also have a hard time following through with projects because they are so easily distracted. They rarely finish what they start and are often very superficial. They are energized by being in the spotlight and tackling new projects. Also, they thrive on initiating change and inspiring others to do the same. That being said, they lose their energy by being around negative people, working alone, deadlines and being criticized in public.
The following are several ways in which you can recognize an “I-Type”:
-They are friendly, extroverted people and are usually very charming.
-They like to make formal meetings and things such as into social gatherings.
-Usually they speak with animation by using hand gestures and facial expressions.
- They enjoy telling stories, laughing and making people laugh.
-Because they enjoy working with people they like to include other’s in their own projects.
The “S-Type” Personality
(Steady, Submissive, Supportive, Shy, Sweet)
The “S-Type” is very loyal, friendly and sympathetic. They are great listeners and their main goal is usually to help other people. They are very nurturing, often respecting the way things have always been done and don’t like change. They thrive on stability and creating a stable environment for those around them. In fact, they are often working very hard and behind the scenes for the purposes of creating a harmonious background for themselves and those they love. The “S-Type” thrives on taking care of other people, and cooperating with other people, both personally and professionally. They are able to work at their best within small groups of people in which closer, more personal relationships can be formed. Stability is also extremely important to the which includes consistent, clearly defined expectations and rules. An “S-Type” does not like to make sudden decisions or to be the one that has to implement changes. Again, they are hard workers, and they do not like to see other people get the credit for their hard work, however, more than likely would not “speak up” if a situation such as that were to arise. It means a lot that they are recognized for their loyalty as well as being judged accurately. They often have few close relationships, however, those they have, the “S-Type” keeps very close to their heart and makes a strong effort on their behalf.
The following are several ways in which you can recognize an “S-Type”
-They have a tendency to be quiet and casual. They do not like to outwardly show their emotions in front of people they don’t know well.
-They usually like to encourage other people to talk about themselves and are excellent listeners. In turn, they don’t talk about themselves very often.
-They prefer to follow, not to lead and usually talk at a slow, relaxed pace.
The “C-Type” Personality
(Cautious, Conscientious, Compliant, Correct, Concerned, Contemplative)
The “C-Type” are very concerned with accuracy as well as quality. They are what I like to call “fact finders” because before making a decision, they tend to research every aspect of a situation before coming to a decision, including what could possibly go wrong. They tend to have a reputation for being logical and a perfectionist. They set high standards for other people and especially for themselves. They prefer to work alone and are sticklers for details. The “C-Type” thrives on having the information and data, more often than not, to prove they are right. They love being recognized and rewarded for specific things they have achieved, and are best dealt with at an easy, business like manner. A “C-Type” can not stand being rushed, feeling much more comfortable with adequate time to formulate a plan including every aspect from beginning right through the end. They detest criticism from people who do not have the facts to base their opinion as well as any situation that lacks order or regulations. Not only do they not respond well to sudden abrupt change, they can not stand any situation in which they do not have sufficient time to think it through. A “C-Type” person can very often be very closed minded to the ways that other people think, work, communicate and just plain out live their lives. Often they can come across as cold, not because they lack emotion, but because like the “D-Type” they are more focused on tasks rather than people. Although, a lot of the time, they tend to develop few close relationships, the relationships they do have are very important to them, and they are very loyal.
The following are several ways in which you can recognize a “C-Type”:
-They rarely speak up at meetings and prefer to go off alone in order to collect information.
-Their offices and/or living spaces are often very neat.
-They usually speak slowly and matter-of-factly and try to avoid mistakes.
-They tend to be formal, direct and quiet.
So, there they are. The four basic personality types. If you were unsure what I meant earlier when I wrote about this particular template, in my opinion, was easier than others to remember because the main traits of each, start with the same letter of their type.
By now, even with just that little information given, you have a pretty good idea which type you fall into. Again, most people show characteristics from all four, however more often than not, one type shows more personal traits than the others. Which one are you? I bet you probably even have a pretty good idea where the people closest to you would lie. Just for fun…. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and write down the name of anyone and everyone you can think of. Family, friends, co-workers.. Anyone. When your done, go down the list and put the D.I.S.C. type, in your opinion, that person would fall. Even with just that tiny amount of information that you just read about each type, your list is probably pretty accurate. Just by the words written on these pages, which type do you think I am? I’ll tell you at the end of the article…. You’ll probably be right.
This is probably around the time where most people reading this article (especially the C-Types) is probably thinking something along the lines of, “That’s neat and all but how exactly is this going to help me relate to other’s?” The answer to that goes all the way back to one of my initial statements; more times than not, it is not what we say as much as how we say it. The only way to know the correct way of relating to another person is by first educating ourselves about each personality type, and like just about everything else in life, practice makes perfect. The more we not only educate ourselves about the types and their traits but apply them to our day to day interactions, the more natural it becomes. The methods that we can apply when relating to the four different types is, in my opinion, the most significant because it is then that our relationships with the people in our lives, on both a personal and professional level, change drastically for the better.
I can’t stress enough how important it is when dealing with a “D-Type” to be straight to the point and direct. They hate gossip and chit chat. They are extremely annoyed when they feel as though there time is being wasted so the most effective way is to make sure that does not happen is to be prepared ahead of time, no matter what the scenario may be. When at all possible, make them feel as though they are in charge of making a decision and that it is their opinion that matters most. Although they can often be aggressive, being meek or backing down is not the most effective way to counteract. Listen to their point of view before giving yours, for they hate to be interrupted. It’s okay to disagree, and more often than not, a “D-Type” will respect your opinion and respect you for expressing it. Showing intimidation, which is probably natural because “D-Types” can often be intimidating, gives them the impression that you are a weak person that is just going to waste their time.
The “I-Type” loves conversation and chit chat. Your best way of relating with them is to be friendly and conversational. If your dealing with a more formal scenario, you should still converse a little and be as friendly as possible before getting down to business. Your best bet isn’t to take over a the conversation or to bore them with details. Ask them a lot of questions about themselves or something they are interested in. Out of the four, the “I-Type” is by far the most “people oriented” so quite simply, the friendlier you can be, the better. You’ll probably find when relating to an “I-Type” personality type, you’ll get the best results when you can help them find the best way to use their verbal skills as well as make them feel included.
The “S-Type” is often very shy and the best way to initially relate to them would be in a very friendly and positive manner when initiating conversation. Being as they spend so much time nurturing others, I have found personally, a great way to relate with an “S-Type” is to ask them questions about themselves and how they are doing. Try speaking at a nice and relaxed pace and talk with them as often as you can. Being as they are great listeners, in scenarios in which the “S-Type” is a close person in your life, talk with them openly, honestly and ask for advice. It will always work at it’s best with an “S-Type” when it is a situation, like asking one another for advice for example, that is give and take at equal measures.
The “C-Type”, being the “fact finders” they are, want as many details as possible, so if at all possible, your best bet is to always do your research before dealing with a “C-Type”. They, like the “D-Type” don’t like chit chat and basically would much rather just get down to business than waste time with small talk. Scenarios in which you are working or involved in any kind of endeavour, you’ll get the best results when they feel as though they are actively involved if not in charge. Again, I can’t stress enough, how important it is when relating to a “C-Type” that whenever possible present all the facts and details and ask them their opinion.
Okay, if you made it this far, than you have it. The golden ticket. The secret key that unlocks a truly amazing gift; and this is one of those wonderful gifts that keep on giving. You have the gift of relating to people, based on who they are as individuals. I wouldn’t blame you for maybe being a little, or a lot, sceptical or think I am embellishing when I say that these simple principles will change the way you relate with the people in your life on a positive level and therefore will improve the quality of your life dramatically, on both a personal and professional level. If you feel as though you would like more information about the D.I.S.C. personality types and traits before you feel as though your ready to apply them, there is so much information out there. Obviously I would recommend the book by Dr. Rohm mentioned earlier, however even just typing D.I.S.C. personality types into your search engine, oodles of information is out there. What do you have to lose by trying it, right?
By 12oclock
July 8th, 2010 at 02:00pm
Under Coyote Articles
Here are three key things you need to consider:
1. Never approach your hunting spot if the wind is going to blow your scent into the area that you expect the coyotes to be in. Even if there is only a 5 mile per hour breeze, coyotes more than a mile away can smell you. You will be busted before you even start. If you can’t get into your spot because of poor wind direction it’s best to save that hunting location for a later date when the wind will be more favorable.
2. When you do set up, remember that 99% of the time coyotes will attempt to circle downwind of the sound you are using. You will want to be able to see them when this happens. You need to set up where you have shooting opportunities as they circle toward the downwind side.
3. Always try to pick a downwind area that might allow a coyote a little bit of security as it approaches yet, still allows you a shot opportunity.
If you follow these three simple steps before you start calling you can greatly increase your coyote hunting success.
Recently some new products have shown up on the market designed to cover up your scent or to attract a coyote. I think most hunters are undecided on the effectiveness of these products. The chances are if a coyote gets downwind no matter what you did your hunt will be over. Unless you’re quick on the trigger or can hit a coyote running at 40 mph it’s best to avoid any chance for the coyote to get downwind.
Some more setup tips:
Your hunt starts the second you park your vehicle. If you think a coyote can see your vehicle from where you plan to set up or, from where they might approach, don’t park there. Coyotes are very leery of vehicles. Park your vehicle out of site and downwind from your hunting area. Do not slam the doors; quietly push them shut. You’re dealing with an animal that can hear a mouse squeak from 300 yards away. If you hunt, or ever get the opportunity to hunt, in some wide open areas you’ll see just how good a coyote’s hearing is.
Once you’re out of the vehicle, whisper or don’t talk at all. If you’re hunting with partners, now is not the time to stand outside your vehicle and discuss the details. This should have been done during the drive.
Move and walk as quietly as possible. Develop some hand signals with your hunting partners. When you’re walking to your spot, don’t skyline yourself. Use the surroundings to break up your outline as you walk quietly to your stand.
Don’t forget about the sun and try to use it to your advantage. It’s better to have the sun at your back and in the coyote’s face than the other way around.
Position yourself where you have a backdrop to hide your silhouette up against a bush, tree or on a hillside.
I usually like to wait about ten minutes before I start calling. This gives time for things to settle down and gives you a little time to look around and identifying areas that a coyote might approach from. They usually surprise you and come in from someplace unexpected but, sometime you’ll get lucky and one will come in exactly the way you planned it out.
Proper setup is just one part of a successful coyote hunt. Everything from scouting to calling needs to be factored in. These pointers will definitely increase your chances of a successful hunt.
By 12oclock
July 6th, 2010 at 02:45am
Under Coyote Articles
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
-Arthur C. Clarke
Act One: The Pledge
Dear Reader, consider yourself warned! The following paragraphs are not for the faint-hearted. Contained herein lies a feat of daring so bold, so extraordinary, so shocking that it mocks your very understanding of the universe. Best you turn away now, lest the fabric of your reality unravel as so many loose threads; leaving you standing bare and raving mad, forsaken in a wasteland of shattered beliefs.
I’m going to take a run-of-the-mill session-based web application and turn it into a load balanced web farm before your very eyes – all without making a single coding change to the application. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, what you’re about to witness is a load balancing technique so ingenious, so perfect that the web server – nay the very web application itself will not even know it is part of a web farm.
Each and every web server in the farm will think it alone is communicating with the client. Each and every web server will record a hit not from the load balancer, but from the client itself. And finally each and every web server will respond directly back to the client, utterly bypassing the very load balancer that brokered the request to begin with.
No special software will be installed on the web servers. No ISAPI filters. No plug-ins or other such nonsense will be required.
Understand! This is hardware load balancing I speak of, pure and simple. Hardware load balancing accomplished without the likes of Zeus, Coyote Point or even the F5 BigIP. This is organic web farming; hardware load balancing achieved with nothing more than two ordinary servers. And perhaps, a little bit of magic.
Act Two: The Turn
I have before me two Dell PowerEdge 850s, each with but a single Celeron processor and a mere 512 MB of memory. One could use nearly any kind of hardware. We, of course, have our corporate sponsorships to think of.
With a wave of my magic wand, Debian Sarge is installed on both servers. Do not be deceived by its meek and unassuming nature. Renowed for its robustness to hyperbole and found in all 12 world climate zones, Debian Linux stands ably by to perform any task at my bidding.
After a sprinkle of additions to the source.list file, I shall now utter the magic words to turn these servers into a high availability pair of load directors: apt-get install ultramonkey. Now with another wave of my wand, I apply the necessary configuration elements to enable the fabled load balancing method known as Direct Routing.
Observe! The default gateway of each web server remains unchanged (and it is not the IP address of the load balancer). Our web servers do not even know the load balancer exists. Requests are forwarded with their source IP address intact. Each web server replies directly, bypassing the load balancer entirely.
Act Three: The Prestige
Still not impressed? Take heed, for I have but two words that will surely sway even the most skeptical of skeptics. Listen carefully, for I shall not repeat myself. The words are View State. That’s right, I have accomplished the implausible, the unthinkable. You’ll find no Apaches in this web farm. I present to you Windows Server 2003 and a Microsoft .NET web application.
How many in our audience have tried load balancing a .NET application? If so, then you surely have encountered the dreaded “View State is invalid” error.
If you “fixed” this error by enabling some type of sticky sessions on your load balancer, I applaud you with a tip of my cap and a knowing wink. An honorable mention of your efforts is in order perhaps, but let’s be honest. That’s not really load balancing is it? In the end each client is bound to a single server. Stickyness is only excusable should your application require SSL.
Behold!
I present to you the World’s Greatest Unsticky Organic Web Farm. Each incoming request is relayed round-robin style to the next server in the web farm. The View State remains persistent across each different web server, yet no special programming or state handling mechanism was employed. In fact, the application developers themselves do not even know the secret. And should one server be unavailable for whatever reason, our load balancers will automatically detect it and only send requests to the remaining live servers.
Act Four: The Secret
Everyone knows that a good magician guards the secret to his magic. I have guarded mine on our website (sssh, don’t tell anyone).
By 12oclock
June 24th, 2010 at 07:55pm
Under Kelty Articles
Cheap backpacks can be made, but I don’t recommend it. Unless you are extremely skilled at sewing, it isn’t likely to come out like you want. Also, even if you are an expert, it will probably take less of your time to pick up an extra day at work and buy a pack with the earnings.
On the other hand, if you have an old backpack frame, you can make a cheap backpack with it. Remove the old pack, and tie a plain nylon duffel bag to it firmly, with the zipper facing out. Small bungee cords will work for attaching it too. I did this using an old aluminum frame that still had straps and a waist belt, and for the cost of a $15 duffel bag, I had an external-frame backpack that not only held a lot, but weighed just two pounds.
Buying Cheap Backpacks
There are several ways to buy cheap backpacks. The most obvious is to just wait for a good sale. A quicker way is to shop for a used pack online. Try Ebay.com, or go to a backpacking or other outdoor forum that allows people to sell their gear, like whiteblaze.net. The forums are nice, because you can easily ask questions about the pack.
You can also buy used backpacks cheap at rummage sales. Watch the ads for any mention of outdoor gear, and call to see if they have a backpack you might want. You may be able to buy it before the sale starts. Otherwise, start shopping early, and negotiate a bit. I recently sold a beautiful Kelty frame-pack for $15 at a garage sale.
Thrift stores sometimes have cheap backpacks. More often they have day packs, but you never know. I have seen big old frame packs that were rough at thrift shops, and it occurred to me that for a few dollars I could just toss the pack, and use the frame with a duffel bag, as described above.
Another way to keep the cost down is to go light. The lightweight backpacks, unlike other lightweight gear, are always cheaper than the big packs. If you have been thinking about lightening the load, you can save money too. Ultralight backpacks are usually under two pounds and frame-less. You’ll probably use a sleeping pad as a “frame” of sorts. The good news is that they are often on sale for under $100.
Go-Lite has several packs that are near $100, and sometimes on sale for less than that. The list price on the Granite Gear Virga Ultra Light Packer may still be under $100, and I have seen it on sale for under $80. It also weighs only 21 ounces, a bonus for me, as I like the idea of light AND cheap backpacks.
By 12oclock
June 14th, 2010 at 01:55am
Under Kelty Articles
Planning a backpacking trip is a must if you are going to have a successful camping trip.
One of the most important items to plan for is Safety.
Injuries can become serious very quickly.
Learn some basic wilderness first aid. This is slightly different than regular first aid training. It takes into account that you may not be near a phone or transportation.
Plan for fuel storage safety.
Evaluate the terrain where you will be going.
Evaluate the age and physical condition of the individuals in your group.
How much training is needed for the activities that your group will be doing?
The safety rules will change according to the activity.
Another point to study in planning a backpacking trip is the weather.
You want to start monitoring weather reports at least one week before your trip.
Then every day until three days out.
And then several times a day until you leave.
This regimen may and probably will change depending on where you are going and the time of the year.
When looking at the weather conditions, keep in mind what type of shelter you have or will need.
Do you use a tarp, hammock or tent?
Will it protect you from the elements in bad weather?
Do you have enough shelter for all the participants?
Is the shelter(s) in good condition? Check zippers, seams, rips in the fabric, odors, etc.
Is it water proof?
You should be familiar with where you are going.
I’m not talking just about how to get there. I’m talking about the condition of the hiking trail and the terrain that you will be in.
Get a topographical map of the area before you go. U.S. State and National parks usually will have one on their web site for you to download. They are not as good as a professionally made topo map, but are usually sufficient.
Are there any permits required?
What are the regulations and restrictions, if any?
Pay attention to property boundaries. If you cross a fence, make sure you know where it is on your topo map.
How many people can be in a trekking group?
How many people to a campsite?
Is there potable water or will you have to carry your water in?
What types of wildlife are in the area? Such as bears and poisonous snakes?
The next item on planning a backpacking trip list should be food and cooking requirements.
Determine how many people are going and if there are any special dietary requirements.
Check to see if there is a fire ban in the area where you will be going. If there is, ask if your type of stove can still be used. This will determine your food choices and whether you can cook or not.
Plan your menu for each meal on the trail and maybe the meals before heading out and after returning from your hike.
After your menu is complete, you can then decide on what cooking utensils will be needed.
How big a pot to bring and/or how many.
You will also know how many stoves are needed along with additional gear needed to cook your meals.
By now in your planning a backpacking trip you know where you are going, the number of participants and how much food, water and fuel you will need. You now need to come up with a cost for each participant. This isn’t hard to do, but it will come up during the planning sessions.
A very important part of planning a backpacking trip will concern Leave-No-Trace camping.
Part of LNT is reducing the amount of trash that you carry and to carry-it-out when you leave. Some of the food you buy can be repackaged.
Throw away at home the packaging that is for advertising or labeling.
The menus found on the web site below show how this is done.
Planning a backpacking trip also contributes to a fun and enjoyable trip and increases the confidence of everyone in the group.
Remember that you will be going into someone else’s home. The home of the local wildlife inhabitants. Treat their home with respect.
By 12oclock
June 4th, 2010 at 11:55pm
Under Coyote Articles
So you have decided to go on that moose hunt and now are you looking for the equipment needed for it? Here is a way to find all that you need. The solution is simple, just get an outfitter.
Now you would wonder what an outfitter would be able to do for you. Well for starters an outfitter can give you precious advice on the choice of weapon. One can hunt a moose with guns or bows and arrows. The outfitter can give you exactly what you can handle and also give you the weapon at a cost.
You would also have to live in the wilderness for a few days. And for this the outfitter will be able to give you all things required. One would need a tent, sleeping bags and supplies. All this can be found with an outfitter. What makes it better is that all this can be covered under a package.
Now hunting is not easy. And to hunt you should also know the correct spots to hunt. As a person who has never done this before the outfitter will give you a guide. A guide can make sure that you do return with a kill at the end of the trip.
An outfitter will also be able to make your stay comfortable. Many outfitters own lodges where you can stay during your hunting trip. These lodges can have all the facilities that you want. From hot water baths, to snooker tables, bar and lounge facilities to high speed internet to stay in touch with your family and work.
The outfitters also might have their base camps instead of lodges. But do not hesitate, these base camps will be able to provide you all those facilities that is there in a lodge. So what is the wait for just book yourself for the next season and get that trophy home!
By 12oclock
June 3rd, 2010 at 01:10am
Under Coyote Articles
In recent years reports of wild animals in unusual locations have become quite common. Packs of coyotes prowling the hills outside (and inside) of Los Angeles encourage people to build tall walls or fences around their homes. In the eastern part of the United States, homeowners often spot deer on their suburban lawns.
Twenty years ago, sightings of wild animals generally occurred in environmentally appropriate areas. When I was growing up in the late/mid twentieth century, the sight of a fox or deer was a thrill to be related with great excitement. Nowadays, the deer wander behind shopping centers and garden shops on the outskirts of cities sell deer repellent.
Why are these wild animals invading highly populated regions? The answer is simple. The building boom of the 1980’s and 1990’s ate into outlying areas, creating vast tracks of housing developments in rural areas. The people who moved into the new houses needed schools, hospitals, and shopping centers so even more land was paved over. Animals with survival skills learned to live with people, roads, and populated locations. They adapted to their new surroundings.
As rural areas filled with bulldozers and noisy construction equipment, some of the wild animals fled the disruption. They moved towards the cities, traveling along the green, wooded paths near highways. Once in the suburbs, they found some sheltering trees and shrubbery. Food was available. Deer located gardens. Foxes dined on rats, mice, and the occasional rabbit. Hawks trolled back yards in search of bird feeders or hung out near the highways looking for unwary mice or rats.
Obviously, some incursion of wildlife has been helpful to suburban regions. The hawks, owls, and fox feed on vermin. Their food preferences are good for the neighborhood. But once those beautiful deer start munching on the azaleas, they are no longer so appealing.
Coyotes, in the west as well as the eastern coyotes that have increased their range greatly, consume vermin, but will gobble up the family cat or a small dog.
The loss of habitat in America is an old story. When the first British colonists arrived in the seventeenth century, the East Coast was one huge tract of virgin forest. Bison and elk lived on the East Coast, though they were smaller versions of their western cousins. The colonists soon cleared away the forest for farms, homesteads, and the burgeoning timber business. Trappers went into the forest to harvest animals’ furs.
Now, there are only a few hidden pockets of virgin forest. The wildlife that depended on such areas is mostly gone. America has created several extinctions including the end of the famous passenger pigeon. Flocks of passenger pigeons were once so huge, they darkened the sky with their passing. Despite the huge numbers of the pigeons, not one is left today. They were hunted into oblivion.
In the American south, the Ivory Bill woodpecker lived in hardwood bottomland and cypress swamps. But after the Civil War, timber companies invaded, creating more devastation than the war did. Southern hardwood forests disappeared at an alarming rate. By the early part of the twentieth century, the Ivory Bill was an increasingly rare sight. Trophy hunters shot occasional Ivory Bills, just to prove they were still around. As sightings decreased, and decades passed, the Ivory Bill woodpecker was assumed to be extinct, doomed by habitat loss.
The American bison is a familiar emblem of the United States of America. Bisons have been depicted on coins, and they dwell in our minds as symbols of American wildlife, and stand as the signature animal of the great American prairie. But, the American bison was dragged to the brink of extinction by hunting. Buffalo killing trips were conducted from train windows, and the bison were shot as the trains passed, their bodies left to rot on the plains.
America has done a lot of damage to wildlife in its short history. The wild things that lately invade the suburbs display a wonderful ability to adapt to unlikely surroundings. So, the next time you see something unusual, something a bit different, not quite a dog, and you wonder what you are looking at – maybe it is a wild animal, a bear, a coyote, or a fox right out there in your own back yard.
By 12oclock
June 1st, 2010 at 05:40am
Under Kelty Articles
Hiking boots must be strong enough to endure the rugged conditions in hiking, camping, and even hunting. Strong or sturdy boots need not be heavy to avoid too much pressure on the feet especially in long miles of walking. Lightweight hiking boots are the best boots to use in long hikes. If you are looking for one then you can start shopping for it on your local hiking or backpacking shops. You can also check several hiking boot reviews that focus more on the lightweight boots and lightweight hiking shoes.
The Montrail Blue Ridge GTX, Vasque Breeze GTX, Timberland Cadion Waterproof Mid Gore-Tex XCR, Danner Radical 452 GTX, and the Columbia Frontier Peak GTX are just some of the most commonly available lightweight hiking boots and the list toppers in most hiking boot reviews. These lightweight hiking boots are all available in widths that can fit the men and women alike. Lightweight boots are slightly taller than the mid-cut hiking shoes. This design gives more ankle support and at the same time lighter weight to keep you going in long hiking trips. These lightweight boots have leather uppers that are designed with mesh stripes for ventilation making them comfortable to wear even in hot weathers.
According to some hiking boot reviews from the users, the Montrail Blue Ridge GTX fits well those hikers that have narrow or medium feet. This Montrail hiking boot has an all-leather uppers and only available in medium width designs for the sizes of both men and women. A pair of this boot costs at around $180 depending on the dealer. Another hiking boot, the Vasque Breeze running at around $150 has ventilating mesh on the uppers. It also uses a breathable Gore-Tex XCR for waterproofing. This boot is also available in two widths but this boot attracts more women users because of its good ventilation.
The Timberland Cadion Waterproof Mid Gore-Tex XCR is a medium width hiking boot that offers extra strength, waterproofing, and lightweight. This boot uses a fabric that is made of Swiss nylon, Schoeller material, polyester, Lycra, and Coolmax. These materials make this boot very light and the Gore-Tex XCR keeps it waterproof even when submerged in the water. This boot has received several praises from hiking boot reviews and was awarded with the Backpacker Magazine 2006 Editor’s Choice award. This Timberland boot is available at around $140 in local and online stores. The Danner Radical 452 GTX ($130) and the Columbia Frontier Peak GTX ($120) also show some good reviews because of the comfort that they offer. The Danner is now only available for men and the Columbia is now phased out and replaced by the Titanium Daska Pass hiking boots.
By 12oclock
May 28th, 2010 at 10:15pm
Under Coyote Articles
An old computer these days is no longer a completely useless system. In fact, even though I might upgrade my main computer every couple of years, I usually take ten to fifteen years before I completely remove it from my home network and send it to that great LAN in the sky!
Here are ten twelve uses that I have discovered for that more “experienced” computer system!
And once you have read through the article and decided which exciting project you want to do, make sure you let us know by voting in the poll!
Firewall/Router
This was the very first use I had for an older computer. I grabbed an old 286, installed a couple of network cards, and the latest version of FREESCO and suddenly every computer in my house had Internet access without having to keep my main system running or without having to buy an expensive (at the time) dedicated router/firewall device.
Not to mention that I learned a ton about Linux through this process!
Here is a list of some Linux distributions and tools that you could use to create a firewall/router for your home:
* FREESCO
* IPCOP
* Smoothwall
* Firestarter
* Coyote Linux Personal Firewall
* Shorewall/Shoreline
* Mason
* Vyatta
* floppyfw
* FireHOL
* Guarddog
* Turtle
* m0n0wall
* Endian
* pfSense
* LutelWall
* Zorp
* ClarkConnect
* Devil Linux
* Sinux
* Kaladix
* SafeSquid
File Server
If you’ve been on Daily Cup of Tech before, you will know my love for FreeNAS. With an old computer and a couple of hours effort, you can have a nifty little file server available on your network.
There are other ways that you can create a file server other than FreeNAS. Here are some that I found:
* FreeNAS
* Samba
* iFolder
* NASLite
* Openfiler
* CryptoBox
Print Server
My wife and I share a printer that used to be hosted on her computer. It was a real pain when her computer would go into sleep mode or she would shut it off and I would lose my ability to print. I was able to turn an old computer into a print server that is always running and I can now print regardless of the status of my wife’s computer.
Nicholas Fong has a great tutorial on setting this up.
Fax Gateway
Yes, I know. Faxing is so 1985. But, a lot of people and companies still rely on this technology to keep their business running. With a bit of effort and some old computer hardware, you can set up a HylaFAX server to manage and control all of your incoming and outgoing faxes. Plus, you could save a few trees because you are using less paper.
Web/FTP Server
With the advent of LAMP server installations, it is relatively trivial for someone to create a web server. This will give you the ability to create your own websites in house before you distribute them to the world or you can simply use it as an intranet site to keep your busy family in touch.
Here are a few tutorials on setting up a web server:
* Setting up a local web server in Debian Linux
* The Apache Web Server
* Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) LAMP Server Setup
* Quick Linux Server
SSH/SCP Server
SSH and SCP provide you with a lot of very powerful abilities so that you can remotely access your network and copy files securely. One of the best ways is to set up a FreeNAS box, enable SSH and then connect to it using an SCP client such as WinSCP to transfer files or PuTTY for accessing your network.
Anti-Spam Server
We all hate spam. So, use your old computer to get rid of it! By using SpamAssassin on a Linux box, you can quickly stem the flood of incoming spam. I have also found a really good tutorial on the subject (Sorry, I had to use the Google cache.).
Proxy Server
Most users have the same webpages that they visit on a regular basis. Each time that they go to these websites, they need to go and download all of the files again. While this is not a terribly big issue if you have lots of bandwidth and it is not being used very much, it can become an issue if your are a high bandwidth user.
You can also use it to filter out undesirable content.
Here are a few tutorials on setting up a proxy server:
* Setup a transparent proxy with Squid in three easy steps
* Minimal Linux Proxy
* 3Proxy
Thin Client
I’ve always thought that the next time I decide to upgrade all of the computers for my entire family at home, rather than upgrading each system, buy a rather beefy server with lots of RAM and then create virtual computers for everyone. Then, I could use their original hardware and ThinStation to give them access to their new virtual computer!
You may also want to check out AnywhereTS to help with the setup.
Voice Mail Server
For me, voice mail has always been so passive. It just kinda waits in one place until I remember to check it (which could be days later). A voice mail server would be a great tool!
One great advantage would be the ability to have my voice mail e-mailed to me. Another would be the ability to check it from my computer. The VOCP System provides me with all of those abilities and more!
Media Server
More people are going away from their CD and DVD players and heading for MP3 and AVI files. A media server is a great way to use that old box.
Here are some resources to get you rockin’!
* Jinzora
* Firefly
* TVersity
* MediaTomb
* LIVE555
* MythTV
* Icecast
* Helix
* LinuxMCE
* Darwin Streaming Server
* GNUMP3D
Bittorrent Box
I put all of my bittorrent stuff on a separate box a long time ago. It just seemed much neater and cleaner. For a good tutorial on how to do this, check out Nerdica.
By 12oclock
May 15th, 2010 at 09:25am
Under Coyote Articles
If you are constantly updated on the latest in hunting, then you may have heard about pig hunting. This, of course, does not involve shooting swine out of the barn, or getting some pigs into the open and then shooting them down. The real pig hunting involves you going after the feral wild pigs, which are deemed in many parts of the world to be exotic and non-native species that can pose threats to the environment. In many cases, wild pigs – often referred to as boars or feral pigs – can destroy farms and kill livestock. In some cases, however, they can be deemed as a valuable addition to an environment, especially where they are the scavengers or cleaners.
In some Australian states, the wild pig is considered as an unprotected species that can be hunted all year round, and with no limits to their harvest. As long as the hunter hunting them has a valid license, as well as the express permission of the person who owns the land on which they wish to hunt, then the hunter may hunt as many wild boar as he or she pleases. If you own property and have feral pigs, then you can hunt them in some states without having to present a license.
Here are a few more facts about wild pigs that you may have to be aware of if you wish to engage in wild pig hunting.
- It is illegal to herd feral pigs in a facility or space and then use them for hunting in some states. If you are offered the chance to hunt at a facility and you know that your state has a law against operating hunting facilities, then steer clear of the offer.
- It is illegal in some states to release hogs out into the wild, as domesticated pigs can indeed turn wild once let loose. You will simply be adding to the feral pig population if you do this. If you discover people doing this in your area, you have the duty to talk to your local conservation facility or game warden immediately.
- Feral pigs are not your small and cute pigs – they can weight over a hundred pounds each, and if you wish to take the trophy-size ones down, they can be as tall as three feet, as long as six feet, and even as much as two hundred + kilograms in weight. They can therefore be vicious and difficult to fend off if they start attacking you, so know your safety procedures.
- Feral pigs will often keep a small home territory, which can often be about a several square kilometers. However, if they start running out of food, they can start expanding their home territory quickly, so you may need to do some speculation. There may be feral pig territory maps at your local conservation and game center, so you can consult them for more information on where you should go, and how far you should go to start hunting pigs.
- Never underestimate pigs. They can swim and run as fast as fifty kilometers an hour.
These are only a few facts that you should be aware of as you start pig hunting. For more information, talk to local pig hunters and ask for tips about getting yourself started in pig hunting. Talk to your local game hunters for more details on what you should or should not do during your pig hunt, and ask for tips on what you should bring just in case the weather changes. If you have a lot of research under your belt, and if you know a lot about hunting in general, then you will find it easy and enjoyable to hunt wild pigs, and help the environment in your state at the same time!
By 12oclock
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